Ceridwen's Eyewitness Account (II)
I went back to my rooms and rested. My body had already ached, but now so did my head. I slept fitfully, my dreams nightmares- blood... pools of blood on the floor, blood splattered on the walls, blood pouring on the floor, warm red steaming blood. I sensed feelings- feeling of raw naked hatred, of envy, a desire to inflict pain, to kill... slowly, painfully...destroy them... vengeance... kill them...those who once dared to oppose me... bend thy knee before me or perish. I woke up with a start, relieved that it was but a dream. I seem to think that there was someone in my room before nightfall, but it could not have been.. not him. not with the entrances and exits closed...I woke with a splitting headache, but hauled myself on my feet. There is work to be done.
I HAD seen Taliesin yesterday. I am sure of it, it had to be him. Who else could it be.. except... naah.. couldn't be him, I had been dreaming. The Minotaur Knights had commented on how jumpy he had looked the day before, shifty, having trouble meeting people's eyes. That does not sound like him at all. But Taliesin ap Myrdinn, High Bard of the Circle guilty of murder of the Lady he respected, songs about whose beauty he sung…unthinkable. And yet all the evidence seems to point in that direction. I need to know. To find out for sure… and fast…before more damage is done to others or him.
I went through the rooms, looking for something out of place, something amiss. There was nothing and yet obviously it was-the Lady was at death's door. Gods help me! I need to find him...before the Guards do.. or some servant… I need to know...
Oh well... everything except the Bailey has been covered. Oh well...
I saw him, down on the floor before me, his hair disheveled, his clothes torn, cradling his head in his arms. I tried to reach towards him, to touch his shoulder but his body recoiled with a snap and a deep growl came from his throat. His eyes caught my eyes... red …gleaming in the twilight, fierce eyes, mad eyes, evil eyes-not the eyes of the man I knew. Impulsively I withdrew my hand, in fear.
And he collapsed on the floor again, crying, sniveling, tears in his eyes, muttering about shadows, demons. A tremor passed through his large frame, of pain of agony and of.. perhaps despair. I edged closer to him and he reached for my hand and held it, wetting it with tears...I am soo sorry lass, I didn’t mean to hurt her... I could not help myself...she made me..."
And as he said it, a grimace of pain disfigured his face. His body was arched as in agony, he screamed... I tried to reach forward to him, but he drew away. he scrambled to his feet and ran.. away... through the gates and out into the dawn. Taliesin, O Taliesin what is with you?
I had to go and tell the Captain. It was only fair that he should know and that
I should take any punishment that he would think befitting for letting him escape.
A few days on bread and water would only be fair.
By Ceridwen