So here I sit on the final day of classes (technically the third last day, but thursday and friday I have only classes that I've already passed). One more test to write, then I'm done. Two hours of test time. I've gotten most of the final marks for my classes back and they were relatively good. Now if I can just get a summer job I'll be set.

Philosophical thought.

Once upon a time there was a young knight named Keegan. He was one of the youngest knights to ever serve under the great King Arthur. Graced with a strong sense of nobility and honour, Keegan had also fallen in love with one of the maidens who served Guinevere. Kavistra returned his love just the same. They have been together for many years and their love flourished. Much so to the point where Keegan vowed he would meet death's cold eyes before she did.

But that was not enough as fate would have it. For there were two druidic deities, K'alkatar and R'ornidae who were watching them with interest. One thought Keegan's love had no bounds. The other challenged that thought, saying there is one thing Keegan would let Kavistra die for. Curious, the K'alkatar told R'ornidae to prove it.

So R'ornidae created a war between Camelot and one of its neighbours, forcing Keegan to go and fight at the front. This war lasted years and the two were apart for a long time. But they still communicated by letters through a messenger, professing their love for one another. Kavistra remained faithful to Keegan.
After the war ended Keegan returned to Kavistra. Then R'ornidae struck Kavistra down with a painful, but not fatal, illness. One that caused her pains throughout her body, made her delirious at times, and lessened her appetite. She began to lose weight fast and after only a few weeks she was too weak to walk, let alone move. Kaylista cried out to Keegan to end her life and her suffering. But Keegan did not. He told Kaylista that he loved her and would not leave her side. He would be there to comfort her. Upon hearing this she said she loved him to and would bear the pain so she could see him again and again. After a month, K'alkatar healed her.

Then one night, during a celebration to honour a successful conquest complete by the King and his knights, Arthur had had too much wine to drink and stumbled off to his chambers. Keegan followed him to make sure he reached them safely, staying well behind to make sure he wasn't seen. At the bottom of the steps to Arthur's chamber, Keegan turned to leave, when he thought he heard a loud painful yell from up top. Rushing up the stairs he turned the corner and stopped. At the door to his chambers, lying motionless on the floor, was the Queen's royal page. There was a wound in his chest. Kegan looked up and saw Arthur standing there, frozen in terror, holding the dagger.
Hearing the castle guards approach Keegan had to think quickly. Both he and Arthur knew that this could destroy Camelot. Keegan moved towards Arthur, took the dagger, pushed him into his chambers and closed the door. When the guards arrived, Keegan was standing over the body with the dagger in his hand. He was taken to the dungeon. The next morning, Keegan stood before the King for his crime. He confessed to the murder of the Page in front of the entire court, including Kavistra. The king did not contradict. As punishment, Keegan was stripped of his knighthood and medals of honour and ordered out of Camelot. He would never again serve as a knight under Arthur. Neither Arthur nor Keegan ever spoke a word about what really happened that night, not even to Kavistra, who was a childhood friend to the Queen's page. Still, Kavistra loved him and left the castle to be with him.
They lived in a small cabin just beyond Camelot's borders. Keegan made a living as a swords instructor in a nearby village while Kavistra worked in a small garden. As winter fell, Keegan trained Kavistra on the bow and so to hunt game and wildlife, but instructed her to only hunt in specified areas, and not in Camelot's forest.
But one day, Keegan arrived at his cabin to find Camelot's soldiers waiting outside and Kavistra in chains. The captain of the soldiers rode up to him on a horse and told him that Kavistra had killed one of the King's deer; such a crime received death. One look at her told Keegan of her guilt. Remembering his vow, he asked to take her place but was denied. Too many people had seen her shoot the deer. The captain dismounted and asked to speak with Keegan inside.
Once inside, the captain revealed himself as R'ornidae. R'ornidae told Keegan that he would make him an offer:

"I can give Kavistra her life back and more. I can make her happy for the rest of her life without any more ailnesses or pain or suffering. I can restore her back to serving under Guinevere," said R'ornidae. "If you wish."

"Yes milord. It would please me greatly if you would do that," responded the noble man, who was once a knight.

"That is not all. What are you willing to do to make her life like that?"

"Anything," was Keegan's reply. "If my life is the price then take it. If my honour, or health, or even wealth be the price then take it."

"What about Kavistra?"

Keegan was puzzled. "What? What do you mean?"

R'ornidae smiled, an evil glint in his eyes. K'alkatar, invisible in the room, looked on with sad eyes. R'ornidae continued. "I will give Kavistra the life I've mentioned. She will die old and content. But she will never recognize you again, will never know you or share her heart with you. Never again will she have the memories of your life together. Never will she know how happy she was to you. And never shall you mention it for if you do her life will be forfeit."

Upon hearing this, Keegan stood from his chair. He yelled and cursed at R'ornidae. R'onidae remained standing, motionless. Then, after Keegan had yelled and curse himself hoarse and had collapsed back into the chair in tears, R'ornidae asked him. "What is your decision? Will you give Kavistra the life I mentioned"

It came in a whisper, "Yes".

"Will you forfeit all your life together up until this point?"

"Yes"

"Will you give up her recognition of you in the future, not mentioning the past ever to her?"

"Yes"

R'ornidae smiled once again. "Then it is done." Keegan closed his eyes as tears streamed from his eyes. The room was engulfed in white light and Keegan lost consciousness.

When he came to he was on the side of a road. He stood up. He remembered everything that happened up until he lost consciousness. His clothes were still the same but he did not know how he got where he was. On the road he saw a royal procession going by. As it approached Keegan fought back tears as he waited to see who was inside. The coach stopped just in front of him.

"Approach the chariot, traveler." A woman's voice said from within. As he approached, Keegan saw a face in the window. That face belonged to Kavistra. She was as beautiful as he remembered her, now adorned in a royal blue dress. Once he reached the window he knelt and bowed. "Such manners for a man of the borderlands."

"Hello milady." As Keegan's eyes moved up to meet hers he saw no recognition in her eyes.

"Tell me traveller, what is your name?"

"Keegan, milady." Keegan bowed his head again. It was all he could to hold in his tears.

"Keegan. That's a beautiful name sir. I bid you good tidings on your journey traveler" She pressed a silver coin into his hand with a smile and closed the curtains. Keegan backed away as she ordered the carriage to continue.

"Perhaps I was wrong about the bounds of his love," said R'ornidae to K'alkatar.
"Yes," was the response. "She will outlive him."
"Yes. Such a pity."