set in stone, page 18
part #15 of Twisted Tales (Disney) Series
was a scholar to begin with, mind you. But now he seems downright dazed and confused. He keeps babbling about| Wart not actually being Wart. Which of course doesn't make any sense. I'm thinking perhaps he got hit on the head a bit too hard during the fight." Ector frowned. "Though I don't remember him actually getting hit at all, now that I think about it. In fact, I still don't understand how he lost to begin with. He was doing so well..."
Arthur frowned. "Did he just say I let Kay out of prison?" he asked. "Because I definitely didn't do that!"
"No, of course not," Gum agreed, looking worried "Maybe someone else did?"
Arthur looked up again, thankful to see Merlin ushering Ector out the door. "Let's go take a look at the boy," the wizard told the father. "It's probably nothing. I It 's likely just a little tired, that's all. I'm sure he's going to be just line. Jim fine indeed." He followed Ector down (lie stairs, closing the tower door behind him. Once they were alone, Arthur and Guinevere scrambled from their hiding spots.
Arthur ran to the window to watch Ector and Merlin approach Kay in the courtyard. "I don't understand," he murmured. "How could 1 have freed Kay from prison and thrown Ector out of the castle? I haven't been there in months. Maybe someone in the castle has been covering for me?"
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"Covering for you," Guin replied in an uneasy voice. "Or--- pretending to be you."
"What?" Arthur turned to her, eyebrows raised.
"You heard Sir Ector," Guin reminded him. "He said Kav keeps babbling about you not really being you." She bit her lower lip. What if someone's pretending to be you? Someone with the power to shapeshift."
Arthur's eyes bulged from his head. "You don't think..." he began, then his voice trailed off. He was too horrified by what Guin was implying to even speak it.
"Yes," Guinevere said flatly. "You wanted to know what Madam Mim's been up to since you've been gone? Well, I think you have your answer."
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE GUINEVERE
Guinevere didn't consider herself a violent person; In fact, in most instances, she was very kind and gentle and good. But at the moment, it was all she could do not to punch a wall with her fist. She should have known Mim wouldn't be content to just sit around in Arthur's absence and let things play out.as they were supposed to. No she had to meddle once again.
And put herself on the throne of England.
Guin thought back to all Mim's complaints about Merlin and how he wanted the power all to himself. And et all this time, it was she who had wanted the throne of England-. Or maybe she hadn't planned it - maybe she suddenly deciced it would be perfectly hilarious to take over, to trick everyone into thinking she was Arthur. Then she'd acted exactly the
opposite of the way he would ii' he'd actually been there, Who knew what mischief she d already caused in the two months she'd been in power? And who knew what was still
up her sleeve?
They had to stop her. Now. - | Guin sighed, frustrated. All she wanted to do was go to the Summer Country and see if what Merlin had said ¿out her parents was true. But that would have to wait ^cil she sorted this out. After all, it was her fault they were in this predicament to begin with - if she hadn't sneaked Arthur away from the GasC% Mim would have never had the PBj|Umity to take his.j3Mcp|||
Her fists tightened. Why, Mother. Why? <• - "Are you all, right,
She felt Arthur c@mei.up behind her, placing a gentle hand on her back .She, knew the gesture was meant to be comforting., but-it only brought, tears to her eyes. Arthur had been so good and kind to her from the start. If only he knew how little she ,deservered it. What if he learnt her true role in this thing? He'd never speak to her again.
Guin couldn't bear the thought.
"I'm just worried," she said "What if we're too late? What if you can't get your throne back and the future spirals out of control like Merlin said? 'What if people are hurt? What if people die?"
"I won't let that happen," Arthur declared, sounding much braver than she'd ever heard him sound before. "tye know now that I am the rightful king. And I plan to take back my throne, no matter what it takes."
He sounded so sure of himself. And for a moment all she could think of was the boy she'd first met in the woods, who only wanted to fly away. Arthur had grown up so much since then. He'd faced his enemies and made them his friends. He'd fought a fierce battle and won | through brains instead of brawn. And he'd been willing to give it all up to travel across time and space to rescue his teacher and friend. When she looked at him now, she no longer saw a boy playing at being king, but a boy who had accepted his destiny - despite the danger it foretold.
A boy who deserved to sit on the throne.
She just hoped they weren't too late.
Merlin walked back into the tower, muttering under his breath. Guinevere looked up at him, searching his face. "What is it?" she asked.
"I'm afraid it's not good," Merlin said gravely. "According to Kay, Arthur - or someone who appears to be Arthur - is still on the throne. But he's completely changed his tune. He's refused to sign the Saxon treaty and declared them to be England's enemies, locking up
their king and his men. He's raised taxes, cut food to the poor. There's massive unrest in the streets. Violence. Ghaos. And it's all being done in Arthur's name."
Arthur's face paled. "This is terrible! We need to get back there. Now! Make things right. No matter what it takes."
"I agree," Merlin said. "And there's no time to waste. My poor books will have to wait a little longer, I'm afraid. This calls for faster travel - and there's no room for luggage." He waved his hands, gathering them to his side. Then he lifted his arms.
"Higgidis... piggidis... diggidis, dundon. Magic, carry us to London!"
And poof! They were gone.
A moment later Guinevere opened her eyes. Her lids felt heavy - as if she'd been asleep a very long rime. When she blinked, clearing her vision, she looked around. "Are we here?" she asked. "Are we in London?"
Suddenly her eyes fell upon a small stone in the centre of what appeared to be a churchyard. On top of the stone sat an anvil. She scrambled to her feet, approaching it curiously.
"That was it." Arthur's voice came from behind her. "Where I pulled the sword from the stone."
She turned to watch him walk over to her and stare down at the anvil. "It seems so long ago," he said soft! "And yet, at the same time, like yesterday."
"I still can't believe you managed to do it," Merlin remarked, coming up behind him, shaking the dust from his beard. "I only wish I had been there to see it."
"Believe me, I wish you'd been here, too," Arthur replied wryly. "Then maybe everything wouldn't have turned into such a disaster."
Merlin's face grew serious. "I know," he said softly. "And I am truly sorry for that. I let my temper get the best of me. And you didn't deserve it. You were just excited about going to a tournament. And I acted like a complete selfish buffoon." He hung his head.
Guin watched as Arthur approached his teacher, laying a hand on his arm. "It's all right," he said. "I know you were only trying to help me reach my potential. And without your teaching, I never would have lasted a day as king. So I think, maybe, we're even?" he asked, looking up at Merlin hopefully.
Merlin's face broke into a toothy smile. He reached over and pulled Arthur into a huge hug. Arthur squirmed and protested at first, but at last laughed and hugged the wizard back.
Guinevere smiled from a distance, feeling the love between the two of them, almost as if they were father
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and son. It made her think of Mim and their relationship. And how it could never be the same again now that she knew the truth. It hurt more than she wanted to admit.
She shook her head. There was no time for thoughts like that now. Right now they had a much more important quest: to stop Mim's mischief once and for all and get Arthur back on the throne where he belonged.
CHAPTER THIRTY
ARTHUR
Arthur stared up at the casde gates, gnawing his| lower lip nervously. It was funny; for so long he'd wanted to escape these walls. Now he just wanted to get back inside; But that was easier said than done, Merlin reminded him. For if Mim really was in charge now, she wasn't going to be thrilled to see Arthur walk back through that door.
"Can't you just zap her back to her old shape?" he asked the wizard. "Make everyone see she's an imposter?
But Merlin only shook his head, '"For all her faults, Mim is a powerful wizard, and her magic is as strong as mine. I can't undo her spells. We must find another way to expose her lies to the people of Camelot."
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Arthur Frowned, feeling discouraged. "Well, she's not just going to admit it if we ask nicely/' he countered. "And no one's going to take me at my word if she looks just like me. I'm going to have to prove I'm the real Arthur somehow" He paced back and forth, thinking hard. "But how will I do
that?"
"What about the sword in the stone?" Guinevere asked suddenly.
Arthur looked up. "What about it?" "That's how everyone knew you were king to begin with, right?" Guin reminded him. "Maybe if you pulled it again..? And Mim, well, couldn't?"
"Guin, you're a genius!" Merlin exclaimed. "That's exactly what we .should do!"
"But..." Arthur scratched his head. "Couldn't Mim just magically make the swords come* out of the stone on her own?"
Merlin shook his head. "The sword in the stone's magic i||much older-and stronger than Mim's or even mine. And just as I cannot undo Mim's spells, she cannot undo the stone's enchantment or ¡make it work in her favour." |
"'Then that's what we'll! do," Arthur declared, confidence rising inside of him. This could actually work. "We'll make her prove she's who says she is, And if she can't, well, then people will have to believe us."
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"It's a good plan," Merlin agreed. "IF you can get her to agree to go along with—-"
He was interrupted by a sudden rush of people heading through the castle gates. Arthur found himself being shoved in one direction, then the next, for a moment getting separated from his friends.
"Where's everyone going?" he asked.
"It's petitioner day!" exclaimed a man rushing along with the rest. "Today's the day we get to ask the king for help."
Arthur's eyes widened. Of course! Petitioner day! The day he had once dreaded most as king. But now it could very well be the thing he needed to force Mim's hand. She'd be there in the throne room, along with half the kingdom. And if he challenged her there, in front of everyone, she couldn't very well ignore him.
"Come on," he said once he was back with his friends. "Let's go see this king!"
Guinevere took a step forwards. But to Arthur's surprise, Merlin took a step back.
"You two go ahead," the wizard said, gesturing with his hand. "I will hang behind. It might be wise not to let Mim know I'm back yet. After all, when she can't pull the sword from the stone, she's going to get angry. Very angry.
V A R I N/i A S| ; c U 5 |
And I want to be there, in the shadows, to protect you and the people from whatever she might try to do."
"Good idea," Arthur replied, relieved at the idea of Merlin's being there to protect him. He turned to Guin. "All right. Let's do this."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
GUINEVERE
Guinevere felt her knees trembling as if they were about to buckle under her as she and Arthur walked up to the castle's great hall. Arthur seemed so confident this plan would work. But he didn't know Mim like she did. And she was worried. Very worried.
They pushed their way inside the large room and looked around to gain their bearings. The place was packed with people, and everyone seemed to be yelling at once.
"What is happening?" Arthur asked, looking worried. "They all seem really angry."
Guinevere nodded, looking around at the agitated crowd. It felt as if a brawl could break out at any moment, "Maybe they sense something's wrong with.
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their king?" she suggested, standing on her tiptoes to try to see over people's heads, She sank back to her heels, discouraged,
"We need to get to the front," Arthur said, "so we can see what's going on," I Guinevere nodded in agreement and began elbowing her away through the crowd. She got shoved back at least three times before she found people sympathetic enough to let her pass without much complaint. When she made it to the front of the room, she stopped short as her eyes .fell upon the boy on the throne.
It was Arthur. Except, of course, not really. But it looked just like him. Same crown, same robes, same shock of blond hair from before he'd cut it. In fact, if she hadn't known any better, she would have been completely fooled. Like everyone in the room evidently was.
But then she caught something slightly off. A blush of violet at the king's ears. Mim. Mother.
Guinevere felt her knees wobble as her worst fears came true. She hadn't' realised until that very moment how much she'd been hoping that she had been wrong - that it was someone else who had risen to take Arthur's place. But, of course, that was preposterous.
Who else had the power to shift into the body of another? It was always going to be Mim, and deep down, she had known it.
But still. Anger rose inside of her. She thought back
to all those conversations she'd had with her mother .
How offended Mim had acted when she talked about Arthur stealing the throne from its rightful ruler. Yet now done the very same thing herself. And she didn't look the least bit sorry for it.
Merlin was right. Mim had been the one out for the throne all along. And Guinevere had all but helped her take it. Suddenly she felt so ashamed.
"Oh, my!" Arthur suddenly gasped beside her. "Is that...?"
He trailed off, but Guin followed his gaze and was horrified to see a small golden cage hanging next to the throne. Inside was a small owl with ruffled feathers.
"Poor Archimedes," Arthur whispered, his face pale. "I should have never left him here alone. With a broken wing and everything! If anything happens to him..."
"It won't," Guinevere promised, though in truth she had no idea what they could do about it. It was clear from all of this that Mim had fooled everyone with her ruse. She had the people; she had guards. She had knights. She had no reason at all to prove herself to anyone, least of all them.
"I'm going up there," Arthur declared. "The people deserve to know they're being deceived."
"Wait." On instinct, she grabbed his arm. He turned to her puzzled. "Just... be careful. You don't want to make her angry" She swallowed hard, thinking "Maybe... make it like a game instead," she added, an idea suddenly coming to her. "She's much more likely to go along with your challenge if she thinks it'll be amusing."
Arthur gave her an odd look, and she realised, too late, that she'd probably said too much. She wasn't supposed to know Mim. So how would she know about her love of games?
"Merlin told me that!" she added quickly.
"Right." Arthur scratched his head. "She does seem to like to play games, that's for sure. That's why she was so eager to duel Merlin. She thought it would be fun."
"Exactly!" Guinevere agreed, letting out a nervous breath. "Now go! I'll wait back here." The last thing she needed was for her mother to see her at Arthur's side.
Arthur smiled nervously at her, then pushed his way through the crowd towards the throne. She watched as he approached Mim, squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin.
He looked so brave. And also, incredibly stupid. Did he have any notion how powerful Mim was? Sure, she acted
like a giggling fool on the outside. But her true power ran deep. If she wanted to, she could cut Arthur down right then and there. And that would be the end of it.
Guinevere shuddered, unable to bear the thought of it
Arthur's voice suddenly rang through the hall. "What i the meaning of this? Who is this imposter who sits on my throne?"
The rowdy court went silent immediately. Mim looked down at Arthur, a look of pure shock on her face. She hadn't expected to see him, that was for sure, and Guin allowed herself a moment of satisfaction to see her mother so unsettled. But then the shock cleared from Mim's face and her upper lip curled to a sneer.
"Well, well, what have we here?" she purred, looking Arthur up and down. "A little court jester come to play?" She grinned widely. "Oh, but you are so cute!" She turned to her court. "Look at how funny he's dressed!"
Guinevere winced, remembering they were still wearing their twenty-first-century clothes - why hadn't they changed? And why, oh, why, had she shorn his hair? In truth, he'd never looked less like a king.
But Arthur didn't falter. Instead, he leapt up onto the dais, turning to face the crowd. All eyes were now glued to him.
He cleared his throat. "My good people," he called out
to the crowd, "you have been deceived. This king who sits before you is an imposter. A wizard who practises sorcery. She has used this to shapeshift herself into looking like me, but I am your rightful king."
Mim started to laugh. Guin cringed as the squeaky sound echoed through the hall. It was Arthur's laugh, but at the same time, not. It sounded harsh, mocking, mean.
"Now, now," Mim protested. "Who's to say it's not the other way round?" She held up her hands in innocence. "Perhaps it is you who dabbles in sorcery. Perhaps it is you" - she pointed a finger at Arthur I "who has stolen my identity and is trying to trick these good people."
"Hmm," Arthur replied. "It seems we are at an impasse. Perhaps we should play a game to settle it all."
