Chapter 3: Chapter 1: Squire.
Chapter 1: Squire.
Meeting the princess that day, opened a new conviction for Rowan.
Ever since that day she swore to someday serve the princess, as a protector.
"Where is the head knight of the guard?" (Rowan) asks one of the soldiers patrolling her home and the knight points at his office. "Thank you."
The head knight has been serving the Voclain family for decades and knew little Rowan when she was just a little girl. Everyone knew of her- not only for her hair and the fact that she was a bastard's daughter.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in." The head knight calls out, wondering who could be at the door because he wasn't expecting any visitors to visit him today.
"Excuse me, Sir Arthur. I am in need of a favor." (Sir Arthur) greets with a curtsy, her figure surprised the head knight. Sir Arthur The Righteous, a man who viewed everything with fairness and equality. A kind man he is, and one of the few people that Rowan really liked.
"Oh it's you, Miss Rowan. How can I help you today?" he asked the fair lady who went immediately to her request.
"I want to train with you, with the other knights and I want to learn from you." (Rowan) lowered her knees and bowed her head. "I want to become your student."
Sir Arthur couldn't help but be shocked at the sight of the young lass kneeling. "Hold on now- Are you asking me to make you my apprentice?" he double-checked and Rowan nodded.
"My squire?"
"Yes."
"Why do you wish to become my student, Miss Rowan? I want the honest truth, your sudden request has startled me and surely you must have a good reason for your new ambition."
"I do not have much, but I will pay you with everything that I have. I want to someday leave this place, join the military and become someone worthy of protecting someone important." (Rowan) swore as a promise for the princess that day, was everything. "I want to repay back my debt."
Sir Arthur's brows raised and asked, "What debt?"
"The princess has attended my sister's party for her birthday- she has saved me and my heart is indebted for her kindness."
"The princess saved you-? Even if you say that, young Rowan. Knighthood is not easy to achieve- nor is it a joke." (Sir Arthur) stands up and eyes the girl. "Are you willing to give your life for the princess?"
"Yes." (Rowan) answered with no hesitation.
"Are you willing to view your life as nothing but a pawn to protect who we choose to serve?"
"Yes, I am prepared to become nothing. I am prepared to shed blood, kill and follow orders to protect the princess."
Sir Arthur the Righteous could not believe what he was hearing and seeing. A woman like her can only come and go, saying nonsense before quitting but with the way her crimson red eyes burn with passion.
He could not bear to see this spirit be wasted of its potential.
"Prove it, every other knight is up and awake by five am to start drills, mind your father about your request." (Sir Arthur) tells Rowan who shakes her head.
"Father is not home and won't be for the upcoming months ahead because of his work with the treasury."
"I'll be damned, you start on Monday."
...
Monday did arrive and Rowan couldn't help but feel excited joining the knights on their training.
It was early in the morning, she immediately ran out of her room but accidentally bumped into someone who was holding a lamp for a light because the sun wasn't even up.
"Omph!"
"...!"
"Oh... Rowan, what are you doing getting up so early... yawn. Hold on are you wearing pants-?!" (Aveline) who was in her nightgown was shocked to see her little sister being up out of her bed so early and in pants. "That is men's clothing- if anyone sees you with that on, the rumors will spread like wildfire and you'll get in trouble."
Rowan composes herself and takes in the words of her sister. "Big sister, Aveline... I'm going to run with the other knights. If I wear a skirt it will only be a hassle."
"What do you mean you're going out for a run with the other knights?" (Aveline) asks her sister who was already in pants, tying her beautiful crimson hair up and fixing her blouse. "If father knows what you're doing he'll get mad, please, Rowan stop this nonsense."
"I want to go out for a run."
"But you'll get a tan- and the social season is coming up. You need to look proper and beautiful, you know how people view such standards of beauty and Rowan- you won't find someone who'll get to court you with this!" (Aveline) was worried and she couldn't say to her sister that the nobles view tan colored skin as something that a commoner would have.
"I've already talked to the head knight that from now on I'll be joining their training everyday no matter what father says, I'll be back." (Rowan) ignored her sister and waved her hand goodbye, getting into the line of men that were jogging around early in the morning to do their early routine training.
"Rowan, please come back!" Her sister yells persistently and frowned seeing her act cold.
No one cared for Rowan as much as her sister, and she knew that this training meant probably everything to her because often she saw how much health she's gotten, more open to smiling and it felt like her little sister had found her place.
Aveline decided to support her little sister instead, often visiting her in the free times she had to watch her train and make sure to bribe the servants to say nothing.
Rowan suddenly became even more popular around the mansion, learning discipline, honor and code from being a knight apprentice she started acting chivalrous around the maids out of instinct.
...
"Whoah-!" A maid who was carrying a heavy box suddenly tripped and was about to fall flat on the floor, found herself floating and being saved from humiliation. "Eh?"
"Are you alright? Would you like for me to help you carry them?" (Rowan) asked, and the maid could only stutter, staring at her arms. "...you're not hurt are you?"
"I-I... um." The maid's heart realized that this was not a man but a woman that had saved her- "Miss Rowan you're-!"
"Please, let me." (Rowan) takes the heavy box from her hands with a smile. "If you need any more help do inform me."
The maid held her face feeling a bit hot and told everyone of what the red haired girl did today, like a gossip on fire every servant has gotten attached to Rowan who helped anyone in need left and right.
"Let me clean it with you."
"Excuse me but do you need to reach the highest shelf?"
"This fell out of your pockets, I thought it was important and you might need it."
From chopping firewood, polishing the weapons, cleaning the stables, it wasn't a woman's job but she volunteered to do it. She liked any job that involved hard labor and moving her body around.
"I thought Miss Rowan could only be a cold woman but now she's very reliable isn't it?!"
"I know! Isn't it weird but- I feel more happy when we spend our time together!"
"Same-! I feel like... hold on are we all feeling the same thing right now?"
"...move she's mine!"
Every day when the maids were off on their duty, they would watch Rowan train on the field with her gorgeous tan and beautiful long red hair.
"Hngh!" (Rowan) groans, swinging her sword while she wears her chainmail shirt- but it was very clear after six months of training with the others that it was toned. "Hah...!"
Sir Arthur nodded in satisfaction as to how his student was doing in her training. "Good Rowan! I say add more into your sets and run after."
Rowan stood tall and saluted to Sir Arthur before yelling, "Sir, yes sir!"
Everyday those maids have never skipped watching Miss Rowan train, such an eye candy that could turn anyone into admiring and feeling something forbidden inside.
"I wonder how her abs would feel, don't you?" One maid almost swoons, gawking at Miss Rowan.
"Girl! You're so naughty but same! Now I'm more of a fan of her biceps." Her friend started chuckling and giggling, wishing how she could hold it.
"Ugh amateurs- it's like you love Miss Rowan just for her body. Her heart is kind and beautiful. I was having a sad day one time and she handed me her handkerchief telling me to keep it!"
"Lucky-! You got her handkerchief! She's the only girl I think of like this. I'm both sad and happy that I'm not alone." The other maids hearing this asked why she would be sad, "Sigh… more competition."
...
The other young knights have started respecting her after seeing her determination to become like one of them and even forgot that she was a woman sometimes.
"Aw yeah! Lunch time!" The knights had just gotten out of training and were ordered to have an hour of rest before they could go ahead and start patrolling.
Rowan found a nearby bench and started eating her sandwich that her big sister packed with a small note.
---
To Rowan,
Eat and be strong, good luck in your training today. I'll be watching in my free time.
Sincerely,
Aveline
---
"Hey, Rowan! What are you eating?! Give me some of that would you?" One of her knight friends took her food and Rowan didn't mind. "Thanks Rowan!"
The young man laughed and the other maids saw, it looks like Miss Rowan had nothing to eat.
"Ladies... this is war." They immediately dashed to the kitchen in competition and ran like madwomen finding the best food.
Rumble... Rumble...
The young knights felt something like an earthquake approaching. "What the-"
There were at least a dozen maids running, and pushed the other young knights away just to reach Rowan.
"Um... Miss Rowan?! Please take this-!"
"Move, I got here first!"
"No I did! Move! Please take my offering-! Thank you for helping me clean the windows!"
Rowan tilts her head in confusion looking at all the maids that were fighting to win her attention. "Is this for me?" (Rowan) asks, looking a bit shy that all of the servants were giving her food.
"Yes-!" All the maids yelled in unison, startling her.
The young knight who was eating her sandwich before was standing by the side looking bewildered at what he was seeing. "What the fuck just happened?"
"I think she's even more popular with the girls than us guys." His friend told him feeling a bit low, they weren't ugly and they do their job properly so why aren't they getting the same attention as Rowan?
"Are you eating the sandwich that I made for my sister?" (Aveline) also popped out of nowhere with her maid who was feeling envious that they all gave Miss Rowan something to eat. She couldn't help but glare at all the maids that were trying to steal her sister away from her and took the sandwich back.
"Guhk- milady this is-!" The young man tries explaining himself but he is met with the cold smile of the young lady of the house.
"Please, leave before I say something that will break every inch of your ego." (Aveline) smiles even wider and that scares him- his friend needed to pull him away from the scene.
All the maids who saw their young lady in the house were afraid and nervous, but they all made sure that their food offering would be taken by Rowan.
"Good afternoon, Lady Aveline."
"A good afternoon to all of you too, ladies but is it just me or are you flocking and clinging to my little sister like a bunch of squawking birds?" she hoped that the message got across to all of the girls that were looking at her little sister like she was some sort of prize.
"W-We will excuse ourselves, milady."
All the maids said their goodbye towards Rowan, some even winking and whispering how she should visit them when she's free. "Tch, some women these days have no shame." (Aveline) clicks her tongue before turning to Rowan.
"Hello sister." (Rowan) greets her sister while she's been spoiled by those maids with so much more tasty looking snacks than the sandwich she prepared. "Have you come to watch me practice again? Those girls must've given me these as thanks for helping out."
"Hahaha-! You are too oblivious!" (Aveline) sarcastically laughed, massaging her temples.
"Am I... Did I do something wrong?" (Rowan) asked, taking one of the gifts and eating right in front of her sister. "Are you hungry?"
"No you did not do anything wrong- but I am a bit annoyed with you. How could you just let your sandwich be taken away?" She asks her sister who gave a guilty expression in her face.
"My friend already took a bite out of it- so I thought the note that came with it is even more important." (Rowan) answers showing her that she kept her note and it was safe in her possession. "I'm sorry I won't do it again, you must've prepared it so early in the morning for me."
"Hmph! You better-! And... I have news of our father."
"Is he coming?"
"Yes and the prospects of your marriage have been rumored."
...
Marriage.
It clouded her mind.
"Rowan what are you doing?! You're losing!" One knight yelled while she was inside the duel ring, one medium circle where two knights can parry and hit each other earning points. The first one who get hit three times loses.
"...!" (Rowan) snapped out of it and parried even harder, the strikes of her swings and thrust of her blade was heavy. As her enemy continued to swing left and right- soon there was an open spot by the right so she kept busy and fainted an attack.
"I got you now, Rowan- Hukh!" The young man was thrown out of the circle.
Sir Arthur who was watching everything felt proud of his apprentice. "Hahaha! Nice one! Who's next? Does anyone want to try and push the ring champion out of the title?" he asked the crowd of knights and they all groaned.
Even after graduating from the military academy they couldn't believe that someone who only trained with them for six months was already better than them with the way of the sword.
"Ugh..."
"Not me."
"I already did yesterday and she kicked my ass, literally."
Even if they underestimated the red haired girl at first, beating her in everything including duel fights, stamina in running and in military strategies...
"Take a break kid, everyone too! Training will continue tomorrow." (Sir Arthur) dismissed everyone as they left for their post.
"Ngh..." (Rowan) grits her teeth as her hands have been bruised over and over again- it wasn't soft and fair in color you could mistake it for a man's but for her it was all worth it. "..."
Her body felt light, its now well built and she has gotten taller over the course of months in training. "You're doing good, Miss Rowan. I can't believe I'm saying this but you're just like me when I was young. Full of sprite and spirit- you have passion and talent to keep at it."
The head knight complimented her genuinely and patted her shoulder, "I can vouch for you to be in a military school. They are in need of soldiers- I know this might be ignored and denied by your father... but you're dead set on it, my student."
"What good mentor am I if I don't support you through your journey?" He chuckled and gave her a recommendation letter for one of the best military schools in the kingdom.
"This is...!" (Rowan) held the letter in her hand, eyes shining, feeling happy and wanting to jump for joy.
"You've proved yourself enough, but education here is nothing compared to a proper military academy where they won't give you much mercy like I did." (Sir Arthur) gave her a thumbs up and Rowan couldn't help but hug him out of instinct.
"Thank you- thank you so much!"
"Hah... if only you were my own daughter- I would've done more but... if you ever need help I will be here." (Sir Arthur) patted her back and looked away trying not to cry, he always wanted children and now he has gotten attached to someone with such passion that he couldn't help but wish he was her father instead.
...
Duke Voclain has come home and with no time to waste, immediately made his two daughters be engaged with the social season, finding the many bachelors to be tied down.
"I refuse."
"You will do as I say."
Rowan refused but his father forced him, and thus she planned on making herself a fool just to get out of being engaged. The men who were paired with Rowan were turned off by her cold behavior and complained to the Duke.
Eventually this angered her father and slapped him in front of her sister when she was being summoned in the office.
Slap!
"Father, please stop!" (Aveline) pleaded while using her body as a shield in order for her father to not attack her little sister anymore and cried. "Forgive her-! She didn't mean it!"
Aveline Voclain, her sister who loves her dearly and perhaps too much- was heartbroken to know she fought with their father who yelled at her to leave the house and that she should get married to other gentlemen with high prospects in social status.
"Rowan what are you thinking making a fool out of yourself?! Don't you know I had a very hard time finding a gentleman who will bring you a good life- he's looking for a wife and you threw everything out of the window by beating him up in a headlock!" Her father, Duke Voclain yelled at her daughter standing in front of him with disdain.
This is the fifth time her father has tried setting her up to be paired with a man for the social season. "I do not want another outburst like this, you are getting a man who will shape you up and that's final!"
"..." (Rowan) shook her head and denied her father's orders.
"I want to be in the military." She says with such passion and seriousness that everyone didn't think a girl like her could ever last. "I do not want to be tied down, father. I want to repay what I owe and this is how I'm going to do it."
"I have heard from my servants what you've been doing while I was absent-! I should've fired Arthur when I had the chance! Feeding you nonsense, how could a woman be a soldier? Your place is to bear children!" (Duke Voclain) yelled at his daughter with a disappointed look on his face. "If that slap doesn't wake you up- just try and test me."
"I am only your bastard daughter, father. Why don't you throw me away- like what you did to my mother?"
"Hah... this bitch-!" (Duke Voclain) raises his hand to slap her again- not even realizing that his other daughter was acting as a shield and this made Rowan realize that Aveline was going to be hit.
"Aveline-!" (Rowan) pushes her aside and catches her father's hands between hers and kicks him. "Don't you dare hurt my big sister!"
Duke Voclain was taken aback by her strength and only there he saw what a monster his bastard daughter truly became. "Fine-! You want me to throw you out? Get the fuck out. I have no use for a woman who acts like a man!"
Rowan felt relief that her plan was all set in motion.
"Father please- don't do this! She's family-!" (Aveline) stood up and begged his father not to throw her only beloved little sister away.
"She said it herself! A stain in our family- I cannot believe I let you stay in my home, fed you and considered you as family only to be repaid like this!" (Duke Voclain) clicked his tongue and scoffed. "Don't you dare expect anything from my will, you hear?!"
Rowan nods, excusing herself and leaving out of her father's office with tears running through her cheeks.
"Loud and clear."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone