"But Father, I - "
"I said no, Ashlyn, and that is final!" Father's voice lashed out like a whip, striking me in my heart.
I stood there for a second, fuming but also despairing at the same time. Then I whirled around and stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me, like the door to my dream had also slammed shut to me. Outside stood my twin, Ashton, with a look of sympathy on his face. I couldn't bear to look at him. Him, Ashton, who was a boy, who could do anything he wanted to, who could FIGHT. No, just looking at him reminded me of all I didn't have, and never will. I turned my head and instead walked, almost ran, down the other corridor and to the one place I felt truly at home in this big, drafty castle: the training grounds.
They were empty at this time of day, when everyone else was either supping or washing off the day's grime. The only person there besides myself was Ol' Peyton, the ancient swordsmaster who had taught my father, his father before him, and now Ashton, the art of swordsmanship. And in secret, he also trained me. He looked up as I entered, and greeted me warmly. "Why Litttle Lynnie! It's a surprise to see ya here. 'specially now that yer father's home again," he said, giving me a warning look.
"I just got back from talking to him." I struggled to keep a strong outward appearance; I refused to break down, especially not in front of Peyton. Crying was for ladies, and I was no lady.
"What happened?" he asked, but with an knowing look in his eye. He could already tell from my demeanor that it had not gone exactly as I'd wanted.
"I asked him again if I could go with Ashton to the capital to become a knight," I said, keeping a steady voice.
"And?" he prompted, waving for me to continue. But he already knew the answer.
"He refuses to let me go. I have to remain here and instead become a lady. He has already begun talking to the Lord of the next castle over about marriage plans with his son," I briefly summarized in a monotone. My voice did not waver once, and I was proud that I still managed to maintain an impassive outward appearance. A warrior did not show her emotions.
His face showed his sympathy. He was one of the few, apart from my brother, that knew how much becoming a knight meant to me.
I added one more thing. "But I will not listen to him."
Peyton raised both eyebrows at this show of defiance from me. He looked thoughtfully at me for a few moments, before opening his mouth to speak.
"Ashlyn," he began gently. "He is yer father, and as such he has a right to guide ye and shape yer life until such a time as ye are ready to go out on to the world on yer own." He looked straight at me, his kind brown eyes staring into my defiant green ones. "But," he added, seeing my mouth open in protest, "I also believe that ye have the right to shape yer own destiny, to make yerself happy."
My eyes widened slightly as the full implication of his words hit me.
He smiled a little at the expression on my face. "Where there's a will, there's a way; ye have the will, now ye just need to find the way, Lynnie. And knowing ya, I have no doubt that ya 'ill find the way."
I gazed up at this man, the man who had trained me in secret ever since I had barged in here at 8 years old, demanding to be trained along with my brother. This man felt more like a father to me than my real father had ever felt to me. Suddenly I hurled myself forward and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," I whispered into his shoulder, my voice slightly muffled. But I knew he had heard, because after a slight hesitation his own arms came up and patted me on the back. I squeezed tightly, then let go. Stepping back, I looked at him and said, "I won't let you down, I promise."
He nodded. "I know ya won't. I faith in ye, lass," he said gruffly. "Now off with ya, there's no time to waste! Ashton leaves in but a few days' time."
I smiled once more at him, a big, geniune smile, before turning and dashing off. Peyton was right, there was no time to just stand there and do nothing - if I was to pull this off, I needed all the time I could get. And I knew just who to ask, I thought, as I made my way to the East Tower.
A/N
To whoever is reading this - Please let me know what you think! Vote, but mostly just please comment letting me know what ya'all think about this - good, bad, anything, I don't care as long as it's feedback! Thank you for reading :)
