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Two rooms had been hastily made ready for Morgaine and her attendants, though the Lady herself went right away to speak with Merlin, not even taking the time to rid herself of travel aches and grime. The truth was, she'd ridden most of the way from Avalon, arriving in cart more for the sake of ceremony. She was saddle sore, she was tired, but her first priority was always her grandfather, Merlin.
Stepping into their room, Branwen and Eiluned felt an immediate scent of death, bittersweet and sorrowful, the sign of a life snuffed out too soon. The former occupant had surely died, and recently. Branwen looked at her friend, and they both whispered a prayer under their breath, the scent slipping from the room peacefully. Then Eiluned proceeded to drop onto the bed with a grateful sigh, as if nothing had happened.
"How long has it been, Branwen?" She sighed, working the aches from her back, as Branwen removed her cloak and set their things to warm by the lit and roaring fire, "Since we've been this far from Avalon? At least 17 years for me."
"I can't remember a time far from Avalon." Branwen murmured in reply, taking out some of her long russet braids, brushing out the tangles and briars...Morgaine was not the only one who preferred riding a horse to sitting in a cart...and letting the smooth waves fall freely about her shoulders and down to her waist. Braids were usually only worn by the novices in Avalon, yet it was so much easier to care for one's hair when they were in. "I was an infant when my father's mother took me from the North. I've little experience with the world, save the villages that border The Lake's shores..." Branwen smirked then; washing her face in the water provided for them by the fire, "So really, we have a lot of catching up to do here, you and I."
"Oh speak for yourself," Eiluned noted deprecatingly, yet not without a touch of good humor, as she rose from the bed reluctantly to remove her own cloak and wash her face, "You're still young, and you have the mind to enjoy that fact."
"You're as young as ever, Eiluned." Branwen laughed at her, but the other priestess shook her head.
"Yes, but I've also given birth to four children, two by the time I was your age. I gave up what is left of my youth long ago in service of the goddess," Eiluned sighed, drying her face, and smiling again, "Oh don't worry, I do intend to enjoy our little midsummer escape. I hear Merlin will be binding Arthur and Guenevere by the Stones, I've always wanted to see them."
"It should be beautiful." Branwen murmured, glancing out the room's one window and out into the fort absently. Music and singing drifted up to her, songs she didn't know, and much laughter, and she sighed...
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I did not know why I thought of him, Arthur's knight...Gawain, I remembered his name was. Morgaine had always assured me that I had the sight, I'd never been positive, until that evening, as we had been nearing the Wall. Someone had been on the threshold of my senses, and I had softly whispered charms under my breath, searching. It wasn't until I met his eyes that I realized I had been sensing him...and that he had heard me. There, in Eiluned's and my room I was absently musing over it's meaning, even as we spoke together, when I heard the music below.It was true, all of my nineteen years had been spent either hearing of Avalon, or living there, and I had learned a great many things, becoming a powerful priestess at a young age, proud of my service to the goddess. Yet for a moment, as I stood listening, I wished fleetingly that the great mother had served me differently, just so that I might know the songs...
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Making their way to the Hall, Arthur and Guenevere intercepted Gawain and, surprisingly, Galahad as well.
"After Vanora sang a song or two, Bors decided to turn in early." The younger knight explained with a grin and an easy, wine-induced manner, "After that it wasn't as much of a party, so I dug up Gawain and he told me there were women to be seen."
"In not quite so many words." Gawain muttered, giving his friend a light smack on the shoulder. Guenevere laughed, as they entered the great room and seated themselves. Arthur, it seemed, was the only one who was less then jovial, and his lady was quick to notice this, sitting beside him and taking his hand reassuringly. Morgaine was an unsettling presence, for all her kindness, and Arthur was apprehensive at the thought of what she might have to say to him.
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It was only a few moments before their guest made her entrance, her feet hardly stirring a sound on the stone tile floor. All of them rose, Arthur offering her a seat at his left. She smiled as she sat, marveling at the round table, pride swelling in her breast. Her brother had indeed grown to be a wise leader.
Galahad had just been introduced to her and she was wondering what had become of Eiluned and Branwen, when the two priestesses hurried breathlessly into the room in their simple moss green dresses, Branwen's mass of hair flying freely behind her and Eiluned's face as red as berries. The mirth looked rather odd on the formerly composed and ethereal pair who'd descended in the square not an hour before.
"I'm afraid we lost our way for a time," Branwen managed, even as Eiluned looked to be struggling to hold in her laughter. Morgaine raised an eyebrow, but all the elder priestess could do was shake her head, hurrying to compose herself as she sat beside her cousin. Which left Branwen to take her place beside Eiluned and nearly across from Gawain, and she did so biting her lip fiercely, lest her laughter break loose in a most undignified manner. The knight caught her eye, however, and she nearly lost her restraint, a small giggle escaping as Gawain heard a faint curse from down the hall outside the door, sounding suspiciously like Bors. This was a story he would have to hear later, he resolved, grinning to himself at the image of her pretty smile. Branwen's wine was set before her, and she took a long drink, quelling her fit gratefully.
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After a short time, Morgaine set down her wine and stood, looking at Arthur warmly. "I've never been much for ceremony, Artorius," She spoke clearly, using his given name, "And so I will speak plainly. Your wish is to unite all of Britain's peoples, and this brings me much happiness. However the Woads, the Druids, they will follow Avalon first, consequently they need to know that I am your supporter." She explained, "You know well that much of Britain follows the old religion, and as Lady of The Lake, I represent the goddess to them. It is one of the reasons I came so quickly, to bear witness to your crowning, to show my allegiance."
"I am indeed thankful," Arthur rose to reply, "For such a strong ally. I admit, however, that Avalon and the rumors around it are still a puzzle to me. I have sailed on your lake many a time, and seen no temple, no hidden island."
"Old magic," Morgaine stated simply, smiling, "And it's a hidden island, of course you haven't seen it." She went on, apologetically, "Merlin has told me that you are a Christian Arthur, and that is well. And as a genuine follower of that belief, you cannot be two things at once, both a believer in your God and in pagan magic. I can have respect for that. But know that Avalon is a place of great power, and that it will stand on the side of a good and worthy king."
"Again, I accept your allegiance with many thanks." Arthur dipped his head, and Morgaine echoed the action.
"Now, we have more to discuss," Morgaine continued in a much less formal tone, seating herself to further the comfort of all who sat in the room, "About our families...but, perhaps you would wish to speak of such things in private?"
"We are all friends here," Arthur replied quietly, after a long moment, "I do not mind if we are all aware."
"I'm glad," Morgaine murmured, "You know that your father was a roman soldier, who wed a young woman of these shores while posted here." Arthur nodded, and she took a deep breath, "Your mother, Igraine, was but sixteen when she wed your father, young perhaps, but not among our people. She was one of many children fathered by Merlin, the man who sits in you house, whom you have fought against for so long, and have now found peace with." Arthur's eyes had gone wide, and she went on, "As such, Igraine was raised in a deeply spiritual environment, even when she lived far from the Woads. When she was fourteen, she went to the Beltane fires, and I was the result." Morgaine finished in a whisper, and Arthur could only sit back in his chair, stunned. Guenevere rested her hand on his shoulder softly, as the two knights and the two priestesses listened as if under a spell.
"She gave me to Avalon not long after my birth, and I was raised there by her half sister, my aunt Viviane, who was also a daughter of Merlin, and Lady of The Lake before me. I saw you only once..." Morgaine smiled softly at the memory, "I was eight years old, and you were three. Viviane was traveling in disguise, for Woads were still not allowed beyond the wall, to celebrate midsummer in the south. Eiluned," Morgaine touched her cousin's arm, "Her daughter, our cousin, was with us as well. We stopped at the post, briefly, and I saw you in Igraine's arms..." Morgaine was silent for a moment, and then, "I was glad to know that I had a brother."
"Why did she not tell me?" Arthur asked, his voice slightly strained with emotion. Morgaine smiled wistfully.
"Because, Viviane had Seen that the girl-child Igraine would give birth to was to belong to the goddess." She said, simply. "That child would not be a part of her life, other then as her spiritual Elder someday. I...was greatly grieved, when I heard of her passing. I had long looked forward to the day when I could see her freely, as The Lady." Morgaine took a deep breath, and smiled, looking at him, even as Arthur looked back at her with a great deal of conflicting emotions behind his eyes, eyes that were so like hers. "But, now I have you, my brother. And that is enough."
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Author's Notes: Oi, this chapter took me SO LONG to finish. I must have rewritten it ten million times, and I think I'm finally pleased with the final result. Introductory chapters always drive me nuts, but now I think I can really get on to the fun stuff =) Fluff on the way, never fear! Plus a few good doses of angst. (Anyone who knows a good ammount of Arthurian legend can probably guess, to an extent, what I'm gonna to do poor Guenevere.)
I'm leaving on thursday for a camping trip that will last until sunday afternoon, and then next friday I leave for Puerto Rico and a week long mission trip. I'll be writing like mad in the between time, never fear, lol.
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Revieeeeew me...especially you IRL peoples, I know you're reading this, lend me some support, will ya? sheash ;-)