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Guinevere

Alone she weaves her tangled web Twisting, tying, all amiss and she sees not the darkened threads that twine about her wrists. A single light in a darkened room one window one mirror, little sight to the world outside her bower wall Blurred separation between day and night. Her head swirls with tangled threads forgotten thoughts and anguish low the monotony of a thousand days left to weave and wind and sew Sighs escape now from her lips those ruby lips, once known by kings now known to only lament and sobs for what she lost in love-lorn pining. "Faithless have I been, O father." she breathes at morning prayers as pearl beads slip through milk white hands and dust hangs about the air. When all is done, and mass is sung she retires to her cell once again to sew and weave her rich and long, sad, tale. First she finds the pale while thread and then she finds the blue And quickly, with her shaking hands weaves the face she once knew. She weaves the gown of green she wore on the fated wedding day and adds the flaxen hair he praised When laced with the flowers of May. At last she finds the golden thread, but pauses, silent, the room a mess she lays the golden spool aside and kneels before the long locked chest. With trembling hands, and gleaming eyes she lifts the lid, on the life she once had A rush of air and dust and mould and feeling, at once, joyful and sad. First she takes the bright blue gown and then she takes the green, finds the jewels her mother wore it's all where it should have been. Within the dusty corner dark, the twilight fading, sun going down she sees the gleam of gold once more and takes from the depths her golden crown. In the flickers of the candlelight the jewels they sparkle once again, And all the memories come rushing back From childhood days to the kingdom's end. Tears are falling from her eyes when again she takes the golden thread and reverently she weaves the crown upon the figure's head. At last she's cut the final string and takes a step back from the frame she sees her life before her eyes, and feels the tears come again. There Arthur stands, in kingly garb His soft eyes staring back at her and in his arms, her younger self, she remembers, how happy they once were. To her left stands Lancelot his shining armor gleaming bright his pleading gaze finds her again with the love that turned to blight. Between these two men she still stands Two heros, once in brotherhood bound She chose the Knight above absent King and three hearts were trampled into the ground. Memories swirl about her head as she takes the knife flashing flint, and drives the blade into the silk Till every thread once whole, lies rent.
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Written by
elaenor-aisling
27 / F / American
Published
May 22, 2014
Lines·Words
94·493
Notes

Took a few cues from the Lady of Shallot, plus smatterings of several different Arthurian traditions. It is said that Guinevere joined a convent after Arthur died-- hence the mass. Tapestry making was a common pastime for noble women--I'm not sure about nuns, but it's not as though she were an ordinary nun.

Tags
#love#sad#memories#lost#legend#history#ballad#queen#weave#myth#camelot#medieval#kingarthur#guinevere#lovetriangle
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