Eve of the Solstice
          by Morgana Shee
          Part 4
                  Morgana opened her eyes. Her world exploded into pain. Her head hurt and people were bending over her, taking up her air.
                  "Give her some room," said someone. It was Luna Darkmoon.
                  "Luna, what happened?" said Morgana, groggily. If she did squint her eyes, the pain eased.
                  "You fainted, my dear," said Darion Beldar from the opening of the medical tent, "You fought Thia Pendrial in the ring, you won the Gold Staff, and then you fainted. I can safely say that I've never in my life seen anyone produce a circle of protection that fast! I could believe it. You used every last once of your energy to do that. I'm proud of you." Darion walked up to the cot she was lying on and laid his cool hand on her head.
                  Morgana smiled. Darion Beldar was proud of her! She was overwhelmed. The she thought of someone else, "How's Thia?"
                  Darion stopped smiling and walked into the corner. Luna looked after him and said, "Magistress Zoe permitted Thia to compete in the Silver Class. Thia beat everyone and she was awarded a Silver Staff..."
                  Darion returned, "I'm so sorry, Morgana. I didn't judge the Silver Class so I had no say in the matter. That girl is too dangerous to have a Silver Staff, but that was Magistress Zoe's decision."
                  "I know that woman wants to overthrow the Weerul Council," said Luna, dangerously, "And she wants Thia to be there with her. They're both powerful and together, they could really do it."
                  Morgana propped herself up with her elbows, "Where's Cadal by the way?"
                  "He's right here," said a voice from the flap of the tent. Cadal stood framed in light, his wine dark hair tousled and sweat glistening on his brow. He was holding an object in his hand. It was long and shiny...and red: his Red Staff.
                  Morgana's eyes widened, "Oh, Cadal, I'm so sorry I didn't see you..."
                  Cadal put his finger across her lips, "It's all right. You needed to rest after that bout with Thia. You were amazing, Morgana. I'm proud to be acquainted with such a powerful sorceress."
                  "And I'm proud of you too, Cadal," said Morgana, smiling, "You're only 17 and you've won the highest honor in all of Findahl."
                  Darion put his hand on Cadal's shoulder, "This boy is a spectacular sorcerer. He made witchlight after witchlight, and circle after circle. And then he made a portal using only herbs, something that has never been done without a Staff! The match was over then and there. He won the Staff."
                  Morgana smiled at Cadal who smiled back twice as brilliantly. Morgana rose from the cot, swaying a little, but Luna and Cadal supported her. Suddenly, the flap of the tent opened and Aurin Silvereye was standing in the light.
                  "Morgana," he said, "may I congratulate you." He reached for her hand, but she quickly put it behind her back. Aurin smiled broadly and straightened up. Luna and Cadal escorted Morgana out of the tent. Aurin and Darion were close behind.
                  When they emerged from the tent a great cheer went up. The crowd from the arena had gathered by the tent to wait for Morgana to come to. Morgana smiled. Darion walked up to her with something behind his back, "Morgana, I am proud to present you with one of the highest honors bestowed on sorceri in Findahl: the Gold Staff." He produced the object from behind his back.
                  The Staff was like sunlight. The light bounced off it's crevices and put shards of light on the tent. It was a little more than half Morgana's height. She shook Darion's hand as he handed the Staff to her. When she grasped it, the air seemed to hum. This was meant for her, this moment was her destiny. She was the only one that could wield the Gold Staff. Morgana raised the Staff high in the air and the crowd roared.
          _____________________________

                  Morgana sat in Fell Forge with all her friends: Cadal, Luna, Terzian, Aurin, and Vulpecula. The vixen was weeping, or so it seemed.
                  "I always knew you would win the Staff, Morgana," sobbed Vulpecula, "I'm so proud to be your familiar!" Vulpecula jumped into Morgana's lap and Morgana hugged her tightly.
                  "Oh, Vulpecula, you're such a soft one," said Morgana, laughing.
                  Suddenly, Calain Forge came running into the house at full speed, "Cadal, come quickly! Something terrible has happened to your mother!"
                  Cadal rose and ran out the door. Morgana and the rest got up and followed close behind. They emerged on the road outside the house. A crowd was around a cart.
                  Morgana had a sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. As the crowd parted, she saw what had happened. Talia Forge was lying on the ground, her head supported by Calain. Her head was bleeding profusely. Morgana stifled a cry and ran to them.         "What happened?" she said breathlessly.
                  "She was hit by this cart," said Calain, "The horses had gone wild. They trampled..." He broke down into tears.
                  Morgana looked at Talia. She was still conscious, but barely holding on, "Morgana...", gasped Talia.
                  Cadal knelt beside Morgana, "Mother, please hold on, please...." He took Talia's hand.
                  Talia smiled at Cadal and Morgana, "Please take care of each other. You both will save Findahl from destruction. Love each other always and remember me." With that, Talia closed her eyes and passed away.
                  Cadal let out a shriek. Morgana tried to hold onto him, but he broke free of her. Morgana looked after him for a second and them covered her face with her hands and wept.
          __________________________

                  The funeral was well attended. Morgana had helped Calain pick out the flowers. She chose Findahl roses. Talia had always smelled like them. Calain had also picked out the burial place since Cadal was no where to be found. He was overtaken with grief and no one could find him.
                  Morgana listened unfocused to the eulogy given by Calain. The whole Weerul Council also gave their own point of view on Talia. Talia had been from one of the greatest houses of Findahl. Morgana even found out that Talia had actually been a Wielder of a Green Staff, a Staff of average power, but still a great feat to win. Morgana wished she could have spoken to Talia about it.
                  As the funeral came to a close, Morgana felt a presence in the balcony of the cathedral. She looked up and saw Cadal staring down at the coffin with tears streaming silently out of his eyes. He saw Morgana watching him and he disappeared into the shadows. Morgana turned back to the ceremony, new tears welling up in her eyes.
                  After the ceremony, everyone went back to Fell Forge for a small reception in Talia's honor. Morgana was stood detached most of the day. She was sitting on the setae in the parlor when someone came to stand in front of her. Morgana looked up, her grey eyes rimmed with red.
                  Thia Pendrial stood before her, smirking, "I don't see why Talia Forge ever looked on you with charity. You're nothing. How could you ever think that such a wonderful woman could ever be another mother to you? You're a half breed, a low life. You should be executed for your real mother's sins."
                  Morgana rose from her seat as quick as lightning, Staff in hand. She pointed it at Thia and was about to hit Thia with a lightning bolt when Thia said, "Look at yourself, Morgana. You're turning into your father! He that Findahl should never have come to know. He was a....*human*! Why don't you go to live with your real kin in Irenahl?" Thia rounded Morgana, testing her, "We don't want you in Findahl, cross-breed."
                  "Thia, I'm more powerful than you'll ever be," said Morgana through clenched teeth, "I could kill you with one blow from my Staff, but I won't. I'm more like my mother than you think. She was a Quislai. Quislais can't be sorcerers. They have different powers, more spectacular ones. How can tell that I haven't inherited those. Leave, Thia. You're a disgrace to this house."
                  Thia glared at Morgana and stalked out of the room. Morgana lowered her Staff and sat back down. The blow to her past was harsh and Thia had known in would be. Her mother...her father...Morgana shook her head and sighed heavily. She wished Talia was here. She would help Morgana through this new part of her life. At the thought of Talia, Morgana wept. She wept and wept until she exhausted herself. She then fell quietly asleep.
          ___________________________

                  In the days that followed, Cadal appeared again. He didn't go directly to see Morgana though.
                  Morgana was picking up fruit and vegetables from a vender in Weerien when she saw Cadal coming out of the Council building. Morgana quickly paid for her produce and scuttled over to Cadal.
                  "Cadal!" yelled Morgana. He kept walking. "Cadal, please wait!" Morgana's food fell out of her hands as she was trying to hold onto it. Cadal stopped and turned around to help her pick everything up. "Cadal, why wouldn't you wait for me?"
                  Cadal's grey eyes went over Morgana quickly and he looked quickly back down to the ground, "I'm sorry, Morgana. I've had a lot on my mind."
                  Morgana touched Cadal's shoulder, "Why were you in the Council building?"
                  Cadal stood, helping Morgana, "I just argued my way out of having to take an apprenticeship in Weerien. I'm going to go live in the Stillworld. I think I'll go to Florence, Italy. I'm going to find somewhere where I can practice my sorcery safely."
                  Morgana gasped, "You can't Cadal! Please, stay in Findahl..."
                  He waved Morgana off and started to walk away, "No, Morgana, I can't stay here. I'm an orphan. I don't want to be a burden to my uncle. He has too much to worry about as it is."
                  "But, Cadal, there are people here who really care about you. Luna cares about you, Terzian cares about you...*I* care about you, Cadal, really I do. And remember what your mother said..."
                  Cadal put his hands over his face, "I know, Morgana. And those words will haunt me forever. I have to get away. Please understand that, my friend, my dearest friend."
                  "But, Cadal..." Morgana began to cry. Cadal frowned and took her in his arms. Morgana held onto Cadal for dear life. She buried her face in his hair and inhaled his scent. Cadal stroked her hair lightly and Morgana relaxed in his arms.
                  After a while, Cadal stepped back, "I must go, Morgana. If ever you need me, come look for me. I'll always be there."
                  Morgana sobbed. Slowly, Cadal stepped up to her. He was almost tentative. He put his hands on either side of Morgana's face. Morgana closed her eyes.
                  His lips were so soft and they tasted like vanilla. He kissed her deeply, as if it were the last time he would see her. Emotions swirled around Morgana and her love for Cadal shot out of her enveloping both of them. But Morgana couldn't feel that from Cadal. He was kissing her, but it was because he knew she wanted it. Morgana could tell. He was deceiving her.
                  Morgana broke off quickly and stepped back, head down, "Goodbye, Cadal."
                  Cadal sighed, "Fare thee well, Morgana." He quietly walked down the road.
                  Morgana was left alone, sobbing in the middle of Weerien with no one to comfort her. She was alone once more.
          Part 5
          © 1999 Caity Ford
          |The Cave|The Clearing|Forest's Edge|The Goddess|The Grove|The Hollow|
          |The Meadow|Quislai Circles|The Solstice|The Thicket|Woodland Creatures|
          |Return to the Lair|