He hesitates, “Fenella, I... I've worked so hard to become a knight that I never learned how to dance. I'm afraid I'd embarrass you.”
Fenella laughs, then reaches out and gently hugs Thomas.
“It's not about the dance. It's about being together. We can learn together, and when our wedding day comes, we'll dance like no one else can.”
Thomas looks touched by her words and smiles. “You're right, my dear. I promise, on our wedding day, I will dance with you like the whole world is watching.”
She starts to teach him a few steps, slowly and carefully, such that it can’t even be called a dance yet.
“I love you Thomas. Even if I should die in the future, I’m sure my love for you will keep on living.”
“So shall mine.”
And they kissed.
The next day, Thomas, dressed in simple clothing in a secluded clearing within the woods practices his dance moves. His steps are hesitant, and he occasionally stumbles over himself, but he continues to practice diligently.
“This isn’t like me,” he thinks. “Usually when I practice swordsmanship, the image of my opponent is so clear in my mind. Then, why can I not see myself dancing with Fenella?” He laughs to himself. “My heart isn’t nearly this fast as when I’m fighting an enemy.”
Suddenly, Morag appears. Her presence catches Thomas off guard. He stops abruptly, unsure of how to react.
“Thomas... It's been years since we last saw each other. How have you been?”
“Fine. And how are you? It looks like you haven’t aged a day.” He responds politely.
“Indeed, neither has my appearance nor my love for you changed. Do you remember when we used to talk about our dreams as children?”
Thomas tenses, “Morag... That time has passed. I don't wish to see you again.”
Hurt and anger creeping into her eyes. “I can't bear to see you with Fenella, Thomas. I love you, and I want you to come back.”
“What?”
“No. I don’t merely want you back. I want you all to myself!” Suddenly she attacks him with her fingernails.
Taken off guard, Thomas grabs her wrists and flings her away.
“As expected of a knight. Your physical strength is greater than mine,” then she holds a bashful look, “or perhaps you want to play rough.” She attacks again.
“What are you doing?”
“Come away with me. We can leave this world behind and go spend our lives in comfort at my cave.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” He wrestles with her.
“Aw. Perhaps a cave is too poor compared to that fancy castle? Don’t worry, I can fix that for us.”
“That is not the problem here!”
Thomas wrestled Morag to the ground.
“I do not love you. I do not know what is going through your mind right now, but don’t make me hurt you, Morag!” He drew his sword, which he only brought to fend off wild animals. He was not wearing his armor or any other protection.
“Aw, my love, you don’t have to worry about hurting me. I promise.”
“Why is that?”
“My magic that keeps my soul sheathed in my body. No matter how old I get, I will not die anymore. All it takes is the occasional human sacrifice to sustain my appearance.”
A look of horror passed over Thomas’ face.
“How about this, if you come away with me and promise not to tell anyone, I can do the same for you too. You can serve your kingdom for as long as you like. Don’t you want that, my love?”
He pushed her away and created a great distance between the two of them.
“No, that magic is intolerable to me!”
She scowled. “It was the magic I was born with. I am simply using all the options available to me in order to survive. The people I have killed are only those who try to kill me.”
“You cannot treat human life that way!”
“Why not? I was treated worse. My cottage burned down ages ago. I live alone because no one wants me. As for the morality of my offer, anyone other than you would’ve taken it, killed their friends and lived forever. With you, I promise to only kill those who deserve it. Come on now, darling. Won’t you follow me?”
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Thomas shook his head. “I cannot agree with you. This is not my way.”
“You naughty boy.” She said teasingly, “I’ll just have to teach you later.”
She pointed a finger at him, and suddenly he felt dizzy. The ground seemed to be swirling beneath him, and his vision was darkening. His head throbbed, and his heart slowed to an unnaturally slow pace in his chest. Instinctively, he slashes out with his sword, slicing into Morag’s extended hand. She recoils and his dizziness disappears instantly.
At that point, Thomas turns and flees.
Wolves that smelled like rot appear from the trees and chase after him. He swings his sword through their forelimbs, cutting the tendons, and they fall to the ground like puppets without strings.
After slicing his way through them, he was suddenly hit by a bolt of lightning. His vision flashes red and white and his ears start to bleed. However, he grits his teeth and stands up again.
After running all the way back to Brigadoon, the guards saw his condition and prepared for a battle with his attacker, but Morag was no longer behind him.
“What happened?” They ask.
“Inform the king that there is a witch in the woods.” He says with a heavy heart. “We must send some men to kill her.”
Thomas returns to his duties as a knight, reporting ‘a witch’ to the castle so that they may deal with her as they see fit. Even though she was his childhood friend, this time Morag has gone too far. He will not protect her any more. As such, the many people of Brigadoon are warned of her existence so that the peasants might avoid her, and the knights might kill her. Meanwhile Thomas finishes his dance lessons, and continues preparations for his wedding.
One day, he and the king stand by a table adorned with wedding preparations, discussing the floral arrangements needed for the upcoming wedding. There is an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.
“These flowers will be perfect for Fenella's bouquet.” The king says. “We must ensure the floral decorations throughout the castle match the grandeur of this occasion.”
Thomas nods. “Fenella enjoys these, and I enjoy these other ones. Let’s gather both.”
Suddenly, a messenger rushes into the room, breathless and anxious.
“Your Majesty, I bring urgent news! All the flowers in the shops and fields have mysteriously started to wilt. They are withering away.”
The King's face fills with concern.
“Withered flowers? For what reason? They should be in full bloom at this time of the season!”
“A figure with a dark aura was seen on the outskirts of the flower fields.”
“Some dark sorcerer? I see. Gather a few guards to investigate and eliminate them.”
Thomas, who had been silently listening, subtly tenses. Morag must be angry, and was trying to ruin his wedding, but he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
He exchanges a troubled glance with the messenger, but refrains from speaking up to the king. A sizable force of knights is dispatched to hunt down ‘an evil magic user’ in the woods.
The next day, Thomas and the king now discuss the arrangements for the wedding feast. They were wondering how many cows they would need to slaughter to serve all the guests. Another messenger hurries into the room, bearing distressing news.
“Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that the cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens have all fallen gravely ill. It appears to be the result of a curse inflicted by a witch.”
“A witch!? Is this the same from yesterday?”
“Indeed. The rancher’s son saw her passing over the hills.”
The king's frustration grows, his voice filled with anger.
“How is it that the guards we sent to eliminate this person have not succeeded, nor even reported? Summon them before me!”
“Your Majesty, none have returned from their mission.”
Thomas, though visibly troubled, remains silent once again.
“Gather an elite squad of knights. Send them out to find and kill this witch! The wedding is only a handful of days away, we cannot endanger the lives of the guests we are inviting!”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
The messenger runs away. Soon, another squad of knights, this one more numerous and of better quality, sets out on horses to find Morag.
Thomas is about to speak, however, another servant pulls him away to paint a new portrait fitting of a future king.
Another day passes. Thomas and the king stand at the entrance of the grand hall, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the guests they had invited from faraway places. The plan was to welcome them and show them to rooms to stay in. If the castle overflowed, then they would show them to a handful of luxurious inns nearby. However, to their dismay, only a few guests appear.
Another messenger rushes into the scene, panic evident in his voice.
“Your Majesty! The whole valley surrounding Brigadoon has been swallowed by dense mists. Travelers are getting lost and confused. It is a witch's doing!”
The king, now visibly concerned and furious, demands answers.
“What happened to the knights I sent to vanquish the witch? Why have they not returned?”
“Your Majesty, just like the first squad of knights, they too have disappeared. There is no trace of them. Perhaps they have gotten lost in the mists as well?”
At this moment, Thomas can no longer remain silent. He steps forward, a mix of guilt and determination etched on his face.
“Your Majesty, please accept my sincerest apologies for my silence. The witch responsible for these calamities is named Morag. I have known her since I was a naive child. She is in love with me and is exacting revenge out of spite for our wedding.”
The king's expression shifts from anger to confusion.
“You know what is happening? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I kept holding out hope that Morag may change, but I was a fool. There is a strong possibility that she has already killed the knights sent to eliminate her.”
“Since you are my future son in law, I will forgive you. It seems we underestimated her capabilities. Thomas, what do you suggest we do to protect Brigadoon and ensure the safety of our people?”
Thomas nods, his resolve firm.
“This is my responsibility, I will go and face Morag and put an end to her. She must be stopped before more lives are lost.”
“You are about to be married into the royal family, I cannot let you go so easily.”
“Your Majesty, I’m sure I have the best chance of defeating her. She will lower her guard to me. Also, I am confident in my combat capabilities. You must allow me to do this.”
After a long pause, the king looks into Thomas’ eyes, and nods.
“We will equip you with the best treasures in the kingdom.”
Thomas turns and exits the grand hall, his footsteps echoing with purpose, as the king guides him to the armory.