~ by Amanda Pizzalotto

“Arthur, are you sure about this?” asked Merlin.

“I want to see my heirs, and I’m going to choose one to rule in the future,” replied Arthur.

“Your reign ends with your life, Arthur,” began Merlin.

He paused and glanced at Merlin. “Then, if not my kingship, perhaps they will inherit my knighthood instead.”

“You will have them fight for the Light?” asked Merlin. “But all three will be perfectly capable of that.”

“I want one in particular to be the head of the warriors of Light.”

“Arthur . . .”

“Merlin, please, grant me this, at least. I will have no heir to take up my throne after I’m gone, you’ve said so yourself. But since I cannot choose an heir for that, allow me to choose an heir for the warriors of Light. Let me choose, allow me this kingly responsibility, please, Merlin.”

Merlin let out a sigh. “Very well, Arthur. Go – figure out how you shall choose among them while I bring them here.”

“Thank you, my friend,” stated Arthur with a smile.

Merlin merely grunted in reply before walking away. In a moment, he was in another room in the castle. It was his own room, piled high with scrolls and books. But three scrolls in particular were rolled out on his bed. On those scrolls were the pictures, names, and information of the three heirs of King Arthur – three adolescents who had never met, but all three had inherited something from Arthur. The teen in the middle Merlin looked at with a deep sorrow; the secret about his inheritance could no longer be kept secret from Arthur.

The three boys in question were Arthur William Wagner, Billy Bannister, and Bran Davies. Arthur William Wagner, or Will as he preferred, was a handsome, athletic brunette who became one of the best football captains for Avalon High. Billy Bannister was, surprisingly, an anthrozil, meaning he was half-dragon, half-human. His most prominent dragonoid feature was his fiery breath which, thankfully, he was getting under control. And Bran Davies. Bran was the weird-looking one of the bunch, practically all white except for his tawny eyes. He was known best for his quiet but stern personality, a personality brought about by the fact that he did not have many friends. Sure, he could have them, but his father was very protective of him, and Merlin was glad of it.

Merlin uttered a few words under his breath, the words quickly becoming a whirlwind of a chant. As his voice became stronger, the wind picked up speed, swirling around his room without lifting up anything. But that was because it was bringing something.

As soon as Merlin ended his spell, and the wind died down, three voices grunted and yelped. The three teens, the three promised heirs of Arthur – Will, Bran, and Billy – were sitting on the floor. First they stretched and grunted at the rather hard landing. But then the pain was forgotten as they looked up and realized they weren’t home. Their eyes fell on the wizened man who was looking at them with sad but loving eyes.

“Wh-where are we?” asked Will the instant he realized he wasn’t alone. And not just accompanied by two other teens, but also by the presence of the man.

“You three are in Camelot.”

***

Merlin’s words had taken them quite by surprise, and despite spending several days in Camelot to prove his point, they were still shocked and a bit unsure about the reality of it all. Bran and Billy both began to believe in it not long afterwards, but Will was the tougher nut to crack. It took him almost a week after arriving for him to start believing. But Merlin figured it had to do with the fact that Will couldn’t get back home.

Arthur had been thinking and planning the whole week for a test to put the three through, and did not know of their arrival until it was time to reveal the test. Merlin promptly introduced the king to his three heirs, giving him all the information he dared. Arthur was so happy to meet them that he held a three day party in honor of their arrival. He then told them of the test and what they must accomplish.

In order to take up the role of leader of the Warriors of Light, one of the three must complete the most tasks. The first task was to defeat a monster and bring back its head; the second was to travel to Avalon and pick three golden apples; the third was to battle the Green Knight; and the fourth was to help someone in need. Arthur made it perfectly clear that the first task could not count towards the fourth task.  

The three were unsure if they even wanted that task of leading, but to humor the king, they went on the quest.

The first task, surprisingly, wasn’t that hard to find, or to overcome. Billy ended up winning the day and beating the sea serpent with the aid of his fiery breath. He had never been as grateful to have it as he was then, and since no one else but Will and Bran were present, he didn’t have to explain anything to the townsfolk.

The group continued on their merry way, turning their horses towards Avalon. Getting to where the island could just be seen from the shore was the easy part; shouting across the channel to ask for access and getting on the island was the hard part. With as much shouting as they did, the three thought they were going to lose their voices.

Finally, someone rowed to shore. A woman stepped out of the boat, tall, elegant, and queenly.

“Who are you, and why do you seek passage to Avalon?” she asked authoritatively.

The three quickly explained their quest and revealed who sent them.

“Arthur sent you?” she asked incredulously. “So that he can choose one of you to lead the Warriors of Light? Then come, quickly! We have been waiting for you.”

“You, you have?” asked Bran.

She nodded as she waved them towards the boat. “We have. The Green Knight informed us of your quest and told us to send you on your way towards him immediately after you picked the apples.”

“Um, why is that?” asked Billy as the four climbed into the boat. He took an oar while Will took the other and began rowing.

“Because the last two parts of your quest are at the same place, in the Green Knight’s castle.”

“Really?” blurted Billy.

“How do you know that?” asked Bran.

“Because the Green Knight told me this only last night. He is a dear friend of ours and visits us often,” she replied.

“He told you?” asked William. “Why did he tell you?”

“So that I would send you in the right direction. I want my brother’s happiness as much as Merlin, or anyone else loyal to the king.”

“Wait, your brother?” asked Billy.

Bran’s eyes widened. “You’re Morgan Le Fay!” he exclaimed with a gasp.

Will and Billy seemed to shrink away from the queenly figure guiding them to a mystical island.

“If I were really that bad, do you think Arthur would have sent you my way? He knows I live here,” stated Morgan. As she said the word “here”, the boat landed on the sandy beach of Avalon. “Besides, it is my sister Morgause and her son Mordred that you have to worry about.”

“Wait, Morgause is Mordred’s mother?” asked Will incredulously as he glanced from the boat to the forests of the island. It didn’t seem like he wanted to get out.

Morgan nodded as she tied the boat to a dock. “Yes, but the two did not know they were related until it was too late,” she replied.

“Ugh,” muttered the three with looks of disgust.

Morgan nodded. “Very much so; now, enough of that. Which of you shall pick the five apples?”

“Five apples?” asked Bran.

She gave him what the three thought was an odd glance. “Yes, five apples, you must pick five apples. The Green Knight said it was needed as a part of his challenge, as well as part of your reward.”

“Oh, um, wow, okay,” blurted Billy, glancing at Bran and Will. “King Arthur only told us to pick three.”

“Well, two more won’t kill you,” replied Morgan with a soft smirk. “So, who shall go?”

“Well, um, Billy, you defeated the sea monster, why don’t you go first,” suggested Will.

“No, only one may go.”

“What?” the three teens exclaimed.

“And choose wisely,” continued Morgan. “The dragon does not take, ah, kindly to those who are unworthy.”

“Dragon?” asked the three.

Morgan motioned for them to follow her, and led them past a stone wall. Within the center of the encirclement stood a magnificent tree covered in golden apples. An elongated dragon had wrapped itself around the base of the tree. It apparently was sleeping peacefully away, but then it tilted its head.

“It’s listening to us,” whispered Billy.

“Hence why only one may enter,” stated Morgan. “These apples can heal whatever ails you, so we must take extra precaution to prevent such power from falling in the wrong hands.”

“But which of us shall go?” asked Billy.

“You, of course, you’re the half-dragon!” replied Will.

“No, Will should go,” stated Bran, startling the other two.

“Wait, why me?” asked Will.

“I don’t know how or why, but I have a feeling it’s supposed to be you, Will,” replied Bran with a shrug.

“B-but, if you’re wrong . . .”

“I don’t think I am,” replied Bran softly. He glanced at Morgan for support.

“It is worth a shot,” she stated.

Will glanced at each of the three in turn. “Okay, here goes.”

He walked slowly towards the dragon. The dragon opened its eyes, and Will paused. When the dragon made no other move, Will walked towards it even slower than before, but the dragon merely watched his progress. Will stopped only a couple of inches away from the dragon.

“If he allows you to step on his snout, then you may gather the apples. He will lift you up,” remarked Morgan.

“Uh, o-okay,” muttered Will.

He let out a shaky breath and proceeded to place a foot on the dragon’s snout. The dragon did nothing, and Will placed his other foot on the dragon’s snout. The dragon lifted its head, getting Will to the lowest branches of the tree. Billy and Bran whooped as he began plucking apples.

“Remember, Will, five apples and only five. No more, no less,” stated Morgan.

Will merely nodded as he quickly plucked the five apples. Once Will had all five, the dragon lowered its head and Will just about dashed off towards the others with a slight tremble in his step.

“Good job, Will!” exclaimed Billy as he patted Will on the back.

“Thanks man.” Will turned to Bran. “Guess you were right, after all.”

Bran nodded, seemingly perplexed. “Sure looks that way.” He glanced at Morgan. “Why is that?”

Morgan shrugged, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Perhaps you may find out in your quest with the Green Knight; speaking of which, it is time for you to head that way.”

Morgan led the teens back to the dock, telling them that they could not eat the apples until the Green Knight told them what to do with them. She gave them directions on where to find the Green Knight as she rowed them back to the mainland and took leave of them there. The boys watched her leave before getting on their steeds and taking off for the Green Knight’s palace.  

After a good night’s sleep and a hard day of riding, the three came upon the Green Knight’s palace fairly quickly. It was exactly as Morgan had described it – high stone walls that were nearly overtaken by vines, trees lining the inside of the walls like silent sentries, and three coppery spires rising above the trees. The melodious ringing of a bell could be heard over the sounds of birds.

“I hope that means we’re in time for supper,” remarked Will as he urged his horse on, followed by Billy and Bran.

They were greeted warmly at the gates and were led immediately to the main hall upon hearing of their mission. Everyone was just sitting down to dinner when the teens entered. The guard told them to wait before walking towards the knight sitting at the head of the table.

After the guard spoke to him, the knight rose and motioned the teens forward. “Welcome, travelers from Camelot, welcome! I have long been expecting you!”

“Yes, so Lady Morgan has informed us,” replied Bran with a bow.

“Wonderful! Come, sit and eat. You must be hungry and tired after your long journey,” said the knight with a smile.

“Um, well,” began Billy, glancing at his friends with a hint of concern.

“Oh, do not worry; while you are within my castle walls, you are safe. Your tasks take place outside the walls,” remarked the knight.

“Very well, thank you, sir,” replied Bran with another bow. “We accept and are very grateful to your hospitality.”

The teens took spots around the table, and were soon enjoying the good food and fantastic tales of heroism. After dinner, they were shown to grand rooms, where they slept soundly the whole night through.

After breakfast, the Green Knight bade them to dress in armor before taking them out of the castle. They followed him deep into the forest; every step quickened their hearts and deepened their worry. The Green Knight stopped in front of a strange structure, but upon closer inspection, the teens found it to be a church taken over by the greenery. The stone walls had refused to crack, as did several of the elaborate stained glass windows and the statues.

“Go to the altar, choose your weapon, and rejoin me outside,” stated the Green Knight. The teens walked slowly towards the altar. There, right in front of it, were five weapons – a sword, a trident, a crossbow, a flail, and an ax.

Billy stepped forward and picked up the sword.

“Billy! Are you sure?” asked Will.

Billy shrugged. “Sure, I mean, Bran’s instinct was right with the dragon at Avalon, figured mine would be right as well.”

Bran smiled and nodded as he picked up the flail.

“Okay, whatever you say,” replied Will as he picked up the trident.

The three turned, took a deep breath, and marched out of the church. The Green Knight was waiting for them, looking greener than before. The boys realized with shock, and a bit of horror, that the Green Knight had reverted to his tree-like self for the battle.

“Begin,” he said before charging them.

The boys ducked and dove away to keep from the deadly sword swinging over their heads.

“Uh, what do we do?” asked Billy as the boys regrouped after the third time ducking and diving.

“We need to work together,” replied Bran. “Billy, you have the sword, you concentrate on his sword.”

“What?” blurted Billy. Bran shot him a glare. “Oh, fine.”

Bran turned to Will. “Will, you concentrate on his legs. I’ll go for the head.”

Will nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

“Of course it does, because I’m the one having to deal with his sword,” mumbled Billy.

“Don’t worry about it. Now go!” shooed Bran.

Billy rushed out and parried blows with the Green Knight. Will jumped out a minute later and aimed for the Green Knight’s legs while Bran took to helping Billy with the sword long enough to get a good hit at his head. The next moment, Will tripped the Green Knight with his trident, and before Bran could stop himself, the flail made contact with the Green Knight’s head.

“Oh, dude! I don’t think we were supposed to kill him!” blurted Billy.

“I-I didn’t mean to! Will, the golden apples!”

“No!” came the Green Knight’s voice, strong and clear. The three glanced down at him before jumping up and yelping. The Green Knight’s face righted itself as he stood up. “You three have done well, but those apples are for you in your time of need, and only you. You are not immortal like I.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that?” asked Billy.

“Raise your weapons over your heads,” the Green Knight merely said.

The three glanced at each other and raised their weapons over their heads.

“Billy, repeat after me, ‘fire within me’,” the Green Knight said.

“Fire within me!” exclaimed Billy. The next second, a flame rushed around him, and he was dressed in golden and red armor. “Whoa!” he exclaimed, looking over the changes. The other two glanced at the Green Knight expectantly and excitedly.

“Will, say, ‘water around me’.”

“Water around me!” Will was soon dressed in blue armor.

“Bran, ‘earth beneath me’.”

“Earth beneath me!” Bran was in silvery and gold armor.

“Whoa, man, this is super cool! Are we superheroes?” asked Billy.

“You are the Mystic Knights, and you obey me. Unfortunately, on the eve of Samhain, the gates of Tir na nOg will close, and we shall be hidden from mortals for centuries, myself included. You will need this armor and these weapons not long after you return to your time. You saw there were five, correct?”

“Yes,” they chorused in reply.

“There are two more, stolen from our land. Merlin saw that they would not be found for centuries and would rise in your time in the hands of evil. This is why we called you here.”

“And why we must send you back immediately,” came Merlin’s voice as he exited the church and joined them.  

“How did you do that?” asked Will. He paused and thought for a moment. “Oh, wait, right.”

“But, what about King Arthur?” asked Bran.

“He was not supposed to have known about you,” replied Merlin, “but I’m afraid he managed to get into my room and saw my notes. Thankfully, he only saw you three.”

“Only us three?” asked Billy.

“You mean you were looking at more?” asked Bran.

“Two more, one for the crossbow and one for the axe. You must find their owners immediately upon your return,” stated Merlin.

“Who were you looking at?” asked Bran.

Merlin looked specifically at him as he spoke. “The crossbow for Julia Grant and the axe for Xander King.”

“And remember these words; for the crossbow, Julia must say “air above me”, and Xander must say “forest before me” in order for these to work,” stated the Green Knight.

Bran’s cheeks began to redden; Julia was the girl he had a crush on! Oh, this would be fun.

“However, like you three just did, you must defeat a creature of ancient mythology, like me. Though they will most likely have to defeat a Fomorian, not a particularly easy foe to defeat.”

“I’m sure they’ll be able to handle it with our help,” stated Billy.

“Will we ever see you again, Mr. Knight?” asked Will.

“You shall, for when you least expect it, the gates of Tir na nOg will reopen. But until I return, you may count on my friend Herne the Hunter to aid you. He alone will have the wisdom you need. Now, Merlin, if you please, send them home.”

Merlin nodded and handed the last two weapons to Bran and Billy. “Good luck, to all of you. And remember, the apples are to be used only in extremely dire situations. You may cut them up and carry a piece or two with you at all times; they will not go bad.”

“But, what about King Arthur?” asked Bran, more softly this time.

Merlin patted his shoulder. “I will tell Arthur the results of your quest.”

“What are the results of our quest?” asked Billy.

“That Bran is the leader.”

The three glanced at him in shock.

“But . . .” began Will.

Merlin shook his head. “No more questions, it is time.” He muttered a few words under his breath, and as before, the three traveled by wind.

Once they found themselves back home, they quickly made off to find the last two members of their team, and to begin their adventures as the Mystic Knights.

~~~

 The various characters of Arthurian legend plus:   

Bran Davies – The Dark is Rising sequence

Will Wagner – Avalon High

Billy Bannister – Dragons in Our Midst series

Julia Grant – Aedyn Chronicles

Xander King – Dreamhouse Kings