The Knight of the Spring

Part III; Johnathan Avorstead

This time, I was happy not to have seen Marcus again. I chose to believe that he never picked up John's sword again, and indeed made both their wishes come true. However, I knew that a visitor would come again.
Thus, I waited. Too many years to keep track of passed with nary a human entering my spring. As I waited for him, I thought of all the things I would say. I thought of what I would do. Would I fall in love with him, as I did with John? Would it be wrong of me to do that?
As I was so trapped in my own thoughts, I did not even realize that someone was ascending those stone stairs, until they had already reached the top. I looked to view the visitor, who had long black hair, bright shining armor, and a dull, silver sword. It came as no surprise.
Walking toward him, I greeted the man, "Hello, strange knight. Might I ask what you may be doing at my spring? I do not get many visitors." I already knew the answer.
With a courageous tone, the man replied, "I am here to bathe this blade in your blessed spring, water spirit." There was not an ounce of hesitation, or bewilderment. This man knew what he was doing here, and was not afraid of me in the slightest. I knew I had to provide him with a response just as confident.
"Very well. You may use my spring to cleanse your weapon, and I will relieve you of weariness." At this point, I had rehearsed these lines so much, they had sounded much too artificial. The knight nodded his head, and bravely marched forward to bathe his weapon, as all three men were destined to do.
The knight's lack of words concerned me. Certainly, this one was less conversational than the other two. And so, I asked, "What is your name, knight?"
Stopping just before the water's edge, the man met my gaze, and spoke his name. "My name is Johnathan. I hail from the Avorstead family."
To say his reply was as proud as his grandfather's would not do it justice. I had also noticed that his sword was freshly bloodied, and curiosity got the better of me. I asked him, "Whose blood rests upon your blade, if I may ask?"
Avorstead did not hesitate. "My father was killed by an intruder in our home. I took my father's sword and killed the man, for Marc's sake." Returning to his task, Johnathan looked down to gently lay his blade within the water. The dust, blood, and grime were lifted from its surface, once again restoring the Silver Prince to its righteous glamor. Somehow, it seemed even more brilliant in this moment, nearly blinding with the reflection of the sun. Its silver sheen turned gold, before muting in Johnathan's sheath.
Turning to me once more, the knight thanked me. No more words were spoken before he began to descend. I could do nothing but stand in place, frozen by confusion. Johnathan's determination oozed from his body, truly a reincarnation of his grandfather, and even more. To be honest, it frightened me. How much did Johnathan already know? It felt as though he already knew everything that had come before him. Perhaps it was his steadfast demeanor, putting me entirely off-guard. I suppose I would just have to wait until his next visit, if he would come back.

Days later, Johnathan returned, with a bloodied sword. His armor was clean, free from tear. It was different from his father's, and his grandfather's. Johnathan wore much lighter armor, folding clothes within the chinks of his steel garments. Was this man untouchable?
I was there to greet him once again. "Hello, brave knight. Back so soon?"
"Yes, I'm afraid. I was forced to slay two men who were attacking women outside of the capital, near the forest. No longer will they harm innocent people. It is sad they had to die, but I felt compelled to protect the people I plan to serve."
I see. So this Johnathan indeed carries his grandfather's kindness. It was simply masked underneath his steadfast demeanor. That brought me at least a little reassurance. At first I was inclined to believe this man was a walking machine.
"Then, please, cleanse your sword in this spring, and I will relieve you of the burden of death."
Johnathan glared at me, with an expression I have not seen from either Avorstead. "You may cleanse this sword, but I am not in need. I will carry this burden with me, lest it be forgotten. Every life I take will stay with me forever, as my responsibility."
Taken aback, I could say no more words. I stared as Johnathan cleaned his blade, saying no more. Would he truly carry the weight of his sins forever? I wanted to help him, to change his mind, but I felt as though nothing I said would have mattered. This was a man who would face the world alone, doing what he felt needed to be done, without a second thought or a helping hand. As admirable as it may have seemed, I feared that while I may have helped to create the strongest man in the world, I had also helped to create the saddest.
Johnathan visited me much more frequently than his grandfather. It was clear to me that he was doing even more than John, but at what cost? What was this doing to his humanity? After countless visits, I started to notice decorations on his armor, just like John. If he was doing something to be commended, then it couldn't be that bad, could it? I knew not the answer, but I knew better than to ask.
From the day he came to my spring, to years later, Johnathan never changed. A man of much fewer words, he never stayed to chat with me until dusk.
I will never forget the day he did converse with me. Confiding in me as he washed the Silver Prince, Johnathan said, "People are starting to call me John, now. The older men say I look exactly like him. Not that I really care about it. I simply wish they would tell me I looked like my father. I want them to tell me my father would be proud, not my grandfather. I never knew John. Marcus, my father... he was the true hero in my eyes. It mattered not to me that he didn't do what I'm doing. I wish my father was the one to get all the credit. Without him, I would not be here right now. He pushed me to be strong, to be willful, and yet, all I hear is about John.
"I lost my temper the other night, as I was hearing a table of gentlemen sneering at Marc's name. They respected me, but thought it was appropriate to tell me, 'if only Marcus were as strong as you, he would still be alive.' Flying into a blind rage, I beat them. Their blood coated my fists, and I... After I had stopped myself, I ran out of the tavern." For the first time since I had met him, Johnathan began to weep. All of the emotion he kept inside began to flow out. The bravest man in the world now sat in front of me, crying more than John or Marcus ever did.
All I could do was sit beside him. Johnathan rested his head on my shoulder, tears flowing into me. I felt as though I needed to return the favor, to let him know something.
As he continued to weep, I began to speak, "Johnathan, I knew your grandfather, and your father. They both came to me to cleanse that same sword you carry. John was indeed a strong man, unafraid, and much like you, he was stalwart. Marcus was much different. I did not believe him to be brave, or powerful. But I will say he was strong. Marcus denied his father's legacy, in other to father a son. Marcus had the biggest heart I ever knew. Full of valor he was not, but of love, and kindness, and pacifism he was. None of these are weak qualities. Your father was just as strong as you are, just as strong as your grandfather was, but in different ways."
By the end of my monolog, Johnathan looked up at me, and had stopped crying. With the most sincere inflection, he told me, "Thank you... for your words. I was aware that they had both come to this spring. My father was the one to tell me. If it is alright with you, I would like to bathe in this spring."
I smiled, hardly believing his words. "Of course, Johnathan. Please, allow me to soothe your spirit."
Avorstead spent the rest of the day in my spring, to dusk, to night, to the next dawn. Few words were spoken between us, but I knew that my company was all he needed. That morning, Johnathan bid me farewell, and I planted a kiss on his cheek. Chuckling at the gesture, he descended the stairs, and I waited for his inevitable return.
And return, he did. I watched Johnathan age, just as his grandfather did. I wanted to do as I did with his father and grandfather, and offer Johnathan a wish of whatever his desire, but I was afraid that the cycle would continue. I was afraid Johnathan would ask for a son who knew not of what he knew, and everything would repeat itself once again. However, deep in my spirit, I knew that if anyone deserved a wish, it was Johnathan.
This time, unlike with John and Marcus, I counted the years. When Johnathan reached forty years of age, I offered him a proposition.
While cleansing the Silver Prince, I spoke to Johnathan, "Dear Johnathan, you have faithfully visited me for many years now. I recognize your dedication to me, as I have cleansed your blade countless times. Thus, I would like to reward you, with a wish. Any wish you desire, you may speak it to me, and I will grant it within my power."
Johnathan, unfazed as usual, did not hesitate to reply to me. "You will grant me a wish? Then, I will tell you.
"I only wish to stop this cycle. I do not want a lineage. I do not want a child. What I have done is a burden no one deserves to carry. There are many who say that my father Marcus was a coward, but in my eyes, he was the strongest Avorstead to ever live. Marcus chose the path of serenity, a path that I sometimes wish I was strong enough to take. I want to be the last to bear the sins of this family. No... I simply wish to find someone to love, unbound by the need to create a child. I believe that is all I need."
Once again, I was taken aback. It seems as though Johnathan himself is the one to stop the cycle. All he wants is another human to love. Oh, how the Avorsteads never change. Their love truly knows no bounds. I could not deny this request. Out of each wish, I knew that this was one I could not afford to fail.
"Very well, Johnathan. I will grant your wish. You will find someone to love, more than you've ever loved in your entire life, that I promise you. I will make it so."
And with that, we waved goodbye, waiting to see each other again.