• Chapter 4
    Leaving a demigod in charge of the day, Apollo set off his journey. Forced to leave his chariot, Apollo had to walk. But he was so great that every step he took appeared as though he were wearing seven league boots. Apollo told Zeus that an old sorceress told him he must take a journey for some reason, and without much thought, Zeus let him go. Apollo had brought Arthur’s copy of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur for both entertainment and for research. He had heard that the book was one of the most comprehensive books of Arthurian studies. He read of the Lady of the Lake and her giving King Arthur Excalibur. At the end of the book, as Arthur lays dying by betrayal, he asks Sir Bedivere to throw Excalibur into the water and when he does, a hand reaches out and grabs it, implying that the Lady of the Lake took her gift back. He concluded that by finding the Lady of the Lake, he could obtain Excalibur. The only problem would be actually locating her, as there were hundreds of bodies of water where he could find her. Apollo looked for a month and a half, in caves, mountains, and such. Apollo, however, had a stroke of luck and misfortune. As he traveled to Loch Ness, a hand of water gestured him to go to it. He went and whole array of hands grabbed him and pulled him under. After he awoke, Apollo found himself in a cave. He laid at the mouth of the cave. He looked to the end and saw a beautiful lady with no clothing, only her long hair covering her body, cooking. She turned and looked at Apollo.
    “Good morning, Phoebus Apollo.”
    “Nyneve.”
    “Ah,” she smiled, “then you do know me? I’m assuming you’re here for Excalibur for Arthur.”
    “How dost thou know of my quest?
    “ Thou wouldst not be here, if that wasn’t your objective.”
    “You are a very perceptive woman.” Nyneve smiled and poured her soup.
    “I regret to tell you that I cannot give you Excalibur.” Apollo shot up.
    “What dost thou mean?”
    “I mean that Arthur has to earn Excalibur. He must find Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone.”
    “ And I take it he must draw Caliburn?”
    “You are a very perceptive god.” Nyneve smiled through a mess of hair. “If all someone had to do was ask me for Excalibur, well it wouldn’t be much of a legendary sword, now would it. There are only a very, very select few who are worthy of wielding Excalibur. Arthur’s quest is to prove whether or not he can become Excalibur’s new wielder. But fear not, for I see
    concern in your eyes. You think that there are others who can use Excalibur. While this is true, when Excalibur bonds with a new partner, they are bound together until death do they part.” The Lady of the Lake had to smile at that. “If Arthur obtains Excalibur, it will serve no one, but him, for good or evil, whichever he pursues.” Apollo let out a sigh of relief. He would no longer have to guard the sword from others.
    “What must Arthur do?”
    “He must find Thomas Jay.”
    “Thomas Jay... what importance does he play?”
    “As your unamed orphan took on the name of the legendary king, Arthur Pendragon, so will Thomas Jay take on the name of Arthur’s mentor, Merlin.” Nyneve looked down at this point, recalling the original Merlin.
    “So this Jay is the one who will train Arthur?”
    “Not in the sense you think, no. Thomas Jay, or rather Merlin, will help Arthur find Caliburn and help grasp his destiny. Merlin will stay by Athur’s side until he obtains the third warrior, besides himself and his first follower.”
    “What will happen to Merlin then?” Nyneve paused.
    “... That does not concern you. Phoebus Apollo, you know what Arthur must do and you must set him on the path towards Merlin.”
    “Where does Thomas Jay live?”
    “That I cannot tell you. I can only give you an idea on where he may be. Take Arthur to the southern region of the United States. Then you must abandon him until he claims Excalibur.”
    Apollo rose to his feet, his golden aura brightening around him.
    “I understand. Thank you, Nyneve.” He began to walk away, when Nyneve began to whisper.
    “Do not thank me quite yet, Phoebus Apollo, for that sword may be more than you bargained for. I cannot tell of what will be Arthur’s demise; Zeus, or his undying loyalty to you?” Apollo stopped in his tracks. He began in a low voice.
    “Arthur swore fealty to me and our cause; he will do the right thing.” He dived into the water. Nyneve served herself some soup and sat.
    “Hmm... perhaps Apollo’s definition of ‘right’ may differ from the normal one.” She took a sip and sighed. The coronation would be soon; she had a lot of planning to do.