word:gallant

gallant

\ GAL-uhnt \  , adjective;

1. Brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.

2. Exceptionally polite and attentive to women; courtly.

3. Stately; grand: a gallant pageant.

noun:

1. A brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

2. A man exceptionally attentive to women.

3. A stylish and dashing man.

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    The dungeon walls were dimly lit by torches scattered around.  The floors were littered with piles of bones left over from other warriors who hadn’t been up to the challenge posed by the horrid creatures that lurked throughout its sordid passages.  The two most recent warriors to challenge its depths shone like bright stars in comparison.  One of them because of the well polished armor he wore, the other due to actually glowing from the holy magics surrounding her.

“Ah, another den of evil to be purged.” Said the knight.  “Let us go forth in the name of all that is good and pure!”  He was already contemplating the upcoming battles, relishing in the thought of killing the creatures within, perhaps more so than a knight of his standing should.

“Indeed”  Said his companion.  Her voice was heavy and slow, hardly a match for the exquisitely beautiful woman it came from.  But he didn’t mind it.  After all, such things hardly mattered when it came to their task of ridding the world of evil.  “But please, exercise caution whilst venturing forth, for calling upon the gods for their blessings of life leaves me drained, and takes much time to recover my strength of will.  If you recall, such a blunder was very nearly our undoing on our previous quest.”   

    “My apologies fair lady, my zeal for justice against these creatures got the better of me on that occasion.  I have since then improved myself so that I will not rush forwards like a blind fool.”  

This seemed to satisfy the healer, so the two of them set off in search of their first quarry.  They had been given the task of slaying the giant demon spider in the very depths of the dungeon.  The soldier that had given them the task had suggested they bring a full party to help them, but the duo had found all others they asked to be motivated by greed and the desire for power, rather than ridding the world of evil as the two of them were.  

It hardly took them long to find the first group of the demons minions.  Spiders, of course.

These were nearly as large as a man though, and there were many of them.  The knight readied his sword and shield and gallantly stood before the beasts.  He knew the only thing that stood between them and death was the good white steel in his arms and armor.  Looking at his companion, he gave the word to attack, and she signaled her readiness in response.  

He let out a mighty yell, gaining the attention of the spiders as he rushed into battle, swinging his sword.  The spiders swarmed him, sinking their vicious fangs into his flesh, piercing even his mighty armor.  Undeterred by such things, he sung his sword at the spiders, executing daring sweeps and lunges, opening wounds that bled continuously, or rendered them unable to move.  Even with his onslaught, the spiders continued to attack remorselessly.  Fortunately, all the wounds in the world would not kill him.  The one he protected ensured that.  As he fought, she chanted holy prayers that cured his wounds almost as soon as they occurred.  She was even able to bring new strength to his blows, inflicting even greater wounds on their enemies.

Suddenly, his life began to drain from him.  One of the spiders had landed a blow with poison on its fangs.

“Hark,” He called out, “I am poisoned!”  Although he could keep fighting even now, he if he died, she would not last long, even with the spiders injured as they were.  He waited for the spell of cleansing that he knew would come.  But nothing happened.  In fact, she had stopped casting spells entirely.  Without her divine aid, the battle was much less sure.  Fortunately, the poison was weak, and had already worn off, and the spiders were injured enough that he could finish them off without her.

That is, until another group of spiders rounded the corner.  Apparently, the demon was no fool.  It had gotten some of its minions to patrol the dungeon, and so ambush unprepared warriors.  The new group immediately assailed him, adding new injuries to those he had already accumulated.  He fought bravely with all his might, but it wasn’t enough.  He fell victim to the bites of the many spiders.  The group then turned their attention to the healer, who had still yet to move.  Or anything else.  The spiders made quick work of the helpless healer, and the two groups pulled away from the now dead adventures.

Suddenly, her voice rang out from beyond the veil of death.

“My apologies I had too...uh...comune with the spirits from another plane of existence and was unable to move because of them.”  She said, seemingly unaware of the state of her body.  

    “Could these spirits not have waited till after our battle?” He said from the nether.  
    “Unfortunately, some of the spirits are very insistent, removing me from consciousness without any notice.”
    “Very well, but maybe you could use your connections with the gods to bring us back to life?”
    “Indeed, I will do so post haste.”  With that, her body vanished from the dungeon.  Transported by her spirit to a safe haven.  Now he merely had to wait until she returned to resurrect him.
    Suddenly, he heard a ringing sound from just outside his perception.  He groaned, got up from the computer and went to answer the phone. 

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Such a fun word today.  I was honestly torn between this and making it about an actual knight.  Think i made the right choice here?