After a while, Tristran said dryly but Lancelot and Arthur could see the twinkle in his eyes, "You know, if you are just going to sit around all day staring at one another, that's fine by me. But, we do have a picnic to get on too."
Arthur and Cordelia's faces bloomed brightly and Emogen and Lancelot giggled at them like children.
Emogen smiled at her cousin, took her hand, and said, "We'll meet you three in a few minutes. We're going to find the other girls and gather our picnic! Tristran, I suppose you can find us a good place to set up?"
Tristran nodded his head and left the room while he dropped an empty apple core on the ground.
When Arthur and Lancelot were alone, Lancelot asked, "How are you really doing with all this?"
Arthur looked at his friend and sighed. He placed his head in both hands and said sadly, "I cannot believe that Guinevere attempted to murder her own cousin. It just doesn't seem likely. I mean, my mother always told me that family means everything to the Picts because of how their lives were lived thanks to Rome. But, here, I saw Guinevere so callously throwing her family away all for power? I guess I'll never understand a person's thirst for ultimate power."
"And THAT is why you will make a great king, Arthur." Piped in an old voice.
Startled, both Knights jumped to their feet and met the weathered old face of Connor. They relaxed and cautiously watched the old man as he sat down in his chair from before.
"Ah, is there something you need Lord Connor?" asked Lancelot taking up the position of caretaker since his rank was the lowest of the three gathered men.
The old Pict shook his head and said, "No, boy, I am fine. But, I think it is time that you Knights get a lesson in Pict history and government. The other Knights can learn from you what I tell you. I am to old to continue this struggle for power that Merlin and Merkin fight each day. Now, listen closely…"
It was many generations ago, but the story is still know to this day how our greatest and most powerful queen, Queen Boudicca, took up arms against the Roman Emperor at the time, Emperor Nero. During this time, Nero and Romans were harsh and evil. They ransacked our villages, raped our women, and killed our children for fun. The final offence was when the Romans raped Boudicca's own daughters and killed her king and husband.
In a rage, she stormed the Roman Empire with all she had. There were of course many battles either won or lost, but the most costly was the last battle in London(ium) where Queen Boudicca and General Paulinus faced off. Thousands of our children died that day, but Queen Boudicca made her point. Rome was so shocked at her severity of battle that they changed their policies into gentler ones. Now, Queen Boudicca had three daughters with her husband, Comorra, Tasca, and the hidden child, Brece. Comorra died in battle and Tasca ended up killing herself because of the shame that came with her rape.
Now, this is where the story starts to connect with how life is today. Brece grew up not knowing who her family was. She was raised by a sympathizer of Queen Boudicca that publicly allied itself with Rome. Brece grew up in a Roman environment and when she was old enough to understand, she was told her true parentage. She was a gentle girl, but she knew her duty. She left London and headed far west. When she arrived in the Lantin, in the far west, she married the prince there-Bruce. They had three daughters. The first-born was named Guinevere and she is whom our Guinevere is named for. For the next three hundred years, the bloodline of Queen Boudicca has been Briton's best-kept secret, My King. In the blood of Guinevere, Cordelia, and Emogen runs the purity and strength of Queen Boudicca, herself. Because of this purity that is in them, it also ran through their mothers, Aidia, Kornelia, and Etain. Merlin, Merkin, and Duncan are minor nobles in our society that came into power three generations ago. They had little to no influence in our lives before they married our beloved princesses. When Cordelia, Guinevere, and Emogen were born, the power that Merlin, Merkin, and Duncan gained from their wives' deaths and disappearances were challenged. By right and religion, the power truly rests with Cordelia, Guinevere, and Emogen and whomever they wed. They are the last of our purity, strength, and hope.
About 200 years ago, our rulers Queen Britianna and King Pagnan developed our current system of government. They separated the army into two divisions: Archers and Foot Soldiers. They also established the three Ladies of Power. Two of the Ladies of Power would become the Ladies of War. The last would become the Lady of Peace. It was with this three-angled support system that our government has survived. The Ladies of Power would have absolute power within their own environment like you saw earlier when Lady Emogen had Lady Guinevere escorted OUT of the Council Hall. Then they created the council, itself. On the council would be six men of high esteem and influence, the Three Ladies of Power, and the King and Queen themselves. Together they would devise the rules and regulations of the people-but the Lady of Peace would have supreme power over the peace talks despite the fact that the King and Queen were in attendance. Now, this power base is crumbling due to Lady Guinevere's desire to return our people to the old ways of Queen Boudicca's reign. Guinevere thinks that for a kingdom or queendom to work, the king and queen MUST have complete control of everything.
Now, their power is also made because of our religion. We embrace what the Romans call the Pagan Rights. But this is not true. What we truly celebrate and pray to are the seasons and the All-Mighty Lady Goddess and the Green Horned-Man. We have four annual festivals to celebrate the harvest, not specifically the Gods themselves. The first one is in the beginning of our calendar Imbolc when the ewes start to produce milk for their young and regeneration. Second is Bethane is during the warm season when all the land is green and fertile-good for growing crops. Third is Lugnasad when the crops would hopefully reach their ripened state so that during the next month the harvest would be plentiful. Lastly, is Samhain, which marks the end of our year and the ending of the harvest. We celebrate each holiday with a festival to give thanks to the Goddess and the Horned-Man for good tidings and ask for another good harvest in the upcoming year.
Now, the Goddess is closely tied together with the Horned-Man because they are the balance. Like we men and women balance each other out, they do as well. To us, the Goddess and the God are within each of us spiritually, in marriage, as well as in our offspring.
To us, the Goddess and the God are the balance as I said though the woman is more empowered in some aspects. They can be found anywhere on this blessed green earth. Imbolc and Bethane are connected irrevocably with the Goddess as Imbolc is the time when the land is renewed for it's yearly planting like the Goddess or a mortal female's body renews itself once a month for the arrival and nurturing of the child should there be one. Bethane is when the land is fertile and the land is warm like the Goddess and the woman whose body becomes fertile for a man or the Green-God to sow. Lagnasad is when the land is ripe like when the lady is ready to give birth and her lord is needed by her side to ready her body like a man and woman ready the land together to harvest the crops. Lastly, Samhain is when the crops are harvested like the woman who is ready to birth her child. While the lady is doing the work, her lord is close by to offer help and support during this blessed time. Now, the Green-Man is the one who takes care of the family, provides for it, and protects it. While the lady does the same, she is the primary caregiver, but she is no weakling. She will die for the protection and well being of her children. The man is the warrior. That is why he is depicted as the Horned-Man because the Deer is a warrior, provider, and protector of his family.
Listen closely now that you understand some of our customs; women are what give us life. They nurture us, protect us, guide us, and when we make mistakes-welcome us back into their arms and love us. For these reasons, the Goddess, the seasons and how they reflect the female body and spirit, and the nurturing natural instincts of the female is why our society is mostly Queendom. But, we understand that a balance is needed and so a King of equal prowess is needed to keep the balance of our world. Cordelia is our new Queen, she needs a king of equal power-you Arthur."
Lord Connor stiffly stood up, bowed slightly and said, "Now, if you'll excuse me My King, I have other duties to attend to."
Arthur nodded and said softly, "Yes, of course, and thank you for telling us all this. This had definitely helped us to understand some of the problems that exist within your people."
Connor nodded and left the hall. Lancelot looked to his captain and said, "Well, that is interesting. I had no idea Emogen, Guinevere, and Cordelia had such a lineage. That also explains why Cordelia and Guinevere were fighting for the role as Queen."
Arthur nodded. Before he could reply, Emogen and Cordelia appeared each with a basket under one of their arms.
"Are you two ready to go? The other Knights and their Lady loves are waiting for us, you know." Teased Emogen with bright eyes as Lancelot wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple in hello.
Arthur offered his arm to Cordelia. She smiled and took his arm. As they walked to the others, Arthur said, "Lord Connor has also announced his support of me as King. That makes sixty percent of the Woads here will support me. Plus, he told Lancelot and I a delightful tale about the origins of your family-line and just why the three of you have been fighting for control over your people."
Cordelia smiled a bit stiffly and said, "Yes, well, he must have had a good reason for telling you both since we don't even tell our husbands should they not be of our people because its such a secret."
Lancelot added, "He told us to tell the other Knights so we all can come to understand the intricacies of your people and help out as much as possible. I think he did this because he knew Arthur would become King and I, as his second and Gen's lover, would be closely tied to the line of Queen Boudicca. Plus, the other Knights will be close to Arthur in council-it only makes sense."
The two Princesses nodded as they arrived in the clearing where seven horses waited. All but two had people sitting on them.
Galahad cried out, "Finally! I thought I'd die of starvation because you were taking so long!"
Gawain laughed loudly and said, "Like you've never gone without a meal before! You're just anxious to get Lady Enys alone!"
Enys, Mistress of Healing and the fancy of Galahad, blushed deeply as her beau held her closer and stuck his tongue out at his best friend. The four just shook their heads and mounted Vertigo and Cagne, Arthur's horse.
The Knights automatically looked to Arthur. He took the reigns but it was Cordelia that said, "Ride!"
Her tone was gentle but commanding, so commanding actually, that the Knights did as they were ordered to. It was as if they had been following her orders for as long as they had been with Arthur. Merlin and Merkin who had been watching from the dense foliage, on different sides of the forest of course, smiled. Arthur and Cordelia would make good rulers-the greatest since Cordelia's ancestors themselves.
After riding for about ten minutes, they come upon Tristran and Ula waiting for them on his horse kissing!
"Ooohh...what do we have here?" teasingly called Alma from in front of Gawain. The lion-like Knight put his face into her neck and shoulder to stifle his laughter but found her scent wonderful and started to nuzzle the warm skin instead.
Ula broke the kiss and said off-handedly, "I think we were kissing. Is that a problem? Besides, I think you are more involved with what Gawain in doing to you neck than what Tristran is doing to my lips."
Lancelot laughed and said, "That's a good one Ula! You and Tristran will be perfect for one another!"
The dirty blond hared brown eyed Healer nodded with a sly smile as she added, "And don't think I don't know what happened last night either Lancy! I saw you go into Gen's hut! She was supposed to SLEEP not have fun!"
Lancelot's eye twinkled madly as he said, "Well, I couldn't help myself. She's such a wonderful woman-so warm and soft."
Emogen felt her face flame up and she shrieked indignantly, "Lancelot! We did no such thing!"
He nuzzled her neck and said softly and warmly into her ear, "Ah, but we did end up in bed together, with no clothes on might I add, and you are definitely soft and warm-I told no lie."
Emogen's eyes widened and she smiled. He was right. Let Ula think as dirty as she wanted. She deserved it since she's gone without a lover for nearly two years now. Perhaps Tristran can help her with that? She asked herself mischievously.
Cordelia interrupted with a smile, "Okay, okay, where is the picnic area Tristran?"
Tristran looked at his soon-to-be new queen and said, "A mile away. There is a big clearing, big enough to have friendly spars, a friendly shooting competition, and even a small lake and waterfall to swim and cool off in."
Arthur nodded to his scout and said as he took control of Cagne's reigns, "Let's get to it then! It's almost mid-afternoon, and we've yet to eat!"
Very quickly the charging horses, made it to the clearing that Tristran and Ula found. It was beautiful. Each woman thought to herself at the same time If not for the Circle of Rocks, this is where I'd like my wedding to be. At the same time though, the Knights, including Arthur and Dagonet, all thought This is a good place to take her into my bed!
Okay, this is a little short, but I thought that since the last chapter was a little longer than normal, it'd balance itself out. I hope you enjoyed the history of the Woads hierarchy and how Guinevere, Cordelia, and Emogen's power struggle with their fathers and themselves all fit in. Please review and tell my what you think!