A band of six robbers was in a group outside their hideout in the forest that bordered the outskirts of Solencia. Their leader, called Wareth, was at the center of the circle with his knife pulled out. He was saying, "Those wretched villagers are getting bolder again. This time we won't settle with destroying their leaders we will burn down their homes and kill whom ever tries to stand in our way." Wareth shouted as he raised his knife above his head. With this, the band yelled and rose to their feet. They headed out of their clearing to raid the tiny village.
They arrived as they had for the last three years. They came in from the west side of town, and traveled to the well using the main road. The ancient one of the village, called Dalmar, was waiting for them at the well with a young boy standing next to him. Dalmar was very weak and leaned on the boy for support. The robbers reached the well. Wareth stepped forward drew his sword and said, "For years I have been lenient with my demands from your puny village, but you have been cheating me. The grain has been moldy and the chickens have been lean. This time we will teach you to not cheat us."
The rest of the band pulled out torches and lit them one by one. Dalmar tried to convince the robbers that they were mistaken, but Wareth stepped forward and thrust his sword into Dalmar. The young boy cried out and helped Dalmar to the ground. He yelled for the elders to help him save Dalmar. It was in vain. Dalmar reached up to the boy. The boy looked down with tears running down his face. The boy pleaded, "Please Dalmar, Please don't leave me. You were my father, my guide. I can't…"
Dalmar said, "Shhhhh My boy. There will be a new guardian to teach you. I have taught you all that I know. My life was full and plenty. I am ready to go. Do not worry. I am going to a better place." Dalmar's hand dropped and his eyes closed. He was dead. The boy leaned over Dalmar and cried. The rest of the village elders now surrounded them by the well. All were silent in mourning.
The robbers then started to fan out. The boy looked up with tears streaming down his face. He got up and with his blood stained hands started pounding on Wareth's chest. The Wareth threw him to the ground and redrew his sword. The boy got back up and ran for Wareth again. This time Wareth took a step sideways and hit the boy forward with the flat of his blade. The boy tumbled to the ground. All the robbers now surrounded the two and watched the spectacle with glee.
Time after time, the boy rushed and missed. Finally, Wareth got bored and said, "Enough now you will die."
Wareth raised his sword. The boy lay on the ground crunched up in a little ball. Wareth brought down his sword. It was about to hit the boy when someone grabbed Wareth's hands and whirled him around. The stranger wore plated armor with the unmistakable logo, the lion of King Arthur. Wareth said, "Knight of the round table of King Arthur go away. This does not concern you."
The strange knight replied, "This, thief, concerns me. You see you cannot harm a young defenseless boy when a knight is around. I will honor my code and defend the weak and helpless. As you can see this boy falls under both categories."
Wareth roared in fury and turned to face the knight. The battle was short and soon Wareth was dead. The rest of the robbers threw down their torches, not having burned a piece of straw, and lunged for the knight. The knight, though out numbered, was victorious. The knight had a small cut through the chain mail that covered his arm and some dents in his breastplate and helmet. The knight, however, was not even short of breath. The knight took off his helmet, faced the boy, and said, "I will help you up. Now why were those robbers making a game of you?"
The boy accepted the knight's help and brushed himself off while he said, "Thank you good knight. May I ask of your name?"
The knight replied, "Yes of course, I am Sir Gareth, Knight of the Round Table," taking a small bow.
The boy replied, "Sir Gareth, I am happy that you came when you did, but the damage was already done. They had already killed Dalmar, my guardian." The boy motioned to the body now covered with a cloak and fresh tears fell down his face.
Sir Gareth, after a moment of silent respect, said, "I wish to speak to the new leader of your village. I have ridden for two days to the west of Camelot to find this village. I am on a quest and seek assistance of your leader."
The next in line to the ancient one, Elistan stepped forward and bowed to Sir Gareth, "I am the new head of the village. I am called Elistan. What is it you wish to discuss with me Sir Gareth?"
"I have been sent by Merlin to seek out this village and find a young orphaned boy, who I will take as my squire."
"I know of but one orphaned boy in our village. He is the boy you saved this morning. Tribonius come here," said the new ancient one.
Tribonius came from behind the new ancient one his eyes open in wonder. He looked up to Elistan and said, "Dalmar said I would have a new guardian soon. I believe he knew this man would come. May I go and be his squire?"
Elistan looked down and smiling said, "This choice is not for me. You must do what you want to do. This is your destiny."
The boy looked around at the villagers with a puzzled look. He then looked to Sir Gareth. Tribonius smiled and said, "Sir Gareth I would be honored to be your squire."
Sir Gareth smiled and said, "Then go get your stuff ready and we will leave when you are ready."
Tribonius bowed and ran to his house. Returning with his bundle, he said his goodbyes. Then, Tribonius got on the horse behind Sir Gareth and started off East to Camelot.
