The Iron Chalice

by J. M. Briggs

  “Lance!” Merlin shouted, swinging a scabbard off of his back and tossing it to the other. “Defend yourself and Jenny!”

  Alex spun to watch as Lance pulled an iron sword out of the scabbard and held it awkwardly in front of him while Jenny stayed behind him. She didn’t know if Merlin had brought the sword for them, but she felt a swell of gratitude rising through her as the mage pulled a dagger from the inner pocket of his tweed coat. He handed it off to Jenny as he moved over to them for a brief moment before summoning a swirling cloud of green sparks. They spun in the air above his head briefly before crashing down on the creatures as balls of green fire. Crashing into the snow with sharp hisses, they sent up wisps of steam as more of the faeries fell.

  The creatures’ numbers were thinning, but they weren’t stopping. In the corner of her eye, she saw Lance swing the sword at one, slicing into its flesh and Jenny poking the dagger at another that was coming too close as the pair moved back. Alex glanced over towards Morgana only to see the older mage blasting another pair of creatures into dissolving mounds of magic and flesh as she started backing up. Morgana’s arm came out, shifting in front of Alex to keep something between her and their attackers. In any other situation, Alex might have been touched, but both her magic and her emotions were a little too raw right now and she moved away from Morgana.

  Everything became a blur of movement. The dark, malformed creatures attacked them in a rush of claws, growls, teeth and snarls. Alex felt almost consumed by the black aura as it swelled thicker and thicker around her. Gasping for air, she pushed out her hands and curled her fingers, willing her magic to grab as much of the aura as she could. It sprang to her with only a little resistance, lightening to her own magical shade in an instant. She waited for a heartbeat, letting the creatures get closer before she released it as a blast of raw magic. It zinged through the air and stuck three of the creatures at once, taking out a humanoid, an odd floating one, and a redcap.

  “How did you know?” Alex called over to Morgana as she moved closer to the professor, eying the ten or so remaining creatures.

  “Are you joking?” Morgana asked in return as she released another flurry of silver magic around their group. “The level of magic released by whatever happened here could be felt in Oregon.”

  “We had to get Arto’s body,” Alex admitted as she pulled at another black thread of magic. “We uh… cremated it.”

  Morgana was silent, only grunting softly when she summoned another wave of magic that she released in a blast that swept the remaining snow around them off the ground and threw it up against the creatures. A wave of light blue magic from Nicki transformed the wave snow to spikes of ice that dug into the attacker’s flesh.

  “Why?” Morgana finally asked in a softer voice.

  “Part of my soul or something was still with him; I don’t know why. Maybe it had something to do with his mental state or something magical that the Queen did to him,” Alex explained in a rush. The black magic spun through the air and turned dark silver as she collected it in her hands. “But when I first tried to use the Iron Chalice I couldn’t; nothing happened.”

  “You found the Chalice then?”

  “Yeah,” Alex laughed. “That would be why Bran is beating pixies off with his brace.”

  “We will discuss your grave desecration after we’ve dealt with this,” Morgana shouted in a tight voice, and Alex caught a glint of moisture in the woman’s green eyes before she spun a whip of silver magic and lashed it out at the nearest fae creature. “Get back!” she shouted at their attackers. “You do not have the magic to face us! Retreat and live!”

  They didn’t listen, and the last few remaining creatures sprang towards Morgana. Bolts of green magic collided with two of them, knocking them to the ground as dirt washed up and over them, pulling them down. The last creature made a strange, mournful cry as it leapt towards Lance, only to be run through by the iron blade in his hands. As it dissolved, Lance took a few steps back and gasped for air as he clutched the hilt tightly.

  Panting, Alex looked around the area to see if there were any more fae creatures. They seemed to be alone, though she could see cars on the road and a few pulling into the parking lot. Apparently, they’d moved a few feet away in the course of the fight, and Stonehenge stood to their right looking the same as ever. Alex’s heart fluttered slightly at the sight of the stones, and she looked over at Merlin and Morgana. They were both staring at the tiny pile of ash and bone in the center of Stonehenge with broken expressions.

  29

  Long Overdue

  The only sound was the soft howling of the wind across the plains. The stillness that had surrounded them prior to the attack returned, and Alex found it difficult to breathe as she watched Merlin and Morgana’s faces. They both moved towards the center of Stonehenge slowly and Alex shook herself, trying to break out of the strange spell that had fallen over them. Alex couldn’t bring herself to look away as Morgana and Merlin moved slowly towards the pile. With a wave of his hand, Merlin released a cloud of green sparks that danced around Stonehenge even as tourists began to return to the site, all with dazed looks on their faces. They looked past the little group, smiling and pointing at the monument as if the mages weren’t even there. Focusing on Merlin and Morgana, Alex pulled up her hood just in case and tried to ignore the returning crowd.

  Merlin and Morgana stopped near the altar stone; their eyes still fixed on the ashes. Neither of them spoke, and Morgana licked her lips and began to move them as if trying to form words that just wouldn’t come. The green magic around them hummed softly in the air, muffling the sounds of the tourists, and letting them linger in their own little world for a moment longer.

  “I’m sorry,” Jenny said suddenly, drawing everyone’s attention. She licked her lips and lowered her face for a moment. “I know I’m not really the one who should be saying it, but, I suppose maybe I’m here to say it for her.” Jenny shifted nervously and continued quickly. “I don’t really know your story… Arto, but based on how much these two loved you I’d say you were pretty amazing. I… I never meant to hurt Arthur; I know he wasn’t really the Iron Soul, but I was still cheating. I knew it was wrong, but I felt-” she glanced towards Lance, but quickly averted her eyes. “I’m sure it tore her up too and that she carried that guilt for a long time, probably the rest of her life. So I’m sorry. I’m saying it for the person who never got to say it.”

  “Me too,” Lance offered when Jenny’s voice faded. “I don’t really have anything to add to that except that I’m sure he never forgave himself, but I’m sure he spent his life trying to find ways to make it right.” His brown eyes shifted to Jenny and he swallowed before forcing out, “And I’m sure that he hoped you’d understand his loving her. I hope you were able to forgive him, and on his behalf, I’m sorry that you were the one who suffered that betrayal.”

  They both moved back, sending little looks towards each other, and Alex thought that just maybe they were both standing a little straighter. She didn’t want to make guesses as to why they’d been reborn over and over again and kept getting stuck in the same situation, but the literature student in her, the girl who loved a good ending, really hoped that this was some kind of closure. It took her a moment to realize that Merlin and Morgana were staring at them, surprise evident on both of their faces. Morgana recovered first, a soft chuckle escaping her as her eyes fell closed for a moment and a sad smile appeared on her face.

  “Arto.” Morgana looked down at the small bone fragments with tears gathering in her eyes. “You’d think after three thousand years I’d know what to say, but I still don’t. I’m still trying to forgive myself for the danger I put you in, and the danger that I keep putting your new lives in.” Morgana laughed bitterly, wiping at her eyes. “It’s difficult sometimes to separate them from you; some of them are so much like you, but other times I… other times I can’t see anything of you in them. I’m sorry if that disappoints you, but I keep trying.” Morgana paused and a so
ft smile appeared on her face before she added, “And I rather like your current life: about time you came around to being female.” Holding back a snort, Alex looked towards Morgana and shook her head. “I’m sorry if I haven’t behaved towards… Jenny and Lance, as you may have wanted in the past.” Morgana licked her lips and nodded to herself. “Goodbye little brother; thank you for everything.”

  Merlin stared down at the pile with a blank face, as if he was searching for something to say. He swallowed thickly and began to speak in a soft, rhythmic language that Alex didn’t understand. His tone was soft and soothing, and she looked towards Morgana to find the woman gazing at Merlin with soft watery eyes and nodding slightly. It occurred to Alex that Morgana’s words had been meant for both Arto and for her, but Merlin’s words to his former… student, or in a way his son, were private. Under other circumstances, he might have avoided sharing them with even Morgana. Somehow that made her feel a little happy, instead of the sadness she’d been expecting.

  Then both of the elder mages moved their hands, magic spinning around them. Silver and green wound through the air and collected what little remained of the bones. Brilliantly colored flames then burst to life and quickly consumed it all, letting the wind carry the ash off. Whatever the magic had wanted to occur was finished, and it was time to move on.

  “Come,” Merlin called in a thin voice, his fingers twitching in the air. “We shouldn’t linger. I can’t keep them from noticing us much longer.”

  “Uh we can take the bus-” Nicki started to say.

  “No, Nicki,” Morgana interjected gently, her tone sad and resigned. “Too much magic has been used here today. Let’s not risk another attack by staying in the area.”

  “Water travel is our best option,” Merlin added with a nod, gesturing towards the river. “This way.”

  “Water travel,” Lance repeated cautiously. “Is that how you got here?”

  Merlin paused and looked over at Lance who was still clutching at the hilt of the iron sword. He nodded calmly and shrugged the scabbard off of his back, handing it over to the young man. Taking it with a hesitant look, Lance glanced her way and waited for Alex to nod before he put it on. It felt a little silly, but she could sympathize with Lance being afraid of Merlin.

  “Yes,” Morgana sighed with a shudder. “I hate water travel, but there are moments when it is the best option.”

  In the corner of Alex’s eye, she saw Bran moving and turned her attention towards him. For a moment the rest of the world fell away; even the odd blend of emotions burning through her chest from Arto’s funeral. Bran’s leg brace was gone: he was standing differently and had a look of barely contained shock on his face. She lowered her eyes for a moment, feeling unable to look at the vulnerable expression. Licking her lips, Alex repeated Merlin’s warning about lingering to herself and looked up.

  “Bran?” Alex asked as she moved towards him while he pushed himself off of the standing stone, and took a few careful steps.

  His legs stayed straight, and Bran exhaled slowly as he straightened up completely. The absence of his cane and brace made him seem taller, and Alex just stared at him. His brace was on the ground from where he’d used it to hit a particularly violent pixie, and the Iron Chalice was still in his hand. Nicki moved past her, brushing their shoulders, and stepped in front of Bran.

  “It worked,” Nicki declared with a happy, relieved smile as she bounced over to join them. “Oh, it worked!” She reached over and gently took the Chalice from Bran’s hand, cradling it against her chest. “It worked!”

  “So that is the Iron Chalice then,” Merlin pondered as he paused and looked towards Nicki. “I’ve often wondered…” He reached out and touched the Chalice carefully as if afraid it might shock him. “There were times I wondered if Galath just invented the whole story.”

  “He wasn’t happy with you was he?” Alex asked as she stepped up next to Morgana. It didn’t feel as strange talking about him now; something had changed, though Alex wasn’t sure how much. “Sorry about that.”

  The older female mage shook her head sadly and replied, “No, and he was right to be angry. We were not the guides and protectors of Gofiben that we should have been.”

  “Well we’ve got a lot to catch you up on,” Alex chuckled, reaching over and patting Morgana’s shoulder a bit awkwardly. “Cause apparently there is the magical cave in Wales that opens to the Iron Soul and there are dragons inside of it.”

  “Dragons?” Merlin repeated, straightening up and looking at her in alarm. “In Wales?”

  “Yeah, you know the story that is about you in your youth with the dragons?” Nicki laughed, her thumb caressing the Chalice softly. “Apparently there some truth in it.”

  “There is some truth in almost everything,” Morgana cut in with a shake of her head. “But come along, we can talk while we walk.”

  Bran fell into step beside them as they quickly moved away from the monument, letting the sounds of normal everyday life surround them. Crossing the road took a bit longer than Alex expected with heavy traffic making them wait for a few minutes. She could feel questions and things she wanted to say to him sticking in her throat. It wasn’t until they were hiking across another field that she finally summoned the courage to talk to him.

  “So Bran, how do you feel?” Alex finally forced out, trying to sound nonchalant, but finding it difficult not to stare. His brace was in his hand and his cane had been lost somewhere. “Everything feel alright?”

  “I’m a bit sore,” Bran replied in a strained voice. “Uh… parts are a bit achy. I suppose that’s from being knit back together after all these years.” He blushed a little bit and shrugged before adding, “Haven’t had a chance to look at everything yet.”

  “I knew it,” Nicki chuckled in front of them which only made Bran turn a bit redder.

  “And how do you feel?” Alex pressed, licking her lips. “You okay this with?” She gestured nervously at his leg. “I’m sorry if I was pushy earlier-”

  “Alex, I’m fine,” Bran interrupted, looking her way with a soft expression. “It’s weird, sure, and it’s going to be… impossible to explain, but I can walk without a brace or worrying about a cane.” Bran swallowed thickly. “But I… this is good. This is something I’m happy about.”

  He smiled at her, reaching over and squeezing her cold hand in his with a soft expression. Bran was right of course, this would be complicated to try to explain, but it boded well for Aiden. The Iron Chalice was working again, and she felt her own heart lighten. Nicki was all but skipping in front of them, urging the group to move faster. A soft laugh escaped Alex at the sight and she felt her lips turn into a smile.

  “We have the Chalice,” she whispered mostly to herself.

  Bran leaned over to nudge her shoulder and softly whispered, “Yeah we do. We actually finished the Quest for the Holy Grail.”

  “With plenty of peril along the way,” Alex added before she rolled her shoulders and groaned. “God I hope things calm down a bit.”

  “Probably not,” Bran sighed with an angry expression flickering over his face. “We still have a lot of questions that need answering.”

  “And Arthur is still out there,” Alex agreed. “Yeah.”

  “But not today,” Bran told her as he gave her a somewhat stern look. “We’ll get back and take care of Aiden and go from there.”

  “No,” Alex sighed. She rolled her shoulders and grimaced at her achy body. “Not today.”

  “Although, it’s only like two in the morning in Oregon,” Bran reminded her with a yawn.

  “Good; we can heal Aiden and then crash,” Alex grumbled, moving her head as they went down a slight slope to the river.

  Before them, the waters of the river Avon lapped softly against the grassy bank, the rush of the water having melted away the thin layer of snow. Merlin and Morgana exchanged a look and then Merlin stepped forward. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, which he slowly released as his green magic began to app
ear around both of his hands. Below them, the water of the river began to churn and splash up into the air, and Merlin hummed softly in concentration.

  With a nervous look, Lance packed the Iron Chalice into his backpack and handed it off to Alex with a soft ‘just in case.’ Jenny was eyeing the portal with a look of near terror, her eyes darting towards Morgana and Merlin. Alex knew that she should ask if water travel was safe for non-mages, but the words stuck in her throat. Morgana looked down the line and nodded in satisfaction.

  Water suddenly blasted into the air as a fast-moving column. It turned and twisted violent, beginning to spin. More and more water was pulled up from the river and gradually expanded, creating a hollow space between the curved edges of the vortex. Green magic rippled across the water and pushed the tunnel further and further back, creating a long passageway before them.