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I've got another Morrigan tale too, if anybody's interested..?
By the way these have all been passed down from Messias who was Morrigan's
childe so I guess they should be pretty accurate in terms of what actually
happened...
*Malcrus pauses for effect and then begins*
In 633 at the battle of Heathfield (near Doncaster) Penda and the Fianna of
Mercia won against the Christian Kingdom of Northumbria, and it was during a
great tribal moot held in Mercia to celebrate this victory that the stunned
Penda saw Morrigan in her human form for the second and last time. There was
song, music and there was dance as the Fianna indulged in their favorite
pastimes.
As Penda celebrated with his kinsmen he suddenly stopped, catching sight of
a figure watching from amongst the crowd of merry makers. It was the same
young woman that he had seen at the fireside all those years ago yet she had
not aged at all. In fact - she was beautiful and there was a smile on her
face that melted Penda's heart. She held a flower and traced its petals
across her lips. Penda was in awe and held his hand out to her for her to
join him in the dance.
A moment of concern flashed across her features but the smile quickly
returned and as she approached him she handed the flower to him. As he stood
staring in wonder at the flower in his hands a new song began and the girl
laughed and grabbed Penda's hands. Putting one arm behind her and holding
the other by the hand in front of them, she started to twirl him round in
time to the violin and flute playing. As Morrigan held him, Penda realized
that despite her size her strength was great. It was she who led the dance.
These thoughts were soon neglected though as the joy of dancing with such a
delightful young woman filled his mind and heart.
The dancing and merriment continued into the early ours of the morning and
in that time the girl uttered not a word. Even when he grew tired and went
to the side to rest and watch, the girl kept dancing and occasionally
flashed a glimpse at him and a smile as she danced amongst and with Penda's
kinfolk. Later still, she sat beside him and took his warm hand in hers as
they watched the others - but she still said nothing.
As dawn drew close she pulled away from him, a smile still on her face. He
tried to keep hold of her hand but she was too quick and she was already
walking away by the time he managed to get to his feet. He caught up with
her and he walked with her for a way, still she said nothing, but she did
not pull away as he placed his hand in hers once more.
They continued into the darkness for a little as the lightening shade on the
horizon promised the onset of sunrise. With this the girl stopped and turned
to Penda, still she said nothing. Instead she leant into him and pressed her
lips to his neck. A sudden sharp pain was immediately followed by intense
pleasure as Morrigan supped a small amount of his blood. He did not complain
as she licked his neck and then pressed her lips this time to his own. She
kissed him tenderly and as she did so she bit upon her own tongue. As she
licked the inside of his mouth a liquid formed there which was delicious and
as he swallowed his head began to spin. She kissed him on the lips and
suddenly, she was gone.
As Penda came to his senses and registered her departure, he was filled with
sorrow. As the sun began its accent into the clear sky, he turned and
dejectedly returned to his people. Penda did not meet the girl again and so
threw himself and the Fianna into the battles for the Old Faith though he
had many dreams of her thereafter that always left him feeling weak when he
awoke.
The great Champion of Mercia managed to keep Albion strong in the old faith
for some time, despite having to also deal with the many Children of Gaia
who began to arrive in Albion at that time, but it was not to last for from
Northumbria came the warrior Oswy.
Oswy was no more than a human (or so it is told), but he succeeded in
killing Penda at the Battle of Winwidfield (near Leeds). This blow to Mercia
saw the Protectorate greatly reduced in power and it was of little
consolation to the remaining Fianna there that but a week after Penda's
defeat the few remains of Oswy were found strewn around the bed upon which
he had gone to sleep the night before. Those who found him theorized that
some great animal had somehow found its way into their camp and eaten poor
Oswy.
Indeed, Morrigan had not taken kindly to her favorite herd member being
slain...
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