The upcoming tournament had everyone excitable and had the knights pulling double duty. Krysia found Merlin at the tournament grounds, watching the knights practice as Arthur gave corrective instruction. Krysia arrived just in time to see Leon unhorsed by Arthur, hit brutally by a lance.

Leon had never won a tournament, although Krysia knew he had far more skill than he ever showed. He often drew Arthur in tournaments, and he was too gallant and gentlemanly to try to show up his future king. Krysia thought it was silly, and she knew Arthur would feel the same, but try telling Leon that. Try telling Leon anything.

"That has got to hurt," Merlin said.

"That's the point, Merlin," Arthur said. "It's not a pillow fight. Fetch me another lance, will you?"

Merlin hurried away, and Arthur rounded on Leon.

"Why did you pull out?" he said. "I was wide open. You could have unhorsed me."

"I was fearful that I might insult you, sire," Leon said.

Krysia nibbled on the inside of her lip.

"You had the advantage," Arthur said. "You cannot afford to hesitate."

Merlin came back with the jousting lance spared an amused look for Krysia, who wasn't feeling particularly amused. She knew Arthur wouldn't like such behavior, but she thought he'd known it was occurring. It would seem, from his reaction, that he hadn't known.

"I would not have done it if I were facing a different opponent," Leon said. "You are the future king, my lord."

As Krysia had feared, Arthur looked at Leon with a new scrutiny and a childish sort of disappointment.

"You jousted against me in the tournament last year. Are you saying you let me win?"

Leon was too slow to answer, "No, my lord."

But Krysia recalled the fight well. She'd known at the time that Leon let Arthur win. She truly thought Arthur knew that. But now Arthur stood, looking around at all the watching knights ready to take their turn at practice.

"It does not matter who I am!" Arthur insisted. "I do not expect any special treatment from you, from any of you! Is that understood?"

Leon stalked away from the tournament grounds and startled when Krysia followed him toward the armory.

"I know you've something corrective to say to me," he said, "and I do not wish to hear it."

"Then I won't say it," Krysia said. "Come, sit down. I'll see to any wound from the hit."

"It's not necessary," Leon said quickly. "I'll see Gaius later."

"There's no point," Krysia said. "I'm here now."

He seemed uncomfortable, but Krysia supposed it was the sting of his pride at being unhorsed, especially when he'd had the upper hand. Arthur didn't realize how unpleasant it was for the knights to make such a decision.

Leon sat still, allowing Krysia to remove his armor. When she went to raise his tunic, which had a snag, he hesitated.

"I can't see your flesh through the tunic," she said.

He laughed nervously, then allowed her to remove the tunic. She examined the snag, declared it fixable—albeit not by her, but someone with skill with threat—and turned her attention to his chest.

Krysia was fair-skinned, but she forgot how pale Leon was until her hand was against the skin of his chest. His face would tan when he took longer journeys, but his chest was always fair as the day he was born. He flinched at her touch.

"Does that hurt?" she said, examining a scrape and a bruise.

"No," he said.

"What if I…?" She applied gentle pressure near the bruise, and he hissed.

"It's more the surprise," he said when she met his eye. He was staring at her strangely. "You really don't have to do this."

"Already doing it, Leon. There's no point stopping a job halfway done. It appears superficial. If the color hasn't improved by morning, you'll want to see Gaius. Let me just find something to cover the scrape."

She carefully bound a makeshift bandage about his chest with the supplies Gaius left in the armory for emergencies. When she finished, Leon took her hands in his gloved hands and met her eyes.

"Thank you," he said. "But really, you needn't have done. Aren't you meant to be somewhere else?"

"I'm on a break," Krysia said. "It's fine, Leon. I'm happy to do it. Take care of yourself during the tournament, alright?"

"I always do," he whispered.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but there was something odd about how Leon had been with her lately. She'd dismissed it as the nerves from Uther's increasing use of her mother's name. She was beginning to see potential threats everywhere, that was all. Leon was the same as he'd always been. Indeed, constancy was one of his greatest virtues.

He thanked her again, and she returned to her chores, and perhaps it was just her imagination, but she felt like he was watching her leave.

/-/

That night, it was a rare occasion when both Merlin and Krysia were serving dinner. She observed Merlin as he filled the wine goblets, and she realized they had some work to do on his form if he wasn't to spill all over someone at a feast.

"We've received reports that a beast was seen in the forest near the northern borders," Arthur said.

It was most unusual for the first Krysia would hear of such reports was the first the king heard of it. Gossip moved swiftly through the servants. She suspected knights flirting with pretty serving girls was the primary source, but she didn't question what she benefited from.

"What is the nature of this beast?" Uther said.

"It is said to have the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the face of a…bear." Krysia could hear the lie in Arthur's voice, but Uther didn't seem to notice. "I believe it has been conjured by sorcery."

Merlin's near laugh and knocking of Uther's goblet confirmed Krysia's suspicions. Arthur was lying about something, although why she couldn't be sure.

"Then we must destroy it," Uther said.

"I'll leave for the northern borders in the morning."

Uther, torn between his two most beloved things (smashing magical beings and watching his son win tournaments), was disappointed when he realized what Arthur riding out would mean.

"But you'll miss the tournament," Uther said.

"As much as I want to compete," Arthur said, "my duty to Camelot comes first."

"You are right, of course," Uther said.

Arthur seemed pleased, so as they walked back that night, Krysia decided to put pressure on the weak point.

"Where's Arthur really going?" Krysia said.

"Northern borders," Merlin said, although he was smiling.

"Merlin—"

"Don't worry about it, Krysia. He'll be perfectly safe, I promise."

Krysia didn't like not knowing, but she supposed that if something stupid was about to happen, as often did with Merlin involved, at least she'd know it wasn't her fault or her responsibility.

/-/

The following day, a few hours after Arthur rode out, Krysia was attending the king in the council chamber, where a man was led in, a man who was a knight in service to King Odin.

"Your prince, sire," the man said, "is in danger."

"Is he?" Uther said. "Your name?"

"Kelda, sire."

"Kelda. Tell me of this danger."

Kelda did seem nervous, but Krysia didn't sense any falsehood. Either he was a very good liar, or he truly felt that Arthur was in danger.

"I was there in person," Kelda said. "Odin has a price on Prince Arthur's head."

"Surely he would not dare," Uther said.

"He's blinded by grief, my lord. The assassin Myror has accepted the bounty."

"I've heard of this Myror."

"I think he's heading for Camelot as we speak. I bring you this information at great risk to me."

Uther considered Kelda for a long moment before nodding for someone to pay him. Kelda left, bowing and grateful.

"Double the guards," Uther ordered. "I want this assassin intercepted before he reaches Camelot."

/-/

Krysia slipped away from the king as the tournament ground began to fill. She found Leon pacing in his tent, and she tried not to smile at his predictable nerves.

"How is the bruising?" Krysia said.

"Much recovered," Leon said. He stopped short, like he'd been about to say something else. He smiled at her. "May I ask something?"

"Anything," she said, checking his armor.

"Would you give me a favor?" he said. She froze with her hands on his mail hood, straightening it out. "For luck," he said, as if she didn't know what a favor was.

She forced a laugh and came around to his front again.

"Don't be silly," she said. "You don't need luck, and even if you did, I'm hardly worthy of bestowing a favor."

"You are," he whispered. "Please, Krysia. I won't mention it to anyone else, if it makes you uncomfortable."

He looked so earnest, and she wished she could help him, but if she took out her hair ribbon, she would risk Uther recognizing her again. But how could she talk her way out of a reasonable request without exposing herself?

"I didn't come with anything to give," she said.

"Please," he whispered again. "Anything at all."

She knew Gaius wouldn't be happy with her, but she pulled the ribbon from her hair. The hair fell about her neck, and Leon watched her straighten out the ribbon, then hold it out.

"On the lance or on the knight?" she said.

"On the knight," he said. "People are more likely to notice it on the lance, and I respect your privacy in this matter."

She carefully tied the ribbon to the upper arm on his sword side, and she tested its tightness.

"There," she said. Her face felt hot. "But you really don't need luck, Leon."

"I do," he said, smiling. "Go, Krysia. You'll be missed if you linger too long. Thank you."

She returned to her place in the King's box and watched the first day of jousting nervously. Leon did seem to be a stronger version of himself. He made no mistakes, he unhorsed his opponents swiftly, and mercifully, no one seemed to notice the ribbon on his arm. She felt embarrassed about it, and she couldn't figure why.

A new knight, Sir William of Deira, also had a good morning, unseating everyone who came against him. Leon drew him for the semifinal, and the following day Krysia knew would be the true challenge of her supposed luck.

/-/

Krysia held her breath as William and Leon faced off at the tournament grounds, and she had a horrible feeling. When Leon was unseated, the crowd rose to cheer Sir William, but Krysia jumped to her feet and slipped away to check on Leon.

He was in his tent when she arrived, and he was wincing, pulling his armor off. When he sat her enter, he tried to smile, but he was clearly in too much pain.

"Let me help," she said.

"It's fine, I'm only winded," he ground out through his teeth.

Krysia didn't listen. She helped him get the armor off, and then she took a cloth and wet it to help him cool down. The bruising on his chest had worsened, and she sat in front of him on the bench. She rested the cloth on the back of his neck, then began to examine the bruising.

"I told you I wasn't lucky," she said.

"It's fine," he said.

"You should have gotten someone else."

"I didn't want someone else," he whispered.

He took her hands in his, despite her not being done with her examination of his bruising. Before he could say whatever he was about to say, Gaius entered the tent, and he looked mildly surprised.

"I'll leave you to the expert," Krysia said, standing and forcing a smile. "I'm sure the king will be wanting me."

She swept out of the tent without a backward glance, and she couldn't think why her pulse wouldn't calm.

/-/

Early that evening, when Krysia was returning back from serving Uther dinner, Gaius waylaid her and walked with her toward his quarters.

"I have a bit of a warning for you," he said.

"Why, what have I done now?" she said.

His face was stern, though, so she paused, concerned.

"You know you have a destiny," Gaius said.

"Yes."

"And I suspect…you know with whom that destiny is meant to play out," Gaius said.

Krysia didn't meet Gaius's eye, recalling with alarming ease the face of the stranger from her dreams. She couldn't tell how many weeks it had been since she'd dreamed of him, yet his image was burned in her mind like she'd just dreamed him the night before.

"In a manner of speaking."

"And I would suppose," Gaius whispered, "that the man in question is not Sir Leon."

She jerked her head back so suddenly, her neck was sore, and Gaius stared back, still stern.

"Leon?" she said. "Absolutely not, why?"

"Do not tease him, then, Krysia."

"I really don't know what you're talking about," she said. Her neck felt hot. "I haven't teased anyone."

"I recognized your ribbon."

"He asked for a favor," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "We're friends, Gaius. I did tell him he'd be better off asking someone else, but he insisted."

Gaius hummed at her disbelievingly, then began walking again. Krysia let the confusion settle on her before she followed him.

"Gaius, it was really nothing—"

He opened the door to his chambers, and Merlin said, "Dinner's ready."

Indeed, there was a roast chicken on the table, which startled Krysia.

"What I said this morning…"

"It is I who should be apologizing to you," Gaius said. "I have failed to appreciate just how heavy your burden must be."

"I should not have lost my temper with you," Merlin said.

"It's no wonder you're upset. There's so much resting on your young shoulders. Now that Arthur's away, you must take time to enjoy yourself."

Krysia cleared her throat, pointed at the table, and said, "Yes, but where did the chicken come from?"

Before Merlin could answer, there was a knock at the door and Gaius invited the person in. Leon opened the door, which made the back of Krysia's neck go hot again, thinking of Gaius's suggestion that she was teasing Leon. What could he have meant by that? Was he right? Had she done something wrong?

"The King commands your presence immediately," Leon said.

/-/

Leon led Merlin, Krysia, and Gaius to where Uther was, standing over the body of a guard that was very, very dead. Gaius bent over the corpse to examine it, and Leon tried to stand in Krysia's way of looking at it.

"Can you determine a cause of death?" Uther said.

"His neck's been broken," Gaius said. "There's a mark on the flesh. Whoever killed him knew exactly what he was doing."

"Early this evening," Leon said, "an intruder was spotted in the lower town."

"Then I fear it's true," Uther said. "Odin has sent an assassin to kill Arthur."

"An assassin?" Merlin said, startled.

"Have you heard from Arthur at all since he rode out for the north?" Krysia said.

Merlin was a better liar than Arthur to be sure, but she could tell he was lying when he said no. It was just a question of what the truth was.

"With this murderer in Camelot," Uther said, "we must be thankful Arthur is not here. Search the entire town. I want the assassin found before Arthur returns."

When they left the corridor, Merlin started walking very quickly, and Krysia tried to keep up with him.

"Merlin, answer me honestly now," she said. "Where is Arthur really?"

Merlin paused, and he looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was following them. When he was satisfied, he said, "Please, don't worry about it. Don't ask about it. I'm handling it."

"Merlin—"

"Krysia, please," he said. "Trust me."

"Just tell me where he is," Krysia whispered. "I won't ask…. I won't get involved, but in case you do need me to, I'd rather know what to expect."

Merlin hesitated, then said, "He's been in the lower town. No, don't react, please. I'm going to deal with it, alright? Don't worry, I'm…I'm dealing with it."

Krysia wasn't sure she believed him, but she watched him hurry away.

She knew Arthur well, though. The only reason he'd make excuses to not be in the tournament but still be in town was that he was trying to prove something, and it didn't take long to connect his excuses with the tumble Leon had taken unnecessarily in practice.

The only knight who could actually be Arthur, however they were pulling it off, was Sir William. She couldn't help but smile a little bit.

She'd known all along that Leon's best chance at winning was if Arthur was gone, not because Leon always let Arthur win—although, he did—but because Arthur knew Leon's weak points. They'd known each other since they were children.

The irony Krysia would never say out loud to Arthur, whether she was technically meant to know or not, was that by trying to prove himself, he'd actually just created a different kind of advantage. He knew the fighting styles of every knight in Camelot, and while they also knew his, none of the men thought the man they were fighting was him. Instead of letting him win, Arthur was taking a secret advantage he didn't recognize he had.

While it wouldn't ease the sting of Leon's defeat, Krysia felt confident that someday he would win a tournament. After all, he could easily have beat Sir Alinor, had he bested Arthur. Someday Leon would get the recognition his life-long hard work deserved. Arthur just needed to not be in the tournament.

It was a small comfort for Merlin's pickle, but she would take what she could get.