A White Knight's Interrogation
The sky was clear, revealing an orange colour, defining from the circular sun, nearing its way towards the straight horizon.
Len gazed seriously upon his father’s grave. His blue eyes were grim and he had let his long blonde hair breathe from the silver-white helmet he needed to wear. He had a medium build- perfect for a white knight. He was wearing a normal tunic, with flares as pants. There was a holster on his right leg beside his knee. His eyes looked dead as he looked on the grave markings.
“Tray Printon 468- 497,” Len read aloud. “Father,” he started, as his eyes grew weary. “You- you, always told me never to grow up to be a white knight. So I’m sorry, but I have. I just always wanted to be like you, and I let myself get the best of me! I’ve always wondered why father… why don’t you want me to be a white knight? Is it because, you don’t want me to end up like you…? I knew the missions were always going to be tough and painful, but wasn’t the reason you wanted to join in the first place? It’s like some kind of toxin; it really takes you in.” He sighed heavily, taking a long pause. “I still don’t get why, though. I already knew the missions were going to be tough with many enemies to fight, and obviously a white knight’s life would be short, but worthwhile to you. But then again, you’ve never actually told me what your missions were. You’ve always said, ‘they’re all the same, son’. I’d accept a brief description, father. If only you were alive, you could tell me why. But now I am alone, no parents. Mother has been murdered mysteriously, remember?” Len looked to the grave next to his father’s. That was his mother’s grave. Len then turned back to his father’s and took a rune dart from the holster on his leg. “Father, I still have this. It’s the rare rune dart you gave me.” He turned his head up, facing the large red sky. The sun was beginning to set and disappearing below the horizon. Len turned around, and walked away to exit the graveyard.
***
“So Len,” Rebecca began, her face looking curious and blushful. She had long flowing blonde hair, and beautiful hazel eyes. Her face was cute and attractive, any guy would love to be with her, and any girl would want to be her. “How was your mission? Was it really hard?”
“Rebecca,” Len said, his head facing forward. He took a sip from his ale, leaning against the counter of the Falador bar. “Why do you ask this?”
“You’ve been too caught up with your work,” Rebecca replied, sighing. “You haven’t even asked how my trip to Ardougne was; you need to take a break! And plus, that trip was pretty great, especially for merchants like me!”
“We’ve been friends for years,” Len answered bluntly. “We’ve talked to each other enough already.”
“Well, that’s because I find white knights attractive!” Rebecca proclaimed loudly.
Len ignored her, sipping his ale with his face a bit red. “I’m going home,” he said, finishing his ale and placing it back on the counter. “It’s getting late and I’m tired from my mission today. I had to fight a bunch of people today, the same ones from the previous missions. I still haven’t killed the leader, though. And they’ve grown so used to me attacking and stopping their plans, they’ve singled me out as an enemy. However, Sir Amik has singled me out as a white knight too, for my hard work and dedication. Anyways, I better get going.”
“Oh Len,” Rebecca chuckled. “You’re so strong!”
“See you, Rebecca,” Len said, standing up and grabbing his helmet. His armour rustled as he walked towards the door and opened it. Len walked outside, standing in the middle of the large path. He looked upwards, letting the rain run over his face. Slowly, he began to walk towards his home.
“Aha,” Rebecca started, relaxed and giggling. She took a last sip of her ale and pushed it off to the side. “I’ve won his heart over! Hmmm, I better get going to now.”
Len opened the door to his haven. He closed it behind him as he walked inside. The tired knight tossed his helmet and set his white sword onto the wooden table and sat down. He examined his house; it was quiet with nobody but him. “It’s been too lonely without you, Mother…,” Len whispered, with a sadistic look on his face. “And Father, I am sorry for my doing. I have become a white knight, to be honest. I’ve always wanted to be like you, anyways.” He sighed, and stood up. Len walked up the stairs, and prepared to go to bed.
Rebecca exited the Falador bar, using her hands as a shield from the rain. “Oh man! It’s raining… and it’s getting dark. I should’ve got Len to walk me home.” She continued through the rainy night, marching back to her own home. “Agh! Where am I? I can’t see…,” she spoke. Rebecca suddenly felt tense; she stopped, not knowing where she stood. “Anyone… there?” She heard footsteps, and spotted a mere silhouette of a swift figure, dashing behind buildings. “Who’s there… just come out already!” Suddenly, a hand cupped Rebecca’s mouth. She blacked out and was dragged away, over an unknown figure’s back.
***
The morning sunshine brought cheerfulness and joyfulness amongst Falador. The clear, yellow rays shone through the sky, without being interrupted by the dullness of any clouds.
Len gulped down his glass of water and stormed out of his house. He was wearing his full white armoured suit as he walked through the path, glaring at the park beside him. The day was sunny and clear; the clouds were cut off by yesterday’s rain.
Len casually walked across the white-stoned bridge to the large castle. He crossed over the moat and noticed Sir Amik Varze talking with a woman, looking like Rebecca’s mother.
“What is it, sir?” Len asked politely, bowing. “Mrs. Bloomington.” He looked at Rebecca’s mother, confused.
“Len!” Rebecca’s mother put her hands on his armoured shoulders. “Have you seen my Rebecca?! Was she with you?”
“No ma’am,” Len responded, concerned. “What happened to her?”
“She was kidnapped,” Sir Amik replied.
“Yes, she didn’t come back home yesterday,” Rebecca’s mother informed, frowning.
Len was angry. His eyes were fiery and serious. His whole body felt numb and he paused for a long moment of time. “I can’t believe it…,” he muttered, sounding bitter. “No!”
“Calm down, Len,” Sir Amik warned.
“How can I? Rebecca has been kidnapped!” Len yelled. He was furious, his heart was thumping quickly. He wanted to do something, so very much. He wanted to find who was responsible, and potentially murder them. “Rebecca… I’ll find her!”
“Please, Len,” Sir Amik repeated.
“Len, you need to relax,” Rebecca’s mother told him.
“Your daughter has been kidnapped, Rebecca!” Len punched his fist into the white-bricked wall beside him. He knew he’d get mad for sure, by why was he this mad? Was it that… he had fallen in love with her? Sir Amik Varze and Mrs. Bloomington watched him for a brief moment. “Who did this…?”
“Rebecca isn’t a much known merchant,” Sir Amik said. “So there aren’t many suspects we can consider. She’s just a normal girl… our thoughts are that, the ones you’ve been dealing with during your missions are the ones who took her away.”
“The Fraternity of Lost Thieves…,” Len whispered to himself, and immediately, his eyes flashed wide. “That was what they called themselves!”
“Yes, exactly,” Sir Amik added, hearing him speak. “This will be your next mission; find and retrieve Rebecca. They had left a message saying she was at their base, which was the dark knight’s castle in the wilderness. Then, bring her back safely. I’ll send you some comrades to help.”
“Yes, sir,” Len’s said, his eyes grim and angry. “When do we attack?”
“Right now, Len,” Sir Amik answered briefly.
Len turned around and walked across the bridge again. He didn’t look back, but kept his sight forward.
***
Five white knights camped out in a clear area, with dead trees without any leaves surrounding them.
“So, it’s an all out attack,” a white knight reminded. “Sir Amik Varze’s orders said for us to stick together. We’ll find the girl quickly, and get out. Are you guys ready?”
The white knights nodded cautiously.
“Yes, I’m ready,” Len muttered under his breath.
They all waited at the front of the small castle, keeping a safe distance away. “Now attack,” Len roared as he began to run towards the castle. The other white knights followed. And, the real mission had started.
Len crashed his two-handed sword into the black armoured knight’s head. He kicked the knight away and ducked as another enemy attempted to slice him. The skilful white knight dashed backwards, and jabbed the enemy in the back with his sword’s hilt. He then turned it forward and stabbed through. Len took his sword back out and slammed it onto another knight in front of him, then kicked another knight with his heel who tried to flank him.
“Let’s go,” Len ordered as he ran inside the castle with the other white knights.
They charged directly at their opponents with their swords ready.
Len sliced his sword horizontally, hitting an enemy and cutting his body in half. An enemy blade merely cut Len’s arm, luckily the white knight had dodged it. Len cursed, holding his arm, but then continuing to fight on. He stabbed through the enemy that had hit him and dashed vigorously at a group of opponents. He knocked away the men, screaming and slashing his sword around. Blood splotched on his armour. Len quickly wiped away the last of the men, taking his sword and swiping it at two men. He turned around, crushing his sword downwards onto another enemy and finishing him with his foot kicking against enemy’s skull.
Len turned towards the other white knights. One of them had been injured. “Come on guys!” he shouted through gritted teeth. “We need to save Rebecca!”
“Just wait,” a white knight said, caring for the other hurt knight who was leaning against the wall, clutching his wound in pain.
“Shut up,” Len answered rudely and ran away. He crashed his shoulder through a door and climbed down the ladders.
“We better help him,” another white knight said. He felt the pulse of the injured white knight. There was nothing coming from him; he was dead and pale. “Let’s go.”
“Rebecca!” Len exclaimed, damaging the enemy’s flesh with his white blade. He grasped onto his sword’s hilt tightly as he easily bashed away the few opponents. The enemies attacked him at once, but Len spun around with his sword sticking out. The men who attempted to attack him cried out as they flew into the air, injured. Len continued through the crowd of men, slowly approaching the next door. The room was filled with enemies, until his fellow knights showed up. Len ignored their arrival, and roared as he sliced away the enemies. He dashed quickly to the sword, waving his sword around causing the surrounding enemies to be hurt. He turned around after he reached the door and took one last huge swipe. Len cursed angrily as he watched the men around him crumple to the ground. More enemies climbed down the ladder he had used to get into the room.
“Shoot…,” Len muttered under his breath and quickly slipped through the door in front of him. The door shut by itself. The room in front of him was bare, with stone walls and a paved floor. Len tried to open the door he entered through from, but it was locked.
“Where the hell am I?” Len questioned himself, feeling the stone walls. They were cold as he felt each one of them. “How am I supposed to get out…?” he asked as he felt himself pushing a brick inside. “A switch?!”
The wall in front of him slid down and revealed another stone wall with a door in the middle. He put his hand on the knob and turned it slowly. Len opened the door instantly and walked through. He saw Rebecca, with a rope tied tightly around her neck. The rope was connected to a wooden plank above her. There were boards underneath her, and a lever onto the side. She was going to be hung from a gallow.
“Len!” Rebecca exclaimed, her hands were tied together behind her back.
Len began to run towards her, but a man stepped out from under the shadows. Len was alerted immediately, so he pulled out and readied his sword.
“Don’t even try to get to her,” the mysterious man warned, walking onto the planks of the gallow. He stopped beside the lever. The man pulled out a rune long sword from a sheath connected to his belt. He curled it around his fingers skilfully. “You… Len, is it? You’ve foiled many of our plans, and we’ve depicted you as a white knight. Now look what you’ve got yourself into… your girlfriend being kidnapped! Now, time to actually get rid of you.”
“Then, let’s fight now,” Len screamed. “Let’s end this!”
“Of course, of course,” the man began. “But let me introduce myself. My name is Sentinel, and I am the current leader of the Fraternity of Lost Thieves. I’m the sort of guy, who likes twists…”
“Get it over with,” Len mumbled angrily.
“Let’s see how long your girlfriend can last until you save her,” Sentinel laughed, pulling the lever, causing the planks under Rebecca to fall. She barely had the energy to scream. She was using her neck strength to try to pull herself up, Len could tell it.
Len darted to Sentinel, his eyes furious. “Take this!” He chopped his large sword at his cunning opponent. Sentinel chuckled. He dodged it swiftly and circled behind Len to attack. Len jumped as Sentinel attempted to attack his legs. He threw his sword forward and tried to stab him. Sentinel turned sideways, avoiding the attack and slicing Len on his chest.
Len grimaced but said nothing. He looked at Rebecca, who was struggling. Len continued to fight; he crushed his sword down vertically at his enemy. Sentinel parried the attack and kicked Len. He rushed after Len, who was knocked off balance. Sentinel whipped his sword around, causing several gashes against the white knight’s armour. Len didn’t do anything but flail his body, and soon, he crumpled backwards, his armour falling apart, revealing his normal clothes.
Sentinel walked up to him, placing the edge of his blade against Len’s neck. “I have won. You are foolish to accept a mission to mess with The Fraternity. This is your punishment.”
Len glared at Sentinel, averting his opponent’s eyes from his hand. He moved his palm secretly down to the holster on his right leg… beside his knee. Len slowly opened it up. “No, Sentinel. This is your punishment.” He grasped onto the dart and flung it instantaneously at Sentinel. The man cried out in pain as the dart had hit him directly in the heart. Len grabbed the dart from Sentinel’s flesh before he fell to the ground. He swiftly whipped it towards the rope on the gallow.
Rebecca felt her neck finally separating, until she was relieved. She felt her body fall to the ground. The girl clamped her hands around her neck, massaging it. Her body was weak and her eyes filled with tears. Len joined her, jumping to her side. “Rebecca…”
“Len…,” she whispered quietly. Rebecca laid her palms against Len’s cheeks, and then pulled him down to kiss her. The two leaned into each other, both sharing a loving moment. The saviour gently leaned away from her, but still held onto her. “We should go.”
Len carried Rebecca, letting her rest in his arms. He exited the blood-filled castle, rejoining with his companions.
“Len,” a white knight spoke. “We’ve looked everywhere for you. Where have you been?”
Len ignored him and the others. He just continued walking south, still with Rebecca in his arms. Is this why you’ve told me not to become a white knight, father? Our loves ones, being endangered? I just wanted to be like you, father. But now, I can see why. However, I receive much recognition… but then again. Is it really worth it? Is it worth having your loved one being kidnapped, and nearly killed? Is that worth the recognition? Father… now I know. My personal mission, to be like you, has failed, but was close to being true. I see, now, the best thing isn’t to be like you. My decision… I shan’t be a white knight anymore. Thank you, father. Your words shall carry on, once I have children of my own. Len stared at the rune dart, with the name, ‘Printon’ imprinted onto the side. He slipped it back into the holster on his leg, and smiled. Thank you father, again.
