Claiming Excalibur

by LH Nicole

  Arthur nodded. “It nearly destroyed him when his sister died. I can understand his reasoning, but he doesn’t see himself in a clear light. I know him better than anyone, and his reaction today wasn’t normal for him.”

  “Then you agree there’s something wrong?”

  Arthur nodded silently. “We should find a way to get him to let Dagg look at him to see if there’s some kind of magical influence behind his rage.” Arthur’s hands clenched. “We can’t let him spiral into darkness.”

  Aliana laid her hand on her king’s fists. “We won’t let anything happen to any of us. Not even Merlin and Lancelot. Y’all deserve to be free from this curse or prophecy or whatever you want to call it.”

  Galahad kept close to Aliana during their trek to the Summer Kingdom the next day. She was worried for him but also took comfort in his nearness.

  “How much farther?” Lacy asked when they stopped for a quick breather and drink of water.

  “We should be close,” Leo said. “Perhaps another hour or so, right, sire?”

  The king nodded in agreement. “But we need to keep moving. We don’t know how much time is passing in the mortal realm while we’re here.”

  Sighing, Aliana adjusted the pack, quiver, and bow on her back and trotted after the others. Galahad’s hand stayed in possession of hers the whole way.

  “What do we have here? Seven little warriors and a DragonLord lost in a strange land?” a snarky voice said, echoing off the white trunks that surrounded the path.

  “Who’s there?” Owen called out.

  “Show yourself!” Arthur ordered, drawing his sword. The others followed his lead, drawing theirs. Aliana pulled the bow from her shoulder and nocked an arrow. Dagg jumped from her shoulder and hovered in the air, his purple gaze flicking around the area.

  The voice laughed. It wasn’t deep enough to be a man’s voice, but it wasn’t high like a girl’s either.

  Son of a biscuit! What kind of trouble’s found us now?

  “I’m wounded,” the voice crooned. “Surely you don’t think little old Puck would dare hurt the king of Camelot and his Knights of the Round Table.”

  “Puck?” Lacy and Aliana gasped as a short, gangly kid appeared, hovering high in the air above them. He wore a pair of gray breeches and a red and white tunic. The shirt was cinched at his thin waist by a thick blue belt. His pale orange skin stood out against his shocking white blond hair and liquid silver eyes.

  “Ah, so you’ve heard of me!” The kid smiled brightly and bowed to the girls from the air.

  “We’ve heard of you, too, trickster,” Galahad growled. He and Percy stepped in front of the girls.

  “Then my reputation truly precedes me.”

  If she hadn’t been so unsure about the “trickster” in front of them, Aliana would’ve been tempted to laugh.

  “Are you the Puck from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream?” Lacy asked cautiously, staring at the creature.

  He bowed again with open, devilish delight. “Indeed. Dear old Willy knew how to make a guy famous!”

  “Why are you here?” Galahad growled. “You served the king of Avalon last I heard.”

  The strange-looking boy tsked. “Poor sir knight. I suppose it’s hard to keep up when you’re trapped in Sidhe amber.”

  Galahad took a step toward the kid, but Aliana grabbed his arm. “Don’t, Galahad.”

  “Then what is your purpose for interrupting our quest?” Arthur asked. His voice sounded bored, but he watched Puck intently.

  Puck lowered himself to just inches off the ground in front of Arthur. “Who says I’m interrupting you?” he asked with an arched white blond brow. “I’m here at my queen’s behest to lead you lot into the safety of Notien.” He bowed again before zipping back into the air, stopping above Aliana. He looked between her and her Dragon guardian. “Well, well, you’re certainly more in person, Destined One.”

  Aliana frowned. What did he mean by that?

  “We should be going, I think,” he announced with a loud clap of his orange hands. “The queen is not a patient Fae.”

  “We’re still some distance from the Summer Kingdom,” Leo said as Dagg lowered himself to Aliana’s shoulder. She could feel the Dragon’s tenseness, like he was ready to pounce.

  “Bah.” Puck scrunched his face. “You mortals. So boring. Puck has a much more fun way to travel.” He clapped his hands again.

  The sound echoed loudly, like they were in a mineral cave, and white gold lights encased the eight of them. The guys twisted, trying to find a way out of the magic surrounding them, but the light grew so bright they had to shield their eyes. Waves of electricity crackled over Aliana’s skin until she felt like she’d dissolve under the immense power. Then it stopped, and the white-hot light around them vanished.

  They stood in front of a towering tree that seemed to stretch all the way to the sky. It was wide enough to fit a cruise ship through. It twinkled in the sun with colored spots of lights, and a natural glow of ageless magic swirled around it like a wispy barrier.

  “Where are we?” Lacy asked in awe.

  “We’re at the entrance to the living palace of Notien. This is the home of the queen of the Fae and the Isle of the Blessed and Avalon,” Puck told them.

  He turned to the knotted wood door with his hands pressed together and head bowed. The twisted vines and branches shimmered and unwound until all that was left was a towering archway of a door. The girls, and even Owen, gasped in surprise.

  Puck grinned as he turned back to them. With a flourish and a bow, he said, “My Queen Titania bids you enter her great realm as her honored guests.” He straightened. “She has prepared a marvelous celebration tonight in honor of your arrival.”

  Arthur and the knights shared wary looks but followed Puck through the doorway. The whirling wisps of power slid over Aliana as she entered the palace, sinking into her core and blending with her own base of magic. The subtle boost had her gasping, and she fought to keep the new wildness contained under the control of her shields.

  “Don’t fight it,” Dagg told her from his perch on her shoulder. “Let it blend naturally. It will do what you want it to.”

  She relaxed, and the magic eased. “Wow, that’s a head rush.” She leaned into Galahad, and then pushed her way to the front of the group so she could talk to Puck as he led them through a long, glittering hall. The walls were covered with twisting tree roots and unnaturally large blooms.

  Before she could ask her question, Puck said, “It’s the Isle’s magic offering itself to you. The queen may explain it to you later.”

  They followed him through a great hall. These arching walls were made of more interwoven tree roots and blooms. The flowers’ scent filled the hall with a sweet aroma that seemed to soothe everyone. But the serenity only lasted for a moment before the guys shook their heads and gripped their weapons.

  “It’s more dangerous than it looks,” Dagg muttered.

  “That seems to be a common theme with Titania,” Aliana whispered as they followed Puck to a door lit by bright sunlight.

  “You’ve finally arrived,” a smoky voice rang through the hall, and a gust of wind blew, tossing the blooms. Titania, queen of the Fae, stood before them dressed in a royal purple dress with a thick, white belt inlaid with a pattern of emeralds and sapphires. The same design lined the collar of her dress, leaving her shoulders and neck bared to the glistening power surrounding her. Her copper ringlets were pulled back from her deceptively delicate face, flowing freely down her back. She was as beautiful as Aliana remembered from Avalon, and she seemed even more dangerous now than she had then. Instinctively, Aliana stepped closer to Galahad.

  “Welcome to my realm. You’ll rest here tonight before you continue on your quest to reclaim Excalibur,” the queen commanded.

  Arthur bowed to her. “We are honored by your warm greeting and to have been given such a celebration.”

  “But?” Titania questioned, a less than amused glint in her ey
es.

  Arthur and his men didn’t flinch under the Fae’s sparking emerald scowl. “We’re limited by a time restraint, as you must know. We must not delay.”

  The Fae made a humming sound as she looked over all of them. “You’ll join us for dinner at the least. You’ve had a trying couple of days. Surely you can do with a brief distraction before you continue. And I think fresh clothes and baths would also be in order. My realm may be a place of peace, but the land can still be harsh.” Aliana gulped when the queen’s familiar emerald eyes landed on her. “I would like to take this time to celebrate the Destined One. She’s accomplished much and should be celebrated for it.”

  Galahad’s hand tightened on Aliana’s, his body curving slightly around her as Arthur took a subtle step in front of her.

  “There’s no need for that,” the queen said, her sultry voice turning to frost. “None of you are in any danger here.” She clapped her hands twice, and four Fae girls entered the otherwise deserted great hall. “Show my guests to their rooms and see that their every need is met.”

  The four girls bowed low, their eyes never leaving the floor as they came over. They looked no older than sixteen years old by human standards and were dressed in plain green dresses. Numerous kinds of flowers and leaves were woven into their pink hair. When they finally raised their eyes, Aliana noticed that they had a faint tint of blue under their skin.

  One of the girls gestured to Leo and Owen, and after a nod of approval from Arthur, the two knights followed the girl out of the hall. Another girl led Lacy and Percy, and the other two asked Arthur and Galahad to follow them.

  “What about Aliana?” Galahad asked.

  The queen smiled, but Aliana couldn’t see any warmth. All she saw was a schemer’s grin. Dagg shifted slightly on her shoulder, his folded wing brushing against Aliana’s spine through her shirt. “I’ll see to the Destined One myself,” Titania said. “Don’t look so worried. It isn’t in my interest to harm her. I brought her into life, after all.”

  Aliana gasped. She knew Titania had created the prophecy that had set this quest in motion, but to say that Aliana was alive because of her…

  “What do you mean, your Majesty?” Arthur asked. Neither man had yet moved from Aliana’s side.

  “All will be explained in time,” the Fae assured them. “Now you’ll go with my servants and will see Aliana, safe and healthy, at the feast. Her guardian will be with her, after all.”

  “Aliana, are you okay with this?” Arthur asked.

  For some reason, despite being terrified of the Fae queen, Aliana knew she wasn’t in any danger. “It’s okay guys,” she said. “I’ll see you both later.”

  Galahad looked like he was about to protest, but Aliana shook her head and kissed his hand. After a tense moment, her two warriors reluctantly let themselves be led from the great hall by the Fae servants.

  “They’re very protective of you.” Titania moved to Aliana’s side. “That’s good.”

  “I’m not really sure what you want me to say to that,” Aliana said, taking the chance that the Fae wouldn’t obliterate her for taking such a straightforward tone with her.

  The queen smiled ruefully. “I see you still have your spirit. That’s good too. You’ll need it before your quest reaches its end.”

  Aliana gulped down the lump that rose in her throat. She reached up and scratched Dagg behind his ears, hoping the distraction would relax her. “Why did you want me alone?” she asked as she followed the queen down an empty hall toward a small patch of vines that looked like a large birdcage.

  “I want to speak to you. We didn’t get much of a chance in Avalon.”

  Aliana gulped again. What could a Fae queen possibly have to talk to her about?

  “Don’t fret, my daughter,” Titania assured her with a small laugh. “I only wish to give you a gift.” With a wave of her hand, the branches receded, creating an opening in the cage.

  Titania motioned for Aliana to enter. Shoring up her courage, she followed the Fae queen’s lead and stepped into the cage. The branches reappeared, and the cage smoothly rose from the ground, shooting toward the top of the tree castle.

  “You have elevators?” Aliana asked, incredulous.

  The Fae laughed. “We’ve used these kinds of lifts for much longer than the humans have known of them.”

  The branch elevator stopped about halfway up the tree and opened. They stepped into another hall with tree root walls and beautiful pink blooms. Aliana had never seen anything like these flowers before, and she automatically pulled out her camera and snapped several pictures.

  “They’re cynder flowers, and they only grow here on the Isle of the Blessed,” Titania informed her.

  The flowers almost looked like the water lily Aliana had seen over a month ago, just before she found Avalon. Scrolling through the photos, she followed the queen silently, with many thoughts running through her head.

  “Here is your room.” Titania stopped in front of a green marble door. “Your blond friend is just down there.” She pointed to a red marble door. Titania placed her hand on the green door, and the stone slid soundlessly out of her way.

  “Wow!” Aliana gasped.

  “All you need do is place your hand on the surface and it will open. My servants have drawn a bath for you, and you’ll find new clothes—a dress for tonight and a traveler’s ensemble made of the finest materials in all the realms.”

  “Thank you,” Aliana said.

  Dagg leaped from her shoulder and explored the white and pink tinted room. Dozens of tiny white lights glowed in the woven wall.

  “Those are Fae lights, a gift of my tree palace’s great magic. They light the entire city.”

  Aliana took more pictures of the room and the glittering lights. She even took a few shots of the queen. “They’re beautiful.”

  Titania nodded and gripped Aliana’s shoulder. She looked up at the queen, surprised by the contact. Hundreds of tingling pricks ran through her body; something in Titania’s touch called to her.

  “Here is my gift to you.” The queen held out an upturned palm upon which sat a blood red ruby the size of a quarter.

  Aliana’s eyes were drawn to the gem, and she couldn’t look anywhere else. Power spun in its depths as if the stone was a living thing with its own blood and life. Without thinking, she reached out and touched it. Magic zapped her fingers, and the stone jumped from the queen’s hands, rising to eye level. The ruby started to spin like a top, and Aliana reached out and grabbed it with her right hand. The stone burned her palm, but before she could do more than gasp, the pain vanished and so did the stone.

  Aliana turned her shaking hand over, searching for the ruby. A red glow emanated from the top of her hand, slowly circling her fingers, hand, and wrist. When the light faded, a white silk finger bracelet was hooked around her middle finger. It spread like a web across the back of her hand to circle her wrist. The queen’s ruby was set in the center of the glove. It felt hot atop her skin. The jewel’s great power flowed through her, twining with the tree’s magic and her own.

  Dagg swooped to grab her camera when it fell from her numb fingers. Aliana stumbled side to side, trying to ease the overwhelming magic. “I don’t understand,” she finally said breathlessly as the power settled.

  “This is no ordinary ruby. It was created when I bound Arthur’s life to the lives of all his knights. The prophecy was created with magic from the Grail of Power and Avalon, the blood of the Druid, that of King Arthur and his men, and the power of my blood.” The queen looked at the silver Dragon hovering beside Aliana. “It created Lord Daggerhorne and it fashioned your magic and your destiny. Its power has always been in you, dormant until you needed it.”

  “Where was that magic when my parents died?” Aliana demanded. “I needed this magic then. I could’ve saved them!”

  The queen shook her head, no trace of pity in her eyes. “What happened was always meant to happen. Having magic then would’ve made no difference. The peo
ple who raised you would still have died that day. It was their destiny and yours.”

  Aliana turned away, biting her lip hard to stop from saying something that would very much piss off this crazy, powerful ruler. Dagg settled onto her shoulder again and helped calm her rage.

  “There’s something else you need to know about the ruby,” the queen continued as if nothing had happened. “While its magic is a part of you, the gem is its own power. It cannot ever be taken from you until the prophecy is complete. It will also give you enhanced magic.” She held out her hand to Aliana. “Give me your bow and arrows.”

  Reluctantly, Aliana did so. The arrows vanished the moment the queen touched them. She took the bow in one hand and ran her other over the polished wood. Streams of glittering magic covered the bow before absorbing into the wood. Aliana watched in unbelieving fascination as the bow transformed into a glossy, black weapon. Decorative flares sprouted from its handle.

  The Fae queen held the bow out to Aliana. “Your bow will no longer require plain arrows. The magic from the ruby gauntlet will provide you with magic ones. You can shape the power to your will and it will take whatever form you wish it to.”

  Aliana gingerly took the bow, turning it over in her hands. It was hard like plastic but was clearly more than that. And, she noticed, there was no bowstring.

  “Hold the bow and imagine you’re nocking an arrow.”

  Holding the weapon up, Aliana placed her right hand where the string should’ve been. She pictured an arrow of sparkling energy in her hand, and as she drew back, her glove responded, and a pink, pure magic arrow formed.

  Gasping, Aliana relaxed her hand and the arrow vanished. “Unreal!”

  The queen wore a broad smirk. “These are my gifts to you, my Destined One. May they serve you well on your quest to save all the realms.”