The truck rumbled steadily down the winding backroads, the world around them bathed in the fading light of dusk. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, its fiery orange glow stretching long shadows across the fields, casting everything in a dreamlike haze. The road ahead was empty, endless, and yet Gavin felt like he was barreling toward something inevitableâsomething he couldn't turn away from, no matter how much he wanted to.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the worn leather. His mind was a whirlwind, fragments of the last few hours looping over and over like a broken reel of film. The shadow agents, Felicity's wings, the wandâeach piece shattered another part of the world he thought he knew, leaving him standing in the ruins of his own disbelief.
And now... his mother's stories.
For years, they had been nothing more than bedtime fairytales, whispered to him in the soft glow of lamplight when he was a child. He'd never questioned them, never thought to ask if there was truth buried beneath the myths. But now, with everything he'd seen, everything he'd felt, those stories didn't seem so impossible anymore.
Beside him, Felicity sat quietly, her wand resting in her lap, her fingers barely grazing its polished surface. Her gaze was fixed on the window, her expression unreadable, but the tension in her shoulders told him enoughâher mind was racing just as fast as his.
The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy, filled with words left unsaid. Gavin exhaled sharply, eyes flicking toward her before returning to the road.
"You're awfully quiet over there," Gavin said, his voice cutting through the hum of the engine. "Plotting your next magical disaster?" he joked.
Felicity shot him a sharp look but didn't rise to the bait. "I'm trying to think, if you must know," she said evenly. "We need a way to travel back through time to Camelot. Now that I have my wand, it's possible, but it would require immense energyâand something to anchor the spell."
"Anchor the spell?" Gavin repeated, glancing at her. "What does that mean?"
"It means we need something powerful, something connected to Camelot," she explained. "Magic isn't just about waving a wand and hoping for the best. It requires focus, intent, and a connection to the destination. Without that, we could end up... well, anywhere."
"Anywhere," Gavin echoed flatly. "Like the bottom of the ocean? Or the middle of a volcano?"
"Possibly," Felicity said, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "But don't worry. I won't let that happen."
Gavin sighed, shaking his head. "Great. Just what I neededâmore ways to die."
They drove in silence for a few moments. Guilt weighed heavily on his chest. Perhaps it wasn't fair to joke about her magic, especially now that he knew she could do it.
"All joking aside," he said, earning her attention once again. "I really do appreciate you. I mean, you have saved my hide so many times since we first met, and well... I'm grateful for you."
She gave him a genuine smile. "And I could say the same for you. I mean, you have a kind heart, just as I was told you would have. I'm beyond honored that I was chosen to be the one to take you back home."
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "Did you know my mother?"
"No." Felicity shifted in the seat, facing him a little better. "I actually knew your father more, and I'm happy to say, you are nothing like him."
Gavin shrugged. "I'm assuming he was a rotten father. I mean, why did he allow his wife and child to leave Camelot?"
"From the story my grandfather tells, it's because your mother feared for your safety. Merlin had told her once that you would be a great king, and your mother needed to protect you. However, your father didn't know what happened to you and your mother. It's my believe that he thought you died when the kingdom attacked Camelot, the day your mother took to you this world."
"So, if the kingdom fought back with my father, why aren't they fighting back with Hector as king, since you said my uncle is worse."
"King Hector won over the people after your father died, and had some men follow him. King Hector was the one who teamed with the witch to create the shadow agents. That is why he has more power than your father."
Silence filled the cab of the truck again as Gavin tried to piece together more of the mysterious puzzle called life. If only he could remember.
"How well did you know me," he asked.
"I only met you once." She touched his arm. "I knew you were the prince, but it wasn't until your mother brought you to Merlin that you looked at me. I gave you an apple to eat on your journey."
He hitched a breath. "An apple?"
She nodded. "Why do you look surprised?"
"That time I kissed you, my memory opened. I think it was your grandfather I saw, standing next to a caldron, and odd-colored smoke drifted from it. But also in my mind, there was a little girl with pigtails. She gave me an apple."
This time when he glanced at her, the softness of her expression melted his heart. He wanted nothing more than to pull the truck over to the side of the road and stop it, and then take her in his arms and kiss her passionately again.
Too bad he didn't dare. Not with the shadow agents always finding them.
"I'm glad you remembered that," she said. "Have you remembered any more?"
"No. It only happened that once when I kissed you."
Her cheeks grew red. "Then perhaps you should kiss me again."
She read my mind. "Do you think now is a good time?"
Felicity frowned. "No, not yet. I need to return to my thinking and figure a way out of this mess. At least in Camelot, my grandfather will be able to help us."
Gavin decided to leave her to her thoughts. Talking with her kept him awake, but he knew she was the only one who could come up with a plan.
After a few minutes, she shifted on the seat again, but this time, she reached for his duffle bag by her feet.
"That bag," she said suddenly. "What's in it?"
Gavin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because you've had it with you this whole time," she said. "It's been with you since I found you. Maybe there's something in there that can help us."
"It's just clothes and junk," Gavin said, frowning. "Nothing magical, I promise."
"Humor me. Allow me to search through it," Felicity said, leaning over and tugging the bag open.
"Knock yourself out." He laughed.
She began rummaging through it, pulling out shirts, a pair of sneakers, and a crumpled water bottle. Suddenly, her hand stopped. Slowly, she pulled out a delicate silver chain with a purple pendant attached. The pendant was shaped like a circle, intricately engraved with swirling designs that seemed to shimmer faintly in the fading sunlight.
"What's this?" she asked, holding it up.
Once again, memories resurfaced of his mother. He loved thinking of her, but at times, homesickness filled him, and the heartache was too much to bear. "That's my mom's. She gave it to me a long time ago. Said it was for good luck."
Felicity's eyes widened, her fingers tightening around the pendant. "Your mother gave you this?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yeah," Gavin said with a shrug. "Why?"
"Because this isn't just a necklace," Felicity said, her voice trembling slightly. "This is an ancient amulet. A powerful one. It's engraved with protection runesâand this symbol hereâ" She pointed to the center of the pendant, where a faint crest was etched. "âthis is the royal crest of Camelot."
Gavin stared at her, his brow furrowed. "Wait. What?"
Felicity nodded, the excitement growing on her face. "Your mother must have given this to you to protect you, Gavin. It's enchanted. I can feel the magic radiating from it."
He blinked, his mind racing. "She just called it a good luck charm," he said, his voice quieter now. "She never said anything about magic."
"She probably didn't want to scare you," Felicity said softly. "Or maybe she didn't think you were ready to know. But this amuletâit's exactly what we need. It's tied to Camelot. It'll act as the anchor for the spell."
Gavin leaned back in his seat, his hands slack on the steering wheel. "So, let me get this straight," he said, still not believing he held an amulet this whole time. "The thing I've been carrying around for yearsâthe thing I thought was just a keepsakeâis actually the key to time-traveling to a magical kingdom?"
"Yes," Felicity said, her voice firm. "It's fate, Gavin. Don't you see? Everything has been leading you to this moment."
He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Fate. Right. Sure. Why not?"
Felicity laughed with him. "You may not believe in fate, but it believes in you."
Gavin took another glance at her, and then at the purple amulet in her hand. A strange sensation washed over himâan inexplicable pull, as if the pendant was calling to him, urging him to take it. Slowly, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around it, the cool metal sending a faint tingle through his skin.
Immediately, he felt calmer. And he felt... his mother.
"So, what now?" he asked, his voice quieter.
"Now," Felicity said, her tone serious, "we prepare for the spell. It won't be easy, and it won't be comfortable. But with this amulet, we can get to Camelot. We can stop Morgana."
Gavin nodded, the weight of her words settling over him. "Okay," he said. "Let's do it."
* * * *
The clearing they had chosen was nestled deep within the forest, encircled by towering trees whose branches whispered secrets to the cool evening breeze. The fading sunlight bled through the canopy in golden ribbons, casting elongated shadows that danced across the moss-covered ground. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting.
Felicity stood in the heart of the clearing, her posture poised yet tense, the silver gleam of her wand catching the last remnants of daylight. In her other hand, the amulet rested against her palm, its intricate engravings warm beneath her fingertips. She traced the delicate etchings with slow, deliberate movements, her brow creased in deep concentration, as though drawing power from its very essence.
A few feet away, Gavin shifted uneasily, his muscles coiled with restless energy. His fingers curled around the strap of the duffle bag at his feet, gripping it like an anchor to reality. His gaze shifted around the perimeter of the clearing, his jaw tight as though every shadow fueled his suspicion that they might not be alone.
"You're sure this is going to work?" he asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Felicity glanced at him, giving him a steady nod. "I told you, the amulet is the anchor. It will guide us to Camelot. All I have to do is channel the spell through my wand and focus on the destination."
"Right," Gavin said. "And what happens if you mess it up?"
Her lips twitched into a small, teasing smile. "I promise not to mess up this time." She paused before asking, "Do you trust me now?"
His shoulders relaxed and he smiled. "I trust you."
That was all the encouragement Felicity needed.
Felicity drew in a steady breath, grounding herself as she lifted the amulet high into the air. The engraved runes on its surface responded instantly, coming to life with a soft golden glow, their ancient markings pulsing in a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat.
She pointed her wand at the pendant, her grip firm, and began murmuring the incantation under her breath. The words, fluid and melodic, wove through the air like a whispered song, their power resonating deep within her. She had heard these words beforeâspoken in her grandfather's steady, commanding voice. Now, they were hers to command, and she felt his presence with her, guiding her through each syllable.
The light from the amulet grew stronger, spilling lavender illumination across the clearing. Shadows stretched and retreated as the glow intensified, bathing the forest in an otherworldly shimmer. The wind stirred suddenly, no longer a gentle whisper but a rising force, spiraling around them in a vortex of energy, rustling leaves and bending branches under its unseen power.
Felicity tightened her hold on the amulet, her entire focus locked on the spell as the very earth trembled beneath them. A faint shimmer sparked in the air before her, delicate as rippling water disturbed by a single drop. Then, the shimmer expanded, swirling outward in luminous tendrils, stretching into a growing vortex that pulsed with an almost sentient energy.
Beside her, she heard Gavin's breath hitch, a sharp intake of air that told her he was seeing what she feltâmagic surging, reality bending. Still, she didn't dare turn her head to check his reaction. To break concentration now would be disastrous.
The vortex widened, its core deepening into a shifting spiral of purple and silver light, flickering like fire yet fluid like water. It called to them, beckoning them forward with the undeniable pull of destiny. The moment had arrived.
"This is it," Felicity said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. She finally dared to turn and look at Gavin. "Stay close to me, no matter what happens. The magic will pull us through, but it can be... disorienting."
"Define 'disorienting,'" he said, his voice tight.
"You'll see," she said, a small smirk playing on her lips. She reached out, grabbing his hand. "Ready?"
"Not even a little," he muttered, but he didn't pull away.
"Too bad," she said, and before he could argue, she stepped into the vortex, pulling him with her.
The world around them erupted in a dazzling explosion of light and sound. It was like being caught in a storm without rain, a tide without water. The sensation of being weightless yet impossibly heavy gripped her, pulling her in every direction at once. Her vision filled with a swirling vortex of purple, green, and blue, the colors twisting and melting together in a hypnotic dance.
Distant echoes filled her earsâfragmented voices, laughter, the sharp clash of metal on metal. It felt like they were being pulled through time itself, memories and moments flashing past them in an instant. And thenâsilence.
A sudden, bone-rattling impact sent Felicity sprawling onto the ground. The breath whooshed from her lungs as she landed flat on her back, staring up at a sky so impossibly blue it almost hurt to look at. For a moment, all she could do was blink, her head still spinning from the journey. The scent of damp earth and wildflowers filled her nose, a stark contrast to the city air he had breathed only moments ago.
Beside her, Gavin landed with a thud, his breath coming in short, stunned gasps. Her wand lay a few inches away from him. He groaned, blinking against the sunlight, trying to focus as the residual energy of the spell hummed through him.
Gavin pushed himself up on his elbows, wincing. His brownish-blonde hair was tangled from the whirlwind journey, falling over his eyes as he turned his head toward her. His gray-blue eyes widened as he took in their surroundings.
Towering castle spires loomed in the distance, their stonework gleaming under the afternoon sun. Rolling green fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with distant villages and winding rivers. The air was thick with the sounds of birdsong, rustling leaves, and the faint, rhythmic clatter of hooves on cobblestone somewhere in the distance.
Felicity groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead as she sat up. "We made it," she whispered, her voice still breathless.
Gavin exhaled sharply, looking around in stunned silence. "Holyâ" he started, then stopped himself, shaking his head as he let out a short laugh. "Okay. Yeah. This is definitely not home."
Felicity turned to him. "No, Gavin," she said, gripping his arm as if grounding him in this new reality. "This is your home."
Gavin straightened, and then winced. She knew the feeling well. Their muscles were getting used to the journey.
The clearing they had landed in was nothing like the one they had left. The air was warmer, fragrant with the scent of wildflowers, and the trees around them were tall and majestic, their leaves shimmering faintly as if touched by magic.
In the distance, a grand castle rose above the landscape, its towers gleaming in the sunlight. It was massive, its walls pristine and ancient. She heard Gavin gasp, knowing he could see it as well.
"Is that...?" he asked, his voice trailing off.
"Camelot," Felicity said, her voice filled with awe. "We're here."
She watched Gavin's expression as he stared at the castle. He appeared to be in a dream at first, since there was a touch of awe on his face. But then she noticed moisture in his eyes. She hoped he was remembering something.
He turned to Felicity, his eyes wide. "I can't believe it." His voice choked slightly. "It actually worked."
She smiled, a mixture of relief and triumph flowing over her. "I told you it would."
She scooted closer to him and touched his shoulder. Immediately, he turned and gathered her in his arms. The warmth from his body blended wit hers, taking her breath away. But is was the look of desire on his face that made her mind numb.
He lowered his head, and the moment his mouth touched hers... her head exploded with happiness. The kiss was as incredible as it had been the first time in his truck. Perhaps more so now since her chest overflowed with emotion.
She answered his urgent kiss, wanting to show him how she felt, but not daring to say the words aloud. I love you. Without a doubt, this would be their last time being intimate. Soon, he would take over as king, and she would return to being a servant girl. A fairy.
Gavin withdrew first, but stared deeply into her eyes. His fast breath on her face made her realize he felt the same powerful energy that she was experiencing. But it mattered not. They were from two different classes. Nothing more could come from their relationship.
He cupped her face, gently stroking his thumbs across her cheeks. "Felicity, Iâ"
The warmth of Gavin's embrace still lingered on Felicity's skin, the taste of his kiss fresh on her lips, but the sudden rustling in the trees shattered the fragile moment like glass. Every nerve in her body tensed. The tenderness they had just shared was instantly replaced by instinctual alertness, the weight of reality crashing back over her like a wave.
Gavin moved first, releasing her and springing to his feet in one fluid motion. His breath came fast, his muscles coiled with tension as his eyes locked onto the shadow emerging from the trees.
The knight stepped forward, the gleaming metal of the armor catching the light in sharp flashes. A polished breastplate bore the symbol of a rearing lionâthe emblem of Camelot's elite warriors. Their helmet obscured the knight's face, but the sword they carried was unmistakable, its edge gleaming wickedly.
Felicity's fingers tightened around her wand, her pulse thundering in her ears. Who was this? A knight from Camelot? Or an enemy?
The figure paused a few paces away, standing rigid and unmoving. Then, in a low and measured voice, he spoke. "Arthur Gavin Beaumont."
Gavin sucked in a breath. He squared his shoulders, stepping protectively in front of Felicity. "Who's asking?" he shot back.
The knight reached up and removed his helmet, revealing a face weathered by time but still strong and regal. Piercing gray eyes, so similar to Gavin's own, locked onto him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.
Felicity inhaled sharply beside him. This was no ordinary knight. This was Sir Edrick, High Commander of Camelot's forces. A legend among warriors. A man loyal to the throne above all else. A man who would know exactly who Gavin was.
Sir Edrick studied him with an unreadable expression before finally speaking again. "Your father is dead. Camelot needs a dedicated ruler now." He took a step closer, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "And I have come to see if you are worthy to take his place."
Felicity smiled. "It is good to see you again, Sir Edrick."
He nodded. "Merlin sent me here to bring you to him." The knight's voice filled with reverence as he looked at Gavin. "Prince Arthur. Camelot has waited for you."
Gavin stared at the knight, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to form words. "I... I think you've got the wrong guy."
The knight shook his head, stepping closer. "Nay. There is no mistake. The amulet has brought you home."
Felicity stood and placed a reassuring hand on Gavin's arm, her smile soft but determined. "Indeed. Welcome back, Your Highness."