Hello! Hello! I'm terribly sorry that it has taken me song to update. I had some awful writer's block and I couldn't think of a thing to write. But I sat down and forced myself to write another chapter, and here it is! Another soon to come. I am conveniently using my fanfic to procrastinate my homework (which I have yet to start). Please review! And enjoy! ~kalle
Georgie: Sorry this has taken me so long. But here it is! Enjoy!
Aer: eeeeexxxxxxxxxx-roooooommmmmiiiiiiieeee!!!!!! I have written another chapter! I hope you like it. oh and…. Did you ask Derek??? **wink wink wink*** I luuuvv you!!
Chapter 4: "Lady Lessons"
The sunlight poured onto the stone floor through the east window. Slowly she turned over, inhaling a subtle scent of lavender, which grew under her window. Opening one eye Christina glanced around her room. She forced herself to sit up. Then she remembered last night and how she had promised George to talk to Sir Laeorn, the training master. Christina let out a groan.
'How did I get myself into this? Why, why, why… ' Her thoughts trailed off as she got out of bed and walked to the wash basin. Christina washed her face and brushed her teeth and hair. Next she proceeded to the chest.
'What should I wear… can't be too feminine, or he won't take me seriously. Blue? No…' She groaned again in frustration. Finally she decided on a simple green dress. She tied a matching ribbon around her low ponytail and headed to breakfast.
~*~
Down in the kitchen, she met Maelerin, a maid in her teen years who had been assigned to watch Christina. She wore a plain dress and apron. Her auburn hair was done in a messy top knot.
"There you are," Maelerin said. "I was just about to wake you."
"Well, I'm already up," Christina answered looking up into her bright blue eyes.
"Breakfast is waiting for you. Oh, and I'm to remind you to go to your lessons today." Christina frowned.
"I hate them. Why do I need to learn how to sit and eat properly? Lady Quearin always says my stitches are too big. She's always telling me that I'm clumsy and never going to find a husband."
Christina had been at the palace for a few weeks while her parents were visiting friends in Corus. She begged them to let her come and see the marvelous capital. Reluctantly, then agreed upon the condition that she would take "Lady Lessons," as her mother called them. Poor old Lady Quearin was just too boring for Christina's tastes. It didn't take her long to navigate her way to the library and skip her lessons.
Maelerin laughed. "Well, you're being rude by skipping them. Make sure you show up today. The poor old dear, you really do break her heart!"
"Her heart? What about my sanity!" Laughing, Maelerin nudged Christina toward her meal.
"Eat up, it's getting cold." Christina leisurely walked over to the small table in the corner of the bright room. Lessons were at ten. 'Good thing I'm up a little early. I'll have to go speak to Sir Laeorn after I'm done eating.' As she started on her luke warm porridge, she realized that she didn't know where to find him. She shoved the food into her mouth as the cooks gave her strange glances.
"Do you know where I can find Sir Laeorn?" Christina asked after she had finished her meal.
The cook gave her a perplexed look, but did not question the girl. "I believe you can find him in the east wing…"
"Thank-you!" Christina shouted over her shoulder as she ran from the kitchen.
~*~
Lord Laeorn sat at his desk looking through some papers. His dark brown hair clumsily fell into his face. He carefully set it right again, just to have a drop of sweat run into his gray eyes. As midday was drawing closer, the room began to heat. He seemed very frustrated.
"Where is it?" he mumbled to himself. Then he heard a small knock on the door. Letting out a long drawn out sigh, he said, "Come in." Lord Laeorn hated to be interrupted.
The door opened a crack, and a small brown-haired head slid into the gap. "Excuse-me sir," a small voice said from the door, "But may I have a word with you, sir?" Christina was nervous. She could feel her palms sweating. The heat wasn't helping either.
Lord Laeorn was confused at this request. Never the less, he complied. He could spare a moment from his work to see what this girl wanted from him. "Please come in and take a seat," he said as he motioned her towards the chair in front of his desk.
Christina slowly moved into the room. It was fairly large for an office. It had one window located behind the desk, which was positioned in the middle of the room. She curtsied and sat down, smoothing her skirts as she had been taught to do.
The training master folded his hand on his desk . "Now, tell me your name and your business."
"Yes sir. My name is Christina of Heron's Grove," she paused, taking a deep breath. "I am here because I wish to become a knight."
His eye's flashed in shock. Her surname was familiar, but she was here by herself. That didn't make sense. The fact that she wanted to be a knight puzzled him as well. He looked at her. She had a slender frame but was tall for her age. Her skin was had a hint of brown, telling him she had spent time in the sun. Her features were angular, but her eyes were pretty. She had clear blue eyes that were patiently awaiting his answer. He cleared his throat.
"Where are your parents?"
'That's an odd question,' she thought to herself. Shrugging to herself, she said, "My parents, the Lord and Lady of Heron's Grove, are visiting friends in Corus."
Sir Laeorn posed his next question very carefully. "Why do you wish to become a knight?"
Christina had known that he would ask this. Although her answer was prepared, she was still nervous. She fought to keep her voice from cracking. "I want to be a knight so that I can help those who are unable to help themselves. I want to serve my country and my king by protecting the land and the people. Being a knight is about knowing what's fair and using the authority one has to enforce it."
The Lord narrowed his gaze and looked at her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. This young girl siting before him had more of an understanding about what being a knight meant than some of the knights he was training. Yet, something inside was screaming that she was a girl. He sighed. 'That shouldn't be an issue anymore,' He thought to himself. 'The question is, do her parents want her to do this, and is she up to the task.'
"Do your parents know that you are here?"
"No, sir." She looked him right in the eye.
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing that I can do until I have word from your parents about this." Christina's shoulders dropped, and she fought tears.
'Warriors are strong!' She reminded herself. 'I will not cry!' She looked back at the training master. He was giving her an apologetic look. She did not want his sympathy.
"Then may I request another meeting with my parents present, sir?"
The Lord smiled. "Of course you may. But, remember, it is not my decision. It is your parents'." She nodded.
"Are you available tomorrow morning for the meeting, sir?" If she really did have a chance at becoming a knight, she would need the evening to work on her parents.
"That time is most agreeable, Christina." Her heart failed a moment when he said her name. She inwardly sighed.
Rising from her seat she said, "Thank-you. Good day, my lord." Christina curtsied and left the room taking her radiating presence with her.
'I can't believe it. A girl of that age must have a lot of courage to seek knight hood without the approval of parents. Heron's Grove…. ah! Lord Feroun. He won't be happy when he hears that his daughter wishes to become a knight.' Laeorn smiled at this amusement. 'There's something about her… her composure maybe…' He shook his head. "She really is dead set on becoming a knight."
~*~
Christina ran down the hall, tears staining her face and dress. She faintly heard the bell chiming ten o'clock. She didn't care if she was late for her "Lady Lessons." She couldn't believe what she had done!
'How could I? My parents will hang me for even thinking of such a crazy thing. And when I tell them that I met with the training master himself..?' She shuddered at the thought. 'I've really done it to myself this time. Lord Laeorn expects me tomorrow.. with my parents…'
Suddenly she found herself at Lady Quearin's door. She dried her eyes and knocked. A faint voice answered her. She walked into a bright room. There were three large window with pretty pink curtain. The sitting room was overplayed with the color. There were pink chairs, sofas, pillow, and even pink roses in pretty pink vases! Lady Quearin sat in a cozy chair by the fireplace, with a look of absolute disgust on her face.
"Good gracious, child, what happened to you?"
Christina checked herself over. Her dress was stained with tears. Her face was sticky from crying, and her hair was disorderly. She shrugged.
"Well never mind. You're late, but at least you came this time." The old woman gave her a piercing glance. Then with an air of superiority and a flick of the wrist she said, "A lady is never late, but perfectly on time."
"Well I am not a lady. If I were one, I would arrive exactly when I mean too, not a minute too early or too late."
The woman gave her another stare, then sighed with defeat. "Stop standing. Sit down and take a book and read to me."
Christina complied but couldn't help but think that it was going to be a long afternoon.
~*~
Well, that's it. Personally, I don't think it's my best. I'm taking an awful long time to get her to where I want Christina to be in the story. But be patient, and I promise there will be action soon! Stay with me here! Thanks!
~Kalle