Page 40 of Queen Takes Camelot: Gwen
I gagged, averting my face. But I didn’t push her away from me.
“No mirrors,” she babbled frantically, ducking her face against my shoulder. “I forbade them. I won’t even look at my image in the well. You can’t make me.”
A cold hand settled on my back, though she couldn’t see Merlin behind me. It was dark here beneath the giant yew, and his form blended perfectly with the shadows.:Say ‘Tirra Lirra.’:
I had no idea what that meant but I immediately said the words out loud. “Tirra Lirra.”
Her head jerked up, her eyes flaring wide. Her mouth fell open with shock.
Leaning over my shoulder, Merlin stared into her eyes. “Look into my mirrors, Elaine Shalott. See your shadows once more.”
She wailed, a wretched sound that made even me pity her. Shaking against me, she seemed to wither. Her hair tumbled free, creeping from black to stony gray and then yellowed white. Her pale face tightened, her eyes sunken hollows. Her lips blackened, her teeth jagged and sharp like Merlin’s. Though she didn’t have the same shiny black form that looked like shards of obsidian.
“Depart the earthly plane,” Merlin ordered. “Return to your tower, foul creature.”
She fell backwards, her arms and legs cracking and bending at odd angles. Scuttling like a crab, she staggered away. No, not a crab. A spider.
Tumbling over the edge of the pool, she disappeared into the Chalice Well with a splash.
Merlin helped me to my feet. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything remotely sympathetic, or I might have blubbered like a child. “Don’t be a bloody idiot and say those words ever again. They’ll call her straight to you once more.”
I shuddered, even though I had no idea what the words meant. “Got it.”
My legs still felt like jelly, but I made myself start moving toward Gwen. Goddess above, she was on her knees. A naked Arthur stood over her.
An ugly, murderous rage pulsed through me. Bors didn’t have to tell me what the king had demanded from her.
Head back, Arthur quivered as if a lightning bolt had blasted him. Not in ecstasy, thank goddess. The only part Gwen touched was his hand.
She’d done it.
“Did it work?” I asked hoarsely.
Merlin hmphed. “You doubtme, the great and powerful wizard of Camelot? Of course it fucking worked. I’m no apprentice, believe it or not.”
Tearing his hand free, Arthur staggered backwards. He jerked and twitched helplessly in the throes of whatever magic Merlin had worked. Soft balls of light popped up from the ring. With each one, he shuddered and gasped, quivering as if each one pained him.
“Souls,” Merlin said grimly. “The dead he’s gathered over the centuries, plus the ones that Gwyn had gathered before Arthur stole the ring. They’re free now.”
The balls danced and hovered above our heads. Some of them shot toward the Chalice Well, but others floated up toward Glastonbury Tor. The top of the ancient tower flashed and shone like a lighthouse, beaming with the souls of the dead.
Arthur’s shoulders drooped, but the ring wasn’t finished with him yet. It slipped off his finger and clattered on the stone paving. White light poured from the ring, bright enough that I had to squint and shield my eyes. Slowly, the glowing light took on an identifiable form.
White flowing wings, as large as the red dragon’s. Glossy and delicate transparent butterfly wings of liquid moonlight. Long sinuous neck. Splatters of red gleamed like rubies on the wings.
“Guinevere,” Gwen breathed reverently. “The White Enchantress.”
The wings stretched out to their full breadth, fluttering through the giant yews and across the gardens without causing any damage. The deep furrows that Arthur had torn into the earth smoothed. The charred leaves sprouted with new growth. And Mordred climbed to his feet, rubbing his neck.
“Red and white dragons fought tonight.” Sweet and high, Guinevere’s voice brought tears to my eyes. I knew that voice. Even though I’d never heard it before. My soul recognized her, as if even now, I carried a few drops of our ancient queen’s blood. “This time, white has reigned victorious. Thank you, Gwenhwyfar Findabair. The curse is complete.”
I took the last few steps to reach my queen, and together, we four Blood dropped to our knees around her.
Gwen. Our living queen. Free at last.
Gossamer wings fluttered over us like kisses from an angel. “Merlinus, make sure the ring is returned to Tylweth Teg.”
He pressed his face to the ground. “At once, Your Majesty.”
