**Authors Note: Hello everyone once again! Tell me what you think of Valiant part 1 of 2! And please Excuse my spelling, Grammar, etc. Enjoy!


Before you read:

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Remember what someone said."

*Sound effects*

Bold letter words mean that the scene either time skipped, other person, etc.

(Side Comment)

Whole story is 3rd P.O.V


Valiant Part 1 of 2

"Why can't you hold some of this stuff?" Merlin asked Arthur. Merlin was holding all kinds of equipment from helmets to shields.

They were heading to a grass field where Arthur can have some practice since his wonderful father has decided to uphold a tournament so Arthur can prove he is still the best knight in Camelot.

Arthur glanced at Merlin, he smiled to himself as he watched Merlin struggle. Merlin caught his stare and he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Can you PLEASE help me?" Merlin let out.

'It's already troublesome that I have to be your servant.' Merlin thought.

"There's no need, we are here." Arthur said with a slight chuckle.

"What are we doing here anyways?" Merlin let go of all the equipment, everything bounced off the ground. Arthur just stared down at the mess Merlin made.

"To practice remember? My father is holding up a tournament to declare who is the best knight in Camelot."

"Oh," Merlin was already dreading what was to come, but he couldn't think of anything else to talk about from delaying what was to come.

"Okay now. Gear up!" Arthur said with a delightful smile, he enjoyed Merlin's hesitation as he put on the practice armor.

"Okay, go easy on me now." Merlin said a little quietly that Arthur didn't quite hear.

"Ready? Maybe I can teach you a few lessons, it looks like you need them anyways." Arthur smirked.

After that Arthur swung his sword at Merlin and Merlin just barely blocked it with his shield.

"Come on now! Who was the one that said they can take me apart with less than a blow?" Arthur chuckled.

With every blow Arthur did Merlin couldn't help but flinch, Arthur kept yelling out to him to at least try to attempt in blocking his blows.

'This hurts so much!' Merlin thought. He tried to keep from crying but he could already feel his eyes start to tear up.

Arthur assumed Merlin would have been stronger than this, despite his scrawny figure, so he didn't bother to hold back. After each swing he started to notice Merlin's time reaction was starting to decrease.

'Maybe I misjudged.' Arthur thought to himself.

"Let's take a break!" He declared, "I am getting tired anyways."

Merlin looked at him, 'I wish he had said that before he gave me 28 bruises!'

"Owe, owe, owe, OWE!" Merlin let out as he tried to sit next to Arthur on the grass. Arthur was laughing, "Stop laughing, it really hurts." Merlin murmured

'Don't cry! There is no way am I going to let Arthur see me cry!" Merlin thought as he swallowed back some tears from the pain.

"Next time let me know when you can't take it anymore you fool." Arthur let out, he laid his back against the grass. "Your such a girl I swear."

'Man if I keep this up he'll find out! Could it be that he actually cares about me though? Nah, I doubt it.' Merlin looked at him. It was the first time he could actually look at him without both of them bickering as much.

Merlin couldn't help but notice how build Arthur's body was, his hair was really blonde to. Merlin began to wonder if it was even soft. His eyes were even blue. They were hard to miss.

"What are you staring at!?" Arthur yelled out, waking Merlin to reality.

"Nothing, I was just wondering if we were done now." Merlin sighed, 'what was I thinking!?'

"For me? Yes. For you? No."

"No?" Merlin questioned. Arthur quickly got up and he stretched.

"Well I have a tournament coming up tomorrow, so you mister. You still need to clean my chambers cause it's a complete mess, my clothes need washing, my armor needs repairing, my boots need cleaning, my dogs need exercising, my fireplace needs sweeping, my bed needs changing and someone needs to muck out my stables!" With that he walked off satisfied as he left Merlin there shocked.

'Ugh that idiot! Right when I thought that maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought he was. There he goes and does this!' Merlin thought as he stared down at all the armor Arthur gave him. Merlin was in his room so he laid down on the bed.

"My body hurts!" He let out. He started to actually think in his situation. "Okay so first," He said aloud, he liked to fill the silence in the air. It made things more comfortable to him. "I come here just to find out why I have these powers, but at the same time I am disguised as a boy." Merlin chuckled. "Just so I could live with Gaius? And now I have this dragon telling me I am destined to look after Arthur? Oh but he forgot to mention!" Merlin yelled this time, "That I'd be his servant!?" Merlin let out an exaggerated sigh.

He got up and he started to clean the armor. The more he kept thinking about his situation the more angry he got, no one in particular this time. He just naturally hated his way of lifestyle.

Right then Merlin's eyes changed color causing the armor to wash itself. Merlin looked in awe. He just couldn't keep it together though. Little by little he started to cry.

"Th-this i-isn't fair!" He cried into his pillow.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Merlin quickly dried his eyes before Gaius came in.

"Hey now!" He let out as he saw the armor being washed in mid-air.

"Sorry," Merlin murmured, right then his eyes changed color again, making everything clatter to the floor.

"Look, I know you're having a hard time." Gaius began as he made his way through all the mess that was on the floor and he sat by Merlin on the bed.

"Indeed I am." Merlin replied.

"Here, I got something for you that might cheer you up." Gaius said as he pulled out a huge book, he handed it to Merlin.

"What's this?" Merlin touched the cover of the book, in the front it read Incantation's

"I had this when I was younger, but I feel like you need it much more than I do." Gaius laughed as he nodded his head to the mess on the floor.

Merlin started to get teary eyed again, "Oh thank you!" Merlin hugged Gaius which caught him off guard.

"Well alright, now I know you need to practice your magic but please, oh PLEASE don't let anyone see. I don't know what I'll do if you ever got caught." Gaius said as he hugged Merlin back.

"I promise!" Merlin said with a smile as he pulled back from the hug to wipe his tears again.

"Now don't go and cry in front of Arthur either, he'll start to think you're a girl." Gaius chuckled.

"What do you mean? I –" Merlin's eyes were big. Suddenly he had almost forgotten she was supposed to act like a guy.

Gaius just chuckled at his reaction, Merlin's eyes got in even bigger.

'Did he find out!?' Merlin wondered.

"Merlin, I know." Gaius said answering Merlin's question as if he had read his mind.

"Gaius I-" But before Merlin could start to explain they heard a knock from the door, not Merlin's door but the front door.

"You don't have to explain just yet." Gaius said with a warm smile. He got up to see who was at the door.

"The Prince wishes to see Merlin." Merlin heard someone say. Merlin slightly groaned once Gaius called out to him.

"I guess I'll be back." Merlin said as he lazily walked away.

"Good luck!" Gaius joked.

When Merlin was in Arthur's chambers he knocked on his door.

"Get in here!" Arthur commanded.

"You wished to see me?" Merlin smiled a fake smile.

"Merlin, I'll cut right to the point. Do you know how to even dress me up for the tournament?"

Merlin looked at him oddly. 'Dress him?' Merlin thought.

"No?" Merlin wasn't quite sure what he meant. "What do you mean?"

Arthur let out a sigh, "For the tournament Merlin!"

"Yeah what about it!?" Merlin could sense that something was bugging him.

"You're gonna have to put the armor on me Merlin, the question is. Do you even know how to?"

"It should be simple right?"

"Okay lets practice then." Arthur threw his armor at Merlin.

"Hey watch it! I just cleaned those." Merlin said.

"That's not the point now. So come on. Dress me up." Arthur demanded. Merlin couldn't help but laugh, "What's so funny?" Arthur started to get annoyed.

"Why are you so tense? After all it's just a tournament." Merlin said, "Ease up why don't you?"

Arthur gave Merlin a long hard look before saying, "I'm sorry, it's just. I have a lot of pressure that's being put on me." He finally admitted.

"Sorry I didn't realize." Merlin said. Then he started putting on the stuff on Arthur.

A few minutes later everyone in the hallway could hear Arthur yelling at his servant.

"You're doing it all wrong! Geez Merlin!" Arthur threw the helmet to the floor which made Merlin flinch, thankfully Arthur didn't catch that.

"I'm trying to do my best." Merlin argued back through gritted teeth.

"Guards!" Arthur yelled out.

The minute he said that right away on of the guards poked his head from the door, "Yes?"

"Get lady morganas servant, Guinevere, here." With that the guard left.

"Why do we need her?" Merlin wondered.

"SHE is going to teach YOU." Arthur replied out of frustration. "At least a girl knows how to do this." He said the last part under his breath. He didn't do a great job though because Merlin heard.

Before Merlin and Arthur could get any more into an argument Gwen came in.

"You summoned me?" Gwen said towards Arthur but then she saw Merlin there so she gave him a little wave.

"Yes, can you please teach merlin how to prepare me for my tournament tomorrow?" Arthur asked, Gwen laughed a little before she began teaching Merlin.

"Okay you put the voiders.." Gwen said.

"On the arms." Merlin said, when he did he put his hands on Arthur's arms. Merlin found it weird how all Arthur did was just look and listen ever since Gwen arrived.

"What about the hauberk?"

"Uh… Over his chest?" Merlin pointed out.

"Yup! And lastly the helmet." Gwen picked up the helmet and gave it to Merlin.

"I know where that goes." Merlin smiled, for a split second he thought he saw Arthur roll his eyes.

All that time Arthur was dreading every second, knowing that soon it would be tomorrow afternoon. He didn't know why he was so worried about tomorrow. After all it was a given he was going to win the tournament. But it was just his father that kept putting on so much pressure on Arthur that he began 2nd thinking himself.

"How is it that you know all this stuff anyways?" Merlin asked.

"I am the blacksmiths daughter." Gwen let out a lame laugh, "I know it's sad."

"No, it's great!" Merlin said with a smile, if it weren't for her then Merlin would have spent all this time having Arthur yelling at him for not understanding.

"Thank you Gwen." Arthur finally spoke up as Merlin and Gwen finished up.

Gwen bowed with a smile, "Any time." With that she left.

"Well that went well." Merlin look to Arthur.

"You better remember all this tomorrow." Arthur warned. He started to take off all the armor that was put on him.

By tomorrow afternoon Merlin was already out in the fields where the tournament was taking place.

"Helmet, shield, Voider…" Merlin mumbled to himself as he put the stuff on Arthur. All Arthur did was stand still and stare straight ahead.

When Merlin was now putting on Arthur's cape Merlin couldn't help but smile, "Hello." He said awkwardly. Arthur didn't reply.

Merlin couldn't help but notice that it felt like Arthur wasn't looking right at him but instead past him. When Merlin finished up the knot he just kept staring into Arthur's eyes.

'They're so blue.' Merlin thought. Without him realizing it, he felt himself getting even closer to Arthur's face.

"What are you doing!?" Arthur yelled as he jumped back to reality. During his yelling it made Merlin jump which cause him and Arthur's foreheads to bump.

"Owe!" Merlin said as he rubbed his forehead where it throbbed. "I was just, you." Merlin let out an exasperated sigh. "Why have you been acting weird lately!?" He finally let out.

"What do you mean!? Geez Merlin, don't go and do weird things!" Arthur started to feel himself blush a little but not enough for Merlin to notice.

'What was he thinking?' Arthur thought. The first thing he knew was one second he was wondering why he was so nervous and the next he sees Merlin's face inches from his. Arthur just shrugged it off and he went to go and mount his horse.

When Arthur walked off that's when Merlin went the opposite way, full on blushing.

'I'm such a dork! What in the world was I doing back there!?' Merlin thought to himself. As much as he had hated Arthur before, he has come to realize that he actually might be kind.

While Merlin was lost in his own thoughts, he didn't see the knight that he accidently bumped into he seemed to be one of the participants for the tournament. When he did bump into him he dropped his shield in the process.

"Sorry!" Merlin quickly bent down to pick up the shield for him but before he could even touch the shield the guy right away reached down to get it himself.

"Watch where you're going." The guy said through gritted teeth. Merlin was amazed at the design on the shield, it had 3 green like snakes on the front, none the likes he has ever seen before. That still didn't distract him on how coldly the guy treated him.

"Sorry." Merlin said in a more of an annoyed tone as the guy walked off. Of course he reminded himself that in the knight's eyes he is just a servant.

'What was his problem?' But Merlin just let it go as he went to go and get a spot in the stands so he could watch the tournament begin.

Merlin saw all the participants standing in the center of the battle field, each and every one rode their own horse and had their own symbol on their shield. King Uther took a stand from his seat and everyone immediately stopped talking.

"Knights of the realm! I welcome you to Camelot. Over the next couple of days you will test your bravery, your skills as warriors and of course the honor of challenging my best reigning champion Prince Arthur. Only one can have the honor of being crowned champion, he will receive 1,000 gold pieces. It is in combat that we learn a knight's true nature, whether he is indeed a warrior or a coward, with that said. The tournament begins!" Everyone cheered as the participants circled the rim of the battle field, waving to the audience before exiting.

Right after the first two knights were up which was Arthur and someone else. Each time Arthur got hit Merlin flinched. Right next to King Uther sat Lady Morgana and her servant Gwen, Morgana kept biting her bottom lip. She disliked Arthur but she didn't want to admit that she does care about him.

As Merlin secretly cheered for Arthur he began to think, 'I believe that if I just keep a positive attitude on things maybe me and Arthur could get along.' Merlin smiled at the thought of getting along with Arthur. It surely would make things easier for him.

Once Arthur won the crowd roared, and Merlin couldn't help but do the same, Arthur waved at the crowd then he spotted merlin clapping and hollering. Arthur let out a small laugh.

"He acts like such a girl sometimes I swear." Arthur said to himself.

Merlin met Arthur back at his tent.

"You did great!" Merlin said with a smile.

"Of course I did." Arthur said as if that was the only outcome there could be. Yet deep inside Arthur felt happier that Merlin was actually cheering for him. 'Finally a servant that will appreciate what i do.' He thought to himself.

"Yeah? Well don't go and get a big head now." Merlin teased.

During that time the crowd roared again only louder, Merlin and Arthur immediately snapped their heads to that direction as they saw a guy win the match already.

'In just a few seconds!? I know I'm good but that's not normal for someone else to finish as quickly as I did.' Arthur thought.

'Hey! Isn't that the guy who treated me coldly when I bumped into him?' Merlin thought as he got a better view of the guy.

"This round goes to Sir Valiant!" King Uther announced, Arthur could tell without even having to look at his father, that he was impressed by Valliant's performance.

"I'm sure the other guy was just know good, that's all." Merlin said, not really to anyone. He hoped that Arthur agreed though.

By the end of the day though, Sir Valiant kept winning everyone round as fast as Arthur did. Merlin didn't have to ask Arthur because he knew already that something was up.

"Go repair my armor and such." Arthur told Merlin as he was taking off his armor.

"Sure." Merlin said, with that he left.

After Arthur took a bath and got ready for tonight's celebration, it was to congratulate those who had made it to the 2nd round.

Arthur was already sleepy, so he wasn't looking forward to it. All the contestants got into a line and greeted the court people.

Arthur saw Sir Valiant talking to his father.

"Hello, King Uther I'm Knight Valiant of the western isles, my lord." Valiant said with a grin as he bowed.

"Ah, yes. I saw you fighting today." King Uther said with a smile, "You were, very aggressive."

"Well as my lord always said, "To lose is to be disgraced""

King Uther grinned at that, "I couldn't agree more. Well Sit Valiant, I present to you Lady Morgana, my ward."

With that Valliant moved down and greeted Morgana, "My lady."

"I saw you compete today."

"I saw you watching. I understand the champion will escort my lady to the feast?" Valiant said with a charming smile.

"That's correct," Morgana said, from the corner of her eye she spotted Arthur watching them.

"Well then, I'll give everything to win my lady." He continued on.

When Arthur was up next he looked into his father's eyes.

"Arthur." He nodded.

"Father." He replied back.

With that Arthur continued on to Morgana, Morgana just gave Arthur a smile.

"They all seem rather impressed." She said as she looked into the direction of Sir Valiant.

All Arthur did was just roll his eyes, to his luck Morgana saw it.

"You're not jealous are you?" She said sarcastically.

Arthur let out a small chuckle, "Heh, from what I can tell there's nothing to be jealous of." With that Arthur left Morgana, he didn't want to hear any of her comments right now.

Morgana looked at her servant, Gwen, who was by her side the whole time.

"Could Arthur be any more annoying?" She asked Gwen.

"Oh, absolutely." Gwen said with a small laugh, all Morgana did was smile at her comment.

"Well I hope Sir Valiant wins so he could be the one to escort me instead." Morgana said.

Gwen lightly nudged Morgana with her elbow. "Oh, you don't mean that."

When the day turned to night Merlin had finally finished up all the chores Arthur gave him to do.

"I'll be back." Merlin told Gaius. "I need to put Arthur's armor back in the equipment room for tomorrow."

"No Merlin, you're not going anywhere till you explain." Gaius reminded him.

'Oh that's right. I almost forgot he knew, he seemed so casual all day it was really easy to forget.'

"Sure." Merlin said, Gaius and Merlin both sat down on the only chairs that weren't preoccupied with books.

"Why did you lie to me?" Gaius said.

"I didn't," Merlin paused. "Yeah I did, I'm sorry. It's just that I figured you wouldn't have let a girl stay under your roof." Merlin said.

"Well," Gaius too paused, because in some way Merlin was right. "We could have worked something out."

"So, are you gonna kick me out now?" Merlin said, the minute he said that he right away felt a pain in his throat.

"No... Is that the only reason why you told everyone you were a boy though? Just so you could live here?"

Merlin just froze, after thinking about it now Merlin found it how stupid it was. At the same time though he learned how to embrace his boy looks.

"I'm sorry, but now that you know I can finally come clean to everyone else right!?" Merlin said happily.

Gaius just looked at the floor, "I'm afraid not, and you lied to too many people including the king and Prince Arthur. I'm afraid if you come out now, you'll only be viewed as a trader, and all King Uther will see is the act of treason."

"Treason for what!? I am doing knew harm." Merlin complained.

"In the king's eyes it won't seem that way." Gaius said, and Merlin knew he was right.

"Yeah." Then the room fell silent. "Can i ask you something Gaius?" Merlin said.

"What?"

"How did you find out anyways?"

With that Gaius just let out a small laugh, "I overheard you talking to yourself."

Merlin started to blush, "Oh, heh, guess I better be careful next time."

"I suggest you do, and Merlin. What's your real name?"

"It's Mercia." Merlin said with a smile. "I better take these back." he added. Gaius just nodded and then Merlin was off his way to the tent. Along the way he saw Arthur out in the court yard practicing on a dummy.

'I'm sorry.' Merlin thought, he didn't know why he felt bad in not telling Arthur the truth. 'It's not like he deserves to know, I mean sure we are kind of getting along but that still doesn't change anything, does it?' Merlin started to feel guilty. He just continued on to go and put Arthur's armor away back in the equipment room where all the others were at.

As he set down Arthur's stuff, he spotted Sir Valliant's shield. What a beauty Merlin found it, he decided that no harm will come if he just took a closer look, he could have sworn there was a hissing sounds coming from the shield.

'Almost as if the snakes were alive...' Merlin thought as he reached a hand out to touch it.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Sir Valiant said as he came out of know where, it startled Merlin but he quickly regained his shock.

"Oh, nothing. I was just putting away Prince Arthur's stuff." Merlin said as he pointed to the stuff next to Valliant's belongings.

"Hmm." Valiant said, he was trying to see if he should take his word or not. In the end he decided to trust him. "Okay, just don't linger here too long. Otherwise I'd report you to the king, claiming you were tampering with my stuff." He warned.

"Merlin." Arthur said as he watched Merlin putting on his armor for the tournament again.

"Yes?" Merlin said, all he had to do was again, tie the red cape around Arthur's neck.

"If I catch you again, getting near my face than necessary I will throw you into the dungeons for a night." Arthur said seriously.

Merlin just let out a nervous laugh, "Okay." Was all he could think of saying to him.

This time as Merlin was tying the cape, he tried at all cost to just focus on the cape and not Arthur's face. Either or, Merlin could still feel Arthurs eyes on him as Merlin was tying the knot

"Okay all done!" Merlin said gladly. "Good luck!"

"Merlin, I won't need the luck." Arthur said. Still that didn't stop him from having a smile on his face.

"Of course you don't." Merlin agreed, then he laughed to himself.

With that Arthur left. Merlin just watched him leave, he just couldn't help but smile for now reason. From afar Merlin saw Sir Valiant watching Arthur battle very closely.

"You seem to be getting along with Arthur just fine." Merlin heard someone say from behind him.

"No I'm just learning how to deal." Merlin said with a sigh.

'But I think Gaius is right, me and him are getting along. Arthur isn't really that bad after all."

"Gaius can I tell you something?" Merlin said.

"What is it?"

"That Valiant guy, something just isn't right about him."

"What makes you think so?" Gaius asked as he watched Valiant to.

"I can't quite put my finger on it..."

"Just be careful Merlin." Gaius warned. The crowd roared as Arthur finished quickly.

"Well you sure had him!" Merlin said when Arthur came back.

"Merlin?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up." Arthur said as he sat down on a stool.

Merlin and Arthur then fell silent as they watched Sir Valiant face up against Sir Ewan. In just a matter of seconds Valiant had Ewan on the floor. Valliant's shield was up against Ewan to keep him from getting up. Valiant sword was on his side, getting ready to stab Ewan if he dare moved an inch.

Right then Merlin thought he saw a snake come alive from Valiant shield and bite Ewan. Ewan quickly became paralyzed.

"Did you see that!?" Merlin asked Arthur.

Arthur just shook his head side to side in disappointment, "Yeah! I can't believe Valiant actually made Ewan faint!"

"No not that!" Merlin said in shock that he was the only one that saw that.

King Uther called for a short break, Merlin quickly looked for Gaius leaving Arthur without telling him a word.

"I swear that boy." Arthur says as he watches Merlin run off to god knows where.

"Gaius!" Merlin yelled as he spotted him handing out his medicine to some folks.

"My heavens! What is it?" Gaius said a bit mad. It was only because Merlin's outburst made Gaius heart skip a beat.

"I saw it! I saw it! I knew something was up." Merlin was now pacing around Gaius. Gaius just gave him a confused look as he tried to follow along. "Gaius! Just check Sir Ewan and if I'm right, you will see snake bite marks on him." Merlin said.

"Okay Merlin I'll check on Sir Ewan but please! Tell me what it is you're trying to say!"

Merlin got the courage to stand in one spot as he explained to Gaius how he saw a snake come alive from Sir Valiant shield and strike Ewan.

"I hope your right about this, because things can get very dangerous very fast. I'll check him. Until then Merlin i want you to not go and get yourself into any trouble got it!?" Gaius warned him.

"Understood." Merlin said. With that Gaius hurried to get Sir Ewan.

When Merlin knew he was out of view from Gaius he ran off.

'Sorry Gaius! I just have to do something!'

Merlin first went to go see if Valiant was in the guest room, luckily he was or else Merlin wouldn't have had no clue on where to look next.

*RAT SQUEALS*

'I knew it!' Merlin thought as he peaked through the door, Valiant was sitting on his bed as he held a rat over the shield of snakes. Soon one of the three snakes came alive and swallowed the rat whole.

Merlin tried his best to not make any noise at the horrific sight. While Merlin was letting everything soak in on what he had just discovered. He didn't notice Gwen coming down the hallway.

'What's he doing?' Gwen thought as she got closer to Merlin who was crouching on the floor peeping through the door.

"Merlin?" Gwen asked as she was right behind him.

Merlin jumped when he heard his name being called. He turned around to see Gwen.

"Shh!"

Gwen looked through the door to see what Merlin was looking at and there she too saw Sir Valiant feeding a rat to his 3rd snake.

Gwen gasped at the sight making Valliant's head snap at their direction.

"Quick run!" Merlin said as he grabbed onto Gwen's wrist and dragged her along. Valiant came busting out the door as he saw two servants running off.

"What was that back there!?" Gwen yelled as she cached her breath.

"That, was definitely magic." Merlin pointed out.

They were in front of the castle's main entrance. Merlin and Gwen both sat down at the steps knowing the coast was clear.

"Merlin." She nodded her head side to side. "You have to tell Arthur."

"Why do I have to tell him? I doubt he would take my word." Merlin sighed.

"No, no I think you're wrong."

"Why am I? If I remember correctly me and him didn't exactly start off in a great way."

Gwen laughed as if she were recalling the memory, "You don't see the way he looks at you now though, and you could tell he cares about you. You care about him to."

Merlin just looked to Gwen, "No I don't" Merlin said stubbornly.

"Yes. You do. Best be going on your way now! You don't want it to be too late!" Gwen practically pushed Merlin up on his feet to have him going.

"Alright." Merlin said finally.

'But first I must warn Gaius.' Merlin thought as he ran to Gaius's house.

The announcer came on, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the tournament will begin very shortly, so please make your way to the stands." It only made Merlin run faster.

"Gaius!" Merlin yelled out the minute he came bursting through the door.

"Over here." He called out from the room where Gaius always puts his patients in. It was a lot cleaner than the rest of his house. "Look you were right, snake bites." Gaius pointed out.

The snake bites were on Ewan's neck.

"We have to tell King Uther." Merlin declared.

"No not yet." Gaius said.

"Why!?"

"Merlin think about it, do you honestly think that King Uther will take a word of a servant over a knight?"

"Well if you put it that way..." Merlin mumbled, "So what now? We can't do anything to stop him at all!?" Merlin said in disbelief.

"Merlin all we need is evidence, and a word from a knight that has been attacked themselves."

Merlin looked down at Ewan, he looked like he was sleeping but in reality Merlin knew he was suffering.

"What can I do?" Merlin asked.

"Well I'll need the snake venom to make an antidote." Gaius said.

'You mean I'll have to...!' Merlin thought.

"Merlin, if it'll be too much-"

"No, I can do that." Merlin said with all the courage he can muster so Gaius won't realize how terrified he really is.

"Okay I'm done." Merlin said to Arthur, there was only 2 rounds remaining now, Arthur against Sir Marek and Valiant against Sir Fendrel.

'Please have Knight Fendrel win!' Merlin prayed, but he knew better then to hope for that.

When Arthur left to go sword fight Valiant came up to Merlin. Merlin could feel his whole body tense up.

All Valiant did though was just pass by him, not even giving him the slightest interest.

"For the final round!" King Uther began.

'Please! Please!' Merlin prayed even more, He had kept his eyes shut the whole time, afraid to see the outcome.

"Prince Arthur and! Knight Valiant!" King Uther was proud.

"Why!?" Merlin yelled.

Merlin can see the uneasiness Arthur had, him and Valiant were standing in the center of the battle ring waving to the crowd.

'That's it. Tonight, while the 2 final participants feast with King Uther, I will sneak in and get one of the snake heads.' Merlin was determined.

That night as King Uther feasted with the remaining Knights Merlin snuck into the castle.

'Okay, just go in his room get the snake head and leave. Simple. Quick.' Merlin tried to convince himself.

As he successfully made it into Valiant room he right away spotted where the shield was at. Merlin started to hear hissing noise come from it.

Once Merlin got closer the snake came to life, Merlin was even more terrified. He quickly grabbed Valliant's sword as he tried to block each strike the snake did. Merlin backed away, he was starting to grow tired. Then he felt a sharp pain coming from his hip.

'Did one of them bite me!?' Merlin quickly checked to see, there was a small scratch. He assumed it was just from the corner table that he had bumped into when backing away.

Merlin did his last swing he can do and just like that a snake head fell to the ground while the other two retreated.

With all the commotion Sir Valiant excused himself to see what it was. Right when he was about to turn the corner to get to his room he saw Merlin run off. Valiant quickly went to his room and he saw a piece of cloth from Merlin's shirt on the floor with blood on it.

He started to laugh to himself, 'The fool got bit, there's no need to worry.'


Please remember to Review! How else will I know that you like it so far? I care about what YOU think!

Til next time! Bye!

~Crazy21Winter