Whistle While You Work (complete)

The sun shone brightly over the grassy fields outside of the castle. Something it hadn't done in a long while. And the brilliant ray's were giving all of the townspeople a good feeling. Motivation to carry on with their work and hope for the future.
From over the hills at the horizon, travelling down the roads that leaded to the castle doors. Was a lone knight in full platemail armor. One of wich the likes were unusual on this world. For the figure it encompassed was not animalistic, but human.

Eventhough he was a stranger in this world, the tall knight was still greeted friendly by any inhabitant he crosses. Despite his grim facial expression that seemed to be as solid on his face as a carving into stone.
Treadding on, the knight reached the royal gardens of the castle. And looked around at the bush statues that were getting a cut to make them look proper again. Some people where busy replanting some of the flowers as the magical broomsticks and royal guardians were also running around cleaning the castle.
Perhaps it was his calm proceedings. Or that somehow they all could feel he had a good natured, idealistic heart. But the knight wasn't stopped or halted as he ventured up the staircases to the upper walkway. That leaded to a massive door from wich he expected to be the audience chamber.

The light in the throne room was disturbed by a shadow. A tall figure was standing before the small door inside the large throne room doors. The shadow fell over Queen Minnie as she could see a large silhouet.
The knight needed to squat and carefully squeeze himself through the small door to enter the throne room. It was then that he could be seen properly.

A tall and broad human male, fully clad in silvery plate mail armor. With black leather underneath. A cape was inbedded in the shoulderpieces. A nicely decorated scabberd with a equally refined long sword dangled at his side. And by a belt the contours of a kite shield could be seen on his back. His helmet he was carrying under his left arm. A helmet that looked like a wolf's head. While a pale face with long black hair that already had streaks of grey into it. And woodbrown eyes scouted the throne room and crossed those of the Queen.

Confidently the knight took a couple of steps closer to her and then stopped. A cold serious expression was on his face. As he then politely bowed and said:" Pardon me good maid, i hope i'm not intruding. My name shall be Sir Lucas, and i'm seeking the master or lord of this here castle for an audience.
Could you perhaps be so kind to assist me fair lady?"

Sir Lucas was startled by her answer as he gasped lightly and staggered back a bit as he surprisingly exclaimed:" .. he.. you?.." Looking baffled at her still holding her broom for sweeping.

Then the knight regained his composture and nearly inmeddiatly fell down on one knee. Kneeling and bowing his head deeply so that his long locks fell over the sides of his face. The armor chimed with the movements as the silvery metal clanged and rattled softly.
When finaly in the formal kneeling position Sir Lucas then spoke with a slightly more hastly and uneasy tone:
"Forgive me, your Royal Highness. I was unaware of whom I was adressing. There is no excuse for my insulance."

Sir Lucas then tilted his head back up a bit, but remained kneeled down. His cold face had thawed a little as there was a hint of emotion visible now. Desperation mixed with a cinder of hope.
Taking a breath, the knight continued in a calmer and more familiar tone. As the following introduction he as done so many times before as protocoll prescribed.
"My name is Sir Lucas Lunaris the Seventh. Son of the Baron of Nordenfrosd... of the world of Seria." That latter came out doubtingly. Since he wasn't used to adding his home world to the introduction.

After hesitating for a moment, Sir Lucas spoke on:
"I have travelled here from far, led by tales of a mighty King that defeats heartless and saves worlds. If permitted, I seek the King his council. For my own world is threathened to be lost forever."
Sir Lucas kept his humble stance in front of Queen Minnie. His hand that wasn't holding his helmet placed on his knee.

Sir Lucas looked baffled at the spontanious animation of the broom as it took off and continued the work by itself. So baffled he needed a few seconds before reacting to Queen Minnie's request to follow her.

But then he rose to his feet and turned to Queen Minnie as he answered with a bow:
" It shall not bother me, not even in the least, your Royal Highness."
Then Sir Lucas walked up to the entrance door to also leave the audience chamber. Needing to bend again a little to squirm through the small door he finaly appeared on the upper walkway.

Following the Queen, Lucas made sure to stay a step behind her. Royal protocoll was such a habit that the knight didn't know any other way to behave.
With a slighty lower voice Lucas spoke:
"Well your Highness, the world i'm from... We call it Seria. But I must admit that outside of my own Baronny I know little of our world. We also had no knowledge of the existance of other worlds. That of course untill recently the dark scourge started to plague our lands. My father's castle is the last safe haven for our people but the heartless are massing and drawing nearer each passing day.
The High Priestess foretold that if not stopped, they would eventually tear the world itself apart."
There were strong emotions now in his matter of speaking. Aswel as his eyes started to become a bit glassy and no longer focussed on his surroundings.

Then with a sigh the knight returned to reality and glanced questionally at Queen Minnie. While still following her to the study. And then asked in turn:
"Your Highness, If i may be so bold, you mentioned that the King was looking for a 'key'? It strikes me as odd as the High Priestess of my world also told me that I should find the 'key' to save us. Truelly this can not be a coïncidence anymore. What kind of 'key' is capable of vanquishing the heartless and safeguard our homes?"

Sir Lucas had taken a seat offered by Queen Minnie. Placing his helmet carefully on the table. He looked rather confused at the curvy lines of the bookshelves. Infact the innatural bending lines of the entire castle were mindboggling for him. But his concentration was quickly focused on the Queen as she started to explain.

During her explanation, Sir Lucas didn't say a word. Not a single interruption or even movement happened form his end. He just listened, while staring intensly with his strong but slightly grim eyes. Taking in every word that she said.

After she had finished, a moment of silence occurred. As Sir Lucas was deeply lost in thoughts at that time. His facial expression was immensly serious.
After the anxious moment he took a breath and then spoke slowly:
"Your Highness,... I hear your words. Yet I have trouble to comprehend then fully. But what I do understand is that in order to save my world, I need to find this 'keyblade' you speak of. Either wield it myself or find a wielder to accompangy me back to my world. So that this door can be locked. "

Sir Lucas letted out a sigh of displeasment. As he gripped his fist that was still inside the gauntlet. Causing the leather to tense. Despite his polite behaviour he was obviously angry about something. The tension became nearly unbearable as he rose up from the red couch and started pacing through the study.
With elevated voice he said upset:
"So my only chance is to travel through countless of worlds in the hope to find a keyblade before my world can't be saved anymore."

Sir Lucas walked up untill one of the windows and stopped in front of it. Hands resting on the windowdesk. Looking out at the view. The knight took a couple of deep breaths that seemed to calm himself down and then said slightly hoarse:
"Forgive me for my outburst Your Highness. It is just that... when I first embark on my yourney, I felt that I was pursuïng a goal of noble and pure interrest. But now that I know that every star at the night's sky is a world that faces the same danger. My quest to only save my own homeworld suddenly seem so... selfish."

Sir Lucas kept staring out of the window while Queen Minnie comforted him. He letted his head hang while supporting his upper body with his arms on the windowdesk.
Closing his eyes as he rested for a moment. And letting out a deep sigh. Tension fell off his shoulders as he became more relaxed.

The knight turned slowly towards her and looked down on her face. Softly he said:
" Your Royal Highness, thou are indeed most kind and very wise.
My people are strong, but they will not last indefinatly. Still I can not place the needs of other worlds before my own. It would be a betrayal of my code of chivalry, and my upbringings as a knight. I can not seek to save my own world without striving to save all worlds."

As Sir Lucas spoke those words, it elevated aswel as pained him. For he realised the true consequences. That this struggle would be something that he would dedicate his whole life to. The ideals of knighthood ment to carry a heavy burden, and those of others. He would never forsake them, but Sir Lucas knew that it would mean that he would have to face great dangers and difficulties. Untill his very end.

Sir Lucas then kneeled down again. Slowly this time, to bring his face to equal height of that of Queen Minnie.
Finaly he spoke again with a more stronger and determent voice:
"Your Royal Highness, I humblely ask if I can reside here in your castle for a while. Travelling to worlds is difficult for me and without any leads futile. Also I can not leave this world and castle in the state it is in now.
If you are in need of a knight then I offer my sword. And also my assistance for as I can tell; There is still a lot of cleaning and rebuilding to do. Surely if a Queen is humble enough to participate in such activities then I can't place myself above that and would need to work twice as hard."

"I shall assist you to the best of my possibilities your Highness."
Sir Lucas replied as he followed the Queen al the way to the audience chamber. He listened carefully to the explanation of the cornerstone of light. Again this caught the mind of the human visitor as another unusual asset of this world. It was like he had stumbled in the fairytale book of his sister back when she was still a young child.
A world inhabited by animals instead of humans, and the King and Queen were mice. A world where architecture defies the laws of gravity. Where brooms are alive and work on their own. These thoughts dwelled through Sir Lucas his mind as they yournied to the audience chamber once more.

Along the way, the knight also thought about the problem the Queen was facing and what she was implying. Sharing his thoughts he asked:
"Your Highness, so if I understand the for what thou are asking. Thou wonder why invading heartless would force open this chamber. If they should know that the very ability for them to be on this world is because of the absence of this cornerstone? Like seeing that the guards are gone and still breaking into the treasure chamber?"

Arriving at the door again, Sir Lucas courtiously waited for Queen Minnie to enter the large hall first before entering.

"Allow me to take the lead, your Highness." Sir Lucas said stern and cold, interrupting her. His face hardend to a grim expression before it was concealed by his helmet.
Locking the hinges of his wolf's head at the side to the neckplate, the knight ventured forth to the forced opening. His left hand resting on the hilt of his scabbard. While steadying himself with the right hand as he resolutly began to descend down the ramp.

The mere indication of danger had sended him forth to fullfill his duties, now sworn to the Queen. If there were heartless or other threats then he wouldn't hesitate to fight them to all of his ability. For fighting is what was foretold for him. To serve and protect those of higher royalty were his upbringings. His credo that formed his lifestyle.

Carefully and on his guard the wolf knight ventured down to the hall of the Cornerstone. Scouting the area closely for any sign of danger with all of his senses. Bravery caused him to not pauze his steps. For he was taught that was a sign of weakness that could give potential enemies a benefit.