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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 22:41:27 GMT
A short distance outside the castle is a handful of trees. Gawain and the two girls from Cameliard made for there. It wasn't much as far as shelter was concerned, but it would have to do until the others joined them.
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 22:43:47 GMT
Dina had stayed to help Seren with the old man.
They entered the trees and Dina left the man with Seren, crossing to gawain and kissing him.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 22:56:57 GMT
He held her in his arms but it was obviously that he wasn't well.
"I will have to stay here and rest," he said. "I can't go on any longer. If the guards come, you'll have to run, Dina, and take the girls with you. Seren's magic should be enough to protect you."
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 22:58:35 GMT
"And leave you?" She asked. "I cant Gawain. They will kill you."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 23:07:49 GMT
His face was solemn in the moonlight.
"I know, but what else can I do? I need rest."
"I cannot keep running either," Father Eadmund pointed out.
"I will create a shield to protect us, but it won't hold forever," Seren warned. "Give me a moment, please."
Gawain looked at Dina.
"I do need my rest, but we have to get the princesses out of here. Promise me you will, Dina, even if I must stay."
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 23:09:22 GMT
"Seren, cant you help him?" Dina asked turning to the druid girl. She didnt answer Gawain. "Please?"
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 23:15:19 GMT
"I can tr," Seren answered. "But I must put up the shield first, for all our sakes."
"Let me try," Father Eadmund offered. "I'm no great physician and certainly not a herbalist but I can clean and bandage wounds as well as anyone."
"Do it," Gawain replied.
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 23:16:34 GMT
Dina kissed him lightly again, then stepped away to let the priest try.
She went over to the two Princesses.
"Are you two alright?" She asked softly.
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 23:30:16 GMT
"I'm a bit shaken," Gwendolen replied.
"I'm fine," Guinevere said, but her tone was harsh. "I must ask you to help me, Lady Dindrane. I have a problem."
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 23:33:29 GMT
"Call me Dina." Dina said. "What is the matter Princess?"
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 23:43:59 GMT
"Vortimer took my maidenhead," Guinevere replied dully. "He forced me to marry him, though I'm not sure it counts as a marriage when the bride is unwilling. Then he bedded me. But I was to wed Alexander of Castle Sauvage, the son of Sir Ector."
She sighed.
"But no man of noble birth wants to marry a girl who is not a virgin. So I must ask for your help. I have never met Sir Alexander. Gwen and I have decided that she will pretend to be me, and I shall pretend to be her. Then she shall marry Sir Alexander and he will have his virgin bride. And I shall not be shamed."
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 5, 2012 23:49:36 GMT
Dina bit her lip.
She had grown up in a christian household and knew what the girl spoke of, though virginity meant less for the pagan girl.
"The best thing that you can do Princess is speak to Sir Ector. Or, if you wish I can for you and let Sir Alexander decide. If they find out that you switched and fooled them then they will be more wroth. It is not you to blame for this, but Vortimer, and in time he will pay for it."
Dina hesitated then took the girl's hand.
"Princess, you are safe now, when King Arthur finds out what has happened he will make it his mission to right the wrongs that have been done to you."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 5, 2012 23:56:33 GMT
Guinevere shook her head.
"No. No. I cannot do it. I could not bear to see the look in Sir Alexander's eyes when he sees that he must marry a defiled woman. His pity would be worse than loathing. There was talk of Gwen going into a convent. I could go in her place and nobody would ever think ill of me."
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Post by Hallewes on Jul 6, 2012 0:01:22 GMT
"But it is not what you want to do." Dina pointed out, watching the look in her eyes.
"Princess. I am a pagan myself and there is no shame in not being a virgin when you are wed. Maybe you will find a man that will love you fully, even knowing that you have been 'defiled'." Dina did not look happy at the word. "i cannot even imagine how bad it feels for you right now. And truly, I wish that I had killed that King, so that you would be a widow and therefore happier I think."
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Post by Morgan le Fay on Jul 6, 2012 0:09:37 GMT
"It was no true marriage. God was not in that room with me," Guinevere said firmly. "I would be happier if Vortimer were dead but that would not restore my maidenhead. Nothing ever can."
Her voice was filled with sorrow.
"Your pagan ways allow women more freedom, I think, but my father always said it was a sin for a woman to lie with a man outside of marriage. The Bible teaches that marriage was created to prevent sin. But I cannot bear to wed Sir Alexander now. If you won't help me, I will refuse. I don't want a man to touch me ever again."
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