A/n: hello guys! So I am back. With another chapter. But before starting with the chapter, u want to thank those who gave my story a try and liked it. Also thank you @Wolf-Girl34572, for your review. And yes Arthur will know soon.Now enjoy the chapter.
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That night, Alexia decided to sneak out to prevent her nightmares. She sat up on her bed and glanced at the sleeping Merlin. She stood up and then went out of their chamber. She passed a sleeping Gaius and quietly opened the door passing it and shutting it behind her back.
Glancing around, Alexia looked delighted not to find anyone. She needed some time alone. To see what happened, to make some sense and to see what she has to do.
When satisfied, Alexia sneaked down the castle and passed the courtyard. She exited the main gate and went towards the forest. She was thinking if it was a good idea, but decided that her magic would help.
She reached the woods and sat under a large tree, watching the waning moon.
" How come I came here? I jumped down from a cliff, and then there was a splash. A lake. There was a lake at the bottom. But how come I am here if I fell into a lake? This is so confusing." Alexia babbled.
" Kilgarah said that I am here to change destinies. So maybe I can change Morgana's and mordred's. After all I always wished Arthur to live. But how can I do this?" She mused to herself.
" Alexia I think you have gone mad. You are babbling with yourself." Alexia scolded herself. She then groaned and held her head in her hands.
" I am here in Camelot, in some 5th or 6th century, with real Arthur Pendragon. With real Merlin. With magic, and at a place where if someone found out, my head would be down in a minute." Alexia groaned.
" Great! Just great!"
" Okay I can't do anything else, but just do what my destiny is. To save Arthur, to prevent Morgana and to protect the innocent Mordred. He was a kind kid. But due to kara he turned away. And yes. I have to improve Merlin's behaviour towards Mordred and Morgana. I can't let Merlin poison her." She vowed.
" Now things can change!" She exclaimed excitedly.
After spending more than an hour planning and talking to herself, Alexia got up to return the castle.
She stood up and pulled her hood, allowing her hair to fall freely. She shook her head swaying her hair and giggling when her hair brushed her face.
With a smile adorning her face, she took steps to return to castle. With the thoughts that everyone would be asleep, she decided not to put her hood. But unknown to her, this was her biggest mistake. As she was passing an empty corridor, knight Valiant appeared from the corner bumping into her.
Alexia was shocked.
" Who are you?" He asked.
Alexia tried to form some words.
" You. You are prince's manservant. Aren't you?" He asked.
Alexia was afraid and confused. Whether to say yes or no.
Then she heard a laugh.
" Wow! Who knew prince Arthur's manservant is a girl, and that too beautiful one." He said.
Alexia looked down.
" Do you know what would happen if I told king that his only heir's manservant is in disguise?" He asked in a low voice.
Alexia jerked her head up to look at him.
" I... I.. I can never hurt..." she started but was cut off by valiant.
" He will chop your head off in a second, thinking that you are here to attack his son." He said in a low dangerous voice, taking a step forward.
Alexia momentarily took a step backward. Valiant moved towards her while she kept backing, untill her back hit the wall.
" I can save you." He said placing his hands on the wall capturing her.
" After this tournament, you can come with me." He said nearing her.
Alexia's eyes were wide with fear.
" I think I.. I will be fine here." Alexia stuttered.
" Think about it girl, you will be there with me. I will keep you safe, and in return you can give me some pleasure." He said whispering in her ear.
Alexia squeezed her eyes shut. Her breathing was becoming uneven. Her face was covered with sweat now. All the flashes of that night came forward.
" No!" She whispered in a shaky voice.
" No!" She repeated, a bit loud now.
A tear rolled down her eye.
" Don't even think of saying no!" He said moving a finger, down her face. But as he touched her, his felt sharp jolt of heat.
" Ow!" He yelped. Alexia's eyes jerked open. Glowing gold and Valiant was thrown away.
" How dare you?" She said in tears.
Valiant got up in rage. Thinking she pushed him with her hands.
" How dare me? I can do whatever I wish. I can kill you here, and no one will worry about you. You should be grateful." He told her.
" I will tell Arthur." She warned.
Valiant scoffed.
" Oh really. And what would you say? I was trying to come near a man? Don't forget he doesn't even know you are a girl. Just wait for the tournament to end. I. Will. Get. You." He said in cold voice and left a shaking Alexia.
Alexia quickly tied her hair and put on the hood, she ran back to her chambers, shaking badly but, quietly she made way to her bed.
Tears were flowing freely now. Valiant will kill Arthur and then he will come for her. She cannot allow it. Never. Closing her eyes, she tried to sleep and after sometime, Merlin shook her trying to wake her up.
" Alexia wake up. We have to get the prat his breakfast." Merlin said shaking Alexia.
Alexia just nodded while Merlin gave up shaking her.
" What happened Alexia? It is always you, who wake me up. What happened now? Are you fine?" He asked.
Alexia gave another nod.
Merlin sighed.
" Alexia, get ready and come for breakfast. I am going to the prat, it's already late." Merlin said and left the room. Alexia turned around as she heard the door shut. She sat up on her bed and looked at her blanket.
Back at the tournament grounds, Merlin and Arthur watched as a serving boy used a step ladder to put on the helm of Arthur's next opponent.
"You're telling me you've got to fight that?" Merlin asked incredulously as he fixed Arthur's armor.
"Yes, and he's strong as a bear. But he's slow." Arthur said, sounding like he was trying to assure himself along with Merlin.
Merlin nodded and grinned in understanding. "Ah, and you're fast." He said, handing Arthur his shield.
"Exactly." Arthur agreed, looking surprised.
" Where is your other friend today?" Arthur asked.
"Alex is not fine today." Merlin said looking at ground.
Arthur furrowed his brows.
" He was fine tomorrow." Arthur said.
" I know. But today morning, s.. he was not well." Merlin told him.
Arthur just frowned.
Merlin finished helping Arthur with his armor and patted his shoulder as he walked away. In the stands, Morgana absently stroked Gwen's cloak.
"You're not worried, are you?" Gwen asked Morgana.
"No." Morgana replied a little too quickly.
As Merlin went about his chores, he saw Valiant put down his shield. Gaius and Alexia approached Merlin from the side.
"How're you getting on?" Gaius asked, noticing the direction of his gaze.
"Fine." Merlin snapped. "Just doing my job. Minding my own business." He finished coldly, and then his eyes fell on Alexia.
" Alex, you finally came. How are you? And what happened in morning?" Merlin asked her.
" Fine." She just murmured giving him a tight smile.
Alexia then went to do his work for Arthur.
After a fierce fight against the bear like knight, Arthur knocked out the knight and won. Valiant won his next match as well, leaving Arthur and Valiant to fight in the finals. Merlin and Gaius looked at the final brackets and then at Arthur who was getting his armour removed by Alexia.
"Valiant's going to fight Arthur in the final. He'll use the shield to kill him." Merlin stated. Shaking his head in frustration, he turned and walked away.
Merlin and Alexia sat with Sir Ewan by the sick bed, keeping an eye on him, when Gaius entered.
"Merlin, Alexia," Gaius began, "about what I said yesterday...Look, Uther wouldn't really listen to you or me, but you are right. We can't let Valiant get away with this."
"But we don't have any proof." Merlin repeated Gaius' earlier words, looking up at him.
Alexia just looked at floor.
"Well, if we could cure Ewan, he could tell the King that Valiant was using magic. The King would believe another knight. But how we get the antidote...Well, that's another matter." Gaius sighed, looking down at the knight.
A deciding look came over Merlin before he got up and left.
"Merlin?" Alexia called after him. Merlin just kept walking without another word. Alexia quickly followed his steps.
In the council chambers, some of the competitors were sitting at a long table enjoying a large dinner with the king. Arthur was sitting at the king's right, and Valiant was sitting at the king's left.
"Long live Valiant!" All of the knights cheered.
"So, Valiant," Uther said as he poured himself some more wine. "do you think you stand a chance of defeating my son?"
"He is a great warrior, My Lord. I do hope to be a worthy opponent." Knight Valiant raised his glass before taking a drink.
From the corner behind a pillar, Merlin peeked into the Council Chamber and saw Knight Valiant eating.
"You should stay in Camelot after the tournament. I could do with more knights like you." Uther said, while Arthur looked slightly sick at the thought.
"I'd be honoured, My Lord." Valiant replied with a slightly sinister smile.
Merlin quickly ducked out of the council chambers and grabbed Alexia and headed to Valiant's guest chambers. When they reached the locked door to the knights chambers, Merlin held his hand up and whispered, "Allinan."
The door unlocked with an audible click before creaking open. Merlin and Alexia entered and took two swords from a nearby rack, approaching the shield. Merlin touched it with the sword before kneeling to inspect it further. A noise down the hall made Merlin and Alexia turn to face the door, and the sound of footsteps was heard coming closer. While Merlin's back was turned, a snake slithers out of the shield and poised to strike. Alexia saw the shadow.
" Merlin!" Alexia exclaimed. Merlin quickly whipped around with the sword and cut off its head.
Alexia sighed in relief.
The other snakes come out, but Alexia dropped the sword and turned to Merlin, grabbing his arm, who in turn grabbbed the first snake head and dragged him out of the room. Knight Valiant paused outside his chamber, seeing the running figures.
Gaius drained some venom from the snake head into a bottle before inspecting.
"I'll get started preparing the antidote." Gaius said, grabbing some ingredients.
"I'm going to tell Arthur." Merlin stated, turning towards the door.
" I am coming with you. Let's take the snake's head." Alexia said.
Merlin nodded picking the head. They turned to leave.
"And Merlin, Alexia" Gaius added, "what you did was very brave."
Alexia gave him a small smile.
" Gaius! Don't leave sir Ewan." Alexia said. Gaius glanced at her and then nodded.
Arthur was seen dining in his chambers, looking incredulously at Merlin and Alexia
"You?" Arthur looked doubtful, "You chopped its head off?"
" Yes! Merlin chopped its head off. Why are you doubting him?" Alexia answered for nth time to his question, irritated and annoyed.
Merlin talked rapidly as he explains. "Ewan was bitten by a snake from the shield when he was fighting Valiant. You can talk to Gaius, you can see the puncture wounds in Ewan's neck where the snake bit him. Ewan was beating him, he had to cheat."
"Valiant wouldn't dare use magic in Camelot." Arthur scoffed. At this Alexia rolled her eyes.
"Ewan was pinned under Valiant's shield. No one could see the snake bite him." Alexia pointed out.
"I don't like the guy, but that doesn't mean he's cheating." Arthur stated
" Oh don't worry, that man deserves to be hated and hanged to death." Alexia muttered.
" He is a knight. Give him some respect." Arthur warned Alexia. Who in turn just ignored the warning.
"Gaius is preparing an antidote to the snake venom. When Ewan's conscious, he'll tell you what happened. If you fight Valiant in the final, he'll use the shield. It's the only way he can beat you." Merlin said stopping there bickering.
" Wrong choice of words Merlin! His ego is already as big as his head. Don't push it." Alexia huffed.
" Alex! ". Arthur said incredulously.
" Look at it." Merlin said picking up the head of snake, holding it out to Arthur. "Have you ever seen any snakes like this in Camelot?" Merlin asked shrewdly.
Arthur took the snake head and looked it over as he thought.
"I know we are just servants" Merlin added quietly, "and our word doesn't count for anything. I wouldn't lie to you." He ended firmly.
Arthur looked at Merlin and then Alexia, before speaking. "I want you to swear to me what you're telling me is true."
"I swear it's true." Merlin immediately swore.
" Even I swear to you." Alexia added.
"Then I believe you." Arthur replied before looking back to the snake head.
Valiant was escorted through the Square to the council chamber. Gaius continued Sir Ewan's the treatment in the Physician's Chambers, and Ewan slowly woke.
"Welcome back." Gaius smiled down at the knight.
Meanwhile at council chamber.
" I will be back just in a moment." Alexia said and went out.
"There was a snake on his shield. It came alive." The knight mumbled, clearly still groggy.
"You're weak. The snake's venom is still in your system." Gaius informed him.
"I must warn Arthur." Knight Ewan said, trying to sit up.
"Arthur already knows." Gaius said, pushing the knight back down on the cot. "He's requested an audience with the King. Now, they'll want to talk to you. Rest. You'll need your strength." Gaius stood up and headed for the door. "I need to fetch more herbs. I'll be right back." Gaius called over his shoulder before he left.
One of Valiant's snake slithers across the room before slithering onto Ewan's bed. Ewan's eyes shoot open in panic as he saw the snake.
In the council chambers, courtiers gathered. Arthur and Merlin are standing off to the right, while Knight Valiant positioned himself on the left. King Uther entered and sat on the throne while Arthur approached and bowed.
"Why have you summoned the court?" Uther asked.
"I believe Knight Valiant is using a magic shield to cheat in the tournament." Arthur announced, causing gasps and astonished mutters to echo through the chambers.
Uther straightened at the word 'magic'. "Valiant, what do you have to say to this?" Uther asked, looking down at the knight in question.
"My Lord, this is ridiculous." Valiant scoffed. "I've never used magic. Does your son have any evidence to support this outrageous accusation?"
"Do you have evidence?" Uther asked, turning to Arthur.
"I do." Arthur motioned Merlin forward, who handed Uther the snake head from the shield.
In the Physicians chambers, Gaius mixed another potion for Sir Ewan, not noticing the man missing.
"I'm afraid this potion tastes like toad water..." Gaius stared but stopped noticing his absence.
Back in the council chambers, the court was looking on the enchanted shield.
"Let me see this shield." Uther commanded.
"Don't let him get too close." Merlin whispered to Arthur.
"Be careful, My Lord." Arthur advised, drawing his sword while Uther inspected the shield.
Arthur nudged Merlin. "We need Ewan. Find out what's happening."
Merlin nodded and went back to speak with Gaius.
Gaius looked at him in worry.
"As you can see, My Lord, it's just an ordinary shield." Valiant assured the king.
"He's not going to let everyone see the snakes come alive." Arthur pointed out reasonably.
"Then how am I to know that what you say is true?" Uther questioned.
"I have a witness. Knight Ewan was bitten by one of the snakes from the shield. Its venom made him grievously ill, however, he has received an antidote. He will confirm that Knight Valiant is using magic." Arthur said while Valiant smirked a bit, thinking the knight to be dead.
"Where is this witness?" Uther asked
"He should be here..." Arthur turned to Gaius and Merlin, who are looking sheepish and upset.
"Where's Ewan?" Arthur muttered impatiently.
"We don't know." Merlin replied, obviously upset at the turn of events. Arthur dropped his sword.
"I'm waiting!" Uther exclaimed impatiently.
Arthur turns back to his father, humiliation all over his face. "I'm..." He was cut off when the doors opened and Alexia entered supporting knight Ewan.
Valiant was shocked.
" Here sire!" Alexia called out.
Merlin and Gaius looked at her.
" The witness is here." She repeated and helped Ewan to come forward.
" Sir Ewan." Uther said.
" Do you confirm the accusations on knight Valiant in matters of magic?" Uther asked.
Ewan nodded.
" Yes my lord! I was bitten by a snake while my fight with knight Valiant. The snake came alive from the shield. And even today, a snake was there to strike me, when the court physician, Gaius left to bring some herbs. If Alex wouldn't have been there, I would be dead." Ewan told Uther.
Once again murmuring started between the members of the court.
Valiant looked outrageous at the turn of events, while Arthur, Merlin and Alexia looked triumphed.
Valiant turned to Uther and grabbed his shield. He pointed at Arthur.
" Kill him!" He commanded, and immediately, two snakes came to life, striking at Arthur.
Morgana quickly turned to the nearby knight grabbing his sword.
" Arthur!" She yelled , throwing the sword at him, which he caught.
He quickly striked the snakes, chopping of their necks. Valiant turned run when gaurds caught him.
" Valiant, you are accused to the use of sorcery and magic. You are also accused to attempt murder of the prince. You are sentenced to death. Tomorrow, at dawn, you will be hanged to death." Uther announced.
Valiant tried to get out of the grip and grabbed the dagger from his arm. He quickly held Alexia as a hostage and placed the dagger on her neck.
" One more step and she will die." Valiant said.
Everyone looked at him shocked.
" Drop your dagger Valiant." Arthur said ignoring the change in gender in his sentence.
" Oh you knew her secret." Valiant scoffed.
Arthur looked confused.
" Alex is actually a girl." Valiant said pressing the dagger at her neck.
" What? Surely he acts like a girl sometimes, but he is not." Arthur said.
" Oh! Well she is." Valiant said and removed her hood, but it was his turn to be shocked. Her hair were short, quite short. Only till her shoulders.
Merlin and Gaius gasped a bit. He quickly left her in shock.
And before anything could be said, a blade was pierced in his stomach, killing him in an instant. Arthur stood there with a blooded sword.
Alexia looked at Merlin and Gaius and then at Valiant. A smirk adorning her face.
" The tournament finals will be held tomorrow, between prince Arthur and the knight..., Seeing as he was the one who was last defeated by Valiant." Uther announced and left the room.
In evening.
" Why the hell are your hair so small?" Merlin asked.
Alexia laughed.
" Oh it was just a spell." She said and smiled at his relieved face. And she removed her hood, revealing her long hair.
" Stop this childish questions Merlin. Now Alexia, how did Valiant know about your truth?" Gaius asked.
Alexia's eyes darkened.
" He caught me in corridor." Alexia replied in a monotone.
" And he didn't inform the king?" Merlin asked shocked.
Alexia shook her head.
" According to him, I was best suited beside him. So he didn't tell the king. He wanted to ' get me' after killing Arthur." Alexia said in anger.
Merlin was shocked, he was now feeling worse and wanted to kill Valiant, again.
" That's the reason I want to stay like a boy. Atleast i am safe." Alexia sighed.
Merlin nodded and moved to hug her. She reciprocated. Gaius smiled at them.
Next day, Arthur won the tournament and now it was the times for feast.
At the feasts, courtiers mingled; the room filled with talking at low tones. The chamber was decorated in a grand style, tables overflowing with fine food and wine and decorated with large candle and plant centerpieces. When Arthur entered, Uther noticed and got everyone's attention.
"My honorable guests," Uther said with a wide smile, "I give you Prince Arthur, your champion."
The court applauded loudly as Arthur offered Morgana his arm.
"My Lady." Arthur nodded to Morgana.
Morgana curtsied with a big smile. "My champion."
Off to the side of the court, Merlin turned to Gaius and Alexia and said in a low voice, "See, I told you he gets all the girls and the glory."
"And he owes it all to you." Gaius responded.
"Has your father apologized yet for not believing you?" Morgana asked as they walked through the dining hall.
"He'll never apologize." Arthur said.
"I hope, uh, you're not disappointed Valiant's not escorting you."
"Turns out he wasn't really champion material." Morgana said with a wide smile.
The two faced each other with smiles. "That was some tournament." Arthur said conversationally.
"Tell me about it. It's not every day a girl gets to save her prince."
Arthur scoffed at the thought that anybody saved him "Uh, I wouldn't say I needed exactly saving. I'm sure I would've thought of something." He said, his head high and voice proud.
"So you're too proud to admit you were saved by a girl." Morgana taunted.
"Because I wasn't." Arthur replied.
"You know what? I wish Valiant was escorting me." Morgana said, her voice annoyed.
"Me too. Then I wouldn't have to listen to you." Arthur retorted.
"Fine!" Morgana exclaimed
"Fine." Arthur agreed.
Morgana stormed through the crowd off to talk to Gwen. Arthur turned to Merlin and Alexia.
"Can you believe Morgana?" Arthur asked, incredulous. "She says she saved me. Like I needed any help." Merlin and Alexia smiled knowingly at that statement.
" Oh and yeah! My chambers are a complete mess. My clothes need washing." Their smile started to falter. "My, uh, armor 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."
At night, Alexia and Merlin could be seen polishing Arthur's chain mail.
" Merlin! Do you think we should learn an animation spell? Like for a situation like this?" Alexia asked.
Merlin flashed a smile at her.
They quickly opened the book and flipped pages.
" Here!" Alexia exclaimed. They looked at each other and muttered.
" Bebay odothay arisan quickum. "
Both chuckled. And next day, a statue of the dog was vanished from the courtyard.