I now enter the hall of the great castle
the trumpets sound to announce my arrival
the doors open wide to welcome me
they are all here
Lords and Ladies come from all around the land
Knights and Squires from every corner of the world
I begin to walk the path down the center
the path that ends with her
the Princess Kellelynn
she of flaxen hair of gold and eyes of meadow green
as I continue to walk the path
I remember when this path started, long ago

children of seven, we played and laughed together
our imaginations conjuring up the most wonderful tales
I would always be her hero, her Knight, her champion
and she would be the Lady, my heart, my own
we wiled away many a day and week at this
then one day, she told me she could not play again
the time for her training as Princess had come
and to my knees I fell, taking her hand in mine
as I made to her this promise
'Kellelynn, to thee this day I make this promise
this pledge of my heart of hearts
one day, I will be before thee again
to receive from thee the Accolade as a Knight
then will I pledge my love for thee
and thou wilt be mine for all time'

that was the last time I saw her before today
I heard that she grew to be the most beautiful in the land
there was ne'er such a Princess more loved by her people
ne'er such a Princess who loved her people more
many had come and tried to win her tender hand
but there was none who could sway her heart
none that could fill her tender eyes
and give her the love she dreamed of for so long

true to my word, I became a Knight
serving my land and my King with honor and bravery
but every day, every night, I kept her close to my heart
ne'er forgetting a pledge made so very long ago
a pledge that carried me through battle and joust
a pledge that gave me purpose and purified mine heart

and now, I have reached the end of the path I began
the end of my battles and the end of my journey
kneeling before her, I hear her say, 'Kneel brave Knight'
and to my knees I sink before her, head bowed
hearing the words
'In the name of God, King and country, I Knight thee,
rise now and be Knight, Sir Gilven. . . '

I rose not, and took her hand in mine
looking into those eyes again as I did then
to her I pledged my heart, my soul, and my life
she wept and pledged her own heart to me in return
the Accolade I received then was not was wonderful
as the one I receive from her every morning when she wakes
and says
'I Love You. . .'

Image: The Accolade by E. Blair Leighton, 1900

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