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Saga of a Knight part 1 Once upon a time, there was a very hansom, honest, charming, funny, warm, compassionate, friendly, articulate, (wordy), intelligent, and passionate Knight. This Knight was fulfilled... he had his Shining Armor, his trusty stead, and his services were always in demand... but still he was lacking in one respect. This gallant Knight was on a quest... A Quest to complete his heart. It seems this Knight had participated in many a crusade, winning the respect and admiration of many of the Kings court. This Knight even won the fancy of a fair maiden from the town. The fair maiden, while becoming quite attached to the Knight (and the Knight in return), never could bring herself to accept the dedication the Knight felt to his chosen undertaking. The maiden, while always providing a welcome home and warm hearth for the Knight to return to, never adapted to the idea that she was truly the source of his devotion. For the Knight, though not understanding why, was compelled to his mission. A mission not just of the Kings wishes, but a mission to serve and protect, support, respect, and above all... care for the maiden. Through the years, the Maiden and the Knight formed quite a homestead, and the Knight felt certain, that with due diligence and devotion, he would someday be able to provide his fair maiden with a castle of their very own.
One day, whence the Knight returned from another crusade, the maiden was gone. This created such great emptiness in the Knight's heart, piercing him deeper than any lance had through many jousts, that the Knight forgot all that was he. He took off his suit of armor, and abandoned all his duties to the Kingdom, as well as to himself. His hours turned into days, and days into weeks... until... a mystic vision appeared in his mind.
This mystic vision came with a message for the now defunct Knight. "Be true to yourself, 'tho battles may be won or lost, all sand castles eventually will be washed away by the ocean tides, and even through the darkest nights, the sun will always rise, bringing hope for a new day." When the Knight awoke from his transcendental journey (call it what you wish, the meaning is still the same!), these words stayed with him. He dusted off his armor, applied a liberal amount of WD40 to combat the rust, and swiftly returned to his duties as a Knight in Shining Armor. His return was greeted with glee by all of the Kings subjects, and with this renewed passion, he proved himself worthy of the Kings gratitude and rewards. The Knight, while still conjuring up the meaning of the message the mystic left with him, went on to satisfy all of his obligations, to the King, the community, and to his departed Fair Maiden. This Knight was filled with great joy and happiness, day in and day out, but still felt as if he had even greater things in his destiny. His joy did not provide him with the same satisfaction as it did in day of past. The Knight seeked the counsel of many of the wisest advisors to the King. Through relating the story of the Knights sorted travels, and the myriad of encounters they thus brought, some occurrences embellished slightly (to create a more engaging story), the wise advisors brought out the cause of the Knights sorrow. It seems, absurd as it may seem for a Knight as independent and self-confident as this, that the Knight is lacking in the one area that his could not fulfill alone. The Knight desired companionship.
Now where was this Knight to find such companionship (although he did find that barley and hops made great companions for short duration’s... or at least that is what he remembers!), in a kingdom vast as this? The Knight went to the King and shared his inner-quest. The King was appalled, how could a Knight of such esteem need companionship, it seems the King had long since overcome the years (decades) that the company of another was a pleasure to be experienced, not an obligation or tradition to be fulfilled. With head sunk low, and heart bleeding upon the sleeve of his (not so) shining armor, the Knight set off in search of that elusive companionship. To far and wide, he searched and tracked, hunted and explored, always looking for the one who could fill his void. While the Knight found company was not difficult to obtain, and the spirit that accompanied it did provide some satisfaction, it did not fulfill his total quest.
When asked what it was the he hoped to find on this quest, the Knight in Shining Armor would reply, "I hope to find the missing piece to my heart, the one woman who will be my Princess, a woman who will allow me to be her Knight."
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