Annalia trembled with both residual shock from what she had just witnessed as well as trepidation as she watched the stranger approach her slowly. Her hand clenched around her pendant as her throat closed on her emotions and they formed a lump there. He stopped a few feet from her, his eyes gentle and reassuring. "I will help you, Chosen One…if you will let me," he murmured gently while holding his hand out to her in invitation. Annalia stared at him, suddenly filled with doubt. What could she do? What should she do?

She looked up at him slowly, shaking inwardly with her fear and confusion as she swallowed hard. The wind blew up around them and sent raven and reddish brown hair flying in streaks as they contemplated the other silently while the magic of the Circles kept the air tense with expectation. She nibbled on her lower lip nervously and felt her cheeks heat as he smiled slowly and watched her teeth chew at the flesh before focusing on her eyes again. She took a tentative step forward and shivered as uncertainty and apprehension washed over her in a cold wave. She was still so lost after what she had seen. But when she looked into his eyes, she felt safe…like this was meant to be, no matter what visions had been shown to her.

Her hand came up and rested comfortably in his long reassuringly warm one and her blush deepened as his slender fingers curled slowly to cup her hand encouragingly. She looked up at him and took a deep breath before smiling up at him. “My name is Annalia O’Grady. What’s yours?” she whispered softly and felt her tremors leave her body slowly as she relaxed.

“My name is Taliesin. I have been waiting a long time for your arrival, Annalia.” The words were pleasant and gentle, though hidden within the deep timbre was the resonance of power and wisdom. She shivered again, but with fondness and security as she smiled up at him. He smiled back, his green eyes crinkling in affectionate amusement before he looked over at the basin that had changed her life. “You have many questions,” he murmured knowingly before returning his intense gaze to her own wavering eyes.

“Yes, the main one being, 'what the hell am I doing in Avalon?'!” Annalia replied and her voice was tinged with both exasperation and immense relief that she could finally speak with someone who would answer her questions.

Taliesin’s head fell back as he laughed before he looked down at her again, smiling widely. Annalia found that she enjoyed how he laughed, how his face lit up with his delight and his whole body reflected that joy whole-heartedly. He traced a line along her cheek and chin and she blushed even more, causing his smile to become knowing and impish as she ducked her head. “I shall explain it all. Come…let us sit over here, where the strength of the Seer’s Well isn’t as strong,” he suggested soothingly before placing a hand at her lower back and lightly steering her towards a bench that could be seen just beyond the Circles.

Relaxing as she allowed herself to be moved, Annalia felt more warmth well up within her, filling her with a comfort and anticipation that she hadn’t expected at all. As she sat down, she looked up at him and melted inside at the tender look he bestowed on her before sitting next to her. She made herself comfortable before gazing at him expectantly, waiting for the explanations to begin.

Stroking his chin slowly with his free hand while his taken hand held hers securely, Taliesin stared over at the basin before focusing on her and smiling once more. “First, aye, you are indeed in Avalon. The Goddess guided you here, calling you here with the song of nature and the Light. You were chosen to be the one to carry the One King and give birth to him so that he may save us all from the rising of the Shadow.”

“The One King? Do you mean Arthur?” Annalia asked quietly, curious as she leaned closer. This story was going to be as interesting as all the rest had been so far.

Nodding as he grinned, Taliesin caressed her hand softly. “Aye, Arthur Pendragon, once King of the now fabled Camelot. He was a real king that had come when all of Britannia needed him the most in times of war and strife. But his downfall had been his sister, who had been forced to betray him and their illegitimate son, Mordred, in the end. Morgaine had been a wonderful Priestess and had served the Goddess faithfully for many years. But then, we had been required to have her perform the Rite of Passage for the Pendragon. Or rather, to her ignorance, her half brother that she had loved and had not seen since they had been young.” He sighed softly and looked down as tears of regret welled up within his emerald gaze. “To destroy such innocence had destroyed Arthur and, when injured by his deceiving son, he could not rise from his despair, betrayal, and rage. Avalon could not save him and so, instead of being in an enchanted sleep to wake when he was needed once more, he died.”

“So now he must be reborn? Why me? And why you?” Annalia inquired in interest as she watched Taliesin while her own thumb caressed the back of his hand in a soothing gesture unbeknownst to her.

“Aye, he must be reborn for he is the only one with the power to help us in the final upcoming battle against the Shadow.” Taliesin smiled at her before looking down at their hands. “I am the last of the Merlin, but I am also of the line of Kings. My family is descendent to Arthur from another line, cousins in truth, but I am descended from the first of the Merlin. Your family, however, is directly intertwined with Arthur and his family through his aunt, who had been the High Priestess of Avalon at the time of his life.” His smile grew as he looked up to see her blushing and fidgeting. “You did not know you had such a royal line?” he asked kindly as his hand tightened soothingly around her hand for a brief second before relaxing.

Shaking her head as she nibbled on her lip, Annalia tried to absorb everything that had just been revealed to her. She looked up at him from the corner of her eye, gauging him and his reliability. She shook her head and smirked. ‘Oh come on, girl! Why make up something you saw yourself?!’ she demanded of herself before taking a deep breath and releasing it on a gusty sigh. She finally lifted her head and looked him square in the eye. “Why else was I chosen?” she asked bluntly and cocked an eyebrow as he grinned.

“My, you are a bold one. Such fire…indeed that is one of many things that calls you towards your destiny with me. The mother of Arthur Pendragon should be so bold,” he murmured appreciatively, his grin growing as she flushed brightly and squirmed. He shook his head fondly before responding to her question. “You also carry within you the possibility for great power. While it shall pass somewhat to your child, as will my own, you will have this power with you to guide you when the time is necessary. There are no others that will fit this prophesy, Annalia. You are the chosen one.”

“And you will be the father and protect me?” Annalia whispered tentatively as silence fell over the Tor when they locked eyes.

His smile became gentle and tender as he brought up her hand and kissed the back of it. “I shall try to be the best that I can for you and our child. I am still a man, but I will work to earn your trust,” he murmured, his firm tones cutting through the warm twilight as it slowly fell down about them.

“I already trust you,” Annalia spoke the words quietly, breathlessly as she stared at him.

“Then you will?” Taliesin asked hopefully as he laced their fingers together.

Slowly, she curled her fingers to hold his tightly while she nodded. “I will, for the sake of everyone.” Her voice was firm with resolve, but a thread of fear and uncertainty ran through her tones as she trembled. She didn’t resist as he brought her close to him in a supportive hug and nuzzled close as he rubbed her back soothingly. "What about those other visions? The man with the water lady and…and then the Romans and that cross? And those poor women! And what about this place and that man who died?" she inquired quietly, her questions flowing out like water over rocks as she leaned in close.

"The first vision that you speak of was a showing of the creation of the Celtic religion…of the formation of the Priestesses and Druids who serve the Mother Goddess and the God. The young man you saw was the first Merlin, the one whose spirit of wisdom and power was passed down through the centuries to those who were worthy of him," Taliesin replied kindly as he rubbed her back, his eyes distant with memory and fondness. "The second vision was the horror of our past, for when the Romans came to Britannia they sought to destroy our spirit as well as our people. They raped our Priestesses, no matter what age, to destroy their hold on us. The resulting children were shunned by our people when found." His voice grew heavy and full of sorrow as he buried his face in her neck and Annalia found their roles reversed as she comforted him and ignored her own tears.

Sighing softly as he regained control of himself, Taliesin kissed her neck before continuing. "The third you speak of was when the Christians came to our land, replacing the dying Romans with their own resolute persecution of our people. In our beliefs, we hold that the Goddess and God of our faith are found in all faiths and care for all people. Not so, sadly, with the Christians. They believe theirs is the one true faith and that, when the end of all happens upon our world, they shall be the only ones allowed into Paradise." He sighed once more as he sat back and cupped her cheek gently. "Not all Christians were as such. You may know of the legend of Joseph of Arimathea?"

"Yes I think I have heard it. It was said that he traveled from Jerusalem after Christ's death carrying the Holy Grail, the spear that had pierced the Christ's side, and the robe that had clothed Jesus before he had died. But he had disappeared in the European area, and no one knows quite where his remains may be," Annalia responded in bemusement as she nuzzled his hand, smiling tentatively when he beamed at her and nodded.

"Yes, those legends are true and yet shrouded in mystery for a purpose. He came to our land and gave his precious items to the Priestesses so that they might protect them. He died not long afterwards and has remained buried where the abbey of Glastonbury now resides," Taliesin explained as he held her close.

"No way! You mean that burial mound is really his?!" Annalia demanded as she looked up at him in shock, but then frowned as he laughed quietly.

"Aye, very much so. The Priestesses tended his grave until Avalon was shrouded in the mists, which you saw along with the making of Avalon. They have protected the three sacred items for many centuries, revering them as much as the Christians did of the legends surrounding the artifacts," Taliesin added with a smile as he brushed his hand over her cheek. His eyes grew sad though as he looked down at their hands. "The last of your visions dealt with what is to come if we do not succeed," he murmured grimly as his hold tightened on her hand.

"You mean…the Shadow?" Annalia whispered while shivering as a cold wind blew up briefly around them, startling her.

"Aye, but do not mention them here. They have ways of hearing all, but are still unable to confirm such. That is why those men warned you. They are servants of the Shadow, part of a group of puritans that seek to annihilate any that stand in their way. And the Pendragon is the biggest obstacle they shall have," he replied forbiddingly as his green gaze pierced into her soul. "And that is something we can not allow."

"No…it isn't," Annalia responded firmly, shivering slightly, yet frowning in determination as she squeezed his hand. He smiled gently at her as he cupped her face once more before leaning in and brushing his lips tantalizingly over her own. She leaned into the kiss, whimpering sensitively as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him while her own fingers latched onto his tunic.

Fluidly, he stood up suddenly and broke the kiss while helping her up before leading her towards a large altar-like table. Blinking as she recognized it from her visions, Annalia blushed brightly and quivered in anticipation. She had had other sexual partners already of course, but none had made it as full of exhilaration as being with Taliesin did. Even with it just being within the first hour of meeting, she knew that somehow, the Goddess and God had guided them together as soul mates as well as the implementers of prophesy.

He circled the altar and took hold of a goblet that sat on the tabletop. He brought it to his lips and drank deeply before handing it to her. “Drink of this herbal concoction. It shall bring about a trancelike state that will allow for the God and Goddess to enter and guide us along the proper path so that we might lead Arthur’s soul into our child,” he murmured encouragingly to her as he smiled.

‘Our child. We are going to try and have a child together.’ Annalia felt a thrill run through her at the thought as she took the goblet into her hands and drank from it until it was empty. She didn’t flinch at the bitter taste as she recognized willow bark as well as a couple of other herbs known for their drugging effects. She placed the goblet down, already feeling as if someone was wrapping a warm fuzzy blanket around her senses while she looked up at Taliesin, smiling dreamily.

He returned the smile before cupping her face and brushing his thumb along her pouting lower lip, tugging on it teasingly before leaning in for a soft, yet intense kiss. They pulled back slowly, tasting each other with gentle kisses before opening their eyes and looking at each other with loving smiles.

“Secrets wait on paths of old. Darkness falls as tales have told. A new light is needed this day of new. Come forth chosen from the forgotten few.” The words left Annalia’s kiss swollen lips as they breathed deeply together with their foreheads resting against each other.

Smiling warmly at her, Taliesin ran his finger through her hair before whispering, “Songs of wisdom be your guide. Spirits of past be at your side. Look for the mists of places gone. And know the nature of what is born. All that is old shall be new. All that was lost shall come into view. For as the night draws close to shroud us all, the Pendragon reborn shall ensure its fall.” A tremor raced through Annalia at his words before his lips met hers once more in a delicious kiss as twilight fell over them. He gently lifted her and placed her on the altar top, laying her down and supporting her so she was comfortable. His lips never left hers though as he did this until she was laying safely beneath him.

Gently, he broke the kiss and gazed into her darkening eyes, smiling softly as he licked his lips between pants for air. He brushed his lips over her forehead, cheeks, lips, and neck before saying, “The rite has begun. Come forth, my Goddess and let me worship you within the power of the moon. I, your husband and lover, the God of the Hunt, call you forth.”

Annalia arched under him as her eyes became hooded when the strange yet intensely warm presence that had enfolded her earlier that day returned around her and became one with her. She opened her eyes fully and cupped his face with a pale hand as the first stars began to twinkle overhead and the moon started to peek over the horizon. “Come to me, my husband and beloved God. I, your wife and mistress, the Goddess of Life, await your embrace.” The words came forth in a gentle whisper filled with love and warmth as they gazed at each other. They smiled and kissed once more as the rite of union began.

Annalia felt warmth and pleasure spiral around and within her as she lay on the table while Taliesin ran his hands over her worshipfully. He brushed his lips over her pale neck, tasting her as they came together. Her eyes closed as she whispered softly, responding to his words as he chanted above her while touching her. Heat coiled within her lower body, centering on her abdomen as he placed his hand over her womb tenderly, chanting. Time seemed to slow at that moment as she experienced the pressuring intensity from before.

Her head fell back as their clothes dropped to the ground and she felt herself relax both physically and spiritually. She wasn't quite sure what was happening as she became almost detached from the entire scene even though it was her body being put through the desire. Heat and security surrounded her as a serene voice urged her to let go and accept the presence within her fully. She drifted in and out of her body, merging with another spirit as the union was started.

Once they were joined, time seemed to speed up once more as they moved together, silence surrounding them as both passion and fate drove them towards the edge and beyond. Annalia's eyes clenched shut at the pleasure that was washing over her in a steadily rising tide, focusing her more into her body and the present as the essence of the Goddess merged completely with her. Her cry of completion came seconds before Taliesin's shout of release and they collapsed together.

Slowly, as the bliss faded from them while they held each other, the presence of the Goddess and her beloved God faded from them though the area around them was still charged with power. Annalia rested tiredly against Taliesin as they lay on the altar-like table and gazed up at the stars as she just floated along in post coital bliss within his strong arms. Her hand drifted down to her belly as she looked down thoughtfully, a strange feeling within her. This all felt so dreamlike to her…not real. But, it was real…wasn't it?

"Your thoughts are turning once more into confusion, dear Annalia." Taliesin's voice broke through her contemplations and she looked up at him silently. He smiled down at her as he caressed her shoulder. "What is it that is bothering you, my sweet one?"

"I just keep asking myself if this is real. It all seems so….impossible. Unreal. Like I am dreaming and any minute now I'm going to wake up to my brother snoring at our hotel," she replied quietly, thoughtfully and she looked down at his chest while bringing her hand up to trace circles along his chest. She smiled slightly as he kissed her head before sighing. "And I guess…it just seems so weird. I'm from America and now I'm a chosen birthing mother for a British ancient King," she added while smiling wryly as he chuckled in amusement.

"It is overwhelming indeed. However, do you not believe yourself worthy?" Taliesin asked in counter to her comments, smiling as she shrugged slightly while still keeping her focus on her roaming finger. He reached up slowly and laced their fingers together, causing her to look up at him as he smiled warmly. "You will find your own way, my Annalia. Do not fear. You do indeed have the blood of Arthur within you, for one of your visions was of the bringer of the mists that shroud Avalon…your ancestor," he murmured soothingly before kissing her fingers.

"Really? He was…my ancestor? But he was so powerful…" she trailed off and then looked up at him as his words clarified themselves for her. "Won't you be with me?" she asked quietly as her eyes darkened with both trepidation and worry.

"Not right away, but I will find you. Do not worry so, little one. You will be safe," Taliesin responded softly as he traced her cheek with his thumb, smiling as her eyes closed and she leaned into the touch. He kissed her head again and they snuggled down, both accepting what had been decided.

Annalia found that as she fell asleep, she could hear soft chanting in the background. Not thinking anything of it, she fell into peaceful dreams within Taliesin's arms as the world around her shifted and disappeared. Taliesin held her close as she slept, eyes shrouding with sorrow and acceptance as she was re-clothed by the power of Avalon. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms and traveled through the mists as the isle disappeared briefly, allowing him to return her to her world. He laid her down underneath an ancient oak and quietly asked it to watch over her before turning and striding slowly back into the mists. There was much that he still had to do before he would be returned to her, though he found that he did not wish for this even if meant the fate of all creatures of the Light.