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This is part two of my paladin story. Part one can be found in entry [06/03/08] located to the right. Might not have to if the link works.

Thanks to everyone who's commented on my story so far. I edited it a little bit so that it's easier to read. I'll be doing the same with this one since tabs and regular formatting doesn't seem to work on Gaia.

Again, I apologize if there are any spelling or grammar errors. I wrote this five years ago, and have not edited it to be more professional looking

@ Gorenza who said the NPCs were my creation. Not all of them were. The LT was actually the DMs. Don't worry. I research before I write. I wasn't about to try take over his campaign. I just wanted my character to do more than hack and slash. The love interest was all mine though. Which was more than just a little apparent considering what the DM did later on, and caused the changes in my character.

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A couple of weeks passed, and rumors started to spread about the suicidal confrontation of Bart and the great demon lieutenant. This was nothing new, however, as the Lockheart family were the basis for most rumors. Whether any of them were true or not were between the Lockheart family themselves, and no one else. During that time Bart's life looked to have finally come back into perspective. He was following orders, he was more motivated, he took initiative in things that he had never even looked at before, and he was a lot more friendlier to people on the street. He even seemed to have gained a bit self worth. He was not as full of himself as he had been once before, and he did not take for granted what his namesake could do for him. Just as a paladin was supposed to be.

There was a reason behind Bart's great change, not just because of what the lieutenant said but of a young woman by the name of Ellis Chardinon. She was something else. Raven black hair, relatively perfect figure, not at all full of herself like most of the other women he had met, and not a scent of sorcery on her. While barely seventeen she was quite the warrior with just a rapier, trained by her father Sir Francis Chardinon, a great fighter during his time. They had hit it off the moment they first laid eyes on each other. He spent as much time with her as he could, even if it meant he had to miss classes. While she was quite happy being with him, she did not approve of his leaving his training and schooling just to be with her. When she confronted him on it, he made a solemn vow. Once he was done with his schooling, and had become the man that she wanted him to be, he would be back for her. She agreed, and they kissed to seal the deal. The man she wanted was someone who was dedicated to family beliefs and always finished what he started. That was when he felt his heart enter his throat. He had never told her of what his family traditions were. Being a fighter, it would be harder for him to get her into the family should they ever make it that far. He explained this to her afterwards. Her face fell, but after a couple of moments, she looked back into this eyes and smiled.

"I promise to wait for you. You finish your schooling and training while I finish mine. When we are done, we will meet back here. Hopefully by then, I'll be more of the woman you'd like me to be."

He just smiled back at her and gave her a long, passionate kiss. "You're already the woman I want you to be."

She smiled back and they continued the kiss.


Bart was happy. For the first time in his life, everything was going right. That was until he got home after his graduation. As he walked into the mansion full of life and vigor, his father Christopher and mother Lana stood at the top of the stairs. His father looked liked his best friend had just stabbed him in the back and then spat in his face. This put Bart on edge. Christopher slowly walked down the stairs with his wife Lana walking even slower behind him.

"Good afternoon father," Bart said with a quiver in his voice.

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Unsure how to answer he decided to just go with it. "Well as you know I've graduated at the head of the class and I believe that this should entitle me to a victory dinner. That way we can discuss whether or not I should take up the job I was offered the other day about being a town guard."

"Who was that girl we saw with you after your graduation?"

"You mean you showed up?"

"Of course. You think I wouldn't show up to my only son's graduation after he had worked so hard to get where he is now? I redid my whole schedule so that I could come to see you."

"Well, she's a friend of mine. Her name is Ellis Chardinon. Her father is Sir Francis Chardinon," Bart said with pride.

Still not overly content with the answer his father continued. "She doesn't look like any mage that I've ever seen. In fact, if I remember correctly the Chardinon's are family of warriors and barbarians. Not like our family."

Not at all impressed by how his father was putting down his love's family Bart was quick to reply in her defense. Maybe a little too quick for his own good.

"That's not true. Her family is of a noble lineage just like ours and while yes some are fighters, none of them are barbarians. There are some clerics, paladins, wizards, bards, and even a few sorceresses." Saying that last class had just ignited the fire that had kept the family tradition going for so long.

"Oh really. And why is it that one them aren't hanging off your arms? Are you using that warrior girl to get at them?"

"You know I can't do that. It's against everything we stand for."

Bart's uncle, Stephan, and grandfather, Adamus Lockheart, who were talking amongst themselves, walked in on the conversation between Bart and his father, Christopher. They immediately stood quiet as they witnessed the father/son debate.

"Then why are you with that girl instead of the others?" his father demanded.

Beyond rage, Bart spoke before thinking. "Because she's a wonderful woman who captured my heart and because unlike our family hers isn't any where close to being as screwed up or stupid as ours is!" Starting to cool down, Bart knew that he had just sealed his own fate.

Christopher narrowed his eyes at his son while Lana's hands went up in front of her mouth to hide the shock on her face.

"Get our of my sight," his father said in an calm but low and angry voice.

"Father, I..." Bart started, but couldn't finish his sentence. The sheer magnitude of his father's aura kept him from making a sound.

"That is ENOUGH!" Adamus shouted as he slammed his staff into the floor. Both men stopped, and looked in his direction. "Do as your father says grandson, and leave. We will discuss this later."

Bart looked from his grandfather, to his uncle, to his shocked mother, and he hung his head. "Yeah. I just bet we will," he mumbled.

Without looking up, Bart left and walked to his room. Laying down on his bed, he went over what had just happened in his head. He had never talked back to father, and never dreamed that he ever would. Especially not like that. He wished his room was a deep, black abyss so that he could just stay hidden from the world. Despite the front he was trying to put up, he admitted to himself how very much afraid he was of what his father might do next.