http://warhammerfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Bretonnia

Bones creaking, back aching from years on the road, the knight knelt down atop the grassy knoll, his head bowed down in silent prayer, the pommel of his silver sword resting on his knee while a gentle breeze blew in from across the hilltop. The sway of the colourful wild flowers that adorned the burial ground, bringing him the rich scent of lilacs and daises.

Weary beyond belief, he knelt there waiting for a sign, his shoulders sagging beneath the weight of his armor, and tried to think of a few words to say. Words that would have meaning that would give him the strength to go on living. But heartache had muted his tongue.

When finally he began to speak, his mouth formed the words that had kept him awake for so many nights. "...Tormen, Matthen, Grey, Sorlena, Datlan, Moira, Shiera. I have failed you all...The lands are broken by war, and soon I fear our hatred for each will consume the world. The Knights of the Silver Sword have become walking shadows of the past and our numbers dwindle by the day. I have told Korwin of my fears, but I worry that he too still blames me for the fall of Carnhold...if only you had lived Gorwin. I know they would have listened to you one such as you, if only the Silver Song had taken me in your stead. I'm not like you, Gorwin, men will not follow me into battle. Men will not listen to my words nor heed my commands. I will always and forever be a simple soldier at heart. Why did you have to die...? "Tears slipped down his weathered cheeks.

Hearing the crunch of footsteps, he spoke without looking behind him. "What is it you wish from me, child?"

"Sir Knight, the mayor wants to talk to you."

Twisting his head around, he looked at the young boy of only ten life cycles, his short wavy black hair swept to the side and twinkling brown eyes filled with life and wonder of the world around him.

Sighing heavily, the knight heaved himself up onto his feet, sheathed the blade at his side and nodded his head in thanks to the boy. He would not give up on the world just yet.

Head bent low, he slowly walked down the hill, followed by the boy towards the waiting village that lay just below him.

The boy his face peaked with curiosity looking up at him. "Sir Knight?"

"Yes."

"Are you a bad man? My Da says all knights are bad."

His innocent words flooded the knight with a sweetly painful ache inside of his chest, his steel grey eyes filling with unshed tears as yet again the image of his friend Gorwin flickered through the back of his mind surrounded by knights in ridged black armour.

"Sir Knight?"

He shook his head to bring himself back to the present, and gazed down at the little boy. "Your father is right to be afraid of us. Not all knights are good people. If you should ever see another knight, I urge you to hide. Will you do that?"

He paused to stare down at the boy with a mixture of worry and fear, until at last the boy nodded his head.

"Good."

Together they strode down towards the edge of the village, where they were greeted by dozens of terrified villagers gathered before a wooden platform where a large man with feverish golden eyes stood speaking, the thick red robes of his order emblazoned with the phoenix on his chest flowing down from his shoulders.

"...too long have we forsaken the gods! And forsaken the old ways and now the gods punish us! Devilish creatures clothed in the mantles of knights have ravaged our lands! And taken our children! We must return to ways of old and appease the gods! Blood must be spilled!"

William the local blacksmith, a strong well built man with arms that had worked the smithy for years, saw his approach and quickly strode over to meet him. "Sir Halston, bless the saints you're here. Meliscent, Sara, Tiera and Ravenna have all been taken by the Knights from the Fortress of Karhold. And now Brother Alston wishes to sacrifice Lady Lorenna to appease his bloodthirsty gods! Please, you must do something!"

Disturbed by the news, Halston began hastily thrusting his way through the crowd of onlookers, who upon recognising him, backed away to give him some space, their eyes filling with fear. Even after all he had done for them in the past, they all still treated him with that same doubt and suspicion, a feeling he had come to know all too well.

Passing through them swiftly, he reached the podium, where Father Alston still spoke so passionately his words flowed past Halston's ears, and walked up to stand beside him.

Alston, his eyes glittering with malice turned his attention upon him. "Why have you come here Sir Knight?!Have you come to see the error of your ways?!"

Rotten fruit flew through the air to smack against his armor as the people hurled their insults, but he remained still doing nothing. He waited till the crowd had become silent, before speaking slowly. "People of Harkon, you all know me and know I do not lie. Sacrificing Lady Lorenna will not save your village. The Knights from Karhold will still come and they will still kill all in their path. It will not matter to them which gods you worship. You would do well to gather your belongings and leave before they return."

Alston's expression burned with righteous rage as he spat at the ground by Halston's feet. "You would have us forsake our homes and our gods! You truly are a coward and no true knight! A true knight would help us beseech the gods for their aid, so that they may protect us in our hour of need!"

The crowd rumbled angrily, their faces filling with hate and for a split second Halston's calm demeanour disappeared. Anger over the recent loss of his friend and mentor, burned through his veins like an avalanche, urging him to scream. Telling them that their plan was beyond folly and that they would all die for nothing, but he held his tongue.

The Priests of the Phoenix had done their work well, their hatred for the elves had spread all across the realms of man with Lady Lorenna being the latest victim in their purge to cleanse the lands of their elven influence. All in the hopes that one day the growing darkness within the order of Knights would vanish overnight. And yet he could not let his anger betray him.

Gorwin had always said he had a temper that could melt iron, and that he had to learn to control it. So he waited, until the rage had passed through him, before raising his voice to be heard over the crowd. "Know this! If anyone should dare to lay a hand upon, Lorenna or any other innocent! They will find my blade! Now go home!"

For a brief moment he saw defiance flicker in their eyes, but seeing the silver sword by his side was enough to deter them from doing anything so foolish. At least for now, but that was a worry for another time.

As the last of the crowd dispersed, Alston licked his cracked lips and glared. "This is not over, Knight. The gods must have their blood! Your blood or hers, it does not matter which."

Halston, clenched his fist to stop himself from beating the life out of the weasley fat fool, and replied, "I know the game you play Alston and one day the people will see it too. The elves have never been our enemy and yet you have called down their wrath upon us all. It will not be long before they march their armies through our lands. What then will your priests do when that happens?"

Alston smiled back, his golden eyes shining with light. "The gods will protect us, but first their hunger for blood must be sated..."