Hi ya! Here is the next chapter and just to let you know, I realized Brianna and Corina haven't been having as much scenes together... I will have to get on that but it won't be for awhile. So I just want to say thank you to Dream Lightning and hateme101 for reviewing and keeping faith in me! This chapter is for you guys! :) Luv U! Keep reviewing!
Chapter 14: Lancelot Part 1
I sighed as I sat down in Gaius's chambers. It's been two weeks and my ankle is still not fully healed. Just then Gaius and Merlin walk in.
"Merlin you are going to collect those mushrooms." Gaius said.
"But then I'll be late to wake Arthur." Merlin retorted. I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat. Gaius and Merlin looked at me.
"If you want I'll go with you." I offered.
"Are you sure you're up to it?" Merlin asked.
"Merlin I have been in this bloody castle for two weeks. I need some fresh air." I said standing up.
"Corina I don't think it is a good idea." Gaius said. I waved him off.
"I'll be fine. Gaius my ankle feels perfectly new and what better way to make sure than to go collect herbs." I said. Gaius sighed and handed me a basket. Merlin then opened the door and together we left for the forest.
The basket was almost full as Merlin and I collected the last mushrooms. It was then that we heard a loud screech behind us. We turned around to see a large creature running towards us. Merlin and I stood up and began running leaving the basket. As we were running though Merlin being the big oaf he is trips making me trip over him. We both look up in horror as we wait for the creature to make its final kill. I close my eyes waiting.
"HEY!" I open my eyes to see a man fighting the creature off. He stabs the creature and then turns around and helps me and Merlin up. "Run! Run!" he yells.
He didn't have to tell me twice as I ran for my life. We hid behind a fallen tree nearby and watched as the creature disappeared. I then looked at the man next to me. He was very handsome with tan skin and brown eyes. His hair was a dark brown and reached the length of his chin.
"It's gone." I announced.
"You saved our lives." Merlin said. The man looked between Merlin and I.
"I'm Merlin and this Corina." Merlin said introducing me.
"Lancelot." The man replied before passing out. His hand fell away from his side revealing a wound. Merlin and I share a glance before helping him to the castle.
Merlin and I watch as Gaius examines him. Just then Brianna walks in but stops when she saw Lancelot.
"Who is that?" she asked walking over standing next to Merlin.
"Brianna this is Lancelot." I said.
"What happened?" Brianna asked. Merlin and I look at each other and then back at her.
"Brianna do you think you can wait till Jacob can hear too?" I ask. Brianna looks reluctant but nods all the same.
"Ok sure, and Merlin you're late to wake up Arthur." Brianna says.
"Isn't Jacob getting him?" Merlin asks.
"Jacob did get him and Arthur and Uther just left to see to a burning village." Brianna said.
"Oh." Merlin replies. Just then Gaius stands up.
"The wound itself is superficial. The fever will pass. He should be fine in the morning." Gaius says. I sigh in relief.
"Thank you Gaius and now I must go tend to Morgana." I said and with a small smile I leave the room. I reach Morgana's chambers in a few moments and go inside. I'm greeted by a smiling Morgana and Gwen.
"Your back on your feet I see." Morgana says giving me a hug. She then goes over to the window.
"Of course. I even took a little walk with Merlin to make sure." I said.
"My guess is that you want to get back to work?" Gwen asked.
"Oh you know me so well, that is exactly what I want to do." I replied smiling and hugging her.
"Well I'm afraid you came at the wrong time. Morgana has no work for me and has given me the afternoon off." Gwen says.
"Then how about we go outside?" I suggest.
"I would love to but my father needs my help at home." Gwen answers.
"Ok see you later Gwen." I said as she left. I then said goodbye to Morgana and went to the training field.
I reached the training ground to see Arthur pull a blue flag from another recruit. I sighed and rolled my eyes. That's the third this month, Arthur isn't going to be happy… just as I thought though Arthur wasn't he stomped past me with a look of irritation on his face, Jacob was following him carrying his armor. I grabbed a helmet off the top.
"Arthur seems to be his usually happy self" I commented causing Jake to groan. Merlin just grunted. "Merlin has there been any news from Lancelot." I asked.
"Yes actually. Lancelot wants to become a knight." Merlin answered. I beamed and nodded.
"Arthur is being even more of a prat, it's a pretty bad time for someone to want to learn from him." Jake mumbled. I smiled at him and then noticed Arthur was waiting for us.
"Oh boy…" I said looking at Jake. He rolled his eyes and marched up to them me right behind him.
"Grummund's the third to fail this month. How am I meant to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?" Arthur asks. I walk up and stand next to Merlin.
"Well, I think I might be able to help." I said. Arthur laughed and I rolled my eyes.
"You, Corina? You haven't the faintest idea what it takes to become a knight. Courage, fortitude, discipline." Arthur said.
"Well thanks Arthur that means so much coming from you, but no it's not me. I do know someone who does though." I said.
"Yeah?" Arthur challenged.
"He saved my life and Merlin's." I said.
"That's blowing it for starters." Arthur said. I glared at him.
"Well I wouldn't start because I believe you have saved Merlin and I a couple times yourself." I said. Arthur went silent.
"He's really good. Honestly." Merlin added.
"That's great, Merlin. I'm sure he's terrific, but you forget the First Code of Camelot." Arthur said.
"The what?" Merlin asks. I laugh.
"The First Code. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights." I said. Arthur, Merlin, and Jake stared at me. I smiled and gave them a slight shrug. "I like to read." I pointed out.
"Right, ok. So, unless your friend is a nobleman..." Arthur began.
"Oh, er, he, he is a nobleman." Merlin said. I stared at him. Last time I checked Lancelot was not a nobleman.
"Is he?" Arthur asked looking between Merlin and I.
"Absolutely." I said.
"Very well. Bring him to the training ground tomorrow. And make sure he brings his seal of nobility." Arthur said.
"Thanks Arthur. You won't regret it." I said. I gave him a wide smile and then handed Jake the helmet. I gave Jake a kiss on the cheek before walking away excited to tell Lancelot.
I entered Gaius's chambers to find Brianna talking with Lancelot. I smiled at Lancelot and then blushed when he saw it. Just then I was almost run down by Merlin and Jacob.
"AH!" but before I could hit the ground Merlin caught me. He helped me up.
"Sorry about that." Merlin says.
"Merlin if you're going to run someone down at least aim for Arthur." I said with a smile. Merlin and Jacob laughed.
"Well? Did you speak to him?" Lancelot asked.
"Yeah, I spoke to him." I said. Merlin looked at me. "I mean we spoke to him."
"And?" Lancelot asked. Merlin's face fell with a fake frown. A look of disappointment appeared on Lancelot's face seconds later in response.
"He said he would like to meet you." I said with a big smile. Lancelot's grin was bigger than Merlin's when he heard this.
"Yes! Thank you. Thank you!" Lancelot said. it was then I noticed something, Brianna and Jacob still didn't know how me and Merlin had met Lancelot. I pulled them away and told them what had happened and they both smiled at the part where Lancelot wanted to be a knight. When I was done I saw merlin run out of the room.
"Where's Merlin going?" I asked. Lancelot shrugged.
"He said he had an idea on how to make me a nobleman." Lancelot said.
"Lancelot, why do you want to become a knight so badly?" I asked.
"When I was a boy, my village was attacked by raiders from the northern plains. They were slaughtered where they stood, my father, my mother. Everyone. I alone escaped. I vowed that day that never again would I be helpless in the face of tyranny. I made sword craft my life. Every waking hour since that day, I devoted to the art of combat, and when I was ready, I set forth for Camelot. And now, it seems, my journey ends. Everything I fought for, wasted." Lancelot replied. I stiffened.
"That's not true and I know how you feel." I said.
"You do?" he asked. I nodded and then gestured to Brianna and Jake.
"Our village was attacked a year ago and we believe we are the only ones to have survived." I said.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Lancelot commented.
"It's ok. If our village hadn't been raided we wouldn't have gone to Camelot." I said.
"And I wouldn't have met Merlin" Brianna added.
"And I would have never been Arthur's servant" Jacob added with a moan causing all of us to laugh.
I woke with a start the next morning. Today Lancelot would meet Arthur! I thought. I shot out of bed threw on my light pink dress. My hair was left down as I went to Gwen's house. She had offered last night while we were tending to Morgana to help Lancelot look the part. I reached her house quickly to see Lancelot come out in chain mail with an orange tunic over it. Gwen and Merlin followed out right after, I noticed that Gwen looked flushed and I could only guess Lancelot had worked his charm.
"Are you ready to face Arthur?" I asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Lancelot answered. I gave him an encouraging smile as he went to see Arthur who had dismissed the knights training. He walked over to us and Lancelot went to greet him.
"Lancelot, 5th son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria." Lancelot said. I smiled, even if Lancelot wasn't a noble he should be.
"Lance...a lot? My servant mentioned you. Got your seal?" Arthur asked. Lancelot bowed to Arthur and handed his seal of nobility. So far so good… I thought. Just then Arthur smacks Lancelot and he falls to the ground.
"Sluggish reactions. In a battle field you'd be dead by now. Come back when you're ready." Arthur says and he begins to turn around. I cross my arms and sigh in frustration. Typical Arthur… I thought as Lancelot gets up.
"I'm ready now, Sire." Lancelot says. Arthur turns back around.
"You are, are you? Fine. You can start by cleaning out the stables." Arthur orders. Lancelot looks back at us and all I can give him is a gentle smile while Merlin gives him two thumbs up.
"Lancelot!" I called. Lancelot looked up at me and smiled. He was in the stables cleaning and I had come to visit him.
"Corina what brings you here?" He asks.
"I get bored sitting in a castle." I answered. Lancelot gives me a look that says really? Before quickly looking down.
"Excuse me Corina." Lancelot says. I put my hands on my hips and open my mouth to say something when someone beats me to it.
"Not bad." I turn to see Arthur throw a broom past me almost hitting me. He smirks at me and I give him the death glare.
"Prat" I mutter as I stand aside. I look over to see that Lancelot had caught the broom.
"Sire?" he asks. "Would you like me to sweep the guardhouse again, Sire?"
"It certainly needs sweeping. But first," Arthur begins. He takes the bristles off his broom. "I'd like you to kill me." He finishes.
"Sire?" Lancelot asks in confusion.
"Come on. Don't pretend you don't want to." Arthur called back. Lancelot looked at me and I gave him a nod.
"Lancelot, do me a favor and hit his head please." I said while he took the bristles off his broom. He gave me a smile before facing Arthur. I bit my lip to keep from laughing when I saw Arthur's face, he was scowling at me. I just shrugged, which made Arthur roll his eyes and turn back to Lancelot.
"Hell, if I were you, I'd want to. Come on" Arthur said egging Lancelot to strike first. He did and the fight began. Sometimes Arthur got the upper hand and sometimes it was Lancelot.
"Come on, Lancelot, you're not beating a carpet." Arthur yelled out.
I saw Lancelot get irritated so he fought more aggressively. I cheered them on, not caring who won. It was then that Arthur hit Lancelot in the gut. I scowled but then smiled as Lancelot got back to his feet ready for the next attack.
"Congratulations, Lancelot." Arthur says. He throws his broom at Lancelot who catches it with ease. "You just made basic training."
I clapped as Lancelot beamed at Arthur but the moment didn't last long. For soon after the warning bells went off. I ran towards the castle Lancelot and Arthur right behind me.