Bridget: I have kept experiencing the same dream for the past few days. It was like something within me was preparing me. I doubt it though. The dream is an actual event. That is part of the reason why I've climbed so high in rank within the Geminis army. I was part of the Black Crow knights. To be fair, we were just glorified patrolmen chasing down crooks and bandits. Ever since Lord Magnus took over the eastside of Geminis, things have become grim. The land had plenty of resources, but that was it. Regardless of my diplomatic views on the tyrant, this event kept invading my mind whenever I went to sleep. I wish I could relay this event with pride. However, I'm embarrassed by the truth of the matter. I was unworthy of receiving Excalibur...
[Several Years Ago]
"They went this way!" I heard my comrade shouting in the distance. We were currently riding through the woods where a few wood workers were chopping down some trees. This made our pursuit a bit difficult. A group of bandits had raided one of the temples. The last three managed to escape on horses.
"Two bandits are heading towards Buffalo Cliff!!" Another knight shouted up ahead.
"Head them off down the stream! I'll catch the other one heading towards the lake!" I ordered. The knight next to me obeyed and split off. Oddly enough, I was in no position to give orders. Since I was a woman, most of the time my ideas were ignored. However, out in the field, my peers looked to me for instructions and objectives if a High Knight didn't give one.
"Bridget! There is a fog up that way! Forget about the rat and focus on the other two with us!" Another knight suggested. I rolled my eyes and ignored him. He thinks he means something to me because I had sex with him a few times during our training years. I warned him that he wasn't the only one and I had no feelings for him. This never stopped his feelings for me, apparently.
"Go with the others while I catch this one." I spoke loud enough for him to hear me and rode off to catch the other bandit. One thing was for sure, this fog was thick and blinding. I slowed the pace of my horse to focus on what was ahead of me. I couldn't hear anything either. The hooves hitting the ground were silent. The rustling of the leaves made no sound. A haunting presence made itself known as the wind whistled a low howl.
"Well, they don't call this howling lake for nothing. Not sure about this fog though." I whispered to myself. Suddenly, my eyes picked up movement behind a tree. I knew it had to be the bandit, so I dismounted the horse and tied it to a low tree branch. I proceeded with caution, as the figure wasn't aware of my presence. At the corner of my eye another black figure lunged towards me with great speed. The drawing of my blade was much quicker than my attacker as I moved swiftly and slashed through flesh and bone. I steadied myself for a moment, then dropped my guard in disappointment as I looked at my kill. It was a young adult puma. Nothing more than a juvenile beast.
My body tensed up as I heard rustling leaves coming towards me. This time it was my intended target attacking me. The bandit launched a rock at my head and dazed me for a moment. He continued to clang his dull blade against my armor, trying to find an opening in it to wound me. After a few strokes, I regained my footing and swung back. He screamed in pain as the tip of my blade ripped through his shirt and chest. He quickly retreated and began hurling rocks of any kind at me to slow me down from catching him. My sight was so focused on reaching him that I wasn't aware of my surroundings. This allowed him to trick me as he leaped up and swung himself up onto a tree branch. I, being a careless fool, kept running and soon found myself falling off the small cliff and into the lake. Not only was the splash great enough to blind my sight, but my entire body was quickly submerged in water. I struggled to swim to the top, but my armor was too heavy. Piece by piece, I cut and tore my armor off using my sword and hands. I started to bleed as my frantic movements caused my blade to cut me in the process. My efforts slowed down as the pain in my chest expanded from holding my breath. Surely I was going to die here. I soon halted my struggle and allowed the lake to pull me deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Suddenly, my lungs filled with air as I felt soft human lips press against mine. Life rushed into me as my strength returned. I opened my eyes to see a woman of such beauty restoring my vigor and will to live. From the many tales I've heard about mermaids, she did not fit any of those descriptions. Also, she was strong. She pulled me to the edge of the lake and dragged me to the shore. I took deep breaths as I gazed upon my savior. I was slowing my breathing down to thank her but she spoke to me first.
"Bedivere, you are his descendant, correct?" She asked, to which I slowly nodded my head with much confusion. How would she know such a thing as that?
"He passed away several years ago. Centuries even. Is time not relevant to you?"
"No, it is not." She quickly replied. I swallowed hard and continued to regain myself from my near death experience.
"Who are you?" I finally asked as I slowly stood up.
"I am the Lady of the Lake, the one who gifted Arthur with Excalibur. I'm also the one who thanked and blessed Bedivere for returning it to me." Excitement rose within my heart. This was the woman I've admired for such a long time. Though much isn't told about her, she played a key part in Arthur's reign as king. Her role in it all has always fascinated me.
"You can help me!" I quickly spat out. She blinked a few times as if wondering how on earth she could be of any use to me.
"Please, I beg of you, allow me to wield Excalibur. There is a tyrant who is ruining our land. He needs to be stopped and no one seems to be willing to do anything about it." She paused for a moment and crossed her arms as she spoke.
"What of these sages and their so-called Dye Heroes? Are they all in their graves?" I shook my head no, which confused her as she waited for me to explain.
"The sages are still alive. However, they all have given up because of some curse placed on these tyrants that rule over Geminis."
"Geminis? You mean the kingdom ruled by Queen Elita?" She asked as she looked around. I was confused by the question she asked me. Where did she think she was, in Camelot?
"Yes, this is that kingdom. Do you not know where you are?" She narrowed her eyes at me with annoyance as she replied.
"Precisely. Just because I'm known as the Lady of the Lake, that doesn't mean I'm confined to one lake... Either way, what has become of this kingdom? How bad is its condition?" I lowered my head a bit and propped myself on a nearby tree.
"Queen Elita is dead, along with every shred of hope she brought into this kingdom. I can not weigh the conditions of the entire kingdom. I only know that the current tyrant of this land, Magnus, needs to be removed. So please, give me the tools I need to vanquish this evil and save this land."
"What good is it to save this land if the rest of the kingdom has fallen? If you truly want my aid, then you must swear to me that you'll pursue these other tyrants and rid them as well. Agreed?" I thought about this for a while, debating if I really wanted to spend all my time and energy trying to reclaim an entire kingdom on my own. I lied. Deep down in my soul I lied so easily just to receive the mighty Excalibur.
"I will do it." Apparently my fib fooled her. She glanced at me once more and headed back into the lake. A few moments later, she came out with two swords instead of one. She handed them to me and nodded her head.
"You asked for the proper tools to reclaim this kingdom, so here they are. These two swords are called Sol and Luni. They will help you defeat your enemies. Just remember, they are as strong as the one who wields them." Before I could speak she burst into water and sank back into the lake. My mouth hung open in disbelief as I gripped the two swords with rage building up.
"I asked for Excalibur..." I spoke softly to myself. I could feel the rage within my tears swelling up.
"Why didn't she give me Excalibur?" I spoke even louder as my body started to shake out of frustration.
"Why am I not worthy!!" I roared as I stabbed both sheathed weapons into the soft soil at the edge of the lake. I dropped to my knees and wept in bitterness. How was I supposed to prove myself now? Before I could get deep into my own thoughts, I heard a rustling sound behind me. The bandit had returned and was looking to finish me off. He picked a horrible time to try and end my life. I slowly gripped the hilt of the two swords and began to pull them out of their sheaths. Before they were half way out, I leaped behind me with great speed. I slashed both swords twice and slid to a tumbling halt. I was shocked at how fast I moved. Most of my armor was off but I know that wasn't the real reason. The bandit remained motionless for a few seconds before blood gushed out of him and his body split into three. I slowly stood up and motioned to walk, when suddenly two smaller trees next to the bandit were also cut into three because of my attack. I smirked as I gazed upon both swords.
"I'll prove myself worthy of Excalibur. You'll see. I'll bring down this tyrant and rule over this land. I'll take over the entire kingdom if I have to. My forefathers returned the sword, which was a mistake. I'll reclaim it no matter..."
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