Everyone is in the hall, gathered for me. Finally I can become a knight. Just don’t mess this up, Gwendolynn, you worked so hard to pass as a man for this. You cut your hair and used most of your savings to buy fabric for men’s clothing. This is your dream, the king is right in that other room. You came all the way from the South of France, to the middle of England to learn how to be a knight. You are just minutes away from your dream, to actually become a knight. Luckily my page Quinn kept the secret, or else I would be ratted out to the king and all my fellow knights. Hopefully they don’t find out that I’m a girl.

My name is called, and Quinn nudged me in side with his elbow. My turn. Quinn has done so much from fixing my hair cut, to keeping my secret. I can’t let him down. With every step I take down the middle of the aisle towards the king, I start to think. What if it goes wrong, what if they find out! No, just believe in yourself. If this goes wrong they might execute me; or shun me away from the village or even worse; laugh at me. It is ok, you wanted to be a knight, you wanted to take this chance. Just breathe, and don’t cry. His holy sword in his hand ready to make me a knight.

After what feels like minutes of walking I meet him, the king. I remember everything that Quinn taught me. Bend down silently, pray to God, and say my forever thanks to the great king, Hadrian the Third. King Hadrian’s sword lowers onto my right shoulder then moves slowly to the left, he grants me knightship then everyone cheers on the sidelines. Time to stand up, Gwendolynn. I turn and walk out of the room, time for my first real adventure, after the feast.