Wow two chapters in one day, a record for me, this whole chapter is based in Excalibur, its not the best but i wanted a filler chapter.
I was standing beside Morganna watching Arthur being crowned 'Crown Prince of Camelot'. Morganna had helped me choose a beautiful green dress to wear for the occasion, any excuse for girls to go shopping.
"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions according to the statues, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?" Uther was standing in front of Arthur; he was kneeling with his back to the hall. He looked at me and I smiled at him, he was beginning to accept mine and Merlin's relationship. He looked back to his father.
"I do, Sire." I looked round the hall, my eyes searching for Merlin. He was standing beside Gwen and was smiling at Arthur.
"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?"
"I do, Sire."
"And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?" Uther said passing a golden staff emblazed with jewels to Arthur. He placed his hand on the staff.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, so pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples." Uther turned and took the crown from a servant.
"Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot. " The hall broke into applause as the crown was placed on the prince's head. Arthur stood and turned to face the hall. A smile spreading on his face. A loud crash broke the celebrations. From the window on the far side of the hall a black knight on a horse crashed through into the hall. The knights all drew their swords.
"What in the devil's name?" Morganna stood frozen and I pulled her back slightly, we shared a scared look. I looked round quickly for Merlin, wishing I could run over and pull him out of the hall. But I stayed where I was. The knights moved forward. As the Black Knight advance towards the knights, servants and noble tried to move behind them.
The Black Knight threw down his gauntlet. A challenge, I held my breath waiting to see which knight would take it up. When Arthur sheathed his sword I clenched my fists. He couldn't pick it up. I let my breath out when Sir Owain picked it up before Arthur got a chance.
"I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge." The Black Knight turned his head to look at Sir Owain.
"Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death." The Knight turned and jumped through the destroyed window. The room was silent for a few moments after, everyone still in shock. Then the room emptied. Morganna, Gwen, Arthur and I went to Morganna's room. He was annoyed at Owain.
"He shouldn't have picked up the gauntlet!" Arthur practically shouted.
"So put an end to it." Morganna said, moving towards Arthur.
"The challenge has been taken up. The fight cannot be stopped."
"Then fight in his place." I said, moving to stand beside Morganna.
"I can't! "
"Why not?" Morganna asked.
"Owain picked up the gauntlet. Owain is the one who must fight. That is the Knight's Code. He knew that."
"But it's a fight to the death."
"I know." Arthur said gravely.
"There is nothing we can do Morganna. I'm going to bed now."
"I know, goodnight."
"Goodnight." I walked out of her room and headed to mine. I changed quickly and slipped into bed. I heard a knock at my door.
"Come in." I shouted. Merlin appeared in the doorway. I smiled and he shut the door behind him.
"I came to see if you're alright, after what happened."
"Yeah I'm fine, just a bit shaken. I hope Sir Owain can beat this Black Knight." Merlin sat down on my bed.
"So do I."
"You'd better get back to your room, don't want anyone catching you in my room." I kissed him lightly before he left. Then I snuggled into bed and slowly fell asleep.
The next morning I was awoken by Gwen, she had already helped Morganna and helped me pick an outfit. Then we both sent a token of good luck to Sir Owain.
"He said thank you and he will wear it with pride, but he does not need luck." Gwen informed us as we walked down to the arena.
"Men and their prides." Morganna said.
"As long as he is alright at the end of it." Morganna nodded in agreement. Uther arrived and sat down in his throne; Morganna and I were sat to the right of the king. Arthur and Owain came round the corner into the arena, the former giving the latter advice.
"The fight shall be to the knight's rules. To the death." Arthur informed the crowd. Arthur moved to sit beside his father as Owain's cloak was removed. He then put his helmet on and took his sword from a soldier. They both prepared themselves.
"Let battle commence." Arthur said. The Black knight struck first, Owain barely got a chance to strike back. He used his shield to block the blows. But was kicked over, he rolled and stabbed the Black Knight but that did not stop him. Owain was knocked down again and stabbed. The crowd gasped and I looked away. Morganna looked like she was about to cry. The Black Knight stood in front of Uther and Arthur.
"Who will take up my challenge?" He threw his gauntlet down again. Don't you dare pick that up Arthur, I thought. If he did he would get himself killed and Merlin and I couldn't let that happen.
Arthur went to grab it but Uther stopped him. Sir Pellinor jumped over and picked it up, accepting the challenge. Arthur was fuming and everyone watched the Knight leave. I caught up with Merlin on his way to Gaius's chamber.
"He should be dead." I told Merlin.
"Did you see Owain stab him too?" Merlin asked.
"Yes."
"Come Merlin, Cleo we need to check the old crypts." Gauis appeared behind us, Merlin had also told him I was a sorceress. If Merlin could trust him so could I. The three of us headed towards the crypt.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Merlin asked as we reached the top of the stairs.
"You're not scared are you?"
"No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else." I laughed at Merlin's joke, but nearly jumped when the door slammed shut.
"Must've been a gust of wind. We should've brought a torch." Merlin turned and pointed to an unlit torch. He nodded his head at me. I extended my hand and muttered 'Forebearne' the torch lit.
"Huh? Handy! Well done Cleo." Gauis smiled at me. Merlin carried the torch and we continued down the stairs.
"What are we looking for?" I asked.
"Bring your torch over here." Walking through the crypt sent a chill through my spine. I shivered and followed Merlin.
"We're breaking into someone's grave?" We stopped at a grave that had been smashed open.
"We're too late. I think someone's already broken out." We vacated the crypt and headed back to Gauis chambers.
"Tristan Dubois was the brother of Ygraine, Uther's wife."
"Arthur's mother?"
"Ygraine died in childbirth. He blamed Uther and came to the gates of Camelot and challenged him."
"To single combat."
"Uther won. But in his dying breath, Tristan cursed Camelot to one day suffer his return. I thought it was the ramblings of a dying man."
"Men don't just rise up from the dead though, no matter how angry they are."
"So you're saying someone brought him back from the dead?" I asked, confused at the situation.
"Yes, and it's my guess we're dealing with a wraith."
"A wraith?" Merlin and I asked.
"The spirit of a dead man conjured from the grave."
"This must be the work of a sorcerer." I stated.
"Powerful magic can harness the grief and rage of a tormented soul and make it live again."
"Is there any way to stop it?"
"No, it's not alive so no mortal weapon can kill it."
"There must be something."
"Nothing can stop it until it had achieved what it came for."
"And whats that?"
"Revenge."
"On Camelot? What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?"
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good."
"So we have to stand by and watch?" I didn't know if I could do that.
"Yeah." I shook my head.
Sir Pellinor was beaten by the Black Knight the next day, but he put up more of a fight than Owain. This time everyone saw the sword penetrate the Knight. Before Uther could stop Arthur he had thrown down his own gauntlet. I shared a worried look with Merlin.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you."
"So be it."
"Single combat. Noon tomorrow." I searched for Arthur later in the day.
"Arthur what were you thinking!" He turned from the window to face me.
"Why do you care? You have Merlin." I stopped, feeling hurt.
"Because you are future King of Camelot and I do care about you, just not in the same way as Merlin. Arthur two of your best knights were killed, I don't want the same fate to befall you."
"I trained these knights, I am better than them, I can beat him." I knew I wouldn't be able to dissuade him. I untied a bit of ribbon from my hair.
"Take this as a token of good luck." I said giving it to Arthur. He took it and wrapped it round his upper arm. I kissed him on the cheek and walked away towards my room. I sighed, sitting down at the table in my room. A wraith could not be defeated so Merlin and I had no real way to protect Arthur, and he was too stubborn and proud to back out.
I stood by my window and looked out at the Black Knight. I saw Merlin hiding in the shadows and he tried to kill the Knight by setting him on fire. Then I watched him run as the Knight turned to face him. Arthur was doomed, and our destiny was coming to an end. I decided to go talk to Morganna. I walked into Gwen and Merlin leaving her chambers.
"I think I've found a way to kill a wraith." He whispered to me. "We just need a sword." I nodded and followed Gwen to her house. From under her bed she pulled a box covered in a clothe.
"My father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made." She unwrapped it.
"It's perfect." Merlin said smiling.
"He'll kill me if he finds I've taken it."
"He'll understand. You did it for Arthur."
"I knew you were proud of him really." Merlin wrapped the sword up and we headed out. He hadn't told me where we were going. We walked through the castle to the entrance of the dragon's cave. The dragon was there when we arrived.
"Merlin, Cleo."
"Do you know why we are here?"
"It may surprise you, Merlin, but my knowledge of your life is not universal." I suppressed a giggle.
"It's to do with Arthur. His life's in danger. He will die, unless I can make a weapon that will kill the dead." He handed me the torch as he took the sword out.
"So what do you come to ask of me?"
"I want to ask the same question." The sword was floating in front of the dragon now.
"Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?"
"The dead do not return without reason. Who has he come for?"
"Uther."
"Then let him take his vengeance and the wraith will die without my aid."
"But Arthur will die, he is the one who's going to fight him." I blurted out.
"You have to save him." Merlin added.
"That is you destiny, not mine."
"But if Arthur fights the wraith and dies, Camelot will have no heir. We will have no destiny."
"A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power."
"I know."
"You do not know. You can only guess. You have not seen what I have seen. If you had, perhaps you would not ask this of me."
"What do you mean?"
"In the wrong hands this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone."
"I understand."
"You must do more than understand. You must promise."
"I promise." Merlin and I back up, to avoid the flames. The process was quick but the sword was now burnished with dragons breath.
"Head my words. The sword was forged for Arthur, and him alone." Merlin nodded. Then we walked back up the stairs.
"So that sword will kill a wraith?" I asked.
"Yes, but only Arthur can use it."
"Yeah I heard." Merlin laughed.
"I'm going back to my room. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." I kissed Merlin before departing for my room. I hoped Arthur would be alright.
The next day Morganna and I were sat worried in the audience. I wish I had leant enough magic to somehow disrupt the battle. But I knew that even if I had it would be useless. Gasps from the crowd made me look up. Uther was walking in armour towards the arena. He was going to take Arthurs place. What Uther said next confirmed this.
"You can have what you came for. The father, not the son." A soldier took his cloak off for him, I wondered where Arthur was. Surely he wouldn't have allowed this. Uther put his helmet on and faced the Knight.
The Knight struck first, catching Uther unawares. The King barely got a hit in the first few minutes if combat. It was already looking bleak for the King. The King managed to fight back and it was looking even. He knocked the wraiths helmet off and was knocked to the ground. The wraiths sword became stuck in his shield and Uther took this as his chance. He lunged his sword into the wraith and it exploded.
I looked over at Merlin and smiled. The crowd erupted into applause. After the combat I found Merlin.
"Was that the sword Arthur was supposed to use?" I asked Merlin.
"Yes, I couldn't stop him."
"I need to go. The Great Dragon will be annoyed at you." I told him before giving him a quick goodbye kiss. I then walked straight back to my room. I slipped into bed after changing into my night gown. I was tired and needed rest. I knew Merlin would deal with the dragon and the sword. At least Arthur was safe again.
Nimueh stood watching the image in the basin. She had found a way to get to Merlin, this girl Cleo. If she could get Cleo she could get to Merlin. Then it was one more step to Uther's death...
Ooo an evil plan, please read and review, who knows the rate im going there might be another chapter out soon, but reviews will make me write faster ;) anyone who reviews will get a virtual Arthur/Merlin/Gwen/Morganna sent to their house
