Coronation

Ruth stood, unsure, as a tall, female warrior urged her onto the shimmering surface of the lake. A group of imposing figures watched as Ruth hesitantly extended a bare foot towards the glossy body of water. She felt so small compared to the many muscled giants surrounding her. The shortest person amongst the group, not including Ruth and her friends, had to be no shorter than six feet, six inches tall. She was surrounded by towering figures, and yet, they watched her tiny frame with hushed respect. She felt the eyes of onlookers at her back and fought down the panic that rose in her chest at the prospect of sinking under the water's clear, beckoning depths.

Several hours had been spent preparing and dressing Ruth in flowing sermonical garments. She was clothed in a thick, heavy, white dress that had the texture of fir. The dress was embroidered in the front with golden thread, and it had a bridal-like train that dragged along the grassy ground behind her. Ruth's dark auburn hair was tossed loosely about her shoulders in free, elegant curls. A light, weaved, circle of golden metal, etched with runes, had been placed across her forehead.

She breathed in deeply, closed her eyes, and stepped gingerly onto the lake's surface. Instead of her foot being engulfed in water, the feeling beneath Ruth's foot was as the consistency of smooth glass. She peered down and saw that the surface of the lake supported her weight, as it had done before, and cradled her foot like Cinderella's slipper. The ground rippled beneath her feet as she gingerly placed one foot in front of the other. As she moved towards the small oasis in the center of the lake, the water reminded her of the bubbles she blew as a young child. There was a light, rainbow-like sheen to the water which swirled and gathered together at certain points on the water's surface. Once she arrived at the center of the lake, Ruth tentatively reached out to grab the staff and orb that rested on the small oasis. The staff was crudely made with gnarled, ancient looking wood that stood about five feet in height. A dark blue sphere, with swirling misty depths, toped the staff and was held in place by claw-like tendrils of wood. An identical sphere sat next to the staff on a pearl-blue cushion. Ruth's left hand wrapped around the orb and her right hand grabbed the staff. Once her fingers touched each object, a warmth spread throughout her body, and a confidence possessed her. Both spheres began to glow and, as the light intensified, so did the warmth in her body.

Ruth turned to face the onlookers, and instinctively raised the two objects over her head. All warriors bowed from where they stood in the grass. In fact, the only people who weren't in a bowed position were the three men who had crossed over with Ruth from her world. All three people stood in shock. Ruth couldn't say that she blamed them for being shaken. She lowered her arms and allowed herself a small smile.

The tallest and strongest looking warrior strode up to the lake and stepped into the pool. Her foot instantly hit the bottom of the shallow end of the lake and she walked away, looking slightly dejected. One by one, all of the warriors, men and women, took turns attempting to cross the lake, with the same results as the first.

Once it was clear that none of the warriors would be able to cross, the leader pointed towards Ruth's three companions.

"You next!" she ordered in a deep, commanding voice.

Bruce attempted to cross first. He took off his shoes and stepped into the shimmering waters. His feet quickly sank, and he backed away, wiping his soaked feet on the warm grass.

Ruth looked on, with the knowledge that only someone she trusted would be able to cross the lake to stand by her side. The moment Ruth had touched the staff and orb, she acquired confidence as well as knowledge. It was as if her spirit was being shared with a strong entity of this world. Even with new knowledge and confidence, she did not know how the current situation would unfold. She did not truly trust anyone.

Kay stepped up to the edge of the lake, taking off his shoes. Ruth looked on with skepticism and a twinge of annoyance. If trust was the criteria of success in this instance, Kay might as well not bother at all. How could trust be given when dislike was present?

A collective intake of breath could be heard from the onlookers as the water cradled Kay's feet in smooth, liquid glass. His face betrayed surprise as he strode towards the center of the lake. Ruth's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and the new presence inside her spirit seethed in empathetic anger.

Kay stopped five feet in front of Ruth and waited, unsure of what to do.

Resigned to what had happened, she slowly raised her left hand, palm up, and extended to him the softball-sized orb. He looked at her with a question in his crystal-blue eyes.

"Take it," Ruth said in a commanding voice, unlike her own.

He reached out with both hands and took the sphere. The moment their fingers met, the warmth and brightness intensified and spread into Kay as well. His eyes glowed and changed to match the dark blue swirling mist of his orb. He stood by her side, no longer unsure of what to do, and turned to face the group of people. In unison, the two walked back to the water's edge to greet their friends, old and new.

The tallest warrior bent down and placed a circle of metal across Kay's forehead. The circular strip of metal was etched with a single eye directly in the center of his forehead.

"The spirits of Hebron and Ashkana have returned to us!" proclaimed the lead warrior. "The first warrior and the first seer walk among us once again."

Glancing over at Kay, Ruth saw his eyes had returned to normal. He stood, looking around himself with new appreciation for what he saw.

"I am Marta," spoke the leader. "I pledge my loyalty to our land and to you."

"Ruth, Kay," said Bruce looking concerned, "are you two alright?"

Matt stood next to Bruce with an identical look of concern upon his face.

"We are fine," she said, only half believing her own words.

"How curious that the spirit of Lord Hebron would choose a female host," said a male warrior."

"Benoni," chided Marta, "a warrior's spirit is neither male nor female, but is presented in the strength of one's character."

Benoni looked down his nose at Ruth, sizing her up with a look of subtle hunger on his face.

"I suppose good things come in tiny packages," he said, green eyes glinting.

Bruce cleared his throat and stepped between Benoni and Ruth.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," he said firmly, "but we need to get back to our world."

"We can't," Ruth said with surprise.

Kay walked over and stood at her side. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, a kind gesture he had never given, and nodded.

"These are our people now," said Kay, "We need to stay here."

Even as he spoke, Ruth knew he was right and their convictions were in agreement.

"The hell we do!" interjected Matt. "What has happened to you two? We have lives back on Armageddon! Bruce has a wife and kids! I have a wife and kids! Ruth, don't you want to see your parents and sisters again?"

"We don't even know if there is a way back," I furrowed my brow. "I'm sure if there was, I would have to think long and hard before going back to a world of perpetual war. Of course, it would be unfair to ask the two of you to stay when you have families on Armageddon and no loyalties to this world."

She looked at Bruce and Matt.

"Though I would prefer we all stay together," she said, "you can go if you want. I'm staying."

"I'm staying too," affirmed Kay.

Ruth reached up to her shoulder and covered his hand with her own. The movement was as easy as breathing, and yet, fifteen minutes before, she would have shrugged his hand away.

"This world is a fresh start for all of us." Ruth reasoned. "Matt, there is magic here. You realize, as a scientist, you could study the science of magic. You could never do that on Armageddon. Bruce, you have the ability to experience and explore places here which people on our world can only dream about."

Kay nodded. "You don't have to stay, but Ruth and I have a responsibility to these people. Today marks a new beginning to the rest of our lives."

Bruce looked at Matt and sheepishly shuffled his feet.

"I'm going to stay," he said as he looked down at the ground.

Matt looked as if someone had just slapped his face.

"You have all lost your minds," Matt seethed. "Fine," he spat, "I'll find a way home myself."

He turned on his heel and marched to the palace gates, undoubtedly to find a logical explanation to their situation in the monstrous library.

With reluctance, Ruth turned her attention back towards the assembled group.

"It's good to be back," she smiled.