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Chapter 8, Chronicle III - Anger of the Sovereign By William Black Will glanced at the flap of the tent, and then back to Laroux. His heart was beating much faster than normal. Why should this be so hard? He steeled himself for what was to come. Sighing heavily he drew back the covering of the door and entered the dimly lit tent. It took but a moment for his eyes to adjust to the lamplight inside. Morion stood behind the table where she was looking down at a map of what was to be the battlefield. Without glancing up she spoke one word, and it sent Will's mind reeling. "Why?" Will approached the table and gave a bow, though he wasn't sure she had noticed. "My Lady..." She looked up, her eyes speaking volumes, though she let that one word continue to echo in his mind. The anger was gone, replaced by what Will could only interpret as a deep-seated disappointment. She had finally given him her full trust, and he'd run out on it. Or so it appeared to her. "My Lady," Will began again, "I will tell you everything now regarding this conflict with Morlyn and Lord Banon's troops. But I want you to listen and reserve your judgements until I'm finished, at which time I pray you'll overlook my weaknesses and faults and forgive me." He walked around the table to be close to her, but she kept her distance choosing to sit on a stool in the back of the tent. Will let out another heavy sign and sat down on the dusty ground. He wasn't exactly sure how to begin. No one wanted to be told they are both pawns and prizes in a game not of their own making. Shaking himself, he plunged into his tale. "When I was in the hospital tent recuperating I told your counsellors about my old mentor, Morlyn." Morion simply nodded and said, "Yes, Sir David told me that he was your old instructor and that he'd attempted to usurp the office of Arch-Druid. Of Hawthorns Gate I assumed." "Yes my Lady." Will templed his fingers to his lips in thought. "He was actually my secret Mentor. I was in service to Lord Melbrook, but would periodically go off and learn from various members of the Druid community. Master Morlyn took note of me and took me as his apprentice. He taught me the most sacred Druid traditions, rituals, methodologies, and most of all, magic. Mind-craft was his one outstanding specialty. We used to play chess together, and he'd practice mind-craft on me; testing my resolve and skill." Morion raised one eyebrow. Will felt awkward, "He always won." Then with more confidence, "Yet I can credit him for my being able to move though the various ranks of Druid hierarchy so rapidly. I earned my degrees, but I couldn't have done so without his guidance and support." "So, my faithful protector..." There was an edge to Morion's voice, "You owe much to our enemy. Is that what you are saying?" Irritation momentarily flared in his heart, "Morion, I asked you to withhold judgement until the end. I'm sorry for leaving you back in Morion; however, if you'll hear me out, it might help you better comprehend my reasons." Lady Morion held his gaze, but sparks of anger glittered in her dark eyes. "Go on," she commanded coldly. "Did Sir David relate to you how Morlyn was defeated when he attempted to sweep aside the Arch-Druid to place himself in office?" "Yes." Her voice remained cold. "So he must have said something like, 'Morlyn became power hungry. He attempted to take the role of the Arch-Druid of Hawthorns Gate for his own. He used his mind-craft to spread dissent among the country folk and also within the Druid community itself.'" "As a matter of fact, that is very close to what I heard from David." Morion titled her head slightly, apparently wondering what Will was on about. "Okay. So he must have also told you that Morlyn hadn't counted on the commoners and their faith in the Arch-Druid." Will let this sink in, but Morion's face was expressionless. Will shook his head, "My Lady...Morlyn did attempted to turn the masses against the Arch-Druid of Hawthorns by the means of his mind-games. He used the same tactics in Morion; howbeit through his puppets Lord Banon and Sir Gardain." Morion stood up and faced Will square on. "Get to the point, Druid!" "My Lady, this is a game to Morlyn; at least it is now. You see, when he attempted to usurp the office of Arch-Druid, he counted on two things to see him through. The first was the effects of mind-craft. The second was his apprentice." Will fell silent knowing Morion would react, but having to wait for it nonetheless. "Oh?" Morion's eyebrows raised up creasing her normally smooth brow. "And I'm assuming he miscalculated on your loyalties?" Will looked at her, the concern for all she was and all he wanted to be for her surged up within him. "My loyalties have always rested with those who protected and nurtured Mother Earth. I owed my allegiance to the Arch-Druid." He continued, "It was I who turned traitor and informed my Lord of my Master's plans. Thus it was I that was sent by the Arch-Druid to gather support among the commoners. And it was I that stood to my Lord's right hand when Morlyn was driven out of Hawthorns Gate." "My, my, my...you have had one hell of an interesting life, haven't you?" Morion's scorn bit deep. "Sir David was right, for he warned me that you always played life by your own rules in total disregard for those of others." For a moment Will wasn't sure he'd heard her right. Was she condemning him for opposing Morlyn? Or was she just saying that she disapproved of his methods of dealing with life? Well, if she disapproved now, there was little hope she'd change her opinion when he related the rest of his tale. "Morion, it would seem rather ridiculous to confess to you something you already know. I do behave myself in this life according to the rules I've come to rely on and trust. If those guidelines conflict with others, so be it. I will act as I see appropriate, doing what I will but harming none; unless I must to achieve protection for those I've vowed my loyalties to." For a moment Morion's eyes lingered on Will. She looked straight at him, her gaze piercing into his soul where others couldn't even hope to see. The coolness of her distance seemed to fade slightly. "Okay, and I'll grant you that I've thanked the Divine more than once for your damned independence while at the same time cursing you for it. But I perceive there is more to your story. Something you are hesitating telling me." Will smiled nervously. "Yes, my Lady...there is a bit more to what I have to say." Will cleared his throat and scuffed his foot against the ground uncomfortably, "Morion, this game Morlyn is playing is like the chess matches of old. But this time he is using human pawns." That should go over big in her mind, he thought sarcastically to himself. "So, what you are saying is that Morlyn has basically challenged you to the ultimate chess game. One where we are your pieces and Lord Banon's army are his?" Surprisingly there was not judgement in her voice, just a tint of unbelief. "Yes, my Lady. But I didn't realise this until I detected what Sir Gardain was about. You might say that Gardain was Morlyn's Bishop to your Queen. And I'm your Queens Knight that took out Morlyn's Bishop. But he had two." Morion gave a little laugh, "Are you going to give chess piece names to all my good people?" "No, my Lady. But I'm trying to illustrate what this is all about. Literally, it is nothing more than a chess game to Morlyn." "And you? What is all this to you? What am I to you? Morion stood regally before him. Will bowed his head in respect for this Woman of the Dark Crystal, "You are my Sovereign and Lady. You are my friend and...," his voice faultered. "Yes? I am your what?" Her eyes glistened like jewels in moonlight. "My Lady, you're my heart...my Sovereign, and I've dedicated my life to your service." He bowed feeling quite awkward and stupid. Abruptly she changed the topic. "And you say he always defeated you in the matches?" A sudden look of concern shadowed her young face. "Yes. Always." "Beloved," Morion approached him and put a cool hand against his flushed cheek, "Morlyn hasn't counted on us. He hasn't factored everything in. When you played against him before it was just the two of you. Now you have living, breathing people as your partners, not dead pieces of ivory! Real people with real lives, hopes and dreams. And determination that this Morlyn cannot foresee!" She drew him close to her, her lips lightly kissing his ear, "We'll win because you have honoured us as the living children of your beloved Source, not as pawns. Morlyn will loose because he cares nothing for life. Creation Herself will turn against him." With that she kissed him tenderly allowing her words to warm his heart. As he turned to go out of the tent, he paused and looked over his shoulder at her, "Thank you Morion... for everything you are." William Black © Continues... Chronicle III, Main page |