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“Mayhap, we should have waited to do this,” Molly whispered, her voice muffled by the noise that had suddenly pervaded the room. Lightning illuminated the room once again as Elyzabel and Gwen’s bodies rose up off the mattress.

One powerful gust of wind tore through the room, knocking Morgause and Molly off of their feet. Molly rolled across the floor and slammed into an oak chest. “Oh, man that really smarted,” she muttered, glancing to where Morgause had landed across from her. Her aunt looked at her…wildness gleamed in her eyes.

“Something caused the spell to backfire,” she called over the howling wind. The window had been thrown open, and rain pelted into the room.

Shaking her head, Molly pushed herself to her feet. She rocked to the side when another gust of wild wind ripped through the room. She fought against the spray of the rain and scrambled over to help her aunt up. Reaching out for her hand, Morgause gripped it, and Molly pulled her up. They fell against each other as yet another blast of wind blew through the room.

They had to do something…one of them needed to conjure up a new window…before they all caught their death.

Thaney suddenly bolted upright in her chair and held her arms up high.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 99

“What was once true is now two. “ Molly couldn’t make sense of Thaney’s befuddled speech. Morgause whispered something inaudible beneath her breath.

“What did you say?” Molly asked, clapping her hand to her ear.

Morgause looked at her in surprise, and muttered, “It’s nothing to get excited about. “

“Well, it’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” Molly called back, pointing to Elyzabel and Gwen. She’d had just about enough of this day. She was fed up. Nothing was remotely similar to the way that it had once been.

Gwen sat up, and jumped down from the bed. Molly jumped as a jolt of surprise ran through her body.

“Did it work Lady Morgause?” Gwen asked, as Morgause and Molly exchanged a confused glance. That really didn’t sound like Gwen…oh, crap! Molly knew what had happened, and she felt quite certain that the lights were now turning on inside of Morgause’s head.

And then they each nodded their heads knowingly, and groaned. Now, they were in for it.

Gwen and Elyzabel had switched.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 100

“I daresay that was an unexpected outcome. “ Morgause’s voice was strained, and she brushed her russet hair off of her forehead.

“Are you kidding me? That was about the worst thing that could happen. Really. If you thought Gwen was difficult to deal with before, just you wait until she discovers that she now inhabits Elyzabel’s body. Oh, yeah…she’ll put on one hell of a show for us. And I can guarantee you that she won’t like her new body. “

Elyzabel was frowning, and running her hands over her face and body. Molly winced when the woman passed her hands over Gwen’s breasts. Oh, yeah…now she’d be getting a clue.

Elyzabel was far bustier than Gwen. Elyzabel stood up, and quickly moved to reach for a mirror.

She held it up to her face and let out a drawn out gasp.

“I’m not in my own body!” Elyzabel wailed, causing the still sleeping Gwen to stir.

Molly had levitated Elyzabel’s body over to the bed that had recently been home to Gwen’s body. As soon as their consciousness’s had switched, Elyzabel’s body had slumped to the ground.

“Will you just shush!” Molly snapped, wincing at the severity of her tone. Elyzabel turned Gwen’s wide expressive eyes on her, and Molly lightly slapped her forehead.

“How could the spell have gone so wrong? I mean I’ve heard about the effects of the weather wreaking havoc with magic…but this is just crazy!” she turned to Morgause, who was looking out the window.

Morgause turned back to her with a thoughtful expression on her face. “I think the stars were out of alignment, they weren’t ready for such a powerful spell. “ Her eyes narrowed, and Molly shut her mouth. She wouldn’t ask any more questions about how it happened, but she needed to know how they were to fix it.

“So, what do we do now?” she asked, impatiently tapping her foot against the floor. “We can’t keep them like this forever, you know. “

“Mayhap, Arthur will not notice,” Morgause said thoughtfully, as Elyzabel began rummaging through one of Gwen’s chests.

“Not notice? What do you think my father is…an idiot or something? He’s going to notice that Gwen’s not reacting to him the same way…and he’ll come to the conclusion that magic had a hand in messing with her behavior! And then…when he puts two and two together, he’ll come to me to make it right! So, we need to figure out what to do!” Molly turned to look at Elyzabel when she began muttering beneath her breath.

“I know she had that gorgeous lilac colored gown in here, ah, ha, here it is!” Molly’s eyes widened when Elyzabel flourished a beautiful lilac silk gown and shook it out. It rippled with the effect, and draped over Elyzabel’s arms. Elyzabel threw Branden’s cloak onto the bed, and quickly slipped into the gown, foregoing the choice of any undergarments.

Molly watched the scene with interest, and placed her hands impatiently on her hips. “I think you have created a monster,” she muttered to her aunt. “Somehow I don’t think Elyzabel will mind her new station as Arthur’s queen. Look at that greedy gleam in her eyes…she’s already envisioning all of her gold and jewels!”

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 101

Gwen, in Elyzabel’s body, let out a long-suffering sigh, and then sat up. She glanced wildly around the room. Her eyes rested on Molly for a long moment, and the blank look betrayed in them, nearly sent Molly into a fit. If they’d accidentally switched their bodies, without actually restoring Gwen’s precious memories, then she was going to go ballistic.

“Molly,” she said happily, her face breaking into a rare grin. “I think I must have been dreaming before. Gwynne had me ensnared in a trap of hers, and I was fighting desperately to free myself, but those eyes of hers bored straight down into my soul. “ She shuddered. She came up for air, and scowled when she noticed Morgause. “My husband’s heart is too good and big, he should have never allowed you to seek sanctuary here. “ Molly drifted over to her stepmother and reached for her hand.

Morgause was busying herself quite spectacularly, and managed to bite her tongue long enough to slip from the room. Elyzabel was still twirling around the room, and running her hands through Gwen’s silken strands of hair. Gwen on the other hand was scratching her head, and fiddling with the front of her gown.

“Gwen, there’s something you need to know…” Molly’s voice trailed off when Gwen snorted.

“I do not recall wearing this gown this morning. Indeed, I had believed that I was wearing a black gown. “ She cocked her head to one side, and flexed her fingers. “Where are my rings?” she asked, dread forming in her voice, as her eyes roved across the room, and rested on Elyzabel. “Molly…what’s going on here?”

“Well, there’s a bit of a story behind what happened, in hindsight you might actually have a chuckle about this…” Gwen looked from Molly to Elyzabel than back to Molly again.

Molly could see that Gwen was slowly piecing it all together…it wouldn’t be long before it clicked.

Molly thought that Gwen was taking the whole debacle rather well, until Gwen let out an ear-splitting scream that roused Thaney from her meditative trance. Thaney began screaming wildly, and jumping around in frantic circles. She brushed at herself as if she were trying to put out flames. Forgetting all about Gwen, Molly rushed to Thaney and enveloped her in a soothing hug.

“It is okay. You are safe. “ Molly clasped Thaney to her chest and tried to restrain the maddened girl. Morgause came skidding into the room and nearly slammed into Molly.

“Fire within. Fire within,” Thaney babbled incoherently, until Morgause wrapped her into her arms, and reached to cup her face.

“Thaney, you are here. With your mama and your cousin. You are not in the battle. “

Thaney still writhed in agony and it took a few more moments of soft murmurings to still the desperation from her eyes.

Gwen’s wails were getting ever louder, and Molly quickly stepped between Morgause and Gwen before Morgause did something that she would undoubtedly regret.

“That woman should have her lips sewn shut! Given time I might be able to arrange that for her!” Morgause barked out, her arm still wrapped protectively around Thaney.

“Remember Morgause, that isn’t Gwen’s real body. If you did anything to Gwen right now, you’d be altering Elyzabel’s body. “ Molly grimaced as a slice of pain seared into her head. She stared down at her wet clothes. The wind still howled and misty rain continued to stream into the room. Shutting her eyes for the briefest of moments, she pointed in the direction of the shattered stained glass. In a blinding flash of pink light, the window repaired itself. She cracked one eyelid open and smiled when she saw proof of her magical handiwork. To prove to LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 102

herself that her powers were back to normal, she put her hand up in the air and snapped her fingers. Within a split second everyone in the room became bone dry. Gwen glanced down at her dress and stared over at Molly with a jaw-dropper look on her face.

“Paganism. The occult. This is too much to bear. I require my priest,” Gwen screamed, though her scream wasn’t as nerve wracking as it usually was, as Elyzabel had a much prettier voice.

“Snap out of it, Gwen,” Molly ordered, sinking down onto the mattress beside her. “If you rush to Father Cadfael and tell him that you are in your cousin’s body as a result of a witch’s spell, how do you think he’d react? Think rationally, and logically. The man would lose his mind. “ Molly gripped her hand and pulled it to her chest. “Please, just think this through…don’t do something stupid. “

Gwen listened to her in sullen silence, opened her mouth to speak and then clamped it shut.

“You shall restore me to my own body,” Gwen ordered, puckering her lips into a pout.

“You have just shown off the great power that you command, Molly. Why can’t you just make things right with my body?”

“I will do everything that I can. I promise you that, Gwen. “ Gwen’s eyes filled with happiness.

“I knew I could trust you, Molly. As long as you are on my side, I have nothing to fear.

Arthur did not entrust you to be my protector, without having his reasons for it…and even though you are a…” At this, Gwen had to stop to clear her throat. A person would have thought she had nettles caught in her throat, from the painful expression that covered her face. “Even though you are a witch, I know that you are not a servant of—”

Molly interrupted her before she could say it.

“I know what you’re trying to say, Gwen. Thank you. It is good to know that I do not make you think badly of me. We shall try to get you reunited with your body, right away…is that possible, Morgause?”

This type of magic still reached beyond Molly’s experience. She knew of any fighting techniques, and she knew quite a bit about healing, but this just puzzled her. At her question, Elyzabel made a noise between a gasp and a snarl. Molly turned her attention to her…all the while holding Gwen’s hand. A cold feeling had just stolen over Molly’s body. She didn’t like the feral looking expression on Elyzabel’s, or rather, Gwen’s face.

“Nay. I believe I am quite content with the recent turn of events,” Elyzabel said, giving them a mingled look of smugness and haughtiness. “Too long I have lived in your shadow, Gwen. I always had to hear my mother asking me why I couldn’t be as polite and well spoken as you. Mama always wanted to know why I couldn’t be as pious as you were. And the thing that annoyed me most of all, was when she used to tell your mother that she was blessed with the beautiful daughter!” Elyzabel’s voice transformed into a bellow, and Molly was stunned to see the normally reserved woman display such passion. “You may rot in my body for all I care. I’m laying my claim to this one…even though it has its drawbacks!” Elyzabel stared down in disgust at her breasts. “But I will have to make do with what God gave you. “ Molly almost flinched at Elyzabel’s tone. She felt Gwen’s hand stiffen beneath hers.

“Molly shall force you to switch with me. She is my protector…she will not let me down, Elyzabel!” Gwen said, sticking out her lower lip even further as her chin wobbled.

“Actually, that isn’t how our magic works. We cannot force any unwilling participant. “

Morgause’s voice was cold and distant, and she seemed as if she was gaining satisfaction out of LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 103

Gwen’s misfortune. “You must remember that we practice the magical arts of purity and goodness…to force someone against their will would be to succumb to the Dark Arts. And I will have you know, Gwen, that my Molly would never do that. “ Her Molly? Molly couldn’t believe her ears. Morgause was on one hell of a weird trip!

“Elyzabel, you must want to switch places again with Gwen. “ Molly began, as Morgause snorted. She had to try and reason with Elyzabel…she couldn’t very well let Gwen down, not now. This wouldn’t have even happened if she’d been more on guard. Gwynne would never have been able to take her evil plan this far. Suddenly, Molly felt sick.

“We cannot cast the resolution spell, unless we achieve the same sort of storm, and do it at the same time of night. “ Morgause’s voice was low. Molly’s eyes flew to meet hers. She studied them intently and then sighed. For all intents and purposes, Morgause seemed to be speaking the truth.

“I thought you said the stars were out of alignment. “ Molly narrowed her eyes. Perhaps, Morgause was even more accomplished at deception than Molly had previously given her credit for.