Chapter 2 New Beginnings Our knight walks into the clearing of a long-forgotten enchanted forest.The trees are lush and the underbrush is light. The gnomes who live there are happy to see their long missed friend. But they notice some thing is different about him. No longer does he walk with his head held high. No longer does he wear his sword proudly on his back. No longer does his shield gleam of pride and justice. His love light is gone. The gnomes quickly circle the knight, who is weary from his travels back to his place of solitude and reflection, quickly building him a chair out of branches and vines to relax in. He slumps in the chair and lets out a low and long sigh. His tiny friends bring him food and drink, but the knight is too tired, too withdrawn, too drained to even think of food. All he thinks about is his mistress and the betrayal of the demon.... His thoughts also go to a woodland sprite, a Princess in her own right. Another love he let slip away. He knows in his heart this Princess loves him deeply but the journey to her homeland is so great, and if she were to leave her homeland to be with him, she might not survive the trip. The danger is too great! She would have to leave her family and all her worldly possessions behind. And our knight just can't ask the princess to do that. All seems so lost... After a while the knight regains some strength and composure He eats a lght meal of berry juice and fruit. He stands and howls, the most mournful howl ever heard, at the moon. Deep, guttural and lonely is the sound, like an animal about to die. For a piece of him is dying the most painful of all deaths; Death from a broken heart..... "Why.......!"   He screams at his Goddess, "WHY must I go through this pain yet again...... WHY couldn't I, for once, just be allowed to be happy?" Dropping his beautiful sword and shield to the ground, he strips off his armor and lets it fall. He is defenseless to any attack now, all his fight is gone. The gnomes quickly try to collect the Knights armor and weapons in an attempt to clean them. To try to bring his appearance back to the standard they know he always upheld. But, our Knight brushes them away, "Be gone with you, leave me alone!"   he shouts. And, in a rag tag fashion, picks up his belongings. He waves his hand and points to a place in the clearing. Lightning flashes from his finger tips and a large heavy wooden table of intricate design and quality appears, as if from nowhere. The gnomes quickly build 15 more fine chairs, all heavy yet very comfortable with leather padded seats and backs and place them around the table. Quite a task for people only 4 inches tall. The knight steps onto the table, his weaponry in hand; he walks to the center. There is a large pentagram, deeply embossed in the center of the table, handsomely done with the care of a Master craftsman. He sits. Tears flow from his eyes, as he thinks of what was just yesterday and the day before, like rain off the fresh green leaves of a beautiful tree. His heart broken: his silent tears tell the story all too well. He claps his hands as he says a silent incantation, and all of you appear. Confused, you look at one another and at the knight. "Why are we here?" you ask. The knight replies ,through trembling lips and tear-stained eyes, "I have not the courage to fall upon my blade and end my suffering... So I brought you all here to give me advice on how to end my pain". With trembling hands he gestures towards his chest, his heart is broken. "Some of you are Christian, some are Pagan, some are Wiccan and some have no Religion at all, Guide me...... Give me a direction to travel, for I have lost my way, my drive, my life force.... Tell me what I should do or surely I'll go mad!!" ......                                                    For him all is lost "Should I ask the fairy Princess to give up her family and life to come to me.... Or Wait and hope that My mistress regains the mind she lost and try to regain her love?"              Or ?????? You all fall silent in thought. But, our knight needs to know.