HOME | DD

Description

Merlin and Nimue

Merlin watched Nimue transform herself into his doppelganger, as he felt The Great Oak seal its trunk around him.

“Well, that’s disconcerting,” he admitted, as the breath was squeezed out of him; and, the tree encased him, in its trunk, like a Hamadryad.

--------------------------

This was made for Seeing Double Challenge Extended! , hosted by ManipulateThis .

---------------------------

Seeing Double Challenge Extended! , hosted by ManipulateThis .

Theme: Creating either a Design or a Scene where there’s a Doppelganger.

A doppelgänger is a look-alike or double of a living person, sometimes portrayed as a paranormal phenomenon.

Skill Level: Level 2, Novice

Due Date: April 16th, 2017

-----------------------------------

Merlin and Nimue

“You’re getting slow, old man,” Nimue taunted.

“You never noticed that I switched your staff,” she laughed, as she shoved him into the Great Oak that would be his prison, for, at least, the next thousand years.

“And now, old fool, I will take your place,” Nimue announced, with a wave of her hand, transforming herself into Merlin’s Doppelganger.

“So,” she proclaimed. “The Student has become the Master!” She laughed maniacally.

“Well, that is disturbing,” Merlin admitted.

“So, the Great Seer was baffled?” She chuckled. “You thought I was so infatuated with you. You were so enthralled by my flattery, you never saw this coming,” she shook her head, bemused.

“Nay, Nimue,” Merlin sighed, wearily. “I saw. But, there are many currents, in the river of time.

“And, I had hoped I might help you navigate another course,” the Wizard admitted.

“Is that a tear? Are you weeping like a child?” Nimue jeered.

“Aye, lass,” Merlin confessed. “It is always so sad, to see people choose a path, whose tragic end they have not foreseen.”

She shook with rage. “It is you, you Old Fool, who do not see! You are the one imprisoned! You are the one trapped in a tree! You, who have failed utterly,” she screamed. “Morgana told me! She promised me, all would be well!”

“Nay, “Merlin shook his head, exhausted, already growing stiff, bound within the Great Tree’s trunk, like a Hamadryad.

“I am only sorry, I shall not be there, when all the sleepers awake, to see their nightmares become real,” he said. “Nothing is ever ‘all well’, or ‘all ill’; but, we make it so,” he reminded her.

Nimue shuddered, frightened. “You will not wake for millennia! Until, you and the Once King! You will all sleep.” She screamed.

“And, you will wake, when you realize all the promises politicians make are lies, to steal your power,” he assured her.

“YOU-ARE-TRAPPED-INSIDE-A-TREE!” She screamed in his face.

“We are all trapped, by our choices,” Merlin said. “And, I have failed you, as a teacher, if I could not teach you that.

“Forgive me,” he pleaded.

Nimue stared at him: so serene, caught in her trap, like in amber, in tree sap.

“One, last, lesson, my apprentice,” he struggled to say.

“Remember, it is never, too late, to turn back, and plot a new course,” Merlin said.

And then, the bark of the tree closed over him, sealing him inside its trunk, for the next thousand years, at least, if it survived that long.

Nimue looked at her hands, his hands, holding his staff; and, she took a moment to draw a circle of protection around the Great Oak, marking it off with runes, in the old Ogham language.

“You are wrong, Myrddin,” she whispered, marking the tree, with her signet seal.

“Sometimes, it is too late,” she concluded.

Then, she heard the last echo of her old master’s thoughts, speaking in her mind,

“Nay, there are always others, to consider.” And then, his voice fell silent.

“So mot it be,” Nimue pronounced, sealing the protective circle, around the Great Oak, enveloping her old Master, Merlin.

-----------------------------------

Resources: (Required Stock denoted with an asterisk *)

Nimue:

* Belly Dancer Stock 10 , by chamberstock *

* 2016-11-12 Elder Morn 04 , by skydancer-stock *
2016-11-10 Wizard Afternoon 18 , by skydancer-stock

Merlin:

* 2016-12-10 Consult the Wise 10 , by skydancer-stock *

2016-11-10 Wizard Afternoon 18 , by skydancer-stock

The Great Oak:

Ruegen island Stock 63 , by Malleni-Stock

Other Resources:

Fog Stock 07 , by Malleni-Stock

FOG/CLOUDS PNG , by Moonglowlilly

Forest Stock 099 , by Malleni-Stock

Mixed Exclusive Textures , by CD-STOCK (For Honourable Mention, for The Canadian Corps of Engineers , for CREATIVE MINDS CHALLENGE IV , hosted by CD-STOCK )

Texture 203 , by Malleni-Stock

Clouds-Texture , by YBsilon-Stock

UNRESTRICTED - Pastel Grunge Texture , by frozenstocks

Big Lens And Optical Flare Collection , by daWIIZ

Starry Night Texture , by ArrsistableStock

Software:

autodesk-sketchbook

Cloud Brush Set

Sketchbook Elements Brush Pack (Snow and Ice)

-------------------------
Notes:
[1] Nimue is Merlin’s apprentice, and sometimes consort.
There are many variations; but, in every version, including contemporary television series; she becomes Merlin’s apprentice, gets swept up in political intrigue, and eventually imprisons him.
Although, Merlin foresees this; as a seer, he sees further than she does;
And, sees a future where he will return with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table , will return, when the kingdom is in its greatest danger, because she has displaced them in time.
[2] Merlin is the chief Magician in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry , beginning with Geoffrey of Monmouth 's Historia Regum Britanniae [c. 1136].

[3] "So mote it be " is a ritual phrase used by Freemasons , Rosicrucianism , and Neopagans , meaning, "So may it be”, often used as a benediction. .

The phrase appears in the Halliwell or Regius Manuscript , relating to Freemasons, in England, from the first half of the 15th Century.[1]

[4] Myrddin Wyllt (Myrddin the Wild) is from Welsh legend .
He was introduced into Arthurian legend , by Geoffrey of Monmouth , as Merlin the wizard , in Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136).
Re. Two Merlins: One theory is that Geoffrey of Monmouth 's Merlin is an amalgamation of historical and legendary figures.
Specifically, Myrddin Wyllt (Merlinus Caledonensis) and Romano-British leader Ambrosius Aurelianus to form the composite Merlin Ambrosius (Welsh : Myrddin Emrys).
The argument is that: [1] No one could live as long as Merlin is alleged to have; and, [2] that Myrddin was a madman , who suffered PTSD , after the Battle of Arfderydd , in 573; after which he lived in the forest, having only contact with his sister and wildlife.
However, neither of these prima facie precludes being King Arthur’s court adviser.
-------------------------
Listening to:

Nimue's Lament

Nimue´s Lament - Alkaemy

-------------------------

Sometimes, it seems like it would help to have a clone, when there’s always so much to do; but, maybe we wouldn’t get a long.

Best Wishes for spring. (Still snow on the ground around here)

-Cat…

Description

Merlin and Nimue

Merlin watched Nimue transform herself into his doppelganger, as he felt The Great Oak seal its trunk around him.

“Well, that’s disconcerting,” he admitted, as the breath was squeezed out of him; and, the tree encased him, in its trunk, like a Hamadryad.

--------------------------

This was made for Seeing Double Challenge Extended! , hosted by ManipulateThis .

---------------------------

Seeing Double Challenge Extended! , hosted by ManipulateThis .

Theme: Creating either a Design or a Scene where there’s a Doppelganger.

A doppelgänger is a look-alike or double of a living person, sometimes portrayed as a paranormal phenomenon.

Skill Level: Level 2, Novice

Due Date: April 16th, 2017

-----------------------------------

Merlin and Nimue

“You’re getting slow, old man,” Nimue taunted.

“You never noticed that I switched your staff,” she laughed, as she shoved him into the Great Oak that would be his prison, for, at least, the next thousand years.

“And now, old fool, I will take your place,” Nimue announced, with a wave of her hand, transforming herself into Merlin’s Doppelganger.

“So,” she proclaimed. “The Student has become the Master!” She laughed maniacally.

“Well, that is disturbing,” Merlin admitted.

“So, the Great Seer was baffled?” She chuckled. “You thought I was so infatuated with you. You were so enthralled by my flattery, you never saw this coming,” she shook her head, bemused.

“Nay, Nimue,” Merlin sighed, wearily. “I saw. But, there are many currents, in the river of time.

“And, I had hoped I might help you navigate another course,” the Wizard admitted.

“Is that a tear? Are you weeping like a child?” Nimue jeered.

“Aye, lass,” Merlin confessed. “It is always so sad, to see people choose a path, whose tragic end they have not foreseen.”

She shook with rage. “It is you, you Old Fool, who do not see! You are the one imprisoned! You are the one trapped in a tree! You, who have failed utterly,” she screamed. “Morgana told me! She promised me, all would be well!”

“Nay, “Merlin shook his head, exhausted, already growing stiff, bound within the Great Tree’s trunk, like a Hamadryad.

“I am only sorry, I shall not be there, when all the sleepers awake, to see their nightmares become real,” he said. “Nothing is ever ‘all well’, or ‘all ill’; but, we make it so,” he reminded her.

Nimue shuddered, frightened. “You will not wake for millennia! Until, you and the Once King! You will all sleep.” She screamed.

“And, you will wake, when you realize all the promises politicians make are lies, to steal your power,” he assured her.

“YOU-ARE-TRAPPED-INSIDE-A-TREE!” She screamed in his face.

“We are all trapped, by our choices,” Merlin said. “And, I have failed you, as a teacher, if I could not teach you that.

“Forgive me,” he pleaded.

Nimue stared at him: so serene, caught in her trap, like in amber, in tree sap.

“One, last, lesson, my apprentice,” he struggled to say.

“Remember, it is never, too late, to turn back, and plot a new course,” Merlin said.

And then, the bark of the tree closed over him, sealing him inside its trunk, for the next thousand years, at least, if it survived that long.

Nimue looked at her hands, his hands, holding his staff; and, she took a moment to draw a circle of protection around the Great Oak, marking it off with runes, in the old Ogham language.

“You are wrong, Myrddin,” she whispered, marking the tree, with her signet seal.

“Sometimes, it is too late,” she concluded.

Then, she heard the last echo of her old master’s thoughts, speaking in her mind,

“Nay, there are always others, to consider.” And then, his voice fell silent.

“So mot it be,” Nimue pronounced, sealing the protective circle, around the Great Oak, enveloping her old Master, Merlin.

-----------------------------------

Resources: (Required Stock denoted with an asterisk *)

Nimue:

* Belly Dancer Stock 10 , by chamberstock *

* 2016-11-12 Elder Morn 04 , by skydancer-stock *
2016-11-10 Wizard Afternoon 18 , by skydancer-stock

Merlin:

* 2016-12-10 Consult the Wise 10 , by skydancer-stock *

2016-11-10 Wizard Afternoon 18 , by skydancer-stock

The Great Oak:

Ruegen island Stock 63 , by Malleni-Stock

Other Resources:

Fog Stock 07 , by Malleni-Stock

FOG/CLOUDS PNG , by Moonglowlilly

Forest Stock 099 , by Malleni-Stock

Mixed Exclusive Textures , by CD-STOCK (For Honourable Mention, for The Canadian Corps of Engineers , for CREATIVE MINDS CHALLENGE IV , hosted by CD-STOCK )

Texture 203 , by Malleni-Stock

Clouds-Texture , by YBsilon-Stock

UNRESTRICTED - Pastel Grunge Texture , by frozenstocks

Big Lens And Optical Flare Collection , by daWIIZ

Starry Night Texture , by ArrsistableStock

Software:

autodesk-sketchbook

Cloud Brush Set

Sketchbook Elements Brush Pack (Snow and Ice)

-------------------------
Notes:
[1] Nimue is Merlin’s apprentice, and sometimes consort.
There are many variations; but, in every version, including contemporary television series; she becomes Merlin’s apprentice, gets swept up in political intrigue, and eventually imprisons him.
Although, Merlin foresees this; as a seer, he sees further than she does;
And, sees a future where he will return with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table , will return, when the kingdom is in its greatest danger, because she has displaced them in time.
[2] Merlin is the chief Magician in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry , beginning with Geoffrey of Monmouth 's Historia Regum Britanniae [c. 1136].

[3] "So mote it be " is a ritual phrase used by Freemasons , Rosicrucianism , and Neopagans , meaning, "So may it be”, often used as a benediction. .

The phrase appears in the Halliwell or Regius Manuscript , relating to Freemasons, in England, from the first half of the 15th Century.[1]

[4] Myrddin Wyllt (Myrddin the Wild) is from Welsh legend .
He was introduced into Arthurian legend , by Geoffrey of Monmouth , as Merlin the wizard , in Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136).
Re. Two Merlins: One theory is that Geoffrey of Monmouth 's Merlin is an amalgamation of historical and legendary figures.
Specifically, Myrddin Wyllt (Merlinus Caledonensis) and Romano-British leader Ambrosius Aurelianus to form the composite Merlin Ambrosius (Welsh : Myrddin Emrys).
The argument is that: [1] No one could live as long as Merlin is alleged to have; and, [2] that Myrddin was a madman , who suffered PTSD , after the Battle of Arfderydd , in 573; after which he lived in the forest, having only contact with his sister and wildlife.
However, neither of these prima facie precludes being King Arthur’s court adviser.
-------------------------
Listening to:

Nimue's Lament

Nimue´s Lament - Alkaemy

-------------------------

Sometimes, it seems like it would help to have a clone, when there’s always so much to do; but, maybe we wouldn’t get a long.

Best Wishes for spring. (Still snow on the ground around here)

-Cat…