Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin! I only own my OC, and any other characters or plotlines I make up along the way!

AN: NEXT EPISODE IS THE FIRST PART OF THE FINALE! I'M SO PUMPED!

I'm not even lying, you guys have though shit has gone down in the season 1 and 2 finale.

Let me tell you.

Shit is gonna go DOWN in this two part season 3 finale. I hope you're ready!

ENJOY!

"Remind me how many times you've won this tournament, Uther," Morgana asked at dinner. There was another Camelot tournament on the horizon, but the difference with this one was that there were no rules to the tournament.

I was sitting next to Morgana, with Uther at the head of the table and Arthur sitting across from Morgana. Merlin served us our dinner as we all talked.

"Three," Uther answered.

"That's a lot to live up to, Arthur," I teased.

"Indeed," Arthur nodded.

"I remember your last victory," Morgana started, looking over at Uther. "You were a master in the arena. It's such a shame we won't see you compete again."

"Who says you won't?" Uther asked.

"I thought you said you were too old to take the field?" Morgana asked innocently. This was obviously a ploy to get Uther to participate in the tournament and "hopefully" get killed.

"Not age that stops me. I'll still prove a match for any man," Uther retorted.

"Well, we won't be finding out," Arthur answered for him.

"Why ever not?" Uther demanded.

"Because I don't want you getting hurt," Arthur answered, causing his father to laugh in response.

"You think you're still capable of winning?" I asked Uther as I sipped from my wine.

"The kingdom needs him to rule, not to fight," Arthur said pointedly.

"Do you think I can't do both?" Uther wondered.

"Well, you're not as young as you used to be. Besides, I need someone to keep me company in the stands," Morgana said.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for the tournament," Arthur interrupted, standing up. "Merlin?" He nodded at his servant, who nodded and put the pitcher down. Merlin followed him out of the room.

"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," Morgana said, and she discreetly winked at me when Uther looked away.

This was gonna be a long couple of days.

The next day, the tournaments began, and I sat next to Morgana as she stood in the stands to announce the beginning of the tournament. "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Camelot! This is a contest like no other. It is open to all comers. Including our reigning champion, the King."

Uther rounded the corner as the arena burst into applause. Arthur's face dropped as he realized that his father was going to be participating in the tournament.

Morgana continued. "There are no rules, no weapons are banned. The last man standing takes the prize. Let the tournament begin!"

The fights went on and on and on, but there was one young man who stood out to me. The man he was fighting was a lot bigger than he was, and he was even injured, but he managed to beat his opponent.

I stepped out of the stands and went over to where Gaius and Merlin were.

The young man that was there before was with them. "That was a fine victory," I congratulated the man.

He blushed slightly. "Thank you."

Gaius nodded at his injury. "That'll need treating."

The man shook his head. "That's alright."

"Gaius is the court physician," Merlin offered.

He shook his head again. "It's just a nick, I'm fine," he insisted before taking his leave.

"He's using magic," Merlin immediately said as soon a he was gone.

My eyes widened in surprise. It made sense. "I was wondering how he won so easily."

Gaius nodded as well. "I suspected as much. The ring bears a mark of the Old Religion. 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 asked.

Gaius shook his head. "He doesn't have your powers, Merlin, but as to wield a ring such as that would need considerable gifts."

"Well, he's braver than me, using magic in front of all those people," Merlin commented.

"He's also stupid," I added, and Merlin looked over at me is surprise. "There might be no rules in this tournament, Merlin, but magic is still outlawed in the Kingdom. If Uther finds out, he'll have him killed."

Merlin later asked me to come with him to see the man, Gilli. Apparently he had healed himself with magic and it had left a mark, a mark which Uther questioned.

Merlin knocked on the door to his room at the hotel/pub that a lot of the tournament guests were staying in.

"Who is it?" Gilli called out, and Merlin and I stepped inside.

"Merlin and Elizabeth," He nodded at me as we walked in. "Come to see how you are."

Gilli looked down at his wound. "It's a lot better."

"Can I have a look?" Merlin asked.

"There's nothing to see," Gilli insisted.

"The way you fought earlier, that was incredible," I offered.

"Yeah?" Gilli wondered.

Merlin nodded. "For someone your size to be able to beat a man like that. I'm sure a lot of people are going to think you're using magic." Gilli's eyes widened, but Merlin quickly shook his head. "We're not going to tell anyone."

"I'm not using magic," Gilli insisted, but Merlin held up Gilli's ring in answer.

"You don't have to fear me. It bears the mark of the Old Religion. Where did you get it from?" Merlin asked as he tossed it back to Gilli.

"My father. He left it for me," Gilli answered.

"Did he have the same powers as you?" I asked.

"He was a gifted man, but he would not touch magic," Gilli answered. "He vowed never to use it. He feared it, wouldn't even let me talk about it."

"Why?" Merlin asked.

"He was scared Uther would find out, that the King would discover he was a sorcerer. Even when he was attacked, he had three men on him, he still wouldn't use this," Gilli said, holding the ring in his hand.

"Is that how he died?" Merlin wondered.

Gilli didn't answer, but it was all the answer we needed. "I'm not going to be like him," Gilli said instead.

"Because you want to be proud of who you are?" Merlin asked.

"Why all these questions?" Gilli demanded.

Merlin and I exchanged looks, before Merlin answered him. "You remind me of someone I know."

"Who?" Gilli asked.

Merlin shook it off and said, "You saved my life, and I'm trying to save yours. You need to withdraw from the tournament."

"It's an open competition. You're supposed to be able to use whatever skills you have," Gilli said simply.

"Yes, fighting skills," I told him. "No offense, but you are no swordsman. Magic is your talent, not fighting."

"Then why can't I use it?" Gilli demanded.

"Because it's banned," Merlin insisted.

"Without magic, I'm a nobody. People think they can kick dirt in my face," Gilli retorted.

"You're not a nobody! You're special," Merlin tried.

"Then let me prove that," Gilli pleaded.

"Listen," I started. "If you continue using magic, you will get caught, and Uther will put you to death."

Two other men entered the room, halting our conversation. The two men were a bit drunk, but they were sober enough to recognize me. They both instantly bowed in front of me. "My Lady," they both said, and I nodded at them in acknowledgement.

Merlin and I gave each other looks before we strode out of the room.

The next day, Uther and Arthur won their matches, meaning that they were going to be battling each other. When they fought, it was very obvious that they were fighting as hard as they could, but eventually Arthur threw the fight so that Uther could win. But once Uther won, his opponent became Gilli.

Later in the night, Merlin came to me. "I went to go see Gilli again."

"What happened? Did you convince him not to fight Uther?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. He's still going to fight him. All he can think of is the respect that he's getting from people. I tried...I tried talking to him, I even showed him that I had magic too! But it just didn't work."

"Then what are we going to do?" I asked.

Merlin sighed and shook his head. "I don't know."

The next day was the final day of the tournament. Gilli and Uther fought, and of course, Gilli used his magic. But this time, Merlin used his own magic to counteract his. Again, Gilli tried, and again, Merlin counteracted the magic.

Gilli finally let up when he realized that Merlin wasn't going to let him hurt Uther. He gave up, and Uther won. Gilli walked off the field sadly, and I saw Merlin trying to say something to him, but Gilli ignored it as he walked away.

"I know why you did it," I told Merlin as we sat in my room before dinner that night.

"But should I have?" Merlin wondered. "Was Gilli right?"

I shook my head. "No, he wasn't. He wasn't using magic for the right reasons. You tried to show him the right of way, he didn't listen. You can't blame yourself."

He huffed. "I guess you're right."

I smiled as I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "When will you learn that I always am?"

Morgana and I were on either side of Uther, holding on to his arm as we walked into the dining hall. Arthur was already at the table, where the servants were setting up the dining table for us. An impressive array of food laid on the table, and I could feel my stomach grumble with hunger.

"I thought the boy was going to kill me," Uther said, and I turned my attention back to him.

"So did we," I said, nodding at Morgana, who nodded along with me.

"Then, suddenly, the old fighting spirit kicked in," Uther continued excitedly. "I dug deep, found my strength, and the whole thing just began to flow. I felt at one with the sword."

We all sat down at our designated seats as Uther finished, "My feet moved instinctively."

"And now you're champion once again. And maybe you can give Arthur some lessons," Morgana teased as she nodded at Arthur.

"It is I who learned a great deal from our fight," Uther stated.

"I can't see what," Morgana shook her head.

"He's a far better warrior than you think. It is Arthur who should've claimed the prize," Uther nodded at his son.

"But sadly he wasn't good enough," I joked as I gave Arthur a smile. Arthur just rolled his eyes at me as he lifted his glass to his lips and took a sip of his drink.

"Because he threw the fight," Uther said simply, causing Arthur to choke on his drink. Uther continued without a break. "That I might save face."

"You knew?" Arthur asked in disbelief.

"I have followed your progress with a sword since you were a boy," Uther explained. "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. 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 raised his glass, and all four of us toasted to Uther's victory and Arthur's nobility.

TBC...

Honestly this episode was so BORING.

But that's okay because the finale is gonna be awesome.

IT'S PART ONE OF THE SEASON THREE FINALE NEXT! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT WE'RE HERE ALREADY?

REVIEW! FOLLOW! FAVOURITE! THANKS! STAY TUNED!

THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH MALINOR CONTINUES...

A Druid holds out the Cup of Life.

"The Cup of Life will soon be in our hands," Cenred declares to Morgause.

"It's imperative that we get to the Cup before he does," Uther insists to Gaius.

"Morgana and Morgause seek the Cup of Life," Elizabeth tells Merlin. "It's in a Druid camp that lies in Cenred's Kingdom."

"To have such a weapon at their disposal, Camelot would be all but lost," Gaius reveals to Merlin.

Elyan swings on Arthur, not knowing it was the Prince.

"Elyan!" Merlin calls out.

"Get the Cup, then kill them," Cenred orders his men as they watch Arthur and Merlin.

The Cup of Life goes tumbling out of a scrambling Merlin's hands and over the cliff.

TUNE IN NEXT TIME!