The sun rose, sending brilliant rays of light through the early morning fog. The dew glistened in the light, tiny droplets of moisture clinging to the grass and the trees. Most of Camelot had yet to wake up, and the place was still. Birds sang joyfully as they awoke from their slumber. In the peaceful morning stillness, the sound of clashing metal could be heard.
Sir Holmes was the first one awake, up hours before everyone else, as always. He stood in the training courtyard by himself, angrily slashing a sword at a dummy. He brought the weapon down again and again, sending fabric and bits of hay stuffing in all directions. He worked quickly, breathing heavily. Suddenly, his ears alerted him to approaching footsteps, but he did not pause his swordwork.
The new presence did not make themselves known at first, instead opting to stand and observe the knight. Sir Holmes hacked and slashed and finally took off the dummy's head with one wide swing. He stood, looking down on the dummy's helmet as it rolled away and finally clattered to a stop. Finally he turned to face the newcomer.
"Your skill hasn't decreased a bit since yesterday," James murmured with one corner of his mouth turned up.
"Practice makes perfect, isn't that how the saying goes?" Holmes replied, placing his sword in its sheath by his side.
"You have been practicing, certainly, but I wouldn't call you perfect just yet, despite all your stories. After all, you were beaten by me." Holmes scowled briefly at this reminder, before his face fell into his usual emotionless expression. "I can see you're still sore about that, eh Sherlock? You don't have to worry, the trouble has just begun for you. I've given you a teensy glimpse of what's coming to you. I will defeat you just like I did in training yesterday."
Holmes narrowed his eyes. "Why would you want to defeat me?" he asked.
"For the same reason you fight all the time," James replied, a touch of venom added to his bored tone. "Because I'm bored. You've presented a worthy distraction. I can prove you're ordinary, just like all the rest of these peasants." He chuckled. "Have you figured out who I am yet?"
Sir Holmes paused for a moment, deliberating before he spoke. "Of course I have."
James' eyes bored into his. "Out with it then."
"You're the leader of the army that's coming to attack us. You're Moriarty." James grinned, pleased that Sir Holmes had figured it out.
"I knew you would get it. Everyone else is too thick to see the obvious, but not you. You're something special, Sir Sherlock Holmes..."
"What are you playing at? You're biding your time before you attack, why? Are you waiting for your army to arrive?" James shook his head. "Even without your army you could have easily killed the King by now. Why haven't you?"
"I'm not here for the King." Said James Moriarty. "I'm here for you."
Sir Holmes watched Moriarty suspiciously, keeping his body perfectly still. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"I know what you're about to say, but you already know the answer, don't you?" Moriarty stepped forward, eyes staring into that of Sir Holmes. "You know why I'm telling you all of this. It's because I know you aren't going to tell King Lestrade." Holmes kept silent. "Tell me why, Sir Holmes."
"Because nobody will believe me."
"Very good. Because?"
"Because you planted doubt into the knight's minds. You made them think that I'm a fake." James grinned and stepped even closer.b
"All kinds of rumors have spread through the kingdom by now. Amazing how fast gossip can travel these days. People can't resist a good fairy tale...If you reveal my identity, everyone will think you're just trying to get attention in the wake of all the doubt. Nobody will believe you, and chances are things will turn out worse for yourself than for me if you turn me in" Holmes stared down at him furiously. Moriarty stepped back, turning to the gates. where the other knights were beginning to arrive.
"Here they are, the ordinary people, to prepare for a hopeless battle..." Moriarty turned back to the knight and winked before sauntering off to greet the others. Holmes glared after him, fists clenched at his sides.
The sun rose to the highest point in its arc, beating down on the training knights below. Sir Holmes sat on the steps sharpening his sword. Two pairs of footsteps approached, but this time, neither was James. He didn't look up as the shadows of Sir Anderson and Lady Donovan fell across him.
"Are you two going to just stand there or can I sharpen my sword in peace?" he said with annoyance.
"We've come to talk to you," Said Lady Donovan. "About your stories. We just needed to remind you that you need to stop pretending."
Holmes finally looked up to glare at her. She stood with her arms crossed. "And I need to remind you that I am not lying. You two have both been to battle with me, you've seen first hand my skills."
"We've seen you fight," Said Sir Anderson. "We haven't seen any extraordinary acts of bravery like you like to boast about."
Holmes huffed and stood up, towering over the other two. "Do you not see what's going on?" he growled. "James planted the doubt in your minds because he knew it would grow into this. He used your hatred of me to feed the doubt. You believe him because you want to, and it's blocking your minds, stopping you from seeing who he really is."
"And who is he really?" Anderson quirked an eyebrow.
Sir Holmes paused. They aren't going to believe him, so what's the point in telling them? But he decided to say it anyways. "James is not who he says he is. The leader of the army we are preparing to fight against...his name is James Moriarty."
The other knights barely had time to display an expression of amused disbelief before Holmes continued. "You don't believe me because the doubt has already festered in your minds. Once the idea has been planted there's no going back. Nothing I say will convince your simple minds that I am not a fraud, and yet I am standing in front of you telling the truth."
Donovan scoffed. "You really think we'll fall for that? James, an evil mastermind? You're desperate, Holmes. Really, I thought you would be able to come up with a lie a bit more elaborate, but obviously I was wrong."
"You see? You don't believe me, and that's exactly what he wants, you're just a piece in his game-"
"Listen." Interrupted Anderson. "This is ridiculous even for you. If you don't stop telling the lies, we will tell King Lestrade and all the other knights about your fraud. We're being nice aren't we? We're giving you the chance to save what little reputation you have left."
"This is childish," Said Holmes after a moment's pause. "There are more pressing matters, for instance the army that is bound to arrive on our borders by tomorrow."
"Yes, but until they get here we want to make sure you stop fooling everyone with your insane ego."
Sir Holmes regarded the two with distaste, debating whether to answer with a clever insult or simply to walk away. He chose the latter, turning on his heel and marching off to the training dragons. Sir Anderson and Lady Donovan were left to smirk at his retreating figure.
"Think he'll stop?" Said Anderson.
"Doubt it," responded Donovan. "He's too full of himself. One of us is going to have to tell King Lestrade." They looked at each other and nodded.
"I'll tell him tonight after the meeting. Holmes can't be there, otherwise he'll just deny everything." She said. Anderson nodded in agreement, and the two walked off together.
AN: I'll have the last chapter up tomorrow! Thank you so much for reading! :)