Authors Note: Hi sorry I haven't updated in along time. I have been busy with lots of things like vacation, school, and writing other stories. So anyway please send me more reviews, I really like getting them. Please enjoy my story and have a nice day!
The next morning Gwenhwyfar woke up and immediately remembered how important the day was for both Morgaine and herself. Today was the day Morgaine would leave to participate in the Beltane Rites, and Gwenhwyfar was to see her future husband. She got up from her bed very nervous about what she would say to Lancelot when he first heard he was to marry her. She was still trying to formulate an intelligent conversation when she bumped into another person who was leaving the sleeping quarters. "Oh I'm sorry!" She apologized and looked up to see who she had run into.
Gwenhwyfar was greeted with the pale face and uncommonly quiet figure of Morgaine walking down the hallway. She looked completely disheveled and unaware of what she was doing. Gwenhwyfar heard her mumble something like "that's ok", and watched as Morgaine continued down the hallway. After watching Morgaine for a second, Gwenhwyfar quickly ran to catch up with her and gently asked "How are you doing today Morgaine?"
It was at that point that Morgaine finally looked up and seemed to wake from her daze when she realized who was talking to her. "Oh hello, I am fine." She quickly answered and returned her gaze to the path in front of her.
"Ok Morgaine I know you well enough to know when you are not telling the truth. Now tell me what you really want to say. Tell me what you are honestly feeling."
Morgaine looked over to her friend and could see the genuine concern that was draped across her face. "Honestly... I am terrified about what is going to happen to me tonight. I don't think I can do it."
Gwenhwyfar didn't know what to say and was afraid her silence would worry Morgaine even more. "Well let me ask you this, what is it that you are most worried about?"
"I don't know. I think it is the fact that this will be the first time doing, well you know what!"
"Morgaine, I'm sure every woman in the world gets nervous the first time they sleep with a man, the goddess knows I am worried about what will happen when Lancelot comes to Avalon." Gwenhwyfar said with a soft blush creeping across her face. "Like I said yesterday, I don't think Vivian would send you to the Beltane Rites if she didn't think you could handle it. You just have to go in there and face your fears, and have a little fun while you are at it." She finished with a mischievous expression on her face and an arch of her eyebrows. Morgaine looked at her friends face and found the courage that had flown from her body. She laughed and even though she still felt nervous, she knew she would be all right. They were still laughing when Vivian met them on the path to the dining hut.
"Morgaine it is time." She said in her rich commanding voice. Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine's laughter immediately stopped when they heard Vivian's statement. They looked at each other and then looked at Vivian. She was watching them both with a sort of half smile, but yet she still had a rather serious demeanor surrounding her.
Morgaine took a deep breath and with one last look around her she walked toward Vivian and asked "ok, what happens first?"
"You will go to the preparation hut and there you will be washed and painted. Then you will leave on the launch with the guards and go to the ceremony." Vivian calmly explained. "Gwenhwyfar you will go with me now to bring Lancelot to Avalon."
"Lancelot is here?!" Gwenhwyfar exclaimed once again filled with the nerves that had escaped her body during her talk with Morgaine.
"Yes he arrived just a few minutes ago. We will go get him from the shore and then we will tell him of your impending marriage."
"You are not going to see me off?" Morgaine said feeling as though she was about to cry.
"Do not worry my dear; your preparation will take a few hours. I will be through talking to Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar in plenty of time to see you off." Vivian said and gave Morgaine's hands a gentle squeeze. "Now go, I will see you soon."
"Yes Aunt." Morgaine replied and with her head held high marched up the path. While she knew she seemed like she was putting on a brave front, inside her stomach was doing flip flops.
"All right Gwenhwyfar let us not keep Lancelot waiting." Vivian said as she watched Morgaine walk away.
"Vivian I just remembered something that I wanted to ask you. I know you told me that Lancelot and I will be married here at Avalon, but what will happen during the ceremony? I have only attended Christian weddings, never one where the couple followed the ways of the goddess." Gwenhwyfar said as they walked along the dock where the launch waited for them.
"In the marriage ceremony, you and Lancelot will be dressed in new robes and taken up to the circle where you first met. There Merlin and myself will bless your union, and fasten a rope around your joined hands. After the rope is fastened and you are once again blessed, your union will be complete."
"Is that all?!" Gwenhwyfar exclaimed amazed at how simple the whole ceremony would be. She had expected the ritual to be as involved, if not more, than a Christian wedding ceremony.
"Yes, what did you expect? Slitting your wrists to join you blood? We are not the total barbarians the Christians think we are." Vivian answered back with a small smile. "Like I told Morgaine, you will be able to do this. You are stronger than you think. Plus I know Lancelot is considered a mighty warrior and knight, but I know my son and he is not as fierce as people make him out to be. Now say hello to your future husband." She completed as the launch landed on the shore.
"Hello mother, what's this about somebody being a husband?" Lancelot asked as he stepped onto the launch.
"You will find out soon enough my son. It is good to see you again."
"It is good to see you too mother, and you Gwenhwyfar. Have they been treating you kindly here at Avalon?"
"I am perfectly happy here." Gwenhwyfar assured him. She was so nervous being near him that she had to lower her head to keep him from seeing the blush that she could feel crossing her features. "Thank you for your kind concern."
"It is my pleasure." Lancelot replied with his eyes on Gwenhwyfar. He would have been content to watch her all day if he hadn't been aware of his mother standing right next to him. "And where is my cousin Morgaine, I thought for sure she would be with you to greet me."
"Morgaine is getting ready for the Beltane Rites." Vivian briskly answered as the launch hit the shore and she stepped onto the land.
"The Beltane Rites! Why would subject her to that?" Lancelot was completely shocked at what Morgaine was participating in. "Mother you always told me the Beltane Rites was a very complicated and emotional ritual that priestesses never take part in."
"That is true, I did tell you that." Vivian said not looking at her son and Gwenhwyfar as they walked to her chambers. "But I have my reasons for sending Morgaine, and that is the end of it." She finished with a warning tone in her voice that told Lancelot he should drop the subject. "Now I want you to sit at the table with Gwenhwyfar, I have something I need to tell you."
"Yes mother." Lancelot answered as he and Gwenhwyfar sat down at the table in the middle of the room.
"Now Lancelot, you know that I summoned you to come Avalon but you do not know why. The fact of the matter is I want you to carry on the family line. So I have decided you are to marry one of the priestesses of Avalon."
Gwenhwyfar waited for Lancelot's reaction expecting him to be outraged, but was surprised when Lancelot calmly asked "You want me to marry?"
"That is correct. I have heard or seen nothing of you settling down with a young woman, and so I have taken it upon myself to find you a wife that I know will be your equal." Vivian answered in her strong commanding voice.
"All right mother before I get really mad, may I ask who is it that you expect me to marry? Is it someone I know or is it one of the priestess that I have never met before."
"No you know your betrothed. In fact she is sitting right next to you now."
Gwenhwyfar heart stopped pumping for a few seconds when she heard Vivian say her name. She knew that now was the pivotal moment in which she would know whether Lancelot would be happy about marrying her or not. She slowly looked up at Lancelot's face and was surprised to see him staring at her. "Mother......" Lancelot started to speak still staring at Gwenhwyfar, but couldn't seem to get any words out of his mouth.
"I will leave you two alone to talk. I have to go check on Morgaine's progress. She said breaking the silence that had fallen across the hut. "I will be back soon." She stated as she walked away out of her quarters.
Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar sat in a silence that seemed to fill the whole hut for a whole minute before either of them said anything. Even when Lancelot finally spoke up, his voice was not its usual strong baritone, and was more like a young child struggling to breath. "So you and I are to be married." He said trying not sound like a bigger man than he was really feeling at the moment.
"Yes." Gwenhwyfar shortly answered, afraid to say anything that might upset him.
"Now I could be wrong, but you don't seem especially surprised at my Mother's announcement. Did you know about this?" Lancelot asked as he paced around the table.
"Yes."
"Really!" Lancelot said surprised that Gwenhwyfar actually knew about his mother's decision. "How long have you known?"
"I just found out yesterday actually. Believe me it was as much a shock to me as I can see on your face when I first found out." Gwenhwyfar answered in a quiet voice.
"No I am not in shock. I just am very surprised." Lancelot assured Gwenhwyfar. "I will tell you the truth though. I did not expect to get married anytime soon."
"Ever since I entered the service of the goddess, I did not expect to get married at all." Gwenhwyfar said as slowly gained more confidence. She knew that these moments now were pivotal and chose her next words very carefully. "If you want the truth from me, at first I was very shocked and scared to marry you. But I know that I have special feelings for you, and I will be very happy to marry you." She watched Lancelot's face to see his reaction to her answer, and was surprised when he just looked at her and then sat back down at the table.
"You have only known for one day? I am surprised, I would have thought my mother would have told you and kept you waiting for at least a week." Lancelot said surprised.
"I will understand if you do not want to marry me. I just want you to know that I admire you greatly, and would be happy as your wife." Gwenhwyfar shyly said and waited for Lancelot's answer.
Lancelot sat looking at Gwenhwyfar for a few seconds before he spoke. It was in those few moments that he realized how much he really liked the beautiful women sitting in front of him. "Well, if you do not object, I would be happy to marry you to." He stated with a smile.
"Really?! Please do not marry me just because your mother tells you to. I have never liked the idea that my father would have made an arranged marriage for me if I had not joined the order, and I would not want to get married if you did not want me."
"No Gwenhwyfar. Ever since I first saw you I have had feelings for you." He assured her as he moved closer to where she sat at the dining table. "I know now that those feelings have grown to love and I do not think I could be happy marrying anyone but you." Lancelot then took Gwenhwyfar's hand and placed a very gentle kiss upon the top of her hand that she knew showed truly how much he loved her. It was just then that Vivian returned, walking silently into the hut.
"So is everything going all right in here?" She asked when she walked into the hut.
"Everything is fine mother." Lancelot answered her.
"How is Morgaine doing Vivian? I know she was nervous this morning." Gwenhwyfar asked.
"She is preparing well. I have come to get the both of you to see her off. She will be leaving for the ceremony soon."
"Yes Vivian. We will come to see her off directly." Gwenhwyfar said as she stood. They then walked back to the dock silent as they slowly trudged along the path. Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot kept stealing little glances at each other as they walked. Vivian could tell that her son and the young priestess had changed. She could feel the love that had started to radiate off of the two young people, and assumed that she would not have to convince them that their union would be a wise event.
When they finally made it to the dock, they all found Morgaine waiting. She was sitting on a chair on the launch with a wooden mask on her head and a cloak wrapped around her. She was clutching the thick cloth around her like it was a safety blanket that would protect her from what was to come. "Morgaine, be safe and make us proud. May the goddess watch over you." Vivian blessed Morgaine as the Avalon guards took their places around the young priestess and pushed the launch away from the dock.
As Morgaine watched the shore slowly become obscured by the mist, she knew that now she was on her own. She knew she would have to trust her own instincts, and that a new time in her life was starting. A time that would surely bring new joys, new sorrows, new hardships, and new events to complicate her life.
So that's it for this chapter, please send me reviews and venture over to read my other stories! Have a nice day!!!