Excalibur and The Pirate

Pirate looks at the sword. It is displayed prominently in Lady Gray’s solar. The light illuminating it pulses gently.

Lady Gray jumps on to the platform the sword, scabbard, and stand are on. She rubs her body along the side of the sword. “Excalibur, wake my lovely, you have a visitor.”

The pulsing stops. A glow that travels from the tip of the sword travels up until it illuminates the weapon all the way to the end of its hilt.

“You may remove Excalibur from her bed to speak with her now.” Lady Gray says.

Pirate slowly reaches up and removes the sword from her scabbard. He holds it up in front of him and waits.

“Tell her what you told me.” The smokey gray kitten instructs.

Pirate tells the story again. When he finishes the hilt’s glow travels down towards the tip of the sword. The hilt is no longer illuminated.

“There is something wrong. You are not being completely honest about who you are.”

Pirate takes a breath and begins talking. Fast. “I know Luv. If I speak the words out loud then all of The Lady With The Long Golden Hair’s magic will disappear. I need that magic to save her.”

The glowing begins to travel back towards the hilt. Illuminating half of it.

“There is another way.” Lady Gray says. “You must put your finger to Excalibur’s tip. She must taste your blood.”

Pirate makes a face.

“It is the only way to keep your secret Sir.”

He lays Excalibur on the floor. Laying down next to it, he reaches out and puts an index finger to its tip. A drop of blood is left on the sword. Within moments it is once again glowing completely.

“It appears Excalibur is in your charge Pirate. Stay true to her and to your cause. When you are finished you can either thank her for her help and tell her that it is time to return to Faerie for a rest or you are more than welcome to come back to Faerie and return her to me in person.”

“Thank you Milady. The Lady With The Long Golden Hair and I are most grateful.”

“Don’t tell me that. Stay true to Excalibur and she will feel your gratitude.”

Gordon the Giant’s hand breaks through the window glass knocking down, nothing. Everyone manages to get out of the way. The giant’s eye glares into the house. They scoot back and watch as Gordon begins to tear away the window frame with one hand.

“My glass. My frame!” House screams.

Dylan and Furnatche look at each other. Dylan crooks a finger at his older brother Peter gesturing for him to lean down. He whispers something, Peter nods, runs into the kitchen, and returns with a loaded plate. The tow headed four year old and the baby dragon take their places in front of Gordon’s eye. Dylan picks up a carrot. The dragon steps forward, sniffs, then sits back down and waits. Dylan puts down the carrot and picks up an apple. Furnatche sniffs, he swishes his tail and then sits back down. Dylan replaces the apple with an onion. The dragon sniffs, whimpers, and sits back down.

Gordon tilts his head. He curiously waits for whatever is coming next.

Dylan picks up a piece of chocolate. The baby dragon’s eyes light up. He wags. “Furnatche. No! Aunt Purdy says that chocolate gives you diarrhea.” The boy lifts the piece of chocolate to the window and says, “Chocolate?”

Gordon accepts the candy and devours it.

Dylan holds up a cookie. Furnatche’s nose changes. Several tendrils emerge from around the outside of the dragon’s nose. Each tendril has a small bean (like you would see on the end of a sprout). The tendrils move back forth around the dragon’s nose. Each bean opening and closing as it takes in the cookie’s scent.

To Gordon it is an amazing sight. The giant is entranced. Everyone, especially House, breathes a sigh of relief.

“Super Smeller, we call this Furnatche’s Super Smeller nose.” Dylan says as he looks at Gordon.

The Lady With The Long Golden Hair watches smiling. Diomedes and Ray stand next to her on either side.

“Her Ladyship, now would be an excellent time to get you out of harm’s way. Let me introduce you to a most fascinating place.” Diomedes says, “It is called a ‘bathroom’.”

“Duuude.” Ray says. “Excellent idea.”

The three quietly exit the room.

Gordon continues watching Dylan and Furnatche for several minutes. Amazed by the baby dragon’s nose, disappointed when the tendrils disappear. He then becomes happy when they reappear as if the giant has never seen it before that moment.

Then Dylan runs out of food. “There’s no more.” He says. The beans close and the tendrils around the baby dragon’s nose droop. “Uh oh.”

Gordon looks away from Dylan and Furnatche. The giant looks further into the living room. He’s looking for The Lady With The Long Golden Hair.

“GRRRR!!!” The giant growls and takes out his frustration on the other side of the window frame. Then he begins pushing against the house.

“My foundation! My foundation!” House screams.

The carport and Writer Lady’s car disappear, a small strip of meadow appears in its place. A silver unicorn with two riders, the first with a glowing sword lifted to his enemies enters the driveway.

Pirate turns Siva to face Gordon. “Gor-don!” He calls. “Gordon Behold.”

“Gordon Behold?” Writer Lady whispers in Pirate’s ear.

“I’m a bit new at this. If you don’t mind.” He whispers back. Pirate turns Siva to face the mob of men, animals, and mystical creatures standing in the street and various neighbor’s yards. “Hear me male creatures. You have been enchanted by magic. You do not belong here. Her ladyship does not fancy you. It is time for you to go.”

“Says who?” One of the policemen ask.

“Me.” Pirate says.

Several men laugh.

Siva snorts and stamps his hoof.

“What now?” Writer Lady asks.

“I don’t know.” Pirate says.

“You have to do something.”

“Enchanted swords don’t come with instructions, do they?” He asks.

“No.” She answers.

“Would you please dismount my steed so that I might work properly.”

“But if you don’t know what you’re doing...”

“Milady. Please.”

Writer Lady jumps from Siva’s back and takes a place near the closest door to the house.

Siva steps forward just as Leitis arrives with Tinkletoes and Monitor Man on her back. The white unicorn walks to Writer Lady’s side and stops.

“Get thrown off the bus already?” Tinkletoes asks, grinning. He looks at Monitor Man. “I told you that she’d be too bossy to ride with him.”

“I’m not bossy. I was...helping.”

“Helping?” He looks at Monitor Man. “That’s when she questions your every move.”

“Not every move.”

Leitis snorts then shakes her head.

“You need to get off Leitis.” Writer Lady says.

Leitis shakes her head.

Monitor Man dismounts.

Leitis snorts.

“Tinkletoes get down.”

“Me? No. It’s time to do man things.” He says with a smile.

Leitis smoothly bucks Tinkletoes off of her back, turns, and goes back to Faerie.

Tinkletoes is laying in a pile on the driveway next to a trash can.

“He looks very manly doesn’t he?” Monitor Man asks.

Pirate continues forward and faces the crowd of males. He lowers the sword, holds it to his head, closes his eyes. The sword begins to hum. Sounding as if lightning itself is growing within Excalibur’s blade. Pirate raises his hand once again. He waves the sword in the air above the crowd. A bright flash of light is expelled from the sword , its rays covering any who have been enchanted by the unconstrained magic of The Lady With The Long Golden Hair.

“It is time good men. You must go home.” He calls.

Slowly, one by one, every man, every animal, every mystical male creature take their leave. All except one.

Gordon the Giant is quiet. He sits in front of the picture window looking at Pirate, Tinkletoes, Monitor Man, and Writer Lady. The giant then peers through the picture window and longingly into the house.

Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady and says, “Why isn’t he going?”

“He likes the view? How should I know.” She says.

Pirate puts Excalibur back into her scabbard, rides to the rest of the group, and dismounts Siva. “I think I know what needs to be done.” He looks at the silver unicorn. “Thank you Siva for serving us so well. I will send word to Lady Gray describing your loyalty, speed, and bravery.”

Siva bobs his head, neighs, and takes the entrance back to Faerie.

Pirate enters the house followed by the others. Within minutes he is standing on the front step next to The Lady With The Long Golden Hair.

“Thank you Gordon.” She says. “Thank you for your loyalty and kindness. Thank you for protecting me. Pirate has returned and I am safe. You may go now.”

Gordon smiles. He heads for the open entry to Faerie, walks into it, and the entry closes behind him. The giant is gone.