I am just a simple knight. No more than that. I protect. I serve my higher-ups with honor. I do not cry into the shoulder of my highness because I am scared.
Let me explain.
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-One Week Earlier-
I have just graduated top of my class from school. The school I have been going to since I was at the age of six. The school which will dictate my future.
I have graduated to become a knight.
Since a very young age, even younger than six, I have wanted to become a Knight. Not just a plain old knight who would search the lands for danger, no, a knight to serve My Majesties, a royal guard.
It was never easy, but I managed. I was top of my class in all subjects. I was beginning, to be treated as a higher up by my squires, until they picked me to try my hand at the very dreaded, Final Exam.
This Final Exam is like no other. It is a test of willpower, brute strength, and strong minds. Well, that sounds like most Final Exams, but it isn't. You have to dual your squires, battle against your mind's willpower, and keep working until you hear the word, "stop". If you lose, you die.
Well, by "die", I mean you will be sent back a grade, but that is worse than dying in the eyes of a knight. But it is humiliating to arrive back to the exam two years after.
At age eighteen, you are forced to partake in this battle, but sometimes, you were picked younger if you were excelling.
Sadly, I was the latter.
I was fourteen and was picked to partake in this battle of brutes. Since I was smaller and quicker than the rest of them in battles and more intelligent in tests of the mind, I excelled and quickly beat all my older, brutish foes and graduate at the top, while the bottom half was sent back.
I am at my ceremony now to be officially knighted by my King.
Because I was at the highest place in my class, as tradition goes, I will go last.
My knees jitter in nervousness, my nails bitten down to the skin. I stare at my feet in a trance, until I hear it. My name being called.
I stand up straight and walk in front of my king and kneel.
As I kneel in front of my courageous and compassionate king as he knights me, I feel like I am flying. This is the best day I have ever lived!
I am too excited to listen to the words come out of His Highnesses mouth. I catch on near the end as he asks, "Squire, do you accept to become a part of the royal guard, to stand strong next to your brothers and sisters in face of fear, and to offer up your life for this kingdom?"
I nod, answering, "Yes, Your Highness. I will do all of the things and much more. I promise you."
He smiles down at me, and declares, "My dear Knight, you are now a part of the royal guard. May our wings of protection over you and hold you tight."
The crowd behind me begins clapping and yelling in enthusiasm.
I line up to my new brothers and sisters and stare back into the crowd, a smile spreading across my face. Now, my fate will be changed for the better.
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It wasn't.
"I'm leaving?!"I stare at the head of the royal guard, my confused and surprised words echoing around me.
*CHAPTER BREAK*
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I take a deep breath, and ask again, "I'm leaving?"
She nods, replying, "Well, kind of. You are going to be a personal knight slash guard for the princess since they are traveling to the Other World."
I raise my eyebrows, questioning, "Other World? You don't mean the one that's extremely overpopulated and very condescending to everyone?"
She smiles before replying, "Yes, sire. Now, She will need to get to know you. You are leaving in four days."
She kisses my cheek before saying, "Stay safe, and may the wings of hope protect you."
She leaves my room and I am left sitting on my bed in shock.
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Minutes pass until the words make sense.
I stand up quickly and head to the bathrooms to shower. It is completely empty, so I walk into a stall and hurriedly finish everything.
It is a unisex bathroom, but each stall includes a space for you to place your clothes so they do not get wet.
You are supposed to change inside of them, but sometimes that is not the case.
I myself, being new, try to stick to the rules, unlike others.
(I'm looking at you, Julius!)
I dress in the approved clothing for a guard on a day off.
I have on a loose-fitting grey shirt with teal slacks, like most of the others do. I change mine u with knee-high black and teal boots.
As I exit the stall, I see a naked Julius and evert my eyes as he tries to strike up a conversation with me. I just smile and nod through his questions and escape the bathrooms.
I lave my sleeping clothes the head of the royal guard had found me in on my bed and head out to the quarters of the princess.
As I walk down to the castle, I keep getting thumbs up and punches to the shoulder by the other guards. I guess they heard about my new "job."
I enter the castle and I am immediately guided to the front of the door that leads to the Prince's room by a servant.
I smile to him and he nods, excusing himself and hurrying back downstairs.
I take a deep breath and think, "My life will change either for better or for the worst once I open this door."
I close my eyes and open the door.
I am immediately greeted by a stuffed bunny plush hitting me smack dab in the forehead.
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A/N: Okay, so for some reason, our chapter keep becoming private. I have had to rewrite this entire story before, and that was not an enjoyable experience. I have put the first and second chapters together because I realized that the first chapter wasn't able to be seen.
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Queer Kingdoms: A Story About Love And Acceptance.
General FictionWhen a knight and the majesty they had been assigned to protecting, assume different identities to better fit in with the society, they have to overcome much more than just dragons and evil sorcerers. They also have to overcome the societal views th...