There and back again, a journey to love.

Chapter 2 - The final visit to the Library

She awoke suddenly and knew that she had slept too long, for the moon was beginning its slow descent towards the dawn. She cursed silently and began to dress in the dark layers that she had put out before she had lain down for a short rest, a short rest that had turned into almost a full night's slumber. She sat and quietly braided her rich auburn hair, tying a dark cloth about its lustrous length and then pulled on her cloak of ravens feathers, worn by her mother and grandmother in their time. Then she reached for the black leather bag, large enough to hold any parchment that she might find in the Great Library of Camelot, suspending it from her leather kirtle.

To enter the citadel unseen, she would need the cloak, together with the ancient light diffusing spell taught her by her mother, a spell that she had used many times and she knew that it would serve her well, for it would render her all but invisible while she went about her task. The long cloak rustled around her legs and the great black bag suspended from her kirtle swayed to her movements. She hoped that when she returned, it would contain what she so desperately sought. If she could find it, it would bring clarity and control to her journey through time.

She crept from the cave she now called home, pulling the raven cloak and hood tightly about her, keeping to the shadow of the trees, crossing glade and stream, to skirt the walls of the city of Camelot. She halted suddenly, sensing movement nearby and she almost stumbled across the form of a loudly snoring sentry, asleep at his post. He stirred at the sound of her approach, challenging her in his half waking state, "who seeks admittance to the Castle of Camelot" he mumbled, and the smell of ale on his breath stopped her in her tracks.

"A lonely maiden seeking the company of a handsome soldier," she replied and she smiled seductively at his leering response. The thought of a tumble with a comely wench was obviously to his taste and he reached out as if to fondle her breast.

"Why the hurry my fine captain?", she asked, as she swiftly sidestepped his groping hands and stabbed him through the heart with the small dagger that she always kept concealed about her. His eyes widened as he slid to the floor, blood pouring from his chest and bubbling from between his lips. She wiped the blade on his filthy clothing and slid it back inside the scabbard at her waist. She then dragged the body from view along the flagstone floor, her last sight of him reflected in the light of flickering torches, placed at intervals along the passageways. She invoked the spell of diminishing light, the torches dimmed as she approached, then brightened as she passed, such a simple spell, but only to those who had been blessed with the ability to use it.

She listened at the entrance to the Great Library and hearing no sound from within, she gently opened the great oak door, wincing inwardly as it squealed loudly in protest. She walked quickly to the dark recesses where her previous fruitless errand had ended and began again to searchthrough the shelves, delving into the wooden chests spread across its ancient floor.

She spent the time before the rapidly approaching dawn on what she believed to be another pointless foray into the Library's dark and dusty reaches. "It must be here," she said desperately to herself, "for it was written and this was the place where my mother so often met with the great magician Merlin." She started at a sudden noise, and saw a tiny brown mouse scurrying away into a corner. It disappeared, and a large tome fell to the floor in a cloud of dust, the air disturbed by the creature's tiny presence.

As the dust cleared, the dislodged book had revealed a small opening, and her heart pounding, she placed her hand within and gradually brought out the parchments hidden there. They bore her mother Morgana's red seal and she raised her eyes heavenward and breathed a silent prayer of thanks for her mother's foresight. For as death approached, her mother had hidden the brightest and best of her magical birthright, knowing that her daughter would come seeking it when she came into the awareness of her own powers.

The finding of these treasures brought Auriel great joy and she clutched the scrolls to her loudly beating heart. This was indeed an unexpected joy. Could it be that what she sought was contained in this cornucopia of enchantment? She gathered all the papers and placed them inside the bag at her waist, hastening towards the entrance, eager to make her way homeward, where she could peruse the treasures she had found, at her leisure. She could see dawn's early light blooming on the horizon and knew she had little time, as the night guards would soon be relieved and fresh eyes would walk the battlements.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of hunting horns and she stepped back into a recessed doorway. Noise and activity filled the courtyard and she saw many horsemen enter through the castle gate. Suddenly, there he was, the hated Uther Pendragon, on his great white steed. Across his saddle was a huge wild boar, dripping blood and gore onto the courtyard beneath his horse. She had not reckoned on a hunting party returning with their dead quarry and realised that it would be impossible now for her to proceed unseen.

She sensed movement behind her and turned to see an old woman beckoning to her. "This way my dear," she whispered, "there is another way". She had no choice but to follow, for it was certain death if she were discovered. She followed the old woman down corridors and stairways, down into the depths of the castle until they came to a low arch, beyond which she could hear the sound of water. "Here", said the old woman smiling, "here is your path to safety".

"But why", said Auriel, "why would you help one such as me?"

"I knew your grandmother, my child," she said, "she taught me the ways of healing and it has been my life's work, she took a poor child and gave her the means to make her way in the world. I ply my medicinal trade here in the City of Camelot. There is a sick child in the Castle tonight and I have been called to tend it. I should be in my bed, but no doubt I will be amply rewarded for my night's work. Go in safety my child, my debt is repaid, go now or we shall be discovered. Follow the stream, it will take you to safety outside the castle walls."

She then looked knowingly at the young witch and said quietly, "I know what you seek and I must tell you that heartbreak awaits if you follow your chosen road. But you will know happiness, just not in the manner you expect." Then she vanished quickly in the darkness.

When Auriel reached relative safety, she looked back over her shoulder at the Gleaming Spires of Camelot, shining in the early morning sunlight, its multi-coloured standards flying gently in the breeze. "A place of such beauty," she thought, but at its centre, the instigator of death, and persecution to all those of her kind, and her heart bled for them.