ă€ŠThe New Queenă€‹


 Prologue

    The rules are the rules and they were set in stone many eons ago.

    The rules cannot be changed, bent or broken.

    The end of all worlds is to come and our champions have to follow these rules.

    At times a simple dice roll will decide the outcome of a match. Yet luck cannot and will never better our brave champions for surely their skills and heart will overcome all obstacles.

    Those on the side of the status quo could not decide on their champions so they were chosen by a set of dice. A group of seven friends. In those brave few we entrust our very existence. They represent growth , life and the continuation of everything.

    Each word whispered from unseen lips. Barely heard, not that the voices spoke to anyone; they were part of our story, of all our stories.

    Earth.

    Fire.

    Air.

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    Water.

    Time.

    Wisdom.

    The Heavens.

    "Welcome our heroes. Welcome our champions. " The dissonant voices whirled in a strange hypnotic symphony.

    "Let the games begin." A clear but aged voice cut through the melody, sounding like nails scratching a chalkboard.

    "It is not a game, it is existence." The many voices replied like smoke whirling up from a magical campfire. "Existence, existence."

    "There are rules. We may win or may lose. It is naught but a game. A cruel sport where we must justify our right to be." The same voice became younger, less weary.  "We must play to win as if our lives depend on it, because they do.  The rules allow us to help and I will do just that. I chose an eighth, a storyteller so to speak they may perhaps be a bard. If we survive we will want our tales of daring immortalised. Plus why leave a spare? They are a group of eight friends so let''s use them all."

    "I will help." A woman''s voice a whisper that changed to a sing song chime. "Help, to live, help to exist. We may often have been on different sides my dear adversary but I still want to have been."

    The male voice laughed, almost like a booming thunder storm. " Us working together hell must actually be freezing over."

    "We need more. " The female voice continued even as his once booming laugh twisted to a strained giggle.

    "They will join if they want to be and there are enough selfish beings in that chorus.  We should have chosen an army and now we have lost time and must rely on untrained and less powered humans. From all of the heavens, worlds, time and universes we have almost nothing to work with." He waved his hands as if the conversation was over and indeed it was, for now.

 Chapter 1 - Georgia

    ˇ°When they sleep with dreams so vivid and vibrant they would look and feel real.  They were in fact real.  When the chosen few  slumber, realms, worlds and all times can and must be crossed.  All fates need you, you chosen few.  Sleep, adventure and fight well.ˇ±

    The Symphony of Voices

    Georgia started to speak, her voice stuttered and her vowels had started to flatten.  All the work with the coach to lose her coarse northern accent that her fathers parents hated.  They may be her guardians, they accepted the role, not because of love but simply because she had no one else.  Three deep breaths later she was steady enough to talk.  "I don''t want this but if one of us doesn''t stand for school council can you imagine what Penelope will do.  She will make our life a living hell."

    They sat around the table in their common room, for some reason a group of eight misfits had found themselves together and now they were close to sitting their final A-level exams.  Each of them seemed so different and yet they actually enjoyed each other''s company.

    Louisa was frantically scribbling random colourful jottings on white copier paper.  Georgia  stared at the childlike drawings.  She was distracted by her friend who had started with these sketches randomly, it was distracting.

    "Stop."  Georgia  shouted above the friendly chatter and everyone but Louisa stopped.  Her scribbles had become more violent and urgent.

    "What?"  Louisa barely looked up from her scribbles. Her eyes glanced then nothing.

    "Stop, right now."  Georgia  grabbed at her friend''s hand to stop them.

    "I can''t, it''s like I''ve gone bloody crazy, out of my mind."  She tried to flex her hands.  "I dreamt of things I needed to get on paper and we know I can''t draw, I''m going to do creative writing and English literature at Uni not art."

    Everyone nodded in agreement except Georgia who didn''t understand what they were agreeing with.

    "It''s just exam stress."  Georgia said so firmly in her knowledge as she barely stifled a yawn.

    "Nah, seriously mate." Aiden said in his lazy Australian drawl.  "It''s like last night was technicolour flashes of a brilliant nightmare."

    "What he said."  Graham hadn''t stopped nodding like one of those crappy nodding dogs that you saw in kitsch shops.  His soft Scottish baritone sounded like a gentle melancholic folksong.

    "Did you not dream?  Not see?"  Sophia asked in her soft Irish lilt.

    "I didn''t sleep."  Georgia answered as if they were crazy for needing sleep before she yawned a wide o again.  "I needed to study more than I needed to sleep."

    "You think we''re crazy?"  Aiden asked.  "You were always the stable and grounded one.

    "If I don''t get into my first choice.  My grandparents will end me."

    "Yeah, yeah. We know they''re the snobbiest snobs ever but they won''t end you.  You''ll just have to get a job with the commoners."  Aiden continued even as she yawned again.  "Georgia just have a nap, it''s the weekend.  You''re no good to anyone if you collapse, that includes you."

    She curled up on the sofa without even thinking she was exhausted.  She wasn''t sure how long it took her to fall asleep but she was sure that her dreams were scary, bright and so vividly colourful.

    "My queen."  The voice was soft and yet insistant through the bright swirling fog.  "My queen, you need to join your friends.  We need you all."  The voice wouldn''t leave her as she seemed to be floating through the swirling colours she tried to move but her limbs were leadened as if she were both light as air and yet each tendon, muscle, bone and joint were tethered.  Panic settled inside her.

    "Don''t panic my queen, all will clear when it is time and as time is short it will clear soon."  The voice seemed further away, the message still seemed for her as random visions popped out of the fog.  She tried to grab at items but she was still tethered, she was freezing, the chill seemed to seep into her right to her bones and yet she could feel sweat beading at the nape of her neck.

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    She grabbed at the crown that forced itself out of the swirl and still her limbs didn''t move.  The crown.  Just like Louisa had scribbled but it looked so solid and just out of reach.  She started to move again as she floated through different locations, one after another not long enough to take in details but enough to see that nothing made sense.

    She floated like a helium balloon tethered by a pretty curling ribbon.  She breathed in heavy pants as her panic became more real much like the  scenes she was floating through, she could taste and smell, not just see.  Then she heard screams, and dissonant noises.  Swords clanged, lightning flashed and sulfur filled the air.  More screams, everything inside her tightened as she fought to  move.  She needed to help, as she recognised one panicked shout it was Alex and he never panicked he was the Mr Cool of their group.  They never really understood him being with them, he was one of the cool kids after all.

    Her body jerked as she flew on.  New blurred faces, sounds and smells.  The screams started again as she jerked more.  Almost enough to break the tether as a screeched, high pitched scream left her lips and she was awake.  Sweat clung to her skin as her wide eyes jumped around the concerned faces.

    "What was that?" She huffed out each word through her gasped breaths.

    "Not a damn clue Georgia."  Aiden said as he let go of her shoulders and stepped back.

    "We couldn''t wake you.  You worried us."

    "You saw it."  Louisa spoke like an excited puppy as she jumped up and down.  "I''m not crazy am I?"

    "Now is not the time."  Alex spoke as their voice flipped from a clipped british accent to a flat US accent then as they flipped back again through their next sentence.  This only happened when they were stressed.

    "Georgia, you know I often talked about weird crap but this crap is the weirdest of weirdness.  We all had the same type of dreams."

    Georgia still wasn''t awake enough to talk but her body and breathing had relaxed enough for her to  push herself to a seated position.

    Silence descended like a gathering storm in the room, the only noise breaking the gloom was a pencil scratching at paper as Louisa continued with her frantic scribbling.

    They all jumped when there was a loud rat-at-tat-tat knocking at the door.  No one answered at first before it happened again. By the time it had happened for the fifth and loudest time Aiden opened the door.  "We heard you the first time mate."

    "I am not your mate, you do however need me as much as I need you."  A stranger was at their door.  How had this man got through school security and why the hell was his voice familiar, she thought.  She may have managed to sit up but she still wasn''t aware enough to speak.

    "How have you got into school grounds?"  David asked, obvious distrust in his gaze.

    She stared at the newcomer studying him, why was he putting her on edge so much?

    "Ah Miss Parker you see something, you understand?"  The stranger moved around the bodies that had crowded him.

    David grabbed his shirt collar, he was the tallest of our group well six foot five, with long limbs and hair longer than hers.  "You never answered my question and you talk to me, not her."  David jumped and let go of the strange white haired man she was noticing more details about him but she had never seen him before now she was so very certain she recognised his voice.

    "I don''t see anything.  But I do remember your voice.  You were there in my dream."  Georgia''s words were clear and sure.

    "Yes, I was.  My Queen, I am here to serve you.  To serve you all."

    Her friends gaped at her.  Their mouths seemed to simultaneously drop to the ground in a strange choreographed dance.

    "I am no one''s queen."  She shook her head violently.

    "You want to stand for the school council Georgia.  Is that what he means?"  Sophia asked as if considering the man and his words.

    "I don''t know, I don''t understand."  She rubbed at her temples.  Her thoughts were swirling much like the vibrant fog from her recent dream.

    "You need to understand and soon my queen.  Everyone''s fate relies on you all."  His arms waved around the room wildly like a conductor trying to keep control of an orchestra filled with errant cats.

    "Mate you look and sound more than a little on the crazy scale."  Aiden drawled he seemed calm and yet she noticed the slightest tick on a muscle near his left eye.

    The crazy conductor clicked his fingers and

    Graham jolted his spine straightening.  "Crap.  It is real."  His usually soft voice hardened to a harsh growl as his hand moved to clutch his chest over his heart, before he sank to his knees.

    "I''m sorry Graham, they need to understand and showing works so much better than telling.  If we had longer and the clock wasn''t ticking I wouldn''t have done this."  The stranger suddenly looked like their age, late teenagers all seventeen or eighteen.

    She couldn''t move as her friends all rushed to Graham''s aid.  Not that they could help their stricken friend.  All the panicked voices swirling into that vibrant fog and her limbs became leadened.  "Enough."  she said to no one and everyone in the room as she tried to move.  Just like her dream, but she was awake wasn''t she?

 Chapter 2 - Georgia

    ˇ°As the champions awaken worlds collude and collide.ˇ±

    The Storyteller''s first true vision

    Georgia woke in her bed a strangled cry on her lips.  It had all been a nightmare the sort of bad dream just like how she suffered after her parents death in the car crash.  The one she shouldn''t have survived and yet here she was.  Awake with such a heavy thudding beat in her heart she might not keep that status for long.

    Her limbs were still heavy, so heavy moving took all her energy and she had little of that left to give.  She felt so hungry, ravenous like she could devour a feast yet usually when she was stressed she would eat like a bird, a very small bird.  All her effort managed to do was lift her head from her soft pillow.

    "My Queen."

    Hell, was she still dreaming?  Was she awake?  She didn''t know, didn''t understand.  She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms and then looked to where the voice had drifted from.  There was no one near her bed.

    "You must return to slumber.  They need your anchor to bring them home.  You are the key, rest my Queen."

    She wanted no she needed food and yet it was like the sandman was pulling at her until sleep took over again and the weight settled in again.  Her dreams were filled with heavy fog again but rather than bright and vivid it was thick, gray and had an acrid smell. Like her nostrils and taste buds were coated with tar, burning tar.

    "I am an anchor, I must keep them safe."  The words entered her mind.  "I must follow the rules but I must win.  I am not the key but a piece of the puzzle."

    Then she saw it, something that made her heart soar even though everything was so weighted.  She saw her parents happy and waving at her.

    "Mum.  Dad."   She whispered.

    "We are proud of you Poppop."

    A small smile crossed her lips as she tugged a rope attached to her, it was getting too long she knew if it were too long she couldn''t keep hold.  She didn''t know how she knew that but it was a truth she was sure of in her mind and she trusted it.

    When she looked back to find her parents they were gone but now she saw her disapproving grandparents at their son''s graveside.  They ignored her, she was only six and dressed appropriately for a funeral her face was blotchy with tears.  She had been too far away to hear their hushed conversation that day.

    "We have to protect her."  Her grandfather spoke so kindly, so gently.

    "They got too close this time."  Her grandmother agreed.

    "I don''t like it sweetheart but cruelty is the only way.  If she has ties to us they will find her and she is too precious."  Her grandfather spoke like he was going to continue but she had to start pulling in all the ropes and they disappeared as she tugged in 7, the shimmering strings, they were pretty she liked her strings.

    She pulled at them one at a time. They didn''t move easily. Each one took great effort. She could almost hear an old sea shanty in her ears like she was heaving in her catch but this wasn''t a catch, she understood now she was bringing back her friends.  She needed her friends and everyone needed them all.  She didn''t quite know how she knew but understanding was seeping in as if knowledge was her unlikely friend.

    Once each string was in and she hoped, because right now hope that what she knew was correct was the only thing she had she dripped in sweat and her body ached.  It was as if she had nothing else left to give but she would keep the strings close until they woke, she would keep them safe even if she hurt.

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    "My Queen."  The voice spoke to her again.  "You have done your duty this time you can wake up."

    "I can?"  She asked as water pooled in her eyes and started to streak her face.  Why was she crying?  "Will you explain?"

    "You know and understand.  You all do.  I cannot enter your domain right now. None of you are strong enough but you will be.  You must be."

    She pushed herself off the bed and rested legs dangling, a glass of orange juice was sat on her bedside table with a note.

    /Drink my Queen.  Then meet with your friends. You need to talk to continue with your travels.  Her and there and everywhere./

    What in the living hell was happening?  Oh she knew and yet she didn''t want to acknowledge, but she drank the juice left for her.  It was sweet and tart and chilled and perfect.  How had it been sitting there for hours but it was still perfect?

    Once she had slid her feet into soft, well worn slippers she padded her way to the bathroom she needed to be fully dressed and everything in place to meet her friends.  She wanted her armour in place. She had no clue if she was a queen like this stranger had said but queens were fierce and graceful right.  She could do that.

    When she stepped into the common room she didn''t know what she would face but it wasn''t all her friends ashen faced, disheveled and quiet.  They didn''t do quiet.

    "Georgia you''re finally here."  Louisa said her voice cracked as she thumbed through sketches and words.  Settling on the one she was after she prodded at the paper it had words scribbled in haste.  Georgia studied the words for a moment.

    "They are true are they not?"  Georgia tilted her head in question.  "Your words, your vision?"

    "I know but seriously like what in the living hell is happening?"

    "I think we''re all screwed."  David replied with a tightness on his lips.  His Welsh was up, he was like her he tried to hide his accent but it generally slipped when he was angry.

    "That I agree on mate."  Aiden''s voice seemed a calm easy drawl though he was definitely trying to hide the obvious tension in his body.

    The sharp rat-a-tat-tat at the door made them all jump.  Alex almost ran to the door to open it.  Mrs Hodge, their house mother was standing there with two bags that seemed to be at breaking point.

    "You didn''t make it down to dinner or breakfast and I thought you must be starving and thirsty."  The first bag was full with wrapped sandwiches and a big box obviously full of hashbrowns, the second bag had different cans of pop and  chocolate bars with a homemade cake balance on the top in a round tin with a clear lid.

    "You are a saint, Mrs Hodge."  Alex replied their accent was its best clipped English.  They were putting everything out on their big dining table, quietly and efficiently knowing which seat needed what so when everyone sat down they all had access to their favourites.

    "No, dear not a saint but I know how you all can get caught up in your studies and whatnot.  I''ll keep your fridge and snack draw stocked up, don''t you all worry."

    She left without another word as they were devouring the sandwiches before they''d even sat down.

    "I can''t believe how hungry I am."  Louisa mumbled between bites of food, her accent slipping from Canadian to French back to Canadian as she continued.  "So that happened last night."

    "That did happen and it scared the hell out of me."  Wisdom said through a satisfied sigh as she almost inhaled a hashbrown.

    "You."  Lisa gestured towards Georgia.  She worked hard to hide her northern accent too.  "You kept us anchored and made sure we got back.  We could have floated away and yet we didn''t."

    Georgia nodded before glancing around at everyone.  Graham wasn''t eating. His colour was still not great she frowned leaving her own food and drink and opened a can of his favourite pop placing it in his hand.  She lifted it to his mouth and only when he started to drink did she speak.  "Thank you."

    He stuttered his words as he spoke.

    "The countdown began many days ago, I can''t go backwards but I can slow things.  It hurts, it''s tiring but I don''t think there is another way."  She took his drink from him and handed him a sandwich.

    "I think we all understand but you need to fuel your body and mind.  If we are to win you my friend will give us the time to learn, to progress and become what is needed."

    "If every second becomes an hour, a day, a year, a century then we have time."  He said as he placed his hand over his heart.  Obvious strain etched in the lines on his face that seemed to have appeared overnight.

    "We won''t waste your precious gift Graham.  Now eat.  I do mean everyone eats.  I don''t know what is coming but I do know it''s not going to be easy or kind."

    Georgia sat back down and they didn''t talk again until they finished all their feast.

 Chaper 3 - Louisa

    ˇ°They will be tested and challenged.  They must prove themselves worthy.  We believe in their propensity for greatness.   Without our fullest faith in them , from us all we may be lost."

    The Symphony of voices

    Lisa had insisted they all go for a walk after eating and drinking their fill, it felt good and Louisa inhaled deep breaths.

    Louisa was convinced they were all going to pop and they of course hadn''t.  She had eaten more in one meal than she had in days.  She was always on a diet of some kind trying to lose the excess weight that her mama had called puppy fat.  It still hadn''t gone anywhere and she was now eighteen damnit.  She felt like a ball compared to her friends, she knew she wasn''t that big but she was soft no matter what she did.  Georgia had insisted she should dress to her beauty and ignore the haters.  So she''d stopped hiding under tent-like clothes and had started to grow into herself even though she kept trying to lose, just a kilo.

    Alex snuck up on her and wrapped their arms around her as they pulled her to a stop.  "You look radiant today Chere."  They purred in her ear.  "The air is doing you good, you have colour in your cheeks and you will accept you for you."  They grinned as they popped a chaste kiss on her cheek that was indeed glowing from the chill as Autumn began to show itself.  The walk into the forest had relaxed them all and they had needed it.

    They sat on the stone circle in the clearing, their regular meeting spot.  The Autumn leaves rained down on them as a small gust of wind helped to remove the ever changing canopy.

    "We need to hold hands."  Louisa spoke low, out of nowhere her accent often jumped when she was scared or angry but it held firm in a flat Canadian tone "Don''t argue just do it.  Danger, there is danger approaching."

    She had to be strong, something was coming and truthfully she couldn''t be sure if there was a test or they were all going to be brutally murdered.   She truly hoped brave and strong would be enough as her wide opened eyes were flicking about looking for what was approaching.  She grasped out her hands and they followed her lead as the gust of wind became a gale and the clouds shifted fast until darkness descended like night on them.

    "Don''t let go, whatever happens.  We have strength as one"  Louisa screamed as the storm seemed to whip up the air around them while lightning charged the air around them.  She nodded at Georgia who closed her eyes and started to take deep breaths.  If she was the anchor she would have to keep them all steady and she would because she knew her friend was the most dependable of them all she had never let one of them down even at risk of meeting her guardians wrath.

    She glanced at Graham who was obviously suffering but followed Georgia''s deep breathing as their hands clamped tighter.

    "We may never be fully prepared but we will always work together."  Louisa shouted to the storm above them as rain now fell like a punishingly icy shower.  Aiden nodded as he closed his eyes, then Lisa and then everyone except Louisa whose unblinking eyes was still seeking whatever was coming for them.

    It seemed as each of her friends relaxed and breathing changed to a steady rhythm things improved and the storm lifted one small piece at a time.

    "Perhaps all is not lost."  The man who entered the clearing looked like he belonged to one of those medieval fayres and would be jousting sometime soon.  She watched his gaze land and stay upon Georgia for what seemed like too long.  "I know you believe the pen is mightier than the sword dearest bard, but there are times when what is needed is an actual sword.  Only one here can yield my sword and she I fear may be too much of a little bird to do so with force but she will learn or we will perish."  He placed the beautiful shining weapon next to Georgia before placing a hand on her shoulder.  "You are of my blood, I believe in you."

    Louisa shivered as the cold was really burying itself deep.  "We can''t just walk into school with a sword Sir.  As pretty as it is.  It is really very lovely but weapons are contraband."

    "I understand that bard, if you want to address me properly then you should use your highness not Sir."  He chuckled lightly as her mouth opened in a small O.  "When my heir takes it, it will become what she needs and scriveners need pens so they can scribe do they not?  When danger draws near and she needs the sword it will become that."

    "Your heir?"  Louisa''s words came through chattering teeth.

    "Indeed, seemingly random choices and happenings aren''t always random.  I believe you are all headed for greatness,  for it must be."

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    "I don''t understand."  She was sure her nose had turned blue.

    "You will bard, you all will when the time is right for you to understand or you have progressed enough."

    With one blink from her he wasn''t there anymore and the air had cleared.  "It has passed," she said before pulling her hands clear and rubbing them together to get some circulation.  One by one they all opened their eyes and blinked.

    "What was that?"  Georgia said as she rubbed the shoulder that the stranger had touched absentmindedly.

    "A delivery for you Georgia" she nodded her head to behind her.

    Georgia turned around and they all gathered around the shining weapon.

    "Woah, It''s beautiful."  Aiden''s eyes went wide as he moved to pick up the sword but literally couldn''t shift it from the ground.  "How heavy is it? I can''t shift the bloody thing."

    "It''s for Georgia not you Aiden or you David."  Who had tried to move it after Aiden''s failure.  Georgia crouched down and she ran a finger over the sword''s handle.  "He said you were his heir and only you could wield it."

    Louisa smiled as Georgia picked up the sword with seeming ease as if there was no weight to it at all.  She braced herself to slice it through the air when they all stepped back to give her the space she needed and after one elegant swing it turned into a beautiful silver fountain pen.

    "Did he say who he was?"  Georgia asked.

    "He didn''t say so, but there was a definite implication."  Louisa replied deep in thought considering what to tell them all.  "He did look like he stepped out of medieval fayre."  Her words had a soft laugh to them as they left her lips.  "I have my suspicions about who he is but I''m not sure you need to know yet."

    "Dude you''re talking in riddles."  Aiden laughed.  "I''m way too cold to figure stuff out."

    Louisa had turned back towards the school.  "I think we will go back, get warm, dry and eat.  I don''t think I''ve ever felt this hungry.  Oh and dudes dont have these."  She pointed to her cleavage  peeking from the slight v of her clingy wet thirst.

    "Nope, not thinking that way dude."  He laughed again as they all headed towards the school.  "Though I gotta say Georgia either you are a lot stronger than you look or that magic sword of yours is something very special."

    They were met at the door to their part of the school by Mrs Hodge who had her arms crossed and was shaking her head trying to look firm but the soft smile on her lips made her look so friendly, she was a warm person.

    "Sorry we got caught up in the storm, it came and went so quickly but it dropped enough of the wet stuff so quickly that we got soaked."  Louisa spoke as they all filed into the cold stone corridor.

    "Go get warm showers, I''ll bring up dinner and light the fire in your common room.  Your fridge is full and your snack drawer full but don''t be spoiling yourselves, it''s roast chicken and all the trimmings now be on your way."

    Louisa was the first out of the shower and with dry hair and comfy warm clothes the common room was bathed in a warm glow from the fire as the flames danced.

    Each of their plates was piled high with all the goodness of a perfect Sunday dinner.  Without waiting for the others she pulled off the foil keeping the heat in on her plate and filled her mouth with a steaming hot roast potato.  It was worth the burn as the crispy exterior gave a wave to the perfect creamy and fluffy interior.  That engrossed in her plateful she barely noticed as everyone joined her and they all ate in companionable silence.

    Louisa was the first to break their silence.  "Graham.  Can I ask a question about something I don''t understand?"

    "Of course little miss scribbler."  She hadn''t realised that she had started to sketch again.  So this was her new habit was it?

    "You''ve talked about slowing time, yet our day seemed to have run as normal."

    He nodded, "I''m slowing clock time as much as I can and it hurts but it is my burden to bear."

    Louisa nodded as she pondered his words.  "Can we help you in any way?"

    "I know so little, let''s be honest we all know so little but we will learn and grow together."

    Everyone sat around the table nodding in agreement.  "Time for sleep."  Georgia said pushing up from the  table, she was keeping her new pen near her.  "Dream well friends."

    Louisa laughed and she couldn''t help it.  "Can we really do this?"  She went to the fridge and started to hand out sugary drinks then from the snack drawer chocolate bars.  "When I woke up this morning I felt like my energy bar was at zero.ˇ±

 Chapter 4 - Sophia

    ˇ°Winning doesn''t mean a victory.  All of your wins can become the victory we all need."

    A stranger to Georgia

    Sophia tried to get comfortable in bed but she couldn''t settle.  She tossed and turned for what seemed like forever though had she checked the clock it was only twenty minutes when slumber took her.

    "Nice of you to join us."  Graham stared at her.  "What took you so long?"

    When she looked around she''d joined them huddled  as strange looking purple coloured birds with sharp orange and red curved beaks flew at them trying to peck at them all.  She exhaled long and slow. "I wished I''d stayed awake."

    "So do I."  Graham tried to swat away at the bird as it managed to draw blood from his arm.  In anger he actually punched the creature, it screeched as it flew towards the ground landing lifeless.  A strange light seemed to glow around his fingers which caused Sophia to forget all about their winged attackers, she was trying to understand.  No one was really helping them and yet they were it was a strange thing to her.

    Georgia had her pen in her shaking hands but it didn''t turn into a sword, well a lot of good that was.  She was looking for a weapon for something because her tiny hands wouldn''t be much use at punching like Graham''s.  I can do this, she thought as she bent down and picked up a handful of rocks.  Another screech as Aiden had punched one of the creatures and it fell away from its rabid attack.

    After a moment of gauging the weight of the first rock she threw it hard at the body attached to the claws and beak that were heading for her face.  There had to be some benefit from the sports she had played all through school and with a silent prayer it made contact.

    She was concentrating on taking out as many of the murderous flock that she could and hadn''t noticed what her friends were doing.  It was like she had entered her own bubble when a female voice entered her brain.  A strange unfamiliar voice that seemed both ethereal and completely maniacal at the same damn time.

    "Imagine this." The voice in her mind said imagine the last rock in your hand is yours to control.  It''s that simple it truthfully is.  You can harness your mind and cast spells.  I will show you, teach you and be your guide."

    Okay she was going completely crazy perhaps the birds were indeed rabid and the scratch she''d received had let the madness in. She threw the last rock, this one was a little larger and heavier.  "Trust me."  The voice said softly as her hand rose not at her command but at the command of the voice in her head.  "Close your eyes."  She noticed that she was in control of her actions as she started to imagine pushing the  flying rock into the birds hard, and one by one they would fall.  The screeches barely audible to her as the voice talked to her.

    Then with no warning the birds all started to sing like the cacophony was their communication and they left.

    "What the eff."  Aiden asked Sophia.

    She didn''t hear him as the voice was still in her mind talking to her and she wanted to listen.  "You have magic in you Sophia but how we help you learn and work with your skill I do not know.  I believe in you."

    "Sophia?"  He shouted this time, right in her ear.

    "Whatchadothafor?"  She said in shock as if she had just been woken from a great dream and slept.  The words slurring together into one phrase.

    "Dude, you just did a woowoo thing with your hands and then a rock was all shiny and flying.  What was that? I''m all for getting rid of the crazy claws and beaks but that was weird crap."  Aiden said.

    "Honestly I don''t know.  I haven''t a clue I heard a voice and the voice did it all."  Sophia said.

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    "The voice didn''t do it all dear Sophia."  A stranger walked into the clearing where they stood.  She hadn''t noticed how it looked similar to the one they liked near school when she was being half killed by the crazy birds.  "For it to work you must have had some magical talent."

    "Now I know you''re talking some absolute bullsh."  Aiden said being cut off by the stranger.

    "There is no need to use that language, it is forbidden at your school and it shows you have a lazy mind."  The stranger''s voice went deeper.

    "Chill mate."  Aiden said, holding his hand up in a conciliatory way.

    "I am also not your mate.  Guide may be a good term.  Trainer where I can be.  I can promise I will do what I can for as long as I can.  Yes I know I''m speaking in riddles but some things cannot be rushed even if we have little time.  If you were told and shown everything without thought you would shatter into molecular pieces for while you are not without gifts you are definitely not epic beings."

    Sophia shook her head, anger brewing inside of her.  "If we are not epic enough for you, go and find someone more worthy."

    He laughed at her, he actually laughed as he flicked his hand and she fell onto her backside.  "We were indecisive, slow and you were chosen, at random maybe but the rules do say there must be a fair fight and perhaps the random choice gave us something amazing.  A group of gifted teenagers who are crossing into adulthood with just the skills we need."  He offered her his hand to pull her to her feet and she seemed to float back to a standing position.  "Not one of you is asking the questions you need to ask yet, I''m sure you will as you see more."

    The stranger moved away from her to speak with Graham and Georgia.

    "Don''t think I want to ask the right questions, this is all just some drug enhanced fever dream I''m sure and we''ll come out of it soon."  Aiden whispered to her.

    She smiled at him as he tried to lighten the mood but her brain couldn''t move on.

    "We need to get some actual sleep sleep, we have classes and to deal with Georgia wanting that school council place.  We''ve only got a few months left, and if we believe what we keep seeing all this is enough to deal with on top of real life."

    The stranger glanced up from his conversation and winked at her.  "This is real too," he said, waving his hands around.  "So very real it is a fight for everything, school councils, exams none of it matters if you all don''t win."

    She scrunched her eyes and shook her head.

    "Not what you wanted to hear huh?"  Aiden asked softly.

    "Not at all, but I do need some rest."  It was as if her brain listened and she wasn''t with her friends anymore and she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

    She woke before her alarm and she felt rested.  She hadn''t felt so content in months, maybe years even though she knew full well she shouldn''t be.  Yet she felt ready for her day and ready to battle what was needed.

    She''d headed to the dining room for breakfast after consuming the pop and chocolate because she was so hungry.  It seemed living two lives made for a hungry girl and when she saw all her friends there already eating they obviously thought the same as her.  She had every intention to grab a tray of food and join them when Penelope and her entourage surrounded her.

    "Do you think you''re better than us all, Irish?"  The blond with perfect everything sneered at her.

    "I''m not looking to bother Penelope, I just want my breakfast and to get on with my day."  Sophia made her accent even more Irish than normal if that was possible just because she could.

    "Yet you all haven''t been down for any meal over the weekend.  Special treatment much."  She wanted to wipe that sneer off the girl''s face.

    "No, we were busy and Mrs Hodge looked after us."   She was trying to keep her tone even but she could feel the blood starting to rush in her ears.

    "Indeed I did."  She hadn''t noticed Mrs Hodge move behind her and the group around her.  "I bet you''re looking forward to your breakfast?"  That she was, as the group dispersed.  "She really is a spoiled brat."  Mrs Hodge whispered in her ear.

    As she heaved in a long breath into her lungs she headed and grabbed a tray of cereal, fruit and her favourite a sausage and egg sandwich.  When she sat next to Aiden. He looked up at her from his tray that still had more uneaten food than she had on her tray even though he''d eaten at least half of what was there.

    "Alright?"  He asked.

    "You know I might just be."  She answered as she started to eat and enjoy the peace for however long she had it.

 Chapter 5 - Aiden

    ˇ°A touch from a past, present or future love, even a connection of  fingertip to fingertips can mean so much.ˇ±

    The storyteller while documenting adventures

    Aiden hugged Sophia as she headed for separate study classes.  He had his least favourite subject but had chosen it because it made his ma happy, that and it had been part of his scholarship deal.

    Today was practice exam paper day and that just made it all a lot worse.  He didn''t enjoy Math, sure he had an aptitude, hell it was fairly simple for him, but it didn''t mean that he wanted to deal with it.  He sat down at his desk following the rules, he actually did follow the rules of school for the most part even if Penelope called him an Aussie hick most of the time.  She was sure she''d slipped in forbidden curse words a fair few times but sometimes you just had to pick your battles and he didn''t want to battle a mean girl.  Especially a mean girl that was inline to the throne, sure she was something like one hundred and thirty in the list but the girl had the sort of connections someone from the Aussie outback was never going to gain.

    When time was up and the paper was complete they all had to sit in silence while the teacher marked them.  He needed to get out from the four walls and into the forest even if strange men with sharp swords could get to him, he''d felt even more confined today.  It was as if a restlessness had taken over him.  Sophia had seemed so settled like understanding was seeping into her, all that was seeping into him was unease and a real depth of not belonging.

    He was meant to be working through the study notes he had open on his desk but had drifted from thought to thought.  So much so when his marked paper was placed in front of him with a mumbled "Not too bad." from the teacher he almost jumped out of his skin.  Glancing at the mark he exhaled a long low breath.  The number didn''t matter to him and yet the sight of ninety five out of a hundred made him smirk.  For all his hatred he was shit hot with numbers.  Not that he could use the term shit hot outloud.  When the bell buzzed for lunch time pushed back on his chair and stretched as he got to his feet.  He was going to grab a sandwich and fruit then make his bid for freedom.  Well thirty minutes in the forest so he could work through these niggling thoughts.  You know like when you start picking at that loose bit of wallpaper and all of a sudden you have to totally redecorate.  He really had no intention of changing the entire room at all.

    Aiden was happy with his life, he liked his friends and other than Penelope and co, got along with everyone at school or simply ignored and avoided the ones he didn''t.  When he''d sat in their clearing and was busy devouring his lunch, he''d always been the fastest eater of their group but now he was ravenous.  He couldn''t explain it but since the weird shit had started to happen he  always had a hunger that nothing seemed to satiate.

    He didn''t hear anyone approach him, there were no tell-tale signs of twigs crunching underfoot or rustling of leaves and yet there were two more people sat with him in his circle.

    "What the."  Aiden said his words were cut off by the male stranger who appeared to be about his age with the bluest eyes he''d ever seen like they shone.

    "I am here to pass on information, nothing more.  No tests or threats."  The voice was deep and barely above a whisper.  "Simply to say, you must trust your instinct and learn the flow of your skills."

    It had started to rain as they sat, rain drops splodging on the ground and yet not one drop hit him.

    "Can someone please explain to me what is happening, pretend I''m some laughingly dumb Aussie from the middle of nowhere.  Cause mate that''s what I am."  Aiden said.

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    "You all know what is happening, you simply haven''t really taken that knowledge bone deep yet.  You will, you all will."

    "Bull."  Aiden''s word was cut off again this time by the female stranger, She had the fairest hair and palest skin.  He would have sworn she might be seen through but she was there in the flesh and  completely solid.

    "While everything appeared random, Aiden.  Do you really think we truly left our fates to a dice roll?  We are not naive and I believe you know that."  Her voice floated to him, the rain had turned to a deluge and yet they were all perfectly dry, like they had a freaking forcefield around them.

    "You need to accept this for what it is and become who we all need you to be."  The man took over the conversation, not letting Aiden cut in.  "We are as selfish as anybody and we like the lives we have, you and your friends have to succeed so our lives are still here."

    "Dude."  Aiden cut in quickly before they could carry on with the nonsense.  "I''m fed up with riddles and mumbo jumbo can''t someone speak in plain English."

    They both laughed at him before the woman spoke again.  "We do as much as is allowed and we can do.  There are times when we cannot reach you when we want to help but the bonds between worlds and times aren''t strong enough yet.  You all are not strong enough yet."

    She moved to stand in front of him and offered her hand.  He hesitated, his fingers moving as if they had a life of their own as they continued before he took hold.  He couldn''t move.  It was as if he was seeping into the ground, he saw a light glow from their fingers as she entwined her other hand around their hands.  It was warmth, light and safety.  He felt his breathing quicken.

    "You are a strong but flexible brave knight," she said.  "You are what you need to be."

    "Leave the boy alone, stop teasing him."  The man said, not angry or jealous, his tone was flat but brokered no argument.  "Our people will be visiting all of your friends, just briefly in stolen moments until we can do more."

    Then, without another word they had vanished.

    Even though the deluge had turned into an almighty storm he was perfectly dry when he got back to school and headed towards their common room.  He didn''t want to risk meeting up with Penelope again and he certainly didn''t want to explain how he walked in as if there wasn''t the sort of storm that would make him build an ark and yet not one drop had touched him.

    "Hey."  Louisa waved at him looking up and down his form.  "How are you dry when it''s like the end of days out there."

    "Nah, mate, we''re not quite at the end of days yet.  I guess I have a new superpower or something like that."  Aiden replied.

    "You were visited?"  Louisa wasn''t going to let him off the hook.

    "I was and they''re still talking in riddles but the rain didn''t get me, so I''ll take it."  He laughed.

    "You''re different," she observed with the slightest tilt of her head.

    "Nah not different, maybe annoyed that there is no straight talking in woowoo land."  He moved his arms, hands and fingers in a way he hoped help convey his words more.

    "Woowoo land is cool though.  Well sort of cool when we''re not fighting nasty beaks and claws."  She grinned at him as she popped a segment of orange in her mouth.

    "Feels like woowoo land is a damn game that we don''t know the rules and don''t know how to play," he said.

    "Then why do I know?"  She pointed to her head then her heart as she continued to speak.  "In here and here we will know soon because we''ve always known somewhere deep inside.

    He just shook his head and laughed at her.  "Why do I feel like you''re at the centre of the chaos and you love it mate?"  She shrugged her shoulders and grinned at him as he grabbed a can of pop from the fridge.  Whatever was happening he was becoming addicted to sugar.

 Chapter 6 - David

    ˇ°A team doesn''t become a team without hardship.  The storm comes before the air clears and  a solid path can followed.ˇ±

    A stranger to WISDOM

    David watched Aiden from the doorway, he was like everyone in his friend group they were all consuming enough calories to power a small town and they were drinking through what seems like gallons of sugary goodness in soda form.

    "You look as hungry as I feel."  David said in his own comfortable Welsh accent not the bland RP one he used to hide behind because his dad had told him he had to fit in.  Someone from an old mining family didn''t make the sort of life his old man had wanted for him

    "Mate, If eating was an olympic sport the only people that could beat me would be one of you lot."  Aiden replied.

    "Not going to argue with that.  I''ve got a pass tonight so we can order in pizza, I''m guessing we can get enough to fill us all to capacity and next weekend I''ve still got a shopping pass so if we all head to the local supermarket we can get enough in sugar and rubbish food to keep us going for a little while."

    "Yeah, not sure at what point Mrs Hodge will cut the line to sugar off so everything helps.  I''m not sure about the Pizza maybe tomorrow.  It''s cottage pie tonight and I kinda love cottage pie don''t want to miss it."  Aiden had finished his can. "I''ve got to get some work in.  My Math works all good, but who''d have thought English would be my downfall."  The Aussie laughed softly.

    "I see you, and raise you being Welsh.  English is my second but most used language and seriously I''m only taking those exams to make my dad proud.  The big joke is he is the proudest Welshman ever."

    They both laughed as David sat himself down at the common room table and rubbed his face, his study was under control but he''d been feeling uneasy since the wierdness had started.  He was sure they all were but little things were touching his usually calm demeanor and he had sudden urges to want to curse in Welsh at the most random of people.

    He''d not noticed how shallow the flames were in the common room fireplace, he almost jumped up to put a couple of logs on the fire.  He didn''t move away and just stared at it as the new additions finally took light slowly and the fire was no longer in danger of dying.  He became more fixated as the flames danced higher like they were taking control of him.

    "David."  A soft purr of a voice seemed to enter his brain then it disappeared as if it had never been there.  He moved his hands closer to the flames, he needed the warmth, suddenly chilled to his bones.

    "David."  This time the voice was definitely in the room with him, he jumped as he felt a small female hand at the small of his back.  "David."  The voice was more insistent the second time and he woke from his trance.

    "Oh hey Georgia," he said.

    "Your hands they were almost touching the flames," she said.  "I was so very concerned you were about to hurt yourself."

    She tried to lead him away from the flames but his feet were rooted to the spot.

    "I don''t need to fear the flames, G."  He grinned down at her.  "The flames are my friend."

    When she looked into his eyes she nodded at him.  "Don''t rush things."  Her voice was considered and quiet.  "I need to speak to the medling stranger but I don''t know how to communicate yet.  I''m hoping that tonight I can ask questions."

    He nodded at her.  "I think at some point we''ll all need answers but trust this," he said gently.  "I trust we''ll all be shown the path we need."

    "You taking on the woowoo then?"  She almost giggled.

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    "The woowoo seems pretty damn real at the moment doesn''t it?"

    "It does."  She replied.  "We need to go and get food before Aiden eats all of the cottage pie.  You know how much of that he eats and now."  Her words trailing off.

    "And now," he said.  "We''re all consuming more food than ever, I think it''s the double lives."  He winked at her exagerated and they both laughed as he hooked his arm in hers to lead her towards the dining room.  Even though he had to keep himself bent as he was over a foot taller than her.

    "There you are."  They were greeted by Graham who hurried them over.  "Get some food before Aiden inhales it all."  Georgia sat in one space and he squeezed his long limbs into the small space at the other end of the table and grabbed a  generous portion of cottage pie and a pile of vegetables.  He was busy pouring a river of gravy on his plate of food when a scream pierced the low murmur of conversations.

    The fireplace in the dining room had pushed out a rogue flame and singed a first years jumper as she walked by it.  Then shortly after it did it again this time it was aimed at Penelope, but it hit one of her friend group.  He was in his latin class and when he wasn''t near the witch of the school he actually wasn''t too bad of a person.

    The flames caught hold as the screams spread through the dining room and staff came rushing from nowhere.  The had him rolling on the floor as everyone was rushed out, David''s stomach growled in very obvious protest at not getting its fill.

    Mrs Hodge promised them she''d get some food to them shortly they just had to deal with the emergency first and she was good to her word when less than an hour later they were all eating plates of dinner and his plate looked similar to the one he''d left behind.

    The food was good and warmed his insides though as he stared at the fire in the common room he was troubled.  He believed he shouldn''t fear the fire, but those flames had been viscous and unyielding in their desire to hurt.  He let out a long exhale from a breath he hadn''t realised he''d been holding noticing Georgia''s intent gaze.

    "What?" he asked.  He sounded surely even to his own ears as he started a staring match with his diminutive friend.  She didn''t break eye contact, she''d never let him win at the stare match and it seemed like she didn''t intend to let him win this time either.

    "Whatever is going through your mind.  You don''t think of a lady like that."  Alex said calmly in his bland mid western accent.  "Not cool my friend, not cool at all.  You can address those words at objects, the world or the wierd stuff that is happening.  You will not even think those words towards those we protect."

    The flames in the fire danced, he could have sworn he heard them giggle as it spit out tiny sparks.

    "Are we going to be allowed to eat this time."  Aiden glanced around the table and everyone forced out a strained laugh as they began to shovel food into their mouths.

    The food had paused whatever had been brewing, but even satiated when there wasn''t a mouthful of food left on the table the temperature of the room started to rise again.

    "What in the actual hell was happening back then?" Sophia asked as she winced slightly.  "Also why does it feel like the temperature has been dialled up to flaming hot in here."

    "Because he."  Alex sounded bored.  "Feels called out by Georgina about his talent or something like that.  I agree with Georgie today cause someone got hurt here and they didn''t threaten us."

    "I didn''t control the flames."  Surely David had re-entered the room.

    "I think they picked up on your emotions."  Alex yawned.  "Control yourself or you''ll hurt one of us.

    "I won''t hurt any of you," he said gruffly as the flames danced higher a couple of sparks landed close to Alex and Georgina.  He frowned and stared at the fire.  "Stop."  The dancing didn''t calm as more sparks floated towards them again.  "I said stop."  His voice getting firmer and lower as he sucked in a deeper breath trying to calm his now racing heartbeat.

    "Mate you need to calm down."  He barely heard Aiden''s Australian accent.

    It felt like his heart wanted to jump out of his chest.

    The sparks were flying around the room now hitting all his friends with soft sizzles and he couldn''t stop them.  He wanted them to stop and yet he couldn''t gain enough control.  He''d started to hyperventilate falling to knees infront of the fire.

    "You need to breath slowly."  Lisa dropped to the floor next to him.  "Breath with me."

    He nodded at her before trying to take a proper breath and failing.

    "Breath in."  She placed her fingers on his forearm.  "And out."  She talked in through ten breaths and he could feel his racing heart begin to slow.  She kept going through another ten, then another ten.

    There were no sparks now and the flames were normal as if whatever had happened never was.

    "I''m sorry."  He looked to his friends who waved it away.  "I think I need to sleep, I feel exhausted."

    "I think we all need to sleep."  Georgina stood and headed out without another word.

 Chapter 7 - Air

    ˇ°They seek power, need their levels.  They understand.  We have a chance.ˇ±

    The Symphony of Voices in a gleeful tone.

    Lisa listened to the light breeze that knocked the tree branches against the window pains, like they wanted to be let in.  She frowned as she tucked herself into her bed, she was tired but she definitely understood the need for both sleep and their dreams in the hope they wouldn''t be trying to kill each other.

    The knocking almost became a relaxing rhythm as she closed her eyes and sleep took hold.

    The dream she found herself in made her want to scream and yet she knew she couldn''t.  Her friends needed her, it was as if she had been dropped in the middle of a tornado.  Twisting around her showing different pained faces, she tried to steady her breathing like she had done with David.  She rubbed her palms against her eyes just before the swirling vortex picked her up off the ground and this time she did scream.  She screamed so loudly that she hoped it was only heard here in her dream and not back at school because she didn''t want someone trying to wake her.  Despite feeling terrorised like the worst nightmare ever she needed to understand just what her skill was related to.  To understand how she could help.  To just truly understand something.

    She fully expected the wind to throw her about and then at some point if she survived bounce her on the ground.

    "Stop fighting."  She heard a voice.  "Stop fighting."  The voice said again.

    She wasn''t fighting, she was just so scared.  Her eyes wide as she felt her body swoop towards the ground like a horrendous theme park ride.  She screamed again.

    "Stop fighting."  The voice started again.

    "I''m not fighting, I''m petrified."  She shouted into the wind that wouldn''t just put her on the ground.

    "You are fighting."  The voice was getting more than a little frustrating.

    "I''m not.  She was having an argument with a twister.

    "You are, once you stop you will be released." The voice was at least saying more.

    She tried to calm her breathing again, and maybe it had worked as her toes almost touched the ground.  Her next attempt at controlling her breathing seemed to work and her whole feet touched the forest floor but like a tease she was taken off again.

    "Please."  She whispered as the wind seemed to calm around and leave her with her friends who were staring at her with wide eyes.

    "Way to make an entrance Lisa."  Sophia said through a soft chuckle.  "So I guess you are our wind lady?"  Her friend winked at her.  "Honestly before we''d worked it out we thought you were going to be like that cow in the old film.  You know."  She grinned and continued.  "Then you became like a hypnotist. Watching it was kinda cool."

    With no warning Alex moved to hug her, before wrapping their arms around her and pulled tightly.  "Sweetheart, you had us worried.  Then we realised."  They popped a kiss on the top of her head.  "We haven''t been asking the right questions to understand what we all are and what we need to do."

    With no warning Alex moved to hug her, before wrapping their arms around her and pulled tightly.  "Sweetheart, you had us worried.  Then we realised."  They popped a kiss on the top of her head.  "We haven''t been asking the right questions to understand what we all are and what we need to do."

    Lisa exhaled a shuddered breath.  "Things are becoming clearer and more confusing."  She laughed.

    "Indeed.  Some of us know what our skills are and some of us haven''t got a clue but being able to survive a twister is a cool skill to have and if a tornado is ever headed towards our school we''ll push you to the front of the queue."

    The laugh that had started turned into a strained giggle.  Then with a twirl of her right hand the leaves spun around them in a light breeze.  It only lasted for a second before it died and she scowled.  She tried again and the breeze started and stopped like a car engine that didn''t want to turn over.

    "I''m a work in progress," she said.

    "We all are Lisa."  David said as he moved behind her.

    "Someone is coming."  Aiden said as David turned so his back touched hers.

    "We''ve all got each other''s back."  Louisa said as she squealed when the ground started shaking.

    "Together."  Georgia said as she placed her palm on the vibrating ground.  "Whatever is coming it''s angry."

    "Angry?  I didn''t need to know that."  Aiden said. "Thanks Georgia."

    "Always happy to help." she stood and saluted him.

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    There was a loud snap, like a tree trunk not a twig or branch.  Lisa jumped just like all her friends.  When Georgia''s fountain pen turned into the sword she squealed.  Things were not looking or sounding good.

    "We can do this."  Lisa said, trying to convince herself more than the group.  They all made a noise in acceptance of the oath.

    Her heart was racing again as she fought the rising panic which definitely did not help when the ground jumped again.

    "What do we do?"  Aiden said the panic was clear in his voice.

    "We face whatever is coming."  Georgia said her voice wavered.  "We are grounded, we will be okay."

    Huge feet entered their vision. They were attached to ridiculously long legs, bodies and a huge ugly head.  They seemed to be looking to the heavens to check the creatures full length.

    "Doesn''t look very friendly."  Louisa muttered.  "It''s got the big, no huge going for it but it looks annoyed as hell."

    Lisa tried to make the wind swirl as the forest started to move in a hypnotic dance then she pushed it hard towards the creature.  It was knocked slightly off balance before the creature grunted and swiped at her and she flew the winds trying to keep her in danger but it all happened too fast as she crumpled with a pained sob as she made heavy contact with a tree trunk.

    Sophia screamed her name at her as she tried to throw a boulder it levitated but dropped almost immediately.  Then without warning the creature disappeared.  Literally vanished into nothing as the strange man who had met them in their first dreams walked into the clearing.

    "You are not ready."  He stated clearly with no judgement.  Lisa was convinced she must have concussion or something because Mrs Hodge was walking alongside him.

    "I could have told you that they are fledglings Merlin."  Her voice was kind as she took Sophia''s hand in her and walked towards Lisa.  "There are times to use force and time to use your powers to heal Sophia, we need to heal her here.  When we get back there our powers won''t be useful."

    Lisa groaned; she was alert, awake and in pain.  No it wasn''t pain, it was agony as Mrs Hodge took hold of her left hand and gestured for Sophia to take hold of her right.

    "I''ll start to lead Sophia but as soon as the healing starts I will be forced back there.  The portals and your powers aren''t strong enough yet and that is okay."

    A warm glow filled Lisa''s body but when Mrs Hodges hand was no longer there it felt like a true loss to her.

    Sophia whispered to her muttering words that were both unfamiliar and yet totally known.  She had to guess they came with their powers here but until they were ready they wouldn''t understand.  What she definitely understood was she was now floating above the ground, she was weightless and  the pain was slowly trickling from her body.  Then she lowered back towards the earthy floor.

    "That''s as much as I can do for now.  If I try to take more I may harm you and I definitely will harm myself."  Sophia seemed serene, her whole body shone.

    Merlin nodded at her and Lisa grunted, she still felt the after effects of her collision with the tree trunk but she needed to sit up.

    "You have done well Sophia and have spoken the truth but Lisa will not have permanent damage and  she will heal fast."  Merlin said.

    Louisa walked towards him and Lisa was propped up hoping that someone would ask the questions she had swirling through her mind, though she felt like the world was spinning every time she opened her eyes.

    "You are actually freaking Merlin from folklore?  Merlin who aided Arthur?  So that was Arthur the other day?  You need to tell us everything.  We need to know more, enough.  I need to know my purpose other than killing forests with my insane scribbles."  Louisa wasn''t so much babbling as letting forth a stream of consciousness that she must have swirling her clever creative mind since this all started.

    "Yes I am that Merlin, well a memory of him.  Our time was centuries ago.  Yes I was that Arthur again a memory of the great man."  He pointed to Georgia.  "That is what you think it is."

    Georgia was leaning against the sword, the tip touching into the soil as she sputtered and pulled it up into the air to consider it.

    "It is, I knew it was?"  Louisa had a triumphant grin on her face.

    Merlin chuckled at her.  "You, my young charge, are our storyteller, our bard.  I have to believe we will win and it will be you who writes our story. Not just writing for that is underselling your purpose, you will help us shape things.  You are strong, brave, intelligent and creative. What you offer this group is as important as everyone else."

    He then turned his gaze on Lisa.  "You are brave and foolish but it seems you are the protector of our group.  Mrs Hodge will understand and have some ideas of what you might do there to help here.  I cannot help there at the moment.  I''m too much a shadow of a memory and my strength is not where it needs to be so I will hope that the voices are selfish enough that they will continue to send you slithers of memories that can help."

    He placed his hand on Lisa''s hand.  "Continue to protect your friends. They may not admit it but they like the feeling that someone has their back and while you all have each other you offer something special."   A wink from the man and she was awake in her bedroom at school, she had pain but it was bearable.  On her bedside cabinet was a glass of milk and some paracetamol with a small note.

    "Take these and drink this then have a long soak.  There are bath salts, use them they are not magical but the arnica and warming herbs will help2

    She followed the instructions, she didn''t want to argue with anyone and when she finally got dressed so she could head to the dining room for breakfast the pain was nothing but a dull ache and manageable.

    "You okay?"  David asked gruffly as he carried her tray over to their table she nodded at him.  He''d made sure it was full of healthy and not so healthy food.  They needed it for sure.  When she sat down with a slight wince as she moved in a way that seemed to tug at something she had many concerned eyes on her.

    "I''m okay." She whispered softly filling her mouth with a huge mouthful of scrambled eggs so she could avoid speaking and then used her food to keep the pretence going.  She really didn''t want to risk anyone overhearing their conversations anyway.

    Alex tilted their head at her as they considered their words carefully

    "Our brave protector."  They muttered close to her ear.  "A little foolish I think but thank you.  Honestly sweetheart I thought I was going to have to get involved and I still don''t have a clue what I''m bringing to the party."

    She had finally made her way through the mountain of food David thought suitable for their night''s activities when Penelope walked over with a sneer on her face.

    "You are all perfect examples of animals at the feeding trough.  You''re eating so much you''ll all be like whales soon."  She sniffed a little.  "I''m on the school council now and frankly I''m going to propose we make food a decent amount not the obscene gobbling you''re all doing?"

    Alex glared at her.  "Yet we''re not putting on weight and doing well with our work.  Take your perfect little pout and go it somewhere else Penelope.  We''re just getting on with things in the best way we can."

    Penelope growled at Alex and was about to argue when Mrs Hodge came over to clear their table.  "Now, now Penelope unless what they''re doing adversely affects you so you don''t have enough to eat or their studies everything else is a moot point.  Just because I choose this job that you see as demeaning but I see as nurturing future greatness don''t underestimate me."

    Penelope''s face turned the colour of beetroot before she left, but she left without another word and that made Lisa very happy.

 Chapter 8 - Alex

    ˇ°Our heroes must learn how to become what is needed, when needed.   Different times, places and universes. ˇ±

    Merlin to THE HEAVENS

    Alex was happy when Penelope left the dining room, no happy wasn''t the right word.  Satisfied perhaps a better word.  They didn''t have anymore formal classes now, everything they were doing was  their push towards exams and the future and they would succeed no matter what.  The exams were the start to the next chapter of life even if the world was ending they wouldn''t risk their continued life not being on plan.

    The walk with Mrs Hodge was in silence, she knew and understood the need to talk but no pushing would ever be done.  Their house mum had become a necessary part of life.

    "Do you know my skill, I''m not an elemental, a healer or a timekeeper and our great bard is I think growing into her role.  I don''t understand."  They asked the voice slipping from clipped rp back to bland mid western when back in the common room and alone with the kind but seemingly clued in woman.

    "Well," she said, taking a long ponderous pause.  Then she hummed softly.  "I have an idea but, to be honest I don''t know for certain."

    "Why are you being so obstructive, no that''s not the word.  What are you trying to hide from me?"  There was a definite level of confusion in what they were saying as they tried to put their tongue on the right words.

    "I''m sorry dear, it''s not my place to tell you.  Just know you are special."

    "I get it, we''re all special in some way and I know I am just looking at me."  They winked at her.  "I have confidence I am enough but why am I last to know, to see?"

    "Because stories are told in the order they need to be.  Once upon a time never came at the end did it?"

    "Well no, truthfully I''m just hoping they all lived happily ever after."

    She snorted, the sound not like her at all.  In Fact she had behaved what seemed like out of character in the last day or so, very obviously looking after their group.

    "What I can say is I was sent here decades ago, it was as if a game of chess was being played by forces, gods or whatever we want to call them years ago even if we didn''t realise the game was afoot.  Yet we are here and now we are playing.  You, we are not allowed and will not be allowed to break the rules.  And now, I''m waffling like your history teacher.  Though truth be told I''m far better equipped to teach that subject than he is the old buffoon."  She chuckled and a warm smile turned on her face.

    "You love your husband?"

    "That I do, but he has no clue what is happening around him and that is okay.  I''ve accepted that I am where I need to be even if I could have been more in this lifetime."  Her eyes were wrinkled at the corner as she smiled.  "Now get along and do what you need to, I have a feeling today is going to be your lucky day and you''ll learn all about you.

    They grabbed a couple of drinks and some snacks and then went to their own room to study. For whatever reason they sought solitude, peace had become a siren''s call.  Plus the study plan waited for no one, nothing and even the end of days couldn''t compete.  At least for now.

    As the timer buzzed and called for a ten minute study break the pile of snacks were demolished, the hunger that had hit the friend group was actually a little disgusting so much so they almost wanted to agree with Penelope, the thought making them shudder.  In another life they''d have quite enjoyed ruling the school with her all mean girl like but that wasn''t the universes plan.  The universe was no fun.

    Their mind started to wander so even though the room had a definite chill they opened the window to let in some fresh air.  IF everything was freezing they might not want to sleep.  It seemed like the dreams not only made them all starve but also exhausted.  Perhaps that should have been his question of Mrs Hodge, she might have been able to help with that.

    Another hour of study followed before the edginess and unease hit them like a wave.  When they walked into the common room it was empty, where easy company when it was needed?  To make up for his absent friend he grabbed another sugary drink and sat at the table.

    "My chameleon."

    Their mom''s voice, which was impossible as she was with her family in New York.

    "Spoiled brat."

    They were about to curse when they felt their fathers backhand swipe them to the floor.  Licking the blood away and putting pressure on the split lip they looked around the room but there was no one with them was there?

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    Then they felt a tug, like they''d been pulled away from danger.  A tall lean figure stood in front of him in the friends clearing.  Though they hadn''t stepped outside and they were alone.

    "I''m sorry I didn''t get to you fast enough, that you know the darkness got to you first."  The stranger swiped his thumb over their split lip and the pain simply vanished.  "When we cross it gives the darkness a chance and sometimes they are faster, it can''t be helped nor stopped, it''s the rules."

    "How come we''re the ones playing and yet we don''t know what the rules are?"

    "A good question indeed but not one that I''m here to answer.  I''m here for you Alex."

    "And you are?"  Alex asked if their tone sounded harsh and impatient and you know what they actually didn''t care.

    "I am here to help, my friend."  The smile that crossed his lips held a hint of mischief.  "You know me as Loki."

    Alex''s eyes almost bugged out like they were on stalks and they took in a couple of gulped breaths before he started to talk again.

    "Yeah, alright.  Whatever."

    "After everything you don''t believe me.  Would you believe me if I tried to drag some more god''s along with me?"  The mirth was still there on his face.

    "You''re telling me I''m a god?"  Alex''s nose scrunched.  "I hate to disappoint you."

    "Not a god like me.  No you''re not as magnificent as I am.  You are of the Heavens, you''re a half god.  Your mother is quite a lovely lady."

    "Oh hell no."  Alex could feel themself turning green.

    "Too much information?  I''m never sure, humans are so squeamish over things."  Loki laughed gently.

    "You are actually my father not that bullying as"

    Loki cut their words off.

    "I am your biological father, you have my genes but that man has made you tough.  Helped you become what is needed."  Loki said

    "I''m calling bulls"

    "No you''re not, you''ve seen enough to know we''re not messing, we''ve been placing chess pieces on the board for centuries.  You are of the Heavens and you are a worthy representative of us.  A spoiled half god wouldn''t be any use to us, you."  The god paused.  "You will be amazing though your path to that greatness will be more challenging than that of your friends.  You will need to discover things and you will."  His voice dropped to a hushed murmur.  "I''ve always been proud of you, my child."

    When the common room doors flung open the god was gone, their actual damn father was a god.

    Alex sat unable to speak for a good half hour while their friends rushed about concerned until Sophia was dragging Mrs Hodge with her.

    "Alex won''t talk, their colour looks poor.  What should I do?  How do I help?"

    "I think this is something Alex must work on dear."  Mrs Hodge replied.  "Though likely food is required soon, I swear you''ll eat the school out of food at the rate you''re all going."

    "I had a visit from my father."  Alex said each word was hard won as their lips didn''t want to work.

    "How did the bully get in?"  Aiden asked.  "Do you need us to sort him for you?"

    "No my actual real father."  Alex stared at Mrs Hodge.  "Couldn''t you atleast have warned me?"  She shook her head and smiled as they continued.  "I can''t believe it."

    "This has got to be some good stuff."  Aiden sat next to him.  "Is it better than food because I really want food right now."

    Mrs Hodges had left them likely to bring food Alex thought because that was one thing she could make sure there was enough of.

    "Aiden mate, it''s neither good nor bad stuff but it is I think one of the craziest things ever and I have no clue what it means for us."  Alex stared at their friends.

    "Oh stop speaking in riddles Alex."  Georgia slumped into a chair.  "Just tell us."

    "My father is Loki."  Alex replied.

    "Like god of mischief Loki?  Absolutely cracking news."  Aiden looked up, a grin splitting his face.  "It means you''re all godly and can do all the work while we just sit and eat mountains of food."

    "It doesn''t work like that dear."  Mrs Hodge had returned with a big lasagne, salad and enough garlic bread for a double the people in the room.  "Alex is of the heavens.  Their skills will take longer to show and be harder to master."

    "Well that''s just a steaming pile of junk."  Aiden replied.

    Alex had gone silent again as Mrs Hodge pushed a plate of food to him before anyone else.  "Eat dear.  You just need time to process that''s all."  Then she started to dish up for everyone.

    When they''d finished eating and Alex had numbly just piled the food into their mouth, chewed and swallowed.

    "I''m working on the time thing. I think it''s slowing more there even if here it''s normal and that''s why our hunger is off the scale.  It''s still painful but at least I don''t feel like I''m having a heart attack."  Graham said.

    Alex considered him for a moment.  "Why do you not change your accent?"

    "Why should I?"  Came the reply, no attempt to hide his Scottish accent.  "People can take or leave me.  They don''t like me, they can go somewhere else."  He grinned.  "I''m straightforward, I can''t do the chameleon stuff you all do.  I am who I am and I''m content in that."

 Chapter 9 - Graham

    ˇ°A light, a person floating and then it was doneˇ±

    THE STORYTELLER as she documented the heroes trials

    Graham drew Alex into a full on bear hug.  "You''ll get there one day.  I promise."

    Alex smiled at him, obviously unsure.  "I''m not sure and now I''ve got a heap of godly stuff."

    Graham grinned. "You know it makes perfect sense.  Have you read about Loki''s exploits?  Please do cause oh lord I can see him in you."

    "I''ll add it to the reading list,  Now seriously Graham are you okay?  If you''re messing with time it can''t be good for you."

    He shrugged, but didn''t speak.

    "Oh no.  You''re not being the strong silent type, that''s too cliche even for you."

    Graham couldn''t help but laugh before replying.  "I''ve never been strong or silent but right now I can''t think about how the energy feels flowing through me.  It''s strange and painful but reassuring too."  He grimaced, he couldn''t help it.  "They''ve talked about leveling up. I''m hoping that doesn''t just mean I slow time more, I really want the pain to be a little less."

    "Can''t we help?"  Lisa seemed to stare into his soul.

    "I don''t think you can help with time anymore than I can help with other things.  We all have our skills."

    The friends all nodded at him as a loud Tic Toc could be heard through the room.

    "What is that?"  Georgia asked,

    her eyes opened wide.

    Tic Toc.

    Tic Toc.

    It was getting louder.  Graham considered his friends.  "I think you should leave, this is for me and I don''t want you to get leave."

    Tic Toc.

    Tic Toc.

    The noise reverberated through him.

    They didn''t leave him, his friends wouldn''t if they thought danger was incoming.  They were more than friends; they almost felt like family.

    "We can''t help when the woowoo happens solo but do you really think we''d leave you alone."  David said not a question, it was a truthful statement.  "Though if it''s some giant walking and talking grandfather clock I might run screaming."  He was trying to break the obvious tension.  There''d been too much tension in the past few days.

    Graham''s fingertips started to glow.

    "Seriously, this is for me it''s under control."  David was fascinated watching in awe as the glow seemed to spread before he was alone with whatever was making the exaggerated clock sound.

    The voice that greeted him was gentle and old.  "You are everything I expected you to be."  It was familiar, and yet Graham couldn''t quite work out where it was from.  It was Scottish just like him.

    "Who are you?"  Graham asked firmly, he felt nothing to be scared of.  The glow was spreading up his arms now.

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    "You don''t remember me?"  A question as he felt himself go weightless.

    "I feel I must and yet something is unfamiliar."  The glow was warm and welcoming as he felt it spreading through his entire body.

    "Ah you are and were always sure and solid.  You were my choice and you are perfect."

    Graham let the glow wash through him and just listened to the voice.

    "Uncle?"  He asked for the first time, unsure.

    "There you go.  You were always my favorite.  Though I think you probably realise I''m not your uncle.  I am as old as time and I gave a part of my heart to your heart when you were born.  You had a stubborn and strong streak from that very moment."

    "What''s happening?  I don''t feel afraid.  Should I?  I don''t totally understand everything"

    The voice chuckled deep.  "You are doing so well.  You are ready for this or it wouldn''t be happening.  You''re leveling up.  Think you''ll be able to slow time more. This will give us a year or so there. It means we have more time though it means you will have to bear the pain and pressure for longer."

    "I can do it."

    "I know you can."  The voice replied.  "The more you can level the more time you can give your friends but please understand it won''t be easy for any of you.  For however long we are allowed or it takes you will face great foes and have to battle yourselves.  Have faith my boy, have faith."

    The glowing and the warmth was leaving him as he felt his body lower to the ground, he was back with his friends in the common room they were surrounding him with concern etched on all their faces.

    "We thought you were being ripped apart."  Sophia said.  "Light seemed to be splitting you."

    Graham tried to talk but nothing left his mouth.  Lisa helped to prop him up and got him to take small sips of water from a glass.

    He couldn''t speak, he really wanted to as he clenched and relaxed joints and muscles.  It was as if his body needed to reboot itself.  He took some more sips of water.  Then he let go and cried, full on sobbing.  It was as if a dam had broken and he couldn''t mend it.  It was way past the dutch boy plugging the hole.

    "I."  He managed to get one word out of his lips before the tears started again.

    Aiden shook his head at him.  "Mate you''ll set me off if you keep going and I don''t like being a little crybaby."  A little chuckle escaped the Australians lips as he moved to look elsewhere, pretty obviously hiding whatever emotions that were building.

    "I think."  Two words and the sobs thankfully didn''t start up again as he took in a solid breath before continuing.  "That was a skill level up.  I''m not sure but I think my power ups may be faster because at the moment I''m using my skill every second in this world to keep that space from racing towards oblivion."

    "It makes sense." Sophia said.

    "What does that mean for me?"  Alex asked.  "I don''t even know what my skill is.  I''m going to be so useless."

    "None of us are useless, we all have our uses, just some are clearer and easier to see and we haven''t really spent any time in the other world.  I think we have our special skill but also will have to learn to fight, use magic and whatever other woowoo stuff we get thrown at us."  Graham was very thankfully beginning to feel almost normal, well as normal as you could be with what had been happening.

    Graham felt his mind wander; he wanted to be in the conversation with his friends because this felt so important yet he started to feel like he was moving into the workings of a grandfather clock.  This clock was large enough for him to walk around in.

    He really wasn''t understanding what was happening when a booming voice sounded.  "You must learn how to control this, how to become one with time.  "When You can control all time everywhere you will be strong enough to fight the final battle."  He blinked sure that he was finally losing his mind, he''d been so close since all this had started.

    With a shake of his head he was back with his friend''s conversation.

    "Has anyone worked out if we can practice our skills in this world?  You know, try and work on things.  I have so much to learn but I don''t want to make a mess with the rules."  Graham asked though his voice sounded quite monotone even to his own ear.  He could sound more enthusiastic but he still wasn''t sure if he wanted the responsibility that had been dropped on him from seemingly a great height.

    "We can try something, if it works then we can."  Georgia spoke with a shrug of her shoulders as.  "Shouldn''t at least one of us know the rules?  I feel like I''m letting everyone down."

    "No one is letting anyone down."  Graham reached for Georgia grabbing her hands and pulling her down until she was sat in his lap.  "We just have to ask some questions of people who might know, maybe Mrs Hodges?"

    When David sat next to them with a small grin.  "What I want to know is are we going to eat some food soon?"

    A laugh spread through them all when Mrs Hodge wandered in as if on queue like she got warned everytime they were hungry.  She  smiled at them as she spoke.  "I thought  you might be hungry, you missed dinner and well you know."

    Without waiting for an answer she pulled in the cart with boxes of fries and Graham''s stomach growled like a lion when he saw burgers at least two each maybe three or four.

    "You are a saint in human form."  Aiden said with lots of nods of approval and yesses.  Graham didn''t say a word, he was through burger three and onto four with enough fries to feed a family before he joined the conversations in the room.

    "Welcome back."  Sophia said softly.   "I''m not quite sure where Graham disappeared to but it''s good that you''re back now.  You morphed into Aiden for a while and it wasn''t pretty having two of you at the dining table."  They all laughed and talked about something and nothing while they finished fuelling their bodies for whatever they might face this evening.

 Chapter 10 - Georgia

    ˇ°My Queen, do you understand now?  I do.  Iunderstand why you were all chosen.  Eventually we will see all your skills and powers.  I believed you were all underpowered humans but you all can become extraordinary.ˇ±

    Merlin to Georgia

    Georgia hugged each friend in turn and also Mrs Hodge before she headed for her room.  "Stay strong everyone."  Her breathing had started to quicken so she tried to calm herself.  When she finally allowed herself to get into bed she rubbed her eyes.  She definitely felt tired but she was also concerned she dreaded what their nighttime wanderings might uncover.

    She exhaled deeply, without her would they come to harm?  She felt so much pressure pushing down on her and yet she had no choice did she?

    "I can do this," she said, outloud to no one as she tried to convince herself.  "I have to do this, don''t I?"  Would a conversation with herself make sense of what had happened and was going to continue to happen.

    She slowed her breathing with great difficulty but as she closed her eyes with purpose, she had decided she could do this.

    As sleep overtook her body it felt like she woke in a forest clearing thick with a dense fog.  The fog felt like it had a personality of its own.  She pulled at invisible ribbons though to her they had form.  One by one, each of her friends appeared.  She was struggling to take in solid breaths through the soupy fog that seemed to be getting worse as she tugged people to them.

    "Have we been attacked yet?"  Graham asked, who seemed serene.  "Time feels good here, an overnight in our world should give us a week here we can do a lot in a week can''t we?"

    "We can," she said softly as she felt something grab at her ankles and she squeaked before kicking randomly.  "We need to get out of here."

    They started to run, they all headed in one direction and just hoped it got them away from the fog and grabby hands.  Were they hands she was trying to think and had failed as they kept moving until they were clear of the fog that had engulfed them and become hard to breath in and hit dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees.

    "I''m sorry I got to you late."   Merlin almost jumped out from behind a tree. They all gasped then sighed.  "You''re all a little jumpy.  What have I missed?"

    Georgia wafted her hand towards the fog that seemed to have a solid wall where it ended.  "It was hard to breathe in there and then something grabbed my ankles."

    "Hmm, it seems that the darkness tried to grab you as you landed here."  He frowned.  "I''d hoped they wouldn''t start so early in your quests.  Now we know you must be prepared that everytime you land here they must have a portal spell set, a bit like an alarm that tells them you''re here."

    "Well we''re out.  What would you have us do while we''re here?  Graham thinks our overnight should give us about a week here."

    Merlin grinned, his lips pulled thin.

    "A week gives you time to set up a camp and for people to visit you.  People who can help each one of you learn how to use your skills."  Merlin cackled a laugh.  "You are going to have so much fun."

    "Camp?"  Sophia asked a question and passed so much judgment in one word.

    "Nah that''s not something I have any skills for."  Aiden chipped in.  "What about food, does that mean we have to hunt?"

    "Not happening."  Sophia managed to say two words this time.

    "Can you help us Merlin?  Please."  Georgia asked carefully.  "If I''m meant to be of royal descent then I very much hope you can help given you were sworn to help all people of Arthur''s bloodline."

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    "You have asked the right question in the right way my queen."  As Merlin started walking.  "We do need to find another clearing."

    They followed Merlin, who seemed to walk at super speed even though he looked serene.  Georgia felt like she was jogging to keep up with him.

    Without warning they halted it was as if Merlin had applied the brakes.

    "This will do."  Merlin said as he twirled, pulling out a wand from his robes. He moved to the centre of the clearing and seemed to waft his wand and speak random strange words.

    From the air, the ground, the trees as real as their breaths a small camp appeared.  She was watching trying to understand just what Merlin was doing.  Then she exhaled as she understood from his glance, that she actually didn''t need to understand what he was doing.  It wasn''t her skill.

    "Okay camp looks okay."  Sophia said.

    Georgia chuckled as a stranger entered the clearing.  The tall man was lean but had broad shoulders.

    "I''m looking for Arthur''s descendent.  I believe they will need training to help them wield Excalibur as the sword is meant."  His  voice boomed out.

    "Ah Galahad, so glad you could make the trip."  Merlin as he turned to David.  "David, would you mind building a campfire?  I think you have the necessary skills.  Georgia lets go and find you somewhere to work with Galahad."

    Georgia stepped towards the tall man who frowned at her.  "No disrespect my queen but you don''t look strong enough to wield a sword of power."

    She hmmphed but followed Merlin who moved faster than he had done earlier so she had to sprint to keep up.  The knight kept pace easily; she''d started to fall behind as she heaved in deep breaths and her legs burned harder than the fire Graham was working on.

    They waited for her in a strip clearing, the knight shook his head in pity at her but his eyebrows shot skyward on his forehead as she pulled out the fountain pen from her pocket and it turned  into the stunning sword Arthur would have swung so many years ago.

    "Go easy on her Galahad."  Merlin said as the knight drew his sword.

    "I don''t know if this is a good idea," she said as her voice wobbled through her words.

    "Nonsense, my queen.  I won''t hurt you."  Galahad said gravely as he took some practice swings through the air.  Her eyes opened wide but she tried a couple of practice swings herself; they looked unsure and not easy at all.

    He lunged the sword in her direction, she didn''t have time to parry the blow so dropped heavily to the ground.

    "Use the sword."  Merlin laughed as he helped her to her feet.  The next time Galahad lunged the sound of two swords connecting filled the space.

    Galahad kept sparring with her until she was exhausted.  Everytime he won he would help her back to her feet.  Proud at first she wouldn''t take his hand but in the end as tiredness took over her pride could go and jump because the effort to get to her feet was almost too much for her.

    Galahad smiled at her as they finished.  "Perhaps, just perhaps you can do it."

    She scowled and as she was about to say something impolite she bit her tongue and offered him the smallest smile.

    "Where did Merlin go?"  She hadn''t noticed the wizard leave because of the amount of concentration and effort needed to not get herself killed.

    "He went a while back to make sure your friends are ok.  I''m guessing he wants to make sure none of you end up dead or starved."

    She laughed flatly.  "Well you managed to not kill me so there''s that.  I am thirsty, I guess I''m out of shape."

    He shrugged, then sighed.  "I''m guessing you''ve not had the need to go about your usual life fighting with a sword."

    She nodded.  "Truth.  I usually run from a fight."  Not the entire truth.

    "I very much doubt that standing up for what is right is a good thing even if it goes against all self preservation.  You are definitely of Arthur.  Again not a bad thing.  Now let''s go and see if your friends have been killed or if there''s some food and drink to revive you.  We''ve been training for hours."

    They walked in silence back to camp, thankfully at her pace not the sprint, Merlin had led them in.

    When they arrived back at camp she was surprised, there were lots of people she''d never seen before.   She smelled amazing food and noticed everyone seemed happy.

    Perhaps she and they could do what was needed.