#WRITEPHOTO – The Secret in the Stone .

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a stone or a tomb with a key-like inscription but no words upon it.

The Secret in the stone – Image by KL Caley.

They all look at my stone from the wrong end. Hey go to the other end and you’ll clearly see the story of my fate…. Why does nobody listen, or even think. It’s so cold down here I have been trapped so long.

Well as no one will make the leap of fate and view my story from the right end I will enlighten any of you with time to listen.

Just before the days of old, when knights were bold and round tables were something of an oddity. I was a young trainee to a black witch called Morgana. That’s black witch as in black magic. I had been stolen by Morgana just after I emerged from my mother’s womb. There I lay exhausted and cold waiting for some warm milk to fill my tummy.

Suddenly i was snatched away by this swirling, heaving cloak which was the witch. Now to be fair I had not bonded with my mother as she was not altogether interested in me. I had heard her cursing my existence each day I was inside her, and she didn’t have time to repent any of that or grieve for me because she died hours after my birth.

Anyway I am not asking for any sympathy because Morgana turned out to be a brilliant mother right from the start. I was kept warm , well fed and she loved me … She wanted me.

I grew and learned everything I was taught willingly. Morgana was delighted with my progress. I became as beautiful as she and as clever and that pleased her.

Now I have all the time in world but I can tell by the way you are all hopping from one foot to the other you don’t! So I will get a move on. every five years we would meet with the old wizard Merlin and his charge Arthur. Apart from being a boy Arthur was very like me. Not in looks but in provenance, his mother had died shortly after giving birth and he had been taken and brought up by Merlin, a white wizard …. infact we were yin and yan. We always got on well and played happily, which is more than could be said of our wards!

Now Morgana and Merlin both had interpreted what was written in stone a different way. Merlin construed that young Arthur was to be king and unite the Britons where as Morgana’s vision, the true one, saw me, Arthura as Queen of all Briton.

The day of our 20th birthdays arrived and we were called to the King’s stone to see which of us could extract Excalibur from the stone. You all know the story, “who ever could pull the sword from stone would rule all Briton.” Many had tried and they had all failed.

Arthur and Merlin arrived at the same time as us and though Merlin wanted Arthur to try the sword first, Arthur insisted ladies first. I approached the stone hitched my purple cloak over my shoulder and grabbed Excalibur by the hilt the sword began to slip from the stone. Suddenly it went dark the sun had been put out! No one saw Merlin hit me on the back of my head with his crook! As I lay on the cold ground I heard Merlin whisper, “sorry lass t’was not meant to be” I felt my life slipping away, as the sun reignited.

The crowd were all terrified and screaming, they were huddled together in fear of their lives, after all the sun had just gone out. Their minds had been wiped of all memories of me! Morgana cursing Merlin swooped in and bore me up and away.

Arthur, who had had his mind wiped of all memory of me too stepped up to the stone and with ease he withdrew Excalibur. The rest is, as they say history or myth. Or as I would say bloody unfair!

At dead of night Morgana brought me here and buried me, weeping all the while , she never forgave Merlin.

Morgana told my story on my tomb stone! Sadly Merlin thrawted her again. He cast a spell on it so that all who gazed up it only saw the carving upsidedown. So good ladies and gentlemen if you can turn your screens or the image the other way up. You will see Merlin’s hand holding the staff he murdered me with, and the sword Excalibur waiting to be removed from the stone.

It should of been me!

KL Caley at Novel Ideas has offered to take on Sue Vincent’s #writephoto weekly challenge now Sue has moved on to a higher plain.

This is part of KL Caley’s #writephoto

September Music 2.

For the month of September I am going to choose a piece of music or song and write a poem or alternative version. Jane Dougherty is doing a September Stanza here. And Kat Myrman is doing September a poem a day Here

Today’s music is O! Fortuna , Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

Arthurian Tanka

His sword flashes bright

Cloak of red, his armour light

He serves the true king.

To search for the Holy Grail

He always will serve his king.

Boadicea and Arthur ?

This poem is completely from my imagination. Arthur  and Boadicea where in fact not from the same era  but I would of love Arthur to have ridden in with his brave knights and assisted her ……….. what a tale this would be . I delicate this tale to the sister of  my friend Martin   and to http://saminaiqbal27.wordpress.com/  who loves a Arthurian myth. 

 

I see the future it is dark, battles blood and fear

I feel our days are numbered I know our enemies draw near.

I draw my daughters to me I shall defend them to the end.

I have sent out  for help and begged for aid from Arthur King of the Brittons, my friend.

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I have called upon my people from all corners of my land.

I have warned them of the my bad feelings, I have told them trouble is at hand.

I call all of my Iceni  Tribe. The Roman’s are coming and they will brook no resistance

Hark I hear the Legions marching feet approaching us in the distance.

 

My husband is still ruling , a ruler in name only I fear, Prasutagus my lord

Don’ t trust these Roman men they only want our lands and wealth

We need help from Arthur, and his knights to route these invaders from abroad!

My husband is weak he is ill, he cannot last much longer in his ill health.

 

Damn those Romans Damn them to hell. I shall find a witch and have her cast on them a black spell.

They stripped me naked and flogged me to within an inch of my life

Then they made me watch as they raped my daughters  damn them, damn them to hell.

Where is Arthur where are his Knights where are they when I need them in my hour of strife.

 

I shall not let them beat me this Roman Army  I shall not let them lay my lands to waste.

Where are you Arthur I need you now, hear me great wise king I need you make hast.

Curse the ninth legion, they shall all die, we will cut their throats and I shall rip away their manhood and hang it high

I shall show them they cannot  debase me Boadicea, and rape my daughters  and not expect to die.

 

We shall fight them we shall lay them low at them at their capital Camulodunum  !

Where is Arthur we need him now , suddenly the cry goes up Arthur , Arthur and his knights are here at last.

We shall slay those Romans  we shall oust them now with Arthur Pendragon  now the die is cast!

We beat them in their capital and then we beat them in  Londinium and Verulamium  .

 

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So I Boadicea Queen of the Iceni thank you Arthur King of the Brittons

I have wrought my vengeance true I could not have done so without you.

We can no longer defeat the Roman hordes and there is only one thing left for me to do.

I shall poison myself and my daughter too , for those Romans to recapture us would never do.

 

I have my place in history I saw off those Roman’s with Arthur at the side of me.

 

 

 

 

The Tale of the Fisher King

A knight king did in battle fall,  brutal was his wound

His groin was gashed wide and cut deep no matter how  bound

His blood could not be stemmed. No cure could be found.

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Many came with balms and cures , potions charms and spells

Yet for all the ministering’s  of, knights, magicians and nurse

No one could cure the brave king or relieve  him of this curse.

 

The as I have said the wound was in the king’s groin

So this made him impotent no life sprung from his loins.

His lands suffered as he did and soon all he owned lay dying and barren.

 

So as the king suffered as did his lands and people fade

A grayness and a failing of all crops, like the wound the sword had made.

So in this dark land, inside his castle named Corbin laid this king a keeper of the Holy  Grail.

 

So why the title Fisher King , why this name it is a strange thing.

The king so wounded in vital parts would spend his days fishing

I do know know my friends, he maybe spent his time  a’wishing

To be healed and to restore his lands to prosperity.

 

 

And so the Fisher King spent his days fishing in the river by his Castle

While his daughter guarded the Holy Grail in a lonely tower

He catches the fish to to feed the Grail’s power.

 

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The tower where the grail is kept is full of special powers

False hearts, if detected, the chamber will be filled with arrows

Or boiling oil the false at heart to foil, while the keeper will be unharmed.

 

So now dear reader you know the plight of the Fisher King

How his fishes for the food of life and prays for a cure to heal him.

His daughter spends her days, and her nights too keeping the Grail safe from the clutches of sin.

 

Finally Sir Lancelot , following in Sir Percival’s trail,

Arrives in hopes to help the Fisher King , where Percival had failed.

Lancelot arrives by sea and crosses the guarded Bridge.

 

Did I tell you , the seaward bridge to the castle was guarded by Lions

Fierce and dangerous are they, and many knights they have repelled

Lancelot had been searching years to find the Holy Grail he will fight the Lions and he will prevail.

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Brave Sir Lancelot who rode with God and right on his side

Came, challenged and defeated the Lions where lesser knights had failed.

He Entered the castle and survived the tower and claimed the Holy Grail.

 

Then to the Fisher King he went and with God, and cured his wounds so sore

As if by a magic brush the kings  lands were fruitfully as they were before.

Now there is more to this tale , but as for now dear friends I can tell no more.

 

Sir Gawain part 3

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On the morning of the fourth day Sir Gawain left the castle gate

The lady of the castle waved him off biding him farewell.

Brave Gawain did not know if he would greet another morn but on he went to meet his fate.

The sun shone off the snow and all hushed and still , with God help he prayed all would go well!

 

After a long days ride  Sir Gawain  saw a little chapel come into view.

His spirits were low  but he knew he had honour and truth on his side.

As the sun set he dismounted his steed , he knew what he had to do.

So he left his sword and shield by the chapel door and walked towards the alter , there was nowhere to hide.

 

There stood the Green Knight  waiting in the gloom,he asked sir Gawain was he ready to meet his doom.

Gawain advanced toward the Green Knight, and went down on bended knee and removed his helmet

Offering his neck he waited for the blow, he hoped he could be brave enough, he feared that he might swoon.

The Green Knight raised the axe and as he brought it down she saw Sir Gawain flinch before his neck the blade met.

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The Green Knight asked Sir Gawain if he was afraid, he then made fun of him calling him a maid.

Gawain then told the Green knight to get on with things and take his blow.

Then Knight then swung again and this time missed his mark. At this Sir Gawain, no longer afraid

Demanded  that the Green Knight tarry no more . He shouted ” take your blow sir and let my blood flow!!”

 

So taking aim the Green Knight took a swing   and came down hard and fast, but just barely glanced our brave Knight’s neck.

Sir Gawain could not understand  how he was only grazed, he asked the Green Knight why he was still alive.

The Green Knight started laughing and suddenly he changed by magic fair or foul he had become Lord Betilak.

What is this wandered our brave hero, why was he here awake and alive.

 

The two knights left the chapel and to a near by lake, did walk

The Green Knight told Gawain it had all been just a test.

Devised by the old lady who had been at their first meeting , who had smiled at him but did not talk.

She was the witch Morgan Le Fay she had decided they would test Arthur’s  Knights to see if any she could best!

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Gawain was angry perhaps it was his pride

The Green Knight  told him that his wife had been in on the  trial

But Sir Gawain  had resisted her however hard she’d tried.

You are an honourable  knight sir I beg you lets part as friends said the Green knight with a smile..

 

So back to Arthur’s court a weary Gawain rode

He had many a tale to tell of the people he had met

On his journeying and those he had helped along the road.

Arthur was interested in Sir Gawain’s tale he was not surprised at his sisters’ part in the whole affair.

 

So now it is another Christmas tide for Arthur and his knights

Let us leave them for a while to their feasting and their fights!

 

 

 

Sir Gawain part 2

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And so the year passes and winters’ chill was in the air

As silently snow laid it’s  billowy white skirts everywhere.

Time’s gentle reminder to Sir Gawain that his return meeting

With the green knight was near, impressing on him that his time was fleeting.

Arthur was loath to bid his favourite  knight  farewell

Unknowing of the future he feared  his cousin may be riding into hell.

He well recalled the Green Knights’ visit at Christmas time the the year before.

Brave Gawain  saluted his king and told him to just pray for him, he had taken the challenge and he knew the score.

So brave Gawain  set off into the unknown to find The  Chapel Green

Having  no idea what lay in store for him, he was not  too keen.

Through trials and tests he made his way, ever onward in search of his fate

He had to find the Green Chapel he only had one chance he could not be late .

Tired and weary with only four days left to spare

Gawain, our brave knight happened upon a castle in the middle of nowhere.

From out the shadow came a kindly  Lord, Bertilak de Hautdesert  by name

He invited our hero in for a bite to eat , he asked “where are you going Sir  Gawain “

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In the warm and welcoming hall the lord and lady made Sir Gawain comfortable.

As they ate and drank and spoke of his travels Gawain notice an old woman at the far end of the table.

No one introduced her  but she was treated with great respect

Gawain noticed she was an ugly crone and on this he did reflect.

Please Sir knight  Bertilak entreated do stay here a while the Green Chapel is but one day’s ride from this place.

Gawain was tired and this offer he did embrace.

The next morning the lord of the castle had gone hunting, he left word that he would would  give Gawain whatever he might catch that day.

If Gawain would give to him anything he had gained during that day.

The lady of the castle visited Gawain in good grace With all her female guile she tried to seduced him.

Being a knight of  honour and of loyalty he refused her not wanting to commit a sin.

Gawain though sorely tempted refused the lady’s charms  but to so as not to hurt her he accepted a kiss.

On Bertilak’s return he presented Gawain with his spoils in return Gawain gave him a kiss, the lord asked not from whence it came nor took it amiss.

The second and the third day too Bertilak  repeated his terms, that he would present his hunt spoils to Gawain for what ever Gawain that day had earned.

The lady of the Castle also tried to give herself, each day, to honourable Sir Gawain.

Each day he turned her down allowing only an extra kiss each day though he did find it a strain.

The lady grew more amourous and Gawain, only a man,  but he refused her each time and

Both evenings he gave Bertilak the kisses he had received  for the hunts spoils that were put into his hand .

Then upon the third morning when the lady begged his favours  she offered him her sash of green

She told him it would keep him alive and safe , with his impending doom, this hope to take, he was keen.

Gawain took the sash and bound it around his waist. He hoped it would help survive the Green Knight’s axe.

That evening on his return Bertilak  received three kisses again he did not ask from whence they came

 

To be continued ………………………………………………

Haiku Excalibur

Today is all rush rush  so I am posting  an Arthurian Haiku that I put on poetry corner  a wonderful place to visit. Now it is important that you realize this little Haiku was written tongue in cheek. I do hope to be business as usual tomorrow!

Excalibur

All was silent all was calm

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From below there arose an arm.

 

The birds where stilled and the breeze did drop.

The arm with the sword suddenly withdrew, kerplop!

Merlin’s Soltice

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The first rays of the golden sun burst forth upon the solstice morn.

Merlin could see for miles, yet it was not what he could see

But what he knew that caused him to mourn.

His fate entwined with Arthur, who he would out live  but he would never be free.

So much pain, so much joy, yet no peace nor rest for Merlin.

He was terrified to realize that he was immortal

What a dark premonition, to see down the years unfurling

No real rest no real peace on and on no escape portal.

Looking out across the land, finally united

Harvests good and people happy  if only his job was done.

Five men good and true to Arthur had been knighted.

If only Merlin didn’t have to know all his his battles had to be won.

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Poor Merlin so much for him to carry

so much information in his dreams

So much future so many deeds to face and parry.

Merlin  sees it all on this solstice mourn all stretched out before him.

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Merlin

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There was a young lad who was unsure of destiny , his name was Merlin

Striving to understand which path was mapped out for him , seeing his future unfurling.

To Camelot he was sent to help the court physician for he had a magic bent.
Gaius knew the boy had talent and a destiny to fulfill a reason he was sent.

 

He learnt at Gaius’s knee at first terrified of is own magic power he longed to be free

He spent most of time the butt of the young Arthur’s jokes he accepted that was how it had to be.

As he grew older his path became clearer and he knew just how to handle the prince in waiting

He took all Arthur could throw at him gently guiding him toward his path all ills anticipating.

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Always at Arthur’s side hiding his magic well

Keeping the young king safe often using a secret spell.

For he had become fast friends with Arthur  and was all but in name an extra knight.

Merlin was the one who could always be depended upon to sort out wrongs and make disasters right.

 

Guinevere loved him  too he helped her to find her husband true.

Sad was he when she tarried with Lancelot blindly her vows to Arthur she forgot.

Yet Merlin knew that she was true and he convinced Arthur to harm her not.

Oh! so many tales I would tell of Merlin’s time with Arthur

But that is for another time which will be dealt with here after!

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Sir Lancelot

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Oh! he was dark with eyes of fire he was the dream of any maiden’s desire.

Arthur’s closest friend, they swore allegiance and supported each other under fire .

Lancelot  the most trusted , favoured knight. He stood on Arthur’s right

For his king he would gladly die. He saved his kings neck in many a fight.

Sadly for all involved he charmed his queen too, is eyes went deep into her soul

He stole into her dreams at first, then her days finally her bed, he devoured her whole.

This sad turn of events went from bad to worse.

Lancelot deeply scarred his friend stole the heart of his wife, it was like a curse.

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The dark knight with the gleaming eyes  was forced to return to France

Arthur’s broken heart forced him to to condemn his beloved wife to the firery dance.

A trap was set to catch Sir Lancelot , his dearest friend who’d stolen his wife , OH! sad mischance.

Arthur set his bravest knights to guard the pyre , Lancelot returns a bloody fight ensues.

Guinevere is to a nunnery sent , and Arthur, Lancelot to France peruses.

Fear not there is much more to tell

Yet for now sweet friends I need to bid you farewell……………………..