The Legend of King Arthur

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They sat together to eat. Melona didn't wish to be separated needlessly from her Papa; indeed, she intended to learn his skills and be a huntress one day. Her Papa listened to everything she wanted to tell him; he told her in turn how he had tracked the two stags today, and how he had gotten an arrow into the boar before it closed on the spearmen. He had not gone toe-to-toe with the boar himself on this occasion, because his right leg was still recovering from a goring a month ago. Knowing his child's ambition, he always made sure that Melona knew the perils of hunting large game. But he had no intention of forbidding her to learn hunting, for it would give her an alternative to being forced into an unwanted marriage at age fifteen. Not that HE would ever force her to marry a man repugnant to her; but only God knew if William Twyti would still be in this world when Melona was of nubile age.
 
She clipped her hands " Papa are you tell me another story tonight?," she asked, now sitting on his lap her tiny hand touched his cheeks.
 
Copperfox said:
OOC: There could be pagan characters who _claim_ that an Earth-Mother goddess exists, as long as the narrative made sure the readers know those characters to be _wrong_ on the subject. Be watching for what I will do with Merlin to deal with such things: a somewhat similar approach to that of Mr. Lewis in "Hideous Strength."

In fairness to Kim, _she_ may have intended her character's belief in a Goddess to be mistaken. I saw her post something this week about wishing to tell Wiccans about the Biblical God.
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Ginny_JillPole said:
Vivien sighed and place one hand in her head.
"You will be happy in your way, which might not be everybody's." She frowned staring at Morguase and then, smiled. "Indeed, you will."
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(ooc right. Druid culture believed in a Goddess. You cant have Arthur with out Druids, mythical or historical, lol they were there. Plus I think we all know Im Christian, and dont actually believe what my character does.)

I was puzzled, but pleased. Morgause took me back to Avalon where I grew and learned, waiting for the day my dreams, literally, would come true.
 
OOC to Dayhawk: I accept that you are a Christian, but you can't blame folks for wondering a _little_ bit about your intent, after things you've written like a story with a female Savior INSTEAD OF Jesus. I believe, though, that your actual intent here _already_ was to show paganism in the end as being in error where it contradicts the gospel of Christ. I offer the cooperation of Merlin toward that end; you'll see very soon how I plan to handle him.

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William Twyti was well known as a storyteller. His granting of little Melona's request was a favor to all the adults present as well.

"You all remember the reports I've heard and passed along, about Sir Pellinore and his oath-sworn hunt for the Questing Beast. You would think that it would be _easy_ to find a creature larger than a lion, with head and tail formed like a huge serpent strung through a lion's body. But the last time I crossed paths with Sir Pellinore, he told me how the Questing Beast eluded him by swimming across the Tyne River. So Pellinore built a raft...."
 
Sir Ector's London-bound caravan would pick up new companions tomorrow; for now, besides the presence of several armed men, the group of travellers had more of a protection with them than most of them even realized.

They had Merlin Ambrosius, tutor to Kay and Arthur.

Merlin did not need to ride a horse to travel. Some claimed he could fly; others claimed he could vanish in one place, to reappear instantly many leagues away. He could not do either of those things; but he had an ability to _lighten_ his body, so that gravity held it only loosely. Then he could _run_ faster than some horses, because then his plain physical strength, which was greater than his elderly appearance revealed, had so little burden upon its forward movement. In addition, he had supremely refined skills in stalking and hiding, greater than William Twyti's, by which he virtually could vanish. These gifts added to that awestruck regard most Britons had for him, whose greatest cause lay in Merlin's most purely supernatural gifts: his ability to foresee some future events, and his ability to break all evil curses if God had no cause to permit them to continue.

Now, Merlin was ranging hither and thither along the forest ways. In common opinion, he was watching out for any possible danger to his patron Ector and to Ector's heir Kay. In reality, though, Merlin was keeping guard over Arthur...for only Merlin, in all that procession, realized how important to Britain was the boy he had asked Ector to raise long ago.
 
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MAYBE NOT TOO SOON FOR A SUMMARY.


We are still in Arthur's childhood--or at THE END OF his childhood, for as soon as we get him to London he will have that sword out of that stone in short order. (This is generally thought to have happened around Christmas, but the current hurried prologue is not dependent on the season and weather.) Morgan le Fey, meanwhile, is beginning to be developed as a character off to one side. In Dayhawk's hands, Morgan seems not to have any evil intentions, but to be subject to corrupting influence from kinswoman Morgause. At the same time, up in Northumberland, we have met the famous Sir Balin, who is to be prominent early in the Arthurian saga, just beginning to be able to bear weapons. Balin's father is hard-pressed by the Saxons.

Sir Ector has appointed the huntsman Master William Twyti (who has some experience in war, and who could reasonably end up serving as an officer of Arthur's infantry) as warden of his castle while Ector and Kay are gone for the crucial tournament. Twyti has a little motherless daughter named Melona, who is intended to live an adventurous young womanhood in some PLAUSIBLE way. Among those accompanying Ector are a neighboring knight named Sir Grummore....and Merlin the wizard, played by your humble servant.
 
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Arthur was riding behind everyone. He didn't know why he felt uneasy at times during this journey. They were a lot closer to London by now and Arthur wished he knew what made him uneasy. He knew that this tournament was important to his big brother Kay, and also to Arthur for that matter. It was his beginning of his life as a squire. What he always wanted to be.
 
Arthur's horse passed an oak tree which all the rest of the procession had passed by without incident. But when Arthur came up even with the tree, somehow Merlin was sitting in it. The boy always had marvelled at how energetically his ancient-looking teacher could get around--even when wearing an axe at one hip and a short sword at the other, as now. Suddenly Merlin sprang lightly out of the tree, and was walking beside Arthur's horse.

"As you approach your future, my lad," said the wizard, "remember your brief past. Remember the visions you were granted of becoming beasts and birds, to learn that there were many paths and experiences in life. Squire or not, at home or away, there is much that you can bring to mind for your guidance.

"Try doing it now, therefore. Out of all you have learned, see if you can form original thoughts in reply to a question. Imagine that you are already in London, and you have seen a new King Of All Britons chosen and crowned. Imagine that this new King, a stranger to you, walks right up to you and asks you what his first royal decree ought to be. What would you suggest? Not a fair question, perhaps, when you know not the conditions in London just now. So what do you think are some possible orders he _might_ do well to issue?"
 
"Merlin! I was just thinking about you!"

Arthur pauses.

"Well, Merlin, I don't know what this new king will do. I would suppose it will depend on who this king will be. But I think he should be able to help the defenseless, the vulnerable.... I don't know."

Arthur looks at the others in the party, who are getting ahead.

"Please tell me Merlin, why was it that the others did not see you?"
 
"First, let us pick up our pace." When horse and wizard both were trotting briskly along, gradually catching up with the rearmost man-at-arms, Merlin half-laughed, "Not all things need to be done by higher powers. All I did was to cling like a squirrel to the far side of the treetrunk, until only you remained to pass by me. Store away this thought in your head, lad: what if I had been a bloody outlaw, waiting to murder the last rider in the column after letting the others pass in safety? Large armies have been made smaller by an enemy who knew such tricks.

"But to return to the matter of the next King: he most certainly _ought_ to concern himself with the well-being of the weak and the powerless. But what if he asked you how he could know _which_ persons were most in need of protection and help?"
 
Copperfox said:
MAYBE NOT TOO SOON FOR A SUMMARY.


We are still in Arthur's childhood--or at THE END OF his childhood, for as soon as we get him to London he will have that sword out of that stone in short order. (This is generally thought to have happened around Christmas, but the current hurried prologue is not dependent on the season and weather.) Morgan le Fey, meanwhile, is beginning to be developed as a character off to one side. In Dayhawk's hands, Morgan seems not to have any evil intentions, but to be subject to corrupting influence from kinswoman Morgause. At the same time, up in Northumberland, we have met the famous Sir Balin, who is to be prominent early in the Arthurian saga, just beginning to be able to bear weapons. Balin's father is hard-pressed by the Saxons.

Sir Ector has appointed the huntsman Master William Twyti (who has some experience in war, and who could reasonably end up serving as an officer of Arthur's infantry) as warden of his castle while Ector and Kay are gone for the crucial tournament. Twyti has a little motherless daughter named Melona, who is intended to live an adventurous young womanhood in some PLAUSIBLE way. Among those accompanying Ector are a neighboring knight named Sir Grummore....and Merlin the wizard, played by your humble servant.
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Thanks for mentioning Vivien :( Anyways.
 
OCC: HOLY CROW. I'm so sorry that I havent posted, however I have been keeping up with the story and such. I've had the busiest week and have just havent been feeling well. :( So I am trying to burst this writers block out of my head so keep in mind this first post may not be quite up to snuff :)

IC: Guinevere walked around the grounds of the castle. Her father was King Garlin of Galore and currently awaiting a vist from one of his gaurds; Guinevere was sure Rosalyn would be coming. She wore her best blue gown today and her hair braided, she continued walking around the grounds beginning to feel excited.

OCC: Again, I apologize that that post was a little icky. :o
 
Rosalyn waited impatiently as her father was talking to the rest of the knights that had gathered in the castle. Her father was one of the best knights in the court and close friends with the king. She sighed, knowing it would be forever until he excused her.
Her father sensed her anxiousness. "Yes, Roselyn, you may go search for Guinevere."
"Thank you, father!" she answered, and went to look for her close friend.
 
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"They fare well," she answered. "Mother is at home with the younger ones, and I decided to come with father here so I could see you again," Rosalyn said, smiling.
 
"When father told me that he was expecting your father to vist, I could not wait to see you! Its been far to long!" She smiled and hugged her friend again. "All is well at home I hope."
 
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