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Another world-building chapter, this one will cover the rediscovery of Excalibur, by Hadrian(us).
The Wood Between Worlds
"Hedwig did I dose off or something, I sure hope not, because we still need to find a way back to that one weird room," Hadrian said as he found himself by a small pool of water, with spider webbing on him.
"I agree, but you were thirsty and then said you were tired so I decided not to bother you, but hopefully we can soon find our way back home," Hedwig said despite remembering the events that had occurred over the decades in Eru's realm.
"Yeah, I agree. Look over there I think I see the mirror," Hadrian said pointing to a mirror in the distance and started to walk quickly towards it.
"Wow, I had not thought it would be that easy," Hedwig said shocked, since she knew that Arther had hoped that Hadrian would visit his world soon, but perhaps in the next encounter in the wood.
"Oof!" Hadrian said as he tripped over a root in the path and falling into a tree which had a sword carved into it before he vanished from the wood, leaving Hedwig behind.
"That's low, Arther, even for you!" Hedwig said aloud, before he appeared in the wood.
"Yeah probably, but somehow a certain brother of mine has corrupted one of the two most powerful beings in the world. However, thanks to Balerion's request, I was able to bring in a fourth of near equal power to the other two and strengthen the third most powerful being to the same level as well," Arther said simply.
"Oh, Brynnais is there now?" Hedwig said after a moment of confusion.
"Indeed, along with his mate, who has merged with one Ophis, in this new world," Arther said before vanishing suddenly, leaving Hedwig alone.
900 AD Court beside the Pearly Gates.
"Thank you all for coming, I really do appreciate it," A tall man with white hair and a white beard said once the last of the individuals entered the room.
"Well, as much as may not all like you, God of the Bible, we do respect strength and between yourself, your two factions, and your son's faction, you do have that in spades," A man with long golden hair and a golden beard said with a smile.
"I agree with Zeus on that one, and we know why you called us," A man with one eye missing said calmly, as others in the area nodded their agreement.
"Thank you, Odin, and Zeus for your votes of confidence, so for any who may not be aware, I have asked that you come to meet here to discuss how we might defeat the True White Dragon, the Destroyer," The God of the Bible said simply.
"Why again is the True Great Red Dragon not doing his job again?" A man with a falcon head asked curiously.
"Well Horus, I would love to continue to contend with my brother, however recently he has gained some unexpected strength, from where I have no clue, but he now is stronger than myself," A loud voice rumbled, coming from a huge Red Dragon.
"Do we have any idea what the destroyer wants other than destruction, or what means we have to possibly defeat him?" Zeus asked curiously.
"I am not sure; however, I have heard of three swords which are said to have the ability to kill gods and were used in the past to kill the last of the gods of the North Western Isles, I have found two of them, but the wielders refuse to join in this fight. The greatest of the three, however, they claim is being kept by a water nymph," God of the Bible said simply.
"Well then we just need to convince the nymph to give us the blade. Poseidon, go and talk with the nymph and tell her that as the God of the Seas in under the rule of the emperor, she must obey you," Zeus said firmly to a man with black hair and teal eyes.
"What is the nymphs name, if you happen to know, I should know who I need to discipline," the man said curiously.
"The name I was given, was Nimue," God of the Bible said kindly but was shocked when Poseidon shook his head.
"Nope, sorry I will not talk with Nimue, let alone tell her what to do. She is a servant of Camelot and Avalon, so her authority supersedes our own, sorry brother," Poseidon said firmly.
"What is this Avalon, and why would it be above you?" God of the Bible asked confused.
"Avalon, and it's two capitals Atlantis, and later Camelot, were the greatest civilizations to ever exist. When Atlantis sunk due to the death of their King, who had gotten rid of many of the dark gods, many of us thought all of their own gods died with Atlantis. However almost 200 years ago Avalon returned and that is why they were able to rid the world of the fallen Irish, Pict, and other gods, before about 100 years ago Camelot, the new capital fell with their king dying, leaving no true heirs and all of that council of Gods vanished save Nimue alone," A crocodile headed god said simply.
"I am surprised I have never heard of them, but no matter, I suppose that we will just have to go without that sword on our side," The God of the Bible said slightly bummed.
"Sadly, you will also have to do without my kin as well, the True Emerald Dragon of Restoring, Brynnais, refuses to side with any except the wielder of that blade, and his mate the True Black Dragon of Maintaining, Vhagar Ophis, refused to fight against him," The Great Red said simply.
"Okay than, perhaps we do need to find one whom this Nimue will bestow the sword upon, or we are doomed. Everyone please keep an eye out for any humans who may appear worthy of this honor, and let me know," The God of the Bible said before the council went their separate ways.
1010 AD, Northern Scotland
"Father, why again do I need to go to this lake?" A boy with Black hair and Emerald Eyes asked his father.
"You know why Hadrianus, because your namesake told our family to, and your older brother Percival already has been trained by the druids near the Lake, and now that you are ten, it is your opportunity," A man with blonde hair and blue eyes said firmly.
"But why father? Why can't the druids come here, or why can't I learn from the druids that live in our forest, why do I have to go to the druids of the Lake?" Hadrianus asked with a groan.
"Because, while the local druids are very skilled, there is also always the chance that by going to the lake you may see Lady Nimue," The older man said simply.
"You know as well as I do that, she is probably just a myth, no one has ever seen her, and what kind of person lives under the water?" Hadrianus asked rolling his eyes.
"Says the one who has personally killed a spider who was nearly his height at age eight, do not doubt things my son, besides who knows, you may just be the one that your namesake said would be able to retrieve the sword which Lady Nimue guards," The older man said before lifting his son up onto a horse before sending him on his way.
Eight Years Later, Druid Village, Northern Scotland.
"Well, I must say, these past eight years really have flown by, but I understand why you must return to the Castle of Pendragon, young Hadrianus," An old man who was wearing animal furs for clothing said as an older Hadrianus entered his cave.
"I would stay, Elder, but with the White Dragon attacking my home, I cannot stay any longer," Hadrianus said sadly.
"I know my dear boy, however before you go, I feel I need to take you to the Lake," The old man said softly.
"The Lake, but you have always said only the priests may go near the lake, and I am not a priest, Elder," Hadrianus said confused.
"I am aware, but you are a mage, and I have heard a call from the lake that you should come to it. Perhaps by coming to the lake you will gain knowledge or other means to help you protect your kin," The old man said simply.
"Very well, I will follow you, Elder," Hadrianus said before allowing the old man to pass him and then following right behind him as they went deeper into the woods until they came to the shores of a glowing lake, where a woman with silver hair and slightly blue tinged skin appeared out from the water.
"Merlanus, it has been much too long," The woman said as she approached the shore.
"Indeed, Lady Nimue, I have brought my brother's descendant to be judged by you if he is worthy of your gift, else I fear for our family," The old man said simply.
"What is your name, son of Pendragon?" Nimue asked shocked at seeing Hadrianus.
"Hadrianus, my lady, and who might you be?" Hadrianus asked shocked to see the woman.
"You have returned, as you promised you would. I am Lady Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, the last of the Court of Avalon, and guardian of the Sword Excalibur, will you come with me, to where the sword laid?" Nimue asked looking at Hadrianus hopefully, as he looked at Merlanus confused.
"Go with her, if she is willing to give you Excalibur it could change everything," Merlanus said shocked at the offer that Nimue was making to Hadrianus.
"Very well, I'll go with you, Lady Nimue," Hadrianus said before stepping into the water and taking her hand before being drug under the water until they reached a cavern meters under the water, where a light-haired man with blonde hair and blue eyes stood.
"Greetings, my friend, it's good to see you again," The man said as Hadrianus shook his head before rubbing his eyes.
"Arther, Nimue, what, how am I here, how are you here, and why do I remember being trained by Merlanus, when I also remember him being an infant in his mother's arms?" Hadrianus said confused.
"Before everything went down and I was corrupted by Merlin we created a means that if you were to enter a coma or I was to enter a coma, when we eventually exited the coma and came to this grotto our memories would be restored. Somehow though you instead died but were reborn, yet it still seems to have worked," Arther said kindly.
"Wait, so I have lived the two separate lives?" Hadrianus said confused.
"Yes, but sadly you will not be able to recall most of your previous life once you leave this grotto, just enough to help you remember everything about Excalibur, though some changes have occurred since it last saw the surface," Arther said as Nimue brought in the eight-foot-long sword into the grotto now hosting eight colored stones along the length.
"Excalibur the God Slayer, thank you my love," Hadrianus said with near reverence as he held the sword.
"I have made a change to the blade, so that only you can hold the sword without any difficulty, since some of my other descendants have proven fools," Arther said kindly.
"You said I would not be able to remember everything about my former life, why is that?" Hadrianus asked confused.
"Because most things would not be helpful to you in the coming fights that you will have and will only weigh you down," Arther said sadly.
"But I wish to remember them so I can have a greater reason to return to the lake, so I can come back to my wife, for I want no other woman now that I remember all the love we have shared," Hadrianus said looking lovingly at Nimue.
"As much as I too desire that, the age of Avalon is long since passed, the Age of Christianity has come, and so with my kin I too must move on, did you not realize that the druidic clan was much smaller when you came to Merlanus than it was when you first arrived?" Nimue asked curiously.
"Not really, but since you mention it, I do, I had just figured they had gone to join other clans," Hadrianus said softly.
"No, most of the Druids were close in age to Merlanus, who is now almost 500 years old, and upon recognizing you as you were many chose to move onto Avalon. That is why the druid clan near Castle Pendragon refused to accept you into their training, for they knew you needed to come to the lake," Nimue said lovingly.
"But I just found you again, I don't want to lose you!" Hadrianus said pleadingly.
"Nor do I, but it must be done, now go take Excalibur and join in the fight against the White Dragon, you will find allies who will be a strength to you and bless you more," Nimue said before shoving him out of the grotto where before he knew it, he found himself on the shore beside Merlanus holding the sword.
"So, you have Excalibur, I never thought I would see that sword, my dear boy, go and join your brother and father against the White Dragon, and win!" Merlanus said once Hadrianus was standing again.
"But Elder, what if they come for you and the clan, seeking to destroy you for hiding the sword for so long?" Hadrianus asked cautiously.
"Do not worry about us, we will be fine, now go my child and aide in the war least all is doomed," Merlanus said before helping Hadrianus on a horse which was not there when they had come to the lake, before he took off to ride to Castle Pendragon.
"Arther, may I instead of going to Avalon, may I go to Hadrian's Country, until he is ready to fight in the true conflict?" Nimue asked Arther in the grotto after shoving Hadrianus out.
"Of course, though I know that forcing him to leave was likely the hardest thing you have ever had to do," Arther said softly.
"Not quite, the hardest was knowing I could do nothing when he was cursed all those centuries ago, and that you too were lost from the world," Nimue said softly before the grotto collapsed as the two of them vanished Arther in stream of light and Nimue into the flow of the water.
I realize the end is rather anti-climactic, but this was a hard chapter to write, but I feel it is what I want in the overarching storyline, for later, hope you enjoyed.