I woke up for the third time that day, and I had pretty much decided that this magic stuff wasn't all it had cracked up to be. I would have been just as happy if I had just gotten to meet everyone from the Dresdenverse without the magic and the passing out/falling asleep. I hadn't even met everyone yet! Not even close in fact, although the people I was interested in meeting were fewer than the people I just wanted to get close enough to punch, so I supposed that made it easier. Plus at least I knew that the voice in my head was not part of my subconscious-unless my subconscious was prone to inventing elaborate back stories to defend it's creation, while working in pieces of well known legends-the only problem now was deciding if I should tell Michael and Dresden and if I was how to break the news? Neither of them were likely to react well to me walking up and announcing that I was hearing voices in my head. If they believed that said voice was King Arthur they'd relax but first I'd have to convince them.

"If you can arrange to borrow Michael's sword I think I can arrange something…convincing."

"I don't want to be a Knight!" I might have sounded just a little panicked, I really did not want that sort of responsibility, and I had no idea what the protocol for the long dead owner of one of the swords showing up inside someone's head was. Actually, I couldn't imagine that there was one, this sort of situation couldn't happen very often.

"Do not worry. I am no longer the bearer of the sword and it will not choose a new one until Michael relinquishes it." I heaved a sigh of relief. Since I wasn't going to get stuck with the thing I decided that Arthur might as well do his convincing as soon as possible, so I headed downstairs slowly thinking of a good way to get to hold the sword the whole way down. I nodded politely to one of the younger Carpenters, I had never bothered to memorize their names much less who was who, I knew this kid wasn't Molly, or little Harry but that was about as far as my knowledge extended. Michael was in the living room reading when I poked my head in, he looked up and smiled as I came in and I was overcome with a wave of shyness. For someone so nice he was surprisingly intimidating.

"Is your friend still asleep?" I nodded silently, and he looked at me for a moment longer. "Is there something you need?"

"Um." I started cleverly "Mr. Carpenter, I was wondering, in the books your sword is the one mentioned most often, and I was wondering if maybe, I could, it would be really cool if I could…"

"You'd like to see it?" Oh thank God! I wasn't sure I'd have managed to ask without chickening out. I nodded vigorously.

"Yes. I understand if you'd rather not get it out but it would be really cool…" Now I was talking too fast. Curse my poor people skills!

"It wouldn't be a problem. It's out in my workshop if you'd just follow me I'll show you right now." he smiled reassuringly and we headed outside. I hadn't been in the Carpenters backyard but it was everything I expected. I could see the tree house in the distance and the lovely little workshop he'd made. That was the direction we were heading, of course since he'd just said he kept it in his workshop. Once inside he pulled a cloth wrapped bundle down from a high shelf and unwrapped it. The sword-amoracchius Arthur whispered-was beautiful. I reached out with a glance towards Michael and at his nod touched the scabbard lightly. Instantly I was lost in a flood of memories, from the day Arthur had first pulled it from the stone to the day it had been cast into the lake I absorbed Arthur's memories and felt his ache for the days he'd never see again. I moved aside and felt his surprised gratitude as he moved into control. He ran my finger up the scabbard until it reached the hilt where he rested my hand. He'd completely forgotten about convincing anyone of anything but…I couldn't refuse him the only connection he had to his time. He'd been dead for thousands of years, this was the only thing left from his time, I wouldn't deny him this small connection to the people he'd left behind. But, you know? Michaels pretty observant.

"How do you know that sword?" His voice startled both of us. "And more importantly how does that sword know you?" a glance at the sword showed it was glowing faintly. Not the giant neon help wanted sign but a faint pulsing shimmer that felt like a warm hand where it touched mine.

Fortunately Arthur had an explanation all prepared. "Um…" Well, maybe explanation was a little generous, but at least he had a retort!

I was being unfair, he hadn't realized the sword would react unless he asked it to and he had forgotten that he was supposed to have asked it to. Still since he was still lost in his memories and not anything like able to explain I had to think of something.

"Well…I don't really know the sword, but King Arthur knows it rather well. I would imagine it was reacting to the fact that his spirit is inside my head." the last words came out in a rush. I had no idea how Michael was going to react to this, hopefully he'd be cool about it since the sword didn't have a problem with me, but what the hell were you supposed to do when the long dead owner of your magical sword shows up?

My semi-frantic musings were interrupted when Michael spoke. "I see." He was completely calm. He knew what he was supposed to do! "This is an unusual situation, as you are no doubt aware. Do either of you have any idea what to do?" Crap! It would have made life so much easier if Michael had known what to do.

"Not really. But Arthur says that you keep the sword. And I think he's mostly here to provide guidance, and the ability to fight." Michael nodded.

"All right then. We might as well go back inside and wait for Harry to arrive. Would you like something to eat?" My stomach answered that instantly and loudly. Michael laughed and we went inside.