She found herself looking into the face of a woman with red hair like her but her face was far more determined than Merle's had ever looked.
"Where are you taking me Angelique? I will not move any further until you tell me."
Merle looked to the ceiling, looking for inspiration in the carved stone.
"Jeanne, you have to trust me. You know you cannot face those men on your own. You need my help."
Jeanne looked skeptical. Piercing Angelique's soul with her stare. After a long moment of silence, she waved for Angelique to lead the way.
She turned to continue down the passageway, walking purely from memory as the torch in her hand did not give enough light to see landmarks in the stone. She didn't need them though. Her father had shown her this cave a thousand times. It was a place that was sacred and dangerous. Her father said it was protected by god himself. It was time that the artifact did its part for the country that it lived in. It needed to be revealed, for France.
The tunnel turned sharply and past it was a large cavern that was illuminated by mirrors. The columns and statues that had once stood so beautifully so long ago were now broken and decaying. It was only by navigating the tall broken decorations could one reach the artifact on the other side.
"Jeanne, stay here, I will return in a moment."
"Why the secrets my friend? We've known each other since childhood. Why must you talk in riddles and leave me in such a mysterious place?"
She smiled sadly at her friend, "Everything will be revealed in time."
Then she turned from Jeanne and ran toward a column that was broken near the bottom. She run up the leaning part of the column to a decapitated statue. Than she began jumping from column to column until she reached the other side of the compartment.
On a ledge was a large alter. It was made of black marble with flowing designs carved into the surface. A silver box lay on its top. The box had old French text carved into its sides. She had read the text as a child. It was a story, the story of the ancient king Arthur. Fairy tales from an ancient world now claimed by the English as their own. Yet, from the box, Angelique now knew that Arthur was none other than Artorius Castus, a roman legionnaire.
Slowly she touched the box, touching the secret button her father had showed her. The seal on the lid of the box was broken and Angelique slowly lifted the shinning cover until her treasure was revealed. Inside the box, on a bed of satin was a unearthly looking sword that shinned despite the dim light.
Carefully she lifted it from its resting place and slid it into the black sheath that lay next to the box. She slung the blade over her shoulder and made her way back to Jeanne who still waited patiently. God bless the girl.
Angelique made a final bound from the last broken column and came to land softly in front of Jeanne. Without a word she brought the sword in front of her and removed it from the sheath. Jeanne gasped at the sword.
"What manner of blade is this?"
Angelique smiled, "This Jeanne is the sword of God given to King Arthur in order to protect his land from the Saxons. This is what will save France from the English. I'm giving it to you because I know you are the key Jeanne. You will take it with you to Orleans. There you will find your destiny."
"But Angelique, you cannot give me such a gift that is not yours to give."
"I am its guardian Jeanne, it is up to me who deserves its power."
"What power?"
"The wielder is given strength and genius known only to God. You will know all Jeanne."
"You would give me such strength?"
"Of course Jeanne, for only you have the heart to use it for what it was meant. To defend."
A voice interrupted the memory, "I think that's enough for not Merle. No need to review what we already know."
The world turned white and a moment later, she was staring at the old man's face again. The old French world lost to her.