Chapter 1: It was an idea.
"Charlotte, darling, do sit down!" My father was a rotund man with a short beard and a big heart. After my mother died when I was just five we grew very close. So close that he taught me everything he knew of life and love and fighting. Though I could tell he wished me a son, he still loved me just the same.
"Sorry, father. I'm just excited. It's been months since we've seen a good joust!" The wind picked up and my red hair flew about as I returned to sit beside my dad.
"I know dear." As he spoke a knight came up to speak to him. The man had a sharp face and dark brown hair. These audiences were a common occurrence during our outings. The same story every time. They would ask permission to court me, and then my father would decline. I had been betrothed once before; to a man I might've loved. After we received word of his death in battle my father began taking me to these tournaments they were the only time I felt joy again. After we received the news of his death he promised me that I would have the freedom to marry whomever I wanted, and if I didn't wish to marry at all then he would not be disappointed. There was no end to how much I loved my father. "We are going to have to head home for a while, Charlotte."
"Why, father?"
"I have to tend to some things in Winchester. Don't you miss our friends?"
"I do, I suppose." I watched as two knights crashed together.
"I wonder why Sir William isn't competing again? He hasn't been to the last three tournaments."
A woman behind us spoke, "Earl, I believe he lost his wife at the beginning of this spring."
"Oh, poor chap. That championship was the first time I took Lady Charlotte to a tournament, you remember that? Almost six years ago, that was. You were just fifteen." He smiled at me.
"That was what made me fall in love with this sport."
"A girl in love with a sport? I'd never." The woman exclaimed.
"You will not talk of my daughter in such a way. Come Charlotte, we shall leave now." He got up and began walking towards our carriage. I followed. I should have liked to stay, but there was no reasoning with my father when someone spoke down to me.
On the first day of the carriage ride back I had an idea, which I sat with for two more days until finally I could not hold it in. "Father, I should like to compete in tournaments."
"Excuse me?"
"I want to joust, and cross swords."
"Women are not allowed to compete, my dear."
"Oh," I hung my head down. I wanted to try. I wanted to prove myself as more. I didn't want this boring life anymore.
"Oh, alright. We will find a way." He smiled at me, "Sometimes I feel you have completely bewitched me. It will not be easy to do, my Charlotte."
"I know, father." I smiled.
"But we shall find a way." The rest of the ride we spoke strategy, and of how my father would finally get a son.