DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Merlin or anything else.

Chapter Seven

Merlin was pacing back and forth in his chambers in the wee hours of the morning. He was still doing it when Ashley came by for him. "Merlin, you're not even properly dressed," she said.

"I've been thinking for the last couple of hours," Merlin said pulling on a clean shirt.

"That's dangerous," she quipped. "What were you thinking about?"

"That stranger that came up to me yesterday," Merlin said. "The one who was asking after Arthur."

"Yeah?" she asked.

"I think he was the assassin," Merlin said. "No one in the kingdom would ask about Arthur's whereabouts because everyone knew he was not here," he added. "What if that disturbance in the lower town was him?"

"But he doesn't even know that Arthur is with Gwen," Ashley said.

"He would if he had followed me to the house last night," Merlin said. "Remember Arthur had me get him a clean shirt?" Ashley nodded her head. "What if the assassin was in Arthur's room when I got it?"

"Did you hear anything?" she asked.

"No," he said.

"All right, you look for that stranger while I look after Arthur." Merlin nodded and they raced to save Arthur once again.

Lancelot was in his tent with Percival and Owain when Merlin came in out of breath. "Oh, Merlin, are you all right?" Lancelot asked.

"Uh, maybe. You've heard of the reports of an assassin in town?" Merlin asked.

"Yes, we have," Lancelot said.

"He's here to kill Arthur," Merlin said. "I know, Arthur isn't here, but the King wants him found before he returns."

"And you're out of breath because …?" Owain asked.

"Yesterday, someone came up to me asking questions about Arthur," Merlin said. "I didn't recognize him, but I think he may be the assassin."

"What does he look like?" Lancelot asked. "Maybe we've seen him."

"Uh, dark skinned, tall, bald with a beard and he was wearing a red cloak," Merlin said.

"I saw someone like that," Percival said.

"Where?" Merlin asked.

"Not two minutes ago," the young knight said.

"I gotta find Leon," they heard Merlin utter before the young servant bolted out of the tent.

"Take things serious around here," Owain said.

"Well, an assassin after their Crowned Prince, Camelot's knights would be."

"But he's not even here," Percival said. "He's up north hunting a magical creature."

Arthur let out a sigh as Gwen tied her token onto her arm. "You're nervous," she said.

"I've never jousted against Lancelot before. I was his practice target for tournaments in school. I had to pretend to be afraid."

"You'll do fine," Gwen said. "You're Prince Arthur," she said. Just then the flap opened and Ashley came in with a sigh.

"What's wrong with you?" Arthur asked.

"Merlin may have had a run in with the assassin yesterday," Ashley said.

"What?" Gwen asked helping Arthur with his armor.

"Someone came up to him after yesterday's rounds and asked about Arthur," Ashley explained. "He thinks he may have even followed him to your house when he got a clean shirt for your dinner."

"Where's Merlin now?" Arthur asked.

"He's looking for him," Ashley said.

"Find Leon and tell him everything you just told me," Arthur said. "See if you can delay the final joust too," he added. "If it were me, I would knock out Lancelot and take his place in the final joust."

"What?" Gwen asked.

"If what Ashley says is true, then the assassin knows I'm here and he probably followed us from the house," Arthur said. "He knows I'll be in the tournament."

"Right," Ashley said. "Leon would be with your father," she said grabbing her binder and heading out.

The assassin, Myror, crept along the tents until he came across the right one. Peeking inside, he saw Arthur getting helped with his armor by the maid he was with last night. He was jousting. Looking around, he saw the shield of the knight who was going up against Arthur and went searching for his tent. Lancelot was alone when the assassin found him. He was cinching up his shoulder armor with his back to the flap of the tent. Hearing the flap move, he assumed it was Percival coming back. "Percy is that you?" he asked. Suddenly, a leather strap was brought against his throat and he began having trouble breathing. Lancelot yelped out in distress before pulling the assassin over his shoulder. "That doesn't work with me," he said. Myror grunted as he got up clearly miffed that he misunderstood his opponent. He tried to kick at Lancelot but the knight blocked it before throwing a punch out. Myror dodged it before tripping Lancelot and getting on top of him. He used his leather strap again, wringing it around Lancelot's neck and pulled it tight. Lancelot gasped out trying to keep the strap from tightening to no avail. Just then Owain came into the tent to see his friend in trouble and grabbed a shield. He hit Myror in the back causing the assassin to lose his grip on the leather strap. That gave Lancelot the upper hand to get off the ground and knock out the assassin.

"Who is that?" Owain asked.

"My guess is it's the assassin after Arthur," Lancelot said. "Help me tie him up and then go find a royal guard."

The two tied up the assassin nice and snug before Owain hurried out to find a royal guard. He found Sir Leon instead.

"Sir Leon, the assassin just tried to kill Sir Lancelot," he said.

The final joust was put on hold while the assassin was interrogated in Lancelot's tent. Gaius had finished checking the two of them and Lancelot remained in his tent wanting to hear everything. "Odin hired you?" Uther asked.

"He did," Myror said. "Your son killed his son."

"In a challenged fight. It was justified," Uther said. Myror scoffed.

"That is not how he sees it," the assassin said.

"You made the trip for no reason, Myror," Uther said. "My son is up north dealing with reports of a suspicous beast," he said causing Myror to laugh.

"Prince Arthur never left Camelot," Myror said causing Lancelot to look at Percival and Owain. "He's been jousting in Sir Kay's spot for the last two days," he added. "Ask that servant of his."

"Merlin?" Uther asked and Myror nodded.

"I followed him to the lower town where he was hiding him," Myror said.

"Find Merlin and Ashley," Uther said to Leon who nodded and headed out to find the two servants. "Take him to a holding cell in the dungeon," he commanded to two knights. They lifted Myror to his feet and they took him away. Leon soon returned to Merlin and Ashley who seemed confused as to why they were brought before the king. "The assassin said that Arthur's in town. He never left Camelot," Uther said. "Is this true?" he asked.

"No, Your Majesty," Ashley said.

"Arthur's up north," Merlin said.

"The assassin is lying then?" Uther asked.

"Of course," Ashley said.

"Then if I check Sir Kay's tent, I'll find Sir Kay and not Arthur, correct?" Uther asked and the two nodded. Uther brushed passed them and walked briskly to Sir Kay's tent. Merlin nervously looked over at Ashley before they followed the king. Uther arrived at the tent and found Morgana's servant girl, Gwen, tending to a helmeted knight's armor.

"Your Majesty," she said causing the knight to stand up.

"Remove your helmet, Sir Kay," Uther commanded. The knight slowly reached up and pulled the helmet off to reveal that was in fact Sir Kay. Hiding behind a chest was a winded Arthur who barely had time to duck behind the chest when Kay came bursting through the tent flap saying his father was coming. Merlin and Ashley appeared behind Uther and they let out a sigh of relief seeing Kay and not Arthur. "Well, it seems that the assassin was lying." He turned to see his son's two servants. "I apologize for not believing you. Sir Kay, I believe you have a tournament to win," Uther said gesturing to the outside of the tent. Arthur has to bite his tongue to keep from groaning out in despair. No final joust for him. Merlin and Ashley hid smirks knowing what Arthur was thinking.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Kay said taking the helmet from Gwen and headed out. Gwen curtseyed to the king who left the tent and Merlin and Ashley ducked in after he left.

"Arthur?" Ashley asked.

"Don't say it," they heard from behind the chest.

"I'm sorry," Merlin said causing Arthur to bang his head on the chest.

"Kay's not as good as Lancelot, so the tourney is all Lancey's," Arthur said. "So, much for proving myself."

"But you did," Gwen said. "You made it all the way to the final round without so much as a thrown joust," she said. "Besides, you don't need to prove yourself anymore. I still like you," she said.

"So what now?" Ashley asked.

"I guess I'm watching the tournament," Arthur said standing up. "Help me out of this," he said gesturing to the armor. A trumpet sounded, signally the start of the final joust.

Arthur, Gwen, Ashley and Merlin sat in Gwen's house toasting to the victor of the tournament. "Here's to Sir Kay," Arthur said. "I never thought I would live to see the day that Lancelot gets his ass handed to him in the jousting ring." The others laughed as they clinked their mugs together.

"I especially liked it when Kay knocked Lancey off his horse and he landed right on his ass," Merlin said drunkenly causing everyone to laugh. They continued to laugh before settling down a bit.

"In all seriousness," Arthur said. "I think maybe I should allow Lancelot try out for the Camelot knighthood." The comment caused a complete silence through the house.

"Arthur, I think you've had enough wine," Gwen said taking Arthur's mug from him.

"Oi, Gwen, I haven't drunken that much," he said. "Unlike Merlin over there, I can hold my liquor," he said gesturing to Merlin, who even though was sitting, was swaying. "I'm serious for once. Lancelot deserves a chance to become a Camelot knight after taking care of the assassin. Not that I like to admit it, he saved my life."

"Yeah, he did," Ashley said. "From what I hear, Myror's a professional killer. He's lucky to be alive and that Owain came into the tent when he did."

"Well, as much as I am going to hate it, looks like Lancelot will be in Camelot for at least another week," Arthur said causing everyone at the table to groan.