The Legacy of King Arthur: BOOK I THE GATHERING by Philip A Moore

Fear… a sick feeling of exhilaration in his gut that said:

“Jimmy, buckle-up boy, your doom is coming on the next train passing, and you are tied to the tracks, about to meet your maker.”

Fear gave him a sense of danger and mystery; like the anticipation before riding on a Roller coaster. Most of the time…. well, this wasn't like most of the time. No, this time was very different. This time Jimmy was going to die. He knew it. He sensed it. There was no controlling it. His only thought was that he should have listened to that stupid dog.

Jimmy loved picnics. They were something he looked forward to every summer. He liked the smell of the house as food was cooked then helping his mom packing it up, helping Dad load up the car. Ignoring his sister as she repeatedly asked where they were going, “for sure”, and if they were forgetting anything. No, family picnics did not involve danger, if you ignored the chance of salmonella in the egg salad. Most of time he liked the feeling of fear. Hadn't he snuck into the slasher film Night Of The Nerd, about a poor neglected science geek who went around killing all the cute big breasted high School cheer leaders who had refused to date him? Jimmy left the movie wondering how someone so skinny could lift a whirring chain saw that high above his head ! He'd been grounded for three weeks after his sister ratted him out .

“The little brat,” Jimmy seethed as he thought of it.

He had made sure not to speak to her for a whole day. It caused her a great deal of irritation. She complained to her mother a couple times . He just smiled as he thought of it. Then he felt guilty. He could only hold out for one day of silence.

This year, they were going to Thompson Lake; a 13-mile-long natural lake, that was known for it’s clear water and was located near his home town of Oxford Maine Today was a picnicker's dream; bright sun, clear sky. Jimmy could not wait to swim. He ignored a strange for-boding which nagged at him.

There was an added bonus, a border-collie. It was black, with a white muzzle that looked either like a beard, or a lion's mane. Jimmy couldn't decide which was more accurate. The dog was not pretty. In fact, it was very bony, and its fur was covered with mats and mud. It wore a red collar around it's neck that stood out because it looked in better shape than the dog! On the collar was a small piece of silver with a name on it he couldn't read. The dog ran to them and started following the family the minute they got out of the car.

Grace, who was ordinarily scared of dogs, was, oddly, attracted to this one. Before they could go swimming, His mother insisted the family come to the table and eat.

“It's a good thing she doesn’t believe in stomach cramps, or we would never get to swim,” Jimmy thought.

Sure enough, just as they started to eat, the dog came up and lay next to the table. It was as if it were a member of the family. His mother tried to shoo it away, but nothing she tried worked. It would run a short distance away from her, and then come back as if it thought this was a game. Finally, she gave up, At lunch Grace fed the dog scraps by the table. Mom scolded her, but Jimmy could tell from the sound of her voice that she felt sorry for the beast too. She proceeded to give the dog a proper, full plate. Grace got down from the wooden picnic-table and ate with it.

“Seven-year- olds,” Jimmy muttered under his breath, “talk about wasting food"

Grace spoke. She had been too occupied with the dog up until that point to say anything but, "Merlin's hungry."she responded smartly.

Jimmy fumed. Then he caught on to what Grace had just said. Great! She’s already named it!”

Grace then scratched “Merlin” behind the ear. He stopped eating for a couple moments, and gave her a lick.

Mom spoke up, “I’m not giving him much... so relax!” I gave him a plate so Grace would stop feeding him.

After lunch had finished, Jimmy and Grace managed to wiggle out of their Mother's sun-tan-lotion-smearing hands, As usual, his mother saddled him with Grace. His sister was half his age at seven, but she still begged come along with him. Why, he thought? There were areas he could not go, when Grace was with him.. Grace could be a tattle-tale. This may have been the reason that his mother asked him to watch her. “Would Mom really do that? No, of course not,” he thought to himself.

The lake was a fair walk to get to, through some woods, but once they did, it was worth the effort. Jimmy had on a pair of worn out cut-off jeans, and Grace wore her usual faded green bathing suit. He thought he looked pretty cool, if he did say so himself. The only thing that would have made it more perfect would have been if his friend Megan was there. Jimmy always liked swimming, but he did not like that he had to baby-sit Grace. This time it was worse. There was the dog to babysit too. It was running behind them at a very fast trot. then it caught up with them

"Why me," Jimmy thought.

Periodically the dog would start barking and chase his tail, to only Grace's amusement. Grace seemed to think these momentary tail chasing brakes meant he deserved a hug. This only delayed them getting to the water.

"Why me," Jimmy thought, as he scowled at them both.

"Come on Grace," Jimmy hollered back to her.

Jimmy knew his mother would never let him forget it if he left her behind.

"Stop playing with that mutt so we can swim!"

"Slow down Jimmy," Grace yelled back as she paused for one more hug, the dog was licking her face.

He was tempted to warn his sister about ring-worm but why bother. She probably wouldn’t listen anyway.

"He is cute. Maybe Mom will let us keep him!"

Grace was hugging the beast.

After what seemed like a never-ending cycle of tail chasing, face-licking, and big-brother-nagging, they arrived at the glorious lake. The water looked so cold and inviting, but to his surprise the dog started barking , not the friendly bark it had been giving Grace, but the kind of bark a dog gives when there's a potential burglar about. Jimmy started for the water anyway. Merlin circled in front of him, blocking his path and refusing to move. When Jimmy persisted, by trying to shoo the dog out of the way, Merlin bared his teeth and growled! Jimmy backed up in shock. He remembered the sick feeling of impending doom he had felt earlier that day. The dog stood between him and the water, showing his fangs.

Grace took one look at the dog and stopped in her tracks. She stood by the edge of the water. Jimmy stepped back onto his path towards the water's edge, keeping himself in-between the dog and Grace, alarmed for her, and not sure what the dog was about. To Jimmy's greater surprise, the dog sat down... and wagged his tail, as if he was the friendliest doggie who ever lived.

Jimmy, determined to swim, again headed towards the water, but again the dog blocked his path and snarled. Jimmy picked up a small stick and threw it past the dog in frustration, hoping he’d fetch it, only, the dog, aside from ducking its head to avoid the stick, didn't so much as flinch. Next, Jimmy tried picking up a big stick, ready to swing it like a club.

"Don't hurt it Jimmy," wined Grace.

Jimmy, not wanting to upset his sister , let the stick fall to his feet,“That's all I need, a seven-year-old conscience,” Jimmy thought.

He was mad. No dog was going to keep him from swimming. He felt one of his reckless streaks coming on, and he started running towards the dog. It worked! The dog was so surprised by his sudden change in tactics that he leaped out of the way.

Jimmy entered the water at a run."Man OH man," Jimmy thought, "Wow, did the water ever feel so good," especially when it was over his head!

He could do that now that Grace was in no rush to get in the water with him. She was still thinking of the dog. Jimmy thought only of the cool water stroking his hair. The dog was now blocking Grace from the water. Satisfied that she would not follow, the he dove into the water and swam up to Jimmy as if to say,"I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

Jimmy waved back to Grace, but she would not wave or even offer to change her mind and join.

Then a frightened look crossed her face.

Jimmy yelled,"Relax, The water's fine!"

But Grace did not look relieved. Instead, she yelled something about seeing Lassie. Jimmy just shrugged and swam further out. He was having too much fun-time to pay attention to any warning from Grace. The dog still swam around him as if they were master and pet.

"I could get used to this," he thought.

Jimmy had always wanted a dog, but seeing as how they scared Grace, his parents had always said no.

He eased into a lazy back float which was suddenly interrupted by the frantic barking of the dog. This was not the happy yip a dog gives you when it wants a ball thrown it's way. It was a bark says “Warning! Alert! Danger!. Jimmy rolled over on his stomach and attempted a crawl stroke, but the dog grabbed hold of the back of his shorts with is its teeth.

"Get away from me you stupid mutt," Jimmy yelled.

The dog calmed briefly. What’s with the canine mood swings ?” Jimmy wondered.

Suddenly Jimmy had the strangest feeling that he was not alone. Something was in the water with him, not counting the dog. He turned and rapidly swam toward the shore, the dog hot on his heels. Then something grabbed hold of his foot and started pulling him down!

"HELP!"

He yelled, as a hard sharp pain shot up his right leg. He tried to fight; to kick... anything to get clear of the thing. But it held tighter and tighter, and the pain grew worse and worse! It was pulling him down! He could not go forward. The best way he could think of to describe what he felt was a sudden memory of the time he accidentally stepped on the tines of a garden rake. He still had the scar on his foot . He tried to fight. Kicking with his other leg proved useless. The thing held only tighter... and increased his pain.

He saw blood.

The shock made him almost faint, but he did not dare.

"Croc," was the first word that leapt into his mind. The pain was fading. Jimmy could feel his consciousness slipping away.

"No," he thought, "Crocodiles don't live in this lake."

His mind went fuzzy.

In one final effort Jimmy cried, "Help!"

But all he got was pulled under- and a large gulp of sickening water for the effort. If his mind wasn't screaming for oxygen, Jimmy was sure it would have made him gag with disgust.

The water which had tasted cold now tasted warm and fowl and full of green algae like foam and he could barely see through it. It was reddish green and dirty. He was sure he was now at the bottom of the lake until He saw the dog swimming below him. The thing which had hold of him let go for a second, then grabbed hold again.

Jimmy knew now he was going to die.

This scared him.

He still struggled.

He tried to look at the thing, but could only see a black-and-white ball of fur that was getting in the creature's face. Jimmy reached down with his hand only to have it bitten by the dog in its fury to get at the enemy. He stifled a scream for his hand and then took in more water attempting too get what little air was allowed. him.

As suddenly as it had started, the creature let go.

Now Jimmy felt light as his head reached the surface and he breathed sweet air. He gulped it in.

But just as relief began to settle into his screaming head, he was again pulled down.. The pause in the battle had given Jimmy a small amount of renewed strength, and he tried to kick, but the creature was too strong for him. His leg felt numb and he felt sick. Jimmy saw his life flash in front of him; his birthdays, his sister.....

"HIS SISTER!"

His mind cried out that he had to keep fighting.

"What if it went after her once he was gone!"

But his thinking was becoming to clouded he was slowly slipping losing his hold on reality.

He didn't… did… not want…. Grace to see him die like this.

Jimmy prayed. He continued fighting. He wasn’t sure anymore. Thoughts of his friend Meagan and the horrors she felt from the tragedy with her little brother came to his mind.

"Two Minutes,"she had told him.

"I wasn't looking for two minutes, and now he's in a wheel chair. The STUPID CAR!"

She had cried, chastising Jimmy for not wanting to pay attention to Grace.

"Why Now God," Jimmy asked.

He saw a bright light.

This terrified him. After all, didn't people see the light at the end of the tunnel before they died? He looked up through the distorted window of water above him, and, incredulously, what he saw was a face........... of pure serenity and love................with a sword in its hand!

"So this is the angel of death," Jimmy thought, "I wouldn't mind going with her."

She brought the sword down on the water with a mighty stroke! The water around him turned a deeper scarlet. The taste made him want to retch. There was feeling of relief in his leg..... or maybe he just couldn't feel it anymore. But no... something was still attached to it, only now it weighed a lot less. It was still thrashing, much like a Sunday chicken at Grandma’s just after she cuts the head off. He Shook his head, trying to clear his vision. Just as he looked up he felt something grab his hand. It was the light that he had seen. Was it orange? He felt himself being lifted . Jimmy pulled away at first. He tried to shake it away but it was too strong for him.

He saw sunlight.

His hand was being held by the woman he'd seen. His lungs filled with wonderful air.

Jimmy stared as a sudden calm shook him to his pith. It was so different then; the terror from only moments ago...

…or had it been hours?

His savior was more beautiful than Jimmy's wildest dreams of fairy-tales. She was more beautiful than models in the magazines. The ones he had thought were hot before just did not cut it any more after seeing this young lady! No doubt about it, he was now seeing the most beautiful girl he had ever imagined!

The girl looked no older than sixteen. Yet Jimmy knew better.

"No that isn't right," Jimmy thought.

She felt much older than her beautiful face allowed. Her hair fell thick, blond waves that floated down her back like a great cape. It accented her shape and clothing perfectly. Floating behind her, it looked like a lacy bridal train. Her dress was so white, it could have been formed of clouds. It, too, swirled freely around her as light as the finest of silks.

Jimmy couldn't help but think that not even silk was grand enough for this beautiful girl.

Upon her head was gently set, a woven band of golden vines which looked like Ivy. Supple young leaves wove themselves gloriously into her hair. Around her feet, she appeared to be wading in a delicate mist. It surrounded her and held her like a throne must surely hold a queen.

If Jimmy could have taken his attention off the lady's face, he might have noticed he was still treading water. He was almost standing in the water. He was at her waist beaming at her, her face showing nothing but purity and joy, and that alone was enough to hold him captive. Later, when Jimmy remembered this day, he would say that even if her face had shown pure hatred, she would still have been most captivating.

One look at this lady and one could not help but fall in love with her. Jimmy had heard people say this about small kids and babies, but this was the first time he had felt it about a woman.

Then it dawned on him he was smelling fresh air! It was the most pleasant sensation.

"Am I dead," Jimmy asked.

He felt as if he was floating in time.

"Have no fear young friend..."

The lady appeared to be reading Jimmy's mind. He wasn't sure if he had said his question aloud.

"...Though you would have been, if the dog had not been with you."

"The Dog?"

Jimmy had forgotten about the dog.

“The dog's struggle alerted me to your plight. It is few and far between, the times that I am awakened to the struggles of mortals, in these recent days.”

The lady's voice was as smooth as water on glass.

"It's a good thing you had the dog with you. Too bad you did not heed his warnings."

Jimmy looked around, ashamed, "The dog! Oh no. Where is it," he groaned.

His stomach was not handling this strange sensation of floating. He felt like he would be sick. Reading the distress on his face, the Lady kindly pointed over past Jimmy's shoulder towards the shore. He tried to turn, but his head began to swim again. He nearly lost the lunch his mother had insisted on him eating before he swam. The lady saw his trouble, and helped him look. What he saw ended what control of his stomach Jimmy had left. He retched until his sides hurt. Afterward, he felt a little better, but not much. This was an embarrassing thing to do in front of a queen at least he thought she was one .Why else would she were a crown . She didn’t seem notice.

The dog was lying still, battered and bloody on the shore. Sitting next to it, was Grace, and she was crying.

Realization hit him like hammer. His little sister was witnessing death for the first time.

"Why, "Jimmy sobbed, "It was just a dumb beast!"

The woman knelt down and took Jimmy's face in her hands.

"Actually, he was a very wise friend," the lady said.

Her voice was quiet and calm, with a hint of sadness, yet it contained the serenity of a gentle breeze.

“Some people see just a dog acting like dogs do. Others, like the girl, are able to see more than just a dog. They see and understand the friendship, and at times, the warning.”

The lady looked down at Jimmy's leg and caressed it with feathery fingers. Jimmy tried to get a good look at his leg, but the blood and torn flesh made it difficult to see how much damage was actually done. Shock had begun to wear off, and he felt the throbbing and the heat from his wound. It took a few moments for Jimmy to realize what he first seen as torn flesh was actually the bony greenish arm of the creature that had attacked him. It was still attached to his leg! He shivered and started to kick at it when it moved, but the lady's calm touch told him to stay still.

"What is that thing," Jimmy asked in panic.

Though Jimmy didn't try and rid himself of it, his voice shook with unchecked fear. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

“I will answer in a moment. There may be more of them, and there is little time to get you to shore. I will help, but sadly my magic is limited and has weakened from lack of use over the years. Mordred has many allies and I don't wish to make things any easier for them to get you.”

Jimmy wasn't sure how long he had felt the ground under him, but he found his leg to be hurting far too much to bear weight, and the creature's severed arm was making things difficult as well. The lady held fast to his shoulder, giving him direction and the strength to keep moving, and helping him not to fall. Looking down, He was able to finally get a clear view of the thing, which had attacked his leg. What Jimmy had thought were teeth, to his horror, were long-pointed nails, attached to a gnarled, fingered, and ancient hand. The nails were now, still digging into the calf of his leg, and refusing to let go. The arm was still twitching, but a bloody stump was all that was left of where the shoulder had been. Jimmy could only guess that the lady's sword had cut it from whatever creature had attacked him. The lady then smiled an almost evil smile.

“The answer, as I promised, is that it is the arm of Peg Powler, a wicked water fairy. She has spent centuries drowning little children like you.”

Jimmy almost protested at being called a child, but felt it was interesting to listen.

The woman continued: “A wicked creature she is. She will find it much harder to kill anything with only one arm! She's a selfish thing. The blue skinned hag Black Annus and Babyaga, with a house with chicken legs, kill to eat. But not Peg. She does it just for fun!”

Jimmy almost asked how there could be such things as Fairies. Then he looked at his guardian angel. He looked over where his sister sat petting the corpse of the dog.

Grace, was still crying, She looked up. In a flash, she stood up, smiling and laughing. What were once tears of grief were now tears of joy and relief.

"Jim….Jimmy you're alive!"

She ran to him.

Grace threw her arms around her brother but he pushed her away. Jimmy's stomach took on a wave of full nausea, and he half dove and half tripped behind a rock, expelling what felt like hundreds of gallons of the lake water he had swallowed.

When his stomach finally stopped heaving, either from the lack of anything else to throw up, or from pure exhaustion, Jimmy looked up to see the woman talking to Grace. It appeared to Jimmy that the woman was extending her hand to give Grace a gift; he couldn't be sure what it was but made a mental note to ask her later.

"What," he wondered... "what."

She looked so hurt, but Jimmy quickly hobbled behind a rock and threw up. Every so often, he would look up and see the woman was still talking to Grace and giving her something.

"What," he wondered "...what."

He’d have to ask later. Right now, he was looking at his lunch and he did not like that at all.

-Philip A. Moore