Legendary (16 page)

Arthur parried Mordrid’s strike, nearly ripping the blade from his hand. “Excalibur and I disagree. All your treachery will have been for naught!” he roared, disarming the villain and cutting a gaping wound into the sorcerer’s arm. “Your dark magic cannot heal Excalibur’s bite.”

Mordrid fought back, but Arthur pinned him down with Excalibur pressed hard against his throat. “It ends now, warlock.” Arthur prepared to drive his blade down upon Mordrid, but he disappeared.

“Coward!” Arthur bellowed in rage. “Fight me like a man!” He swung around, searching for Mordrid. The king struck again as the sorcerer reappeared, but again Excalibur cut though empty space.

As quickly as Mordrid had disappeared, he re-materialized behind the king, wrapping a thin arm around Arthur’s throat, plunging a dagger through the side of his armor. Breath rushed out of Arthur’s lungs. Aliana felt the blade burning as it cut through his flesh.

“You’ll never kill me, Arthur,” Mordrid said into the king’s ear. He pulled the dagger from Arthur’s side, then stabbed again. “You don’t have the power.”

Aliana felt the fire that rushed through Arthur’s veins, burning him from the inside out.

“Arthur!” she cried.

Galahad, Lancelot, and Merlin all looked to their king, but Mordrid’s black gaze jumped to Aliana’s, trapping her in his power. She felt his fascination and surprise. His lips pulled up into a snarling smile as he studied her through red and black eyes.

With his evil smile fixed on her, the evil magician withdrew his dagger, plunging it into King Arthur’s side one last time. “Die, Arthur, knowing that I will rule all the realms with my chosen queen by my side.”

“No!” Aliana’s cries mixed with Galahad’s and Lancelot’s as Mordrid pulled the dagger free, letting Arthur’s body fall to the ground.

“Lady Aliana.” She felt Mordrid’s cold touch on her skin as he breathed her name. He took a step toward her, his tongue licking his twisted lips.

Aliana’s eyes were wide with terror as Mordrid advanced. “Please, no,” she whimpered, still frozen in the same spot she had been in since entering this strange vision.

Lancelot charged at Mordrid, but he sent the knight flying back with a flick of his hand. Before the evil sorcerer could get to Aliana, fire surrounded him, exploding outward, consuming everything.

“Aliana.” Cool winds wrapped around her as the fire raced toward her. “Wake up.”

Her emerald eyes shot open as sharp claws shook her awake. Daggerhorne’s anxious face was the first she saw. Taking a breath, she looked past the Dragon, confused, to see Galahad, Arthur, and Deidre.

Am I still dreaming? I must be. There’s no way all of this really happened!
She closed her eyes, trying to wake herself up, and lifted her lids, expecting to see her bedroom walls, but all she saw were the worried faces of people she had only ever dreamed of.

“What is wrong, my lady? Why were you screaming?” Arthur’s soft voice washed over her. Galahad’s worried blue eyes asked her the same question. Both men’s reactions felt strangely intimate.

“Is this real?” she asked, sitting up on soft silken pillows and blankets.

The men looked at each other, their mouths pressed into tight frowns, but the blue-haired Nymph smiled. “This is all very much real, Destined One.” She turned to the men. “Perhaps we should step back and give Lady Aliana some space to compose herself.” Deidre moved away, her ice blue gaze pulling the men reluctantly out of the tent with her.

Aliana lay back down, still half believing this was all a dream. Dagg’s warm, scaly body snuggled against her arm.

“You cannot keep disbelieving, Aliana. You have accomplished more in a day than most people do in their lifetimes, and you have been brave and fearless through it all.”

Aliana scoffed but couldn’t stop her smile as she sat up again, stretching. “Why don’t I hurt anymore, Dagg?” she asked, remembering her screaming muscles and aching bruises and cuts. Then she thought of the sensation during her dream—the fire burning her from the inside.
Is that what Arthur had to suffer through?
She looked down at her clothes to find them whole and clean again. Even her favorite hiking boots looked polished and brand new.

“Queen Titania’s magic healed you when she transported us here. When you awoke King Arthur, most of your energy was drained. Using magic always has a cost, and holding in so much power for so long exhausted your body.”

Aliana bit her lip. “Will I have to do something like that again? I felt like I could just go to sleep and never wake up.”

“I hope not, my lady, but we can build up your magical tolerance with training.”

Aliana groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I already have martial arts training, now I have to do this too?” She knew she was whining, but hey, she had just pulled off several miracles, according to Dagg—she deserved a moment of self-pity.

The Dragon laughed and tendrils of smoke curled from his nose. Aliana peered through the tent opening and watched Galahad and Arthur talk with the petite and animated Deidre, who couldn’t seem to keep from touching Arthur at every opportunity. For a moment, jealousy sparked in Aliana’s chest, but then she peeked at Galahad and her heart fluttered. She dropped her eyes before she could get caught staring.

“My lady, are you all right?” Dagg asked.

Aliana looked up, plastering a smile on her face. “Yeah, I’m sorry, just got lost for a moment.” She turned back toward the trio next to the moonlit lake. Arthur’s golden brown eyes caught hers over Galahad’s shoulder for a brief moment before Deidre pulled his attention away again.

“You know your feelings are apparent on your face,” Dagg teased her gently. “You are drawn to both men and confused by it.”

Aliana felt her cheeks heat up. “It’s not that.” Dagg appeared unconvinced. “It’s just that I feel like I know them. Ever since I was a kid I’ve dreamed about meeting them. I’ve read everything about the Arthurian legends. I know most of the stories by heart. I’ve even done a photo series about it. Coincidently, it was my first big success as an artist. But realizing how much magic plays into their story is just a challenge to believe. I never
really
thought magic was real until now.”

“I can understand. Though the Sidhe kept me trapped for many years, I spent much time in the mortal realm before that. Mortals have lost their belief in magic and what they can’t see. But you’ll get used to it.”

Grateful for his attempt at comfort, Aliana scooped up the Dragon and scratched him under his chin, causing him to growl in pleasure. She laughed as she got to her feet. “Thanks for taking care of my bag. You’re my perfect pack mule.” She grabbed her bag and headed out of the tent, giggling at Dagg’s sour expression.

She met Galahad and Arthur’s confused gazes as she approached. “Thank you for your help, Deidre. I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did without that map.”

Deidre giggled her bell laugh. “I could have done no less, my lady.” She curtseyed. “But before you go, I have something for King Arthur.” The Nymph turned away and walked into the shallow water. Arthur and Galahad shared a raised eyebrow of amusement, and Galahad shrugged his broad shoulders.

The water around Deidre’s feet bubbled, and tiny drops of water floated up, carrying with them a long, curved sword sheathed in a black leather case. Amazed and thrilled, Aliana stepped between the two men, a delighted smile on her face as Deidre took the sword and turned back to them.

“J’alel brought this to me earlier. He said the fire Elves forged it especially for King Arthur to use until he can once again reclaim Excalibur.” Deidre held the sword in her hands, presenting it to the king.

Walking into the water, Arthur kneeled before her, taking the sword from her hands. Aliana smiled brightly, watching another classic piece of legend happen before her eyes. She looked up at Galahad, so excited she wanted to start jumping up and down like a child. She blushed as she realized he’d been watching her instead of Arthur. She glanced away, embarrassed.

Why does that keep happening?

“Thank you, my lady. I humbly accept such a rare and precious gift.” Arthur rose to stand in front of Deidre. “But I thought you would have Excalibur.”

“Alas, great king, I do not. And to defeat Mordrid, you will have to search it out and claim it once more.”

“Do you know where it rests?” Arthur asked.

Deidre shook her head. “The prophecy speaks of the Destined One helping you in your search to reclaim what is yours.”

“Unearth and reclaim their lost relics,” Aliana quoted, remembering the daunting words.

Arthur frowned, coming out of the water to stand by her. “I have yet to hear any of this,” he said, fastening the new sword about his waist.

Deidre nodded reassuringly, and Aliana explained, “Just before my final test, Queen Titania told me the prophecy, but a lot of it doesn’t make sense:

“Before the darkest hour strikes, the Destined One shall come forth.
Avalon’s lost daughter must thrice and alone prove her worth,
Then can she fully possess the power to awaken the king.
It shall become her destiny to reunite the Round Table,
Unearth and reclaim their lost relics,
Become the key to undoing the evil Mordrid has wrought.
Only with her can the once and future king prevail.”

She surprised herself by being able to recall Titania’s ominous words so well.

Arthur crossed his arms over his chest, one finger thoughtfully tapping his chin.

Galahad’s deep voice rumbled. “We know Lady Aliana is the Destined One and the ‘thrice and alone prove her worth’ refers to the tests she had to undergo today.”

“Courage, wits, and faith,” Aliana murmured, suppressing a shiver. She wouldn’t want to go through those tests again.

“Most of it makes sense if you think it through,” Arthur said. “Our next task is to find the knights, then go after Excalibur and the Grail of Power. Lady Aliana is the key, as the queen said.”

Aliana let out a breath. Apparently she had more to do than she first thought. “So where do we start searching for Lancelot and Merlin and the other knights?”

“The mortal realm,” Galahad said, his voice heavy. “That is where Lancelot and Merlin went.”

“But they went there hundreds of years ago. There’s no way they would still be al—” Dagg’s clawed paw tightened on Aliana’s shoulder cutting her off.

“We will return to the mortal realm,” King Arthur decided.

Deidre nodded, approval written across her beautiful face. “Good luck to you, Destined One,” she said to Aliana, then turned her flirty blue gaze to Arthur. “And to you, great king.” She ran a finger down Arthur’s strong arm.

Aliana glanced away to see Galahad with a knowing smirk on his lips. She nudged him, her eyes asking what was so funny. The knight shook his head, still smirking.

“Thank you, my lady,” Arthur said as he and Galahad both bowed to the Water Nymph. Deidre curtseyed again but peered at Aliana and winked one beautiful, ice blue eye as she began to sink back below the water.

“Thanks again, Deidre. I hope we get to see you sometime soon!” Aliana called out right before the Nymph fully submerged. As she fished her journal and GPS out of her bag, it hit her that she was really going home. Finally. She’d been gone way too long.

Not even bothering to ask, Galahad took Aliana’s pack for her. She wanted to protest, but his light blue eyes met hers with a raised eyebrow, daring her to argue.

It’s not worth it, girl,
she told herself. With Dagg perched on her shoulder, she led them through the soft grass and lovely flowers toward the cave opening. Stepping into the total darkness, Aliana swallowed her fear and grabbed her cell phone. Before she could turn on the flashlight, Dagg jumped from her shoulder, hovering in front of them.

“Allow me.” The silver Dragon’s purple eyes glowed as he summoned a small iridescent ball of light to illuminate the cave. Grateful and more relieved than she wanted to admit, Aliana patted the Dragon’s head when he reclaimed his position on her shoulder.

“How long until we reach the other side, my lady?” Arthur asked as they made their way through the twisting tunnel.

“Um, maybe fifteen, twenty minutes.” She turned to face her companions. “And, though I appreciate it, please don’t call me
my lady
. I’m just plain old Aliana, and I am certainly no lady.” She looked both men in the eyes, hoping they would understand.

“We will call you whatever you wish my…Aliana,” Arthur replied for both of them.

Still facing them, she walked backward. “I don’t want to seem too eager, but I’ve been dying to ask you guys some questions.”

Neither man told her to turn around, but they both moved in closer and Arthur’s eyes flicked anxiously from her to the space behind her when he said, “You have but to ask.”

“Well, I guess my first question has to be—when did all of this happen? What year was it when you ruled Camelot?”