Xarkly 12618 Popular Post Share Posted March 24, 2021 MEMOIRS OF A SILENT KNIGHT VOLUME III: FLIGHT OF THE PRINCESS Source These Memoirs are not public knowledge until Aleksandr's death, or shared in roleplay. Volume I: Vow of Silence Volume II: I Did Not Love Her Music Spoiler Today, I betrayed the Knight's Code of Chivalry. I helped my niece Katerina - King Josef's daughter - flee from Haense. She and the Queen approach me, with Katerina as pale as a ghost, her hands trembling, and, most importantly, her face bruised. Her brother - King Heinrik - had beaten her, it turned out, over some disagreement about marriage, and both Katerina and Queen Mariya asked me to take her somewhere safe from harm, and so I took the frightened girl across the river to stay with a ... friend. I do not know why I did it. If Godan himself asked, I would not be able to answer. I am a Knight - to hold the title of Ser has been my lifelong ambition - and the Ninth Tenet of Chivalry of our Order decrees that I shall be loyal to the King, my own nephew, but surely Heinrik would not have wanted this. No - honour dictates that I should have refused Katerina's request, and reported it straight to the King. A Princess of her station, fleeing Haense like a fugitive ... it would not do, not at all, not for the honour of my King nor my country. So then why? Why did I agree to it without a second thought? By the time I had even stopped to consider it, I had rowed the girl across the river and the sun had risen to make the disturbed water gleam. That question plagued my mind as I walked the girl to the safe hideaway I'd managed to find her, and it haunted me for every footstep as I made the return journey back to Karosgrad that night. Why? At first, I concluded with melancholy that I am a poor Knight. My life's work to become a warrior of irrefutable honour, to become a soldier worthy of my House and my father, only to betray one of the core Tenets of Chivalry - serve the King. It is not only that -- earlier this year, when my squire Marie told me she might very well die on her final trial, I very nearly stopped her. I had no place to do so; my duty is to help train her to succeed at such trials and become a Knight, not to fret over her safety, and earlier this very week when she approached me with concerns that a fellow Knight may be an adulterer, I dissauded her of the notion of doing anything about. Not because I thought she would be wrong to do so, but for the selfish reason that I feared she would be discharged as a squire. Indeed, I thought myself a poor Knight, one who broke the Code of Chivalry and let such fickle emotions rule him. But only at first. By the time I reached Karosgrad's walls, my lungs and muscles aching from travelling all day, I had reached a different conclusion -- a revelation, really. The Ninth Tenet might command loyalty to the King, but had I really done so, had I betrayed the trust of Katerina and Queen Mariya, I would have broken the the Fourth Tenet - to protect the weak and defenseless. For as long as I lived, through all those long years of lonely, vigorous training I subjected myself to all so that I could call myself a Ser, the Knighthood had been a colourful dream in my head. Knights were heroes, men and women who lived purely for the betterment of this world, and I so desperately wanted to be among those heroes. But now that I am here, I can see that there are no heroes. Draped beneath bright heraldry and shining platemail, they are mortal men and women, the same as peasants in the fields, and mortal men and woman are flawed. The Knight's Code of Chivalry reminds me now of my younger self - the younger self that believed Knights really were paragons of virtue. The Code foolishly presumes that all of its Tenets are at all time compatible - it asks Knights to protect the weak from evil, and to serve the King, but what if the King is the evil? What if he becomes a tyrant, harming innocents wilfully? The Code commands to champion the Church and teachings of God, and to help the Kingdom grow strong, but what is a Knight to do when the Kingdom allies with pagans? It was as I stopped at the gates of Karosgrad, the moon dipping towards the horizon and sweat beading on my brow, that the truth struck me. The Code, honour, chivalry ... it does not really mean anything. All these were notions of someone, a long time ago, of how others should live. That is not to say the Code is wrong, that we should not strive to hold ourselves as honourable, but since the blade of Gaius Marius touched my shoulder to dub me the Whisper Knight, I have gradually come to realize the real world is far too complicated for one written Code to cover. It is not the truth I once thought. The real truth, I have come to think, is both much more simple, and at the same time much more complicated. When the weak are threatened by the same people I am sworn to protect, the Code does not work. When I realized that helping Katerina, and that protecting Marie, was a breach of the Code ... I did not regret. Even when I thought it made me a false Knight, in the depths of my soul, I could not bring myself to feel regret. Irrespective of what is written in some book by an old fool centuries ago, I know what I did was right. This morality, this honour, it's not something that can be learned, or taught. It's something someone is born with - it is a part of them, and it is an instinct. A reaction to something without thought, like when I agreed to help Katerina as soon as I was asked. Even though these pages are for my eyes alone, writing that seems arrogant. But even now, I know it to be true. A real Knight - if such a person can ever really exist - will never be forged through some written Code, because a written Code can never really work. After all, if a Knight needs mere words to tell them how to act, then I very much doubt they could ever really be a Knight. All the same, I fear I have landed myself in a mire. Queen Mariya remains in Haense, but she made no secret of her discomfort, and only time will tell what impact Katerina's flight will have. The reaction may be a drizzle, or a rainstorm. Even if it is the latter, though, I know I will not regret my decision then either. For I follow a new Code now. 38 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnBaed 8957 Share Posted March 24, 2021 https://youtu.be/AQlFoiY2KVU Margaux Helvets hugged herself as she looked out her window, watching as the street lanterns of Baker Street were being set alight. A solemnity lingered in her weary, weary gaze; they had travelled for the better part of the week, from Karosgrad, to Esbec, to Cathalon, and then to Providence. After having shown Princess Katerina to her new room, she retired to her own. So the Prince moves out, and a Princess replaces him now. What shall come next for me? For some reason, she began to dread her next trip to the frigid lands of Hanseti-Ruska. Having sheltered Prince Robert in Cathalon, she felt as if she committed no wrong and would not risk herself in being the center of anyone's wrath despite his exile; however, as for Princess Katerina... She still felt as if no wrong was done in her actions, but was now terrified for what may come of her. No one shall know, right? All will be well, as usual. I always find a way to land on my feet and move on. Her words of assurance to herself brought no comfort, for her thoughts always returned to the stories she has heard of the abusive tendencies of King Heinrik. They continued to plague her thoughts and dreams for the remainder of the evening. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCapybara 1803 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Alyssa Seregon would drift into the night- deep In her dreams of the bright starry nights in the Korvassain deserts. Simply sleeping. Sleeping hard like one’s heart after betrayal and hurt. The ‘aheral would be unknowing of it all. All of the- pain and betrayal of this tragic. Horrid. Night. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderMaiashiro 663 Share Posted March 24, 2021 [!] Unknowing that her confiding in Ser Aleks had made it into the memoir, Marie Barclay ends the week like she normally does, speaking with her parents. While worry has plagued her mind for a while now of concern for Koenas Mariya, Katerina, and her own trials... she seems happy as of the moment. Happy that she had been assigned to perhaps the best knight there is, one that looks out for others even if against the regulations. In her mind, it is one thing to follow obediently, and it is another to act absolutely for what is right, even if it means rules must be bent. It says more to look out for one, than to ignore just for the sake of doing as one is told. Of course, this did not ease every worry, however it came close knowing that there are still some out who wish to make a change for the better. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi 1736 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Books, quills and feather were scattered on the carpet that covered the floor of the Koengs office. With his hands placed upon the now wiped empty desk, Heinrik Karl barked and shouted so the saliva flew out off his mouth."Find her and bring her to me! I want her alive!" His clutched fist hammered upon the wooden desk that also his father used to work at. The hunt was on. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatDutchFellow 1054 Share Posted March 24, 2021 (edited) Joseph stood outside the palace thinking on the actions of His Majesty Koeng Heinrik Karl the Armsman quite conflicted on the whole ordeal surely striking a woman as if a dog who dissobeyed wasn't how a king was supposed to act? Surely the beating of one related by blood holds not a shred of honor... Alas on the other side of the spectrum the loyalty the man has for his country fights his morality untill the king his roars are heard from outside the palace by Joseph and General passerbyers "Aye yer Majesteh...." Joseph mutters out for now his loyalty overcoming his morality as he mutters a silent prayer for the princess in hopes she might find positivity in her life instead of the blade of a Knight Edited March 24, 2021 by ThatDutchFellow 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elpreties 89 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Shirren Ironwood leaned on the railing of the balcony outside his room in the HRA barracks. Far below him, the hustle and bustle of city life carried on. But up here, the world was clam. A light breeze ruffled the paper in his hands, a letter, now slightly crumpled, proudly emblazoned with the crest of the Knights of Haense. But Shirren was not looking at the letter. Nay, he payed it no heed. Instead, his eyes gazed out past the front gates of the city, as if searching for something he could not see. In a quiet voice, barely a whisper, Shirren spoke. "Are not the Knights meant to be paragons of truth and virtue? Meant to symbolize all that is right in the world? Is that not why I'm here? Is that not what I strive for?" He shifted his gaze now towards the castle. "Should I choose to take the vows of knighthood, what will you make me do in the name of chivalry? Will truth and justice be that which I fight for, or are those oaths naught but chains to bind me?" A pause. Shirren fell into a pensive silence, perhaps waiting for a reply that could never come. He slowly looked down, his eyes falling upon the letter in his hands. Rumors spread fast, but the facts were much slower. If Shirren wanted answers, he would have to go to the source. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marron 140 Share Posted March 24, 2021 7 hours ago, Rudi said: Books, quills and feather were scattered on the carpet that covered the floor of the Koengs office. With his hands placed upon the now wiped empty desk, Heinrik Karl barked and shouted so the saliva flew out off his mouth."Find her and bring her to me! I want her alive!" His clutched fist hammered upon the wooden desk that also his father used to work at. The hunt was on. Albrecht Mondblume too knows what it's like to have a disobedient sister.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdestPepsi 1034 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Friedrich sat in his office after talking with his second; he adjusted his spectacles as he watched the fire rage on. The man felt nothing but self-disgust as the crackle of the fire continued. He quietly considered all he had in his life, everything that the man could lose. He hated what he had become to protect what he held dear. The man struggled greatly with the conflict of his morals and his duty. Yet his duty conflicted with itself; his oath and doctrine affirmed his loyalties to the crown, and it also told him never to surrender someone. "Never surrender yourself nor your brothers; bring your honor or death." those are the words he humbled to himself as he struggled with the situation. He had made his decision as a gamble, and he hoped that the scalpel would, in turn, make the right decision. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garentoft 8353 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Franz was apathetic as always to his surroundings, nothing really bothered him anymore, and there was nothing that he was really particularly attentive to. It was only when Katerina sent him a letter that he even learned that she had left, it was then that he even noticed any sort of absence from her at all. He recalled a time that he had spoken to his aunt, Alexandria, in the woods. She had told him that family was the only thing that they could trust and rely on in this world. "You were so wrong, aedymamej..." He murmured to himself, twisting his eyes to stare at his own mirror reflection, "There is only yourself." He pointed his finger forward at that, "Nie one else." Another person gone, he was left only to wonder who would be next. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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