Prologue: To Boldly Go Where People Have Not Been in a Good

When Kathryn steps through the portal again, she finds Eni alone, crying. She is initially shocked to find the eladrin lady in this state, and for a few seconds, she can only stand there, incapable of moving. Her instincts however soon take over. She slowly approaches the chair, bends one knee, and puts her arms around the shoulders of Eninahes. Eni is surprised when Kathryn shows up and hugs her. She hugs her back but says, "Hello Kathryn. Why are you back here so soon? You should be on your way to Harkenwold."

Without letting go of Eninahes, the young fighter whispers in the lady's ear, "I told you I would come back, remember? I wanted to see you again."

"No, I forgot. I got caught up in the party," Eni whispers back.

Kathryn gently caresses the back of the eladrin to comfort her. "You liked seeing so many people here with you, right?"

"Yes. It was great. I got very happy and when it ended it just hit me how awful it is being stuck here. Most of the time I can ignore it, you know?"

"Yes, I know what you mean." Kathryn pull back a little, looks into Eni's eyes, and puts a peck on her forehead. "Don't worry. Soon, you'll be able to go wherever you like." She then gives her a smile full of confidence. There's no doubt in Kathryn's mind that she will fulfill her promise.

"I know you'll try and that will be enough for now." Eni sighs and wipes away her tears, the fit passing. "I have a gift for you."

"Oh, right." She completely forgot about the reward. Again. "I was surprised you didn't want to give it in front of the others..."

"I didn't want this gift to overshadow the others. They all fought bravely for people they didn't know. They deserved for their achievements to shine brightly."

"Oh, I see." The white-haired mercenary is somewhat puzzled. "A gift to overshadow the others? But... I haven't freed you yet. Why would I deserve such a gift?"

"Because you are my friend and you promised to free me without a second thought, with no demand or expectation of reward. And because, well, your promise was very rash. I'm afraid you might die trying to keep it. Let me do this for you, so you might live."

"Right. I didn't know I was going to oppose a god." She laughs at herself a little. "Still... even if you had told me beforehand, I would still have done it. Like you said, we're friends!"

Eni hugs her. "I have a few questions for you before I give it to you. Is that okay?"

"Uh?" That takes her off-guard. "Uh, yes, of course."

"Where did you get your armor, Kathryn?"

"My armor?" She looks down at it. "Oh, in a burned down manor near Harken, not far from where I was born. It was put away in a chest, in the basement. Lucky find, right?"

"Yes, very lucky. Is there, anything special about it?"

"Hmm." Kathryn thinks about it for a short moment. "Well, the others seemed surprised that I was able to clean the blood off it with just water..."

"That's good. Anything else?"

"I'm not sure. There's a three-fold crown emblem on the inside of the chest piece, and it fits me super well... what else..." She continues to think about it.

"May I see it?"

"See it? Uh, sure... but you'll have to help me take it off. It should take a least a minute or two, even with your help."

"I'll help. But you'll need to walk me through it." Eni isn't very skilled at the task but she gets better at it as they go. She looks at it very carefully and is sure not to touch the symbol directly. She starts casting spells at it. After cycling through a few spells she says, "Hmm. It's resisting my spells."

"Uh..." Kathryn is looking at her armor over Eni's shoulder. "I'm guessing that's not normal...?"

"No, it isn't. It's frustrating but it doesn't really change what I was going to give you. I believe your armor carries several enchantments but that almost all of them have been sealed away. I think it's because you've failed to attune with it in some way. Have you ever tried?"

"Attune with it? Wait, the armor is enchanted!? Wow, I never knew." She looks at her prized possession with a different eye.

"Why don't you try doing that now?"

"Oh, okay. Wait, how do you do that? Robert never taught me the specifics."

"That's because he didn't need to. The magic item teaches you how to on its own. I think if maybe you try asking it, perhaps it will work."

"That's easy peasy then." Kathryn picks up the chest piece of the armor, holds it in front of her, and says, "Hi. Would you let me attune to you, please?"

Nothing happens.

"...I don't think it's working," she tells Eni. "Maybe it doesn't like me?"

"Could be, but I don't think so. If you were entirely unable to attune to the item, none of its enchantments would work. And clearly it's enchanted to always stay clean. No, I think we are doing it wrong. Perhaps you should touch the Crown of Nerath?"

"The Crown?" She turns the armor to look at the inside, and as she extends her hand to touch the emblem, she says, "You mean this?"

"Yes." As Kat moves to touch the Crown she is filled with an overwhelming need not to. Like it wouldn't be right. Like it would be disrespectful.

She stops her hand. "Uh, Eni? I feel funny. It's like taking a cookie from the cookie jar when you've been told not to."

Eni's eyebrows raise up. "Best not to then." She then laughs in triumph. "You got it to react!"

Kathryn withdraws her hand. "Oh, that's a good thing?" She examines the emblem more closely. "I didn't know that armor was so special... It wants me to wear it, but I can't touch the emblem."

"Maybe it means you aren't supposed to yet. But yes, this is good. With your permission I'd like to consult with some professors that I correspond with. We need to do more research."

"Sure thing! I trust you with it." She smiles. "Uh, can you help me put it back on? I can do it myself, but it would save some time if you helped me."

"Of course!"

"Thanks."

They put the armor back on. Eni does a much better job this time.

"Before I forget, let me get you your gift," says Eninahes. "My father's sword wasn't the only weapon I've been entrusted with." Kathryn feels a presence to her left. When she looks the tallest lady-in-waiting is standing there, holding a longsword in its scabbard.

The young woman's eyes widen. She is amazed by the quality of the weapon. "Wow. Thank you Eni. Can I... hold it?"

"In a little while. You need to answer one more question first; are you really a knight? When I saw your armor, I assumed you were."

"A knight?" Kathryn can't help herself but laugh at the notion. "Nope! I'm just a normal girl. I'm sorry if I made you believe I was one. I lived most of my life on a farm with my parents, near Harken. Then I found the armor."

"I see. This sword is a knightly weapon. If it is to be yours we must remedy that. Please, go to one knee."

This seemingly simple request has had a more profound effect on Kathryn than even learning about the armor's mysterious capabilities. She can only stare at the eladrin in disbelief, her mouth slightly open. Eninahes smiles and lightly guides her friend down to one knee using her hands. Kathryn obediently does as she is told.

"Repeat after me. I will develop my life for the greater good. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth. I will never boast, but cherish humility instead. I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. I will uphold justice by being fair to all. I will be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. I will abhor scandals and gossip--neither partaking in nor delighting in them. I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help. I will forgive when honestly asked, that my own mistakes will be forgiven. I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward."

Kathryn repeats the oath word for word with as much conviction as she can muster.

Eni draws the sword. It rings out, clear as a bell, announcing itself proudly to the world. The eladrin woman carefully places the blade on either side of Kat's shoulders, saying, "I name you Ser Kathryn Elwin, meaning Elf-friend. Rise Ser Knight!"

The white-haired woman, now a knight, slowly rises from the ground, deeply moved by Eninahes' words.

The sound of thunder rings out across the Feywild as a new knight takes their oath. The just know elation as another force for good enters the world, while the wicked know fear and then hatred, already determined to meet this new foe. But all that's a story for another time. For now, Eni presents the sword to Katheryn. "Its name is Durandal, and it has been wielded by many great knights. It is said that it will never break so long as its wielder never does."

"I'll try to prove myself worthy of the honor," replies Kathryn. She extends her hand towards the sword, at first with some hesitation, and then with absolute confidence.

"How does it feel?"

"It's... like a dream. I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"....No."

Kathryn notices the hesitation. She slightly tilts her head, and asks, "Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?" And with a caring voice, she adds, "Are you okay Eni?"

"Just something I've been wondering for a long time. Is this a dream? Or is this reality? The years go by and it's sometimes hard to tell which is which. I choose to believe this is not a dream. But I have no proof beyond my own faith."

This kind of existential question is one that Kathryn has never asked herself before. But as she observes her surroundings, the landscape in which Eninahes lives, she immediately understands what her friend means. She attaches the sword to her belt, and approaches Eni to embrace her. "I'm real. And you are too, Eninahes." By pronouncing her name, Kathryn actives the necklace and lets her compassion and love flow into her friend. She pulls her head back a little to face Eni. "I'm not going to just let it be a dream. Count on it."

"Thank you."

"... I didn't sound too corny right now, did I?" She widens her eyes in horror. "Oh no. I totally did."

Eni laughs. "Corny is good."

"Good, good." With a serene expression on her face, she admires the starry sky, and says, "The others are probably waiting for me."

"I know."

"Well, they're gonna wait a little longer! I still have a ton of questions to ask you."

"You can ask on the road you know."

"But I can also ask you right now," she retorts with her usual smile. "Besides, we don't know when we'll see each other again."

"Well, okay. What do you want to know?"

With renewed energy, Kathryn begins to asks her numerous questions about Eninahes' family, her friends, and her life.