Hiya!
Guys... this is the last chapter! :O
Nooooooooooooooooooooo -fades eerily-
So, I am putting this chapter up with great sadness, not only because it's the last one but also because Simona just randomly dumped me on Skype. :(
This is more an epilogue than a chapter, which should answer some questions and yet create many more. Ooo... Much like the current season of Doctor Who, but that's neither here nor there.
I hope you liked this story, I really do. Our first big venture into Camelot. Me on my white horse, Ellie on her ginger pony, and Simona on a donkey. Haha.
Anywhoos, here we go... -sniffle sniffle-
Author:Eleanor
Home
There was a sound like the rushing of wind and Andeline stumbled in the darkness. Strong hands held her carefully and kept her from falling, but the dizziness wouldn't leave her. Suddenly it all stopped and there was a deathly silence.
Andeline opened her eyes as she realised that she'd been squeezing them tightly shut all this time. It took her a few moments to adjust to her surroundings.
She was in a forest clearing. The early morning rays of the sun shone pale through the trees, dazzling her vision. She turned around, wondering where Isaac and the unknown other man were. She seemed to be quite alone, and she cursed herself for being so foolish, allowing herself to go with these strangers. And now they had stolen all the things she possessed in the world and left.
She knelt down on the forest floor and tell-tale tears began to cloud her vision. Stupid Andeline, stupid.
"You're not stupid." Came a small voice.
Andeline looked up and saw a boy through her half-formed tears. His skin and hair were pale, as were his watercolour eyes. An unusual appearance, but more disturbing than that, however, was the fact that he had just read her thoughts.
"W-who are you?" she managed to say, her voice breaking with exhaustion and confusion.
"You have so many questions…" the boy said, looking deep into her eyes, "Come, let's find you some answers." He held out his hand and helped her up.
Andeline and the boy walked for a few minutes in silence. Andeline kept stealing glances at him, as if by catching him unawares she would be able to ravel this whole mystery out. But he simply smiled mysteriously and kept walking.
"I'm Andeline." She said abruptly, trying to divulge his name.
"I know." Said the boy, chuckling to himself quietly.
Andeline was stunned. She had never met anyone of his age who was so wise and mysterious. And he was only part of the mystery. She wondered what she was getting herself into.
"Here we are." Said the boy.
Andeline looked around, confused.
"This is the clearing where we started." She stated, perplexed.
"I know." The boy laughed, "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
Andeline opened her mouth to speak but she was interrupted by another voice.
"Hendrick, stop fooling around."
Andeline looked over to where the voice had come from. It was the quiet, yet authoritative voice of the black hooded man from earlier. Except now he had taken down his hood and his bald head was glowing with the light of various magical symbols.
"Andeline, welcome." He nodded at her.
Andeline was speechless. But then, other figures began emerging from the trees, surrounding her in a wide circle. Hendrick, the pale boy, backed off and joined the circle.
"We are the Guardians, protectors of the prophecy. Peace to all Albion." They chanted, as one.
Goosebumps shivered down Andeline's arms as she heard those words. A thrill of excitement and intrigue coursed through her blood.
"Greetings. I am Ansari." Announced the tall bald man. He waved his arm in an arc around the circle. "And we are the Guardians – those sworn to protect Camelot and its future King. And He who will change everything; Emrys." At the mention of 'Emrys' there was an outbreak of excited whispering around the circle.
"I- I don't understand –" began Andeline, turning confusedly to look at everyone.
"It is understandable, don't worry. But introductions first." Said Ansari.
A wizened old man with tufts of snowy-white hair protruding from under a faded red fez introduced himself as Waldemar. A man with olive skin, a pointy beard and fingers laden with ornamental rings turned out to be Tapsell. Hendrick was the pale laughing boy. Isaac was the other one of the two men who had brought her here, sturdily built with a mane of rust-coloured hair. And last was Mabel, the plump old women from the herb merchant's shop.
Andeline's eyes widened in surprise as she realised that many of these people she had already seen before, from her daily life in Camelot.
"Yes, we've been watching you for a while now, Andeline." Smiled Waldemar.
"It's funny, the things that people fail to see until it is right before them." Said Tapsell, musingly.
"We know that you are Andeline, sister of the great Nimueh. Great but terrible. We know that you are not like her, but that similar power, though most of it as yet unawakened, flows through your veins." Said Ansari, commanding control again.
Andeline opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted.
"We know life has been hard and lonely, and we want to help you." Said Mabel, her voice full of motherly concern.
"If you join us, you will never be alone again." Said Hendrick, shrugging.
"The Guardians?" asked Andeline, only able to put a few coherent words together.
"Yes. We have heard the prophecy, of what is to come. We work together, to ensure that the prophecy becomes a reality. We live in hope." Said Waldemar.
"We all have magic here, Andeline. But we use it for good, for the protection of Camelot and He that will rule, and He that will serve." Said Isaac gruffly.
"We are sorry for what you had to do to save He that will rule." Said Hendrick sadly, brutally suppressing a shudder. Though he had been in the room when it happened, he had turned away when he heard the thought cross Andeline's mind. The thought that became a fatal action.
"Had we not failed to kill her when she arrived, none of this heartbreak and sadness would have happened." Agreed Tapsell.
"Wait, so you were the bandits who tried to kill Lunette?" asked Andeline, incredulously.
Ansari nodded gravely. "At great cost to ourselves."
"Erasmus and Clara." The group chanted as one, solemnly thumping their chests once.
"Yet it is done. You have saved Camelot. You have proved yourself worthy. And we know that the time is right for you to join us." Said Mabel, choosing her words carefully.
"We who are six, now need a seventh." Said Ansari, "Will you be number seven?"
"I– I will." Said Andeline, tears filling her eyes as she finally began to appreciate being surrounded by those of her own kind. She no longer had to be alone. She was home.
And then it was over.
Thank you all so much, for reading this, for reviewing this -in particular those who have review regularly, and both you and I know who you are- and for making us love writing this so much.
As I have said, we have another story on the board, but since we have exams in about a week, nothing may be up until those are over... (Like four weeks - I know it's ages!)
Also, we began writing I suppose what we are dubbing "bloopers", and so those may find their way onto FF at some point.
Until then, read our poems if you should feel so inclined, as they are awesome.
By the by, Eleanor and I made up the names of the Guardians, and Ansari is actually the name of a historian. And, only a few days ago, Ellie and I were walking through our school's quad and saw a poster for St Andrews Uni lecture - with Professor Ansari. We had a mini spazz. A Guardian in our town! Woo! Good times. :P
I feel like I'm forgetting something. Hmm...
In Minnesota it is illegal to cross state lines with a duck on your head.
In Indiana it is illegal to ride public transportation for at least 30 minutes after eating garlic.
You strange, strange lovely American people. Brilliant.
Okay then, thank y'all muchly. In the wise words of Toby Turner: Peace Off. BOOP!