Page 39 of The White Knight

“You are a young man. How old are you now?” Morgana asks, ruffling Galahad’s hair as Vivienne releases him from a delicate hug. Vivienne is rarely affectionate, even with Lance. Though a kind, lovely soul, I have only seen this maternal side of her when Galahad is near. Something about this kid brings out the gushiness in all of us.

“I’ll be nine years old next month, Auntie Morgana,” Galahad says, his back as straight as a pencil, showing his full height and proud demeanor.

Lance clears his throat. “Why have I never received such a welcome whenever I would return to Avalon?”

“My dear son, you have never returned home with such a party before. My grandson, King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, andMerlin.” There was a lack of excitement about the last name, almost as if it was on purpose. “In fact, I cannot recall a time when Avalon has had so many honored guests. We only had a few days to prepare your rooms as you did not think to write to me in advance of your arrival.” Vivienne offers Lance a half smile, attempting to keep her severe facade up.

We had only decided to make a quick detour to Avalon a week before our departure from Joyous Gard. Not knowing when we could make the trip back up here, we all thought it would be a nice little family trip. To be honest, it has been too long since I stepped foot on this island. I miss being here. The quiet, peacefulness. It’s odd, but I feel close to my family here. My family in the twenty-first century. This is the place where I came through when I unwillingly time traveled. Though I may never see my family again—not because it would not be possible, but because I would never willingly leave the family I have here—I still find peace in Avalon.

“I never need to give you notice of my arrival,” Lance says to Vivienne. “You always know when I am coming home, mother. Though I do apologize for bringing such company. I hope it was not much trouble.”

Lance moves quickly and pulls Vivienne into a playful hug. Though he had seen her since returning to Joyous Gard, I know he misses Vivienne. It warms my heart to see such a masculine man act so lovingly toward his mother. He’s so adorably affectionate. Something I hope Galahad pays attention to because I will demand hugs from him until I can no longer lift my own arms up.

“Yes, my lady, I apologize for the late notice,” Arthur adds with kingly kindness.

“No trouble at all, your Highness,” Vivienne says as she releases herself from Lance’s embrace. “Morgana will show you all to your accommodations. Merlin, you will want to stay at theDruid temple?” Merlin nods graciously, a man of few words. “I trust you know the way.” Vivienne adds.

Another nod, and Merlin heads off in the opposite direction. I have never seen Vivienne and Merlin together. There seems to be history there. Something between them. My eyes follow Merlin as he heads into the trees. Before he disappears, he turns back to our group, setting his eyes upon Vivienne. Definitely something there.

I grab a hold of Morgana’s arm as she leads us to our rooms, whispering in her ear. “Was that sexual tension or something else?”

“What?” Morgana asks, turning to me with cocked eyebrows. “You really do say the strangest things sometimes.”

“Vivienne and Merlin. Were they a thing? A couple? Love each other?”

“Oh. We do not speak of that.”

“Mmm hmm. Noted.” I smirk at Morgana’s amused face.

“What are you two whispering about?” Lance asks, curiosity riddling the crease of his brows.

“Nothing.” Morgana and I say in unison, chuckling like a couple of teenagers.

I turn back to Morgana, asking, “There’s a Druid temple here?”

“Yes, well, there is another island, much smaller than ours. There are so few Druids left, we offer them sanctuary here. Merlin is the only one who leaves Avalon.”

“He just gets more mysterious as I learn more about him.” As we pass through the main complex, I am unsure where Morgana is taking us. “Wait, are we not staying in the dormitory?”

“Vivienne thought it best to have a cottage built. We had the old temple transformed into a guest cottage so that whenever you and your family visited, you would have a place to stay and some privacy away from the priestesses.”

“The old temple,” I whisper, remembering my dream with Elnaril. We had been standing in the middle of that temple. It looked brand new. The last time I had seen the place in real life, it was one poke away from collapsing.

“Auntie Morgana, is this the temple where Excalibur was forged?” Galahad asks. Though he most likely knows the answer as I do.

“Oh. I do not know for sure, but there are stories about remarkable magic being cast in this temple. It could be the place.”

I turn to Galahad and nod. “It is the same place.”

“What?” Both Arthur and Morgana ask.

“I never thought to mention it before. Elnaril, the soul who lives within Excalibur, she told me. As I’m sure she told you, Galahad.”

“We will be staying in that very same temple, Lady Morgana?” Arthur is always so formal with the priestesses, it cracks me up. I push my laughter aside, only allowing a smile to show on my face.

“Yes, your Highness. Although, it has been completely rebuilt. It is just around this bend here.” Morgana takes a few steps ahead of me and the rest of my group as we approach the area where the old temple stood. The mid-day light shimmers cheerfully overhead, shining a spotlight onto what is now a quaint stone cottage.

Being familiar with the old structure, I can make out the original stones from the temple. The old structure has undergone a complete transformation. Where there were once stairs leading up to an altar is now a doorway leading into a modest dwelling. A fireplace sits in the middle of a living area, simply furnished with two bare wooden benches.

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