The Last Chapter
“Flaber-what? And, just who does she think she is anyway? Majical? Who ever heard of such? Flaber-gaber? WhatÑever.” Rudi mumbled out loud as he took the fork in the path to the right.
Ru'Di's head hurt from so much thinking about what the voice in the breeze had said. So much to figure out, and was it just a trick sent by the great & wise Ke'Mo to test him while he was on his “Great Adventure?”
Feeling as if his head would explode from so much to think about, so quickly and with so much pressure on him to save all mankind and all Majdelene, Ru'Di did the only thing he could think of while walking down the unknown path.
“Goff”, went the sound as Ru'Di dropped the round ball that Kemo had given him and the voice in the breeze seemed to know about, to the ground and hit it with a mighty whack of his crooked end stick.
The little round ball sailed straight ahead many a ways.
“Goff” was the sound, once again as Ru'Di finally came up to the little round ball in the middle of the path and swung his stick, with the crooked end, and sent the ball flying into the air, once again.
And, again, “goff”. And, again, “goff”. And, again, “goff”. Over and over Ru'Di sent the ball flying straight down the path to his “Great Adventure”.
“Sire,,, Lord,,, come,,,,” Freddy, momentarily lost his balance skirting around a horse's “calling card” as he excitedly ran through the encampment.
“Sire,,, they are here,,, Sir Michael has seen one. They have returned to help us. Hurry, Sire!” cried Freddy, the King's squire, as he arrived at the front of the opening of the King's dressing tent all out of breath and panting from running to tell the King of the news about the Majdelene.
“Calm down my friend. Tell me what it is that has you so excited for soon we battle once again with the evil from across the water's edge and we have little blessed time for tom-foolery.” Said the King as he rose from the end of his prayers asking the Almighty for courage, guidance and Grace.
“Sire, I knew it. Didn't I tell you they would return? They are here, we are saved.”
“Who is here, squire? And, just what power from God has arrived in the nick of time to thwart our enemies and deliver us this day?”
“The Majdelene. They have come to help us, my King. Sir Michael has seen one.”
The King's squire, Freddy, began to recount Sir Michael's telling of seeing an odd animal in the forest as he hastened back to camp from his scouting mission the evening before. As Sir Michael was at the far end of the encampment, it took till this dawn before Freddy had heard.
“Sir Michael, in a brilliant maneuver to lose hundreds of riders chasing him on that magnificent white steed of his, cut past the twin forks in the road, the place where the mighty chestnut grows and people say is haunted because they hear strange singing in the breeze,,, anyway, in a large cloud of dust, Sir Michael and his horse lost the evil horsemen right after seeing the Majdelene. Only, Sir Michael didn't know it was a Majdelene, and said only that it was an odd looking creature between waist and chest high. But you know, Lord, that it must be the answer we have prayed so hard for. Why else would some strange creature arrive near our camp on the eve of our greatest victory?”
“Freddy,,,” the King said with due respect to a friend but with little patience, “Do not announce our victory before the battle, it may lull the Ladies here into thinking their knights not brave. Besides, there are all sorts of creatures here about, what makes you think it is a Majdelene?”
“Sire, it must be a Majdelene, what else could it be?”
The King grew intent upon asking his squire more questions than Freddy had answers for. The King announced that he would speak to Sir Michael himself, and with royal bearing walked from the tent.
The King began his walk through the encampment and as he passed each tented with groups of men preparing for battle, the King dipped his head downward in respect for their bravery and loyalty. Each and every armored soldier, squire and man, dropped to one knee in honor of their beloved King. The women, as it was not unheard of in these days that the wives and female family members accompanied the army to cook, care for the wounded and keep spirits up, curtseyed to the King.
The King could not help but feel swelling of the chest in pride seeing his valiant, though outnumbered men. Each would die for God, their King & country and the safety of their family without needing permission from their leader. Such bravery and patriotism ran deep in each.
Arriving at the far end of the encampment the King addressed Sir Michael as he approached.
“Sir Michael, my squire says you bring us great and heartwarming news and at least to him it would seem that victory is near at hand.” The knight, who had his King's three royal red rock jawed lions emblazoned upon his armored chest, dropped to his right knee in respect.
The King placed his right hand upon his loyal knight's shoulder and turned his attention to a matter just as close to his heart, “And, pray tell good knight, my daughter, she is well I presume?”
“I am no longer your daughter, good King, I am Sir Michael's wife, and in Sir Michael's tented, as he is your bravest knight, it is you who should drop to one knee,” said the fairest of all maidens.
“Maggie, my child, Ôtis always a lesson in your company. Pray thee well, Sir Michael's wife? You are more like your mother each day that dare go by,” the King said with a loving smile as he dropped to his right knee.
“Oh, my! Lord,,, rise, please, I,,, I,,, Lord, please,,,” Sir Michael quickly said, not knowing what to say.
“Yes, my father and King, as usual, you are right. I will always be your daughter and I will always honor your wife, my mother. But, fact remains, my King, Sir Michael is your bravest knight and deserves courtesy in his own tented.”
“Hush, woman,” Sir Michael protested in vain. “I am blessed with the presence of my King and even in my own tented, or in my own castle, come the day, it is I who will kneel in respect.”
The King turned his attention back to Sir Michael, his bravest of all his brave knights, as he stood up, “ Tell me of this creature you saw in the forest last evening. And, when this day is done, come to my tented and explain to me why you were out on reconnaissance with none other but your own horse.”
At that instant, the call to arms sounded on trumpets and the King quickly changed his attention. The King bade farewell and Godspeed to Sir Michael and his wife, Maggie, as the King was to lead the frontal assault on the enemy and at the given moment, Sir Michael was to lead the second group of their army into battle, hoping that the enemy thought there were fewer left from the day before's battle and the trap would be sprung to ensure victory once and for always.
As the knights continued to prepare for battle, little did they know that they were about to receive a visitor.
Ru'Di peered out from his cover at the edge of the encampment as he wasn't completely sure that he was amongst peaceful folk, yet. The bush he was cloaked by had an unknown and strange aroma to it. True, the bush concealed him well, but the smell.
Ru'Di's fur began to wrinkle up along his back and neck as if he knew that a great battle would be fought that day and by the odd smell emanating from the bush. At the same time, he instinctively and quickly realized that he was indeed among peaceful folk.
When a Majdelene wished not to be seen or discovered, the thinnest of twigs could hide him. Such was the nature that has proved to be the saving grace of his kind for millennia, not to be,,, when they were.
As soon as the first group of armor clad knights left the encampment, Ru'Di walked from behind the odd smelling bush into the almost empty encampment and as he approached, he came upon a curious sight.
The armor-clad rider he had seen galloping ahead of the dark armored riders the evening before, was speaking rather heatedly to the fairest maiden that he had ever seen. That is, fairest a human maiden and not a Majdelene.
She was quite excited and animated in her speech and seemed to be winning the argument with the handsome armor clad rider from the day before. How much she reminded Ru'Di of Sarah, his true love. (Halfway between “third stage” and “forth stage” in a Majdelene's life, their true love is made known to them. And, in Ru'Di's case, quite unexpectedly.)
Ru'Di began to slowly walk closer. He had no fear and somehow knew that he was supposed to approach this arguing couple. He could not help but hear.
“I care not that my father is King, it is only proper for a visitor to kneel when entering another knight's quarters.”
“Maggie, my love, my life, will I never win in words with you?” the knight asked.
“Is it not enough to be husband and wife? What more is there?” the fairest of maidens replied, knowing that her husband would not argue prior to battle.
“You could be best friends. Honor each other's thoughts, words and actions.” Ru'Di interrupted as he approached the pair.
“Love in itself is beauty but, would not love serve each better if lovers were also best friends?
“Seems to me that you humans put just a tad too much emphasis on the mushy parts and forget what led you down the path of love. For, each step in the journey is cemented with friendship, ever growing into love.”
“Did I just say that?” Ru'Di thought to himself.
The beautiful maiden looked at Ru'Di with much surprise and the knight, now on his magnificent stallion said, “Why, you are that odd little one I saw by chance in the forest yesterday. The King wanted to ask many questions about you, little fuzzy one.”
“Little? Fuzzy?” Ru'Di wondered out loud. “Yes, our paths did indeed cross near the huge chestnut tree. You were questioned about me by the King? Do you mean Arthur? And, pray tell, how is Arthur?”
“My father is fine and he is King, not Arthur!” said the fairest of maidens to Ru'Di.
“It is easily seen why this brave knight loves you so, fair maiden. Your spirit is deep. Pray tell, are you Maggie and is this Michael?”
The fair maiden's eyebrows twitched furiously as she listened in disbelief. “Has everyone forgotten their manners, calling people by their given names?”
The handsome knight replied, “Aye, I am Sir Michael and this ever so charming lass is my wife, Lady Maggie.. You are wise, fuzzy little one, to remind us that we are but simple people who sometimes forget the simplest and truest of meanings of life, like friendship being the cornerstone that supports all of love.”
“Fuzzy??? Little???” Ru'Di mumbled.
“Yes, my husband, I remember our pledge that we will always be the closest friends in our love and when you return from defeating our enemies, I shall not only love you even more, I will be worthy of your friendship as well.”
“The King awaits our legion! Victory is at hand!” The knight bellowed to his followers. “My fairest, I must go, to you I give my deepest love. For your loving friendship and sweetest of touch, I vow to always honor you.
“And, to you my furry friend, I give you charge and bid you protect, with your life if you must, my most valued passion, my true love, my friend and wife, Maggie.”
“Furry?” Ru'Di was stumped.
Ru'Di bent down from his waist and began to pray for the safety of all the brave men now riding to join their King in battle against evil.
King Arthur and his men fought with great bravery. The enemy had vastly superior forces and still, the army led by King Arthur fought just to hold ground and not be bent.
Men screamed their last breaths, horses ran from the carnage with no riders atop them. Arrows flew from both sides into the middle of battle, caring not whom they struck as arrows have no eyes once released from a bow.
Sword clashed against sword and too often, against a man who would fall mortally wounded. Great pikes pierced armor of good and evil alike and man after man fell to the ground never to rise again.
Dust soon was awash with pain and cries to Heaven. Men shouted in a voice only those who fought for honor and God could comprehend the reason as to battle.
Mothers, sisters and wives, throughout man's history, have never understood why a man must war, only to have her heart shredded and life turned towards emptiness with the loss of a son, brother,,, or a husband.
It is said that violence and evil are the trademarks of Satan and his tools of evil which all God fearing men must hold at bay with their lives if they must, lest evil stand where goodness grows.
Arthur was struck a heavy blow that rang through his armor as a Sunday bell upon a steeple would a call to service. He noticed not the pain and lifted his mighty sword, Excaliber, did way with his foe and called aloud for his men not to waver.
A trumpet blew in the distance, a call for the evil force's reserves to charge forward from the wood line on the far side of the battle.
As they charged forward, the last of the dark armored soldiers surged forward thinking to finally crush King Arthur and his brave knights.
On this side, in the tree line nearest King Arthur and his valiant warriors, Sir Michael and the King's reserves held in the reigns of their mounts waiting for the precise moment to attack towards the rear of the oncoming last wave of dark armored men.
As the dark armored warriors advanced, a mighty hail of arrows from King Arthur's reserves rained down upon them and Sir Michael and his horsemen called their steeds to immediate full gallop to cut off them.
The surprise of being cut off overwhelmed the dark armored warriors, but still, the battle raged.
As the last of the dark armored army's leaders fell to the ground, those remaining wanted no more of war. King Arthur, with Sir Michael by his side, loudly announced,
“As King of all England, I command you to lay down your arms, leave this country and return no more, for this is the only time I will be so lenient.”
As the King's words echoed, as the dark armored warriors lay down their weapons and began to turn towards their home across the sea, the day was won by the good.
Meanwhile, at the encampment, Ru'Di and Lady Maggie became friends.
“Your are a Majdelene, aren't you?” Lady Maggie asked.
“I am a Majdelene,” Ru'Di replied.
“You are Maggie?” Ru'Di asked after a brief, unsettled moment.
“Yes. How do you spell that?” Lady Maggie asked.
“M-a-g-g-i-e, I think?” Ru'Di asked as much as said.
“No, my silly, furry friend. How do you spell Majdelene?”
“Why, M-a-j-d-e-l-e-n-e! Of course.”
“That is my name. Majdelene. Brother, did I get teased when I was young about not even being able to spell my own name,,, or, that the King was no king if he couldn't spell his own daughter's name.
“I remember, as a child, sitting at my father's feet at the throne with my friends and he told the stories about a mystical people who would help us, especially when we are young.
“When mother wanted to name me after her mother, Magdalene, pop would have nothing of it. He would look down at me and my friends around his feet and say, “It's Majdelene or “hey, you”. Your choice, my Queen. After all, I am but a King.” And everyone would laugh because mother would throw her arms up in the air and made noises like she was protesting.”
“Pop's?” Ru'Di thought.
“How wonderful that you have come at this very time of trouble. Are you here to defeat the evil army all by yourself with all of your magic?” Lady Maggie said with great anticipation.
“Magic? I do not have any magic. I'm not even sure I know why I am here? I'm supposed to be on my “Great Adventure” and so far all I have adventured is humans and horses trying to ride me down and a very strange evening talking to a tree.”
Lady Maggie and Ru'Di talked and talked and became immediate friends. Ru'Di told her that although he wasn't too sure about his “Great Adventure” and what all he was supposed to do, but, he had more than a hunch it did have something to do with the beautiful voice in the breeze and the Lady Maggie and her husband, Sir Michael.
Ru'Di produced a pouch of s'jan'kenberries and the two shared the tasty treat as they giggled, laughed and shared their happy lives well past noon, towards its slow decent into evening.
Much raucous and clambering noise came from the forest in the direction of the trail that the King and his army went out on earlier that day.
Trumpets played loudly, drums were being beaten and soon, the King, Sir Michael and their army came out from under the shadow of the forest and into the clearing.
Ten armored men were walking at the head of the victorious column only they were not the King's men, they were prisoners and were shackled around their ankles by thick and heavy chains. The chains, and all ten being shackled together, made it very difficult for the prisoners to walk and it was extremely hard for these men to keep from falling under the hooves of the King's mighty horses.
Lady Maggie and the rest of the encampment, who had stayed behind, rushed out to greet the victorious forces.
That is, except Ru'Di.
Ru'Di was saddened by the sight of the ten prisoners, schakled and obviously in great pain and peril. Even though he knew that they had been fighting the King earlier and that they were from the evil forces, Ru'Di could not help but feel sorry for them.
The King rode past everyone towards Ru'Di. Sir Michael swept Lady Maggie up in his battle tired, yet still powerful arms and most all the rest began to sing and dance in celebration.
“My squire, Freddy, was right. The Majical Majdelene have once again returned to our Kingdom and with them comes great joy. Your love and luck has brought us a great victory this day, my little friend.” With this said, the greatest King to ever live dropped to one knee in front of Ru'Di, stunning all of his subjects, and bowed his head in deep appreciation to the mystical creature he had heard so much about all his life, but had never seen.
“Oh, my!” said Ru'Di, not expecting a King to kneel in his humble presence, “Great King Arthur, it is I, Ru'Di, who should kneel in front of you,,, only.”
King Arthur looked into Ru'Di's eyes and asked, “Only what, little one?”
“Oh, dear! I don't know how to say this without you laughing,,, only, I don't have knees.”
King Arthur did find humor and a smile with Ru'Di's reply.
“Freddy,” bellowed the King, “Run and fetch the great Merlin. Bid him well from me and tell him that I have a most important task for him to perform with great urgency. Quick, squire, or I will have you in chains with yonder rogues.”
The King's eyes met Ru'Di's eyes for a second time and the King saw that Ru'Di was quite upset.
“What is it? RooDY? Is that your name? Speak up little one and I will grant you any wish you ask on this great day.”
Ru'Di looked at the King as the sadness of great many souls welled up in his eyes, as if all those who had hurt in all of history now shed a single tear through Ru'Di.
“Speak little one. I am only a King and you are a Majdelene. What right do I have to not grant your every wish? What is it that brings the saddest single tear I have ever seen, to your eye?”
“Arthur, I don't know how to tell you this,,, but, having those men in chains is wrong.”
“But, a scant few hours ago, they were trying their mightiest to lop off the humble head of this King?”
“True words, Arthur, but,,,”
“But, what? You expect me to embrace them as friends, now?”
“Yes, yes I do expect this. For, if we do as they have done, that makes us just like them and if we do not make friends of them now, they will always be the enemy, is that not so?”
King Arthur fell backwards from his kneeling position in front of Ru'Di onto his butt in absolute amazement.
His squire, Freddy, who was running as fast as he could across the encampment looking for Merlin, came to a sliding halt in the dirt and spun around and began to rush back to his King to help him regain his composure and assist him to his feet.
“Nay! Freddy. Fetch me Merlin,,, now!” the King reminded Freddy abruptly.
“You want me to release these brigands and despots? I suppose you would have them to feast with us tonight, as well?”
“Yes, Arthur, I would. Tell me, before you were King, was there not war all through this land and did not your enemies become your friends and fellow countrymen?”
King Arthur rose to his feet despite the heavy armor. Ru'Di grew nervous. The King began to pace about in small circles all the while scratching his slightly bearded chin.
A few more circles did he, the King, walk.
And, then a few more.
“Release the prisoners and bring them to me. We will have peace this day and they will join us as brethren from this day forth.
“As King of this great domain I will speak to Merlin and bid him to present your kind with knees, not that you will ever bow in my presence, most wise one!”
Much dancing and story telling began as King Arthur, Sir Michael, Lady Maggie and Ru'Di joined hands and walked towards the edge of the forest. Each knew in their hearts that Ru'Di had achieved his “Great Adventure” and that he must now leave to return to his own time and the Majdelene.
At the edge of the forest, they stopped and the King spoke, “Roo-DY, you have given us so much this day. You have brought friendship forever to a troubled land and by the looks of my daughter and Sir Michael, you have brought friendship to their hearts as well.
“I have nothing to give to you,,, except this!” With these words, King Arthur's mighty sword arm drew Excaliber from its sheath and touched Ru'Di once on his left shoulder, and once on his right shoulder, ever so gently.
“Sir Roo-DY, Knight of the Roundtable. Keeper of belief in all that is called “friend”. Go forth, little one,,, I mean, Sir Roo-DY, for we know in our heart that you have achieved a great adventure this day and we remain humbly yours until your return.
“This too, is your home, now. For here you will always be called by the name “Friend”.
Ru'Di, happiness and yes, more than a touch of pride, poured from his eyes as he bade fare-thee-well to his new friends.
As he turned towards the path to take him back to where the chestnut tree grew, he heard behind him,
“Thank you, Ru'Di.” It was Lady Maggie, his friend.
“Yes, thank you, Roo-DY, Godspeed.' Sir Michael added.
Ru'Di could smell the sweet scent of her perfume just before Lady Maggie, running to him, touched him slightly on the shoulder.
“Wait, Sir Ru'Di. Wait but just a moment. You have given my husband and I a great present, friendship to match our love.
“Take this with you, it is but an empty locket with a necklace but I am sure you will find something worthy to place inside.”
Lady Maggie placed her ruby lips upon Sir Ru'Di's cheek, leaving a red outline upon it from her kiss while securing the locket and necklace around his neck.
Ru'Di smiled and exclaimed, “I know what this locket must be filled with.” And he ran off down the path that led to the chestnut tree.