The Passage Chapter 2
Of Sir Gawain and the Demon
or
Between the Earth and Forever
The Problem
When Sir Gawain had been lying long ill, with an unknown malady, his fellow knights brought him to his own bed and called for every healer they could reach. His only rest for many days had been fevered and short. His sleep came only for fleeting moments at a time. When finally every able healer had examined him he fell into a much deeper sleep and since this was an extreme turn of events and no healer could cure him, his friends hung their heads and resigned themselves to accept his coming death. The closest of these friends and the youngest, Galahad found the concept of this passing unbearable and responded in the like with tears and much sorrow. In his misery, Galahad even quarreled needlessly with their Roman leader, Arthur. But Arthur, kind in heart and much aided by the mercy of his God, saw over Galahad's ramblings to the deep-seated sorrow within his heart. And so Arthur sought to comfort the youngest knight as they watched and waited for whatever fate might befall their friend, Sir Gawain.
Between the Worlds
When Gawain's world began to fade into darkness, he knew it was much more than sleep. The faces of his friends, the knights he had fought beside for years faded as the snow when spring sun appears. A fear gripped him unlike any he had yet encountered on the battlefield. He wondered as the darkness took him, if perhaps there was a way to fight death its self. Or was it a force that none could resist? In the moments it took to think these thoughts, Gawain felt himself floating slowly into a cold place. He opened his eyes within his unconsciousness for the first time to see blinding light and nothing but white surroundings. He was now lying on the ground, atop the snow that was newly fallen. There was a constant wind, dry and unforgiving to his face. The snow around him was nothing like the snow of Britain; it was dry and did not melt into water upon his warm skin. This snow was falling so fast that soon it covered his golden beard and hair. After moments of thought about his new surroundings, Gawain rose and looked about but saw nothing but blinding light yet again. He ached as the wind pierced him, almost as if he wasn't clothed at all. He was quiet and listened for a while but was surprised when he actually heard a voice calling his name.
"Gawain, Sir Gawain!" It came through the white in front of him. In a moment he saw a cart appear, pulled by a huge black draft horse, too big for the tiny job and a handsome man holding the reigns and calling out to him.
This must be an angel. Gawain thought happily as he waved to the man.
"I am here!" Gawain called.
The man in the cart was nicely dressed, his clothes seemed the richest that Gawain had ever seen. Certainly this was his Heavenly escort… but a cart? Gawain threw aside his negative thoughts and walked up to the cart and spoke to the man.
"What Heavenly being to I behold?" Gawain called happily.
"Heavenly? Heavenly Sir Knight!" The man laughed. "Are you a Christian man? I was told you were a Sarmatian, a heathen. A servant of… Rome."
"Now I am not sure exactly what I am." Gawain answered.
The man was silent a moment but then reached out a perfect hand to pull him onboard.
"Oh, never mind, you must come with me either way."
Gawain gladly took the hand and even the blanket he was offered as they rode on, but the blanket was full of holes and Gawain began to suspect the handsome man beside him.
"Are you no… an Angel?" Gawain finally asked, fear in his voice.
"Ah! If I am an Angel sir, I am an angel of darkness."