Page 32 of The White Enchantress

“What is…Cecily, your nose! Oh my, what has happened to your nose!”

“Cecily will be fine, my dear. Go and call for the doctor.”

“It was her who did it, wasn’t it? She’s a menace, Edmund. I told you she would only cause–”

“ENOUGH!” Ed, attempting to keep his patience, continued in a calming voice. “Cecily deserves what she got for sabotaging Guin’s gown. For too long she has gotten away with everything. I will no longer allow it. If you two cannot accept that I have another daughter, you can leave. She has gone her entire life without me in it. I will not abandon her again because you two cannot overcome your selfish need for constant attention. Now Cecily will pay to replace the dress she ruined out of her own pocket. I am going to order the replacement now. Do not argue with me and do not follow me out of this room. Understood?”

Two stiff nods were all the reply he needed. Turning on his heels, he headed out of my room, leaving me with the two women I hated most. After giving me identical looks of pure disgust, they hastily departed. Thank the gods. Now all I had left to look at was the shredded remains of a once beautiful gown.

I never thought I’d be wearing my wedding gown again, but here I am, getting ready to walk down a different kind of aisle. Morgana had mended and modified my gown according to the fashion standards of the fifth century. She was even able to scrub all the mud out, making it shine an even brighter white than before my trip through time.

As I walk through the throne room, Excalibur vibrates at my side. Whether she senses my own nervousness or is nervous herself, I can’t tell. Speaking to her with my mind, I tell her everything will be fine. She is where she is meant to be. Arthur seems like a kind man. His people love him. There is no reason to be afraid. Excalibur sends a warm burst of energy around my body, enshrouding me in a noncorporeal hug, telling me the same thing.Everything will be fine. This is where I am supposed to be.

Still, it feels a bit weird to be paraded in front of what seems like the entire realm. The hall is packed with strangers, all of them staring at me with mixed looks of admiration, fright, and curiosity. But I am the stranger here. A woman who came from an unknown place in the north, stumbling into a lake, rescued by a magical sword. A sword believed to be Excalibur. A sword meant for the one ruler who will unite all the kingdoms and bring peace to the land.

I know I can’t keep Excalibur for myself. What would I even do with the sword besides wear it against my hip and talk to it like a crazy woman? Still, I will miss the constant warmth and the reassurance of her presence.

Arthur stands erect in front of his throne, making himself appear taller. On either side of the crown-adorned king are his knights. Lancelot takes up his post on Arthur’s right, of course.

It has been nearly a week since the welcome feast and I’ve barely seen Lancelot since. For the past few days, nobles, kings, and ladies poured into the castle and its grounds all to see me, this moment when Arthur will receive the sword called Excalibur.

I look up at Lancelot, his bright green eyes shining like a beacon for me to follow. He is beautiful. Perfect. Wonderful. So fucking sexy. It’s not fair. Elaine was right; he is easy to fall in love with.

I was determined not to fall, though my attempt had been pathetic. After our encounter with the unicorn, the barrier I built came tumbling down and my heart reached out to Lancelot, seeking his affection.

As we rode on horseback, I bombarded him with questions and he answered every single one of them. Some of what he had told me of his life, Arthur, Camelot, and the war were pretty much accurate to the legends I know. But there were quite a few details that shocked me. One of them is that Lancelot and Arthur are cousins–distant cousins, but still. Their connection isn’t one made purely of honor. They are bound by blood.

Knowing this doesn’t make it any easier to stop myself from falling. And I hadn’t forgotten about Josh. Every day I hoped he would magically appear and take me back home. But I know that is never going to happen. I will never see him again. And if I am honest with myself, yes, I will miss him for the rest of my life. My heart is broken at this thought, but I am beginning to doubt my feelings for him.

I love him. There is no doubt in my heart about that. Maybe we would have dated or maybe it would have ended terribly along with our friendship. I couldn’t say what my life would have been like in the twenty-first century. Perhaps it is better to have parted as friends than as broken-hearted lovers.

What I feel for Lancelot is powerful. Much more visceral than what I felt for Josh. Lancelot has haunted my dreams and infiltrated my thoughts since I fell into his arms that day by the lake. I care for this man who is still a stranger to me, yet I feel as though I have known him all my life. Just being near him makes me feel safe in this impossible world.

His eyes give me the courage I need to keep walking toward Arthur, past the piercing stares of the strangers surrounding me. I am walking to Lancelot, not Arthur.

When I approach The King, I bend to kneel before him, but Arthur grabs my arm, standing me back up.

“You need not kneel before me, for you have unearthed a power so great, no one in this room can comprehend. Even Merlin.” He smiles at the middle-aged man standing to the left. “WhiteEnchantress, the woman chosen to bring forth the sword of power. You have come here of your own free will, have you not?”

It is obvious that Arthur rehearsed this little speech, and it feels like a lie to say ‘yes’ but, in truth, I did come here of my own free will. Vivienne gave me a choice.

“Yes, my king.”

The silence in the hall is deafening. No one even takes a breath as they listen to Arthur’s next question.

“Do you believe I am the rightful king of Britain, the leader of kings, who will unite us all and bring peace to the realm?”

“Yes, my king.”

“Will you, lady of the sword, anoint me as the true ruler and bless me with the honor of possessing the sword Excalibur?”

My eyes swing over to Lancelot, taking in his magnificent smile for one short second. Looking back into the piercing blue eyes of Arthur, I nod, even though I am only ninety-nine point nine percent certain. I don’t know Arthur very well, but in the past few days, I have seen his generosity. He is kind and holds an unconditional love for his men, his people, his country.

“Yes, my king.”

At these words, I draw Excalibur from her hiding place in the sheath at my hip. She vibrates wildly in my hand, excitement surging through us both. I hold the sword up for all to see, the blade shining brightly in the dimly lit hall.

As I lower the blade toward the ground, turning the handle into Arthur’s hand, Excalibur whines loudly, her bright white lightenshrouding me in warmth. For a second, I think maybe she is sending me back home. I look at Lancelot, afraid this will be the last time I see his beautifully sculpted face. Tears pool in my eyes. I want him to know that I love him.

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