Defender of the Light

If every day is going to be like today, I don’t know how I’ll get anything done!  I’ve been running around Elwynn Forest, Stormwind, even a few brieft dashes into Westfall and Ironforge.  A Paladin is truly the busy one, I already knew, but today only reinforced that.  While a Warrior may focus on his combat, and a Priest may pore over his books, Knights are out there, all day, every day, speaking with everyone they come across, trying to help make someone’s life better even by just a tiny bit.

What is truly remarkable is when someone goes out of their way to make a Paladin’s day better.  I was speaking with a tailor, pondering purchasing a dress, and the total came to more than I’d expected.  I’d already spent much of my allowance on food, lodging, and such things, and I was standing there, embarrassed–when a kind fellow up and paid the tab for me.  I offered to pay off the debt, but he refused, telling me to not think of it.  Well, as I told him, I would think of it, and repay my debt of honor, even if he didn’t want money.

After that, I’d managed to put my ingenuity to work, and crafted a few items from things I’d had laying around, and sold them to amused vendors (I think they bought the items solely because a human woman tinkering about with things best left to Gnomes amused them, or intrigued them.  Either way, I’m not going to argue), so I’d had enough to purchase another dress, and some extra belt pouches.  I’ve never had a dress before, since I was raised on a farm with boys.  Dresses would only get dirty and in the way; trousers and a hardy shirt worked for all of us; I was no exception.

I was also challenged to two duels today, which I accepted.  The first one I won, though I admit marginally, and the second I lost.  The second one–he was obviously more skilled than I, so it’s no shame to lose to someone genuinely good.  The first battle–it didn’t go on long, thoguh it felt like an hour as everything I’d been taught came back to me and was applied.   Step to the side here, spin in that direction, block with the shield at the same time as thrusting with the hammer.  By the end of it, I was panting and sweating, but we congratulated each other on a fight well fought, then went our separate ways.

I should think I’d still be writing come the dawn if I tried to list everything I’ve done today.  Suffice to say, I hiked through the countryside trying to spread the warmth and love of the Light wherever I went, and never had to roam far before finding someone in need.  Sometimes it was something small, like the young girl who was crying because her doll was broken (a bit of fine thread, a button from my backpack, a few ink marks, and the doll was right as rain), to the Stormwind Guard Captain who sent me to find the fate of his missing men, to a game of cat-and-mouse with members of the Defias Brotherhood who had taken over a camp not far from Goldshire.  It really was a busy day.

And something tells me, all of my days are going to be busy.

The day before yesterday , I received my hammer, my armor, and my blessing of Light. I’ve been living at Northshire Abbey for a while now, ever since moving there to finish my education and become a member of the Order of the Silver Hand, but that day–that was the day. I became a Paladin, a member of a sacred order who holds to truth, justice, virtue.

To say I was proud would, of course, have been an understatement. I couldn’t keep my hammer in my sheathe, as I kept wanting to hold it, a physical token of my hopes and dreams. I just had to hold it, turn it around in my hands.

I was given my first official duty this morning–run a letter to the mailbox in Goldshire.  Oh, I admit to thinking this was rather anti-climactic.  After all, I was a Paladin now!  I was officially a Knight of the Order of the Silver Hand–and Brother Thomas wanted me to run to a mailbox?  Ahh, but I’m glad I did.

I’d heard tales of Lord Ghodfrey Valorsworn, leader of the Knights of Lordaeron, as anyone who hangs around Paladins at the Abbey for any length of time will do–but I never thought I’d ever meet him, much less so soon after being officially inducted.  Yet there he was, arguing with another man about the Light, and about mercy.  This other man, whose name I never learned, seemed to think that a Paladin’s only duty was vengeance, to be nothing but the sword-arm of the Light.  Lord Valorsworn strove to persuade him otherwise, to speak of the Light’s mercy, kindness, compassion, but to no avail.

Some Knights of Ebon strode by, and incited an argument with this man.  It was–unsettling, I admit.  I am still uncomfortable around them, both for how they were created, and how much like a thumb-bite they are to the Holy Order.  They spoke of peace, of the alliance with Stormwind, of their aid given to overthrow Arthas–yet I still remember the looks on the faces of my neighbors, as their families fell to the Scourge–only to get up again, as unholy demons.

Lord Valorsworn counseled me against such rash reactions, and I knew that he was right.  How could I profess the mercy, love, and saving grace of the Light, when I refuse to accept even the Death Knights?  It is not easy, but I hope to come to a point where I can do more than simply fight by their side.  May the Light guide me to this end.

Lord Valorsworn, his right-hand woman Lady Harmona, and I spoke at length.  He asked me what I thought of my duties, and I told him.  He then–well, he offered me a position in his order.  I thought about it, prayed to the Light about it, and had to accept.  So now, I am offically also a Knight of Lordaeron, as well as a Knight of the Holy Order of the Silver Hand.

I’d best end this now, as I’m on break from my kitchen duties.  I was expected back nearly an hour before I actually arrived, and though they understood my reasoning, I still was told to be back promptly, and I wasn’t.  I’m not complaining, though.  Lord Valorsworn and Lady Harmona have shown me such kindness, and–well, my roommates in the Abbey were jealous.  A day of kitchen duty is a small price.