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CHAPTER FOUR

Merlin opened the door to the quarters he shared with Gaius and ushered Erin inside. Gaius looked up from what ever potion he was making. "Brought home another straggler, eh Merlin?"

"Gaius," Merlin smiled, "I'd like you to meet my twin sister, Erin."

"Erin?" Gaius examined her, "Is that really you? I haven't seen you since you were a baby!"

"It's nice to see you, Gaius," Erin put down her packs, went over and gave Gaius a warm hug.

"Where are you staying?" Gaius asked, releasing her.

"Arthur's having a room prepared in the castle, since Erin is planning on staying," Merlin answered.

"Quarters in the castle? What an honor!" Gaius exclaimed.

"I was a knight in Samboir, so he wants to treat me like a visiting noble. I told him he didn't have to, that I was fine rooming with Merlin, but it wouldn't hear it."

"That's Arthur for you."

"Well, I should go settle in my new room, so I'll say goodbye for now, Gaius."

Erin and Merlin picked up her packs and went to her new quarters in the castle.

Merlin helped her set up the weapons rack, unpack her clothes, and then he gave her a tour of the castle.

Then, as it was late already, they said goodnight and retired to their chambers and slept.

The next morning, Merlin brought Erin her breakfast after he had served Arthur, and together, they made their way to the training courts, Erin's sword at her hip.

They arrived at the training courts during the knights' practice.

Merlin and Erin watched from the sidelines as the men ran through their exercises. Finally, they were done, and it was time for Erin to face Gwaine's challenge.

But he was exhausted from another fight, and so Leon asked to fight her.

"Of course," Erin smiled.

They began circling each other. Leon wasn't the best sword-fighter of the knights, but he still was pretty good, but Erin had her sword at his throat within five minutes.

Then Elyan stepped up. It finished with Erin with her sword at his back.

Next, Percival was sure he was going to beat her. She hadn't had a break between her fight with Elyan and Leon, surely she was too tired to beat someone as strong as him.

Their duel lasted longer than the others, maybe ten/fifteen minutes. Percival was right: Erin was tired. But she was still quick. She flitted out of range of his blows, and then in to give him a quick tap on the shoulder (they were using blunt practice swords, so she gave him a few bruises, but nothing too serious).

Finally, she was piggybacked on Percival's back, with her sword at his throat and her hands over his eyes.

"I win," Erin said cheerily and hopped down from his back.

They shook hands, and Merlin came over and handed her a water-skin.

"Oh, Erin, give the guys a break will ya?" Merlin laughed, "They're not used to being beaten by a girl."

"Then they better get used to it," she replied, "Because I'm planning on beating them. A lot."

All the knights laughed. They liked having her around. And she certainly knew how to handle a sword. She might be a useful fighter, should Morgana attack again, Arthur thought.

"My turn," Gwaine's rough voice said, and he came forward, twirling his sword.

"Be my guest," Erin crouched and they started to circle. Arthur, Merlin, Leon, Elyan, and Percival cleared out of the way.

The next twenty minutes were full of sweat, dodging, feinting, parrying blocking, and stabbing left and right. They were of equal skill, and neither could get a blow to the other. They were both very frustrated.

"Finally found someone better than you, eh?" Gwaine shouted jibes and catcalls at Erin. Most fighters did this. It was custom to jibe your opponent, make him (or her in this case) angry. Gwaine was especially got at this, most times.

But this was not one of those times. Erin unnerved most of the people she fought, because she ignored the jibes and came up with none of her own. She tuned Gwaine out and stayed silent.

And, because she didn't have to come up with witty comments, she was more focused on the duel than Gwaine was. Erin struck, as fast and deadly as a cobra, and next thing Gwaine knew, he was on the ground looking up at Erin, her blunt sword hovering above his throat and boot on his chest.

He stayed very still and said, "Nice moves. You've got me."

Erin smiled and raised her sword away from his throat, and offered a hand to help him up.

He took it. But instead of letting her help him up, he pulled her down, somehow knocking her sword out of her hand and losing his own in the process.

The rolled on the ground for a while, each struggling to get the other underneath.

There were calls of "Go Erin!" and "Go Gwaine!" from the sideline, but both of them ignored it.

Finally, Erin was pinned flat, Gwaine lying completely on top of her, arms held by her head.

"You know, I kind of like this position," he breathed down at her.

She stared up at him for a moment, and her struggling stopped.

He stared down in confusion as she leaned up and kissed him right on the lips. He was so shocked that he let go of her wrists.

And she shoved him off her and rolled him over. Gwaine was now on his back, Erin pinning his arms with her feet, and a small dagger at his throat.

She smiled down coyly at him. "I think I like this one better, don't you?"

Then she stood up, slipped the dagger back in her boot, and helped him up for real this time.

"I win," she said and they shook hands and the knights cheered.