Gary's Ordeal
By Magelet


My turn had come. I was in shock for a second, but I knew that this was something I had to do. Jon was now a knight, and Raoul would do this after me.
I was still stiff from the vigil, but hey, true knights are ready in all conditions at all times. The doors were open. I breathed deeply and went in to the
Chamber.

I shivered slightly as the doors shut behind me sealing into the unlit room. There was something there, but I wasn't sure quite what. More of a
presence: as if someone else was in here with me.

I took a few steps, but I wasn't in the chamber anymore, I was at a ball, dancing with this beautiful girl. She was short, had long, curly black hair,
and violet eyes, which was odd. I'd only ever seen one person with purple eyes and that was Alan of Trebond, who was now Jon's squire. But this girl was
lovely and I felt like I'd known her for a long time, but hardly met her. Suddenly, I was about to touch my lips with hers and her face and hair melted into
Alan's! I drew back in shock.

"Don't be afraid Gary, it's just me." He said in a girl's voice "What's wrong, Gary, Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen. She/he traced his jaw-line with
a delicate index finger. "Big, strong Gareth: cousin of the crown prince." It whispered in his ear. "What is there to be afraid about me? Are you afraid of
me?" It asked looking straight into my eyes. I shook my head and reached for the knife that I kept in my boot. "You should be, Gary." It breathed into my
right ear. "I'm dangerous. So very dangerous."

It shifted into a lioness, an actual lioness! The rest of the ball room was empty I noticed suddenly, as the animal circled me once and then lunged
at my head with a snarl. I jumped to the side quickly and the huntress splayed on the floor before melding into the lady again. She lifted her head. "Don't
worry Gary, I wouldn't hurt you, but remember never get on my nerves, I am dangerous and you should be afraid of me." I opened my mouth to say that I wasn't
afraid of it, no matter what it was, but snapped it shut remembering that sound was forbidden in the Chamber.

She disappeared as if incinerating or something, becoming tiny bits and was suddenly not there.


Then I saw myself sitting at a huge table splayed with papers, scrolls, books, ink, and pens. I wasn't the one doing it, but it seemed to be an
older version of me.

'I' was busy copying from a crumbling piece of parchment. I watched myself look out window and saw Raoul jousting with someone who must have been his
squire. I actually felt almost sorry for the kid; Raoul was a monster, a very strong, tall, smart monster. Turning back to the work, we both sighed, his
audible, mine internal.

'My' arms were covered in ink stains. This was the life of a desk knight; we shook our heads, why couldn't the image of me be a knight in the field?
No, this would not happen to me! I admit that I really don't jump at the chance to cut people apart, and blood is not on my list of the top ten things I most
love to see, but I don't really want to be a desk knight of all things. It's almost an oxymoron!

The door opened and in came a woman I recognized from the endless balls and such of court as Lady Cythera of... of..., uh, where was she from again?
I'll have to ask Jon.

'I' kissed her lightly.

'Where did that come from?' I wondered. We'd danced a few times, and I like her a lot, but come on!

Cythera smiled sadly. Then the door opened again. Jon came in and put his arm around her, kissing her cheek. I felt my heart wrench and saw 'my' face
turn stony. 'I' nodded curtly to Jon, got up and left the room.


The scene dissipated and I was still in the palace, but in the throne room, sword in hand. The sword was flecked with blood. A man in street clothes
attacked me.

He wasn't from the streets by the way he fought. He'd been taught by a noble or something, his strategy was that of a normal field soldier with a
bit of training.

He struck my cheek with the pommel of a knife, and I saw an opening. I thought of it as I was sure to be colorful the next day, he received a gift
from me. The chance not to see another day, and a pretty bit of red to add some color to his drab clothing. Black God guide him, even if he tried to kill me.


I felt a sharp pain in my back as I pulled my sword from the corpse. I would have cried out but, in the back of my mind I knew that I was in someplace
where sound was forbidden.

I saw black for a few seconds, and shut my eyes. Opening them once more, I realized that I had forgotten that I was actually in the Chamber of Ordeal.
The doors opened. I had survived. Stumbling forth, I realized how much of a hammer the thing was. I looked about quickly, and saw Cythera standing among the
crowd, I could have smiled. It would be good to lie down, but I was happy with the idea that came to my mind then.

I was a knight. I had made it.

Raoul's Ordeal is tomorrow, I wonder what he'll see.