Inspired by a black and white collage of pictures showing various things, and a young woman in a circular frame with a grumpy looking moon above her

She was beautiful; she was graceful; she was sad; she was Morna Meredith, beloved guardian from the sea. And she was bored out of her skull.

Second after second, minute upon minute, day after day, year following year, she had been stuck here. Here, in the centre of the picture, watched over by Grumpy Moon.

She could see a quill pen, ink, parchment and a brush within reach just outside her round window. And she was not allowed to reach out to touch them. She could pick the grapes that grew on the vine around the window. But put her hand all the way outside? No, not even a finger length.

Grumpy Moon told her of many dire things that would happen if she dared. For a long time, she believed him. But for several nights now, she had seen others from the picture moving around. Some even dropped off and went away, out of sight, returning just before sun-up. And they were unharmed, happy, and chatting about all the thngs they saw. One had even come to borrow her candle!

She had found some time ago, that if she sang, Grumpy Moon would pull a cloud over his face and go to sleep. Did she dare? The one thing that worried her was his assertion that she would age if she stepped outside. She had never aged, didn’t know exactly what that meant, but he told her that aging meant getting wrinkled and ugly. And she would lose her strength. But those who had gone were the same when they came back. Yet still she hesitated.

Then, one evening, a man in a top coat and Fedora came by, saw her, and stopped to stare. “You are most beautiful!” he exclaimed. “Would you honour me, and come exploring with me?”

“No!” shouted Grumpy Moon. “She is the Guardian, she is not allowed to leave her post! Go away!” and he scowled fiercely.

Morna Meredith held up her finger to her lips, telling the man to wait. Then she started to sing. Her song was beautiful, full of peace and love, and the sound of small waves lapping the shore. Soon Grumpy’s eyes closed, and he reached for a cloud. Five minutes later, he was snoring peacefully.

“Now, sir, if you will help me climb out, I would gladly go with you. Do you know what aging is? Moon said I will age, if I leave my post.”

The man took her hand and helped her climb out. “Yes, I know about aging. It happens to all humans. It starts the day they are born, and goes on throughout their lives. Some live for many decades. The longer they live, the more likely they are to develop wrinkles, and lose strength. But for us in this picture, it doesn’t happen. Perhaps, when we leave out places and wander, we may age a bit. Perhaps a few minutes even if we are gone for the night. But it would take centuries, going out every night, before we showed any real signs of aging.”

“Oh, thank you. That eases my mind a lot. Now, I can enjoy my adventure. My name is Morna Meredith. What are you called?”

“I’m The Great Detective.” he answered. “Do you have any place special to you? Or shall I take you to see some places I like?”

“I don’t know what there is to see,” she said. “Why don’t you just show me around?”

He offered his arm, and she rested her hand on it. “We can start by visiting Comedy and Tragedy, the theatrical masks,” he suggested. So off they went, exploring the picture.

Morna Meredith was entranced by the big butterfly, and very afraid of the dragon lying atop the big clock.

“Hello,” said the clock.” Don’t worry about him. He won’t hurt you. But do remember, you must be back in your place before the sun comes up.”

They nodded, and promised to keep that in mind, and wandered on. As they passed by the parrots, she heard the faint sounds of music.

“Oh, I hear music!” she gasped. “I do love music!”

“Then, my dear,” said the detective,” we shall go down and listen.”

Down they went, and for a while they just stood listening. But soon he took her in his arms, and they started dancing. And so the night passed, bodies swaying to the rhythm, and she was happy.

But at last he said that they had to go. The sun would soon be rising. It wasn’t long before he was helping her climb back through her window. She turned and smiled, and thanked him for the lovely time she’d had. He replied that it had been his pleasure, and left.

She is beautiful, she is graceful, but no longer sad. Now she has wonderful memories of her great adventure. Another Adventure – Lillian Morpork

Black and white collage of pictures

She was beautiful, she was graceful, and she was unchanged; almost. She was Morna Meredith, beloved guardian from the sea, and she was no longer sad, no longer bored out of her skull.

No more did the time tick unchangingly by. Now she had happy memories; memories of her wonderful night with the Great Detective. As she sat at her post by the round window, she mused. Would he come again to take her on another adventure? She plucked a grape, and put it in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Grumpy Moon had been even grumpier, for he had found out about that night out. The gabby parrots had mentioned how lovely her smile was, and Moon asked when had they ever seen her? They tried to cover up with lies, but they were no good at it. Since then, moon had, after scolding her for hours, kept a much stricter watch. He covered his ears when she sang, and shouted, to drown out the sound.

Now Morna Meredith spent her time trying to work out another way to distract him. When she sang now, it was so softly that it couldn’t be heard more than a few inches away. And she thought about the Great Detective, and hoped he would come again. Perhaps he could devise a plan.

But it wasn’t he who came by one evening just at sunset. She had been sitting with her eyes closed in thought, when a sweet, musical voice spoke her name. Opening her eyes she saw a beautiful angel, glowing softly, and bathed by the gold of the setting sun.

“Morna Meredith,” the angel said, smiling kindly. “I am Angel Bright, and I have heard your thoughts and desires, and have come to help you. You should not have been held captive in this window forever. Moon has over-stepped the limits of his authority. He was to watch over you, and keep you safe, yes. But it was meant that you have the freedom of the whole picture. He can oversee it all from his place, and so protect you. I have come to put things right.”

Turning to Grumpy Moon, she waved her hand, and the words of his contract glowed in the air in front of him. “See, oh Moon, this you agreed to. This trust you have broken. Now I bind you. From this day on you will properly fulfill your duty, now and forever.”

Moon scowled and growled, but bowed his head in acquiescence. “So be it!” he sighed, and turned his back. Morna Meredith felt sorry for him, for, grumpy as he had always been, he had been her only companion. And he had told her many stories about the picture. Angel Bright saw how she felt, and told her not to worry. “He’ll be his normal self in the morning,” she assured Morna Meredith, who sighed in relief, and smiled again.

“Now”, said Angle, holding out her hand, “come with me.” And off they went, first to see the big butterfly that had so impressed the girl before. Then they went up and had a pleasant chat with the seven men in the top corner.

This time, she was not afraid of the dragon, and she freely forgave the parrots when they apologised for telling Moon about her previous trip. Then Angel took her down to the bottom of the picture, where they found a beautiful Pegasus.

“Morna Meredith,” Angel Bright said, “this is Bucephalus. He is named for the wonder horse Alexander the Great road through all of his battles, when he won his kingdom. This Bucephalus is just as wonderful. Bucephalus, my friend, will you consent to carry this, our beloved guardian from the sea, for a night of exploration?”

“It will be my honour, Angle Bright. Mount you between my wings, my Lady, and let us fly!” Morna Meredith mounted, and with Angel flying beside them, they swooped down and out of the picture.

Morna Meredith gasped at the change. “Oh! Is this what they call colour? I have been told of it, but never imagined what it would be like!”

“It is,” Angel bright answered, and smiled at the girl’s excitement.

On they flew, looking at the other pictures in the Gallery. Some were black and white, like theirs, but several were in glowing, vibrant colour. And the colour was all around them. The road was made of yellow bricks. The grass and leaves were in various shades of green, the tree trunks brown.

And the flowers! Oh, the glorious, riotous colours of the blossoms that grew all around. And, wonder of wonders, butterflies! Many butterflies, brightly coloured, like animated flowers. They were smaller than the one in the picture, but oh, so beautiful.

They flew on, Morna Meredith drinking it all in, awed and delighted with all she saw. At last, Bucephalus said that it was time to go back, and they flew in a wide, swooping turn, back to the picture.

They let Morna Meredith off at her window, and flew to their places at the bottom of the picture.

Morna Meredith had many wonders to think on, and more adventures to dream of. No longer was she sad and bored, for she was no longer a prisoner. She was free!

Another Adventure

She was beautiful, she was graceful, and she was unchanged; almost. She was Morna Meredith, beloved guardian from the sea, and she was no longer sad, no longer bored out of her skull.

No more did the time tick unchangingly by. Now she had happy memories; memories of her wonderful night with the Great Detective. As she sat at her post by the round window, she mused. Would he come again to take her on another adventure? She plucked a grape, and put it in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Grumpy Moon had been even grumpier, for he had found out about that night out. The gabby parrots had mentioned how lovely her smile was, and Moon asked when had they ever seen her? They tried to cover up with lies, but they were no good at it. Since then, moon had, after scolding her for hours, kept a much stricter watch. He covered his ears when she sang, and shouted, to drown out the sound.

Now Morna Meredith spent her time trying to work out another way to distract him. When she sang now, it was so softly that it couldn’t be heard more than a few inches away. And she thought about the Great Detective, and hoped he would come again. Perhaps he could devise a plan.

But it wasn’t he who came by one evening just at sunset. She had been sitting with her eyes closed in thought, when a sweet, musical voice spoke her name. Opening her eyes she saw a beautiful angel, glowing softly, and bathed by the gold of the setting sun.

“Morna Meredith,” the angel said, smiling kindly. “I am Angel Bright, and I have heard your thoughts and desires, and have come to help you. You should not have been held captive in this window forever. Moon has over-stepped the limits of his authority. He was to watch over you, and keep you safe, yes. But it was meant that you have the freedom of the whole picture. He can oversee it all from his place, and so protect you. I have come to put things right.”

Turning to Grumpy Moon, she waved her hand, and the words of his contract glowed in the air in front of him. “See, oh Moon, this you agreed to. This trust you have broken. Now I bind you. From this day on you will properly fulfill your duty, now and forever.”

Moon scowled and growled, but bowed his head in acquiescence. “So be it!” he sighed, and turned his back. Morna Meredith felt sorry for him, for, grumpy as he had always been, he had been her only companion. And he had told her many stories about the picture. Angel Bright saw how she felt, and told her not to worry. “He’ll be his normal self in the morning,” she assured Morna Meredith, who sighed in relief, and smiled again.

“Now”, said Angle, holding out her hand, “come with me.” And off they went, first to see the big butterfly that had so impressed the girl before. Then they went up and had a pleasant chat with the seven men in the top corner.

This time, she was not afraid of the dragon, and she freely forgave the parrots when they apologised for telling Moon about her previous trip. Then Angel took her down to the bottom of the picture, where they found a beautiful Pegasus.

“Morna Meredith,” Angel Bright said, “this is Bucephalus. He is named for the wonder horse Alexander the Great road through all of his battles, when he won his kingdom. This Bucephalus is just as wonderful. Bucephalus, my friend, will you consent to carry this, our beloved guardian from the sea, for a night of exploration?”

“It will be my honour, Angle Bright. Mount you between my wings, my Lady, and let us fly!” Morna Meredith mounted, and with Angel flying beside them, they swooped down and out of the picture.

Morna Meredith gasped at the change. “Oh! Is this what they call colour? I have been told of it, but never imagined what it would be like!”