I came upon the Holy Tor at sunset after four days' ride from the Wall. To the left I saw the Christian church and it's monks. On the right, The hut of Morgaine, High Priestess of Avalon. I rode in that direction.
Dismounting I walked the rest of the way to the small village that housed the inhabitants of Avalon. "Lady of Avalon!" I shouted, "It is I, Nimue, Your priestess, come to seek out Thy wisdom. May I pass the gate into Your blessed realm?"
There was a second of silence followed by laughter and the figure of Morgaine as she emerged from out of her hut. "Nimue. Child, it is good to see you. How goes it with you?"
"It goes very well, my Lady. I seek to ask something of you though." She raised an eyebrow at me. It was as if she were trying to divine from me what my question might be.
"Go on." she urged me.
"My Lady, I have met the most wonderful, valliant knight in all of Brittain. He has asked for my hand in marriage. I wish for you to marry us near Hadrian's Wall. Will you honor me so?"
Her slender fingers played with the tie of her violet cloak. Her mouth twisted in a grin. "Marriage? This is news. I will do as you so ask me. Is that your only request?" She knew me all too well.
"No, Lady. I wish for my sister priestesses to come as well, as witnesses. Two of them. Vivianne and Sinead. Vivianne is my best friend and Sinead is the only blood kin I have left." After a few minutes of thought she nodded.
"We will leave at first light. Come Nimue. You need to eat and rest. To ride from the Great Wall is a daunting task for any man, I cannot imagine how it must have been for you."
I was led into the village where the priestesses met me with smiles and cheers. It seemed that a few of them had thought I was sent away and killed many years ago. After eating the most delicious meal I'd had in weeks I went in search for my friends.
Vivianne was sitting with her feet in the creek, as usual. I sat down by her and told her my story.
"Wow Nim, you've seen so much. I've never left Avalon. I can't wait to see the Wall. Is it as tall and foreboding as I have heard it to be?"
I nodded. "Taller. And her gates are drawn open with horses so huge you'd think they were from the gods themselves! Now that the Saxon threat is gone it's quite a peaceful place.
"Ooh. Sounds so incredible. What are the Sarmatian knights like? Are they as fierce as I've heard tales tell?"
"Yes. Just as fierce and twice as loyal. Not only to Arthur but to each other. Gawain is a knight, did you know that?" I asked Vivianne.
"No. You're marrying a Sarmatian knight!? Wow." she gasped breathlessly.
All I could do was laugh. The night wore on. There was much celebration and drinking. When I woke up the sun was already up and the three priestesses were waiting for me.
"You're late. And hung over." said the curt voice of Sinead, my blood sister.
Rubbing my eyes I squinted at her. "So. It isn't like you've never been hung over before Sinead. I learned to drink by watching you." She grinned, although one could barely see it.
We rode off towards the north with the young priestesses waving tearfully behind us, wishing us well. I didn't remember much of the ride. My thoughts were centered on getting back to Gawain. When we came upon the fort with it's banners waving in the eastern breeze I knew I was home.
Jols greeted us as we came in. "Lady Nimue, welcome back." he said as he helped me off my horse.
"Jols there are my friends and fellow priestesses; Vivianne, Sinead, and Her Ladyship, High Priestess Morgaine. Could you find suitable lodgings for them?" He nodded to them and to me and led the horses to the stables to rest.
As we left the stable enclosure I heard a voice ask "Where you been?" I whipped around to see Tristan standing in between two smaller buildings.
"Away. Now I'm back. Why?" My words were few and to the point. He smiled under his facial hair, his eyes narrowing in the process.
"I was only asking. Who're your friends?" He walked over to us. His eyes glancing at the three women I had brought with me. His eyes stopped on Sinead. "Hello." he said to her.
I rolled my eyes. "I see you're feeling better." Her glanced up at me and then back to my sister. Seeing his interest I said "That is my older sister Sinead. She's my real sister, not just a sister of the priestesshood."
Without a word Tristan tilted his head to one side and admired her. Her skin, like mine, seemed to shine with the light of Avalon. Her eyes though were a deep earthy brown as mine were more greyish green. Sinead was taller and more slender than I was as well. It seemed as though that was the way Tristan liked his women. Tall, silent and beautiful.
Sinead returned his stare. Her's cutting deep into his eyes. It was her gift. Sinead could see into a person's eyes and tell them what they were thinking. She smiled and turned her gaze to me. "This one's not very clean is he?" I laughed, catching her double meaning. Tristan looked confused.
"Not in the slightest." I said. "Either way." I added just to make it clear to my sister that I got what she meant. Sinead laughed and I motioned to the woods. That's where I grew up. That is where Merlin and the other Woads live.
"How horrible. You slept in the open air? In the dirt? asked Vivianne.
"It isn't as terrible as one would think." I said. "The Woads are quite hospitable."
"Speak for yourself." muttered Tristan from behind us. I turned my head to him and smiled.
"It was only unpleasant for you Tristan because you were ill and unable to wander around. Had you grown up in the wild like I had you would think differently." He gave me an 'I don't think so' smirk and walked away towards the pub. "Have fun drinking! Ingrate!" I hollered at him playfully. He waved me off and kept walking.
"Nim!" I heard a voice shout. I turned to see Guinevere running towards me. Her face split in a wide smile. She embraced me and wiped a tear from her eye. "It's so good to have you back. I'm happy you're home."
"So am I Guinevere. So am I." Standing back from her I gave a small laugh. "You look like a Roman! All respecable and ladylike." She laughed.
"Gawain saw you ride up. He's waiting for you at the pub." Her eyes glinted in the sunlight. "He has driven us all mad talking about "when Nimue returns". Bors is ready to strangle him." I laughed aloud.
"Has he been that bad? Poor thing." I turned to Lady Morgaine and smiled. "He missed me." I was still laughing when we came upon the sight of the pub. Galahad greeted me and hugged me.
"You are a welcome sight. Here, Lady Nimue. Drink." He handed me a mug of wine. Seeing my companions he yelled out to Vanora. "She has friends! Three more mugs!" Then, after recieving a rueful look from the red-head he added "Please." A tray was brought to us. Lady Morgaine, Vivianne and Sinead each took their drinks politely.
I walked over to a table where it looked like an intense game of dice was going on. Gawain and Bors were playing against each other. "Who's winning?" I asked leaning over Gawain's shoulder.
Barely looking up at me he murmered "Not sure." I thumped him on the back of the head. He turned and shot me a dirty look. Seeing it was me he jumped up. "Nim!" he wrapped his arms around me, encasing me in a bear hug. I was lifted off my feet and kissed over and over again. "I missed you so much." he whispered into my ear.
"I know. I missed you as well." I whispered back. Then, a bit louder I said "Gawain, these are my companions from Avalon. Lady Morgaine, Vivianne and my sister Sinead." He set me down and took each of the women's hands in turn and kissed them. Sinead, though recieved a hug as well. The look of surprise on her face made me laugh.
It was nearly midnight when the festivities died down enough that I could retreat to my small tent outside the fort's secure walls. I had decided to stay with my sister until the ceremony. Or rather, Lady Morgaine had insisted. I was still awake though, talking with Sinead about Avalon when I heard a whistle outside. Rolling my eyes I poked my head out to see what he wanted.
"Aren't you out late?" I asked snidely. There was the crunch of an apple and a mumble of something I couldn't make out. "Say again." I said with impatience.
"Is your sister awake?" came the deep voice. I raised my eyebrow.
"What do you want of my sister, pray tell?" I was taunting him again and he knew it.
"Is she in there?"
"Maybe."
"I'd like to speak with her... Please."
I had to laugh. All the time we had spent in the woods together had made Tristan and I more like siblings than anything else. An older, spiteful brother. I turned my head and asked Sinead a question in our native tongue. She laughed.
"That's not fair. I don't know what you're saying."
I turned back to him. "You aren't meant to." A second later Sinead emerged from the tent. She tossed her hair seductively as she stepped out into the chilly night air. Tristan raised an eyebrow. I snickered to myself.
Tristan and my sister walked off into the night, speaking in hushed tones as they went. I shook my head and sighed. Settling back down on my bed roll I lay awake for a while longer before falling into a dream.
A field... flowers? Is that Tristan? No! It can't be! I turned around him. He had flowers in his hair. Little yellow flowers. Sinead was laughing at him. He stood there ruefully. She was sticking flowers in his braids! His arms were crossed, he was pouting. This was great! I laughed aloud, though no one could hear me. What the?... Did my sister just kiss Tristan?! Ho-ly Gods!
I sat up in my bed. Sinead had yet to return. The sky was tinted pink with the morning sun. I rubbed my temples and tried to make sense of it all. I would have to tell someone of this.
Lady Morgaine and Arthur were standing near the pond talking quietly as I approached them. He nodded his head. Lady Morgaine spoke aloud as if she knew I was there. "Come closer and do not eavesdrop." I walked up and stood beside her. Her taller frame making me look like no more than a child. "What ails you Nimue?"
I grinned. "Nothing ails me My Lady... It's just... I had a dream last night and I was wondering if you could help me to sort it out."
Arthur turned to leave saying "I think I'll leave the art of dreams to you priestesses."
"No, Arthur. Stay. Please. I assure you, you'll find this amusing, same as I." I recounted my dream, flowers and all. Arthur was in fits by the end.
"Tristan you say? That is funny." He wiped a tear from his eyes and sighed. "I needed that laugh My Lady. Thankyou." Before I could speak though, the Roman had turned on his heel and was making for the fort, still smiling.
"What do you make of it Lady Morgaine?" My face was serious. "Tristan is much like Sinead. Neither of them seem to smile or show very much emotion. Is this just fantasy or is it a vision? Could my mind be showing me what I want to see?"
The older woman put her hand on her face. She drummed her fingers n her cheek a few seconds before saying "I think we should wait a few days and see how they act towards each other. If there seems to be a change in either of them then we will know if it was a vision or a dream"
"Yes, My Lady. Thankyou for your wisdom. I take my leave of you now." She nodded and I left her to stand on the shore of the pond. She looked to the south. Towards Avalon.
Vivianne is another version of the character of Nimue in the Arthurian legend. In the legend it is Nimue whom Merlin falls in love with and she captures him a bewitched forest.
Sinead is the Irish version of Jane.
A/N: The character of Sinead was originally called Isolde but after participating in a King Arthur Role Play with a friend I changed her name to Sinead as that was her character's name. If I have missed any changes forgive me... Just remember it was a last minute thing. ((Good to you Blue!!! you get Tristan after all!))