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General History of The Druid Knight By William Black Birth and Childhood: William was the second born son of Lady Genevieve and Lord Stephen of Annsbury. Though sickly as a child, he had a nursemaid who took very good care of him. She was, though his parents knew it not, a Druidess. Through her nurturing he overcame his bodily weaknesses and grew strong. She taught him in the healing ways, and gave to him what knowledge she had of the world, both physical and spiritual. When he was old and strong enough, he served as page, then squire, to Lord Melbrook of Hawthorns Gate. At the age of 21 he took the solemn vows of a knight. Though his body was lean, he was strong and quickly built. Most of his contemporaries thought him much younger than he was. It might have been due to his intense sparkling brown eyes, or his hyperactive demeanor. Or his boyish looks. Whatever it was, the appearance served him well, since almost everyone underestimated him. Even his own family. His elder brother, Sir Alan of Annsbury, was a knight of considerable skill and daring. But after his marriage to Lady Eileen of Cornwall, he gave up his knightly service for more mundane tasks and fatherhood. He settled down to supervise his father's estate and take care of his family. Will's thirst for knowledge and mystical wisdom soon brought him into sharp conflict with his father and brother. The type of learning he sought was of little value in running the estate or managing the wealth of the family. Will's idealism and strict code of chivalry was also seen as not practical and of little value in a world in desparate need of common sense and . He really believed he could change the world for the better. He wanted more out of life than what his small shire afforded him. Young Adulthood: Instead of serving a Lord, he wanted to continue his education; to gain as much knowledge and, if possible, wisdom with which to pursue a higher calling. So he sought out his old nursemaid. She in turn presented him to the Chief Druid of his shire, who reluctantly took the young knight under his tutelage. William impressed his teachers with his abilities to learn and remember all that he was taught. And not only remember, but apply his skills to everyday situations whether ordinary or extraordinary. He became a Bard by the age of 25, passing all the requirements. By 29, he was a Vate and at the age of 33, he was officially granted the title of Druid. Yet his heart grew restless. The injustices he saw in the world made him hunger for something more. He could perform the traditional role of a Druid, and do his best to help where he could. It meant exchanging the authority of his sword for that of a staff. Doubts plagued himc Once William had achieved the level of skill, knowledge, and wisdom that the Chief Druid expected of him, he was sent out on his first quest. To recover the Stone of Orland from the Red Dragon Malanist. The Stone was a coronation throne of symbolic and mystical powers (or so it was thought) for the Kings of the North. William was supposed to slay the dragon and recover the stone within a given time period. This he did with exceptional skill and daring, armed initially only with his staff and shield. On this quest he found his patron animal (the Stag), and took the Green Oak Tree as his heraldic device for his shield and surcoat. It was during his dual with the Dragon that he found the mystical scimitar sword. This is the sword that would later be destroyed by the "Dark Beast", who himself was a son of Dumah, the Angel of Death. Other quests soon followed. The injuries he sustained were numerous, yet through Druidic magick, he was able to heal his wounds to such an extent that the years appeared to have little effect on him. So many years did in fact pass that Will forgot their passing. As his skills increased, so did his loneliness. On one of his visits home, he met a young Druidess by the name of Catherine. She was intelligent, beautiful, witty, but she was espoused another. However, love does not know such barriers. His love of her grew as much as hers for him. They shared with one another as much of their lives as they could. He pledged his love to her until time itself passed away. But stupidly, due to his own promises, he left her to continue his questing. He didn't feel he had much chance competing against an established rival anyway. She was hurt that he left her to fulfil a pledge. Years past before they met up again. By this time Catherine had her own pledges to keep, though she still thought of her knight. The Druid knight also caught the attention of another woman. One by the name of Morgana. She was fair, strong willed, beautiful, knowledgeable, and powerful. She was also very ambitious and skilful in the ways of witchery. Though she loved Will in her own way, power was her true love. She wanted to be in control over those domains she could grasp and hold tight too. She felt William would make an excellent ally and tool to reach her goals. The Change: As William grew older his quests grew more dangerous. And his enemies more numerous. However, during one quest he fell deathly ill. Catherine herself nursed him away from death. But during the coma state the knight was in (he was in this state for 3 weeks), he had a recurring vision. It was that vision, of a man on a cross, that changed his heart and life. When he awoke he knew that he was a Knight of the Source. However, the "religion" was not in his blood. It was the Man he would follow. Thus he took a new symbol for his device; a red cross. Instead of abandoning who he was and the valuable knowledge he had gained, he saw that the two paths were really one. Thus he emblazened the Red Cross on the field of the Green Oak Tree. So was born the Druid knight. Many Druids believed in the "One Source" and William found that one source to be a "Person". However, the use of magick was something that had always bothered him. It was not because it was bad, for the Chief Druid reminded him that "one man's magick is another's science". But because with every use, a little of what he was diminished. He could feel himself being used up. Also, he didn't want to be a "stumbling block" for those who would see his use of magick as "consorting with the devil". Sometimes it was unavoidable, but usually he could depend on his physical skills rather than resort to magick. However, during his questing William found his gifts and calling. The earth herself was under attack by forces both human and spiritual. He had weapons to deal with both. He pledged himself to the service of all who upheld the nurturing of the Earth and Her children. He took the command to be a "steward" of the world literally; not to subdue, but to protect Her. Thus Ends the General History of the Druid knight's early days (before the presentation to Lady Morion of the Realm of the Dark Crystal). William Black © Continues... Chronicle II, Main page |