The Fairest One of All- an LGBT Fantasy Novel

Nine- the Knight

Avalon looked more amazing than she ever expected her to look. Alexandra had always thought of the princess as marvelously and stunningly beautiful, but this far exceeded her expectations.

"You look absolutely ravishingly," Alexandra admitted.

"Do you really mean that, Alexander?"

"Would I lie to you?" The Knight felt an immense guilt saying this. However, she had taken off her gloves today- an integral part of the truth, as minuscule as it seems.

She sat Avalon down to brush her hair and helped her put her heels on.
"There you go," Alexandra said quietly. "No man would ever be able to turn you down at this rate."

"Alexander, don't be silly! That's so shallow. You know that looks don't matter."

If only that was true for everyone, the knight thought. If it was true for the princess, she was a lucky girl.

"Look at the time now. Half past noon, we had better get in the carriage."

Alexandra led the tiny princess into the maze of the castle corridors, bringing her out to the carriage.

On the ride to the castle, Alexandra thought of how pitiful it must be to marry at such a young age. In her village, the women married in their twenties. Avalon was the same age as Alexandra, not close to seventeen, but still a little girl. And the courting was pressed into her by the Queen, of course. Avalon would not relinquish the last fragment of freedom that she had for herself. She had known the princess at this point like a dandelion- very seldom whole, riding through the wind at every chance she could trying to make it somewhere. Some saw her as a weed, some saw her as a wish. If only Avalon knew that she was a dream come true to Alexandra.

It was almost sunset now, and the coach had never stopped, even for the horses. The companions were tired and achy, and hardly had the patience to sit through a dinner.

Alexandra knew her duty was to help the Princess in this place, to help her reach her destiny: of being with a prince. A man. But her heart told her to do everything humanly possible to sabotage this effort. Avalon had already claimed a piece of her heart. Why couldn't the knight find her way into the princess's heart? She had never been so torn. The princess was hers, but she didn't know it.

Finally, the carriage arrived at the gleaming-white mansion of Lowludde.

The footmen escorted the Princess out, giving her a warm hug before they drove away.

"Well, I guess it's time that I grew up, Alexander," Avalon sighed. "Are you ready?"

Alexandra then knew what she had to do. It would not be easy, but it would be right.

"No, Princess... I can't let you do this."

She looked perplexed. "Why, is something wrong?"

"Well, sort of," murmured Alexandra. "Could we walk and talk?"

Avalon took Alexandra's hand in hers. "Tell me what the problem is. I won't be mad, I promise."

"Well, please don't underestimate the difficulty it takes me to formulate this into words." The knight paused. "But I can't let you see that man... Because I have feelings for you."

They were quiet, freezing time in their breath.

"Real feelings?" She whispered.

"Yes," she replied.

"Alexander, I've not seen your face before-"

"What does it matter?" She persisted. "I have valid, true emotions for you, Princess."

"I am so fond of your personality, your intellect. Yet you've never been able to show me who you are on the outside."

"I don't see how that correlates."

"What are you hiding from me...?" Avalon asked anxiously.

"Not a thing, my princess. This is who I am. I suppose I just have a wall up, is all."

"And yet you're the bravest man I know, hiding under a heap of metal."

Before Alexandra could blink, Avalon was holding the helmet between her hands, almost as if it was a caress, as she ripped it off.

The truth was out now.