Introduction

It wouldn't be an epic tale if it didn't start with a dream

It started with the dream but it seemed for the Lady Morgana that it always started that way.

She was running through a forest, terrified. Someone was after her, was going to hurt her. She scrambled through the underbrush, bare feet torn by thorns and branches. She realised she was wearing only her shift but couldn't remember what she had done with her dress. As she ran she felt a horrific pain in her ankle and shuddered to a halt, falling to the ground. Her foot was caught in a trap and as she looked down, she realised suddenly that her shift was drenched in blood. Through the moonlit trees, she could hear her pursuer coming closer. She tugged at the trap, unable to move its metal jaws. And then...

...there was a light and...

...before her there was a clearing filling up with a blinding yellow light. Through the light came a man, tall but lean with dark hair and unmistakeable ears. Merlin, she tried to yell, but found herself unable to speak. As the trap sliced further into her foot, the light receded. It was suddenly midday and where Merlin had been was a lion bravely charging toward her. As it approached, it changed seamlessly into a unicorn; the silvery sheen of its coat glowing and its ivory horn alight with the brightness that had turned night into day. It trotted up to her and as its horn touched the trap, it sprung free releasing her. She put her bloodied hands on what she couldn't help thinking of as its face and stared straight into Merlin's startlingly blue eyes, their extraordinary gentleness making her feel finally safe.

Thank you, she tried to say but as the words tried to frame themselves a shadow fell upon the day. She looked up to see a man with a broadsword raised above them. She tried to scream but no sound came out as the man plunged the broadsword straight into the unicorn's side. As he fell upon the ground, he changed back into Merlin, lying bleeding on the ground, the sword still lodged deep in his side. He looked up at her, whispered 'Dealthia', and then his head fell sightlessly to the side. Finally she found her voice and...

Screamed...

"My lady, my lady." The Lady Morgana realised she was in her own soft bed in Camelot, her maidservant Gwen in front of her shaking her awake.

"You were screaming, my Lady," said Gwen, "another dream?"

"Yes Gwen," said Morgana, calming down and showing Gwen the unconcerned face she had almost mastered, "it was just a dream."