The Red Knight, The Princess and the Unicorn

by

Tony Fogarty 1996 all rights reserved

The air was cool and crisp. It carried with it the perfume of ripened apples, a hint of sweet white flesh beneath a bright red coat.

There was also the jangle of loose armour, the arms and leggings tied loosely together and thrown over a saddle pummel. And there was the rasping of chainmail on itself as a rider stopped his horse, slid off, and dropped immediately to crouch and inspect the ground before him.

There, in the print of an unshod hoof, was a small patch of whiter then white phosphorescence. He removed a gauntlet, and delicately slid his finger through it. He rubbed his fingertips together gently, feeling its dry but slippery consistency. He leaned forward and sniffed at it tentatively. His nose tingled at the rush of familiar yet foreign aromas and odours. Jasmine over strawberries, the sea on a windless day, fresh bread on a sharp September morning.

The phosphor was no ordinary substance. Anyone who felt its influence would sense rather than smell memories of events and places from their life gone past. This rider had his share of memories, many sweet, but more recently, oh so bitter, and these aromas were from his life. The pictures they conjured were real.

He took his hand away from his face, and the sensations faded. He perceived only the scent of apple blossom from the nearby orchard. " Unicorn," he murmured, "thou art hereabouts, thou shalt feel my blade this evening I'll warrant."

Tarnish had his own aroma, or more accurately, no aroma, around him. It was as distinguishable as if it were an aroma of its own , this lack of aroma, but no-one could put a finger on it. It hung like a pall, dark and melancholy. Even in bright sunshine he reflected little light, except for the blood red star on his shield, and the similar coloured mail of his suit. He was once The Red knight, once a fearless champion of the king of a kingdom far from here, once a husband and a father. This day however, he was just Tarnish. The glory of the Red Knight had become legend, and he looked nothing of the stuff of legends.

He had been on this quest for nearly seven years, tonight was the seventh anniversary of the event that had him here, so far from home. For seven years he had tracked stories, signs, and portents that showed the way of the beast with the single spiralled horn. The legendary lighter than light, White Unicorn.

Seven years ago tonight, Tarnish had been pursuing an evil sorcerer, a soulless man for whom the manipulation of the spiritual for the gratification of the physical was necessary to appease his desires. Tarnish had cornered the sorcerer in a ravine. With no hope of escape, the magician had run straight at the Red Knight, throwing himself on Tarnish's blade. As his life leaked out of him, the mad mage uttered a curse, and sealed it with his life.

"Thou taketh this life, now look forlorn Your life is altered, in permanent storm Until you remove the spiralled horn Of the Sacred White Unicorn"

The magician hissed at the Red Knight, and died.

The air split as a bolt of lightning struck the ground beside the knight, and though he was not harmed, he knew he had been touched. The chainmail of his suit lost its sheen, and the lubricated joints of his armour seemed to seize.

He returned home to Craigieloch to find his wife and bairn asleep, a sleep not disturbed by dream nor outside noise, twas a trance. The knights abode had become a dull listless place, and he could see neighbours avoid its shadow, he could feel the life bleeding out of it and his family.

For several weeks, he wandered around the streets of Craigieloch. One night, in a dream, he looked across the valleys, across the mountains and across the rivers of the land and saw a bright , white, lighter than light beast with a single spiralled horn. It seemed to be right there in front of him, snorting and pawing at the ground. He reached out to the shimmering animal, but it vanished. He awoke with a start and knew he had a quest.

That was nearly seven years ago. Now, here he was on the outskirts of Camelot, in the Kingdom of Artur. He had followed the stories, the legend, the sitings, the visions, the signs and the directions of all and sundry seers, mages, spellbinders and wise-women. In a cave on a high tor in the East Country, he had been told of the white phosphorescence. It was called, "Inessence", and it was unique to unicorns. It was only one of many magical influences possessed by the animal. They were clever, and they were loyal. Their loyalty could be their downfall and should be exploited if one desired to better such a creature.

"Inessence. Surely not far away at all." Said Tarnish, as he felt the talc like material between his thumb and forefinger.

He stood, his mail still dull, and removed his lance and sword from his saddle. He let go the reins of his Charger, to let it graze in the lush grass. As he watched, he could see even his horse bore the same affliction as he. As a blade of grass touched his horses lip, it lost all colour, and became but another tasteless mouthful for the faithful steed.

Tarnish moved into an orchard, obviously the source of the apple-blossom aroma. He walked across the first row, then another, and the next, looking down each, until, there! He stepped back behind a tree and looked down the row. A beautiful maiden sat beneath a tree, singing, and there, with its head in her lap, was his goal! The Sacred White Unicorn.

Oh beauty walks with golden grace Such a wondrous beast should not face The wanton desires of humankind Such selfish thoughts from selfish minds.

The unicorn rose and shook itself and walked toward the knights tree. Tarnish stood back behind the tree as the unicorn continued on past him to a small stream on the edge of the orchard. As the beast bent to take a draught, Tarnish slowly moved closer to the maiden, still shielded by the row of trees.

He stopped

As the sun reached that place in the sky where it was exactly seven years ago, he looked into the face of the maiden - her eyes were closed and she had such a look of peace. He looked and he could see his wife, so sweet, so kind. He blinked, and rubbed his eyes, he saw his daughter, so pure, so innocent. She was beautiful, and as he looked, the lines of her face changed, they hardened to become the sneering, malicious face of the sorcerer.

It came from deep within. Tarnish was blinded by a flash of light, yet he could still see that evil face. A deep roar bellowed from his throat as he burst into the clearing and faced the maiden. His lance was brought to bear, his broadsword flashed as he cut the air savagely.

The maiden screamed at the fearsome sight of the blood red maniac with murder in his eyes. As the knight charged at the maiden, the unicorn had become very aware of the Red Knight and his flailing weapons. He galloped to the maidens side, and reared up, his hooves flashing to protect the girl.

Tarnish had fought this style of attack from malevolent dragons and rabid horses. The unicorn turned to look at the maiden, to ensure she was safe. The red Knight saw, and took his opportunity. He thrust forward with his lance into the animals exposed underside, where it found the gallant unicorns enormous heart.

The unicorn stumbled back to its legs, and sagged slowly to the turf. "What have ye done?" Screamed the maiden, as she fell to the unicorns side.

Tarnish looked down at the maiden. " I have hunted this enchanted animal for seven years, and now, this magical horn is mine. Alas, it is not greed nor lust that drives me mistress, it is a quest of need." The Red Knight advanced upon the dying unicorn, with his sword glowing dully in the afternoon sun.

The maiden raised her arms and invoked a spell- "Oh wicked and evil knight. I do banish you from this kingdom, for thou not be worthy to step a foot on the soil at Camelot!"

With a flash of light, and a gust of wind, Tarnish found himself across the stream from the orchard, looking over at the fallen unicorn and the crestfallen girl. He looked into the sky, into the face of the rising moon. "Ahh, my Lady Bride, help me. Eko Eko Azarac, Eko Eko Zomilac. Guardians of the Lady, shine your light in the maidens eyes I implore you. Let her see I acted not in malice nor greed. Upon the life of my wife and daughter who you would otherwise have sitting with you!"

Tarnish looked across the stream once more. He watched and he could hear clearly as her voice lifted over her grief. " Arise again majestic beast!" The maiden was more than just a maiden, this was clear. A tear fell across his cheek as he saw the lighter than light Sacred White Unicorn rise to its feet.

His face fell as he thought of his wife and child, they had not felt the sun on their faces these last seven years, he would not feel their shoulders beneath his arms. He gazed across as the unicorn knelt, and the maiden climbed onto his back. Suddenly, a ray of light burst from the otherwise dormant face of the lunar orb to play softly, but momentarily upon the faces of the maiden and the unicorn.

The Red Knight stood in awe as the unicorn moved through the orchard toward him. It cantered easily toward and over the stream. It stopped before him, settled to the ground and snorted. It's eyes were on fire, and sparks flew off its hooves.

"Knight, you are foolish, and yet you knew naught else. In your anguish, did you not consider to simply request the aid of this Creature of the Goddess?"

Tarnish fell to one knee before the sacred animal and the Maiden. " My Lady, I am humble before You and the Mother. I wished only to release the two I love most in this world from a curse placed upon them."

The unicorn bent forward and touched the knight's forehead with his horn. As if struck by a rainbow, Tarnish glowed colours he had forgotten. His mail sparkled, his armour was radiant, his charger resplendent in the colours of his king.

The Red Knight rose, and with a deft leap, straddled his horse. He saluted the Maiden and her mount. Together, both horse and unicorn rose into the darkening sky, then, in a breath, they were at the junction of night and day. The unicorn continued into night to its place in the stars, and the Red Knight rode into, and became part of the glorious sunset, his red cape glowing in the evening sky, his heart the ember of the setting sun.