Homecoming

        Giantklr sat in his room resting after completing his daily page
        duties, when he heard a knock at the door... "Ye may enter, it is open"
        said the page in a weary tone.

        "Sorry to disturb ya, but an urgent message has arrived for ya,"
        spoke the messenger softly.

        Taking the parchment from the messeger, Giant unrolled it as the
        messenger closed the door behing him. A look of shock became
        apparent on his face as he read:

                Giantklr, ye are needed ta return as soon as possible

           Father Elias has taken gravely ill and has asked for ye to come

            I must ask ye ta travel swiftly, for time is not our ally in this
                                   struggle

                                     Ralin
 

        "No, this can't be happening" Giantklr spoke aloud to himself.

        This not being the time to rest, Giant quickly set out to ready
        himself for the long journey to his childhood home. Stopping only a
        moment to leave a note to the Knights explaining his absence and
        saying he would return as soon as possible, he was soon headed out of
        Camelot with urgency in his steps. Mounting his ever faithful steed,
        Gianlklr was soon an the road,
        and his mind began to wander....

        He was only a small boy when his village was attacked by a hill giant,
        and after seeing his home crushed with his family inside, he couldn't
        take it any more, so he stopped running and turned to accept his
        fate. As the giant approached, he picked up a nearby rock, and
        heaved it with all his might. The rock struck true, hitting the giant in
        the eye. Startled by the momentary blindness, the giant stumbled
        off into the woods, forgetting
        about the small village.

        The village was safe for now, but the young boy had no family or a
        home to return too. He stayed in the village for a few days, eating
        what he could find or what small game he could kill, before a priest
        of Tyr journeyed into the village. Hearing of the boys tale from some
        of the villagers, the priest sought out the boy and had a long talk
        with him. Soon the boy, whom the preist jokingly called Giantklr, had
        agreed to return with the
        priest. The boy had found a new home, and a new family. This was the
        first time I met Father Elias.

        Soon, the boy began to grow, and started to follow the path of Tyr,
        and started to train as a paladin. Then came the day, when his
        training was complete, an he set out to do Tyr's work. This was the
        last time I saw Father Elias.

        Snapping out of his daze, Giantklr realized he had been traveling for
        days nonstop. But, he pressed on. As he topped the next hill, the
        small church where he had grown came into view. Urging his steed
        into a full gallop, he was soon enterin the church courtyard. Jumping
        off his horse, Giant headed for the door where he was greeted by
        the cleric Dalin.

        "Giant, ye couldn't have arrived at a better time" said Dalin with a
        tone of relief in his voice.

        "Forgive me for not going throught the formalities in greetig you my
        friend, but I must see him" spoke the weary Giantklr.

        "I understand, this way please" said Dalin as he turned and escorted
        Giant though the Church to the private room of Father Elias. Opening
        the door, Danin spoke again, "I will leave ye two alone for a while."

        "Thanks, my friend" said Giant as he entered. In the room Giant saw
        a frail old man lying in bed, not the Father Elias he had remembered,
        and his heart sunk. "Father"

        "Thomas, is that you?" spoke Elias barely above a whisper.

        "Aye, it is" said Giant as he kneeled beside the bed.

        "Ahhh, that's good, I needed ta see ye again before.."

        Giant quicly cutting him off speaks, "Please don't say that, ye are
        gonna be fine."

        "My dear Thomas, I tought ye that Tyr has a reason for everything,
        and this is his way of telling me he has need of me in another place"
        said the priest.

        "I understand" spoke Giant as a tear trailed down his cheek.

        "I have watched ye grow into a fine young man, and I must tell ye I
        am very proud of ye." said Elias. "But only one thing about ye
        concerns me..." continued Elias.

        "Oh, and what might that be?" said Giant as he wiped his tear stained
        cheek.

        "In your letters, ye always sign them Gianklr.." said the priest "I
        want ye to know I only called ye that in jest, no reason for ya to
        continue to use it."

        "Father, ye have been so much to me..my trainer, my teacher, and my
        family...I am the person I am because of you" spoke Giantklr. "So, I
        am and always will be Giantklr, for what ye have done" continued
        Giant.

        "You honor an old man, and I can see that you have learned much, this
        pleases me greatly" said the old man his voice getting softer with
        each word. "Goodbye my dear boy, and may Tyr guide ye on your
        journeys" with these words, the old man became silent..

        Giant knew the end had come. Lying his head on the old man's chest,
        Giant began to cry as he had never before. Speaking aloud giant said
        "Ye are the last of my family, I am now alone."

        Feeling a comforting hand on his shoulder, Giant raised his head and
        saw Dalin standing behind him. Dalin spoke. "You are not alone Giant,
        and you never will be. You will always have a home and a family here,
        and do not forget about KORT, they too are your family and will
        never allow ye to be alone."

        "Thank ye my friend, ye are right how could i have been so foolish"
        said Giant between sobs.

        "At time like these, we all tend to not think straight, ye will be fine"
        spoke Dalin. "Come Giant, ye have had a rough time as of late, both
        physically and emotionally, ye need to rest" said dalin as he lead
        Giant to another room.

        After a much needed,although restless, nights sleep, Giant awoke to
        ready for the coming events. Staying a few more days to make sure
        all was settled, Giant mounted his steed and began his way back to
        Camelot. His heart was still heavy with the loss, and he knew the only
        thing that could make him feel better was the comfort of his new
        home and family.

        Giantklr

        Page of KORT

        Paladin of Tyr