Self-Belief is not Self-Centered. We can only fight effectively for others if we already believe in ourselves.

~ Carla H. Krueger


Chapter 45: The Time Isn't Now

Gwen calmly opened the door and stepped into Morgana's room that morning to find that she was already awake and sitting off to the side. "Morgana?"

Morgana stiffened before she went to cover up the paper. "Oh Gwen, you surprised me."

"I'm sorry," she said a little embarrassed. "Were you up all night?"

Morgana sighed and shook her head. "Only for a little while."

"Nightmares?" she asked.

Morgana smiled sadly at her. "No. I guess all the excitement from the tournament is making me feel a little restless."

Gwen didn't quite believe that but she smiled and nodded. "Oh. Are you okay enough for some breakfast?"

"I'm famished," Morgana sighed out.

Gwen then stepped out and Morgana's face fell a bit as she turned back to look back at her table. She took out the paper that she had been drawing the sword she had seen in her dream. One of the first things that Merlin had told her was that he heard stories of some seers logging down their dreams in journals and some even drew what they saw to better make sense of it all. She wanted to try and draw the weapon while it was still fresh in her mind. Morgana looked at her drawing and thought that it seemed like a good enough drawing. It was actually a beautiful looking sword with a dragon's head hilt and wings for crossbars. It's too bad that she couldn't have seen a better image of the one that was wielding it.


Arthur struck his sword but it was blocked by the opposing knight's shield. He jumped back to avoid the swipe from his opponent and then they moved to circle each other for a moment before they went for each other again. The audience around them was watching in excitement and glee as they watched the two go at each other. Galen and Emir were watching with narrowed eyes while Rafe was sitting calmly, not able to see anything but could still hear the ring of the clashing steel. A few more moves was all Arthur needed to disarm his opponent and the man quickly surrendered to Arthur at swordpoint. The people in the stands stood up in praise and celebration at their prince's victory though three of them stayed seated.

"Impressive," Emir sighed. "Arthur Pendragon certainly lives up to his reputation as a great warrior."

"He's the son of the Butcher," Rafe grunted. "Naturally, he needs his blooded knights to be gifted with sharp and pointed objects and wouldn't want his son to be anything less than the best of them."

Galen felt the underlying rage in his words. "Rafe, are you okay?"

The blind young man grit his teeth. "As well as could be expected. When do you suppose our friends go on?"

Galen closed his eyes and reached his mind out. After a moment, he opened them again. "Nowe says that Jaden is first and is the next match."

"Good." Emir straightened himself up eagerly. "Any idea who is opponent is?"


Lancelot was getting helped into his armor by Gwen after the two of them helped serve both Arthur and Morgana their breakfast. Gwen stopped in her movements to give herself a good look at him. She thought that Lancelot looked right in his element. He couldn't look more right than he did right now.

"It was nice of my brother to loan you this armor," she said before moving to help him finish getting ready.

Lancelot smiled as he she helped fasten in the front breastplate for him. "Yeah, though he said that I could make it back to him by getting past the second day."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Sounds like he's betting on you," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Why would he bet on me?"

"Well…I might have insisted that you were so good that you were even teaching Arthur some tricks," she said with her cheeks reddening a bit.

Lancelot smiled as Gwen finished with fastening his breastplate. "Then I better make sure that his odds are pretty good then."

"Be careful Lancelot."

"I will be," he promised.

Lancelot then walked over to the arena where he saw that his opponent was already being shown into the competition area. Lancelot saw that it was one of the young men that was with the one he helped direct to signing up for the tournament. Seeing him across from him, Lancelot saw this one was not as young as the one that he had talked to but still young, maybe bordering on 18. The guy had a small shield in one hand and a sword in the other but that was all he seemed armed with. He wasn't even wearing any armor on.

He smiled at him. "I remember you. Thanks for the assist before."

Lancelot smiled. "I'm Lancelot. What's your name?"

"Jaden."

Lancelot nodded before looking him up and down. "I have to ask Jaden, why are you and your two other friends even competing? You're just boys. Is it for the gold, or the glory?"

Jaden shrugged. "We have our reasons. How about you? You're no knight or nobleman, that's for sure." Lancelot let a small chuckle escape him at that. "Is that why you're fighting? Gold and glory?"

"No. Not really."

Nowe and Cobin were off to the side as they watched Jaden and his opponent lightly speaking with each other before the bell was rung to start their fight.

"Jaden's facing that guy who helped us out the other day. He doesn't seem like a knight though. From the armor, looks like a high rank soldier. What do you think?" Cobin looked over and saw that Nowe was eyeing the guy inquisitively. "Nowe?" he asked giving him a small bump. "Something wrong?"

Nowe blinked as he kept his sight on Lancelot. "Sorry, it's just, I can't help but feel like I recognize him from somewhere."

Cobin narrowed his eyes. "From where?"

But before he could answer, the bell had rung to begin the match. The two of them stared at one another for a small moment before they brought their swords up into a stance. Lancelot and Jaden stared at each other, not moving a muscle for a moment, before they went at one another. Their blows started to send out metallic vibrations that were heard by the crowd and they cheered as they went at one another.

Gwen was fidgeting where she was standing as she held her clenched hands to her bottom lip as she kept her eyes locked on Lancelot.

Morgana noticed how Gwen was shaking next to her and moved to take her by the wrist. "He'll be okay."

Gwen smiled softly at her. "I know," she lightly breathed.

Morgana then turned to look back out but Gwen noticed that it wasn't to the fight. She was looking over to where some of the fighters were standing. She saw that she was looking towards where that young participant was standing.

There was a great explosion of cheers that erupted when Jaden lost his grip on his sword after a forceful clash of their blades. His fingers slipped and the sword flew out of his hand to the ground, a little bit aways from him.

"Oh, not good," Cobin said with a bit of a cringe.

Jaden looked up, expecting for Lancelot to finish him, but saw that he was just standing there. Lancelot nodded his head at him, as he looked at Jaden's fallen sword.

"Pick it back up," Lancelot huffed out as he lowered his sword down, to his side..

Jaden kept his eyes on him as he quickly moved for his fallen sword. As soon as it was back in his hand, Lancelot rose his own sword back up and they began again.

The three friends watching from the spectator area were amazed.

"What just happened?" asked the blind Rafe.

"He waited for Jaden to get his weapon back to continue the fight," Galen explained. "It slipped from Jaden's hand and he could've just ended it there, but didn't."

"I wonder why he didn't?" Emir asked.

"Sounds like this Lancelot didn't want to win that way," Rafe mused out to them.

Emir shook his head. "Yeah, but that could cost him with Jaden."

But it didn't. Over a minute later, Jaden was being held at swordpoint and he dropped his sword. "I yield!" he said as soon as he did.

The bell rung out to signal the end of the fight and the crowd burst into applause. Lancelot lowered his sword before he reached down and picked up Jaden's and handed it back to him.

Jaden took it and looked at him curiously. "Why? Why didn't you just beat me back there?"

Lancelot smiled at him. "I don't turn my sword on unarmed person." And with that, he headed off.


Nowe swerved himself back to avoid the strike from the man he was fighting before he quickly sent a hard elbow hit to his unguarded side which made the man topple out of balance. Nowe then went and launched himself to his left and tackled his opponent so that he could completely lose his footing. He quickly moved the blade of his sword to the man's neck and he quickly shouted that he gave up.

All his friends roared out in happiness that was supported by the cheers of the crowd. Nowe then stepped away and took a good look at the crowd. The shouts and adulation of the people seemed to blend together and it was all for him. He had to admit, he liked it. He then went and raised his sword up on high and smiled at them all which seemed to make the people cheer harder.

Gaius was off to the side eyeing the young man with calculating eyes. Gaius saw that Nowe was perhaps the youngest competitor in the tournament this year but his fighting skill was superb. He wore no armor or protective padding, not even a shield, and he emerged from his last two fights without a scratch. He seemed to have natural skill but Gaius could also tell that he also had top notch tutelage as well. Which would suggest that he was far better off than his simple peasant demeanor would suggest. Especially from the fine sword that he was wielding.

Nowe raised Dragon Fang into the air as the people applauded the young man. Morgana was in the royal box, clapping at the boy's victory as he raised his sword in triumph. As he turned to look in her direction, her eyes widened at his sword. The sword in her dreams. It was him.

Nowe was smiling and laughing as he made his way to his friends. "I did it," he said as he got to them.

"Of course you did," Jaden laughed out. "That guy didn't stand a chance."

"Not a one," Cobin nodded with him. "And you didn't call for any help?"

Nowe got the hint. "No, of course not. We said that we wouldn't for these matches, right?"

Cobin nodded. "Of course." He then looked out and narrowed his eyes at the next two participants heading out into the field. "Hey, isn't that Gilli?"

Nowe turned to see that the young man they had helped in the woods was walking forward as he seemed to swinging his sword a bit to loosen his nerves. "Yeah." Nowe then moved to lean on the wooden post and began clapping. "Gilli!"

"Good luck!" Jaden called out to him with a wave.

Gilli seemed to have heard because he looked over at them. His face was a little solemn but he nodded over to them before he turned to face his opponent.

Morgana was at the box and was staring at where Nowe was standing with his friends.

"Morgana?" Morgana turned to see that Gwen was staring at her. "The attendant is waiting."

Morgana looked over and saw that the attendant by the bell was waiting for her signal to begin the match. She nodded and gave the man the signal.

When the bell rang, Gilli's opponent wasted no time to try and strike a quick winning blow. Gilli blocked it with the simple metal shield that he had and tried to push him back. But his opponent was bigger and batted his attacks away. Gilli started to lose ground and was heading into the arena's wall. Gilli's arm was then grazed by a hit and the pain made him fall with his back against the wall. The man took his sword and tried to bring it down on him but Gilli was barely able to move out of its way. The sword got lodged into the wall and Gilli's magic instinctively pushed it further in so that it got stuck. While his opponent struggled, Gilli quickly got up and struck at him and separated him from his weapon and knocked him out. The crowd burst into applause at the surprise victor.

Emir stood up and clapped for him. "Wow, he's good."

Galen nodded. "He is, didn't hurt that he used a little something to help him turn it all around."

"You mean?"

"Yes. I could feel it." Galen kept his eye on Gilly and noticed the reflective shine from the ring on his finger.

"Do you think anyone saw?" Rafe asked him.

"No, I don't think so. It was very subtle. If it wasn't for my training, I wouldn't have noticed."

Gilly was moving off but he was stopped by Gaius.

"Well fought young man," he told him.

"Thank you," Gilli smiled at him.

Gaius then pointed to the wound on his arm. "That needs to be treated. I'm the Court Physician, I could tend to it for you."

But Gilli shook his head as he moved to cover it up. "It's just a nick. Thank you but I'm okay."

"Gilli!" Both Gilli and Gaius looked over to find Nowe, Jaden and Cobin moving over to them. "Congratulations. That was a great win."

"Thank you Nowe," Gilli said in a small voice.

"You as well young man." Nowe then looked over at Gaius. "I saw your match. Very impressive." Gaius then looked over at Jaden. "You as well."

"I lost," Jaden reminded him.

Gaius smiled at him. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, especially when your opponent is someone like Lancelot."

Nowe's eyebrows rose a bit. "You know him well then?"

"As well as anyone here in the castle who would know the prince's personal servant."

"He's Arthur's servant?" Nowe mumbled. "For how long exactly?"

Gaius narrowed his eyes at the question but answered nonetheless. "Less than five years now." He then saw something like recognition pass over Nowe's eyes. As Gaius stared into Nowe's eyes, he started to feel like they were somehow familiar. And this young man's appearance seemed familiar as well. He then looked over at Gilli and caught his ring and something seemed to click. "Nowe is your name, correct?"

Nowe nodded. "Yes."

"That's quite an interesting name to have."

Nowe let a small smile spread out. "Oh, well thank you uh...I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Gaius," he told him.

Gilli then nodded. "Uh, I have to go now." He then left the four of them to look after him.

Cobin then cleared his throat. "Maybe we should head back. My match is the one after the next one."

"Well, the best of luck to you," Gaius said to him. "And to you as well Nowe."

"Thank you." He then led his two friends off as they headed back to the waiting area for the participants. "Now I know why Lancelot seemed so familiar to me," he explained to them when they were out of earshot of anyone else.

"Why? Who is he?" Cobin asked.

"He's the one that Merlin came to help during that plague that hit the city a few years ago. Along with the wraith and the unicorn's curse."

"The prince's servant? Wow," marveled Jaden.

"That's not all." Nowe's face stiffened a bit. "I've met him once before."

"Where?" both his friends asked.

"It was at Aglain's camp. When it had been attacked by Camelot and Aglain was killed. Lancelot was part of the hunting party. I ran into him as he stumbled on some druids that were hiding in some brushes."

Jaden narrowed his eyes. "I wish you told me that sooner. I would've struck to kill, he would've deserved it for trying to kill helpless druids."

But Nowe shook his head. "No, I didn't finish. Lancelot found them, but he let them go."

"He what?" Jaden thought he heard wrong.

"He let them go," Nowe repeated. "He didn't even put up a fight when I got to him. Just told me to take them and get them out of there. I even saw him lie to some knights and say he hadn't found anyone." The three of them looked over across the arena where they saw Lancelot standing next to Prince Arthur as they watched the next match already underway.

"A servant that can fight like him, works for the Prince of Camelot, but befriends your brother, both sides of him," Cobin said in an undertone. "And doesn't choose to kill innocent magic users like everyone around him, but seems loyal to the ones that do. I don't understand."

Jaden narrowed his eyes. "He's different. That's all I can understand."

As the three of them were distracted, Gaius was watching them over at the side. Or rather, focused on watching the youngest of them. The boy known as Nowe. He knew the name. Or rather it's meaning. He meant it when he said it was interesting. It was a name that meant Dragon Child. And from his look and demeanor, he could clearly see the resemblance that this boy had to a certain other young man he had met before. The one called Merlin. As well as his resemblance to the young girl known as Liana. He was their brother, and the third of the children of the Dragon King Balinor. He wondered what he and his friends were doing in Camelot, competing in a tournament. As well as that other young man that was wearing that ring.


Gilli found a small alcove in the castle and checked to see that there was no one around. He pulled his sleeve up to see where he had been wounded by that sword. He took a deep breath and put his palm over it and then muttered the heating spell his father had taught him all those years ago. His palm emitted a great degree of heat and bright light, and a moment later, Gilli's wound was closed. However, the spectacle seemed to draw some attention because he heard some voices sounding out nearby and he quickly ran for it.

What had happened had been brought to Uther's attention but thankfully, Gaius had been able to come up with a believable explanation for what happened that steered the situation away from sorcery. However, Gaius knew that it wouldn't abate the king's suspicions for long. He sensed that the only reason that Uther was going along with it was because too many eyes were on Camelot at the moment with the tournament and if he did anything to jeopardize it over a trivial incident then it would harm Camelot's image to the other rulers. He recognized the signs of an old healing spell and could guess which magic user had been responsible. Between him and Nowe, and potentially the boy's other friends, Gaius began to fear what might come to happen with these young magic users gathered here, in the worst city for magic kind to be in.


Arthur was eating dinner in his room while Lancelot was drinking some water off to the side.

"Seems we have some good competitors this year," Lancelot mused before he went to down some water.

Arthur nodded. "I did think that you had some trouble with your opponent this morning."

"Jaden…he was good. Surprised me a few times, I had thought I was finished for a moment there."

"But you weren't. You won," Arthur said with a small smile.

"So did you," Lancelot reminded him.

But Arthur shrugged. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

Lancelot saw that Arthur didn't sound as happy about that as he normally would be. "Something wrong Arthur?"

The prince sighed to himself. "My father. He also won today. There's a good chance that I could be matched up with him."

"You think you might lose?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid that I might win." Arthur didn't see a good outcome for this. If he won, his father would be humiliated and could be angry with him for embarrassing him. But, if he lost, then he would be humiliated in front of the kingdom and that could mean his father might become disappointed in him. Either way, it seemed that he couldn't see a positive way out of this.

Lancelot understood. "It's a tournament Arthur. These kind of things are bound to happen. Besides, your father might not even go on to face you. He could be eliminated before that could even happen."

Arthur looked over at him skeptically. "Right, and who would be crazy enough to triumph over my father in his own kingdom?"


Nowe raised his sword to meet the blade of the warrior he was fighting before he quickly went forced their blades down and sent a back hand punch to the side of their head. It stunned his opponent and Nowe brought his blade down to graze the man's left leg, near his knee. That made him fall down on his other knee before Nowe sent a hard kick at the man's chest and made him fall painfully on his back. He then held his throat at swordpoint and the man quickly yelled that he yielded.

Uther was standing next to his son and the two of them gave polite but quick claps.

"Seems like there is a rising star in this tournament," Arthur mused as he watched the boy smile at the crowd.

Uther looked the crowd over to see the people loudly cheering for the unknown. "And seems to be getting quite popular with the people as well. This Nowe seems to be able to navigate his in the fighting ring and the spectator stands."

Arthur looked over at the lineup. "It looks like he'll be your next opponent."

His father nodded. "Yes, it's quite surprising. This boy clearly possesses natural talent, and it's clear that he has received good instruction. A little more than you would expect to find in a commoner, wouldn't you say Arthur?"

Arthur raised his eyebrows at his father's deduction. "Not exactly." He looked over to where Lancelot was standing. He was also moving forward in the tournament.

The next fight was then starting. Cobin was going up against one of the two thugs that had harassed Gilli, Tindr. He was smiling at Cobin as they went to take their places.

"It's time to pay you back for that stunt you pulled," Tindr spat at him.

But Cobin just raised his eyebrows at him. "Stunt? Oh, you mean keeping you from ganging up on some poor guy and then robbing him. Sure you don't have that backwards, or are you really just that stupid?" And with that, the bell sounded. Tindr charged at him, trying to take Cobin's head but he ducked and struck him down below with the butt of his sword's hilt. Most of the crowd winced as the man gasped inaudibly before he fell to his knees in pain. "Yeah, definitely stupid." Cobin then moved to send a hard punch at the side of his head and knocked him out.

Lancelot hissed as Cobin was declared the winner. "Crude, but definitely effective."

Gwen was next to him and her face was cringing as she tried not to look at the man on the ground. "I know that there are no rules for how to fight but did that one have to do that?"

He shook his head. "No." Lancelot then saw that Cobin was giving the man one last hard look before he started walking out of the ring. "But something tells me that it was personal between him and Cobin Guinevere."

Gwen raised her head and looked over at him. "You know him?"

"No, not really. I just met him and his friends when they came to town and needed help to find where to register. There they are."

Over to where Lancelot was pointing, Gwen could see that Cobin was with two others. She recognized one. "Lancelot, isn't that guy the one you fought with yesterday?"

"You mean Jaden? Yes, and the other one is Nowe. They came here to compete together along with some others. I managed to spot them in the crowd, cheering for them."

"They all are quite young. Especially that one," she said pointing to Nowe. She saw as Nowe smiled at his victorious friend and his lit up face made Gwen's fall down a bit. "Lancelot…does that boy seem familiar to you?"

Lancelot looked at them. "You mean Nowe?" He narrowed his eyes. "I have been feeling something from him but I know I've never met him before now. I don't forget a face. It's more like…he reminds me of someone else."

Gwen nodded as that seemed the best way to describe what she was feeling. Nowe seemed to stir something in the back of her mind. But, it seemed like it was stuck in the back of her mind somewhere.


The final match of the day was starting. Nowe, Jaden and Cobin looked on as Gilli was moving into the ring, across from his opponent Nollar, the one that tried to steal his sword back in the woods. The clapped and cheered for him and he sent a nod and grateful smile their way.

The man was glaring at him. "Don't be so smug because one of your little friends took out my partner. They're not here to save you this time. And when your corpse is lying in this ring, I'll be taking that sword." Gilli narrowed his eyes and gave his sword a simple swing. The man then caught sight of the ring on his finger. "And I'll help myself to that pretty ring while I'm at it. Looks like it'll buy me a decent amount of ale tonight."

Gilli looked down at his ring and glared up at his would be tormentor. The bell rung and their fight began. Nollar was bigger and stronger physically then Gilli and he was using that to his advantage. While Gilli tried to use his speed to counter it, he had let himself start getting boxed in towards the divider from the ring and the spectators. He was backing away from Nollar when his friend Tindr came up and grabbed him from behind, locking his arms at his sides. Gilli turned back to see that Tindr's face was red from either or both rage and pain from his earlier fight. He tried to fight and free himself but Tindr's grip was tight and was now exposed to Nollar who was approaching her like stalking predator. Gilli's heart was racing as he dropped his sword which was lying uselessly on the ground. He then clenched his hand in panic as his ring started to glow slightly. Gilli's eyes sparked and Nollar fell off his feet. It surprised Tindr and Gilli took advantage of his moment of misfocused and pushed himself back and thrust his head back, into the man's nose. Gilli ran for his blade and quickly ran it into Nollar, killing him. Gilli stared at Nollar's body with shock plastered on his face.

The crowd was still in high spirits though was still a little shocked seeing someone just die in front of them all. Lancelot, Gwen and Arthur stared at the body while Gilli moved to leave the ring. His eyes passed over Nowe, Jaden and Cobin who were staring blankly at him. He then looked away and kept walking off, passed them. He didn't see himself pass by Gaius who looked back at him with disapproval plastered on his face.


Nowe was roaming the streets of Camelot with a somber look on his face. According to the others, today wasn't the first time that Gilli had used magic. Galen had told him that Gilli had already used magic to help him win the previous day as well. It had been a subtle use which is why Nowe and the others hadn't seen it and it had slipped from the others' minds after their matches so they didn't think to mention it. Now, with what happened today, they remembered. They agreed that they had to do something about this before it got out of hand. The last thing they needed was for Gilli to do something that went and drew undue attention from Uther, or from Nowe's family. Not to mention, run the risk that Gilli might let himself become corrupted by his own power and go on to become someone like Nimueh or Tauren. Nowe volunteered to go and talk to Gilli alone, as to both quell the situation and not make him feel as if he was being ganged up on.

Nowe walked in to the tavern of the inn as he saw that there were people drinking and talking excitedly about the tournament. He walked over to the innkeeper and his eyes widened as he caught sight of him.

"You. You're Nowe, I saw your match. Congratulations on your win. I've seen men twice your age that don't fight as well."

He smiled. "Thank you."

"Are you here for a room? We've gotten two vacancies due to all the people that were eliminated today."

But Nowe shook his head. "No. I'm actually here to see someone. He's staying here."

"Only competitors are staying here while the tournament is in effect."

"He is a competitor. His name is Gilli. Do you know him?"

"Gilli? Yes, a good fighter too. He's in room four."

"Thank you."

Nowe made his way upstairs to the rooms until he found the door to Gilli's room. He then went and gently knocked.

"Who's there?" he heard from the other side.

"It's Nowe. Gilli, can I come in?"

Nowe heard some frenzied movement for a moment. "You can come in." Nowe then stepped in and saw that Gilli was a bit on edge. "Why you'd come?"

"I came to check up on you. Are you okay?"

Gilli smiled. "I'm great. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because of what happened today. You seemed troubled right after it."

"That wasn't my fault. He was going to kill me," he quickly threw in.

Nowe held his hands up at him. "It's okay Gilli. I understand that. You don't have get defensive."

"I just panicked. His friend was holding me so that he could kill me," he said still a little panicked.

"Gilli," Nowe said a little louder making him freeze. "Relax, no one's accusing you of anything. Yes, what happened is on them, especially on the oaf that held you back. Now, not only is his friend dead because of it but he has something broken above and below for his trouble," he threw in with a bit of a chuckle.

That made Gilli nervously smile back at him. "But I'm okay Nowe. Really. If you were worried about that then you don't have to be."

But Nowe shook his head. "No, there's something else. It's about what else you did during the match. And, in your previous one too."

Gilli swallowed nervously. "What do you mean?"

"I think you know exactly what I mean." Nowe then looked over behind him to make the door he had left ajar shut.

Gilli jumped a bit. "Must've been the wind."

Nowe looked back at him. "It wasn't." He raised his empty hand up and then mumbled a spell under his breath. Suddenly, a small object flew out from Gilli's open rucksack and went right into his palm which he closed as soon as he did. Nowe turned the ring around in his fingers. "Interesting ring. From what my friend tells me, it bears a mark of the Old Religion, as a means of being a conduit and even an amplifier for certain gifts."

Gilli was staring wide eyed at him. "What? How?"

"Because I'm like you." He then opened his palm and the ring started to hover over it and then slowly drift for Gilli where he went and took it back. "And you're like me. A warlock, born with the gift of magic." He then eyed the ring that Gilli was looking at with unshed tears. "Where did you get that?"

"It was my father's."

"Was he gifted too?"

Gilli nodded. "But he didn't want to use it. He was attacked, by some thugs. They ganged up on him, beat him, but he wouldn't use it. He was too scared too, even to save himself."

"Like you were when we found you," Nowe mumbled.

"I don't want that to be me. I don't want to be scared anymore."

Nowe saw Gilli's hold on the ring tighten. "Is that why you wanted to be in the tournament? To prove that you're not you're not scared? Like your father."

"People walked all over my father. I had to watch it all the time. When he was gone, it started happening to me. I don't want that to be my life too." Tears were freely falling from him now. "You've seen the way that people are now. They're showing me respect. And you don't know what that's like for me."

"No, I don't and won't pretend that I understand." Nowe had been protected his whole life. Growing up in Frith, where his magic was regarded as a gift, had meant that he was spared from the fear and hate the purge generated against magic. He hadn't experienced the harsh realities that magical people had to face in the Five Kingdoms. In the last two years, he started to get a better grip on what it was like. "But if you don't stop using magic in your fights then instead of disrespect, you'll be dead."

"Without magic, I'm nobody. People think they can just kick dirt in my face. In our faces. You're in the tournament too," he pointed out.

"Yes, but I'm not using magic. We can't here."

"Why not? The rules say we can use any weapon we want."

"True, but if you get exposed then Uther will not hesitate to execute you."

"Then why not stop him here and now," he breathed out heavily. "You're fighting him tomorrow. We can finally stop this here and now. After everything he has done to us. To our kind. He has to answer for what he's done. Maybe it's finally time for magic to stop hiding and fight back."

Nowe closed his eyes for a moment and then nodded. "You're right. Uther does have to answer for what he's done. All of it. And he will, I promise you Gilli. Magic will fight back, and end this dark time once and for all. But, the time isn't now."

"Why not?"

"Because it will be on our terms. Not his."

"But, you could finally end it Nowe. Tomorrow."

"Will it? If I use magic against Uther, I would only make that man a martyr. Make him an inspiration for others, like his son to continue his work. Embolden the nobles and knights under him to continue what he preaches is a noble purge. No," Nowe said shaking his head with his own eyes starting to shine a bit. "I won't allow myself to be how Uther is remembered. How the glorified massacre he started is chronicled. Would you?"

Gilli shook his head. "When?" he demanded. "When do we finally fight?"

"When we're ready. All of us. This is far bigger than you Gilli. You're not alone, even if it must feel like that for the longest time. There are others. More than you could imagine who are working to bring more on our side. To prove his words and actions false."

"Balinor…Emrys," Gilli mumbled.

Nowe let a small smile come to him at the thought of his father and brother. "You could add my name to that list. But, you must stop using magic to help you win the tournament. I can understand that you could've been killed today, but using it for an easier win yesterday, that is unacceptable. If you really want to feel respect from people, then you have to start respecting yourself first; and your magic. It isn't something for you to risk and waste on selfish and false adulation. Use your gifts Gilli, don't abuse them. I'll see you tomorrow."

And with that, Nowe turned and started to leave the room as Gilli moved to wipe his face as he stared after him. "Who are you?"

Nowe stopped and looked back at him. "Tell you what. Don't use your magic for the rest of the tournament, and I'll tell you." Then he left.


End of Chapter 45

A/N: Sorry for the long delay but I got distracted with my other stories. I know how Merlin tried to get through to Gilli but it didn't work. At least, not until after Merlin had to step in to personally stop him. Here, I wanted Gilli to be confronted by someone that shares the same desire to fight back. To speak with him as a fellow warrior as well as magic user but more responsible.

The next chapter will have the close of the tournament where there will be a surprise champion with a surprise closing. Also, the reason for why Nowe and his friends they came and entered the tournament will be revealed.