Out of Time

AvalonReeseFanFics

Merry Christmas, my amazing readers! Or Happy Holidays, or whatever it is you celebrate, even if you don't celebrate anything at all. Here it is! Chapter 10! I'm moving a long and I'm finally moving off this episode. I know it's taken a while and I'm sorry, honest I am. I was going to make it all one chapter but I hit 22 pages and I was like "This isn't a chapter it's a novella!" so I broke it up.

So this chapter was fun to write, we get to see how everyone makes up and how Addison deals with the stressful situation. The bromance returns as does Normal-Addison behaviour. After this we move onto the next episode. Is there anything you guys wanna see/read next? Tell me what you think! Don't forget to review!

Shout outs to: Nicolenalime, RegularBookie-adventures, Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, Guest (A.K.A Kimmy), AmalieNico (I love getting your reviews, they're like little rays of sunshine), the crazy brit, rowanowl, corallynblack,

Chapter 10: Out of Determination

The meeting was in the morning. In between then and nightfall a lot happened. Firstly, Merlin went down to the caverns and had a nice chat with the Dragon residing there. Things were said, insults were thrown, riddles were told and Merlin left not feeling better but worse. Like if he had the choice he wouldn't ever talk to that stupid dragon ever again unless he was throwing around riddles of his own.

Then Merlin, still feeling sorry for himself and unable to face Gaius who had inadvertently given him the hope that he could be something more than be a servant, sat on the stone steps sulking and generally being all around miserable. That was until Guinevere showed up and gave him a pep talk, actually it wasn't really a pep talk it was more of a talk that made him realize that the people here in Camelot were all about making other people do all the hard work. But she meant well and she gave him an idea.

This left Merlin in his room trying to turn a stone statue of a dog into a real live dog.

Morgana was dreaming of Arthur's death as per usual.

And Arthur was spending his time training because he was not going to be taken down by a bunch of magical shield snakes if he could help it.

But the really interesting things were happening to Addison.

While, the others were wrapped up in their own little worlds, Addison was in her cell. She had already woken up from her stressed-induced-nap and felt quite undecided upon what her next move should be.

She wanted out of her cell, obviously, because that stupid magic snake could be around. She couldn't sense it like she had before but that didn't mean she didn't yelp whenever the straw in her cell rustled. In case you were curious it was just the mice she kept as friends. She went through a stage where she wanted to be just like Cinderella but couldn't remember what her mice friend's names were. And none of her mice ever talked to her, or sang songs, or made her dresses.

No, her real problem was where would she go once she got out?

She couldn't go to Arthur, he was the one was who put her back into her cell in the first place. She couldn't go to the Lake again, it was too soon after her last visit and none of the fae would definitely not be pleased if she showed up once more. She couldn't go up to Morgana, not only would Uther be expecting that, the girl was barely sleeping and Addison didn't want to absorb any more nightmares. She definitely couldn't go to throne room to talk to Uther after that impressive display this morning. And she couldn't go anywhere in town in fear of bumping into Valiant.

So Addison sat in deep contemplation wondering where she would go once she freed herself. It was easy to get out of the cells, a year or two ago a thief had been put in the cell beside her and he had taught her how to pick locks. Plus the guards weren't the best at paying attention, she couldn't count how many times she had blatantly walked out of the dungeon and they were too busy playing cards or some other game to notice her.

It was probably because of this that Valiant found himself in front of her cell without any interference. Addison was so deep in thought that she didn't hear him until he was laughing at her. When her eyes focused again she saw that the smart man hadn't unlocked her cell though he had the keys once more. God these guards were useless.

"Don't hurt yourself trying to come up with some other way to prove me a cheater."

He had the nerve to chuckle afterwards, like it was completely impossible for her to have her own bright ideas, that she might be smarter than him. Anger burned through her like a raging fire, it was multiplying and she was losing control. So badly she was thinking in Grease songs. She stood slowly and glared darkly at him wishing she had the power to do many unimaginable things to him, though clearly not that unimaginable as she was imagining them right then and there.

Valiant seemed to not notice or maybe he was just ignoring the impending doom walking at a slow crawl towards him. He was too busy talking.

"It was interesting to learn about you and your special powers. It explains a lot about you, and why you were so quick to distrust me. You and I would make a good team, we'd be unstoppable you should join me. I'd treat you better than your precious Arthur."

His voice and demeanour were as sweet as honey, but Addison wasn't buying it.

"I'd end up doing all the work. There's only so much magic snakes can do after all," Addison said in her own sweetest tone. "Besides, how I feel about snakes is how I feel about you. I abhor the very sight of you."

That last sentence, uttered in as much malice as she could muster caught Valiant's attention. He backed away from the cells and glared darkly at her. "I'm going to make you regret that," he snarled to her. "When I fight Arthur tomorrow I'll be certain to kill him and when I win that tournament the first thing I'm going to demand is you in my bed."

Addison felt her face flush, the anger growing in side of her. "I hope you do," she snapped. "Because if you do hurt Arthur, if you somehow managed to kill him, I will make it my very mission to destroy you. You can try to take me to bed Valiant, but you won't survive it. I vow it."

Valiant glared at her and she glared at him right back. He fidgeted with the keys no doubt toying with the idea of unlocking her door and seeing just how the rematch between them would go. Addison was glaring at him so hard, dreaming of him just up and exploding and she sort of got her wish. Sort of.

Out of nowhere the sleeve of Valiant's yellow tunic burst into flame, he yelped and waved his arm around as if that could put it out but all it did was make the flames larger. His frantic eyes met her shocked ones and she quickly replaced her surprise with the most malicious of looks.

"I was thinking more about spontaneous combustion but fire will do!" she cried and then began to laugh. Valiant turned tail and ran, her vicious cackles following him down the corridor.

The smart boy didn't return but that didn't ease Addison's worries. She picked her lock not long after Valiant vanished. She wasn't certain if he'd go to Uther and tell him what she had done but she wasn't going to be locked in a cell if Uther came down accusing her of witchcraft. She spent the rest of the day in between the kitchens and helping out Guinevere's father at the forge or running potions to the town for Gaius.

When it came to night fall Addison found herself at odds once more. She didn't want to go back to her cell, she didn't have any other options other than sleeping in the stables. But she was worried about Arthur, she knew he had been practicing, and she knew Merlin was shouting incantations in his room. She wished he'd be quieter about it.

Addison picked her way through the hallways of the castle, avoiding the guards and Uther, taking the longest route ever to get to Arthur's room. He had retired there an hour ago, he had already eaten and he was probably getting ready for bed. She spent the whole walk wondering whether or not this was a good idea. Things had not gone well this morning and she wasn't sure if he was still angry. Granted Arthur had never really stayed mad at her for very long but she couldn't help but feel like this was different from all the other times she had pissed him off.

When she got to his room she found Merlin standing in the doorway. She tried not to listen to their conversation as it was clearly supposed to be private, but then again if it were so private why didn't Merlin shut the damn door?

She listen to him plead with Arthur not to fight Valiant the following morning but even Addison knew that Arthur was too proud to do that. Of course Arthur didn't say it flat out, instead saying that he couldn't be expected to lead men into battle if they thought he was a coward but Addison knew what it really was and if it were her having this conversation with him she would have called him out on it. He was all very dramatic about it, claiming that even though he knows Valiant was going to kill him if that was how he'd have to go then so be it.

Merlin said something that pretty much equated to "You are so brave" that nearly made Addison gag. Did the two of them not like each other? They weren't too fond of one another a few days ago, apparently trying to prove that someone was using magic shield snakes to cheat acted as a wonderful bonding exercise.

Addison waited a couple of minutes after Merlin left before making her way to Arthur's room. She let herself in and shut the door. Arthur had been staring pensively into the fire stoked in his rooms, but by the time that Addison had turned the key in the lock he was staring at her. His dark gaze was unreadable and Addison found herself squirming under it.

"You picked the locks again didn't you?" he asked, his tone betraying no emotion.

Addison nodded. "I was worried, I came to see how you were doing and if… if you're still mad at me."

Arthur looked her up and down he turned to face her but didn't move to her. "I'm not mad at you."

"I embarrassed you," she whispered.

"You did." That acknowledgement came with a stern nod. As if she didn't all ready know that.

"You sent me to my cell, you never do that," she said with a bit of a pout.

Arthur's face didn't change. "After that display in the throne room you forced my hand. You know what my father's like. What he would assume. Not only did he assume that I was a coward he thought I went to him simply because you said so. Do you want to be sent away Addison?"

The stoniness in his voice startled her. "Well… no… but…" she started but he interrupted her.

"You can't keep doing this Addison. Sooner or later I won't be able to protect you from him and then what?" Addison merely stared at him she wasn't sure what to say to that. Arthur had started shaking and Addison realized that he was, in fact, scared. "After tomorrow… you might be on your own."

Addison crossed the distance and put her arms around him. Arthur molded into her immediately crushing her in his own tight embrace. "You'll be here for a long time yet," she assured him as she ran her hands up and down his quaking back.

She let Arthur calm down before letting him go and taking a good step back being sure to stay close to the door. "I need to tell you something and you need to promise not to freak out," she told him. "Actually two things, I need to tell you two things."

Arthur was immediately wary. "He did something, didn't he?"

"Well if you're speaking of Valiant, yes. He came to my cell again, but it wasn't that bad, really it wasn't. He just spouted some nonsense about how he was going to kill you and put me straight into his bed or something. No the important this is that I… uhm… I… I sort of set him on fire," Addison whispered avoiding his eyes.

Arthur was silent staring at her a look of muted horror on his face. "You... how did you?" he asked before coming to the right conclusion. "Magic, you did it with magic didn't you?"

Addison nodded and Arthur winced. "That's not a good thing, Addison you said you'd stop," he whined.

"Oh, like I wanted to set Valiant on fire!" Addison cried. Arthur pinned her with a dry glare. "Alright fine! I wanted to set Valiant on fire, but I didn't mean to do it with magic. I mean come on Arthur I was pretty surprised that it happened."

"What if he tells my father?" Arthur snapped. Addison shrugged and Arthur sighed. "Well I guess I have to go kill him, come on let's go."

Arthur went to grab his sword but Addison stopped him. "Don't be ridiculous. Kill him tomorrow."

Addison held him to her, keeping him from moving. Well actually he probably could have moved her if he really wanted to, but she knew from experience that once he got in her arms he wouldn't want to move. It was a gamble because if he was that angry he would very much push her aside and storm off but this time he wasn't as angry as she expected because he merely wrapped his arms around her and put his face into her neck.

She didn't know how it happened but suddenly they were making out once more. His mouth hot and demanding on hers, their hands travelling places they shouldn't but honestly she couldn't care less about the propriety of a medieval woman. They tumbled to the bed and that was enough to remind her that this was not the time to be playing foot loose with princes.

She murmured his name and he pulled back. "Yes, yes I know," he replied but she let him continue kissing her anyway. Her fingers ran through his hair as he leisurely went about kissing her worries away.

He broke away briefly to say: "If something happens to me tomorrow I want you to take a purse of gold and run..."

Addison wouldn't let him say anything more to her. She brought his lips to hers and hushed him. She didn't tell him that she knew for a fact that he would survive the battle because it wasn't a promise she could guarantee. She wasn't going to tell him that she planned to throw herself between him and the snakes, to draw them out herself if she had to, or that if he did fall tomorrow that she would damn well kill Valiant herself, with this new magic that seemed to be growing inside her before either being executed or running away from Uther's long reach. None of that would make the night better. Instead she held him, whispered how brave she thought he was and how she would soothe his fears for the night. And that was exactly what she did.

Addison was gone when Arthur awoke. He didn't know where she had gone, and he was pretty upset by this. He wanted to see her one last time, kiss her one last time because obviously last night was not and could not ever be enough for him. He got a visit from Morgana instead, who helped him with his armour and wished him luck. Obviously she had seen the light and gotten over her wonder for Valiant. And all he could say to her was: "See you at the feast." As if he believed it.

Merlin, on the other hand, had been up all night. Trying to get this stupid statue to come alive, but for whatever reason he couldn't do it. He just didn't have the power or the mastery yet. He barely had a voice anymore, it was nothing but the merest of whispers.

Arthur had gone to the field. He began his war with Valiant, he danced away from the shield but it was this maneuver that kept him off balance and was giving Valiant an edge. It was Addison who saw the faltering, ready in her plan, and sensed the movement of something, some sort of magic not her own and not Valiant's. Something was stirring and like the sponge she was she ran to it, wanting to use it to her advantage.

Merlin was deep in his trance at this point, chanting the words over and over hoping just one stumbling over the words he would have ingrained in his memory for ever now would make the magic work. He knew once he got it once he could do it again, he just needed it to work one time.

A soft cry of: "Merlin," broke through the haze and he felt something stirring. Regardless he said the phrase again, but this time he was answered with a bark. Merlin gaped at the now life-filled dog, and then a happy grin broke onto his face.

"I did it!" he crowed.

The dog barked again, lunging for him just as his door opened. Addison, in a strange combination of both red tunic and blue skirt crashed into his room.

"Geezus! Why are you just sitting here?" she cried. The dog snarled and lunged at him again. "Oh you got it to work! Great!"

Merlin was scrambling to his feet as the dog lunged and snapped after him. Addison swept her hand as if she were swatting a fly: "Shoo!" she said and the dog suddenly sat down.

She grabbed Merlin's arm and dragged him out of his room, shutting the door behind them. "Come on! We're late we have to go!" she told him pulling him towards the exit.

As they got to the door, Gaius burst in, he didn't even seem the slightest bit surprised that Addison was there and dressed so oddly. "Arthur's fighting Valiant," he told them.

"I know!" Addison called. "I've got a plan!"

As she pulled him past Gaius Merlin added: "Whatever you do, don't go into my room. I'll deal with it later."

Of course that didn't stop Gaius from opening the door when they left, just a peek to see what was inside. The massive dog lunged for the door and Gaius closed it just in time. Yep he was definitely going to let Merlin deal with that one.

While that was going on, Addison was dragging Merlin, in a full tint sprint towards the field where Arthur was losing a battle against Valiant. As if he needed the encouragement. They got to the side and Addison and Merlin were both a bit breathless. When he got there he saw what a sorry state Arthur was in. His sword had been lost and Valiant kept trying to pin him against things with his shield.

While Addison caught her breath Merlin watched the fight unfold. Addison came to stand beside him she was bouncing up and down and shaking her hands, for the first time Merlin saw what real fear looked like on Addison's face.

"Okay, here's the plan. That little spell thing, you're going to use it, time it just right. I'm going to touch the shield, you say the spell and there, everyone thinks it's me and you're secret's safe," she said.

Merlin had to admit that was a pretty good plan. He was surprised how quickly she seemed to come up with that. "You ready?" she asked and then before he could say yes she dashed away from him.

Arthur threw Valiant and his shield off of him just as Addison slid between them a look of pure angry determination on her face. "I am NOT a liar!" she shouted and put one solitary finger towards the shield.

Arthur drew a hand out to grab her, Uther was shouting her name in outrage and Merlin was chanting.

Bobay odathay aresan quicken.

As the snakes appeared they hissed and went to strike at Addison's recoiling arm. Had Arthur not grabbed her red tunic and pulled her away in time she would have been bit. Silence fell on the crowd, everyone had gotten up on their feet to get a better look.

Uther was absolutely dumbfounded. "He is using magic!" he whispered in horror. Goddamn it Addison had been right, he was never going to live this down.

"You stupid little witch! What have you done?" Valiant hissed.

Addison had been swung away from the snakes, safely deposited behind Arthur. She took a step out from behind him and smiled at the snakes hissing on the shield, their heads bobbing but following her intently.

"HA!" Addison crowed. "I was right! Now everyone can see it. I was right and you're a cheating little cock-sucker! You can suck my invisa-dick!"

"Addison," Arthur growled because now Valiant's attention was back on her. He laughed at her, he said nothing but the snakes slid off of the shield. Addison's smile had faded her eyes went wide.

"It's okay," she said slowly moving away from the safety of Arthur's side. She put her hands out in front of her, waving them up and down in a wiggling snake like motion. "That's right, you remember me don't you? The thing you're not sure about. Just keep following me."

"Kill her!" Valliant ordered.

Addison's eyes turned to him. "Fucking really?" she cried but didn't get much else out, the snakes were now approaching aggressively. She quickly ripped the skirt away from her waist revealing a pair of black trousers and a pair of tan knee high boots.

She threw the fabric of the skirt at the snakes, momentarily confusing them and then turned to run leaving the snakes to struggle their way out of the fabric. Arthur called her name and went to chase her but Valiant charged him. It wasn't really fair seeing that Arthur didn't have a weapon.

Merlin was momentarily distracted as Addison sprinted past him no longer encumbered by the skirt so she was much faster. In that time that he had turned away Morgana had thrown Arthur a sword and finally the match was even between he and Valiant. Arthur was very rightly pissed off and fighting twice as aggressively as Valiant had been all tournament.

They parried a few blows and then Addison reappeared jumping through the stands making her way back to the pitch. People were scattering and screaming getting out of the way of the snakes chasing her. She threw herself over the barrier tumbling into a roll and recovering nicely, the snakes not far behind. She had turned and started to back flip, vaulting over and over, once, twice, three times, and a fourth.

It was a dizzying display but it kept the snakes away from her, each strike narrowly missing her as she flipped. It got them tangled up, but it also sent her in the wrong direction. Arthur, in the middle of his sword play noticed her coming from his left and ducked just as she vaulted in her fifth and last back flip over him and decapitated the two snakes giving chase while ducked down. He spun and brought his sword up, driving it straight through Valiant's middle where he hadn't been blocking, as he had been too busy raising back a death blow for Arthur.

Arthur was so close to Valiant, he felt the urge to whisper something taunting in his dying opponent's ear.

"Looks like Addison and I will be going to the feast after all."

Addison had vaulted too hard that last time, her footing unsure and she ended up in the dirt as the cheers erupted and Valiant's dead body fell to the ground. Arthur was sweating and panting and accepting the praise of his people who were all cheering his name.

Addison accepted the hand that Arthur offered her, letting him pull her to her feet. She smiled at the crowd and bowed lowly to them causing Arthur to laugh. Merlin could feel the charged atmosphere between them from where he was hiding, he wondering if Arthur would swoop in and kiss Addison then and there.

Even though Arthur was getting the attention and Addison would get the credit Merlin was happy. Happy he helped, happy that Arthur succeeded and happy that the trial was oven. He was proud to be a part of this victory, even if it was secret one.

"Yay we won!" she said feebly before her eyes found the dead bodies around her. "Are those dead bodies?" she asked and then her eyes rolled back in her skull and she fainted once more.

Arthur laughed, he was honestly too tired to care.

The party, later on that night, was joyous, spirited, rowdy and all around raucous. And Merlin was enjoying every second of it. He was just as happy as everyone else that the prince had won this tournament and many a knight told him that they had believed the rumor the second it was brought to light. Being sure to add that they didn't assume right away that magic was involved but they believed wholeheartedly that Valiant was a cur and a cheat.

Arthur was sent to his rooms to prepare for the banquet right after he left the ring, Addison was sent straight to the dungeon. Gaius didn't even get a chance to examine her properly. He determined she hadn't been bitten and that was it. Exiled, punished even though she had been to one to out Valiant and to prove Arthur truthful and uncowardly.

Merlin didn't think this was fair, in fact most people didn't think it was fair. The knights had all gone to Uther, petitioning him to be more lenient. So she had broken the rules? So she had disobeyed Uther so profoundly and intervened in a tournament? She had singlehandedly proved Uther wrong and saved Arthur from an inevitable death by magic snake. But therein lied the problem. She had proved the infallibly proud Uther wrong and he didn't rescind her punishment. Some of the knights boasted of righting this terrible injustice themselves, but Merlin didn't get the details of this nor did he see Addison around so he wasn't sure how true this could be.

He did know that there was one serving wench who was faster then the others. Merlin was certain she looked familiar but she was good at keeping to the shadows so Merlin hadn't caught a good look at her face. He really wanted to thank her, she had already given him a free mug of mead. It tasted good, having only had one sip of it so far, and then someone knocked it out of his hand. He already felt warm and a bit dizzy so he both wanted and didn't want her to come back and give him more.

Uther was laughing and smiling, seemingly ignoring the fact that he came so close to losing his son once again. He caught sight of something and his smile widened.

"My honorable guests," he announced. "I give you Prince Arthur, your champion!"

Everyone clapped politely as Arthur entered the room. He had his armour still on, even though it was freshly cleaned and polished, so it was probably his fancy chain mail and even fancier tunic. He had a long red cape bustling out behind him and circlet of gold and precious stones upon his brow. He offered his arm to Morgana who was waiting for him with a bright smile.

"My lady," he said to her.

She bowed slightly while she said: "My Champion," to him and took his arm.

Merlin, who was standing next to Gaius in the way back at this point, turned to him. "See? I told you he gets all the girls and the glory."

Gaius cracked him a smile and leaned in towards him. He said very softly: "And he owes it all to you."

Merlin tried very hard not to smile at this, because, after all. It was true.

Morgana did some leaning of her own, brushing her shoulder very unbecomingly against Arthur's shoulder. "Has your father apologized yet for not believing you?" she asked.

"He'll never apologize," Arthur told her his smile never once fading. He quickly changed the topic. "I hope you're not disappointed that Valiant's not escorting you?"

Morgana ignored the dig and instead said: "Turns out he wasn't really champion material."

Arthur tried to hide the smile that wanted to beam on his face after that comment. He looked away, the two of them had made it to the head of the room where they would be sitting in a place of honor with Uther.

Everyone else went back to conversing and toasting and having fun. Arthur decided to say: "That was some tournament final."

Morgana half chuckled. "Tell me about it. It's not every day a girl gets to save her prince."

Arthur gave her a confused looked. "Uh... I would say I needed exactly saving," he told her. "I'm sure I would've thought of something."

Morgana's own smile faded. "So you're too proud to admit that you were saved by a girl?" she accused. She asked it like it were a question but Arthur wasn't stupid, he knew an accusation when it fell from her lips.

Arthur frowned at her. "Because I wasn't."

Morgana plastered a deceptively sweet smile on her face. "You know what?" she asked in a sugary tone. "I wish Valiant was escorting me."

Arthur was quick to respond having assumed that this was what she was going to say. "Me too!" he snapped. "Then I wouldn't have to listen to you."

"Fine!" Morgana cried.

"Fine!" Arthur cried back just more manly.

Morgana quickly walked away and found Guinevere no doubt to regale the tale of their newest argument. So Arthur did the same, turning and finding Merlin near-by he went to him immediately.

"Can you believe Morgana?" he asked him pointedly ignoring the surprised look on Merlin's face. "She says she saved me! Like I needed any help!"

And it was true, he didn't need any help from anyone. Besides if anyone saved him it was Addison and she was being punished for being insolent again. Arthur took a small pause to examine Merlin, the boy wouldn't look him in the eye and he seemed more stiff and awkward then he usually was.

Arthur sighed and realized that he was about to bruise his pride once again just to make this poor dolt relax and maybe smile again. "I wanted to say, I made a mistake," he told him, being certain to lower his voice so no one else could hear. "It was unfair to sack you."

Merlin smirked a little. There were a lot of things he wanted to say like "It totally was and you should feel bad." But he settled with something modest and nicer. "Don't worry about it. Buy me a drink. We'll call it even."

He probably shouldn't be getting a drink the sip from the last one still hadn't worn off. He also purposely didn't mention that he had already gotten a free drink and could probably get another one.

Arthur made a face and Merlin realized that the prince probably wasn't going to waste good coin on an ex servant. "Uh... I can't really be seen to be buying drinks for my servant," he told him.

Merlin nodded, thinking he had heard what he had thought and realized that Arthur had said something else entirely. "Your servant?" he echoed. "But you sacked me!"

Arthur smirked a bit and then shrugged. "And now I'm rehiring you," he said. Merlin's smile widened and Arthur's widened too. But he didn't want Merlin to think that he was doing this just to be nice. "My chambers are a complete mess. My clothes need washing, my armour needs repairing, my boots need cleaning, my dogs need exercising, my fireplace needs sweeping, my bed needs changing, and someone needs to muck out my stables."

As Arthur piled up the list of chores and Merlin's smile faded into a look of sheer horror and pre-exhaustion just from thinking about doing all of this Uther had vanished into the shadows to corner a serving wench he was sure he never hired.

He frowned down at Addison who had a full tray of mugs of mead. She was dressed quite nicely, in a faded blue serving gown, her hair was done in the traditional braid around the crown of her head and she was acting her usual demure self. He didn't ask if she had spilled anything yet as he figured that would just be tempting fate.

"I could have sworn you were confined to your cell," he growled.

Addison lowered her gaze like she rightfully should when addressing someone of his station and said: "The knights didn't think it fair that I be punished for saving the day so they set me free," she told him.

She set the tray down on the table, put her hands on her hips and looked Uther in the eye again. "Besides, I wanted to prove that I do in fact remember all your lessons about good medieval manners. I know I've been quite unbecoming the last couple of days but I was very frantic about the idea of Arthur fighting someone who was cheating. Once I knew magic was involved all lessons of decorum just flew out the window," she said. She once again picked up the tray, her chin tilted up defiantly. "I am going to prove to you tonight that not only can I serve and not catapult a full tray of mead onto anyone—least of all you— but that I can be a proper lady as you so desire me to be."

She took half a step away and walked right into the way of another server. This server knocked into her sending her flying the mugs of hot mead raining down all over Uther in his fine livery. Leaving Uther soaked with sugary alcoholic warm liquid and Addison gasping and covering her open mouth with her hands.

He looked up at her under hooded eyes as he shook off the excess from his arms. "Addison!" he thundered causing the party to come to a completely silenced halt.

Addison merely yelped and ran away before Uther could grab her. She ran towards Arthur ducking to the side before he could grab her, which meant when Uther went by he tripped over Arthur's extended foot. Merlin couldn't tell if Arthur had done this on purpose but it definitely worked.

Addison stopped in her chase and smiled down to the felled Uther. "Aw, did you fall on your royal face?" she asked him.

"Addison!" Arthur hissed in warning as he bent to help his father up.

"Right! Running!" she cried before whirling around and disappeared. Arthur helped Uther off and shrugged of the accusatory glare. The guards ran after all after Uther waved them off to do so but everyone in that banquet hall knew that no one was going to catch Addison after she had a full three minute head start. The party went on and everyone was merry, except for Merlin who had too many chores to complete before tomorrow.