Chapter 4

Chapter four: A heated argument

Rose's parents were shocked and outraged when they found out that the wandering knight had made Rose his squire.

"How could you do this?" her father demanded".

"You're a girl! It's not right for you to be following this path. It's unseemly and dangerous!"

"You've never had a problem with me being an apprentice to the blacksmith,"

Rose replied, her voice calm but firm. "Why is it different just because I'm a girl?"

Her father sputtered, unable to find a good answer. Rose's mother spoke up then, her voice soft but firm.

"It's not that we don't think you're capable, dear. It's just that we're worried for your safety. We know that the world can be a dangerous place, especially for a young woman alone. We want to protect you."

Rose's anger faded, replaced by a deep sadness. "I understand that you're worried, but I need to do this. This is my dream, and I know it's not an easy one, but I have to try"

Rose went to her room, slamming the door behind her. She felt like a child again, being scolded for doing something she knew was right. She lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, and felt tears welling up in her eyes. She knew her parents loved her, but they didn't understand. They couldn't see how important this was to her. She wished they could just accept her decision and support her, but she knew that was asking too much. With a heavy sigh, she fell into a fitful sleep.

As Rose slept, she dreamed of the wandering knight. He appeared to her, dressed in shining armor, his eyes kind and understanding. "Do not be discouraged, young squire," he said. "You are on the right path, even if it is not the one your parents would have chosen for you. Your courage and determination will serve you well, and one day, you will achieve your dream."

Rose woke up with a start, the words of the knight still echoing in her mind. She felt a new resolve, and she knew that she would not give up.

The wandering knight led her through a series of grueling exercises, pushing her to the very limits of her endurance. She stumbled and fell, but she never gave up. By the end of the day, she was exhausted, but there was a sense of accomplishment in her exhaustion. She had proven to herself that she could do this.