Meleagrant

[Rayven]

The day passed slowly for I had given my word to the king that I would rest this day and not continue on the task I had started with the cataloguing of the potions and herbs on hand in the infirmary.

I had, however, brought the hand-scripted book of herbs and potions up to my room where I spent the better part of the afternoon reading over the fine hand written inscriptions, finding the whole business of alchymistry fascinating.


I left my room before the clock-candle reached the next stripe. The Great Hall was mostly deserted, a few knights standing or sitting about the room.

It was no longer raining at all, the clouds had mostly cleared away, though the ground was still wet and muddy.

My boots were caked and heavy by the time I reached the stables. Eldri came barking up to me as I approached and then scampered away. A flock of ewes bleated a call of alarm as the small dog ran up barking to the stable door. James came out wanting to know if he could saddle Chancery for me, but I told him I was just taking a walk. Satisfied, he scooped Eldri up in his arms and retreated into the stables, pulling the door shut behind him.

I started walking towards the large hill behind the castle, my boots sloshing through the muck. By the time I reached the hill’s steep flanks, the sky flickered again with flowing streams of lightening, tossing multiple shadows behind me over the heather and rocks. I frowned, I didn’t want more rain, it seems we had enough these past few days.

One of the guards walked a few paces behind me, Gawaine I believe he said his name was.


The sound of hooves striking rock within the copse of elm and oak trees down the slope of the hill where I stood took my thoughts off of the weather.

I heard the creaking of leather as the rider climbed down from his horse. He was a big, lurching man, huge and clumsy-footed, in leather armor and a steel cap, and as he came into my path he bowed awkwardly and I could see that it was a deliberate act that he put himself in my way like this.

I felt a faint distaste run through me. He was an enormous man, almost a giant and like so many huge men, he looked misshapen, as if one side of his body were somehow large than the other. One eye was certainly larger than the other, and had a squint; yet, trying to be fair, I thought this man’s deformity no fault of his own. Yet, he had arrogance to approach me like this.

“Perhaps you will speak to the King Milady, for I have come a great distance and I wish to offer my sword and allegiance.”

Perplexed as to why he would address me with this request and not the Captain of the Guard or one of the knights, I spoke to him in calm, but firm voice

“I am only a guest here at this castle Milord. I have no authority to do which you speak. Perhaps if you approach the Captain of the Guard with your request he might be of a mind to address it to the king.”


“Madam, do you not know me?”

I frowned and stared at him, then the slow recognition of who he was slowly seeped into my brain.

“Meleagrant?”

A smile formed on his face revealing a mouth of broken and missing teeth.

“Aye, Milady, ‘tis me”

Meleagrant, a freelander, a warrior from Inish Thuaidh. Its no wonder I didn’t recognize him, for I was but a child when I last saw him, but I remembered his treachery, his deceit that led to my brother’s death and I spat out the next words.

“You are not welcomed here Meleagrant now, please go”

I pulled my hand away from his repeated efforts to seize it

“Let go of me”

“But you must listen,” his voice urgent, tugging at my sleeve as I turned away.

Gawaine thrust himself between us.

“Here, here fellow, what business do you have with this lady?”

I watched as Meleagrant turned to face him, towering over Gawaine until the latter, though he was a tall, athletic young man, looked like a child.

“Are you going to tell me what I can say and not say to my own sister?”

Gawaine put his hand on his sword

“I was given the task of escorting and protecting Lady Rayven, fellow, and I’ll do the task the King’s given me to do. Get out of my path or I’ll force you to!”

I watched that all familiar sneer for on his face, the sight of it chilling me to the bone.

“You with who else?”

“I, for one,” a voice that belong to Gaheris, as he quickly stood at Gawaine’s side.

“And I,” said another from the darkness beyond them.

The voice belonged to Thanatos and upon seeing him, I could have wept with relief. Never had he looked more handsome to me than now, and though Meleagrant towered over him, something in Thanatos’ presence made him draw back.

“Is this man annoying you Lady Rayven?”


I swallowed and to my dismay found I had no voice in which to speak.

“My business is with my sister”

“I am no sister of his! This man claims to be my father’s son because his mother claimed she lay with my father! He is no son of my father’s but a baseborn clown who belongs in a farmyard!!


I watched as Meleagrant edged backwards, for even giving his size, he was no match for three knights.

He edged backwards, then turned to me and said in a surly voice,

“You’ll be sorry for this some day”

I watched as he walked past the guards, mounted his horse and rode west.