Death to Death

Chapter 12, The End. Chronicle I
By William Black

William lay motionless on the soft bed. Dreams and visions filled his head; first of Catherine, then of Morgana, then of the many battles fought and quests braved. Days passed into weeks, but still the Druid slept.

Each morning Morgana would visit his room and try to wake him out of his comma. And each day she walked away disheartened. Though the doctors had ways to sustain the body, Will looked weak and emaciated. His life was growing weaker by the hour. She had no magick with which to revive him. He was the healer not her. "If only I had gone with him and trained with him. I could do something instead of being useless! Damn it!" She berated herself.
She sought the help of Morion, but the Lady of the Realm had nothing to offer.
Then one night a servant girl came to the dining hall where Morion, Morgana, and several other lords and ladies were just finishing up their meal. She approached Morion with great deference and knelt before her Lady. "Lady, you asked to be notified when Sir William awoke. He has and asks to see you."
Morgana stood to her feet. "Did he ask for me?"
"No, my Lady. He asked only for Lady Morion," the servant replied.
So he had not asked to see her. It was Morion he wanted to talk with. "But that is only natural. Morion is the Lady of this realm." Morgana scolded herself. Surly the knight would want to see her also.
Morion watched the interchange between Morgana and the servant, then she got up and made her apologies to her guests. She called two guards to her and went to see the now conscious knight.
Morgana stood waiting for Morion to leave, then she spoke again with the servant girl.
"Did Sir William say anything to you? Anything besides asking for Lady Morion?" Morgana’s face remained inquisitive, but her heart beat fast in hope that Will had mentioned something more. The servant girl looked at her and said, "Yes. He did ask for some food and water." Then seeing the sadness in Morgana’s eyes she continued, "I am sorry my Lady, but he said nothing more." The servant waited to be dismissed. Morgana absently waved her hand sending the girl scurrying on her way.
"So, he really didn’t ask for me." Her mind went numb at the thought. He was truly lost to her. But isn't this what she really wanted? To let him go? She had her life to live, and he had his; what was left of it.
She felt like crying, but there were too may people around. She still had her pride. She went out into the evening air to collect her thoughts.
*******

Morion with the guards in tow went straight to William’s room. Entering, she was greeted by a gaunt figure only remotely resembling the man she knew as Sir William. The weeks without food had taken their toll. The magick expended by him in his madness also caused severe damage.
"Greetings, my Lady. It is good to see you. I hope you have been well." William looked at her through drug dimmed eyes. "I apologise I cannot stand to give you due honour, but something seems to have happened to my body. It seems to have changed overnight. Maybe you have an explanation?"
Morion sat on the knight’s bed. "Do you not remember what happened?" Will shook his head. "The demon poison within your blood possessed you. You became the very thing you have always fought against. You attacked my advisors and myself. Don’t you recall?" Again, he shook his head.
"Morion, if I did attacked you, I cannot apologise enough. I don’t remember." William was ashamed. He was a Knight of Saint John, a Druid, and a man of honour. How could this have happened? But of course he knew. The poison within him still flowed. It still called to him. "What will you do with me now?"
"We will wait until you are stronger to make a decision. For now, you must rest and be healed." Morion stood up to leave. "It is good to have you back with us." She smiled and turned to go.
"My Lady, it would be wise of you to execute me now." Will said without emotion. "I have proven myself an enemy of your realm. If I recover, you cannot be sure of my loyalties, nor of the powers I possess. You must destroy me before this poison possesses me entirely," William looked at her, his voice weak but very matter-of-fact.
He had lost everything; his honour, his love, and his power to conquer the thing he was becoming. He truly felt alone. He had tried to change his fate, even to asking Morgana for help. She refused. "Yes, Morion, you must destroy me while you have the chance."
"Don’t be silly," Morion scolded him. "You will recover and conquer the evil within you. I have complete faith in you."
Will recalled Morgana telling him the same thing. How comforting to have two wonderful women telling him of their complete and undying faith, but at the moment he needed them, they turned away.
He looked at her with scorn. "Oh, really? Then send your guards away, leave my door unlocked, and have your servants stop sedating me!" Bitterness filled his heart as he glared at her.
"Like I said before," she reminded him mildly, "I make no apologies for my actions. I do what I believe is best for all concerned. But whether you want to believe it or not, I do have faith in you. I have faith because Morgana has faith." She again turned to leave.
"Wait!" Will looked at Morion, "If she has such great faith in me, where is she? Why has she not come?"
"William, I am sorry, but I will not speak for Morgana. I know she visited you daily while you were in a coma. She does care."
"Right! She visited me, past tense. The servant girl told me about the coma, so Morgana must have visited when I was out cold. She only thinks of me when it suits her; when it is convenient."
She blocks me from her mind and heart. God forbid, bloody Sir Robert should know anything about her love for me. Love? What a damn laugh!" Will’s disappointment sent shock-waves through his heart.
He thought about Morgana, her smile, charm and love. Yes, she did love him in her own way. He would not deride the gift or the giver, though he sure as hell wanted more.
"She cares, Will. Now get some rest." Morion turned abruptly and left the room. Will heard the thud of the dead-bolt being shoved into place.
William’s heart felt heavy. He wanted to call for Morgana, but knew she was with her love. His pride would not let him intrude. He felt like a love-sick fool. He was tired of feeling sorry for himself, and tired of looking for something he would never find. It was time to reclaim his honour, his love for others, and his love of all life. However, time was quickly slipping away from him.

He looked around the room. It was spartan with only minimal furnishings. A chair, table, wash basin, and of course, a bed. The room had a small slit in the wall for light, making it appear dungeon like. He was indeed a prisoner. It was this thought that turned the course of his healing.
William loved the outdoors too much to be cooped up in a tiny room like a caged animal. With his remaining magick he concentrated on reviving his own failing body.

The next day, the servant who brought him breakfast noted how "improved" the knight looked. By the evening meal, he started to look more like himself, though a very scrawny version of his old vitality. Each day he gave himself a dose of his healing magick, and each evening his recovery became more noticeable. Within two weeks his body appeared to be as healthy as it was before the attack. The servants still sedated him, or thought they did. Part of his healing process was to neutralise the drugs they were constantly feeding him. He had to play the game and act just as they would expect a drugged person to behave.
He noted with sorrow that not once since regaining consciousness did Morgana visit him or send him greetings. He refused to seek her out with his thoughts; more out of distaste for the loneliness it caused him than for fear of finding her in the arms of another.
A few days later, Morion came to his room with the verdict regarding his fate. "Will, you are to be exiled to a small island out in the Great Sea. There you will be given everything you need for survival." Then she looked down at her feet and whispered, "I am truly sorry, please forgive me."
He didn’t blame her, though secretly he laughed. Exile would not keep him away. "When will I be leaving?" He kept his voice calm. He understood their fear and respected them for their decision. Though he wondered how Morgana voted.
"Within the week." Morion’s face reflected her pain at having to pronounce this judgement. "I have a gift for you from Morgana." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a yellow envelope. She handed it to him and got up to leave. "Will, I truly do trust you. Yet the poison lives within you, and I cannot risk my people. They do not trust you, as I do."
William took the envelope. "You are their ruler. You lead by example. Either you fear me and spread that fear to you own masses, or you champion your trust in me. I already know your decision and do not condemn you for it. Please leave me now."
Once she left, he opened the envelope. He shook the content onto his palm. Only one item came out; a Celtic cross. He recognised it as Catherine’s. She wore it when they were last together. He immediately clasped it to the gold chain the wood nymph had given him. It pained him to wear it, but the weight of the tiny gold cross would remind him of the words that had passed between them.
The week went by quickly. On the day he was to appear before the council for final judgement, he put his escape plan into action. The servant girl’s routine was, well, just that, a routine. She came about 7:30 in the morning bringing the captive knight his breakfast and a drink laced with a mild sedative. But this morning she was greeted by a bare chested youth about her age, sitting at the foot of the bed. He immediately arose, smiled at her, and took the tray she was carrying. He set it down on the small table and pulled the chair out for her. "Are you hungry?" She looked at him with wonder. "Come here," the young fellow invited. She walked over to the table, but her eyes never left the man. "Come now, you can talk can’t you?" The young fellow drew close to her; his eyes locked onto hers. "Tell me, what are you hungry for?" His smile grew mischievous. "I... you... I mean, who are you? Where is Sir William?"
The young man took her in his arms. He gently kissed her, but then with increasing passion. She moaned with pleasure as he lifted her into his arms. He carried her to the bed and placed her gently down on it. She did not protest, nor did she notice his hands moving caressingly towards her neck. His fingers touched ever so lightly the sides of her neck, cutting off the air flow to her brain. His intent was not to kill but to subdue. She was in a deep sleep as the young man arose to leave.

The guard outside was not as much fun to render unconscious. Will simply knocked the fellow out. Then, hurrying down a forgotten corridor, he made his way to where the Dark Crystal was stored. The guards here were the simplest to avoid. They had no innate abilities with magick, so were easily fooled by the combined power of the Druid and the Crystal itself. They did not see him go into the dark chamber that housed their beloved stone, nor did they see him leave.
*******

Morion led her councillors into the Great Hall where rulings were made and judgements pronounced. She sat on a raised dais surrounded by the seats of her councillors. Morgana was seated to her right and the First Knight to her left. Wind Walker was there and the Wizard. Sir Robert, frowning horribly, sat to the right of Morgana. Many lords and ladies were sitting in the main gallery awaiting the results of the council’s judgement on Sir William of Annsbury.
Guards were dispatched to escort William into court.
Morgana watched them go. Her heart heavy with regrets and doubts. How could she make amends for the hurt she had caused? Or should she even try? She never forced William to fall in love with her. It was he that sought her out. It was he that said they were meant for each other, not her. They had dreamed impossible dreams together, but these were only fantasies. No one ever said they could or would come true. She never made any promises. She had no regrets.
No, it was William’s fault. She would not feel guilty because of him. Tears came to her eyes. She didn’t know what to feel or believe anymore, but she was strong. She had made the right choices. She was happy and content.
Just then shouts and curses were heard from the outer court. Guards rushed in leading a frightened servant girl. They shoved her to her knees before Lady Morion.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Morion demanded of the sergeant of the guard.
"This girl helped the Druid knight escape!" The sergeant glared at the terrified woman.
Looking at the frightened woman, Morion said in a gentle tone, "Tell me what happened. Did you help the knight escape?"
"No, Lady. When I went to the room, the knight was already gone. There was a young man there though. He was very handsome." The girl blushed, "We... we kissed, and that is all I remember." The girl lowered her eyes in shame.
"That must have been some kiss!" Morion found humour even in this. "Do you know where the knight went to?" The servant shook her head. Morion responded, "No? Well, how about your young man? Where is he?" The girl just shook her head.
"What do you wish done with her?" The sergeant growled.
"For starters, I want you to be a bit more civilised!" Morion said, then continued, "Let her go. She has done nothing amiss. It is that Druid we need to find. Search ever corner of the palace and Keep. Send search parties into the surrounding towns and villages. Also alert our outposts and the boarder patrols. I want that knight found!"
More commotion occurred in the outer courtyard. "What now?" The First knight was standing next to Morion. Morgana too stepped close.
Another guard entered the hall. He rushed up to Morion and knelt before her. "My Lady, grave news."
"Well, out with it man!" Morion’s patience was wearing very thin.
"The Dark Crystal. It’s gone." The guard’s face was ashen.
"What? How can this be? Sir Robert took the guard by the collar. "How could you have let this happen?" He struck the man with the back of his hand. The sergeant just stared at him.
"Sir Robert, I am getting pretty sick and tired of your temper. If you cross the line one more time, I will personally see you stripped of your rank and exiled into the Dark Wood! THEN, you fat headed idiot, I will start to get REAL nasty!"
Morion shoved Robert out of the way as she went to the guard. "When did you know something was amiss?"
"During the morning’s changing of the guard. My replacement is half elf. She could sense the magick was missing. We check the chamber and the Crystal was gone."
"Where is this elfling now?"
"Trying to track the magick. She and a few others have gone in search of it." The guard looked tired and worried.
"Morion." Morgana placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. "The Dark Crystal will not be found. Nor shall Sir William. They are far to the north. Will must have used the magick to transport himself and the stone there. He is taking it to the Old Ruins."
"Wait a minute. That does not make sense. There is nothing up there," the First knight looked at Morion for confirmation. Indeed, the area had once been permeated with powerful magick, but the place had been deserted for millennia. No one lived there and those who went exploring never returned.
Morgana looked at the council, "I am right. He is there. Morion, you can send out Arrow to confirm what I already know. But Will is there; I can feel him."
"Can you now? And how long have you been feeling him?" Sir Robert asked crudely. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."
Wind Walker approached Morion. "My Lady, I must go to fetch the stone back. We cannot be without it. We have too many enemies with covetous intentions desiring this realm."
"Without that Crystal, we don’t HAVE a realm." Morion looked at her beloved advisor and friend. "Go, take the First knight and any that you deem would be helpful in your search for the knight and the Crystal."
*******

Will stood before a dilapidated fortress. It appeared to be the remnants of a grand Castle, some of its battlements still stood in lonely vigil over the desolate plain. The knight sent tendrils of thought searching out for signs of life. There were a few signs of life, but they seemed frightened and shunned the light of day.

Will walked around the keep, searching for an entrance. He was sure the object of his search was close by. He could feel the malice of his enemy penetrating every fibre of his body. But there was something else. It felt like kinship, though the knight knew he would never accept that.

Since his escape from Morion’s realm he thought little of Morgana, or Catherine for that matter. Even though they were one-in-the-same person, he thought of them as two. Catherine was an ideal, but unreal. Morgana was real, but untouchable. She claimed to want him, then turned her back when he offered. Did she really have a choice? Did she want the choice? Will didn’t know and at this point in his life, it didn’t matter. It was too late.
He pushed the thoughts of his love back into the deepest parts of his heart. He didn’t want to be diverted by thoughts of her. She was his one true distraction.
Soon he came around to the backside of the fortress, but still found no openings. It was then he noticed a hollow in the plain a few miles ahead. Some instinct told him to stay away from the darkened pit. But he could not. He started to hike briskly towards it as a man would walk to greet a long-lost friend.
As he neared the brim of the crater he heard the wails of ghosts and demons, their spirits held in perpetual chains of torment. "Surly this must be the gateway to hell," he thought to himself.
"Greetings, my son." The voice was deep and amused. "We have been expecting you. Come down and join us. We have much to talk about!" Dumah let out a thunderous laugh that shook the entire plain.
Will looked into the hallow and saw his fate. "Yes, indeed. We have much to talk about." He glanced back to the south-west where Morion’s Castle stood. His thoughts again turned to Morgana. As he started his descent into the dark hole he caught his reflection in a small puddle in the middle of the path; his eyes glowed with crimson fire.

*******

A week had passed since Sir William’s escape, and still Morion’s patrols found no sign of him. Even Arrow, the knight’s guardian eagle, was unable to scout out his master’s whereabouts. All the boarder patrols and outposts were on full alert. Other kingdoms and territories were on alert also. With the Dark Crystal’s disappearance, everyone seemed on edge.

Morion called her councillors together to gather any bits of information they might have. She wanted to know what courses of action were open to here. Many advisors appeared with as many suggestions and ideas, but her most trusted advisors knew the truth. And it did not look good. The renegade Druid had the Crystal and defected to Dumah. Now there would be no stopping the Angel of Death’s reign of terror. The destruction of forest and field had already begun.

"I want suggestions and options! I want answers! All of you have knowledge and wisdom. How can we defend ourselves against the coming onslaught without the power of the Crystal? Can we get it back?" Morion asked as she paced across her private chambers.
"Lady Morion, I still suggest taking our army to the Old Ruins, and retrieving it by force!" Sir Robert was one for action, with little regard to what it meant to others, as long as the greater good was served.
"My Lady, I agree with Sir Robert somewhat, but we can accomplish the same thing with a smaller force; say two hundred and fifty well-trained warriors. We could set them in ambush outside the old fortress. Then, with just a few knights to make their way into Dumah’s lair, we could retrieve the stone and get out before the enemy knew what hit them." The First knight looked to his friend Wind Walker. "With the magick of our friend here, this would be a very viable option."
Morion nodded, but then looked at Morgana. "What do you think?"
"I have no opinion on this. I don’t believe Will has betrayed you. I think we should wait and see."
"Wait and see? You are the most stubborn and irrational woman I know," Robert leaned over the table to put his face as close to hers as possible. "You still love him, don’t you? Why are you so weak that you won’t admit it to all of us? Say it!" Robert shook his fist at her, but she just stared at him.
"I will agree with the First knight. Let's be going. I am tired of waiting for my Lady’s lover to reveal himself as the hero she thinks he is." His sarcasm bit hard.
"Then make ready," Morion looked at her friends, "and may God give you --" Her words failed at the first blast. The room shook violently and the floor heaved upward sending all flying into the air in every direction. Tables and chairs overturned. People scramble to protect themselves from flying debris. Screams of pain came from the outer court. Then a second blast rocked the earth, more powerful than the first, sending shock-waves tearing through the palace. Timbers snapped like twigs and plaster fell like hail from the ceilings. Part of the outside wall gave way under the strain of the blast. It fell outwards towards the garden where Will had prayed.
Through the opening devastation could be seen everywhere. Some battlements had collapsed and others were tittering precariously. A gate, torn off its cast-iron hinges, stood askew against the opened it once protected.
The main fountain in the courtyard was spouting water like a geyser. Trees lay uprooted and houses flattened.
As the rumblings subsided, Morion and the rest staggered to their feet dazed. None of them comprehended what had just occurred. Shock is all they felt.
Sir Robert looked at Morgana, his face marred by dust and blood. "We’ve been attacked! Your damn Druid did this! And you loved him, no you love him!" His voice was a hiss of rage as he faced Morgana, her own bruises becoming more prominent by the minute.
"Sir Robert, you are right." Morgana looked at the knight and addressed him formally. She had had enough. "It was an attack. But not against us."
Morion was at her side, "Tell me what you mean. How do you know this attack was not directed at us."
"I can hear the demons. They mourn for their master. But I also cannot feel Will. I know I am out of practice, but I should be able to feel him." Morgana was trembling.
"Why do you think you are out of practice. I don’t understand." Morion watched her friend with concern.
Morgana continued, "You see, for the sake of Sir Robert here I forced myself not to think of Will. I clouded my thought concerning him. I would not let him in, nor would I let myself think of him. I forced Will out of my heart!" The pain in her heart grew with that admission. "Morion, he is gone. I cannot feel him. He’s lost to me."
With that Morgana sat down and buried her face in her hands. Morion put her arms around her dear friend, but comfort was hard to come by.
*******

Reports came in from all over the realm. The stories were always the same. Towns, villages, and hamlets were devastated. Rivers and streams changed their courses. Mountains and hills either grew or shrunk depending on where they. But most astonishingly of all, not a single death was reported. All people and creatures were accounted for. There were injuries to be sure, some severe, but no one died due to the quakes. The earthquakes were unique in another way, because there were no after-shocks.

As for the land, even the fields and forests that were showing signs of destruction, now showed signs of miraculous healing.

Morion sat in her make-shift private chambers. Morgana and Wind Walker were there also. Soldiers came to report their findings. County and city clerks brought in results of audits. Though the destruction was terrible and the worst anyone had ever seen, life had been spared. There was enough food, clothing, and clean water for everyone’s needs, and the supply seemed sufficient for many months to come while rebuilding and repairs took place.

Morion paced within the tent. She could not understand the reports, but could not deny them either. There was a small rosewood table near to where she walked. Nothing was on it, and those within the tent were too busy to notice a small glimmer of light hovering just over its polished surface. The light grew in intensity. Morgana was the first to notice. She stood and called the guard. All in the tent stepped toward the front entrance. The light grew brighter. It pulsated with sapphire coloured vitality. Within its glow a shape began to coalesce. The light became brighter and more intense, temporarily blinding those trying to behold its brilliance, until finally it just winked out. Morgana and Morion moved to the table. They could not believe their eyes, for the object on the table radiated power; the power of the Dark Crystal.

Morgana drew close. Morion stood next to her. The Crystal had changed. It was just a beautiful as it had always been, but now there was something in its core. It appeared to be words. Morgana broke down in tears. Morion looked confused, then read the message.

"Until time and times pass away..."
*******

Thus Ends a Chronicle of the Druid Knight.
William Black ©


Continues...


Chronicle I, Main page





Back to Stories Mainpage       Home



Copyright © Morion. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this website may be copied or reproduced without permission.