The Call of Camelot

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

It felt like hours since she'd waited for the coming of dawn, but now as the sky began to paint crimson beneath the blue, she knew it was time.

A blanket of ghostly-white mist that crept from the darkness of the forest was the first sign of her coming, crawling across the woodland floor it wrapped itself around the bottoms of the towering oaks and engulfed the woodland grove in a shroud of eerie silence.

Morgause's eyes travelled upwards, peering through the fringe of her golden hair she watched as the swaying branches and rustling leaves slowed till they were motionless, frozen by an invisible wave of magic that signalled the arrival of a creature from the Otherworld.

The unseeable bridge that acted as a crossing between the realms was the burial mound in the centre of the clearing, where the veil lifted enough to allow the creatures of the afterworld to walk between this, the realm of mortals and theirs, the realm of the Sidhe, the world of the fair folk. It had been many centuries since the old gods and their tribes had retreated beneath the earth, transported through the stones and ancient portals to live in the world that existed in the shadow of this one. And though the passing of the centuries meant that most had forgotten the old ways there were some, like Morgause and her people, who still honoured the ancient faith.

"I bid you welcome my lady" Morgause bowing at the arrival of the ancient goddess who silently rose from the earth as though she'd risen from within the mound itself

"You have no cause to bow to me Morgause, what you risk this night is a debt that cannot be repaid"

The impulse to bow and show reverence though was strong. The Sidhe maiden radiated an ancient magic that surrounded her in an ethereal glow of gold and silver, making her glisten amongst the mist. As she descended the mound her cloak of moss and grass dragged behind her, leaving a trail of wildflowers in its wake that twisted and curled from the earth before bursting into bloom. Morgause was in awe of her, there were no words to describe the beauty of her face, nor a shade that matched the blue of her eyes, everything about her from the long locks of her wavy orange hair to the grace and elegance in which she moved inspired a sense of wonder. But Morgause could also sense her sadness and grief, a sobering reminder of the purpose of this meeting.

"We haven't much time" Morgause spoke "the veil will soon start to close"

From beneath the warmth of her mossy cloak the goddess cradled a precious bundle wrapped in purple silk, her child, sleeping happily in the arms of her loving mother.

"I must take her my lady"

It broke the priestess heart to be the one to tear a baby from the arms of her Mother, but there was to be no other way. A great destiny lay upon the shoulders of this innocent child, a fate that foretold the destruction of worlds if evil was allowed to take her and these past few months had proved that neither the realm of her Mother nor her Father would be safe enough to hide her and as such, only time itself could keep her safe.

"I have lived many lifetimes, but never before have I felt a pain like this. I am forced to lose the one I love and now I must sacrifice the love of my child" the goddess placing a final, gentle kiss on the cheek of her sleeping daughter before Morgause took her from her arms.

"You know why this must be done my Lady, what life would this child live if she were kept here"

"Though you speak the truth Morgause it does nothing to lessen the grief. My love, my child and I, we are all cursed"

"Your fates have long been foretold, think it not as a curse, but the fulfillment of destiny of which there is no stronger magic"

Morgause knew all too well that no words would be enough to heal the goddesses broken heart, but her mission demanded urgency and again the priestess urged the Sidhe to give her the tool she needed to take the child to safety.