Here lies a son, father, and friend of the King

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

(this thread is open to anyone that would like to accompany Morgana)

Quote:
Son, brother, father, lover, friend. There is room in the heart for all the affections, as there is room in heaven for all the stars.
~Victor Hugo~

Morgana stood outside the door to Uther's private study as Uther's servant slipped inside the room to announce her. The servant opened the door to allow her into the room. "Morgana, what can I do for you?" The tone with which his words came out was of interest rather than annoyance. "Now that Spring has come to Camelot, I wish to visit my father's gravesite. With your permission perhaps myself and a couple of knights as escorts could go up?" Uther nodded and with a kiss to her cheek gave her his blessing.

The following day, Morgana and her companions mounted up then left the castle. Now that Spring had come, travelling to the cairn on the hill was less dangerous-the roads were clear, no icy patches and on top of that it was warm enough to kneel on the ground. The company rode at a fairly even pace and there was ample room for conversation but it seemed that everyone was keeping to themselves- well more like she was keeping to herself and those who rode with her were listening for any sounds of an ambush.

When they reached the hill, Morgana got down off the horse with only a small hand down from one of the nearby men. In her opinion it definately was easier getting down than getting on. Knowing that Morgana would wish for her personal space, the men remained with the horse while she headed the last little bit to her father's grave. The men who were there with her, could still see her and would be able to react in enough time if there was an ambush- besides Morgana wasn't completely defenceless as she did have her knife. Morgana knelt into the cool grass at the side of her father's grave and lowered her head/eyes towards the mound of grass. "Spring has once again returned to Camelot father and it is still as beautiful as ever..."

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Sir Lancelot had just finished an errand and a scouting mission for his current lord, the Earl of Huntingdon. As a result, he had spent much of his time in the past in and around the region of Wessex. He was technically known as Sir Lancelot of Huntingdon, but the place-name was really just a consequence of his lord. Lancelot had proven himself skilled with both lance and longsword, as well as in tactics on the open field. The earl had recognized this, giving him assignments that were aligned with his skills, but giving him the latitude to roam. The earl realized that the young knight really did not have a traditional home or manor, and as a result came to call home and had taken to calling him the Wandering Knight. Some even knew the story of how he had lost his place as a Knight of Camelot, further contributing to his reputation as the Wandering Knight.

Sir Lancelot, in fact was not of noble blood, at least in Britain, although there were some stories that his family had been noble in Brittany, before they emigrated to Britain. His parents had become farmers in a small village close to the northwestern edge of Albion, and when he was 12 had sent him off to be apprenticed to a carpenter in a nearby town. Within a year, though, when he had been away at his apprenticeship, had returned and found a group of Northern Raiders just leaving his home village, which they had just destroyed, including his family. Once the 13-year-old had dealt with what he had found, he returned to his carpentry master, with a determination not to learn wood, but the military arts.

His carpentry master, having done some exquisite work the Duke, Gorlois Le Fay, and caring for the young Lancelot, instead of asking for monetary compensation, asked for him to receive some basic training in swordsmanship and honor. This Gorlois agreed to, as unusual as it was, and thus began Lancelot’s formal training. Alas, this relationship would not last long, as Gorlois would perish in battle within months. However, Lancelot always remembered his first teacher, who did not allow his noble class interfere with the imparting of knowledge, even to those of the more common orders, even though he may have suspected his pupil may not have been as common as he appeared. Thus, whenever, he was near, Sir Lancelot would attend the grave, depositing some wildflowers at the front of the duke’s marker, as he did on this day, not knowing that others might be visiting as well ……..

He had finished his moments of meditation, and was leaning against the back of a large adjacent tree, shielded from the knights below. He heard the Lady Morgana, beautiful as she was begin her one-sided conversation with her father. He also saw the quizzical reaction on her face, seeing the wildflowers, and undoubtedly wondering whence they had come. Knowing that her moments should be private, he decided that he would interject before she got too far into her words, so he said ….. “Yes,it is a beautiful return of the season, Lady Morgana, and you exemplify it well in yourself …. pardon for me for my intrusion …. I did not mean it to be so, and I heartfully beg your forgiveness.”

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

Here was a place where Morgana could simply be a daughter remembering her father and not the Ward of the King, Foster sister to Arthur Pendragon and Lady of the Realm. Coming up her she allowed herself to shed the mask that she so often wore at court- the 'really I'm doing wonderfully today' and instead spend time simply enjoying the peace and quiet. Lady Morgana was the daughter of Duke Gorlois- once friend of the King which was how she ended up in the King's protection. Just prior to his death he had asked Uther to protect her and the King had promised to take her into his care. Morgana let her gaze wander from the headstone and notices the collection of wildlflowers on the grave. As she had yet to place her flowers, a look of confusion crossed her face. Where had the flowers come from? She knew the King hadn't been able to come up to visit in a while and the flowers were very fresh looking.

Yes,it is a beautiful return of the season, Lady Morgana, and you exemplify it well in yourself . pardon for me for my intrusion . I did not mean it to be so, and I heartfully beg your forgiveness.

At first the sound of another's voice both started her and made her a little angry that someone was violating her request to be alone, but upon looking up to find Lancelot standing there she smiled. She wondered why her escort at the bottom of the hill had not said anything yet but realized that the tree he was standing next to must have shielded him from their view. "I thank you. There is nothing for me to forgive- you have caused no offense. Were you the one who left the wildflowers on my father's grave?" With her question to him, she reached down beside her and picked up a collection of wildflowers she had gathered and added them to his own.

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Lancelot found this place to be a peaceful one. He had not known the Duke long, but he thought anybody could appreciate the peacefulness and tranquility, bu it did seem to be far off and separated from everything else. he didn't know how he would have thought of that. What he did remember was the patience that he had shown toward his young student, and his tolerance. He also tried to pass on a bit of wisdom as he remembered it. He did not have to agree to the lessons in exchange for his master's work, but he had done it. And Lancelot had not even been a Noble's son, at least as far as he knew. He remembered how sad he had been when he heard of the Duke's death, but he had started him down the road where he now found himself, of honor and service. He often wondered what his first tutor would think of him now. In looking at the Duke's daughter, Lancelot thought that his old teacher would be pleased. It was clear, though, that she thought that she had been alone. Lancelot chuckled at the ease that he had slipped by the knights. He bet Arthur wouldn't be thrilled. He could see Morgana looking down at the wildflowers as if she were trying to figure something out.

It was time. Lancelot made his statement so as not to alarm her ... at least not too much. He saw her jump, at the sudden sound of his voice, so he knew she had been startled. He knew from their limited interactions in his previous visits to Camelot that she can be charming, but she doesn't like surprises either, with the result of anger blasting forth. She was quite unhappy that someone had penetrated her little private area of tranquility and sh was not pleased at all. However, he saw when she realized who at was, her countenance changed, and she smiled saying that I was expecting you., and smiled, looking like a welcoming presence in this most private of spaces.

"You are quite welcome. But I realize that this was and is your private time with your father. Are you sure that there is nothing to forgive my Lady Morgana. If you wish I can just withdraw whence I came. In my defense, though I can't say that I was expecting you." He was not expecting her and her entourage, though, any more than her next question.

"Why, yes, in fact ..... I had just left them there a few minutes ago," he said looking down at the ground, keeping away from the contact with her piercing and sometimes probing eyes. "I am not sure whether you knew or not, but he was my first tutor in the art of the sword, and other important things, and I was probably his last student. It was a tragic and horrible loss, as his daughter, but it was a loss for many others too. And its necessary and needed to show him respect and that he is remembered. That's what these wildflowers are for," he said, as he saw her adding some to his.

[Lady Morgana le Fey]

"You are quite welcome. But I realize that this was and is your private time with your father. Are you sure that there is nothing to forgive my Lady Morgana. If you wish I can just withdraw whence I came. In my defense, though I can't say that I was expecting you. ...Why, yes, in fact ..... I had just left them there a few minutes ago, ...I am not sure whether you knew or not, but he was my first tutor in the art of the sword, and other important things, and I was probably his last student. It was a tragic and horrible loss, as his daughter, but it was a loss for many others too. And its necessary and needed to show him respect and that he is remembered. That's what these wildflowers are for,"

Talk about not expecting anyone- here the Lady Morgana, ward to the King of Camelot was kneeling on the ground next to her father’s grave. If someone were to pass by and not know that the grave she knelt at was her father’s it would look strange indeed. While Morgana wished with her whole heart that her father was still alive, she knew this was a place where she could connect with his spirit and she was grateful that the King let her travel there whenever she felt the need and it was safe to do so. As Lancelot repeated his concerns about interrupting her time she raised a hand to stop him. ”No, it is perfectly acceptable for you to be here. My father was well known and well loved by many people and I would never turn anyone away who wished to honour his memory."

At the sound of the Lady Morgana's voice talking with someone and that someone answering back, the head guard of her party separated himself and approached the Lady Morgana. He knew she was able to take care of herself but at the same time, he could never forgive himself if something happened to her while he was supposed to be protecting her. He noted that she was entirely calm and unafraid of the guest- although he wasn't fully sure of who the guest was Lady Morgana did not seem threatened by him. He made himself just visible enough that if there were a threat of danger perhaps it could be avoided easily but still remained a respectful distance away from Lady Morgana.

"From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the kind words. Still to this day it can be hard for me to know that he isn't there anymore." Her father may have been a high ranked warlord and part of Uther's council, but to her he was simply her father and he treated her with every tenderness that a father could give his only child. She had known that everytime he went off to war there was a chance he would not come home and sadly that day had come true- which was how she ended up Uther's care. "While I did not know that you personallywere my father's student, I do remember him training many a young soldiers and that he was always very proud of those that studied with him. I think in a way it made up for the fact that he never had a son of his own." Sadly her mother had been unable to provide her father with a son.

[Lancelot Du Lac]

Lancelot understood that Morgana was probably not expecting anyone on this spot, interrupting her quiet time. He probably should have just slipped away down the back side of the hill as he had sensed her approach, but seeing her reaction to the wildflowers, had felt that he needed to say something to explain. He thought to himself that he had probably not said so many words in a string for some time. He generally let he longswords or some other fighting instrument do his talking for him. As a result he did not often have a lot of confidence in his words. In this case, though, her response indicated that she was not offended, and in a way, welcomed him and his sentiments. she responded to his request for forgiveness. "I only knew him a short time. He did not need to pay my master with my instruction in swordsmanship, but I think he wanted to share his knowledge and talents with others. I think, from my short observation of you, when I was at Camelot the first time, indicate that he may have passed some of those traits on to you."

Momentarily, Sir Lancelot decided that he had made a mistake in speaking up, as he saw some movement out of the corner of his eye. Without turning to face the potential threat, he assumed that it was one of the party of guards, if not there commanding officer, probably one of the Knights of Camelot. At first, Lancelot contemplated backing up, using the trees to camouflage his presence. On second thought, though, he figured that a guard would interpret that as a possible sign that he had something to hide or a reason to hide. He reasoned that if he continued to be close to the Lady Morgana and continue with a fairly tranquil conversation, it was not as likely to be suspicious. Presently he saw the guard stop his progress up the hill, as if he was in the process of analyzing Lancelot and his intent. Lancelot wondered how much of this that Lady Morgana observed and understood. If necessary he would defend himself, and if necessary, cut down one of Uther's own, the Knights of Camelot.

"That is most kind of you to say, but unnecessary, lady Morgana, especially when it is merely the truth. I know, even after all of the time that has passed, it is difficult for you to accept. I lost my family a year or so before your father's untimely death. I just wish that I could have had the benefit of his guidance and training for a longer time than I did. You have had the benefit of King Uther's attention over these years. I have heard that they were very close in life to one another. If they were that close I would imagine that he looks on you more as a niece or daughter than just a ward. I, on the other hand, am not held in such high esteem by our king, and I daresay, its unlikely that his objections will ever be eliminated. Yes ... i do believe that he loved working with the young men, almost as a father would. We were fortunate to have him," he said as he continued to watch the guards out o the corner of his eye.