As the applicants and their sponsors lined up in the throne room's entry, Nuall covertly leaned over to his redheaded companion as he passed by.
"Don't mess up," he whispered to Ethyn.
As they were both wearing their helmets, the whisper was far from quiet.
"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Same to you, Nuall," Ethyn answered pleasantly.
Cyneheard smirked while Nuall's sponsor glared at his charge. It seemed not even this auspicious occasion could dull the blonde's contempt for his green-eyed rival.
Each young man, flanked by his sponsor, walked gallantly down the purple carpet amid the approval of the nobility. While not all had shown up for the glorious occasion, many had come with their children to be introduced to the new knights.
After being placed second in line, Nuall beamed as his armor gleamed a rose copper. It was not made of copper, but the coloring had been overlaid onto a sturdier metal to give the effect. His family had the money, so he would have the best.
Just like every other time since arriving at the palace, Ethyn was the last in the procession. He wasn't sure if it was because he was the youngest or simply because he came last in the alphabet, but he hated it.
The nervous energy was overwhelming. 'Why couldn't I have been first like Ashton? He always acts like nothing ever worries him. I am sure he would not be anxious if we traded places.'
He tried not to tap his heel on the ground. It would send the armor of his legs clattering and be very distracting. Instead he settled for shifting his weight as casually as he could back and forth to keep from locking his knees.
Ethyn would not pass out from standing too straight. Not after that one time when...
"Ethyn!" Cyneheard whispered through his teeth. As he had elected not to wear his helmet, his voice was so soft that the young man almost missed it. The young Samberg snapped to attention as he realized all eyes were on him.
'Time to go!' Training his vision on the two at the thrones, Ethyn walked with the confidence that he clearly had earned this spot. Other than Silver and Aiden securing the apprenticeship, no one had done anything in the process to further his career.
He had put in all the hard work. This moment was his.
As he walked, Ethyn kept his right arm across his breastplate and on his heart. It was a sign of humility and loyalty to the crown, but it also allowed the boy to feel his heart racing even through the metal plates. It was quite an exhilarating feeling.
Approaching the foot of the Dais, the green-eyed man fell to one knee and lowered his head. At the last possible moment he remembered to reach up and remove his helmet before Sir Cyneheard could gently clear his throat to remind him.
With a small flourish to hide his mistake, Ethyn took off the pointed head adornment. His auburn red hair fell forward, partially covering his eyes.
"Squire Samberg, approach the throne." King Rhodri and Princess Rose stood on the dais to await the aspirant.
With the soft shing of his metal armor against itself, Ethyn stood and prepared to climb the steps. He held his helmet firmly under his right arm, dropping his other hand to his side.
He looked up to meet the approving smile of his sovereign. Rhodri was resting his hands on the pommel of his sword with the tip digging into the purple carpet. As the redheaded man regarded the king with due respect, he missed the confused face of the princess beside him.
The young aspirant nearly tripped on the stairs as he heard the blonde woman's exclamation.
"You are the dirty, flattering thief?!" Rose quickly brought her hand to her lips. Obviously her thoughts had not been meant to escape her mouth.
In the excitement of the ceremony, Ethyn had forgotten all about the incident with Nuall and the accidentally stolen eagle trinket. The redhead had diluted himself into thinking Rose would forget about the matter or at least not connect the dots. Clearly he was wrong.
She had even come up with a descriptive title for him in her head. The horror!
Unsure what else to do, the young man fell to one knee at the king's feet and shot a questioning look at the princess. "Excuse me, Your Highness?" he asked politely.
Rose blushed heavily, but quickly recovered. "I was...wondering if courtly chattering gave you grief, Squire Ethyn."
"No, Your Highness, I am quite content." Ethyn was so relieved that the princess had not repeated her accusation that he may have smiled slightly too wide at her.
She knitted her brow and glanced away. "Very good."
King Rhodri somehow seemed even more pleased than before. "A man of great promise! Getting not one, but both royals to break protocol in this auspicious ceremony. Are you sure you don't have some magical power, Samberg?"
There was a ripple of laughter among the nobility, which broke the tension of the moment.
"I assure you I do not, Your Majesty," Ethyn chuckled as well.
Rhodri fixed his royal robes with one hand, shifting the pommel of his sword slightly with the other. "Yes well, I shall keep you waiting no longer." The king straightened and squared his shoulders to use his most regal voice. "Who sponsors this man for knighthood in the Kingdom of Birle?"
"I, Sir Cyneheard, so sponsor Ethyn of Samberg." Cyneheard bowed deeply from the foot of the dais. "He has shown strength, valor and loyalty beyond his peers and is worthy to join the ranks of those who protect your land."
The words, though formal, were fully meant by the elder knight, and a warm feeling spread through Ethyn's body.
"It is so noted. Ethyn of Samberg, do you swear to protect Birle with honor even if it costs you your life?" Rhodri's voice became subdued. What he required was no small task.
"I swear," the young man answered enthusiastically.
King Rhodri tightened his hands around the pommel of the sword and lifted it from its resting place in front of him. He held it in front of his face, seeming ready to cut his own nose in two.
"Then I, King Rhodri, ruler of Birle, dub you Sir Ethyn of Samberg, Knight of the Realm and Champion of Birle."
The king placed the sword gently on each of Ethyn's shoulder plates. The young man remembered the joking warning of Rhodri and kept intensely still during the process. When it was complete, the king lowered his weapon back to its resting place.
"Arise, Sir Samberg, and take your place among the chosen."
Rhodri patted Ethyn on the shoulder as he stood. The green-eyed man could barely comprehend what had just happened as he returned to his seat. It wasn't until Rhodri addressed the crowd that it finally became real.
"Dukes and Duchesses, Lords and Ladies, and all who hear my voice, take note! Today I have dubbed eight knights. They will uphold the law and protect the innocent. It is not a title they gained lightly and one that will be earned each and every day of the rest of their lives. We will hold them to a higher standard, for they are the gold among pebbles and the wheat among the chaff." Rhodri turned to the men in armor. "Live your calling well, and our kingdom will flourish."
Gilroy came forward from the wall and in a booming voice announced the final portion of the ceremony.
"I present to the Kingdom of Birle its newest knights and Protectors of the Realm. Long Live the King!"
"Long live the king!" the knights responded in unison.
"Long live the king!" the members of the court echoed.
Ethyn smiled. It was official. He was Sir Samberg at last.