Common Lies

Chapter 5: Gratification

            Out of the mess we survive
            Morals are given to contrive
            To satisfaction we all strive
          Here is the rousing chapter five

          
    In former times, after the Viking's age had ended in England during the 11th century, a future dauntless came into being, whose name was Edwin Conrad. Edwin grew up in Wessex, his father was a blacksmith, while his mother was a housewife. He was always very flabbergasted by the knights, when they return from the battles, Edwin would be in the first lines to honor their valor. That is why he determined to become one of them.

      Being from a humble background, it was difficult for Edwin to become a knight, as it was known, only the nobles had the honor, by the blessings of the sovereign, and by showing guts on the battleground. Edwin's social class was a stumbling block,however, it was never an obstacle in his eyes. He kept training studiously to join one of the Wessex's legion. After years of elbow grease, he could join one of them under a non-famous knight's lead. This legion was commande to oust a group of Vikings who started causing disturbance by threatening to foray the land again.
  
  Two days  of constant walking has passed, the group of Viking was on the legion's sight. They were about 200 warriors, hence, the leader of the legion suggested to fallback as the Vikings outnumbered them. As the legion consisted of 100 soldiers, against very vicious warriors, their chances were quite low. However, Edwin came with a brilliant plan, as the Vikings were gathered, he said why not surrounding them in shape of a circle, and attack using the element of surprise. The leader was taken aback by his cleverness, and he directly approved to work on Edwin's plan. They could win that battle with no causalities, Edwin showed a massive talent of planning and fighting, since he took down numerous victims. When they got back to Wessex, he received his bounty abs the citizens' applauds.
       Edwin had constructed a noteworthy reputation for himself, his parents were very proud of their plucky clever son, and the inhabitants were well-pleased with him too, and the nobles were also delighted, but regarding to his background, they did not want to acknowledge the truth, and they refused to rise his ranks up. In the light of that, the 20 years old lad was upset, because reality was quite ruthless and harsh.
   
      After four months, a new foe was on sight. The noble knights revolted,  formed an army and gathered there gears as they wanted to take over Wessex. When he heard about that, Edwin felt under weather, he could not believe that the honorable knights he looked up to were a bunch of swindles who were seeking for power and clout. The remaining mutinous knights and loyal soldiers like Edwin fled from Wessex with their gears, leaving their beloved ones behind, because if they stayed in Wessex, they could have lost their heads.

     The legion that fled with Edwin hid in a forest, where they sat and assembled to figure out a solution. After hours of colloquy and debating, they had decided that Edwin shall become the head of their group. Edwin could not grasp what he had just heard, he answered with disapproval, stating that he was young and inexperienced. However, they all seemed to approve regardless to Edwin's decision, since he showed brawler, studiousness, and wits in the last battle. Sitting next to fire, Edwin's mind was filled with questions, wether this was right call, or a dangerous path that him and the others were crossing?
 
    The following day, Edwin and the fugitives headed to a small village not so far from Wessex, where they have met other soldiers. Edwin as their representative, took lead to speak and explain the situation. The soldiers grasped what he said, hence, they formed an alliance with Edwin's legion, providing them shelter and food before coming with a plan to restore Wessex.
     
      Three days have passed, Edwin sat with the alliance to discuss the proper plan to retrieve their land from the autocrats and oppressors. Edwin stated that they should attack in an abrupt moment. The plan was to go back to Wessex in the dark, starting a fire near the forest to distract enemy, slink smoothly inside the city, kill its gatekeepers, slide the gates, attack the soldiers that went out from the forest, and surround those who remained inside. The plan sounded perfect to Edwin's companions , and they have agreed to work on it.
     
      The proposed day has arrived, Edwin and a small group slunk into Wessex while the panic had started due to the flames that came from the forest, apparently the Wessex nobles swallowed the bait that Edwin had prepared for them. The plan worked as expected, they killed those who fought back and captured the ones who surrendered. Edwin could restore his city, and the citizens went out to the streets in order to cherish the young man's victory.
        
         The first thing that Edwin had done, was going to set free the prisoners captured by the nobles, among them was the ruler of Wessex who jumped into Edwin's arms promising him with lands and titles. Edwin smirked and told the young sovereign to be more careful and sharp in the future. Then he went back to his house where he met his family and hugged his parents who looked at him with pride and appreciation.
  
     Edwin finally achieved his dream, he became a knight and a commander of Wessex legion, by the blessings of the ruler, and the gratitude of every citizen in Wessex. However, this acknowledgement was about to reach its end. The ruler saw Edwin as a threat since he was much appreciated by everyone, and that resulted in the ruler's jealousy.

      The ruler sat a trap for Edwin. He first called Edwin for a party, where the drinks and women were allowed for Edwin. As he was very drunk, he lied with an important figure, this last was another knight's daughter. The incident was exposed and shown to the public, and they did not take it in a pleasant way. Everyone was upset, disgusted and abhorrant with Edwin even though this was not a big deal. The other knight had risen charges to Edwin for adultery, and the sovereign sad that as the opportunity to blight the young man.
  
      Edwin was then banished from the same land he freed,. whiles leaving the gates of Wessex, he realized that no matter how good one can be he would never gratify people, and the smallest error would show their real faces. A mild tear decreed on Edwin's soft cheeks as it was so painful to learn that gratification does not exist.