Dive into your creative stream
The Knight loomed over the kingdom it watched over. Wishing to be apart of that world again. To be just that as their namesake…a Knight.
Dedicated to protecting the people of this realm, of this kingdom of green and white. How the trees give shade to the people, how the white ivory roads could be seen when the Knight tilted their head just right, where the run shined on the surface. Up above in this lonely castle, all the Knight could ever do was watch. And wait…wait, then wait some more…until time ran out of sand.
The Knight hated just being in the castle, the castle was fine on its own, a beautiful, big structure which dares almost touch the heavens if they dare exist, it’s a beautiful home…just not their home. Their world, not something they were made for, not something they ever wanted. They wanted to be down and there and protect, to be connected to the nature and to its people. Yet here the Knight was. Looming, like a guard dog.
The more they watched the people the less alone the Knight felt. No one else was here but them. No maids or staff, no butlers or ladies in waiting, not even another guard or even royalty…the Knight was all alone in the abandoned spire that reached to the clouds above. All alone. Protecting what? They sighed as they moved from the balcony to the throne room. Protecting their friends last wish.
“I know this is too much to ask of you, please protect the castle…protect it until I return. I can’t explain it all my dear Knight. Just please. I beg of you, protect it with all your might and will.”
Damn them and their loyalty as the Knight would’ve been gone long ago without it, they’re bored out of their mind and sad at being away from what they love so much, which was life itself. Yet, they know that protecting this place would protect what they truly love. Though this friend was quite a handful, they spoke no lies before.
Yet as the Knight waited. The Knight felt more alone, yet also comfortable here, but there was always a want, a need to go home.
“Just a bit longer.” The Knight said, waiting and waiting as they sat at the stairs leading up to the ivory throne. Waiting, waiting…waiting.
I remember when my child was young they would say “Some day father, I will see the world!” I always told them they would if their heart so desired and if they had the drive, they really could.
What I couldn’t bare was my child leaving. I begged them to stay, that it wasn’t their fight. They said to me they were but eighteen-
“Some day father, I will return and when I do I would’ve seen the world…someday father, I will come back to you.”
They got on Buttercup, their favourite mare…and rode off with their solider friend to fight the monster that started this unholy war.
I cried like I have never cried before then..I waited. I hoped each day since then that my child would return, I dressed my best clothes and worked like I haven’t worked before to make the farm spotless for them to come home…
It was three years. Three years since I’ve seen them. No word on from their end but from what I heard it’s very much the same for many others…I hoped my child wasn’t killed…I prayed I wouldn’t loose another. I just wanted something, anything.
I didn’t receive word until a letter came.
The letter said that the war with the king was over…he was proclaimed dead. The war was done and my child would finally return home in three days time.
So I prepared, I made up their room, a room I haven’t stepped in for at least a year. I washed everything down, I prepared everything I can on the farm of animals and apple trees and on the final day…made my child apple pie.
Then…over the horizon of my farm where the sun peaked over each morning…I saw a dark knight ride on a nightmarish horse at the crack of dawn.
The armour the knight wore was dark as night that shimmered purple everytime they moved, the horse they rode was nothing I have never seen, a horse from hell with red bleeding eyes and a mane that was of hell fire.
The knight rode until they stopped in front of me and spoke with a deep voice…
“Branton Noor? Farmer of Evrin Acres?”
“Y-Yes?…That is me.”
The figure jumped off their horse and towered over me, they were as tall or even more tall as my solider child…
Their helmet hid their face. They said no words until they finally spoke with power-
“Branton Noor, I am Cosima, the son of Queen Ofara and Royal Ezlis Noor. I am your grandson here to bring you back to the Netherworld where the rulers await you…at your new home.”
My eyes popped out of my sockets in that moment. All I could muster to say to the tall figure was-
“Apple pie? …You must be tired…come on in, we can talk more inside.”
I waddle to my house and see in the corner of my eye that the knight follows closely behind me…
Oh my goodness…what just happened? Is this real? Am I hallucinating? One moment I was waiting word that they have died or worse…became another person but this? I HAVE A GRANDSON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW?!
This…This was definitely not what I expected.
Your son/daughter has been gone for 3 years, fighting the campaign against the demon king as the head of the royal knights. You a humble farmer now have received a letter that the war has ended and now they are coming back to visit you.