Bart stood there without moving a muscle and in silence for at least a couple minutes before he gathered his thoughts. Her beauty had thrown him off and if he was prepared for a fight before, his bearings were lost in her magnificence.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bartholomew, son of Alexander,” she finally said, breaking the quiet, unofficial staring contest that was going on between them. Bart shook off his dumbfounded look and tried to seem professional.
“Um, no offense but who exactly are you and why are you here?” Bart knew the first part of the question was stupid since she already gave her name but he was still a little taken aback.
“I understand that you have questions Bartholomew but there is not enough time to discuss them all. The prince’s men are close to discovering the cove and you need to hurry through to Zathya before they find you here.” Bart was confused how she knew all this. He started to look around to see if anyone was close or to see what way they would be coming from.
“Who is the prince?” Bart asked quietly.
“No time to discuss it Bartholomew,” she said quickly in response.
“What have you done to my friends?” Bart demanded.
“They currently believe that they are talking to you right now,” she said in response. Bart looked around and was surprised that he didn’t notice Charlotte was awake talking to Jason and apparently to him. They were nowhere near where Bart was standing but they were talking to the air near them as if he was standing there.
“How are you doing that?” Arianna just continued to smile.
“Majestics are particularly gifted in the art of mind wielding,” she said with a wink. Bart’s eyes widened. Not once did it cross his mind that the woman standing in front of him was a majestic. He had never seen one of course but he didn’t expect to meet one so soon.
“You’re a…you’re a majestic?” She nodded in the affirmative. No wonder she is so stunning, Bart thought to himself.
“I appreciate the continuous compliments but really we do not have time to get into any of this Bartholomew. They are near and I can only keep them out for so long.” Bart regained his focus quickly.
“So then why are you here,” he asked.
“I had to meet you of course,” she said with a smile. “I had this entrance to Zathya sealed off so that Mafortian and his men wouldn’t be able to enter here. Yet when you and your companions arrived, I decided I would open the passage. However, I had to meet you first.”
“I don’t quite understand,” Bart said softly. Arianna just continued to smile.
“This war has raged for some time since my brother ordered us to leave. I have always disagreed with his reasoning, but nonetheless I listened to him. He generally has good reasons for his decisions and questioning him really doesn’t do much anyway.” Bart was sort of lost, but he put some pieces of the puzzle together.
“I’m guessing your brother is Camathlion,” he said. She nodded slowly. “What was his reason for leaving?” Bart asked.
“Well it’s a long story, but to give you a brief summary, he believed that the people had to prove they deserved to live in this world that he created.”
“Deserved?” Bart questioned. “How does someone prove that?”
“He didn’t want our world to end up like the world you’ve come to know and love,” she said. “All the fighting and violence is poisonous. Yet he believed that people had to come to live harmoniously by choice not by force.” Bart started to get it.
“So he left to let them try?” he asked. “Doesn’t seem like his plan worked all that well.”
“You are absolutely right,” Arianna said. “The people began fighting once someone decided they deserved better. Wars waged and people began turning on each other. They needed someone to believe in, someone to lead them back to the path of harmony. That someone can be you.” Bart took a step back and looked dumbfounded.
“Me?” he asked completely surprised. “How can you expect me to bring a whole world back to the way it used to be when you and your brother ruled? I’m not a Majestic.”
“There have been many kings and queens who the people believed in, but there is something about you- something I sense in you that makes me believe in you. Your father knew you were special. I am inclined to agree with him.” Bart just stared at her as he sat back on a rock. She knew so much and she apparently knew his father. It was weird to hear her say that Alexander thought Bart was special, especially since Bart was a baby last time he saw his father. Arianna walked slowly towards Bart and knelt down in front of him. “You are a remarkable boy, Bartholomew,” she said as she placed her hand on his. The moment her hand touched him he felt a surge of warmth throughout his entire body. “This time will undoubtedly be the hardest time of your life. You will face hardships you’ve never faced. Decisions that will determine not only your fate but the fate of our world will fall in your hands. Yet despite all this, I believe you will succeed. I have faith in you, Bart. I know you will do amazing things.” She looked right into his eyes as she spoke and Bart felt a confidence that he’d never felt. He wasn’t sure if it was her giving it to him through wielding or her just believing in him, but either way he felt ready for anything.
“What do I have to do?” he asked as he stood up.
“That’s the beginning right there,” she said with a smile. “Your friend there has been trying to find the entrance to Zathya. I will unlock it for you.” Bart looked back at Jason and immediately knew why he was really wet before. “Go prove me right. I like saying I told you so especially to my brother,” she added with a wink.
“I’ll do my best,” he said trying his hardest to stay confident.
“One more thing, however,” she said firmly. “Your friends cannot know that I have spoken to you.”
“Wait, why not?”
“They just must not know. I have come to you and only you for a reason, Bartholomew. We must keep our talk between us.” Bart frowned at the news.
“How am I supposed to convince them that the entrance is open then? They will think I’m nuts.” Just then a woman came running up in all white with a scarf covering her face. She removed it and Bart noticed she looked slightly like Jason. They had the same eyes and nose.
“My lady, they are almost here,” she said without even looking at Bart. Arianna nodded and then turned back to Bart.
“Time is running out, Bart. I wish you good luck in your quest and all the journeys to come. I know we shall meet again someday. Until then, take care, my King.” Before Bart could even thank her or respond the bright light flashed again and when it died out, everything was returned to normal. Bart smiled as he looked at the water and silently thanked Arianna. Then he turned to find Charlotte and Jason standing there confused and dazed.
“How did you get over there,” Charlotte said completely bewildered. Bart understood her confusion. If he was standing talking to her at one point and then the next second she was about twenty feet away, he too would be astonished and mystified.
“Magic trick,” he said jokingly. He walked over to them and noticed Jason was looking at him in a very skeptical way. Bart decided to brush it off and try to act casual. “So we should probably get moving.”
“What’s going on,” Charlotte asked sounding a little angered. “Why would you act like this isn’t a big deal? Tattoo man and the big hulk guy are closing in on us and you start fooling around?” Bart didn’t want to give away that he knew about how close they were so he just smirked and gave a shrug.
“Relax Char, we can just leave and go to Zathya. They won’t be able to follow us right Jason?” Jason was still looking at Bart in a strange way. Bart could feel his skepticism rising.
“Bart, Jason just said that the entrance is sealed and we can’t go through. We have to find another way in. Were you even listening?”
“Yeah but its open now trust me.” Both Jason and Charlotte looked at each other.
“Bart, how could you possibly know that,” Jason said softly.
“Um,” he said uncertainly. “I had a dream about it.”
“And you decided not to share it with us?” Charlotte said angrily. Bart felt like he was going to panic and he didn’t want to think about Arianna because he was sure Jason was in his mind right now.
“Look, how do we get in and I will show you,” he said trying to sound confident. Jason continued to glare at him and Bart knew he was trying to search his mind. He started thinking of various foods like pizza and Chinese food to try and disguise his thoughts.
“The only way in is through the water, but it is sealed I have told you that,” Jason said calmly.
“Just tell me what I need to do,” Bart said. He was still trying to guide his thoughts to something other than Arianna’s instructions. Jason stared at him for a few seconds and then answered.
“Once you are in the water you must swim to the very bottom. Under the waterfall, there is a cave of sorts. Once you enter the cave, you will make your way to the other side of the cave. Upon exiting you will be in Zathya. But again I say, the cave is-” but before Jason could finish, he turned around and put his arms out shielding Bart and Charlotte. They looked closely at the trees but didn’t see what caught his attention. There were no sounds being made and no one was visible so Bart was confused. Then suddenly Bart had that feeling in his gut that was all too familiar. He knew something was about to go wrong right when the big beast of a man Baron came through the bushes, axe in hand, followed by his tattooed brother and about ten men. Jason placed his mask over his face quickly. “Bart if you are right, go now,” he screamed.
“What about you,” Charlotte hollered.
“No time,” Jason yelled as two sticks rose from the ground and turned into two swords upon Jason grabbing them. “GO NOW!” Bart grabbed Charlotte without hesitation and ran for the pond. He could feel the heat as fire blazed past his head. Right before he jumped, he got a glimpse of Jason charging the attackers, giving Bart and Charlotte enough time to escape. Bart leaped with Charlotte right beside him and they dove into the water.
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