24 January 2013
ISOLDE
She drummed her fingers on her thigh and shot the kind of look that would start a fire.
Where is he! She fumed.
He was running late; this was unusual for him, punctuality was Gethin’ thing. Isolde stood up and started to pace across her bedroom, then, when she could not wait any longer, she anxiously stepped out onto the balcony. Time seemed to not be on her side; the hard rain fell down in pelts; soaking her as the thunderous lightning roared; then the full moon beamed through the clouds with its entire pallor glow –almost taunting her –no it was taunting her! Rage enwrapped her; her will -to not succumb to the magic, was weak; each month her resolve weakened, she could not wait anymore. Subconsciously, she relished the moment she sighted the moon; they danced together with an intense fervour; entranced by its luminosity, Isolde swirled like a dervish; her skin became laced in silvery scales; her nails expanded into huge dinosaur claws; her shoulders sprouted majestic reptile wings; she swirled into flight towards a realm, she had once been in.
Visions flew past, fast as she gasped
Hues of blue, evocatively new
Rainbow colours, lilies, rose
A bouquet from a moment old
Flight took part; they depart
Spells abound; twined in time
Casts a shadow; darkens minds
Once a lover, now divine
Isolde spies; finds Mark’ eyes
Gaze locked; glistened guise
Thoughts; back to a kiss
Tenderness; glides, full bliss
Captivate; in air, they fly
Lightning jolts; encase her sides.
~~~
GETHIN
It roared as it passed by me; I tried to duck in an attempt to avoid the current; my hair tinged slightly as I fell onto the soft muddy soil by the edge of Lake Windermere.
Oh great! Trust me to find a way to ruin the occasion! Isolde will not be pleased –I could not dwell on that now -I had to concentrate on how to avoid Tristan’ rage. -By the way I’m Mark Gethin –a Wizard wannabe –well wannabe is not the rightful term (it’s the preferred word from my perspective); I have been selected –or rather; my bloodline has chosen me as it comes direct from the great Wizard himself, Merlin –great expectations and all; I have this huge pressure to follow in the footsteps of my great-great-great-grandfather; to be honest, I’m no Wizard –in fact I am pretty lame. I do not possess the strength of Tristan nor his mastery control over lightening –the ones I am trying to escape now.
The electrifying sound whizzed past my ears -that one just struck the tree behind me! It landed just inches from my side; singed to a toast.
“Tristan, I really think you have gone overboard now!” I yelled with all my might above all the thunderous noise accompanying the lightning.
“I will not have a useless, undeserving, hapless Wizard with no sense, courting my sister –especially one who cannot defend himself let alone her!” His arms raised and pointed upwards then turned towards me as another shot of white brilliance thrust past me.
I cowered behind the shrubbery; he had a point, I was nothing special –other than my status and what I could be! I didn’t know what Isolde saw in me –I certainly did not deserve her... Her ethereal radiance married with her wisdom, she was just powerful with those qualities alone –not to mention what became of her on a full moon night such as tonight, I had to get to her; I promised... I lowered my head in dismay as I observed the muddy brown slush on my majestic robes –Merlin’ robes; I was not the man he was –how undeserving... A pair of pointed polished black shoes invaded my vision; it was accompanied by a sleek black robe with tiny elegant silver motifs of lightning bolts –Tristan! As I looked up his staff dug into me.
“You are truly pathetic!” he sneered. His staff pierced further into my ribs.
“Ow! Stop it will you!” I grimaced as the pain seared through me. “I know I have to work on my skills; but first I need to see Isolde, there’s a full moon tonight, we have plans!”
“Exactly! You need to prove yourself now or not at all; I will not have you anywhere near my sister unless I know you can protect her.”
“Tristan please! You make it sound like we are in turbulent times; we’re running out of time. How about a truce?” I offered; a meagre attempt; if Tristan was feeling noble, as I hoped, he would take the bait. His glance showed me he was not going to waiver on this; the dark night sky glowed with the electric currents that were unleashed by him. I had no choice; I had to come up with something that would change the current balance of power; but what...
It was too late as I saw a blaze of fire accompanied by a trail of smoke fly towards us; Isolde’s glimmering silvery scale gleamed in the night sky; her wingspan stretched wide across the lake.
Tristan sighed with annoyance “Gethin! This was what I was talking about! Now we need a plan seeing you have been unable to prevent this from taking shape.”
“Hey, hold on a minute! Don’t you go pinning this one on me –I was in preparation to do something about it when you ambushed me!” I said in defiance.
“Had you had such a plan, we would not be here in the first place, oh mighty one!” Tristan exclaimed with sarcasm.
A massive roar erupted a few meters from us; a full set of strong teeth visible as more fire burnt through the air we breathed. We dived into the freezing cold lake as Isolde flew above us. It was dark and muggy; not one to be able to hold my breath for long, I swam to the surface and gasped for air. Oh my! It was good to be able to breathe again. I searched for Isolde; my eyes found her and locked onto her wistful baby blues which were behind the fierce set of sharp teeth. Torn; my beautiful Isolde cursed by such misfortunes; I had to save her...
Tristan burst through the water with such force I lost my balance as the waves rocked into me.
From above me he shouted as he somersaulted onto the banks of the lake further away from Isolde “I’ll distract the dragon Gethin; you best find a way to save Isolde!” A roar of thunder and lightning started to gather as Tristan worked his magic.
This was it; I had to try or potentially lose Isolde forever; for every month she phased into this monster; the more she would lose in terms of her human soul; my Isolde could not be that –I would rather die than see her go through that evil change. I vowed to make it better; for Isolde, for our love; for humanity.
I knew now -now that the change had taken place; our initial plan would not work; Isolde had to be human then; her dragon transformation just complicated the matter now –had Tristan not intervened we would not be here; I now had to think of an alternative plan; my thoughts clouded. In the corner of my eye I saw Tristan formulate several lightning beams in preparation to cage in Isolde; I had seen him perfect this many times, would he succeed now?
I waded through the water towards the banks of the lake as I searched within me for all the spells I had been taught –there must be something, the spell must be broken. My thoughts went back to a time when I crossed paths with an alchemist and a magician; they had secretly uttered a spell that could undo such curses like this –a bubble spell (I had been told that the key point was to ensure, once the bubble was created, that it fully covered the being that was cursed; that’s when its actual magic takes place and reverses what has been placed on the victim); it was said that only a few had mastered it; if successful the curse would be lifted forever; if failed, the fate of the cursed and the spell caster, was said to be catastrophic –I could not imagine how much worse it could get; I had to try but I was frozen inside with fear -I had not even practiced it; what if it went horribly wrong, what would become of my love... our life... of me..?
~~~
GETHIN
I blinked with uncertainty as the time neared; the cold wintery months now behind us; the humid weather setting in. We waited patiently for this moment; my Isolde; whom Tristan inadvertently slew; lay slumped within Stonehenge’s great arc; the spell I cast; mismatched –as I; set us on a perilous task.
Winters’ mask;
hit us hard;
our hopes now lay with,
Summers’ Solstice promise.
The rituals set;
potions ready;
my last hope spell sits with me.
Tears silently cascade down my cheeks as I wait –I did not want to leave anything to chance, this is the last time to rectify our mistakes; our spells alongside the approaching rites of summer, is our only hope; we must succeed.
Tristan lost his brash demeanour the moment Isolde’ electric cage electrocuted her. His silence kills the air he walks in. My futile attempt at the bubble spell was even worse; I uttered the words; the bubble formed bigger than I anticipated; it took in Isolde, Tristan and me; set us back to where the curse was cast; to wherein we stand; the magicians circle; a place for the great Merlin –not me! –He would know how to make this right; but my loves fate now rested on me; so we wait in trust; we hope the vow of life, fertility and abundance brings back the joy that was once within me. Isolde my love, I failed you once, twice –I refuse to fail you thrice.
Copyright © Ozlem Yikici 2011-2013. All Rights Reserved.
The Moon of Change • Opuss № I