The Gift

Once upon a time by Marina Kauffman

Not very long ago; in a place that one would call enchanted because it was indeed a captivating and delightful place; there was a curious lady –one who after a very difficult journey- happened on a very dashing knight. When one just looked at the surface; the knight did not seem as dashing in the beginning, but this particular knight had an incredible wit, noble heart, and very discerning nature- also this knight had very, very shiny amour.

Now all knights should be exceptionally special, as knighthood cannot be obtained through applying for a course through our local newspaper -Oooh No- a knight is a warrior or nobleman.

A knight was to follow a strict set of rules of conduct. These were the knightly virtues. The virtues included:
* Mercy (Towards the poor and oppressed. They were supposed to be harsh with evil-doers.)

* Humility
* Honor
* Sacrifice
* Fear of God
* Faithfulness
* Courage
* Utmost graciousness and courtesy to ladies

A tall order for any man, and yes this dear knight -with his short stature- possessed them all. Our knight was a true hero. His valor and knighthood came form his heart, and his shiny armor from a great deal of polishing.

So it is not surprising that when the knight came across the very curious lady that he invited her to rest; relaxing her body as well as her mind. The lady seemed much burdened: the knight saw this and he fought her despair with lovely stories, he removed the dark sorrow in her eyes with his wit and tenderness, and he opened to the lady a world unexplored and untainted.

The knight protected the lady both awake and in her dreams and they formed a dear bond of friendship. As time passed and the lady recovered, she was ready to continue her journey back home, but this really saddened the lady as she did not want to leave the knight, and the place that she found was a very enchanted one indeed, but she came from a different world to this forest and she had to go back.

As each day passed the day of her departure hung like a dark-brooding cloud and the lady became very sad and depressed; the more sad she seemed the more the knight increased his efforts to cheer her, this in turn would sadden the lady more as the knight became more and more dear to her everyday. The heart of the lady felt as heavy as lead and she knew she could not ask the knight to come with her, as he had to protect the enchanted forest and she did not want such a beautiful and magical place to go lost. So the lady tried to hide her despair, but the knight could sense all was not well with his dear friend. He promised he would fight her dragons, but to do so he first had to find them.

He found this particular one very difficult to track. The knight held guard over the lady, day and knight but still he could not defeat his foe. As the knight looked into the eyes of his lady he felt an urgency to bring light to her eyes once again, but with each effort it seemed she slipped further away.

A messenger came and the knight was summoned to go to the queen of the enchanted forest, and though it hurt him as he could not help his lady he had to go. Thus he left early while she lay asleep hoping he would return soon. He left his lady a rose with a song that she may not be alone when she awakes. Thus the knight set off to do the bidding of his queen.

When the lady awoke she was surrounded by the most beautiful music and she smelt the sweetest fragrance. It all brought tears to her eyes as she was overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. She arose, and smiled her eyes lighting again; also she realized that the knight had gone, but knew that he would not be far away. The lady was left with her thoughts, and knew that this would be the easiest time for her to leave, but could not because she did not say goodbye to the dear knight. Thus the lady waited one day, then two, then three, the days turned into a week and still there was no word from the knight; as the days passed the lady could no longer wait to return home as she had been gone too long already.

She knew the knight was off somewhere performing some noble deed, and he would return as soon as he could, but she had to leave. So with a sad heart the lady made her preparations, slowly just in case the knight would return soon, but he did not. The lady left the knight her voice as the knight loved it when she sang to him; she wrapped it in a box and placed it where the knight would find it. It was the most precious gift she had for the dear knight, and so she went on her journey back home, with a heavy heart and no voice. Yet the knowledge of the gift the knight would receive gave her a peace as he was very dear to her indeed.

It was wet and cold in the enchanted forest a dreary day apt to suit the foul mood of the knight. He wondered on what it meant to be a knight as he thought back on the events of the past few weeks. He knew that as a knight he was duty bound to the queen but he began to wonder on the absurdity of all that happened. The title of knight was becoming increasingly connected to the nobility and social status. The heart of a knight the integrity was being lost as people got involved with the acclaim from the society.

His heart broke as he watched fellow knights disregard the codes on virtue. He was sickened as he looked at the waste of resources and time on a non-sensicle parade of a code that did not seem to exist. A waist of precious time, as he wondered on the lady that he left at his abode, the sweet mysterious lady; with the dark and worrying eyes. He wished she would open to him what burdened her heart so. He longed for her voice, the sweet melodies that would wipe his mind clean on all that ailed him regarding the increasingly twaddle that is now being called knightly duties. He longed to be able to bring light back to those eyes and bring joy to her heart. She was a lady he could serve as a knight at any day, one who he would consider noble, the queen he served he had doubts on, as if it was not for her title she would be considered poor. So the knight made his way through the dreary weather eager to be home that he may pursue true knightly duties with a truly noble lady. The thought lightened his mood and he quickened his pace with an eagerness that was seldom his manner these days.

The night entered a cold room. The fire was not lit but there was a heaviness that outweighed the weight of his coat. His heart sank as he looked around and found the lady gone. He did not understand where she had gone, a fear gripped him as he thought she may have been injured and on his way out to look for her he saw a beautifully wrapped box. He stood looking at it for a while. Someone tool great care in its execution yet the dark that filled his heart grew. He sank onto the chair as he opened the box, and it brought tears to his eyes -this brave warrior- when he found what was inside. He stared into the dark feeling a dark shroud enveloping him as he realized that the precious box contained a precious gift what one that said goodbye. The knight closed the box. Re-wrapped it and put it in a hole. He covered it and left his home hoping he finds a really nasty dragon on the way.

The lady was approaching home. Her heart heavy, but feeling content with being able to have left the knight with her voice. She could not speak and found this a blessing as she did not wish to do so. She longed for the warm stories and the precious heart of the knight and hoped that he was safe where he was. She opened her heart and placed him there in a safe place where she would keep him close. As she approached her home it was bright, sunny and warm. Yet none of that could reach her soul. She felt heavy, dark and cold as she approached the gates of a world she no longer wanted to be part of.