Page 86 of Wicked
She smiles, and I feel blessed being in her presence. Like I am witnessing something stupendous. “I am the Lady of the Lake,” she says. Her rosy lips form the words and I wade farther into the lake to be closer to her. That name rings a bell somewhere in my mind. Weren’t the knights searching for the Lady of the Lake? Didn’t she hold their super magic sword, which would help them become king? “And you are Daphne Stone, bearer of treasures and owner of their hearts.”
Wow, she makes me sound super important and special. “You are mistaken. I own no treasure or hearts.”
She smiles with a knowledge I could never hope to understand. “Regardless as to your intention, you have collected their devotion.”
She hovers a little closer, her dress is dry, and her hair floats in the air on a non-existent breeze. “I am not worthy of their attention,” I tell her my worst fears. “I am a burden to all who love me.”
Her eyes soften in understanding. “It is not a case that you are not good enough for this world, it is that this world is not good enough for you.”
My mind turns that over. I’m pretty sure I have it the right way around, but I don’t want to be rude when she is clearly a positive thinker.
“Come closer, Daphne.” I’m in the lake up to my waist now. “Are you planning to stab me?” she asks, glancing at the dagger clutched in my hand.
“The genie collected this for my protection.”
“Do you need protection from me?”
“No.”
“Do you realize the weapon you hold is half of the mythical sword the brothers yearn for?”
I pull the dagger through the water and stare at it in my hands. “Yes, I know that.”
“Wouldn’t you like to reunite the sword pieces and obtain it for them to claim from you?”
I nibble the bottom of my lip. That would be a great thing to gift the brothers for all that they had done to rescue and protect me. “I would.”
A huge blade with no handle rises from the water. “Rejoin Excalibur and claim the sword.”
“Will this make me a knight?” I check. This should be something one of the Stirlings should do.
“No, knights must be male.”
I inch closer toward the end of the sword. I twist the dagger in my hand and slot it into the end. Power ripples up the sword and expands over my hand and up my arm before it sinks into my flesh.
“Daphne, no,” Hart shouts as he and his brothers come hurtling into the cave. Gwyneth jumps to her feet, and the genie spins from the spout of the lamp, looking bleary-eyed and confused.
Tremors seize my body, and my golden outfit disappears, replaced by a white dress matching the Lady of the Lake’s. Her once serene smile turns wicked and her dress is replaced with a black one. Her body sinks lower and mine rises, so I am now the one whose feet skim the lake.
My throat tightens as the sword weighs heavily in my hand. I try to release it, but it’s like it’s been glued to me. The Lady of the Lake winks at me. “Enjoy an eternity under the lake. Tell Frank I will not miss him and that he still owes me, and I always collect.”
She draws herself out of the water and toward the knights. Malachi grabs her arm. “Undo this,” he says, pointing at me.
She glances over her shoulder at me. “You know the rules. She who is worthy of holding Excalibur is tasked with the burden of guarding it until such a time that a knight worthy of its power claims it.”
That’s easily solved. I can give it to one of the brothers. No big deal. A small laugh erupts from her throat. It’s no longer melodic and hypnotizing. “Then she shall perish until the next generation of knights is born and a new lady is claimed by the lake.”
My eyes widen and the pull of the water is too much, my body sinks lower and panic clutches my chest. Theo paces along the edge of the water while clutching his hair. “Help me,” I say, except my voice has the same cadence the lady spoke to me with. Theo wades into the water, and Nash tackles him to the sand. I realize I was coaxing him to a watery grave or dooming myself if he took the sword.
I sink lower and lower. “We will save you,” Nash says as I submerge under the water. I hold my breath and pray to the Idols that they take pity on me and end my life quickly. Drowning is a peaceful end, right? Or is that something else?
The world gets darker and black spots dance in my vision. I open my mouth to scream. This was not the ending I had in mind.Here lies Daphne Stone. She fell foul of the lake siren song and failed in her new duty to protect Excalibur because she forgot how to breathe.
I guess there are a thousand less exciting ways to go. I’m not ready to meet my end. I still have so much to do, to experience. Now my future is sinking like my body to the bottom of this lake where nobody will find me. Well played, Idols. Well played.
THE END
