In the movie “The Two Towers” which is a part of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy there is a scene where Gandalf leads the fellowship (those who chose to take the ring to Mordor) into the Misty mountains. The decision is made to go under the mountains through a tunnel that was constructed by the Dwarves. The place they enter is called “Moria”. It is dark, musty, scary and fraught with danger. As the fellowship begins the journey Gandalf sums up the mood of those around him and states, “and so begins the long dark of Moria”.
Along about 900 A.D., Europe entered what became known as the dark ages. It was a time of serfs and lords, of papal authority and ignorant parishoners. It was a time of inquisition in the name of God. Disease and pestilence killed millions. Most of the population sank and slumbered into a miserable existence. Personal hygiene was non existent. The God given ability of ingenuity was a distant dream of another lifetime. Kings palaces were rife with corruption and a total inability to rule with fairness and justice. For hundreds of years life in Europe became a living hell. It was a time of violence and death. A time of bloodshed and heartbreak. Europe had entered the long dark of Moria.
Gandalf and the fellowship reach a point in their journey where a great and evil demon of another age, a Balrog, is awakened. The fellowship runs from the Balrog who in turn gives chase. The fellowship reaches a bridge called Khazak Doom. Gandalf sees the fellowship safely across and begins to cross himself. At the halfway point, he stops and faces the Balrog. The Balrog is many times the size of Gandalf. It exudes fire and heat and wields a great flaming sword and a whip made of fire. Gandalf armed with his wizard’s staff and sword tells the Balrog, “You shall not pass….go back to the shadow”. The Balrog raises it’s flaming sword and brings it down on the Wizard. Gandalf stands his ground and blocks the strike and then raises his sword and staff together and strikes the bridge which makes the rock shake and shudder. Again Gandalf states, “You shall not pass”. The Balrog steps on the bridge, the bridge crumbles underneath it’s weight and rock and demon fall into the abyss below. Gandalf turns to walk across the remaining bridge when suddenly the firer y whip of the Balrog wraps around his leg and pulls him into the abyss. His last words to the fellowship, “run you fools….”. The fellowship makes it through but without their leader. He has given his life to protect the fellowship.
In the Dark Ages there was a ray of hope. There was a company of men who still possessed honor, integrity, and fortitude. These men were known as the Knights of the Middle Ages. They lived by a code of conduct. This became known as the Knights code of Chivalry, it is:
The Ten Commandments of the Medieval Code of Chivalry:
- Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
- Thou shalt defend the Church.
- Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.
- Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.
- Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
- Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
- Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
- Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.
- Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
Since the Knights were human they were not perfect. But at a time in human history when society was off the chain, the Knights provided a sense of decency and loyalty to a cause bigger than themselves. And beyond that, they treated women with respect and courtesy.
Like Gandalf the Knights stood in the gap to protect the fellowship.