( continues...) very sneaky indeed. For he was known for being able to carefully manipulate the fatherless Princess and he made sure that any who seemed a threat to him should die at her order or by the order of his old friend the Sheriff. He drew near the angry Blacksmith and his cohorts and made secret plans. The number one General secretly felt that he was wiser than the King and the other Generals in all ways and was determined that no one would control the Kingdom but he. And he would not dare allow a lowly Knight to determine the course of the battles. For that was more than he would allow in HIS Kingdom. The General had to play his hand carefully, but this was what he reveled in most. He would get his way in time, he thought. After all, he was much wiser than the youthful King. And the cohorts grinned. And the Princess and the General did whisper together out of sight of the King.

Yet the King seemingly stood by the Knight and would not hear of it. Especially when the valuable Handmaiden proclaimed to the Sheriff that she would leave the Kingdom should anything happen to her Knight. All seemed stable in the Kingdom, despite the whispered plots.

So the cohorts of the court schemed and lied and met with the Sheriff of the Kingdom. The Sheriff, being the one who gave the General his position, always followed his plans without question, so the General knew that he could easily manipulate him through careful use of the others in the court. And by carefully steering the will of the vengeful Princess. But how could they kill the Knight as long as the King was with him? Then they realized something. As in previous Kingdoms before, the Princess had now become even more important to the Kingdom than the King who founded it. If the Princess realized that by killing the Knight she could be rid of the despised Handmaiden, then she would truly show her power to all and rule the Kingdom.

The cohorts began their work and with constant bickering and careful manipulation continually sought to cause the Knight grief. Many foul tricks ensued and the Knight was perplexed and slowly began to feel the enormous burden of his position as never before. Yet he held firm. Then, when nearly unable to stand it another moment, the message came that his Mother was dead.

Instead of leaving his duties the Knight held fast. The people of his old village were aghast. How could he stay there in that Kingdom of snakes and help them to prosper when his own Mother lay dead? The Knight still refused to leave his post. He wept over his Mother outside the battlefield and continued his fight for the King. He would not leave until the battles were won. Only then would he leave to visit his Mother's last resting-place. He felt no need to explain to her why he had done what he had. It was his Mother that had taught him about strength and loyalty.

Upon his return to the Kingdom he felt overcome with grief and anguish. The cohorts in the court kept up their plot. And he began to feel that all his efforts were unappreciated but for the people of the Land of Bronze. So he spoke out to them, as they seemed to be his only friends. His honesty only caused the Princess and others to grow angrier.

And one night while showing the battle plan to one of the Generals, the Princess made the kind of condescending remark that she had become known for around the Kingdom among the servants. This time she aimed her venom at the over-worked and beleaguered Knight. And for the first time someone in the Kingdom dared to answer back to her. And the Knight said, "If you've got a better idea then why not show me?" And with that the Princess stormed off. Armed with the claim that the Knight had abused her and dared to speak in such a tone to the Princess, she had the ammunition she needed to carry out the plan. The cohorts were gleeful.

Therefore it was by order of the Princess that the Knight should no longer plan the battles. She boasted that he would not live to see the sunrise in the Kingdom. The Sheriff was sent down to calm her and he agreed with her (continued...)

( continues...) that the Knight would die, but secretly and in due time.

The King himself was soon due to take the battlefield. He didn't want to risk losing his Knight or his Handmaiden at this crucial time. He tried to continue the battles, but when the Princess saw that the Knight was still there she refused to come out to join the King. He needed the Princess to fulfill his plans and she made it clear that only the head of the Knight was going to satisfy her. This weighed heavily on the King for there was still much to be done.

The cohorts and the evil number one General rejoiced. Often he and the others had mocked the King and the Knight by calling them "The Artists" behind their backs. He felt that soon the Kingdom would be fully controlled by his deceptive hand. For he knew very well the hold that the Princess had on the King and he knew he was the one who could manipulate both the Princess and the Sheriff. He had carefully maneuvered to make it so for a long, long time. He would eliminate any he felt threatened his rise to power. All the while playing the innocent advisor to the Sheriff.

While the cohorts smirked among themselves, many of the servants spoke secretly to the Knight to warn him of the evil around him. Listening to their many sorry tales, the Knight even began to doubt the King himself and wondered if the King realized at all that he was being laughed at and used by the Princess and the General in secret. The other servants worried too and were filled with dread. Most of them had to greet the Princess and the General with false smiles, though in their hearts they hated the kind of evil dealt to their fellows. They could only watch the fate of the Knight and worry that they could be next.

Promises were made secretly. The Kingdom must continue to generate its great riches. So the Sheriff was determined to speak any lie needed to secure the services of the Knight for the King until the end of the last great battle of the year. Therefore the Princess then determined to fool the Knight. Just as she had her own dear friend before cutting off her head years before. And just as the friend had trusted in her and the words spoken by the Sheriff that "all was well" so too did the Knight and his Handmaiden.

After the LAST GREAT BATTLE the King was again pleased. The Knight had once again created victory with the King's army under impossible circumstances and all seemed well. The Princess now thanked the Knight for having stood by her in the battles and making her appear so heroic to her people. And that was something she had never done before. Even the General himself exclaimed that the Knight had performed in a magnificent way in the LAST GREAT BATTLE. Thus at last with the praise of the Princess, the General, and the Sheriff still with him, the Knight finally could feel that all was well. Even many of the cohorts sought to shake the hand of the Knight. How could he doubt that things were not good once again?

And now after three years of battles, the name of the Princess and the King had become known around the world. All the Royals knew them and wanted their company. After all, were they not the famous ones who always won the battles? Things seemed right again in the Kingdom. And so after considering the offer of a Foreign King, the Knight felt that his place was truly secure in the Kingdom and decided to stay to fight for his one true King - no matter what.

So the Knight and the Handmaiden retired to their new home. Tired and bloodied from the battles on and off the field. Then the message came. The Sheriff has sent word that the Knight is no longer needed and will not be welcomed into the Kingdom again. The evil plan had worked after all and the comfort the Knight had taken in finally trusting the Princess and the Sheriff proved as vacuous as the servants had claimed they were. The Knight had simply been used to attain a final battle.

Yet he still had the support of the King, didn't he? The King's Right Hand Man informed the Knight that the King would send him a message soon (continued...)

( continues...) and they could talk of the matter. The Knight waited. And then he remembered that the King was famous for his brilliance with the pen, but also just as famous for his fleeing from any form of confrontation or discomfort.

Upon remembering this, the loyal Knight decided to go to the Land of the Bronze. And there he saw his King. He heard his King remark to the people, "It's over. It's all over. Well. Some of it is." And the Knight knew in his heart that this was no longer his King. Regardless of what was deemed wise to speak in front of the people by the King and his Scribes, the workings within the Kingdom would for the most part be secretly controlled by the spoiled Princess and her false father figure. The King simply didn't want to believe this. He will tell himself that he still runs the Kingdom alone and proclaim that everything is up to him and no one else. He might even claim that the Princess is an innocent in front of the people. But he would know within his heart that this is not true. Yet the Princess is truly convincing indeed. She will decide who travels through the gates.

He wished that the King would even start a new Kingdom away from this one with another much kinder Princess. But that was only wishful thinking. It would be five hundred years into the future before the Knight would be of use to the King again and be able step into the Fray of the battle. He had a long wait ahead. Perhaps even forever.

Now, needing the money for his first and only home, he asked his Handmaiden to hold her tongue and to return to the Kingdom and see to the Princess for him. Knowing full well that this would heap coals of fire on the head of the Princess upon seeing her again, while still aiding his King in spite of everything done to him. A tough road was ahead for the Handmaiden and it would take all her inner strength not to turn and smite the Princess herself. But she loved the Knight and the only home they've ever known. And so she agreed.

And the young Knight went to the mirror and took off his helmet for the first time ever. And the man looking back at him was not that young anymore.

So, uh, for those of us who weren't part of the Bronze board, who maps to whom in this parable?

King = Joss, I assume?
Princess = SMG?

And everyone else....?

The Handmaiden = Sophia Crawford, SMG's stunt double, whom Jeff Pruitt was/is married to.

I can't remember anymore. I think Gareth Davies was the Sheriff or the #1 General.

Oh man, that is cracked out. He posted that to the Bronze, I presume?

I think he posted a bunch of wacked out shit about somebody on the crew trying to have him killed, then that. Or something.

My view on SMG has always been that if I was the lead on a show where I was in every episode and, at points, nearly every scene for 7 years, shooting at 3am, signing autographs on a day by day basis... I'd be allowed to be a little bit cranky occasionally. Hell, I wail like a baby if my washing machine breaks. I've no real idea if she was a massive diva or not, or if she was just feeling the strain. I know there's an interview with Joss Whedon somewhere during the late Buffy days where he sounds like he's having a nervous breakdown. I imagine it was quite the grinding experience for all involved.

She's always been publicly supportive and proud of Buffy The Vampire Slayer from what I've seen. If she wants to move on and make money elsewhere, you know, fair play I say.

yeah, he posted it to the Bronze after Joss wouldn't return his calls/emails. he just wanted to be heard. *cough*

Didn't he just post a link to it? I remember him acting all surprised when everyone(not just Joss) followed the link he'd posted to a public board.