Microsoft Word - LadyPendragon

by test

  “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. He gently removed the gold circlet holding her hair back, and let out a husky groan as her copper-gold waves fell forward, haloing her face. Then he gently tucked her hair behind her ears with his deft fingers. She caught his one hand and kissed it gently.

  He drew his breath in sharply. “Your ears. “ His remark startled Molly, and she quickly placed her hand up to feel her ears with her fingers. She smiled as she realized the enchantment that normally shielded them from human eyes had dropped away, since Collin had become her husband, fully realizing who and what she was.

  “Yes, I know. I have faerie ears. When I was little, my mother used to tell me that they were a special gift given to me by my father. I never truly understood what she meant. The man that I believed to be my father until I was twelve years old was always distant and aloof with me.

  When I discovered that Arthur was my father, I believed that it was a gift from him. But now, since I’ve discovered that my mother is faerie herself I realize that in all probability the trait was passed on to me from her. If it makes you uncomfortable…I can—” He silenced her with a kiss.

  Then, Collin bent and kissed each point of her ear. “I am quite enchanted by them,” he murmured.

  “If I hadn’t bound your powers…you, too, would have had Elvin ears. “ She waited on baited breath, and opened her eyes to study his reaction. He blinked, but no anger lit his eyes.

  “I don’t blame you for doing what you thought was right at the time. In hindsight…I wish you hadn’t…but my love for you is strong enough to weather anything. “ She began breathing again at his declaration.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 145

  She had never lain with a man like this before. She’d always had her hunting and her other duties as head of the High Order to perform. Coupled with that was the fact that a man had never captured her heart before. But ever since she had heard Collin’s voice on the mobile, she had known that she wanted and needed this warm-blooded man in her bed.

  Sunlight spilled into the room, as Molly made their clothes magically disappear. She was too impatient to wait any longer. She’d waited fifteen hundred years for this moment, and though she was now back in her eighteen-year-old self, it didn’t matter one bit. She’d love Collin until her dying day, or his dying day, as it seemed more probable that he would die before she would.

  He skimmed his hands over her body, and had she not known better she could have sworn that he had a magic touch. Her arousal was making it hard for her to think straight. When he slipped one finger inside of her, and then added another, she nearly writhed right off of the bed. Her own magic pulsed out from her, and lit the dying fire in the hearth. She struggled to control her rioting magic before she made anything explode. He pressed his lips to hers once again, and then lowered his mouth to her breasts. The fire inside of her was burning as brightly as the one in the giant fireplace.

  “Molly, my heart is yours,” he murmured, as he joined their bodies. His penetration caught her unaware, and for one brief second she nearly cried out, but as the pain ebbed, she could only think of the glory of their lovemaking. She wanted him more than anything else in the world. He brought her to the brink of ecstasy, and then hurtled her right over the edge.

  “My heart is yours as well. You are the light in my life,” she murmured, as he found his own release. She snuggled into his arms as they brought the bedclothes up to cover their bodies.

  Entwined in each other’s arms, they fell asleep. But Molly’s sleep was not to be as peaceful as she would have liked.

  “Molly. “

  She whirled around at the familiar voice and saw Merlin standing, or rather leaning heavily on his wizard’s staff.

  “Lord Merlin,” she gasped. She tried to move forward, her feet would not budge one inch. They were rooted to the spot for some reason. Had she been transported once more into the dreamscape?

  “Watch what is to come, my dearest girl,” he murmured, leveling his piercing blue gaze upon her.

  They stood on the cliffs that were a far distance away from Tintagel. Wild waves crashed upon the shore below, as gulls whined above them. Starlight glittered down upon them, and the slivers of light from the moon danced shadows around them.

  “Whatever do you mean? Merlin, why haven’t you come back to us?” She balled her hands into fists.

  “It is not time. “ His words gave her little comfort. Suddenly, she heard the sounds of battle as the peaceful scene before her eyes transformed dramatically.

  Tintagel was being besieged. Hundreds upon hundreds of Lord Cardan’s minions were storming the castle. They looked like an evil horde sprung from the very depths of hell. Heavy rain fell around them, making the fighting conditions even more unbearable.

  “What is this? Merlin, what have you done?” Her eyes roamed over the battle scene.

  “No,” she muttered. She could see Collin in the fray of battle, and winced as he plunged his blade into a vampire.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 146

  The vampire literally exploded and spewed dust all over Collin. For the first time, she noticed that Collin was still carrying Anwyn. And then she saw herself.

  A band of vampires had surrounded her, and they were converging upon her. Collin was trying to fight his way to her, but he would not arrive in time. Excalibur sang in her hands, as pure magic pulsed out of her. Without a magical gesture of any kind, she had somehow managed to take down about fifty vampires without breaking a sweat.

  She searched wildly for her Light Bearers and found them. Bile rose in her throat as she caught sight of something that caused her to fall to her knees, and cry out in anguish. Adria had been hit with three poisoned arrows. Blood gushed out of her wounds onto the wet and muddy ground. In one heart stopping second, Molly’s world completely crumbled around her. For as death came to claim Adria; fate came to steal Collin away from her. Nausea gripped her in its debilitating hold. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t even move to wipe them away. Fear paralyzed her.

  Branden was caught between the two, and the fighting form of herself had gone into a berserker rage. She tore down Lord Cardan’s men as she made a path to where Collin was standing in absolute shock.

  He reached out for her, and she raced to him, but didn’t quite reach him in time. Her fingers enclosed around thin air, as he disappeared altogether.

  Her anguished cry mingled with Branden’s creating an Earthquake effect. Almost all of Lord Cardan’s minions were destroyed. And then raining down on them from the sky were about two-dozen black dragons. Fire engulfed Tintagel. Shrieks filled the air, and the stench of burning flesh added to the misery. Lord Cardan and Lady Gwynne rode the two dragons that were in the lead. Tintagel Castle and the peaceful kingdom of Camelot would soon be no more.

  Molly turned away. She could not bear to watch anymore. They would most certainly be defeated. Camelot would fall beneath the darkness. And the entire timeline would be changed, for the worse.

  “You must travel to the Snowdon Mountains in Wales. Once there, you must seek out Clan Rowan. They are the only ones that will be able to help our cause. Make sure that you tell them that their friend Merlin has sent you. Molly, I am trusting in you to convince them to join our cause. If they do not, our cause will be a lost one. “

  Merlin walked backward as he stared tenderly at her. “You cannot leave me, not now!

  Damn you, Merlin!” She shook her fist at him.

  “If the course of the wind changes, I shall be there, by your side. “ He continued to walk further and further away from her.

  “I do not know of this clan. Who are they, and how can they shift the tide of the battle? I don’t understand! I’m sick of this cloak and dagger stuff, Merlin. I want answers!” She fought against the ancient magic that was holding her to her spot, and reached her arms out toward Merlin.

  “Then it is time to introduce yourself. Embrace the legacy of your ancient forefathers,”

&nb
sp; he murmured, winking at her. With that, he vanished in a plume of white smoke. Desperation stole into her being. Pain pulsed against her temples.

  She awoke with a start, and sat straight up in bed. By the position of the sun, she had only slept for a few hours. Fortunately for her she was half faerie, or she would not be able to survive the ordeal that lay before her. She shivered, and heard Collin mutter something in his sleep. She leaned down, and kissed his forehead. She would protect him.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 147

  She had to go down to the council room, and study the scrolls that Merlin had given her.

  She knew where the Snowdon Mountains were, but she needed to examine the scrolls before she marched blindly off.

  She snapped her fingers. A rich gown of the deepest crimson appeared on her. Then she added a snowy white fur-lined cloak to her outfit, and clasped it with a gold jewel encrusted brooch that had been given to her by her mother. She would leave Anwyn with Collin, and instead carry Excalibur. She slipped off of the bed, and grimaced as it creaked. She pulled on soft and supple leather boots that would keep her feet warm and well protected. She checked herself in front of a mirror, and marveled at how much of a winter princess she resembled.

  So intent was she on her new quest that she didn’t even realize that Collin had awakened from his slumber. His eyes followed her, as she reached for the scrolls and slipped out the door.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 148

  Chapter Nineteen

  Molly stared over at her father’s empty throne chair, and tapped her fingers restlessly on the grand Round Table. The council would meet soon, and she would tell them of her quest for Clan Rowan.

  Adria slipped into the magically protected circular room first. She sat down in the chair next to Molly’s, and sighed.

  “You should be sitting in King Arthur’s place. “ Adria’s voice was dulled by fatigue and worry.

  “I shall never take my father’s place. I haven’t given up on him, yet,” she murmured, untying the ribbon that held the scrolls together. The parchment unfolded, and began singing.

  The song was loud and beautiful. Images danced before her eyes on the map. Just then a billow of ruby red smoke rose up from the map, and solidified into the form of a dark haired, golden-eyed man. The man sat cross-legged in the center of the Round Table. He wore gowns of the deepest sky blue. Her mouth gaped open.

  “Greetings. “ He stared at them, and Molly chanced to glance over her shoulder at the people that were filing into the council room.

  “Who are you?” Molly asked, somewhat dreading the answer. Light Bearers and Knights settled themselves around the table. Even though strange occurrences were commonplace in Tintagel, this still made her father’s knights shift uneasily in their chairs. Her Lady Knights on the other hand merely leaned forward and perused the man with unabashed interest.

  “I am your guide. The name is Puck. “ He grinned at her.

  Molly groaned, resisting the urge to slam her head against the Round Table. Puck. Why had he been sent as her guide? Didn’t Merlin realize that he was a mischief-maker of the worst sort? Hell, even Lachlan didn’t hold a candle to Puck. But she had to be content with what had been sent to her. Like it or not, she needed Puck’s guidance.

  “If you are indeed my guide, then you shall be able to take me to the Clan Rowan. They are hidden deep within the Snowdon Mountains of Wales, and I have no way of finding them. “

  “Ah, yes, the cursed Clan of Rowan. “ Puck scratched his chin thoughtfully, and turned his attention when the door to the council chamber opened once again, this time admitting Collin. “Haven’t we met before?” Puck tilted his head, and bounced up and down.

  Collin stood staring at Puck as if he had grown another head.

  “Never mind, I do believe I’m getting my timelines mixed up again. Time can be quite tricky, even with someone as able as I am on the watch. Why, the timelines can branch off in several different directions…the Tree of Time can be awfully hard to keep track of, you know. “

  He laughed, and began levitating himself off of the table. “You ask much of me, Lady Pendragon. “ He turned himself around so that he was staring boldly at her.

  “You were the one that emerged from the scrolls. I certainly didn’t ask for you, Puck. “

  He raised his eyebrows.

  “You do have an endless supply of spunky tenacity, don’t you? Ah, yes, so I did emerge from the scrolls…but whether you realize it or not, it was your need that summoned me.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 149

  Wonderful entrance, wasn’t it? But alas, I do not come with the scrolls. Nay, I’m merely an old friend of Merlin’s. He asked me to help you…so I took some time out of my hectic schedule by multiplying a few more versions of myself. As it is, I’m spread rather thin right now, if you know what I mean. “

  “Puck,” Branden said, magically popping into the room. Adria’s eyes were immediately drawn to him, and Molly couldn’t help but notice how nothing else seemed to matter to Adria when the Elvin prince was around.

  “Your Highness,” Puck murmured, standing up in mid-air and bowing so low that he had to do a front flip.

  “We don’t need you at the moment,” Branden snapped out.

  “You wound me, your highness!” Puck placed his hand across his heart, in a dramatically wounded gesture. Puck’s dark eyes narrowed.

  “As I said, the last thing we require is a trouble maker like you around. “ Molly stared from Faerie to Elf and couldn’t quite decide which one seemed to resonate more power. She felt a headache coming on.

  “I may be mischievous. But I am certainly not evil. Lord Cardan took something from me recently, and I aim to see that I get it back. I know of this Clan Rowan that you seek; you shall require me to guide you to their inner sanctum. Let’s just say I’m your secret password to gain admission. “

  “I, too, know of the ancient Clan,” Branden said, settling himself into the seat next to Adria’s. Collin still stood by the door, seemingly unsure of whether or not to venture further.

  “Aye, you know of the Clan Rowan, but have you ever met them? I have. And, if I may be so bold as to remind you, I’ve spent a great deal of time in the human realm. “

  “Earth,” Molly muttered.

  “Is that what you’re calling it these days,” Puck said, scratching his head.

  The mortal non-magical Knights murmured amongst themselves and gesticulated toward Puck.

  “I assume these mortals can be trusted with the secrets of magic, or the old ways as you humans might call them?”

  Puck stared at Molly and waited impatiently for a reply.

  “They most certainly can. I doubt that anything you say would surprise them…we don’t exactly lead normal lives around here,” she answered, darting a curious gaze toward Collin.

  “Ah, yes, Sir Collin, the Honorable. “ Puck chuckled. He rose high up in the air and took on the stance of a noble knight. Stars flooded the room, and if Molly didn’t know for certain that it was early morning, with the sun shining brightly, she would have believed that night had suddenly fallen. In a flash of movement, Puck resumed his former position, and cleared his throat.

  “Before we set off on our quest to Wales, you must know of a few important facts pertaining to the Rowan Clan. “ He stood up straighter and doffed Oxford professor robes.

  “Please, enlighten me. “ Molly waved her hand in an inviting gesture, and leaned forward on her seat. Puck gave her a deep bow, and cleared his throat.

  “Where to begin…” Puck started, pulling on the front of his robes. He tried to look stern but gave up after a few moments. Molly missed Lachlan. At least she knew how to predict Lachlan’s next move. In this present game of chess, Molly didn’t know what to do. The next move could cost her a king.

  LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 150

  “Molly,” Branden cautioned. Puck whistled, and grinned mischievously. In one blink of an eye, Puck had grown in size
and shape-shifted into a red dragon. Molly slapped her forehead.

  “Show off,” she muttered, rolling her eyes heavenward.

  Gasps ran through the council chamber as knights drew their swords and her Light Bearers summoned their magic.

  “Hold,” Molly commanded. If they thought they had been duped then they were way off.

  This was only one of Puck’s age-old tricks. Fortunately, they all refrained from attacking Puck.

  “Have you never wondered why Arthur carries the banner of the Red Dragon, or wondered why your surname is Pendragon?” Puck asked, billowing smoke out of his enlarged nostrils. He rested his dragon chin on his giant-sized paw, and summoned a large toothpick to pick his teeth with.

  Molly shook her head, and stared up thankfully at Collin, when he moved to stand behind her. He rested his hand on her shoulder, and she reached up to clasp it tightly.