Reflecting Our Emotions

Chapter Seven

Vance pushes us onto stage, the eyes of children gawking up at us—or more specifically, Dane. He welcomes the attention, waving majestically to the crowd as every smile he gives makes the cheers louder. 

I visible wince, my ears twitching from the deafening sound of sudden screeching, from perhaps runaway goats or a chalk running down a board. 

The moms in the back row take their attention from their kids, turning on their phones and yelling their guts out as if they are seeing their favorite boy band on stage.  

There are a few expecting looks that come my way, that I try to satisfy with giving a gracious wave and a smile, but I had to be quicker to keep their attentions from Dane. Truly the star of the show, he picks up a flower on the ground from the previous performance, and throws it into the wave of children, to which adults and kids dive for like a sinkhole. 

Remember Naomi, you're doing this to get that name. Control yourself.

My inner thoughts do no good, as I internally pack in the irritating feeling of everyone looking at Dane like a popsicle on a hot summer day. Without thinking, I walk closer to him, looping my arm through his, and give, yet another, gracious wave. 

The screams get louder, as the security on the perimeter of the tent look at each other warily, wondering if removing the cause of the screams would be advisable, considering the waves of people that would attack them for touching the precious knight on stage. 

From the corner of my eye, I see Dane's eyes flicker towards me then back to the kids, laughing kingly then turning to me, grasping both my hands into his. 

It's just a show. We are acting. Simply acting. 

His body lowers in front of me, and my eyes almost pop out when I realize he is kneeling on one knee and smiles for the cameras. I try to give a more romantic smile, my grin weakening from the unsettling situation. 

Letting go of my hands, he unsheathes his plastic sword from his side, and presents it to me. 

What do I do with this? Slay the dragon? 

My eyes sneak to the side, where a purple dragon waits patiently at the back entrance, his head in his hand while his other hand holds a beer bottle. 

I nervously chuckle, and gracefully grab the sword's hilt, letting the tip hit the ground. The kids start to chant, and I look towards them hoping they provide some direction of what I do with this. 

"Knight him! Knight him!"

When I lift the sword again, the mob hushes, cameras clicking and giggling filling the silence. Setting it on his right shoulder, I realize the missing element in all this. 

Dane notices my confusion, and lifts up his visor, so his mouth is covered to the crowd, but visible to me at his angle. He gives a reassuring nod, and I return the favor with a long blink, telling him I'm ready. 

I, Princess of this kingdom—

"I, Princess of the Koy Kingdom,"

He pauses his whispering, giving a silly grin under his helmet, and I suppress my own with a serious expression. 

—hereby dub thee, Sir—

"hereby dub thee, Sir Dane,"

To serve the kingdom with courage, faith, and chivalry—

"—to serve the kingdom with courage, faith, and chivalry,"

And set an example for all citizens of this shining kingdom.