I have come this far. Don’t blow this. I walk down the immense hall towards the king. I look around the and notice the paintings and tapestries. I have visited this scenario many times in my dreams. Every time I have one of those dreams I wake up in a cold sweat. If they find out I am a girl, I’ll certainly be punished let alone become a knight. I’ve heard rumors about girls trying to become knights but being exposed. The rumors said they were tortured or imprisoned. Girls are expected to cook and clean and sew, but I don’t want to do that. I kneel before the king, barely breathing.  I waited for this moment for so long. Since I was nine I’ve had my heart set on this.

My father seemed proud. He hadn’t had a son and I am his third child. He taught me everything I know. He was a knight too. I was always fascinated by the stories about his battles he told at dinner. But my mother didn’t approve. I’ll never forget the disappointed look in her eyes when I told her I wanted to be a knight. I guess it’s because she never got a chance to teach the things she learned to my two older sisters. They went to school and they barely talk to her. I guess she thought that she was going to have that chance with me. But when my younger sister was born she seemed more supportive of me. The king speaks and then I promise to be devoted, fearless and to protect the poor and weak. I waited for this moment for so long. I’ve probably thought about every possible thing that could go wrong. Like what if someone discovers that I’m a girl and blackmails me? What if the King finds out? The king raises his shining sword and places the flat of his sword on my shoulder. I don’t move a muscle. I think back on everything I did up until this point. Fasting, wearing the robes, confessing my sins. When he lifts it I stand up. I did it. I am a knight.