The Union of Avalon and Briton

by Anime Princess

Legends tell of Arthur's many sisters. Well, they aren't legend but fact. This is the story of Arthur's family and how they reform their family bonds through love, life, death, and war.

25. Chapter 25

The Union of Avalon and Briton 25

The spells in the story are not all mine. Some I got off a story from another author here called Calliann. Some spells are from Earth, Air, Fire, and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic by Scott Cunningham and Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison. Other spells I borrowed from the writer Patricia C. Wrede, and still others are from a videogame-I don't know the game's name, but I got it from some sort of game. Some rewritten spells are from Green Magic: The Sacred Connection to Nature by Ann Moura. A few ARE mine though! A part of a chant is from Lady Alexia V and her story Dark Red. Some of the Dark Gods are from a web page Beltane information comes from and, the main web page, a few words are from Harry Potter, and the web page Temple of the Sacred Spiral. Another spell, in this chapter actually, is from the book Spell casting: Practical Magick for Daily Life by Sister Moon. Guinevere's comments about the God Bran and the scripts under his head are from Druid Magic From the Age of Arthur: The Lost Books of Merlin by Douglas Monroe! The Rite of Magica Rejection "Oardagh a Pishagagh Jiooldaght is of my own creation.

As always, King Arthur is not mine and none of the characters belongs to me either. They are all apart of the Arthurian Legends. I am only using these characters, as fun activities in my spare time so please, don't sue me!

The Knights listed are TRUE Knights of the Round Table-I found the names of all the Knights listed on different websites!

Elaine sighed as her hand gently caressed the foreheads of her children, Roslyn and Orrin, and her eyes lingered on the man who gave them to her during that one magical night when they were one in mind, body, and soul. She sighed and ran her hand down his nose and across his cheek. The cream was nearly gone and she sighed in relief. Lancelot's head wound was nearly gone then. She was glad.

She gasped as a gentle yet calloused hand gripped her own and brought it to a pair of slightly chapped lips.

"Oh! You're awake! I'm so glad!" she exclaimed softly as she smiled and gently raised her twins' heads from her lap and onto the small beds created for them on the floor next to her chair, in which, she used to keep her vigil over Lancelot.

Aithne and Isolde, who were still in the room with them and watching over Morgana and Lunete, smiled at the small reunion. It was heart warming and they all knew that Elaine needed the comfort-she had a hard decision to make and the courage to make it.

As she lunged into his arms, he wrapped them around her and whispered soothing into her ear and rubbed her back firmly to let her know that he was fine.

After a short time of comforting her, Lancelot pulled back and asked in a horse voice, "What's happening?"

Elaine's face contorted into a fearful yet determined look as she hide her face in his shoulder and muttered, "I'm scared…"

Lancelot looked so confused.

Aithne took pity on his and explained, "Arthur arrived with the caravan and arrived in time to hear what Merlin requires of him and you are here because Merlin knocked you unconscious. Merlin's third daughter, Genevieve, is here to help create an alliance of peace between the Woads and you Knights, and Tristan's life hangs in the balance."

Lancelot's eyes widened in shock as he asked, "Why hasn't he been healed, Morgana's here!"

Isolde, with tears welling up in her eyes, sniffed and said in a chocked tone, "Tristan was meant to die. When Elaine saved Dagonet, you and he she angered the Fates. Now she must give up her Power of Sight to save his life…"

As Elaine finally started to calm down in his arms, he became aware of his twin children sitting close to him and rubbing their hands on Elaine's back to help calm her down and asked as they muttered sweetly into his and their mother's ears, 'It's okay mummy! Calm down mummy!', "What are you going to do Elaine?"

Elaine sat up and smiled up sweetly at her three loved ones and replied easily enough, "I'll give them up."

Isolde, who was wiping a few beads of sweat off of Tristan's slightly fevered brow, looked up at Elaine and said cheerfully but in a concerned tone of voice, "But you won't be able to see again-ever!"

Elaine turned to look at her family and said in a tone that showed just how relieved she was about loosing her power of sight, "And I'm okay with that because no one should ever know their future. I am happy to be rid of the power because it is more of a curse than a blessing."

She stood up and said in a business-like tone, "I need to speak with Arthur first. Just get the ingredients set up. I'll do the rest."

As he struggled to sit up because while his bump was no longer swelling and paining him, it still caused his vision to swim and made his stomach churn like it does whenever he's under the traveling spell, "I'll go with you."

Aithne appeared at his side, as if by magic, with a mortar and pestle set in hand and said sternly but with twinkling eyes, "I don't think so my dearest First Knight. You must stay here until you are well. It appears that we can't trust you otherwise not to get hurt if you are alone and away from our tender care."

As Elaine turned to leave the room she added, "Oh and tell Lunete's sister that Lunete wishes to see her."

Lancelot's face scrunched up in annoyance as he flopped back onto the cot and folded his arms childishly.

Aithne giggled and said as she put down one of the marble mortars, "You are acting like Ferrell when he's sick Lancelot. That's not very becoming of a fully grown First Knight who is rumored to be charming enough to get the skirts off any female-young or old."

Lancelot frowned up at Viviane's youngest daughter and faster than Elaine thought possible gripped her wrist and tightened it to get her attention.

Through her telepathy and his own training of the mind arts from Viviane he asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Elaine's lyrical voice was heavenly when used with her mind only as she answered, "I'm positive!"

As she left the room in the direction of the Round Table where she was sure Arthur and the others had gathered to discuss the future of Britain, she through to herself, Tristan WILL live! It's not too big of a sacrifice to give up the Power of Sight because it IS more of a curse than a blessing! All the death I see-innocent or sinful dark or light-death is death. All the destruction…blood, the moans of the dying, burning homes, burning cities, and burning lands. All the time my dreams are nightmares waiting to entrap me with it's death and destruction and I never have any good visions! It's always about death and destruction…I'm actually relieved to be getting rid of the blasted things!

As she arrived at the double doors that blocked her view of the legendary Round Table, she nodded to the guards on either side and waited patiently as the guards pushed the doors opened and one of the on the right called out, "Announcing Lady Elaine, daughter of the late Lord-King Uther Castus and Lady-Priestess Igraine, sister of Lord-King Arthur Castus!"

The Knights in the room, all of them besides Lancelot and Tristan, immediately stood at attention as she walked through the double doors. As she walked up to her brother, she smiled at Genevieve and said, "Hello again sister. How are you?"

Genevieve smiled and said, "I'm well enough. How about you? How's Lancelot?"

Elaine's smile grew as she said, "He's awake now. And very annoyed that he's not allowed to be here with Arthur and the other Knights. But he's good."

She turned her attention back to Arthur and said professionally, "Arthur, I know what I have to do. I have to revoke my Powers of Sight. It's the only way to get the Fates to release their hold over Tristan's life. I'm going to do it."

Gawain and Galahad took a step closure to her and asked in a near stereo voice, "Are you sure…won't that hurt you or something?"

Arthur, who had been silent up till now asked in a deeply controlled measure, as he knew Elaine wouldn't be swayed "Are you sure about this? You'll be giving up one of your only links to mother and you'll have to bleed a terribly long time to accomplish this."

Bors demanded hotly at this, "Whot do you mean, 'she'll have to bleed a long time for this'?!"

Those nine words made him tremble in unknown fury. Elaine was kind of like his little sister or niece and he loved her dearly. Those words struck a cord deep within him and caused him to shudder. He had only felt like this once before-when he thought Dagonet was dying.

Arthur tried to ignore his own misgivings about his sister's decision answered blankly, "Elaine will have to bleed out the Power of Sight. The magic is in her blood, so that's how she'll rid herself of the power. If she bleeds for to long or for to short a time either she herself will die with Tristan following, she'll live and Tristan will too, or she fail and she'll live but Tristan will die."

Immediately Elaine was attacked on all sides by the men she loved as brothers, "Elaine you can't!"-Galahad

"No!"-Dagonet

"Elaine, don't do it!"-Bors

"Tristan will understand!"-Gawain

Elaine smiled, placed her hands on her hips, and said commandingly to them all, "Don't worry! I'll be fine and nothing you say will change my mind."

She turned back to Genevieve and added, "Lunete is anxious to see you again, but she's with Tristan right now and unable to talk with you. Oh, and the girls and Ronan wanted me to tell you that they miss you."

Genevieve smiled and said briskly, "So, shall we get to the heart of the matter?"

Merlin, who was quite upset about his youngest daughter's words to him and his favored daughter, Guinevere, interrupted hoarsely, "Arthur MUST marry Guinevere. Only then can he be King of Britain."

He turned to Elaine and said horribly, "You cannot give up your Sight. Arthur will need its secrets to rule well with."

Genevieve exclaimed, "FATHER!!! Did you not hear what she said?! If she does NOT give it back to the Goddess, the Knight, Sir Tristan, will die!"

Merlin shrugged and replied as he stood up and marched straight up to Elaine and stared harshly into her emerald green eyes, "Lives of the unimportant are meant to be lost for those of the highest order to succeed."

Then he added more pompously, "And without me, you wouldn't be here either Elaine, daughter of Uther, you owe me your allegiance too."

Elaine, who was at Arthur's side, flew into a rage that frightened the Knights of the Round Table, "I'll do what I please! Tristan's life is at stake!"

She stared into his dark and dangerous eyes and said murderously, "I owe you nothing, son of Taliesin, be gone from my sight!"

With a wave of her hand, Merlin was lifted off his feet and slammed into the unyielding stonewall behind him.

Guinevere exclaimed, "How dare you…you…you bastard priestess!"

Elaine turned to Guinevere and said heatedly as her eyes blazed to life and began to glow and eerie golden color, "I dare because I can daughter of Merlin."

As she exited the room, she added over her shoulder, "Oh, and my mother and father were married when I was conceived AND born…which is more than you can say Guinevere…isn't it?"

As the doors slammed shut behind her, she could hear Arthur and the Knights yelling at Merlin and Guinevere. For some reason, she knew that her friend, Genevieve, was not included in the Knights rage.

When she arrived back in the Healing Chambers, she said briskly, "Prepare for the 'Oardagh a Pishagagh Jiooldaght' or the Rite of Magica Rejection."

Almost instantaneously, the Priestesses jumped into action. Lancelot watched with worried eyes as the woman gathered packs full of herbs, caldrons, rocks, and other special tools. He watched as Tristan, Morgana, and Lunete floated into the air by the power of Elaine's telekinesis, and made a move to follow them.

Aithne placed and hand on his shoulder and said, "No, you stay here with the children. They don't need to watch Elaine bleed herself out…for that matter…neither do you."

Lancelot made to protest, but Elaine said in a tone of finality, "No."

As the three priestesses left the room with the other three floating serenely behind him, he sighed. This wasn't exactly how he thought the after-battle would be like. No matter how much he wanted to follow, he was still to sluggish because of his head wound-curse you Merlin!

Merlin looked Arthur directly in his eyes and said, "We have to stop your sister! She'll kill herself and then what…you'll never be a good king."

Arthur shrugged and said, "I never wanted to be King Merlin, and my sister is her own woman. If she wants to do this to save Tris' life, I can't stop her…and nor would I try if I could stop her."

Merlin's eyes gleamed even more insanely in the dark candlelight and said as he rose to his feet, "Then if you won't stop her with your blood link, I'll stop her by destroying the circle!"

Arthur jumped to his feet in alarm and shouted, "NO!!! You'll kill them ALL!!!!!!!"

As the women reached the center of the practice hall, for this was the only place behind the wall that had enough space for a ritual of this much power, Isolde barked out, "Everyone, leave now!"

Faster than she could say, "Avalon", the practice hall was cleared of all people and Elaine placed the three down side-by-side, with Tristan in the middle of the two Priestesses. With that Aithne and Isolde each took two caldrons and placed them at north, south, east, and west along with the herbs and incenses chosen for this ritual.

Elaine took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Isolde walked up to her and said, "With this water purified by one who is empowered by the waters, giveth unto you the purity of heart, mind, and soul."

Elaine held out her hands.

When she felt the pitcher of water in her hands, she held it above her head and said as she pictured all the dirt on her skin roll of her body as it followed the pure water's trails along her body and all the negative energies and thoughts sweep out of her skin and join the dirt as it was all absorbed into the ground below her,

"Blessed be my Mind, that learns of your ways,

Blessed be my eyes, that have seen this day,

Blessed be my lips, that utters your names and keep your secrets.

Blessed be my breasts, formed in strength and beauty.

Blessed be the phallus and womb, for without which I would not be. Blessed be my knees, that shall kneel at thy Sacred Altar.

Blessed be my feet, that has brought me in these ways.

So Mote it be!"

As she said this, she poured the water over her head and smiled as she felt all the days' dirt roll off her body and felt all her fears drain away too.

When she opened her eyes again she stepped forward and took her bag. As she reached the north side of her circle, she placed a white candle there and moved around in a circle until four candles stood around her and her charges.

As she lit a tiny piece of wood from a nearby torch, she looked around her and began,

"I light these candles in the presence of the gods and goddesses. In the name of the four mighty elements,

Please gather within this circle and power descends in this hour upon this place.
In the name of the four mighty elements,

Please gather within this circle and powers descend in this hour upon this place."

Elaine reached into her bag and pulled out her white marble Athame and plunged it into the caldron, which was filled halfway up with fresh, sweet smelling water.

She intoned,

"I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water,

That thou cast out from thee all the impurity and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm.

In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen."

She pulled out the Athame at the same time she pulled out a pinch of salt and intoned as she held the salt above the caldron,

"Blessings be upon thee, O Creature of Salt,

Let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth from thee,

And let all good enter within.

Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee,

That thou mayest aid me.

In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen."

As she repeated this with the other three caldrons' she ended as she kneeled once more before the caldron at the northern point,

" But ever mind that as water and salt purifies the body,

So the scourge purifies the soul.

So mote it be!"

Then she raised her Athame and walked in a circle with the point of her ritual knife aimed at the ground. As the circle passed by the four corners, Isolde and Aithne dropped Basil, Elder, and Eucalyptus in for cleansing, Betony and Mullein for protection, Blackberry, Clover, and Eucalyptus for health, Buckthorn to ward off evil, Damiana for meditation, Ginger for power, Ginseng for energy and cut up sprigs of Iris, Violet, Artemisa, Asafetida, and MenRue for the removal of her Power of Sight.

Then right before their very eyes, a cut was drawn into the earth. A magical circle was being cast as she intoned,

"By the earth that is her body,

And by the air that is her breath,

And by the fire that is her bright spirit,

And by the living waters of her womb,

The circle is cast,

So mote it be!"

Then Elaine dipped her hand into the water, and sprinkled it around the circle touching everyone in the circle with it. Then she took her four incenses and began…

While she faced the north, she knelt down and drew the invoking earth pentacle starting from the northern point and drawing down the left side while she dropped a tiny orb of Myrrh and intoned,

"Oh spirit guardian of the north,
Ancient one of the earth,
I call thee to come forth and charge this circle,
Withe the power of three and rock."

Next, she faced face east, drew an invoking air pentagram starting from the eastern point and drawing across while she dropped a tiny orb of Bergmont and intoned,

"Oh spirit guardian of the east,
Ancient one of the air,
I call thee to come forth and charge this circle,
Withe the power of the winds."

Then she faced south, drew an invoking fire pentacle starting from the northern point and drawing down the right side while she dropped a tiny orb of Olibanum and intoned while she intoned,

"Oh spirit guardian of the south,
Ancient one of the fire,
I call thee to come forth and charge this circle,
Withe the power of the flame."

Lastly, she faced west draw an invoking water pentacle starting from the western point and dropped a tiny orb of Orris Root while she intoned,

"Oh spirit guardian of the west,
Ancient one of the water,
I call thee to come forth and charge this circle,
Withe the power of the tides."

Finally she faced the north once again and said in closing,

"Charge this circle with your power,

Old ones, for as above, so below."

She raised her hands into the air and called upon the God and Goddess,

"I invoke and call upon thee O Cernunnos,

God of death and lord of the underground,

I invite you into my circle,

Touch us change us and make us whole.

I invoke and call upon thee O Cerridwen,

I invite you into my circle,

Touch us, change us, and make us whole,

Ye mighty ones.

Lords of the watch towers of the universe,

Dred lords of the outer spaces.

Thou powerful god, thou gentle goddess,

I (we) invite you to my (our) meeting."

She paused to gather her breath and ended,

"O thou loving Cerridwen!
O thou mighty Cernunnos!
We gather before you to give back my Powers of Sight,

To bring Tristan, son of Agorgi, shield-brother of the Knight of the Round Table, lover of Isolde, father of Dermott, back to the land of the Living!"

She quickly dragged the sharp Athame across both of her wrists, held them aloft towards the sky and with a loud shout towards the heavens-towards the Fates-she exclaimed, "I, Lady-Queen Elaine Castus, daughter of late Lord-King Uther Castus of Hadrian's Wall and late Lady-Priestess Igraine Cuid a Uisce a Cornwhwynn a Castus of Avalon and Hadrian's Wall, sister of Lord-King Lucius Artorius Castus of Hadrian's Wall, Lover of the First Knight of the Round Table and Second-n-Command of Hadrian's Wall, Lancelot, Mother of Roslyn and Orrin shed my blood to giveth back thy Power of Sight!"

In that moment, Arthur and the others rushed into the practice ring and gasped as the blood began to pool around Elaine in a large pool of blood at her feet. Then her wrists began to glow as the power dripped out of her body drop by drop.

"Elaine! NO!" shouted Arthur.

"Elaine…" whispered Lancelot who had left the children in Jols' care.

"Elaine! Stop!" Exclaimed Galahad and Gawain together.

"NO!!!" shouted Dagonet as he collapsed to his knees and hung his head.

"We're to late!" shouted Bors angrily as Merlin recklessly tried to crack the circle surrounding her and destroy the ritual.

Genevieve, who had followed them all, jumped in front of her father and said as his staff hit her harshly in the gut to get her to move, "You'll have to kill me father…"

Merlin's crack, blue dye, bloody lips, formed into a cruel smile as Guinevere joined him with a short sword in hand and he said as he crackled happily, "With pleasure."

Will Tristan live? Will Merlin and Guinevere really kill Genevieve to stop Elaine's ritual??