The Calling

“Let me apologise for my Nephew” purred Morgan as she held Gwen’s hand and led her through the castle ruins. “He is a man” she said as Gwen attempted to force a smile at her, “he is ruled by his genitals” she laughed at her own comment and stood breathing in the night air. They stood on the pinnacle of the castle and overlooked the ruins and out into the sea. “It is beautiful is it not?” she commented looking over the sea. The moon shimmered in the calm waters of the bay, and few stars shone and sparkled above their heads.

Gwen nodded, “yes” she said softly

“You grew up here?” asked Morgan

Gwen nodded, her mouth turning slightly at the scene before her, then all the pent up emotion of the last few hours exploded from her. Tears fought with sobs as tracks of water ebbed and flowed freely across her skin. Morgan placed her arms around the girl for a moment and rested her head against Gwen’s, kissing her temple and burying her lips against her soft hair. “I’m sorry” apologized Gwen, pushing the older woman away.

“Do not apologize” whispered Morgan and gently stroked the girls’ cheek, wiping away the rivers of tears.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this” said Gwen flinching under her touch.

“I do not understand thy meaning”

“I mean...this...” Gwen waved around them, “come here with...with...you!”

“Please, I mean you no harm”

“So you keep saying, but I watched you murder my father. Then your madman of a nephew tried to rape me...twice! And you expect me to discuss where I was born and do all this”

“My dear, your father was unfortunate I will admit, but thy must understand while I seek Excalibur thy are under my protection” Morgan said simply.

“Why?” demanded Gwen, “what makes me so special?”

“You had a connection to the boy”

“Francis?” Gwen said incredulously, “but we don’t even know each other”

“Well enough me thinks” stated Morgan glancing toward her groin and smiling, “the glamour of carnage gives a strong appeal” Morgan laughed as Gwen blushed.

“Look” said Gwen staring at Morgan, “I don’t know what you think you know...and yes I will admit that we did have sex, but I have a boyfriend”

“But thoust does not love him” Morgan said flatly.

“You don’t know how I feel!” snapped Gwen.

“But I don my dear” said Morgan, taking Gwen’s hand in her own and looking out toward the sea. “I see the pain in thy eyes, the feeling of entrapment. Thoust do not love yon youth, but thy is scared of admitting the truth” she smiled as she watched the sun rise above the horizon in the distance, “the first step to true happiness is the admission of thy heart” she looked at Gwen, “thy true love is not the one you are with” Gwen could feel her heart swell and burst within her as Morgan’s words struck a resonance. While she did love Lance, she knew her heart did not belong to him and tears welled in her eyes as the pair gazed out over the water. “Beautiful is it not” Morgan said smiling.

“I did have feelings for Lance once” Gwen admitted, “I still do...but not like they were. I mean our relationship, it’s comfortable but nothing else. He’s not the one...I used to think he was, but not anymore” she looked away from the rising sun and to the ground sadly, “We argue...more and more, and his moods, God...his moods drive me crazy. But I’m scared of losing everything that is...” she struggled to find the words to express herself.

“Safe” offered Morgan. Gwen nodded sagely and turned from the cliff and looked over the ruined castle. “The boy is no more” Morgan stated simply.

“What?”

“The boy...Lance. He is dead” Morgan spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. Gwen struggled to comprehend her own feelings, she knew she should be filled with remorse but somehow couldn’t connect with her grief.

“I don’t believe this” she said eventually

“Explain”

“Well...look” Gwen started, “yesterday I was happily in a relationship in my own little world and now...look at me. Here I am standing on the edge of a cliff, watching the sun rise on the horizon chatting to the woman who has just killed my father and probably my boyfriend about a world that until only recently I thought didn’t exist”

“That is correct” said Morgan

“Madness...that’s what it is...madness”

Morgan took her hand and gazed into her eyes and smiled, “I will enlighten you to your true happiness, if thy assist me in obtaining Excalibur. Should thee not have what thy deserve”

Gwen looked at her nervously and bit her lip gazing over the sunrise. “I don’t know...”

“My dear, your heart bleeds for so much more. You deserve more than this world can offer you” she paused and leant close to her, breathing softly in her ear as she spoke. “What can he offer you...” she said teasing

“Francis...” said Gwen frowning.

“Any man. I offer thee the world. If thou will assist me, you can have anything your heart desires. Love, wealth...power! Join me my dear and I can offer thee everything. Once I have Excalibur, the world will be mine, and thee can sit by my side as a Princess”