The Wizard, the Witch and the Queen

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom there lived a Witch of golden hair whose name was May.  When she was young she found she could do magic.  Her mother told her that she was a Witch and that she should find a teacher when she was old enough.  The little girl waited and looked first for a teacher near her home but there was none to be found.  When she was old enough to set out on her own, she did.  She packed her favourite things and kissed her mother and father and sister farewell as she excitedly headed to the nearby kingdom where she had heard there were many Witches and Wizards.  She made friends on her way for she was a friendly Witch and always had love and smiles to share with everyone.  Although she had many friends, none she had met was a teacher of Witchcraft.  She learned what she could through books she found and was careful with her magic.  Years past and she was in despair of ever finding a teacher for her and even convinced herself that perhaps the Great Spirits did not mean for her to find a teacher.  So, she continued healing as she could being as helpful as well.  Everyone near and far loved the sweet woman.  Her smile was as golden as her hair.  One day she was walking near the castle gardens looking for some special herbs.  She was so intent on looking that she bumped into someone.  “Oh, I am so sorry.”  She exclaimed.  The older man in wizard robes, smiled at her with twinkling eyes.  “It is okay my Lady.”  He answered.  “You seemed to be searching among the plants.”  “Oh, yes I am.  I am looking for a special healing herb.  I know not what it is called but I do know what it looks like.”  She smiled.  “My name is May.”  “Hello May.  I am Merlin the castle wizard.  I was just out for my walk as I am not needed at the moment in the castle.  If you can tell me the appearance of the herb you are looking for perhaps I can tell you the name.  I have studied for a very long time.”  May clapped her hands together in joy but struggled to hold back the thousand questions she had held for so very long.  “I am a Witch although self-taught for I could find no teacher where I grew up.”  The wizard raised his eyebrows at the thought that such a sweet witch had never been able to find a teacher.  Then again he knew that most witches and wizards were pretty guarded in their studies. May described the herb she was looking for so clearly that Merlin knew exactly what she was looking for.  He named it as Mugwort.  A very all-purpose herb.  She found it under his guidance and they continued to talk of magical things.  Merlin looked at the sun and knew it was time that he went back to the castle.  “Tell you what May.”  he said with a shy smile.  “I have most afternoons free and if you like I shall teach you what you are missing in your studies, if you like.”  May nearly jumped and hugged the wizard.  “OHHHHHH.”  She exclaimed “I would love to meet you and learn from you Merlin.”  He patted her hand.  “Very well.  I shall meet you over there at the clearing each day just after the lunch.  Don’t be late.”  he chided teasingly.  She took his words seriously.  “Oh no, Merlin I shall never keep you waiting.”  She leaned forward and kissed his cheek in thanks and they parted ways for the day.  May was so very happy that she had found someone to answer her questions.  Although she had gotten very skilled by herself, she was very lonely in her studies.  The Merlin too, was happy, he hummed as he went back into the castle.  The Queen had not seemed to need him so often and he too was lonely to share magic with someone.  This lady May seemed perfect.  Old enough not to be silly, and young enough that he could teach. 

The next afternoon they met and every afternoon after that.  Each day in the clearing just outside the castle wall.  You could see the Merlin and May.  Merlin was sitting on the tree stump and May was sitting at his feet with her notebook.  She wrote everything he told her down and each afternoon, she learned and studied.  After they parted she would practice everything he had taught her in the afternoon.  Her magic book got bigger and bigger as she wrote her notes.  Her friends noticed that she was not around as much and yet, she was very happy and an eager student.  Some of her friends were quite jealous of her time away and teased her about her relationship with her teacher.  Calling her teacher’s pet.  She ignored the nasty comments and continued to meet with her teacher.  This went on for quite awhile and there was an easy friendship between the two.  One day however, the Queen finally noticed that her Merlin was not around the castle.  She began to wonder where he got to each afternoon.  She inquired among the servants and one led her to a window that showed the clearing in the distance and told her that Merlin was meeting a lady.  The servant did not know what they talked about for the Merlin never said.  The Queen watched out the window for a time and saw that when they got up as the sun began to set, May hugged Merlin and kissed his cheek and then they parted.  The Queen said nothing when the Merlin appeared that night, but she was feeling very angry and nasty.  Merlin did not understand when she was sharp with him that night and seemed to find fault in every service or magic he did.  This went on although Merlin met May each afternoon.  Delighting in teaching her and her company and her learning.  The Queen however, grew more and more angry, thinking very nasty thoughts and thinking they were talking and laughing at her expense.  In fact, the more she thought of it, the more jealous and angry the Queen grew.  Finally one day, she called Merlin to her just before he would normally go and meet May.  Merlin went at once to the Queen.  He bowed low and asked how he could serve her as any of her court would.  The Queen smiled a very nasty smile.  “Are you happy here Merlin?”  He looked surprise.  “Of course your Majesty.  I love serving in your court.”  She raised her thin eyebrow.  “Then how could you sneak around behind my back and meet someone that I do not know?”  Merlin spoke surprised and hurt.  “But your Majesty, I have never neglected any of my duties and my walks were only at times when you made it clear you did not need me.”  She sat back “Oh Merlin and who is the woman that you were seen speaking to?”  Merlin was taken aback.  “May is merely another Witch who is a student and friend.”  The Queen laughed “A friend, well then you will not mind this choice.”  She drew a breath.  “Either you never see that so called student again or you leave my presence and never serve in the castle again.”  The Merlin caught his breath.  Thinking quickly he made the only choice he could.  “I shall not see my student again my Queen and shall stay and serve in your court.”  He thought of May and then thought, well, she has many friends and she will not miss me at all.  It made him feel better and as he went about his business in the castle he did not notice May sitting alone in the clearing.  The Queen smiled her victory as she saw the woman alone in the clearing and from then on made sure she kept the wizard very busy with duties in the castle.

Each day May waited in the clearing, with no word from her teacher and friend.  She was sad and puzzled.  Finally one day a servant who could not bear to see the woman wait day after day not knowing, slipped out and went to her.  “Merlin has been forbidden to see you anymore or lose his place in the castle.”  Before May could ask a question the servant ran back to the castle.  May’s head hung down and she began to cry.  She had no one to talk to about her loss as she had devoted all her waking hours to her teacher.  One by one others found someone else for healings as the witch learned from the wizard.  May sadly pulled herself up.  Looked back at the castle one last time and walked home.  There she gathered everything that was important including her magic book taught to her by Merlin.  Those things she packed swiftly, she knew that she could not stay here.  Her best friend and mentor was gone and she was not sure why the Divine Powers took him from her but she was broken inside.  She then, got rid of everything else that she was not taking with her.  Her house was empty except a few pieces of old furniture.  She slipped her bag onto her shoulders and leaving the door open disappeared in the darkness. 

Now years and years went by and everyone forgot the golden hair witch who had disappeared that night long ago.  Gossips whispered of this and that but no one knew.  The Merlin never knew that he had hurt the witch so badly that she could not live in the village.  He always thought she was just fine.  The Queen forgot her jealous fit and enjoyed her rule of the kingdom.  It was rumoured the witch lived far from anyone in a cave but no one knew for sure.  No one ever knew that jealousy had destroyed a beautiful loving light that was May. 

You see, there is never a happy ending when one lets gossip and jealousy grow.  Jealousy when allowed to grow can make even the most wonderful person do very nasty things and jealousy always grows out of only half truths and outright lies.  

- the Witchy Godmother - February 9, 2005 - for rowan