King of the Seven Seas (EMH) Chapter 26: Meeting The Lady of the Lake

[Third Person POV]

“Rest,” Arthur told Mera, his voice carrying a calm but firm authority, “You must be exhausted after ferrying us across Otherworld and maintaining that construct for so long. Leave the rest to me now.”

Mera exhaled, a small but relieved smile tugging at her lips. She hadn’t wanted to admit how drained she felt, but Arthur could see right through her. Holding the construct together while guiding them through the strange realm had pulled at her mind. Still, seeing Arthur stand tall with his trident in hand, eyes lit with confidence, made it easier to let go. She chuckled softly and nodded, easing into his advice. “I suppose I could use the break.”

Arthur lowered his gaze to the water swirling beneath them and tilted his head thoughtfully. “What if I just…” he murmured, pressing the trident into the surface. At once, a shiver ran through the waves, and the water hardened, frost blooming out from the tip of the weapon. In seconds it solidified into a thick, gleaming sheet of ice that spread outward, sturdy enough to hold all of them with ease.

Arthur let out a low, impressed whistle. “Well, would you look at that…”

Mera and Dane both laughed. “It looks like you’re already a natural at wielding it,” she said teasingly as the three of them stepped onto the new frozen platform.

“This thing is… amazing.” Arthur ran his hand along the shaft of the trident as though it might respond to his touch. “I didn’t even have to force it. I just thought about turning the water into ice and it obeyed—instantly. How awesome is that?” He laughed, almost boyishly, as he moved forward, the trident creating a winding ice path ahead of them. “I really can’t wait to test out what else this thing can do.”

“Someone is clearly very happy with his brand-new toy,” Mera whispered sideways to Dane, though her smirk betrayed her affection.

Dane stifled a chuckle behind his hand, but Arthur’s Atlantean senses were far too sharp. He glanced back, eyebrows raised. “You do realize I can hear you, right?”

Mera pressed a finger to her lips, pretending innocence. “Whoops,” she said with a sheepish grin.

They continued forward, their steps steady and careful across the slick surface. Before long, the icy path ended as the shoreline came into view. Rising before them was a vast, looming structure: the Lady of the Lake’s castle. Its towering walls gleamed like polished sapphire, and the gates, tall enough to dwarf giants, creaked open as if beckoning them closer.

Dane’s stallion shifted beneath him, hooves clopping against the frozen sheet. Dane slid off its back and rested a hand against the creature’s strong neck, speaking low and soothing. “You’ve done enough for now, old friend. Stay out here and rest—you’ve earned it. You must be thirsty after the long ride.”

The horse gave a deep, rolling neigh in reply, almost as if in agreement. With slow, deliberate steps, it trotted to the water’s edge, knelt, and dipped its muzzle into the lake to drink.

With his steed settled, Dane took the lead, gesturing for the others to follow. They passed through the massive gates and into the heart of the Lady’s domain. Inside, the castle opened into an expansive hall, its walls bathed in endless shades of blue. The air itself shimmered faintly, as though alive with magic, and when the heavy doors closed behind them, the chamber brightened, luminous crystals sparking to life along the walls.

Tall windows of stained glass lined either side, their artistry breathtaking. Each panel told a story: one showed a faceless woman with long, flowing blue hair, offering a radiant sword to a crowned king; another depicted a knight hurling a blade back into the waters, only a lone hand reaching skyward to catch it.

Their footsteps echoed faintly as they moved further in, until they stopped before an ornate set of double doors. Dane stepped forward without hesitation, rapping his knuckles firmly against the surface. “Lady Vivienne,” he called out, voice steady and respectful, “I have brought them to you, just as you commanded.”

With a groan the doors opened on their own, revealing the throne room beyond. The space was awe-inspiring—wide, luminous, filled with cascading waterfalls. Clear pools ran along the floors where schools of fish darted and played, their scales glinting like jewels beneath the streams. The constant, soothing rush of water filled the air, a natural hymn that gave the chamber a living heartbeat.

At the far end, descending the steps from her throne, came a woman of breathtaking beauty and presence. She bore the aura of a goddess, her very being commanding reverence. Her blue hair spilled in endless waves down her back. Though her attire was a blend of flowing dress and fitted armor, it gave her the appearance of both queen and warrior. Her eyes were veiled behind a metal piece that gleamed like polished silver.

“Thank you, Black Knight,” Vivienne said, her voice a melody that carried both gentleness and authority. “I knew I could rely on you to complete your task.”

Dane bowed low, one hand pressed across his chest. “I merely do my duty, my Lady—and lend my strength to a friend in need.”

Vivienne’s lips curved in gratitude, and she turned her gaze upon Mera and Arthur. Her eyes lingered on Arthur the longest, studying him as though she had been waiting for this very moment.

“Welcome,” she said at last, her words warm. “I have anticipated your arrival for some time. It is an honor to finally meet you in person.”

Arthur’s brow furrowed, a shadow passing across his face at her curious wording. His voice carried a guarded edge as he asked, “You have? Why?”

Vivienne’s smile only deepened, as though she had been expecting that exact reaction. “Why?” she echoed, her tone both playful and cryptic. “Because this is merely your first stop in what will be a long and perilous quest for the Trident of Poseidon. A weapon of power beyond comprehension—one that you will desperately need if you have any hope of saving your kingdom from the doom it will bring upon itself.”

The grim weight of her words settled between them, and seeing the hardened look on both Arthur and Mera’s faces, she let out a soft, melodic chuckle. “It is a state Atlantis always seems to find itself in, teetering between greatness and ruin. My role in your quest is a simple one, though not without importance. I am here to strip away any falsehoods you might hold about Atlantis and its past—to reveal to you the clear, unadulterated truth of Atlantean history. And, of course, I am also here to guide you, to point you toward your next destination.”

Arthur studied her with skeptical eyes, arms crossing over his chest. “I know you were the one who crafted the Trident of Poseidon,” he said carefully, his voice laced with doubt. “But how much of Atlantean history do you actually know? How much can you claim as truth?”

Vivienne’s lips curved into a smirk, her expression carrying that same mysterious air she always seemed to exude. “Quite a lot, actually,” she said lightly. “You see, at one point in history, I was more than just a passing visitor to Atlantis. I was a resident of the great city itself… and not just any resident. I was one of its court mages.”

“Huh?!” Both Arthur and Mera exclaimed, their shock breaking through their composure. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and even Dane blinked, clearly caught off guard by the revelation.

Vivienne lifted her hand to her lips, laughing softly behind it at their stunned reactions. Her amusement only grew as she leaned forward ever so slightly, eyes glittering as she delivered yet another revelation. “And, perhaps… I may or may not have also played a role in the incident that sank Atlantis.”

The silence that followed was thick, broken only by their collective sharp intake of breath.

Seeing their astonishment stretch on, Vivienne rolled her eyes and sighed, lifting her shoulders in a dramatic shrug. “Alright, fine. I won’t dance around it—I might have been the key factor.”

“What did you do?” Arthur asked almost at a loss for words.

Vivienne raised a hand in a half-plea, half-dismissive gesture. “Before you leap to judgment, you must understand something first. I was young then—young, reckless, and far more inexperienced than I am now. I was a goddess who yearned to explore, to learn, to unravel the mysteries of the world and, perhaps, of myself. My own quest took me across kingdoms—grand, proud realms that rose and fell in the blink of an eye. Yet none of them left an impression. None of them held me for long.”

Her expression softened as her eyes seemed to drift far away, lost in a time long gone. “But when I arrived at Atlantis… I knew instantly it was different. It was not just another city, not just another kingdom. It was magnificent. Advanced in ways the world beyond could scarcely dream of, filled with wonders born of magic and invention alike. Its streets shimmered with life, its people carried themselves with purpose and pride.”

Her voice dropped into something gentler, carrying warmth and reverence. “I intended only to stay for a short time, to observe, to satisfy my curiosity. But Atlantis was a snare, and I was caught in its brilliance. I lingered. Days turned into weeks, weeks into years, and before I knew it, I was granted official residency and honored with the title of court mage—sworn to serve only the King himself.”

As she spoke, her covered eyes grew distant, glazed with memory. Her tone carried the softness of nostalgia, tinged with regret and longing. “Without realizing it, I had become too involved. I had woven myself into the very fabric of Atlantis.”