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“Aye,” Arthur answered thoughtfully, winking playfully at Adria, who beamed back at him. “Why are you so curious?” he shot back, settling himself on the grass beside Adria.

Molly rolled her eyes. If anyone saw the great warrior, King Arthur, sprawled out as if he were a little boy, next to his daughter and her friend, they would most surely be dumbstruck.

But she loved Arthur, more than she would ever be able to say.

Finally, she stood next to the swords, hoping that Arthur would make some comment about them, but he merely gave her a lazy grin and plucked some wild violets from the grass.

“Tell me about Sir Lancelot,” she eagerly invited.

Arthur sighed heavily, and his face sobered. But he always indulged her, and she knew that soon she would have all of the information she wanted.

“He is a man of great strength and skill, and all of the ladies swoon when they are around him. Merlin tells me the Lady of the Lake raised Lancelot and he bears a sword less powerful than Excalibur but made by the same kind of magic. My knights tell me, that the bards shall write ballads about him,” Arthur muttered, unconsciously scrunching the dainty violets between his thumb and forefinger.

“Father,” she gasped in horror.

He suddenly realized what he had been doing, and he stared up at her sheepishly.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 7

“Good heavens,” he exclaimed, “I suppose I was not paying attention,” he whispered, dragging his gaze away from the crushed violets, to stare in the direction of the grand lake, which they sometimes referred to as The River.

“I shall go and see if Lady Gwenhwyfar is by the lake,” Molly rushed out, feeling an uneasy sensation take hold of her.

If Arthur were made to wait much longer he may just be inspired to go and investigate on his own.

“Pray, wait here,” she begged. She dashed over the hills past some rowan trees and then slowed her pace when she came to the edge of the riverbank.

“She isn’t a lady, she is my queen,” Arthur called after her, causing Molly to snort indelicately.

In truth, she hadn’t wanted to be reminded of that fact. Lady Gwenhwyfar did not deserve the royal title, nor did she deserve to have Arthur as her husband.

Molly stood on the embankment and let a silent oath pass her lips. She caught sight of Sir Lancelot, or at least she thought it was Sir Lancelot, for she did not recognize him, and she knew all of Arthur’s knights.

Sir Lancelot was struggling desperately to impale the water beast, which had risen from the lake. The beast had Lady Gwenhwyfar held tight in his massive paws, and Gwen was so frightened that no sound came from her berry stained lips.

Drawing her magic to her, Molly flew down the embankment and ignored the utterly stunned look Sir Lancelot gave her.

Summoning her blue fire, she let it rip out at the beast that resembled a Celtic Dragon. It howled with pain, and dropped Gwenhwyfar, whom she caught in her magical hold.

She brought Gwenhwyfar over to her, and the woman sank into Molly’s welcoming embrace.

“Thanks be to the Goddess,” Gwenhwyfar muttered. Molly bit her lower lip, and awkwardly patted the woman’s golden head.

By now, the ruckus had attracted Arthur and Adria who came scrambling down the embankment toward them.

“Oh, my stars above,” Adria breathed. The dragon puffed hot air through its massive nostrils.

Eagerly, Molly gave the shocked Gwen to Arthur, and then pushed up her sleeves, preparing to continue her battle.

Instead, the crimson colored dragon began changing form and in its place stood a smiling Merlin.

“My dear child, you have passed the trial,” he murmured, grinning from ear to ear. Adria skipped down to stand beside Molly. Merlin nodded his head at Adria and murmured, “And you dear girl, passed the trial last sennight when your male cousins were visiting. You never used your magic once, even when they were teasing you senseless. “ He winked fondly at Adria.

“But you Princess Mary, you were my biggest concern. I needed to know that you would set aside whatever thoughts or notions you had of Lady Gwenhwyfar, if her life were in grave peril. “

A woman’s beautiful figure emerged from the sparkling depths of the water, and Molly instantly recognized her as The Lady of the Lake and Queen of the Water Faeries on Earth.

Lady Vivienne smiled affectionately at Molly and Adria, and Molly’s mouth gaped open slightly as she stared at Lady Vivienne’s glorious beauty. Her flawless skin glowed with purity, and her LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 8

deep blue eyes were full of love. It was as if Molly gazed upon a heavenly creature. Vivienne’s glamour was so brilliant that it nearly brought Molly to her knees.

“My Lady,” Molly said, falling into a deep bow, as Adria followed suit.

“They are ready, Lord Merlin,” the Lady Vivienne murmured in her singsong voice.

“Aye they are,” Merlin agreed.

Merlin the Magician, levitated himself above the water, and smiled serenely down at Molly and Adria.

Sir Lancelot leaned upon on his own Elvin sword that had been dubbed Arondight. He seemed unfazed by the magic transpiring between the Faerie Queen and the White Wizard.

Lady Vivienne summoned forth two glistening blades, and Molly instantly recognized them as the ones that had been sitting on the grand stone earlier.

Molly exchanged an excited stare with Adria. They shuffled toward each other and clasped hands.

Arthur had released Gwenhwyfar, who now stood smiling at his side. In a bright flash of light she transformed into a faerie that Molly did not know. With a wistful smile, she stepped away from Arthur and disappeared. Arthur reached for Molly’s hand, and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

“Come forth, Princess Mary Pendragon, and Princess Adria ap Owen,” Lady Vivienne said, smiling as she beckoned to them.

Molly and Adria walked into the ankle deep water, and fell to one knee, as Merlin took Adria’s sword, and the Queen of the Water Faeries held Molly’s sword above her head.

“I dub thee Warrior Witch Mary Pendragon, leader of the High Order of Merlin, and huntress of all dark creatures,” she proclaimed grandly. Tears gathered in Molly’s eyes. “You shall command the Elvin blade Anwyn, wrought by the Avalonian Elf Smith, Gofannon and brought here for your capable hands,” Lady Vivienne said, grandly giving Molly the sword.

“Whenever you are in need of Anwyn, you merely summon her with your magic. “

Lady Vivienne then turned her attention to Merlin, who held the sword above Adria’s raven crown.

“I dub thee Warrior Witch Adria ap Owen, co-leader of the High Order of Merlin, and huntress of all dark creatures,” he proclaimed, his rich baritone booming across the rugged landscape. “You shall command the Elvin blade Ely, wrought by the Avalonian Elf Smith, Gofannon and brought here for your capable hands,” he said, grandly giving Adria the sword.

“Adria, whenever you are in need of Ely, your magic shall summon her forth,” Merlin declared, watching his two students proudly.

“Thank you both,” Molly and Adria breathed in unison. Clasping her sword tightly, she and Adria stumbled back onto the riverbank.

“From this day forth, the two of you shall be the brightest lights amongst my Light Bearers,” Merlin proclaimed.

Arthur drew Excalibur, and motioned for Molly and Adria to fall to one knee. Perplexed, the two girls did as they were commanded.

He brought Excalibur down just above Adria’s one shoulder and then the other, as his voice carried forth. “I dub thee Princess Adria, my Lady Knight of the Round Table. “

Shocked, Adria gave Molly a confused stare.

Then, Arthur moved toward Molly, and allowed Excalibur to go through the same motions. “I dub thee Princess Mary, otherwise known as Princess Molly, my Lady Knight of the Round Table, and sworn protector of my Queen, Lady Gwenhwyfar. “ Molly’s heart fell, as she LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 9

listened to her adopted father’s words. “All hail, Princess Mary, my blood daughter, and Princess Adria, daughter of my loyal friend Ranulf ap Owen,” he murmured.

Molly stared up at him in dismay. Realization hit her as if a rock had been hurled at her stomach.

“What did you say?” she managed to choke out, feeling Anwyn hum in her hands.

* * * *

Tintagel Castle, 517 AD

It was the night of the gathering. Molly shifted her weight to her other foot, resting her hand on the jeweled hilt of Anwyn.

The night was young, and she was incredibly nervous. Arthur was holding an emergency meeting with the other Knights of the Round Table. But she was not allowed to attend. It was the first time in a year that she had been forbidden to sit with the other male knights. She stared restlessly out at the full moon, tensing, as she felt Adria slowly approach.

“I am not allowed to sit with the counsel either,” Adria murmured. Molly glanced away from the full moon and shrugged her shoulders.

“I knew it would be this way. I knew as soon as he revealed to me he was my true father that I would be shoved off into the corner. Even now, whilst Lady Gwen sleeps, he will not allow me to stand beside him. They will be riding out to battle tomorrow, to deal with the terror in the East. “ Sadness flowed through her. She turned her body to look Adria straight in the face. “What if they don’t return?” Molly asked. Fear wound its invisible tentacles around her heart.

Merlin suddenly materialized in front of them, and he held out his hand to them, as they moved to his side. “Make haste, my Lady Knights!”

Molly reached out for his offered hand and clasped it tightly.

“Arthur shall need help upon the morn, and we will be the ones to give him that assistance,” Merlin murmured. He raised his hand and they disappeared into a flash of white light.

“Where are we?” Molly wondered, staring around at the large hall. It was ornately decorated, and filled with art the likes of which she had never seen before.

Trumpets sounded off in the distance, and Molly and Adria raced to the window.

“We are at Castle Breena in Avalon,” Merlin murmured, calmly folding his hands in front of him.

Six crimson-cloaked figures with the hoods drawn over their heads filed into the Great Hall.

Molly watched, entranced, as each hood was flung back to reveal the faces of seven women that suddenly summoned forth their magical Elvin blades.

“Princess Mary, Princess Adria, allow me to introduce you to the other Light Bearers of my High Order. Once united, you shall all be known as the nine mystical ladies of Avalon,”

Merlin said in his entrancing tone.

“You already know Princess Morganna, and Princess Anna from Tintagel. “ As he introduced each Light Bearer, he gestured to her. Molly and Adria knew Morganna and Anna well. They were Molly’s aunts, and Molly went to great lengths to distance herself from the pretentious Morganna. Anna on the other hand, was sweet and kind, and uncannily resembled Arthur, except for her silver colored hair.

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“This is Princess Iseult from the Isle of Eire. “ The Irish Princess stepped forward, and Molly gasped as her eyes fell on the lovely woman. Iseult’s hair seemed to be spun gold, and her eyes were an intense emerald green. But she was a solid statue and would make a formidable Light Bearer and Lady Knight.

“This is Princess Ciara from Lothian. “ Merlin paused briefly, as a small red-haired woman stepped forward. She wore a circlet of gold on her forehead not unlike the other women, and her skin was frighteningly pale and speckled with freckles. If Molly didn’t know better she could have sworn that they were related. Merlin’s voice broke into Molly’s thoughts.

“This is Princess Amelia from the Fourth Faerie Realm, and with her is her cousin, Princess Beatrice from the Elvin Realm of Ardara. “

These two women nearly brought Molly to her knees. Molly was part faerie, and she knew that her ears were enchanted to seem more humanlike. But Molly had never glimpsed pureblooded elves or faeries. They were said to be the cousins of angels, and now Molly could understand why. They gave off a radiant light, and she felt a comforting emotion pass through her. For some strange reason, these women reminded her of her mother. But she was being fanciful; she had inherited her fey blood from her father’s mother, not from her mother. Her father had not inherited the gift of magic as she had, but fortune had still smiled down upon him.

“And last but certainly not least, is Princess Millicent from the Welsh kingdom of Powys.

”

Molly scrutinized this last Light Bearer even more closely than she had the others. She knew that Millicent was Lady Gwen’s cousin, and yet she bore no resemblance to Gwen whatsoever. Moreover, Millicent’s eyes reminded her of her own.

The Light Bearers all bowed their heads in respect for Merlin.

“All of you belong to the High Order of Merlin, and are my Light Bearers. I summoned you here on an issue of serious consequence. King Arthur plans to ride out and meet dark forces from the East. His knights will not be able to stand against these unearthly creatures, but my ladies, you have the power to prevail over the ungodly creatures of the dark. “ He flourished his hand, and gave them a frightening scene of Arthur and his knights being mercilessly slain.

“So we shall,” Molly vowed, breaking the uneasy silence.

Her heart filled with dread at the tragic vision, but she had to be strong for the sake of the brave, chivalrous Knights, and most of all, her father.

Deliberately, she drew Anwyn, from its scabbard, and the others followed her lead. They formed a circle, and extended their swords, their silver tips touched. When the Elvin swords connected, a blindingly glorious burst of multi-colored light streamed up from the tips and danced around the room.

“Let us be off to Camelot,” Molly cried, as their magic continued to dazzle, and dance around the room.