IanG

It takes great skill to say so much with so few words. I'd have given the daughter a name but that's a minor quibble in a fine story.

As a walker and nature lover I can relate to your narrator. This is a detailed, evocative piece. It can hold its own with many works in traditional media.

You're entitled to say we still don't have an ideal world without being stigmatised for it.

A well written and only too plausible story. We all need support from time to time but we don't always get it.

You evoke the knight's mental state very well, I felt sorry for him. If you develop this further, you could describe soldiers in industrial age armies reaction to the knight. They would be shocked and bewildered by his appearence.

Elaine's feelings are plausible and you convey them very well. I might have described the dining hall in more detail but the character's dilemmas are more important.

This is difficult subject matter but you handle it with courage and honesty. If you want to write another chapter, yes do it.

You say a lot with a few words. Its moving and convincing. I like the phrase 'when the leaves loose grip.'