Learning the Ways

[Mystical Avalon]

Morrigann rode hell bent for the castle praying for a bit more light. She found herself just outside the walls when the men caught her horse.

"Mistress Morrigann, you are forbidden outside the walls and at this time of evening. You could be killed or worse" the elder said taking her horse.

"Yes, Darcerean. I needed a bit of air please do not tell my father for he shall have your head as well as my own" she said. She thought much of this man, Darcerean. He was a faithful warrior to her father and had on several occasions wondered her with tales of fierce battles when twas forbidden.

They walked in silence him leading her riding until they came to the gates.

"Go I shall take your horse. Nothing said. Goodnight Mistress" he spoke bowing low. She felt the urge to hug him and tell him not to worry she was better the way it wouldbe but stopped. She gave him a warm smile and walked unseen into the keep and up the tower steps. No one came to her that night. She undressed alone and crawled under the blankets of fur on her bed. Staring at the moon, she felt a shiver run her spine. Times were about to change. Of that she could be so certain. Sleep never came for her. She lay tossing and turning in her sleep burning from dreams of her strange encounter. The warrior, a skilled lover, had awakened in her a passion nothing could seem to bridle. The Fay had a plan for her. She felt the stirrings inside her and knew with him she must be. She turned once more and drifted into dreams which lead her to him and the huntress. They shared fire and fed. They were very much alike. What magic possessed her today still lingered as if she could touch him. Slowly in a daze she reach her hand and stroked him hair. He turned suddenly as if she were there.

What happens now they would be bound to. Tomorrow she would ready herself to Avalon with him in tow. There what will be shall be.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn stood once again waist-deep in the stream, his bare torso growing cold as the evening fell. He stood poised, with his right hand up, waiting on the stream trout that was almost upon him.

"Huntress I may be, Master O'Bonn, and Wildling too, but my heart is not so cold as to sit and watch you fish. Come, why not share this brace of hares I caught earlier today? I can easily catch something bigger in the morning"

By the powers of Amalexia! Valanthe's call to him had scared the stream trout away! O'Bonn watched as it turned and rapidly swam downstream once again.

He pivoted and looked towards the bank, where Valanthe sat with her trapped conies. He sighed a heavy sigh. It was not meant for him to eat fish this day.

O'Bonn trudged upon the bank and donned his swordsman's shirt and chain mail. He then sat down beside Valanthe, pulling his unruly locks of golden white hair into a tail.

"Well," he said to her, "are we to eat them raw?"

 

[Screech]

"Well, are we to eat them raw?"

Valanthe laughed. "Why no master O'Bonn! I had intended to roast them on a great fire. One like... that"

Her runic tattoo's flared up breifly as a puff of sparks appeared over some dry wood, and quickly grew into a full fire. Valanthe idly gazed into the dancing flames for a while, before shaking her head, and returning her attention to the High Warrior by her side. She grinned widely as his gaze darted from her, to the fire, and back again.

"Yes, I can use magic, Master O'Bonn. But nothing like the spell that Mistress Morrigan hold over your heart"

Giggling slightly, Valanthe pulled out a hunting knife and began to skin her catch with an almost unnerving expertiese and flair

 

[lushlips18]

Lathia

Lathia sat down in the cool grass admiring the Tor. It was one of her favorite things in Avalon..well that and scaring those Christian ninny's that attended Glastonbury church. She had gotten in trouble a few time for going through the mist the sepreated the two. She gave a small sigh, and tried for what seemed like the millionth time to set the bundle of sticks on fire. Unlike most of the girls that lived in Avalon, Lathia had not been brough up here since her early child hood. She had just been brought to Avalon recently and she still had alot of catching up to do if she planned on becoming a priestess. Just as she began to focus on the sticks it started to rain hard. Go figure.. She exhaled giving a small sigh, at this rate she would never learn. Getting up slowly she glanced at the Tor deciding to walk up there it was said that it was the ost magical place in Avalon and maybe if she were lucky some would rub off on her.

 

[bullshot]

Gawain

Gawain was to all intensive purposes a scout for the Warlord Ur in actual fact he’d infiltrated the Warlords forces and because of his skill at woodcraft had got himself placed with the scouts. Unfortunately the only person who could verify this was Morrigann’s father, he’d been making his way to him when somehow he’d ended up on the isle of Merlin. With Morrigan’s father dead and her mother remarried it was impossible for him to prove that he wasn’t a traitor to human kind.

He had the information that they needed to thwart the Warlords next attack but he would only give it to somebody that he trusted, the priestesses where holding him as a virtual captive until somebody arrived. He had no idea who was coming but he wasn’t going to give the information to just anybody it had to be somebody of high enough rank to use the details he had.

Although he was a prisoner he was able to wander the island freely, the only way off was by magical means and he didn’t have the powers that he knew his cousin had so he couldn’t leave unaided.

The priestesses were all beautiful but he daren’t try anything with them for fear of death. There were also a few novices but because of his status as a traitor they were polite to him but wouldn’t have anything more to do with him.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Morrgiann spet fitfully. She dreamed of her cousin Gawain in Avalon. She saw him but was unable to reach to him. She watched her actions of the day and was pressed to punish herself. She tossed in her bed and moaned loudly. Her dreams always carried truth of that Viviann had been certain. Jerking awake from this last fit, she saw the first lights of day on the horizon. She would speak briefly to her mother and be on her way to him Avalon. She would meet the two at the waters edge where she had left them. Sighing she crawled from under the warmth of the pelts and dressed quickly in her dark robes and dress. Easing her way down the corridor, she heard voices coming from inside her mothers chambers.

"We must make ready to take them. They sit at the edge of the forrest just beyond the willow trees sire" she knew the voices. They had followed her!! Damn them, she thought.

"Yes sire, Morrigann was with this strange man. He coupled with her for what seemed like hours. No sire, she did not resist" the words stung her deep within her heart. Her "father" had no business.

Bursting inside, she yelled at them all

"Damn you each one for your insolence. I am no child and refuse to be treated so. You will have no day for recogning Uther Pendragon. I spit on you and in the name of Avalon I curse you" I screamed pointing my finger at him. I turned and ran then, faster than I ever ran out into the castle square. The horse, the guards horse, was tethered just beyond the bridge. Begging the Goddess for help, I ran. Closing my eyes, I pictured my voice carrying to them.

YOU 0 BONN AND VALANTH ARE NOT SAFE, I RIDE TO YOU NOW FOR FEAR OF MY LIFE. YOU ARE IN DANGER THERE WILL BE NO TIME TO WAIT. YOU MUST GO, MAKE HASTE TO THE BARGE BY THE RIVER GLASTON NEAR THE CHURCH. THERE I WILL BE WHEN YOU ARRIVE.

She wanted to ride with him, to at least touch him but his life was in danger. She needed him alert. She had raised her voice in calling. They would hear, she only hoped, and be gone when she arrived. They would meet in the mysts. She would take them both to Avalon and deal with her mother and Uther there by the Gods.

 

[Screech]

Morning had broken and, as her instincts had told her to, Valanthe have moved away from the camp in order to hunt some game. Luck had been with her in this, as she had found a boar. It was still relativly tired from just waking up itsself which made her job so much easier.

A quick flick of her wrist sent one of her knives sailing through the air and lodging into the beast's skill, killing it instantly. Smiling with pride, she went to gather up her kill.

Then, her mind exploded with a burning pain as words formed. YOU 0 BONN AND VALANTH ARE NOT SAFE, I RIDE TO YOU NOW FOR FEAR OF MY LIFE. YOU ARE IN DANGER THERE WILL BE NO TIME TO WAIT. YOU MUST GO, MAKE HASTE TO THE BARGE BY THE RIVER GLASTON NEAR THE CHURCH. THERE I WILL BE WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Valanthe staggared and shook her head to clear the dieing embers of the momentary pain. They... were in danger? Then she had best return to master O'bonn as soon as possable! Retrieving her knife, Valanthe span on her heel and spend back to camp

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn had fed his horse, and watched a few birds sailing high on the morning winds. This place was peaceful, yet he felt the brooding harbinger of war upon him.

And then a longing suddenly, for Morrigann. With it came a warning, and then a sense of imminent danger. He mounted his horse and called into the forest for Valanthe.

 

[Screech]

Valanthe stumbled back into the clearing, her exertions leaving her short of breath. She stumbled and leaned against a tree, breathing hard. "You... hear it... too? Then... we had best... get going..."

She knew that the river Glaston lay to the south a fair ways, but did not know if this particular stream would intersect with it. On slightly wobbly legs, she walked over to O'Bonn. "The river... is south. I can guide you... when we get close"

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn reached down, offerring his hand to help her mount the black steed.

"Then South we shall ride," he told her.

He must get to Avalon. There, that place held for him answers, and the one who knew these answers was an enemy of the free peoples.

What had fate brought forth upon him now? Would his father, the king, curse and spit upon him for making love to Morrigann by the water's edge? Or, would there be blood and battle upon his arriving at Avalon?

And what of this one that now clung to him as he spurred Frazah into a gallop?

 

[Screech]

Valanthe had been helped up onto Master O'Bonn's horse just before it bolted away to the south. The speed of the steed was truly amazing, and it caused her to hold tight to O'Bonn as he guided it through the woodland

Thaughts of her adopted home, Avalon, passed through her mind. Thaughts of days past and days to come. Prevailent amongst her thaughts were those that she had never before failed to return to Avalon without a catch for the table.

Valanthe smiled slightly to herself as she considered just how different a 'catch' the High Warrior was to those she normally braught back....

 

[lushlips18]

Lathia

Lathia awoke in the grass looking around confused for a moment. She must have fallen asleep. She stood up slowly her clothes and hair drenched from the rain. She knew she would be scolded once she returned to the priestesses for staying out all night. She glanced around at the view from the Tor once more and let a sigh escape from her lips. Maybe today she would be able to create fire and pass one of her tests. She had already mastered the other elements and after fire there was only one more task to learn...the parting of the mists that covered Avalon.

 

[dragonrazor]

Mercurius carried a back of freshly picked herbs, acquired for the person who he had apprenticed to, the powerful Druid priest Merlin. He had picked the herbs for use in Merlin's potions and powders, and Merlin always demanded fresh-picked herbs. As he walked, he found himself singing the songs the Priestesses had taught him. As he looked up, he spotted one of the female apprentices. He had met the girl before, and she sometimes would sit there staring at the sky. He figured she must have fallen asleep outside again, and shook his head slowly. That's when he felt a sort of mental tugging, almost as if someone had used the powers Merlin had said he could use.

"A curse? I have to tell Master Merlin." With that, Mercurius took off, heading for the glade that housed the ancient tower Merlin used as his home. When he finally got there, he was out of breath. He pushed open the door, and started calling for Merlin.

---

Merlin was in his study, and had felt the same tugging. He was busy looking through his books, and had almost fallen out of his chair. When he looked up, he saw his student, his apprentice, standing in the doorway, almost leaning against it, puffing for breath.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

The horse she rode on was fast. The wind whipped her hair around her face as she rode for Hell or Not. She passed through the trees where she had met him and into the willow grove. As she slowed she saw they had left no trace they had been here. Catching their voices, she turned the horse to them and towards the Glaston River. Through the grove trees, she rode. Her mind filling with images, death, birth. She stirred in the saddle but pressed on. The Glaston was but a few miles from the castle and even less by the way of the willow grove. From somewhere in her mind, she called to Avalon and the priestesses.

Danger has befallen us weary travelers and as we make for the shores of the mysts to Avalon, we ask only safe passage.

Her last thoughtas she reached the shores of the Glaston was for him. Let him be safe. Let him be well.

 

[lushlips18]

Lathia

Lathia snapped out of her thoughts when a thought not of her own came into her head.

Danger has befallen us weary travelers and as we make for the shores of the mysts to Avalon, we ask only safe passage.

Avalon had always accepted refugees as long as they were not wanted for high crimes. But something told her that this visitor would be special. There were not many people who could project their thoughts unless they had been taught her at the isle or from another priestess.

Will you need a barge to meet you or have you aquired one yourself? And can you open up the mists?

 

[bullshot]

Gawain

Gawain woke early as was his usual practice and went for a morning walk to wake up properly before breakfast, he’d seen the young apprentice asleep on the grass and smiled at the foolishness of youth.

He thought about waking her but decided against it walking on quietly not even breaking the odd twig that was around using his skill at woodcraft to let her sleep.

He hadn’t gone far when a sudden pain came into his head causing him to stumble it took him a few moments to realise what it was and who it was from. Being Morrgiann’s cousin had a few disadvantages her mother and his were sisters Morrigiann’s mother and father both had the power neither of Gawain’s had it but a little existed enough for him to recognise that Morrigiann had screamed an urgent message which he didn’t understand.

He knew it was her because the only previous time it had happened was when she was hurt as a child and his Aunt had gone looking for her. Expecting trouble he turned and started to retrace his steps.

He came upon the apprentice he thought her name was Lathia or something like that, she looked a little unsure of herself.

“Did you hear the message?” he asked her. “What did it say?... I know it was from Morrigian my Cousin, but I can't receive the message,” he explained his interest.

 

[lushlips18]

Lathia

Lathia gave a wide look. Could he mean the Morrigiann that was neice to the Lady of the Lake? She would defintly help them as much as she could now.

"She's in danger and on her way here. Tell me do you know if she cand open the mists?", she asked now trouble to hear that the Lady of the Lake's neice was in trouble. She had heard many things about Morrigiann mostly how her aunt wanted her on the isle to train her to take her place. An honor many were in awe of.

 

[dragonrazor]

Merlin and his apprentice walked out of the tower, heading for the shore of the island. Merlin figured they might need a boat and a net, and was busy getting one, while Mercurius scanned the water around.

 

[bullshot]

Gawain

“Knowing Morrigiann she wouldn’t be fleeing here unless she knew how to get through the mists. If she’s being pursued what better escape route than one you can navigate but your followers can’t,” Gawain replied to the young apprentice.

“I just don’t know who would be chasing her so close to her fathers castle, I’m on my way to collect my weapons just in case,” he added.

“Now I suggest you get back and get out of those wet clothes before you catch something that can harm you,” he suggested to her.“In case you didn’t know I’m Gawain and if I remember correctly you are called Lathia,” he introduced himself.

“Are you coming?” he asked as he headed for the castle.

 

[lushlips18]

Lathia

Gawain....that explained everything. The wet clothes didn't really bother her but it was no way to greet the important guest that would be arriving. She gave a small nod and began to make her way back to her quarters. If someone was after Morrigian surely they would have to answer to the Lady of the Lake. Things were already changing on the isle. It was becoming harder to find and the balance that was once shared between the Mother Goddess and the Christian God was beginning to disappear. Could Avalon withstand a war?

 

[Screech]

O'Bonn and Valanthe had been riding hard and, thanks to her guiding, had made it through the woodland and accross the plains at record speed, and on a straight line for the ferry. Still, throughought the journey, she clung to him.

At last they reached the banks of the misty river. Swiftly, Valanthe disounted and gazed out into the mists. Normally she could pass through the mists with no trouble. But with someone accompanying her, she had no idea how difficult it would be.

Idly, Valanthe smoothed back some of her hair and breathed a heavy sigh. "Well, we're at the mists, Master O'Bonn. Just beyone lies Avalon, and sanctuary"

 

[NaughtyHogwarts]

Name: Tree
Race: Half-Human, Half-Unknown
Description: Tree stands 6'1, with one eye as blue as water and one eye as green as the tree's she's named for,upon her body are strange tattos she knows nothing about, Tree was left in the woods after her birth and raised by Wood Dwellers, a master of the bow and knive, she has the ablity to calm animals.

Tree sat under a large tree, carving something out of a piece of wood she had just found. she smiled as the wood begain to revile what it wanted to be. Tree knew ,that like all things around her, it would shape itself into what ever it wanted to be. For Tree the joy was finding what it would be. For nearly six years know, she had lived in these woods with only the animals for company. The Wood Dwellers, whom had raised her had moved on. Some back to Avalon, some to other woods.
Tree carred nothing about this. She didn't think of her time on Avalon. It was to painfull. For even with all it's wonders, she still stood out in Avalon. Every where she went people stared and pointed. Many wondered who or what she was.
The only happy memory she had of Avalon was of Morrigian. She had thought they were freinds in the time Tree had spent on Avalon. But upon her 'removal' she was no longer sure. It had been nearly ten years since she had last seen Morrigian.
Tree carved as the animals of the forrest watched. She knew if anyone passed her way they would let her know. Even the tree's would tell her. Nothing happened in these woods that Tree didn't know about.

 

[dragonrazor]

By the time the others had found out about Morrigan being on her way to Avalon, Mercurius had found the net they would need to fish her out of the water. How he had known she'd be in the water was a mystery to him, but Merlin had a good idea apparently. Merlin had already prepared the boat, and took the net onboard as Mercurius climbed on. It was an old fashioned riverboat, with a flat bottom and a pole to move it. Mercurius moved the boat, and Merlin watched the water for any signs of Morrigan.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

She kept watch from the brush she had been hiding behind as they approached. She heard the elven voices speak. It was they. She walked onto the shores and greeted them..


"You made it. We must go into the mists" she said her voiced hushed. How she longed for her companion Tree. She would hide them from those outside.


Sighing, Morrigann raised her arms as if in a surrender and began to lower them to her sides. At chest length, she turned her head to the sky and closed her eyes. Summoning through the mists was a task she had learned easily enough. The silent waters gave way as the boat bearing the shormen from Avalon eased to the waters edge.

"Come, we have no time to waste" she said as she took his hand. Valanth and O'Bonn stepped lightly into the simple wooden barge. Off they made their way into the mists. She turned to both of them and spoke.

"It is unusual for a priestess to bring unattended guests to the isle Warrior. You shall sit here, on the barge and speak not a word my love." She smiled and touched his skin. A jolt of electricity ran through her and she gingerly kissed him on the lips.

Again, she stood tall, raising her arms and with all her power, she summoned the mists to part. Slowly, the darkness eased and from the wet dimness, beauty and color bounded into their sight as Avalon came into view. They were there, safe. At least for now.

 

[InnerKitty]

Viviane awaits

Her rest had been tortured by dreams riddled with strange and unsettling visions. A beautiful elfin man making love to her... no Morgainne! She fought to reach her neices mind, to remind her of her folly with the elven prince...Prince? Oh gods above, Mother what are you devising, she thought in her fevered sleep. She reached for the mind of the fey "IT IS FORBIDDEN!" but he too ignored her warnings... Something ... someone was weilding magic here and blocking Vivane. She awoke with a start sharing the orgasims of both beings at once. Covered in sweat, she slowly arose from her bed and stripped her wet clothing from her body. She could still feel the elves touch, still feel the need of her neice... "Foolish Child! what have you done! After all we have accomplished.... what have you done?" As she paced the small cell of a room she had not so distant thunder rolled...somewhere near the tor rain began to fall, nearer here the winds picked up and shutters began to beat agains the windows... lighting flashes, but those watching would say it only flashed near vivanes home. For the rest of the evening and deep into the night Vivane tried to reach her neice's mind to no avail, something blocked her which was unusual in itself. She called her maid to her, washed the sweat from her body and dressed in dry clothing... the rain had subsided and the wind had gone... "Oh Mother goddess... please what do you want of us?"

She fell asleep in her chair as the night wore on...As dawn awoke her with its gentle light. she felt the impending growth of power outside Avalon. The same as she felt the day before blocking her from Morgainne. She heard her call to her lover,though not what it said exactly, but images...

She heard the call to Avalon proper, her neices thoughts clear.
She gathered her skirts around her and hurried off to meet Morgaine... she wanted to know what other surprises the goddess had in store. "Please mother let us be up to your tests..."