The Legend of King Arthur

Status
Not open for further replies.
"I agree. It's been far too long. Father's just been occupied at home with helping mother around ever since my sister Ivy's been born," she explained. "And mother wanted to keep me home as well, but I insisted on coming."

ooc: I gtg for about 10 minutes.
 
OOC to the ladies: Is that Rosalyn-Guinevere scene supposed to be in the adulthood of those characters? Arthur is still on the young side of adolescence; we need to hurry and catch him up....


Merlin kept Arthur talking about what kings ought to do, until Sir Ector's party came in sight of the walls of London. Here they were met by men-at-arms in the service of King Uriens, one of the regional kings who were especially hopeful of gaining the high kingship. Sir Grummore was wary of Uriens, but did not detest him as he detested Lot.

Ector's contingent was smaller than many parties of the southernmost fiefdoms; but Merlin was well enough known that his presence with Ector lent plenty of prestige. Uriens had a lodge just outside London, and invited Ector's party to dine with him. At one point during the exchange of courtesies, Merlin contrived, as if by chance, to look Uriens in the eye. Something passed both ways at this contact of souls: Uriens came to realize that things could go very badly for him if he tried any treachery against Ector, while Merlin came away confident that Uriens DID NOT intend any treachery anyway.

At supper, Uriens expressed interest in what predictions Merlin, Ector and Grummore might venture for the kingship--especially Merlin, of course. The wizard said this much: "If all of the prominent lords practice as much integrity as I foresee that the new king will, Britain shall be a happy realm indeed."

Meanwhile, back at Ector's castle, several girl children of thralls came to play with Melona; these girls were curious about whether it were true that Melona's father was teaching her unladlylike accomplishments like tracking beasts.
 
Last edited:
Melona's father had to be in the stables just then, assisting with treatment of a sick horse; but he had assigned a womanservant named Gertrude, who was well known to Melona, to look out for her.

"What may the matter be, sweet Melona? Your Papa bade me watch over you until he comes back in."
 
Gertrude lifted the distressed child in her arms. "Your Papa has to help a sick horse get well. You don't want the poor horsie to say sick, do you? Now you tell Gertrude what the matter is; your Papa will hear about it soon enough."
 
"Did you fall, my dear lambkins," asked Gertrude, "or did someone strike you? For now, your Papa's word is law in this castle, so let me know what he ought to know."
 
"Tell me at once who did this; and if you know WHY it was done, tell me that also."


OOC: No doubt the usual thing about the adventurous girl being harassed for not conforming.
 
Last edited:
OOC: Hannah is definitely logged off. This is a bad time to leave plot elements dangling in the childhood prologue; soon we will have made the shift to later. So Hannah, I'm gambling that I'm right in my guess, that other girls turned against Melona for being tomboyish, and Gertrude will speak accordingly.


"Listen well, sweetling. You have seen herds of horses, I'll warrant. From a herd of horses, most may be taken for the plow, or maybe most for war. But sometimes just ONE horse out of a whole herd is chosen for a different task from the others. It may be that God has made you the one different horse.

"It is TRUE that we need MOST women to be wives and mothers. Without most women being wives and mothers, the world could not keep going. But not absolutely EVERY woman has to be like all the others. If you are meant to be something else in God's plan, then that is how it should be."
 
Copperfox said:
OOC to the ladies: Is that Rosalyn-Guinevere scene supposed to be in the adulthood of those characters? Arthur is still on the young side of adolescence; we need to hurry and catch him up....


Merlin kept Arthur talking about what kings ought to do, until Sir Ector's party came in sight of the walls of London. Here they were met by men-at-arms in the service of King Uriens, one of the regional kings who were especially hopeful of gaining the high kingship. Sir Grummore was wary of Uriens, but did not detest him as he detested Lot.

Ector's contingent was smaller than many parties of the southernmost fiefdoms; but Merlin was well enough known that his presence with Ector lent plenty of prestige. Uriens had a lodge just outside London, and invited Ector's party to dine with him. At one point during the exchange of courtesies, Merlin contrived, as if by chance, to look Uriens in the eye. Something passed both ways at this contact of souls: Uriens came to realize that things could go very badly for him if he tried any treachery against Ector, while Merlin came away confident that Uriens DID NOT intend any treachery anyway.

At supper, Uriens expressed interest in what predictions Merlin, Ector and Grummore might venture for the kingship--especially Merlin, of course. The wizard said this much: "If all of the prominent lords practice as much integrity as I foresee that the new king will, Britain shall be a happy realm indeed."

Meanwhile, back at Ector's castle, several girl children of thralls came to play with Melona; these girls were curious about whether it were true that Melona's father was teaching her unladlylike accomplishments like tracking beasts.
Click to expand...
OOC: Sorry I've been gone:(! Too busy at work plus a couple of emergencies today! Yes, CF, Guenevere and Rosalyn are still young. And thanks for getting Arthur's party to London.

IC:
Arthur still wanted to talk to his dear teacher Merlin. Now that he thought about it. Merlin was more a dear friend than a teacher, and Arthur liked the fact that Merlin seemed to favor him. Arthur waited in his room in King Uriens castle for the grown ups to stop talking. Maybe he will catch Merlin later on.
 
But the wizard had a way of knowing when and where he was needed....

"Hello again, Arthur! I understand that Kay is to keep his vigil tonight, to be dubbed knight tomorrow, so you have this room to yourself. What is on your mind, lad?"
 
"Yes, Merlin, Kay hopes to become a Knight. Then participate in the Tournament and maybe win some fame. He wants father, Sir Ector to knight him. I am not sure if that is the right thing to do, or even ask. But I just wanted to talk to you because I have been feeling a little uneasy since we left our manor. I don't know what it is."
 
"Lad, I can tell you for a certainty that Kay _will_ be a knight. He will never be the very best of knights, but he will be very far from the worst. In addition to some worthy military achievements, he will also learn to use the _education_ I gave him. Kay will become an important official in the court of the next King Of All Britons, and will discharge his duties faithfully and effectively."
 
"But Merlin, do you think any of the Knight that have come to the tournament could be the next King? And what about me feeling as if I forgot something when I know I did not?"
 
"Arthur, do you remember how I have tried to make you understand how magic fits into the world? What we _call_ magic is really a fabric of many threads, some less supernatural than others. It fills in many corners of reality...but contrary to the views of the Druids, it is not what _defines_ reality. What defines reality is the Creator of all, to Whose glory Joseph of Arimathaea preached the gospel of salvation to Britain so many generations ago.

"That God, manifest as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, sovereignly rules over our destinies, though not without making a space for our free will to exist. And His intentions are sometimes made known to me. Thus do I know that someone who has come for the tournament _shall_ be King Of All Britons. In fact, I have already laid eyes on this future King, and am confident that he will be the stuff of noble sagas."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top