Chapter 6

Eliana watched silently as Gwen exited the chambers after her husband and Merlin before discreetly following them down to the armoury where the knights congregated before a training session. Today was one of the few days that Gwen had off of her duties as everyone prepared for Arthur's departure to investigate the Disir and the council took care of the people while the royals were otherwise occupied. There were sparse its of armour that would fit her until she could afford to get some made to fit her body that were used by the younger knights who had yet to grow out of the youthful lanky stage of their development.

As the knights and Arthur followed by Merlin and Gwen who seemed to be conversing about who would be able to beat Arthur, she slipped into the armoury and pulled on the dull, worn chainmail and picked up the lightest sword she could find, only bothering with lower arm guards to protect her arms, leaving the heavy chest plates and greaves in the armoury. She got a few strange looks as she passed servants down the path to the fields but thankfully, none thought to question the Queen's maid and no nobles who would no doubt be more forthcoming with insults and chastisements walked past.

Eliana observed the knights in action as Arthur put them through a few basic drills to warm up as he critiqued their sloppy footwork or incorrect stances. She moved silently over to the Queen and Merlin despite her armour and whispered in Merlin's ear, making him jump and let out a rather high pitched squawk.

'Ready for training, darling?' She smirked as Merlin's body jumped a mile in the air as he spun round to see her.

'Darling?' He questioned, confused but Eliana just smiled.

'I would have thought you would be more concerned with the training part.' She laughed internally as Merlin's face changed from confused to outraged.

'What do you mean training?'

'Just that, Darling. What other excuse would I have to be down here in armour? Now get your pretty butt in gear and let's get on with this.' She then proceeded down the hill and onto the far side of the training field, noticing that none of the knights even glanced at her, too engrossed in their training session with Arthur.

Merlin eventually caught up with her and she handed him the extra sword she had picked up, heavier than her own but light enough that a skinny boy like Merlin would be able to lift it without too much trouble, besides, he needed to work up some muscles onto his arms.

'Right then, I assume that Arthur has used you before to practise with before tournaments so we are going to start with some basic steps to get back into the swing of things.' Eliana explained.

'Eli, seriously, do we have to do this? Arthur isn't even watching us.' Merlin complained.

'Now who is coming up with ridiculous nicknames?' Eliana teased but she felt a flutter in her heart as she thought of how much closer the two had become. 'And anyway, Gwen saw you leave with me, she is watching. When she sees us start, I bet you anything that she will be over to Arthur like lightning.'

'Fine, just start already. The sooner this is over, the better.'

'That is no attitude to start training with, Merlin. Now, lift your sword up. That's good, now feet apart and put the left slightly back. No Merlin, your other left.' Eliana followed Merlin's movements, lifting her own sword up before swinging to meet Merlin's between them. She let herself get lost in the movements as they parried slowly to get their muscles warmed up, Eliana glancing over at Gwen who was watching them with careful eyes, making her way towards Arthur before speaking quietly in his ear.

'Love, look at Merlin and Eliana.' Gwen said in her husband's ear, who turned to her before searching the field for his servant who he found to be holding a sword, parrying with the possible sorceress.

'What on earth are they doing?' Arthur demanded, shocked that Merlin would willingly participate in any form of physical activity and that it was with a woman who should not be working with a sword.

'I do believe that Eliana said something about training? I think that she is teaching Merlin how to defend himself with a sword.' Gwen said, slightly bemused as to the events.

'Why would Merlin want to learn how to use a sword, he relentlessly complains when I have to use him for tournaments? And why is he asking her and not me if he wants to? I bet she can't use a sword anyway.' Arthur ranted much to Gwen's amusement.

'Why, because she is a woman? Or because you are annoyed that Merlin didn't ask you?' Arthur spluttered in response and barked at his men to continue training before marching over towards Eliana and Merlin with Gwen in tow.

'He is coming over now, Merlin!' Eliana said as she continued to batter Merlin's defences with short blows.

'Finally! My arms are getting tired!'

'Merlin! We have been doing this for less than five minutes! What if you were ever in a situation where you couldn't use magic? How exactly do you plan on defending Arthur if you can barely pick up a sword?' Merlin grumbled but stopped his complaints as they watched Arthur move across the field towards them.

'Merlin! What in the Gods are you doing?' Arthur called as he reached the pair who lowered their swords at his approach.

'Eliana offered to teach me. She said that it was stupid for me to go out on all the trips with you and the others with no way to defend myself.' Merlin parroted the response that they had come up with.

'You don't need to defend yourself, Merlin. That is what the knights are for. Besides, you could have just come to me if you wanted teaching rather than a girl who is not a knight.' Arthur complained.

'You have actual knights to train and Eliana has enough experience to eat a knight of Camelot, they are so incompetent.' Merlin jibed much to the amusement of Eliana and Gwen who had caught up to the small group.

'No one could beat a knight of Camelot, Merlin. Don't be stupid.' Arthur stated proudly.

'I am sure I could, given the chance, but you're all afraid to be beaten by a girl.' Eliana said, cutting into the conversation.

'None of my knights would fight a girl so that she wouldn't be hurt or injured.' Arthur retorted.

'Please, I could beat you all with my eyes closed but you are just too scared to find out.' Eliana hinted, trying to lead Arthur into letting her fight one of the knights as was her plan with Merlin.

'Not a chance.' Arthur said.

'Then prove it.' Eliana said triumphantly. He couldn't refuse without making his knights seem weak now. Arthur opened and closed his mouth without any words coming out for a few seconds before his eyes flashed in defeat.

'Fine but don't blame me if you get hurt.'

'I will try, your Highness.' Eliana said goadingly.

Arthur stormed back over to the training field to retrieve one of his knights for the fight, leaving Eliana with Gwen and Merlin. Eliana and Merlin looked at each other for a second before breaking out into matching grins, not realising that Gwen was watching them closely with a calculating look on her face, trying to figure out what it was the two of them were planning.

It took only a minute for Arthur to return with a small man who couldn't have been much taller than Eliana who wasn't that tall for a woman making this man positively tiny. He had little muscle along his arms to lift a sword and seemed to be cowering in the presence of Arthur. Eliana didn't know whether to be insulted or amused at the direction the events had taken but she knew that this sorry excuse for a knight would be no challenge for her, exactly what her and Merlin had been hoping for.

'Eliana, this is Sir Alwin. He has been training with the knights of Camelot for six months now and should be a perfect sparring partner.' Arthur explained. Eliana looked at the knight for a second longer than was comfortable for the shy man with a glint in her eyes that unsettled the poor man further.

'Thank you, my lord. Will you be staying to watch us?' Eliana asked innocently.

'Of course. Who am I to say no when a woman wants to show off her sword fighting skills against a knight.' Arthur said as though she was going to wimp out and call off the entire charade.

'We better get to it then. We don't want to waste your time during your important training practise. Your knights need all they can get.' Eliana jibed just before walking over to retrieve her sword, not giving Arthur a chance to reply.

Gwen pulled Arthur away from Eliana and Sir Alwin to where Merlin was standing to give the pair enough space to move around each other. Eliana raised her sword and stood over in front of Sir Alwin who copied her motions. They looked at each other for a few seconds as Eliana waited for Sir Alwin to make the first move. He lasted only a moment before he stepped forwards and lunged at her, swinging his sword in a wide circle. Eliana almost laughed as the swing came at her slow enough that she merely stepped backwards and to the side, allowing him to come completely past her.

She waited for him to right himself, allowing the knight to regain his footing and come at her again, trying to thrust his sword at her throat but his movements were easily anticipated. Eliana ducked the pass whilst moving forwards cutting the back of his knee causing the man to topple over in a heap.

She moved like lightning and had him pinned with her foot on his stomach and sword at his throat before the man could regain his breath. She waited a few seconds before removing her sword and offering a hand to help him up from his dazed state.

She laughed as the small man ran off down the slope without so much as a glance at his King, leaving Eliana to his response.

'How was that for a girl, My Lord?' She asked sweetly, grinning at Merlin who stood off at the side trying unsuccessfully to contain his laughter next to Gwen who was smiling. Arthur did his best impersonation of a fish before storming back down the hill without a word.

'I better go after him and make sure he doesn't kill anybody.' Gwen said before following Arthur down the hill, albeit more gracefully.

Eliana looked back over at Merlin who had managed to get his laughter back under control and was currently wheezing, trying to regain his breath. 'As fun as that was Merlin, I don't see how I am any closer to helping you and Arthur with the Disir problem.'

'Don't worry. Arthur won't let the reputation of his knights be ruined by a servant and a girl at that, not that it should make a difference of course.' Merlin said at Eliana's raised eyebrows.

'I hope you are right because otherwise you will be doing a lot more work with that sword.' Merlin paled slightly at the thought and moved the conversation away to his current work with a disease plaguing the lower town as they waited for Arthur to return.

Gwen caught up to Arthur as he stopped to rant about the incompetence of his newest intake of knights to Gwaine, Percival and Elyan who had been watching the practise on the training field but had failed to notice Merlin and Eliana at the top of the hill.

'I can't believe them! None of them would be able to last five seconds in a fight, even Merlin and his new friend could beat them!' Arthur near shouted at slightly shell shocked knights who didn't know what had sparked this new rant.

'Arthur. The knights are progressing fine, they will get there.' Percival tried to placate the enraged King.

'Yeah, a bit more training and then they could take down even a fearsome warrior like Merlin.' Gwaine said, very unhelpfully in Gwen's opinion as her husband turned a darker shade of red.

'Arthur.' Gwen said quietly, reaching out to lay her hand on his arm. 'Eliana obviously has more experience than your new knights. It isn't something to worry about.' The other nights seemed to become lost in the conversation as they hadn't seen the earlier events.

'What is going on?' Elyan asked his sister.

'Eliana was teaching Merlin a few sword skills and said she could easily beat a knight of Camelot and so Arthur let her try against Sir Alwin who was on the ground in all of ten seconds.' She explained, still amused that her maid was able to fell a knight, even if it was a shy, small one like Alwin.

'Cool, a young maiden with a bite. I think I like her Arthur.' Gwaine said, looking around to try and pinpoint his new fascination.

'She insulted the Knights of Camelot! She causes us humiliation!' Arthur said, getting himself worked up again.

'We could allow her to try against a more competent knight, that way she can't win and everything goes back to normal. No need for you to get angry, love.' Gwen said, although in the back of her mind she wondered if her maid might just win against whoever was thrown her way.

'Of course. This is why I love you, Guinevere!' Arthur immediately began to walk back to the training field with the other knights following close behind. She watched in bemused silence as they picked up the most skilled knight currently in practise and headed back over to where Merlin and Eliana still stood waiting.

'Eliana!' Arthur shouted as he neared the laughing pair who seemed startled by his sudden appearance. 'This is Sir Gertain and he is your next partner as the other still needs a few months practise.'

Eliana studied the new knight in contemplative silence. He had darkly tanned skin from being outdoors, his hands were more calloused from holding a sword and his muscles were far more defined. He looked comfortable in his position and Eliana knew that even then he would be no challenge.

'Thank you, my lord. I am sure he will be a much more suited training partner.' Eliana acknowledged, glancing back over to Merlin, throwing wink his way before moving opposite her new opponent. She glanced over the array of knights now standing with the King, remembering them from the journey back from the forest. She sensed an opportunity as her opposition raised his sword.

'Your grip is wrong.' She commented, holding her hands up to show the knight what was wrong. He seemed confused for a few seconds, not understanding if he should do as she suggested. Eventually, he moved his hands slightly much to the chagrin of Arthur although he couldn't say anything as he knew that Eliana was correct.

Sir Gertain stepped forwards, pushing his sword out in a more practised move than the other knight from before but Eliana blocked the blow and side stepped before swinging across her towards his opposite shoulder, getting in a small cut before dodging his next blow.

'You need to block your weakest side; it is open when you make a move.' Eliana instructed as the two circled each other. Her teachings seemed to faze the knight slightly but he moved his sword to cover his vulnerable flank.

They exchanged a few parried blows before Eliana decided that she had had enough of teaching and moved inside his sword range, having the shorter weapon. She cut under his sword arm, ducking as it came down at her head. She was behind the knight as he clutched at his new bleeding arm. She threw a smirk at Arthur before hitting Sir Gertain's head with the hilt of her sword sending him sprawling across the dirt.

'Looks like my new training partner may need a few more lessons as well. Sorry, and he may also need Merlin to get his arm and shoulder tended to.' She leaned back down and helped the knight up, careful of his injuries although she knew that they were only superficial, only using a small amount of strength with the blows.

'It would seem like you could use a true knight of Camelot as your partner, Eliana.' Arthur stated. He looked at the three knights that had accompanied him up the hill. He may not trust Eliana, still suspicious of her alliance with magic but he would feel guilty if he let her fight Percival and she was injured and he knew Gwaine had little restraint but Elyan would be fair enough not to hurt her too badly but her was one of his best knights, no match for a serving girl. 'Why don't you see how you get on with Elyan? He is one of the kingdom's finest knights and brother to Guinevere.'

Eliana smiled to herself, this is what she had been waiting for. 'Well then, I do believe that we should have some more fun with this don't you think? How about a little bet?' She suggested. Gwaine perked up at the idea of a bet, instantly coming up with many ways in which he could coerce Eliana to the tavern with him.

'What is it that you want?' Arthur asked warily. He did not trust the possible sorceress ad wouldn't enter a bet with her without knowing the terms.

'I have always wanted to see the Disir. I want to accompany you when you leave to visit them.' Eliana stated boldly. This was the make or break of her plan with Merlin and the Arthur's safety was paramount to this.

'I hardly think that that would be appropriate.' Arthur said, confused as to why she wanted to go on the mission.

'Why not? I can help Merlin with the camp, it is hard for him on his own and if I can beat a knight of Camelot then surely I would not be a burden?'

'I suppose that if you win, you may accompany us, provided you find a temporary maid to assist Guinevere in your absence.'

'Thank you, my Lord. What is it that you want if I don't win?'

Arthur considered the question for a while. What he really wanted was to know if she was a sorceress or not but he could hardly ask her outright, she would just lie. It would seem rude to add more chores to her list of duties when he knew that she already did most of Merlin's work for him already. Surely there must be something?

'I want you to accompany Merlin and myself on a small trip to the outlying villages to help with the medical care that they need. Gaius is too old to go and Merlin needs the help.' Arthur stated his conditions. He had been meaning to go to the outlying villages as it was good for his people to see him and know that he was trying to help with their problems and this would give him the chance to see if she exposed any hint that she was practising magic.

Eliana was confused by the King's odd request but agreed readily enough.

The others stepped back to give her and Elyan some room to move around each other in their fight. Eliana knew that this wasn't going to be as easy as before. The knight had practical skills and much greater strength but she had many more years' experience and she was smaller and faster making it easier for her to avoid any of his blows.

The first blow came quickly and Eliana rolled under his arm and popped up behind. She swung the sword but it was blocked over Elyan's shoulder as he turned back around to face her. They continued for five minutes as they both became more fatigued and their movements were slower from exertion but Eliana refused to use magic. She needed to win some fights without relying on her powers. As she was thinking, Elyan got in a slice to her right thigh but she managed to evade his next stroke and she used his tired body against him, feinting one way and get in the needed blow to his ribs with a force hard enough to crack at least one bone.

As the knight clutched at his ribs, she unbalanced him sending Sir Elyan down onto his back, her sword pointing directly at his throat.

'I will start helping Merlin with the horses then shall I?' Eliana asked Arthur who mutely nodded as he went to help a grimacing Elyan off the ground.

Eliana and Merlin made their way down the hill towards the stables, grinning the whole way with Gwen watching them from her position at the top of the hill.

AN: I hope you enjoyed the new chapter and don't hate me too much? Anyway, I wanted to let you guys know that I haven't given up with Eliana's back story but I wanted to get this part moving first and start working on the building of trust between Eliana and Merlin and also her and Arthur which I think is going to be an important part of the story.

Also, the whole Merlin/Eliana thing is still happening but it will definitely be slow bur cause their attraction will grow but there needs to be a basis of trust before Merlin can be with her like that and I think she needs to work past some of her obstacle as well which I will also get into at some point in the near future.

Anyways, have a good day and I will see you all soon!