Early morning light began to rise over the rugged mountains of Draven Hold and cast lengthy, pale shadows on the training ground below. Sir Kaelen Draven kneeled down on one knee while at the same time placing his sword against his shin so that the sun reflected off the steel of the sword; this reflection was bright and sharp. As Sir Kaelen began to sharpen the sword, he created a sound from the steel grinding against the whetstone that echoed off the stone walls of the fort. This sound caused Sir Kaelen to find himself in a trance, creating an energy filled sound throughout the fort. Today would be no other time than now, Sir Kaelen would meet with more than one foe; Today he will walk into the heart of battle.
A small, familiar voice interrupted his focus. "What are you doing?"
Kaelen looked up at his little brother's disheveled hair and large, inquisitive eyes peeking out from the yard. Eryndor Draven always seemed to show up at the most inopportune time for Kaelen. Some may have viewed his even presence frustratingly annoying; however, Kaelen secretly found comfort in the presence of his younger sibling.
"I'm sharpening my sword," Kaelen replied, running the whetstone along the edge once more, sparks flying like tiny stars in the morning light.
Kaelen's eyes darkened slightly. "I'm getting ready for the war today," he said simply. The words were heavy, carrying a weight Eryndor that he can only sense.
Lady Elara Draven stepped into the small hallway and laid a hand on her chest. Her wide-open eyes were glistening with worry. "Please Kaelen ... don't die," she said in a tremulous yet powerful voice. Kaelen could feel the motherly fear pouring from her voice as if it hit him with more force than an enemy's blade. Kaelen got up, put away his sharpened sword, and put his hand on her shoulder and said, "I will come back". But even he wasn't sure he could keep that promise.
Kaelen quickly looked back one last time on the training site before stepping into the crisp morning air. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs full of the fresh pine and frost-filled air as he mounted his horse. The cold weight of the metal attached to his body was heavy and uncomfortable as he prepared for his journey ahead of him. Behind him, Eryndor had his hands clenched and was cheering for his brother whom he idolized and was terrified of losing.
As Kaelen obtained a degree of climactic exposure to the world around him (the exposure being aided by the bright morning sun and the elimination of the normal morning mist that usually obscures one's view), he was now about to enter the Palace of Eryndor with all of its grandeur and majesty. Once he had dismounted from his horse, the sound of horses' hooves echoing in the courtyard helped him prepare himself to enter this location of great power and authority, where there will be plenty of politics played out and great dangers may await him. Additionally, the Palace will be a place that will help determine whether Kaelen has the courage to continue on his path as a knight. Finally, he may be finding out how his destiny is closely tied to that of the yet-to-be-met queen.