My interpretation is much different. I do agree that this is from the time period of the Crusades, and this is the son of the knight from Accolade. I think that the majority of this song takes place at the place of his father's burial, before a major battle, and then the battle takes place at the end of the song, from the solo onward. He returns to his father's burial place to pray before a major battle in a war against the tyrant talked about later. He is talking to his father's grave, describing what has transpired since his death. I believe he returned from the Crusades and returned to a turning point in history, the end of serfs and feudalism and the rise of kings. This is verified, in my opinion, by the line "The winds of change taint the sweet smell of home." The group returning decides to fight this new tyrant because they do not like this change. At the end, the son wants to stay with his father, his one true source of strength. He then goes off to battle, shown by the solo. The solo sounds during the calm to be almost like marching. Then a battle takes place during the later part of the solo. The song ends with the outcome of the battle unsure.
My interpretation is much different. I do agree that this is from the time period of the Crusades, and this is the son of the knight from Accolade. I think that the majority of this song takes place at the place of his father's burial, before a major battle, and then the battle takes place at the end of the song, from the solo onward. He returns to his father's burial place to pray before a major battle in a war against the tyrant talked about later. He is talking to his father's grave, describing what has transpired since his death. I believe he returned from the Crusades and returned to a turning point in history, the end of serfs and feudalism and the rise of kings. This is verified, in my opinion, by the line "The winds of change taint the sweet smell of home." The group returning decides to fight this new tyrant because they do not like this change. At the end, the son wants to stay with his father, his one true source of strength. He then goes off to battle, shown by the solo. The solo sounds during the calm to be almost like marching. Then a battle takes place during the later part of the solo. The song ends with the outcome of the battle unsure.