Bradbury challenge - Week 1

Love is freely choosing a person, day after day.

Clouds partially covered the sun as the breeze picked up, its cold bite a tell-tale sign that summer was coming to an end. The waves kept lapping gently against the algae-covered shore of the island, uncaring to the passage of time.

The priestess wrapped her arms around herself as she walked, the white linen of her robes too thin to provide protection. Next to her the enchantress was taking it all in, enjoying the subtle change of season and the smell of the sea the wind carried. She casually wrapped her arm around the priestess to share her warmth, her lush crimson curls draping down the priestess’s shoulder like a royal cape.

The well-trodden path had tall salt-dried grass on each side and moss-covered stones half-protruding from the ground. The enchantress kept her eyes forward, searching for novelty in the familiar trail; the priestess was looking down, lost in thoughts as she looked at the different paths before them.

“Do you think he’ll ever awaken?” The priestess asked.

“Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.” The enchantress patiently said. “But you knew that when you became one of the gallisenae, didn't you?”

“Don’t be glib, Morgan.”

The priestess stopped to look up at the woman by her side, her ocean blue eyes as calm as ever. She turned towards her, her hand covering the space where they touched as she braced herself, tightening her grip on her arms. The enchantress remained silent, a serene look on her lovely face.

“I thought the truth was kept only to the nine,” the priestess said. “That it would be revealed when I mastered my powers and proved myself.”

“You looked into your future.” Morgan said with a slight disappointment. “You know it’s forbidden to look that far ahead.”

The priestess did her best to hold her gaze despite her body wanting nothing but to crawl away. She had expected the enchantress to figure it out eventually, but she underestimated how a single look from her could make her feel so naked.

She recalled seeing her future deathbed, Morgan holding her hand by her side, looking like she hadn't aged a day. Even as Morgan affectionately kissed her wrinkled hand, she never said if king Arthur would wake up one day.

“Come.” Said the enchantress, bringing her back to the present as she continued walking towards the lighthouse.

As she watched her move away with otherworldly grace, the priestess cursed her fickle heart. She huffed and reluctantly followed, thinking she might as well turn into a puppy.

---

The large granite pillar stood tall, dressed in moss green and brown before the enchantress; one look confirmed that its top was ready to be lit for the night. She wondered if she would come alone to do so.

The priestess stopped a few paces away and the clouds passed; the sun shined brightly on the two women looking at the endless sea before them. She didn’t understand how Morgan could be satisfied looking at the same scenery over and over again. Her gaze followed the horizon back to the island, its settlement looking ridiculously small and insignificant in the distance.

By contrast the mainland looked massive and full of possibilities. She wondered about the kind of future that awaited her there, should she leave. Morgan’s footsteps interrupted her thoughts.

“I take it you haven’t looked into this future yet,” she said playfully.

“These futures.” The priestess said, enjoying being one step ahead for once.

The enchantress bowed slightly to concede the point, her forehead coming close enough for the priestess to consider laying a kiss upon it. She had to distract herself from it.

“There were too many paths, too many possibilities to explore.” She blurted out. “Every time I saw myself out there starting a new life, my thoughts came back to this island… to you.”

“I see.” Morgan said, her warm voice sending ripples through her lover’s body.

“And your future here?” She whispered, taking her hands in hers.

“I saw us walking along the same path to the lighthouse.” The priestess said, trying to ignore the flush in her cheeks that was most certainly due to the sun. “Springs, Summers, Falls, Winters… almost every day the same.”

The enchantress placed a kiss upon her hands before letting them go, her eyes boldly expressing her fondness. She looked up as a few seagulls called out from above.

“You can take this form as well,” she said while watching the vast blue sky. “It would be easy to leave, should you choose to do so.”

“I’m indebted to them,” the priestess answered hastily. “It would be unfair for me to leave like this.”

“Many have done so before, and I expect many more will.” Morgan said, looking back at her. “If you feel guilty for it, find a successor to send here in your stead.”

The priestess did not expect this. Her thoughts went back to all of her possible futures, wondering how many paths she overlooked. How many more of them lay here on this pocket-sized island?

Morgan extended her palm towards her, her other arm opening to the horizon.

“Which path will you choose?” She said with a hauntingly beautiful smile that echoed the one the priestess saw in her vision. “I do not require an answer now, but every time we come here I will ask you again.”

The priestess’s heart skipped a beat as she revelled in the power of this choice.

“Today, I’ll stay.” She said, intertwining her fingers with her lover’s. “But ask me again tomorrow.”