Letters From Avalon (2)
I knew as soon as I gazed upon you that you were an enchantress
My Darling,
It was a grand day in Camelot. To have Arthur name me a knight, I cannot even begin to delve into how much it means to me. I am no longer just a man. I am a friend, a brother. A guardian of this realm, a beam of hope that shines out from the radiant face of Arthur into the dark places that remain in this twisted world.
But you, my Dear Heart. You are more precious than any title, more beautiful than the jewels that sit in Guinevere’s circlet. And with this title, we are one step closer to being united forever.
I still remember the first time I saw you. I was still but a squire, had just begun to learn swordcraft, when my Master Knight was slaughtered by a troll. I was gravely wounded by the monster, and fled on my master’s horse (the troll having eaten mine). I took with me my master’s blade, having scored a lethal hit to the troll’s throat, but I was not to know that till later.
It was impenetrably dark in that forest, the tree roots writhing about like devil snares with their crooked fingers and turgid roots. It was like running through a nightmare, like trying to escape from the clutches of a succubus who had entered your dreams and taken over your mind. My heart had escaped me, hope had winked out like a candle in a chill wind.
And then I saw a star, shining brightly like a frosty beam through the trees. And I followed that star through the dark shadows of that forest into the glade. And that was where I saw the most beautiful creature under Heaven.
Your hair shined in the starlight, like the darkness of the moon’s face during its rebirth. Silver was in the fabric of your blue dress, and white gold was in your voice as you sang in a tongue beautiful yet foreign to me. You were by a small lake, and I knew as soon as I gazed upon you that you were an enchantress, or a fairy maiden, or both.
And to this day, I remain enchanted by you.
Your Only Love.