Ingrid sighed as she listened to her mother argue with her sister, Kayley, about some new adventure the young woman had gotten into her head. It was always something new with Kayley. One moment she'd be begging to go help the dragon-wranglers of the north for the summer and the next she'd ask to take sword fighting lessons from some passing nomads.
Ingrid, herself, had been like Kayley once, ambitious and bold, dreaming of grand adventures. But ever since their father, Sir Lionel, was killed by one of Ingrid's favorite knights, Sir Ruber, she found it hard to get excited about adventures.
"No! Absolutely not!" Lady Juliana cried as she sewed the hem of a new white dress while Ingrid held it up.
"But mother, Excalibur is missing! I must go after it!" Kayley pleaded.
"That's a job for the knights, not for a young girl," Juliana said, taking the dress from Ingrid and examining the seams.
"But I want to be a knight. Go on grand adventures, fighting evil, rescuing damsels in distress," Kayley said, "What is a damsel anyway?"
Ingrid measured her sister's waist and chuckled, "You're one, stupid."
Kayley scowled at her. "I didn't ask you."
"Girls, please," Juliana sighed, "We have to finish this new dress."
She and Ingrid wrestled the new dress over Kayley's head.
Kayley struggled, "Mother, I don't want a new dress! I want to save Camelot! If you'd just let me, I know I could find Excalibur all on my own."
"The knights will find the sword, and they'll do it by working together," Ingrid said.
"While we're working here. Doing the chores, fetching the eggs, taking care of the house. Boring!" Kayley said, "Where's the glory in that?"
She folded her arms petulantly. Juliana grasped her arm and placed a hand on her cheek. "Kayley, one day you will learn what Camelot means. Until then, you'll stay here with me."
"Oh, alright!" Kayley cried in frustration, taking her new dress off and throwing it to the floor. She stormed out of the room.
Juliana sighed, picking the dress up and dusting it off.
"I'll talk to her, mother," Ingrid said, placing a hand on her mother's shoulder before heading into Kayley's room.
Kayley was face down on her bed, crying quietly.
"Kayley," Ingrid said softly, sitting next to her and placing a hand on her back.
Kayley said nothing.
Ingrid sighed. "I know this isn't how you think you should be spending your time. Father promised both of us a more exciting life. A life of fighting for what's right. And it seems like that dream died with him."
Kayley sat up and looked at her sister. Her brown eyes were red from crying.
"I want to live the way he said we would. You remember all those games we used to play? Where I was the knight and you were the sorceress who helped me on the way? I always grew up believing that it would be real someday. But I feel like we're just stuck here doing nothing that will matter in the long run," Kayley said.
"I know," Ingrid said, "it won't always be like this for you if you don't want it to be. Adventure will find its way to you in time. But we should do the best we can at the work we have right now. Think of mother. She lost the man she loved because he stood up for what was right. And it might not make sense to you right now, but she's afraid of losing you the same way if you go out chasing adventure."
Kayley nodded.
"You're brave, Kayley," Ingrid said, "Can you use that bravery to get through the boring stuff for a little while longer?"
Kayley smiled and nodded, hugging her older sister who hugged her back and said, "Go on now. I expect mother will want eggs for dinner tonight."
Kayley went out to the chicken coop while Ingrid went to help clean up for dinner.
"Is she alright?" Juliana asked.
Ingrid smiled. "She'll live to complain about her harebrained schemes another day."
Juliana smiled and nudged her playfully as they cleared the table.
A barrage of flaming arrows sailed through the windows, startling the mother and daughter and the household servants.
They stood in shock as a band of ruffians with torches burst through the door. A tall figure in red armor with a horned mask followed saying, "knock, knock."
"Who… who are you?" Ingrid asked, taking a protective step in front of her mother.
The figure removed his mask to reveal a familiar face.