CHAPTER 25: THE KING OF ENGLAND

"Rose … it's been a while." murmured Alexander.

Robin and his team paused, they were going to attack but something seemed to be going on here. Beast boy climbed off Raven and looked at her apologetically. Raven shook her head at the fall, then stood up, with Beast boy at her side.

"Yes, indeed. And you haven't changed a bit since I last saw you. Except you had grown taller, and stronger." remarked the old woman, "A pity all these assets will go to waste."

"You can't kill me!" Alexander said, backing away slowly, "You're … you're … my nurse!"

Everyone gasped. The old woman had worked for the Royal family? As King's Alexander's nurse?

"Not anymore. I left." Rose said coldly.

"Why?" King Alexander asked, his voice trembling.

The old woman, Rose, pointed a bony finger accusingly at the King, "You killed one of my friends!"

Alexander looked taken aback. He did? Since when?

"You had her burnt at the stake." said Rose, "Yes, she was a witch. And unfortunately for you, so am I."

Then, she transformed herself into the Enchantress, her younger self and everyone shrieked in fear. Cyborg gasped loudly as he recognised the face. She was the woman who had made the deal with him, and had given him the enchanted suit!

"From now on, no witches should ever be burnt at the stake! From now on, I, Rose, the Enchantress will rule England as Queen!"

"Run!" Raven yelled at Alexander and he scrambled away, just in time. The knife missed him by a few inches.

The Enchantress directed a wave of magical energy that hit the King square in the chest and he flew backwards and hit the wall. People in the seats were starting to run away. In the pandemonium, Raven and Beast boy rushed to Alexander, picked him up, and ran away. Cyborg, Robin and Starfire followed closely behind.

They ran back to their tents and further into the forest, hoping no one had followed them. Finally, when they've decided they were faraway enough, they stopped to catch their breath. Raven slowly put Alexander down on the grass and felt for his pulse.

"Is he … Will he be alright?" Starfire asked nervously.

Raven closed her eyes for a moment, then, she nodded. "But he needs healing. I'll stay with him tonight and heal him."

Beast boy's jaw hardened, "I'll stay too."

Raven looked a bit taken aback but she nodded, "Alright." And then, she started to use her healing powers on his chest and head, hoping he would not stay unconscious for long.

Robin and Starfire and Cyborg soon left, finding materials to set up their new camp and to destroy their old. Raven kept on healing Alexander while Beast boy watched on. Then, the King's eyes started to flutter.

"That's a good sign." Raven said softly, "He's going to awake soon."

Beast boy nodded, then asked, "Hey Raven. Do you … do you … really like him?"

"I …" Raven blinked, then, there was an intense throbbing in her head and she felt dizzy.

Raven … You betrayed me …

That voice! Raven gasped suddenly. How did she …? Come to me … Her powers! They get stronger at night! She stood and gasped at herself, she was obeying her, but why? Then, her mind became a blank.

"I must go to the Enchantress." Raven said monotonously.

"Raven?"

Ignore. Ignore him. Come to me.

Raven started to run, she heard the cries of Beast boy but the voice, the Enchantress's voice in her head right now, was stronger, louder, pulling her closer and closer …

"Raven!" Beast boy stood up and cried loudly. Then, the Titans came rushing back, their arms full of sticks and leaves.

"Beast boy, what happened?" Robin asked.

"Where is Raven?" Starfire wanted to know.

Beast boy started to sob. The spell hadn't worn off! Raven was still under the control of The Enchantress! He was worried that Raven would be used as an exchange for King Alexander.

"It's the witch, she was calling Raven …" Beast boy said in between sobs, "And so, she, she w, went …"

Suddenly, Alexander's eyelids began to flutter. Then, he opened his eyes slowly. Where was he? He heard voices, but the words they were saying … didn't make any sense to him. He tried to sit up, and let out a soft moan.

"His Majesty! The King has awaken!" Starfire cried, hearing the moan. Then, she bent down and pushed him back onto the forest floor gently, "You must rest."

"Where am I?" he asked, confused, the voices becoming clearer now.

"Somewhere safe." answered Cyborg.

Then slowly, bit by bit, the Titans fed him information on what had happened since he blacked out. Beast boy was on the forest floor, hugging his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth. All the while remaining pale and silent.

Alexander's face was white when they came to the part about the Enchantress's spells, and how she got Raven under her control now.

"And so," finished Robin, "Our mission now, is to save her."

Everyone nodded firmly, determined to rescue their friend, when they all were about to take off to the castle however, Beast boy noticed that the King was still sitting down, he face buried in his hands.

"That means you too." he said softly.

Alexander shook his head, "I … I can't. The Enchantress won, I … I lost everything. The kingdom, my family, Raven." Then, frustrated and overcome by his emotions, he reached up and threw away his crown, "I've been a lousy King."

The Titans looked at one another, they weren't sure what to say … But Beast boy, he picked up the crown and took one of King Alexander's hand and helped him to his feet. Alexander looked surprised but he slowly stood.

"Come on." Beast boy said as he pulled him towards a bunch of trees.

"Where are you taking me?" Alexander cried, alarmed.

"Yeah, Beast boy, we've got to save Raven!" Cyborg called.

Beast boy shook his head, "No, we've got to save him first."

The Titans looked utterly confused, but Beast boy was acting really out of character these days. He was bolder, stronger, more confident. Perhaps, it was time to let him take charge for now. And so, Robin gestured with his hand to follow the changeling. Deeper and deeper into the forest …

"Hello, Raven." The Enchantress smiled when she saw her come in. So telepathy worked! How useful … She walked around the single throne in the throne room. She had the servants remove the other one. Her fingers brushed lightly against the gold frame of the chair. And on her head, was the late Queen's crown.

Raven just stood there, her face a blank, her eyes emotionless.

Finally, the Enchantress sat down on the throne and smiled smugly, "How do I look?"

Raven uttered without thinking, "Powerful."

"Ah, yes." The Enchantress nodded at her answer, "It does seem so, isn't it? I told you I would get my revenge. Did you know that I have sent out orders to give every witch in this land a rich merchant's house? Those arrogant merchants will move out and live in their former houses in the fields. Where they'll work for the rest of their lives." she let out a chuckle.

Raven remained silent.

"But you know, I am still not that powerful. I need more magic. More powers." The Enchantress regained her composure, her tone serious. She called Raven to her by crooking her index finger. She willingly came forward.

"Closer, child. I will not harm you. Though, you did betray me." the Enchantress said with a snarl to her voice.

She continued when Raven stepped forward, "And for that, I've decided give you a punishment."

The Enchantress leaned forward and touched Raven under her jaw, pulling her head closer. She whispered softly in her ear, her voice just a soft, almost silent breeze, "You are to give me your powers …"

Beast boy started to crawl through that clump of bushes. His mind flashing back to the last time he was here … then, he shook her head. No, not now, he was going to save that idiot, Alexander, remember?

"Come!" he called when he was on the other side.

Starfire carried Alexander over while Robin and Cyborg jumped. When they all landed, it was a beautiful other side they saw. It was a really small clearing, with tall trees surrounding it, in the air was the sweet scent of roses, and there was a distant hooting of an owl far, faraway …

But right in the centre of the clearing, the bright moonlight fell across a tall, gleaming, silver sword. Its handle was filled with many, many, intricate patterns and details. Whoever crafted this must have spent hours … the tip of the sword, was pierced right into a stone covered with moss.

"Do you recognise what this is?" Beast boy pointed to the sword, his eyes looking directly at King Alexander's.

He shook his head slowly, still a bit dazed and staring, almost hypnotised by the beautiful weapon.

"It's called the Excalibur. The Sword in the Stone." At least that's what Raven said, Beast boy added silently in his mind.

"Of course!" Alexander snapped out of his trance, "Father's told me the story of it before! It was created by the Great Merlin, for King Arthur!"

"So you know the legend?" Beast boy asked.

Alexander nodded enthusiastically, "And only a true King of England could pull this out."

"And that's true." Beast boy said firmly, he stepped aside and looked at Alexander expectantly.

He looked confused at first, but that quickly turned to realisation, then shock, then fear. He let out a gasp, "Oh no, I couldn't possibly …"

Beast boy gave him a strong shove from behind and suddenly, Alexander found himself to be standing right in front of the Sword in the Stone. He took deep long breaths to calm his mind. So, it really existed! And, he was standing in front of it! Up close, it looked so beautiful, with the silver gleaming brightly through centuries and centuries of dust … It was completely surreal and he was supposed to pull it out!

He turned his head to look back. The red-haired girl was looking at him with a shining face, her eyes full of hope. The boy beside her gave him an encouraging smile, the mysterious man in the dark simply nodded. And that strange little guy who led him here …

"Do it." he said firmly.

Then, Alexader felt courage coming back to him. Adrenaline rushed in his veins and in his ears, he could hear his pounding heart. He may not be the most flawless person on Earth, but he was the son of King and Queen, and is … the heir to the throne. And that's all that mattered.

He looked at the sword, his face pale in the moonlight, and then, he reached out both his hands and grasped at the sword's handle. Something went through him, something, almost magical, it was as if, the sword and him had communicated somehow. He closed his eyes, not everything can be explained, and he let his hands adjust to the cool metal, and then …

He started to pull. But force wasn't need, the sword slid out of the stone easily and he found himself holding it high in the air. When he opened his eyes, the light reflected on the blade was blinding and the Titans were shielding their eyes, but all were smiling. The one who had lugged him here, had the biggest smile of all.

"You did it!" Beast boy cried. The Titans let out a cheer.

"Glorious!" Starfire exclaimed, then she added more respectfully, "Your Majesty."

"Majesty …" Alexander whispered softly, bringing the sword down and resting the blade lightly on the palm of his left hand, gazing at it.

Beast boy walked forward and placed the crown back on his head, "Never doubt yourself. For you truly are the King of England!"

Beast boy was the last to leave the place. Prince, no, King Alexander has now had newfound confidence, and they were all going to take back England, and Raven together. But first, he had to do something.

Beast boy walked to a rosebush and found what he was looking for … a single purple rose. His mind flashed back to the other day …

"Okay, but if I were lost … will you help me find my way back?"

"What do you mean? The lost King of England thing?"

"No … like, if I was … lost, in general, I guess."

"Sure."

He recalled how sincere Raven sounded, and how her eyes shone with happiness when Beast boy gave her that rose afterward. He knew then, that the true Raven wasn't lost forever.

And I will help you find your way back too. He promised silently in his mind. Then, clutching the rose close to his heart, Beast boy climbed over the bushes and joined the Titans.