****************************************************************************
After the monarchs disbursed, Gwyneth headed for Avalon to meet with the chief Druid. She didn't think she owed it to the Druids to keep them apprised of these developments. After all, they were Humans and they could find out for themselves about what was happening in their Realm. However, the Sorceress wanted her to alert the Druid to their plans, and Gwyneth valued the Sorceress' opinions to the point she was willing to accommodate even such an odd – and, Gwyneth thought, unnecessary – request.
Gwyneth met with the head Druid, who received her with an icy greeting. He was clearly annoyed that she had failed to make her obeisance to him on her last visit to Avalon. She pretended not to be aware of his rudeness, and he appeared not to notice her pretense. She found it humorous that Human males seemed to think females of any species were so stupid they did not notice slights or even overt rudeness. Everything in her made her want to tell him quite bluntly that she was perfectly aware of his condescension and rudeness, but she did not feel she could afford to alienate him at that moment. The Druids were Humans but they occupied Avalon, which was a sort of bridge between the Human Realm and the Nether World.
Everyone in the Nether World wanted to maintain Avalon as a buffer zone between their Realms and the Humans. Even most Humans did not like to be around Druids. As long as the Druids held Avalon, the beings of the Nether World believed that Humans would be unlikely to overrun the place. The village on the other side of the Isle worried the monarchs and made them wonder how much longer they would be able to continue to rely on that “conventional wisdom”. Gwyneth considered it worth the effort to cooperate with the Druids on the chance that they could be helpful.
The various groups that in habited Avalon and the Nether World often were at odds among themselves, but time Gwyneth believed it served nothing for them bicker among themselves. It would take all of them working together to counter the dark magic of the the Black Fairy. As much as Gwyneth loathed the Druids, who all but worshiped Merlin, she felt she could not afford to alienate them.
Instead she explained to him that the Sorceress was going to hide Excalibur and Merlin was going to serve as Arthur's mentor. The Druid asked where the Sorceress was going to put Excalibur. Gwyneth replied that she didn't know and wasn't particularly concerned because she knew the Sorceress would not rest until she found a place to safeguard the sword.
The Druid looked dubious, and asked, “Don't you think we should consult with Merlin about where to hide it?”
Gwyneth snorted, “And why would we do that? For one thing this whole mess is Merlin's fault. I would prefer not to have him involved at all. I would prefer to have sought out someone else to send to Arthur, but we needed to move fast and we could not think of anyone else we thought could get past Uthur.” She made an exasperated noise with her lips, “Besides, Merlin couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. In this case, since the lives of a whole lot of folk in all the Realms of Earth depend on keeping Excalibur safe, Merlin will be the very last to know where the Sorceress hides it.”
The Druid turned towards her and shook his finger at her, “You should not be so disrespectful of Merlin. He is the spawn of the Great God and his powers are beyond all ability to imagine them. I think you should consult with him and beseech his advice.”
Gwyneth could not help herself: she burst into peels of hilarity. “Is that what you think Merlin is?” She put her hand over her mouth and willed herself to be sober as it was clear the Druid was bordering on a rage. She said, “Merlin is not a god. I'm not sure what he is beyond an incredibly ancient and powerful wizard, but take my word for it, he is not the spawn of any god, great or small.” She muttered under her breath, If anything, he's a demon from the depths of Hades.
The Druid said, “You should be ashamed to be so disrespectful of the gods and their power. You and the Sorceress have taken precipitous action without duly consulting the gods and begging for their wisdom and guidance. In so doing you have endangered all of us.”
Gwyneth shook her head as if a fly were buzzing in her face, “We took immediate action because it was necessary to do so. We did it in consultation with one another. That was sufficient.”
“Have you no respect for the spirits or fear of the gods?”
That brought her up short. No one had ever asked her that question before. In the Fairy Realm, the cardinal power was magic and the cardinal virtue was honesty. Fairies reverenced life in all its forms, they obeyed the laws of nature and the wishes of their queen (although Fairies were perfectly capable of challenging their queen when they thought she was wrong) and relied on their magic. To the extent they thought about the spirit world at all (which was rare) they were agnostic about it. Gwyneth was acquainted with Druids and the Grail priestesses who prayed to certain gods. She also knew that the Dwarfs had a kind of religion; their queen had tried to explain it to her once. Her general opinion of the gods she had heard about was that they were considerably more trouble than they were worth. She realized she had paused for so long the Druid was becoming angry. She responded with the typical honesty of a Fairy who stood on sure ground in her own mind, “I don't believe in your gods nor would I be willing to implore help from any Powers that would demand sniveling, chanting and pleading. The only thing I believe in is the Magic I wield and its power to inspire others to help me when I need it.”
The Druid stepped back as though she had turned into some kind of monster, which she realized he thought she was. She was a shameless Fairy who failed to show due respect to the god Merlin. She met his astonished glare with an even look that was neither fearful nor arrogant. She forced her expression to be neutral and wondered what would happen if she told the Druid she was Merlin's daughter.... and the Black Fairy's twin. She elected to maintain her silence because she did not want to end up at the bottom of a well somewhere. It was all she could do not to laugh at the thought of the expression that news might bring to the pickle-faced the Druid.
All the Realms needed to prepare for the coming of the Black Fairy. Gwyneth shook off the temptation to bait him further and tried a different tack, “In any case, the Sorceress of Avalon asked me to inform you of this news because we believe that when the Trouble comes, it will strike Avalon first, and with force. You should be ready.”
He nodded, and thanked her with his words, while his eyes still glittered in anger. He asked, “What has become of the Priestesses and their Treasure?”
“They are hidden away in far places.”
He seemed disappointed. The Sorceress had been right: the Druids had been looking for the Grail Treasure. He clearly wondered how the Priestesses had secreted it away without his knowing about it. Gwyneth smiled inside her mouth without changing her expression. Those invisibility spells had their uses. She grudgingly admitted that was one very useful thing Merlin had taught her.
He sighed and made it clear to her from his tone and his body language that it disgusted him to have to continue the conversation with her, but he understood the importance of cooperation. “Perhaps my Druids can hide in the abode of the Sorceress if you do not think she will mind.”
Gwyneth reached out with her Soul and explored the chamber where the Sorceress had lived for as long as Gwyneth could remember. It was completely empty but for cobwebs and dust and showed no signs of ever having been occupied. Its glowing walls were dark and damp. She said, “I feel certain the Sorceress would not mind your taking refuge there.”
“I will contact the Christians in the village yonder and warn them as well. Perhaps we can work together to protect ourselves.”
“I think that is a good idea. I have already met with the monarchs of the Nether World. We will be preparing as well. By all means let us know if there is any way we can help you and, just as importantly, if you come across any intelligence we might all be able to use, please let me know.”
“How can I reach out to you without the Priestesses here??
??
“The Boatman will remain on Avalon. He will be able to get messages to me.”
“When do you think the Trouble will come?”
She shook her head and raised her beautiful hands in a gesture of uncertainty, “There is no way to tell. If the Sorceress is able to hide Excalibur, it could be several years before the Black Fairy is able to make another move. I expect Arthur will continue to be her preferred tool to bring havoc. If we foil her efforts to put Excalibur in his hands now while he's a child when he could do nothing but damage with it, she may have to wait a few years until he grows up to make her next move. I think we have a little time. We should never allow ourselves to become complaisant, however. If she finds an opening in the meantime, she will take it.”
They parted with polite words and cold eyes.
The Druid was no friend of the Fairies, but he occupied the place which would be the first to be affected when the Trouble came. Gwyneth did not require her allies to be her friends. She had been allied with the Dwarfs for centuries without any real mutual affection. Political alliance was a matter of increased strength in the face of a common enemy. Gwyneth, as a reigning monarch, understood that. The Druid, as a mere religious leader, did not have her perspective, although she was somewhat impressed by his ability to put aside his prejudices and continue the conversation with her. She realized that she felt the same repugnance and condescension towards him – both because of his religious beliefs and his Humanity – as he exhibited towards her. She, however, had the manners not to reveal her prejudices to the Druid. They had a common enemy in her sister, and, therefore, it was in their best interests to be allies. Even the Druid appeared to understand that. Gwyneth gave him credit for at least a modicum of pragmatism. That would have to be enough for her to work with.