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[gwenhwyfar]

I don't like these things.

[ She is a young, ghostly-looking teenaged girl, dressed oddly for some. Gwenhwyfar, if anyone notices, looks a little worn out. She would rather speak to someone in person than this bizarre method of scrying. No thanks from an impromptu departure, here she is, in all of her glory, hunkered down in the forest. Surprise. ]

And this doesn't mean I'll become dependent on it, either.

[ Her sulking changes dramatically, to something more regal, after Gwenhwyfar scoffing at herself and rolling her eyes. It's been a while since she's bothered to introduce herself properly. ]

My name is Gwenhwyfar. I come from a place where mortals, immortals, and... beings that are not human. Which, by the way, I am not. Only half... A Nephilim. If anyone wants to take issue with that, spare me your disgust and don't speak with me. However, before I find myself in another tussle, to put it mildly, this is not about that.

I was raised by a very powerful and knowledgeable archdruid -- Myrddin Wylt if anyone knows of him. The strongest of my kind. He raised me in the ways of becoming a druidess, even old magic. He taught me... the best way to survive is to acquire knowledge from the world and others around you. Like now.

[ Not mentioning the fact that her teacher was also a mad hermit in the woods, but hey. ]

I seek answers. There exists a very powerful object in my world... the Otherworld, actually. Said to be plenty, bring fortune and prosperity to kings that can obtain it. Even raise the dead and it has.

It's- [ She stops herself from elaborating further about it. ]

No, that would not be wise... I will say no further that only someone pure of heart can bring it back, allegedly. And despite the promises that it will bring, whoever seeks it will go mad and I've seen that first hand. The dead that spring from it are corrupted and not able to find rest. Something like this... it does not belong in the hands of anyone, only the gods. Yet, as it exists in the land of the gods, it is not out of the question to find a doorway to it.

I wish to seal it away. I want to close any portals or doors to it. It isn't a frivolous matter of glory or nobility, it's to spare a life. Many lifes. So I ask anyone that practices magic that knows their magic well to give me your knowledge. I offer my own knowledge in return, the knowledge of generations of what many think has died out in return, my people's knowledge. Britons, Ordovices, Celts... whatever you would like to call us.

I hope that is a simple request, despite the specifics.

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[galatining]

[Oh hi, his sort of aunt from another reality! Gawain is glad to see her seemingly well. Mostly, sort of well.

But before he can ask he reads through that pure mass of info to unpack. And then focuses on the last bit.]

Do you ask about the grail? Or is this some other object?

[gwenhwyfar]

[ Precious nephew! Who doesn't need the details of some of the things her crew has had to deal with.

But he might hear some of them if he's asking her that. ]

... The grail? [ Not quite. With a gentle shake of her head, Gawain would be a person she trusts to divulge more information with. ]

No, it's a cauldron. Either of rebirth or plenty... both, actually.

[galatining]

[It's nice to know they are both hiding details of their lives back home from one another.]

...a cauldron. I have heard some myths of a similar thing.

And you are hunting it?

[gwenhwyfar]

Oh, no. Others are... Arthur is.

[ A pause, as Gwenhwyfar, lowers her head before looking up, almost anxious. ]

Do you know of King Melwas...?

[galatining]

...Arthur is? Hmmmm, how strange.

[He's thinking now when he pauses at the name. So many of the old naming conventions where she is from it seems.]

I do know of such a man, though we called him Maleagant. Don't tell me you encountered him, Gwenhwyfar?

[gwenhwyfar]

He doesn't have ill intentions; it is said that the Cauldron of Rebirth can bring great fortune to whoever possesses it.

[ As much as she hates discussing King Melwas, Gwenhwyfar steals herself. ]

Melwas took me from your uncle's court. I couldn't escape him for a year. Melwas did not have the good intentions your uncle have, Gawain, what he did to obtain the Cauldron of Rebirth is unspeakable and he was not the only one that went to such great lengths with dark magic to find it. Truth be told... I worry. I don't think anyone should have something like this cauldron or a "grail" as you mentioned.

[galatining]

[Well no, he would think the king wouldn't want to do anything evil with it. The King's only concern was ever the greatest of Britain.]

...I see. The man we knew was equally unsavory, but a Cauldron, is it? I do not know if there is a way to accomplish the task of closing it off here. But if there is indeed a way, I would gladly help you with such a task.

[gwenhwyfar]

[ With a small huff, Gwenhwyfar nods. ]

No, I don't believe I could seal it from here, either. There are set "guidelines", sort of speak, to obtain it, a cursed seat and all of that.

[ The siege perilous, as far as she knows, and being told how those unworthy will die if they dare sit in it. ]

Do you know of that seat, Gawain?

[galatining]

Then I think one should just take their time and not be desperate. There might not even be a way to do it from here.

[He now raises an eyebrow.]

There is such a seat at the Round Table, for the one who can hold the grail. Galahad is the one how held that place.

[gwenhwyfar]

How I hoped that was not the case. Yes, that one. And all of those who have tried sitting on that seat have either died horribly or were cursed.

[ A frown follows. ]

Have you ever wondered if that was fair, Gawain, for that responsibility to be on one person?

[galatining]

[He has to think on that question, long and hard, because no one has ever put it that way to him. And it strikes too close other similar questions posed to him, things he both struggles with and avoids.]

...I have not, though I know I tried for it as well and failed. But I always considered it for the sake of the land and the king and I know Galahad did as well.

[gwenhwyfar]

How old is Galahad, Gawain?

[galatining]

...he was a youth when he came to Camelot, a young man when he died in battle.

[gwenhwyfar]

So, then, the same can be said for the siege perilous you know of -- only those pure of heart can sit in it.

[ Taking a moment to reflect on that, Gwen looks elsewhere before returning her gaze to him. ]

She- [ Well, that explains as to why Galahad has a boy's name, maybe her mother was hoping for a boy. ] she's just a child. Gawain, as long as the siege perilous sits in your uncle's great hall, it will still demand the purest of heart and there is no one more pure of heart than children. Melwas- he took several children, killed them, by placing them on the very stone that the siege perilous was carved from...

Galahad was the only one who survived. She doesn't deserve that future, no matter how great the need for the Cauldron of Rebirth is.

[galatining]

[He listens to everything Gwenhwyfar said , taking it in and thinking on it, taking his time to respond.]

So you would wish to see it destroyed, to protect others like your Galahad...

[He's thinking now, because some of these thoughts do not come naturally to him.
Gawain is loyal to his core, even more in death than in life.

But the question, "is that fair?" is one that has been posed to him before. Though in relation to a different person. The King herself. And it's hard to answer even now. Or more like, it's painful.

But this matter is related to Gwen's world, isn't it? It's ultimately a different question, with a different answer.]

But no, you are right about one thing: it isn't fair. None of it is. If I could help you remove that from your world, I would.