The Knight Errant's Dilemma

"In case you haven't realized it yet, you aren't the hero," a deep enigmatic voice spoke in the mind of a knight-errant. "Advocacy of justice and order does not have to suit your chivalry."

The knight stopped his wayward horse. He was both baffled and relieved. If he wasn't the hero he thought he was, then who was he?

"But you must be a knight," a light rhythmic voice spoke. "First and foremost you are a knight, since birth, trained and until now."

That's right, he's a knight after all. Even if he wasn't the hero, he should act accordingly. It was engraved in his soul, etched in every bit of himself. He is a knight and a knight he should be.

"You're just a pawn," the first voice said. "A measly sacrificial pawn. Nameless and expendable. Orders from the higher ups are your law. You cannot break them. You must obey."

"Like a puppet?" the second voice asked. "With invisible strings attached?"

"No, just pawns. Though they maybe the same, their value isn't," the first voice argued. "A puppet can hold emotion and thus be valued more as for pawns, they have no face, they have no value. They can be replaced as many time as possible. Even if one pawn is missing, the game may still continue or rather another pawn may replace it."

"Right? But don't you just see them as puppets? They have ranks, names and faces after all."

"Trivial matters."

The knight clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He does not like what he was hearing.

"Yet somehow, this pawn here wants none of that," the first voice said.

"Clear as a day," the second voice said. "His emotion are overflowing. See, he is shaking.

The knight was shaking in anger. He was ready to burst and just go  berserk.

"I wonder what would change his fate somehow," the first voice said.

"What about a revolution? A coup? Probably poison one of the ministers? Or mayhaps a straight stab in the heart to the crowned prince?" the second voice asked.

"Are you inciting our little puppet here?" the first voice alluringly asked. "But I don't think our little puppet cannot act any of that. He's nothing more than just a puppet. He can't do any of that.

"What shame," the second voice said. "And here I thought our little knight is ready to cut the strings and lead. Pity."

"I'll do it!" the knight-errant said. "I will kill the king!"

Later that evening the knight, veiled in the shadow of the night, went on to do his deed. The two voices guided. Everything went smoothly from his unnoticed entrance to the castle and unannounced visit to the sleeping king. He was one with the shadow as he sneaked silently, unbecoming of an honorable knight but of a petty thief.

He wanted to be a hero. And so he must cut off these strings chained on him. He must be free. He was no mere pawn. He knew himself better. He was destined for something great. Not just some nameless no body and easily expendable. He was picturing himself basking in the glory of tomorrow. His greatness was at hand.

He entered the king's chamber and there saw the sleeping king. He readied his knife. Just a single slit, like cutting through a love letter, and it will all be over. He will be free.

"Is this right?" suddenly one of the voice said. "To what end is this deed you are doing?"

The knight suddenly stopped. His blade a hair's length away from the throat of the sleeping king.

"Surely there is another way," the other voice said. "This is not the only way, right?"

The knight was shocked. He just only realized now his misdeed he was about to commit. What was he doing?

The knight stepped back away from the sleeping king. But the king heard a rustle and immediately roused.

"Who goes there?" the king shouted. Then he saw the knight with a knife in hand. "Guards! To me!"

-/_ -

"And soon after the incident, the knight errant was executed for attempted murder on the king," a light yet sinister voice spoke.

"You planned it that way, curious one?" an enigmatic deep voice asked.

"Was it not a great story?" the first voice asked.

"So you had his hopes up and when he finally have his resolve, you made him question it," the second voice said. "It's quite a task. You had me lie all the way too."

"I wasn't lying though."

"You aren't?"

"I do not like lying," the first voice said. "That's how I felt for him though. Nothing more but a well made puppet. He has his own value but still he was only just a puppet. Nothing more."

"Are you not sad for him, curious one?"

"I'd be more melancholic if the puppet noticed his strings in the first place."

"I don't like your idea, curious one."

"Was it too evil for you, evil one?"

"Mayhaps so."

"Would you mind if we continue doing it this way?"

The deep enigmatic voice sighed.

"Fine."