A/N: Thanks for everyone who has reviewed!!! i hope you like this new chapter! i'm sorry if there are lots of mistakes in it, it's just it's late and i'm super tired! please review and tell me what you think because i'm not sure if i want to continue this
I was exhausted by the time I finally got to bed. And it didn't seem like long before I was shaken awake. I looked up groggily to see not Nate but Shane shaking me awake.
"Get up!" He commanded, "You think just because you're just a stable boy and not a Young Knight you don't have to wake up at the same time as everyone else?"
"No s-sir, I-I'm sorry!" I stuttered, Shane was very intimidating especially since I was still half asleep. He half-laughed in distain. I was not certain why he hated me so but nevertheless he did.
"Shane, be kind, Mitchie doesn't know the rules yet," Nate said kindly from the flap of the tent.
"Mitchie?" Shane questioned.
"A nickname, not so long as Michelson," Nate shrugged, "You don't mind?" Nate asked me. I shook my head, I was happy Nate accepted me enough to give me a nickname.
"Well are you ready to work?" Shane and Nate looked at me expectantly.
"I have to get dressed," I mumbled. They both looked clueless for a second and then walked out of the tent. I quickly changed into my outfit from yesterday, I owned no clothes other then what I went to bed in and my outdoor breeches and tunic. They were starting to smell and I knew I had to wash them soon, but how would be difficult. I could not under any circumstances let any of the Young Knights know I was a girl. Putting my thoughts aside, I quickly strode from the tent and followed Nate and Shane to the makeshift stable.
"I need you to clean the stalls, they haven't been fully cleaned and watered down in a while," Shane informed me.
"Don't worry, Mitchie, I'll help you," Nate said helpfully.
"No Nate will not be helping you, I need him," Shane said frowning.
"You don't need me, Mitchie does," Nate protested.
"Nathaniel, in this situation I am not your brother, I am your Commander!" Shane said seriously. Nate nodded and gave me a sorry-for-him look.
"Well what are you waiting, get to work!" Shane snapped at me and dragged Nate away. I looked around and groaned, this place was a mess. But then I pulled myself together, a Young Knight does not complain about a simple task. I led all the horses outside and tethered them to the fence post. Then I gathered all the buckets I could find and lugged then to and from the lake. At least this was building up my strength, I thought. Then after sweeping and shoveling out each of the stalls, it was already noon and blistering hot outside. The Young Knights all around me had taken off their shirts to cool down, but I could not, once again the curse of being a girl weighed down upon me.
"Are you done?" Shane walked up to me; I could see the sweat glint off his chiseled abs. If he weren't such a jerk I would have found him attractive.
I jerked my gaze from his body," A-Almost," I stuttered, I could not control my stuttering when I was around him.
"Is something wrong with you? You have a girlish voice and you stutter?" Shane said squinting at me.
"No, no, I'm just tired," I said deepening my voice. I needed to practice keeping my voice low or I was at risk of being discovered.
"Tired!" Shane chuckled, "And you thought you could be a Young Knight, and you don't even have the endurance to clean a stable!"
"I do, Sir" I said curding inwardly; I did not want to come off as weak. I walked quickly back to the stable and rinsed out the stalls with the water I had brought from the lake. Then after letting it dry which did not take long in the extreme heat, I laid down fresh hay and led the horses back inside.
My stomach started to cramp and I realized that I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch. I started off in my quest for food when Nate came running over to me.
He handed me a small loaf of bread with cheese, "I figured you had not taken a break to eat."
I nodded gratefully, "thank you, I was famished."
"I need someone to practice my swordsmanship with and I know you want to become a Young Knight, so will you practice with my today?" Nate asked grinning.
"Of course," I nodded ecstatically.
"Now?" Nate questioned. I nodded happily again.
We walked over to our shared tent and Nate got us both swords. When we reached the practice field it was deserted.
"Ready, we fight until first hit?" Nate asked as he widened his stance waiting for my attack.
"Yes," I answered softly. Then quickly Nate lashed out with his sword and I just barely blocked him, it continued on like this for a while. Nate was much better then I but I was faster. Slowly I wore him down and began to sneak in some attacks myself. Finally Nate got a blow on me, it was just a light touch not intended to hurt but just to ensure a win.
"Thank you for this Nate," I said tiredly.
"It was my pleasure," He responded grinning tiredly, "You are lightening quick!"
"You didn't need practice with your swordsmanship, did you?" I asked Nate was far too good to ever need to ask me for help. Nate shook his head. I smiled when I realized he had done this to give me a chance to practice so one day I could become a Young Knight.
Nate smiled but then his eyes grew wide and alarmed, "Mitchie you're bleeding!"
I looked down to the crotch of my pants and realized they were soaked in blood, I cursed, "I have to go!" I said and ran off into the woods.
"Mitchie are you okay," Nate called after me worried.
"Leave me alone," I yelled back. I ran until I reached a small river.
"Damn it, damn it all," I cried out to the sky in anger. It was my time of the month, another curse of being a girl. I waded into the river and took off my clothes. I scrubbed and scrubbed them until there was only a faint stain left and I ripped my shirt shorter and made a pad.
"Why do I have to be a girl, a weak stupid girl," I cried. It was so unfair; it was so easy for boys. I curled up besides the river tired and depressed. The image of my father, the one that I tucked to the farthest corner of my brain came back to haunt me. I slowly drifted to sleep; it was not a peaceful sleep. I saw my father's body and the man I killed. In the dream, I was killing the man, but just after I had plunged the blade into the Saxon, he morphed into my father.
I woke with a start, tears running down my face. It felt as though I really had killed my father with the last words I had said to him. I hate you, such harsh horrible words. I looked around me, I was back in my tent and Nate sat besides me.
"Are you okay?" Nate said softly. I nodded unable to speak. "I'm sorry I hurt you, I thought I was careful!"
"It wasn't your fault," I replied, I thanked God Nate hadn't figured out the true reason for my bleeding. "How did I get here? The last thing I remember was falling asleep by the river. Thanks for bringing me back."
"I didn't," Nate said simply.
"I don't remember walking back," I said confused.
"You didn't," Nate said not offering up any more information.
"Well how did I get back then?" I questioned wondering why he wasn't answering.
"Shane carried you back. I told him you were hurt and when you didn't come back, he went after you and brought you back." Nate explained.
"Shane did?" I questioned slightly shocked. "But he hates me."
"He just has a hard time showing people who he really is," Nate told me. "You should sleep a little longer."
"I have slept long enough!" I protested but my eyes were already beginning to close and I soon drifted off.
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