Morgan Le Fay; The True Story

Chapter Eight

Gavin and I met again in private the day before the wedding. We spent nearly the entire afternoon together talking and laughing. 

It was so easy to talk to him, and he seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was thinking. I envied Leslie and the nagging feeling in the back of my mind wouldn't let me forget that he would marry Leslie and leave. 

"What's wrong, Morgan?" he asked finally, leaning over and brushing my hair away from my face gently. 

"I just can't stop thinking about how you're to marry Leslie," I told him. "That, no matter how much we talk and agree with each other, come tomorrow you'll be duty bound to Leslie." 

"Oh," he said, his face falling. "Lady Leslie. Right." I couldn't help but notice how unenthusiastic he sounded. Silence fell for several minutes. 

"I wish it was you that I was marrying," he said, breaking the silence. I turned to face him startled.  

"Gavin, you don't mean that," I reprimanded, my heart not in it. It filled me with pleasure that he preferred me to Leslie, the perfect bride. 

"If I was to marry you, we could have adventures together," he said with his eyes starry as he slipped into a day dream. "Can't you see it? You’d be by my side constantly, and we'd never get bored." 

"But that wouldn’t be very practical, would it?" I asked sadly. "I told you, I don't want to have any children. Your family line would die out." He sighed heavily. 

"Fortuna est crudelis," he said. "To trade freedom and adventure for duty and practicality." 

"Amare est esse crudelis," I responded sadly. "To die so young, replaced by responsibility." He placed an arm around my shoulder, gently drawing my closer. 

"Please tell me that I can continue to get to know you," he whispered. "Even after I do my duty." 

"I cannot make promises about the future," I whispered, resting my head against his chest. "It's too uncertain. But I do hope that will be the case." He made a contented noise, and we sat in silence that way for a while. 

"It's getting close to supper time," he said finally, letting His arm drop back to his side. "And we both have to return to our roles." 

"Indeed," I said reluctantly. "I hope to speak with you again, Gavin." He leaned in and kissed each of my cheeks once, causing me to turn a brilliant shade of red, I’m sure. Marriage would not be bad at all if he were your husband, I thought, longing for him to kiss my lips. 

"And I you," he murmured. He looked into my eyes for a moment before leaning in again. 

Gently and tenderly he kissed me on the lips, his own lingering on mine. My eyes drifted shut as my heart tried to leap into my throat. When he finally withdrew, he was smiling as me lovingly. 

"I will do my duty," he said. "But know that my heart is with you." With that, he turned and walked off. 

As I watched him go my emotions and thoughts swirled around my mind, confusing me further. You only just met him, how can he say that his heart is with you? But what does it matter? He cares for you more than Leslie! 

My heart sank at that thought. He's marrying Leslie, and there's nothing you can do about it. In fact, you're duty bound to not get in between them. You cannot afford to ruin their marriage. 

I made my way up to my room sadly. Of all of the people that Leslie could marry, it had to be Gavin. Beautiful Gavin, who didn't hate me for my thoughts on the subject of marriage and a woman's capabilities.