Neither Guinevere nor I brought up the kiss again. It hung between us but neither of us was willing to bring up the topic or cross that line again. We dueled in training then sat across from each other as we worked on our respective magical studies. I was close to a new protype for my enchantment having figured out several pieces that would fit together into a larger whole. Guinevere was rapidly learning more and more of the language and was able to start reading enchantments.
That evening after dinner we fought again. I got close to knocking Guinevere over, but she managed to sidestep at the last second and use her left leg to trip me then drove her sword hilt first into my chest knocking me over. Rising to our feet again we wiped off the sweat with my cleansing cloth and returned to the pedestal. Having viewed the memories once was enough to get passed them again but you were still forced to watch and experience them again every single time. As far as I could tell time didn’t actually seem to pass while we were in the dreamscape or if it did then it was rapidly accelerated.
Memories of our childhood and adolescence passed. Then a new memory began to play I could tell we were nearing the end, both because we were running out of my life to view, and I could feel the lock on the barrier slowly starting to turn.
--
My memories of being in juvie were a blur the time there leaving no impact on me. I got my GED and applied to several collages. Since I was minor nothing I had done was on my record. I had been an alright student but not enough to receive any scholarships. I got enough financial aid and was accepted at a small local university to study architecture.
My first semester was unremarkable. I did well in classes even if I didn’t enjoy them. I met her the following semester. She literally bumped into her outside one of my lecture halls.
“I’m so sorry,” she said bending down to help me with my books.
“Don’t mention it,” I said picking up my textbook and a few scattered pages.
She met my eyes a playful cast to her emerald eyes. She pushed back dark golden-brown hair behind her right ear. As she hugged a sketchbook to her chest.
“I’m Eve,” she said extending her hand.
“I’m Mordred,” I said taking her hand.
“I don’t normally do this but… do you wannna grab a coffee sometime?” she asked me.
I hesitated memories of Sarah haunting me but I pushed them down. “Sure,” I said.
We exchanged numbers and I watched her skip away.
We started dating and moved in with each other that summer. I tried to forget what Sarah had done but it kept flashing in my mind. I was never able to trust Eve and found myself getting irrationally furious at her. Our relationship was whirlwind of passionate romance and furious arguments.
My fist smashed into the wall as Eve screamed at me. I couldn’t even recall the exact reason for the fight we’d had so many. Eve got in my face and before I could stop myself, I found my hand striking out, slapping her across the face. I looked down on her and for an instant I didn’t see her but my mother after my father had hit her.
The memory hit me harder than any blow could have.
“I’m sorry,” I said and fled our apartment.
I dropped out of college. I hadn’t been doing great and being around Eve was too painful. I looked in the mirror and I didn’t see my face but my father instead.
The memory ended.
Guinevere met Arthur in the palace gardens. They were both clad in dark cloaks to hide their identities.
“My father has refused your father again,” she said.
“This isn’t good,” Arthur sighed. “I don’t know why your father won’t renew the lease on us using them for training the army.”
“Because he knows that four of your dungeons went dark,” Guinevere said. “You need him more than he needs you and he has something he wants.”
“My father isn’t going to give him the staff,” Arthur said. “If he had that he could level the whole country. I’ve got no idea what we’re going to do.”
For a moment Guinevere was silent. “We could get married,” she finally said.
“What?” Arthur asked surprised.
Guinevere pulled out a law book from under her cloak and set it down on the garden bench between them. “Camelot states that the heir of a noble house can grant access to Dungeons to the vassals of her spouse,” she explained opening up to the law in question.
“Your father might disown you if you tried that,” Arthur said.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“No,” Guinevere said confidently. “That’s too direct for him he’d just use our marriage to try and leverage some other gain.”
“Is this something you want to do?” Arthur asked.
“No,” Guinevere answered honestly. “But we are scions of the two most powerful houses in Camelot, its not about what we want. However, I do have conditions.”
“And what are those?” Arthur asked.
“You will never lie to me,” Guinevere said. “And I won’t just be a pollical pawn either. I will have the full powers of royalty, and you will not take any concubines or mistresses.”
“Getting you the full powers of royalty will be hard,” Arthur said.
“I’m going against my father here,” Guinevere said. “You’ll do whatever you have to get your father to agree to my demands.”
Guinevere left and time began to blur as the betrothal was agreed to. Guinevere began to tour the land to gain political allies both in Camelot and abroad. Her father insisted she take a party of his choice to keep her safe. She was in the border provinces near the Cursed Forest when she received news of the Warlord.
Guinevere’s memories ended but another one began for me. It was close to the end. The emotions washing over us were as powerful as an orgasm if no where near as pleasant. I pulled my hand back just before it could show the last memory and complete itself.
We were ejected from the dreamscape violently this time as if being so close and refusing to go all the way had angered the magic holding us back. Waves of emotion washed over us like a tide as we experienced all our highs and lows in an instant.
“Why can’t you open up to me!” Guinevere screamed in frustration pushing away from the crystal.
I sagged to the ground, the emotional weight on me dragging me down.
“Why can’t you move on?” Guinevere asked, falling to the ground across from me sobbing from the emotional turmoil the backlash had caused us both.
“Because I’m afraid,” my voice weak and horse from the bottled-up emotion.
“Afraid of what?” Guinevere asked.
“That you’ll betray and abandon me,” I admitted.
“We’re bound together by a blood oath, I can’t betray you,” Guinevere said.
“Not now, but someday.” I said heat coming to my voice. “I’m your enemy remember, what happens when your kingdom declares war on me. Will you stand by and let me cut down all that come my way, will you let them surround and tear me down or will you join them in destroying me?”
Guinevere was silent.
“You’ve not considered it have you?” I asked a small laugh escaping but it wasn’t filled with joy, just despair. “We’re destined to be enemies, compelled by forces greater than ourselves to never be on the same side after this.”
“What do you want from me?” Guinevere asked tears running down her face. “To say that I’ll stand beside you and face those armies? You know I can’t, those people are my family and countrymen.”
“I want you to care,” I snapped. “Sometimes I see something in your eyes but you lock it away and turn to ice.”
“I can’t feel for you,” Guinevere said, her voice shaking.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because it will break my heart,” Guinevere said standing up and fleeing into the cavern.
Guinevere didn’t speak to me for the next two days, the emotional web between us keeping us apart. She didn’t come to find me, and I realized I would have to be the one to bridge this gap. I found her sitting on a boulder in the water, her bare legs dangling into the water.
At first I didn’t say anything, just removed my boots and dangled my feet into the water beside her. We sat together in silence for several minutes.
“Do you love me?” I asked.
That was not the question I had meant to ask but it was what had come out when I opened my mouth. Guinevere’s head jerked to the side as stunned as I by the question. He eyes met mine and she immediately looked away.
“I can’t answer that?” Guinevere said.
“Why not?” I asked. “You’ve shown me your entire life, what about this question is more difficult than that?”
“Because that was the past!” Guinevere snapped back. “This is here and now, and that question is about the future. I had a dream last night; I’ve been having them since you gave me that ability.”
She was referring to when I had made her one of my lieutenants so she could stand against the assassins, I realized. I hadn’t considered the ramifications of giving my lieutenants visions when I had chosen that ability to share with them.
“What did you see?” I asked.
“A black warrior flying through the air,” Guinevere replied. “All around you was ash and smoke and the heavens roared at your passing…. and I was there beside you.”
“What makes that so bad?” I asked.
“Because I am betrothed to someone else!” Guinevere said. “I may not love Arthur, but I gave him my word.”
“And do you think he kept his?” I asked. “We’ve been gone for almost a year he probably thinks you died and even before I’m willing to bet he wasn’t faithful to you.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Guinevere said. “Even if he was unfaithful it doesn’t make it right for me to break my word to him. The actions of others do not define us, only what we do.”
“And what will you do when you return to Camelot and he has moved on?” I asked.
“Then I will be free and my word unbroken,” Guinevere said.
“And then?” I asked the implied question hanging between us.
“I don’t know,” Guinevere said. “Your asking me to give up my entire world to be with you, would you give up being the Warlord?”
I wasn’t even sure if was possible for me to give that up. I thought about my answer before I spoke. “If being with you meant I could wage no wars I would do so. But I won’t stop trying to win, I will ascend.”
“Then… maybe,” Guinevere said her voice full of confliction.
I held out my hand to her. “Then are your ready to go through?”
---
Mira’s eyes narrowed as her passive abilities enhanced her vision. She could see for leagues from the top of the tree she was perched in. Far to the north she caught sight of black scales and a burst of green fire. Jumping down her wings snapped out and she glided to the ground.
“I saw him,” she said. “He’s maybe four to three days away from us. The start of the Blighted Swamp is only two days journey from where we are now.”
“We need to get in and get out quickly,” Atrel said.
“Why we brought potions of resist curse, fire and disease,” Jamis said. “What other dangers do these swamps contain.”
“The Blight,” Helen said darkly. “No one knows what it is but it comes from the fallen star it killed everything for leagues. The old kings had to erect a circle of enchanted menhirs around the swamp to keep it from spreading. Its some sort of energy that kills and corrupts everything it comes in contact with.”
“I’ve seen deer drink from the waters there,” Atrel said. “Then their offspring are born twisted and malformed. Two headed animals and beasts are not an uncommon sight around the swamp, those that manage to survive are enhanced by whatever it is and are far more deadly.”
“That does sound unpleasant,” Jamis agreed. “Is there no protection against it?”
“Not one that we have discovered yet,” Atrel said. “When we raided the dragons nest for fallen scales, we would have to shave all our hair off when we left the swamp. You’d vomit for days afterwards, some men developed growths that had to be cut off.”
“Got it,” Torvin said. “Spend as little time in the swamp as possible I totally understand.”