Disclaimer: The characters of Gargoyles are owned by Disney, Inc. The characters of Mummies Alive are owned by DIC. Marianne Ellis and Cameron Ellis are owned by Me. Chas Quinn Cassidy is owned by Javagoddess, as is the sword Wavedancer and associated items Chas uses, which I use with her permission. Our characters mean no harm to either show!
St George's Gift: Part 3:Avalon's Eclipse
by Theresa Meyers aka Trynia Merin.
What happened before:
The Gargoyles had met Marianne Ellis, and Chas at Castle Wyvern. As a favor to her friend Marianne, Fox made certain they could follow MacBeth and Demona to England with plane reservations. While Arthur was drawn to Glastonbury Tor, Chas and Mary waited for dark, and his return. Mary was drawn away by a mystical presence, followed by Chas. St. George bestowed his blessing and charged Mary to assist Arthur in his quest. Chas was commanded to provide armor and a sword. Reluctantly he complied.
The Challice has certain abilities if held up to the Moon during its phases. And if one drinks the water of Avalon in the chalice, it enhances their ability to channel magic. Thus, Demona and MacBeth's interest in the item.
Mary and Elisa went to find the armor, to be ambushed by Demona and MacBeth. Yet Mary's use of her new powers tipped the scales in their favor.
Now Chas must lead the woman he loves and his heroic friends into Avalon to find their enemies. What dangers will they face?
Distant misty shores were barely discernable. Just how distant they were was also hard to tell, for the shore could be an arm's length away, or a mile. Only the swirling mist existed, and the grey waters below that gently lapped the boat. Goliath stood in the craft's rear, steering the craft as Angela crouched in the stern. Around them were clustered Elisa, Chas, Arthur Pendragon, and Mary. All humans shivered as they pulled their outer garment around them.
"I'll never get used to this," Elisa muttered. "Even though we went all kinds of places like this, it's still amazing."
"Magic has that affect," Goliath said matter of factly. Resolute, stern, he allowed Chas to guide them mentally. The blacksmith/photographer had his eyes half open as he seemed to reach out into the fog with his mind. Unlike Magus, who used the Grimorum Arkenorum to open a way to Avalon, Chas knew this lake was a sort of "back door" into Avalon.
Mary couldn't help but notice a change in him from one world to the next. For in the outside world he seemed just an eccentric, handsome photographer who dressed quite casually. He shielded his inner gifts well though. For there was more and more revealed every day that she had yet to discover about this man she loved.
Arthur too nodded as he felt the pull of Avalon. Carefully he pulled out his sword Excalibur, and held it balanced in his hand. Closing his eyes he chanted, "Oh mighty sword of Lady's Lake, show me the true path my sister doth take... wherever she Morgana will be, by your spirit and our sibling bond, hereby guide me..."
Marianne drew in her breath sharply. For she saw the sword begin to swing, haloed in fire. It seemed to lean like a dowsing rod in the right direction. A sort of calibration check to Chas' senses. "Even now I sense my sister's presence," Arthur whispered, opening his eyes partway.
There was a shiver of energy as three astral forms seemed to rise around them. They coalesced into the Weird sisters, a trio of surprising power.
"We see you return, oh King who once slept, and you called Goliath. What be your business here?"
"I speak for our party," Arthur said, raising Excalibur. The weird sisters exchanged glances. "Did not Goliath free you from Magus' enchanted chains?"
"That he did," said the sisters as a unit. "And for that deed we will permit you to pass. But be warned, no magic may enter Avalon, save its own. We sense something that is not of Avalon... and must be left in our possession till your leaving..."
"It cannot be my weapons," Chas said to them. The sisters regarded him with surprise.
"We did not expect to see you here again, Blacksmith," they said with reverence. "Long ago you took your leave of this land, from Oberon himself. And swore not to return..."
"I did. But there is a malevolence... do you not know Morgana herself is in Avalon?" asked Chas.
"Even now I can feel her presence mingled with that of Avalon itself," Arthur said.
"We know. But she has done nothing to disrupt Avalon's magic. Nor moved against us."
"She holds my wife captive!" Arthur exploded.
"That is not our affair. Save if Avalon be endangered. For we do not concern ourselves with mortals..."
"Except when it suits your purpose," Arthur challenged them.
"What we do is not for even you to question, High King. But even now the Two who are Joined have touched upon our shores. Be wary of them, for we no longer hold their fates in our hands... but you must not enter Avalon with the outside magic!"
Marianne reached for her Egyptian Bracelet. "Do you mean this is not of Avalon?" she asked, holding it up.
"You must leave it behind, milady," they agreed, and Marianne released the bracelet. For a moment it drifted in their eldritch power before disappearing beneath the waves. "It will be returned to you when you leave Avalon's shores."
"How do I know that?" Marianne asked.
"They wouldnae lie about that," Chas said to her. "They may have their own purposes, but on this they are clear. I have brought things here before, and they were returned to me. The same will happen here..."
"And the sword which you bring, Blacksmith, it is not of Avalon..."
"Aye, but it was forged by Fey hand," said Chas. "And I do not think that my mother would approve of it not passing... for if ye sense its scabbard is of Avalon... and it is magic that is not foreign t' yairs..."
"As always we bend the rules," they said with amusement. That familiar gleam appeared in their eyes.
"Very well, you may pass. But be warned, we are not involved in your fate... lest it challenge us or Avalon's safety..."
Green eldritch fire haloed them, and they blurred into the mist. Arthur shook his head. "I still don't trust them..."
"Nor do I," said Goliath. "They only listen when it suits their purpose..."
"Aye, that they do," Chas said. "But as I am among you, they dare not move against us and join Morgana, even if she did offer them something in return. For I know their sire as of old. And the source of their power..."
"If only we had known that when facing the Archmage," Arthur said. "But no matter... to Avalon..."
Then came the time after a period they could not mark that they heard a grinding noise. "We've struck aground," Goliath said. "Best get out here..."
He sent Bronx on ahead, to check the beach. They were still in water, and Goliath pushed himself off the bow, extending his wings as he crossed water to a gravelly strip of beach a few yards out from the boat. Bronx bounded in the shallows.
"It's all clear," Goliath's voice came, as he returned. To carry Elisa from the boat in his arms. Chas and Arthur grabbed Mary, despite her protests that she wouldn't mind getting her feet wet. Either way they all came ashore as the men moved the boat onto the beach and turned it over.
"Bronx, stay here and guard the boat. WE should make camp here and decide what our next move is," Goliath said. "Is that agreed?"
"I would say we should split into two companies," Arthur said. "To best search for the cup. The women should remain at Oberon's palace when we arrive..."
"Hold on, wait a minute," Mary said, holding up her hand. "No way. We're not going to just stay here poking at a fire! We're in this with you..."
"I agree with Mary," Elisa said. "Why should we let you boys have all the fun? Goliath?"
"As always she is right," Goliath said. "Elisa is a valuable warrior..."
"Indeed," Chas said. "IT would be best if we stay together, till otherwise..."
"Thinning our numbers may be what Demona expects," Goliath said. "She was my second in command long ago..."
"Great," Mary muttered. "Anything else we should know about her?"
"Uh, we'll ask when we need to," Elisa said. Goliath had a pang of regret upon his face. For Mary suddenly suspected that this Demona had a far different relationship with Goliath than she'd thought. She claimed to be Angela's mother. Perhaps Goliath was the father, and Demona and he had been...
"Then we follow the trace of Excalibur," said Arthur. Mary broke out of her brown study as they continued away from the coast.
"I implore you, let me go!" whispered a voice from within a crystal ball. From the faint curve of its surface one could see the blurred face of a beautiful woman. It pulsed with an inner light.
"But I cannot," said Morgana, not unkindly. "Not till my possession is returned. No, you will not return quickly to our dimension..."
She lowered her ear to the crystal ball, and seemed to hear a response. "No my dear. You should thank me for keeping your soul here, where there is a chance that you may be reunited with your beloved husband. Not drifting aimlessly through a limbo as you were before. Not to be united with him. But then when he was awakened, you could not help but try and follow, but you had forgotten there was no body for you to return to, did you?"
The only answer was a faint cry of despair. "I only wished to be united with him again... for I miss him so..."
"Love makes us do strange things. Don't think he has forgotten about your little affair with Lancelot..."
Another moan of despair came through. And Morgana shook her head. "You are a fool. I would have advised you to forget this fool quest. But now you are at my mercy and I fear I must take every advantage of your presence... therefore you are a prisoner of your own folly..."
Turning away from her crystal, she moved towards her reflecting pool. With but a gesture she swept away the reflection. To reveal a misty blur that formed itself into six figures. "Even now I see you, my brother. And the second act of this play is about to begin..."
Within Avalon the mists moved timelessly over a landscape unchanged by modern industry. Marianne shivered as she felt a most odd transition overcome her. First walked Arthur, Excalibur balanced on his palm. Next came Chas, mist swirling about his form as his modern clothes were enveloped. Energy shimmered about all their forms, including Goliath and Angela. His eyes fell upon Elisa. "And this is something else I had not counted on... for your clothing has changed... beloved..."
Detective Maza glanced down at her clothes. For indeed they had changed from the familiar red windbreaker and sturdy blue jeans. Now she was clad in buckskin, worked with multicolored beads, a long fringed shirt and comfortable leather leggings and moccasins. "This is really weird! That's never happened before..."
"Chas, what's happening?" Mary asked him, before she stopped in shock. Instead of the slender fellow with the leather jacket and blue jeans she was face to face with an emerald cloaked figure, in long powder blue and emerald bordered robes. His long hair once confined to a ponytail now blew about his shoulders, in gentle raven waves. At his hip was sheathed dirk and sword, in scabbards well worked with Celtic spirals and runes. The large broach that fastened his cloak over one shoulder glistened with gold, moonstone and malachite. He slung his harp over his shoulder as those eyes traced over her form.
"One's true aspect is revealed in this place," Arthur said softly to a spellbound Marianne. He now stood in his own armor and tabard, his long shield with the lion rampant upon his arm. Marianne looked down at herself to see her clad in chainmail shirt and tabard covered with white and blue. St Andrew's standard. The shield she carried was long and heavy, much like that of the one she had summoned.
"As lovely as the Maid of Orleans herself," Chas said, reaching around Mary's waist as he belted Wavedancer at her hip. "It is time fer ye t' wear this now, m'love..."
"You look like something out of a movie," she whispered to him, fingering the soft wool felt of his clothing. "Like some sort of a bard..."
He smiled gently as he withdrew from her, his hand gently clasping hers within its chainmail glove.
"You appear as the day you came into Camelot, milord," Arthur said. "For the first time I truly recognize you..."
Only Goliath and Angela were unchanged. Goliath's eyes blazed white for a moment as he turned to Arthur. "Which way now, sire?"
Arthur held Excalibur in both hands, and squeezed his eyes shut. Strange eldritch fire moved from Excalibur's blade, creeping up his arms and around his armored form. He swung his body to the east, then to the west in an intricate dance. "That's odd," he muttered.
"What?" Chas asked. "Do ye not sense her..."
"For a moment I could not but... wait... yes... I feel her presence has returned.... yes... she is somewhere here... not far away..."
"But we must find Demona and MacBeth..." said Goliath. "Do they not have the Chalice..."
"Right," said Mary. "What now?"
"I must not let Morgana get away," Arthur said. "Someone needs to follow her..."
"The weird sisters said MacBeth and Demona were here on the island..." Angela said. "And if I know them the first place they'd head is..."
"Oberon's palace?" completed Elisa.
"We must intercept them..." Goliath said. "What say you to heading back to Oberon's palace, whilst Sir Chas and the lady Mary go to seek Morgana?"
"I don't know..." Mary said.
"Tis a good idea," said Arthur. "Then if you require help, you would not be far from aid..."
"Even now I think Demona and MacBeth would make their presence known... and Demona would certainly come after Angela and I," Goliath said. "And when you have made contact with Morgana, sire, you can bring her to Oberon's palace, where we shall have recovered the chalice, one way or another..."
"You think petty costume changes are going to help you, fools?" Demona laughed. She was a sorceress in her own right, having had centuries to learn the arts of alchemy and magic. Even now she had sensed their arrival, and was ready to face them. MacBeth himself was ready. For their bond forged by magic was not yet to break.
"The fools are splitting up," MacBeth laughed. "And we will cut them off before they can get help... and them come back for Arthur and the others...."
"Agreed... then on to Morgana herself!" Demona hissed. "Goliath you are too predictable. And Avalon's clan will not help you..."
Morgana eyed the appearance of Demona with interest. "Ah, two have joined the gambit. Two who were joined since one thousand years hence. Ah, I know that magic..."
She thought to the Weird sisters, who guarded Avalon's shores. They had not moved against her. For she had paid them off nicely for non interference. And even now she was planning her next move.
Morgana then made her preparations. Slowly she moved into position, by the pool of water she glanced into. With a gesture she became blue fire, and vanished into a mist. Slowly the mist permeated the pool, rising in another pool of water nearby the heroes.
Goliath and Angela glided now on wing, having climbed to their customary high perch to launch themselves. Goliath gently carried Elisa.
"I'm finding it weird that the others haven't come to find us," said Angela. "I would think they would be here to welcome us..."
"We didn't exactly tell them we were coming," said Goliath. "But they will be glad to see you again, Angela. Especially Gabriel..."
"Yeah, Gabriel," Angela muttered, feeling uneasy.
Just then they heard a growling roar. Out of the mists blazed red rods of fire towards them. Goliath was so startled he almost dropped Elisa. "Demona!" he gasped, seeing the silhouette of a female gargoyle winging her way out of the clouds.
"Break off, and regroup!" Goliath called out. Like a well oiled machine they sprang into action, father and daughter circling their erstwhile family member. Demona fired after either one, seeming to divide her attention. But she grinned.
"Fools! You insult me with such a simple tactic..."
"Goliath, she doesn't have the chalice," Elisa said. "Look at her belt! There is nothing..."
"Then that must mean the other has it..." Goliath whispered. "But where is he?"
From the ground burst forth more red beams. One singed Angela's wing, sending the female gargoyle plummeting towards the ground. She only just managed to right herself to land. "Go on without me Goliath!" she cried. "I'll be okay..."
"But you two won't be!" Demona laughed, firing again. Elisa pulled out her gun, and opened fire on Demona as Goliath wove left and right. One of her shots connected, hitting Demona's wing. Cursing, Demona wove back and forth in pain. She aimed another shot right towards Goliath, only to have him dodge it yet again.
Angela landed. Right in the path of MacBeth's weapon. "All right lassie, surrender and ye won't get hurt..."
"No..." Angela said, turning to run. Chuckling, MacBeth rushed after the female gargoyle. Looking back Angela saw something banging against his hip. She smiled.
Meanwhile, Arthur led his small party in an opposite direction. Carefully he balanced Excalibur in his hand. As before he balanced it, like a dowsing rod.
"How do we know where we're going?" Mary asked.
"Arthur's Morgana's half sister. He can use Excalibur to sense where she is..." said Chas quietly.
"I am getting a bad feeling..." Mary shivered. Chas gripped her hand in his.
"Not to worry, musha," he told her softly. "Ye are with us... stay close and watch well... for there is much for ye t' learn..."
They had not gone far when they heard the sounds of battle from behind. Overhead flew two winged figures over the face of the moon. Red light blazed between them.
"Goliath... and Demona..." Arthur gasped. "They are in danger..."
"I thought they were headed to Oberon's palace..." said Mary. "We must help them..."
"No, I will help them," Chas said. "Ye take care and stay chose to Arthur, Mary. I'll come back... with or without the chalice..."
"Wait... sir Charles..." Arthur said. But Chas kissed Marianne on the cheek as he rushed into the bushes.
"Chas, be careful!" Mary called.
"We had best continue, milady," Arthur said to her. "Already the trace is fainter..."
On and on they walked, under the undulating mists. Suddenly the clouds drifted apart, and the Moon bathed them in pure white beams again. All the contours of the leafy trees were painted in the moon's silver hues. Chilly midnight air breathed its cold into Mary's armor. Before them rose a gazebo of reddish shadow stone.
"The grotto where The Archmage faced Goliath," said Arthur. "And to the reflecting pool... but why would my sister be here?"
Mary shivered as she heard a crackling like static electricity. Arthur waved them back into the shadow of a bush as he advanced upon the stone steps. Out in the middle of the bordering lake shimmered a round disc of light. Rapidly it rose above the surface into a sphere. The luminous globe crackled tongues of lightening all over its surface, levitating towards the grotto with surprising speed. It stopped before Arthur, formed into the shape of a robed woman.
"Ah, you are here, my dear brother," she laughed, her voice resonant and clear.
"Morgana, I have come..."
"Without the chalice... that is not a wise move... my brother..."
"My friends are even now moving to intercept it. If you would but come with me, you shall have what you seek..."
"That was not the agreement..." said Morgana, shaking her head. "Do you forget..."
She led him to the reflecting pool. Sweeping her robed sleeve over its surface, she revealed the sleeping face of a fair haired beauty.
"Guenevere!" Arthur breathed. "She is there..."
"Indeed. You would be wise to know she is indeed returned. But in what shape will be yet to be determined..."
"If you harm her... I swear..."
"You had best reign in your temper, Brother. As I recall it got you into many a problem in the past," Morgana tisked.
"But the Chalice is in the possession of two others," Arthur said. "And I have indeed made certain it is within your power to take... it is only a matter of my friends returning. I have come... to invite you to wait in the hospitality of Oberon's palace... and it will be in your hand within the night's end..."
"Oberon's palace? You do have friends in high places..." she laughed, amused. "But you may merely be stalling... waiting for some word to slip of where Guenevere is held... and there is little hope in your gaining that information..."
"If I must beg, then it is not beneath me..." Arthur said, and dropped to his knees. He drove Excalibur into the ground before him. "I implore you, sister dear. Return with me to Oberon's palace, and you shall have what is rightfully yours. You have known me to keep my word in the past... and even at the hour of my death you and the others saved me, to place me in sleep should England need my presence again..."
"He's right..." Marianne said, coming forward to Morgana. "Please, you don't have to mistrust him... he's telling the truth..."
"And who are you, who wears the armor, but is a woman... indeed this is intriguing..." Morgana said, raising an eyebrow at Marianne.
"I'm Marianne Ellis, and I have come to help," she said. "Can you not bend your agreement... for we are very close indeed to having what you want. I know the legends of you and your brother. And they are not accurate in their portrayal of you... how they accuse you of many things. But I know you have a reason for doing what you did... to preserve the ancient traditions..."
"This is amusing," Morgana smiled slightly. "Is this your true feeling, or merely a rehearsed speech trying to appeal to my better nature?"
"Call it what you like," Mary said. "But you are his sister, and he is your brother. He doesn't want to trick you like he did before. I know you were responsible for giving him Excalibur on the condition he use it to keep the old ways of Avalon intact. But he went against that, and it made you angry. And what you did was only what you thought best for England..."
"Interesting," Morgana nodded. "But that was centuries ago..."
"I should know that men can sometimes be a bit hard headed," Mary said to Morgana. The sorceress looked at Mary for a moment. This was not what she had expected.
A bit deflated, Arthur looked sharply at Mary. "And what say you to this, brother?" she smiled.
"The lady is right," he sighed. "I only wish to have my wife returned to me..."
"Even after she was unfaithful to you?" Morgana asked, raising an eyebrow. A look of shock moved on Arthur's face. "And what of Lancelet... have you forgiven him as well?"
"You seek to insult me with mere words?" Arthur asked, a bit put out.
Quickly Angela moved, running as fast as she could, chalice in hand. MacBeth was close behind her. She gasped, nursing her hurt wing. Another blast sounded close, zinging past her cheek.
"Give up lass!" MacBeth called. "Ye will not come t' harm if ye surrender now!"
Angela ducked behind a tree. And gasped. She panted, pressing her claw to her chest. Gripping the wood of the tree in her claws, she climbed the large trunk.
MacBeth moved into view. "Ah, up there are ye? No matter. I c'n wait..."
He raised his net gun, to cover her. "This will all be over in a matter of seconds..."
Suddenly a sword blade slashed down in a glistening arc. The muzzle of the gun fell to the ground. MacBeth turned to stare right into a pair of Augean sea blue eyes.
"Surprise," he said, raising his weapon again. MacBeth blocked with a well placed kick, drawing his own sword in a swift movement.
"So Cassidy, we meet again? No matter... ye will not stop me..."
"How long has it been, Lennox?" he asked MacBeth, as MacBeth's sword clanged against his bastard sword. The two men fought with great skill, Chas' twin blades blocked by MacBeth's long sword.
"Far too long. Ye are as skilled as ever, lad," MacBeth said appreciatively. "Tis a pity I'd have t' put this to a quick end..."
"You always did have an overdeveloped ego, man," Chas laughed. Steel clanged against steel as the two opponents circled.
Just then Angela moved to the ground. With a quick slash of her claws, she slit the bag at MacBeth's hip. MacBeth whirled about to see a small cup laying on the ground. Quickly Angela snapped it up.
"You fool!" MacBeth shouted, turning away from Chas. Only barely did he block Chas' next blow with his weapon.
"Angela, get away!" Chas shouted. His keen eye noticed the chalice in her grip. "To the grotto girl!" he shouted. "Quickly! Arthur and Mary..."
"Ye fool, ye've just given away her life!" MacBeth laughed. For Demona, who had been circling overhead to chase Goliath and Elisa, suddenly winged and turned after her daughter. Leaving both behind. Goliath, seeing his daughter flying again, headed off after her.
Angela climbed up a tree, and leapt off the high branch. Quickly she glided away towards the grotto, Demona in hot pursuit.
Angela flew as fast as her wings could carry her. Till she circled about the small stone gazebo that held the new occupants. In her hand she had the chalice. But Demona was close behind. And not far behind her was Goliath and Elisa. Without her gun, Demona could not fire from a distance. But she was far from harmless. For Demona suddenly chanted a spell under her breath, and summoned lightening in her claws. The fire snaked out towards her daughter.
Unfortunately the lightening crashed right into the gazebo, shattering stone. Morgana shrieked as the stone crackled down on her. A quick magical shield deflected the falling masonry.
"What treachery is this?" she hissed at Arthur, who was helping Marianne to stand.
"Nothing..." he gasped. "I swear it..."
"You will die for trying to kill me," she growled. Energy crackled in her hands as she summoned her power. Arthur raised Excalibur to deflect her magical bolts.
"It's Demona, not him!" Mary cried out. "WE are not your enemies... Demona and MacBeth are!"
"Your wife will suffer for this!" Morgana cried, aiming her power towards the image of Guenevere in the pool.
"No!" Arthur cried, moving after her. Just then Angela landed with the chalice in hand.
"Stop!" Marianne cried. "We have your precious chalice..."
Morgana stopped, her hand grabbed by Arthur. Red eyes fixed on Angela and Mary, as they came forwards with the Chalice.
"What is this?" Morgana asked. "How many did you lead on this quest, my brother?"
"Does it matter?" Arthur asked. "We have the Chalice. Now release my wife..."
"I don't respond to being bullied," Morgana sniffed, wrenching her hand free. "Bring it here, child..."
Just then MacBeth and Chas burst out of the trees, swords clanging mightily. Both were so intent on fighting they did not notice where they stood. In the resulting confusion, Demona landed, and snatched the cup from Angela's hands.
"I'll take that, daughter dear..."
"Who dares?" Morgana hissed, seeing Demona. "You!"
"Yes, me!" Demona laughed. "You fool! This will give me the power I seek..."
"So, you tricked me," Morgana hissed, raising her hand to the female gargoyle. "You shall die for that..."
"No, don't hurt her!" Angela cried, throwing herself before her mother. Morgana's missile crashed into Angela, making her fall.
"Angela!" Mary cried, and moved toward Morgana.
"Angela, you foolish girl," Demona shook her head, and caught her daughter as she fell. "You... will die for that Morgana!"
"Angela!!!!" roared a deep voice. Goliath and Elisa landed quickly, taking in the scene. Goliath snarled, roaring as he headed towards Demona, who was clutching a downed Angela. Elisa dropped to one side.
Everything happened at once.
Morgana threw her powerbolt towards Demona, who had raised the Chalice. Still she clutched her daughter. But Mary was all set to attack Morgana. The powerbolt crashed against Mary's armor, and it held.
"You protect her?" Morgana hissed. "Traitor!"
But Goliath leapt at Demona, roaring. Demona leapt away, clutching her daughter in her arms. She dipped the chalice into the water, and drank from it, Goliath leaping towards her again. MacBeth and Charles saw this all happening out of the corner of their eyes. And could do nothing to stop it.
Arthur was about to enter the fray when he noticed his wife's reflection. And time seemed to stop.
"High King... we know of what you seek..."
"What is going on here?" Arthur gasped, holding Excalibur. "Why does time freeze?"
"Look at this scene High King. We have the power to end it, but you must decide your fate..."
"I know you, you are the weird sisters," he gasped, seeing the three women materializing. They caught everyone up in their mystical powers. Haloed in fire, they were all frozen in place. Only Chas fought them, as MacBeth too struggled.
"Yes, we offer you a chance to rescue she whom you love.. For she is not in Avalon..."
"What?"
"Do you wish to be with her?"
"Yes... but..."
"The choice is made..." the three laughed. And their magic swept Arthur into the lake. As his body hit the waters, the fire that held the others flickered.
"No!" Morgana screamed, fighting back against the Weird sister's magic. Wildy she built up her power to a climax, which exploded. The weird sisters pushed against her as well.
"Stop!" Chas called, as he pushed back against the power of the Weird sisters. But Arthur was already gone, disrupting the image of his sleeping wife as he sank beneath the waters.
Everyone broke free of the energy. Chas sword crashed against MacBeth, who rushed in to help Demona. For he knew that each once of pain she felt would harm him more. But the Weird sisters had made their move. Energy surrounded the Chalice as it was lifted in their eldritch power.
"And now the prize is ours..." they said.
"No!" Morgana cried. "You will not have it!"
Her energy licked out as she hurled a tongue of fire at the Sisters. They shrieked in pain as her energy connected with theirs. The chalice fell, only to be grabbed up by Goliath.
"Give me that, you!" MacBeth hissed, leaping on Goliath. Forgotten, Mary moved to defend her friend. Chas moved to help Mary. And Demona held her daughter, concern for her child overwhelming all. Elisa moved to help.
"Stay back!" Demona hissed, raising her claws to Elisa.
"I want to help!" Elisa said.
Goliath saw them, and cried out. "Go to your daughter, he's mine!" Mary cried, lifting her sword to block MacBeth's. Chalice in hand, Goliath moved to Demona.
"Angela..."
Chas moved as well. For now the Weird sisters and Morgana were in a terrific magical battle. And seemed to have forgotten all about lesser concerns.
"You must give me the chalice, Goliath," said Demona. "Or else our daughter will die..."
"Don't trust her an inch," said Elisa.
"She is right," said Chas. He moved to Demona's side. The gargoyle hissed. "I'm a healer I can help..."
Demona let Chas come close. And he lay his hand on her wound, chanting.
"I cannot heal her without the Chalice," said Chas. "She is dying..."
"All right," Goliath said, as he tossed the chalice to Demona. Demona moved to the lake, and dipped the chalice into the water. She handed it to Chas, who let Angela sip from it. Still Demona kept one hand on the Chalice.
MacBeth's sword glanced off of Mary's shield. In one hand she swung Wavedancer, its energies crackling as she brought it in a half arc over her head. And put it at her front, taking on a fencing position. MacBeth cleverly twisted his sword, disarming her. But Mary brought up her shield, letting his sword clang against it as she snatched up her weapon again.
"Give up lass, yer no match for me..."
"I must fight you..." she said.
"I'll give ye another chance," said he, and pushed her sword up with his own. Gripping it she swung against him again. "Come on nau, that's it... yes... excellent..."
For Mary suddenly felt the power coursing through her. MacBeth had given her a fighting chance. Why? Again her blade met with his as her weapon blocked and parried, and thrust. She dropped to a fencing lunge, forcing him back! "Well done, lass," he muttered appreciatively.
Angela opened her eyes and blinked, to look up to Goliath, Demona, and Chas. "What.... happened?" she asked.
Demona snatched the Chalice away from Chas' grip. Before Goliath could stop her she suddenly drained the rest of the contents. And laughed. "Now that she is well, I can act..."
"Give me that, gargoyle!" Morgana shrieked, and hurled energy at Demona. But Demona suddenly countered with a blast of her own.
The Weird sisters stopped their attack on Morgana. And seemed to vanish from view. Chas carefully moved, unseen towards Demona. Still MacBeth and Mary fought, single combat.
Chas leapt up, gripping the Chalice from Demona. Her snarl of surprise came as Goliath grabbed her from behind. Morgana hissed as she saw the chalice in Chas' hand.
"If that is the way of things, then I will take another thing of value..." she laughed. Her energy blast suddenly snaked around Mary, who was outlined in Morgana's fire.
"Mary!" cried Chas. Elisa moved, aiming her weapon at Morgana. Even MacBeth was startled as Marianne was levitated in Morgana's magic. She raised her sword, hoping to counter Morgana's magic.
"Say farewell to your knight of virtue, fools!" Morgana laughed. Mary suddenly was pushed into the Lake, near where Arthur had vanished. Elisa leapt, and was too caught in the energy of Morgana's spell. Both women vanished in a crackle of lightening.
Morgana laughed as she became pure energy. And the energy snaked towards the pool as it crackled away. A huge blast of light seared everyone's senses.
"If I do not receive the chalice, your women of power will join me..." came Morgana's voice. "And you will never see them again... save in war..."
"Mary!" Chas cried, moving towards the water. "Elisa!" Goliath cried, as he moved as well.
Demona grabbed Chas from behind, leaping onto him. The chalice flew from his grasp, rolling towards MacBeth. He grabbed it quickly.
"Not so fast," said the Weird sisters. For they suddenly had appeared. MacBeth was stopped cold in their magic. Goliath turned to see them, enveloping MacBeth in their power.
"That which was once undone, be now recast
The fetters that once held you in past
Be renewed, to serve us as we please
To rid Avalon of man and gargoyles disease..."
MacBeth howled as he was overcome by their spell. "No, you cannot!" he cried, putting hands to his head. Demona too cried out as her own will was crushed under their power.
"No, you released them!" Goliath cried.
"He holds the power to destroy Avalon! As long as he has the chalice, he could destroy us!" the sisters cried. "And you pollute this island with your presence... this we will not allow..."
"Attack them," said the weird sisters to Demona and MacBeth. They turned upon Angela and Goliath.
"No!" Chas cried, and suddenly fixed his gaze upon the Weird sisters. "You must not interfere like this... Oberon's law..."
"We defend the land of our birth, Olorin," they said to him. Demona leapt upon Angela, rolling over in a mass of wings and claws. MacBeth leapt upon Goliath.
Chas raised his sword, and drove it into the ground. Energy seeped through its blade into him. His eyes flared silver as he sent the energy channeling towards them in a hale of fire. The sisters countered with lightening.
"You would fight us, half fey? You of an inferior house?"
"I would fight you! Where is Mary and Elisa gone?"
"You waste your time in this gambit, Olorin," they laugh. "Even now your friends are falling at the hands of your enemies..."
"But Morgana... are ye doing her dirty work?"
"Do you think we want her on fair Avalon?" they ask him. "No more than we want the King who once slept. Nae, Avalon is not the place you seek..."
"But why do you attack us? What is your agenda here?"
"You waste time. For even now your lifemate is no longer here... and neither is the King. We have succeeded in our duty. Your fate is your choice, Olorin."
They vanished from view, in a triple spiral of fire. Chas quickly made his way to find his friends. If Morgana was no longer in Avalon, then where was she?
Suddenly Goliath, Demona, and Angela were frozen to the spot. Already the sun began to break the eastern horizon, enveloping all three gargoyles in their glory. Demona had become a human woman before Chas' eyes.
"Get yourself together man!" Chas snapped, as he seized MacBeth's arms. "WE have only a bit of time to save Mary and Elisa, and help Arthur!"
"Why would I want to do that?" MacBeth asked.
"Because if you don't help me, I personally will be very tempted to run ye through right now! And if ye don't help me ye might well be under the sister's spell fer the rest of your immortal life!"
"They wouldna dare..." MacBeth spat.
"Let him go, human worm!" Demona snapped, as she moved between them.
Chas released MacBeth, and drew his weapon, angling it before himself and the two. "So what will it be? Do you really want Morgana to win, after all she put you through, Demona?"
"Only because you saved my daughters life will I listen," Demona snapped. "And you faced the Weird sisters, so obviously you have great powers I did not take into account..."
"Oh they have cast the spell. The only safe place for you is with me, trying to save the woman I love... and unless both of you want to be pawns of the weird sisters..."
"So that Mary is yuir woman," MacBeth chuckled. "Ye sly devil ye... she is quite a fighter..."
"Enough with that," Chas said. "Now are ye going t' help me or not?"
"Aye... but of course. Yon lass is a good fighter. And innocent of this. I will help ye. But be warned,
once this is done, our little dispute will be settled, Cassidy..."
"Why do you side with him?" Demona demanded. "He will destroy our chance to have the Chalice!"
"Shut up, woman!" MacBeth gritted. "I've had more than enough of this fool scheme. Is the cup worth all this bother?"
"It has the power to grant immortality..."
"Which we already have, because of this fool spell that links us!" MacBeth gritted. "And like it or not, you are coming with us, because we cannot trust ye t' leave the others be, without destroying them while they sleep..."
"Agreed," Chas gritted.
"But what of your friends?"
"We must leave them here. For they cannot help us in their stony silence..." Chas nodded sadly.
"I will have nothing of this!" Demona repeated. Before they could stop her she broke from MacBeth's grip and raced away towards the shore. As Chas moved to stop her, MacBeth stopped him.
"Let her go. She's not worth the effort... besides, she will not risk staying now that she knows the Weird sister's spell is cast... but how are we going t' find your friends?"
"Simplicity itself," Chas said. "We will leave Avalon... for it will send us where we need to be... and that is at Morgana's stronghold...."
Demona raced down the beach, not bothering to look behind her to see if she was being pursued. Quickly she looked among the boat's possessions. Good her laser rifle was still there, hidden in the small craft, next to her book of magic. Demona pushed off the small wooden craft, and leapt inside...
She cackled to herself, knowing that she might well end up at Morgana's, or wherever she "needed to be". For she had a score to settle with Morgana. And anywhere was better than on Avalon where she'd be a pawn!
Grabbing her magical book, she opened up to a page of probability spells. There were many she had recalled from the Grimorum Arkenorum. And this spell might stack the odds in her favor:
Fortuna, locus, extend... Fortuna circum extend...via Apia!
Arthur materialized within darkness. Quickly he looked left, then right as his eyes adjusted to the gloom. Excalibur lit the way, glowing as brightly as any torch would. In its eldritch gleam he saw castle walls curving into a distant corridor. Holding his sword before him, he concentrated. Excalibur tugged at his gauntleted hands. "Do not fear my love! I will find you... this I swear..."
Waves thundered in the distant chambers. Arthur had a strange sense of deja-vu. For the ruined chambers were weathered with centuries of wear. As he rounded the corridor, he was blasted with a shaft of daylight. Gasping he looked down at the sheer drop to the crashing waves below. The castle he was in seemed to be perched on a sheer cliff.
"I know... this place..." he muttered. "It cannot be... the place... of my birth... can it?"
Pondering this he moved towards the source of Excalibur's pull. Like a lodestone it lead him straight to Morgana's chambers. Cautiously he peered around a ruined door to a glowing chamber, illuminated by an set of arrow slits.
His eyes took in the dimensions of the room. Two women lay upon a large canopy bed, fast asleep as the gauze curtains drifted in and out in the sea breeze. His eye darted to a gently undulating pool in the far floor to the opposite end of the chamber. The bed was set in an alcove up from the pool, which was across from several wooden tables. Strange flasks and bubbling equipment percolated with odd positions. The scent of herbs lay thick on his nostrils.
Morgana was not there now. She seemed elsewhere...
But Guenevere... her soul screamed to him now.
And he moved towards the bed. Gently he pushed the curtain aside with Excalibur. To see the dark features of Elisa Maza, laying alongside Mary.
Gently he shook them. Elisa moaned as she rolled over. Mary did not respond either. Excalibur gleamed as it detected the enchantment. It was no ordinary slumber. But where was Guenevere?
Arthur moved to the center of the room, upon which sat a crystal ball, gleaming with inner light. As he approached his reflection advanced upon its curve, upside down. Till his eyes looked into its heart. From within he heard a faint whisper that cried.
"My love... I have come to rescue you... are you here..."
He lowered his ear to the crystal. And heard the voice coming strong. "You must not... for I am not worth the effort my love... the price is too high..."
"What say you? I have waited centuries..."
"have you forgotten?" it asked.
"What must I do to release you?" he asked. The answer was a plea. Imploring him to stop.
He then sensed Morgana, approaching. Quickly he moved towards the bed, picking up the reticule in his hand. He would not loose her again!
How could he wake them? Slowly he recalled a fairy tale he'd heard. Of how a royal could awaken a fair maiden. Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to Elisa's cheek. She muttered and stirred as she blinked awake. Then he followed suit with Mary, pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth. She too muttered.
"I did not think you would be so clever, brother," came Morgana's laugh. Arthur spun about, reticule in hand.
"Morgana, face me if you dare!" he cried.
"That would be too easy, my brother," she said. A strange mist seemed to enter the room. Arthur waved his sword left and right, but saw nothing.
Elisa rose as if in a trance. As did Mary. Both of them looked to Arthur, eyes blank. Mary raised her sword.
"You take what doesn't belong to you," Mary said, glaring at him. "What right do you have? After the stunts you have pulled..."
"Milady Marianne... what say you?" he asked, backing away. Elisa glared at Arthur, wiping her cheek where he had kissed her.
"You have a lot of nerve pulling that stunt..." Elisa repeated. "Stealing a kiss in my sleep... you sicko..."
Arthur heard Excalibur's scream. He backed away, racing out the door as Mary and Elisa came after him. Close to his heart he clenched the reticule bearing the essence of his beloved Guenevere.
Wave after wave broke upon the rocky coastline. The small boat bobbed and dipped upon the choppy whitecaps. At its tiller, MacBeth struggled to steady the small craft while Chas back stroked. On an imposing cliff a castle in red stone frowned upon them, solemn and remote. "How can ye be sure this is the place?" MacBeth shouted over the whipping wind.
"Tis where we need t' be!" Chas shouted back. "It is Tintagel! Morgana's home! She is the Duchess of Cornwall. Where else wuild she be?"
"Aye, that ye are right, lad," MacBeth grumbled, a bit off set by Chas' reasoning. A great deal of tension existed between the old Scot and the Erin born photographer. Such a rift went back centuries.
Before long the craft washed alongside to a small pier where another boat was already moored. "It's Demona's boat," said MacBeth. "She's already beaten us here..."
"Then we'd better hop to it!" Chas urged, leaping out of the craft as he rushed up the beach. Still he wore those Bardic robes from Avalon. Why did he not have the good sense to change, MacBeth wondered. After all they were in the modern world again!
Mary fought against the strange urges. How dare he kiss her in her sleep! She saw Arthur rushing off, like a thief in the night with Morgana's crystal ball. Within her head whispered two voices: Rush after him! He steals what is not his...
Another voice conflicted it, saying, he needs your help... don't let Morgana win...
Morgana appeared before them, her dark eyes fixing into theirs. "I see you are awake, my sisters..."
Mary blinked, and shook her head. As did Elisa. "What are we doing here?" Elisa demanded.
"You are my guests, of course..."
"Don't try that with me," Mary snapped. "You had us under a spell... but my head is clear now..."
"Is it?" Morgana asked them with a laugh. "You both seem so sure of yourselves don't you?"
"what's your game?" Elisa asked, calming herself. Morgana took a candle, and lit dried herbs in a bowl.
"There is no game. Arthur simply stole something of mine. He had promised me to deliver something to me that I need. Something rightfully mine. And now this is how he completes his deal, by stealing my crystal ball! Is that honorable?"
"Why would he steal a crystal ball unless it was something he desperately needed?" asked Mary.
"Elisa Maza, isn't it your duty to stop thieves?"
"Yes... but you attacked us before we could explain what was going on..." Elisa said, shaking her head. What was that strange scent she smelled so pervasively? It laced her brain with its sweetness. She found her focus wandering. No, she had to concentrate.
"Arthur is a thief! He stole my crystal ball, when I simply wanted him to complete his deal. The Chalice is mine! And Marianne, did you not say you understood my position. I only want what is best for England, my homeland..."
"Wait... what is that smell?" Marianne choked, coughing on the thick incense smell. It was making its way into her mind, reeling her thoughts. "Wait... no..."
"Marianne, aren't you tired of being relegated to the back seat. All those years you were a woman in a man's world. Stifled by men who claimed to love you? And you Elisa, you never get the respect you deserve. Even when you try to right the wrongs, you are overlooked, and even stifled..."
"How do you know?" Elisa asked, shaking her head.
"I know much about you. It is written on your faces. For centuries women have lived in the shadows of men! Why should we be content when we could have more say? That is how it was with Arthur... I tried to do what was good for Avalon. You are one of the few people who understands, Mary..." she continued, her voice soft. It all made sense. But why the incense?
"Then why are you brainwashing us..." Elisa said, moving towards the incense. She planned to tip it over into the pool. Morgana made no move to stop her. In fact she laughed when Elisa grabbed the bowl, and hurled it into the small reflecting surface.
"That is simple incense," Morgana chuckled. "I am not here to brainwash you, as you say. I am here to liberate you! For you both have great powers that have long been underestimated! And it is high time you were appreciated! You Elisa, from Goliath, he whom you love. And you Mary, by the man who claims your love for himself... how often does he rush to your protection, only to hold you back?"
"He doesn't..." Mary said, shaking her head.
"So you say. But will you let Arthur get away with stealing? Did he not recruit you to help recover the Chalice. Why has he not kept his word?"
"I'm getting out of here!" Elisa said, holding up her gun. "And if you're smart you won't stop us..."
"My sister, There is no need for that. You may leave when you wish..." Morgana held up her hands. Grabbing Mary's arm, Elisa pulled her friend behind her. Mary was still stunned, blinking as Elisa leveled the gun on the sorceress. A grin split Morgana's face as she laughed.
"You have me all wrong," she insisted.
Chas and MacBeth moved quickly through the courtyard. In the depths of his mind Chas sensed Mary's mind. But something seemed fundamentally wrong! Her thoughts were becoming more and more blurred. Like mercury they were more and more difficult to trap, to pin down. As if she were revoking the psychic rapport they shared.
They moved to one tower's entrance, both their swords drawn. Chas had the Chalice at his hip, ready to do what he would with it. All of this seemed so unnecessary! He prayed he could bring reason to stop this family feud.
"Wait, I hear something..." said MacBeth, stopping Chas. "Get under cover lad..."
They heard footsteps clanging on stairs. And readied their swords lest it be an enemy. To their surprise they saw no one. The clanging footsteps ended as soon as they had started. Then they heard a snarling and shrieking as a woman's voice joined a man's shouts.
Chas motioned to MacBeth to rush in. And they saw King Arthur There, his sword drawn as he clenched close a reticule. Demona had her laser trained on him, ready to fire at any minute. "Get out of my way you fool!" she hissed, baring her teeth. It was amusing to see a human acting like a gargoyle!
MacBeth and Chas moved warily around them. "What's going on here?" Chas asked. Demona trained her weapon, finger on the trigger.
"I caught her trying to kill me, that is all," Arthur said.
"But have you not seen Mary and Elisa?" Chas asked.
"Are you as stupid as he?" Demona asked, looking from MacBeth to Chas. "We have a chance to get away!"
"No lass," MacBeth said quietly, edging towards Demona. She moved towards Chas, seeing the Chalice on his belt.
"What are you doing here, sire?" Chas asked, looking to Arthur. It was a standoff. For all three men had their weapons drawn, and Demona trained her pistol on all three.
"The ladies are under enchantment... I thought it best to take my leave... till help arrived..."
"What is that crystal ball you hold so dear?" MacBeth asked.
"Tis what I came for," Arthur said.
"It is not seemly for a king to steal," said MacBeth suddenly.
"But it is not. For it contains something that is mine by right. And do you not have the Chalice?"
"Maybe I would," Chas said. "But where are Mary and Elisa?"
"Enough of this!" Demona snarled, and fired towards Arthur. He blocked the blast with his sword, but in the resulting confusion Demona raced up the tower stairs again, and out onto the battlements. Chas and MacBeth raced after her, with Arthur moving gingerly behind them. All four raced out to the parapet, overlooking the sea.
"Give up Demona! Stop this now..."
"I will!" she laughed. Demona fired again, aiming this time at Arthur. There was a cry as he slipped on the tower battlements, losing his grip on the crystal. He shouted as it plummeted to the sea far below. With a crinkle it shattered into a million tiny fragments.
"Murderer!" Arthur cried. Chas and MacBeth watched as he raced in pursuit of Demona, a look of madness on his face.
Elisa swooned, and stopped as she felt dizzy. Marianne helped to steady her friend. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I don't... know... wait..." she moaned. And then pulled out of Mary's grasp, and turned to face her. "I... am quite fine. We must find Arthur at once..."
"If you say so..." she muttered, letting Elisa pull her after her. They rushed out of the chambers into the courtyard. A woman with wild hair pushed past them, running for her life with her laser gun in hand. Mary was bowled over with the force of her push. Sword swinging wildly Arthur raced after her, eyes blazing with madness. "Come back you murder!" he roared.
But Elisa moved before him, crying, "Stop!"
"Elisa... Mary!" he gasped. "You... don't understand... she murdered Guenevere... she must pay..."
"What do you mean..."
"The crystal held my wife's soul..." he cried, as Elisa and Mary took hold of him. He tore away, moving after the woman as a man possessed.
MacBeth and Chas moved after King Arthur, quite worried about the whole situation. What had been in that crystal ball? And did they interfere in Arthur's quest to kill Demona? After all, she had done much harm. But that insane look in his eyes.
The sun was blotted out by a raincloud. Chas and MacBeth jumped at the crackle of thunder. On a high battlement materialized a dark hared figure. Morgan Le Fay herself. "Well, are you two going to let me wait forever?" she asked.
"Where is Mary and Elisa?" Chas shouted.
"Such manners in my home? Tsk, tsk, tsk!" she scolded. "I know you have something I want. And I won't let you leave till you return my property..."
Lightening flared from her fingertips to the two men below. Easily Chas deflected the energy. "Why don't you just give her the blasted thing?" MacBeth wondered.
"First, where are Mary and Elisa?" Chas demanded. "Why did you take them way? Is it so unreasonable to ask for their release first? Then I will surrender your property!"
"My you are one tracked in your thinking..." Morgan laughed. "But no matter. I will have what is mine!"
With a gesture she pointed to Chas. Her finger crooked as it seemed to gesture to something. Sick of the whole thing, MacBeth threw himself at Chas, knocking him over. Before Chas could stop him he grabbed the chalice, and pushed Chas away. The Bard hugged his stomach, singing away the pain as he looked through the pain at MacBeth.
"Here is your blasted thing! And choke on it!" MacBeth shouted as he hurled the chalice at her. It was caught in her power as it rose to her fingers.
"Thank you, MacBeth. At least you are being sensible..." Morgan said. "But as for this fool, he has annoyed me for the last time..."
"But he is mine to settle..." MacBeth said. But Morgana gestured to him, sending a jolt of energy through him. MacBeth writhed as he felt the resulting electricity. All his muscles went rigid as he collapsed, out cold.
"So that's how ye settling things?" Chas snapped, his sword readied for her next spell.
"It is not for you to judge, Taliesin," she retorted, hurling a spell in his direction. Chas countered, whirling his sword as he moved again.
"What will ye do with that chalice anyway?"
"Something I cannot waste energy on you for," she said. "But soon it will not matter. For you do not know what day it is?"
"What do ye mean?" Chas asked.
"Look to the sun... and you will see!" she laughed. Chas stared heavenwards as he saw the moon rapidly devouring the sun. He could kick himself for not knowing!
Arthur saw the approaching twilight. And shivered. But anger overtook him as he moved to avenge his love's loss on Demona. Yet she turned on him, snarling as she transformed before his eyes. Was it his imagination, or was she starting to turn gargoyle?
With amazing speed she whirled about, firing. Arthur was caught off guard as he felt Excalibur drop from his grasp. "I could kill you here and now. But I won't waste my time... for the hour approaches..."
So saying she fired another blast, hitting Arthur's leg. He dropped, grunting as she leapt off the battlements, her wings extending. They were just large enough to allow her to soar to the adjacent tower, and safety.
Elisa rushed to Arthur's side, gently helping him to stand. "Are you all right..."
"Help me... get Excalibur..." Arthur moaned. Elisa grabbed the sword and touched it to his leg. Instantly Excalibur knit the wound, restoring it.
"Are you all right my love?" she asked. Arthur looked up at her stunned.
"What did you say?"
"Why do you chase her, my love?"
"Why do you address me so, Lady Elisa..."
"I no of no Elisa..." she shook her head. "Do you not recognize your beloved?"
"What?"
"It is I, Guenevere... I have waited for you so long..."
"How..."
"Magic, my love," she said, twining her arms about the astonished king's neck. Despite his better judgment Arthur let her lips press to his for a sweet second. It was too good to be true, but he did not care! She was alive!
Mary heard the sounds of battle from the courtyard. She rushed onto the parapet to see Morgana hurling lightening down at Chas. Bravely the Bard whirled his sword to deflect her spells. Eldritch power arched around his form, as he pushed back against her power. But he was badly outmatched. For he was no sorcerer. And Morgana's power seemed to be increasing as it grew darker!
"No!" she cried, rushing to Morgana. With a swift gesture she summoned her armor and sword.
"You will not stop me!" she laughed, gesturing. For a moment she took her attention from Chas, who crumpled to the ground in exhaustion. He had gone for hours without proper sleep.
Mary held up her shield, and blocked the power. The red cross upon white deflected her power with ease. Mary gritted her teeth as she swept out with Wavedancer. The resulting shockwave crashed against Morgana with surprising force. Morgana shrieked at the onslaught of power.
"You have hurt me!" she hissed. "For that you will pay!"
"You hurt my love," Mary hissed in return. "And I will not let you win... you tried to take over my mind..."
"But I only see truth! For that man will only dominate you..."
"What do you know about anything?" Mary cried, rushing forwards, sword slashing. Morgana gestured, and a wind swept Mary aside.
"Blind fool! I knew him of old! And he once professed his love... and did he prove true! No! I warn you he is not but pain... and you will face destruction. Don't you see what power you have?"
"Yes, power to stop you!" Mary cried, slashing again with the sword. Morgana screamed as another wave crashed into her.
Demona leapt upon Morgana, knocking her down. She laughed in the darkness as she regarded Mary. "Well done, human!" she laughed. "You feel powerful don't you?"
"What is it to you, gargoyle?" Mary asked, waving her sword to Demona.
"Nothing, a mere observation!" Demona laughed, as she moved towards Mary. "But like all humans, you are a threat to be dealt with! And I won't let you live to threaten me!"
So saying she threw herself on Mary. Mary raised her sword, slashing at Demona. Blood dripped from the wound on her wrist. "For that you will pay!" Demona roared. Eyes blared red as the female gargoyle pulled the sword from Mary's hand. Wavedancer plummeted towards the ground. Morgana slowly shook herself as she rose. And watched the two fight.
Already the disc of the moon obliterated the sun. Wavedancer clattered on the ground near Chas. Desperately he moved towards it, gripping its hilt. The healing powers of the blade permeated him as he called on its energy.
Demona was pushed back by Mary's shield. Her claws made no imprint upon it. Roaring she rolled over, till Mary was on top. Her foot pushed Mary away. The woman lay close to the edge of the battlement. Demona leapt upon her again, fully gargoyle now.
Her laser weapon clanked against Mary like a club, stunning her. Demona fired, crimson energy snaking toward's the motionless Marianne. Morgana looked upon them both with a small smile. She turned to the occluded moon, and raised her chalice heavenwards.
On Avalon, Goliath stirred and roared as the stone casement shattered. What was this? He could not understand why there was twilight when it was the middle of the day. Angela too broke out of her casement. Both of them stared at the Weird sisters who had just materialized.
"Your friends need your aid," they said simply.
"Why would you help us?" Goliath demanded.
"Morgana's power threatens us now. You must stop her ritual... before the Sun is again disgorged..."
"Goliath... Demona and MacBeth... I can see them in the scrying pool!"
"What?" Goliath said. Then the next vision made his blood run cold. For Arthur kissed Elisa, holding her close in his arms. Goliath roared in anger.
"Where is he!" he roared.
"Enter the portal, and you will be there at her side," said the weird sisters. With a mere gesture Angela and Goliath were transported to Tintagel.
Mary felt the heat of the laser weapon. Her armor was deflecting its energy, but it was heating up quickly! She moved her shield to block Demona's ray. It caromed off her shield, taking out one of the nearby battlements. Ducking behind her shield Mary dropped to her knees. And let loose a fearful scream as she charged into Demona. Caught off guard the female gargoyle was knocked off balance.
Mary's battle cry turned into a scream as her momentum sent both of them over the edge of the battlement. Hurtling towards the courtyard thirty feet below. Demona's wings spanned automatically to break their fall. There was a thud as she landed atop the female gargoyle. Shaking her head she rose from the still cold figure. What a shame, Mary thought as she saw Demona did not move.
"You have vanquished her," came Morgana's voice. "Could you have done this before, when you were fettered by your limitations? You have true power..."
"I didn't want to kill her..." Mary breathed, feeling sickness in the pit of her stomach. Demona looked quite dead.
"Ah, but you are glad, are you not! The power in you... you can do anything now..." Morgana laughed. Time seemed to have stood still as Mary looked to the black disc ringed with brilliant light. IT was totality. And Morgana seemed to be drawing energy in the darkness as the eerie shadows lengthened. The shadow she cast seemed to be very long indeed.
"No... it cannot be," Mary said, feeling the strange thrill. The shadows rose, peeling off the walls all around her. They seemed to cheer and laugh. She did not see the look of infinite sadness on the face of a Bard across the courtyard.
"Mary, no," Chas said softly, as he healed himself with Wavedancer's powers. Like Excalibur it had the power to heal wounds and depleted energy.
Arthur pulled away from Elisa as he heard the roar of an angry gargoyle. Eyes blazing white hot with rage, Goliath swooped down upon Arthur. He barely raised Excalibur to defend himself. Elisa screamed.
"Goliath... what's gotten into you?" Arthur wondered. He slashed his weapon at Goliath in a glistened arc of eldritch fire. Elisa meekly watched.
"Stop!" Angela cried, materializing after Goliath. She leapt upon her Father, trying to tear him off Arthur Pendragon. But Goliath in his rage cuffed her aside. Angela hurtled towards the courtyard, only barely managing to break her fall with her wings.
She landed near Demona. And shook her head. "Mother..." she gasped. And then saw how cold and still Demona looked. Laughter rang out in her ears as she looked up to see Morgana beneath the eclipses' disc.
"What did you do?" she cried. Marianne looked to Angela, and shook her head. Slowly Chas crawled towards them, climbing to his feet as he leaned on Wavedancer. He moved to Demona's prostrate form.
"I... killed her... and I enjoyed it..." Mary gasped, looking at her hand. Angela felt tears in her eyes as she gathered Demona onto her lap.
"Mother... no!" Angela screamed. Blood fell from Demona's lips, onto Angela's dress. Wailing Angela pressed her head to her mother's brow. Chas limped over to the mother and daughter, all the time looking to Mary. He could not help her in this battle! Nor did he have the power to stop Morgana with the shadows. For they separated him from Mary.
Shadows rose and swirled about Mary. She batted them off with her gauntleted hand. From high above Morgana laughed louder and louder...
"Traitorous human!" Goliath roared, attacking Arthur Pendragon again. "You... who would steal my beloved from under my gaze while I sleep..."
"She is not your beloved any more!" Arthur shouted, slashing at Goliath's wing. Pain creased the gargoyle's face as Excalibur drew blood.
"Liar!" Goliath thundered, slashing at Arthur with his mighty claws. They did little damage against Arthur's armor. "You will pay for your treachery! Elisa is my beloved!"
"What are you talking about?" Elisa wailed, as she rushed to stop him. "Leave my king be!"
"Elisa... did he harm you?" Goliath said, snapping out of his funk. He had batted Arthur' sword aside, his claws around the King's neck. He felt Elisa's fists on his back.
"Stop it you brute! Let him go!" she screamed, beating Goliath with her small fists.
"Elisa... no..." Goliath said, not realizing what he was hearing.
"No... I don't want this power!" Mary cried out loud. For the thrill made her sick. She saw past the shadows to the fallen Demona. How could Angela love such a creature who had caused pain and death to so many humans? Or gargoyles? And why would Chas be moving now to help heal Demona.
"Chas, what are you doing?" asked Mary. "She's a murderer! She deserves her fate!"
"It is not fer ye to judge, Mary," Chas said angrily. "Look at yerself. Do ye want t' be like her?"
"She has what she deserves," Morgana laughed. "And now the man you love will betray you to save your enemy's life?"
"Chas, I cannot believe you'd help Demona.."
"She is in pain, and I heal those, no matter what..." said Chas. "Would you kill a helpless one..."
"You would kill my mother?" Angela said, tears in her eyes. They glowed red with anger.
"No... I wouldn't... but I would... Chas... what's happened to me?"
"Your power!" laughed Morgana. "You must not fight it! They taunt you... destroy them!"
"I cannot help ye with this battle," said Chas quietly. Already the sun was beginning to send its beams as the diamond ring sprang into view.
The shadows felt the force of the sun. Morgana winced in pain. "What... was that..."
"Doubt..." Chas said, a tiny smile on his face.
Mary looked to Morgana, and to Demona and Angela. The strangeness of the scene stabbed into her brain. "Wait... you heal her... even if she is your enemy... and Angela... you love her even though she has done so much..."
"She is my mother..." said Angela.
"Loves her..." Mary muttered.
"Do not listen to them!" Morgana cried. "They know nothing! What is family when brother is against sister, and lover is against lover? What permanence does it have?"
In her mind Mary felt the shadows wrestling. Deep down she reached, and felt a warmth rising. The eclipse slowly moved away, the sun half uncovered. Already the shadows seemed less strong as they slunk away. Blue eyes fixed on hers, imploring as they seemed infinitely deep. Angela hardened into stone as Demona shifted to human form.
Goliath's shock was frozen in stone as he became his resting state. Arthur was trapped in his stone claw. Elisa felt her fists pummeling stone.
"What permanence does love have..." echoed Mary's voice.
"I love you Mary," Chas said softly. "No matter what. Know that...."
"You... would love me even if I did kill?" she asked.
"I love ye. Even if the things ye do are those that make me sad and sick. I canne stop what I feel..."
"Like.. Angela to Demona... and Elisa... to Goliath..."
"Yes..."
"Foolish words," Morgana coughed, as she gestured to Chas. Shadows wrapped around him as they chocked his words.
"No!" Mary cried, rushing to her love's side. Her fingers closed upon Wavedancer, slashing at the shadows. Light exploded as they hissed into nothingness. Chas collapsed, exhausted.
"You..." Mary said, rounding to face Morgana. "Have made the biggest mistake of your life!"
Morgana gasped as Mary's arc of light spun towards her. She felt its power overcome her as the sun burst into full radiance. For a time she screamed as she felt the power wash all over her. Morgana fell to the courtyard below. Mary came to her, sword point at her throat.
"Why... do you... not kill me?" she asked, looking up to Mary as her twisted body was helpless to resist. Healing energies flowed over Morgana's body as Mary willed Wavedancer to heal.
"Because I am not what you think," Mary said. "Now go in peace..."
Morgana backed away, and looked at Mary oddly. "You are not what I expected, child. But you have won this round... though Goddess knows why..."
In a haze she vanished. Leaving Mary there exhausted. Tears filled her eyes as she willed away the armor. And dropped to her knees by Chas. He extended arms and drew her to his side, lips pressing against her brow.
"My love," she sobbed.
"Musha," he soothed, pressing his lips to hers. "It's going' t' be all right..."
For Demona breathed, unconscious but alive!
Elisa blinked as she saw Arthur there, prostrate. And Goliath's hand about his neck. Gingerly she worked Arthur free. For Goliath had relaxed his grip enough before he had turned to stone.
"I can't wait till nightfall for him to explain this," she muttered.
Mary felt relief as the sun set. And she was once more amidst the Gargoyles on Avalon. Chas had not left her side as long as she had been away from the castle. His hand clenched hers tightly.
All of them rested in Oberon's palace. A dinner was being cooked by some of the culinary inclined Gargoyles. But Mary had touched nothing all evening. Now she sat opposite Angela and Gabriel.
"I am so sorry, Angela," she said.
"You didn't completely kill her," Angela said. "And you fought Morgana in the end... and it all turned out okay..."
"Did it?" Mary asked. "Even now I cannot believe it..."
Goliath and Elisa talked quietly at the table, a bit down from Chas and Mary. Goliath's hand clenched Elisa's gently. And Elisa laughed softly as he said something to her. Mary regarded them with a smile. Arthur sat near them, a worried look on his face as he sat next to Gryph, his trusted friend. Gryph had just joined them from England, having been occupied on a mission of his own.
"Goliath, Elisa, I am sorry for my conduct earlier... I acted in a most unregal manner..."
"I was under a spell," Elisa said. "And you were upset about your wife. Hey, it happens..."
"I bear you no ill will," Goliath said. "For you were not yourself. Matters of family always bring out the worst in us..."
"But my Guenevere..." Arthur said. "She is lost to me forever..."
"Not so," said Goliath. "For I think she is with you now..."
"You still feel the love don't you?" asked Elisa.
"Yes... it is a pain that wrenches my heart..."
"Then she is there with you," Elisa said. "And she never really went away..."
"But it is more than I can bear..."
"We are here, my liege," Gryph said, laying a hand upon Arthur. The king buried his head in Gryph's chest, tears in his regal eyes. Goliath and Elisa reached across the table to him, gripping his hand in theirs.
Mary embraced Chas fiercely. "My love... so much misery..."
"And so much to celebrate," Chas told her, taking her face in his hands.
"But Arthur was not reunited with his love..."
"He was. And she is with him now. It was not meant to be for her to return to this earth in that way..." Chas said. "To possess Elisa's body was not the right way..."
"I know but its tragic..."
"Aye. But life continues..." Chas sighed.
"It hurts Chas. I almost killed... almost slipped into shadow..."
"Musha, ye are with me now. The shadow did not win..."
"But I almost slipped..."
Chas kissed her hand between his. "Shh nau. It is not the time to blame yerself... it is the time to rejoice..."
Mary looked to the bittersweet celebration. And could not help but revel in both sorrow and happiness. For what was life without both?
Demona was gone, to whatever place she came from. And MacBeth sat at the table, a bit worse for wear, but laughing all the same with the Gargoyles near the Princess and Tom. A fire burned in the gallery, as meat roasted on a spit. Angela shyly sought out Gabriel, to tell him of her recent decisions.
Life went on. In her mind she felt St. George's whisper of thanks. And Patrick within Chas soothed with his healing energies. Mary felt her lips press to Chas' as the night went on around them. Could she hold the power she was bequeathed with?
Only the future would tell. And would she be eclipsed by George's gift?
End.
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