When the woman said this he immediately thought of Guinevere, a strong, beautiful, and bright woman.
“You see, the light of this woman,” Dani continued. “The light of this woman was a different type of light than I had ever seen before. It was so pure and powerful that you couldn’t resist staring at it. And, once you stared at it long enough the light seemed alive, as if it had power to give life and joy in of itself. Then, finally, when you felt as if you had been captured by the light and had no way out, you saw it…you saw the bringer of the light! I remember seeing the woman, the bright white woman who came to free the world of death and destruction—my savior.”
Dani smiled and continued. “When she came all the merciless attackers on that field suddenly stopped and stared at the woman. I remember that perfectly. They seemed awed at the mysterious woman’s presence—her stunning beauty, her powerful charisma, and her enigmatic movements. They looked up at her, dropped their weapons, and bowed. It felt so good; I felt a peace flow through me. It was in this moment that the woman approached me. She only said a few words that I can remember…she said, “Hush child! Don’t cry! It will be fine. Today you will come with me to live in paradise!” After she said these words I remember smiling and calling her mother. I remember her picking me up in her arms and carrying me away to this magnificent palace. It was here, in this palace, she nurtured and took care of me. It was here that she gave me a new name, Dani after the Danites, and made me forget my old name and much of my old, terrible past. I was so appreciative of this new visitor.”
Dani suddenly became more serious and sad. “But there was something wrong with her…she was growing weak and I was forced to watch her die. But I didn’t die. The magic of this place preserved me—her servants cared for me and for the garden until I got older. I didn’t know my real name, but I didn’t want to return. I didn’t want to go back to the evil world of men, so I remained here living on my own. As a young child I learned to live on my own and do things myself. I learned how to be everything that my mysterious woman rescuer was and more.” There was a pause as she ate. “Now you know my story is not a happy story—instead it is one fraught with anger and demise. You, of course, cannot tell because I am happier now than I ever have been. Why you may ask? Because I am here with you. You see Arthur, you and I are not so different. We both began from small and humble means. We both somehow rose up from the stains of pain and poverty and became royalty.”
“I remember very little of my childhood,” replied Arthur, who suddenly became slightly disturbed by the lack of a true, memorable childhood. “My childhood has long been a mystery.”
“A mystery indeed…well, many of the greatest things in life are mysteries…including love. Love is a mystery we attempt to discover.” Dani smiled and batted her hair back, running her fingers slowly through it. Arthur suddenly stopped eating and gazed up into her powerfully penetrating eyes. Then, once he found himself staring at her far too much, he looked away and resumed eating.
The rest of the evening passed in relative peace and silence. Arthur was finding himself beginning to feel something, something that he had not felt for another woman before, not even Guinevere. He couldn’t describe it but it was something powerful. Whereas the feelings that existed between Guinevere and Arthur were a type of holy, sacred, pure, innocent love, the feelings that Arthur seemed to have for Dani were a type of erotic, mischievous but nevertheless temptingly passionate love. The more he got to know this woman and behold her beauty the more he had to ask the question, how could such a beautiful woman be so evil?
The thought then crossed his mind that this woman was not, in fact, evil, but misunderstood. Perhaps, just perhaps, he thought, this woman was telling the truth. Just perhaps she was not evil, but the fault was indeed with the men—men who made the mistake of thinking that they had won her heart and that they could and should have her.
“But I am not that man,” thought Arthur. “I am single. I am a king. Surely it must be different for me.”
Throughout dinner he found himself peaking up at her through the candlelight, feeling her mesmerizing presence, her rose-like aroma. He was beginning to find in this woman everything he was not—he found she was beautiful and harmless yet somehow wise and threatening without being forced to sacrifice her beauty. He could not help but be reminded of Guinevere. She certainly possessed many of the qualities that he loved in her besides her beauty itself. She was confident, careless, and free. This was something that Arthur had not been since he was king. It was certain that, since being king, Arthur never had a moment of carefreeness or freedom away from his kingdom and kingly responsibilities. He was always fighting off invaders, leading his armies into battle, visiting the poor and afflicted in his kingdom, and instructing his knights. But he now felt truly free and it was a good feeling.
“I know your thoughts are drawn to your wife,” said Dani. “You think about her often.”
Arthur nodded. “An hour does not pass when I do not think about her. But how did you know?”
“I know that expression, the expression you carry; it is the expression I have seen on men before. It is the expression of pain because of lost, or failed, love. Your beloved Guinevere, tell me, did something happen to her?”
“She recently passed away,” said Arthur, his mind again drawn to this painful memory.
“I am sorry my dear Arthur! You now must be so lonely and in need of someone. You must need someone to relieve you from all your troubles. You must need someplace to go to find solace. Know Arthur that you may always find solace here of course.”
“Thank you for your hospitality…” Arthur suddenly remembered the purpose of his coming here and his mind turned away from his feelings. “But you must understand that I intend to leave as soon as possible. When you tell me the truth about this world and promise not to corrupt it then I will leave and return to my kingly duties.”
“You do not understand do you? You still think that this land has corrupted itself because of me. But it is not my fault that I was brought to this palace. It is not my fault that men desire to serve me. I merely take what God has given me and, believe me when I say, God has given me much.”
“God has given you little, and you receive only what you take!” replied Arthur, harshly.
“Men are so vain!” she declared loudly, but still beautifully. “Each and every one only looks on external beauty. They see my beauty and, for their own selfish desire, seek to have it and, if possible, corrupt it. That is the true reason why I call this place and the rose the ‘Poison Rose.’ It is because of truly evil men that love is poisoned, and with it, your land. But it is not my beauty that deceives them the most. Above all it is their own pride. They really want me because nobody else can have me. There are many beautiful women in the world, but none of those beautiful women in the end will be like me. None will refuse and use men to show the power of the woman. I am bringing the world what it truly needs—to destroy the world of men and to bring women the power they deserve.”
“Power for yourself and not for other women,” said Arthur. “You forget that other women are suffering because of you. People in the kingdom have lost their husbands and, because of this, they cannot work hard enough to provide for their own children, let alone themselves.”
“It is for a greater purpose I assure you.”
“You speak strong words for a lady!” exclaimed Arthur, disappointed by her reaction.
“I speak needed words Arthur,” replied Dani. “Only the ignorant take my words as harsh. If you want to make the kingdom whole again, you must first purify yourself. After you are purified you may purify all the men of your kingdom. Then the kingdom will be the way it is meant to be, with both you and me at its head. We can rule the kingdom together just as you did with Guinevere, only this time your kingdom will never corrupt itself.”
Arthur didn’t respond. Despite their differences in opinion he had to admit that he found her confidence and intelligence undeniably luring
and attractive. Her joy in this instance seemed like the joy a spider must possess when she sees her next victim caught in her web. However, from Arthur’s perspective her words didn’t come from a spider at all, and he certainly did not feel like he was caught in her web. Instead, her words seemed defensive, as if she were the victim.
After they had both completed their meals she ordered her servants to bring some bread. So her servants entered the room, hunched-down as they went, picked up some type of bread and placed it on a plate in front of them. “Thank you my friends,” said Dani politely as they placed the plate in front of her.
Arthur nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”
The two then consumed the bread, which Arthur found to be especially delicious. After they finished Dani requested that they take an evening stroll through the courtyard behind her palace. “Welcome to my backyard, a place I show to very few.”
Arthur was astounded at the scene before him. Amidst the garden landscape and the web of winding stone pathways were statues of all different kinds and sizes, revealing themselves only partially and carefully under the moonlit sky. After seeing these statues Arthur was immediately reminded of Merlin’s hut and the many statues that surrounded his hut. Like Merlin’s statues, Dani’s statues were all made of stone. In addition, like Merlin’s statues, some seemed much older than others (as noted by their faded color and the greenery that had begun to cover them). The young ones shimmered while the old ones were rather dull and, in some instances, nearly impossible to recognize. Arthur highly doubted that Dani actually carved all these statues.
Some of the statues were of soldiers of some type. These men stood with their weapon in hand. Others were dressed in common grubby clothing and must be some kind of peasant. Still others were monks or clerics and were arrayed in their vestments. All the statues were very different, but there was one thing they all had in common—all of them were men and all looked extremely sad.
Unlike Merlin’s statues, the witch did not seem to depict anyone as happy or noble beings. Instead, their expressions were ones of solemn disappointment. Some hung their heads downward as if disappointed or ashamed. Still others looked up to the heavens as if praying to God in desperation. Some held their weapons, while others held nothing but their own face cradled in their hands. All in all it was a very disturbing sight. The statues made Arthur feel intimidated—as if these statues were somehow not entirely statues at all. He couldn’t really explain it, but they still seemed to possess a spiritual presence.
Dani looked over and noticed that Arthur looked disturbed and confused. “You see Arthur,” said Dani, running her hands along the face of one of the statues. “I have not carved any of these statues. Instead, these statues are those who have fallen because of lack of love. The men who serve me are those who have fallen for me and still somewhat love me and desire to serve me even though secretly they may not like me. They are better than those who still do not know me. But the worst of all men are these ones—for these statues are all men who have fallen for me and, in the end, resisted me and even came to hate me.”
“So you turned them into stone?” asked Arthur, feeling his hands along one of the statues.
“No, they turned themselves into stone.”
“I don’t understand; how can they turn themselves into stone?”
“After having felt such a powerful stirring of love within them, but having totally turned against it, they eventually become solidified in stone. Granted, the process takes much time and, for much of the time they are merely like my other servants. But it eventually happens because they, like their heart, turn to stone. So you see Arthur that I have power to make men turn into a stone, a power that you no doubt covet. How magnificent you must believe it would be to have the power to make armies of millions turn into stone! And this is only a portion of my power. And as you now see all men, no matter the class or occupation, are subject to this same woe. It is the universal woe of man.”
“You do not suppose that women have a universal woe?”
“I do not know, nor have I ever heard of such a thing,” replied Dani. “Women seem to be men’s weakness and although men may physically overpower men, men must eventually need a woman or else they would certainly fall.”
“Do you not suppose that it is possible for a man to love you, resist you, and then not hate you?”
“Perhaps, and it sometimes happens. But they leave forever sad, to be without me. Because of deep laws of the universe, engrained in both men and women, I am where I am at now. You cannot say Arthur that you do not like this place—that you do not see at least some truth to what I say. This place is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place on earth, and it is that way because of the laws set in place from before this world was. These are laws that I have come to understand. Men call women ‘witches’ because they do not completely understand them. You, Arthur, must now know me well enough to know that I am not an evil witch, that is, some terrifying enigma thrust into the world for men to destroy. You see, magic isn’t really that improbable or illogical; all magic has roots in reality and truth. Magic has a cause or reason for its existing, a motive for its power, and, while it may be transferred, it can never be destroyed or defeated unless the injustice that caused it is, in the end, corrected.”
“I do not see you as a witch now nor do I fear your magic,” replied Arthur. “You are very beautiful. You are a woman who has suffered much, but a woman who, nonetheless I sense has some good and light to be shared with the world.”
“A light which you would seek to harness…yes Arthur, I know the real reason why you have come. You could have sent one of your knights alone to my palace to negotiate with me. But you came yourself. This put your entire kingdom at great risk without a king. You came for more than just matters of your kingdom. Deep down you have come to make me fall desperately in love with you. You would suppose that your manly charms could win me over. You would suppose that you, having defeated thousands upon thousands of men in open battle, could achieve this simple task of hooking me into your grasp. And I accept your challenge as I have accepted all other challenges. But you must be wary, for I do not grow old and my heart does not fall victim to the whims of men.”
“I assure you Dani,” said Arthur. “I have come for matters of my kingdom alone. There are many fine women in my kingdom that I would love to meet. And when it comes to matters of my kingdom I am no coward and would soon as meet the enemy face-to-face than sit behind the battlefield. I do not send my own people to do tasks that I well can do myself.”
“Of course, and that is why I have been waiting for you Arthur. I have been waiting for you to hold my hand, to take me. I am beautiful. I am wise. Come now and be by my side, fulfilling my being as I fulfill yours. You know that together the possibilities we have are endless.”
Arthur sighed. He felt something churning in his heart now and he didn’t know whether it was the words of this woman or his own feelings. Either way he felt himself needing her, feeling somehow attached to her. He felt like he wanted to pick her up and embrace every part of her. But his mind resisted. He knew of what Merlin and the other knights had said. If this woman was as dangerous as they supposed he could not get any closer to her.
So the two spent the rest of the night in frugal discourse, only saying what they each knew was needful to say. Some of the discussion was lighthearted while some was not. Most of the communication between the two was not vocal, but instead was propelled by their various movements. The very way Dani moved and walked seemed to ignite within his soul a passionate desire. Her walk was ennobling, but also carefree and careless. At times she let great wisdom show, but then at other times she seemed like she were only eighteen. Arthur then let himself believe that this woman was harmless, for no grown man could ever suspect a beautiful young girl of any deceit; an older woman yes, but not a young girl.
The two took a moment to lie down next to each other on the grass while they stared up at the stars. There, through the dark night
sky, they could see the fireflies of the sky glimmering intelligently and sporadically as if even the stars were attempting to communicate with them to add to the romantic moment. Arthur had to admit that the more time he spent with her the more he felt something different about her than what he originally supposed or what he was hearing from her mouth. He would even go so far as to call her an angel—one of those divine beings he had only heard about in old tales but never seen directly. But perhaps he had now seen her, and as he looked on her in the moonlight her face was one of eagerness, eagerness to jump into his arms and make herself his. She possessed an excitement that Arthur knew could not be coming from him. This excitement in her was what most excited Arthur.
As the night was nearing its end Arthur began to think more and more about whether or not this woman liked him. Although her words expressed her unique pride and confidence in herself and her abilities, her actions dictated otherwise. As they got up from the grass to return to the palace she reached her hand over and held his. She held onto his hand tightly and, as they moved forward in the moonlit garden back towards the palace, he felt his hand holding hers tightly as well. He couldn’t understand it, but something was flowing through him now, something he hadn’t felt since Guinevere and something he thought he never would. So as they moved through the palace, hand in hand, both of them looked happier. Both looked as if they were sad that they would have to go to sleep—as if they wanted this one moment to last for a lifetime. Although Arthur didn’t know what Dani wanted, in this moment he wanted Dani all to himself. He wanted to hold her, care for her, make her every part of his existence.
The Poison Rose: A King Arthur Tale Page 9