Amelia's POV
A new tournament is happening at Camelot, one that happens once every ten years. The Knight's code means nothing at the upcoming tournament, which is open to all comers and worth a hundred coins. Camelot's legendary tournament has only one rule – there are no rules. Naturally, Amelia's mind worries that the next person trying to kill Arthur will be among those coming.
Amelia walks among the people in the Lower Town, observing the increased activity and happily greets those that have either come to participate or spectate. She feels nervous and excited. The last time this tournament happened, Amelia had only been 12 and it had not been long before she lost her adoptive parents, Helen and George. Unfortunately, her memories of them and the time surrounding the tournament aren't as clear as they probably once were due to the head injury she had suffered because of Nimueh.
Amelia is contemplating these thoughts, not realising she no longer is aware of her surroundings and accidentally collides with a young boy carrying a shield, sword and a bag of maybe his belongings.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Amelia quickly apologises.
The boy stares at her with wide eyes as he takes in her appearance and bows his head as he replies, "I should be sorry, My Lady, I wasn't looking at what was in front of me."
Amelia winces at his attitude. This always seems to happen, people from outside of Camelot's City walls always act this way, like she's some other being and fearful of her wrath.
"It's alright." Amelia says softly, smiling gently. This causes the boy to look up in surprise. "Where were you heading?"
"I was looking for an Inn, My Lady." He replies respectfully but actually looks at her this time as he speaks.
Amelia glances behind and her eyes land on the Rising Sun Inn. "There's one there but it's only taking participators."
The boy looks affronted at her comment and Amelia immediately knows she has said the wrong thing. "I am a participator."
Amelia feels embarrassed and apologises.
"It's fine." He mutters and moves to walk away. "Thank you for the directions."
Amelia observes how small in stature he is in concern, wondering why he was entering this sort of tournament. "What's your name?" She asks, stopping him.
"Gilli, My Lady."
"Hello, Gilli, I'm the Lady Amelia, one of the King's wards." She smiles warmly and offers a hand for him to shake. "Good luck." He looks at her in surprise but shakes her hand anyway.
As they do this, Amelia notices his ring, particularly the markings. She opens her mouth to comment but Gilli is already pulling his hand away, having noticed her looking, and walks to the Inn.
—
Merlin and Anne are serving them at dinner in the Council Chambers.
"Remind us how many times you've won this tournament, Uther." Morgana asks. She sits on Uther's left with Amelia next to her and Arthur sitting opposite.
"Three."
"That's a lot to live up to, Arthur." Amelia remarks with a teasing smile.
Arthur disappointingly doesn't rise to the challenge and simply replies, "Indeed."
"I remember your last victory. You were a master in the arena." Morgana compliments. "It's such a shame we won't see you compete again."
"Who says you won't?"
"I thought you said you were too old to take the field?" Amelia says to him pointedly but with a false smile in his direction.
"Not age that stops me. I'll still prove a match for any man." Uther boasts. Amelia tries not to roll her eyes.
"Well, we won't be finding out." Arthur declares.
"Why ever not?"
"Because I don't want you getting hurt."
Uther laughs. Amelia sees the expression on Morgana's face, has she noticed an opportunity to get Uther killed? Amelia won't be entirely opposed to the idea.
"Do you think you could still win the crown?" Morgana asks.
"The Kingdom needs him to rule, not to fight." Arthur reminds her.
"Do you think I can't do both?" Uther asks amusedly.
"Well, you're not as young as you used to be." Amelia remarks teasingly. All these words from his children, Morgana intentionally and Arthur unintentionally as well as Amelia, Amelia can see are all but encouraging Uther to take part. "Besides, we need someone to keep us company in the stands."
"If you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for the tournament. Merlin?" Merlin puts down the pitcher and follows Arthur out.
"It is such a shame. It would've been good for the people to see you compete one last time. But still, Arthur's probably right. You can't do everything."
Uther seems thoughtful as he digests Morgana's words.
—
Uther informs Amelia and Morgana that he has decided to throw his hat in to defend his last win. Morgana is almost gleeful when he tells them, especially when he asks Morgana to take over his role in greeting and opening the tournament. He says it's because Morgana is the oldest but Amelia knows it's likely because he favours Morgana the most as she's his daughter.
As they watch the crowds gather at the Tournament Grounds, Morgana turns to Amelia with a grin. "This will be good practice for when I'm Queen, won't it sister?"
"No time like the present…" Amelia murmurs.
This conversation is flittering through Amelia's mind as she and Morgana show up at the royal stand in the Tournament Grounds. All the fighters are gathered in the field with Gaius, Anne, Gwen and Merlin standing among the other servants. Amelia sees Arthur's confused face when Morgana stands in the centre and turns to start the opening speech.
"It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Camelot. This is a contest like no other. It is open to all comers." She pauses and the trumpets blast, announcing the King's arrival. "Including our reigning champion, the King." Amelia doesn't know how to describe the look on Arthur's face as the crowd mutters in shock. "There are no rules, no weapons are banned. The last man standing takes the prize. Let the tournament begin."
The tournament begins with a fight involving Uther who wins without too much difficulty. The two sisters grimace in annoyance at his success but quickly smile and clap. Arthur wins his own fight with only one punch as the man had been too busy showing off. A brutish sort of man almost loses his but, when on the ground, stabs his opponent and gets up and kills him by slashing him with his axe. Amelia winces at the gruesome sight of the first kill of the tournament.
Then it's Gilli's turn. Amelia watches in concern at the way he stands in the centre looking like a terrified child. He snaps back to it when his opponent swings at him. Gilli at first seems to be just taking the blows, protecting himself with his shield. He falls to the floor causing Amelia to lean forward in panic but before his opponent can deliver the final blow, Gilli rolls out of the way and gets back on his feet. Amelia slightly relaxes knowing he's okay for now.
That is until Gilli is backed up against the wall but again misses the final blow by darting out of the way. This causes the opponent's sword to become stuck in the wooden wall surrounding the grounds. For a moment Gilli seems to watch his opponent struggle and then suddenly the opponent's sword travels further down the wall causing it to be even more stuck. Strange…
With his opponent distracted, Gilli knocks his legs with his sword causing the opponent to stumble before using the handle of the sword on the opponent's back causing him to collapse to the floor. Gilli has won his match.
"What a surprise turn of events." Morgana remarks. As Gilli looks around the cheering crowd with a prideful look on his face.
"Yes…" It seems Morgana hadn't noticed the strange occurrence during the match, not like Amelia had but perhaps that's because she hasn't seen Gilli's ring, not like Amelia has.
—
Amelia makes her excuses to Morgana and goes to look, for a lack of a better word, for her gang. She finds them near the grounds as they approach Gilli, who is passing by.
"That was a fine victory." Anne compliments.
"Thank you." Gilli replies quietly but continues walking.
"That'll need treating." Gaius says, pointing to the torn sleeve on Gilli's upper arm that shows his wound.
"It's alright."
"Gaius is the Court Physician." Amelia says, drawing their attention.
"It's just a nick, I'm fine, My Lady." Gilli places his hand over the wound, the same hand that carries the ring, and leaves.
"He's using magic." Merlin says without hesitation.
"You'd noticed too?" Amelia asks. Anne nods.
"I suspected as much. The ring bears a mark of the Old Religion." Gaius observes. Amelia internally gives herself a small cheer for noticing. "Such rings are very rare, but they act as a conduit, a... a channel for magical powers."
"So, he does have magic like me?" Merlin asks.
"He doesn't have your powers, Merlin," Gaius corrects him, "but as to wield a ring such as that would need considerable gifts."
"Well, he's braver than us, using magic in front of all those people." Anne murmurs as she watches Gilli's retreating figure.
"I'm going with stupid." Amelia retorts.
"Brave or stupid." Gaius mediates. "If Uther finds out, he'll have him killed."
—
Uther grunts in pain as Amelia and Morgana help him out of his armour in his Chambers.
"I'm not as young as I used to be." Uther remarks.
Amelia gives him a false warm smile as she stands in front of him, helping Morgana, who stands behind him, unbuckle the hauberk that sits on his chest.
"We watched you out there, Uther." She speaks
"You flatter me." Uther dismisses. That's the idea.
"You were good as all." Morgana insists. Amelia knows it's Morgana's plan to get Uther killed in the tournament and Amelia is all for it. Better Uther die in battle by a physical weapon than by magic.
"Well…" Uther murmurs. Doesn't mind his ego being inflated, does he?
"And you loved it. Every moment." Amelia adds as she unbuckles the voiders on his left arm, Morgana on the right.
"Arthur didn't." Uther corrects.
"Of course, he didn't." Morgana jokes. "You showed him how it should be done." They all laugh at that though Uther is the only one who is genuine.
Amelia 'sobers' and looks up to Uther. "And you enjoyed it and so did the people. Did you see how they greeted your victory?"
"It was most gratifying." Uther agrees.
"You don't know what it means to them to see their King victorious."
"Mmm…"
With that Morgana and Amelia lift off his arm that they had unbuckled.
—
The warning bell is sounded later on. Amelia, Anne and Merlin follow Gaius who had been summoned by Uther. They gather in the Armoury's Corridor. There's a scorch mark on the wall.
"Sorcery. It's the only explanation." Uther declares.
"Sire, let's not be too rash, let Gaius conclude his investigation." Amelia pleads softly. She doesn't want an innocent magic user getting caught and executed.
Uther relaxes a bit. "Perhaps, but what other explanation could there be? The guards report seeing a, an unnaturally bright light," he wanders away from them slightly to look down the corridor, "its heat so intense they could feel it at the end of the corridor. These scorch marks would seem to support their story."
It is then that Amelia spots a very familiar ring lying on the floor next to Uther's feet. Oh no.
"But they appear to have been there for some time did the guards could get a look at this man?" Gaius asks.
"No, it was too dark." Uther admits.
"Unfortunate." Gaius glances at the three next to him when Uther's back is turned and it is clear that not only does he not agree with his statement but also may have an idea who it is. "I can see no evidence of magic." He lies.
"There's a strange odour. How do you explain that?" Uther persists.
Gaius points in the other direction. "Well, it's coming from the grain store there. It's alecost for the tavern." As Uther looks, Gaius steps around him and picks up the ring. "They used it in their brewing."
"Brewing?" Uther turns to look at Gaius, who hurriedly stands.
"Indeed, Sire. It imparts a special flavour."
"Very well." Uther concedes and walks off.
—
Amelia, Anne, Gaius and Merlin enter Gaius' Chambers with the Physician talking as they do so, "It's clearly Gilli, judging by the scorch marks and the odour. There's an old healing spell. It's crude, but it works. You heat the skin to coagulate the blood and it cauterises the wound."
"Cauterises?!" Anne repeats in alarm.
"The wound in his shoulder." Amelia realises. "Well, no wonder he didn't want any treatment."
"We'll have to talk to him before it's too late." Gaius warns them.
Just Merlin goes to talk with him so as to not overload Gilli with too many people, and make him feel cornered. Merlin gives him back his ring and is able to get it out of him how he has it. It's from Gilli's father. Apparently, his father feared magic and recessed to use it even to defend himself when being attacked and ultimately died. Gilli wants to prove he's nothing like his father. He refuses to withdraw as he doesn't want to be a nobody and a coward. Merlin hadn't been able to do anything else as they'd been interrupted. What are they going to do with him?
—
Uther and Arthur both defeat their opponents meaning they will play against each other in the semi-finals. Amelia's stomach drops when she realises. This is the opposite to what Amelia had wanted.
As Arthur is in the Pendragon tent, Uther comes in, followed by Amelia and Morgana.
"Have you seen who you are to face in the semi-final tomorrow?" Uther questions his son with a grin. "Ha. Might need to put in some practice." He slumps in a chair as Morgana and Amelia wander over to the table.
"Well, the crowds are really looking forward to it." Morgana comments as she hands Uther his drink. "So am I. It should be quite a match." She smiles gleefully as Arthur walks out, unhappy. Amelia chews her lip anxiously as she watches him go.
—
Now it's Gilli's turn to find out if he has made it to the semi-finals. Gilli enters the arena, salutes the crowd when suddenly his opponent runs in to attack him. Under the man's assault, Gilli is pushed up against the arena's wall, right into a man's arms who is standing in the crowd. Amelia sits up in alarm as she sees Gilli's opponent pull out a knife from his boot. She had seen him use it before on a previous opponent, which had killed them.
Gilli uses magic to propel his attack in front of him backwards and head-butts the man behind him. As his opponent crawls on the floor, Gilli runs him through with his sword. The crowds cheer, but Gilli is clearly shaken by his actions.
—
Killing a man has really gotten to Gilli and Merlin tells them Gilli has decided to pull out of the competition, which is a relief. The new concern is Arthur Vs. Uther.
"What are we to do?" Anne wonders that night as she prepares Amelia's bed for her to sleep while Amelia watches Arthur practice in the Square.
"I don't know." Amelia murmurs. "What can we do? None of them will want to pull out and neither of them want to loose." Uther won't back out. No, Morgana and Amelia had previously made sure of that. She really hates herself right now.
Anne frowns. "Arthur must, surely? Even if it is so he doesn't wound or kill his own father. Imagine the chaos it will bring if the latter happens?"
Amelia sighs. Anne might be right. "But will that work and will Arthur even want to do that?"
"You'll have to talk with him." Anne points out.
—
Amelia catches Arthur alone in the tent, preparing to go out to fight.
"Arthur?" She calls tentatively. While she can only see his back, Amelia can see his shoulders showing how tense he is.
Arthur jumps and spins around to see Amelia behind him. He relaxes slightly. "Amelia. What is it?"
"The fight." She replies. Arthur sighs and turns back around. "What are you going to do?"
"Merlin says to throw the fight so I don't hurt him, Morgana says not to throw fight as what will the people think."
"What do you mean?" Amelia questions.
"I'm the one leading men into battle. What will they think if I can't beat one old man?" Arthur demands to know, turning around to face her.
Great, Morgana has gotten into his head and now it's up to Amelia to undo it. "I disagree. You can't fight as strong as your abilities allow as you risk killing your own father and Uther is the one with the crown, not you. He's the head, the leader of Camelot. You will have to take the fall, let him win."
"What about the gloating, what about the people's belief in me?" Arthur persists doubtfully.
Amelia needs to put Arthur and the Kingdom over her feelings about Uther. "I think it's more important not to humiliate your father, who is King or worse, kill him." She doesn't want that on Arthur's conscious.
—
Amelia and Morgana sit in the royal box. Arthur waits for Uther to arrive in the arena. Trumpets announce the King's entrance along with cheers. They exchange words then they put on their helmets. Arthur takes his shield, and Uther strikes instantly, Arthur parries a little late but succeeds in warding off Uther's blow. Then the fight begins. Arthur and Uther give back to back to one another.
All in all, Arthur is stronger than Uther and he succeeds to make Uther fall. Uther seems to have issues getting up. He finally stands up. Uther swings frantically at Arthur as he gets up. He turns around and staggers, shaking off his shield and helmet. Arthur pauses, then removes his helmet.
They fight, Uther seems to be sweating and panting heavily; he looks very weak. Arthur clearly has the upper hand against his father while Morgana watches in amusement at Uther's failure to defeat Arthur while Amelia winces. But Arthur ducks under Uther's swing easily, then allows Uther to disarm him; Arthur falls to the ground. The prince has decided to let his father win.
Uther smiles and offers Arthur his hand to help him up and takes a bow in front of his people. The crowd cheers. In the royal stand, Morgana seems frustrated, Amelia would be too if it weren't for the fact they've just everted Arthur killing his own father.
Amelia's relief doesn't last long as Gilli, having clearly not pulled out, enters the Tournament Grounds. Once again, Gilli's opponent is about to win but the young man uses his magic to defeat him. This is bad as a vengeful Gilli will now face off against the magic hating Uther in the final.
—
Merlin is thoughtful when Gaius, Amelia and Anne come into the Physician's Chambers.
"I thought you said the boy was going to withdraw?" Amelia questions.
"That's what I thought." Merlin murmurs despondently. Anne frowns with concern and goes over to him, wrapping her arm around his middle. Merlin leans into her embrace. Amelia smiles slightly at the sight.
"We'll have to warn the King." Gaius says. Merlin's head jerks up in surprise and Amelia's whips round in alarm.
Anne then blurts, "What?! No."
"Why are you protecting him?" Gaius questions.
"You know what Uther will do," Merlin tells him, standing up, causing Anne's arm to drop away.
"Gilli is using magic for his own gain. It's corrupting him, poisoning him." Gaius warns them. Amelia winces when she thinks of two sisters who are just like that.
"Perhaps we should let Merlin talk to him again." Amelia pleads with him. They can't just hand the boy over!
"I fear it's too late."
Merlin walks over to him. "Gaius, please. You taught me what magic was for. You gave me the opportunity to be the person that I am today. I've had you to help me. Give me one more chance to talk to him."
"We'll have to put an end to this. If he fights tomorrow, either his magic will be found out, or worse... the King will die." Gaius reminds him.
Amelia may not care for Uther and not be opposed to him dying, she can't let it happen if it is by magic, it wouldn't be good.
—
Anne's POV
As Merlin and Anne enter the Tavern, Gilli is in the middle of the crowd, explaining his fight, happy to have everyone's attention on him. He pauses in his storytelling when seeing Merlin and Anne, Gilli meets them in his empty room.
"What's this about?" Gilli asks as if he hasn't done anything wrong.
"Your opponent. I thought you might like to know he is." Merlin replies.
This causes Gilli to pause. He turns around and looks at them with genuine concern. "Is he alright?"
"Gaius thinks he'll pull through, but... he might not have been so lucky." Anne answers sharply.
"It could've been me that got injured." Gilli argues as if that makes what he did okay. Anne gives him a disappointed look.
"I thought you weren't going to fight?!" Merlin snaps, his voice rising.
"You've seen the way people are now. They're showing me respect. And you don't know what that's like for me." Gilli retorts.
Anne shakes her head. "No, we do."
"No. No, no one does." Gilli responds almost tearfully.
Merlin seems thoughtful for a moment. He looks to Anne, she gives him a nod. Merlin then shuts the door. He faces Gilli and whispers an incantation. "Forbærnen."
Merlin approaches Gilli with his clenched fist and opens it to reveal a mini flame. He glances to Anne with a small bashful smile. He has used the first spell she had taught way back when she first told him she has magic. She smiles slightly then does her own chant causing the flame to extinguish.
Gilli looks at them, particularly Merlin, as if he sees them for the first time.
"It's... lonely. Even knowing that your not the only one, to... be more powerful than almost any man you know and have to live like a shadow. To... be special and, and have to pretend you're a fool. I know how it feels, I understand." Merlin murmurs sadly and understandingly. Anne looks at him sorrowfully, knowing how he feels.
Instead of backing down, this has the opposite effect on Gilli. "Then you understand why I have to fight. If Uther is killed, so what? How many of our kind have dies at his hands? How many more will? It's time those with magic fought back!" He declares.
"Gilli—" Anne tries to say.
"You can't tell me what to do!" Gilli retorts.
"You need to learn to use your magic for good! That is its true purpose! It's not meant for your own vanity!" Merlin argues, trying to get him to understand.
"I'm not going to apologise for who I am!" Gilli cries in frustration. "You two can be servants and, and pretend you're less than them, but I'm not going to..."
"No, that's not what I do!" Merlin counters angrily.
"No? You're defending the King! Protecting a man that would have you dead!" Gilli accuses.
"We're protecting you!" Anne corrects. "We know what will happen to you if you go through with this!"
Gilli calms his voice down and with tearful eyes, looks at them like he almost can't recognise them. "You've been pretending for so long now that you've actually forgotten who you are."
Merlin looks hurt and shakes his head as if trying to wave away the accusation. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?"
"No." Merlin looks hurt and broken as if Gilli has accused him of the very thing he strives not to be. Anne rubs his arm and looks angrily at Gilli.
"It's time someone struck a blow for the likes of you and me. And if you're too weak, then I will." With that, Gilli leaves.
—
Amelia's POV
Merlin and Anne's talk with Gilli had not worked and Gilli is more than ever determined to fight and kill Uther. So Amelia watches anxiously as Uther stands in the middle of the pitch, waiting for Gilli's arrival. Amelia keeps an eye on Merlin and Anne who stand off the side in the arena and shares a conspiringly look with them. It had been decided that since Gilli is going to cheat and kill the King with magic, which is not what they need right now, then Anne and Merlin should provide their own assistance to Uther.
Gilli determinedly enters the arena and Amelia is glad that now Arthur is out of the race, he sits between the two sisters in his father's seat. She really doesn't need Morgana questioning why Amelia is suddenly against getting Uther killed in the tournament right now.
Uther put on his helmet and raises his sword and salutes Gilli, who salutes back with a dark look on his face, murmuring something to him.
They begin to fight. Gilli uses magic causing Uther's sword to get stuck in the mud, but Amelia knows that Merlin or Anne counteract it with magic causing Gilli's shield to fly away, Gilli glances in their direction before attacking again. The two parry but then Gilli uses magic as Uther's sword flies out of his hand and then proceeds to attack Uther's shield, catching him off guard. Gilli ferociously continues to attack Uther's shield, knocking him down. The crowd gasps and Arthur sits up straight in worry while Morgana leans forward with glee.
Instead of conceding his win, Gilli raises his sword, driving it through Uther's shield, missing him by an inch but then Anne/Merlin must've counteracted with magic again as Gilli is unable to dislodge his sword. Gilli must now realise they're not going to let him hurt the King as he yanks and yanks at his sword. Unwittingly aided by Merlin and/or Anne, Uther is eventually able to overcome Gilli, shoving his shield, and knocking Gilli to the ground. Uther then takes the opportunity to roll over and crawl to his sword just as Gilli leaps up to grab his shield.
However, Amelia sees him pause in his tracks, staring at Merlin and Anne. Uther runs up behind him and swings his sword, but Gilli is knocked out of his stupor and he pulls up his shield to protect himself, taking multiple blows. Eventually, Gilli is on the ground, at Uther's mercy, but the King, in an action opposite to what he would've done if he'd known that his opponent is a sorcerer, stops before the final blow.
The crowd begins to cheer as it is clear Uther is the winner. Amelia doesn't join in with the crowd's joyous cheers, Arthur's relieved ones nor Morgana's false ones. She simply looks at the defeated boy on the floor, feeling sorry for him but also reproachful.
—
Servants are setting the table in the Council Chambers as Uther walks in with Amelia and Morgana on each arm. Arthur is already at the table as they enter.
"I thought the boy was going to kill me." Uther remarks as they walk towards their seats. The two sisters beam falsely at him.
Morgana chuckles. "So did I."
"Then, suddenly, the old fighting spirit kicked in. I dug deep, found my strength, and the whole thing just began to flow." Morgana and Amelia part from so that they can take their seats as Uther continues to talk. "I felt at one with the sword." He groans as he sits down. "My feet moved instinctively."
"And now you're champion once again. And maybe you can give Arthur some lessons." Amelia turns to Arthur pointedly as she speaks with a teasing smile on her face. She knows what really happened but that doesn't mean she can't tease her cousin, a cousin that looks annoyed at her remark.
"It is I who learned a great deal from our fight." Uther argues.
"I can't see what." Morgana remarks with a scrunched up face. The two of them teasing Arthur reminds Amelia of the old days, before all this hatred and revenge.
"He's a far better warrior than you think." Uther persists. "It is Arthur who should've claimed the prize."
"But sadly he wasn't good enough."
"Because he threw the fight." Arthur chokes on his drink at his father's words. Amelia looks at the monarch in surprise, she hadn't thought he'd be so observant. "That I might save face."
"You knew?" Arthur questions.
"I have followed your progress with a sword since you were a boy. I know your abilities better than anyone. I am eternally grateful. I hope that, when you are King and have sons of your own, that they will afford you the same honour." Uther speaks. "Indeed, the most satisfying outcome of the tournament was that Arthur's actions have shown me that he is now truly ready to be King."
Uther raises his glass and the four of them toast. Amelia can see a dark look on Morgana's face but she ignores it and instead basked in Arthur's progress. She shares a pleased smile with Anne and Merlin, who stand behind Arthur.