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Morgause’s eyes flickered toward her and then dropped back toward Gwen as she continued her ministrations. Morgause had been staring deeply into Gwen’s eyes, but after a moment of uneasy silence she stood up and sighed heavily.

“If you must know, I had started a fire to worship by in Gawain’s room. I wanted to plead with the sacred mother, Brigid, to heal Gawain. In the fire I was burning rowan wood and apple wood, mixed with mistletoe. It undoubtedly formed a wall of protection against the goblin’s sorcery. If only Arthur would allow us to set up a spell of protection around Tintagel. I have asked him many times…and he has refused each and every single one of my requests. That is the problem with Arthur; he can be annoyingly stubborn when he wants to be. “

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 95

“You know that Gwen would not allow that. She has already proclaimed the beliefs of the Druids as being unfounded and pagan. We shall not distress her further by having such signs displayed around her. “ Molly clamped her mouth shut in shock. Had she just defended her stepmother?

“Ah, so you have forgotten the ways of our mothers,” Morgause said, a hint of bitterness filling her voice.

“Nay. I have not,” she retorted, a tad bit more indignantly that she would have wished.

“Mayhap, I have fused my beliefs. My faith is strong; you need not have any fear concerning my soul. It is safe with me. “ Her voice was brittle and on the verge of breaking. Talking to Morgause had begun to make her head hurt and her ass ache.

“You have changed much in fifteen hundred years. Which I warrant, cannot be unexpected,” Morgause commented, a wry grin creasing the lines of her face. Admiration glittered in her eyes.

“Then you know?” she gasped aloud, and was relieved to discover that Elyzabel had slipped from the room to check on Gawain. The woman had been so unobtrusive that she had actually forgotten about her.

“You need not seem so skittish. Have you not asked yourself why I had Elyzabel with me?”

Molly sat down on the side of the bed, and clasped Gwen’s hand. Gwen had fallen asleep, no doubt caused by whatever words Morgause had been muttering.

Molly’s eyes wandered across the room, as she fell into deep thought.

“Elyzabel has the gift. It just needed a wee bit of nurturing. She came to me, shortly after I arrived, and asked me if I could teach her. “

“Why wouldn’t she just ask me or one of the other Light Bearers?”

“Because, my dearest child, Gwen does not fear you. She would have grown suspicious of the time you spent alone with her cousin. That woman can be quite the barb-tongued shrew when she puts her mind to it. But then, so can I. “ Morgause laughed, waving her hand as a bountiful supply of healing herbs arrived in front of her.

“I do not think these shall work, but I must try them, the alternative is far too dangerous.

“

Molly’s interest was suddenly piqued. She knew a great deal about fighting, but under these circumstances she had to admit that Morgause was far more qualified than she. Morgause had dabbled in the dark arts, and so therefore knew what was needed to combat the spell that had been woven across Gwen.

The unearthly sound of a lone cock crowing caught their attention. Molly licked her dry lips and coughed. It seemed to be just one of those days. She was actually wishing now, that she’d been able to stay in bed.

“Pray tell me that my ears were playing tricks on me. “ Her voice was as steady as she could make it, but she knew that her anxiety had been vocalized.

“Aye. That was a cock crowing before midnight. “

“A bad omen. “ Molly said dully. A sinking feeling entered her stomach. She groaned, as heartburn raged in her chest.

“Indeed. I fear, Molly, that there will be many more to come. The timeline is changing.

Things will not be identical to the way they were before. Every new day is unknown to me, for even though prophecies may be set in stone, other aspects of our lives can be altered. And yet, with a dark sorcerer such as Lord Cardan on the loose, fate as we know it may be in peril.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 96

Merlin was correct to bring you back here to our time. Merlin is a wise man. I truly regret my betrayal toward him. I was a young, foolish and a power hungry girl. I did not realize the full import of the error of my ways. Now, I do. “

“You speak in riddles,” Molly pointed out, watching as Morgause levitated the herbs she had chosen around Gwen’s nearly lifeless body.

“I take it that Merlin has not told you?” Morgause’s eyes filled with haunting regret and crystalline tears pooled within their wide depths.

“I committed the ultimate betrayal against Lord Merlin. We were lovers, and planned to unite ourselves by entering into marriage. One day, while I was gathering flowers by a faerie knoll near the Broceliande Forest, the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes upon entranced me. I confess that I was a lust-filled woman. With wanton ways. “ Her eyes filled with guilt, and she glanced toward Thaney to ensure that her innocent daughter was still safely preoccupied.

“I always resented Arthur. He had taken my birthright away from me, and he took far too much of Merlin’s time. I was jealous. It was the most intense and hate-filled jealously. So, I decided that Merlin had to pay for supporting Arthur. Arthur had just been given Excalibur by Vivienne. “ Morgause’s face contorted and mottled with red splotches. “My heart was breaking.

I knew that Merlin cared deeply for Vivienne, and I knew that soon, I would be replaced. Just as I always had. “ Her voice dropped to a cool tone, and then she smiled briefly. “Arthur is a good father to you; my father treated me much as Arthur treats you. I idolized him. Arthur’s father took my father from me. My repressed rage toward Arthur finally boiled over, and I turned on my love. I shall regret turning on Merlin until my dying day. But you see; I was prepared.

Merlin had made me his equal. Though I daresay, he is much stronger than I now. He has had much more time to strengthen himself and learn the error of his ways. My scorn was frightful. I lay with the entrancing stranger, and discovered later that he was a dark faerie that had adopted the name of Lord Cardan. I was horrified, and repulsed. I had been deceived. But I was in too deep and I had to go on with what Lord Cardan and I conspired to do. When Merlin was least suspecting it, I let my magical fire rip out at him. I shape-shifted into a white dragon, and we battled for many hours. I knew that Merlin was holding back because he was unwilling to kill me. I was his mate. I, however, held no inhibitions. I wounded him terribly, and he was forced to change back into his human form. By this time, the Lady Vivienne had returned from her brief sojourn to Avalon. She caught me by surprise, and ran me through with her own Elvin blade. I fell, and transformed back into my human form. I was weak, and dying. Lady Vivienne dug Merlin out of his cave, and imprisoned me within a sacred circle. I could not escape. I knew I had to redeem myself, and I knew there was no turning back for Merlin and me. Lady Vivienne wanted to put me before a tribunal of High Priests and Priestesses. She said that I had turned. But there was still one man that would speak in my defense. Do you know who that man was?”

“My father. “ Molly was filled with emotion at the tale that Morgause related to her. She had believed that she knew everything, but she had been sadly mistaken.

“Aye, Arthur. Arthur the brave and Arthur the true. I could not believe my ears, or my eyes for that matter. “ Morgause laughed uneasily, and then continued. “I was naked; I had been stripped of my clothes when I morphed into the dragon. He took pity on me, and gave me his cloak made of the richest brocade. He begged that I only be banished, for he knew my fate if I were to stand trial. My crimes were grim. They would be punished, under Druidic Law. Lady Vivienne and Merlin were quite fond of Arthur. They each wanted to placate and please him.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 97

They agreed on the terms of my banishment. I was exiled, and thrust out into the untamed wilderness. I was weak, and my powers were no longer functioning. Lot found me after a few days and immediately became besotted with me. He took me back to his kingdom, and I lived a fairly contented life with him. I heard of Merlin’s triumph over Lord Cardan, and I was sick with the thought of it, for I had discovered that I had a babe growing in my womb, and I knew that it was not King Lot’s. However, I was able to trick him, with what magic I could still command. I gave birth to Avon seven months later, and blessed be, she was a small yet strong babe, and Lot was none the wiser. Gradually, with time, my powers were restored to their former glory. “

“Who is the father of Avon? Please tell me it is not Lord Cardan!” Molly locked gazes with Morgause, and her heart stopped for the briefest of moments.

“Avon was a child of Beltaine. “ Morgause’s eyes fell to the floor. She shifted uneasily.

“Gifted by the Gods,” Molly murmured. Morgause smiled softly.

“Aye, she was. But with two parents such as myself and Merlin it ‘twas not unexpected.

“ Molly dropped her hands to her side. A burning sensation wound its way into her heart.

Molly fingered the pentacle that hung around her neck, and then stared out the small stained-glass window at the setting sun.

“I know that she still lives. Yet, magic hides her from me. Thaney tells me that we shall all be reunited some day. “ Morgause’s voice softened and it was haunted with love. Molly looked at Morgause out of the corner of her eye. Morgause seemed to speak the truth. Molly had no reason to doubt her words and yet….

“I never knew that Thaney was a seer. “ Molly turned toward Thaney as Morgause sighed and gave up on Gwen.

“I hid it well. Had my husband discovered Thaney’s rare gift, he would have used and abused it. Lot is a gluttonous man. She cannot force her visions. They come to her, when they are supposed to. I daresay Merlin’s quite content to have another gifted seer under his tutelage.

He has been teaching Thaney in secret for three years now. I agreed, realizing rather grudgingly that he would be the best guide. I am far outmatched when it comes to Merlin. He knows how to guide a pupil to their greatest potential. “ Morgause sighed, glancing down at Gwen. Despite Morgause’s best ministrations, Gwen had still not come round. “This will not work…I was afraid I would have to resort to drastic measures. “ Morgause moved toward the door, and called for Elyzabel.

“Pray, do not tell me that we must perform the Sharing Ritual. “ The air had become dangerously thin. Molly dragged in a lungful of air. Losing the Avalon Diaries seemed to have shifted the balance of everything. Tears filled her eyes, she should have been stronger, and she should have stopped the domino effect before the first one fell.

“We must. As it is, Elyzabel is Gwen’s only blood relative that we have at our disposal right now ... so we must use her, as she is the only candidate. Molly, we need to act quickly before Arthur and his Knights return. “

Molly raced to the window, hoping to see the sight of Arthur’s procession of Knights winding their way toward the castle. Her Light Bearers had yet to return, and she was very frightened. Uselessness stole into her being. Clenching her hands at her sides, she tried to still the jittery sensations flowing through her like water. Perhaps, this was a way for her to learn what it was like to be the person that used to wait for her to return…perhaps these experiences would serve to humble her.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 98

The more time that passed, the more dark tidings would come back to Tintagel. Not only did the cock crowing represent a bad omen, but it also meant that they would soon be receiving news. The blackness of night had almost draped across the landscape. Branden had yet to return, and neither had Collin. Molly was tempted to interrupt Thaney, and she would have, had she not known how dangerous it was to bother someone deep in a meditative trance.

Elyzabel walked gracefully into the bedchamber. She was wringing her hands together and seemed vastly nervous.

“’Twill be all right. “ Morgause’s tone was soft and motherly, but Molly wasn’t comforted by it and she doubted that Elyzabel would be. This was a great sacrifice she would be making. After all, who in their right mind would want to shoulder the burden of having to share some of Gwen’s memory? If the spell worked as it was meant to, it would call upon Gwen’s trapped memories, and pull them back into Elyzabel, and then transfer onto Gwen. But it was an immense burden to bear.

Elyzabel took a lock of her hair, and put it into the clay pot that Morgause held out to her.

Then, Morgause snipped a lock of Gwen’s hair, and put it into the bowl. She placed some rowan twigs into it, coupled with a good dose of mistletoe. After which, she reached for a velvet pouch that hung at her waist. She took an apple seed from it.

“This is from the Isle of Avalon. “ She threw it into the bowl, and it crackled, and then emitted a billow of colorful smoke, as Morgause’s magic ignited it.

Elyzabel lay out beside Gwen, and reached for her hand. She pulled Gwen’s hand to her chest, just as Gwen suddenly opened her blue protuberant eyes. The bowl of herbs was placed on the bed. Morgause stepped away, and pulled Molly back with her.

“I call upon the magic of the bloodline. Restore Queen Gwen to her former self, by way of her cousin Lady Elyzabel. Summon the memories which are entrapped, and let them flow freely. “

An unsettling storm brewed outside of the window, and rain began pelting against Tintagel. A clap of thunder shook the landscape. One large flash of lightning lit up the room. It almost looked as if God had taken a picture of the castle. Molly bit her lip. With the wild weather…magic could be thrown off course.