As the Black Knight continues to kneel in the field of black roses.
The answers he seeks do not come.
He stands and the dragon comes near.
The dragon nuzzles the Black Knight's hand.
The Black Knight knows it's time to go.
Together the Black Knight and the dragon begin to walk.
Side by side as they have, since time of unknown.
They reach the end of the black rose field.
At the end is the dark forest, a place of no return.
Birds cry out, as the Black Knight stares at the forest entrance.
To enter would be madness, but it is the way to an answer.
The dragon nudges the Black Knight, as to say "Are you going in or not?,".
The Black Knight removes the shield from his back.
He unsheathes his black sword and enters the forest.
The trees are thick, causing his dragon to fly high above the forest.
The Black Knight now must travel the black forest alone.
What creatures await him in the forest?
Words are heard, as he hears voices whisper to one another.
Howls of unknown creatures are heard.
The Black Knight wants to run, but he must continue to go forward.
He smell the strong odor of rotting wood.
Creatures are heard all around in the forest.
He tries to hurry out of the black forest.
The Black Knight reaches an opening in the middle of the black forest.
A large field sits in the middle of the forest.
The grass of the field is grey and lifeless.
The field has an aura of death, it seems that death waits here for any who arrive.
A noise is heard, a metallic sound, that of a shield hitting armor.
At the other side of the field is a Grey Knight, he is the source of the noise.
The Grey Knight walks to the middle of the field.
On a tree near the Grey Knight, hang corpses, there to rot for all eternity
The bodies have been there for time unknown, a punishment for losing a battle to the Grey Knight.
A reminder to all who enter the black forest, lose a battle, stay to rot for all eternity.
Even from where the Black Knight stands, he can smell the flesh of the corpses rotting slowly.
He feel nauseas from the smell, but he cannot run, he is tired of running.
The Black Knight wants his reward, that waits for him on the other side of the black forest.
The Grey Knight beckons for the Black Knight to join him.
The Black Knight's heart beats faster.
Does he go out and meet the Grey Knight?
Does he want to be another corpse added to the many already there?
Or should he find another way out of the black forest?
With no other option he can see, the Black Knight goes out to meet the Grey Knight.
Without warning, the Grey Knight attacks, swinging his sword.
It catches the Black Knight off guard and he stumbles a bit.
His helmet is knocked off and his face is revealed for all to see.
Now stands before all, the Black Knight exposed, he is the one known as Austin.
The Grey Knight removes his helmet, his face exposed, he is the a spitting image of Austin.
What could this mean?
Is this some kind of cruel joke?
The Grey Knight speaks to Austin.
"To Continue through the forest, you must get through me,"
"If you defeat me, one answer you seek will be answered by me," says the Grey Knight.
"Sometimes the answers are where you least expected them to be, like within,"
"For now that is all I can say, we now must battle and hope you can defeat me, for am no easy foe to defeat," says the Grey Knight.
The Grey Knight places his helmet back upon his head.
Austin does the same and readies himself for battle.
Maybe this is a battle from within, thinks the Black Knight.
The Grey Knight swings his sword.
The Black Knight raises his shield to block the blow.
His shield is knocked from his arm and lands far away.
The Black cannot make an attempt to retrieve it, for it would mean risking a deadly blow from the Grey Knight.
The Grey Knight swings his sword again.
Austin/The Black Knight, counters with his own sword and spark fly from the swords clashing.
The Battle has just begun.
How will it end?
Why now here, in the middle of the black forest is he to battle the Grey Knight?
Is this truly a battle from within?
The Black Knight prays to the divine, that he will win.
To lose this battle would mean a slide into madness.
To be left in the black forest to rot for all eternity, along side the others that have lost the battle.
A place he does not want to be left, as for the madness, it is also a place he wish not to be.
This place, is a place full of anger and pain, left here by the others that have fallen to the Grey Knight.
The dragon, the Black Knight's friend, flies high above the battle.
He roars as to say to his friend, "You'll win the battle friend, keep a calm mind,".
The Black Knight readies himself to continue the battle.
How will it end?
Will it end in death, madness or triumph?
That answer is for another day, friends.
The Black Knight's journey is far from over.
For now he must stand and battle the Grey Knight.
