Pendragon's Blood

Part 5: Horsing Around

"Meadow?"

I woke up with a start, snapping my eyes open. I gave a small shriek at the face that was inches away from mine, thoughts of the mystery man last night flashing through my mind as I struggled to back away. Hands covered my mouth in a panic. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I gasped against the hands when I recognized who it was.

"Shush!" Gwenevere whispered hoarsely, her dark eyes glancing around the room anxiously.

"Mff'lady!" I mumbled; her hands muffling my words. I turned my head to slid her hand off my face and I grabbed it with mine. I held her hands away from my mouth and stared at my queen. "What's going on?" my eyes glanced at the window, and I realized with a sick pang that the sun was about to dawn. "I'm sorry if I overslept!" I apologized, sitting up in my bed and thanking my lucky stars I never undressed from last night.

"It's not that!" she moaned, sitting back on the bed and putting her head in her hands. I immediately crawled over and sat next to her.

"What's wrong?" I asked, anxiously.

She snatched my hands and held them in hers. Tears sparkled in her eyes. "Excalibur's scabbard is missing!" she cried and burst into tears, shoving the heels of her hands in her eyes, ashamed she was crying.

My hand went to my mouth, and I felt sick to my stomach. It was rumored that Excalibur possessed magical powers and it was also said that whoever was in possession of the scabbard would not bleed from any wounds dealt to them if they had it on their person when the blow was dealt. If that was true, then there was nothing to protect Arthur from wounds he might receive in battle.

"Oh no," I whispered, my heart beating loud in my chest. "Does Arthur know?"

Gwen shook her head. "I haven't told him yet." On an impulse, her hands grabbed my arms, her nails slightly digging into my skin. "I heard about what happened last night. At first, I didn't believe it, but now that the scabbard is missing, and now I think otherwise."

The mystery man! I realized, feeling my heart in my throat. That must be what he took!

"M'lady," I reassured, prying her hands off my arms. "Gawain, Mordred, and I are already trying to figure out who the man was. We have several clues we're looking at, but until it's an open and shut case, mum's the word, okay?" It felt odd to demand this from my queen, who should be the one to swear me to secrecy instead of vice versa.

She nodded gratefully. "I won't tell Arthur about the scabbard, either." she suddenly laughed tearfully. "He always thought the legend about the scabbards powers were ridiculous, so even if he did find out that it was missing, it wouldn't be that much of a deal for him."

I agreed, knowing that the only magic the King had believed in was Merlin's; the rumored sorcerer and Arthur's old mentor and tutor; and whatever powers his half-sister, Morgana, sometimes called Morgan le Faye, possessed.

Gwenevere sighed with relief. She gently squeezed my hands in thanks before taking her leave and called over her shoulder. "Forget your daily duties for Arthur and I. Concentrate on your mission and come into our chambers at night and give me an update on what you discover." I nodded as she disappeared from the room.

I rubbed my face tiredly. This was starting to get overwhelming, now that the Queen was counting on us to find the missing scabbard. Gwen was always a worrywart, so until that is found, she wasn't going to get any good rest.

Well, she said to forget my chores for her and Arthur, I reminded myself. Better head over to the knight's hall to update Gawain and Mordred on this new twist.