The Pearl of Avalon

“What is the matter, Uncle? You do not look happy to see me.” Modred held a sword by his side, “I have been waiting a long time to see you again. Too long.” He turned his glare at me, “And how nice it was of you to bring a friend.”

Arthur stepped in front of me, “Why would I ever be happy to see you, Modred?”

“Tut, tut, Arthur, be nice now.” An evil smile played across his lips, “This should be a happy reunion.” He took a step closer, “I see the Grail has worked it’s magic on you as well. Does it feel good to be alive again?” He nodded his head at Excalibur, “And you have Excalibur in your possession again. Well now. It seems I may have my work cut out for me.”

“Where is Merlin,” Arthur asked, still keeping calm, “And the pearl?”

“Merlin is comfortable,” Modred said, a snarl on his lips, “I think. It is almost a shame really, that the pearl keeps him alive. Personally, I think he would be better off dead. I mean, really, how can anyone be comfortable cooped up in a dungeon cell for centuries with no food?”

“You monster!” Arthur snapped.

“Yes,” he said, laughing, “In a way, that is exactly what I am. Thanks to the pearl, I can live here eternally on Avalon. Immortality. What a lovely reality.”

Modred’s eyes reminded me of someone who could have just escaped from an insane asylum. He said, “I have Merlin as a pet, and now I see a lovely young woman to take as my companion.” His eyes darted to me, then back to Arthur, “With you dead again, and Excalibur in my hands I will be unstoppable! I may even expand my reign outside of Avalon.”

“Companion?” I choked out, “Never! It will be a cold day in hell if that ever happens!” I placed my hand on Arthur’s shoulder, gently tilting myself up to whisper in his ear, “The best way to kill an immortal is to cut off the head.” I don’t watch movies without learning a thing or two! I just hope it pertains to real life immortals as well.

Arthur and Modred just stared at each other. There was anger in both their eyes. I could feel the tension in the air. So much hatred.

Almost as if it were timed right down to the second, without hesitation, they lunged at each other. Their swords clashed. The sound of metal on metal rang loud. With a swift heave, Arthur pushed Modred away from the doorway he came from, “Go, Chloe! See where that leads! Find Merlin!”

I took off through the doorway, pausing only for a second. I wanted to turn back and help, but I knew that would be impossible. With one wrong move on my part and one swift slice of a sword, I’d be finished. Modred’s laughter and the clanging of the swords echoed through the air.

It was quite an amazing maze of tunnels. I found it very remarkable at the way every room and tunnel was carved perfectly into the mountain. I’m guessing magic had a bit to do with it. I had no problem seeing anything. There were torches everywhere. I checked in different rooms. No sign of Merlin or a giant pearl. I saw many things smashed up. If this had been Merlin’s home, there certainly was not much left to it now.

I finally found a small room with intact objects. A bed was there. Fancily carved headboard, plain fabric bedspread, brown in color. Didn’t look overly warm. Not sure what kind of fabric exactly, as I did not want to touch it. If Modred slept in this bed, I was staying clear! I also saw a wooden chair and a small, plain table with a candle on it. Then I noticed another door at the opposite end. I figured, I might as well check it, even though it might just be a closet of some type. When I opened it I saw a stairway leading down. Just great! More stairs, and possibly another level to search through!

There did not seem to be much light down there, so I went back to the tunnel, (or hallway. Whatever you want to call it,) and took a torch. Back in the room and down the stairs I went. It turned out to be a spiral staircase. There we unlit torches on the way down, so I lit them. When I finally reached the bottom I guessed I was directly under the bedroom. Another tunnel ahead. A maze indeed!

I lit more wall torches. This level wasn’t used as much, it seemed, and if that was the case, I figured there was a good chance I might discover something useful! Like a wizard, or a magic pearl! Now that would be a great discovery!

I heard a scraping noise. I followed it until it got fairly loud and noted that it was coming from a door near the end of the tunnel. A dead end tunnel. The door was on the right. I hesitated a bit before leaning my ear to the door. It definitely was where the scratching was coming from. “Merlin?” I whispered near the door. Only scratching was heard. Again, I hesitated. The handle to open the door was one of those iron rings. I’ve only ever seen them in movies. Or as door knockers, in reality. I took hold and pulled. The door never budged. I leaned my shoulder against it and pushed. No movement. The door was jammed. Or locked from the other side. There was keyhole there. I knelt down to peek in through it. Too dark. But I should have known that!

I tried poking at the keyhole with the tip of the dagger, but it was too big. My bra! How that popped in my head so fast, I’ll never figure out, but it was a good idea. My bra had underwire! I laid the dagger and torch against the wall and slipped my hands up under my shirt. My poor, red shirt. All torn and stained. I tugged at the underside of my bra and found the end of the wire with my finger. I kept toying with it, trying to push the wire through the fabric. It took some time but I did it. I pulled it out, then started on the other side. I never really like underwire anyway!

Armed now, with two curved, flat wires, I started to pick the lock. It was not easy. I just poked each wire in different ways, hoping to hit some kind of mechanism. I stopped, dead still, when I heard a click. I had it!

I dropped the wires, got up off my knees, and pulled open the door. Of all things to step out of the mystery room, it had to be a skeleton. A walking skeleton! It was wearing a long, gray robe with a rope around its almost nonexistent waist. I tried to scream, but no sound came out, just a gasp. I grabbed up my dagger and torch and started waving it at the skeleton, “Get away!”

It stepped towards me, reaching out with its bony hand. No matter how much I waved the torch at it, it kept coming at me. I slipped to the side, threw the torch at it and ran. I didn’t look back. Did I even hit it with the torch? Maybe it was on fire now. Maybe I hit its robe! I wanted to look back, but I couldn’t. I came to the spiral stairs and, two steps at a time, I ran back up to the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I certainly hope that was not Merlin!

I wanted to lock it, but couldn’t lock it, as I had no key, and I could not fool around with the lock, as I had left my wires downstairs. I waited. Never heard anything. I let out a deep breath and turned around, resting my back against the door. Three, gray-robed skeletons were standing in the other doorway. The same doorway that I had entered the room through. They were just standing there, staring at me with empty eye sockets and permanent grins. Again, I wanted to scream, but only gasps escaped my mouth.

I slid my hand along the door I was leaning against. I wrapped my hand around the door ring. I kept still. They were not moving, so I stayed put as well.

One of them took a step forward and that was enough for me! I’d rather take my chance with one instead of three, so without sparing a second longer I pulled open the door, dashed through, and pulled it shut.

I grabbed a wall torch along the way down the stairs, just in case. I didn’t really think that the tunnel torches had all been put out, but something inside was telling me to take it anyway. And I’m glad I did. The single skeleton, who I had obviously missed with my other torch, was now at the bottom of the stairway! I held the dagger and torch out in front of me, “Back off you bag of bones! I’m not afraid of you!” That was a lie. I was terrified!

I kept my back against the wall as I descended. The skeleton just stood there, looking up at me. It put one foot on the bottom step. I made a run for it. I was holding the dagger and torch out, but I never hit it with either of them. I instead just elbowed it, knocking it down as I ran past.

Seeing that the tunnel was still well lit, I dropped the torch. I ran right to the end and into the room I had previously unlocked. Darkness. Shit! I pulled open the door, ran out far enough to grab another torch, and ran back in. It wasn’t a room. Just another tunnel. I didn’t bother to light any torches on my way along this time. I just wanted to get as far from those skeletons as I could!

I don’t recall seeing any doors along this tunnel, but since there was one right at the dead end of it, that’s the one I entered. It was a well-lit room. Candles, not torches. Like all the other rooms I had been in, except for the bedroom upstairs, it was a mess. This one did have a familiar look to it. Not familiar as if I had been here before, but familiar as if I knew what I was looking at. It looks like a laboratory. A wizard's laboratory.

There were a wooden mortar and pestle on top of an old table. Some overturned jars with rotten stuff inside them. Gross! There were other broken jars on the floor near the table. On a corner table, I saw a mounted skeleton. Not a human skeleton. Looked like a griffon. And boy, was I glad it was not moving! It was just propped up on sticks. A decoration, maybe?

A thump on the door startled me and I stopped taking in the surroundings. I stood, facing the door, holding my dagger close to my chest. It must have been a skeleton, but why didn’t it just open the door? I caught a glimpse of a large crate through the corner of my eye. I put the dagger in my mouth, dropped the torch, and went to the crate. It was heavy, but I did manage to push it along the floor and in front of the door. That should hold it off if it does try to open the door. I hoped.

I backed away from the crate, took the dagger in my hand again, and stood still. I could hear some scratching on the door. The thought of the boney fingertips scratching the wooden door sent shivers through my spine. I started to wonder about Arthur. How was he? Was he okay? Was he still fighting? Was he dead? I hope he wasn’t dead!

I took a few deep breaths and backed up against the wall across from the door. I rubbed a kink from the back of my neck. My whole body was achy. I stretched my neck and glanced to the right. The wall I looked at seemed not so solid. Like it had been disturbed. Scraped from top to bottom. I went over to examine it closer. Didn’t see anything to push or pull. Then I noticed a wall mounted candle holder. It seemed slightly tilted. Sure enough, when I pulled down on it, the wall slid open. How many more secret entrances was I going to find?

I stepped in as the wall slid shut behind me. This one didn’t need to be closed by a lever! Another tunnel. I was right, thinking this was a maze. A very cleverly constructed maze. This tunnel was lit by the oh so popular torches. These torches must stay lit a very long time. The magic of Avalon, I guess. I’m pretty sure Modred don’t go around maintaining them all the time. But, then again, if he had been here for a few centuries by himself, maybe that was how he amused himself. That funny thought had lifted my spirits somewhat.

I followed the tunnel. This one didn’t go straight. It curved left. I’d say I had made a complete half circle before the tunnel ended. Dead end. A tilted torch. I rolled my eyes. This was getting monotonous. I pulled down on the torch and a wall slid open. I was by no means surprised anymore. I quickly stepped inside. Another room. Wall mounted candles kept it dimly lit. Several jail-like doors caught my attention. Dungeon? One of the cell doors was open. I stepped closer to it to have a look but had to jump back. A skeleton peered out at me.

I backed up against the wall I came in through. It was closed shut now. I held the dagger out in front of me as the skeleton came closer, “Get back! Come any closer and I’ll crack your rib cage!” Not the most well thought out threat, but it made my gray robed attacker stand still.

“Do not harm her, please!” an elderly man's voice echoed through the room. “She is a Sister of Avalon. She will not harm you.”

I forced myself to lower the dagger and stand still. The skeleton came very close. I wanted to poke it with my blade, but I obeyed the mystery voice. The skeleton placed its bony hand on my shoulder, tilted it’s head slightly, and bowed. It bowed to me! Now that was very weird. I slid sideways along the wall as it’s … her... hand left my shoulder, to get closer to where I though the voice came from.

Peering into one of the locked cells, I saw an old man crouched down by the bars, holding onto them with both hands. His knuckles were white from holding the bars so tightly. He was wearing a long, navy colored robe, or at least that’s what it looked like in the dim light. His hair was dirty white, tangly, and reached his lower back. He had a beard to match in both state, color, and length. I knelt down so that I could make eye contact, “Merlin?”