Disguised As A Boy: The Tale of the Reincarnation of King Arthur

Chapter 2

" Enough. Enough!" yelled an Elder. My mind went insane with worry. Why had no one been able to draw it out? The reincarnation had to be in the Plaza when it fell because the Sword always followed the reincarnation.

" Obviously, the gods are angry with us so we will follow the original tradition. All girls 12-18, please come forward."

No one moved. I looked at Mother with fright. No girl had ever been the reincarnation and the men had made it clear that we were too weak- physically and mentally- to be the reincarnation.

" Get up here NOW!!" The Elder yelled. Mom nodded at me and I hesitantly took a step out. Other girls slowly came forward, helped by my socalled " bravery" even though I felt like puking at all the eyes on me.

We slowly got into a line by name of our fathers. I was in the front of the middle section because Father's name started with a H. One by one, the girls stepped up. There were a few outbursts and no one looked as interested as when the boys had been lined up. Sexist pigs, I thought angrily.

Us women were treated like property not like human beings. Not many of us were weak. Many of us had shops in town and lived extremely well-off.

The line had become shorter and I was closer to the front. Some people even started to doze off as they watched though Mother and Father looked increasingly more and more nervous as I got closer to the front.

Soon, I was next and Mother looked like she was going to hyperventilate. I knew she hated me in any sort of danger and so did Father. I was a complete daddy's girl and all my siblings knew it.

The girl before me went and started pulling but like all the people in front of her, it remained stuck in the stone. The Elder yelled," Next!" And everyone who wasn't asleep watched anticipatingly at me. Mother smiled at me and I smiled back before moving forward. As I walked closer, I was able to see it closer.

The " Stone" was a big boulder and the Sword was a beautiful one even though I have only seen a few before in my life. It was silver and gold twined itself around the hilt in a vine-like pattern. I could see some runes leading down the blade. They looked ancient and I could somehow understand the runes that were shown said: "Only the...."

I put my hand on the hilt nervously and immediately a warmth and tingling erupted through my palm and spread across my arm. What the hell?

I started to pull but unlike resistance as I'd expected, it came out easily and wasn't as heavy as I expected.

I lifted it up and examined it. The runes clearly stated: " Only the reincarnation of the Great Arthur will be able to use me." Everyone gasped and I felt thousands of eyes on me.

I felt my cheeks go red and lowered it. I clung onto it tightly as I saw numerous men around the crowd give me the evil eye like I'd cheated. But that was impossible. Only the reincarnation could get it out and somehow, probably as a practical joke or a lesson, the gods had made me the next one. I wasn't a hero. I didn't know how to fight or anything.

I looked at my family and Mother was beaming like Father and Philip smiled at me as he mouthed," Congrats." But Daniel was frowning and sending me death glares. If a look could kill, I'd be ten feet under already. I suddenly felt nervous. What if he tries something?

Daniel wasn't exactly the kindest brother ever. He had bullied me severely when I was younger and traumatized me several times. Philip was much more kinder to me and I was one of the few people who could tell them apart.

Philip was smiling at me like he had knew it the entire time. I wouldn't have been surprised if he hadn't. Philip had a gift for magic that was pretty powerful and he had sometimes visions of the future. He probably knew it.

I smiled at him and looked nervously at the Elders. One of them stood up.

" Arianna, youngest daughter of Chief Henry, correct?" said the Elder, his white robe smooth and uncreased somehow.

" Yes, sir," I answered, trying to hide my nervousness and fright. He smiled at me, kindly and I felt my confidence jump up and I smiled back.

" I will send word to the Guild of the Reincarnation about you and where you currently live. They'll be here in 2 days, perhaps a few more. They'll send you a letter with what to have packed when they arrive. I congratulate you and your family."

I nodded and leapt up in surprise as my father's hand came on my shoulder and his deep baritone voice spoke," Thank you so much, Elder James and other Elders. I'll take Ari home now and we'll be waiting for that letter. Come on, Arianna." I looked at him and nodded, feeling all my confidence and energy drain away. Time for a confrontation with my oh-so-loving brother.