The Princess Knight

Chapter 4

Over the next few weeks, I train with Maxon In secret, in the period of time my skill progress rapidly. Every time I train I can't help but feel like I've done it before... I feel a surge of happiness every time I pick up my sword. With every swing and step, I feel The thrill of my heart beating fast, I feel power, freedom. On top of my secret training sessions, I had to juggle My princess duties.... I had to help my sister plan our ball and hope she didn't notice I was wearing boots under my dress or that I have gloves over my hands. I had so many close calls, once I was late to a dress fitting and had run in with my hair in a hasty bun, and sweat running down my back.

Everything was running smoothly and no one had found out despite all my close calls... But all that changed 2 days before my birthday ball. I'm sparring with Maxon and winning...Maxon and I exchange playful banter and insults as we spar, It's like a complicated dance as we dodge and swing and spin around one another. I'm so concentrated on him that I almost don't notice the gasp but I do. I turn an I'm met by the sight of my twin sister, standing there staring at me with wide and surprised eyes.

"Andrea-" I start but she's gone as quick as she came.

"Oh no!" I mutter "no! no! no!" I run after Andrea and at the top of the stairs there I see my father Andrea stands behind him and by the look on fathers face I know I am doomed.

Father stares at me as he sizes up my appearance, my trousers, my shirt, my boots, my hair that is plastered to my forehead by sweat, the sheath at my side and lastly the sword in my right hand.

"Where did you get that sword?" my father asks his voice low. Id never seen him so angry.

"Aunt Margot sent it to me... apparently, there's a lot I didn't know about my mother," I say

"And so because you got a sword you saw fit to go against my orders and learn how to fight?"

"Well, why not?"

"No princess should need a weapon that's what you have guards for-"
"Well, maybe I don't need guards. Maybe I'm tired of being proper and sitting still and looking pretty. Mother did it! Without her where would we all be?" I ask

"Your mother lost her life because of her foolishness!"

"And yet she didn't die in vain. This is my dream, my mother's legacy. Why can't you just let me follow my dream-"

"Because you are a princess. You are royal. " My father roars

"Well, maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!" I say loudly.

"You will go to your ball and pick a suitor or so help me I will do it myself. Now give me that sword" I know I have no choice, Father had just closed the discussion. It's over. I unbuckle the sheath and hand him the sword in it. The warmth from holding sword is gone as he takes it from me. He leaves the room his steps fading away. Andrea remains. She steps toward me about to say something but I talk first.

"Thanks alot. Now I know who I can trust" I brush past not giving her a chance to speak. I walk to my room so many emotions running through me as realize I have no chance of pursuing my dream..not anymore, it's over.