Long, long ago there was a dark, ancient forest named Drearwood. It was much older and larger than any forest we know of today. In Drearwood there lived a terrible race of giants that preyed upon those brave enough to travel through the forest. Now they had, on occasion, become bold enough to attack the settlements on the edge of that great wood.
In the center of Drearwood rose a high bluff upon which set a bright castle. In that castle lived a group of brave knights whose job it was to protect all those who traveled through or lived near the great forest. Each knight carried a long slender lance, a magical silver shield, and a great red plume which people in distress could see from a great way off.
Long before the time of knights there lived in the castle a great craftsman, a master smith, who made the wonderful silver shields the knights of the castle carried. These shields had magical properties. If a knight were especially brave, loyal, or obedient to his Lord, the Master of the castle, the shield would grow brighter and brighter until it shone so that the knight could see his reflection in it. But if he were cowardly or disobedient it grew dull and gray so that the knight was ashamed to show it in the castle. However, if a knight performed a brave or courageous act in service to the Lord, in the center of his shield appeared a bright golden star that shone as the sun. So far the only person to ever have a golden star appear on his shield was the Lord of the castle.
One day word came to the Lord of amassing of giants in the Wraithills deep in the darkest center of Drearwood. From there the giants planned to sweep through all the settlements, killing the people then trapping the knights at the fords of Bristol thereby ridding the forest of their enemies forever. The Lord had to meet the giants in battle before this could happen. That battle would be more terrible than nearly all that had come before. It was the first time that the knights had fought against such a large force of giants. Usually the knights only fought against individual giants such as when the Lord of the castle singlehandedly defeated the King of the giants. As you can imagine all the knights were excited and somewhat frightened of the upcoming battle with their greatest foes.
This story deals with one young knight named Sir Brian. He was a brave and noble knight who had helped many travelers through the dark forest, as could be told by his shield being almost bright enough to see his reflection in. He was particularly looking forward to the upcoming battle in which he could perform many great and honorable feats for his Lord.
On the eve of the great battle Sir Brian saw the Lord of the castle walking toward him. He was pleased for he thought the Lord surely had some great task for him to perform. The Lord did have a task for Sir Brian but not the one he had hoped for. Instead, he asked Sir Brian to guard the gates of the castle while he was gone and to allow no one to enter. Sir Brian’s heart sank. He had hoped for some great task, not castle sitting. To be appointed steward of the castle gates was a great honor, but Sir Brian wanted to meet the giants in battle. However, he knew it was his Lord’s command. He had to obey.
The next morning the knights rode forth against the giants and Sir Brian watched them go down the road until at last even their great red plumes were out of sight.
In the afternoon Sir Brian watched and waited. He could just hear, far off in the distance the sounds of battle. About two hours later, at the edge of the forest, Sir Brian saw something move. When it came closer he saw it was an old woman in beggar’s rags. She came up to the castle wall and shouted up to Sir Brian, “Steward of the gates, my village has been overrun by giants. My family is dead and all my belongings are destroyed. Please open the castle gates and allow me to enter in for food and shelter.” Sir Brian looked over the castle wall down at the woman.
“I’m sorry old woman. I cannot open the castle gates by the order of the Lord of the castle himself. I can give you some food over the wall and you could stay near the castle wall for safety but I cannot open the gate. It is the Lord’s command that the gates not be opened until he returns and I cannot disobey my Master’s commands.” Sir Brian called a nearby page to run and get the woman some food, then he let it down to the ground on a long cord.
After the old woman had eaten she told Sir Brian that the giants were fighting as never before and that they might defeat the knights, and a fresh knight like himself might turn the tide of battle and win great glory by saving his Lord. At this Sir Brian’s eyes brightened because he knew this might be true and would give him a chance to fight the giants like he had wished. But then his shoulders slumped and the brightness left his eyes. His Lord had told him to stay and guard the castle. He was the steward of the castle gates. He knew he could not go. Sir Brian bent over the wall and shouted down to her, “I’m sorry, I must obey my Lord’s command. I cannot leave the castle.”
“Then you are a coward and unworthy of your shield,” the woman shouted back. He knew this was not true but it still hurt him because he did so wish to go into battle. But no, he had to follow the Lord’s orders. The woman pestered Sir Brian for some time but eventually she went away, back into the depths of Drearwood. Sir Brian continued to watch the gate and wait for the return of his Lord.
After nearly two hours had passed another figure approached the castle. It was a young knight from the castle named Sir John. Sir John was limping. As he reached the gate he called up to Sir Brian, “Sir Brian, the giants are defeating us. I have come back because I am wounded. Now I may watch the castle and you may go to the battle.” At first Sir Brian was glad of this for now he could leave the castle safe in the hands of another knight and go join the battle. But again, his shoulders slumped for he knew he could not go. He alone was told to guard the castle. He told Sir John this and Sir John admitted he was right and went back into the forest holding his head higher and not limping quite so much. Sir Brian was left again to guard the castle. There he waited for five or so more hours while nothing happened.
When it was nearly dark, Sir Brian saw another figure approaching from the shadows of the wood. At first he thought it was a knight because of how the figure carried itself, but when it came closer Sir Brian saw that it was an old man in a dark cloak. He called up to Sir Brian, “I am the master wizard Imreldas. I have come to you Sir Brian from a great distance to bring you this.” At this he held up what appeared to be a sword with a beautifully jeweled hilt and sheath.
“It is a magic sword and none can stand against the one who wields it. Your friends are being destroyed by the giants and only you can use this sword to save them,” said the wizard. Sir Brian felt he had to take the sword and go rescue the knights and his Lord. He started to run down the stairs to open the gate. When almost at the gate he stopped. His shoulders slumped again. His Lord had told him to stay and guard the castle no matter what. He had to do as he was commanded. Slowly he turned and climbed the stairs.
“I am sorry Master Imreldas. I cannot accept your gift. The Lord of the Castle has commanded me to stay and guard the castle gates and to allow no one to pass through the gates until he has returned. Perhaps the sword can be given to another knight or even to the Lord of the castle himself.”
The wizard replied, “This sword will obey only your command Sir Brian for it was long ago forged for your use on this very day.”
“I’m sorry,” said Sir Brian, “by the Lord’s command I must refuse.” In anger the wizard threw back his cloak and raised his staff.
“Only a coward would not save his friends when he has been given such an opportunity,” he shouted. But Sir Brian was firm and simply said, “I will obey my Lord’s command.”
Seeing it was useless to argue further, the wizard turned and walked, enraged, into the forest shadows. But as he did a strange thing happened. Instead of growing smaller as he walked away the man grew larger until he was as large as any giant in the forest. The last Sir Brian saw of the giant was his head moving above the treetops in the first light from the moon that evening. Sir Brian leaned against the castle wall and breathed a great sigh of relief. If he had taken the magic sword, which he saw now as only an old stick, and left the castle, the few servants of the Lord that remained in the castle would have been utterly defeated by the giant and the knights would have no safe haven of return, even if they were victorious. That did it for Sir Brian. No matter what else happened, no one would enter the castle, and he would not leave the gate until the Lord himself returned!
The next morning Sir Brian could see the first signs of the returning knights in the early sunlight. First he saw a cloud of dust, then the red plumes. Finally, he saw the dull outlines of the knights returning in the faint light. It looked as if most the knights were there, even Sir John.
After the Lord of the Castle had passed through the gates and all the knights were in, Sir Brian left his post and went down to the great hall of the castle to return the golden keys of the gates to the Lord.
As Sir Brian passed through the city he stopped to hear many of the rumors of the battle and how the giants had run with fear at the sight of the Lord of the castle. Sir Brian was very sad that he had not been there to see the charge of the Lord and the defeat of the giants. But then he remembered the golden keys and his mission. He went on his way.
As Sir Brian entered the great hall he saw all the knights lined up on either side of the hall that led to the Lord’s throne. As he walked up to the throne he heard the other knights whispering. He knew the battle must have been great indeed because a knight never spoke in that hall unless the Lord had asked him a question. He was able to hear some of them say, “his shield, look at his shield,” as he passed by. But he dared not turn aside to look. Such an act would show great disrespect to the Lord of the castle.
When he reached the throne he noticed a puzzled look on the Lord’s face as the Lord looked into his eyes. Then the Lord asked Sir Brian to give an account of all that had happened that day. Specifically he asked if any giants had attacked the castle. Sir Brian told his Lord everything had happened and that the only giant to come had left when he saw he could not enter the castle. The Lord said “Sir Brian, are you sure no great battle was fought here?” Sir Brian replied, “No my Lord, all that has happened is as I have told you.” A puzzled look came over the Lord’s face, then He said, “Sir Brian look at your shield.” Sir Brian turned and took a sharp breath. For there, in the center of his shield, was a bright golden star. The Lord again asked Sir Brian if there had been a great battle at the castle. Sir Brian turned back and responded, “No, my Lord. I do not understand this.” Then the Lord stood and said, “Sir Brian, the silver shields never lie. Your battle today has been to obey the commands of your Lord while guarding the castle gates. A complete victory has been given to you. Well done, my good and faithful servant.”