by test
She slipped off of Wind Spirit’s back, and with halting steps she walked toward the ice-encrusted lake. The others followed her, as a deadly hush fell around them. No birds chirped, the rustling of the leaves had become still, and no lone wolf-cry could be heard. Nature had become frozen in time. She didn’t know much about the magic aura of nature but she knew enough to know that things had gone terribly awry.
She stopped in front of the lake and felt a horrified sob lodge in her throat. It could not be. She’d so been hoping that Galahad had been mistaken somehow. She unsheathed Excalibur, and its blade lit up with Elvin fire. Elvin blades were very useful. When one was in need of a torch, they did the job quite nicely.
She could hear Branden murmuring an Elvin prayer in his soft musical lilting voice, as the water faeries conglomerated together and began to follow Branden’s lead.
“We must be able to do something!” Adria cried. Adria drew Ely and dashed toward the frozen lake. Molly shook her head, Adria didn’t know what she was about to unleash.
“Adria…no!” Molly and Branden said in unison, as Adria held Ely aloft, and then plunged her blade down into the darkened ice.
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Adria let out an anguished scream as she was hurtled high in the air. Ely went flying out of her hand and went arcing downward. Collin deftly caught the Elvin blade, while Branden rushed to catch Adria. Molly was hot on Branden’s heels, as were the other Light Bearers.
“Are you hurt?” Molly asked, sheathing Excalibur. She surveyed Adria for any sign of blood. Her breath caught in her throat. As soon as her heart stopped skipping up into her mouth, she’d be fine.
She had to protect Adria at all costs. If Adria were to die a premature death, then Collin would disappear and hope for the future would be lost.
“I do not think that I am hurt,” Adria muttered, uncertainty entering her eyes. She began rubbing her sword arm. “It felt as if I had been hit by a lightning bolt. That gave me one hell of a shock. Molly, something is terribly wrong with Vivienne. “ Branden ran his hands over her, as healing magic began glowing from his fingertips. Molly was surprised to see that Adria didn’t fight Branden in any way…in fact, she almost seemed delighted by Branden’s gentle ministrations.
“Many thanks,” Adria whispered; her green eyes sparkled with tenderness. Molly knew that look all to well. Adria was falling in love. She didn’t know whether to be concerned that Branden and Adria were being united far before their time, or to rejoice that the two soul mates had found each other. What could this possibly mean for the future timeline? Moreover, what could this mean for Collin’s future? She was really concerned about that, in light of their new relationship. She couldn’t lose him, and she wouldn’t risk losing him.
“Are you able to stand?” Branden asked, offering his arm for support.
“Aye, with your assistance, I shall. “ Adria glanced at Molly and beamed. Molly thinned her lips and took a deep cleansing breath.
“The lake has been enchanted by powerful black sorcery,” Lady Bell, one of the water faeries said, as she came sailing down to stand beside them. “My faeries and I think that we may be able to break the spell, but if our counter charm does not work, then we shall require a miracle to save our Lady. “
Lady Seraide, another water faerie, came forward to stand beside Bell. “My Lady Mary, you and your Light Bearers would be better protected, if you moved to a safe distance. Your Highness,” Seraide said, bowing respectively to Branden. “We may be able to use your assistance. You have been born in the mystical Elvin lands; your pure-blooded magic may be able to further our cause. “ Branden reluctantly released Adria, and sauntered forward.
“Hail, Lady Seraide. I shall do whatever I may to help you and your sisterhood of Water Faeries,” Branden vowed, pressing his hand over his heart.
Something prickled at the back of Molly’s mind. This seemed to be the wrong course of action, though she doubted any of the faeries would heed her advice.
“Indeed, we thank you. Come, we must start the spell before the witching hour passes,”
Lady Seraide murmured.
Molly held up her hand for a moment of peace, and traipsed toward the Lake. She fell to her knees, then gently passed her hand over the darkened lake. It neither felt cold…or warm. It was a chilling sensation indeed.
Lady Vivienne was suspended beneath the water with her violet-blue eyes wide open.
Molly swallowed. The sight of her suspended beneath the water with her eyes peeled open spooked the shit out of her.
“They shall have you free in but a moment, my friend,” she whispered, as her hand began glowing with blue fire. She blinked her eyes, and shook her head. For one split-second, she LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 119
could have sworn that Vivienne had actually smiled encouragingly at her. Surely, her mind had begun to play tricks on her, beneath all of the strain.
“Come away from the lake, Molly,” Collin said, gently helping her to her feet and guiding her away from the lake.
“I have a weird feeling about this, Collin,” she whispered. “If Adria was repelled, what makes Lady Bell and Lady Seraide believe that their magic will prevail? It makes no sense. “
She shook her head adamantly, and leaned against Collin.
Lachlan had fallen peculiarly silent, and he had lit his pipe again. He and the rest of his warrior leprechauns seemed quite tense. She understood how they felt. The air crackled with uncertainty.
“I’d warrant we’ll be getting quite a show soon,” Lachlan said, between puffs. He stared at Molly with his moss-green eyes, and smiled softly.
The water faeries formed a circle with Branden placed in the middle. They joined hands, as globules of colorful light rose up around them. They summoned their magic. As their combined powers manifested and intensified, a large circular object resembling a wild whirlpool raced down toward the black Lake.
Molly didn’t like what they planned to do. She wanted to rush toward them and tell them to stop, but for some unexplainable reason, she became transfixed with the dazzling display.
Perhaps, magic could not be used to free Lady Vivienne. What if what they needed was something that only one of them possessed? She glanced toward Collin, and thought of the mortal sword he carried. Merlin worked in mysterious ways, but she had found over her years spent as his pupil, and friend, that his mysterious ways normally revealed their reason in the end.
A cold numbing sensation began to seep through her body.
“Stop!” she cried.
Lachlan stood up straighter and reached to rest his hand on the hilt of his sword. They exchanged one quick frantic glance. She could see in that glance that Lachlan had come to the same conclusion she had. He might have a tendency to run off at the mouth sometimes, but Lachlan was about as clever as they came.
“Saints preserve us, we shall be destroyed,” he murmured, his mouth gaped open. His eyes sparkled. “We will all be blown from here to kingdom come. “ Lachlan could be a smart ass at times, but he’d definitely inherited the cunning intelligence of his leprechaun forebears.
“Lachlan, I’m going to need your help, and your magic. “ She inched closer to him until they stood side by side.
“Ye have it, my friend. Lass, I’ve always known you’ve harbored a soft spot for me,” he winked, and then tried to pull off a convincing chuckle, but it sounded as hollow as a piece of driftwood.
“Collin, take my hand, you’ll have to be protected. As soon as that whirlpool of magic connects with the lake, there will be an explosion the likes of which you have never seen and if you aren’t given the proper protection you will be killed!”
“My warriors and I shall protect the water faeries. Prince Branden should not be harmed; he possesses magic the likes of which we shall never be able to understand. “ Lachlan flew into action, gesturing for his leprechauns to follow. Lachlan shouted out a few more orders, as the leprechauns quickly flew into formation. For once, she actu
ally thanked God for having Lachlan in her life.
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“We must keep the blast from destroying the nature around us. The concussive force of it may even affect Tintagel. My Light Bearers, unite. “ Her voice boomed out across the darkened landscape.
Morgause and Thaney joined their circle. Molly pushed Collin into the center of it, and told him to stay there. They couldn’t afford to lose him. They were all moving in fast-forward motion and she knew they had to look like blurs to Collin’s un-magical eye. Now she really wished, yet again, that she and the other members of the High Order hadn’t bound his powers at his birth.
“Prepare for a force that will nearly bring us to our knees,” she screamed above the sudden whistling noise that met her ears.
“The apple blossoms shall bloom,” Thaney muttered.
Molly stared at her in open-mouthed amazement, but she didn’t have time to question her cousin further. Thaney’s mixed up mutterings were going to be the death of her.
The whirlpool descended and collided with the lake. As she had suspected, the white faerie magic and the dark magic repelled each other. The resulting explosion was loud enough to deafen Molly. Her Light Bearers rocked from the blast, yet they held their positions. Their determination could not be swayed. Somehow, they managed to remain aloft. Weakened by the powerful onslaught, Molly heaved a shaky breath and heard the others do the same. She glanced toward the water faeries and noticed their stunned expressions, though they were unharmed, thanks to the leprechauns’ protective shield.
They slowly lowered their shields and she smiled, when she heard Lachlan’s happy voice.
“We did it, Molly,” he crowed, doing a backward somersault in the air. His legion of leprechauns let out a jubilant cheer. She couldn’t help but laugh herself. She hugged Collin and held him tightly.
Then, a rumbling that slightly resembled thunder could be heard across the landscape.
Feeling her heartbeat quicken, she stared questioningly into Collin’s eyes.
“Please, tell me that was either thunder or your hungry stomach?” He shook his head and her heart plummeted. She’d known she’d been grasping at straws.
The last sight she registered before being knocked to the ground was a multi-colored sphere of magic. She could see the dark magic and white magic mingling together, as each tried to triumph over the other. There was an echo of the blast from before, but this time it seemed much stronger.
“Form a shield,” she screamed, but they were too late.
The sphere of mixed magic hit them like a giant cannonball. Screams were heard everywhere, and Molly thudded against the ground. She tried to push herself up with her hand, but the effort was too much. Her head hit the grass, and her eyes met blackness.
* * * *
She fought her way out of a nightmare. She struck blindly at her invisible opponent and felt Anwyn humming in her hands. A spasm jolted through her body, and with a start, she awoke. She lifted her head, and groggily looked around her. Her eyes were bleary. The sky was still dark, meaning that not much time had passed.
She groaned and shakily pushed herself to her feet. The others were groaning as well, though she couldn’t find Collin. A shiver rushed through her and then she noticed that she no LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 121
longer wore her silk faerie cloak. It had somehow come off of her, and was lying over someone on the ground. She pulled it off of the motionless lump and gasped.
“Collin,” she cried, falling to her knees, and grasping his shoulders. Her touch awakened him and he fluttered his eyes open.
“Oh, my aching head,” he murmured, rubbing his temple. “Next time, remember to tell me to wear a helmet. “ She laughed, despite herself.
“You’re alive!” She threw her arms around him and smacked her lips against his cheek.
“Thank heavens!”
“Well, if I knew you’d be this happy to see me after almost meeting my maker, I’d try to get myself killed more often. It might just be worth it,” he joked, stroking her back.
“Okay, who put the lights out?” Lachlan groused, staggering toward them. “That was one hell of a blast. Does anyone else see stars?” he coughed. “Bless me lucky rainbow, I don’t think I’ll be walking right for a month. “
“Indeed,” Branden said, coming up behind Lachlan, fully supporting Adria’s weight. He had scooped her up into his arms. Molly narrowed her eyes at her old friend. Under any other circumstances, Adria would have grinned and bore it, but for some niggling reason, she was trying to play the damsel in distress. If it made Adria happy, then Molly would let her have her boon. But she didn’t like it one bit…if Branden couldn’t love Adria for what she truly was then he wasn’t ready to have her yet.
“How do you feel?” she asked Collin.
Lachlan let out a loud indignant snort. “Aye, I’m fine. Thank ye very much for yer concern. “ Lachlan rolled his eyes, and pulled out his pipe. “I feel like a pint of—”
“Don’t even think about it, Lachlan,” she chastised. She glanced at Collin and watched as he continued to rub his head.
“Come to think of it, I could go for a pint as well,” he grinned at Molly, and she resisted the urge to playfully swat him.
“If you are strong enough, I was thinking that you could use the sword that Merlin gave you to break the ice and free Lady Vivienne. Right now, it seems like it’s the only way. “
“If faerie magic didn’t work, what makes you think that my mortal strength will? Molly, I’ve seen how your magic works, it will triumph over my kind of magic any day. Hands down. “
“Lad, do ye have a brain in yer head?” Lachlan asked. Branden glared at Lachlan and had started to raise his hand, when Molly broke into his thoughts.
‘Don’t you dare, Branden. You just leave Lachlan alone. ’
“Yes, thank you, I do, Lachlan,” Collin answered, rising to his feet and swaying slightly.
“But I think it may have been a bit jostled just now. “ He grimaced, and reached for his sword.
“Tell me what to do, and I’m your man, Molly. “
“That’s right, you are,” Molly said, nodding her head and guiding him toward the lake.
“Do exactly what Adria did earlier. With all good fortune, your sword should shatter the ice. “ She released Collin, and folded her arms.
“With all good fortune, it will. Gee, that makes me feel so much better. “ He looked at her and rolled his eyes. “As it is, I’m beginning to think I’m not always blessed with an over-abundance of good fortune. “ He began muttering and turned his sword so the blade faced downward. “That’s just like wishing on a star. “ His scoff attracted Branden’s attention.
“Wishing on a star is a wise course of action when all hope is lost. “ Branden said wisely. Molly sighed. Obviously, Branden didn’t realize how far from the Elvin ways Collin had been raised.
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Collin grunted, and struck the ice with all of his might. The black ice shattered beneath his blade. Dark shards flew up into the air and popped out of existence. Molly breathed a sigh of relief and meandered over to place her hand in Collin’s.
In a flurry of motion, Lady Vivienne rose from the now blue depths of the lake. She sprayed water down upon them all, and Molly closed her eyes so that she could wipe the wetness from them. When her vision cleared, she looked back at Lady Vivienne.
The Faerie Queen was flying majestically in front of them. Molly’s voice lodged in her throat, as her brain finally comprehended what her eyes saw.
Lady Vivienne was wearing black robes, and her eyes had darkened to black onyx.
“Oh, no. This is so not good!” Molly muttered, feeling all sense of hope drain away from her. Collin had just unleashed a monster; for Lord Cardan had poisoned the Lady of the Lake.
LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 123
Chapter Sixteen
“Insipid Fools!” Lady Vivienne bellowed, her voic
e echoing across the land. “You have incited the rage of Queen Vivienne!”
“Ugh, Molly, I don’t think this was such a great idea,” Collin said, as they backed away from Lady Vivienne. Everyone stood paralyzed by fear. Never had Molly seen something so grotesquely heartbreaking. Lady Vivienne had turned as evil as she had once been good. Molly licked her lips and tried to keep her hands from shaking. She had been scared before, but never had she been filled with such a sense of hopelessness. They couldn’t stand against the might of Queen Vivienne no matter how hard they tried.
The landscape around them began changing. Leaves fell off of the blossoming trees, and charcoal-colored snow fell from the darkened sky.
Molly blew a large snowflake off her nose, as her mind raced to come up with a way of either defeating Lady Vivienne or choosing a course of action that she had never considered before. She didn’t want to run, but if it came to that, she would tell everyone to hightail it back toward Tintagel, where maybe they could mount a plan of defense. She would stay and try to hold Vivienne off for as long as she was able.
