Hello my readers! I have returned with another chapter! I do hope that you like it! And yes Ronda will not been seen all that much throughout the series! Not until much later! Maybe around when a certain someone comes around! (Or not, I will try to add in some of her own chapters! I don't want to feel like I am ignoring her!) Ronda is a good character, but I feel as if im spending much of my point of views on Hermione and Harriet (which will be my main focus actually, until later in when I can place Darcy and Ronda in more!) you if you like Ronda don't worry! She'll have her spot light! Also look up Mere888!

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I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine. – Robin Burks.

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Sitting in silence, the King was in deep thought his sword lad out in front of him. The opening of the doors startled him into almost picking up his sword, but seeing his old friend he decided against the action.

"Gaius." The King greeted half heartedly.

"Im sorry to disturb you Sire." Gaius apologized. "What is it?" the King really looked like he really didn't want to know.

"The knight, the stranger, he bares the crest of Tristan De Bois." Gaius told him gravely.

"Yes." King Uther replied, already seemingly knowing this.

"But he has been dead for twenty-one years." Gaius stated, looking at the King, who seemed to have trouble at this fact.

"Yes I know…I killed him." King Uther sighed, looking forlorn at the painful memory.

"Then how do you explain-" But the King quickly broken his sentence off. "Dead men do not return."

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As their meeting came to a close, neither saw the disappearance of a silver skirt glide out of the room, almost like a Fox.

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The morning came, the black knight stood at the ready. Holding his tattered flag awaiting his challenger.

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"You never fought in mortal combat before, it's different, and it's not like the training you go through!" Arthur tried to explain to Sir Owain, while Merlin helped him get ready to accept the black knight's challenge.

"Ya I know." Sir Owain retorted, making Arthur turn him around to look him in the eye.

"Listen to me, the problem is you never seen him fight. You must quickly get the measure of him." Prince Arthur advised, Making Sir Owain smile a bit.

"I have the same advantage, he never seen me fight."

"True…" Arthur said slowly, rolling the words off his tongue in distaste.

"You've watched me"

"Yes..." Arthur edged on.

"And..." Owain seemed out of words.

"And I know no one braver." Arthur said with a pat to his shoulder. "Remember, all it takes to kill a man, is one well aimed blow."

The trio turned around to find Lady Darcy's maid, Hermione, to come to deliver a package to Sir Owain. "The Lady Darcy has asked me to give you this token, she wishes for you to wear it for luck." Hermione said, holding out a silver silk ribbon, stitched with crisscross white beads that if you look closely, took the shape of a stretched out snake.

"You can thank her, tell her I shall wear it with pride, but I won't need luck." Sir Owain said with great confidence, but also slightly embarrassed at Lady Darcy's observation and care for him.

But Hermione shared a secret look with both Merlin and Arthur, going unnoticed by Sir Owain.

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Both Ronda and Harriet where on the edge of their seats, both filled with anxiety. And when they glanced at Hermione who was stationed by Merlin, she to did not look well either.

The arena was set as the challengers came together in the ring, the king looked on. Glancing up briefly as Lady Darcy placed a quick hand on his shoulder, seeming to give him silent support. He gave her a pat on the hand, but turned his attention back to what was at stake.

"Now remember, find the fallout of the fight, and remember to control it." Arthur gave his final advice as Sir Owain came to face his opponent.

"The fight follows the knights rule's, to the death." Arthur proclaimed with contained worry and sadness.

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Hermione shared a look between Merlin, and Gaius. While over in the stands Darcy didn't let go of King Uther's shoulder, Lady Meredith was also there with her own servant Gwen.

Ronda sat beside Harriet, who hadn't let go of her hand. It was painful the tight grip Harriet had on her, but as always she ignored it in favor of giving her silent support.

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Sir Owain's cape was removed as well as one of his swords, leaving him access to put on his helmet. He was given back his sword as the black knight stood at the ready, already waiting for the fight to begin.

"Let battle commence!" Arthur's voice rang out; the black knight took no time in starting the attack. As Sir Owain quickly went on the defensive. Using his shield to block the blows as they rained own upon him.

"Oh, come on Owain!" Darcy could hear the servant girl utter. But still Owain was on the defensive, until he finally made a move to attack. Only resulting in the black knight kicking him and sending him forcefully to the ground, making Harriet cling more tightly to Ronda, almost cutting off her circulation to her hand.

While Darcy's fingers squeezed more tightly on the King's shoulder, as the King held fast to his chair. Hermione looked ready to barf at this horrible situation Sir Owain found himself in.

The relief was somewhat evident when Sir Owain rolled out of the way, while the black knight was slicing down upon him. Sir Owain stayed on the defense, making the girls and the other spectators more tense and antsy as to what may happen.

"One well aimed blow!" Prince Arthur called out. Sir Owain held his shield at an angle trapping the black knight's sword up in the air, he took a well placed stab in the black knights stomach.

Making both Hermione and Merlin cheer, un noticing Gaius unsure look.

But the black knight continued on, much to the disbelief of a lot of people. Sir Owain was once again on the defense, only this time the attacks were more brutal, more savage. Each on sent Sir Owain down upon his knees, pummeling him into submission, and with one downwards thrust of his sword…Sir Owain was dead.

Hiding her face in Ronda's shoulder Harriet couldn't look up anymore, Ronda held Harriet close as her own eyes were squeezed shut. Darcy looked on with a blank face, finally letting go of the Kings shoulder. Hermione just couldn't believe what she saw as tears pricked at her eyes as she remembered just this morning of meeting Sir Owain, alive, and in good health.

Gwen hid her face behind her hands, as Lady Meredith looked on in sick torture at Sir Owain's horrible defeat.

The black knight once more turned to the royals, taking off his glove as he proclaimed a challenge.

Prince Arthur as no surprise to Darcy began to climb over the stadium to accept the black knight's proposal, unfortunately being held back by his father. As another knight came to take up the challenge.

"I Sir Pellinore take up the challenge." The man said, accepting the other knight's challenge, which just now killed one of his fellow knights.

"So be it." The black knight proclaimed, taking a second to stare at the King who stared back.

The black knight slowly left the arena, leaving behind troubled souls. Arthur ripped his hand away for his fathers grip in anger, Lady Meredith and her servant Gwen looked on in shock. As the black knight walked past them, Merlin and Hermione stared at him in disbelief.

"Should we tend to his wounds?" Merlin asked in slight shock. Hermione was in a similar state of bafflement. "He took a hit."

"He shouldn't even be walking!" Hermione exclaimed, sharing a look with Merlin.

"He did not land a blow." Gaius denied, looking at them in confusion. "I saw him, it defiantly pierced him."

"You sure?" Gaius asked with slight uncertainty. "Our eyes are quicker than yours, he should be dead."

"Perhaps he already is." Gaius said gravely, making all three of them share a look.

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With the fighting over Darcy was left alone in the deserted arena, Sir Owain's body already taken away to be mourned and then buried. But she remained where she was, slowly sitting up from her seat as she skillfully climbed over the railing and into the fighting arena.

There she found her token, mangled and covered with stains of blood. Her heart squeezed at the death of a man she didn't even know. Or the purpose of this Black Knight's reason of being here and fighting these men, but she did know one thing that filled her with anger.

It had to do with King Uther, and this death was on his hands.

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Sorry if it's not as long as I hoped it would be, but it's closing in on my time to go to sleep because I go to school and all! So hopefully I get another chapter up soon to satisfy you all! So review, follow, favorite and that good stuff! Look up Mere888 and also shout out to some of all those who support me!