Anna Grayson and The Order of Merlin
Forty-Nine

The next day the sun was warmand bright and sent an airy breeze through the open window on the hospitalfloor around Anna’s bed. She could hear the cheerful banter of the studentsmingling in the courtyard outside. They seemed so intolerably happy to her.

Doctor Pearl released Anna atthree o’clock in the afternoon, but she took her time departing the hospitalfloor. She wanted to wait until she knew the students would be in the Rotunda,and Anna was thankful to replace the corridors and hallways nearly empty when shefinally made her way downstairs. When she reached the Server Hall, she saw afew first-years talking excitedly about their scheduled trip home and theupcoming summer holiday. No one seemed to notice her as she made her way downthe center of the Gathering Hall, and she kept her focus down at her feet,giving the designed appearance of one in a hurried rush. A mosaic of color fromthe stained glass spotted the floor around her like spattered paint, marshalingher way toward the girl’s staircase. When she finally reached the fourth floor,Anna paused briefly to listen at her door. She took a deep breath and entered;the room was empty.

Thank goodness – alone atlast.

She pushed the door closed withher back and sighed her prayerful thanks as she ambled her way back to thebedroom. Given her three-day stay in a hospital bed, she was astonished at howtired she felt when she saw her four-poster. She kicked off her shoes, tossedher robes onto Gabby’s half-packed trunk, and then crawled across the bed tothe open window to look out.

As expected, the town of Spellsburg was very busy.The Castlewood graduation ceremony was scheduled for the following day, andAnna knew this day would likely include touring groups of parents inspecting,musing, and reminiscing about the castle, its towers and grounds. In fact, shecould hear the parents talking already, reflecting on the days when theythemselves walked through the corridors as students at the academy.

She watched the families strollingalong, arm-in-arm, fathers proudly holding their daughters’ hands and mothershugging their sons. Anna set her chin on her crossed arms and squinted at thepain it caused to her wrist. Why did things have to be this way? shethought jealously, watching a seventh-year boy escorting his mother down thecobbled sidewalk below.

Suddenly, a deep voice invadedthe quiet space around her. “Has the Keeper thus decided on its own versionof the truth?”

Anna spun around and to herenormous surprise she found the opposite wall of her room filled with thick andgraying smoke. The Verosapt had come to life once again, and the gorilla’senormous head was now looming forward into the open space in front of her.

“What do you want?” Annagroaned, quickly displacing her surprise with bad tempered resentment. “And Iwish you’d stop doing that,” she complained. “Why can’t you just stick tocoming when you’re called?” She looked away to stare out the window again.

The gorilla fell back, thehabitual wave in his upper lip rolling angrily across his fangs. His voice wasfilled with volleyed hostility.

“Thus it is, I didst notreturn because I wish it, little one. I replace human company… barely tolerable atbest.”

“Then why are you here?” Annasnapped back, disgusted by this intrusion of what was supposed to be herself-imposed seclusion.

“I am the representative ofthe hoards that see, and are bound to answer one question from the Keeper onthe day of thine entry.”

Anna glared at him. “But you’vealready told me what I wanted to know. I found my mother in Drogo prison… justlike you said I would. What else is there to say?”

“The Verosapt has yet toanswer the Keeper’s question.”

Anna frowned, completelyperplexed by his growled explanation. The ape rolled his head back and slowlyclosed his eyes, and then Anna heard the perfect imitation of her own voiceechoing into the room from the jungles behind him.

“How did Victoria Grayson die?”

The gorilla looked down at her.“We have yet to fulfill our obligation to the Keeper until we respond. Thoudidst bow absent from our answer upon the discovery thy mother was being heldin Drogo prison.”

Anna smirked. “You don’t haveto answer the question,” she shot back resentfully, looking away again. “Ialready know how my mother died.” She glared back over her shoulder at him.“Thirteen years dead and dying?” she growled, scathingly. “That was a veryfunny way to tell me my mother was a vampire. You and your friends back theremust have been laughing it up.”

The gorilla glowered at her. “Humansare rare to understand the knowledge presented unto them.”

Anna rolled her eyes and turnedher back to him. She wasn’t in the mood to hear anymore of his lectures, butthe ape’s unrelenting rumble moved over her again like the thunder from arising storm.

“The human gives refuge to the ill feelingsit nurtures toward its father, for his omissions of truth about the death ofthe Keeper Victoria.”

Anna spun around, her jawdropping in disbelieving shock. “What did you say? How dare you…”

“The Verosapt is all-knowingwherein we have eyes to see, little one. Most numerous the insects of the hoardon the warmest days… even thus it is… within the hospital of this school.”

Anna felt angry. The Verosapthad obviously been listening to her argument with her father.

The gorilla continued. “Thoudost believe thy father was cast without love for thy mother — that herimprisonment and his sins of exclusion were done without regard to her memory.”

“Was I wrong?” Anna snappedback, feeling the heat rising out of her chest. “How could he have loved mymother and then sent her to that place?”

“Only one question isallowed,” the creature replied, “but the truth can be found here.”

She heard her own voice filterinto the room once more, “How did Victoria Grayson die?”

Anna’s fury was steadilygrowing. “I told you… I already know how she died, and I don’t want to talkabout it anymore.”

The great apefixed his gruesome glower upon her; he looked unforgiving and vacant ofsympathy. “Thy knowledge is flawed, and thus, the interpretation of thyfather’s motives are without merit. Let the Verosapt answer the Keeper’squestion.”

Again, Anna could hear her ownvoice echo into the room from the jungles behind him.

“How did Victoria Grayson die?”

“Why are you doing this?” Annayelled back, angrily.

“How did Victoria Grayson die?”came her own voice in reply.

“Stop it!”

“… Grayson die?”

“I said — stop it!”

“How did Victoria Grayson die?”

“OKAY! Fine! Tell me what youhave to say — and then leave me alone!”

Silence. The clattered voicesin the background were immediately and thankfully still.

“Humans are rare tounderstand the knowledge presented unto them,” repeated the great ape. “Thus…we wilt show thee.” The gorilla began to fall back into the clouds of smokeand then disappeared, but his voice continued to echo into the room around her.

“We take thee back nowthirteen and a half years… to the hours just before thy birth.”

And to Anna’s astonishment, theclouds surrounding the scope began to clear, revealing a picture of a heavilywooded forest shadowed in darkness. Anna could hear the crickets in theunderbrush buzzing, an owl hooting in the night, and suddenly… something else,a man’s labored breathing.

“Hold on, darling. Please… staywith me!” The man immediately appeared, struggling to carry something heavy inhis arms. It was the body of another person, a woman. Her dark, red hair glowedin the moonlight as it swung back and forth over his thick arms. Another manappeared next to the first, jogging by his side.

“Please, Boris, let us help youcarry her.”

Several other men now appearedin the scene as well, at least ten in all. They were dressed in robes andcarrying wands.

“No… I have her,” MisterGrayson replied. “How much farther, Jonathan?”

“The house I spoke of is justover that ridge, an abandoned mill. It should give her the shelter she needsuntil the healers arrive,” said the portly man, puffing from exertion. “Please— let us help you, man.”

“No — don’t touch her. Justshow me the way.”

“Why can’t we just Apparate herto a safe place?” asked a younger man, running on the other side of Anna’sfather. The man reached out and blasted a fallen log out of Mister Grayson’spath with his wand.

“Because peer Apparition can betricky with two healthy people. We can’t risk the trauma in this case,” repliedthe man called Jonathan.

“Boris…?” came a weak voicefrom her father’s arms.

“I’m here, Victoria,I’m here. We’re moving you to a place where the healers can help you. You wereattacked by something in the forest. Conserve your strength, sweetheart. Youhave to remain strong.”

“Boris… I’m so… sorry. I…should have told you the truth.” The woman sobbed.

Mister Grayson was strugglingto remain calm while he labored to carry her onward. “Now is not the time, mylove. Try not to speak.”

The woman moved a weak hand toher husband’s chest. “Boris… you have to save the baby. No matter what happensto me… the child… will give you my love. The love… that I failed…”

“Don’t say that. We have towork together for the baby’s sake, and you’re going to be a wonderful mother toit.”

“Promise meyou’ll save the baby, Boris. Promise me…”

“I will… I promise,” hereplied, breathing hard as he struggled forward. The man suddenly stumbled andalmost fell with the woman in his arms, and Anna was so enthralled with whatwas happening that she almost reached out to save her father from topplingover.

And then the scene went dark,replaced by thick and billowing clouds of gray smoke. But before Anna couldprotest, another image appeared before her again. This time her mother waslying in a bed. The room was dark, except for a few candles and a firecrackling behind the hearth next to her. Anna could see her father was seatedby her mother’s bedside, praying while he held his wife’s hand in his. Anotherman was speaking to him.

“Boris… I’mafraid… your wife’s wounds are very serious. You should know… there is achance…”

“No!” her father cut him off.“She’s going to make it through this; I know she can pull through. She’ssuffered so much already.”

“I’ve done everything I can forVictoria, but there is the baby to think aboutnow. If we move quickly, we still might have a chance to save it.”

The scene widened to includeseveral other men standing in a circle around the bed. They were whispering toone another, and Anna came forward to hear their quiet voices in conversation.

“That’s right, it was avampire. It looked like a very old one, living wild in the forest.”

The man next to him leaned in.“Is it possible that she might be in danger of…?”

“Shhh — keep your voice down.”

“But the bite of a wild andfeeding vampire…”

“I know… I know. But I don’tthink Boris realizes it yet… the risk, I mean… the poor fellow. It’s bad enoughto lose his wife, and perhaps the child too, but… the bloodlusttransformation…” The man paused, shaking his head. “We have to be ready foranything now. Pass the word to the rest of the men; they must be on theirguard. I want every man with a wand in his hand.”

“We’re losing her!” yelled thehealer, and Mister Grayson jumped to his feet and leaned over his wife.

“Victoria… no! Please… hold on… don’t leave me now…”

There was choking and writhingin the bed, and then a sudden stillness. It was followed by Victoria Grayson’sweak and trembled whisper, “My love… save… save the… baby.” There was a finalrattle of life passing away, and then the suffering woman was finally calm.

“Victoria?Oh God… please no… please don’t let this happen. Victoria?”He began to shake his wife. “Victoria, wakeup… please wake up!”

Anna watched the final scene ofher mother’s passing with tears flooding her eyes. The healer immediatelystepped forward to place a steady hand on her father’s shoulder as MisterGrayson sobbed into his wife’s quiet chest.

“Boris?” said the doctor.“Listen to me.” He gripped his friend’s arm. “We must act now if we’re going tospare the child. Please, move aside… and let me try and save your baby.” Anna’sfather looked up with tears in his eyes.

“But Victoria… she’d never survive the procedure. You can’t…”

“Boris… Your wife is already gone,and we only have a few minutes in which to act.”

“No… she’s not gone,” he said,rising to stand. He looked around at his friends standing around the bed.“She’s not!”

The healer grabbed MisterGrayson by his arms and pulled the man’s attention to him. “Boris… listen to menow, and I pray you let me finish what I have to say. This day has changed yourlife forever; I know that — we all understand that. But a minute’s indecisionnow can mean the difference between fulfilling your wife’s final wishes and increasingthe pain of a lifetime tenfold. You must trust me and stand aside, we have buta moment left to save the baby.”

Mister Grayson looked at hisfriend. “The baby?”

“Yes, Victoria’schild is still with us, and I intend to act for you and try and save it.Please… for God’s heavenly glory… STAND ASIDE!”

Anna’s father was a man caughtbetween life’s devastating cruelty and a moment defining one of its greatestblessings. Boris Grayson’s strength was legendary within the minds of thosewatching him now. Not of great sorcery or his prowess with a wand, but in hisability to slice the integral parts of complicated issues under enormouspressure and somehow make the right decision. He grimaced, and then bent overas if to collapse, gripping his friend’s arm for steadied strength. Withinseconds he straightened, looking unsure of his next decision. He nodded onceand then stepped back.

“Do what you have to do,” hemoaned, staring painfully at his wife’s body.

“You and you,” yelled thehealer, pointing at two men standing against the wall. “Help me move her intoposition.” The men quickly moved as one toward the bed.

Once again, the picture withinthe mist went dark, and Anna held her breath waiting for the next scene toappear. But before the picture resumed within the swirling clouds of vaporedmist, she heard it. It was a baby’s cry, an infant screaming with strong lungsand voice as the picture returned to the room once more. Her father wasstanding by the fire, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket from the bed.The healer was rolling down the sleeves of his shirt, looking at the bundle inher father’s arms.

“A strong, baby girl; amiracle, really… considering the circumstances.”

Anna’s father was cradling thebaby like his finest possession. “A baby girl…” he said, in barely a whisper.“Your mother wanted a daughter more than anything in the world.” He moved agentle hand over the infant’s head. “She would have called you... Anna. Welcometo our family… Anna Grayson.”

The man looked up at the now coveredbody of his dead wife and began to sob. He looked down again at the baby. “Howwill I tell you of these things, Anna? How will you become what God intendedwithout your beautiful mother by your side?” He began to sob once more, buryinghis face in the infant’s blankets. Anna was crying with him, feeling everysoul-wrenching measure of her father’s grief and loss.

And then awoman’s voice startled the quiet. “Give it to me,” it said, in a soft - almostsinging tone. Every head in the room turned and looked upon Victoria Graysonnow sitting upright in her deathbed. Her face was radiant and perfect, devoidof any dirt hinting at the many days of struggle and suffering in the forest.Her arms were outstretched.

“Give me thechild,” she said, longingly. But there was something different in the woman’sintention and manner that Anna recognized almost immediately, and sheunderstood what was driving the thing she once called her mother; it was…wicked hunger.

“Victoria?”moaned Mister Grayson, gazing disbelievingly at his wife.

“Yes… come to me, my love.Bring me the child,” she said, and Anna found the voice familiar; hypnotic andloving, it moved Anna to wantonly push her father forward toward it. MisterGrayson’s face seemed to fall, his expression dropping into the relaxedappearance of gentle tranquility. He unconsciously raised the baby up as if togive it to its mother, and Victoria purred as she reached out to take it fromhim.

“No… don’t!” yelled the healernext to the bed, and Victoria suddenly hissedat him through long and murderous fangs. Anna recoiled in shock. Her motherlooked powerful and much more threatening than what she saw in the pits ofDrogo. The creature leaped from the place of her death, and attacked thescreaming man standing by her bedside, burying her fangs deep into his fleshythroat. Anna gasped, involuntarily moving her hands to her own bandaged neck inresponse.

“My God, stop her!” yelledanother voice, and several men suddenly rushed in. They immediately grabbed thevampire and pulled her off the healer.

“Leave her alone,” yelledMister Grayson, who was frantically moving toward his wife, still clutching thenow crying baby in his arms. One of the men was suddenly thrown across theroom; an entire dresser followed him, and then a second man after that.

“Subdue her, quickly!” chokedthe healer, who was holding his bloodied and badly torn neck.

“No… leave my wife alone,”Mister Grayson yelled, pulling out his wand from under his robes.

“Boris… that’s not your wifeanymore. She’s been permanently transfigured. Hold her!” the man yelled again.

“No! Get your hands off ofher!” Mister Grayson screamed, brandishing his wand at the men. There was ahigh-pitched scream from the creature as the mob wrestled her kicking andsnarling to the floor.

“Listen to me, Boris. I knowthis is difficult for you to understand right now, but Victoriais gone. This thing is but a shell of the woman you once knew… she’s now avampire.” The doctor pointed at the men still grappling with the creature.“Control that thing!” They pulled the woman up and shoved her rudely onto thebed as several more men threw their weight on top of her. “Bind her!”

They yanked Victoriato her feet, snapping and growling wildly, and she was instantly wrapped in thestrongest chains. A second spell hit her, which encased her entire body in awhite shroud up to her neck. Her husband was enraged.

“I told you to stop! Stupefy!”A jet of red light shot from Mister Grayson’s wand hitting one of the menholding his wife square in the chest. The man flew across the room and crashedinto the wall on the other side of the bed.

“Boris, NO!”

“Grab him!” another man yelled.

“Boris — stop it!”

“Grab him — take his wand!”

Three men tackled Anna’sfather, while the vampire twisted and screamed.

“Boris — help me… they’re goingto kill me. You must stop them.”

“Get your hands off me!” MisterGrayson screamed. “Release my wife. Release her, I say!”

“Someone take the baby beforeit’s injured,” yelled the healer. “Boris… control yourself! Think of the baby!”

“I said get off me!”

“Boris… help me!”

“Victoria!Let me go!”

The men finally took thewrapped bundle from Anna’s father and then the wizard’s wand. They then pushedhim to the floor screaming for his wife.

Victoriawas now bound tight and completely helpless, screaming and cursing the menholding her in the voice of the evil one. Suddenly, the vampire looked up fromthe floor at her husband being held away from her.

“Boris… please… I always lovedyou. Please… you have to help me.”

Mister Grayson was pinned onhis front to the floor. He raised his head to look up at his wife. He wassobbing. “Victoria! My darling — I will helpyou. I swear with everything I am — I will always take care of you. I’ll neverallow them to harm you. I love you. Victoria… I’llalways love you. Release me! Let me go to my wife. Victoria…Victoria! Please let me go! Please… my wifeneeds me.”

“They’re going to kill me!Boris… help me…”

“Victoria…Victoria… Victoria!”

The scene finally darkened fora final time, and the screaming voices flooding Anna’s room slowly began tofade as the great ape came forward once again.

“Thus… we hath shed thelight of truth into the darkness of doubt and answered the Keeper’s question.We have fulfilled our cause and promise. The hoard is once again… at peace.”

Anna was crying uncontrollably,her face buried deep in her hands. The image of her desperate father lying onthe floor, helpless and reaching out, fighting to get to his screaming wife,was something Anna knew she would carry in her soul for the rest of her life.She felt so alone, the weight of her foolishness bearing down upon her chestlike an ocean rushing in to drown her.

“What have I done?” shewhispered, through her heavy sobs. “What have I done?”

The ape looked down at her withan expression of sympathy Anna would have never thought possible just a momentbefore. “The Keeper is distraught by the erosion of its misconceptions. Thehoard didst hope witnessing these images wouldst given thee a clearer awarenessof the reality words alone fail to deliver. The telling of tales abandoned offeeling is fraught with danger, little one. Humans, it would seem, havedifficulty grasping the complexity of these realities without sensing theemotions that clingeth to them. Didst our efforts to convey these imagines makea difference in thy opinion?”

Anna looked up, her face wetwith tears. “It makes… all the difference in the world,” she said,despondently. “Thank you.” The gorilla leaned back bowed as he slowly fell awayinto the graying clouds behind him; his eyes portrayed a level of satisfactionAnna had never seen.

“The Keeper is thus…satisfied,” he said proudly, and the jungles behind him began to squawk andclatter with excitement. He looked down at her once more. “We shall comethagain at the time of thy entry to collect once more thy cravings for wisdom andtruth. Meantime, thou shouldeth look to thy family for strength and the insightnecessary for growth.” He paused, and then, “Thy father is a human ofgreat honor, trusted by many to remain faithful to his ideals. But he is a mannow questioning who and what he is, because his daughter has thusmisinterpreted his love and ambitions for his wife. Thou hath much to considerand reflect upon in the days to come.” The gorilla’s face folded awaywithin the mist, and the fan of red light immediately closed into a singlebeam. “Until thee call unto the hoard once more, the Verosapt bids theKeeper farewell. We offer it our continual prayer - that the great Creator ofall wilt show thee the healing path of acceptance.” The beam of lightdisappeared within the ruby of YU once more, which closed quickly with a sharpsnap.

Anna sat quietly on her bed,wiping the falling tears from her eyes. She then leapt to her feet, grabbed herrobes and shoes, and bolted out of the room. Within minutes, she was pushingopen the doors to the Rotunda, searching for her father through a sea ofstudents and their families. As the doors closed behind her, she found theGraysons sitting with Gwen’s family and Sarah Bell. Although the table seemedlively enough, even from across the room she could see her father lookedunusually quiet and somber. Anna quickly made her way toward the table untilshe was sure her voice would be heard.

“Daddy?” she called out,cautiously. Her father looked up.

“Anna!” The man immediatelystood, knocking his goblet of wine to the floor. The two stared across the roomat one another, each eager for forgiveness.

“Daddy… “ Anna’s voice stumbledas she whimpered, “I am so… sorry.”

Tencha, Dowla, and Damon lookedup at their father, completely befuddled by Anna’s unexpected apology. Eric andGwen, on the other hand, were smiling and Sarah Bell had tears in her eyes asthey all turned anxiously for Mister Grayson’s reply. Her father fell back a stepand closed his eyes, and only Eric understood his silent prayer of gratitudeand thanks. Opening his eyes again, he struggled to smile, and then reached outto his daughter.

Anna ran to him filled with sorrowand fell into his loving arms and full embrace. Her father raised her off herfeet and began kissing her on the neck and cheeks while Anna sobbed in painedrelief.

“I’m sorry, daddy… I am so, sosorry…” she wailed onto his shoulder.

“Ssshhh… not another word,” hewhispered softly into her ear. “You have nothing to apologize for. It was myfault for not telling you what happened.” He set her down again to look at her.“But I’m glad you finally know the truth. I think it’ll be easier for me,knowing I now have somebody to share this burden.” Anna nodded and then huggedhim again as the entire family rose together around them.

As the family hugged the two ofthem, Dowla leaned over to whisper to Tencha.

“Did I miss something here?”

Highabove them, where the topmost stones of the domed ceiling separated the nightsky from the Rotunda below, a solitary spider stopped its spinning for a momentto look down. Its many beady eyes suddenly turned red as it froze to focus onthe scene beneath it. And somewhere in a distant jungle, the great ape of theVerosapt sat facing the heavens with his eyes closed, his entire being set withpracticed concentration. He smiled.

TWO

Anna and Sarah awoke the nextday to a beautiful bright and blue morning and began getting ready for theirlast full day at Castlewood. Anna was quiet while she showered, dressed, andpacked, and Sarah knew her roommate well enough now to leave her to her ownthoughts. Although Sarah and Gwen did everything they could the night before atdinner to privately entice Anna into telling the story about her trip to Drogo,Anna reluctantly put them off. She wanted to wait until they were on their wayhome aboard the Allegheny Pride. There, out on the rolling and open sea, Annawould tell them everything.

Tencha, Dowla, and Damon stilldidn’t understand the fight between Anna and their father and, like everybodyelse at Castlewood, they had to eventually accept the story of her beingattacked by some unknown creature while preparing her mount before the lastVollucross race. But to Anna’s great surprise, she found that Eric kneweverything. Gwen and Sarah confessed to Anna they had told her brother abouther trip to Drogo after they found her note in the stables, and her fatherfilled Eric in on most of the remaining details during her stay in thehospital.

Eric and Anna were up late thatnight, talking for several hours in a private corner of the Server Hall afterdinner. Her brother was staggered by Anna’s account of her visit to Drogoprison, but not nearly as much by what she had found within its dungeons. Ericwas visibly shaken when Anna had confirmed his long-lost stepmother was stillalive and now roaming the world as an escaped vampire. Anna told himeverything: about her ability to pass through magical barriers and speak to themagic contained in the walls and the objects surrounding them. The only thingAnna purposely left out was the identity of the ally. The ghost of LeolaGrayson made it very clear she didn’t want her family to know the truth abouther death, and Anna was fixed on keeping her promise and Leola’s confidence.She felt she owed the woman that much for rescuing her from a terrible death atthe hands of her own mother.

Eric listened intently andfinally tried to put everything into perspective and in terms of their futurerole as Guardians. He told Anna their father had once confided to him hisconnection with the Order of the Phoenix, which was the name of thesecret society Dumbledore had mentioned while visiting her in the hospital.Dumbledore and Thordarson were now recalling the order to fight against theDark Lord and his Death Eaters.

Eric wanted to join theirfather in the order as well, intent on fighting side by side against the evilwizard who had done so much to destroy their family. Although Mister Graysonwas very proud of Eric’s brave offer to help, he refused to allow him to joinDumbledore’s order until they knew if the Guardian Union would be sustained.Either way, Eric thought his father meant to keep him out of the Order of the Phoenix.

Mister Grayson knew theSithmaith would work to protect the elements of magic, even if she had to standalone and without her army of Guardians to help her. Consequently, Ericunderstood his father well enough to know he would never abandon Anna to thisenormous task without the family’s support.

The only thing left undone themorning Anna and Sarah were packing their trunks was the issue of the lastGuardian. After all their hard work, lectures, and presentations, after all thetalk of a new order charging ahead to protect the things of magic, they hadsomehow failed to identify anybody who fit what the Mirror of Enlightenmentneeded to sustain them. But sustained or not, Anna was relieved to know Ericwould somehow stand with her, regardless of the school’s inability to identifythe fiftieth Guardian. And perhaps, Anna thought, that was why they hadn’tsustained the union after all. Maybe the magic thatcreated them already had what it wanted in the Order of Merlin, anddidn’t require a new Union at Castlewood to dowhat needed to be done, but Eric knew Professor Thordarson felt differently.

Eric told Anna that immediatelyfollowing his switch to the Guardians, the Chancellor had confided in herbrother his belief there must have been a specific reason Castlewood had becomethe launching point for the new order, and he wanted to test this theory bysetting a goal for the number of order members needed to sustain them. If bythe end of the year this number could be attained, it would prove to Thordarsona Guardian Hall should be founded at Castlewood, and they should expect moreGuardians to replace those leaving each year.

Still, Anna wanted the ordersustained for another reason. She felt the task set before them in keeping theforces of good and evil from destroying everything magical seemed to her a verydaunting task if forced to go at it alone. Yes… the thought of that frightenedher more than Voldemort himself.

Anna and Sarah watched infascination as their packed trunks moved by themselves out the window and beganfloating with hundreds more through the morning sky toward the city gates. Theycould see the citizens of Spellsburg, some wiping tears from their eyes as theypointed and waved, looking up to watch the trunks gliding slowly through theair like a flock of enormous birds high above them.

Sarah flopped onto her bedfrustrated. She raised her wand to her throat once again still trying with allher mental strength to recover her lost voice she had been practicing to quite.Anna sat across from her and smiled.

“You sure you don’t want me tohelp you?” Anna asked, waving her purple heart.

Sarah rolled her eyespleadingly, but then shook her head. She raised her wand to her throat again,closed her eyes, and Anna could see her lips repeating the words to the counterspell once more.

“Okay, but if you can’t do itby the time we’re aboard ship…” she pointed her wand at her friend again andSarah nodded.

As Anna entered the hallwayalone outside, she remembered with a jerk of realization that her roommate’spredictions of Voldemort’s return had all come true. Anna stood outside theirdoor shaking her head in stunned amazement. Never again would she questionSarah’s seer abilities.

Ka-chunk-ching!

Anna looked up at the Guardian counterabove their door and watched as the purple flames began to form thedisappointing message on the clock’s face.

[Guardiansneeded to sustain the Union:]

[01]

A sharp twinge of pain stabbedher in her stomach. They had missed it by just one, just one more person out ofthe hundreds living at the school. Why would the magic in the mirror bringthem this far and not give them what they needed to continue?

Once again, the hallways andcorridors were nearly empty as Anna slowly made her way downstairs into theServer gathering space. She traveled through the Tower Room and tunnels to thecastle, and then entered the Rotunda where she found several parents minglingabout the tables with their children. Anna looked up and waved to her fatherand Mrs. McConnell, who were seated in the balcony area below a sea of smilingfaces projected upon the Rotunda’s domed ceiling.

Anna made her way around thewall and saw the Union of Guardians, un-sustained, trying to enjoy what was tobe their last meal together. And from the mood she could see even beforereaching their table, they were a highly disappointed group indeed.

A part of Anna felt ashamed tosit among those who should have been her closest friends. Everyone had workedso hard to replace the fiftieth Guardian, all that is… except for her. Annarealized she had been so caught up in trying to learn the truth about hermother that she had neglected her part in what might have been their union’ssuccess. When the Guardians finally saw her, they smiled and moved an extrachair between Eric and Gwen, who both stood to give her a hug.

“Sit down, Anna, and try to eatsomething,” Eric said, pointing to the empty chair. Anna sat and her brotherseated himself beside her.

Gwen sat on her left and tookAnna’s hand. “How you feeling, Annie-G? You didn’t eat very much last night.”

“Still a little tired, maybe,”Anna replied, somberly.

“Well… it ain’t no wonder, withall that-there hospital food they been tryin’ta stuff down yer gullet. Here…get the girl some real vittles,” ordered TJ, who then reached over to ladlesomething chunky and smothered in white gravy in the center of Anna’s goldenplate.

The rest of the Guardiansquickly joined in, piling bacon, eggs, biscuits, pancakes, fruit, and ahilarious array of other food that magically flew its way onto her dish andended up a foot high under Anna’s chin. Anna stared at her plate and thenslowly began to laugh. Everybody joined in and soon the Guardian table was justas loud as any of the others surrounding them. Anna finally picked up her forkand scraped away some of the eggs that had squished out from between herpancakes. She cautiously licked them off the fork and looked around at herfellow Guardians. They were all staring at her; Anna dipped her head.

“I’m sorry… I wasn’t there tohelp you replace the last Guardian,” she said, feeling the overwhelming weight ofdisappointment falling in on her again. “You’ve all worked so hard to make theGuardian Union a reality, and I feel like I’ve let you down,” she sobbed.

“Hey…” Eric whispered, wrappingan arm around his sister, “what’s all this about, huh? Today is supposed to bea day of celebration… no tears allowed. Come now, Anna. Let’s enjoy this lastmeal together.”

Gwen reached in with her napkinto wipe at Anna’s face. “It wasn’t your fault we didn’t make it, Anna. Youworked just as hard as the rest of us. It just… wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”Anna took Gwen’s napkin and daubed her eyes.

“But why would the mirror letus get this far without allowing us to continue as a Union?What was the point? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Well I, for one, don’t carewhat the school does about the Guardian Union. I’m not going back to theDefenders,” said the girl named Teresa Sinclair. “I’m a Guardian now.” Shestood and snatched up her goblet. “We’re all Guardians — now and forever!” Shelifted her cup. “To the Order of Merlin!” The rest of the students at the tablestood and raised their cups high.

“To the Guardians!”

“And I don’t care whatChancellor Thordarson says. Sustained or not, I’m wearing purple until the dayI graduate. How about it?”

“Here-here,” agreed severalothers standing around the table and they all drank.

“May I have your attentionplease,” came a call from the front. They all turned and found ChancellorThordarson standing on the platform at the front of the room. He looked unusuallysolemn in bright red robes with the five Dynasty crests embroidered on hisfront. Every Guardian at the table immediately noticed their crest was stillmissing from his robes. They all sat to listen.

“Another year… gone, and onceagain we replace ourselves having to say goodbye. As I look around the room, I seemany faces that will be moving on after our graduation ceremony this afternoon,about to embark on another chapter in their lives away from us here atCastlewood. I can only hope your seven years with us have not only beeneducational, but enjoyable as well. We shall miss you… all. As for the rest ofyou, I look forward to seeing you once again in the fall, at the beginning ofthe new school term.”

He paused before announcingthat the Defender Union had once again, and for the seventh consecutive year ina row, achieved the highest number of points and would be awarded theChancellor’s Cup. The elated cheers from the Defenders’ table were nearly equalto the grumbled murmurs of discontent from the other tables surrounding them.Anna wasn’t surprised to see Damon cheering with the rest of his fellow Dynastymembers, but what really disappointed her the most was seeing Debbie Dunningseated among her Defender cronies, making crude gestures at some of theArtisans seated at the table next to them.

“And now,” Thordarson continued,“I’d like to ask our Academy student president and all of our Union Knights tojoin me here on the platform.” Several students around the room stood and beganmoving toward the front. Eric and Damon rose with them and quickly made theirway to the platform’s steps. When they were gathered and facing the audience onthe platform, Chancellor Thordarson spoke again.

“I would like to thank ourStudent President, Nancy Dodimayer, and this year’s Castlewood Knights fortheir outstanding contribution and work this year.” The parents, teachers, andstudents all applauded as the Chancellor shook their hands and handed each ofthem a small scroll of appreciation. Anna grinned. She could see her father andMrs. McConnell in the balcony standing to applaud, and the two Grayson Knightssmiling and waving back at them.

Once again, Thordarson steppedforward. “Yes… yes, a job well done to be sure. And now, it is my greatprivilege to announce this year’s Senior Valedictorian.” The Chancellor pausedimportantly as the rest of the Rotunda quickly fell silent. “He is a man whothis year not only earned the highest marks of academic excellence, but alsothe respect and admiration of so many studying at this school. But what wasmost impressive was that he did all of this while working to help his fellowGuardians in the quest to sustain their new Union.It is, then, my deepest honor to present to you this year’s Valedictorian…Mister Eric Grayson.”

There was thunderous applausefrom all the students, but especially from both the Server Union and Guardiantables. Looking somewhat embarrassed, Eric stepped forward as the Chancellorshook his hand and placed around his neck an Academy emblem of distinction,which for the first time had dangling below its Castlewood crest, the Guardiancoat of arms. The Chancellor kissed Eric on both cheeks and then presented himto the rest of the Rotunda. Anna and the Guardians stood and cheered whileProfessor Thordarson glanced up to see Eric’s father in the balcony joyouslyapplauding and cheering with the rest. The Chancellor grinned.

Gwen leaned over to Anna andmoaned, “Oh… a man with brains and a nice tushy. Okay… wrap him up; I’ll betaking him home with me now.”

Eric waved his acknowledgementto the crowd and humbly stepped back in line with the rest of his fellowKnights as Professor Thordarson motioned to silence the crowd.

“I believe I speak for us allwhen I say Eric has, indeed, set a very high standard to follow after hisdeparture and we all wish him much success in his future endeavors.” He pausedonce more and then took a more solemn tone.

“As the Chancellor of this fineschool, it is always a privilege to honor those of merit within the walls ofthese five Dynasties. Unfortunately, it is also my responsibility to make themore difficult decisions contributing to the future academic course anddirection of the school as a whole.

“As you know, a new Union was established here at Castlewood in September. Itshould be understood… there has never been a question as to the validity of theGuardians within the Academy, but only whether this institution should investin the support of the new order as a lasting Dynasty. A standard was set, andit was decided a goal of fifty Guardians was necessary by the end of the schoolyear to sustain the Union.”

“Here it comes,” Gwenwhispered, disappointedly. “The other shoe is about to drop right on ourheads.”

“Unfortunately… we did not meetthe stated goal necessary for sustainability. Therefore… it is my unfortunateduty to…”

Suddenly, aside door opened with a bang and Professor Titan was seen hurriedly enteringthe Rotunda. He quickly mounted the steps, motioning to the Chancellor as hestepped onto the platform. He approached Professor Thordarson and whisperedsomething that looked urgent into his ear. The Chancellor’s eyebrows seemed torise with unexpected surprise as he listened. He then turned to face Titan witha look of clear astonishment. He then nodded, and Titan motioned to a CrimsonGuard standing by the exit door. The guard quickly turned to open the doorbehind him and then made a simple gesture to somebody unseen on the other side.

A lone figure suddenly appearedin the open doorway of the Rotunda wearing a purple robe. Everybody at theGuardian table stood in amazement as they watched the unknown and hoodedstudent walk briskly between the crowded tables toward the platform. ProfessorsTitan and Thordarson met the stranger at the steps, and the Chancellor bentdown to speak to the individual in a whisper before straightening and motionedfor Eric to join him. Eric came forward eagerly to shake the student’s hand,looking inquiringly at the face under the hood for the first time. He thenlooked up at the Guardian table, his face breaking into a broad smile while therest of the students in the hall began to murmur with excitement.

“Who is it?” several voiceswhispered around them.

Anna slowly rose, too shockedand amazed to believe what was about to happen next. Professor Thordarsonturned and walked to the edge of the platform and then made a signaling motiontoward her.

“Anna Grayson… Anna? Could you join us here on the platform,please?” Anna was anchored to the spot, too surprised to move.

“Go on…” Gwen said, pushing herfriend forward. Anna moved quickly across the room and up the wooden stairs.She then joined the Chancellor who was smiling as he guided her toward thehooded figure.

“Hello…” Anna said, cautiously.“Have… we met?”

The stranger slowly raised herhands and then lifted the hood off her head, and Anna stared unblinkingly atthe young girl before her.

“Sarah?” Anna whispered. Sureenough, her own roommate Sarah Bell was standing there, looking almost assurprised as Anna herself. “But I thought…” Anna stammered, “I thought you saidthe Mirror of Enlightenment had already confirmed you were a Server monthsago.”

Her friend looked embarrassed.“I’m sorry, Anna. I… I lied to you when I said I walked through the mirroragain.” Anna could see the girl’s cheeks reddening. “I guess… I was just toofrightened to go through a second time. I really thought you and Eric wouldeventually replace the fiftieth Guardian long before now… but as the deadline gotcloser… I knew I had to finally try. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.”Sarah glanced apologetically up at Eric who turned to look at Anna. The twosmiled at each other at the same time.

“Sorry?” Anna yelled. “This isfantastic!” And before Anna could say another word, Eric reached down andlifted the little girl off her feet.

“Sarah Bell…” he said, holdingher out straight again to look at her properly, “I’m going kiss you!” And thenhe did, full on the lips.

Looking stunned as Eric pulledaway, Anna could see her roommate turning bright red with embarrassment. Ericset the girl down on her feet again and then looked to the Guardian table.

“We have our fiftiethGuardian!” he yelled, holding up Sarah Bell’s wrist high into the air, and theGuardians suddenly rang out with cheers of fabulous surprise.

Chancellor Thordarson wasbeaming with satisfaction as he raised his hands toward the assembled crowd andsang out in a very loud voice, “The Guardian Union is… sustained!”

And with that, the entireRotunda exploded with howls of elated joy and applause. Every parent andteacher in the balcony stood, clapping with the rest as they watched magic’sremarkable plan unfolding before them.

There were only a few unnoticedindividuals who were not clapping, of course, and most of them were sittingnear or around Debbie Dunning at the Defenders’ table. Debbie had a look ofunabashed loathing on her face for all the excitement being displayed aroundthem, and Anna couldn’t help feeling triumphant at seeing her disappointment.

Thordarson raised his handsonce more. “This is a time for marvelous celebration. Eat and be merry… for whoknows what tomorrow might bring.”

The applause continued as Sarahfollowed Eric and Anna back to the Guardian table where she was met withseveral enthusiastic hugs and excited handshakes. And there, the youngeststudent at Castlewood Academy was seated amongthose who would become her life-long friends. She sat between Anna and Eric,and within minutes the Guardians were talking enthusiastically about theirfuture together. It was a moment Sarah Bell would travel back to remember onehundred and twenty-two years later, when she would finally pass away as thelast of the original fifty Guardians.