The bells tolled twice and Weylyn knew it was time to return, within the next hour, the bell would toll thrice signifying the beginning of the accolade, the ceremony to confer knighthood.
Weylyn's eyes fluttered open from where she lay against her brother's chest, her uneasy heart had calmed by a great measure and Weylyn was now certain she could make it through the ceremony, or at least she hoped to.
"There, the auspicious hour draws near, it is time sister-mine." Rehan said in a tender tone,
"It is time." Weylyn murmured in agreement as she rose to her feet and stretched a hand down to pull her brother up.
"Make your magic." Weylyn said, nodding her permission and with a wave of Rehan's hand, a large portal was opened that displayed an image of the palace courtyard.
"Father and the Kalver Elders will arrive at dawn after the 'Somber Night', we will come to you at the conferment." Rehan promised,
Weylyn nodded as she stepped through the portal without hesitation, wincing at the familiar, unsettling rush of magic as in the blink of an eye, she was propelled away from the vast field, her feet making contact with cobbled ground.
Weylyn took a moment to steady her spinning vision, she had never possessed an affinity for magic and even using magical methods cast by mages were a hassle to her.
Other than her brother Rehan, Weylyn would never trust anyone else to cast a magic spell for her, although each Knight of the Imperial order would be granted their own personal mage,
Weylyn felt she would take her time to make the decision as to whose magic spell was remotely similar to her brother's which she was considerably accustomed to.
Weylyn however accepted the fact that the decision of her personal mage, squire and priestess was not up to her but would require a tournament and whoever won the battle for a chance at her side would become her aides.
Weylyn shook her head slightly as she walked briskly into the palace, heading for her quarters knowing her attendants would be greatly angered by her belated arrival.
The palace halls were even more bustling at this point as everyone awaited the auspicious time and after a short walk, Weylyn arrived at her quarters.
Just as Weylyn lifted her hand to the knob of her door, the door was opened and Weylyn was greeted by a cross glare on the familiar face of a pale skinned beauty.
"Mistress! You are late!" Melanie, Weylyn's chief attendant hissed as she grabbed Weylyn's hand and pulled her into her quarters, slamming the door shut behind.
"I had just finished tidying your quarters and preparing your bath water, I was hoping you would know enough to return in time so we may prepare you for the 'Somber Night' but no...you arrive with barely an hour to spare!" Melanie exclaimed in an aggrieved tone.
Weylyn chuckled quietly as she stretched her hands out to her side as her second attendant, Leia joined Melanie in stripping off Weylyn's armour.
"And Young Lord Rehan also accompanies you knowing you are unprepared when he should know better." Melanie continued lamenting.
"I am here now, am I not?" Weylyn asked in amusement,
"Only just in time, this is a long awaited day in the knightdom, all the Knights from the Knight's Keep have already arrived and all awaiting knights have long donned their cleansing robes." Melanie insisted,
"Well that is because they are just overly eager," Weylyn replied with a shrug.
"As you should be, My Lady. You are to be the first of your age and only female to be knighted as Gold Ranked Knight of the Imperial Order and you are representative of the Dukedom of Kalver, you are the center of attention of this ceremony." Melanie replied.
Weylyn sighed quietly, although she knew Melanie was right, that was precisely what Weylyn did not want to be,
'The center of attention.'
"There is still an hour left to spare, what pray tell is the rush?" Weylyn murmured as Melanie loosened the ties of her inner robes.
"Perhaps the fact that everyone is here to catch a glimpse of you? The great beauty of the Dukedom of Kalver to be knighted Sir Kalver." Melanie said in a tone of pride,
Weylyn scoffed quietly, her attendant Melanie had always had a very simple train of thought, always seeing the good in every situation and everyone, optimistic at every turn,
Perhaps that was why Weylyn favored her so, because Weylyn herself was the exact opposite and more a realistic person.
"They are not here to see the great beauty of Kalver, they are here to see the unworthy Weylyn Kalver riding on the back of her family's noble status to join the highest ranks of the knightdom."
"To see an unworthy little girl who will never be half the knight her brother was." Weylyn said in a blank tone.
"My Lady! Don't you say that about yourself!" Leis and Melanie cautioned in unison.
"Well it is the inarguable truth, that is what they are here for. And truly if I were in their shoes, perhaps I would not think differently." Weylyn replied with a casual shrug.
"You are as worthy as anyone else out there to be the Knight of House Kalver, there is no one more worthy than you." Melanie corrected, as she stripped off the last of Weylyn's clothing.
"I never said I was not worthy...I said they believe I am not and that is what they have come to see," Weylyn murmured as she headed into the washroom, taking slow steps into the scented bath pool.
"Too bad they will be greatly disappointed. I may not be half the knight my brother was... but I am every bit the knight he trained me to be."
"I do not care for their opinions...they may dwell in their ignorance, what matters to me is just one thing. I will never fail Ronan's will...never." Weylyn murmured to herself with determination.