Chapter Eleven
In the end, Helen was imprisoned for life. She confessed to the attempted assassinations of Avalon in exchange for a plea deal. Had she been found guilty without the deal, her memories and magic would have been erased.
The Ladies of the Lake disappeared back to wherever they had come from. Stane and Elaine were reasonably certain that they would not cause any more trouble for a long, long time, now that Helen had blown things for them politically.
Avalon and Vaughn returned to Ma-Vic and all the teachers were shocked at the leaps and bounds in Avalon's control of her magic. Vaughn was very smug about it, constantly reminding her that he had told her all along she just needed more confidence in herself.
They shared a room and a bed now and to Avalon's relief, her parents approved. Although they weren't so keen on the two of them sharing a bed when they returned home for visits.
The months flew by and before Avalon knew it, it was Samhain Eve. As children got dressed up as characters from TV and ran around demanding candy, she was back in the UK, staying at her family's ancient castle, staring at the dress she had chosen to wear for the ceremony.
It was a stunning blue velvet, inspired by the medieval style with an empire waist, a heavily beaded and embroidered skirt, and a corset lace-up back. She looked stunning in it, but now she was finding it difficult to breathe, and wondered if she should have gone for the less constricting black dress her mother had favored.
I'm going to be sick.
Maybe she shouldn’t have skipped lunch. She'd been too nervous to eat, but maybe this queasiness wouldn’t be so bad if she had something in her stomach. Or maybe she'd just empty it.
She jumped when the door opened, but it was only Vaughn. She breathed out a sigh of relief. "How much longer?"
"An hour. You're beautiful," he added.
"Thanks. My looks aren't what I'm worried about, though." Avalon turned to the mirror and brushed her fingers through her hair, straightening a few stray strands.
"What are you worried about?"
"I've known since I was five years old that this would happen someday. I used to imagine what it would be like. But now that it's actually going to happen…"
"Reality is different than imagination."
"Twenty just seems far too young. I haven't even lived my life yet. I don't have the experience and wisdom I need to take on all this responsibility. Like, I know I hold the keys and all that, but what happens if Arthur wants to come back and I don't realize it? What if I do realize it and I forget the spell to activate the keys? What if I die and the keys are lost forever?"
Vaughn laughed, which did not help her mood and kissed her, which did. "You're not going to die. Trust me, I won't let that happen. Ever. You and I are going to have a long, happy life together. No arguments," he added as she opened her mouth. "I say we're going to be happy and that's that."
Avalon couldn't help but smile.
"Now," he continued. "Why don't you get dressed and come socialize while we wait for the ceremony? I think your mom is as nervous as you are."
She nodded and kissed him once more before he left. When he was gone the flutter of nerves churned her stomach again, but it wasn't so bad this time.
Soon she would be the guardian of the keys to Albian. After that, she would go to Oxford University and brush up on her history of the world. She would start attending formal conferences and diplomatic parties in a more official capacity than she had before.
All that would work itself out. She knew it would. Vaughn would be with her, protecting her and comforting her, while her mother would help her navigate the political field.
"I am a Lady Grey and I come from a noble heritage," Avalon whispered to herself, straightening her shoulders and raising her chin. "I will not be cowed by my own fears. What will come will come and I will be ready for it all."
***
The attending press went crazy as soon as she entered the ballroom. Avalon smiled and waved, but when they asked how she was feeling, all she'd tell them was that she was confident and excited for her future. She spent only ten minutes with them before her mother came and rescued her, pulling her to meet the guests.
The next hour seemed to pass in a blur. Before she knew it, Avalon and her mother were being led down a garden path, lined with late-blooming geraniums, to a small pond. This was where the ceremony had always taken place from generation to generation.
Avalon's father squeezed her hand as they got to the pond. Clear blue water was edged by cattails and the full moon hung low in the sky. It was a good sign, the full moon landing on the Samhain Eve when she would receive her birthright. Frogs croaked and crickets chirped.
Stane and Vaughn helped Elaine and Avalon into a small rowboat and gently pushed them adrift in the pond. Elaine leaned over, brushing the water with her fingertips. A thick mist rose, shrouding them. Soon the shore could not be seen and the sounds of whispering died away.
The boat stopped with a gentle thump and Avalon gasped. They had landed on an island. It seemed like just a tiny patch of land, but on the ground were a set of intricate golden gates. Rubies and sapphires winked at her and the whole gate seemed to glow.
"These are the gates to Albian," Elaine whispered. "The keys aren't a spell or a physical object. They're the ability to come here, to find this place wherever you are. It's easier via water, though. Come."
Elaine stepped from the boat and led Avalon to the gates. Peering through the worked gold, Avalon saw a land too beautiful for her to comprehend. Every fiber in her body ached to step through and be in that land. In the distance a figure lay atop a table, sleeping.
"King Arthur," Elaine said, putting a hand on Avalon's shoulder. "He sleeps for the day when he's meant to return."
"How will I know if he wakes?"
"You'll know. That's part of the magic. But you do more than guard the gates, Avalon. You guard that land. Can you imagine what would happen if the people of our world walked through them? Trampled the grass, cut down the trees, turned that beauty into profit margins? There will be people who try to tempt you to abuse your authority. There will always be those who want to take and take and take. It's your job to keep this place unsullied."
Avalon nodded. She knew she couldn't enter these gates, ever, lest she open them for others to follow. The longing to go through to that beautiful land was almost overwhelming, but a fierce desire to protect it was even stronger.
Elaine turned to her daughter, smiling. "I have always known you were strong enough for this task, Avalon. I have worried about how to let you know that."
"I know now."
Elaine kissed her forehead. "Give me your hands."
Avalon obeyed and her mother held her hands tightly. She began chanting a spell and though Elaine had never heard the words before, she was soon chanting with her.
***
When they returned to their guests, both mother and daughter were all smiles. Avalon's gaze sought out Vaughn at once as Elaine went to her husband. It seemed everybody who had waited for them had dark circles under their eyes. Though it had been dark when they had gone onto the pond, the sun was high in the sky now.
Avalon forced herself to smile and respond politely to the congratulations that came at her from all sides, but all she wanted to do was lie down and sleep. She hadn't slept for more than twenty-four hours, after all.
Vaughn led her back to the castle, putting himself between her and the press, who kept trying to ask her about what exactly had happened. Soon they were back in her room and Avalon collapsed onto the bed.
"Are you okay?"
Avalon nodded, a grin breaking over her face.
"More than okay. I'm amazing. It was amazing. But I'm also exhausted," she laughed and held out her arms. "Snuggle me?"
Vaughn grinned. He removed her dress, kissing her body as he did so, but when she yawned he slipped her under the blankets and curled up next to her. Avalon stroked the smooth skin of his chest and smiled sleepily. No words were needed for this moment. All was right, all was peaceful.
She had her dragon, she had her birthright and was ready to face the future.
*****
THE END