The Princess and Her Knight

Introduction

Today was the day. Willow knew it in her heart. They were not allowed to know the day their class would be assigned, but there was a certain charge in the air. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Her tutor seemed normal, but she couldn't take that for granted. Sir Alexander was always very even paced, and he never showed any other emotion than patience and... well... calm.

"Miss Willow?" She jerked her head forward, not realizing that she had been staring out into the market, which was just out and below her window. "Are we a bit distracted today?"

"I am sorry sir. I will get back to my studies." She hurriedly found where she was in the text and began to read again. Alexander stood up from his desk, and sighed.

"Do not worry about continuing." Her heart jumped. "You are to report to the main hall in approximately 10 minutes. I would get going now if I were you. And good luck." He sat back down and folded his hands over his desk. A small smile played upon his lips.

Willow smiled broadly as she stood, and bowed. "Thank you sir." She walked out into the hallway, and began to briskly walk towards her destination. The excitement bubbled in her veins. She passed many people, and as she came to an intersecting hallway, she stopped to let a knight and lady pass through.

The knight stood tall, his shoulders leaving barely enough room for someone to go by him, and his burnished armor gleamed in the firelight. His lady stood to his right, barely a foot from him. They walked in a synchronized manner that could been only achieved through years of familiarity. The one matching feature they both had was how they held their head, with pride and dignity that was beyond Willow's maturity.

She gazed after them, and after they rounded the next corner, she continued on her way. She passed many more pairs, some of them new, some old. Her eagerness grew and grew as she drew closer to the hall. When she arrived, several of her childhood friends were already there talking amongst themselves. They were just as eager as well.

She ran over to talk with her friends, and their words echoed her thoughts. What would the knight look like? Would he be tall or short? Bulky or lean? Handsome or rugged? Before long, a loud trio of taps sounded through the hall. They all were silenced, and they looked up to the podium at the forefront of the hall. A large bearded man stood smiling, and holding the long rod that he must have been using to get their attention.

"Welcome, ladies. As I am sure you are all aware, tonight is the night you receive your guardian." The babbling quickly resumed, and then was silenced again by another trio. "I have come to let you know the time of the ceremony tonight will be at dusk. You now have time to go and dress as you wish, and please return two hours before dusk to be prepared for the ceremony. You are, ah, free to go."

All of the maidens saw the word, 'dismissed,' upon his lips but none noted it. He smiled and nodded, and exited through the hall to his left, as the girls loudly went through the hall to his right. The excitement bubbled through her veins. Tonight couldn't come any more quickly.