Morwenna and Dafydd
A Story Every Day in 2024 31st Jan 31/366
And just like that a month of writing stories was done. Please do check out the others I've written this month via my profile and also, check out the origins of this idea from L.C. Schäfer at the link below:
Prompt thirty-one:
No prompt today
***
"I don't like it here."
"Sh," Morwenna said softly, holding her son close, hoping that the tightness of her hold would transfer confidence and not fear.
The steady drip-drip-drip of moisture seeping into their hiding place threatened to drive her mad but instead, she used it as a rhythmic drumbeat to create soothing tunes: songs of strength and resilience. That they would see the light again and run and laugh.
Morwenna saw that Dafydd was sleeping, heavy in her arms, and rested her nose on his hair, breathing in the one thing she had left to love. She wanted to sleep herself so badly but she daren't.
The crack of light that allowed them to see their outlines was no longer there so she knew it was night. She heard her stomach growl. Most of the food they'd brought and found, she gave to Dafydd, sparing crumbs of sustenance for herself. It was Dafydd who was important.
There had been talk for weeks about the gods being angry. She knew all about angry gods, greedy gods, indiscriminate gods. Gods that struck down husbands on battlefields, gods that maimed sons, gods who drowned daughters. She would not give to gods who had already had their fill.
The Elders had come and they had not been there. She had heard the outcry but by then, they'd been on the other side of the river. Boats were no longer tethered; Dafydd's nimble fingers had seen to those.
They wanted her son, she thought, the gods needing a sacrifice. She knew they would follow but she hoped that they had a headstart.
Her shadow started flickering on the wall. Daylight does not flicker. Morwenna looked up. A torch. She could smell the pitch.
Dafydd stirred.
***
Merlin had found them. The Elders were not far away. He needed to be quick. Placing his hands either side of the crevice, he magically wrenched the rock apart.
"Quick! You must come!"
And held out his hand.
They feared him.
"Now! Before they get here!"
And they were scrambling out.
***
Morwenna knew they were safe from the Elders now but what she didn't know was whether they were safe with Merlin.
***
366 words
I have quite a lot of stories featuring Merlin now on Vocal. I like the idea of him and am creating my own version of him over time. Perhaps I will be able to have enough to call it a collection.
I think I will return to Morwenna and Dafydd at some point to see what happens to them in their time with Merlin.
Dafydd - Welsh spelling of David but would be pronounced Davith as -f makes a -v sound and -dd in Welsh makes the -th sound of English.
Other Merlin stories are listed below:
The first two don't have Merlin at all but then he makes an appearance in the third of Fool's Errand. I perhaps need to return to this as well as I had quite a lot of ideas of where I wanted to take this.
So many links and here's another one for luck:
Thanks for stopping by! If you have read this, please do leave a comment as I do like to interact with my readers.
31/366



Comments (11)
Wonderful characterizations. So well written!
Working my way back to this from the other to which it leads. Well-wrought! Morwenna is right not to trust gods who ask for human sacrifices. For they are not divine. The Divine and the demiurge, a story as old as time. The term egregor also comes to mind, obscure though it is. Not all the creator gods are bad, of course. Prometheus, for instance, like Merlin (or so I take him from your tale so far), is willing to give his life that humans might live and prosper rather than perish. He went to the rock willingly, after tricking the most powerful Olympian on our behalf!
Great characters and excellent scene crafting! Loved that last line that sets the stage for another installment.
And now I have a pillar post for the Merlin Opus. So since Merlin youths rather than ages, is he going into the crack in the wall or actually coming out of it?
I loved your story and want to find out what happens to them, too. I remember when my brother was growing up, I had a fear of him being taken away by wars. I was a teenager during the Vietnam years. Thank goodness it was over when he became of age.
This is a wonderful and suspenseful story. I love the names! It reminds me of reading Bernard Cornwell's 'The Winter King.' I absolutely loved the paragraph when Morwenna rages against the gods! I also love the Arthurian Romances as well. When I taught English Lit, I used Tennyson's 'The Idylls of the King' for the poetry section. I was a little confused at the end of the story, however, with the sudden introduction of the character Hilda. Did I miss something?
I shall need to go and read the rest of your take on Merlin later. This was a great little piece. I love the welshiness of it all. and I love that spelling of David...always have done. I feel like because it sounds how you would read it. And it's a word I'd say when doing the accent. I'm a sucker for accents. Also, in line with this story - I'm a sucker for Arthurian legend stuff...which is funny as a Scot, I think, but who effing cares. I choose what I like. Anyway...rant stopped before it began. Fine work, chum!
Yayyyyy soooo happy to see Merlin again! Hope they'd be okay with him!
Please keep this one going! I need to know if they are safe with Merlin! Captivating piece and I am a sucker for a welsh tale. Especially ones involving the evolving Rachel version of Merlin! 🤍
A provocative move toward reimagining Arthurian legends!
WOW! Very amazing work!! Keep up the outstanding work