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Ok, so this is Part I to a back story of my character. I am sorry about all of the grammatical errors that I am sure are in there. My word processor on my computer does not have a spell check. Anyway, tell me what you think, and if you actually want to read Part II or not...

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The Knight stood in the rain waiting patiently. His eyes closed, his sword strapped on his back. He ignored everything of the outside world and drew within himself, as he waited at the small bridge waiting for another traveler to cross. His loyal steed was off to the side of the road waiting beneath a leafless tree, as still as it's master. As the Knight waited his thoughts inevitably drew to a time that seemed so long ago that he sometimes wondered if it wasn't really a dream.

Valen Gray was once a Knight of the Kingdom of Bretonnia. He had served his Liege ever since he was old enough to carry a pale of water to the thirsty horses in the stable. His father was a Knight in service to Baron Catalonia, just like his father before him, and every Gray for more than 500 years. At the age of 13 Valen began his formal training to become a Knight of Bretonnia. He was apprenticed to an older man by the name of Nikolai. Nikolai had been training knights for years, and had even trained Valen's father. Valen had eagerly hoped to learn how to wield a sword and shoot a bow, but instead Nikolai made him do what seemed to be completely pointless tasks. For the first 2 years he did nothing but move hay to the barn, help build houses in the village, tend to crops in the field, and other such un-Knightly tasks. Valen had been taught all his life to respect his elders and their wisdom, but one day he brought up the nerve and asked, "Master Nikolai, why do you make me do these chores every day? have I not done these same things all my life?"

Nikolai smiled, "yes, why? is their something you would rather be doing?"

Valen blushed at this, realizing how rude and impatient he was behaving, but continued anyway. "Sir, I wish to learn the skills of a Knight."

Nikolai smiled again, "oh, so that is what you want. Then why did you never ask. Come with me." Nikolai led Valen out of the stables, and then out of the castle, until they were on the outskirts of the town. He tore a branch off a young tree and tossed it to Valen, who caught it in his hands. He then lifted his walking stick and pointed it at Valen, "now fight me!"

The old man moved faster than he looked, and deftly defeated him in that mock duel. Valen smiled as he remembered how sore he was that night from the whelps all over his body. So, from that day forth, instead of "pointless chores" Valen and Nikolai spent their days dueling, and exercising. Nikolai had him run 3 miles every day while carrying a sack of rocks on his back. Valen's thoughts then drifted to the day he was knighted, by his Liege:

"Valen, I hereby Knight you as Sir Valen Gray of Quenelles. Now rise as a protector of Bretonnia." Valen rose to the cheering of the whole town. That night they held a feast in his honor, and he had the privilege to sit at the left hand of his Lord. And across from him sat the beautiful Daphne Catalonia, the daughter of his Liege. Although he spoke sparsely to the lovely lady that night, he would, some years later near the end of the Great Orc Waaggh of 337:

He had returned from another attack on the greenskin scum. They had been raiding villages along a river to the south, and the Knights that were dispatched there quickly put an end to their bloodlust. Valen had become interested in literature after his training was completed, and loved to read in his spare time, which he had little of these days. He was reading beneath a tree a little ways from the fort he was currently stationed at when he heard a voice behind him, "you are from Quenelles aren't you."

He turned wondering who would know that and found himself face to face with the Lady Daphne. He shirked back for a moment, and then composed himself, "yes I am my lady. I am surprised you recognized me."

She smiled, "I have always had a talent for remembering faces, may I sit with you?" She was already sitting down, knowing the answer would not be no.

"So what brings you here my lady?"

"I am here to welcome refugees who will return with us to Quenelles. You probably are aware of the greenskins attacking the villages to the south?"

"Yes, I am aware of them, but they are no longer a concern, we road out a few days ago and they now all lay dead," as he prided himself he straightened his back a bit more.

She flashed that beautiful smile at him again, "well then I thank you on behalf of Bretonnia for your service."

"I live to serve, my lady."

They sat silently together there, watching some children playing in the field a short ways from them listening to their carefree happiness and just enjoying each others company. After awhile the Lady spoke again, "I am afraid I must take my leave now brave knight," she rose to her feet and Valen did likewise. She then reached behind her neck and removed her gold chain necklace that bore the emblem of Bretonnia on a small coin on the front of it and handed it to Valen, "I ask you to take this, as a gift for your services to all free people."

"I cannot take this my lady."

She smiled again at his humility, "you are borrowing it then, so that one day you must return it to me."

He smiled in turn, and took the necklace carefully into his hands, "and on my word I shall return it."

She smiled and then left without another word.

The Orcs went back to their mountain dwellings the winter of that year, the Knights of Bretonnia chased them back all the way there, until they reached the mountains where their steeds could not follow. Valen returned home to Quenelles alone, and met up with other Knights from different parts of the realm who all had originated from Quenelles as well. They all shared their tales of adventure, and boasted of their feats. One of the Knights claimed to have participated in a battle between 7 Knights and some 30 Orcs as they defended a village for days. They all jeered at the unlikelihood of this. Knights were known to exaggerate at certain details of their stories among their fellow Knights, but all the way home he insisted it were true.

They arrived home and were greeted by the whole town, who tossed necklaces of flowers up to them. They then proceeded up to the castle where there was no fanfare. They entered the Keep a bit puzzled at why everyone was so solemn, as they put their steeds into the stable a paige came and informed them that the Baron lay on his deathbed, and that he had been there ill for days. They went up to their Lord's room where he was surrounded by other Knights, servants, friends, and family. He strained to lift a hand and bid them over. In a whispered voice he spoke to them, "it is good to see your return. If I have one regret in life, it is that I will not be able to properly honor you."

One Knight spoke out, trying to match the low tone of his Liege, "my Lord, there be no need to honor us. We live only to serve, and not for rewards."

He nodded his head ever so slightly, "yes, but I still wish I could, for such grand Knights." He continued to stare at them a moment more as if to say something, then closed his eyes and drew his last breath. There was not a single dry face in the room.

The Baron had only one child in his life, so his lands fell into the capable hands of Lady Daphne. She was a good ruler, and made all of the new people in her lands feel at home. Many suitors came to the castle, looking for her hand in marriage, but she turned them all away, knowing that all they truly wanted was to marry up, and become a Baron. During this time the Kingdom of Bretonnia was at peace. The Orcs had been expelled to their mountain holes and the neighboring kingdoms and powers slumbered. So, the Knights began taking on their own personal quests, and expanding the renown of this noble land. Valen had set out on one such quest. He traveled north, into the lands of the Empire of Mordiheim. This restless land to the north was much larger than Bretonnia, and thus was harder to keep outside threats out. There were always roving bands of Orcs and Goblins and other creatures there. He travelled from village to village, doing what was needed, righting wrongs, and dispensing justice. He had been on this quest for nearly 3 years now when he arrived at another settlement:

Valen emerged from the forest and a ways off was a smoking village. He kicked the sides of his horse to hopefully get their before he would be too late. As he approached he could see that most of the buildings were burnt almost completely to the ground, others were piles of rubble. As he got closer he slowed his steed, seeing that much devastation littered the streets. When it was too thick for his horse to proceed he dismounted and continued on foot, keeping a look out for any attackers. But instead of Orcs or bandits he was met by villagers walking around aimlessly in shock at the sight of everything they had being destroyed. He walked over to a woman rocking back and forth on the ground next to a burned out building. He knelt beside her and she looked up, tears in her eyes, and in her arms he could see the charred corpse of her child. He bowed his head in sorrow, caught off guard at this and not sure what to say. She buried her head in his shoulder and wept. He knew she was in no condition to tell him what happened. After she composed herself a bit better he politley excused himself and moved on, searching to see if anyone was hurt, or trapped, or could tell him what happened here. He came upon some men trying to clear some rubble of a fallen house to reach the voices that were buried inside. He moved in to help them and they were able to save another child, buried beneath her mother's body that had shielded her from the falling roof. One of the men thanked him, as the rest carried the girl out.

"What happened here," Valen asked wishing to avenge these people.

The villager stared at him, knowing why he wanted to know, "brave Knight, I ask you to not avenge us, I would not see such a kind man as yourself fall to this monster," he almost spat out the last word.

"It is my duty, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. If a monster created this destruction here, then it is my sworn duty to see that it can cause no more harm else where. Even if it means my death."

The man, knowing he couldn't hide the truth forever answered him, "a dragon. A great black dragon. For years the beast has lived in that mountain to the east," he pointed off in the distance at a lone mountain top, "but never before has he flown west. I know not why..."

Valen understood why the man was hesitant to tell him. Dragons were fierce creatures, and some of the most intelligent. He had heard of Knights slaying them before, but he personally had never even seen one. "Thank you, I will stay here to help some more, and then go and slay the beast."

Valen stayed in the village and helped to rescue any other survivors, and tend to wounds, and then bury the dead. The villagers were not sure what to do next, leave, or rebuild. Valen decided that he would make sure whatever path they chose, they would both be equally safe. He stayed the night on the outskirts of town with his horse. The villagers came and offered him food and wine, but he said no, that he was content with his own food, and they needed it more than he did. The next morning he strapped on his weapons and armor again. The villagers pleaded with him not to go, but once again he told them that this was his duty. He then headed off to meet his fate. He reached the bottom of the mountain around midday. He was about to tether his horse to a tree, then thought better of it and left him there, untethered, knowing that his old friend would stay there long enough. He climbed the mountain, which was fortunately not that steep. He knew that dragons usually slept during the day and so he had that one little bit of advantage. He crept up the mountain, and came to a large plateau with the mouth of a large cave going into the mountain side. He crept along the mountain wall as quietly as possible, until he was at the cave entrance. He peered inside, and could see the glitter of gold. He walked inside, the cave wasn't as deep as he expected, and as he entered he discovered there was no dragon to be found. He was debating whether he should wait, or see if there was another cave where the dragon may be hiding when he heard an earth shaking roar from outside, somewhere down on the mountain side. He ran back outside to see where the beast was. He heard another roar, and the sound of fire coming from the other side of the plateau. He went over there so that he was close enough to peer over the edge, and below him was another larger plateau and the great black dragon stood there. And before him stood a knight, clad in black and red fighting him. The dragon unleashed another stream of fire, but the knight ran out of the way incredibly fast. The dragon whipped his tale around to hit the Knight, and just as it was about to hit him, he jumped over the tail, and in the same instance he stabbed his sword through it and into the rock beneath. The dragon roared in rage and pain, and snapped his jaws at the Knight, who once again was able to get out of the way, almost tauntingly this time. He pulled another sword from his back and at speeds faster than Valen had seen anyone ever go he ran up the dragon's spine to his head and then strode atop the beast as if it were his steed. The dragon thrashed it's head in rage at this mockery of it's pride, but the Knight held on. Then after he got bored he plunged his blade into the head of the beast. The dragon roared an even louder roar, his entire body now shook in it's death throes, and this time the Knight did jump off. The dragon thrashed for a few moments more, and then collapsed to the ground, never to move again. The Knight went over and removed his blade from the dragon's tail, and began to clean his weapons. Valen began to move down the mountain side, the Knight looked up and Valen waved but the Knight just stood there cleaning his weapons and watching Valen, sizing him up. Valen approached the Knight and extended his hand, "let me be the first to congratulate you on your great victory." The Knight still stood there, just looking at him. Valen retracted his hand peevishly, but then composed himself, remembering he was a Knight of Bretonnia, "my name is Valen Gray of Quenelles, Knight of Bretonnia."

The Knight nodded his head in recognition of where he came from, "I am Caleb of L'ordre des Cruor Draconis."

Valen had not heard of this Order, but understood the language it was in, a very old dialect from the western parts of Bretonnia. It basically meant: The Order of Blood Dragons. "I have never heard of your Order, I assume it is an Order of dragon slayers?"

Caleb's emotionless face bore a slight smile for a moment, but then was quickly back to his cold demeanor, "I suppose you could say that."

"Hmm, they must be very skilled at their craft." Valen looked at the corpse of the dragon, "the dragon was slain by you, and thus his treasure is yours. There is also a village nearby that was destroyed by the beast the other day, I am certain they would wish to thank you."

"I have no need for treasure or thanks, you may have it all if you wish."

The thought to take claim of the deeds of another Knight was perhaps the most dishonorable thing he had ever heard, "I cannot, I will return to the village for you then, tell them of the treasure, and your feats here this day."

"If you wish."

Valen was finding this conversation very difficult, "would you care to eat with me? it is nearing evening now."

"No, I must be on my way soon," at this Caleb turned back to his work of cleaning his weapons and armor. He set one blade aside and Valen could see that the pommel was crafted into the likeness of a dragon, it's wings spread wide.

Valen stood there for a moment more, then left and proceeded down the mountain side. He found his loyal steed where he left him, and as he approached, the horse neighed with joy and came trotting up to him. Valen petted his best friend's noes for a bit, and thanked him for having faith in him. They rode back to the village, where Valen told the tale of how this mighty warrior slayed the dragon, and this gave great hope to the villagers. And he also told them of the treasure that was left to them. At this they all begged him as to where they could find and thank this Knight, but, he could only tell him that he wanted none of that. They insisted again for Valen to stay the night, and share in their food. He could not refuse their hospitality this time, but only took sparsely in what little they had. He left the next morning, as a group of the remaining men prepared to go and retrieve the treasure of the beast that had taken everything from them.

Valen continued on his quest to slay evil throughout the land for several more months, and then when the leaves began to fall again, he decided it was time to return home. On his journey home he found little unrest in the villages and towns he passed through. This all made him feel accomplished, as perhaps he had brought some small change in the world, no matter how brief that may be. Then he finally reached the mountains that separated his home of Bretonnia from the rest of the world. By now winter was well underway, and snow was beginning to fall. He rode through the pass and eventually came around a bend in the road, and about 50 yards ahead stood a solitary dark figure, his head bowed, and his body clad in black armor. He approached, and the man looked up at him with a smirk on his familiar face. It was Caleb. Valen was glad to see this surprise, hoping that perhaps Caleb would travel with him the rest of the way to Quenelles, where they could share their feats together. "Greetings again Caleb of L'ordre des Cruor Draconis, what brings you to these lands?"

"I am on the hunt again."

As Valen got closer, he dismounted and walked his horse forward, "oh? perhaps I can join you in your hunt, even though I am certain a warrior of your skills can handle it alone."

"I am afraid that is not possible."

"May I inquire as to why?"

"Because, I am hunting you."

Valen was slightly surprised, and hoped that Caleb meant something else than what he was thinking, but began preparing his body and mind for a fight, "I am afraid I don't understand."

"I know. Perhaps this will help explain things," from behind him he lifted an unconscious person from beneath the snow. He lifted the man up with one hand up to his head, then he leaned his head close to the man's neck and in an instant he let out a hiss and bit down on the man's neck. The man awoke immediately and let out a scream, before he went silent as Caleb clamped down his windpipe. Valen could not move as he watched in horror as Caleb drained the man's body of blood, and then dropped his victim to the ground. He wiped his mouth with his hand, and licked up the rest of the blood and then turned back to Valen, "now do you have a better understanding?"

Valen, able to move again, removed his sword and shield from his back, "you will pay for that."

"I was hoping you would say that," Caleb said with a smile as he reached behind his back and unsheathed his two elegant long swords. Caleb charged so fast that Valen didn't even have time to brace himself, fortunately Valen's instincts were faster than his mind, and so he was able to parry Caleb's assault. They were both excellent swordsmen, even Caleb's incredible speed and strength were not enough to give him an edge in this duel. But even though Valen was able to defend himself, it was taking everything he had to stay alive. Caleb had control of this battle, and was pushing Valen back, closer and closer to the pass' wall. Valen knew he was in a bad position, and before he knew it his back was against the wall. Caleb smiled in mockery at him, "I was hoping for better from you."

This only fueled Valen to fight harder, but Caleb was still in control. Then Valen put one foot against the wall, tucked his arms in and slammed into Caleb. The Vampire was caught by surprise by this sudden change in tactics and was forced to back off, but Valen was not about to let this change of events to change back. He charged Caleb, and attacked him with everything he had. Caleb in turn quickly repelled the assault, and it was then that Valen realized what was happening. Caleb was toying with him, just like he had with the dragon. Caleb saw Valen's expression and knew that he now understood that he had no chance. Dropping his swords he grabbed Valen at the wrist of his sword arm, and beneath his shield arm, lifted him off the ground, and then above his head and threw him into the mountain side. Valen was wracked with pain as his body slammed into the rock. He slid down and slumped over into the snow. Darkness started to encroach around the edges of his vision as he began to black out. The last thing he saw was Caleb walking towards him, laughing and saying how much fun this fight had been.

I know. How I wrote that was, there was this odd wind... in my room... and on this breeze was carried a sudden urge to write. So I wrote it in a couple hours, and posted it that night... I wish things came to me that easily when I was in Creative Writing, lol. I plan on doing part two sometime over my break, gah I am such a procrastinator. oh, I have another story I could post, that one is Halo though.

hmm, I do not have that problem (having the right technology for the time) often... sometimes when talking about the future, like, I am thinking too much like what we have. like in my Halo story I mention a tractor, mostly cause farming had not been talked about in the Halo novels (yes, there are novels as well as games). but interestingly enough farming was in the last one i had read.... could have used that a couple years ago