A woman with crimson red armor laced with gold trim sat on the edge of a wooden dock, her feet dangling from the edge as she swayed to the rhythm of a waltz that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. A placid smile graced her features as she watched the troupples leap in synchronization, as if conducted by their king.

The winged helmet, usually on her head, lay at her side with her left hand resting atop it. Her flaxen hair, released from its prison, terminated just below her shoulder blades, her bangs swept to the right to keep her vision clear. Her face, once dirty and ashen, nearly glowed with renewed vigor.

Godwyn smiled as he watched her, a wistful cast to his eyes. His fingers itched to run through her hair, though he'd never had the courage to do so before their first trip to the Tower. They were friends, comrades, and had a good synergy without things being complicated. He hadn't wanted anything more back then.

Seeing her now, reborn from the Ichor of Renewal, he came to the conclusion that he'd made a mistake. One that he planned on rectifying as soon as the chance presented itself.

He turned to look forward again as soon as he caught her turning toward him. "It's been a while, hasn't it? Since we watched the troupples dance." She giggled, and he found it amusing that she'd do something like that. "You know, it never ceases to amaze me, how coordinated they are."

Godwyn nodded, only half-paying attention to the spectacle. They'd have to go back sometime, and then he would say what he needed to.

"You've got that look again. The one you get where you're spacing out."

He blinked and turned to face her, falling into the trap of her eyes.

He'd never noticed just how blue they were, or how they seemed to sparkle when mischief was at hand, or how beautiful they looked when narrowed to slits in determination. Every memory he'd had of her changed in the space of a single instant, and for several moments, Godwyn found himself unable to reply.

A poke to the nose pulled him back from his clouded state. "See? There it goes again. You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?"

Godwin huffed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Too busy thinking about... things."

She leaned closer to him. "Is that so. And what... things... are more important than what I've been talking about? Don't tell me you're looking back on what happened at the Tower." She placed a hand on his right shoulder, the one that used to rest atop her helmet. "The amulet is broken and the Tower is in ruins. We can relax for a while until the next problem crops up, so I would take this time to relax if I were you." She grinned. "That is, if you're capable of such a thing."

"Believe me Alana, I would like to do nothing more than that. Just as soon as we get back, I'll do nothing but sleep." He raised his left hand. "On my honor as a knight."

She chuckled. "You do take much stock in that, don't you? Very well. I'll hold you to that."

Alana turned back to the pond, now still from the lack of dancing. "Oh, we missed it. Thanks a lot, Godwyn!"

He peered toward the Troupple King and took stock of where the oversized fish's eyes were directed. "I think he stopped for a reason. We have guests." Godwyn turned to face the men on horseback, his face a mask of neutrality. "Can we aid you, good sirs?"

The men said nothing, yet one of them dismounted and approached the knights. He knelt nearby and pulled what appeared to be a roll of parchment from the folds of his coat. Godwyn took it and examined the purple ribbon tied around it.

Most important was the wax seal, inlaid with gold. The Crest of Pridemoor.

He glanced toward Alana. "It appears we're being summoned home."

She sighed and glanced at the Troupple King, who merely gave her a smile. "A pity. I wanted to watch him dance again."

Samuel glanced up from the list of preparations for the evening at the sound of his doors opening. What he saw made his eyes widen in shock.

He was incapable of speech as they approached, specifically her. They all thought her dead, lost to them when the Tower of Fate claimed her. The entire kingdom lamented her loss, but after the first few weeks the pain dulled, then faded altogether. For the rest of that year, life went on without her.

And now, she was here in in his audience chamber. She had no shield save for her buckler, but she was otherwise whole and unharmed. Before long she kneeled before his throne, next to Sir Godwyn Halvor, the Shovel Knight.

It was then that he found his voice again. "Stand, please! Both of you. There's no need to honor me when clearly you are the ones deserving of it." He stood from his throne as they got to their feet and approached the armored woman. "As I live and breathe. Dame Alana Eustella." King Pridemoor gave his best bow. "I almost can't believe my eyes, but here you are, back among us!"

Alana smiled. "Well we both know, sire, that there isn't much that can keep me down for long."

He waved her off. "Please, none of that 'sire' business. Let's not stand on ceremony. You two are not some rank-and-file soldiers of mine." He walked back toward his throne and sat. "I called you here for two reasons. Well, three... but the third one has been sated. So let's speak of the first two."

Before the King said anything else, Godwyn cleared his throat. "I am going to assume, and pardon me for doing so, that you will ask for a report on exactly what happened at the Tower of Fate." He gave a nod toward Alana. "She knows better than I do. In fact, she could probably tell you more about the last year than even I can. I am ashamed to admit that before the final blow was struck, I was knocked unconscious by a desperate attack."

Alana stepped forward. "Which I shielded him from. Lost my weapon because of it, but it was either it or him. The last I saw, the Black Knight carried him away. I barely managed to escape myself."

Samuel rubbed his chin. "Interesting... and just what was the nature of the amulet?"

Alana grimaced. "A prison. One for a vile entity that I can only assume was some kind of fallen Goddess, summoned here by some fool that knew not what they were doing. She sought a vessel to return to the mortal plane." She turned her face away from him. "When I refused to listen to her whispers of power and dominion, she began to subvert me in other ways. The tower was sealed by her power, the lands were put under guard, and for the better part of a year I was transformed into that... thing."

Samuel's eyes widened. "I... I cannot imagine what it was like." He glanced toward Godwyn. "And you knew this, even when you fought her physical form?"

"The thought had crossed my mind once or twice, but fighting the Black Knight just before the Tower's entrance confirmed my suspicions. In fact, he was the one that'd put the idea in my head in the first place. The only reason he'd follow such a tyrannical figure was if he knew there was something else going on with them." Godwyn glanced toward Alana. "If I'd known sooner..."

She shook her head. "There was no way you could have known. You were right to flee."

Samuel stood from his throne. "Were that you two not standing before me, I would not believe what I'd just heard. Coming straight from the source, it still sounds bizarre, but I have no reason to doubt either of you." He cleared his throat. "For the fall of the Tower of Fate and the restoration of the Kingdom, I hereby offer the two of you a boon, which I will grant with all the resources I have at my disposal. Ask of me anything, and it is yours."

Alana smiled. "I was going to ask for a new Hoplon, but now that seems petty. I know I could have one made for me anyway, and I have the gold to pay for it."

"Nonsense! I will have one commissioned for you, and I won't even count that as the boon."

She blinked. "You are... most generous, Your Majesty. I'll have to think about what I really want, then."

Godwyn shrugged. "You know me, m'lord. I only wish to be of service."

Samuel frowned. "That's just it, Shovel Knight. You want nothing else but that, and it is beginning to irritate me." He lifted a hand before Godwyn could speak further. "I grant you lands, titles, riches, whatever you want or need. And still you desire nothing but your duty. Is there nothing else that might interest you?"

The knight opened his mouth to speak, but could not find words. He gave Alana a glance before looking back at the king. "I... will have to give this some thought."

"You'd better," King Pridemoor scoffed. "No man is entirely made of duty and honor. My advice would be to search yourself and find what you truly want. Because if you don't, I will rescind that boon, and I won't give another one, no matter how many times you save my people." He sniffed. "That should be an adequate lesson, I think."

Godwyn chuckled. "I swear on my knighthood, I will take your offer into serious thought."

Samuel nodded. "Then on to my second request. At tonight's feast, you two are to sit at my table as honored guests instead of knights. Bring your finery and brush up on your dances, because I expect you amongst the revelers at some point, not just at your places, speaking of grave matters."

Alana glanced toward Godwyn. "Did he just order us to have fun?"

"He did." Godwin bowed. "And it is an order I will follow gladly. We will be there, Your Majesty."

Two: Restoration

This was all I could do before passing out for bed this evening. I'll have it posted tonight before I lay my head down, but after that, you guys are on your own until I get back from work tomorrow afternoon. I promise to keep these under five thousand words, so you guys will have little bite-sized chunks of story in your emailz instead of bighuge chapters that you can barely chew on.

Unless you guys like those things, in which case... well, I still won't, because these short chapters will make this story manageable.

Meh.

Inspirational Tracks: No Weapons Here, The Requiem of Shield Knight, Waltz of the Troupple King

For Shovelry!