Page 77 of The Sword & the Stone

"Arthur," Queen Tatiana said, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. I met her blue eyes and tried not to avert my gaze. "You and your knights must continue your quest immediately. We cannot allow Mordred to get her hands on Excaliburorthe Holy Grail. She’s already too powerful."

I breathed in deeply, my mind racing. The future of my kingdom—and all of Albion—was on me. If Mordred took the throne for herself, then dark magic would come back to Camelot, and we would end up no better off than the Boneyard.

I looked at Queen Tatiana and noted the sadness in her eyes. I wondered how hard it had to be for this queen to have seen so much. To rely on some young, unknown queenling and have no control over the outcome of this prophecy.

I thought of my mother, Morrigan. What would she have done?

"We're leaving within the hour then," I said, glancing at Merlin next to me. He gave me a sharp nod. “I don’t suppose any of you know the way to the Wandering Wood?” I looked around the table, landing on Gaius in particular.

Gaius smiled then, a glimmer of hope in his lined face. "The Wandering Wood is said to reveal itself only to those who are worthy. Those whose intentions are pure and whose hearts are not corrupted by power.” His eyes flickered to Merlin, as if to say‘As I said all along…’

We stood from the table as one, the decision made. Queen Tatiana rounded the table, striding over to me. I noticed she was not wearing a gown the way she had the day before. Today she was dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, although they were finely made and spun with gold thread.

"We’ll provide you with everything you need for your journey," she offered, her gaze sweeping over my knights and Merlin. Tatiana placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her touch both comforting and empowering. "I have the utmost faith in you, Arthur Pendragon. The blood of the fae flows through your veins.Morrigan’sblood. She would have been so proud of the woman you’ve become."

A lump formed in my throat as I nodded, holding back tears for a woman who was once just a stranger and would remain one.

"I hope she would be," I whispered to the queen. Then, flicking my eyes to the side, I made sure only she could hear me. "I have a gut feeling, Queen Tatiana. I think Mordred is biding her time, waiting for us to make our last move. She's been tracking us from the shadows, but we've only come face to face with her once. She would have struck already if she thought taking Excalibur now would help her. I believe she's using us to lead her to the Stone Temple because she can't find it on her own."

Tatiana's eyes narrowed as she listened. She gave a small nod, barely noticeable. "You're right to be suspicious. Mordred is sly and patient, just like her mother." Her voice dropped even lower. "Mordred can take on different forms. She could be anyone, but remember, the eyes always tell the truth."

I remembered the way those green eyes had flashed in the face of the old man in that clearing. The eyes my knights had recognized immediately.

The eyes always tell the truth.

The corridors were a flurry of activity as servants rushed to prepare for our departure. Stable hands readied our horses, packing saddlebags with provisions and supplies. I was more thankful than ever that we weren’t going to have to make the rest of the journey on foot.

In my chambers, I changed into sturdy traveling clothes: supple leather breeches, a soft linen tunic and jerkin, and a fur-lined cloak. I belted Excalibur at my waist, the ancient sword a comforting weight against my hip.

My knights and Merlin were already on their Elhorns when I arrived in the courtyard, the majestic creatures eager and pawing at the ground. Their sleek, shiny coats glimmered in the soft morning light, and their spiraled horns reached toward the sky.

Merlin looked every bit the powerful sorcerer in his deep purple cloak, matching the druids. My knights were watching me closely as I approached the Elhorn meant for me, my stomach churning with nerves. Everything felt so much more real now than it had back in Camelot.

Queen Tatiana stepped out of the palace, her long golden hair flowing around her like a halo. She held a small, ornate wooden box, her fingers tracing its smooth surface with care.

As I climbed onto my Elhorn, she came closer, a sad smile touching her lips. "Arthur," she said softly. "Before you leave, I have something for you."

She opened the box to reveal a delicate golden circlet resting on deep green velvet. The metal felt warm and buttery, inlaid with sparkling rubies that caught the light beautifully. It was a stunning piece, worthy of a queen.

"This belonged to your mother," Tatiana said, her eyes glistening with memories. “She wasn’t a queen, but she meant the world to me. I gave her this on her one hundred and seventh birthday.”

I blinked at the queen, my mind struggling to normalize the concept of living for so long. But I supposed that was my reality too, a reality I’d tried to ignore for most of my life.

With careful hands, I lifted the circlet from its cozy velvet cradle. The metal felt warm and smooth, and the rubies sparkled like tiny flames caught in the gentle morning light. A rush ofemotion tightened my throat as I traced the intricate filigree, awed by the artistry and the rich history woven into its design.

"I feel strange accepting this," I whispered, my voice thick. "It’s too precious, too important."

Queen Tatiana shook her head, a soft smile lighting up her face. "Nonsense. Morrigan would have wanted you to have it. She dreamed of passing it on to her daughter. Wear it with pride, Arthur. She would have been so proud of you."

The weight of the circlet felt comforting, anchoring me to the moment. I could almost sense my mother’s spirit in the metal, her essence wrapped around me. Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them away, determined to stay strong.

"I’ll treasure this always. Let's just hope I can live up to its expectations and that'always'is a long way off..." I placed the circlet on my head, letting it settle on my brow. It fit perfectly. My stomach churned with nerves as I bit down on my lower lip.

Queen Tatiana nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but she managed a conspiratorial smile. She stepped back, her gaze sweeping over our gathered party. The Elhorns shifted restlessly.

As we rode out of the Seelie palace gates, the early morning mist clung to the ground like a gauzy veil, swirling around the Elhorns' legs. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming wildflowers. I centered myself with a breath and pretended I knew what I was doing.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

---