A/N: So, right on time, the second part of this episode. Still only tiny bits of this are out of canon, but I think it's still okay.

Next update will be Friday!

Chapter 9: A Snake in our Midst

The second day of the tournament went about the same way as the first, with both Arthur and Valiant winning all their matches. But it wasn't until Valiant defeated Sir Ewan that things got very interesting. Gaius had two guards carry the wounded knight to his chambers, and Merlynn was unable to keep sitting still. Ignoring her father and Morgana's queries, she left the royals' box as soon as the last match was over, and followed her uncle to his chambers.

"It looks like a snakebite," Gaius explained, pointing to two small puncture wounds in the knight's neck. He was still alive, thankfully, but barely. Gaius said that he needed the venom of the snake that bit him before he could make an antidote. If he didn't get that venom, the knight wouldn't survive much longer.

"He was fighting Valiant…" she muttered, but Gaius didn't hear her. Merlynn stormed out of his chambers and made her way to the guest wing, where she knew the knights were staying. She followed Valiant to his room, and looked through a crack in the door as he fed a mouse to the snakes on his shield.

Fighting the revulsion that rose up in her, she raced back to Gaius, telling him about what she'd seen. "I have to tell Arthur," she said, already turning around.

"Is there any chance you might be mistaken?" Gaius asked, standing up.

Merlynn turned back around and frowned at her uncle. "I know magic when I see it, uncle." When Gaius asked about proof, she was a little hurt. "Don't you believe me?"

"I do, but it's the King you need to convince. And his opinion of you has not changed. He does not trust you, and would never believe your word over that of a favoured knight," he explained calmly.

"But he has to. I'm a princess, in front of the court, he has a duty to listen to me and investigate my claims."

"Perhaps," Gaius allowed. "But that returns us to the matter at hand; what proof is there? If it is magic, I assume Valiant has a way of keeping the snakes inside the shield, and thus studying the shield would reveal nothing."

"So my word doesn't mean nothing?" she said bitterly, turning away.

"I'm afraid it means very little when it comes to the King."

Angrily, Merlynn strode out of her uncle's chambers and made her way to her own, where her father was waiting for her. "Where have you been?" he asked, with only a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"I was with uncle Gaius. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for that knight," she replied, shutting the door behind her.

"And?" he asked, more out of politeness than real interest, she expected.

Merlynn hesitated. Perhaps she could tell her father? "It was odd…"

"What was?" he asked, his interest piqued. He was standing by her window, but she now motioned for him to sit at the table.

"Sir Ewan didn't collapse because of any injuries he sustained in the tournament. He was bitten by a snake. But I didn't see any snakes in the arena, did you?" she asked innocently.

Olaf sighed. "What's your theory?"

"I don't know what you mean," she said, looking away so that he couldn't read the lie off her face.

"I've known you since birth, my darling, I know when you have a theory."

Merlynn sighed and crossed her arms. "I have no proof, and Uther would never believe me."

"Proof of what?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up into the earnest face of her father. "That Valiant is using magic to cheat in the tournament. I saw the snakes come out of his shield myself, papa. Sir Ewan was pinned under his shield, he didn't stand a chance."

Olaf sat back, frowning in concern. Merlynn knew that her father had liked Valiant as well, praising his fighting style. His own style was quite aggressive as well, but there was always mercy and compassion there, and never arrogance. "Stay away from Valiant, Merlynn, this is a matter for Uther to resolve. There is no need for you to get involved."

"Are you going to tell him?"

Olaf sighed. "I'm afraid that when it comes to magic, my word is worth about as much as yours. Though I dare say he wouldn't break protocol over me."

Merlynn let her head fall onto her arms. Tomorrow would be a long day.

/*/

The next morning, Merlynn couldn't sit still. Her father sent her a sympathetic look, but didn't say anything. The first match of the day was already over, and there was a short break while the next knights got ready. She got up, unable to control her nervous energy anymore, and made her way to the training fields, where the knights' tents were set up. She wandered around, watching servant carrying equipment or sharpening swords while the knights practised or were talking to other nobles.

She paused near Arthur's tent. Morris was helping him with the last of his armour, while the Prince himself eyed his next opponent; a huge man, who had at least a foot on Arthur in length. "You've got to fight that?" she asked without meaning to. She pressed her lips together, but refused to look sheepish, even if she could feel a blush creeping up on her.

Arthur turned around, dislodging Morris in the process. He looked surprised to see her. "Yes," he said eventually. "And he's strong as a bear."

Merlynn wasn't sure whether he was boasting or just stating a fact. "Do you have a tactic, then?" she asked, taking a step closer.

She didn't expect him to answer. She thought he'd say something along the lines of 'I don't discuss strategies with women' or something similar. But he surprised her. He was doing an awful lot of that lately. "He's slow," he said simply.

Merlynn couldn't help the slow grin that crept up on her. "And you're fast," she said, nodding in understanding.

Arthur nodded once, before Morris stepped in between them to sheathe Arthur's sword. "You're all set, my lord," he said submissively.

Arthur looked at her one more time before marching off towards the arena. He was so odd. One moment he was the most arrogant man she'd ever met, a complete arse, and sometimes… sometimes she thought that maybe there was a little more to the Crown Prince than met the eye.

/*/

The fight was fierce, with the opposing knight getting in some good hits, but Arthur made use of his speed, and struck quickly under the other man's guard, knocking the air out of him. A swift and forceful hit with his shield knocked him out, leaving Arthur the victor of this battle.

Merlynn had to admit that she'd been wringing her hands throughout the whole thing, but luckily Morgana didn't notice, because she was just as worried.

The only other match scheduled that day was Valiant versus Sir Yaxley. Needless to say, Valiant won, dealing his opponent a fatal blow. The crowds didn't care, they loved the violence, but Merlynn couldn't stomach it. She left the royal's box before anyone else. It was a clear sign of her disapproval, and a subtle insult to Valiant, but Merlynn didn't care. Let him know she disliked him.

She met Gaius just at the wounded knight was being carried off. "Valiant will fight Arthur in the final tomorrow. He's not skilled enough with a blade, he'll use the shield to kill him." She didn't want her uncle to feel guilty, she was just stating a fact, but the hopelessness of the situation was getting to her. She needed to say it out loud, to make it real.

Angrily, she stalked off to her room, but once there, the energy abandoned her. She slumped down at her vanity, idly picking pins out of her hair. What was she supposed to do? Both Gaius and her father told her that even if she went to the King, nothing would happen, that he wouldn't listen. She didn't particularly like Arthur, but she was slowly developing a grudging respect for him, and besides, no one deserved to die like that.

That's how her uncle found her a little while later, brushing out her hair mechanically. He took the brush from her hands and placed it on the vanity. "Merlynn, bout what I said yesterday… You were right, we can't let Valiant get away with this."

"But we don't have proof," she replied, turning around to face him.

"If we could cure Ewan, he could vouch for your story. The King would believe one of his own knights," Gaius said. "But how to get the antidote… that's another matter entirely."

All the knights were in the banquet hall, dining with the King, so Valiant shouldn't be anywhere near his shield… But if she was seen anywhere near that area of the castle, she'd have no excuse. But she had to try. Without another word, Merlynn rushed out of her room. By now, she knew the noble's wing well enough to find Valiant's room with ease. The door was locked, but a simple spell moved the bolt and allowed her entry.

Getting the snakehead was easier than she'd thought. All she had to do was turn her back and look out for its shadow. With a quick slice of her dagger, the head fell the floor. Merlynn scooped it up quickly and ran out, hoping the other two heads wouldn't come chasing after her. She heard footsteps, and hastened to Gaius's chambers.

By the time she burst in, Gaius was already tending to Ewan. "Merlynn, what–?" he started to ask.

"I got it," she said breathlessly, handing over the head. "You can make an antidote now, can't you?"

Gaius examined the head briefly. "You cut this off?"

"No need to sound so surprised," she said, a little offended. She might not be on par with the knights of Camelot, but she could certainly handle a blade.

Gaius shook his head good-naturedly and set to work, draining the venom from the snakehead. "There, I can get to work now."

Merlynn grinned. "Great, I'll go tell Arthur."

A hand on her arm stopped her. "Why Arthur?" Gaius asked.

Merlynn sighed. "You were right, the King won't listen to me, but Arthur may be able to convince him otherwise. And when Ewan backs up his story, Uther will have no choice but to arrest Valiant."

Frowning, Gaius let her go. "Be careful."

She grinned. "Always."

/*/

"You?" Arthur asked, incredulously. "You cut this off?"

Merlynn rolled her eyes. Why was that so hard to believe. "Valiant is using magic to win the tournament," she repeated.

"Look, I don't like the man, but he wouldn't dare to use magic in Camelot."

Merlynn growled in frustration. Why wasn't he getting this? "Look, I'd go to the King myself, but he doesn't trust me, he'd just ignore my accusations. He probably wouldn't even convene the court on my behalf." Arthur still looked sceptical, but he didn't look quite as sure as before. "He'll use the shield, it's the only way he can win from you. Gaius is preparing an antidote as we speak, you can go see for yourself."

Arthur hesitated, studying the snake.

"I know we're not exactly friends, but you're the only one who can convince your father," Merlynn said. She honestly didn't know what else she could do to convince him.

"Did you mean it?" he asked.

Merlynn blinked. "What? Did I mean what?"

Arthur faced her. "You said that the only way Valiant could win from me was to cheat."

Turning away, Merlynn hoped she wasn't blushing. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "I may not like you very much, but I do recognise skill when I see it," she said dismissively. She didn't tell him that before this tournament started, she was sure the best swordsman in all the lands was her father. Now that she'd seen Arthur, though… Still, that didn't mean she had to like him. Respect him, maybe, but not like him.

Arthur smirked. "That's an awful lot of faith for someone who thinks I'm nothing but a... what was that word you used? A prat?"

Merlynn glared at him. "Actually, I believe I said you're an arse. Just because you know how to swing a sword doesn't change that."

Arthur grinned. He actually grinned at that. "You're the strangest girl I've ever met."

"I'm not sure if that's the worst insult or the worst compliment I've ever received," Merlynn said with a frown.

"If you swear that what you're telling me is the truth, I'll talk to my father," Arthur said, ignoring my statement.

"I swear," she said solemnly.

He nodded. "Then let's go tell my father."

A/N: So, what did you think? I changed up Merlynn and Arthur's conversation somewhat, and there is some fluff starting to show! Yay!

Anyway, thanks to my Guest review!

And please tell me what you think!

Next chapter: Valiant's fate is decided and a champion is crowned. Meanwhile, Olaf has an important conversation with his daughter, and a decision is reached...