Interlude 1: Mother

Ever since Gawain left, Gareth had been fascinated. Not of the stories of damsels and castles and knights in shining armor - not even of Camelot's splendor, as great the stories were of the castle-keep - but of justice and equality that the King spoke of.

Even Agravain, despite his initial misgivings after hearing about Arthur from mother in private, journeyed to Arthur's court, leaving Orkney behind.

And even Gaheris left to become a squire and knight (Gaheris, with whom she did everything from needlework to sword training to lectures about magecraft). That day Gareth took in a deep breath and sighed. They had left to serve King Arthur, and she had stayed behind with Mordred.

Mordred, who was the only one left, her mysterious brother whom she accepted as part of their family, despite him hiding his face most of the time nowadays, entertaining her with tales of the capital and of Arthur and his knights, showing her the way of the sword he was learning.

But nothing could last forever, and so even Mordred was gone, after one last trip with mother, drawn in by Arthur.

She was left with mother. Morgan loved her and doted over her - of course she loved her mother as well, she was the one who helped Gareth with her strange magical ability and who let her borrow the tomes and books from her study - but for once, Gareth was dissatisfied. Deeply. She longed for her siblings and for the sword.

All of which was to be found in the chalk white castle.

Then, Gareth talked to their mother.

"You are a girl, dear," Morgan had said, taking a hold of her hair (the same shade as her mother's). "You are not a knight. Stay here-! Women becoming Ki-knights is impossible."

And so the last of the Orkney siblings stayed in Orkney, despite being sure that Morgan did not talk about her that day, for her whole being darkened, and her teeth grinded together in anger. She stayed, and she trained.

And Morgan would watch her, partially shadowed in the windowsill, frowning.