Page 35 of The Sword & the Stone

Time lost all meaning as I walked, the stream gradually widening until it fed into a large, still body of water. The surface was like a mirror, reflecting the luminous blue of the sky and the emerald green of the trees with crystalline clarity.

And there, at the heart of the lake, I saw her.

As I stood transfixed at the edge of the lake, the ethereal figure seemed to beckon. Her translucent, outstretched hand waved me forward. Without hesitation, I stepped into the cool, crystalline water, barely registering the icy bite against my skin.

The world fell away as I waded deeper, the water lapping at my thighs, then my waist. The lady's form shimmered and danced, her luminous eyes holding mine with an ancient, unfathomable wisdom. She was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time, a being of pure magic untethered by the constraints of the mortal plane. Her long hair flowed around her, and I could have sworn I heard singing.

Behind me, the muffled shouts of the knights grew more insistent, their voices threading with panic. But they sounded distant, as if from a dream, unable to pierce the veil of enchantment that had fallen over me.

"Arthur!" Gawain's desperate cry echoed across the water. "Arthur, stop!"

But I was beyond hearing, beyond caring. The only thing that existed was the lady and the siren call of her power thrumming through my veins. It sang to the wildness inside me, the part that had always yearned for something more.

The water was chest high now, its icy touch stealing the breath from my lungs. I stepped forward again, the lake bottom falling away beneath my feet. The shock of the frigid water closing over my head jolted me back to myself for one brief, terrifying moment. I thrashed, instinct taking over as I fought to propel myself back to the surface, to air, to life.

But something was wrong. The water was thicker than it should be, dragging at my limbs like grasping hands. Panic surged through me as I kicked harder, clawing towards the wavering light above. My lungs burned, starved for oxygen, and dark spots danced at the edges of my vision.

Just as I thought I couldn't hold on a second longer, my head broke the surface. I sucked in a desperate gasp, coughing and sputtering as I blinked the water from my eyes. The scene that greeted me was not the sunlit pond I had waded into moments before.

Towering trees with leaves of silver and gold arched overhead, their branches intertwined in a shimmering canopy. Everywhere I looked, strange flowers bloomed in riotous color, their petals glowing with an inner light. The air itself seemed to sparkle, filled with drifting motes that caught the light like tiny diamonds.

I floated, spinning in a slow circle as I tried to get my bearings. There was no sign of the knights, no sign of the forest I had left behind. Only this strange, ethereal landscape that seemed to pulse with a life and magic all its own. I’d never seen anything so beautiful, so utterly enchanting.

Slowly, I swam towards the shore, marveling at the feel of the water against my skin. It was no longer icy, but warm and silken. The closer I got to land, the shallower it became, until I could stand on a lake bottom that felt more like the softest moss than sand or stone.

I realized I was no longer clad in heavy leather clothing. Somehow it’d been replaced with a soft white dress that floated around me like gossamer. It looked like a nightdress, with no sleeves or overcoat, and it seemed like the bottom half was gone, or ripped away entirely.

I emerged from the water, rivulets streaming from my sodden clothing. Lush grass carpeted the ground and was dottedwith delicate blossoms that seemed to turn their faces towards me as I passed. The dress stuck to my skin uncomfortably. My legs were exposed to the elements, and I felt utterly naked.

Ahead, a path materialized out of the foliage, winding its way through the shimmering trees. It was lined with smooth stones that glowed like moonstones, pulsing gently as if in time with my heartbeat. Without conscious thought, I found myself drawn towards it, my feet moving of their own accord.

As I walked, the strange, luminous plants seemed to sway and dance, their colors shifting in a mesmerizing kaleidoscope. The very air hummed with energy, with a power that resonated deep in my bones. Some part of my mind knew that this was all wrong. That I shouldn’t be here, but that part was shoved down deep.

As I followed the moonstone path deeper into the forest, the air grew thicker, heavier, like honey on my tongue. The colors around me became more vibrant, more alive. The path began to slope upwards, winding through the increasingly wild foliage. Vines with leaves of amethyst and jade twined around the tree trunks, their flowers unfurling like crystalline stars.

As I climbed higher, the trees thinned, giving way to a lush meadow carpeted with shimmering grasses and delicate, bell-shaped flowers. And there, at the center of the clearing, stood a towering tree unlike any I had ever seen. Its bark was a pearlescent white, shot through with veins of glittering gold.

But it was what rested in the cradle of the tree's branches that stole my attention. An orb of pure, radiant light hovered there, pulsing gently. A voice emanated from it, ancient and melodic, speaking in a language I had never heard before, yet somehow understood with perfect clarity.

"Daughter of stars and stone, born of magic's blood, To claim your fate, a bridge you must cross. But beware the path, for it is fraught with peril, And the price of failure is a fate far worse than death. Across the bridge, three guardians stand, Each a riddle, a test of wit and will. Answer true, and passage shall be granted, But fail, and your quest will be forever lost."

Three riddles, three chances to prove myself worthy.

As the orb's final words faded into silence, it drifted away from the shimmering tree, floating through the air like a miniature sun. Tendrils of golden light trailed behind it, leaving a glittering path in its wake. Almost without thought, I found myself drawn after it, my bare feet whispering through the lush grass.

Chapter Twelve

PERCIVAL

I stood there,frozen in horror, as Arthur vanished into the dark, churning waters. My heart felt like it was being crushed in an icy grip, and I lunged forward, hand outstretched, desperate to grab her. But she was gone, swallowed up by the depths, leaving nothing but a gaping void.

"Arthur!" Lancelot's anguished shout cut through the chaos beside me, raw with panic and dread. He made to dive in after her, but I shot out my shadows, holding him in place.

It was too late for Tristan, Galahad, Merlin and Gawain. They dove in without a second thought, disappearing beneath the water.

"Wait!" I barked, my voice gravelly and strained. I shut my eyes, feeling the shadows swirl around me, pulling them in tight. I reached out, sending those dark tendrils into the roiling waters, searching for any sign of her.

Nothing. Just a seething mess of chaos that tore at my shadow threads, scattering them like dust. I couldn’t find her. Couldn’t even feel her. Ice coursed through my veins. I’d failedher. I’d failed in my goddamn duty to protect the heir. The one who was supposed to save us all.

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