Once every 50 years, the Kingdom of Foresight holds a Grand Melee, where skilled fighters can gain a coveted knighting, allowing them freedoms their non-noble status doesn't allow. Alliandre is desperate to succeed. With a title, all his years serving the kingdom mean something. Plus, he can finally marry his forbidden love, Marion the Virtuous. While traveling to Foresight he is ambushed. He escapes, knowing his companions who follow behind will have no trouble with the highwaymen. He comes across a young aelf maiden named Ariandel, who had earlier fallen victim to the same thieves. He offers a healing balm but angers her with his brusque manner.
Later, the rest of his companions come across Ariandel. During their trip, she explains she is working to compete in the Comortas le Haghaidh Banriona, where a new Great Queen of all the aelf would be selected. If selected, she will be the first queen to marry a full aelf King, fulfilling a millenia old prophesy.
The companions arrive and agree to meet later at the Aerie, owned by the deposed queen of the Southern Kingdom, Arielle the Beautiful, Having raised Alliandre before her kingdom was overrun by the Golden Aelf, he is one of her greatest supporters outside her loyal tavern staff.
Success at the Grand Melee will afford him respect enough to lead her ever-growing loyalists on a march to her homeland. Marion is also her daughter. With the queen's blessing, he will finally have all he has desired.
One evening, Sir Rodney the Magnificent, assaults Marion. Alliandre wants retribution. Despite his fury, he agrees to the King's decree that the issue will be resolved in the Grand Melee. Alliandre intensifies his training, intending to make quick work of his rival and avenge his lady's honor. His plans, however, are foiled when Marion intercedes on Rodney's behalf.
Having been persuaded by Rodney's mother, Marion extracts a promise from Alliandre not to harm Rodney. Now he must choose. Pursue his desire for revenge or risk his dream by complying with Marion's wishes. Either choice, will leave him either out of his queen's favor, or possibly deprived of his knighthood, and his bright future suddenly is far darker.
Then the day of the Grand Melee arrives. With several dozen warriors remaining, Alliandre decides it is time to confront Sir Rodney. Having watched Sir Rodney fight, Alliandre determines his weaknesses and proceeds to humiliate the knight. Knowing he is losing, in a last act of spite, Sir Rodney insults Marion once again, calling into doubt her virtue. It is too much for Alliandre. He forgets his promise to Marion.
Trapping Sir Rodney's sword and arm, Alliandre forces him to bend over until the chainmail coif rolls into his helm, revealing a bared neck. Alliandre winds up and begins the downward swing. Catching sight of Rodney's mother turning her head, Alliandre is reminded of his surrogate mother, Queen Arielle doing the same when she lost her son. At the last moment, he changes the blow to bury itself into Rodney's helmet, knocking it off, leaving the knight unconscious, but still alive. He has won the second-to last round and maintained his favor with the queen and Marion.
Alliandre is still tense and jittery from the adrenaline but goes after the only remaining knight who could defeat him. Confident he will be better, Alliandre strides out to fight him. But the trumpets that signal the end of the round are sounded early. The city is under attack. The Grand Melee is over, with no victor.
Frustrated at once again being denied knighthood, Alliandre screams in frustration at the loss of his change at nobility. A friend reminds him there is still a chance to be knighted if he is noble in his defense of the kingdom. Putting his mind to the task, Alliandre vows to succeed another way.
