'This is my purpose. The reason I was created.' These were the thoughts that filled her head as she cast her armour into the fires in the Palace of Idirsholas. The Kingdom of Idirsholas was under attack. and her creator, the Great Lady had created her through the power of the old religion. She was created to protect Idirsholas from harm and to do so she forced herself to watch as her precious armour melted into a glowing ball of liquid metal.
"I Mukantagara the lady born of the old religion form you for a new purpose. You will protect your wearer and will never perish. The wearer will always live. Your wearer always survives even the most fatal of blows. You and your wearer immortal in the old religion." Her words echoed, rippling with magic that formed the liquid metal into a form of supernatural protection for any who wear it, this glorious new armour would be the first of seven. Seven Riders of Seven Powerful horses, the Seven Knights and the one person in all the realms who commanded their fidelity. Under her steady hand the re-forged armour arose from the flames, more powerful and completely indestructible."Mukantagara? Is the armour ready? Pendragon's forces are drawing nearer." The Great Lady of Idirsholas walked into the room with a grace that came naturally to the noblewoman. Even though she was still considered to be young in her all of 25 years Mukantagara was powerful Sorceress, born of the Old Religion in preparation for a fierce battle that could destroy her home and her people. Her name itself meant 'Born During War' which itself could not be more true, her birth occurred at during the beginning of the discord between the Old Religion and the New. When the Lady of Idirsholas heard of the forces coming to her kingdom she knew the Pendragon would come for her people so commanded her seers to find her the one who would be able to save her kingdom and they saw Mukantagara who would go down in legend as Medhir, the Witch who would seduce riders from the Pendragon forces and turn them to her cause as immortal knights. They foresaw that she would be the only one who could create the Riders, commanding their complete loyalty. They prophesied that to the riders she would be their highest concern. As long as she remained in Idirsholas then the riders would do all within their power to ensure that the Palace did not fall.
"Almost my lady but I must have more of the metal that my armour was forged from, the enchantment moulds to it best. Once the armour is complete we must gather the men and I will choose seven of them to wear the armour forged." The graceful Lady nodded and swiftly exited the room and not several hours later did she have the metal she needed. She worked tirelessly, forming the remaining suits of armour.
Once the last enchantment was cast, the Sorceress returned to her room and changed into her traditional midnight blue robes, lined with golden patterns. Walking to the grand throne room the crowd parted allowing her to approach the great dais where her Lady waited with a small child perched at the edge of her gown. The child was Mukantagara's daughter, a creature of pure magic born of the Old Religion when Mukantagara began to feel the onset of Magic's destruction and sought council with the greatest magical being of all, a Dragon. He told her that while her power was great, there would be another in her bloodline who would be far greater and would flourish in a time where she would not be tolerated, if she was found then she would suffer a fate worse than death. When the child was born she showed a great prowess in the ways of magic, seen as a gift from the Old Religion the child was blessed within Idirsholas and was kept close to her creator and her mistress so that she could be tutored in the way that would bring her to fulfil her purpose in the restoration of magic. Standing from the great throne, the Lady stood and addressed her court.
"The time has come for us to choose those who will protect our beloved Idirsholas and live in immortality. Bring in the armour!" The doors opened and seven shining suits of armour were brought in. "With the Seven at the head of our armies Idirsholas shall never fall!" This was met by a great cheer from the court. "Knights, step forward." As one they moved forward and Mukantagara stepped forward to inspect them, She stopped in the centre facing a tall man with brown hair and deep blue eyes. She sensed he was not much older than her and that he had great courage.
"This man shall be the first of the Seven. He will lead them with strength, honour and valour." He stepped forward and accepted the armour offered to him, as he did so six other men lit with a glow unseen by all but the Sorceress and her child. The young girl walked down from the dais and pulled each man forward to join their leader. "And so the Seven are gathered, give them their armour." Turning to her mistress the Sorceress held out her arms. "We have our Knights of Medhir my lady." The lady nodded serenely.
"The enchantment?" She asked.
"It will become active as soon as all Seven Knights are inside their armour."As the seventh knights was strapped into his armour the enchantment began. The knights eyes glowed a bright blue as they knelt before the Sorceress who had returned to the dais.
"What is your wish my lady?" They asked in perfect unison, heads bowed in submission.
"Protect Idirsholas from our enemies. Keep our people safe." She commanded in the strongest tone she could.
"As you command." The newly immortal Knights left the room to prepare for battle, followed by the remaining knights who would serve under them. The general bowed to the three women and joined the knights outside knowing that things would have to change with some of the Knights chosen were some of his most skilled fighters.
"Leave us" the members of the court filed out of the room and as soon as the heavy doors were shut, the Lady turned to the Sorceress. "Mukantagara, my old friend. You must not join the battle, work your spells from here and protect the citadel." Mukantagara's heart sank, while she wished to fight alongside her mistress she knew that her place was within the palace walls. For as long as she remained there, so would the Knights.
"As you wish my lady. Will you be fighting or will you be safe within the walls of the castle also?" The look on the noblewoman's face told her all she needed to know. "If you are here I can protect you, as long as you stand then Idirsholas cannot fall!"
"No, I must join our armies to lead them in battle. The men must believe otherwise all is lost." This was the last command the Lady would ever give her sorceress.
They lost the battle.
It was a long and bloody battle, the Knights made it a stalemate between the Pendragon forces and those of Idirsholas. A betrayal in the ranks of the men brought the forces to their knees and the death of the Lady was enough to rout them completely. The traitor had despised the use of magic to forge unbeatable Knights, he saw only the unwavering loyalty that the former men had for their mistress. He saw the armour as only an excuse for manipulating the noble Knight's hearts and minds, he knew the power the Sorceress had and he feared it. Even more so knowing that the child she had spawned was said to be even more powerful than her. The night before the battle he rode to the Pendragon King himself and spoke of all he knew. He spoke of the Noblewoman's placement within the battle and how only the Sorceress remained within the Citadel. If her mistress were to fall, the Sorceress would be distraught and not think clearly. The armies would see that not even her sorceress could protect her and give up.
"What of these Knights you spoke of? If they are enchanted as you say then normal forces cannot hope to defeat them." The turncoat blanched at the King's words.
"M, my lord. The Sorceress Medhir, within the Citadel, she is their weakness. Once the witch falls then the Knights will have no commander."
"What of the child? Will she not command them once her creator is dead?" He thought carefully.
"The child is a witch also, brought about of sorcery. She is said to be even more powerful than she who created her, even in her young age the girl is a threat to you my lord." The King nodded and lay out his plan.
The Pendragon forces divided their power, half to the castle with Uther and half against the armies of Idirsholas. The Pendragon men took the hidden path into the castle shown to them and took the few remaining guards by surprise; they were easily beaten as the Seven Knights of Medhir were fighting outside in the battle. Mukantagara could do nothing as her concentration was focused on casting a spell upon her child. She knew that the battle was lost and that the Pendragon would take the castle. When the forces took the castle she knew she and her child would face a fate worse than death so she began to enchant the child, to protect her as much as she could. The Sorceress was forced to watch as her Mistress was slaughtered and their forces destroyed, but for Pendragon this was not enough; he took the child. He restrained dying sorceress and forced her to see her child thrown into the fires from which she had formed the armour of her Knights. As the flames burned all watched as the burning body grew from that of a child to a woman before exploding into ash. The last thing Mukantagara's lifeless eyes saw was the fires become extinguished for 300 years.