• She was absolutely brilliant. She didn’t ask questions to the knights, she barely spoke a word. But she moved with such grace; her innocent appearance and quiet personality made her quite in demand from the knights. How different she was from the loud, spunky girl Nathan saw in the Ink Room. Nathan could tell she was in awe from the hall; the table; the knights. He was too. The book never talked about the knights as such a disgrace, but, what kind of book would it be if they talked about the knights in shining armor as drunken fools that abused the maids.
    Violet. What an odd name. Violet was a name that princesses and fair maidens. There was nothing that suggested she was royalty. And she wasn’t fair headed or beautiful like the flower. But maybe it was her hair. It was jet black, but it shone a lovely violet color. Maybe it was her eyes. Silver and all knowing, with a playful twinkle. Whenever their eyes met, Nathan was always mystified. Maybe that was why the knights called her over the moment she was free.
    “Boy, stop staring at the girl and get me a drink,” a knight with a rusty sword called him over.
    “Right away, sir,” Nathan said with a bow. Nathan turned to go but the man gripped his tunic tightly. The knight’s hand was icy cold. It sent shivers down his spine.
    “If,” the man whispered, “she is the one, you have to get her before you lose her.” Nathan stared at the knight. The knight just chuckled and said, “You stared at her with the eyes of a love-sick man.”
    Nathan finally understood and bowed again.
    “Oh, knight. Forgive me for saying this but you are quite wrong. I do not love her. Besides, she is but a servant.”
    The knight laughed a little harder and shook his head.
    “Just get me my drink and remember what I said.”
    Nathan nodded and left the man as fast as he could without being rude. The knight was obviously drunk, but Nathan couldn’t forget what the man had said: If she is the one, you have to get her before you lose her. Nathan looked at Violet. She was very busy; she was balancing a silver tray filled with foods and wine. Her eyes were fogged with concentration, silver eyes that glowed from the candle- light. She looked up and their eyes met. Violet smiled and mouthed words. Thank you. Nathan smiled back. You're welcome Nathan was glad, no, happy, that Violet had come with him.
    Violet set down the tray and walked towards him. Suddenly, a knight’s hand whipped around her waist and pulled her on the table. The knight and his friends started to laugh as their supposed leader climbed onto the table with a squirming Violet. Nathan rushed over as the knight began to caress Violet’s face gently.
    Anger rose in Nathan as he shouted to the knight:
    “Get away from her.”
    The knights laughed and pushed him aside.
    “What are you going to do about it?”
    You'll see.