Author's Note
This story follows the Tomb Raider Legend storyline, and therefore contains spoilers. However, I have included pre-Legend elements in the story, as I feel they fitted well. Comments and constructive criticism would be much appriciated, and in turn, I will review any of your stories. Thanks.
The Inkweaver.
Tomb Raider: The Gates of Avalon
Starring Lara Croft
Prologue
"There's something in the light!"
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Legend
Peru, 1989
Lara took in a lung full of thin mountain air before grabbing the ledge and pulling up; and turning around to survey the Peruvian landscape stretched before her. The sight was amazing. Blotches of colour of all shades, dark mountains, and great patches of light that shone through the clouds highlighting everything. She flicked her hair out of her eyes before turning from the sight to what lay behind her.
The sight here was almost as beautiful as the aerial view. It was a classic temple, with columns either side of a trapezium shaped doorway, twice as high as Lara. The doors were, of course, closed. Many years ago, it would have been a bustling religious site. Monks, priests and citizens of Vilcabamba would have flooded here to pray everyday, due to its sacred location. Now, moss was growing on the pillars, and plants were climbing up the walls. She checked her watch; fifteen minutes to find a way in. However, all Inca temples had doors that were locked and unlocked from the inside. The doors even opened outwards for the purpose of structure. However, Lara was sure from her studies that the temple had it's own plumbing system and, sure enough, when she walked around the side of the temple, she spotted a small lake, probably man made. She strolled to the edge of the lake and observed the green weed rippling at the side. She turned as if to leave, then ran back, jumping in a graceful arc straight into the depths.
Silence pressed onto her ears as she swam deeper, further towards the bottom with strong, powerful strokes. She had spotted what she was looking for: a stone tunnel carved into the side. She pulled her frame into it, and pulled herself forward with her arms, brushing loose parts of rock aside.
It didn't take long for the tunnel to open up. Lara swam upwards, grabbing the side of the pool and pulling herself out. She was in the cleaning area for the monks. Rocks and debris had fallen from the ceiling, and anything of value had long been stolen. Lara quickly found the way out, into a corridor. It stretched to the left towards the entrance to the temple, and to the right . . . darkness. Lara unhooked a flare from her belt, pulling off the lid. It sparked, lighting the room with dancing shadows and flickering red light. Throwing it into the gloom, Lara set off down the corridor. Both sides of the corridor were lined with columns and the floor was littered with debris. The end of the corridor in sight, Lara crept towards the door with apprehension. As far as she could tell, there were no traps integrated into the frame. She walked through, into an amazing room.
The floor was lined with patterns indented into the stone. The entire room was round in shape, with a domed roof. The walls were also covered with patterns. They were absolutely beautiful. But Lara was drawn to the middle of the room. There was a platform, about a meter high with a column half that height set into the top. The platform was covered with inscriptions and patterns. Lara took out a small digital camera and took some pictures before advancing closer. Traps forgotten, she climbed atop the platform to look at the column. Placed on top, there was a small gemstone, green in colour and covered with the same patterns that aligned the walls. On the top of the platform, there were four deep square imprints into the stone. Lara knelt in front of the column, and checked her watch. Right on time.
At the top of the roof, there was a small hole with a focusing lens in. At noon exactly, the sun shone down in a direct beam of light, hitting the lens and focusing into a sharp beam. The light hit the gemstone, reflecting at four different angles. All of the beams of light hit each imprint on the platform. Instantly, the door began to descend.
"Shit!" Lara leapt to her feet, panicking. In one fluid movement, she grabbed the gemstone from the top of the column, turned around and sprinted for the door. Thrusting the gemstone into a pocket on her backpack, she put on a burst of speed across the room. Her legs aching, she squashed herself under the door and back into the corridor. She got back on her feet as fast as she could, for the corridor had become a death trap. A blade shot out, and Lara jumped, landing awkwardly and almost twisting her ankle. She jumped the next two blades, then dodged around the outside of the forth. A swinging blade came in from the left and she rolled, finally reaching the door. She pulled the handle, and the mechanism activated, opening half a ton of stone, and letting in a burst of sunshine.