I should really say that I haven't written in a while more often because usually after I say that, I can.

Hope you enjoy this longer chapter.

The Tournament of No Rules

Realistically, Merlin had no idea what he was signing up to when he was asked to partake in the upcoming tournament. He was just told that he was expected to join and to show his skills off to the people.

"So this tournament has no rules?"

"Yes Merlin." Arthur replied to him.

"So I could use magic."

"Technically yes but I wouldn't if I was you. People from all over come to be a part of it and as we know that there are still kingdoms that are against magic, I don't think you want to be assassinated, do you?"

"Probably right. I hear that Lancelot is taking part. Is that allow?"

"There is only one rule, Merlin. There is no rules. You don't know, this may be his chance to prove himself to the council and you might get your wish."

Merlin stopped walking and allowed Arthur to carry on. He hadn't thought about it like that.

"Are you sure you don't mind doing it?"

"I have started tournaments before."

"Have you?"

Morgana laughed. "Yes before you got here. I know how to start a tournament."

"Thanks, just mother was going to do it but she ..."

"I have seen her. Although I don't think she wants to be ill, she seems relieved that she doesn't have to start it off … or watch you fight."

"It is understandable."

She rested her head against his shoulder as they walked along.

Merlin had just finished buckled up his gauntlet when Arthur entered his chambers.

"We have been drawn together."

"I know, it was mentioned to me that we shouldn't have because it would have made the final more exciting." Merlin paused as he sheathed his sword. "When we step out onto that field, we aren't friends, we aren't cousins and I am not your king. I don't want you to go easy on me. Just fight me as if I was any other contestant."

Arthur nodded and Merlin hoped that he would do as he asked. He didn't want to be treated differently.

"Lancelot just lost his fight."

Merlin shook his head. "No, really?"

"It was brutal. The guy just kept swinging at him. At one point, I thought he was going to take his head off. Lancelot managed to push him into the barrier but it ends with a sword very dangerously close to his throat that Morgana had to shout that he was the winner." Arthur explained. "He is alright just a bit shaken."

The king just shook his head. There had been many people that had caught his eye since the tournament had started and he must have been one of them, but for the wrong reasons. He was brutal and he swears that he is just trying to kill everyone. Merlin knew that there were deaths during tournaments but it was a bit stupid to lose people over a contest.

"What did I say?" Merlin shouted.

"It was the honourable thing to do. You need this."

Merlin stood there flabbergasted. What was he meant to say to that? He was so sure that Arthur had fluffed their fight so that he would go through to the final. It was still a good fight anyway but Merlin just wished that Arthur did what he said he would do.

"Honourable? Arthur, I know how you fight. I have learnt everything I know from you. What happened out there was anything but honourable." They stood there, staring at each other. Merlin was the first one to turn away. "I can understand why you did it, but please, I do need to do these things by myself. Yes, I don't have the same confidence as you. I will never be the king that you would have been. But can I make my own mistakes please?"

Arthur walked up to him and placed his hands on his shoulders. "I will admit, I did help you a bit. But I didn't purposely lose to make you feel better. I was fighting as I usually would with a few fluffed steps. Maybe you should have some more confidence in yourself. Because you are a good fighter."

Merlin just nodded.

"I think that there has been someone using magic."

"Really?"

"Gilli, I think his name is."

"Maybe its time to get my servant clothing out again. I will have a word with him."

"Wouldn't he know that you are the king?" Morgana said, turning to look at Merlin.

He shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe I could get away with it."

Either he had just got used to wearing richer clothes, or his old woollen ones were always itchy and he had just got used to it. Merlin tried not to squirm around as he walked down the halls. Morgana had pointed Gilli out earlier and he did want to speak with him.

He knocked on the door that Gilli had been staying in. The door opened and Merlin invited himself in.

"Did you think that you wouldn't be noticed?" He asked.

The man in front of him gave him a blank look. "Not get noticed doing what?"

"Using magic."

He watched his eyes go wide before he opened his mouth.

Merlin spoke before he did. "I would just be careful. The king may be more lenient on magic but it is still illegal."

"Why though? Uther isn't king any more. Why is there still this law that says that a gift is wrong?"

Because my council won't allow it. Merlin thought. "It was going to be, but then he was assassinated. Some people don't like change."

"But change is good isn't it?"

"Depends on the change. The law on magic has been in place for now 20 odd years. It is ..."

"Wrong. My father was afraid to use his magic. He kept it hidden. He would still be here today if he had used it."

"And so would mine." Merlin whispered. He thought back to that day, no one had thought to use their magic to try and save him. No one had thought to use their magic to try and stop it from going into his throat. "We have all gotten use to a world without it."

Merlin smiled at Gilli. "Thank you." He walked towards the door.

"For what?"

"For helping realise why I cannot get anything through the council."

There were two problems with the fight. One was that the guy that Merlin was fighting was a lot heavier than him and two was that he had very little skill.

Merlin ducked out of the way of his sword and moved to his right side. He dropped his shield to protect himself and brought the sword to hit his side. There was only one way that this fight was going to end, and that was with one of their deaths.

The guy turned and blocked his strike and Merlin brought the shield up to his head, trying to keep it as still as possible as he hit it.

He had no idea how it happened but Merlin was on his back, holding up his shield with both hands, having lost his sword, trying to stop himself from being killed.

He had to use his magic. There was no other way. He wouldn't make it out alive. He pushed on his shield and managed to push the guy back. He used the shield as a battering ramp push him back further. He rolled out of the way of an attack and managed to grab his sword at the same time. He could hear the cheer from the crowd as he did.

The other guy had now thrown aside his shield but Merlin wasn't about to copy him. The shield was probably the only reason he was alive now. They started circling each other. Merlin took the time to think about his attack. The guy came at him, his sword raised above his head. Merlin flipped his shield up and lunged with his sword at the same time.

The assault on the shield never came and Merlin opened his eyes to the man stumbling backwards with his sword in his belly. He fell to his knees and Merlin walked over to him. He removed both their helmets.

"You will die Merlin Eorðdraca. Your reign won't last." The man said, blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth.

"I seem to be doing alright at the moment."

The man chuckled before falling forward.