by LH Nicole
She and Owen shared dark brown curly hair, bright green deep-set eyes, and a fair complexion. Aliana stood at five feet eight inches, tall for a girl, and her cousin was just under six feet, more bulk than trim, not that he wasn’t in great shape. Owen loved to swim and it showed. Aliana had always been on the chubby side as a child, but in the last few years since she’d taken up nature and travel photography, she’d gotten herself into better shape, out of necessity as much as desire. Climbing mountains, traveling through jungles, and diving in deep waters required a certain level of fitness.
“Aliana, did you hear anything I just said?” Owen’s thick British accent snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Um…”
He sighed again. “All right, we can reschedule, but please take care out there! And ring me when you’re on your way back. Maybe we can have dinner together instead.”
After assuring him she’d be okay, they said their goodbyes, and she packed up the last of her camera gear—tripod, several lenses, a speed flash, and a remote trigger. She thought about the only other guy in her life she cared about. Wade. He and his sister, Lacy, were two of her closest friends, more like her own siblings, really. Their parents had been best friends so they had spent a lot of time together while growing up.
Wade and Lacy had come to London a week after Aliana had first arrived when Lacy had scored a study-abroad internship with a posh party-planning firm in London—it was her way of technically putting off starting college. Lacy was perfect for the job, and Wade, being the protective big brother that he was, had insisted on going with her. Luckily for Wade, there was a Kung-Fu master in London with whom he’d been wanting to study, so he had a justifiable reason to go other than just looking out for Lacy and Aliana. But they were missing one member of their “musketeer band”—their other best friend, Dawn Anson. Aliana wished again that her absentee almost-sister was with them. Fortunately, Wade and Lacy had hit it off with Owen pretty quickly.
Aliana was still thinking about her “family” when she finally reached the large forest just a couple of hours from her flat.
Well, this all looks singularly like my dream, she thought as she made her way through the tall trees, being sure to keep track of her progress in the small notebook she always carried. She wasn’t sure why she’d chosen the path she did, but the pull to follow it had been undeniable, and with each step and turn she took, her hope of finding Avalon grew and grew.
“But…why does England have to have so much damn mist?” she mumbled.
Pausing to check her GPS, Aliana pulled out a small notebook and marked her spot on the map she’d made. After an unfortunate incident in the mountains of China not long ago, she’d become paranoid about getting lost when traveling by herself. Fortunately, she wasn’t likely to run across anything more dangerous than a snake in these woods.
“Then again, considering how much I hate snakes, that could still be pretty bad.” Tucking the notebook back into her pack, she reconsidered for a moment. The path she’d chosen had become nothing more than a dirt trail that the forest was trying to reclaim. She’d already tripped over two roots and gotten tangled in the foliage.
Worse still, fog had started rolling through several yards back, and the deeper she went, the thicker it became. Suppressing a slight shiver, she pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and kept walking.
She stopped to rest a little later, set her camera and pack on a nearby stone, and took a drink of water from her bottle. She pulled her nearly waist-length hair into a high ponytail and went deeper into the forest.
Finally, the fog broke, and Aliana turned on her camera. Just because the mist was annoying didn’t mean it couldn’t provide great ambiance for a picture. As it thinned, a path appeared between a wall of rock and a boulder that was almost completely covered in glittering green moss.
The fog rolled and swirled gently over the path, playfully lapping at the sides of the rock wall and boulder. Pushing through the underbrush, Aliana set her tripod and focused on the wall of rock. It wasn’t until she gazed through the viewfinder that she saw it—a hanging vine with a single white flower.
The sunlight broke through the trees, shining rays of light across the bloom. Automatically, her finger depressed the shutter button, capturing the shot, but she couldn’t breathe. The flower looked just as it had in her dream. Detaching her camera, she haphazardly shoved the tripod back into her pack before hurrying over.
The bloom was a white water lily with a pink stamen.
“That’s not right.” She studied it more closely. “Water lilies have yellow centers and they definitely don’t grow on hanging vines.” She stopped before touching the silky petals. What if she was losing her mind and just seeing things? Would the bloom vanish if she tried to touch it?
“This is crazy! I’m scared to touch a flower.” With a huff, she reached out, brushing the silky petals. A soft, bubbly current trickled through her. Her jaw dropped, and her body went numb. Pink lights sparkled around her, disappearing into her skin as quickly as they’d come. A pressure settled lightly in her chest.
Aliana studied the bloom for a moment before making a more detailed inspection of the area around her. Rays of sunlight now broke through the forest, lighting the trees, leaves, and patches of moss. When the light hit the fog, still lazily swirling about, it sparkled like diamonds. The beauty was beyond picture perfect, but it was more than that. It was like there was a power opening her eyes, allowing her to see in greater detail and more vibrant colors than ever before.
“If this is a dream, I’m going to be ticked,” she mumbled.
She glanced back to the flower hanging against the rock, hearing the voices from her dream again. But a small, lingering doubt plagued her. How could any of this truly be real? Maybe her mind was lying to her, like her parents had.
Photography was the one thing that would never lie to her. A raw photo couldn’t hide anything from her; it was pure and untainted. An exact replica of what she saw. And sometimes it even revealed what she hadn’t seen on her own. Everyone loved to tease her that she lived through her camera. It went everywhere with her.
A sheer sense of joy and excitement engulfed her as she took in the beauty around her. The trees were covered in lush, green leaves, and ivy climbed their trunks. Small blooms hung from random branches, scenting the air with a mix of delicate floral and morning dew.
Even if she had wanted to, Aliana couldn’t turn back now. She was meant to be here, to find the cave covered in vines and flowers. Walking past the boulder and small flower, keeping her camera at the ready, Aliana continued on her path. She hesitated when she came to a split in the trail, but the little pink lights appeared, guiding her way, and without another thought, she continued.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d been walking, but with every passing turn and hill, excitement quickened her pace. She had to be getting close to whatever was pulling at her. After a yard or two, Aliana came to yet another hill. Turning to snap a couple pictures of the path behind her, she caught a noise in the distance—a waterfall!
She sprinted up the hill and was shocked by what she found. There, ten meters in front of her, was a lake larger than most football fields being fed by a waterfall more stunning than any she’d ever seen. The falling water glittered like gems in the sunlight, creating a mist that spread out over the lake.
Coming to the water’s edge, she kneeled down, skimming her fingers across the glistening surface. The water was refreshingly chilled even with the sun shining down on it. She stood up, examining the lake. The waterfall wasn’t very high, and it poured over an expanse of slate protruding from the sides of a short cliff. There, she saw them—deep green vines with white blooms swaying in the breeze created by the falling water, covering the entrance to a cave.
“No freaking way!” She quickly made her way around the edge of the lake toward the cave. “It’s real.” Excited giggles tickled the back of her throat and her heart raced. This is exactly what was in my drea
m!
But by the time she reached her destination, doubt began to plague her. Absently chewing on her lip, she let her camera hang by her side while she studied the vines for a few moments. Picking up her camera, she snapped several pictures of the cave, and then checked her view finder; it couldn’t deceive her. Her hands trembled as she looked through the pictures. Everything was there. It was real.
She took a step forward, then another. Reaching out a shaking hand, she brushed aside the veil of vines. The only light penetrating the darkness of the cave came from behind her.
“Stop being such a sissy, Li!” she scolded herself. Before she could change her mind, she reached into her pack and pulled out several pieces of rope. Gathering the vines, she tied them back like curtains, letting the sun’s light shine freely into the hollow.
Grabbing her pack, she made her way into the deep cave. After a few turns, the light she’d let through was almost gone, bringing old fears surging to life. Keeping a tight hold on her emotions, she pulled out her cell phone, praying it still had a flashlight app. After what seemed like endless moments, the app activated and her phone lit the cave. Holding the shining beacon in front of her, she carefully made her way through the cave, making sure to watch where she stepped.
“Please don’t let any beasties be living in here,” she prayed. She flashed the beam from her phone onto the walls and floor, paranoid and searching for any kind of creature hiding in the dark.
Something scraped against the wall off to the left. She spun around, her light carefully held in front of her. It was only a mouse. She let out a breath as the creature gave a squeak and ran away from the light.
Laughing at her own foolishness, she resumed her trek. She walked for another ten minutes until she saw light ahead. She clicked off her cell and headed toward the light at a faster pace, finally reaching the exit. Wildflowers and rich grass stretched from the cave’s opening all the way to the forests, which continued to the foot of the snow-kissed mountains hiding this amazing oasis from prying eyes.
Immediately, she picked up her camera and started capturing the scenery around her. Walking further into the valley, she saw a pond off to her left. Next to it was a white and blue tent that looked like it was made of creamy silk. It reminded her of something from Arabian Nights.
Uncertain what to do, she gazed at the pond. It wasn’t very large, but its bright blue waters looked clean and refreshing. She backed up and took several shots of the tent and pond, picturing a beautiful woman lounging here, waiting for her beloved to join her. Moving closer to the pond, she set aside her pack and ran her fingers across the water. Ripples expanded out from where her hand touched the surface. As the tiny waves drew closer to the center of the pond, bubbles began to burst from beneath the water.
Biting back a yelp, she jerked her hand away from the pond and stood. A moment later, a small patch of blue appeared beneath the waves, pushing its way out of the water.
Not a patch, she realized—hair!
A woman rose from beneath the pond’s surface, her tresses flowing elegantly around her heart-shaped face. Her skin was as pale as snow, and her almond-shaped eyes were as blue as the depths of the ocean and surrounded by thick, coal black lashes. Her dress was the palest of blue, draping off her shoulders and hips in perfect Grecian style. Strips of silk laced with pearls formed sleeves, and she wore a long, beaded sash around her waist.
The beautiful woman floated above the water, studying Aliana as carefully as Aliana was studying her.
“So, the Destined One has found her way home.” Her voice was like twinkling bells, soft and feminine. She dipped into a curtsy. “Welcome to Avalon. It is a great joy to see you and to know that you will soon awaken the sleeping king. I am most eager to gaze upon and converse with him again.”
“Who…who are you?” Aliana asked.
The woman giggled a bell-like laugh. “I am Deidre, a Water Nymph. My clan has guarded the watery gates of Avalon since the beginning.” She glided toward Aliana, sighing when her feet settled on the lush grass.
Aliana’s thoughts turned to the Arthurian mythoi, trying to determine who she was talking to, and she recalled one of the most well-known characters of the legends. Could she really be standing right in front of her? Talking to her? “The Lady of the Lake,” she murmured, her cheeks flushing.
“Indeed.” Deidre giggled again and gracefully made her way to the tent. “Come sit, Destined One.”
Still reeling, Aliana followed her into the tent, which was lined with soft, silky pillows, and sat on an overly large, cream-colored cushion. “My name is Aliana Fagan.” She stretched her hand out to the Nymph, but Deidre merely stared at it.
Embarrassed, Aliana pulled back and looked through the tent opening at the valley. She saw so many kinds of trees and plants she didn’t recognize. Focusing her gaze further out, she saw the mountains with their peaks shrouded in fluffy, white clouds. Something out there was calling to her.
“What is wrong, young one?” Deidre asked, her wide eyes curious.
“Nothing. Sorry. This is all just a little freak-out worthy. Why are you calling me ‘Destined One’?”
“Your coming has been foretold for centuries. Only the Destined One can wake the sleeping king.”
“Sleeping king? What king?”
The Water Nymph’s mouth opened wide as if to form a vowel sound, but Aliana cut her off.
“Do not say King Arthur!”
The Nymph smiled brightly. “Very well. I won’t, but that does not change the truth.”
“Okay, now I know this is all just some kind of crazy dream.” Aliana shifted her legs, preparing to stand, but Deidre stilled her when she reached over to pat her arm, like a mother placating a child. The Nymph’s hand was as cold and smooth as the water, and Aliana couldn’t deny that the sensation was real.
“Centuries ago, a prophecy was made, foretelling of the Destined One. She will come at the world’s greatest hour of need to awaken King Arthur and help return him and his knights to their rightful power and glory.”
“You can’t be serious! I’m a photographer, not a Knight of the Round Table. I can’t awaken King Arthur. I wouldn’t even know how or where to start!”
Deidre reached her hand toward Aliana’s forgotten bag. Little bubbles opened the flap, lifting out her notebook and placing it upon Aliana’s lap.
“I will show you the first part of your journey.” The notebook opened, and the Nymph’s eyes flashed white as she held her hand over the blank pages, whispering words in a language Aliana didn’t understand. Droplets of silvery water splashed onto the page before absorbing and spreading out.
The water turned to black ink, beginning to outline a map. Aliana’s outrage about the damaged pages vanished, her eyes going wide as the ink grew thicker, showing the Lady of the Lake’s valley surrounded by forests and mountains. A path formed, leading away from the mountains and through the forest, across to the next page. The path collided with what appeared to be the ruins of a tower near the banks of a stream. Part of Aliana finally started to accept that this was real. Magic did exist and so did Avalon! I wish you could see this, Papa.
“You must travel to the ruins of the Sidhe, then find and free both Loyalty and Magic before you can find the king.”
“I don’t understand—loyalty and magic? How am I supposed to free a virtue and something I didn’t know existed till now?”
“You must trust yourself!” Deidre chided softly. “You have found your way here, guided by the magic inside of you. This is your destiny. You cannot fight it. No one can.”
Aliana sighed and looked down at the completed map.
“Once you free them, Magic and Loyalty will guide you to the king. But I must warn you, if the Sidhe or any others on the side of darkness discover you before you reach the king’s resting place, you will not make it back to your world. You must take many precautions to protect yourself.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Aliana asked, getting to her
feet. “I’m still not even sure this is actually happening!” Her heart feared the truth, whatever it may be.
“Avalon is as genuine as your world, I assure you. Your arrival here is the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy.”
“How is it possible that this is all here but my father was never able to find it after all his research? With all our technology, that lake on the other side of the cave must be on a map somewhere!”
The Nymph giggled again. “Dear Aliana, only those who possess magic or have proven themselves worthy have the ability to find Avalon without help. All of your world’s technology is void of magic and life. It stands no chance of ever leading to the discovery of the mystical lands that share this planet.”
Aliana turned her head away, biting the inside of her cheek and giving herself a mental slap. Why me? I’m not anything special. “I’m sorry, Deidre, but you’ve got the wrong girl.” She snatched up her stuff and threw her pack over her shoulder before taking a few steps toward the cave, the map still in hand.
“And where will you go?” the Nymph asked, stopping Aliana’s march. “The moment you crossed over into Avalon, you signaled the start of the prophecy. You will never outrun your destiny. If you try, the consequences will be dire.”
Aliana turned back to the blue-haired woman, trying to figure out what to believe.
“Are you willing to let your self-doubt doom King Arthur and his men?”
The Nymph’s words burned at something in Aliana’s heart. There was no way she could accept that all of this was real, but…what if it was? After all of her father’s research, their grand adventure to find Avalon and Camelot, could she really just walk away, never knowing if what Deidre said was true?
With a deep sigh, Aliana asked, “Sidhe? I’ve read about them. They’re supposed to be some pretty nasty, dark fairy-like creatures or spirits, right?” Real or not, if Aliana was going to take this quest further, she needed to get as much information as possible.
“Yes, and they are more dangerous than you can imagine. Humans are far more susceptible to their dark magic than other creatures are. Once caught in their trap, no one can escape, not even you.” Deidre’s voice was solemn and troubled.
