Legendary (30 page)

“Like when I was so weak after awakening Arthur?”

“Exactly. But to do magic that strong with less of a cost, you can draw on other powers—such as the elements or a grid point. You just have to form a connection.”

Aliana nodded, letting the information soak in. Her eyes flicked out to the guys again. They had moved on to hand-to-hand combat.

“You said earlier that Titania cut you off from Avalon’s magic. What did you mean?” she asked, turning back to the Druid.

“Clever girl,” he said softly. “I’m known as one of the strongest Druids because I have the rare ability to tap into the magic…core, if you will, of an entire realm. My connection was especially strong with Avalon because my father was of there, and when my mother gave birth, I was blessed with his connection to the realm. My powers were strong enough to rival even Queen Titania’s, but when I left Arthur’s guard, she cut me off entirely from the connection.” Bitterness colored his words.

“I’m sorry.”

Merlin shook off her sympathy with a tight smile. “I knew her punishment for leaving would be harsh. As I was saying, you need to feel the magic so you can shape it.”

Merlin and Dagg spent the next few hours explaining and demonstrating how to do simple magic. Aliana focused, but her eyes would stray to the guys every now and then. More specifically to Galahad. He and Lancelot were currently facing off against each other. Sweat rolled down their bare chests and shoulders, glistening in the early summer sun.

Aliana thought of how she’d felt after they’d left Arthur’s hollow. She hated feeling that powerless, that weak. Everyone said it was crazy powerful magic that she’d used to wake Arthur, so the exhaustion made sense, but she wondered how draining
average
magic would be. She feared being that weak again and worried that if she did something wrong with her magic, she could put the others in danger. The warriors training just beyond the window were sure to return to being the elite fighting brotherhood they’d been in the days of Camelot, and she’d be the twenty-first century magical neophyte following them around. She didn’t want that. She wanted them to see her as an equal, not just the key to destroying Mordrid and giving them their lives back.
How is that going to work anyway? Will they just go back to the past or will Camelot be reborn somehow with Arthur on the throne?

The blinds fell with a loud snap.

“Pay attention, Aliana. What was the last thing I said?” Merlin glowered at her.

“Sorry.” She ducked her head, her face blazing with embarrassment, feeling like an eight-year-old girl getting scolded by the teacher.

“I think it’s time we took a break,” Dagg spoke up. “We can test her strength after we have some lunch.”

“Can I get some fresh air first?” she asked, and when Merlin nodded, she rose to her feet, grateful to stretch her tight muscles as she made her way out to the practice area.

“So, how are things going?” she asked Wade, coming to stand next to him as he waited on the sidelines. Galahad currently circled Arthur and Lancelot.

“It’s been interesting,” Wade said faintly. “Having these memories is like seeing flashes of a movie in my head. They don’t even seem real, but fighting with a sword feels like second nature now. I don’t need to think about it like I used to.”

“You’ve always been amazing with weapons,” Aliana pointed out.

“Yeah, but I was never in a life or death situation before.” Wade shook his head, dropping his gaze to the ground. “I have memories of killing people, men in battle and…” Wade gulped. “Maybe I need time to let these memories settle, but I kinda feel like two different people. There’s me—but then there’s also him.” He looked up at her, anguish and doubt in his hazel eyes. “At least Lacy isn’t part of this. I wondered if my memories would reveal her in my past at all, but they don’t.”

Aliana took his hand as Arthur and Lancelot charged Galahad. He slammed Lancelot to the ground while Arthur managed to wrap an arm around his neck, trying to throw him off balance. He succeeded, bearing Galahad down to one knee, but the knight pried Arthur’s arm away, twisting it behind the king’s back. Lancelot kicked out a foot, knocking Galahad to the ground and freeing Arthur to pin him.

Wade cleared his throat, shaking away his raw emotions. “So, how is
your
training going?” He glanced at the stone-faced Druid, who had also come outside and now watched the match with a calculating gaze. The three men on the field got to their feet, smiling.

“Annoying and hard to focus on,” she mumbled. “I tried, but I kept getting distracted.”

“I bet you did.” Wade laughed low. “I can’t imagine Grumpy over there taking it too well.”

“Understatement,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Are you three done for today?”

“He wants to test my powers next. It’s silly really, I don’t even understand how I used magic in Avalon!” She ran a hand through her hair.

“You’ll figure it out, Lia,” Wade assured her, wrapping an arm around her. “You always do.”

Fighting a smile, she elbowed him lightly. “Sweet talker.”

“Darn straight. Now watch me beat the arrogance out of Lancelot.” Wade picked up his sword, squaring off against the raven-haired knight.

“How are you?” Galahad asked, taking Wade’s spot as he wiped a towel over his sweaty face and body.

“Good, I guess,” she mumbled as she tried not to ogle him. “How about you?”

“Better now,” he answered, smiling down at her.

Aliana dropped her gaze, trying to hide her smile. She looked up at the sound of a sword hitting the ground. Wade flipped Lancelot over his shoulder, fist raised to strike as he pinned Lancelot. Aliana cheered for her friend as he helped Lancelot to his feet.

“Sabine has laid out lunch in the kitchen,” Merlin announced.

“Who is Sabine?” Galahad asked, pulling on his shirt.

“She is one of the Pixies who helps me with my home.”

“Still not making sense, mate,” Owen said, following them through the door.

“Several decades ago, I saved her and several of her sisters from the Sidhe while I was in Olympus. By their law, they owed me their lives, so they decided to serve me here in my home. They have a small dwelling nearby, on the edge of the forest.”

“They’re servants? Pixies?” Aliana asked, incredulous.

“By their own choice,” Merlin said sternly.

The kitchen counter was covered with a spread of meats, vegetables, fruits, steaming bread, and various butters and dressings. Arthur filled his plate, and the others followed right behind their king.

Aliana only took a little bit of food. She was too anxious to eat. “Where is Sabine now?” She leaned against the counter, taking a bite of her honey-buttered roll. The soft, savory delight practically melted in her mouth.

“She and her sisters are probably at their houses,” Merlin answered, taking a large bite of his roast beef sandwich.

“I’d like to thank her at some point,” Aliana said, hoping she’d get a chance to meet a Pixie.

“Aliana, come sit,” Galahad said, nodding to the empty chair between him and Arthur.

“Leave it, Galahad,” Wade told him. “She’s got a thing about eating at counters instead of sitting down like a civilized human being.”

“Shut it, smart ass,” she said, throwing a grape at him. Just to prove him wrong, she walked over and plunked down in the seat, her plate next to Dagg’s overflowing one.

Percy and Owen got into a heated conversation about which weapon would be better for certain situations. Lancelot, Merlin, and Arthur talked over different strategies, and Wade and Galahad had a hushed conversation. She was the only one left out, but it gave her a chance to study them all closer. The men’s friendships were returning. Wade and Owen were the greatest proof of that. They had both been struggling just this morning, now they actively engaged the others. Aliana shoved a piece of fruit into her mouth, trying not to feel left out when she heard Merlin whisper a comment about a key.

Great. He still only sees me as their key
. It wasn’t like they had bonded over their training that morning, but she’d hoped he would have thawed to her just a little.

After everyone had eaten, the guys retreated back outside under the gray clouds that threatened to pour down rain. Aliana scraped the food into the trash, stacking all the plates and stalling her return to her training.

“We need to get back to your lessons, Aliana. Sabine will finish cleaning,” Merlin told her, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.

Her stomach flipped as she followed him and Dagg back to the white room.

18

Aliana’s magic is frustrating, just like trying to teach her when she won’t focus on anything other than the knights. I worry Lancelot maybe right—
there’s something strange between her, Arthur, and Galahad. I need to find out more about this before she becomes a distraction to them, like Morgana was for me. No, I can’t think about that woman. Loving her has already cost me too much.

~Merlin

“T
AKE
M
Y
H
ANDS
,” Merlin said, holding them out to Aliana. He had small hands, not at all like Galahad’s or Arthur’s. “I need to maintain a physical connection to properly assess your abilities.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, she placed her clammy hands lightly in his. Merlin gripped them hard.

“Relax,” Dagg said from his perch on the nearest chair. “Breathe and focus on the magic you used to awaken the king. Remember how it felt.”

Closing her eyes, she recalled the explosive energy. She thought about how it had grown as she freed Galahad and passed each of the challenges. She remembered the searing pain as it tried to escape when she crossed the bridge, all of it so clear in her mind.

The words she’d said and her overwhelming feelings for Arthur returned. She saw herself in the cave, the glowing light spilling from her mouth to Arthur’s before her lips touched his. She watched a barely-there golden web wrap around them, sealing them together everywhere they touched.

“Stop!” Her heart raced as she struggled to pull away from the memory, not wanting Merlin to witness such a private moment. But then she could feel Arthur’s lips against hers again, the gentle touch of his hand. She could see the happiness in his golden brown eyes as he whispered to her.
“It is you.”

“Get out!” she cried, pushing as hard as she could against Merlin’s presence. Another spark leaped to life in her chest. It rose like an angry spirit, forcing Merlin’s connection to snap.

Gasping for air, she yanked her hands from his. Her shaky legs buckled, sending her to the carpeted floor. Looking down at her shaking hand, she saw faint stars of pink fading away, taking more of her energy with them.

“Unusual,” Merlin said to himself, stroking his chin.

Aliana smacked away his hands when he tried to help her stand. “Don’t touch me! What were you doing?”

“What’s going on?” Galahad’s voice boomed. The door swung open with a surprising strength. The knight rushed to Aliana’s side at his super speed. Arthur and Wade followed while the others peered in from the hall.

“Sire,” Merlin said as Arthur lowered himself next to Aliana.

“Are you hurt, Aliana?” the king asked, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.

“I was trying to gauge her abilities.” Merlin studied Arthur, Galahad, and Aliana. “I did not realize that she doesn’t have even the most basic of shields. I saw more than just her magic.”

“Why was she shouting?” Galahad asked, calmer now.

“I wanted him out of my head.” She clenched her jaw. Her memories and feelings were hers. Beyond embarrassed, she pulled herself to her feet, wanting nothing more than to escape all the eyes watching her.

“She used a small bit of her magic to push me out, but it seems to have had a draining effect. I have never seen such a weak spell affect anyone like this before.” Merlin frowned.

Dagg’s warm body circled around Aliana’s shoulders, relaxing her in moments. She smiled, feeling her strength returning.

“You are better now?” Galahad asked, his eyes finding hers.

“Why did such a small spell drain her so much?” Lancelot asked. He sounded almost concerned for her.

“I do not know yet. I’ll need to have her try another spell.”

“Aliana?” Arthur asked, his body curving closer to hers, protecting her from having to do something she might not want to do.

“I’m okay. We need to figure this out.” She met Arthur’s gaze, then Galahad’s, trying to reassure them that she was okay to continue. Her eyes zeroed in on Merlin’s icy gaze. “But my memories and my
thoughts
are off limits!”

“Fair enough,” he agreed. Reluctantly, all the others filed out of the room, leaving Aliana alone with her Dragon and Merlin.

“Aliana, I’d like you to try summoning a small bit of magic to your hands.” Merlin opened his palm and a gold ball of rays blazed to life upon it. “Find your magic inside you and bring it to your hand.”