Offline
Feb 5, 2012 2:08:24 GMT -5
Tag me @kinguthersqueen
|
|
Post by kinguthersqueen on Oct 21, 2011 13:14:49 GMT -5
King Uther felt a terrible wave of anger and despair. Today should have been a day of joy and celebration, welcoming the newborn prince into the world. But instead, it was a day of mourning. He was alone, empty...Ygraine lay lifeless in the bed where she had given birth.
The labor had gone fine at first, and Uther was summoned with the news that he had a strong, healthy son. But then, Ygraine had begun to hemorrhage. Gaius tried desperately to help her, but he could do nothing to save her. Even Alice, his companion, had been unable to save the queen.
Uther felt a wave of rage at Nimueh and at all who practiced magic. It was his life that was to be taken, not Ygraine's. Nimueh had deceived him. Magic had betrayed him. Tears stung his eyes, his fists clenched in rage and helplessness, his emotions beyond control.
Now, he waited for Nimueh to arrive, pacing, desperate. Deep inside, he held little hope for Ygraine, but he had to plead. He had ordered her left in her chamber, with no one else to enter, until Nimueh arrived. If she could not help....all who practiced magic would pay.
|
|
Offline
Mar 28, 2024 12:42:55 GMT -5
Tag me @Deleted
|
Deleted
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2011 16:12:53 GMT -5
Something was wrong. Utterly wrong. Nimueh had felt it reaching deep down into her core, leaving nothing inside but a mess of churned up ice cold guts. The ritual had been completed, she felt that. But who had it taken as a price? She could feel a storm brewing, loading the air with sizzling electricity. Something was afoot. Something grand, world-shapening. This was not what the world should be like when finally the heir to Camelot’s throne was born. Nature should rejoice, not cower and hide away from a force that was about to lash out at it.
Nimueh had not wasted any more time and had travelled to Camelot as fast as she could. She could cover great distances in the blink of an eye, but she couldn’t quite shake off the feeling that she was already far too late. Not even knowing for WHAT she was too late… Like always, before she made herself known, Nimueh entered invisible, and what she saw made her want to turn around on her heels and run. Ygraine… she was lying on the bed, her womb had given birth to the treasured heir… but she had payed a terrible price as it seemed. THE price. No, it could NOT be possible… and yet… it must be…
”Ygraine…” Nimueh moaned softly and tread closer to the bed, lifting the spell around her so she was to be seen. In the beginning she had been a little jealous of this beautiful young woman capturing Uther’s mind, body and heart from one moment to the other, but probably no man or woman on earth could harbor a true grudge against this gentle and ethereal woman, always seeing the best in everyone, and managing to tame the moods of Uther with a single smile. ”No… this was not supposed to happen…” she raked a hand through her hair, for the first time in her life feeling utterly helpless.
”Uther… what happened?”
|
|
Offline
Feb 5, 2012 2:08:24 GMT -5
Tag me @kinguthersqueen
|
|
Post by kinguthersqueen on Oct 23, 2011 16:04:07 GMT -5
Uther looked to her when she could be seen, his eyes dark and empty. She asked what had happened, and he fought to restrain his emotions long enough to speak. He knew that no hope remained, but he did not want to accept it. Surely something could be done, something could bring her back. It could not end like this...
"That is what I ask you. Her labor...it seemed to progress fine, and the baby lives. He is strong and healthy. But the bleeding was far too great. The physician could not help her. Please...there must be something that can be done. I cannot lose her."The thought hammered at the king's mind, relentless, almost mocking. The knowledge of the price."My life was to be the price. This was never to happen! She was not to die!"Uther said with a furious, helpless roar in his voice.
|
|
Offline
Mar 28, 2024 12:42:55 GMT -5
Tag me @Deleted
|
Deleted
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2011 13:50:03 GMT -5
Nimueh could feel Uther’s grief almost physically, and it made her heart break for him. A tiny part of her might have been a little jealous of Ygraine, ensnaring his soul like that without even aiming towards it, but she had always kept it under control and it had never diminished the sympathy she had felt for the queen. After all, who could not like Ygraine, who could wish her harm? She had been but a puppet on a string concerning her position in court, always in fear of getting seperated from the love of her life because she was unable to fulfil her first and foremost duty of a queen: bearing an heir to the throne. And now she had paid the price, infinitely and irrevocably.
Throwing Uther a pitiful glance, the High Priestess walked over to the large bed in which Ygraine lay after her fatal labour, and she checked one last time for a sign of life, even though she knew it was useless. Closing her eyes and holding both hands palms down a few inches over the body, Nimueh tried to feel if there was any essence of life still lurking inside the queen. But there was none. ”Her spirit has already departed, Uther, I cannot bring it back”, she explained softly, her eyes expressing her commiseration. “It is over. I’m sorry.”
She could understand his line of thinking, and she also understood his grief. Like Uther she had hoped that the price to pay for giving life to the heir of Camelot would not be Ygraine’s own, but some far less valuable life. A peasant maybe, someone insignificant. But that was not how the magical forces worked. They knew no human logic and they didn’t care for it. They cared for nothing but the balance. ”No she was not to die”, Nimueh agreed firmly and raked a hand through her hair, a nervous gesture that showed how perturbed she was. “But the forces we have invoked, Uther, don’t care for petty human feelings. They might simply take the life that is weakest within their grasp, and how you describe Ygraine’s labour, the bloodloss…” she broke off, raising her hands in a gesture of helplessness.
|
|
Offline
Feb 5, 2012 2:08:24 GMT -5
Tag me @kinguthersqueen
|
|
Post by kinguthersqueen on Nov 6, 2011 21:09:22 GMT -5
Uther felt a crushing blow, though he did not shed tears right now. He shuddered, fists clenched. Lifting his head, he gave a cry that was half anger, half grief. He had everything he could want in the world. He had wealth, power, servants, every physical comfort he could want. He had the power of life and death over his people. But now, it all seemed worth nothing. None of it would bring Ygraine back.
Part of him was aware that magic couldn't be harnessed or controlled. But, like so much in his life, he'd been too stubborn, and was still too stubborn, to accept that fact. He hated not being in control, knowing that there was something he could not bend to his will without dire consequences.
He felt joy at having a son and heir, but the price had been too great. He would not wish that his son had not been born, but he wished it could have happened another way, a way that would not have left him alone. He felt as though something inside him had died in this moment. His eyes held fire....rage...a cold, numb feeling combined with a deadly fury.
"My son has brought me great joy. But I was a fool. I should have known that I was toying with dangerous forces. That magic itself is dangerous, and brings only evil and destruction."he said."This will not go unchecked. I *will* take drastic action. I must, for the protection of Camelot and all its people. I cannot turn a blind eye to something that endangers the kingdom by its very existence."
|
|
Offline
Mar 28, 2024 12:42:55 GMT -5
Tag me @Deleted
|
Deleted
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 12:37:21 GMT -5
The cry Uther gave hurt Nimueh more than she could have ever imagined. It coursed through her body like a flaming poison, making her cringe with the agony she felt. Had she ever witnessed someone in such pain and anger alike? Probably not. But she knew Uther well enough to know that him being sad was a dangerous affair. He was like a wounded bear, he would become livid and lash out at everyone and everything. And now the calming presence of Ygraine was gone… for good. Nimueh couldn’t help but feel a cold fist of fear reaching for her heart as she watched the emotions change in Uther’s face. There was something there she surely did not like. A storm was brewing… the same storm she had felt when being called to Camelot just moments before. What the storm entailed she could not tell yet, but she hated feeling so helpless. In anger, Uther was like a force of nature, unstoppable and unconvinceable. She had not yet seen him in so much agony and grief, and she feared it would make matters only worse.
She had not foreseen how much worse. Uther’s ignorant words were like a blow to her face. If Uther insulted magic, he practically insulted Nimueh herself! And she would not take that, could not take that! But why did it feel like she wanted to fight off a storm tide with only her bare hands?! ”Uther, listen to yourself!” she hurled at him, desperately trying to get through to him. “Be careful what you say, you are besides yourself with grief. Magic is not to blame for this! It is an unblamable force, simply because it’s too much for us to understand! We cannot expect it to act according to our wishes! It may serve us at times, but it is not our slave!” This could not be really happening, could it? She had to stop Uther starting a vendetta against magic in whole! As mad as he was right now, this could lead to unimaginable things!
Suddenly, Nimueh remembered a nightmare she had had, not long after agreeing to Uther’s plea of help. She had seen Uther’s stone cold face, watching as a long line of people in chains walked by him. And she had seen fires burning, pyres even… stakes… no, it could not be! This was a nightmare, nothing more! Magic, endangering the kingdom?! What a laugh! ”Magic is what made this kingdom strong!” she retorted almost icily, but then she softened her voice. Riling Uther up more would not do. ”I understand how you’re feeling Uther, and believe me, no one is more sorry than I am. But please think before you decide on anything rash! Remember, you are not only a grieving husband, you are the king!”
|
|
Offline
Feb 5, 2012 2:08:24 GMT -5
Tag me @kinguthersqueen
|
|
Post by kinguthersqueen on Dec 7, 2011 16:27:29 GMT -5
A part of him knew that Nimueh was telling the truth, but in his rage and grief, he no longer cared. Her words were falling on deaf ears and a mind unable to think clearly anymore. Uther had always been a decent king, though a firm one, and had always been known as a fairly decent person. He did not hesitate to take tough action when needed, but usually did let go of rationality and clear thinking either. Ygraine's death, however, had broken him. Certainly, Morgana would break him much later, but that would only be the completion of the process. It was this day and this even that had begun his downward spiral.
And of course, he was too proud to believe he might have made a mistake, that he should not have played with forces he did not fully comprehend. He could not see the good she would insist there was in magic, and the fact that it was the user who made it good or bad, he saw only the bad, the danger, the potential for harm.
"Yes, I am the king. I am responsible for the safety and protection of the land I rule. And as such, I cannot allow more suffering such as I have experienced."he replied. "I must rid Camelot of magic, and all who use it!"
He looked at her with eyes that were filled with only rage and pain, knowing that even though he was doing what he was about to order, that he would likely not prevent her returning if she wished. That frightened him, but he fought to push it aside for now. He could not kill her, he knew that full well. a death penalty would mean nothing to her. But he would not say it that way. "And that extends to you as well. I cannot bring myself to raise my hand against you, but I will say this: I will not see your face in this kingdom again. And if I do, it will be on pain of death."
|
|
Offline
Mar 28, 2024 12:42:55 GMT -5
Tag me @Deleted
|
Deleted
Deleted
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2011 4:35:03 GMT -5
Nimueh knew Uther well enough to know that he often said things in his blind rage he would regret later, and part of her was still clinging to the hope it might be no different this time. And yet, she had never seen him so determined, so fierce on a subject, and it scared her. Yes, for probably the first time in her life Nimueh was flat out scared. The same feeling of dread she had experienced a while ago now came back at full force, squeezing her guts until she thought she could no longer breathe. Uther was serious. He had turned from a grieving husband into a mortal threat. She needed to stop him! It was her duty as High Priestess, guardian of all who followed magic! But she was still too shocked to do what she probably should have done, she was weak in her disbelief.
“You can’t rid Camelot of magic…” she whispered, utterly dazed. “Uther, its roots run too deep! You cannot be so blind to think that anything YOU mere mortal could ever do would make magic disappear! I beseech you!” And yet she knew he would not listen. He was past listening now, and the only being on earth that could have made him listen was now gone… forever. Nimueh didn’t care as much for her own life, she knew she had means of protection far beyond anyone’s imagination, but she knew her subjects well enough to know that most of them did not. There were only a few very powerful sorcerers in this world, and for a very good reason. In one thing Uther was right: might could be a siren’s call for evil, and thus the highest powers of magic should only be in the hands of those whose good intentions went without doubt. The majority of Albion’s sorcerers were peaceful healers, druids for most. They posed no threat to Camelot. But Uther now lumped them all together!
His next words hit her like a maze, but instead of enhancing her fear, they only made her more angry. “YOU banish ME?!” she spat. “You have no right to do anything to me Uther, I stand outside your command. MAGIC stands outside your command!” Even though she knew it was dangerous, Nimueh took a threatening step towards Uther, her voice now echoing with the power that was bestowed on her as High Priestess. She even appeared taller, awe-inspiring and terrifying. Even the air seemed to sizzle with power. “Reconsider, Uther Pendragon and come to your senses! If you really go through with this, then you will lose more than a friend. If you go through with this, there will be war between us! For any pain you cause, I will cause you three times more pain! I am the High Priestess of The Goddess and Her Gift To Mankind, Called Magic, and it is my duty to protect and avenge those that look up to me. And I will! No matter how long it takes, I will be back to haunt you. Consider this carefully, King Uther Pendragon, before you release a force that is more powerful than any curse: blind hatred!”
|
|