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The darkest night, the brightest dawn. |
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Written by Robert de Giselles
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Thursday, 06 October 2005 |
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Page 2 of 2
The first to arrive was Sir Orin, one of the lieutenants of Sir Robert de Giselles. He jumped from his horse to try and lift Sir Etien’s body, but a Slaaneshi knight took advantage and rushed at him. Defending himself with his shield, he was unable to avoid the lance thrust that pierced his leg and he fell to the ground. The knight of Chaos turned to finish him, but Sir Orin had fallen across Sir Etien and as their blood mingled, healing spread through his body and Sir Orin rose again to strike down his astonished foe.
Next came the Questing Knights of the Liz Azur. Between them as Sir Orin, Sir Etien’s body was lifted and borne back to Schoppendorf. Out on the field, Styrkaar’s flight had removed the last piece of resistance from the army of Chaos and they were in full rout. The day belonged to the Bretonnians, and Schoppendorf was safe, but the bright star that had blazed before them through all the dark days of Archaon’s assault had been extinguished. Sir Etien de Rochefort, Le Doberman, lay dead in the very moment of his greatest victory.
That evening, the mood was sombre in the War Council. There was little point in remaining in Schoppendorf now no enemy threatened it, but arrangements had to be made for returning Sir Etien to his homeland with due ceremony. Eventually it was decided that the Bretonnians would march north to Fort Schippel where the army of Nurgle under Feytor, supported once again by the foul Skaven, threatened to overrun this bastion that had now stood besieged for nineteen days. The body of Sir Etien would be carried in honour to Middenheim, where it would be laid in the Temple of Shallya until it could be returned to Bretonnia.
This deployment was soon made. The Knights of the Liz Azur took the body of their fallen master on a stately bier and brought it by roads clear of foes to the great city of the northern Empire. At Fort Schippel, the Bretonnians had to withstand bombardment from Hellcannons and the foul magics of Feytor’s sorcerers, but thus strengthened the castle held.
It was four days later that word reached them that King Louen Leoncouer was come and that they were to make all speed westward to Grimminhagen, for Archaon was on the point of breaking through and all his forces were pulling themselves back to join the assault on Middenheim. Indeed, it could be seen that Feytor’s force was departing; trusting that this was not a feint but that the King’s messenger spoke the truth, the Bretonnians saddled their horses and rode westward.
Late on the next day, they met with the King just to the south of the village of Grimminhagen. He summoned the captains to report to him and to receive their orders for the battle. He gave his dispositions, and then asked Sir Guillaume, Sir Robert and Sir Etienne to attend to him a moment longer when the other captains were dismissed. Looking at the three knights, he asked, “Where is the Marquis Etien de Rochefort, who was appointed head of my War Council?”
Silence fell for a few moments. It was Sir Guillaume who found the courage to tell the King what he had to know. “Sire, we bear ill tidings. Sir Etien fell in the great victory over the forces of Styrkaar at Schoppendorf. His body lies in the Temple of Shallya within the city of Middenheim.”
“These are ill tidings indeed,” the King responded. “Who now commands here, with Le Doberman gone?” The three captains looked at one another and then replied with one voice, “You do, sire.”
The King froze for a moment, and then laughed out loud. “You three are as thick as thieves! I’ll wager that you have paid no heed to the proper feudal order and have divided the command.” The silence and the expressions on the faces of the three lords gave him his answer. “Well, it seems to have worked so far – you may as well keep it up! You had better be back to your forces, we ride for Grimminhagen in a quarter hour.”
And ride for Grimminhagen they did, and there did deeds that would be sung for as many years as there were minstrels to sing them against the dæmon host of Be’lakor. The King himself drove the Dark Master back and freed Grand Theogonist Volkmar from his chains. Lifting him onto the back of his hippogriff, Beaquis, King Louen carried him into the city, while behind him his captains led the victorious knights up the southern causeway.
Landing in the square before the Temple of Shallya, the King was surrounded by priests who took the Grand Theogonist and carried him within to tend his wounds. Louen surveyed the building before him. Within lay his friend, Etien de Rochefort, and he must soon go within and pay respect to a great warrior who had given his life in the battle against evil.
Pausing for a moment, he offered up a prayer to the Lady for strength. Looking up again he saw a man on the steps on the temple, unarmoured but carrying a sword. It took him a few moments to realise that it was Sir Etien who stood before him, but when he did he rushed over to greet him with a most unregal haste.
“Sir Etien, I was told you were dead! How can it be that you still live? Were you but injured that the priests of Shallya could thus repair you?”
“No my liege,” the knight replied, “I did truly die. The Lady has sent me back to finish the tasks she has assigned me. Once more, my King, I offer you my sword.” He knelt, and held his sword out to King Louen. Taking it, the King said, “I accept your sword, and I return it to you. May it bring death to your foes, deliverance to your friends, and destiny to its wielder.”
Sir Etien took back the sword and came back to his feet. His body was still feeble from the week he had lain dead, but the fire in his eyes was hotter than any the King had previously seen among all the many Grail Knights he had known and the King’s eyes could see the bright halo that surrounded his head. Turning to the crowd in the square, which by now included many of the Bretonnians who had entered the city up the southern causeway, he cried aloud, “Behold the one whom the Lady has returned to us from beyond the grave! Behold Sir Etien de Rochefort, the Living Saint!”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 October 2005 )
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Literature 
