A/N - Chapter 5! :D Thank you all for taking the time to read this! :)
Esme slowly pulled her head from underneath the covers, retreating immediately when her eyes were met with the blinding sunlight that streamed through the windows.
"Good morning, Lady Esme." Beth hummed cheerfully.
"Don't call me that." Esme mumbled groggily from under the bed sheets.
"Don't call you what, milady?"
"Lady Esme, milady, miss, mistress, or any other formal term of address you can think of, just Esme is fine." The maid knitted her brow in confusion. Esme sighed, at the moment, she really didn't feel like divulging into all her philosophical opinions about how everyone should treat each other as equals regardless of their rank. "I'm just not into formalities." Beth nodded thoughtfully, then turned to set the table for breakfast. Esme quickly consumed the meal and proceeded to ready herself for the day, her face fell in dismay as she saw that her wardrobe contained only dresses.
"Is something wrong, La-Esme." The serving girl asked.
"Umm... Would it be possible for you to fetch me a tunic and pair of breeches?" Beth's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the request and she hurried off to fulfill her mistress' request.
"So, why would you want to wear mens clothing when you have all these pretty dresses?" Beth asked timidly, when she'd returned with the garments.
"It's more convenient, especially for practicing swordplay." The maid gaped,
"You're going to the practice grounds?"
"Where else?"
"But you can't, you're a woman, they'd never allow it!" Esme grinned,
"There's a first time for everything."
The practice grounds were only half-full as Esme sauntered across the lush green lawn. The knights didn't take much notice of her at first, that is until a younger knight began arguing with her that women couldn't fight.
"I'm just as capable of wielding a blade as you are!" Esme growled through her teeth. She was annoyed by people who looked at woman as defenseless, dependent creatures, she'd show this knight that he was dead wrong in his assumptions. "Just to prove my point, I challenge you to a duel." she smirked. To her surprise, the young knight immediately excepted, positioning himself to attack. She pulled her feet back in a defensive stance, bracing herself for impacted. The knight's sword came down on her's with a clattering thud, she smiled, savoring the sweet sound of clashing metal before making her first move. With a flip of her wrist she advanced, forcing her opponent to take a few steps back. She allowed him several more feeble attempts to best her before ending the fight, she didn't want to embarrass him completely, that would be rude. Taking in a deep breath, she lunged forward, the cold blade bending like a cowering servant at her wrist's every whim. It was only mere moments before she had the knight pinned on the ground, completely disarmed. "Do yourself a favor, next time a woman tells you she can handle a sword, take her word for it." she laughed, holding out a hand to help the bewildered knight up. He nodded vigorously before scurrying off to the castle.
"That was incredible." praised a voice from behind her. Esme turned to see none other than King Arthur standing before her, his eyebrows raised in impression.
"Thank you, Arthur." she grinned.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"My father taught me," Esme said, smiling wistfully. "When I was a child, I wanted to become a knight, just like he was."
"Well, you certainly are capable of performing all the tasks that are required of a knight." he laughed.
"But Sire, she's a woman." Sir Leon pointed out.
"Yeah, I think we've all got that figured out." she grumbled to herself.
"It wouldn't be appropriate." he continued.
"Oh? And why is that, Leon?" Esme asked, trying her best to sound as naive as possible.
"Well-er..." he stammered.
"Now that I think about it," Arthur began, "I don't think that there is anything in the knight's code saying that a woman can't be a knight..." Esme shot Leon a triumphant grin, then turned to Arthur,
"When do we start training?"
