Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Author's note: To Aerist – Boknavon attacked Merlin because he's slightly evil and Merlin just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The dynamic between Merlin and Boknavon is explained a little later. Thanks for reading everyone!
Ch. 11
That afternoon Arthur once again stood in the middle of the arena. He wore minimal armor, carried Excalibur and, once the crowd was quiet, said, "You all know that a young Starmount saved my life. This warrior and I wish to finish the tournament, but we only will if you, the people of Camelot approve..."
"What's with all the theatrics?" Gwaine hissed in Merlin's ear as the crowd began to mutter in surprise.
"You'll see," Merlin said, a little worried, "Just...don't freak out."
"What?" Gwaine asked as Arthur motioned to someone standing in the shadows.
Inside these shadows Jo had been nervously stroking Dragon's feathers. At Arthur's signal she picked up her customary quiver and bow and walked into the arena. The crowd began to cheer but as people noticed something a little strange the applause died down and a shocked silence filled the arena. Jo closed her eyes. She wasn't a crier, but frustration was almost a scream in her throat. She drew her sword and placed her other weapons by the fence. Then, head held high, she slowly and deliberately turned so everyone could see her and how the leather armor she was wearing had been slightly converted by Gwen - it was now quite obvious that she had a woman's figure.
"Is she..?" Gwaine was dumbstruck, and Merlin began drumming his fingers nervously against the back of Arthur's empty throne.
"Clap you fools!" He hissed under his breath.
Arthur and Jo caught each other's eyes, and Arthur with a look of pity in his eyes - a look Jo hated - was about to speak when Gwen stood and began to clap. Like a spell had been broken all of her ladies began to clap too, as did most of the knights. Then all the woman in Camelot began to applaud and cheer. A few men tried to silence them, shouting that it was absurd that a woman fight, but they were drowned out by the overwhelming cry for the fight to continue. Josephine's face broke out into a true smile and she shooed Dragon off her shoulder as Arthur also smiled and motioned that they should begin. Dragon flew to where Merlin was standing and sat on the back of Arthur's throne. Merlin grinned at the hawk - he could have sworn that there was intelligence in those golden eyes.
Arthur nodded to Jo and they began - both warriors moving forward. Their swords clashed and they disengaged, measuring each other. They circled each other, darting forward to attack before pulling back. Watching each other. Both of them well-trained and aware of their opponent in a fight, it was as much a battled between the fighting styles as between the individuals. A flurry of footwork and sword movements too fast to follow came next, and lasted, and lasted...several minutes passed and the entire crowd was leaning forward trying to see.
"Who's winning?" Percival hissed.
"Neither," Leon muttered, "They're matched evenly."
"Jon's tiring," Gwaine pointed out.
"Jo," corrected Merlin, "But you're right, look at how she's moving her left shoulder."
Suddenly Jo dropped to her knees, Arthur swung hard, and she rolled out from underneath him. She kept rolling and Arthur followed, she rose to her feet in one fluid movement, dropped her sword, and grabbed something by the fence.
"Sire!" She called and Arthur froze. Jo had a drawn arrow pointed straight at his heart. Her chest was heaving from the exertion of the fight, but her words came out steady and quiet. All of Camelot leaned forward, straining their ears to hear.
"In a real battle," Jo said, "You would be dead. In this tournament, when the only weapon we use is a sword, you would win. All my skills are nothing when compared to yours, King Arthur Pendragon." Josephine lowered the bow and knelt before him. The crowd cheered and clapped. Arthur walked forward and, without any warning, gently placed Excalibur on her injured shoulder and began, "Do you, Lady Josephine Starmount promise to protect Camelot and her king, to the best of your abilities as long as you live?"
Jo's eyes were as round as the full-moon as she met Arthur's eyes in shock. A few indignant men shouted, "What?" And Merlin began to laugh quietly under his breath.
"I do," whispered Jo. Only Arthur heard but Merlin read her lips and whispered to Gwen, "She's accepting."
The queen smiled.
"And do you swear to be honest and loyal, chivalrous to all, and to remember that your position is one of service and sacrifice, not of power?"
"I do," said Josephine in a stronger voice.
"That's not how it goes," Leon whispered to Gwaine.
"Lady Josephine, will you accept the position as a knight of Camelot?" Arthur finished.
"I do!"
"Then," Arthur finished, struggling to keep a straight face after Jo's enthusiasm, "Rise Lady Josephine, the Lady Knight of Camelot!"
The crowd began to cheer...and Jo could swear they were still cheering as she paced her new room in the palace hours later.
After Arthur had spontaneously knighted her Gwaine, Leon, Elyan, Percival and Merlin had all ran down to congratulate her. Funnily enough, and to Jo's great relief, they clapped her on the back just as they had when they'd thought she was Jon. All of them, that is, except for Merlin. Now she was pacing the room allocated to the new member of the King's personal knights and she wasn't sure what worried her more - her lack of appropriate clothing for the feast or the way that Merlin's smile had disappeared as soon as he'd thought she wasn't looking. "Why is it that even when everything is perfect something's wrong?" She muttered angrily, kicking her new desk chair across the room before collapsing on the bed. Dragon flew in through the open window and sat on her shoulder. He buried his beak in her hair and made a sympathetic noise.
A soft knock filled the room and Jo exchanged glances with Dragon before rising to her feet and opening the wooden door that led to the hallway. Merlin was standing there, holding a wrapped package and looking a little sheepish.
"Hello Josephine."
"Merlin," Jo didn't know whether to invite him in or go out into the hallway so she just stood there awkwardly. "Why is this so much harder than fighting?" She wondered, aware that she was wearing the same light blue dress as when "Jo" had first been introduced to Merlin.
"So," Merlin began in a rush, "I remembered that on the first day you said that you didn't have any clothes fancy enough for a feast. I figured that it you don't have fancy clothes appropriate for a boy, then you don't have a dress fancy enough for a lady to wear. So I...um...I got you this." Merlin let the wrapping fall to the ground and held up a beautiful yet simple red dress. It had elbow length sleeves and a simple design of golden thread at the waist and the bottom of the dress. Other than that, it had none of the ruffles and poofed-up sleeves that Jo had always hated.
"Oh my God..." Jo whispered, too surprised to say anything else.
"Do you like it?" Merlin asked worriedly, "I remembered that red head scarf and..."
"I love it," Jo interrupted. She opened the door wider and motioned; "Come on in."
"Naw," Merlin relied, his customary grin back on his face, "Arthur would kill me if he found out I was in a lady's room."
"I'm not the usual lady," Jo replied, grinning.
"No," Merlin answered, "You're extraordinary."
Jo felt herself blushing for the first time in a very long time. Merlin with just a few words could do what score of suitors never had been able to do.
"One of the maids, Sarai, says she knows you and will fit it for you. She's on her way over now." Merlin bowed his head, "With your leave, Lady Knight." He began to walk away but Jo called, "Merlin!"
He turned.
"How did you pay for it?"
Merlin grinned mischievously, "Just think of it as a present from most of Camelot."
Merlin passed Sarai on his way to help set up for the feast, and heard Jo greet her with familiarity.
"You'll like it here Jo," Merlin whispered to the walls of Camelot, "I'm not much of a fortune-teller, but you have a destiny just like the others Arthur has chosen to trust. And all our destinies are twined together..."