Microsoft Word - LadyPendragon (38 page)

Thaney braced her feet apart, and held her arms up to the heavens. She began muttering in a soft tremulous voice, and her words became so slurred together that Molly could not discern them.

Collin and Branden shot off some more arrows, and as they went flying through the air, they suddenly became larger. So much so, that they were equally proportioned in scale to Ogfan.

Ogfan’s eyes widened and almost fell out of his head. A split second was all that he had.

The Elvin arrows connected with his chest and sent him thundering to the ground.

He landed with a resounding crash. His chest was still rising and falling, as his body began to fade from view. Gradually, he faded out of existence all together.

“You have my gratitude, Thaney. That was a sight to mark down as being outstanding!”

Molly said, beaming over at her cousin.

“Aye, ye were brilliant, Thaney. “ Lachlan added. He reached inside of his coat for his pipe, and lit it.

“Lachlan, I wish that you’d…” Molly’s voice trailed off.

“I know. I know, Molly,” Lachlan said, sighing heavily. “Ye wish that I would shove me pipe up where the sun doesn’t shine. Sorry to disappoint ye lass, but I can’t do that. “

“But I could,” Molly retorted. Sighs of awe echoed around the deck. Molly followed their gaze, and couldn’t help but sigh herself. The mountains were breathtakingly beautiful.

They were snowcapped, and seemed to have been taken straight out of the faerie lands.

“Are you nervous?” Collin asked, breathing against her ear.

“Yes,” she said, not bothering to conceal her real emotions from him. He knew her too well, and she was far too tired.

“It will all turn out right,” he murmured, taking a hold of her hand, and grasping it firmly.

“I hope you are right. If you’re not…” She closed her mouth. She didn’t want to utter her thoughts of misgivings aloud.

They ventured in closer to the mountains, and slowly landed near what seemed to be an entry of some sort.

A dragon that glowed white, and then glowed red emblazoned the wall guarding the entry. It repeated the pattern over and over again.

“Well, here we are,” Puck chirped, hopping down to the snow covered ground.

“Who would like to go first,” Lachlan muttered, eyeing the entrance warily. “I think we should act like proper gentlemen and allow the ladies to go first. “

“One must be admitted first, my leprechaun friend,” Puck murmured, running his hand along the engraved wall. “Can’t say I remember the password. “ He scrunched his face up, and it turned red with his concentration. But Molly wasn’t buying any of it. She knew that Puck was full of it.

“Puck, please. If you know the password, share it with us. As you said earlier, we don’t have time to waste,” Molly said, stepping forward.

“Time never runs out. How can it when it’s a constant circle?” Puck snorted, and then flattened his hand against the image of the dragon.

“Why doesn’t he just get a move on,” Collin complained.

“I seem to have the vaguest recollection of the password. Had something to do with pinpoint. Do any of you possibly have a pen for me to write with, eh?” Puck asked.

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“Puck, will you please stop. “

“Ah, yes, pens haven’t been invented yet. Silly me. “ He rolled his eyes, but kept his palm firmly against the glowing dragon.

“I think I know what the password is,” Collin cried out. He looked as if he’d just won the bloody lottery.

“Oh, good, I was about to suspect that the lights were on but no one was home. “ Puck leaned back against the wall, and smirked.

“Think about it, Molly. Puck was giving us a hint. “ Collin nudged her, and brought Molly’s mind back down to Earth. It had been wandering for a while there.

“Pendragon,” she murmured, feeling quite stupid for not having realized it sooner.

“The old ones return, and the ancient ones welcome thee. “ An odd voice boomed out, causing everyone to step back cautiously.

The hidden door slid aside, revealing what seemed to be the inside of a settlement. Molly cautiously stepped over the threshold. And in doing so, she left her world behind and entered the world of the Dragon Clan of Rowan.

The others joined her, and she looked around at the grassy valley they stood in. Sun kissed the ground, and bathed Molly in welcoming warmth. Rowan and oak trees surrounded them. A gurgling brook and rushing waterfall could be heard in the distance.

“Who has sent you into our company?” Another booming voice asked. This time the voice was female, and held a lilting musical quality to it.

“Lord Merlin,” Molly called out, her voice wavering slightly. Mists began encompassing them, as harp music streamed out toward them.

“I feel as if I’m trying to peer through melted marshmallow,” Lachlan complained, as they all backed up against each other. They had formed what seemed to be a circle. Molly was tempted to draw Excalibur, but she doubted it would do her any good.

The mists gradually unfurled. A soft sweet smelling rain began falling around them. The pasture of green was no longer empty.

Molly licked her slightly parched lips, and widened her eyes. They were now in an old Roman coliseum, and dragons blanketed the stands.

“Hail, Clan Rowan,” she summoned the greeting from deep within herself, even though she felt strangely unsettled.

A cacophony of angered cries rumbled around them, as dragon wings began flapping.

“Why do you bring an enemy into our midst?” the dragon that seemed to be their king asked.

“I do not understand, my lord,” she said, staring beseechingly up at him.

“My Lord Redfeame, you should allow us to make an example of them. “ A silky sweet female voice purred.

“Nay, Lady Rosemary, you shall hold your temper. “ His glittering green eyes fell on the lady dragon that sat next to him.

“As you command my lord,” Rosemary replied stiffly, billowing scorching steam out of her large nostrils. She fluttered her wings, and then settled back down again.

“So we meet again, Lady Thistle,” Lord Redfeame murmured, as melancholy filled his gaze. It roved around Molly’s clustered group of traveling companions, and then fell to rest on one member.

“Merciful Heavens,” she muttered, riveting her gaze on the same person Redfaeme was looking at.

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“You shall hand Lady Thistle over to me, before we continue with what you came here to seek from me. “ His voice was resolute, and held no room for leeway.

Molly wrapped her arm around Thaney protectively, as Puck eyed Thaney curiously.

“You shall not have her. She is not your Lady Thistle of which you speak. She is my cousin. She has caused you no harm. I think you should look again, Lord Redfeame. “

“Ah, but she is Lady Thistle. I would recognize my mate anywhere. Do you think that I would forget the woman that betrayed my entire clan?”

Molly didn’t know what to say. Her heart was pounding so loudly against her chest that she feared the dragons would hear it.

Thaney had remained immobile under Molly’s touch.

“I don’t care what you think, Lord Redfaeme. Thaney is part of my family, or as you would call it, my clan. I shall not let you take her. You will only get her over my dead body!”

“Don’t tempt them,” Collin muttered, eyeing her warily.

Redfaeme sighed, and then in one dizzying array of motion he had jumped down to where they stood. His glittering eyes were still devoted to Thaney.

Molly quickly shoved Thaney behind her, and unsheathed Excalibur, as the others in her group reached for their own weapons.

Redfeame fell back on his haunches and smiled wistfully.

“You should have told me earlier that you were a Pendragon. “ His breath made her hair stand on end.

“I told you that I had been sent by Merlin. “

“And though Merlin the Great, is a cherished friend of mine, he is not a Pendragon. It is good to finally meet the branch of my human family. My mother was the Lady of the Clan Pendragon. You shall be spared. Consider yourself blessed, Lady Pendragon. “

“How did you know that I was a Pendragon?” Molly’s voice was hesitant, and the others were excitedly awaiting Redfaeme’s answer.

“Because you carry the sword that was forged for my mother. “ Redfaeme smiled almost lovingly, as he stared thirstily at Excalibur. She gripped it so tightly that all of the blood seemed to have drained from her hands.

“Where is your mother, now?” she asked. She almost immediately regretted her question, when Redfaeme held up his human-like paw.

“She killed her,” he accused, pointing one of his thick claw-like fingers at Thaney.

“Nay. I did not. You are mistaken,” Thaney proclaimed, her rich voice blanketing the entire coliseum.

“You dare speak in my lord’s presence!” Lady Rosemary hissed. She blew small puffs of fire out of her nose, and the necklace around her giant leathery neck wobbled.

“I am not the woman that cursed you. “ Energy vibrated between Redfeame and Thaney, and Molly was almost caught in its current. Thaney pushed her slightly, and sent her slamming into Collin.

“We need your help. “ Thaney forged on, earning a gasp from Molly.

“Thaney, cease your chattering. I will not watch you turn to ashes before my eyes. “ A wail caught and lodged in her throat, as Excalibur sang out.

Molly’s eyes fell to the blade, and she nearly choked when she saw the jewel in the hilt become cloudy. Then the clouds began to ebb away. A vision emerged on the blade of the silver-steel. It rose from the blade and stretched out into the air. It was as if she was staring at a movie screen.

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Thaney was in the vision, and she was in the arms of a large broad-shouldered man. He had red hair nearing the color of Molly’s, and Molly recognized the green eyes instantly.

“Lord Redfaeme,” she breathed. All noise diminished from the coliseum. Everyone had been bewitched by the vision that had risen from Excalibur.

Thaney, or rather Thistle, kissed Lord Redfaeme, and walked away from him with her fingers pressed to her lips.

Mists swirled into the landscape, and slowly cleared. Lady Thistle was now standing in a dark castle. A man descended the stairs draped in dark robes. Thistle ran to him, and he caught her in his arms and swung her around.

“Is it done?” the man asked. He sounded like Lord Cardan and eerily resembled him as well.

Sourness welled in Molly’s stomach. If she weren’t careful she’d be retching all over the place.

“It is done,” Thistle murmured, kissing him passionately on the lips.

“The Jewel of Destiny shall be ours, and we shall crush the Clan of Rowan,” The man declared, his eyes glinting with red fire.

“May I strike the first blow?” Thistle asked in a soft, oddly demure voice.

“I think, my dear, that you already have. “ The dark figure gestured toward a crumpled woman on the rushes by the hall’s great fireplace.

Men clamored toward the beaten and bloody woman, and wrenched her to her feet.

“Kill her, my love. “

The woman was dragged over to them, and Lady Thistle sucked in her breath deeply.

“Lady Pendragon,” she murmured, her voice held a hint of reverence.

“Whatever you do, you shall not destroy my clans,” Lady Pendragon cried out in stubborn defiance.

“Oh, but I already have,” Lady Thistle said, reaching for her sword. She levitated it in the air, and directed it straight at Lady Pendragon’s heart. It plunged through Lady Pendragon’s heart, as blood spilled out across her white robes.

“Only when white mingles with red, shall my son’s clan’s destiny be fulfilled,” Lady Pendragon murmured. Her bright blue eyes lost their sparkle and she crumpled into a heap on the ground. Bright light shot through the castle, and engulfed Lady Pendragon. She was gone.

“Now it begins,” Lady Thistle whispered, turning gleefully back to her lover.

The whole sordid scene faded from view, as the cloudy apparition was sucked back into Excalibur.

Thaney stumbled away from Redfaeme as he slunk toward her.

“Stay away from her,” Molly said, rushing to intervene. Whatever happened, she couldn’t allow Redfaeme to kill Thaney. Why had Merlin sent her here? Damn you, Merlin!

“You shall not keep me away from the woman that I have waited for, for nearly a thousand years. You do not possess that much power, Lady Pendragon,” he said, again using her surname, because she hadn’t yet introduced herself. “I wish you no harm. You and your friends may leave. “

“To hell, we will,” Lachlan snorted.

Branden stepped forward, and Molly was not expecting the jolt that ran through Redfaeme’s body when he finally recognized Branden.

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“My old friend,” Redfaeme murmured, dropping into a respectful bow. The Earth shuddered, since Redfaeme was now a gigantic dragon, when he fell into such a position it rumbled the landscape.

“Redfaeme, Lady Thaney is not the woman that you seek. The woman that you seek has been dead for nearly a millennia. “

“Nay. You are mistaken. I know that it is she. She has the same unmistakable scent,”

Redfaeme said, his eyes filling with sadness. “I can still feel her calling to my heart. But I will see her burn for the trespasses she has wrought against me and my kind. “

“I cannot allow that. “ Branden’s voice was resolute.

“Tell me, my noble friend, are you still fighting the darkness that threatens your shores?”

“Aye,” Branden murmured. His tone was carefully guarded, and Molly could see a muscle twitching in his jaw.

“Alas, but you are not in a position to lay threats against my door. “ Redfaeme was cunning, and full of passion. He would not be swayed easily.