A/N: Happy Martin Luther King Day! Forgive me for taking longer than a month to get a new chapter up! I've had such a horrible case of writer's block that was unexpectedly broken last night. I wrote this whole chapter last night. I also rethought my plot. Things are going to start taking shape, so get excited! Read, review, and enjoy!
Aer: Two updates in less than 24 hours. Lucky you! I'm not sure if this chapter came out the way that I wanted it to. Let me know what you think.
Lilith Ha: I'm glad that you like Lady Aquillia. She is a strong woman. Thanks for reading my story! I hope you like it.
Tigress FN: Yes, without her mother on her side, she probably wouldn't get this chance. Enjoy!
American Pie: I like Peter too! Not too much of him in this chapter, but he will be in the next one.
Lady Isabelle: Thanks for reading and reviewing my story. We see more of the father in this chapter. I hope he turned out ok!
Declan White: Sorry this too so long to get up. Thanks for reviewing. I hope you like this chapter!
Moranar: I owe this chapter to you. I read your review, and felt just horrible that it has taken me so long. I had no idea my story was in demand! Well, here it is. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Progressives Take the Lead
Nervousness filled her body. Today was it. This was her only and finally chance to get what she had been wanting her whole life. She had been up for hours. Christina was already dressed as she paced back and forth in her room.
'Ok ok. Stay calm. Breath. It isn't that big of a deal. It's just a silly little knight thing. Oh, who am I kidding? This is everything to me. And when was the last time you got anything you wanted? You're not going to get it. You heard father yourself. He is completely against it. I've never seen him so upset before. Be strong. You're not going to cry when you don't get it. Show them that you're not upset.'
She paused and walked over to the open window. Outside, the birds were chirping. Noise came from over the wall. The city was busy. They didn't even know that she was up for her page years. Nor did they care. What does another Lady Knight mean to them? Christina inhaled deeply, exhaling all her worries and anxieties. "I'm ready. Do your worst, I can take it." She exhaled again. "Goddess give me strength," she whispered out into the gentle breeze.
~*~
Sir Laeorn could feel the tension in the room. The family sitting in front of him just stared at him, waiting for him to begin. The father, Lord Feroun, had coldness in his blue eyes. It reminded the training master of ice in the winter, which wasn't that far away. He could tell by the way the man positioned himself that he didn't want to be here, that he thought it was a waste of his time. His eyes next rested on the girl. Her face was pale and her palms were sweating. He could tell that she was nervous or scared, or both. The mother, on the other hand, looked ready. Her hazel eyes and rosy complexion gave him a sense of tranquillity. With this, he found the strength to begin. He cleared his throat.
"Thank-you for coming, Lord and Lady of Heron's Grove," Sir Laeorn began. Lady Aquillia nodded her head.
"Well it wasn't exactly my idea," Sir Feroun said as he looked down at his daughter.
The training master ignored the comment. "Your daughter came to me yesterday, asking if she could become a knight. I told her that it was up to her parents to decide. I've asked to meet with you to discuss the issue."
"There is no issue," Lord Feroun said bluntly. "I do not wish my daughter to become a knight-"
"I, on the other hand, support the idea," Lady Aquillia interjected. The couple exchanged cold stares. The disagreeable man crossed him arms.
"Well it seems like we are in a predicament. You and your daughter, milady, wish Christina to become a knight, but you, Sir Feroun, do not wish this?"
"No, my daughter will not become a knight so long as I am the master of our household."
"It looks to me that you are outnumbered, sir." The training master perceived.
"My daughter's opinion does not matter. She should not concern you. I see no further need to stay. Excuse me," Lord Feroun said as he rose from his seat.
'There has to be a way to make him agree,' the training master thought to himself. 'She deserves a chance just as much as any of those boys.' Then he got an idea. A brilliant idea. "Lord Feroun, are you a conservative?"
This stopped the man dead in his tracks. He slowly turned around with an unreadable expression on his face. "What?"
"Are you a conservative? I would have thought in these times, change would be accepted. And as one of the oldest families, I would have hoped that you would start an example for the country." He had him.
"My views are not at all your concern. What I chose to do with my daughter is none of your business. I will not have this discussion." He spat out bitterly.
"But you will have to someday, my dear," Lady Aquillia spoke gently, so as to not upset her husband any more than he was. "Why not now? Why not be known as the first conservative to send your daughter to the castle?"
He paused and thought about this a moment, but shook his head. "No, no. Women have no reason or need to become knights. It is not their place."
"Feroun!" Lady Aquillia hissed at him. He turned his gaze to her and fixed her with a cold-hearted stare. Never, never had he thought his wife would contradict him. "Mind what you say," she whispered, eyes just as unforgiving as his were.
Sir Laeorn cleared his throat. "Conservatives are dying in number. You must realize that whether you support the idea of Lady Knights or not, more will come. You cannot stop it."
"But I don't have to support it." His words stung Christina, who had been sitting in silence. She had to say something. She couldn't let her chance go by and not do anything.
"Why not, father?" She startled him. "The king does, and so does the country. Why can't you? Why must you stay in your old ways?" Her words shocked herself.
"Yes, the king does support it," Lia said. "No doubt he will hear about this and learn of your conservative habits. How will you look to him then, Feroun? You will lose favor with him. Our fief will be forgotten, and our family along with it. The name this family has will lose all its honor."
He was trapped. There was no way around that obstacle. Honor meant everything to him. The worst part was he knew she was right. He would lose favor with King Jonathan. Sending his daughter to the castle would earn his approval. He would be the first conservative to allow his own daughter to become a Lady Knight. That would surely make his name known. But it went against everything he believed in.
Lord Feroun slammed his fist into his thigh in frustration. "Fine," he breathed almost inaudible. "Fine. Christina will," he gulped, "become a page."
Christina could hardly contain her excitement. She was so sure that he would never allow such a thing to happen. She was sure that she would be stuck becoming a lady for the rest of her life. All she wanted to do was give her father a giant hug, but she knew better than that. That sort of action would just upset him all the more.
"Very well, as you say," Lord Laeorn said. "She is already a week behind, but I'm sure she will have no trouble catching up. Christina will start right away, after lunch would be most preferable."
Lord Feroun was too annoyed to speak, so his wife answered. "That's fine. I'll have her things sent down right away. Thank you for meeting with us." Lady Aquillia rose to leave. The training master rose to see her and her daughter out. "Aren't you coming, Feroun?"
"I'll be with you in a moment. I would like a private word with Sir Laeorn." Lia nodded, and led her daughter out, who was so giddy with anticipation that she forgot to thank her training master.
When the door closed, he spoke. "I want you to treat her like a boy. If she wants the occupation of one, then she should have no privileges because of her sex." His words were harsh.
"She will be treated the same. Have no fear. She will be pushed just as hard as any of her year mates."
"I want her pushed harder. I want her to realize that she never should have even asked for this. She will get her shield, of course, otherwise she will shame her family, but I want her to have earned it three times over."
Lord Laeorn couldn't believe his ears. How could he ask for such harsh punishment? No doubt he would push her, but enough to make her suffer? It didn't seem right. "She will be treated the same. No privileges or convictions." They stared at each other for a good long minute before the silence was broken.
"Do as I ask, or you will find yourself in a peculiar situation," the aggravated man said. And before the training master could protest, Lord Feroun had left the room. Sir Laeorn was left contemplating what the man had said to him about the young girl who was to start her page years.
~*~
It was noon on the same day. The glittering sun shone brightly over the capital. It was one hot day, indeed. Christina followed the training master outside. The pages were already in the practice courts, stretching and preparing for the coming exercises. They were situated in rows according to their year.
Christina spotted the pages she was already aquatinted with. She was relieved to know that she already had friends. But she was still nervous. She was just moments away from being introduced to the group. How would they react to her? She was lost in her thoughts when the training master spoke.
"Your attention please!" He bellowed. This startles Christina enough to bring her back to the moment. "This is Christina of Heron's Grove. She is here to become a knight, just like the rest of you. She is starting a week late, but she is to be treated to same as any other page. Who will sponsor her?"
Barely a second passed by before someone spoke. "I will," Collin called from the second row. He gave Christina a supportive smile. Lord Laeorn was surprised, but didn't show it.
"Collin of Rebouqué will sponsor Christina of Heron's Grove," he called over the murmurs that erupted. He then turned his attention to the young girl. "Get in line over there, the teachers will help get you situated." With that, he left with out another word.
Christina walked over to Collin, who was waving emphatically at her. He had made room for her next to him. "I can't believe it! You're here! This is going to be great." She just nodded her head.
For the first time, she noticed all the turned heads staring in her direction. She heard all the murmurs and whispers. All she wanted to do was disappear. Then the teacher called for everyone's attention.
"Quiet, quiet. For those of you who don't know, or don't remember, my name is Sir Keneth. I am the hand combat instructor." His midnight eyes were directed at Christina. "Let's get started."
She then realized that she was a week behind her year mates, and that she was going to have to desperately try her hardest to catch up. She listened, and had no idea what her teacher was talking about. Was is wrong to seek extra help? She would have to ask her friends later. Until then, she was going to have to suffer the embarrassment of not knowing anything in the way of hand to hand combat. 'Great,' she thought to herself, 'this is going to be one very long day.'
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Not my longest chapter, but not my shortest either!