Disclaimer: This story is completely original. All characters, settings, and events are spawned from my own mixed up little mind and may not be used, copied, or adapted without my express written permission. Do not steal my story!!!
10.
Toby wasn't sure how long the horse ran for, but it seemed like an eternity. He didn't tire or falter, the rhythm of his hooves varying only in sound, according to what they were passing over. Every so often Toby would open her eyes and try to figure out where they were, but she couldn't see through the curtain of her hair whipping around in the wind, much less discern which houses they were blurring past, and she feared for the continued safety of her glasses if the wind caught them.
Finally, the Knight pulled the horse to a stop and Toby ran her hands furiously through her hair to try and get the long, dark brown strands out of her face, pushing her glasses up her nose again. She looked around, only to find they were standing in front of the porch of her house.
"How…" she started, but then just shook her head. "Never mind."
The Knight was already dismounting, swinging from the horse with a nimble grace that made it seem like the heavy plate wasn't even there. Toby's hands went to the Knight's shoulders as gauntleted hands gently took her waist and lifted her down off of the horse, setting her gently down on her feet.
"Fair Princess," the Knight said again, and Toby wondered if the helmet amplified that strong voice or if it was just that way. The Knight kneeled before Toby, reaching up and suddenly sweeping the feather-topped helm off.
Long golden tresses the color of spun sunlight cascaded down around the Knight's silver-clad shoulders, which Toby realized were too slim to be a man's. The Knight was a woman, and a gorgeous one too. Her face was as noble and strong as Toby had thought it would be, but it was also beautiful, with two brilliant blue eyes framed by lashes so long and dark they put mascara to shame. The iridescent armor she wore hid the rest of her body, but Toby felt certain that in 'normal' clothes, the Knight would look like a supermodel or actress. She had that air of glamour around her, as if normal everyday dreariness couldn't touch her.
The woman – Theo's Knight Errant – raised Toby's hand to her full, rose-colored lips and kissed the back of it. Toby stared.
"We hath rescued thee from the claws of a most foul dragon. It doth be our pleasure to see thee unharmed. I doth be called Georgette, Lady-Knight of the Order of the Briar-rose; who doth ride the last of the Pooka, Valiance; who didst slay the dreaded dragon Eustace; who didst rescue the fair Rosalinde from the dank depths of the Cavern of Never-ending Sorrowful Tears; who didst win the Joust of the Cockatiel; who didst—"
"Uh, nice to meet you!" Toby said; she had the feeling that letting the Knight continue would just result in an even bigger headache.
"You're a drab little thing, for a princess." Toby jumped and looked up into the deep brown eyes of the horse. His ears were pricked forward, his silky black mane curling slightly in the breeze, and he was regarding her with an expression that could only be described as as scrutinizing, though there was a faint gleam in those eyes, like barely withheld mischief.
"I'm not a princess," Toby repeated with a sigh, feeling like that was all she said anymore. The talking horse didn't even bother her. It, in a strange sort of way, made sense especially when in the context of everything else that had happened. It was also hard to be bothered by it because when she looked into those big, brown eyes it just made sense that he could speak. "This whole thing is just a big misunderstanding. I went to the mall today to get Julie to renounce it so you would all just leave me alone, but your little spat with Theo sort of interrupted that."
"I doth nae understand… Thou art a Princess. I shalt prove it to thee and all others." Georgette's furrow of confusion straightened into a determined look, one that Toby found strangely comforting. At least the Knight was dedicated to protecting Toby, and didn't seem the type to be deceitful or untruthful.
"What do you mean?" Toby asked, watching as the Knight rose, going to the black stallion and opening one of the small leather bags laying underneath the rich blue cloth that draped across the stallion's back under its saddle. She pulled something out, patting Valiance's flank once.
The Knight turned and knelt before Toby again, the object she'd pulled out laying across both of her palms. It was a simple pale silver curve, a clear, prismatic cut gem, like a diamond only even shinier, like it was actually alight, in the center of it, the silver twisted around it like vines cradling the gem. Toby let out a sound of admiration. She'd never been much of one for jewelry, never really seeing the point of it, but it was easily the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She reached out to touch it, and the silver band seemed to warm against her fingers.
She looked up at the Knight. "Georgette, it's lovely…"
"It doth be thine," Georgette said simply. Toby's mouth gaped open and she was pretty sure she heard the horse snicker.
"Oh no no no, that must cost.. hundreds! Thousands! I certainly don't deserve something so pretty, I—" Georgette laid a single plated finger on Toby's lips, smiling.
"Kneel," she instructed. Toby's eyes went from the crown to the Knight's sincere face and saw no deception in those sapphire eyes. So she ran her palms over the thighs of her jeans and lowered herself to her kneels on the wood of the porch. Georgette stood and Toby couldn't help but be struck by how impressive a sight she made, her golden hair whipping out around her in the breeze, the sunlight turning her armor into iridescent light.
"As the Lady-Knight of the Order of the Briar-rose, I do, in the name of the Fairy Queen herself, recognize thee as Princess and bestow upon thee thy crown, which shall evermore mark thee as life and heart of the Land."
She carefully settled the tiara on Toby's forehead, and for a moment the brunette was sure it was just going to fall forward and make a mockery of this whole semi-serious business. But then, she swore it shrunk, not painfully, but molding itself to her head, the silver band across her forehead with the crystal sparkling between her eyes. A little thrill, like the briefest electric current, raced through Toby, and was still. The Knight gently removed Toby's glasses, then brushed her silver-plated fingers along Toby's bangs, as if to judge whether that was any improvement.
Valiance leaned his head over and inspected her, then nodded his approval, his big black ears flicking forward, then back. "That's a bit better, though she could do with a nice skirt or a bow or some sparkles to liven her up."
"I do think thee a true princess now, Princess," the Lady-Knight said to Toby.
Toby reached up, running her fingers along the tiara. It sat perfectly comfortable and light on her brow, as if it was meant to be there. "Wow," she said, finally, then grinned at Georgette. "Thanks!"
The blonde woman bowed to Toby, politely. "I be in thy service, m'lady."
Toby groaned. "Just Toby, please?"
"Of course, m'lady."
"No. No 'm'lady'. Just Toby. To-by."
The Knight nodded seriously. "As thou wishest, m'lady."
Toby sighed. "Never mind…" She put her hands on her hips, staring down the driveway. Then she groaned. "Oh great, we left Verum and Theodore at the mall!"
"Tobydoby? Is that you? Dom just called, he said you'd been abduct…ed…." Toby's mother swung the door open, jerking to a stop on the porch. Her eyes flicked between her now de-glassesed, tiara'd daughter, to the woman in full silver armor, to the black horse that was staring right back at her, then back to Toby.
"Err…. Hi mom! This is Georgette the Knight Errant, and Valiance, the Pookie," Toby said with a fake sounding laugh. Her mother looked like she was going to faint, her eyes wide and her jaw just hanging down.
"Pooka," Valiance corrected, and the three of them watched as Linda's eyes rolled back into her head and she fell backwards in a dead faint. "…oops," the horse said a minute later, but Toby thought to herself that he didn't sound sorry in the slightest.