[/ Hi, Readers! This is my first ever fanfic, my first story ever to be honest! I should've probably started off with a one-shot but oh well.
To make this a bit easier on me I have added two original characters to the story. They seem like pretty bad 'mary-sue's at the start but it's all part of the bigger story!
SPOILERS: This fanfiction will be based on all events that have happened up until the last two episodes of season three (I knew it had to happen at somepoint, but I didn't want it to).
My grammar needs work as I overuse commas (among other things) and I always mix up my tenses, so be prepared for a bumpy ride!
I don't own 'Merlin'. Not even a little bit. Although if I did it'd go a little something like this: /]
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Another, particularly warm, summer morning in Camelot: The Sun's unwelcome rays blazed a conveniently placed, cross-hared shadow over Merlin's eyelids as the lower town began to stir, the darkened streets yawning into light whilst the commoners begrudgingly emerged.
It was the better half of an hour later, however, before the young sorcerer awoke to the sound of enthusiastic encouragement, with a slight tinge of stress.
"Get up Merlin, you're going to be late again!"
"Nnnngh… five minutes" Merlin slurred as he sluggishly rolled his half-covered body away from the source of the noise.
"Merlin…" Gaius taunted, "Perhaps you might have forgotten, but Arthur has a tournament today. I do not want to see you thrown in the stocks again out of pure laziness!"
The stocks by now, he was used to. It was the thought of being, once again, scourned by The Prince that dragged his torso into the annoying cool air above his bed. Besides, he had enough bruises from the time he had failed to provide Arthur with a clean shirt.
"Okay, m' awake…see?" Merlin flapped his arms once and then proceeded to rub his palms against his stubborn eyes. Annoyed but content, Gaius left him to dress.
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One hour late and breakfast deprived Merlin stumbled into Arthur's chambers tripping over his own feet, but relieved to find the young Prince awake and fully dressed. The dark-blonde was sitting on the bed, chin on fist, and turned sharply to the warlock's ridiculous entrance.
"Where the bloody hell have you been? I've been waiting ten minutes for you to put my armour on!"
Merlin flashed a child-like smile "You're awake!"
"Of course I'm awake, Merlin, and you had better be grateful! I'll have you punished if I'm late to this tournament. No, I should have you thrown in the stocks anyway! How on Earth do you manage to sleep through a morning as bright as this?" Arthur gestured angrily towards the window.
"Umm…" Merlin bit his lip and glanced at the bright square near the corner of the room before looking back at the Prince. "Are you done…sire?" He grinned.
Arthur angrily threw his dirty bed-shirt at Merlin who, as always, was too slow to defend himself.
"Wash that…after you put my armour on" He said with emphasis to stop Merlin's attempt to leave at the word 'wash'.
"Then I need you to buff my shoes, clean my room and bring my lunch up from the kitchens for when I return. Oh and don't forget to restring my bow, I need that for the latter half of today's tournament."
"Yes, sire" Merlin moaned glumly, as he placed the dank shirt on the end of the bed and went in search of more clothes strewn across the floor.
Arthur stared at the back of Merlin's head, dumbfounded. "Merlin…"
Merlin swivelled round to meet Arthur's gaze, goofily sucking in his bottom lip "mm?"
"You incompetent buffoon! My armour!" Arthur exploded.
"Oh, right!" Merlin exclaimed as he dropped the collected garments onto the floor and dashed to the table where the armour lay, squinting at the pools of extortionately bright sunlight gathered in each shiny, metallic crevasse.
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In her chambers, The Lady Morgana was humming a pleasant melody whilst brushing her hair. She winced and averted her eyes as the slowly rising sun created a vivid glare in the mirror. Annoyed, she swiftly moved to the window and yanked the curtains closed.
As she sat back down on her regal stool a metal clanging came from the chambers below, followed by a highly audible "Ow!" and a "Merlin, you useless idiot!"
Morgana rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "Morons." She mumbled.
Two knocks.
"Yes, come in!" The lady called sweetly.
The door silently swayed open as her maid, dressed in a pale frock and matching frilly apron entered and gingerly curtseyed. "My lady" she greeted politely, earning herself a sigh.
"Honestly Gwen, I've told you to drop the formalities." Morgana said smiling and shaking her head "We're friends are we not?"
"Of course" Gwen feigned a small laugh and approached the bedside, picking up the plate and tray, which still held a high proportion of the food that it had originally.
"You've hardly touched your breakfast."
"I'm just not that hungry right now."
"Oh, well is there anything else you need?"
"That will be all, Gwen, thank you" The smile Morgana had pasted on her lips descended as the door closed, and she returned to gazing into the mirror.
Peculiarly, she did not illustrate the amount of surprise one would expect if they had turned to see someone else's reflection looking back at them.
"Are you well, sister?"
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Uther awaited his son in the throne room, which seemed far too spacious when it was empty.
Bored without any company, he allowed his eyes to linger out of the window, across the brightly lit meadows and forest, wondering how the tournament would turn out.
Obviously he had no doubt his not-so-one-and-only heir would emerge victorious, but was trying to judge which of the other kingdoms would fair the best.
Not only had he invited a member of royal family accompanied by their best soldier from each of his allies, but also from those who were undecided.
He wanted to test the faith they had in Camelot, and if they were to leave unharmed at the tournée's end he was sure a peace treaty would follow, further extending the reaches of his already vast kingdom. But it was a risky move – Uther had made a lot of enemies in the war against magic.
After a long think and enough time waiting he strolled out of his throne and decided it was time to oversee the first day of the tournament.
"The preparations should be complete by now.." He grumbled to himself.
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Past the lower town and well along the vast fields stood two travellers, stopping to gaze onward at the remote castle.
"Well, there it is, Flo. Camelot. Judging by the distance I would say we have another day's walk ahead of us." Said the boy calmly, a small bead of perspiration glistening in the sunlight as it trickled down the back of his neck.
"Well if we're almost there shouldn't we get into character? I wouldn't mind being addressed as 'my lady'"
The boy laughed sarcastically, in clear disapproval. "Whatever you say, your majesty." He said with a playful smirk, but being completely ignored in response.
"Oh I do hope they hold off the tournament for us." She sighed, expectantly. Looking rather content as the breeze gently swept her long, straight hair out of her face.
"You know that won't happen." The boy moaned, annoyed at his companion's stubbornness. "The journey would at least be more comforting if the sun wasn't so damn hot, though."
The girl let out a short, half-hearted yet charming laugh and beamed at her partner "You know I can't help that, Wolfe!"
It was the boy's turn to sigh this time and he looked up at the sun disappointedly before lifting a hand towards the overgrowth of miscellaneous plants ahead and whispering sharply "Discedo."
With a quick flash of golden irises, the entangled vines unfurled enough to create a dark opening into the dense forest beyond.
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This is just the prologue, chapter one will be uploaded momentarily!
To be honest I don't really like chapter one and I think this prologue is the best you'll get out of me so you might just wanna save yourself time and stop reading!