4. Sir Mulder
Growing up with the three knights proved a very interesting time for Fox, who now insisted on being called Sir Mulder, embarrassed by his first name. The three knights understood, for Sirs Frohike and Langly did not like their first names much either. Sirs Frohike, Langly, and Byers were very paranoid, especially of any type of higher authority. The three had been secretly forming numerous plans for years to invade the Smoking Man's castle and battle with him, hoping to over throw his evil regime.
Under their supervision, Mulder learned to "trust no one", to be wary of any type of organized government, and became almost as paranoid as his odd friends. The three knights were also some of the people Kate spoke of that were "out of their minds". They believed that strange creatures (Sir Frohike used the word aliens) did come from lands in the sky far away from the earth that they knew to study human nature and their world. Mulder, in awe of the three knights, thirstily drank up every word.
But that was not all that Mulder learned from them. Although they seemed clumsy and awkward at first glance, Frohike, Langly, and Byers were actually very skilled knights. Being their squire, Mulder learned how to ride a horse, hold a spear, and use a sword. The three knights taught Mulder everything they knew and soon their student surpassed even their skills. As time passed and Mulder grew to be a young man rumors spread everywhere that he would be one of the greatest knights in the world, if not the greatest. But along with that prediction came the title of Sir Spooky for his strange, unorthodox beliefs and paranoia. Mulder didn't mind though. He concentrated solely on becoming great enough to take revenge on whoever destroyed his family.
Finally the day came when Sir Frohike knighted Mulder. The trio found it very hard not to be emotional. Their little Mulder was all grown up and had no need of them anymore. Even Sir Langly had grown very fond of him. And although they were proud of Mulder, they were also sad that he was now a knight because it meant that he had to go on quests and find adventures to prove himself a worthy knight and build up his reputation and name.
"Before you go," said Sir Frohike holding back tears that were threatening to spill. "We each have a little gift for you. They will help you on your way to becoming the greatest knight ever to walk this earth."
Sir Frohike's gift was a beautiful sword. Its handle was encrusted with red stones.
Sir Byers' gift was a shield. The background was black and the symbol depicted in the center was a large green X outlined in silver. "It will help defend you from and defeat the unknown," explained Byers as he handed it to him.
Sir Langly's gift was a powerful gray horse. Mulder named it Blue.
When it came time for Mulder to leave, Frohike couldn't take it any more.
"Take care," he said, hugging Mulder tightly around his middle since Mulder had grown much taller than Frohike. "Don't forget your best friends when you become the greatest knight in the world!"
"I promise I won't," laughed Mulder.
When the good byes were over, Mulder mounted Blue and turned to face the north. Giving his friends one final salute, he rode off.
"Find a good king to serve, Mulder," called Byers.
"Cream all the knights you joust with!" yelled Langly.
"Don't forget to save a few beautiful damsels in distress!" added Frohike.
With the encouragement and advice of Sirs Frohike, Langly, and Byers, Mulder rode gallantly into the north woods, ready to take on anything coming his way. His first few nights into his escapade proved uneventful. It wasn't until the fourth day where he found a lady in anguish on the side of the path.
"My lady," said Mulder, bringing Blue to a halt. "What ails you so?"
"Noble sir, an evil knight has taken siege of my castle and has cast me out. I have no one to champion me and win it back!"
"Fair lady," said Sir Mulder. "Take me to your castle. I will be your champion and teach this scoundrel a lesson."
The lady led Mulder deep into the forest to where her castle lay siege. Approaching it, he saw a knight atop the castle that the lady identified as the man responsible for her troubles.
Mulder called up to the knight and told him to joust for the lady's castle.
The knight came down with his horse and they jousted. The knight proved to be a worthy opponent for Mulder for he gave a long, well fought battle, giving Mulder many wounds and scars. But in the end, Mulder was victorious, unhorsing his opponent and knocking him to the ground.
"Please good knight," begged the man on the ground eyeing the sword pointed at his chest. "I beg of you, don't kill me. I am Sir Jerry of Lamana. I had been put under a spell to take the castle..."
"A spell?" said Mulder.
"Yes," panted the knight. "By an evil sorceress by the name of Phoebe la Green."
"Well, Sir Jerry, although you have wounded me and caused much bloodshed, I will let you go since you say you were put under an enchantment." And with that, Mulder removed his sword from its position above Sir Jerry's chest allowing him to rise.
"Merciful knight," said Sir Jerry. "I beseech your name for I vow to be loyal to such a noble knight."
"I am Sir Mulder," Mulder replied and stepped aside to allow Sir Jerry to take leave with his horse.
When Sir Jerry and his horse had disappeared from sight the fair lady whom Mulder had championed ran up to him.
"Why did you let him go?" she asked. "He's an evil man and took my castle!"
"Good lady, an enchantment put upon him by an evil sorceress was the source of his unjustly actions. It was not he who was at fault."
"Well, it is of no matter now," said the lady. "Please, I beg of you to come inside. You are wounded. You may rest in my castle until you are healed."
Mulder tied up Blue to a tree where there was enough grass for her to feed. Then the lady took Mulder inside the castle and led him down a long hall decorated with monstrous stone gargoyles.
She stopped near the end of it and turned to face Mulder. All of a sudden every door in the castle slammed shut. Alarmed, Mulder pulled out his sword searching the hall for potential enemies.
The lady laughed. "Put down your silly little sword," she told Mulder. "Any efforts you make are futile now. You are mine for eternity."
Keeping his calm Mulder asked, "and you are?"
"The sorceress Phoebe la Green of course."
"Oh, of course," said Mulder sarcastically. Then, "I was warned about you,"
"You should learn to heed warnings better then, but it is of no matter now. You belong to me now. The Dark Lord thought he had got rid of all you Mulders. Hah! When he learns that I have captured his greatest enemy he will surely award me handsomely. But I already have a handsome reward..." she gazed pointedly at Mulder.
"I'm very sorry madam, but I'm afraid you have nothing at all," and Mulder lashed out at her with his sword.
But before he was even close to the sorceress, the stone gargoyles came to life and seized him. It was useless for Mulder to fight against stone.
Phoebe laughed menacingly. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to be locked up until you can learn to behave properly in the presence of a lady. Take him to the dungeon."
The gargoyles drag Mulder to a dark dungeon where he is secluded from the sorceress' other prisoners. When he was locked up, Phoebe cast a spell over the area surrounding his cell creating an everlasting wall of fire to prevent any means of escape.
"The fire will stop only when your heart melts and you will accept me as your lover," Phoebe told him.
Mulder could do nothing. He wouldn't give into the evil sorceress. The only time he saw anyone besides Phoebe la Green was her servant, Lady Kirsten, who was very kind to Mulder, conversing with him when she brought him his meals.
Finally after being trapped in Phoebe's cell for four days, Mulder had enough. When a small portion of the flames went out as Lady Kirsten passed through to bring him his meal, Mulder asked her why she served the sorceress. Lady Kirsten told Mulder that she was actually the daughter of a king but vampires threatened kill the family and turn the king's children into vampires. And so, desperate for help, she went to the sorceress and said she would do anything to be rid of the monsters. Phoebe promised her, she would cast a spell over her castle so that the vampires would not be able to enter her father's castle only if she would be her loyal servant
"Good lady," said Mulder. "If I would kill the vampires for you, would you help me escape?"
Lady Kirsten looked doubtful. "Not even the most valiant of my fathers knights could defeat the monsters. What makes you think you can?"
"You just have to believe I can," said Mulder. "And if I cannot, I will die trying."
She agreed and let him out of the prison. Mulder slipped by her while her body blocked the flames. Then she led him out of the prison through a secret door so that the sorceress would not notice.
When Mulder had retrieved Blue and both he and Lady Kirsten mounted the steed, they made off to the castle in the holy wood where Lady Kirsten's family dwelled. Upon arriving at the castle, Lady Kirsten noticed that the vampires were nowhere to be seen.
"Phoebe must have noticed our absence and has lifted the spell," moaned Mulder's companion. "I fear we may be too late to save my family."
The two went into the castle and found three vampires engaged in a fierce battle with a man who could only be identified as the king and the king's knights. Although the vampires were greatly outnumbered, they were more powerful and seemed to have the upper hand. Many knights already lay on the ground dead, a snack for the vampires when they won the fight.
Sir Mulder jumped into the battle surprising not only the vampires, but also the knights he fought along side with. Many knights stopped fighting to watch Mulder joust and battle, for they had never seen such a display of might and courage in a knight before.
The battle wore on for hours. Those in it were dripping with blood, which only excited the vampires and strengthened them. The vampires seemed unstoppable. Finally Mulder, having stuck his opponent everywhere else, shoved his sword into the monster's heart. A deafening moan filled the room as it died.
Seeing the strange knight kill the vampire inspired the knights cowering in the corners to join the battle. By strengthening their numbers, the knights soon came out victorious as the third and last vampire sank to the ground, clutching the sword impaled in it's chest.
The king, Lady Kirsten's father, approached Mulder looking at him in awe.
"Who is this great knight my daughter has brought home who inspired my knights and saved my family and my kingdom?"
"I am Sir Mulder, my liege," answered Mulder, taking off his helmet.
"Sir Mulder, I am King John of the Holy Wood please accept our gifts of thanks to you and stay with us and protect our kingdom."
"If it was not for your fair daughter I would not be here," Mulder replied. "I will stay with you, but I cannot stay long," said Mulder, "just long enough for my wounds to heal. Then I must travel on to meet more adventures and hopefully someday conquer the evil Smoking Man, for I have just recently learned that it was he who had brought my family to its demise."
"Sir Mulder, you may stay as long as you like and will always be most welcome in our kingdom. And when that day comes when you will go battle with the Dark Lord, you can be sure that my men will support you."
Sir Mulder stayed in King John's domains for a week. While he was there he was treated like a king himself. When he left Holy Wood he met numerous other adventures where he rescued fair maidens, unfortunate knights, and whole kingdoms. He met and jousted with famous knights from lands far and near and battled with evil beings, never once loosing a fight. When he was captured by magical means, Sir Mulder always found a cleaver means of escape. Nothing could hold him back. Soon all people knew Mulder's name and he really became the greatest knight in the world.
Growing up with the three knights proved a very interesting time for Fox, who now insisted on being called Sir Mulder, embarrassed by his first name. The three knights understood, for Sirs Frohike and Langly did not like their first names much either. Sirs Frohike, Langly, and Byers were very paranoid, especially of any type of higher authority. The three had been secretly forming numerous plans for years to invade the Smoking Man's castle and battle with him, hoping to over throw his evil regime.
Under their supervision, Mulder learned to "trust no one", to be wary of any type of organized government, and became almost as paranoid as his odd friends. The three knights were also some of the people Kate spoke of that were "out of their minds". They believed that strange creatures (Sir Frohike used the word aliens) did come from lands in the sky far away from the earth that they knew to study human nature and their world. Mulder, in awe of the three knights, thirstily drank up every word.
But that was not all that Mulder learned from them. Although they seemed clumsy and awkward at first glance, Frohike, Langly, and Byers were actually very skilled knights. Being their squire, Mulder learned how to ride a horse, hold a spear, and use a sword. The three knights taught Mulder everything they knew and soon their student surpassed even their skills. As time passed and Mulder grew to be a young man rumors spread everywhere that he would be one of the greatest knights in the world, if not the greatest. But along with that prediction came the title of Sir Spooky for his strange, unorthodox beliefs and paranoia. Mulder didn't mind though. He concentrated solely on becoming great enough to take revenge on whoever destroyed his family.
Finally the day came when Sir Frohike knighted Mulder. The trio found it very hard not to be emotional. Their little Mulder was all grown up and had no need of them anymore. Even Sir Langly had grown very fond of him. And although they were proud of Mulder, they were also sad that he was now a knight because it meant that he had to go on quests and find adventures to prove himself a worthy knight and build up his reputation and name.
"Before you go," said Sir Frohike holding back tears that were threatening to spill. "We each have a little gift for you. They will help you on your way to becoming the greatest knight ever to walk this earth."
Sir Frohike's gift was a beautiful sword. Its handle was encrusted with red stones.
Sir Byers' gift was a shield. The background was black and the symbol depicted in the center was a large green X outlined in silver. "It will help defend you from and defeat the unknown," explained Byers as he handed it to him.
Sir Langly's gift was a powerful gray horse. Mulder named it Blue.
When it came time for Mulder to leave, Frohike couldn't take it any more.
"Take care," he said, hugging Mulder tightly around his middle since Mulder had grown much taller than Frohike. "Don't forget your best friends when you become the greatest knight in the world!"
"I promise I won't," laughed Mulder.
When the good byes were over, Mulder mounted Blue and turned to face the north. Giving his friends one final salute, he rode off.
"Find a good king to serve, Mulder," called Byers.
"Cream all the knights you joust with!" yelled Langly.
"Don't forget to save a few beautiful damsels in distress!" added Frohike.
With the encouragement and advice of Sirs Frohike, Langly, and Byers, Mulder rode gallantly into the north woods, ready to take on anything coming his way. His first few nights into his escapade proved uneventful. It wasn't until the fourth day where he found a lady in anguish on the side of the path.
"My lady," said Mulder, bringing Blue to a halt. "What ails you so?"
"Noble sir, an evil knight has taken siege of my castle and has cast me out. I have no one to champion me and win it back!"
"Fair lady," said Sir Mulder. "Take me to your castle. I will be your champion and teach this scoundrel a lesson."
The lady led Mulder deep into the forest to where her castle lay siege. Approaching it, he saw a knight atop the castle that the lady identified as the man responsible for her troubles.
Mulder called up to the knight and told him to joust for the lady's castle.
The knight came down with his horse and they jousted. The knight proved to be a worthy opponent for Mulder for he gave a long, well fought battle, giving Mulder many wounds and scars. But in the end, Mulder was victorious, unhorsing his opponent and knocking him to the ground.
"Please good knight," begged the man on the ground eyeing the sword pointed at his chest. "I beg of you, don't kill me. I am Sir Jerry of Lamana. I had been put under a spell to take the castle..."
"A spell?" said Mulder.
"Yes," panted the knight. "By an evil sorceress by the name of Phoebe la Green."
"Well, Sir Jerry, although you have wounded me and caused much bloodshed, I will let you go since you say you were put under an enchantment." And with that, Mulder removed his sword from its position above Sir Jerry's chest allowing him to rise.
"Merciful knight," said Sir Jerry. "I beseech your name for I vow to be loyal to such a noble knight."
"I am Sir Mulder," Mulder replied and stepped aside to allow Sir Jerry to take leave with his horse.
When Sir Jerry and his horse had disappeared from sight the fair lady whom Mulder had championed ran up to him.
"Why did you let him go?" she asked. "He's an evil man and took my castle!"
"Good lady, an enchantment put upon him by an evil sorceress was the source of his unjustly actions. It was not he who was at fault."
"Well, it is of no matter now," said the lady. "Please, I beg of you to come inside. You are wounded. You may rest in my castle until you are healed."
Mulder tied up Blue to a tree where there was enough grass for her to feed. Then the lady took Mulder inside the castle and led him down a long hall decorated with monstrous stone gargoyles.
She stopped near the end of it and turned to face Mulder. All of a sudden every door in the castle slammed shut. Alarmed, Mulder pulled out his sword searching the hall for potential enemies.
The lady laughed. "Put down your silly little sword," she told Mulder. "Any efforts you make are futile now. You are mine for eternity."
Keeping his calm Mulder asked, "and you are?"
"The sorceress Phoebe la Green of course."
"Oh, of course," said Mulder sarcastically. Then, "I was warned about you,"
"You should learn to heed warnings better then, but it is of no matter now. You belong to me now. The Dark Lord thought he had got rid of all you Mulders. Hah! When he learns that I have captured his greatest enemy he will surely award me handsomely. But I already have a handsome reward..." she gazed pointedly at Mulder.
"I'm very sorry madam, but I'm afraid you have nothing at all," and Mulder lashed out at her with his sword.
But before he was even close to the sorceress, the stone gargoyles came to life and seized him. It was useless for Mulder to fight against stone.
Phoebe laughed menacingly. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to be locked up until you can learn to behave properly in the presence of a lady. Take him to the dungeon."
The gargoyles drag Mulder to a dark dungeon where he is secluded from the sorceress' other prisoners. When he was locked up, Phoebe cast a spell over the area surrounding his cell creating an everlasting wall of fire to prevent any means of escape.
"The fire will stop only when your heart melts and you will accept me as your lover," Phoebe told him.
Mulder could do nothing. He wouldn't give into the evil sorceress. The only time he saw anyone besides Phoebe la Green was her servant, Lady Kirsten, who was very kind to Mulder, conversing with him when she brought him his meals.
Finally after being trapped in Phoebe's cell for four days, Mulder had enough. When a small portion of the flames went out as Lady Kirsten passed through to bring him his meal, Mulder asked her why she served the sorceress. Lady Kirsten told Mulder that she was actually the daughter of a king but vampires threatened kill the family and turn the king's children into vampires. And so, desperate for help, she went to the sorceress and said she would do anything to be rid of the monsters. Phoebe promised her, she would cast a spell over her castle so that the vampires would not be able to enter her father's castle only if she would be her loyal servant
"Good lady," said Mulder. "If I would kill the vampires for you, would you help me escape?"
Lady Kirsten looked doubtful. "Not even the most valiant of my fathers knights could defeat the monsters. What makes you think you can?"
"You just have to believe I can," said Mulder. "And if I cannot, I will die trying."
She agreed and let him out of the prison. Mulder slipped by her while her body blocked the flames. Then she led him out of the prison through a secret door so that the sorceress would not notice.
When Mulder had retrieved Blue and both he and Lady Kirsten mounted the steed, they made off to the castle in the holy wood where Lady Kirsten's family dwelled. Upon arriving at the castle, Lady Kirsten noticed that the vampires were nowhere to be seen.
"Phoebe must have noticed our absence and has lifted the spell," moaned Mulder's companion. "I fear we may be too late to save my family."
The two went into the castle and found three vampires engaged in a fierce battle with a man who could only be identified as the king and the king's knights. Although the vampires were greatly outnumbered, they were more powerful and seemed to have the upper hand. Many knights already lay on the ground dead, a snack for the vampires when they won the fight.
Sir Mulder jumped into the battle surprising not only the vampires, but also the knights he fought along side with. Many knights stopped fighting to watch Mulder joust and battle, for they had never seen such a display of might and courage in a knight before.
The battle wore on for hours. Those in it were dripping with blood, which only excited the vampires and strengthened them. The vampires seemed unstoppable. Finally Mulder, having stuck his opponent everywhere else, shoved his sword into the monster's heart. A deafening moan filled the room as it died.
Seeing the strange knight kill the vampire inspired the knights cowering in the corners to join the battle. By strengthening their numbers, the knights soon came out victorious as the third and last vampire sank to the ground, clutching the sword impaled in it's chest.
The king, Lady Kirsten's father, approached Mulder looking at him in awe.
"Who is this great knight my daughter has brought home who inspired my knights and saved my family and my kingdom?"
"I am Sir Mulder, my liege," answered Mulder, taking off his helmet.
"Sir Mulder, I am King John of the Holy Wood please accept our gifts of thanks to you and stay with us and protect our kingdom."
"If it was not for your fair daughter I would not be here," Mulder replied. "I will stay with you, but I cannot stay long," said Mulder, "just long enough for my wounds to heal. Then I must travel on to meet more adventures and hopefully someday conquer the evil Smoking Man, for I have just recently learned that it was he who had brought my family to its demise."
"Sir Mulder, you may stay as long as you like and will always be most welcome in our kingdom. And when that day comes when you will go battle with the Dark Lord, you can be sure that my men will support you."
Sir Mulder stayed in King John's domains for a week. While he was there he was treated like a king himself. When he left Holy Wood he met numerous other adventures where he rescued fair maidens, unfortunate knights, and whole kingdoms. He met and jousted with famous knights from lands far and near and battled with evil beings, never once loosing a fight. When he was captured by magical means, Sir Mulder always found a cleaver means of escape. Nothing could hold him back. Soon all people knew Mulder's name and he really became the greatest knight in the world.
