Author's note: I am not good at writing for Smithy, so I chose to write one just about him. Tell me if it feels a bit off. Please review!

Jane noticed that the two knights standing sentry were not permitting a woman on a horse from entering. "What is going on here?" she demanded, confused because today being the King's audience day, all with a petition were allowed in the castle.

"I came to petition the King for a position," responded the girl.

"We were simply telling her that we have enough women working in the kitchens already, no more are needed."

"That is for the King to decide, not his sentries." Jane turned her attention to the girl. "I will lead you to the King's audience chamber. What is your name?"

"Elicia," the girl boldly stated.

Jane looked over the girl quickly. "Noble, it means, does it not? A fitting name. Come, we must stable your horse." Jane bid the girl dismount, then walked her to the stables where she stabled her horse. They then headed to the audience chamber. "I wish you luck in finding a position with the King. You would be a grand edition." In the first few moments that Jane had known Elicia, she already felt that they would be great friends, even if the girl was about seven years younger than Jane.

Smithy was astounded by the new horse in the stable. He knew every horse in the castle well, and the horses of all of the people likely to petition. Aurora, the horse of the baker, here to complain of the miller no doubt, Nerra, the horse of Pepper's brother the Salter, here to complain about the butcher, and many other horses. But this one, he did not know, not even recognizing it from the stables at Pepper and Rake's inn.

He was astonished when he found Jane walking a girl of about seventeen towards the stables. Jane quickly introduced him to her. "Smithy, this is Elicia. She is to be your apprentice." Smithy was visibly shocked, not believing for a moment that this small girl with a thin frame could possibly work as a smith. "Pending your approval, of course."

"Very well, thank you Jane." The girl did not seem to like him, especially after his look of shock. "First off, let's see if you can smith." He handed her a lump of iron and told her to make a horseshoe. When she was finished, she showed him her handiwork. He had to admit, he never would have guessed that she could have swung the hammer, much less create a very good horseshoe like the one she had.

"Let's see if you can put it on the horse. Cleaver has thrown his rear left shoe. I want you to put it on him." He watched as she capably put the new shoe on Cleaver. Then again, she probably took care of her own horse. When she was done, he assigned her the job he thought would bring her to quit. "While you're here, go ahead and muck out the stable." She grabbed a pitchfork and began to clear the stalls without a complaint.

Finally, she finished with that job and so he decided to inform her of his decision. "You are a girl. Girls are not smiths. This is tradition. This makes sense, as men are stronger." Elicia looked like she was about to boil over as she began to run through her head the best way to return this masculine swine to the ground where he belonged. "But. As you may have seen, this castle is not traditional. We have the first female knight, and we will have the first female smith. You will remain my apprentice for as long as I fill my post, inheriting the job when I am done. Do you understand?" She nodded her head. "Will you accept these terms?" She once more nodded. "Have you been given a room?"

"I was told that if you agreed, that I would be allowed to use the tower bedroom on the practice field."

"Jane's old room. Splendid. We rise at dawn. You should probably groom your horse now, as you will not be given the chance tomorrow."