1
Morgaine walked to the top of the Tor to say farewell to the sun as it disappeared over the straight horizon. Suddenly, on the edge of her vision, her thoughts were interrupted by a slight movement. She looked and her eyes strained to find something in the dense shadows. After a few moments, she gave up and continued up the long, spiral path.
She stared at the sky. It was clearest at this time of day. She laid back on the soft grass, the great stones towering above her, and just looked as the blue grew deeper and deeper and she could she little silver dots in the approaching night.
She sat bolt upright. The air in front of one of the stones, was moving in white ripples and a figure began to appear. It looked as if she was coming right out of the stone herself, but Morgaine knew better. She gasped and bowed her head. After a few more moments of silence, she felt a velvety hand under her chin, and her face was lifted up. She knew what an honor it was to have the Queen of Faerie visit her personally, uncalled for.
"Welcome to Avalon. It is good to see you again. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Dear child. You are so much like your aunt. I loved her like a daughter, and you even more. I have a proposal for you."
Morgaine, stunned by this, took a few seconds to answer, "And what might that proposal be?" "I see you still saddened by all your losses after all these years. And I know that you have never had a child to love and care for as your own. Yes, you had Gwydion," she said, reading the look on her face, "but, you hardly knew him and he wasn't like son to you." She paused here to take a deep breathe. "I have a daughter. She is nearly eight and I see a power in her like to that of your ancestor, my daughter, Sianna. I would like for you to train her in the arts of a priestess and one day, she will choose her own path."
"What shall I get in return?"
"You have already received it. Many times, I have helped you. I tried to help you rid yourself of that evil child in your womb, I gave you a well- needed break from the world outside, and I subdued Arthur when you nedded it. I have helped you in numerous other ways that you don't even have any knowledge of without asking anything in return. I now come to you, asked as I asked the Blackbird so long ago, will you take my daughter and love her as your own?"
Morgaine stared. She had, of course, learned of Sianna who had been taught under the legendary Caillean, founder of Avalon. "I will welcome her. Into my home, into my school, and into my heart." She bowed her head once again and when she raised it, the Faerie Queen was gone.
***
Life went on as normal, and there was no sign that the Faerie Queen would follow through with her offer. Then, one very cold and rainy night, Morgaine tossed around in her small bed, haunted by dreams of prophecie that she did not yet understand. Her eyes flew open and her waiting woman came running in. A light shone in her eyes as she sat up.
"She is coming. Build up the fire and ready some warm blankets." She fell back down on the bed, her eyes closed, and shook her head slowly. Suddenly, there came a great knock on the door of the small hut. The door swung open.
Morgaine walked to the top of the Tor to say farewell to the sun as it disappeared over the straight horizon. Suddenly, on the edge of her vision, her thoughts were interrupted by a slight movement. She looked and her eyes strained to find something in the dense shadows. After a few moments, she gave up and continued up the long, spiral path.
She stared at the sky. It was clearest at this time of day. She laid back on the soft grass, the great stones towering above her, and just looked as the blue grew deeper and deeper and she could she little silver dots in the approaching night.
She sat bolt upright. The air in front of one of the stones, was moving in white ripples and a figure began to appear. It looked as if she was coming right out of the stone herself, but Morgaine knew better. She gasped and bowed her head. After a few more moments of silence, she felt a velvety hand under her chin, and her face was lifted up. She knew what an honor it was to have the Queen of Faerie visit her personally, uncalled for.
"Welcome to Avalon. It is good to see you again. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Dear child. You are so much like your aunt. I loved her like a daughter, and you even more. I have a proposal for you."
Morgaine, stunned by this, took a few seconds to answer, "And what might that proposal be?" "I see you still saddened by all your losses after all these years. And I know that you have never had a child to love and care for as your own. Yes, you had Gwydion," she said, reading the look on her face, "but, you hardly knew him and he wasn't like son to you." She paused here to take a deep breathe. "I have a daughter. She is nearly eight and I see a power in her like to that of your ancestor, my daughter, Sianna. I would like for you to train her in the arts of a priestess and one day, she will choose her own path."
"What shall I get in return?"
"You have already received it. Many times, I have helped you. I tried to help you rid yourself of that evil child in your womb, I gave you a well- needed break from the world outside, and I subdued Arthur when you nedded it. I have helped you in numerous other ways that you don't even have any knowledge of without asking anything in return. I now come to you, asked as I asked the Blackbird so long ago, will you take my daughter and love her as your own?"
Morgaine stared. She had, of course, learned of Sianna who had been taught under the legendary Caillean, founder of Avalon. "I will welcome her. Into my home, into my school, and into my heart." She bowed her head once again and when she raised it, the Faerie Queen was gone.
***
Life went on as normal, and there was no sign that the Faerie Queen would follow through with her offer. Then, one very cold and rainy night, Morgaine tossed around in her small bed, haunted by dreams of prophecie that she did not yet understand. Her eyes flew open and her waiting woman came running in. A light shone in her eyes as she sat up.
"She is coming. Build up the fire and ready some warm blankets." She fell back down on the bed, her eyes closed, and shook her head slowly. Suddenly, there came a great knock on the door of the small hut. The door swung open.