"Ughhhh!" Chris groaned, clutching his head as he walked into the training field. 

"I hate you, Day. Why did you make me go to the bar last night? You should have stopped me from drinking the beer!" he muttered. 

Day chuckled, "It's your fault your not a good drinker. You said quite a few disturbing things too on the way home..." Chris's aghast expression made all the boys laugh. 

Elliot nudged Chris, "Ooooohhhhh..."

"Don't worry, I won't be telling anyone. You're comments were a bit embarrassing, if I say so myself..." Day joked. Chris let out another groan and slumped on the bench. 

"Anyways, why did you take Chris to a bar, Day?" asked Seb. 

"He needed a couple of flirting lessons and whose a better teacher than me, the white knight her-himself." Day said, grinning and trying her best to cover up her slip. Damn it. I've got to practice calling myself a he... she cursed inside her head. Though it seemed like no one noticed, thankfully. 

"Ugh. You and the prince's relationship should be strictly professional." commented Nick. 

"What, are you jealous Nick?" replied Eli, defending Day. Nick scowled. 

"Guys, you can stop fighting about me," said Chris, "And honestly Nick, Day and Eli are my best friends. Things don't have to be professional." Suddenly, he realised that Day had made his life much much much more interesting. What would have happened if I hadn't met him? wondered Chris.

"Best friend, huh? I'm jealous now. What about us?" asked Robbie, gesturing to all of the guys. Chris blushed. 

"You guys too."

"Anyways, next time, I want to come too - you can't just have all the girls to yourself!" Elliot remarked. 

"Oh, really Eli... Weren't you staring at Lady Freya during lunch?" smirked Chris. To this, both Eli and Day flushed. Day felt awkward when they talked about her sister in that way - now she knew how Chris felt about Evie. 

"I... I met her at the last dance..." Eli muttered. Chris's face immediately dropped. He wished he could have gone too - but the white knight matter was getting out of hand. Though he was glad he met Day, and grateful that the white knight wasn't someone conceited. Whenever Chris was with Day, he felt all the pressures of being a prince drifting away. Somehow, the heavy burden seemed to disappear, and Chris could actually have fun. At this thought, Chris's mood lightened up and he called everyone for another round of fighting - Seb against Eli, Chris against Nick, Robbie against Day and Justin on the bench.

Once again, Day reminded herself to be careful - she had danced with Robbie at the ball. But it looked like he didn't like her then, and had probably, hopefully, forgotten about her.

---

The fight went well. Day had won - it took a little effort, but she ended up winning. He really is good at faking, she thought to himself. She found it hard to predict Robbie's next moves, but was able to counter all of them except for one, which got her a bruise on her left cheek. 

She would have to apply powder to conceal it after her shower. Day took off her wig and turned on the tap.

Water flowed over her sore body as she thought about the meeting that she had with Justin later. It was going to be in the palace gardens, so it was convenient for her. But she would have to find a way to convince Justin not to drop her off at home... And what about Robbie? He'll surely recognise me... she groaned to herself. 

Shaking her worries away, she turned off the shower and slipped on a elegant knee-length dress. Unfortunately, it was light pink. She disliked the color pink very much, but the dress was comfortable and she didn't look too bad in it.

Putting on concealer on her bruise and added rogue on her cheeks to look more feminine... (mostly so that Robbie or Justin didn't recognise her).

Grabbing her necklace and ring, she headed for the garden. To her not-so-surprise, she found Robbie first. 

"Hi. It's Robert, right?" she asked, trying to play the "I didn't fight you in training today" girl. It was working - Robbie just nodded and the two awkwardly stood waiting for Justin. It seemed like Robbie had no interest in Dawn other than teasing Justin about her. 

She wished she could talk to him about the moves he did during training, but she couldn't. Only Day could. Not Dawn. Because Dawn was a girl and Day was a "boy".

Suddenly Dawn felt hands clasp around her eyes and she was about to knock the person down when she heard a familiar voice, "Guess who it is." Dawn inwardly sighed in relief and then grinned. 

"Hmmm... I don't know. You do sound a lot like my grandpa..." she teased. The boy turned around and Dawn was face to face with Justin. His blonde hair was combed back and Dawn could notice streaks of brown in his green eyes.

"You look amazing in that dress, Dawn." Justin said. I guess it's good that he likes it... even though I don't... she thought to herself.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" suggested Justin.

 "Good idea." Dawn said, taking his hand. Poor Robbie was forced to be the third wheel. After noticing Robbie sulk in the back, Dawn felt bad for his and suggested he go and chat with Freya who had also come down by that time to look for Dawn. Robbie reluctantly agreed and Freya walked (almost dragged) him to a seat under a tree.

Now that it was less awkward, Dawn and Justin began talking again. 

"Will you be there at the New Year's Dance?" asked Justin after a while.

Dawn shook her head. 

"I don't think so. Even though it's only a week away, I doubt I'll be fine by then. I'm on heavy medicine and am not allowed to eat certain foods or exert myself." she explained. 

"Well, you still look ravishing to me." he replied. Dawn smiled at the compliment. 

"Thank you." I need to do a better job on making myself look sick... she muttered.

Justin started talking about his training and Dawn drifted into her own thoughts. She knew about everything he was saying, so it was okay, right? She assured herself that she wasn't being rude and started to think about the New Year's Dance again. 

Will I dress up as Day? What if mother expects me there? she wondered. At last she decided that she would go as Day with the rest of the knights and tell her mother that she felt sick that day. It'll work, she told herself.

"How are you going back?" asked Justin once they were at the end of the walk. 

"Oh, I'm going to go to Freya's room and then I'll just walk home. I was thinking the fresh air would do me good." she replied.

"It's dangerous out there, Dawn. Why don't I drop you?"

"I know the way back, Freya showed me. I'll be fine, really."

"You're a girl. You won't be able to defend yourself." he said. Dawn immediately steeled herself against his comment.

"I'll be fine." she said, her voice bordering on a growl. How dare he... How dare he say a girl can't defend herself... How dare he say I can't defend myself...

"Dawn. Just let me dro-"

"I said. I'll. Be. Fine." she looked Justin in the eye with a flare of intensity. Justin backed away.

Maybe I should have reacted less... He doesn't know that I'm a knight... she started to think.

"All right. Good night, Dawn. Bye." said Justin, leaving her. Dawn stood up straight, walked out of the garden and headed towards her room. She crossed Freya's room and decided to go in. She found Freya inside, reading a book. 

"How was it?" Freya asked. 

"Good. It was okay. I got annoyed by the end when he said that a girl wouldn't be safe outside. But he's sweet, I guess." Dawn said frowning at herself, confused. 

"It happens. He just doesn't know probably." Freya said, trying to comfort Dawn. Dawn nodded, smiling.

"Hey, how did it go with Robbie?" she asked, sighing. 

"Quite well actually. He's not that bad. I guess he didn't like you because you were taller... You two would have been good friends... Anyways, he talked about you as Day and the prince and how you're both best friends... what's up with that?" said Freya. 

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Nothing much. He's a good friend. Okay, good best friend. Don't worry though, not as good as you."

Freya laughed. "Anyways, guess what I learnt! Robbie is absolutely smitten for Lady Thea!"

"Which one is that again?" asked Dawn. 

"The one with short brown hair... She's really good with numbers. You'll like her." replied Freya. 

Dawn nodded, "They would look nice together." Freya agreed, and both laughed, lightening mood.

"How did you even get that out of him?"

"Magic." Freya replied with a twinkle in her eye. Her sister did have a way with people that made them open up to her. Dawn said goodnight and left for her room. She barely got a wink of sleep. The entire night was spent thinking about what Justin said. 

Anyone can be a knight. Even a girl like you and me, she remembered what she said to the little girl, Isabella.

Just believe in that, she told herself.

--+--

PS. That chapter was really hard to write :( But I'm glad I finished! Please vote and comment if you like it, and share your thoughts! It makes me really happy to know what you think! And feel free to give me some feedback! Have a lovely day! 

PSS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ALREADY AT CHAPTER 9! Dawn and I have gone such a long way! YAY! Thank you so much for reading!