Hey babes! Back with a new fic for ya as part of DoctorRose Bingo! The prompt for this one was: Medieval Europe. At first, I didn't know what to do with this one, but then I managed to figure it out, taking a little inspiration from A Knight's Tale. Fantastic movie, btw, if you haven't watched it, you should.

Enjoy!

Trying to keep the boredom from showing on her face, Rose sits in her usual section of seating just above the tournament grounds. She doesn't get nearly as much enjoyment from the events these days as she once did as a child when her parents first began bringing her. Still, she attends as many tournament events as she's able to, mostly to keep up appearances, but to also get out and get fresh air from time to time.

It would, of course, be better if she didn't have her father's guards escorting her. She's not exactly a child anymore, though she supposes she is worth a fair penny if someone were to steal her away. So even though she finds it a bit bothersome, she never tells the guards to leave. Well, she never tries, because she knows they wouldn't.

So she simply gets to sit in a relatively private section of seating (among others of noble blood) and watch the parade of knights as they open the tournament while doing her best not to let her boredom show itself. She'll smile and wave occasionally, whenever she happens to catch the eye of a passing knight, but it's never more than that. At least, it never is for her.

"I shall win this tournament in your honor, Lady."

Rose sighs at the declaration. Not the first she's received at one of these tournaments, and she's sure it won't be the last. She could really do with less of them. Especially with how completely unoriginal they are. All of the knights look at her and simply see her status, never wanting to truly get to know her. It is tiresome.

"We meet again, My Lady."

Rose gasps at the gorgeous, familiar eyes staring back at her. She sits forward in her seat. "You."

The knight nods, tugging on the reins in his hand to keep his horse steady. "Aye. I said we would meet again."

The edges of her lips twitch. "And here we are."

"Indeed. Though, I still do not know your name." He smiles. "Or, perhaps angels do not have names, merely beautiful faces."

Rose shifts in her seat, knowing she is losing the battle against the blush rising to her cheeks. "You have quite the way with words, Sire."

"Unfortunately, I cannot claim all the credit. Every wordsmith needs its muse. And I am looking at mine."

Again, heat rises under her skin. "You must go. The parade is finishing."

"In a moment," he says softly. "I simply wish to commit this moment to memory, so that I may savor it until next we meet." He's quiet for a long moment, simply watching her. Then he smiles. "And now I shall take my leave. I look forward to seeing you again soon. And I pray it will not be the last time. Good day." He dips his head in a bow and begins trotting away.

Rose moves before she can stop herself, leaning against the safety railing and peering out. "Rose," she calls to the knight. "My name is Rose."

His trotting slows as he turns toward her and grins. "As beautiful of a name as I thought it would be. Good day, Rose. I hope you enjoy the tournament."

"I believe I just might now," she tells him with a smile. "Though it might help if I knew your name as well."

He smiles back. "Sir Johnathon."

"Well, Johnathon, I am looking forward to seeing you win this tournament."

He slowly moves toward her again. "You have a lot of faith in my abilities."

"I am merely hopeful."

His smile widens. "Then how can I do anything other than win? I cannot disappoint the most beautiful woman in attendance. Especially not when she has so much confidence in me." He glances away and then back. "I hate to leave, but it is as you said, the parade is finishing, I must get ready for my first event."

"Can I count on you to be at the banquet this evening?"

"Will you save a dance for me?"

"I might."

"Well, then how could I not be there?" He dips his head once more with a sweet smile. "Until we meet again, Rose."

Rose watches as he rides off to join the rest of the knights who are far ahead of him, easily falling back into the parade line. She cannot tear her eyes away from him, even as his figure fades into the distance. There is simply something about him that she cannot seem to get enough of, even after only two meetings.

They barely spoke during their first, simply traded kind smiles and nods, and a few words of greeting and goodbye. But she could not get him out of her mind. And it seems that it was much the same with him about her.

.

.

.

Smoothing her hands down the front of her dress, Rose enters the hall being used for the banquet, her eyes already flitting about the space, searching for one face in particular among the sea of people wandering about. She sees many faces she knows, but not the one she's been wanting to see since earlier that day.

She smiles politely at the various other nobles that pass near her, not wanting to be completely rude and ignore them, despite her attention being elsewhere. If he does not show up, she does not know if she'll be able to have an enjoyable time.

"Pardon me, but I am looking for a lady to accompany me in a dance tonight."

Rose cannot help the smile that pulls at her lips, her heart increasing in speed, though she keeps her eyes straight ahead of her. "There are a great many ladies here tonight who I am sure would be delighted to share a dance with you." She turns slowly and tries to keep her face neutral. "Is there a particular lady you had in mind?"

"Indeed there is." He smiles and takes a few steps closer to her. "She has the most lovely blonde hair that shines in the sunlight, a dazzling smile that always leaves me unsteady, and she is absolutely beguiling in every sense of the word."

Rose fights to keep her smile at bay. "It is possible that I have come across her. What would you say to her, if you saw her?"

He takes a small step closer. "I would tell her that I hope she saw my events today, and ask if she was pleased with the results. And then I would tell her that she is all I could think about, and that all that has been running through my mind all day was the thought of getting to hold her in my arms as we dance."

Rose steps minutely closer to him. "And if she were to see you, she would say that she was indeed pleased with the results of your events today. And she would tell you that you are all she could think about as well, and has been waiting for you to arrive here tonight."

John smiles brightly as he grabs her hand and brings it to his lips. "My Lady. I hope I have not left you waiting for long on your own."

"I believe I arrived mere moments before you did."

"Excellent. So no one else has tried to lure you away from this spot and into a dance."

"Even if they had, they would not have succeeded. There is only one knight with whom I desire to dance. And he is standing right in front of me."

"Well then, I shall not leave you waiting any longer. Let us take to the floor."

Rose does not even try to hide her smile as she walks out into the middle of the floor with John at her side, their hands clasped tightly together. She ignores the whispers of those around them as they join in with the dance that has already started, facing each other with nothing but smiles on their faces. It is no secret who her father is among noble circles, and that he is nothing short of particular when it comes to the men allowed near Rose.

But Rose doesn't care about any of that. All she cares about is dancing with the knight who captured her heart in such a short amount of time. She hardly knows him yet she knows she doesn't ever want to be away from him.

"Rose, might I ask you a question?"

"You may."

"I know we have only just met, but already I find myself not wanting to be away from you if it can be helped."

Rose smiles, and not just at their similar thoughts. "That did not sound like a question, Sir Johnathon."

He smiles back. "No, it did not. But this will. Once this tournament is over, would you come to Paris for the next? And will you cheer for me and only me, knowing that you are the only face I will ever care to see in the crowd? And one day, when the timing is right, when I ask you to be my wife, so that I might love and cherish you for all the rest of my days, will you say yes?"

Rose's smile grows. "I can think of nothing I would love more."

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!