Chapter 25: Hail to the King

Kayley was a normal seventeen year old firecracker with her head in the clouds and feet chained to the ground. She craved adventure, grandeur, and the ability to change the world. Kayley wanted to be like her father, Sir Lionel.

Kayley wanted to be a knight.

But Kayley was a girl. The most adventure she would ever see was on her wedding day. Rather…the night of.

Yuck. The idea was revolting to Kayley. Marriage: disgusting. Men: pigs. Her life (doing the chores, fetching the eggs, taking care of the house): boring! There was absolutely no glory in her future.

But Kayley still dreamed. She snuffed all suitors, she refused all courtships, and she pretended to be a knight. It was a childish endeavor, but what could she do? Give up? Marry the first handsome dimwit she saw? Parade around in beautiful dresses like a princess? No thank you, if you please.

Kayley preferred to daydream. It kept her hopeful. It kept her sane.

But Kayley's daydreams were waning. No longer passable as tomboy, Kayley had developed into a feisty young lady with auburn hair and amber eyes. And for feisty young ladies, the Otherland offered two future vocations: (1) get married (2) or get molested. "Knighthood" was not an option. Life in the Otherland was not multiple choice – it was black and white. And it was cruel.

Kayley had one year left. On her eighteenth birthday, Kayley would pass into adulthood. She would stop being 'a child,' and would therefore lose protection from the Otherland guardians. The guardians only defended children (unfortunately that was the extent of their magic). Adults had to fend for themselves. And for women, that meant marrying a big strong man, with a big strong sword.

Kayley was stuck. By age eighteen, she had to be married. If she wasn't...then she was fair game.

Still, there was a glimmer of hope. According to Kayley's father, the Otherland might resurrect its king. Sir Lionel had spoken of a prophesy. The prophesy foretold of The King's return to power, via a magic sword called Caliburn.

Sir Lionel had accompanied The King on his quest for Caliburn. But before he departed, Sir Lionel had made Kayley a promise.

"If the prophesy is true." Sir Lionel had said. "If The King regains his throne, then I will let you try Kayley. I will let you become a knight. But only if the King regains his throne. The true king."

Kayley was insane with hope. She waited each day for her father to return with The King and Caliburn at his side. It was her last hope.

So, when a magician named Schmendrick collapsed on their homestead…with news….that The King…and Sir Lionel…her father…were dead…

Kayley ran to the ocean bluff. And she screamed.

She didn't even notice the pirate ship, looming in the rocks below.

... ... ... ... ...

Three days passed. Finally Kayley spoke.

"How did it happen?"

Schmendrick looked from his soup bowl. Sir Lionel's wife, the lovely Julianna, had restored his health without a tear. She fed him, she mended him; not once did she demand an explanation. Lady Julianna was a profoundly quiet woman. She grieved in silence.

Unlike her daughter.

"How did what happen?" Schmendrick asked. Kayley made him uncomfortable. "The…deaths?"

Kayley welled. Then, she snarled.

"Yes! The deaths. The King. My father, Sir Lionel. You were there. How did it happen?"

Schmendrick gulped. "They were…killed."

"I gathered." Kayley spit. "How? By whom?"

"Two men." Schmendrick spread his arms. His blue robes hung shabbily. "Two brutish men. One of them seized Caliburn from the Lady of the Lake. The other attacked The King. Sir Lionel…took the blow."

Kayley welled again. She blinked furiously, trying not to cry. "He…he died saving The King?"

"Yes."

"But…The King also died?"

Schmendrick removed his pointed hat. He wiped it wearily against his enormous nose.

"I found His Majesty dead. Blade laceration. Through the heart. And his magical sword…was gone. Our attackers stole Caliburn. Perhaps forever. Who can say? Who knows?"

Lady Julianna floated soundlessly into the room. Immediately noticing Kayley's distress, she offered a gentle hand. Kayley shrugged it away.

"Why didn't you protect my father?" Kayley demanded. "Aren't you a wizard?"

"Kayley." Lady Julianna softly scolded.

Shamefully, Schmendrick shook his head. "No. I am a magician. An inept, bumbling magician. The world's worst, as a matter of fact."

"Clearly!" Kayley cried, unable to stop. "Thanks to you everyone is dead!"

"Kayley." Lady Julianna said.

"Thanks to you –" Kayley wrenched from her mother. "—my father is dead!"

"Kayley!" Lady Julianna stood before Schmendrick, shielding him from Kayley's wrath. "Kayley, stop it. This will not bring your father – "

"Thanks to you!" Kayley wept. "The Otherland has no hope! And I'll never – ever – live the life – that he said – that he believed – I –could-"

Kayley slammed into her chair. Hopelessly, she fisted her eyes.

Schmendrick did not retort. Staring into his soup, he turned a spoon over his reflection.

Kayley was right: the deaths had been his fault. At least partially. Had Schmendrick's magic spell not gone awry, then Master Emrys would not have disappeared. Master Emrys could have vanquished the dragon, defeated their foes, and rescued everyone: The King, Sir Lionel, Hiccup, Toothless, Lady Amalthea, Schmendrick himself, and the Lady of the Lake –

Plunk! Schmendrick dropped his spoon.

"The Lady of the Lake…" Schmendrick ogled, overcome with sudden realization. "Odette. The Prophesy. Perhaps – perhaps there IS hope!"

Kayley scraped away her tears. "What? What do you mean?"

"The Prophesy!" Schemdrick hopscotched over his chair. Pacing, he fought to remember. "The King sought a prophesy, delivered by Odette, the Lady of the Lake. The prophesy predicted hope! Hope for the Otherworld! Oh let me think, let me think! Come on memory – remember! Let me try – how did it go?"

Schmendrick circled his temples. His brain lurched like a rusty cog. Painstakingly he recited the Prophesy.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star…something, something ancient scar…something land…something brother…oh someone killed the other? Hm…"

Kayley rose. He trailed Schmendrick like a falcon.

"Something about a dragon trained…."Schmendrick continued. "A sword that will be reclaimed…cripple lost in flight…peace in furious night. Twinkle, twinkle something amend – break what must be broken again. OH!"

Blue sparks burst from Schmendrick's nostrils.

"Oh yes! I remember! Twinkle, twinkle little star – then is near – future far – stall evil – peace mend – past must be present again!Twinkle – Twinkle – little – thing – HAIL the ONCE and FUTURE ...and future...and future..."

Schmendrick stuffed his hat on and off, on and off. "Odette didn't finish the poem! What's the end? What could it be? Twinkle, twinkle little thing – Hail the Once and Future – "

"King?" Kayley finished. She rounded the table. "Is that it? Is that the rhyme? Hail the Once and Future King?"

Blue sparkles fizzled from Schmendrick's ears. "Could be! Odette did make a "kuh" sound before we were attacked! Twinkle, twinkle little thing – hail the once and future king! OH – WHOA! Oh whoa the powers of WHOA!"

Schmendrick seized Kayley. "Do you know what this means? It means that The King that died, The King that ONCE WAS – will be – "

"Future! He will be the Future King!" Kayley looked wildly to Lady Julianna. "Mother! The King! The King is coming again! The King is coming back! The King will arise again! He is – the Once and Future King!"

Lady Julianna lifted her hands, trying stifle their exhilaration before it turned into false hope.

"Kayley, how can – "

BANG.

The door blew apart. Wood splinters exploded into the furnishings. Lady Julianna spun. Schmendrick yanked Kayley under the table. But the second they ducked, the table was overturned and Kayley was hurled across the room. Stumbling backwards, she passed through a line of men before they grabbed her arms and twisted them back.

"Mother?" Kayley bucked, searching for Lady Julianna. "Mother!"

Her captors laughed. Waggling Kayley's head they mocked. "Mother! Mother! Mother!"

"Don't!" Kayley heard Lady Julianna. "Don't you dare harm her!"

"Beware!" Schmendrick shouted, but he was overpowered by the jeers. "Beware of making a magician angry!"

Suddenly the men stopped. But they did not stop for Julianna's fury or Schmendrick's empty threats. No. The sneers faded as heavy footsteps crossed the threshold.

"Knock, knock." someone said.

Kayley jerked her head. But as she moved, a hand caught her chin and yanked.

Her teeth rapped. Her neck cracked. Jagged fingernails curled under Kayley's jaw, forcing her to look up.

A man smiled down at her. He was a huge, barrel chested man with red hair strung over twitchy eyes. And as his fingers twitched deeper into Kayley's throat, Lady Julianna spoke his name.

"Ruber."

Ruber giggled. Crouching, he puckered Kayley's cheeks.

"I believe…" Ruber said. "You have solved our riddle. What was it then, little girl? Twinkle, Twinkle little thing...Hail the Once and Future King?"

...

Big4girl poem:

The king is dead and I'm happy to say, I've found a solution to this way. The prophecy continued and I'm a happy man, tell you finally I can.

Now await for me dear Kayley, your intelligence surprises me.

...