I want to be a knight

Alanna the Lioness was the legend that inspired the women of Tortall to start considering taking up arms themselves. Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small was the legend that showed the people of Tortall that a known female could accomplish just as much as a man. The two Lady Knights of Tortall hoped for another to come but for years it seemed as it would only be the two of them. They were wrong.

Deep in the noble streets of Port Legann a girl stood in front of her fathers study desk with some difficulty. Baron Michael of Snowsworth looked at his daughter with mingled shock and anger. His youngest daughter, Amelia stood in front of his desk covered in mud and bruises, and from what he could see, a broken nose and split lip. How was it that his youngest daughter after his other two daughters could have turned into such a trouble maker.

'Amelia', the Baron growled angrily, 'This sought of behaviour is unheard of in a noble such as yourself, you shock and disappoint me that you would act like such a-'

'Boy?' cut in the girl curtly, with a scowl on her bruised and bloody face. The baron bristled, 'Do not interrupt me young lady' he said his voice rising slightly, Amelia was nonplussed. He yelled at her all the time why should she cower in fear this time? Amelia shrugged, and plopped herself into you of the chairs in front of his desk, not caring that she was covered in filth, from rolling in the street. The baron sighed and lowered himself into his own chair.

Michael look at her and shook his head, 'What are we going to do with you?' he asked heavily. 'You constantly fight like a street child-'

'I win most of my fights father' Amelia cut in again, the baron continued speaking over her.

'-you have no regard for a lady's arts as you should at the age of ten, you care only for weapons and combat training nothing that would give you a decent marriage...' the baron rattled off more from an ever growing list which Amelia rolled her eyes at. '...I just don't know what to do with you anymore Amelia, if your mother were still alive she might but...l don't', concluded the Baron heavily. Amelia remained slight for the moment thinking over what had occurred to her, could she do it?

'Father', she sighed and continued 'I cant help who l am just like you cant, you know l have no interest or like in being a lady, if I'm that much of an embarrassment to you and the family with my 'boyish qualities' then let me do something to do with that' she said a grin crossing her face for the spot he'd put himself in. Michael opened his mouth but no sound came out, he cleared his throat and tried again, 'Are you telling me that you want me to let my daughter to be...some rider' he said with repulse dripping from every word, 'I will not let my noble daughter go and be taken as the same as commoner brats' he said savagely, making Amelia jump up in anger.

'Those 'commoner brats' you so kindly mentioned father are my friends' she said trembling with anger. This was why she acted how she did, her father cared for nothing but his status and reputation. That was why he liked her older sisters, Elaine and Josephine, so much more than her because they had acted like proper lady's from before they were Amelia's age and had made perfect marriages, bring respect to their father. The baron scoffed, 'Friends? You should not lower yourself to levels such as theirs to make friends Amelia, I will not allow you to become a rider and that's that. Do you understand me?' he asked her sharply. Tactfully Amelia changed course, reminding herself to press noble status in this time. 'I understand perfectly father, but you must know l never meant to become a rider' she said grinning impishly inside and the way she was going to twist this.

'Excuse me?' the baron asked confused now at this remark, Amelia nodded. 'I want to take up a position that only a noble can take father' she replied now trying to match his haunt behaviour in hope that he would give to this idea. 'Oh and what would that be?' he asked now eager at the thought of having her out of his hair.

'I want to be a knight' Amelia said simply, Michael spluttered, 'You cant be serious girl?' he asked as if she were mad. 'I want to be a knight' she said again now more firmly,'If l go to Corus to be a page father, I'll be in Corus where you wont hear of me and you wont have to see me for eight years at least. I wont come home on holidays, and l don't expect you will come to Corus to see me so you wont have to even know l exist for eight whole years wouldn't that be grand?' she asked spitefully. Baron Michael of Snowsworth considered for a moment and then checked his diary, before looking at her again.

Coldly he said, 'They training season begins in three weeks, you will leave in three days and spend a week travelling to Corus with who ever l can get to go with you. See Marcus for the gear you need, understand this Amelia from now on if you need sometime while your in Corus you will send you messages to the quartermaster or whoever but not me. Do you understand?', 'Yes Sir' she replied trying hard to hide her glee at leaving.

'I hope they beat some disciple into you in Corus, dismissed' said the Baron going back to his scrolls.

Three days later Amelia was riding out the gates of the house into the street, her friends waving as she rode by, her companion was her first teacher in combat she had ever had, Marcus. He caught up with her as they started to pull out of the port, 'In a hurry lass?' he asked grinning that they girl was going to be a page. She turned in the saddle and looked at him grinning too, 'Sure am' was the reply. At the top of the hill that over looked the port, they stopped for a moment turning the horse's to look at the port one last time. Marcus looked at his new mistress as she looked at the port one last time, before she turned at him and grinned a grin that showed complete happiness making him grin too.

'Come on Marcus, the sooner we're at Corus the sooner we'll both be happy' said Amelia, kicking her pony, Clump into a gallop racing away down the slope. Marcus grinned it was going to be an interesting few years for him, and raced down after her.

Hey people please read and review l'd like to continue this one, but i need to know people are reading it before l do that.

thanx

Warrior