By Susan Lyttek
The book was lost. Of that, I had no doubt.
The problem was that it couldn’t remain lost. My life as I knew it, as I longed for it to be, would not continue without the words my mother had left me.
“Genny, where are you?”
No, no, no. He couldn’t already be looking for me. I kept quiet and hid in the corner of the nearly-empty room thinking invisible thoughts. Please, don’t see me. I’m not here.
“Genny?” He sounded hurt and confused.
Please, just go. I can’t yet. Just can’t. Not until…
He walked around the room. I almost thought he saw me, but I burrowed deeper into the shadows behind the immense shelves that had held my father’s library. His last call of ‘Genny’ sounded like a whimper and I almost bounded out of my hiding place. Almost.
Finally, he left and went to check somewhere else. I heard the faint calls of my name, but thankfully they were nowhere near me.
When I heard only the beat of my heart, which echoed loudly in the room, I eased out of the corner I had buried myself within. The tome had to be here. This was where I last had it. Here, she had shown me which pages were mine. But where? It wasn’t as if this room had multiple places to conceal something as valuable as an illuminated book. Before the servants had moved everything out, maybe. But now? The rows of empty shelves hinted at this room’s original purpose. Darling father had the most prized collection outside of the abbeys.
I never saw its leather cover, engraved and painted with our family tree, while they had worked. I know because I had chosen to supervise this room in particular.
I had been looking for it then. Hoping I could recover her prophecy and prove things would work so we could be together as he wanted. Maybe the message had changed since she last hinted at it? I had seen the words within it change for others.
But for me, Mother had insisted that my pages would provide proof. “Do not doubt it, daughter.”
I had trusted I could find her when the time came. But she was gone, and I had to come to terms with that and solve our mystery myself.
“Genny.” His voice was commanding and matter-of-fact. Like he knew he would find me here.
I didn’t turn around. “It’s bad luck to see a bride on her wedding day.” Maybe his superstitions would make him leave.
“It’s even worse luck if the bride doesn’t show up.” I heard his voice choke. “You don’t even have your dress on yet. And our wedding is supposed to be what, an hour from now?”
He knew it was. The abbot had scheduled it at sunset so most of the people could come. And he knew I knew. I was fighting the clock.
“Mother promised to show me when the time came. I have to know. She said that you and I…” I couldn’t go on. What mother had said had been strange. But as a seer, though some called her a witch, she often said odd things. I had to see the words for myself. She’d spoken of how I was meant for this man and yet I was wrong for him. And that she had proof.
“I don’t care, Genny. I don’t care what she said. She never liked me. She never liked you, for that matter.”
He was right. I guess it’s why Father and I were so close. I was thankful that he would continue living with me after I married. This wonderful man behind me had said he had plenty of room and couldn’t bear to see us apart.
“Your father said that you’d be stubborn.” He reached around and laid a huge volume in front of me. “You can read it if you want. But it changes nothing. I love you. I’m not willing to give you up for a maybe left by a spiteful enchantress.”
I wanted to believe him. But I had to see it for myself. I opened the book. It fell to my page as if it knew. “You will marry your love,” the ornate script read. “You will cause him great pain and destroy the kingdom that you build together because of the passion I have put in your veins.”
“I will cause you pain.” I couldn’t bear to look at him as I said the words.
“Maybe. It is a prophecy, Genny.” The love and longing in his voice made me turn around. “I’m willing to risk it if I can be with you.”
He was so handsome, and the love in his eyes softened me as I feared. “I will marry you, Arthur.”
He kissed me. “You will be an amazing queen, Guinevere.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
OOHHHHHH I wasn’t expecting that ending at all! I love this!! Arthur will always be the best <3
Thanks! Actually, the ending surprised me, too. I didn’t know who Genny was until I was about 2/3rds of the way through writing it. I think stories like that are some of the most fun!
At first I thought Genny was a child sand her father was looking for her. I liked the twist that it was Camelot’s power couple.
Ending with a twist is always fun, isn’t it?
What a great twist at the end! I really enjoyed your story, Susan!
Thanks!
Interesting. I picked up the Genny, Guinevere early, probably
since I just finished an Arthur story myself.
Makes sense. Thanks for reading!
Loved the twist at the end! It totally makes me want to go read those tales of King Arthur again! Thank you.
We always hope the prophecy doesn’t have to come true. Great story.