The fight between Arthur and the knight wasn't long.
It was clear who had superior skill and the prince finished his opponent quickly by disarming his opponent. The fights seemed to either last forever or no time at all, the latter usually being Arthur of Valiant as one of the knights in the arena.
When the fights for the day had ended Merlin went to attend to Arthur, (which I'm told he managed to do with minimal struggle) and as he was finishing up Valiant came up to Arthur.
"May I offer my congratulations on your victories today?"
Arthur gave a polite nod, "Likewise."
"I hope to see you at the reception this evening." and with those parting words he left.
Once he was at a safe distance away from the pair Merlin couldn't help his next words.
"Creep."
Arthur snorted at this comment and for a moment the two men stood in companionable silence, but only for a moment, "For tomorrow you need to polish my chainmail, sharpen my sword, wash my tunic, and repair my shield."
()()()()()()()()()()()
Several Years After From Elin's Arrival:
"No! I will not allow it!"
Nimueh sighed, "I understand your reluctance sire, but surely you understand her need to know about her life before."
"That does not matter anymore. Camelot is her home, she has no need to go anywhere."
They were in Nimueh's office, one of the towers of the castle and currently King Constans was in an almost defensive position. His arms crossed and shoulders squared glaring at the sorceress.
"I see her as a daughter and have no desire to let her out alone to find a past that may or may not be there! Maybe if she had protection from Camelot's knights but never alone."
"She is hardly defenseless My Lord, not only does she have her magic, but years of training alongside knights. I know she is more than capable of defending herself if something happens."
Constans deflated at her reason, his anger replaced by sorrow and worry, "What if she wasn't tossed to the wolves as we assumed? What if her family is out there looking for her and we lose her forever?", he breathed out, his voice much smaller, "What if she comes back only to tell us she is leaving for her family. Her real family."
Nimueh gave him an exasperated look, "We are her real family, whomever left her in that forest showed her no love, of that I can be sure."
Constans looked at her with hope, "How?"
"Her eyes sire. For all the joy the girl has, and all the laughter she causes, her eyes speak of betrayal and while she does not remember what it was, it haunts her to this day."
Nimueh shook her head sadly, "If you will not do it because she wants it, then do it because if you don't she might never forgive you for trapping her here.", Nimueh gave him a look, "You know how she gets when she feels restricted."
Constans laughed, "That I do Nimueh. Anyway," he straightened, his melancholy gone, "Uther and Ambrosius are finally coming back from the diplomatic mission and I fear there will be war in the halls if either one of them say accidentally say something to Elin."
Nimueh hummed in agreement, "Elin has been experimenting again, so if something does happen I fear for your sons. They would no doubt be the main focus of her pranks."
Constans made a worried face, "Well then, I'd better hurry so I can oversee their meeting. Farewell Nimueh."
"My Lord."
()()()()()()()()()()()
The next day the contestants were lined up to present themselves to the king and his ward.
Valiant walked up and gave a respectful bow to the king, "Knight Valiant of the Western Isles, My lord."
Uther gave him an impressed smile before saying, "I saw you fighting today. You have a very aggressive style."
Valiant never losing the respectful stance replied, "Well as My Lord said, 'to lose is to be disgraced.' I would hate to disappoint."
Uther's smile grew wider, "I couldn't agree more.", he turned, "Knight Valiant, may I present the Lady Morgana, my ward."
Valiant bowed to kiss the Lady's hand.
"My Lady."
Morgana with a polite smile said, "I saw you competing."
"I saw you watching. I understand has the honor of escorting My Lady to the feast.
Morgana nodded, "That is correct."
"Then I shall give everything to win the tournament."
Morgana simply gave another smile and nodded in response.
With that Valiant walked over to greet the other knights.
Arthur came up and bowed, "Father."
"Arthur."
With that he walked over to Morgana at his approach she started talking in her usual almost teasing manner, "They all seem rather impressed with Knight Valiant."
"They're not the only ones."
Morgana turned to him with a smile, "You're not jealous are you?"
Arthur stiffened slightly but said, "I don't see anything to be jealous of." and walked away.
Morgana rolled her eyes and slightly turned to Gwen, "Could Arthur be any more annoying? I so hope Knight Valiant wins the tournament."
Gwen looked at Morgana with disbelief, "You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do."
()()()()()()()()()()()
The woman in the dungeons paced.
And paced.
It was all she did whenever the King wasn't there.
She paced.
He had told Uther and other knights assigned to watch her, but all had brushed it off as restless energy.
'Only so much one can do in a cell, no matter how spruced up' one of the older knights said.
And he believed it. At first.
But when your job is to watch someone you learn there habits. When she was restless she always came up to the door and talked he doesn't know why but, she always sat on her side of the door frame and talked to him, sometimes making up responses for his side since he never answered.
When she was hungry she did nothing, laying on her bed until food came.
And when she was thinking she paced.
He knew this, he had been the one to watch her every night, for the last sixteen years.
Most would assume that this would have been the simplest of his duties, and in a sense, it was, she slept during the day unless woken up by Uther, so she was mostly active at night.
It was also when he was assigned to watch her.
His job was to make sure she didn't find a way out during in this time.
The Knight had to suppress an annoyed groan when she started pacing again after a short reprieve.
She came to the door frame sat, and gave a sigh.
"I'm bored Eraik."
'Eraik' was in fact not the Knights name. But he looked towards her anyway, he wasn't allowed to talk to her and she seemed to respect that.
Personal experience told him to at least pay attention when she addressed him however.
"I'm hungry, bored, and tired. And I want to get drunk. No, I need to get drunk. Do you know what that's like Eraik? I haven't even had a single drop of good alcohol since I got put in here."
She frowned, "I want out."
She got up and started pacing again.
And she didn't stop until a servant with black hair and bright blue eyes came with food.
He hesitated at the door looking at the Knight in a questioning manner.
The knight nodded and the boy stepped through.
She took the snatched the food out of his hands and began eating surprising both her guard and the servant.
Quickly the food and drink was gone and she handed them back.
Her eyes now filled with mirth, "So your the one who saved Arthur then?"
The boy shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah I'm Merlin."
"Well, it's nice to meet you. Any other time I would hold you back to learn the news of the week. Uther keeps them from talking to me," she gestured towards the knight,"something about corruption and doom and whatnot," she shook her head and snorted, "Goddess bless his naivety."
She handed him the plate and cup, "See you tomorrow."
He took it and left looking bewildered and 'Eraik' didn't blame him.
'Eraik' didn't bother hiding his groan when she started pacing again.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Merlin rushed out the armory.
He saw the snake blink.
The snake blinked.
Merlin shook his head and took a breath, problems for later.
He looked at the armor in his hands, for now he had a prat to worry about.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Several Hours Later
"How is he?"
During the fight with Valiant Sir Ewan had been injured.
"It is most odd.", Gaius gestured towards two small bites, "Look at this two small wounds, looks like a snake bite."
"How could he have been bitten by snakes? He was injured in a sword fight."
Gaius gestured to one of his books, "The symptoms are consistent with poisoning: slow pulse, fever, paralysis."
Merlin looked at Gaius questioningly, "Can you heal him?
Gaius sighed, "Well, if it is a snake bite I'll need the venom for the antidote."
"What happens if he doesn't get the antidote?"
Gaius gave a hopeless look towards Merlin, "Then I'm afraid there is nothing more I can do. He's going to die."
There was a moment of silence before Merlin quietly said, "He was fighting knight Valiant."
Gaius looked up from Ewan, "I'm sorry?"
"Nothing."
He promptly ran out the room.
He came crashing back about ten minutes later out of breath, "Knight Valiant's using magic!"
Gaius looked at him in an inquisitive manner, "Are you sure?"
Merlin nodded with wide eyes, "The snake ate the mouse-one swallow, straight down. Sir Ewan was fighting Knight Valiant when he collapsed. It must have been from the shield," the was a small beat, "I have to tell Arthur."
"Is there any chance you might of been mistaken?"
"I know magic when I see it."
"Perhaps, but do you have any proof?"
Merlin looked hurt, "Don't you believe me?"
"I fear you'll get yourself in trouble. How will you explain why you were in knight Valiant's chamber?
"What does that matter? He's using magic to cheat the tournament!"
Gaius shook his head, "But you can't go accusing a knight of using magic without proof. The King would never accept the word of a servant over that of a knights."
"What? So what I say doesn't count for anything?"
"I'm afraid it counts for very little. That's the way it is Merlin."
Merlin soldiers slumped and he sat down in defeat.
Merlin looked at Arthur's opponent.
()()()()()()()()()()()
"You're telling me that you have to fight that?"
"Yes, he's as strong as a bear. But he's slow."
"And you're fast."
"Exactly"
The fight started, and Morgana tensed ever so slightly.
Gwen noticed, "You're not worried are you?"
Morgana shifted, "No."
Arthur won, as expected.
Valiant won, as expected.
Merlin frowned, "Valiant's going to fight Arthur in the final. He'll use the shield to kill him."
()()()()()()()()()()()
Later
"Merlin about what I said yesterday," He hesitated trying to find the right words, "Uther wouldn't listen to you or me, but your right. We can't let Valiant get away with this."
"But we don't have any proof."
"We have Ewan. He could tell the King and would be believed, but how we get the antidote is another thing."
Merlin was silent for a moment.
Then, he got up and left leaving Gaius.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Same Time (In a different room, in case you didn't notice.)
"So do you stand a chance in defeating my son?"
"He is a great warrior, My Lord. I do hope he is a worthy opponent."
No one noticed Merlin peek in to check to see if Knight Valiant was there.
"You should stay in Camelot after the tournament. I could do with more knights like you."
"I'd be honored, My Lord."
()()()()()()()()()()()
"You? You chopped off it's head?"
Merlin nodded, "Ewan was bitten by a snake from the shield when he was fighting Valiant. You can talk to Gaius, see the puncture wounds in Ewan's neck. He was beating Valiant, he had to cheat."
Arthur still looked skeptical, "Valiant wouldn't dare use magic in Camelot."
"Ewan was pinned under Valiant's shield. No one could see him."
Arthur sighed, "I don't like the guy, that doesn't mean he's cheating."
"Gaius is preparing an antidote to the snake venom. When Ewan's conscious he'll tell you what happened. If you fight Valiant in the final he'll use the shield. It's the only way he'll beat you."
Merlin handed Arthur the snake head, "Have you ever seen any snakes like this in Camelot."
Merlin saddened slightly, "I know I'm just a servant and my word doesn't count for anything, but I wouldn't lie to you."
Arthur after a moments silence said, "Swear to me."
"I swear."
Arthur nodded handing Merlin the snake head, "Then I believe you."
()()()()()()()()()()()
After the meeting planned to expose Valiant.
Arthur stormed into his room, anger clinging to him like a stubborn piece of dirt.
"I believed you, trusted you, and you made me look like a complete fool."
"I know it didn't go exactly to plan."
"Didn't go to plan! My father and the entire court think I'm a coward! You HUMILIATED me!"
Merlin ever persistent said, "We can still expose Valiant."
Arthur stiffened, "I no longer require you services."
"You're sacking me?"
"I need a servant I can trust."
"You can trust me!"
"And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!"
()()()()()()()()()()()
Merlin easily slipped past the sleeping knight and into Elin's cell.
"I just came to tell you that whatever you think is, whatever I'm supposed to do you've got the wrong person."
Elin laughed.
"What happened, beorht éagsìene to make you so angry."
"How can it be my destiny to protect someone who hates me?"
She raised her eyebrow, "Why would you need to protect him?"
Merlin shifted slightly, "It's a long story."
Elin snorted, "I'm not going anywhere."
()()()()()()()()()()()
Merlin looked at the dog with joy.
At least until it rushed to him, then he scrambled off his bed.
Gaius comes in, "Arthur's fighting Valiant!"
"I know. I'm on my way. I'll deal with the dog later."
And he was gone.
"See, I told you. He gets all the girls and glory."
"And he owes it to you."
Morgana smiled, "Not every day a girl gets to save her prince."
"I wouldn't say that I needed saving. I'm sure I would've thought of something."
Morgana gave him a disbelieving look, "So you're too proud to admit you were saved by a girl."
"Because I wasn't"
Morgana scoffed, "I can honestly say I'd prefer Valiant to your stubborn pride right now."
"Me too. Then I wouldn't have to listen to you."
Morgana with her head held high said, "Fine," and walked off.
Arthur rolled his eyes and turned to Merlin, "Can you believe Morgana? She says she saved me. Like I needed help. Anyway I wanted to apologize, it was unfair to sack you."
Merlin gave Arthur a wry smile, "Just buy me a drink and we'll be even."
Arthur shook his head, "I can't be seen buying drinks for my servant."
"Your servant? You sacked me."
Arthur shrugged, "Well now I'm rehiring you."
Merlin just snorted.
"My chambers are a complete mess. My clothes need washing. My armor needs repairing. My boots need cleaning. My dogs need exercising. The fireplace needs sweeping, my bed needs changing, and someone needs to muck out my stables."
WOW, this is the longest I've ever done. Super proud of myself right now! So just want to point out that this was being typed at 12 - 1 'o clock and there may be stupid mistakes. So how am I doing? It's hard implementing Elin in the places where the dragon wouldn't usually be but I think that I did a good job of it this chapter. Oh and before I forget in my random ramble at the end of the chapter, Thank you people who reviewed internet cookies go to you! Yep I think that's it. Bye!
-Night
beorht éagsìene- bright eyes
Merlin is not mine! If it was there would be another season.
