Pirate and The Lady of the Lake

Tinkletoes leans in, “What happened?”

Pirate does not speak.

Monitor Man looks at Tinkletoes, “This might be too difficult for him to talk about.”

Tinkletoes sits back and looks at Monitor Man. “He’s a man. It was years ago. He should have walked it off by now.”

Pirate studies his glass and drinks down the sand in one shot.

“It looks like he’s not.”

“Talking about it will help." Tinkletoes looks at Pirate. "What happened with Curves?”

Pirate removes his moonstone earring, disconnecting the moonstone, he holds it up with the tips of his fingers. Once again, the small round stone grows into a crystal ball. He holds up the crystal ball so that the other two men can look into it. “This is what happened.”

“It is a beautiful palace.”

“It is.” The Lady of the Lake agrees. “I have everything. Everything that I have ever wanted or needed.”

“Except?”

“Do I really have to tell you sir?” She asks with a raised brow.

He smirks. “Love.” He studies her then his eyes brighten.

“Why do you look at me like that?” She asks.

“Like what?” He asks with a grin.

“Like I am your meal.” She looks away. “I am The Lady of the Lake. You know not what you wish to dally with sir.”

“Let me dally.” Pirate says, taking a step closer, his voice deepens. “Then I will know.”

“I am The Lady of the Lake. No man that has ever come to me has not fallen deeply in love. They often find themselves drowning in the darkest waters of the lake.”

Pirate takes two steps closer. “I shall not fall in love then.” He says and kisses her.

After several seconds she places a hand on his chest and takes a step back. “You think yourself stronger than all of the magic that ever was? That ever will be? Stronger than the magic of Avalon?”

“Pirate.”

She kisses him. “That kiss tells me everything. You will leave me. You will leave me some day and break my heart.”

“I will not.”

“I am the Lady of the Lake. I have seen it.” She kisses him again. “Our kiss also tells me that memories of our time together will carry me through many years to come. I do believe, buccaneer, that I will have this time, whatever time, we are given.”

“Pirate. I’m a pirate, Luv.”

“You fell in love.” Monitor Man says.

“Aye. I did.” Pirate responds. He hangs his head as if the memories are sapping his energy. “I fell for her. I spent all of my moments with her, doing things for her, or thinking of things that I wanted to do for her.” He smiles. “I would draw sketches of flowers, trees, wooded paths to villages filled with shoppers on market day, anything that I thought she would admire.”

“She chucked you out, huh?” Tinkletoes asks. “You know, for doing all that flowery crap.”

“She is bound by the confines of the lake.” Pirate says.

“Her kingdom is the lake and only the lake?” Monitor Man asks.

Pirate nods.

“What?” Tinkletoes asks.

“She isn’t allowed to leave the water.” Monitor Man says, looking at Tinkletoes.

“Aren’t rulers supposed to be able to go wherever they want to?”

“Not in the world of magic.” Pirate says. “All was well for a time, until the sea began calling to me.”

“The sea is a jealous mistress.”

“She would call to me both in my dreams and when I was awake. I could hear the sound of her waves calling. My dreams of the sea became more vivid each night until one morning I awoke with the taste of her salt on my lips. Eventually, I could take no more. I had to return to her. I woke early one morning. I drew one final picture of the lady as she slept. I studied her curves one last time and left.”

“Did you tell her that you were going?” Monitor Man asks.

Pirate shakes his head.

“Did you leave her anything? A message. A note?”

Pirate raises his head and looks into the distance. “I did not. I could not.”

“No sketches or trinkets?”

“Nothing.”