The Knight of Avalon
Chapter 8

With these thoughts in mind, I arrived at the kitchen and greeted Michael, asking if dinner was ready. “Just five more minutes; I need to put the finishing touches on the meals,” he replied as he drizzled something from a pot onto a plate. “You look a bit unhappy; what’s the matter?” he asked. Nothing; it’s just that I hate when people say that women should be at home and not fighting battles like men,” I replied. It always makes me mad. “Let me guess, it was Prince Thomas who said that,” Michael said as he continued with the dish.

He nodded with a sympathetic expression on his face. “I can understand why that would bother you,” he said. “But you know, there have been many great women warriors throughout history who have proven that gender doesn’t dictate one’s ability to fight and protect. Joan of Arc, Mulan, and Boudica are just a few examples.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Michael’s words. He always had a way of putting things in perspective. “You’re right,” I said. “I guess sometimes it’s easy to forget that. But it’s frustrating to be judged solely on my gender rather than my skills and abilities.” Michael nodded again. “I know it is,” he said. “But don’t let that discourage you. You’re a talented knight, and you’ve already proven yourself many times over. Just keep doing what you’re doing and let your actions speak for themselves.”

I felt a sense of reassurance wash over me as Michael spoke. He was right, of course. I couldn’t let others’ narrow-minded opinions hold me back. I was proud of who I was and what I had accomplished, and I wouldn’t let anyone diminish that. “Thanks, Michael,” I said, smiling gratefully at him. “You always know how to make me feel better.” “And by the way, I heard what you did with the carriage; that was very heroic of you,” he said, smiling. “Thank you; I was just doing my part,” I replied. We continued to chat about other topics for some time, and after about 30 minutes, dinner was ready.

After my conversation with Michael, I left the kitchen and returned to the sitting room. As I entered the room, I noticed that Prince Frost, Prince Thomas, and Princess Amity were playing cards. Luke was sitting near Prince Frost, intently watching the game. Not wanting to interrupt, I walked up slowly and watched them play. It looked like they were playing Jackass, a game I had played a few times before.

I stood there watching them play for about 15 minutes before I finally mustered up the courage to interrupt. “Sorry to disturb your game, your highnesses, but dinner is ready,” I said, trying not to startle them. Princess Amity looked surprised as she asked, “Wait a minute, you were here the whole time?” I nodded and explained that I didn’t want to interrupt their game. They quickly gathered their cards and thanked me for letting them know that dinner was ready.

We made our way to the dining room, with Luke happily following us. Our conversation was light and easygoing as we strolled towards the room. Once we arrived, we were treated to a scrumptious meal that included Phoenix Feathered Fried Rice, Fairy Dust Spiced Chicken, Enchanted Forest Trifle, and Enchanted Garden Salad. While everyone sat down in their respective chairs, Luke sat next to me, his eyes never leaving the food. “You remembered my favorite dish,” Princess Amity remarked to Prince Frost. I could see the twinkle in his eyes as he replied, “How could I forget? You always asked for the salad whenever you visited the kitchen back when we were little.”

I quickly ate my dinner, and got up from the table. “You’re finished already?” Prince Thomas asked me as I picked up my plate. “Yes, I have other things to take care of,” I replied while I grabbed a few apples from a basket nearby. “And what are those for?” he asked. “Me to know and you to replace out,” I replied, grabbing my helmet. I asked Prince Frost for an excuse and left the room with my plate in hand, grabbing a few apples from a basket nearby. I headed towards the kitchen to drop off my plate and then made my way out of the palace into the chilly night, towards the stables.

When I arrived, I saw the horse from this afternoon in the stall next to Bruce. I walked up to Casper first and gave him his apple. He nuzzled my hand, appreciative of the treat. Then I went over to Bruce and gave him one, then to the other horse and offered her the apple. She eagerly took it, munching away contentedly. “Okay, let’s have a look at that hoof of yours,” I said as I entered her stall. When I entered, I saw a pair of horseshoes on a hay bale. After patting her leg and raising the hoof, I carefully cleaned the bottom and removed a few stray nails that were left over from when she threw her shoe earlier. I worked carefully, making sure that the shoe was fitted properly and securely. She seemed to appreciate my efforts and nuzzled my hand when I was finished.

As I finished grooming the horse, I felt her nuzzle my hand, and I couldn’t help but smile. “I really wished I knew your name,” I said as I scratched her ears. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me saying, “Her name is Nova.” I turned around to see who had spoken, and to my surprise, it was Prince Thomas. I raised an eyebrow and asked, “Prince Thomas, what are you doing here? Isn’t it past your bedtime?” He shrugged and replied, “I got bored at dinner. Prince Frost and my sister were chatting about things I don’t have a clue about. He chuckled and added that Prince Frost had appeared nervous while talking to her. I couldn’t help but smile at his remark as I continued to pet Nova.

“She’s very beautiful; is she yours?” I asked him. “Yes, she is; I got her as a gift from an old friend of mine,” he replied as he joined me. “So why are you here? Do you need something?” I asked him. “No, not at the moment, but I came here to thank you for what you did today with the carriage, and I also want to apologize for what I said earlier,” he replied. I smiled at his words, feeling both amused and pleased. “Thank you for your kind words, Prince Thomas. And I forgive you for what you said earlier,” I replied. “I know it isn’t common to see female knights, but we do exist,” I added with a chuckle.

“You know, I took you for a man when you came on the horse,” he admitted with a chuckle. “It wasn’t until you took off your helmet that I knew,” he admitted, laughing softly. I couldn’t help but laugh as well, as it wasn’t the first time someone had made that mistake. It felt good to be seen and recognized for who I truly was, and I was grateful for Prince Thomas’ open-mindedness and sense of humor. We continued to chat for some time, talking about horses and about Prince and Princess Amity. “Do you think Prince Frost has a crush on my sister?” he asked as we left the stables.

I raised an eyebrow at his question, intrigued by his curiosity. “Why do you ask? Have you noticed something between them?” I inquired. Prince Thomas nodded, looking thoughtful. “I have. He has appeared anxious and tongue-tied since we came while he was around her. And the way he looks at her, it’s like she’s the only person in the room,” he explained. “Well, it certainly seems like Prince Frost is smitten with your sister,” I said with a chuckle. “But whether she feels the same way remains to be seen.” Prince Thomas nodded in agreement. “Either way, I just want her to be happy and replace someone who will love and cherish her for who she is.” I could see the genuine concern in his eyes. “She’s lucky to have a brother who cares so much about her,” I remarked, smiling at him. We chatted for a while longer before he realized how late it had gotten. “I should probably get back to the palace before I’m missed,” he said with a sigh. “Thank you again for your help today, and for the pleasant conversation,” he added, giving me a small bow. “It was my pleasure,” I replied, returning the gesture.