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It was a bright, warm day across the land of Bannerfall, although Katie could feel a shiver rolling over her, whether it was due to the shade she was hiding in or the anxiety she felt she wasn't sure. She was currently peering through a small gap she discovered in the Blue Kingdom’s wall, luckily for Katie it was located not too far from the small makeshift stage the kingdom had set up in preparation for their latest knighting ceremony. It wasn't much to look at, just something thrown together using planks of wood but she could see blue banners of all different shades strung up from street lamps and could hear the excited chattering coming from the residents of blue kingdom that were filling up the seats in front of the stage. While being a bit unpolished, this event did seem to be something the kingdom had come together to celebrate.
Maybe in a different universe, a universe where she had stayed, she too would have decorated the kingdom. Maybe she would have a seat right up front, waving blue flags. Katie thinks she would've been smiling, happy despite not being the one receiving any kind of honour. Happy for her brother, for Nom, because even in this universe that's why she's here really. She may have told a few fibs to members of the Red kingdom to excuse her absence, materials gathering or a reconnaissance patrol but truly she just had to see her big brother finally be knighted after all of this time.
Her jealousy surrounding her brother and the favouritism of both the Blue Kingdom and their parents notwithstanding, she knows that he worked so hard to get where he is, her brother is a skilled fighter that is loyal to his kingdom and has done a lot to help it prosper so, in her own private way, Katie will be there to support him. She still has to push down the sting in her heart because she knows, once, that she, too, had all of those same qualities.
When her and Nom were young all they wanted to do was train, becoming knights was their ultimate dream. They would spend hours sparring with sticks and exploring the woods around the blue kingdom, wrangled in only by their exasperated but supportive mother calling them for dinner. But as they grew older, things got more serious, they still wanted to be knights of course but suddenly sticks became swords and tactics and exploring became lessons in diplomacy. While Nom excelled in many areas, catching the attention of the kingdom, Katie fell behind. She tried to use her smarts to back her up but her diversions and tricks, rather than praised, were labelled dishonourable. That's when the jibes really started.
“Why can't you just fight like your brother, Katie?” when she used her own strategies to win spars.
“Your brother got it right away!” When she misunderstood a lesson.
“Maybe you should just stick to being a squire?” She was sick of it, especially when even Nom himself would make digs at her, tell her to train harder, get better. Eventually, she couldn't handle it anymore.
Katie is pulled out of her thoughts when she hears a cheer coming from the crowd that has formed in front of the rickety stage. Their monarch was up there, holding a gleaming sword, announcing Nominals name and gesturing to the side of the stage. When Nom walked on to face the crowd Katie was honestly a bit taken aback. Her brother was never one to dress up too nicely, always more focused on his training or bothering Katie but the appearance he was sporting now felt wrong. He still had his dark hair and recognisable dark armour but his smile didn't seem to reach his eyes, which also looked weighed down and tired.
As Nominal stepped up on to the stage his gaze seemed to linger across the crowd, eyes scanning for something that wasn't there. Eventually he gave up, turning to bow to the monarch. He whispered something to them, presumably the oath he planned to swear to, face stoic and determined. He then knelt down, facing the crowd and they erupted into cheers as the gleaming sword was laid on each of his shoulders. Katie's brother was officially a Knight, she was officially a step behind. Katie gazed at him once more, in spite of the attention and recognition he was getting for this moment, he still seemed more focused on looking around for something else. Katie scoffed to herself, she would do anything to be in his position and he wasn't even taking it seriously.
As the crowd began to part, splitting off into smaller celebrations, Katie moved back from the gap in the wall. She travelled back over the bridge to the Red Kingdom, more determined than ever to prove everyone wrong.