The winding path leading to Guinevere's estate was eerily quiet. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the grassy hills. A faint mist clung to the ground, swirling around Excalibur's sheath as Gavin rode his horse, the sword tapping softly against his thigh with the rhythm of the ride. The once-reassuring weight of the blade now felt heavier, as if it sensed the confrontation ahead.
After formulating a plan with Felicity, he'd left the cabin at dawn, unable to shake the unease in his chest since learning of Guinevere's deception. She had been an allyâor so he thought. The mystical woman who had enchanted him during their first meeting, whose presence had been as calming as a lullaby. And now, she was revealed to be something far more dangerous. A witch.
The knowledge gnawed at him. Had her kindness been a lie? Was the warmth he felt when they spoke another layer of her manipulation?
He couldn't afford to let her win, and with Felicity by his side, the odds were much better. If only Merlin would make an appearance, then they would be certain to overcome Morgana's evil clutches.
The trees lining the path whispered as the wind rustled through the leaves, their branches arching overhead like skeletal fingers. The horse's hooves crunched against the dirt road, but the sound felt muted, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
In the distance, he could see the outline of Guinevere's manor, a sprawling stone estate surrounded by ivy-covered walls. It was once a place of beauty, but now it loomed ominously, its silhouette dark against the fading light.
Gavin slowed his pace, his fingers brushing over the amulet around his neck. It pulsed faintly, as if urging him forward, reminding him of the magic he carriedâand the duty he couldn't ignore.
He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see Felicity fluttering beside him in her tiny fairy form. Thankfully, she had chosen to remain invisibleâat least for now.
The memory of Felicity's tearful plea echoed in his mind. "Don't underestimate her, Gavin. She's not who you think she is."
But that was exactly the problemâhe didn't know who Guinevere truly was.
Thankfully, Felicity had waved her wand over him as a protection spell from Morgana. He prayed it would work.
As he approached the estate, a strange sensation washed over him, like stepping into a dream. The air grew warmer, and the scent of blooming flowers filled his nostrils, despite the fact that it was late in the season. A soft melody drifted through the airâthe same haunting tune she had played when they first met in the forest. It tugged at his memories, making him question whether the woman who had soothed him with her song could truly be an enemy.
Stop it. He clenched his fists, shaking off the haze. This was exactly what Felicity had warned him about. Guinevere's magic wasn't just powerfulâit was subtle, like a vine slowly tightening around its prey. He couldn't let her charm cloud his judgment.
Strangely enough, he felt Felicity's protection spell fighting off the mesmerizing music.
When he reached the iron gate, he dismounted and pushed the obstacle open. As he pushed it open, it gave an eerie creak as if the atmosphere was preparing for battle.
He stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to the manor's entrance. The lanterns lining the walkway flickered, casting golden light over the neatly trimmed hedges. But something felt offâtoo perfect. It was as if the garden itself had been frozen in time, trapped under an enchantment that refused to let it decay.
At the top of the steps, the grand wooden doors creaked open before he could knock, revealing Guinevere standing in the doorway.
She looked as radiant as ever, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her sky-blue eyes glowing softly in the light. She wore a flowing gown of deep emerald, its fabric shimmering like liquid silk. A warm smile spread across her lips, as if she'd been expecting him.
"Gavin," she said, her voice like honey. "I knew you'd come."
The sound of her voice twisted something inside himâa mixture of longing and dread. He had come here prepared for a confrontation, and he wasn't going to leave until she was destroyed.
"I'm not here for pleasantries, Guinevere," he said, his voice firm. "I know what you are."
Her smile faltered, just for a moment. "What do you mean my darling prince?"
"I've had enough of your deception, Guinevere... or should I call you Morgana?"
She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "Come in. We shouldn't have this conversation out here."
He hesitated. The warmth from the manor drifted toward him, beckoning him inside. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus. She's trying to disarm you. Don't let her.
"I'll stay right here," he said, planting his feet firmly on the stone steps.
Guinevere sighed, folding her hands in front of her. "You've always been stubborn, haven't you?" She descended the steps slowly, her gaze never leaving his. "I suppose that's part of your charm."
"Enough," Gavin snapped. "I trusted you, and now I find out you've been hiding who you are. What's your endgame, Morgana? Why the charade?"
She stopped a few steps away, her expression softening into something almost genuine. "It wasn't a charade," she said quietly. "Not all of it, at least. When we met in the forest, I didn't plan to betray you. But circumstances changed."
"Circumstances?" he repeated, bitterness creeping into his tone.
She flinched, her eyes narrowing. "I am Morgana. I'm very powerful. More powerful than you realize."
"Why? Because you're rich? Or because you have magic?" He stepped closer, his anger bubbling to the surface. "What made you sell your soul to the devil, Morgana?"
Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, the mask slipped. He saw the truth hidden beneath her beautyâa woman driven by fear and desperation.
"Magic is wealth, don't you see? I give commands, and if people don't obey, they pay dearly for their errors."
The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken emotion. Gavin wanted to hate her, to see her as nothing more than a traitor. But the pain in her eyes made it difficult. Was she truly a villain? Or was she the victim in someone else's game?
"I will never answer to you, Morgana." He held himself strong.
Suddenly, her eyes darkened, and her entire form shifted, twisting into the sinister figure of the witch. The transformation was startlingâa complete unraveling of beauty into something wicked and sharp. He hadn't realized until this moment just how opposite the two women were. No wonder he'd been pulled in so easilyâone was the illusion of perfection, the other, the harsh reality of deception.
Before he could respond, a gust of wind swept through the garden, and the air around them shimmered. The soft glow in Morgana's eyes darkened, turning into something unnatural. Her posture straightened, her vulnerability vanishing in an instant.
When she spoke again, her voice was cold. "I warned you, Gavin. You should've stayed away."
The warmth of the garden evaporated, replaced by an icy chill that cut to the bone. Gavin reached for Excalibur, the sword responding with a faint hum as he unsheathed it.
Morgana's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Now, we do this the hard way."
The wind howled around them, and the fight for Camelot began.
Gavin's cloak blew out around him, the wind directing it in different paths. The sky above churned with dark clouds, swirling like a tornado on the rise, casting flashes of green lights. The scent of ash, magic, and torment filled the air.
Morgana stood across from him, her raven-black hair whipping around her face. Her emerald robes, once pristine, were dark as night. Her magic pulsed stronger than ever, her eyes glowing with raw power. The shattered remains of her stronghold trembled as her magic cracked the stones beneath them.
"You can't win," Morgana sneered, raising her staff. "You've come all this way, only to die with your foolish dreams of saving Camelot."
Gavin gripped Excalibur tightly, its blade glowing faintly in response to his touch. He was breathing heavily, sweat trickling down his temple, but he wasn't giving up.
Although he couldn't see her, he heard Felicity whispering in his ear. "You are stronger than you believe."
He straightened, loving how Felicity's voice made him feel powerful. "No, Morgana. You will be the one to die."
With a flick of her hand, Morgana twisted her staff toward him, the air crackling with energy. A blinding ray of light exploded from its tip, hissing through the air like a serpent striking its prey. Instinctively, Gavin raised Excalibur, the blade catching the beam with a metallic hum.
As soon as the light touched the sword's enchanted surface, it shimmered violently, twisted, and fractured into tendrils of green mist that dissolved harmlessly into the air. The magic dispersed as if it had been doused with water, leaving nothing but faint wisps trailing in the breeze.
Morgana's eyes widened, her face contorting in shock. Her disbelief mirrored the jolt running through Gavin's chest, his breath catching as he processed what had just happened. Without Felicity's protection spell woven into Excalibur, he realized, he would have been little more than a pile of charred remains.
He swallowed hard, tightening his grip on the hilt. "Thanks, Felicity," he whispered, knowing he owed her more than he could say.
"What?" Morgan's voice lifted. "Merlin's granddaughter is here?" She cackled, making the ground tremble. "I should have known she would protect you."
Her eyes narrowed and turned a dark blue, but the eerie color appeared almost dazed. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she laughed louder. "There you are, you little firefly."
Just as Morgana finished her sentence, she unleashed another beam of light from her staff. The ray moved with a serpentine grace, curving around him instead of striking directly. A trap.
It hit something behind him, and a piercing cry shattered the air.
Gavin's heart clenched in agony as he whipped around, panic gripping his chest. His eyes widened as Felicity appeared in full form from the shadows, her protective invisibility shattered. She crumpled to the ground, her body trembling from the impact of the spell.
"Felicity!" he gasped, rushing toward her.
She clutched her wand tightly in one hand, her knuckles white from the effort. Her tear-filled eyes met his, and her lips moved silently, forming the words "I'm sorry."
The sight nearly broke him. She had been shielding him all along, bearing the brunt of Morgana's attacks, and now she had nothing left.
He knelt beside her, gently cradling her face as she struggled to catch her breath. Her body trembled under the strain, her magic clearly spent.
"Stay with me," he whispered urgently, his voice shaking. "You've done enough. Just rest."
Felicity gave a faint, tearful nod, though her gaze remained pained. Gavin turned his head sharply toward Morgana, rage igniting in his veins. His hands tightened around Excalibur's hilt until his knuckles turned white.
"You shouldn't have done that," he growled, his voice low and deadly.
Morgana sneered, though a hint of caution flickered in her eyes. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve, Your Highness?"
Gavin rose slowly, positioning himself protectively between Felicity and the witch. His heart pounded like a drum of war, every ounce of hesitation burned away by the fire in his soul.
"She's stronger than you'll ever be," he said, his voice steady. "And now you've made this personal."
The storm around them intensified, as if sensing the final clash approaching. This wasn't just a fight for Camelot anymoreâit was a fight for the woman he loved.
"Gavin!" Felicity called out, her voice breaking through the wind. "We can't defeat her unless you trust the sword. Excalibur isn't just a weaponâit's your legacy!"
He knew she was right. Merlin had told him the same thing. Excalibur had been forged not just to strike down enemies, but the sword was made for so much more.
Merlin once hinted that it could absorb and neutralize dark magic. But there was one condition: it could only unleash its full power when wielded by someone who accepted their role as Camelot's protector, someone willing to give everything to save the kingdom.
Someone willing to sacrifice.
With a flick of her wrist, Morgana sent another searing blast of energy hurtling toward Felicity. The crackling beam hissed through the air like a cougar closing in on its prey.
Gavin lunged, raising Excalibur in a desperate attempt to block itâbut the blast was too fast. He missed.
His heart stopped as he watched the deadly magic close the distance toward Felicity.
But just before it could strike, a blur of silver and movement burst from the bushes. A man wearing a knight's armor leapt into the clearing, his shield raised high, the metal gleaming in the fading light. The blast collided with the shield and immediately melted into harmless wisps of energy, dissipating into the air like smoke on the wind.
Gavin's breath hitched, his chest heaving as the chaos around him slowed for a fraction of a second. His gaze darted between Felicity, who lay wide-eyed and trembling on the ground, and the mysterious knight who had shielded her with perfect timing.
The knight stood tall, lowering his shield as he turned toward Gavin. The dim light glinted off the intricate designs etched into the metalâa lion's head surrounded by swirling runes that pulsed faintly, similar to the magic of Excalibur.
Confusion swirled in Gavin's mind. The shield had stopped Morgana's magic, just like his sword had earlier. Was this another ancient relic of Camelot's past? And more importantlyâwho was this man?
The knight pulled off his helmet, revealing a rugged face framed by shoulder-length dark hair and sharp, determined eyes. He looked like he had seen his share of battles, but there was something almost familiar about him, something that tugged at the back of Gavin's mind.
Felicity gasped loudly. "Sir Lancelot?"
The knight straightened and nodded toward Gavin. "I'll protect the maiden," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "You take care of the witch."
Gavin didn't have time to be surprised at Sir Lancelot's heroic action. Instead, he gripped Excalibur tighter as relief washed over him. It didn't matter how Lancelot had gotten this magical shield, now there were two ways to fight Morgana.
Maybe, just maybe, they had a winning chance.
With a quick glance at Felicity to make sure she was safe, Gavin nodded. "You'd better keep her alive."
Lancelot smirked faintly. "Don't worry. I'm good at what I do."
Without wasting another second, Gavin turned his attention back to Morgana. Her eyes narrowed in frustration, her lips curling into a snarl.
He charged, Excalibur glowing brighter with every step, ready to end the battle once and for all.
Morgana lifted her staff, dark tendrils of magic swirling around its tip. She laughed, the sound echoing like thunder. "You don't have the heart for this, boy! You've been running from your destiny since the day you were born."
Gavin's pulse pounded, but instead of fear, something else surged within himâresolve. He had run before, but not now. Not today. Today, he would stand.
He met Morgana's gaze, his grip on Excalibur tightening. "I'm done running."
Before Morgana could react, he charged.
Lightning cracked overhead as he sprinted toward her. Excalibur glowing brighter with each step. Morgana unleashed a blast of dark magic, but Gavin dodged, the energy exploding into the ground behind him. He wasn't just fighting herâhe was pushing himself toward something greater.
As he closed the distance between them, he remembered Merlin's words: "Only when you give yourself fully to the kingdom will the sword reveal its true power."
Morgana raised her staff again, preparing another attack, but this time, Gavin didn't hesitate. He leapt into the air, Excalibur blazing with golden light, and brought the sword down with all his strength.
Their powers collided.
The blast of light and shadow was deafening, shaking the ground and splitting the air with a crack like thunder. The force threw Gavin backward, slamming him to the ground.
He gasped for breath, his vision blurring. But something had changedâthe swirling storm above had begun to falter, the energy pulsing around them flickering like a dying flame.
Morgana staggered, clutching her chest. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Gavin could actually see the magic draining from her body, being pulled directly into Excalibur.
"No!" she screamed, stumbling backward. "What are you doing?"
Gavin struggled to his feet, the weight of the sword heavier than before. It wasn't just absorbing Morgana's magicâit was absorbing all magic in its vicinity. His limbs trembled as the power coursed through him, searing like fire. His heart pounded faster, the magic threatening to consume him.
"Gavin!" Felicity cried out. "You have to let it go! It's too much!"
But he shook his head, his breath ragged. "If I let go, it won't be enough. She'll still be a threat."
"Please, don't do this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We'll find another way."
"There isn't another way," he said softly, meeting her gaze. "You told me I was stronger than I believed. You were right. But I have to finish this."
Felicity's hands trembled as she gripped onto Lancelot's arm. "I love you, Gavin. You can't leave me."
His throat tightened. He wanted to stay. He wanted a life where they weren't bound by fate or duty, where they could be together. But Camelot needed him more than he needed that dream.
"I love you, too," he whispered. "But this is who I'm meant to be."
He pulled away from her gently, lifting Excalibur with both hands. The sword glowed blindingly bright, golden energy swirling around him like a vortex.
Morgana screamed, her form flickering as the last of her magic was drawn into the blade.
Then, with a final surge of strength, Gavin plunged Excalibur into the ground. The explosion of light was instantaneous.
Purple lights of energy shot upward, splitting the dark clouds and flooding the entire area with brilliance. The light rippled outward in waves, disintegrating Morgana's remaining magic. She let out one final, piercing scream before her form shattered into dust, scattering like ashes on the wind.
The storm above cleared, revealing a sky filled with stars.