Value

The princess took her seat at the table, the only woman amongst a throng of iron-clad, battle tested men. There was a thick tension in the air. It was the first time a woman had been permitted at their table, and though it was the princess, there was still a certain discomfort in the unfamiliarity of it all. She, however, seemed just as level headed as she always did. It was for this reason that she had been permitted to sit among them in the first place.

She, of course, was the first to break the tense silence. "Tell me, my knights," she spoke evenly, "what is it about me that puts you at such unease? Is it my breasts? For I am sure that there is not a one of you who is unfamiliar with such things, and I am also sure that you have each seen better and less covered ones than mine. I hardly think it would be my long and flowing hair, for there are some among you whose hair competes with my own. Perhaps it is my dress? It offers less protection than your stark and brilliant armor, to be sure, but I would bet the kingdom that I am more comfortable in my attire than you are in yours."

A knight sitting across from her spoke up. "It is unusual for a woman to be sitting among us," he explained, "this is true. And there is a certain discomfort I believe we all feel because of that." He raised a hand as she began to speak, quieting her. "I do not believe, however, that this is the main concern among any of us."

"What, pray tell, is then?" the princess requested, an eyebrow raised. Her interest was peaked by this statement. For a week, since it had been decided that she would be permitted a seat at their table as a guest, she had heard the whispers. A woman at their table? she would hear. She may be royalty, but why her? Would not her brother be more appropriate?

"Each of us seated at this table," came another voice, "has been tested in combat, and succeeded. But not you."

"If that is your concern, then I will gladly accept a challenge," the princess replied defiantly, though her voice did not lose its gentleness. The knights were taken aback by this. Not only would it be treason to challenge a member of the royal family, but to challenge the daughter of the King would surely incite sever punishments. If they won the challenge, they would be exiled. And if they lost, they would be humiliated. The princess could see these concerns on the faces before her. "Or is that inappropriate, seeing as I am a lady?"

A dozen voices rose, each attempting to murmur an explanation, but one knight sitting only a few seats to her left sat in silence. His eyes were closed, and his arms were crossed over his chest. "Sir Gallan, correct?" the princess inquired. The knight's eyes slowly opened, glancing at her. "Is there something you wish to say?"

The other voices quieted down as all attention was directed at Gallan. "If you wish to prove yourself in combat," he said, his voice low and rough, "it is not best you should do so against any of us. Rather, you must prevail on the battlefield, with your life on the line. For only at that time, having emerged victorious, the blood on your face proof of your triumph, would you have proven your worth to sit at this table."

Silence fell once more over the table. The implications of his statement were clear: to prove herself, she must disobey her father and enter the war. "Very well," the princess stated, calm as ever, as she stood from her seat. "And once I have done so, I shall return and sit once more among you. And you shall accept me?" In silent and solemn agreement, each knight nodded his head. "Then that is what I shall do."

And she turned her heel and walked away.