Hurricane (The Badlands Series) Book 5

Chapter Eight: Camelot

Emlyn and Pandora arrived at Classic Tales Island, soon they would find, however, it was anything but what the books described in the real world. They pulled up to the docks in Camelot which was now a much smaller version then what it originally was.

They walked from the docks through a magical forest where they came across a statue. The placard in front of it said,

Merlin
The Greatest Wizard
Rest In Peace
5th century-20th century

"He's dead?" Emlyn gasped, "but how, and when?"

"He's not dead." A young woman's voice said from behind her.

"Who are you?" Pandora asked suspiciously.

"Guinevere, I'm King Arthur's wife." She said, and Emlyn looked confused.

"Not to be that person but didn't you sleep with Lancelot?" Emlyn asked, and she looked offended.

"Rubbish, he forced himself upon me." She replied, and Emlyn knew something was off about this whole thing.

"Right... so what happened to Merlin?" Emlyn asked and Guinevere sighed.

"He was cursed by someone according to Arthur, he's simply stuck in the statue. Would you like to come back to the castle with me?" She asked, and Emlyn knew for a fact she wasn't going anywhere with her.

"No, I'm gonna get him out of that statue." Emlyn said turning back to it.

"Don't be ridiculous, no one can do that..." She tried to protest, but Emlyn ignored her.

Emlyn tried to write him out through her mind but it wasn't enough, this was going to take something more physical. She reached in her backpack and wrote on a pad of paper she always carried, "free Merlin." She blew the words off the page and they turned to a black smoke that engulfed the statue.

When the smoke cleared, there he stood. Merlin was free. Emlgn glanced back at Guinevere, "not possible you say?"

She took off into the forest and Emlyn turned back to Merlin. "Merlin I'm-"

"Emlyn, I'm so glad you're here!" He said, he already knew who she was. "I've been waiting for you, come on now we have work to do, especially before she comes back with the calvary." He said, then he grabbed her arm and Emlyn grabbed Pandora's and they moved quickly through forest.

They arrived at a small hut hidden within the grassy hills. "How did you end up in the statue?" Emlyn asked once they were inside.

Merlin began brewing tea with a snap of his fingers, "Arthur found out Guinevere cheated on him, his knights betrayed him, everything fell apart when he couldn't keep his promises. He was never meant to be King or wield that sword but he wouldn't listen." Merlin explained, and Emlyn was beyond confused.

"What?" She asked, this wasn't the story she remembered reading.

"Of course you're confused, the real world likes to twist everything to fit there narrative. Arthur, Lancelot and I were a trio. Lancelot was meant to pull that sword and be king. He did in fact pull the sword when Arthur couldn't. Arthur found some ancient magic after that and poured it into the soil of the kingdom. It became his prospering kingdom, Lancelot was killed and Arthur told everyone that he forced himself upon Guinevere and betrayed him. The magic changed memories but he couldn't change mine, so he trapped me in the statue and claimed I got cursed trying to protect the kingdom. It's true they just don't know it's him who cursed me." Merlin finished his story and Emlyn sighed, she couldn't imagine how many other fairytales she'd be fixing when she returned home again.

"Can we fix this?" Emlyn asked, and Merlin smiled.

"I'm so glad you asked, Lancelot's last words were that a powerful writer would come to Camelot one day and claim the sword and reclaim the land, and save Camelot. I can't imagine that would be anyone else after all the research I've done. You need to get the sword from Arthur and break the curse, free the people of Camelot. In exchange I will find you a map to get all the artifacts you need. This hurricane is quite dreadful." He said and gave her a wink.

"Then I will be back after I take on Arthur, and save Camelot." Emlyn said, she stood up and her and Pandora left the hut.

"You seem confident about this one." Pandora said, and Emlyn shrugged.

"He can't be any worse than Camilla." She replied, and with that they ventured off into the heart of Camelot.

***

In the heart of Camelot sat a huge castle covered in red and gold flags and tapestries. Emlyn and Pandora snuck in through an unguarded window. They followed the sound of voices and peeked into a room to see Arthur standing at a large round table. Knights sat around the table and Guinevere by Arthur's side. He was yelling about the mysterious girls and Merlin being free from the statue.

Pandora pointed behind Arthur to a display case which held the sword. "The swords there."

"I think we have to free the kingdom first." Emlyn suggested but Pandora shook her head.

"The items here hold power, they function as magical artifacts. The sword will free the kingdom when the proper owner holds it." Pandora explained, Emlyn trusted her judgement.

"Ok let's sneak around to the other side and get it." Emlyn said, and the two of them snuck around the castle till they found an entrance on the other side of the room. They quietly went over to the display case and Pandora lifted the glass while Emlyn grabbed the sword.

They snuck back out of the room and Emlyn looked at Pandora as she held the sword. "Now what? Nothing happened?"

"I have an idea come on." Pandora said and the two left the castle. They reached the spot where Merlin's statue once stood. "Plunge it into earth where the statue stood. If I'm correct this is where he put the magic into the soil to curse the land." Pandora explained her reasoning and Emlyn nodded.

Guards came barrelling out of the castle toward them on horseback. Emlyn lifted the sword and jammed it into the soil before it was too late. Electricity shot up through the blade throwing her back. Electric currents struck across the ground and throughout all of Camelot. The riders halted their horses and climbed off.

Many citizens all wandered out of their houses in confusion. Arthur attempted to ride away but one of the knights threw a lasso and yanked him off the horse. Merlin arrived and approached Arthur. "Well Arthur it appears your time as King is up. It is time to rejoice in the freedom of Camelot!" The people cheered and hauled Arthur off to jail.

Guinevere approached them, "this is awful how long were we in that haze?" She asked and Merlin sighed.

"Too long I'm afraid." He said then handed Emlyn a map. "Take this and the sword and stop Camilla, your work here will mean nothing if she succeeds."

Emlyn and Pandora left Camelot and boarded their ship again. "So where to next?" Pandora asked.

"Sherwood Forest."