At the very edge of the world, beyond the teasels and meadowsweet, the fields of green and yellow give way to a stretch of mountains that reach up towards the heavens. The early morning intrudes rudely on this scene, banishing lonely stars scattered across a cold, uncaring sky. It wakes the Welsh mountains, which look down in sleepy silence at their own reflections in the lake beneath them.
Night clings on, refusing to surrender the hours. The dying moon shines, in defiant isolation.
Two timid blackbirds, with long memories of those ancient dragon lairs, emerge from the forest and hop gingerly through the hedgerows, in search of food. The wind rustles the leaves in the trees and the blackbirds pause, taking care, before resuming their search.
A figure cloaked in black emerges from the shadows. Soaked in dew, he moves quietly as he slowly advances towards the lake, the lush undergrowth blanketing the sound of his shoes. The blackbirds dart away in frightened alarm, and the man senses he is now alone. The mist swirls around his ankles as he approaches the edge of the water, and his black cloak parts. A flash of a blade reflecting the red sunrise, and a legendary sword is revealed, before he stretches out and slips it into the cold grey water.
The sight of silver is extinguished, slowly melting away as the sword sinks down into a watery grave. Ripples fan out across the lake, like the moments in history that led the man to conceal forever the sword, and thus end the chapter forever of the one who had once owned it.
He watches. He waits.
The water is still once again.
He retreats. He vanishes.
The silence returns, and only the mountains and the pale moon bore witness to the event that has just taken place.
The morning advances and the moon surrenders, dissolving in golden rays. A chorus of birdsong commences, and the mist dissipates.
Two knights appear, their steeds restless. Dismounting, the knights look about as they move slowly through the clearing.
“Tread carefully,” one says to the other, “the Prince’s murderer remains at large and may still be in possession of the weapon.”
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