Week 12 Storytelling: Arthur Avenges Merlin

Arthur sat alone in the great hall. The round table was cleaned and polished, as the feast had been over for hours, and all the knights retired to their beds. The king noted the wind breezing through the vast room, occasionally biting at his ears. The fire by which he sat staved off the chill, though. It was not as big as it had been only hours before, there was but two logs melting away inside. The shadows danced around the room like performers, delivering a private show for Arthur. This was the first calm moment he had to himself in many days, perhaps even weeks. Before all this kingly business, he thought to himself, I scarce could get a passerby to look at me. He snickered as he considered the boy he once was, and the man that he had fought so hard to become.

Then the doors to the hall opened, and a gust of wind came through, blowing out many of the candles and swerving the fire from side to side. Arthur turned and saw a servant of his approaching with something in his hands. The item looked familiar.

"My lord the king," the servant addressed Arthur as he bowed low, "I have grim tidings for his majesty."

Arthur could've guessed it from the man's demeanor. He stood with his head bowed and eyes on the ground. He extended his hands and produced the item he carried. It was a pendent, in the shape of a swallow, made of pure gold. Arthur new what this meant. For he had such a pendant made special for his friend and mentor, the wizard named Merlin. Arthur took the pendant and felt such a sadness overcome him the likes of which he'd never known.

"How did it come to be?" Arthur asked softly.

"Some commoners found him under a stone. he had been trapped for some time, as the decay had already begin to set in. This was there as well."

The servant reached into his bag and produced a small parchment. Arthur took it as well and read the writing upon it.

It was Vivien

                                                                        ...

Several weeks had passed and Arthur sat once more in the hall. This time several of his knights accompanied him as they ate and told their stories of valor. Then a squire approached with a scroll and delivered it to Arthur's hand. Later, in his chambers, Arthur read the missive. It gave information on the whereabouts of the sorceress Vivien. For when he learned of Merlin's death at her hands, all his sorrow turned to rage and he sent out many servants and knights to track her down. Now was his chance to bring her to justice. For she murdered his friend.

Arthur set out with only his horse and his sword Excalibur. He rode for a day and then another. Then he reached a small hamlet that bordered a swamp. There the people warned him of the witch that had taken the swamp as her abode. Arthur feared not. For the Lord was with him. He left his horse with the villagers and ventured into the swamp on foot.

It felt as though he was being strangled as the air was nigh unbreathable, and smelt of rot. He knew it to be an enchantment Vivien had set. For he knew of her skill, as she had been a student of Merlin himself. Arthur's blood boiled as he thought of her betrayal. Merlin trusted and loved her more than any. He taught her all his ways. She killed him when she no longer needed him. Vivien must die, he thought.

"Why have you come, Arthur Pendragon?" a voice rang out from the dark tangled branches.

"To seek revenge for one I loved. Perhaps you know of him. His name was Merlin!" Arthur shouted with what breath he could muster.

A taunting laughter came from the woods as a woman appeared before him. She was slender and beautiful. Her long black hair hang down to the small of her back. There was no mistaking the witch called Vivien. She spoke, "He was an old man who was soon to die anyway. The fool annoyed me with his constant advances. I had learned enough from him, so I shut him away. Had he been as wise as he claims, he would've seen it coming. Now go, before I reunite you to him."

"You have confessed your guilt to me, "Arthur declared as he drew his sword. "I sentence you to death!"

At this Arthur lunged forward, but hit only air as the witch vanished before him. He turned only for his cheek to meet her clawed hand. He stumbled backward, pawing at his wound and slashing Excalibur at her. She pounced of him and set him supine in the mud. He scrambled to his feet pointing the sword tip at her. He lunged again to impale her, but she glided out of his way and sent her elbow into his forehead. Blood leaked from his wound as Arthur struggled to breath. Her super human dance became difficult to track as his vision became obscured by the blood. Then she was gone again. Arthur turned and once again met her strike. This time he was ready. He caught her hand mid swing and sliced at her. His blade married the flesh of her stomach, creating a painful wound. She screamed and stepped back.

Now the air was thickening and Arthur was gasping for air. He fell to his knees. As his sight was growing dark, he looked up and saw Vivien, now shape-shifted into an crow, trying to fly away. He brandished Excalibur and threw it straight at the witch. The blade found its mark, and the crow came tumbling down. Vivien transformed back into her human form before she hit the ground. The air immediately began to clear up. Arthur lumbered toward her as he regained his breath. He saw Vivien laying motionless on the ground. The blade stood erect as it had so many years ago. Only this time, instead of the stone, it was in the heart of Merlin's murderer. Arthur wiped away the blood from his brow and retrieved his sword.

The witch lay dead, and Merlin had been avenged.

Merlin and Vivien by Alfred Tennyson; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Author's Note: This story is the continuation of the story of the Passing of Merlin. In it, Merlin is tricked into wandering into a tomb by his pupil and romantic interest Vivien, who then traps him with a stone. The story ends with her merrily wandering off. I wanted to tell the story of Arthur's reaction and quest for vengeance after learning of his friends death. I am aware that in some versions of the Arthur saga that Vivien is actually the Lady of the Lake that give Arthur the sword, but for the sake of my story I made her to be more of an evil witch.

Source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

The Adventures of Sir Percivale-

I'd like to go into great detail of the battle between the lion and the serpent, and of course sir Percivale stepping in to the battle as well. I could start the story right after Percivle's horse revealed itself to be a demon and threw him off. Then he could wander tirelessly until he happened upon the battle. And, of course, the serpent will be a dragon like creature because I'm a nerd that likes knights fighting dragons.

The Temptation of Sir Percival by Arthur Hacker; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

The Passing of Merlin-

I wouldn't necessarily retell this story, but I want to continue it. I want to explore Arthur's reaction and how he goes about dealing with losing his mentor and friend. Also, maybe write about what he does to avenge him. I didn't see anything else about her and her fate. I feel like writing a story about Arthur searching out for the evil witch that killed Merlin and fighting her magic could be a fun adventure to go on.

Merlin and Nimue from Le Morte d'Arthur; Source: Flickr

Source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

Week 11 Storytelling: The Great Flood and the Valley of Death

Once upon a time, there was a man that lived in a small house with his wife and children, as well as his brother and his family. He and his brother hunted across the fields in the day, and their wives would cook what they brought back for their families. One day, as the man was washing his face in a nearby river, a dog came to him. "Shoo, mutt! We have no room for you in my household!" he shouted to scare the dog away.

The dog remained unmoved. The man stood up and walked away, as the dog's stare was troubling him. The next day, after a long day of hunting, he returned to the river to fetch some water for his wife. There, again the dog appeared, a observed him closely. This happened every day for a week. Finally the man threw his hands up and said, "What? What is it you want from me, hound?"

"I am no hound."

The man looked about him, as the voice was not in his ears, but within his head. "What are you? A spirit? A ghost come to take me away?" he asked frantically.

"Nay," said the voice, "I am neither of those. I am a messenger. You must build a boat, for a great storm is coming that will wash away the world. You and your family will survive, but only if you do as I say."

So everyday after, the man would go to the river, where materials for building could be found. The dog would watch him daily. One day, as he was building, he ran out of twine to tie together some beams. He ventured home to find his brother and ask to borrow some. His brother, who did not approve of his foolish endeavors, told him to scavenge some twine from the valley. But as the man began that way, the dog appeared and warned him, "You must sleep now, for you have done all that needed to be done today. Rest now, for the valley holds nothing but death." He was confused by this, but followed the advise and went home.

Soon enough, the great raft was finished, though all the people in the surrounding area mocked him, for they had not seen the dog. Not even a day after the raft's completion, rain began to fall. The people hunkered under their roofs, as water was not known to fall in those days but come from the ground. The man and his family boarded the boat, but his headstrong brother refused. His brother told him that he would seek shelter in the valley where the his house was. As soon as he left, the water began to rise from the river, and the boat took off. There were many animals that had taken shelter on the boat as well, for the dog had given the man instructions for a boat that could fit them all. The sun did not shine on the Earth for many days, as it was perpetually raining. After some time, even the mountains were drowned by the deluge.

Then one day, the sun appeared from behind the clouds and the water began to recede. Some time after that, the man and his family and all the animal passengers walked on wet, muddy ground. The man thanked the Creator for bringing his family out of the flood alive.

Some days later, as he was walking the new earth, he heard the sounds of a dance. Surely, he thought, there cannot be anyone left after that flood! So he followed the sound which lead him to a valley. Looking down, he saw bones. Countless bones. Strewn across the entirety of the valley. He heard his brother calling him to join their dance. That is when he finally understood the dog's warning about the valley. He went home to his family, and began rebuilding the world.

Author's Note: The original story was more brief in that the man finds the dog which tells him to build a raft, he and his family jump on, it floods, then he has the experience of seeing the bones in the valley. I wanted to blend a little more detail into my retelling. I also borrowed elements from the Biblical story about Noah and his actions during the flood, as I'm tempted to say both the stories had the same source.

Source:Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Image: The Valley of Dry Bones (1873); Source: Wikimedia Commons

Week 11 Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part B

The Red Man and the Uktena-

This could be a fun story to continue were it ends. I could write a story where, years after the events of the original, the hunter who received the medicine could pass it down to his son, explaining how he got it and to remember to respect the spirits that made it. 

The Bullfrog Lover-

These are strange stories, but I'd like to maybe retell the first one in the set. I could focus more on the young man and how he formulates his plan to trick the old woman into letting him marry her daughter. He would be fun to write for, as he seems like a clever one, using the womans superstition as a catalyst for his endeavors. 

A Bullfrog sketch by Pearson Scott Foresman; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Week 11 Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part A

The Deluge-

This one is short and sweet. I immediately read it because I love flood stories, and how virtually all civilizations seem to have some form of flood in their mythologies. I could really enjoy writing from the perspective of the man who survived the flood and expand on the valley of bones, which really spooked me out.

Great Flood by Bonaventura Peeters; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Tobacco and Strawberries-

I'd really like to write a story over the strawberry origin story, simply because it made my heart smile. I could write it as an inner monologue within the Sun as he tries to get the woman to stop and return home. I could imagine his frustration at the situation.

Source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Week 10 Storytelling: A Tale of the First Men and the First Death

I was the first man. Well, I was one among the first men during the beginning of the world. In that time, there was no sun and the only light we had was in our houses. You see, in the before time water could burn like oil, so we always had a light going to shelter us from the abyss beyond. I don't remember much of my childhood. I remember willow bushes and being cold. Then I recall my mother's face. She was the first warmth I had ever felt. Then I saw my father. Together they brought up my brothers and sisters. Clothing and feeding us food from the earth. Soon, more people came and grew up with us. Men became husbands and women became wives. More children were born. Soon my family grew very large.

As good as it was to have soon many relatives, I wanted a friend. Someone different from me, that had strengths and weaknesses that complimented my own. So I went out with a rope and began to hit it on the ground saying, "Hok! Hok! Hok!".

As I did, dogs formed from the snowy hills and came to me, so then my friends arrived. I played with my dogs for many days and they, too, multiplied. Soon I met my wife and had many children with her. My family grew ever larger. As the years went on, I grew older and older. I have now gone blind, and have become lame. I simply wish to die.

Two of my sisters who share my fate speak thus: "It is better to live in darkness, if we can be without death!"

"No!" I said, "For I would have my children to have light and my self be able to lie down."

As I spoke, my words became reality.

The sun began to rise above the horizon, and light streamed over the hills, melting away the snow. Everyone walked out of their homes and was stunned by the beauty.

Presently, I am standing in the light. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, my body and soul are warmed by its presence. I feel it calling me up to it. Am I to be the first to die?

My body remains laying on the warm ground as I lift myself toward the sun, the source of light and my own death. For with the sun comes time. But the darkness will soon fall on my children again, so I shall give myself as I light to them. Every night I will rise to smile on my children and keep the darkness that I knew in my life from them forever.

The souls of those who have died watching over the night sky; Source: Pixabay

Author's Note: The original story was about how the first men came to earth and grew in populations. Most of my story has similar details to the original, only mine is told as though being recounted by the first man to die. In the original, those who died went into the sky to become a star, which I hinted at near the end.

Source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).