Chapter Four
Author's Note: Hey I have finally updated again. I am sorry I have not done it in so long. I have no excuse I am just lazy. Also I noticed that I changed a few things from chapter three so that those details do not add up with what I put in chapter four. Please don't be mad I like what I thought up four chapter four better, and like I said I'm lazy! Please enjoy, and have a nice day!
Chapter Four
Morgaine sat on the launch and noticed that her heart had started to speed up. It no longer was in sink with the gentle rhythm that was created by the guards steady rowing. The guards were silent as the launch hit the shore, and it was then that Morgaine saw them. There were people lined up along a path lit by torches, and they were all looking at her. Their stares bore all the way into her bones and made a chill run all the way down her spine.
Morgaine knew there was no chance for her to turn back now, so she took a very hesitant step forward and was immediately flanked by the women who would help prepare her for the ceremony. Morgaine started to walk down the pathway and the drums started their rhythmic pattern. At first it was simple, but steadily it grew louder and more intricate the farther she stepped down the path.
Then she saw him, the hunter. He was standing upon the hill that rose above the pathway dressed in animal hide clothes and a wooden mask that was similar to Morgaine's own. She stopped when she saw him and they both looked at each other. Then suddenly he was gone, running down the hill with two guards following close behind. Morgaine watched him go and then felt the women that were gathered around her gently push towards the cave that was waiting at the end of the trail. She walked through the large opening and then she saw what she truthfully had hoped would not be in the cave.
A large bed sat up against the center wall of the cave. It was covered in all sorts of blankets and animal hides that provided ample cushion and made the bed seem even larger than it already was. Morgaine walked towards the bed and took off the cloak that was wrapped around her body like a second skin. The women beckoned for her to get on the bed and turn around to face the entrance so she could greet the hunter. After she sat down the women arranged her thin gown and used a special incense to anoint the bed before they left her alone. Morgaine knew this was to make sure the night would go smoothly and correctly, but she secretly wished things would go wrong. She was now more terrified than she had ever been in her whole life.
The drums started their faster beat and that's when she saw him. He walked through the entrance like a wolf stalking his prey and stared at Morgaine chilling her all the way down to her bones. When he started to walk towards the bed, all Morgaine could do to try and protect herself was pull the animal hide coverings up closer to her chin. It was an action that was hindered by the hunter's strength, as he pulled in the other direction. As Morgaine pulled the covers higher she could feel them being ripped from her hands by the man who was now at the foot of the bed. She tried to keep the hides over herself, but her strength was no match for his. He steadily pulled the covers off Morgaine and started to crawl over her pining her down into the bed. Morgaine knew it was impossible to see the man's face with the wooden mask covering it, but for some reason the hunter seemed very familiar. Morgaine was trying to figure out who the man could be but was distracted by his hand trailing up his thigh. The intense feelings he was causing in her were something that she had never felt before. Her body felt so alive when the hunter caressed her, and all she could think of was getting as close as possible to the mysterious man who was causing such wonderful feelings in her body. Before she knew it the hunter had pulled her dress up around her waist and was leaning into her. Morgaine wanted to protest, but her words were shattered when he entered her. She felt do alive and knew that a portion of her life was starting that she would not be able to turn back on. The rest of the night was a blur for Morgaine. She knew all the feelings the hunter was pulling forth from her had to mean something, but yet she knew they couldn't come forth. After the ritual was done in the morning, Morgaine would likely never see the masked man who had made her feel so good again.
The next morning Morgaine woke up early and remembered what had happened the night before. She heard a sigh and looked to the other side of the bed and saw that the hunter was still slumbering peacefully next to her. She watched the man slowly breathe in and out for a few seconds and was tempted to lift his wooden mask off his face to get a better look at him. It was amazing that all through the night, not only his mask, but her own to had stayed on. Morgaine knew she was supposed to leave the mask on all night, but she had expected the tie to come apart at some point. She was reaching over to push the wooden mask off of the hunter's face when the women who had blessed her last night came to the entrance of the cave. They walked silently and said nothing to Morgaine. But Morgaine knew they were coming to retrieve her, to escort her back to the guards of Avalon. Morgaine took one last look at the sleeping man beside her and then got up from the bed.
She adjusted her robes, and walked out by the women who were waiting for her. They watched her with eyes that seemed to pierce into her very soul, but Morgaine held her head high and strong. She was a priestess of Avalon, one of those chosen to serve the mother goddess; she had to stay strong in front of the women. She walked on down the path to where the guards silently stood waiting for her on the shore line. When she sat down once again in the chair on the raft, she finally relaxed after being watched by so many people.
She thought back about what had happened to her the night before and only then removed the wooden mask from her face. She was trying to imagine who the hunter could have been, and knew that at one time she would have wished he would have been Lancelot. When she had first met Lancelot two years earlier, she had felt an attraction that she knew only went one way. That attraction was still present in her, but she knew it did not burn as brightly as it had a year ago. Morgaine supposed that that was a good thing considering Lancelot was to marry Gwenhwyfar in the morning. She had thought that she would be bothered by the wedding and the two lovers' obvious affection for each other for a long time. But the Beltane rite's had done something to her, it had changed her in some way. She felt different. I guess you could say she felt more alive and wiser to the world. She was happy for Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar, and she would not do anything to try and ruin their day. She was brought out of her musings as the launch hit the shores of Avalon and she was greeted by Vivian.
"Hello my child, may blessings of the goddess be upon you."
"Good morning Vivian, may the blessings of the mother goddess be upon you." Morgaine responded and bowed her head in acknowledgement to her mentor.
"I trust your night was a success?" Vivian asked as she started to walk down the path that lead into the heart of Avalon.
Morgaine was a little surprised and confused by Vivian's question. She didn't understand what else was supposed to happen other than her night with the hunter. Morgaine probably should have been suspicious of what Vivian was asking but only looked at her aunt closely before responding to her question. "Everything went fine Vivian; I believe the ritual was a success."
"Good." Was all Vivian said in reply and once again threaded the needle of suspicion in Morgaine's head. She was about to ask Vivian of there was anything she needed to say when she heard her name being called through the fog that was obscuring the path around Avalon.
"Morgaine, welcome back." Gwenhwyfar called out as she walked down the path with Lancelot. "How was your night?"
"It was fine thank you."
"Morgaine had a very productive night, but now it is time to get you ready Gwenhwyfar." Vivian interrupted before Morgaine could say anything else. "Lancelot you shall come with me, while Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar go down to the priestess chambers. You two will meet Raven in the bathing hut and she will know how to take care of you two." Vivian said with a look on her face that clearly expressed how she no longer wanted the conversation to continue. "We will see you again when the sun is high." She finished and started to walk off in the opposite direction.
Lancelot turned to take one last second to talk to Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine but didn't get a chance when he heard Vivian calling him from down the path. "Come now Lancelot, we do not have much time." Even far off down the path, Vivian's voice was as strong and commanding as ever.
"Well Morgaine, now that Vivian is gone, tell me the truth how was last night?" Gwenhwyfar asked as she steered Morgaine down the path towards the cleansing hut.
"I was scared to death. I was lead to the cave, and the hunter came like Vivian said, and then … well you know what happened next." Morgaine answered sheepishly. She could feel the blush coming across her face and lowered her head to hide the emotions crawling across her face.
"Yes, of course I know what happened last night, but I'm the novice one here now, what was it like?"
"It hurt when he first started to go in but then I don't know how to describe it, it felt so different. It felt good, like I was exploring new parts of myself." Morgaine sighed. "This is so embarrassing; I can't believe I am talking about this."
"No you have nothing to be embarrassed about. From what I remember hearing in my father's court, men talk about their sexual conquests just as much if not more than women do." Gwenhwyfar said and laughed at her joke. "When I was little I remember listening to the guards and noblemen of my father's court. There were two things they loved to boast about, hunting and their sexual appetite."
"Well I you what it was like." Morgaine said with a smile across her face. "And we should concentrate on you now. Are you excited for today?"
"Oh yes. I honestly do not know what kind of wife I will make for Lancelot though. I have become so used to the ways of the goddess, that I am rusty on the ways to be a proper wife."
"Oh I am sure once you resume your duties outside of Avalon; they will come back to you." Morgaine guaranteed the nervous woman who walked at her side. "Gwenhwyfar, I need to say something to you and if I don't I feel like am not being honest with you."
"Morgaine whatever is the matter; you look as though you are going to be ill?" Gwenhwyfar asked turning toward Morgaine with concern draped across her face.
"Gwenhwyfar I want you to be honest with you because you have become like a sister to me, and soon you will officially be a part of my family. I want to tell you how I feel about Lancelot. For along time I was in love with him. He seemed so perfect and was so handsome, I think I fell love with him on the inside but hid it from everyone." Morgaine continued hardly daring to lift her face which was now staring down at the ground.
"Morgaine I really do not know what to say, I did not expect this at all."
"I know you did not, and I fell terrible for bringing it up on your wedding day, but I felt I needed to get it off of my conscience. I also wanted to tell you that I know that my feelings have changed. I would not have been able to go through with last night f they had not changed. Do you hate me?"
"No I do not hate you, I just am surprised. I did not expect this." Gwenhwyfar answered and then was silent for a few moments. "Morgaine I can understand you having feelings for Lancelot, and I thank you for being honest with me. Now we should not feel uncomfortable and talk about things that would vex us. I am getting married today and I would not want us to go through with the ceremony having ill feelings towards each other."
"You are too kind a person, you put me to shame." Morgaine beamed as they finally reached the bathing hut where Raven, Vivian's trusted servant, waited for them.
Four hours later Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar exited from the hut that they had been cooped up in for the whole morning. Morgaine had been washed of all of the patterns that had been painted on her body for the Beltane Rite's and had once again dressed in the traditional robes the priestesses of Avalon wore to do their duties. Gwenhwyfar had also been washed, but afterwards was dressed in the softest white garment she had ever felt. Flowers were strewn through her hair which had been curled and left to flow down her back. "Gwenhwyfar you look beautiful!" Morgaine exclaimed when she finally saw Gwenhwyfar again. "Lancelot is sure to go blind from the beauty that is radiating off of you."
"Thank you Morgaine, I fell beautiful."
"But wait you are missing one thing. There." Morgaine said and placed a wreath of woven wildflowers onto Gwenhwyfar's head. "Now we don't want to keep your bridegroom waiting."
"Thank you Morgaine, yes let us go." Gwenhwyfar said and was beaming as she walked to the top off the hill where she had taken her first step into her life in Avalon and had first seen Lancelot. She had climbed this hill many times since she had become a priestess, but never had she felt such apprehension or nervousness as she did while she steadily made her way up. She knew she was happy, and could not understand why she felt so nervous at the moment.
Then she saw him. Lancelot was waiting for her at the top of the hill, and just as she had been dressed up, so had he. He was wearing a suit of fine new clothes and a breastplate that gleamed from the sun that was beating down from high above their heads. It seemed strange to Gwenhwyfar that Lancelot should be dressed up in full military regalia for his wedding, but he did look extremely dashing in his armor.
"Sisters we are gathered here today to join two who serve the mother goddess. May their union be a good event in a world that is full of hardship and unrest." Vivian's words broke Gwenhwyfar from her thoughts and signaled that she should take her place across from Lancelot. "We ask the mother goddess to bless this man and this woman and join them together at this day and time." Vivian turned and took a small knife and a white silk rope from the young priestess who was holding the blest items on a clean white towel draped across her arms.
"We use this dagger to join the two bloods to become one and join them with the ropes of life. Gwenhwyfar, Lancelot, hold out your right hands." Vivian then walked over and made a small slit across each of the right hands that were held out to her. She then pushed them together so that the two wounds that now had blood trickling down from the cuts were connected. "Blood to blood, we join these beings and bind them for all time." She finished and then wrapped the rope around the two clasped hands.
Gwenhwyfar heard Vivian's words and looked up to Lancelot. He was looking at her, and his face was plastered with a huge smile that seemed to spread from ear to ear. I t was then that the wind picked up and Gwenhwyfar noticed that all around the people on the hill everything was moving.
The leaves and blades of grass were billowing all over the place and seemed to be dancing patterns on the ground and all through the sky. The wind that was normally a gentle breeze cooling your face as you looked out over the water that surrounded Avalon was now blowing widely all over the place. I furrowed through Gwenhwyfar's hair and seemed to fill him with a new spirit.
Then it died down. The wind returned to its normal gentle breeze and the leaves and blades of grass returned to being still members of the earth. "Now Lancelot, you must leave us and go to Arthur at Camelot. The Saxons' are attacking and he will need your fighting skills to roust them from the land."
"Leave! No!" Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar both exclaimed at the same time. "You cannot be serious Mother."
"I know you two want to spend some time alone together, but Arthur needs you Lancelot."
"Surly I could just stay tonight and leave..."
"No. It is out of the question, you must leave immediately. After the fighting is over and Camelot is secure I will send Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine for the coronation." Vivian commanded. "Now go."
Lancelot knew not to second guess his mother's orders and after a few seconds turned and grabbed Gwenhwyfar's hand. "Come now my dear, see me off." He tensely said and started the trek down to the dock. After they were about halfway down the long hill, Lancelot had cooled off a bit and broke the tense silence by saying, "You know this is not exactly how I imagined my wedding night would go."
Gwenhwyfar couldn't help but smile at her husband's confession, and was relieved that his anger towards his mother had not lasted very long. She knew that they did not always have the best relationship, and wanted her family to get along with each other. She had seen and heard of kingdoms and families that were torn apart by bitter quarrels and were never brought together again. "How long do you think it will be before we may come to Camelot to see you?" Gwenhwyfar could remember all the times her father went away to fight in battles or for negotiations with other kingdoms. He would be gone for months at a time and she always missed him terribly.
"Hopefully not long. When Arthur and Morgaine were taken as children, Arthur was sent to be taught by Merlin. As well as being a powerful wizard, he is also a skilled fighter. I'm sure Arthur has been trained well, and we will have ousted the Saxons in no time." Lancelot answered Gwenhwyfar as they reached the docks where the guards were waiting to escort him to shore. "All right I will se you soon."
Gwenhwyfar looked ay her husband and realized that they had not kissed once ever since they had been married let alone known each other. Lancelot was already stepping onto the launch when Gwenhwyfar called out to him, "Lancelot wait. I forgot I wanted to tell you something."
"What?" He asked and stepped back to where his wife was standing."
"This." She calmly said and then reached up and connected their mouths for the first time. The only way to describe the kiss was magical. As soon as their lips had touched, Gwenhwyfar had felt a sparks go all the way through her body making her feel like she was on fire. "It just occurred to me that we have never done that before." She said after they finally parted from each other.
"How am I going to leave you now after a kiss like that?" Lancelot murmured as he rested his forehead against Gwenhwyfar's. Then with one last look and placing a kiss on his wife's hand he stepped onto the launch and watched as the shore became farther and farther away. He knew no matter what happened he would see his wife again and hopefully soon.