#nealan

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Headcanon is it’s not the daughter he’d expect to go for her knighthood. His oldest girl is all spunk and energy, throwing herself into weapons training with zeal. She’s got stubbornness & ambition in spades. He waits, half expecting it…but no, she decides she’d rather be a Rider. Their son has his heart set on the City of the Gods - Neal halfheartedly tries to convince him otherwise, with the aforementioned reasoning, but to no avail. Two years later it’s his middle girl who shyly, but firmly, asks permission to enter page training. It comes out of the blue, and Neal feels blindsided. This is the little girl who spends all her free hours with her nose in a book, who prefers dresses over breeches, and always speaks with the gentlest of manners. Sure, she dutifully trained the basics on the bow and the glaive, as was expected of all of the Queenscove young. And she wasn’t half bad…but he could tell her heart wasn’t really into it, like her sister. She’d rather be in the Corus library than trading blows with the training master. So why in Mithros’ name does she want to be knight, he asks. She responds with an unassailable answer: it was her duty. There simply must be a Queenscove knight to follow in his footsteps. Didn’t they owe an obligation to the Crown? Wasn’t their family a pillar of the realm? And Neal is astounded. His argument that it isn’t her responsibility alone falls on deaf ears. No, she can’t wait and see if her little brother chooses that path. By then it would be too late, she would be much too old. She had to start now. No, she’s made up her mind. And so he grudgingly says yes. It’s been years since their time as pages, and times have changed…there were many more girls enrolled now, although not many made it all the way through to the Ordeal. Full of concern, he watches her talk quietly with the visiting Kel, three days before she was to leave for training. Kel patiently answers her questions, and shows her some strengthening exercises for her arms and legs. Kel looks up at her friend, nervously drilling the table with his fingers as he watches them, and she can’t help but smile. Little Irnai’s prediction is coming true. She pats the young girl on her shoulder, giving her final words of encouragement before turning towards her friend with a grin. “Come on Neal, we’re going to the stables. You’ll feel better after a ride.” Neal gives her an exasperated sigh, and follows his friend, his mind still weighing heavily on the difficult path in front of his daughter.

Lady Knight, Tamora Pierce

submitted by missmcgeek with the message "this mini-fic tugged my heartstrings"

- Nealan of Queenscove