Chapter 14

Jim stared back at the face illuminated by the moonlight and a chill ran
through him that had nothing to do with the cool of the night. It was
impossible. Though some of the features were a little bit different, the
face that stared back at him was his very own. This was all too
confusing for Jim. His head started spinning from the thoughts that ran
from it. It had to be some kind of trick or some kind of fiendish
nightmare to try to drive him crazy. Jim buried his head in the horses
neck and mane, shutting tight his eyes from the images that floated in
his consciousness. Behind him Scorpan approached on silent footsteps and
reached a sympathetic hand to Jim's shoulder. Jim started from the touch
and tried to back away but the horse prevented him from leaving. 

"Please," said Scorpan. There was a gentleness in his voice that was not
there earlier. "I did not mean to frighten you. And I apologize for my
gruffness earlier, but you gave me no choice. Without your help we
cannot succeed against the Dark One. As for the woman that arrived
earlier, her help is also very vital." 

"Why are you telling me this?" Jim tried as hard as he could to keep
himself calm but the fear and the confusion were still working their way
to the surface. "How is it possible that you look like me?" 

Ever since that night, Jim didn't want to believe what he saw. He tried
to tell himself that it was shadows playing tricks on him, but seeing
Scorpan in the moonlight, unmasked, was enough to unnerve any man.
Scorpan not only looked like him, he also was something else entirely.
He had heard of such beings but he only thought they were rumors or
fairytales meant for children. He never believed he'd meet one face to
face. 

"What are you?" was all he could whisper before a blackness swept over
him. 

Scorpan lifted Jim into his arms and carried him over to the edge of the
lake. There he laid him down and pulled out a goblet from deep within he
robes. He filled the goblet with water then added a powder that he also
retrieved from within. The powder fizzed and disolved turning the water
to a deep red. The smell was strange. It had the odor of blood and wine.
It produced images of death and life renewed. Scorpan then lifted Jim's
head and forced him to drink the liquid down. Whatever was troubling
Jim, Scorpan knew he would have to work it out himself with the right
kind of information but something else was wrong. Jim had been ill for
some time and would not tell anyone. Only after Scorpan caught him did
he realize that the illness was much the same that claimed the life of
many of Arthur's descendance and nearly claimed Arthur himself. This
sickness usually came at a later time in life. It was too early for Jim
to have received it. In that touch Scorpan knew all there was to know
about the illness. Some would survive just long enough to produce an
heir. It seemed to plague only those that held the dragon mark and it
was only contracted at a certain age.  During Arthur's time, men were
45 were considered to be old because many did not live past that age. 
Jim was only 30 years old. Jim's grandmother survived because she was a
woman. The family believed the plague was broken, but now, it was
happening again. Scorpan knew the only way to break it was to recover
what was lost.  First they had to survive; and to do that, they had to
drink from the cup. Each Dragon heir had to do this and would have to
continue doing it until what was lost was fully regained. 

"Oouugghh", Jim was coming around. Scorpan sat beside him concern on his
face. The goblet with it's contents was back in it's hiding place. Jim
stared up at the stars through the trees confused at first why he was
outside. 

"Feeling better?" 

Jim jumped at the voice. The Druid was still there. This time there was
no fear, only questions and awe. The concoction that the Druid gave him
left him feeling strong. The illness was gone for the moment. A new
strength was there but the questions remained. Scorpan could see those
questions mirrored in Jim's eyes. Jim started to ask when Scorpan spoke.
The tale was old, but something in the Druid's voice and what he said,
Jim could not ignore. It explained many things and at the same time
forced more questions to the surface. A new understanding was reached
that night and a bond was forged. Such a bond was forged between another
druid and a young king, but this bond was cut from the same cloth though
centuries separated them. Scorpan rose after that and gave Jim a hand to
help him up. Both stood there for a minute clasping each other's
forearm. Then Scorpan released him and stared out across the lake.

"You must know by now that I did not bring you out here to tell you
about myself," he started. "Many ages ago, my teacher took Uther
Pendragon to a spot similar to this one. He had him approach the lake.
He asked him to watch. You will do the same. You will know what to do
when the time comes."

Scorpan then stepped back. Jim came forward, puzzled at the statement. A
growing suspision entered his mind. He stared out at the lake where it
was the calmest. Minutes seemed to drag by. Then slowly, silently it
happened. The tip at first was visible, gleeming cold and bright under
the moon. Slowly it rose, till clasping the hilt, was a woman's arm,
also clothed in silver. It stood there straight and tall, beckoning.
Slowing Jim approached, aware that the lake's bottom sloped slowly, it's
depth going no higher than his chest when he reached the arm. As he took
the Sword, Jim looked down into the water. A woman with long golden hair
flowing around her could be seen.  She was all clad in chainmail of gold
and silver. Then the image shimmered and was gone. Jim looked back at
the shore. Scorpan no longer stood there, but knelt, waiting. Jim
approached the shore and soon stood in front of Scorpan looking down. A
look of confusion and puzzlement was on his face.

"Your majesty," Scorpan stated. "What is your command?" 

"Your majesty!? Scorpan, I'm not a king. Please Rise"

"Your are wrong," began Scorpan. "You are a Pendragon. Only a descendant
of Arthur could call the Sword from the Lady of the Lake. You have done
that. Your heritage and destiny has called you to this moment. You are
needed as well as the Sword's power. However, the Dark One must not
know. From this moment on, you are a King though you have no country to
rule, you do have a small kingdom. The castle and the land that it is on
is your domain. It must be protected for there is much more at stake
than you realize. Come, we must return." 

"But, who is this Dark One?" 

"It will be explained in council." 

Jim looked at the Sword in his hands. He could no longer deny what was
his. His uncle had been right, but now the manusripts no longer seemed
important. They seemed to pale next to the evidence that Jim now held in
his hands. Still, he could not help feeling that this was all a dream
some how. Before they mounted, Scorpan suddenly stopped. 

"I almost forgot," slamming his hand to his forehead. "I should be
horsewhipped. Forgive me." Scorpan reached into his cloak and pulled out
the bundle wrapped in the black cloth. "This also belongs to you, now."

He handed the bundle to Jim. Jim handed the Sword to Scorpan holding it
by the blade near the quillons which Scorpan took with care. Jim then
took the bundle in hand and slowly unwrapped it. Inside was curled a
white leather belt and something black covered with ribbons of gold and
silver. Uncurled it was the scabbard that would contain the Sword. Jim
stared in awe and then let his hands run across the delicate stitchery.
Within the fine tooled leather and cloth were runes that spelled out the
name of the Sword plus an ancient and powerful spell could still be felt
within it's framework. Though Jim could not sense it, Scorpan could
after the scabbard's owner released it with a touch. This Scorpan
breathed a sigh of relief. Then with a gester, he helped Jim buckle the
scabbard on. With the true grace of a king and knight, Jim placed the
Sword into it's rightful place and gave a nod to the Druid. Both said no
word as they mounted the horse and they returned to the castle. 

End of part 14