~Vermont, USA~
“Mom,” Natasha looked at her mom, standing in the kitchen, shifting her school bag higher up on her back, “Where is Tina?” she waited for Annja to reply, but her mom sipped on her coffee, holding the mug with two hands. “I checked her room before going to bed last night and I haven’t seen her for the couple days.”
“Tina,” Annja started after she took her mug away from her mouth. It was obviously to Natasha that her mom was searching for the right words to explain what happen to her older sister. “She —”
“She went into the woods, the other day,” Natasha’s grandma, Sakura, cut off Annja and started to explain, “We don’t know if she managed to reach the land of her father’s or not. We won’t know for another week.”
“The Land of her father’s?” Natasha questioned, giving her grandma a look, “What do you mean by, grandma?”
“What your grandma means, Tina went for a walk through the woods and she might be traveling to visit her father and stay with him and his side of the family,” Annja explained further, sending her mom a glare.
“Can’t Tina just call her father and talk to him that way?” Natasha asked, uncertainly. There was something not adding up, here. She knew that. Tina would have called already and would have informed them if she had arrived at her father’s, but until a few days ago, Natasha didn’t know Tina’s father was still alive.
“He lives off the grid, Tasha,” Annja said, setting the mug down on the table with a thud, “Shouldn’t you be on your way to school?”
“I just wanted to know where Tina was at,” Natasha grumbled, sadly. She turned and walked away from the kitchen and left the house. She glanced toward the forest behind the house, thinking about the letter that Tina had left behind the other day. At first, her mom and grandma wouldn’t allow her to read the letter, however, after they went to sleep, Natasha managed to find it in her mom’s office and read it.
The story that Annja just fed her and the letter’s contents were not coming together to form a linear story. There was something more going on then what she was being told. She turned away and headed down the stairs. This could be more then what she could handle on her own. She knew the forest was a large one, covering a good several dozen miles before ending into a lake, at least according to the maps of the area. She never personally traveled through the forest to the other side. She knew Tina, until 6 years ago, traveled through the forest on the weekends and she only spent a day or two in the forest, not almost four days.
Natasha reached the button of the stairs and waited for the bus. She came to the conclusion - If Tina was not home by end of the week, Natasha would call the police. Tina could be in danger or hurt where she couldn’t make her way home. Or something else happened, preventing her to come back home. It didn’t matter what happen, Natasha thought, her older sister may need her help and she was going to give it.
~Dead End Forest, on the outskirts of Camelot~
Tristan kept his eyes shut as he regained consciousness. He didn’t know where he was at or if he was safe with friends. He had been in this type of situation too many times. His arms were above his heads and felt numb. His shoulders felt like they were ready to pop out of their sockets. However, his legs stretched out below him and rope wrapped around his waist, tying him to a pole. He went through the events that landed him: finding Tina in the mud after the flash flood, taking her to get cleaned up in the lake, and being attacked before that mage unleashed a weather based spell.
Tristan slowly raised his head, opening his eyes. The sun glimmered through the trees as it peeked over the horizon. He was still in the forest, somewhere deeper then the lake. He spotted a male Fawn standing guard with a trident spear a few feet away. He watched, silently as the trident Fawn jerked his head and a doe Fawn with a sword at her side bounced away toward a large hut at the far end of a series of huts. He shifted his legs under him and immediately felt a mix of relief and pain spread through his shoulder.
He turned his head to the right around to peer behind him, the rope tightened around his midsection, and he couldn’t see if Tina was right behind him or not. He repeated the action to the left and got the same result. He tilted his head back and saw the rope tying his hands together went through a handle. He growled, softly. He turned his attention to the guard.
“Hey, where is the woman who was with me?” Tristan asked. The Fawn narrowed his eyes, but didn’t answer. Tristan barred his teeth in frustration. He didn’t know if Tina had survived the lightening strike like he did or not. If she didn’t, he would have to take her body to the White Hall Estate. It was technically his only lead on who she was related to. If she did managed to survive, he needed to know where she was and how she was doing. He tugged the rope at his wrists. He knew he had a small knife in one of his arm bracers, still. “Where is she?” He tried again.
The male Fawn didn’t respond to the question. However, the Buck turned to an approaching Fawn. Tristan narrowed his eyes at the new Fawn, escorted by two guards. The new Fawn was covered in neck to foot in robes of a mage. He took note of the robe’s colors. He briefly remembered in a history lesson that his uncle sent him to when he first came to Camelot that the rank of a mage depending on what color the robe the mage wore. He knew the white robe was the rank of apprentice while the black robes that Merlin and Morgana wore during important meetings with other kingdoms’ representatives meant they had achieved the master rank of the mage, singling they were highly dangerous when it came to magic.
However, this mage wore a dark gray robe. Tristan had to deep up that knowledge. Dark Gray robe meant the mage was three levels away from achieving mastery over their magic. He also knew that the only master magi in the Kingdom of Camelot were Merlin and Morgana. They hadn’t took on an apprentice in the last century or two because the laws Camelot enforced.
The Knight of Camelot eyed the mage and asked, “Where is my companion?”
“She is unharmed,” the mage smirked, “For now.” He walked to Tristan’s right as his guards stood still. “Why were you at the Sacred Lake of Avalon?”
Sacred Lake of Avalon? Tristan never heard of it. His eyes followed the mage until the mage disappeared from the corner of his eyesight, before he replied, “Never heard of this Lake.”
“Lies,” the mage hissed. “I wasn’t aware of the teachings of the Great Battle Mage Merlin no longer include stories about the sacred Lake.” The mage walked back into the corner of the Knight’s vision. “Tell the truth, filthy human! Why did you allow your campanion to defile the Sacred Lake with her disgustedly filthy body?”
“She simply wished to wash off the mud she was covered in,” Tristan explained. He needed to escape and find Tina. “If either one of us knew the Lake was Sacred, I will never show her to the Lake.” He hated dealing with the racist non-humans like this tribe of Fawns. However, if one of them lay a harmful hand on Tina, he would have no problem making sure she would have her revenge against these racists.
The Mage turned to one of the guards and stated, “Once she awakens, punish the female.”
Tristan’s eyes widened before he narrowed them into a glare, shouting, “Don’t you dare lay a hand on her!”
The Mage ignored him and went on, “20 whippings should do it.”
“Punish me! She was not even aware of the lake until I showed it to her,” Tristan jerked against his restraints. He couldn’t believe this shit. He had not meet a village that was willingly to punish a woman - no matter what race she belong to.
The Mage turned to him, growled, “The Female is a warrior. She brought her sword against the warriors of this village. She will be treated as such.” The Mage twisted on his heel and walked away, leaving Tristan glowering behind him.
~Camelot~
Arthur sighed as he left his royal rooms. He didn’t want to think about moving out of the room. He really didn’t want to move out of the room - period. He had so many memories that involved that room - his first kiss, his first time with a woman on his 18th birthday.
He walked along the hallway and paused by what used to be his father’s room. He glanced toward the opened door and saw servants already in the process of cleaning the room. He stepped aside as one of the servants stepped into the hallway and paused long enough to bow and muttered, “my prince,” before she moved down the hallway, carrying the dirty sheets.
He moved on. He knew there would be another meeting about the parade’s security since the meeting was cut short, yesterdays, because his father’s passing. He still needed to grab breakfast from the Great Hall before he tried to find his stepmother or one of his grandmother’s.
Arthur hurried toward the Great Hall and ran into Lord Jack, the Head Knight of the King’s Guard. He spoke up, “Morning, Lord Jack, do you know when we were suppose to meet to discuss more about the parade’s security?”
“Morning, my prince,” Jack bowed slightly, “I do not. I think Merlin or one of the Queens will summon us when it is time.”
“Alright,” Arthur nodded, “Thank you.” He walked past the Leader of the King’s Guard and strolled into the Great Hall. His eyes roam over the table still lain with breakfast. His stomach rolled at the smell of the foods, but he still needed to eat. He approached the first table on the far right and joined the line wrapped along the wall. He glanced at the person in front of him, frowning as he thought about who could have dark blue hair which appeared to be unkempt as the man shifted his weight foot to foot.
However, the line for breakfast moved along the table and Arthur turned, strolling to the head table. He paused as he saw the Head table was empty. Apparently, his stepmother and grandmothers have not made it down to break their fast. He turned and went to the Knights’ table. He spotted the dark blue hair man sitting down and the prince spotted an empty chair. He joined the Knights who sat there, talking softly about the parade.
“Morning, my prince,” Lancelot greeted Arthur as the prince settled down into the chair.
“Morning, Lancelot,” Arthur replied. He folded his hands in front of his chest and prayed before he dug into his meal, glancing at the dark blue hair man beside. He blinked as he recognized the man as Sir Gawain. He returned to his meal.
“..there is talk, down in town, from the merchants about the Kingdom of Mercy,” a blond man sitting directly across from Arthur. The Prince racked his brain, searching for the name. He glanced at the man’s crest that was embroidered on the sash going over his chest. It was black dragon, its head back in mid-roar. It was Sir Draco, son of Severus, son of Thomas. “They are claiming that Mercian soldiers are patrolling the border between Camelot and Mercy.”
“Right now,” Lancelot started, “They wouldn’t dare to start anything, especially since the Death of the King.”
“It is actually the perfect time to attack,” Arthur commented, “there is no one sitting on the Throne, protecting Camelot.” He shoved some of the food he got into his mouth.
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“What do you mean?” Gawain asked, “Aren’t you taking the Throne?”
“I wish I could without a doubt,” Arthur said before he reached for a mug and grabbed the pitcher full of the orange juice, “But according to Merlin, the Holy Sword chooses the Next King.” He poured the orange colored juice into the mug before he sipped on it. “I may not be chosen as the Next King. It could be one of you, for all we know.” He knew he shouldn’t sound upset by that. He rather have someone he knew that will take care of the Kingdom then someone who had no clue on what they were doing. Even though, he personally wanted to be King.
Merlin didn’t want to get out of bed. He stared up at the ceiling of his personal rooms. He reached out to his well of magic. It barely recovered. He estimated it was only a sixteenth of his magical reverses, maybe less then that. He sighed. It was going to take at least a month for his magical reverses to reach the half point, maybe longer. He shouldn’t have put off renewing those protection spells. Merlin knew Morgana would be the same way. He just hoped Camelot wouldn’t need Morgana or his magic anytime soon. If the Kingdom did, the cost will be almost too high for them to pay.
He pushed his covers back and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He rolled his shoulders before he stood up, walking over to his clothing cabinet and got dressed. He strolled out of his private room, rubbing his right shoulder. His body still ached from over usage of magic. He couldn’t remember the last time he had drain his magical well and magical reverses.
He did remembered when he first did. It was back when that dreadful plague rampage through the mainland and the Ruling Family feared the plague would spread through the United Kingdoms of Camelot. The King of that time had ordered Merlin, Morgana and their combined army of magi to protect the Kingdoms. Merlin came up with the solution of separating the United Kingdoms from the rest of the world until a time came where the Kingdoms could rejoined the World.
It was Morgana who had the idea of creating a copy of the Kingdoms and Key points around the world and created a pocket dimension. She managed to find a spell from one of the Altantian spell books that Merlin’s former master handed down for seven generations of Battle Magi. However, the cost of casting the spell was more then Merlin or Morgana thought it would be. Over 250 magi died, creating the pocket dimension for the United Kingdoms of Camelot. Morgana ended up in a year long coma, recovering from the magical drain. While Merlin did end up in a coma, it only last half a year. The Ruling Family thought they had died during the casting of the spell when they had ended up in a cave system, sleeping.
Merlin shook his head as he strolled over to the stairs leading down to his private study. He half thought Morgana would have been there waiting for him, but she wasn’t. He mused she was still asleep and knew what would have happened if someone would have woke her up. It would be best for everyone to let that woman sleep until she woke up. He dimly remembered the time he tried to wake her up from magical drain induced sleep once before and realized too late that she had managed to recovered enough magic to transform his ears into a pair of donkey like ears and cause him to bay at the end of his sentences. It took nearly three weeks for the spell to wear off since neither of them had enough magic to counter act the spell. However, the court at the time, thought it was hilarious and didn’t let Merlin live that one down, but it faded into the memory of time once that court died and a new one took its place.
Merlin felt his stomach rumbled with hunger and decided it would be best to grab some food from the Great Hall. He still needed to meet with the Ruling Family and the Generals to discuss the parade’s security. Plus, there were other things he still needed to do.
Tina sucked in a deep breath as she jerked awake. Her eyes snapped open and she peered at her surrounding. She spotted three huts nearby that remind her of the viking huts she had seen on TV shows. The huts had brown hide like walls with hay roofs. She tilted her head to the side and saw a large cooking pot over a cracking fire. However, there was no one around it.
Tina shifted her weight and groaned. Her shoulders ached like she had thrown her younger sister on top of her shoulders and dashed several yards through the forest. She tilted her head back and finally realized her arms were stretch out above her. She frowned. How long had she been like this? She pulled her legs up under her. She winced as her arms exploded in the pins and needles feeling. She knew she had been hanging in place for a few hours, at least. She gaze around the clearing and remembered what happened.
Tristan, a man from Camelot, saved her from a mud slide and showed her to a lake where she managed to get cleaned up. Then they were attacked by a group of reindeer people with a mage that casted a thunder spell powerful enough to connect sky to ground in that amazing light display before the lightening bolts hit Tristan and her.
Tina’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at the ground. How the hell she did survive that? That should have killed her. She blinked and raised her head, looking around. She didn’t know if Tristan had survived that lightening bolt attack like she did or not.
“I see you are finally awake.”
Tina jerked her head to the left and spotted one of the reindeer like creatures, wearing soft looking leather pants similar to what Tristan wore with a deep cut vest over a muscular chest. Upon his head, antlers curled and spread out like sharp fingers between two pointed ears.
“Nice rack,” Tina commented the buck. She didn’t know if these reindeer like creatures were anything like the more common forest deers like she had hunted before, but she was going to treat them as such, even though, these creatures were intelligent enough to develop the ability to speak and understand English.
The buck’s eyes narrowed. He stalked forward. Tina tensed, watching. The buck raised a hand and backhanded her across the face. Her head snapped toward the right. Her cheek stung.
Well, that was a first, Tina grumbled silently and glared up at the buck before she said in an even tone, “If that was disrespectful, my apologies.”
“You don’t know what respect is, filthy human,” the Buck growled in a low tone, “If you did, you wouldn’t have wash your disgusting body in the Sacred Lake of the Avalon.”
Lake of Avalon?
That was another thing from the Arthurian Legend she was familiar with. She still didn’t believe she was anywhere near Camelot like Tristan had claimed. However, she needed to focus on the here and now.
“As the result,” The buck continued, “You will be punished.”
That sounded ominous as Tina waited for the punishment. She really doubted it was something simple as community service or jail time. A cracking sound went through the clearing. She felt lead fill her stomach as she slowly turned her head. She paled as she saw what made that cracking sound.
“I think 20 whips should teach you a lesson,” The buck’s voice held a satisfied smirking note as the whip cracked through the air and Tina felt the whip tear through the back of her shirt. She bit her lower lip. “Count!” The buck barked.
“1,” Tina counted. Another crack followed by Tina’ voice, “2.”
Alright, Tina, you can survive this. She felt another slice and strained to keep her voice even, “3”.
Remember, this is just something you can survive. Her body jerked against the restrains holding her up, “4.”
You will overcome this. Crack! Pain lanced through her back sharply. She strained to keep her voice even, “5.”
You will heal from this. This time when the whip landed, it landed in an open wound. Tina arched her back, her eyes widened in pain. She forgot how to breath for a moment as she rode the painful wave then she relaxed and she croaked, “6.”
You will survive. Tina felt the whip land then a sharp pain rippled through her back. She forced her voice to raise as she said, “7.”
This is just a simple test of willpower. Another wave of pain shot through her. Tina felt hot tears slipped down her cheeks as she said, “8.”
You can pass this, Tina, you just have to hang in there. Tina’s mouth hanged opened as she tried to think through the pain. It was worst then her monthly cramps that usually left her in a crabby mood and desiring to stay in bed. Crack! She panted out, “9.”
Okay. You are half way there. You can stay strong and hang in there. She felt the whip land against her back more then she heard the cracking sound. Her body jerked harshly against the ropes holding up. “10.”
It could be worst. They could try quartering your ass! Crack! “11.” Tina felt her knees shake as she fought to stay on her feet.
What’s that Disney song? From the Frog and the Princess? Dig a little deeper? Just dig a little deeper and you will come through. Crack! Her left knee gave out under her. She grunted her teeth as her shoulders barked in protest and the strain she unknowingly put on her back rushed to the back of her head. She watched as the corners of her vision narrowed into single point. She didn’t know if she managed to utter the next number or not. She panted as she struggled to stay consciousness. She didn’t know what will happen if she passed out. Another ripple of pain erupted from her back and she threw her head back, finally letting out a high pitch scream. She drifted away a moment later as her vision blacked out and she welcomed the darkness of unconsciousness.
General Genesis strolled to the War Room. He finally received the summons from the higher ups about finishing the discussion about more security measures while he was eating lunch with his men. He had spent majority of the morning, performing drills of the parade security. He was satisfied with his men’s progress, so far. However, he knew there was more then they could do to make the day of the funeral went smoothly.
“Afternoon, Genesis.” The fiery general stopped and turned to face General Honor.
“Honor,” he nodded at his friend and brother in arms, “I can’t wait until this whole business is settled.”
“Me too,” Honor agreed and went on, “I have received word from my village.” The dark haired General sighed, deeply.
“Bad news?” Genesis questioned as they rounded a corner. Bartholomew stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. He stared at the other generals as they approached. He straightened once Genesis and Honor reached him. The General of Blade Brigade fell into line with them.
“Yes,” Honor replied, “Mercy is not the only Kingdom preparing something. You know my village lays on the border of Frank Kingdom.” Genesis and Bartholomew nodded. The Frank Kingdom had been an ally of Camelot until a couple decades when the King refused to marry the Princess of the Franks and the result was the Franks declaring they were no longer an ally of Camelot’s. “My mother has written that there has been increasingly Frank raids on the village. Four in the last month since she had last written to me. She and several other villagers are preparing to make the journey to Camelot to request help.”
“Shit,” Genesis breathed. That would be the icing on the cake for anyone to arrive in Camelot and find out the King - their only hope - had passed on.
“Isn’t there a phrase that your father claims that your mother love to say in situations like this?” Bartholomew turned his gaze to the red haired general.
“What?” Genesis turned his head to raise an eyebrow at the silver haired leader of the Blade Brigade. “When it rains, it pours?” Bartholomew nodded. “Well, you are right. That would be something she would say in this situation.”
“You will need to let the Ruling Family know of this and the magi,” Bartholomew suggested as they approached the war room.
“I plan to,” Honor stated, “Maybe we will be able to send help back to my village to fight off the Franks before they try to claim the village as a part of their kingdom.”
“Hopefully,” Genesis said as he pushed open the door to the War Room. He entered first and spotted the Ruling Family already sitting upon a raised platform at the far end of the room. He ran his eyes over the family. On the far right, Queen Vivien’s eyes were red and puffy as she stared ahead with unseeing gaze. Next to her, the Warrior Queen, Queen Belladonna had her hair up in the Black Warrior Braids and dressed in a black tunic with black leggings. A sword lend against her leg, waiting.
Queen Clarine was next, dressed in a simple black dress of mourning. Her expression informed everyone in the room that the Queen did not sleep.
Queen Kalliope mirrored Queen Clarine, however, Kalliope’s dress was more elaborate for the High Queen. The stark reminded of the reason why they were there was next. The empty Throne of the King of Camelot. Lord Jack stood nearby the empty King throne. Finishing the line for the Ruling Family was the Prince. Arthur wore a black tunic to announce he was also in mourning.
Genesis questioned, silently, the fact Arthur was not sitting in the King’s Throne. He ran his eyes over the rest of the people in the room. Several knights stood ready to discuss the security measures already in place and the former King’s Council also was present. The only ones were not there was the magi. However, Merlin swept into the War Room and shut the door behind him, heading to the large long table in the middle of the room.
“The Lady Morgana will not be joining us,” Merlin started, “We spent most of yesterday, re-newing the protection spells along the parade route. She has not recovered, yet from the magical drain.” He walked forward as he spoke. “Could someone get me a chair for me?”
Genesis frowned as he spotted the Battle Mage walked with a slight strain to his posture and his expression, even though he tried to hid it, screamed he was tired. He also appeared a lot older then what his youthful appeared hinted at. Apparently, Lady Morgana was not the only one who hadn’t recovered from this magical drain.
Prince Arthur stood up from his throne and nodded toward the nearest Knight, saying, “Please, get the Battle Mage a chair.”
The knight bowed his head briefly, left the room for a moment and returned with a chair for the Battle Mage. Merlin gave the Prince an appreciative look and shot the Knight a thankful glance. The Knight sat the chair down near the mage and went back to his post. Merlin sat down in the chair with a sigh and looked around, announcing, “Like I said, the protection spells along the outer wall are renewed and will last for another 50 years or so.”
Genesis shared a glance with the other generals. Honor stepped forward and explained the situation his mother had found herself in at the border of the Frank Kingdom.
“General Honor,” Queen Kalliope started, “You have our deepest sympathies. I wish we could send aid to your home village, but right now, we can’t afford to send any troops out. I’m sorry.”
“Until the Holy Sword choses the next King,” Merlin said, “I wouldn’t advise sending any of our troops out for the time being, in case, the Holy Sword can’t find a worthy man to take the throne.”
Genesis had forgot that tidbit of info. He was 6 years old the last time the Kingdom had this problem. He knew Honor would be upset that the Kingdom couldn’t help his village, just yet. However, he turned his attention back to the discussion at hand.