Legendary (15 page)

Backing up, Aliana took a breath. “Have faith,” she reminded herself. Rocking back and forth, she steeled her nerves. “One…two…three!” She took off, focusing only on Arthur and reaching the other side. Her foot hit the crumbled ledge, and she pushed herself forward, soaring over the gap. A faint trail of glittering pink light guided her path across the abyss. As the other side got closer and closer, she felt herself start to fall. For a brief second she thought she wouldn’t make it, but the pink lights gave her faith.

She hit the ground hard, her own momentum sending her rolling as her arms twisted and scraped against the hard earth. She finally stopped, hitting a rock and knocking what little breath she had left from her lungs. With her heart thudding hard in her chest, she glanced up, trying to get her heartbeat under control.

The old woman glided across the now re-formed bridge. “You have done well, child.”

Aliana blinked, forcing her vision to clear and the room to stop spinning, but she couldn’t stop the ringing in her head.

“You have passed the third and final test to prove your worth of the title Destined One.” The smoky voice was filled with joy.

The buzzing in Aliana’s head grew louder, and words ran through her mind so quickly that she couldn’t understand most of them. “What’s happening to me?” she gasped. Her chest grew tighter. Something inside of her was rising to the surface, trying to escape. She tried to keep from panicking, but she didn’t know what was happening or if she could control it.

“Only the Destined One has the strength to harness a spell strong enough to free King Arthur. The power has been growing inside of you since you first entered the forest surrounding Avalon’s gate.”

Sweat trickled down Aliana’s cheeks as she fought to hold the power within her. Struggling, she made it to her feet. Her grip on the rock in front her was the only thing keeping her from falling back down. She studied the man lying on the ivy-covered altar. The magic bounded as words started to string together in her mind. Gritting her teeth, she pushed away from the stone and made her way to the king, ignoring the strange woman only a few feet from her.

The legendary king didn’t look anything like she thought he would. He appeared young, like Galahad. His thick, chocolate-colored hair swept across his forehead. Even lying there asleep he radiated a power and strength that had probably made men tremble before him. His skin was pale and smooth over his square jaw, and his nose looked like it may have been broken once or twice. He was as tall as Galahad, easily over six feet, and in great shape for a guy who’d been asleep for hundreds of years. His armor and clothes were untouched by either time or the dampness of the cave. There was nothing to show that he’d been mortally wounded when he’d arrived here.

Aliana sat next to Arthur on the altar and leaned over him. Gently, she brushed the dark locks from his brow, lowering her lips to inches above his. She focused on the power flowing within her, gathering the forming words and whirls of magic. Somehow, she knew exactly what to do.

“Arthur Pendragon, our once and future king, your time has come. Your people need you once again to rise up and fight for them.” The power drew her closer to him so that her lips nearly touched his. “Hear my voice; come to me.” Then her lips met his as she breathed out the final words.

The power burst forth from her. Aliana closed her eyes, surrendering to the magic flowing from her lips to Arthur’s, breathing life back into his hard body. When the last wisps of power flowed from her, she pulled back, breaking away from his full, firm mouth. Slowly, she opened her eyes, watching the color return to his face. She ran her fingers over her lips in awe, still feeling his mouth on hers. The power flowing between them wove a tangled web and somehow, a small piece of her heart healed itself.

Arthur drew in the first breath he’d taken in almost fifteen hundred years.

It was then that she realized what she had just done. She had just
kissed
King Arthur! Before the shock of her actions could set in, the king’s eyes opened. In that moment, all she saw was a rich gold bursting in his eyes. They were such a clear brown, they seemed to glow. Nothing could have torn her eyes from his, and for an endless moment, King Arthur looked at her with pure exhilaration and joy, his beautiful lips turned up in a smile.

He raised his hand, brushing his fingertips gently across her lips before his large hand cupped her cheek. The gentle warmth flowing from his hand had Aliana sighing as she leaned into his touch and smiled back softly.

“It is you,” he whispered, his voice weak.

“Lady Aliana,” Galahad’s voice called to her.

She jerked away, shocked out of the spell’s fading power by the worry in Galahad’s voice. Arthur’s brow furrowed, his eyes questioning hers, but Galahad and Dagg were across the bridge before either of them could say another word.

Aliana slid off the altar as Arthur pushed himself up. Her vision blurred, and she gripped the stone tightly, trying to keep from collapsing. After taking a deep breath, her head stopped spinning and her vision cleared.
Thank the stars!
She wouldn’t make a fool of herself in front of a king, after all.

Galahad stood a few feet away, awe and shock clear in his blue eyes as he met his king’s gaze for the first time in over a millennium. Galahad unsheathed his sword, placing the tip into the earth, and kneeled before King Arthur. Aliana moved back, giving Arthur room to stand. She couldn’t hide her surprise when he got to his feet with ease, as if he’d never been enchanted in the first place.

King Arthur gazed down at his knight and smiled. “Sir Galahad, my old friend.”

“My king, it is good to have you with us again.” The knight looked up. “Once again, I offer you my sword and my loyalty as a Knight of the Round Table, and as your friend.”

Arthur placed a hand on Galahad’s shoulder. “Rise, brother, you know you do not need to bow before me.” Standing, Galahad re-sheathed his sword, and the two men embraced each other, laughing.

Dagg, who had been watching everything in silence, landed next to Aliana’s hands on the altar. King Arthur studied the silver Dragon for a moment before glancing at Aliana.

“It is good to finally meet you, King Arthur. I am Daggerhorne, guardian to the Destined One.” Dagg bowed his head.

“Sire,” Galahad said, stepping forward, seeming the happiest he’d been since Aliana had freed him. “May I introduce the Lady Aliana Fagan?”

“Hello,” Aliana said, amazed at how steady her voice sounded while her insides were a mess of emotions pulling her in so many directions. Her eyes drifted back and forth between the two men towering over her. She let go of the stone, determined that her legs would hold her. And they did, but only for a moment.

Galahad was suddenly at her side, his arm around her waist, supporting her. Grateful, Aliana leaned into him, breathing in the wintery scent that she was becoming so fond of.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady.” Arthur’s accented voice rumbled as he bowed to her. “I am eternally in your debt for awakening me.”

“No problem. Glad I could help.” She stifled a nervous giggle.

“It is good to see you moving about again, great king.” The mystery woman stepped out from the shadows. With a grand flourish, she threw off her brown cloak, revealing her true form.

Dangerously beautiful
.

That was the only way Aliana could describe her. She was taller now, with long, wavy, copper locks and skin as pale as a china doll. She was dressed in an elegant green bodice with sheer gold sleeves. Her matching green skirt hugged her hips and was slit on both sides. Queen Titania’s emerald eyes matched her dress, and her pink lips smiled like she knew all the secrets of the world. Next to her, Aliana felt like a complete disaster with her clothes torn and caked with dirt. Her hair was probably a total rat’s nest.

“Queen Titania.” King Arthur bowed deeply to her. Galahad bowed his head to the Fae queen, but stood straight and kept his arm tight around Aliana.

“The first undertaking is complete, but now I fear the true challenges lie before you all.” Titania studied each of them carefully, seeming to take note of Galahad’s arms supporting Aliana and the way Arthur stood slightly in front of the pair. The queen smirked.

Aliana didn’t like that look in her eyes. She leaned in closer to Galahad, grateful for his calming presence.

“What must we do next, your Majesty?” Arthur asked.

“Follow the prophecy. The Destined One is the key. She will guide you to your next task.” Her hard gaze met Arthur’s, then moved on to Galahad’s and Daggerhorne’s before meeting Aliana’s. The queen’s eyes softened just a bit. “There is great danger ahead for all of you but especially for the Destined One. Mordrid will know that she is the key. You know the lengths to which he is willing to go in order to win. You all must guard Aliana well; keep her from harm.”

“We’ll protect her no matter the cost,” Arthur vowed, his voice fierce.

“She will be protected at all times,” Galahad swore as he gazed down at his charge.

Aliana reddened, turning to Dagg, surprised the Dragon had been so silent. Her green eyes met his purple ones, and he nodded at her.

“No one will be safer, my queen,” Dagg assured her. “But we must get to the mortal realm soon. There is still much to be done, and I am sure Aliana is ready to go home.”

The queen moved past Arthur and stood in front of Aliana, who straightened as much as her aching body would allow. Titania tucked a stray lock of Aliana’s milk chocolate hair behind her ear as she smiled, almost fondly, at the young woman. “You have done well, young one. You are truly worthy of your destiny.” With those words, the Fae queen stepped back. “I will send you all back to the Lady of the Lake. Aliana knows the way to the mortal realm from there.”

Galahad, Arthur, and Dagg all bowed to Queen Titania one last time. The beautiful queen held out her hand again, and the same magic she had used earlier sprang to life, circling them. Its warmth seeped into Aliana’s aching muscles as her head started to spin. She tried fighting it, but the magic was too strong. She looked up, barely able to see Galahad’s worried eyes. She glanced in Arthur’s direction, meeting his anxious, golden brown gaze before darkness consumed her.

Queen Titania’s parting words whispered in her head: “Until we meet again.”

9

Her eyes, those sparkling emeralds, had been my only companion since the Fae queen cast her spell on me. Her voice, her laugh mesmerized me. I wanted to draw her in close, to feel her lips on mine. Her sweet taste is still on my lips. Yet a memory—a ghost—is holding me back.
~Arthur

A
LIANA
L
OOKED
A
T
T
HE
C
ARNAGE
around her. Abandoned pieces of scorched black armor littered the ground alongside mutilated and dying gray monsters. The sounds of battle raged around her. Loud crashes of thunder roared through the air, and swords clashed as men and monsters struggled for supremacy. The scent of death and blood surrounded her as more black knights fell to their enemies.

She watched, horrified, as the story Titania had told her now played out in gruesome, vivid detail. The four brave knights fell to the swords and pointed spears of the monstrous black knights. Aliana cried out, wishing she could do something as the knights died in pain and violence. But she was totally helpless.

She looked away from the dead men and toward King Arthur, Galahad, and the men she now recognized as Lancelot and Merlin. King Arthur and Galahad fought back to back, and they were a devastating team. Lancelot battled alongside them, his raven hair plastered to his head by sweat, his pale green eyes burning with fury. Next to him the golden-eyed Druid incinerated beastly Goblins and zombie knights, all of it just as the Fae drawings had shown her—except this time Arthur and his knights didn’t wear helmets. She could see the fury that burned in their eyes.

The sinister warlock sneered, blocking the fireballs Merlin threw at him. “You are weak, Merlin. Neither your king nor your Druid powers, can stop me!” His voice was shrill with glee. “Or did you fail to learn that lesson after Morgana’s death? All the realms will bow to me, and those foolish enough to resist will die slowly while I claim ultimate power.”

This guy is nuts!
Aliana felt her fear all the way to her bones. The sick delight in Mordrid’s black eyes made her feel nauseated.

Merlin threw aside his sun shield and called down lightning to burn the minions to ash, creating an opening.

“Galahad, Lancelot, hold them back,” the king ordered, charging forward, sword held high. He shot through the opening and caught Mordrid by surprise, knocking the warlock’s shield from his hand. Mordrid struck back, his magic giving him the ability to strike as hard and as fast as the warrior king.

“You never learn, Arthur, and that will be your death.” Mordrid slashed his sword down on Arthur.