Of Truth and Justice

[PennDragyn]

~Times Before, Times Beyond- All Moments Past~

She stood on the shore line barely willing to leave the land that she had known so well. Ever this place in the mist had been her home and her sanctuary, and she had sworn herself a thousand times over to guard all that had been hers to claim and know. How long had it been since that moment the relic was returned to its rightful place within its watery grave? How long had it been since she had assured the safety and sacredness of its place and existence?

There were far too many centuries that had passed. For her they blended in and interwove in complex patterns till it seemed that perhaps the life she had dwelled amongst kings and druids was nothing more then a story. Oh the stories they told now of the forgotten times. Still she knew that beyond this sanctuary and mist and fog the old ways were gone.

The only choice she had was to adapt and adjust, to change with the times as she knew that this place was no longer save for her. It was time to move on and to allow the sanctuary to be lost in the mist again until summoned once more to be found by her.

So many names she had claimed as her own and she knew of one that she would keep constant within her heart and mind as the one she always believed herself to be known by. She was the Lady and that was all that mattered, all that she ever would be.

The silk and shimmering cloth of her dress fell from her frame as she stepped from the shore and into the cool claim of the lake water. In that moment she felt fulfilled and complete, at home again as she dived beneath the surface of the mist kissed water and dove down deep to search for the relic.

A glistening creation it would always be. In her hand it belonged as she had been its creator if not the one that had fashioned it by her own hand. Then again much like the relic, she was nothing more then a creation of the sanctuary. She was, like the relic, a magical being forged to protect and honor the vows sworn to her and her people for so many years.

Dripping wet she resurfaced and took to standing naked upon the shore. A close of eyes and the forgotten language spilled from her tongue as flowing and comforting as the water she had come from.

The relic felt comfortable and natural in her hand. She smiled to herself as she stared down upon it and remembered how it had been meant for the true king. How many men had fought to possess the relic, to find it and to claim it as the rightful owner?

As she watched the relic adjust to fit with the change of the times she had to wonder again how many would fight for it now.

Times had changed though? this time the relic was hers and would only be taken once more over her dead body.

She altered her presence to suit the times just as the relic had and she whispered a name that would suit her. Even now she felt the pain of the loss of leaving her true name behind.

?I am Penn. Penn Dragyn??

[PennDragyn]

-Present Day-

Her clothes were gathered from the floor, the nimble steps taken leaving her to walk quiet against the carpet without making a sound. Every creak and groan of the wood beneath had been memorized for the year she had kept herself as the presumed ‘girlfriend’ to the Irish fella. It was easier that way especially when she knew of the tell tale nights when his drinking habits made him a far less comfortable companion to remain with.

Those days had long worn their welcome as she moved to the kitchen to rid an Irish man of the things he was never willing to let go: His smokes, his drink, and his woman. Thankfully Sean never had the addiction to the nicotine but everything else well… he was a glutton over. Penn knew that Sean had been cheating on her for months now but had let it slide right on by in hopes that he would feel reasonable enough to tell her the truth.

The truth itself never would come.

Penn if anything was tired of finding the lack of truth and justice in the world. No longer did there seem to be that nature of a man to be honest and good and to serve like the days of old for simple things like honor and preservation of good deeds.

Even in this world the saints could sin and abandon all of their vows. Still as Penn dumped out the booze to drain down the sink she started to wonder if there were any men out there in the world like those once she had known.

Her reverie was perhaps her burden and weakness in that moment as the roar of Sean’s frustration hit her ears just as blow after drunken blow of his fists had her stumbling to the floor. She scrambled backward through shards of broken glass, her body bloodied and bruised as the blows continued and she had to remind herself that even in these moments she had to pretend.

She couldn’t reveal who she was, what she was, no matter what.

Gasping in the pain of broken ribs and bruised flesh she crawled and stumbled to the bedroom to the small dresser that kept the only items she possessed.

Self defense was her only reaction as that survival instinct set in as she pushed away layers of clothes to find the gun hidden beneath it all. Fortune was with Penn tonight and through this life as Sean wasn’t the smartest man out there.

Smiling thinly she watched him approach as she back crawled to flatten herself against the corner as she rose to stand. Her lake blue eyes were wide and wild as she saw the 6’4” bear of a man towering above her wielding nothing more then a bat.

Penn knew well of the violence that bat could bring, she had witnessed it before in fits of rage against other poor fools. This time though the bat would not earn the same privilege to her skin.

The gun was raised, held within her two shaking hands as she focused and aimed before pulling the trigger. A good three rounds to assure the man would never strike her again. There were many things that Penn was starting to learn about this time and this life she had forged for herself, but one thing would always remain with her.

Nothing else in this world mattered to her now save for the preservation of truth and justice. She was a woman forged of honor and lifetimes full of sworn vows. Her clothes were collected as she made the phone call out to the stables.

The softness of Penn’s voice held the evidence of all endured as she advised of her withdrawal from the stables and that she would never be seen again.

It was time to move on. Surely she would leave herself enduring the confession and claim to self defense as the gun was eased in the waistband of her jeans to rest at the small of her back. It was time for Penn to find a new path, one that hopefully would lead to that which she searched for…

[PennDragyn]

It was grave yard quiet with the near uncomfortable calm when Penn entered the church. There was a moment when she expected to be shot down or burned alive for stepping over the threshold of the Catholic Church.

Fingers moved through the gold curls almost self consciously as she walked down the aisle and looked around. It was empty so there was hardly any use to call for sanctuary. Oh surely there had to be someone here, someone willing to hear a confession.

Penn almost had to giggle to herself at the mere notion as she shrugged off the leather jacket to drop it unceremoniously into one of the pews as she eased down to her knees.

There exposed in nothing more then the x-cross of gun holster against the black tank to compliment the black pants and boots she wore, Penn gave the haunting visual of a fallen angel come to confess and seek redemption.

Or maybe she just played the part of the one seeking entrance once more to a world and a god that had denied her. In the flickering candlelight her hair was a halo of spun gold against her near ethereal features.

It was hard in such a holy, sacred place for her to mask who she was as the magic seemed to awaken through her. It left a glistening light to paint her skin as her palms pressed to the floor and she felt the cold metal of the gun pressing to the small of her back.

“Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been… never… and a day since my last confession.”

There was no Father to hear her confession but the words spilled from her tongue as soft as the first rain of spring. The alluring and soothing dulcet of her voice was freed as her head rose and she appeared positively angelic as she was unexpectedly answered.

“I know who you are and you are not welcome here.”

A brow arched in surprise to find nothing more then a Crusader standing in the doorway of the church. Well this was surely unexpected.

[PennDragyn]

“Pagan. Heathen. Zealot. Whore. Witch.”

The insults spilled like curses from his tongue and she shook her head as she rose to her feet.

“I only wished to confess…”

“Our God does not listen to your confessions, witch.”

The smile crossed her lips briefly as blue lake eyes briefly flashed with a ghostly gleam.

“Perhaps not but you are no holy man to make that decision.”

So this was how it would start. Word already it seemed had got out and the Crusader was after the one thing that so many men had worked to possess. It was only happenstance that she was the one that happened to carry such a relic.

Penn could only shake her head as she waved dismissively towards the door as she plucked up her leather jacket. There was no chance, no matter her beliefs, that she would ever destroy a holy place. It was not her way.

A thin smile touched her lips as she shouldered the door open and stepped passed the man even as his boot caught the back of her knees to send her rolling down the front of the church steps. Penn’s teeth bared in a silent snarl as her head snapped up and that blue soul fire filled her eyes.

The Crusader chuckled to himself as he moved down the steps to look down upon the Lady.

“You see witch, this is where you belong, on your knees.”

“Not for long.”

The questioning look at her arrogance only would push her on to react in that survivor’s instinct. Justice and Honor were the only things that mattered to Penn now, and this Crusader had long abandoned both.

Perhaps as the gun went off and the blood soaked into the ground just before the holy steps Penn would question her faith in her own actions, yet this was another time, another way of life and she had a path to follow.

After all, maybe in this day and age they would just assume a Crusader was not a self righteous fool stepping out of time but instead another obsessed historian playing dress up. She could only hope so.

The jacket was shouldered as she moved quickly from the church and into the shadows where even then her gold hair glistened as a beacon, the end of a comet tail. There was that uneasy feeling like she was still being watched, being hunted.

Penn should be used to it by now, but this observation was different. It almost seemed… curious.

Boots hit the street as she took off running, it felt good to be free but even Penn knew she couldn’t run forever. Eventually she would have to stop and face the past again but for now… she ran.

[PennDragyn]

Penn ran until she was breathless. She ran until the feeling of being followed had faded and she could take a moment to recover. Her hands pressed to knees as she drew in ragged breaths even as she hardly felt burdened by the run. Quite the opposite in fact she felt far more invigorated.

It would have seemed that she should have been weaker on the land and in a new place and time, but the magic within had adjusted and accommodated her to change and adapt. For the price of Truth and Justice she wore the stain of blood on her hands.

The times had changed but even now she knew her obligation remained to protect the relic. There was no future king to bestow it upon, once perhaps but not in the future. Penn knew that the relic spoke for her now even if it never would belong to her.

The relic was much like the Lady in that neither could be possessed. Not by choice and not entirely. They were nothing more then strong companions to those they found.

Blue lake eyes drowned in the sights as she found herself in the vibrant soaked light of the Marketplace. Penn’s fingers pushed through sweat damp strands of gold as a smile made its presence known. She would play the part of a casual visitor. After all if she had hid so well who she was now, what was another part to play?

The story she wrapped herself in would only grow as she spotted the blacksmith’s business. Her hands shoved into her pockets as she headed in that direction. It was about time she inquired about a horse and more so to inquire about real estate.

The story was about to unfurl and extend its reach of illusion and intrigue as she knew it would only be a matter of time before Avalon Stables would come to be, and she… would be safe within a lie.

[PennDragyn]

Her fingers moved against the coat of the stallion that stood with that magnificent confidence and strength she remembered from long ago. Penn's teeth were bared in a smile as she grinned up to the boldness of the beast. If anything the air and nature of the stallion reminded her of the knights forgotten.

"You are a bold one aren't you?"

The whisper was coated with amusement as a fond affection could easily be seen between her and the beast at her side. He would be the start of the stables breeding program she could see that now.

Already the money had been spent to assure the old stable and land she had found would be brought back to working order. The staff had been hired from the grooms to the assistant breeders. Penn didn't worry anything about finding a trainer for the time being. She was confident enough that she could train them on her own.

The flank of the stallion was patted with that natural affection as she spoke to him quietly. The words easily caught the stallion's attention as his ears flicked forward. If the horse could laugh perhaps right now he would make such a sound.

"I think I shall call you Knight."

She was grinning broadly at the name and the stallion seemed to agree. For the time it seemed so easy to forget everything else that had transpired. It almost seemed easy to believe that the relic at the small of her back didn't exist at all.

But this wans't a time for make believe was it? No, only a few moments in life to take a brief hiatus from reality. Penn did what she could to take pleasure in those moments. The beast at least was hers. No one could change that.

The other thing... well... she would worry about that when the time came.

[PennDragyn]

~Avalon Stables~

The black Friesian stallion was coaxed through the training and orders until both Knight and Penn were dappled and coated with sweat. Knight eventually was set loose to have his ownership over the exercise field even as Penn herself peeled off the first layer of clothing to leave her in the white camisole and riding breeches.

Lake blue eyes closed as her hands rose to smooth through soaked strands of gold. Her head was tipped back to soak in the rays of the moon as the night air kissed and cooled the heat from her flesh. Her lips parted in a sigh as in that moment the ethereal presence of Penn’s truth as an entity of pagan claim seemed so visible.

The stables she knew were easily coming to construction and soon enough it would be more then just Knight that she would be busy with training. It would be toward the end of spring the new lot of brood mares would be picked over for Knight’s approval and for the proper breeding bloodlines. Penn knew that once she had her breeding stock established then she would be able to open the stables for boarding and training. The possibility of classes even came to mind.

In the moon light she remembered the nights of chivalry that had more to do with a gun. Those were the long forgotten times where a Druid had all say in the world. A time where truth and honor were interwoven with the virtue and vows of the knights was what Penn was used to.

Penn did not believe that chivalry was dead but she was starting to believe that more and more it was fading as greed and desire overtook that which she was accustomed to.

She smiled to herself as she remembered the Darkest Night where she had spoken in secret to Arthur of the true honor he possessed even as she had attempted to reveal to him the betrayal he would come to know.

The vision of Lancelot and Guinevere in the arms of each other, forged from the first moment as lovers that could not be separated. Once Penn would have believed that Honor was above all and everything, and Arthur’s willingness to forgive his sworn and his sword brother had earned her respect.

Now looking back upon it all she had to wonder on the truth of love to conquer all. She could not deny that the lovers had made all attempts to deny the temptation for the sake of Arthur but love would ever have its whim and way.

No matter the stories spoken in secret she had never been the lover of any. The Friesian pawed at the earth as he huffed out a breath to the fissured breeze as it left his sweat soaked flank to be cooled and he pushed his head against Penn’s arm.

The grin grew as lake blue eyes opened and she shook her head in response to the Friesian’s equine manner of courtship. Her fingers laced through the black mane to pull the beast closer in a shared comfort.

“I know. I never would need one in shining armor when I will always have my own Black Knight.”

The words no matter their intention could never have so much promise…the times were certainly changing if Penn could be lead astray by one in Black rather then those of the shining armor.

[PennDragyn]

~Avalon Stables: Dawn to Dusk~

Day in and day out, Penn worked with Knight. The afternoon session had left her to daydream over the group that she had met at the Red Dragon. Who would have thought that come a moment of relaxation and a break from the Avalon stables would lead her to snuggle with a bear and a dragon.

Icer’s chilling presence had been something comfortable and far more soothing then just pinning back her hair to leave a hint of a breeze against the nape of her neck.

Knight could tell that Penn was a bit more distracted then usual when he chuffed out a breath and shoved his head against her stomach to remind her he was there and needed a good brushing.

“I know I know. I’m on it, Knight.”

The brush was lifted as she set to grooming Knight with vigorous circling strokes. His hooves already had been picked and examined and his mane plaited so really as the sun began to sink into the horizon she was finding the grooming session as nothing more then therapeutic relaxation.

It was strange in those relaxing moments when she finally led Knight back to his stall and found her thoughts drifting back to the mountain of a man she had met earlier today.

Usually Penn would not have been so bold and almost bawdy when it came to interactions with those of the opposite sex. After all, she was meant to remain as a Lady, and yet here she was coyly asking just how much she would owe to watch him.

Thinking back on Pont brought the blush back to her face as she shook her head and pulled the pin from her hair. The spill of sun gold curls fell around her face once more as a halo of softness as lake blue eyes roamed the pasture.

Penn had become far too bawdy when she should have been more of a lady towards him and she privately scolded herself as she looked up to the moon. Strangely enough no matter how far she was from home she still could feel the provocative and persuasive pull of the moon upon her spirit.

She wondered if Pont had even heard her offering to visit the stables and more so if he would even come. Penn remembered that the one so fascinated by Icer had been looking for work.

It seemed that she could use the help around here from what she had already arranged, and it was about time she started making those arrangements.

She’d just have to keep that in the back of her mind when next she came across the one so fascinated with Icer to see if he was interested in helping around the stables.

For the moment though she couldn’t help but think back on Pont and if he really would consider her offer

[PennDragyn]

The horses had been put to rest, all of them groomed and fed and sent to their stalls to bed down for the night. Knight and the two recent arrivals of a palomino and a buckskin gelding going by the names of Galahad and Gawain were all settled in and it gave Penn time to consider a night to herself without well… responsibility.

She had to laugh at the expression she was likely to see on Galahad and Gawain’s face if they knew she had named two of her horses after them. It was nothing to disregard the strength and capability of either man, more like nostalgia for she had missed them.

The night had grown warm and humid leaving her to peel the work shirt off once more and rolling up the cuffs of her riding breeches. Boots long had been abandoned and she treasured the sensation of the fresh green grass tickling her toes. The suspenders were dropped down to hips as she was left with her hair sweat dappled and unbound to play against the white cotton tank top she wore.

The prior conversation with Icer had given her with a good idea. There was nothing more appealing on a humid evening then a moonlight swim, and lucky for Penn the land she had purchased for Avalon Stables just so happened to have its own private lake.

It still unnerved her of the thought to abandon everything without a guard or protection, but the nostalgia of being far from the water was something she could not ignore.

She made quick work of running to the lake. Upon reaching the shoreline she undressed swiftly with the relic tucked beneath the pile of her abandoned clothes. One whispered word assured of its safety but even then she felt wary.

Penn could hear the water spirits whisper to her in their flowing, rippling greetings as her naked form dove deep into the cool depths of the lake and she reveled in that moment. At that time she felt at peace. At that time she felt something as close to home as she would ever manage from this point forward.

Still the wary edge could not be dismissed as she reluctantly resurfaced with a throw back of shining gold curls left heavy and slick from the weight of the water, lake blue eyes searching her surroundings.

Penn remembered then that no matter how she wished it to be, she was on her own now and would not be blessed with any moments ever again where she could let her guard down.

[PennDragyn]

~Avalon Stables~

That sense of being watched became the moment of awareness that she was indeed being watched. Penn’s lips pursed as tension rippled through every fiber of her being as she approached the shore line. All she had wanted to do was have a relaxing swim but even that could not be obtained no matter what she did. The simple fury curled inside of her as she closed her eyes and gave in to that roaring sensation of the tide that was deafening her once more.

At first she had struggled and fought the change. It perhaps was not her that fought but the Shell she had used and borrowed that struggled ever time she as the Lady truly revealed herself and used her power through the Vessel. Even now the struggle took so much out of her but being this close to the water helped to ease the struggle, it made the pain far more tolerable when it came to that transition.

Naked she emerged on the shoreline, hardly having the shy embarrassment that the Shell she used possessed of her physical body. Instead she stood tall and proud, near ethereal in her grace and ways as the light moved across her flesh as a mirror shine of reflective moonstone hue.

Those lake blue eyes had altered to become shining pools of ethereal blue lacking pupils or white, nothing more then that eerie, unnatural blue. The gold of hair writhed and came to rest as serpentine midas strands of slick wet against the mirror shine surface of her flesh as her true form and power was known.

She did not reach for the relic or her clothes when the lackeys of the Crusaders approached. She knew well that they would whisper their curses and foul words at her even as she fought them. The Lady had no choice but to survive even if it meant death for those that surrounded her.

Two of the lackeys were made quick work of as her skill and grace of movement had her around them as easy as water licking and lapping at the shoreline, so easy and peaceful would her nature and steps be. The last one though near doubled her in size and part of her being that split the awareness of the Lady and the Vessel made her vaguely recall the mountain of a man known as Pont.

Despite the size and strength of the man before her, the Lady was not as delicate a creature as she appeared. The manmade weapons they carried were used against the last man when his large hand closed around her throat and began to slowly work its way to crushing the life out of her. The spots grew before her eyes before the Lady near could feel the very essence of being starting to slip and fade as she was losing the life of her Vessel.

Snarling her small hands lashed out and boxed his ears roughly, once, twice, three times before he released her. It was only then that she scrambled toward the pile of clothes to grab the relic. The moonlight kissed across its namesake along the handle before the gun was fired and the man went down like a bag of bricks.

The Lady moved faster then she ever had in that moment, a blur of moonlight and magic, as flawless and rippling as the serene surface of water. Only when the bodies had been buried would she still and allow the Vessel, that delicate Shell to have possession once more.

Thankfully this time the Lady had been gracious enough to leave Penn with enough energy to dress and carry herself as far as a pile of hay before collapsing and giving in to the sweet claim of exhaustion.