Merlin puts his sword up to block Arthur's attack. Arthur pulls his sword away quickly from Merlin's sword and jabs at Merlin's chest. Merlin parries Arthur's sword, but before his sword touches Arthur, Arthur swings his arms upward, making Merlin and Arthur back away from each other. The crowd in the stands cheer for the fight. Merlin and Arthur circle around each other, waiting for the other to attack.
It was Arthur who suggested that they fight to entertain the citizens of Camelot. Now here they are with wooden swords, trying to beat the other. Gwen and Sophia were in the royal family part of the stands, clapping occasionally for show, but both looking worried. Next to them in the part of the stands where knights sit were Elyan, Gwaine, Leon, Lancelot, and Percival, constantly cheering, clapping, and laughing.
Arthur hurried forward and assaulted Merlin with multiple attacks to Merlin's body and head. Merlin blocked every attack from Arthur with speed that impressed himself. When Merlin blocked Arthur's last attack, Merlin pushed Arthur's sword away and punched Arthur in the stomach. The crowd cheered even louder, smiling and laughing at the fight. Arthur, grabbing at the spot where Merlin punched, stepped closer to Merlin, his sword at his side.
"You don't need to be so rough." Arthur says.
Merlin smiles, "It's got to be entertaining, doesn't it?"
Arthur sighs and swings his sword at Merlin's arm. Merlin meets Arthur's sword and they knock against each other in the air. Merlin arcs his sword at Arthur and Arthur blocks Merlin's attack. For a second, the two are using their strength to try and break the standstill that prevents them from continuing to fight. They are evenly matched in strength. Then Merlin turns his head and sees it.
What looks like a shadow runs across the side of the arena and out the exit. A shadow that belongs to no one in the stands, nor Arthur or Merlin. Merlin is so focused on the moving shadow that he doesn't realize Arthur is preparing to attack him until it is too late. Arthur's wooden sword Merlin full in the face, on his left cheek. Merlin falls to the ground, vaguely aware of the people in the stands cheering, the last thing he sees is the shadow staring at him.
"Stop squirming!" Sophia tells Merlin as she brushes a cold, wet towel over his cheek. The cheek Arthur hit.
"It hurts." Merlin says.
"Well, then you shouldn't have gotten hit." Sophia chuckles.
"Or you could be lighter with your touch." Merlin mutters. Sophia hits his arm and Merlin smiles, "Besides, Arthur only won because I saw something."
"And what is it that you saw?" Gaius asks walking inside Merlin and Sophia's chambers.
Merlin thought back to the minute before the fight ended. What had he seen? Was it a shadow that moved on its own? A creature of magic? Merlin decided to simply say, "A shadow."
"A shadow?" Sophia asks, taking the towel off Merlin and washing the small bit of blood on it. Sophia wets the towel again and brings it back to Merlin's face. Merlin winces at the touch.
"And what was it that this shadow was doing?" Gaius asks, taking a potion out of his medicine bag.
"It was moving across the arena, but it didn't belong to anyone." Merlin says noticing Gaius' and Sophia's questioning expressions. "And when I was knocked out, the shadow… it seemed like it was staring at me."
Merlin looks to Gaius for an answer. Gaius looks deep in thought at what Merlin said. Gaius finally says, "There is a type of magic that let someone turn into a shadow, control other shadows, transport to different destinations when the caster stands in shadows, and create shadows of their own. It was called Shadow Sorcery."
Gaius looks down at his medicine bag and starts fiddling with potions and herbs. "But it can't be what you saw."
"Why not?" Merlin asks, gently taking Sophia's hand from his head and standing up.
Gaius looks up at him, "Because the Shadow Sorcerers were hunted down years ago. Uther went to their villages and slaughtered them. But, even I agree with the destruction of that magic. It was truly, dark magic."
"How was it dark magic?" Sophia speaks up. "It seems harmless, almost like a beneficial magic really."
"Yes, it is very beneficial." Gaius says. "But only to the caster. You see, whenever someone saw the magic in use that meant that the person was going to be hunted down and killed. The Shadow Sorcerers were assassins, killed anyone that they thought was above them in magical skill. To kill those above the caster that was the only time Shadow Sorcery was used. It is a selfish magic just as much as it is a beneficial magic."
"So you think Uther was right to kill the Shadow Sorcerers?" Merlin asks.
Gaius nods, "Yes. But before you say anything else, know that Uther killed them before he outlawed magic. The Shadow Sorcerers were the true reason that everyone immediately sided with Uther when magic was officially outlawed."
"But if they were all destroyed, what did I see?"
Gaius sighs and thinks for a moment, "I do not know. But if it was truly a Shadow Sorcerer, you must be very careful Merlin. It is not in the nature of the Shadow Sorcerers to give up, they are quite relentless when it comes to the people they have marked for death."
Merlin sits in the great hall at the head table with Arthur to his left and Sophia to his right in his Camelot knight armor, but instead of a red cloak he has his black one. At the moment, everyone is eating their dinner, but after that the celebration will start. The celebration is for Arthur's 28th birthday. Gwen and Sophia came up with the idea for celebrating his birthday, but they have not yet told Arthur or Merlin how they will be celebrating it.
Arthur eats the last bite of his food and Gwen, who is sitting to Arthur's left, stands up. "Alright everyone, please stand," She says. Everyone stands, some reluctant because they want to finish their food, and waits for their queen to continue. "Servants, please clear the tables and move them out of the room."
The many servants in the room listen and begin clearing the tables. Merlin smiles from remembering how he was once one of them and hands his plate and goblet to the servant that went to him. Then the servant gets everyone else's plates and goblets before going to the kitchens. When the dishes are gone, the servants move the tables out of the room and leave the room again and four men walk in with instruments and take place in the corner of the room.
"What is going on Guinevere?" Merlin hears Arthur asks Gwen.
"You'll see." Gwen says and turns to the people waiting. "Welcome to the celebration of King Arthur's birth. Now, to celebrate we will dance."
Gwen turns to the four men that Merlin now realizes as the band and cues them to start playing music. When the music starts, Gwen grab Arthur by the hand and leads him to the center of the great hall, and they dance. Sophia grabs Merlin's hand and leads him next to Arthur and Gwen, and begins to dance with him as well. Merlin looks around and sees that the people, who are standing at the edges of the room stare, but they don't join the dancing.
Sophia brings Merlin's attention back to her and leads him for a few steps before he takes the lead and spins her around before taking her right hand back into his left hand. Merlin sees the smile she has on her face and smiles too. Merlin steps back with his right foot and Sophia steps forward with her left foot, and Merlin spins her, letting her rotate completely twice before stopping her and continuing to dance. Merlin is vaguely aware of the chuckles from the men in the room, the swooning of the women, and the staring from all. The only thing he really focuses on is his lovely wife.
That is, before he hears the scream…
