Bella is 10 in this chapter. Just clearing it up.
P.S. Any wars aren't real… Please review.
I watched my parents intently as they considered my request. It had never been clarified in the laws that a girl couldn't become a page. I understand if I drop out, that's my own fault. But I want the same chance as all the boys.
My mother's frown was not encouraging, but my father, he had a huge grin on his face. Thank god. Dad's going to allow it, now for mom.
"So what do you say?" I asked them quietly.
"No!", "Yes!" came out at the same time from my parents.
"Thank-you daddy, but mom why not?" I really was curious, why wouldn't she want me to become a knight.
She sighed deeply once, then continued, "It's unladylike Bella. You should go to the convent and become a proper lady. I don't want to have you tromping across the country through mud and god knows what else, and fighting battles. It's not fit for you, darling."
"I don't get it, everyone in the village is going to become a knight mom, a knight. A chance to be something more than I am. If I go to the convent, I'll be married off to the highest bidder, not the man that I love. Although I think marriage would just get in the way."
"What? You would choose to kill over be married?" She was appalled, she tried not to show it, but I could tell.
"If that's what it takes, yes, mother. I'd prefer to save the innocent over marry myself off to some old man, who's probably a scholar. Yuck!" That was my nightmare. To be stuck in a castle for the rest of my life as my husband wastes his life away among his books. There would be no point to my life than to please that old man. It would be horrid. I'd rather face an army by myself than end up like that.
Finally my father spoke up, "I think we should let her go. How else would we get somebody to beat some discipline into her?"
"They would beat her?" My mom exclaimed.
"Probably not how you're thinking, but yes."
"I'm fine with that mom. If I can get something done in this world, I want to do it!"
"Nothing I can say will change either of your minds, will it?" We both shook our heads quickly. "Very well you may go Bella. But whatever you do, don't become a savage."
"Far from it mother! Thank-you", I yelled over my shoulder, as I sprinted out of the room to go tell Jacob that I was allowed to go.
When I arrived at Jacob's hut, I yelled, "Jacob! Get out here!" I didn't bother to go in and get him, this was to important. We had both agreed that one day, one of us would have to go and become a knight, so we could both go on adventures.
Flashback
I raced towards the edge of the river, splashing mud up onto my gown, as I strived to best Jacob in a race. So far, it had proven impossible, but I would beat him, someday at least. He jumped into the flowing water when I still had five feet to go, and I just stopped and stared at him.
"How do you run so fast?" I asked incredulously.
"I move my feet, and don't trip over them!" I jumped back to avoid the tidal wave he sent my way in exaggeration, as I fell onto my butt. "See!"
"That's not fair! You knew I would fall! And plus, I don't trip that often anymore." And with that I got up, turned, and started to walk away. Within seconds there was a soaking wet hand on my shoulder turning me around.
"That's not what I meant Bella. It's just, how are you ever going to become a knight and best me at that, if you can't even stand without tripping?"
"I-I-I'll find a way. There has to be a way."
"Then what way is it? And you can't just say you'll go to the convent. That just wouldn't be right, you being married. I pity the fool." I smacked him as he said that and he grumbled a bit, then continued on. "As I was saying, the chances for me becoming a page are slim, I'm not even near your rank, so I need you to take me on adventures. Not only am I saving that sorry, old man the horror of you as a wife, I'm going to get you a servant" , and under his breath he added, "unfortunately that would be me. But it means I can go on adventures, too."
I laughed at him and then screamed, "Race ya!", and took off running back into the forest.
Present
Jacob hurried out of the hut, glanced around, spotted me, and ran over.
"What is it?" He exclaimed excitedly.
"They agreed! I can go!" By that point I was practically bouncing up and down. Well, so was Jacob, although I looked cute doing it.
"They did, when? When are you to go?" Throughout his sentence he got gradually sadder, until at the end, he just sounded depressed. That was when what had happened actually set in. I got everything I ever wanted, but I had to leave Jake behind.
In a quiet voice I said, "Just now, and I'll leave tomorrow. Oh Jake, I'll miss you!" We embraced and then stepped back and looked at each other. "I'll write, I swear I will. I'll visit too. You better visit though!"
We spent the next few minutes, exchanging worthless conversations, as usual. Then we parted, for supper would soon be called up at the castle.
When I arrived, we had a plentiful feast to celebrate the new harvest, and I ate half of a beget to settle my stomach, for it had become queasy from the nerves.
Afterward, I was sent to my quarters to pack. I grabbed several trousers, but I also packed a few gowns, only my best, for formal gatherings and what not. I packed my extra riding boots, and a wool cloak for the cold. If the training school hadn't been in the north it would be all but perfect. But no, it will be cold and dreary. The cold is evil I say. And snow, that is just evil incarnate. I packed several shifts and hair ribbons. I packed several other necessities, along with a few frivolous objects.
As I finished the packing, I rolled my bed sheets down and slid my legs in. I leaned over and blew out the candle. I then lay down and slept uneasily.
Five days of travel later, I had arrived at the training grounds. The castle I would be staying in for the next eight years, that is if I don't drop out, lay sprawling before me, with intricate carvings in the walls and a vast expanse of lush, green grass. I felt the urge to go run through it, but I restrained myself, for the training master was striding towards my party and with a quick pace.
Once he arrived he was quick and curt. He announced his name as Lord Borlington, and addressed the facts of my boarding and the mess hall, the training grounds, and the matter of requirements. After he had walked me through everything I could think of and more, he told me to follow and paced away from the entrance gate.
I turned and waved to my companions as we departed, I turned and realized that Lord Borlington was growing smaller as he hurried along. I scurried to catch up.
I looked down at myself in my bright Page's uniform. I patted down a hair that wasn't out of place, smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle and stared at a minuscule stain on the side of my shirt. I was terrified. I was aware that not very many people had excepted the fact that girls were allowed to try for their shield. So I had a right to be nervous.
I drew up all of my courage and I turned towards the door and marched towards it. I bored holes into it with my eyes, and reached out towards the know, within a centimeter of the knob I yanked my hand back.
I mustered what little of my courage I had left and reached out towards the knob again. This time I grasped it. I turned it slowly and pushed open the door, leaving a hollow arch where it had been seconds before. Light streamed through my windows and out the door leaving a rectangle of light on the floor. I stepped into the box and closed the door behind me with a feeling of unease.
I thought of turning back and going back to my room and hiding from the world. Instead I strode forward with all of my confidence and strolled towards the mess hall for breakfast. As I entered the room, a silence settled over the pages and an eerie feeling laid itself upon me. I tried not to notice all of the eyes that looked at me, failing miserably.
My resolve faltered for a second, and then I realized I would be all the more embarrassed if I were to back out now. I walked towards the line for food and stood there, noticing how the boy in front of me scooted forward, not wanting to be known as the first misfit that befriended me.
I accepted my food with mumblings of thank-you, and then I stood in front of everyone, not a place to sit. Until someone rose. I looked over at them and noticed it was a tall, blonde boy, that was as graceful as could be. He had a faint smile on his face as he slowly walked towards me.
When he arrived he said, "My friends and I", he motioned towards a table with a large, brawny boy and a short boy, with a cap pulled over his hair, "were wondering if you would care to join us. So will you?"
I thought for a moment, as awkward as I felt I would say yes for the fact that I probably wouldn't get another offer like this. "I would love to, thank-you." He graciously waved his hand towards me, telling me to follow and set off in the direction of his table. I followed him closely, glancing around at all of the faces that were watching the proceedings.
As he sat at the table, I stood there feeling like an idiot. The short boy across the table motioned for me to sit, and I plopped down without a complaint.
After a few moments soft banter picked up and a few stares went absent.
The blonde boy raised his hand towards me as he said, "Hello, my name is Jasper. I believe yours is Isabella, am I correct?"
"Bella, pleased to meet you."
I glanced around and noticed the brawny boy, with wavy brown hair, had extended his hand also, and I reached forward to except the shake as he exclaimed, a little to enthusiastically, "I'm Emmet, and this here shorty is Alice."
The person seated next to Emmet swatted him and exclaimed, "I wanted to introduce myself to her. I've waited so long for another girl, and you just go and ruin the fun of first impressions for me! By the way, Bella, I'm Alice." Her voice tilled like bells as she finished her spiel in one breath. She pulled off her hat to reveal short, spiky, black hair and an adorable face. "Sorry about the behavior of the other guys, their just getting used to me, so a new change is a little unwelcome at the moment. Well at least from them, I on the other hand am ecstatic! I can tell you're going to do great here!"
"Thank-you?" I questioned, I wasn't sure about her, she seemed as if she knew that I would do well here, not just hoped. It was rather strange.
The rest of the meal went smoothly and I got to know the three of them a lot better.
Jasper was charismatic to the extreme. He was a fourth year squire and I was dismayed to learn would be leaving within the year, if he passed into knighthood. His blonde hair fell evenly over his head and he had a straight nose. Piercing blue eyes shone out from beneath a shock of hair, and he had a very light sprinkling of freckles over his cheekbones, his pale skin illuminating them. His good nature helped everyone feel at ease around him, despite the conditions.
Emmet had broad shoulders with a sun tanned face, presumably from work over the summer in the fields. He was a second year, was young for his looks, as a second year page. His short, wavy brown hair framed his face and his brown eyes had a way of saying "fear me, but trust me". He was incredibly muscular, and I realized that he would most likely be the best smith the world would ever have, but he would never settle for less than best swordsman. Despite his brawn, he was smart, not the next Aristotle, but smart nonetheless.
Alice was a cheerful little pixie. She was a third year squire and would be leaving soon after Jasper, and would be leaving with her shield for sure. With her short black hair and her stunted height she could pass for younger, but something about the way she carried herself showed an enhanced sense of age. She was intelligent and witty, and could carry on a conversation on the dullest topics. I could tell from the beginning that, even though we are opposites, we would be amazing friends. Over everything else, she seemed to have a sixth sense for the things yet to happen. One thing I learned from one talk, never bet against Alice.
After the morning meal, Alice helped me around, except when we were divided, pages versus squires. The first day was exhausting and try as I might, I couldn't keep up with everyone. I would change that, I thought to myself after sword practice had gone horribly wrong, when I had dropped my sword as the training master was walking by. I couldn't have been more embarrassed, especially when he was one of the few who still protested girls becoming knights.
As I was heading to dinner that night, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to face a third year page, whom I believed was named Marcus, with three brawny looking people standing behind him. I got an uneasy feeling immediately, mainly because of the cold glint in his eyes.
I stared him down, as he and his cronies surveyed me, taking my measure. Then Marcus made a hand signal to his three companions and they stepped back, farther away from the two of us.
I wondered if that were him thinking he could best me one on one without ever seeing me fight. I hoped I could talk my way out of this.
My hope seemed futile as I stood and looked into his flinty eyes as he began to speak, "Why did you come here, Isabella?" He sneered my name as harshly as he could in hopes of my discomfort and he succeeded incredibly well.
"To be a knight." I tried to keep respectful and not pull anything on him, lest it turn into a fist fight. He chuckled slightly.
"What makes you think that a girl can be a knight?"
"There have been a select few woman who have become lady knights, and they are just as good, maybe better than the average knight. I know Alice will achieve it, and if these great woman can accomplish it, in what light would you see it, that I couldn't too?"
He glared at me for a second and then proclaimed, "Stay out of my sight and you might survive here a day longer." And with that, he turned and made his exit, through the hall doors with cronies following.
I cringed inside and thought, one day, that is what I will be protecting the world from.
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