Author's Note: I sought to update quicker, but it did not happen because of some distractions and things in my life and the fact that this chapter just not coming to me, but once I got things pretty settled and writer's block was mostly overcome, I got to this.
Anyway, thanks to all my buddies who talk with me, read/edit/pre-review for me, and give me ideas. Special thanks to Girl in the Corner of the Room for your input. Love you all!
And thanks of course, to all my readers/followers/favorites/reviewers.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
The Once and Future Queen
The flag is waved and the two jousters charge forward with their lances aimed. Merlin watches rather anxiously. He had arrived after last year's jousting tournament and so this event is completely new to him. The servant was uneasy when his master explained it to him and now that discomfort grows as he continues to watch Arthur and his knights practice. However, he understands that this event is important to the Pendragons and the de Boises. This tournament is begun every year on the day of Ygraine's birth, to honor the beloved late queen.
When the riders meet, it is the prince who un-horses his opponents. For Merlin's part, he is thankful for this, but he still winces at the sound of splitting wood and the other knight falling from his horse.
Merlin walks toward Arthur and takes the broken lance, "That has got to hurt."
The prince lifts his helmet, "That's the point, Merlin. It's not a pillow fight. Fetch me another lance, will you?" Merlin does so and another round begins.
This time, Arthur jousts against Sir Leon. While the two charge towards each other, a flash of light temporarily blinds Arthur and he turns away. Leon has half a mind to pull out in order to not injure the prince, but he knows this will anger Arthur as well as get himself into trouble with a certain duchess. So, the knight attempts to compromise by using the advantage, but with the least amount of force possible. Shifting the lance so the some force would come back at him and aiming for Arthur's left shoulder where there is the most armor, Leon strikes as they meet.
Leon is thrown off balance by his intervention of avoiding the most harm to the prince and his horse nearly runs into the stands, but he gains control and turns around, riding back to check on Arthur. Unlike the knight, the prince falls from his horse, but held onto the reins and succeeded in not colliding with the ground. When his horse slows down, Arthur catches his breath and footing and removes his helmet. Leon dismounts and does the same, apprehensive of what the prince will say to him about his actions.
Before anything is said, however, a feminine voice is heard in the distance. "Arthur!" The prince, his servant, and the knights all turn toward the voice, to see the Lady Morgana, in a green robe with a golden girdle, standing with her maidservant on the outskirts of the jousting pitch. "Estella's retinue has arrived!" she informs him and turns to head for the main square with Gwen at her side.
Arthur, Merlin, Leon, and the other knights start running after the women – every one of them, anticipating the arrival of the Duchess of Caerleon.
When they reach the citadel, they find that the main square is cleared in the center, but full of people around the sides and on the steps. Agravaine had complained on their first visit that there was a lack of a welcoming party for him and so all the years after, Uther has gathered most of the entire court to welcome them. The Pendragon banners get caught in the soft breeze of autumn as well as the de Bois which are hung for the occasion. The knights scatter to take their position amongst the others in the main square. Arthur and Merlin search for Morgana and Gwen and hastily, they join the women where they are waiting with the rest of the court on the steps.
...
Estella rolls her eyes as Elaine complains once again about the tiny little specks of dust on her extravagant, pale blue gown. Really, she has not learned by now that one should wear the appropriate clothing when traveling.
The duchess absolutely loathes the way this large procession is set up. Agravaine decided he wanted to show off the wealth of the duchy as well as his own prestige by taking up leading with his guards and Elaine by his side. Estella is behind his group of guards, with her knights, her Ladies-in-waiting, and Hefina and the other servants. She does not care about formalities – which would place her as the lead and Elaine and Agravaine behind her, the Ladies behind them, with Hefina in the back with the servants, and the guards and knights surrounding them all (she would rather be in the very back alone, to be away from Elaine and Agravaine) – but this is another method of her uncle to disgrace her. It's not the actions themselves, but the result of them that bother her.
Agravaine also decided on having the guards bear the de Bois banner and crest, blatantly and obnoxiously so. Proud as Estella is of both sides of her heritage, she never has her personal entourage show any signs of where they hail. It is safer that way for them. But the Lord of Caerleon insists on everyone knowing who he is.
Really, this trip is not even for him. It is for his deceased sister, no matter what his feelings on her are. Estella does not know what the de Bois siblings were like, as she has never questioned about her father, she never asked about his brother and sister's past. There were never assumptions made by her either, nothing can be simply presumed when it comes to Agravaine.
She hopes, though, that he will behave, at least in public. This is the one time out of the entire year in which the king and his brother-in-law (should) set aside most of their difference and the former is allowed in Camelot. And those of Caerleon may stay until the jousting is over.
They enter the main square. Agravaine roughly dismounts and makes a show of helping Elaine down and ignoring Estella. The party gathers and approaches the king as he walks to them. Stable hands come to take away the horses. The two men give each other cold stares and grip at each other's arms.
The king starts with a glacial tone, "Agravaine-"
"Uther," the other man addresses with the same chilliness, interrupting.
The king ignores the discourtesy and then turns to his brother-in-law's ward. He takes her proffered hand and bows his head to her, "Lady Elaine."
"My Lord," she curtsies and waits as he lets go of her hand. Elaine sneers when he turns back to Agravaine completely disregarding the fact that he should have complimented her.
"I presume that the chambers usually set for me and my company are ready," Agravaine says.
Uther nods, "Yes, everything is arranged and as you have 'requested' every year."
"Good," the man offers his ward his arm and she takes it, "We will find our own way."
The king nods again, "I hope you have a comfortable stay." The Lord, his ward, and his guards and servants go into the castle and Uther signals for the court to disband all save for the prince, the ward, and their servants. The guards and the knights who were practicing stay where they are as well. Uther then turns to his niece – who had been quiet during the previous exchange – and his face breaks into an affectionate grin.
She bows her head and walks up to him with her own joyous smile, her maid and knights standing back, "Uncle."
"Estella," he says as he embraces her. "I trust the journey was not so terrible."
"Nothing I am not accustomed to." She shrugs, "The whining complaints of a damsel in distress about dust and dirt were worst than the dust and dirt itself."
Her uncle chuckles, "Even so, you are as lovely a vision as ever."
"I do think Lady Elaine wanted that compliment, Sire," the duchess smirks.
Arthur as always is tired of waiting to be noticed, so he walks around Morgana toward his cousin, the Lady follows suit. "I fear she did not deserve it, which is why the king deemed it necessary not to oblige her." She chuckles at his remark and the sudden hug he gives her. "Glad to have here."
"Glad to know that," and Estella snickers when Morgana shoves Arthur aside in order to embrace her. The prince sends her a mock glare. The four of them then enter the castle with the servants and Caerleon knights walking behind them. Arthur dismisses his knights and the guards.
"My, it is like when you three were children," Uther laughs, "Arthur and Morgana always fought and their favorite thing to feud over was you." He receives indignant looks from the former two. "But, of course, one of the most coveted women of the kingdoms will be wanted by all."
The duchess narrows her eyes with amused suspicion, "Why the exaggerated compliments? Is there something going on that I am not privy to?"
"Only you would say that, fair cousin," Arthur notes.
She turns, "You see, you call me 'fair' when I am not in any sense of the word."
"Only in your eyes," the king says, then kisses her forehead, "I have a matter to discuss with my council, but once you are rested, the three of you come join me for dinner." He then walks away to the council chambers.
Arthur then says in a hushed voice, "I cannot believe that you have snuck Lancelot into Camelot, once again."
"And I will continue to do so when I need to," Estella throws back.
He holds his hands back. "I am not reprimanding, I am applauding your sly talent for subtly."
Morgana speaks up, "It is too bad that he will not be able to join the joust…Unless, of course, you have a plan for that."
"Can he actually joust?" the prince asks skeptically given Lancelot's inferior circumstances.
He receives a punch for that, "Do not insult my knight. And for your information, Ethan has taught him and he can joust, better than I, but he simply does not want to risk exposure, even though it seems the king of Camelot is in a forgiving mood."
"Only because you are here," Arthur states, "And Lancelot is only good at jousting probably because he practices, unlike you."
Morgana intercedes when Estella looks like she may actually attack, "Alright," she tugs her cousin toward the way to her chambers, "You probably want to change and Arthur you probably want to bathe as well, you smell." And with that, the Ladies, handmaidens, and knights leave the prince and his servant.
But not before Estella retorts, "At least it will be one less knight for me to threaten to actually try their hardest when jousting against you!"
Arthur sighs, "Yeah," and makes his way to his own chambers. Merlin lingers behind staring at the other direction, "Merlin!"
Broken from his trance invoked by a certain Lady, he scurries after his master, "Coming!"
...
"What did you do?" Estella demands as Hefina pins back her raven curls.
Morgana looks up from the spell book, "What do you mean?"
"Since when does my cousin actually banter with me?" She flinches as a tangle is snagged.
The younger woman knits her eyebrows, "We always banter."
Estella rolls her eyes, "Alright, let me clarify – since when does Arthur actually bicker with me, he knows full well that I will always win against him and he usually gets enough of it from..." she eyes her cousin in the mirror, "Have you been avoiding him, again?"
The Lady turns back to the book, "I have been… spending less time with him than before," she answers.
The elder cousin quirks her eyebrow, "Well, he is taking that as avoiding then."
"He is recovered now," she reasons, "Arthur should know I will not be spending every waking moment with him." Her cousin remains quiet to let her continue, but she asks Hefina to leave them before Morgana speaks again. "And then there is my… magic. It is so difficult to keep the energy settled." The duchess then rises from her dressing table and sits next to her cousin. "I know you are trying, but all these sessions we have had while communicating through mirrors and water basins is helpful, it is better when you are here with me, training me in person."
Estella smiles empathizing with that feeling, when she continued her training after Vivienne's spell on Morgana, her mother and aunt visited less and the young Le Fay had to learn many things alone. "Then we should not waste time." She pulls the book closer to her, explaining, "It is your magic seeking out the presence of its kind."
Morgana considers this, "But what about Merlin?"
"What about Merlin?" They had already discussed the matter of Merlin and his powers when Morgana had first felt the aura of his magic. Estella also reminded her cousin of the prophecy of Emrys and Morgana figured out the rest for herself (as unlikely as it seemed for Merlin to actually have such a destiny surrounding him). But they kept this quiet from Merlin and Gaius, as the two men did not know about Morgana's renewed memories and magic (although they were not even aware that they were put away).
The other woman takes a moment to snicker though, "That is such an 'Arthur question', but anyway, I meant that, even though you marked him, he still has magic, since the mark only hides the aura of magic, not suppress the magic itself…"
While turning the pages of the book, she answers, "All magic is not the same, as you very well know, and despite the connections, his is different and does not have much affinity with ours. The irony is hilarious isn't it? But there are over three hundred years of generations in between since then, so…"
Morgana nods and then asks, "Why did you give him the mark?"
"Family first, Duty second, and then Honor, the relation, even though distant, still marks him as family and as a Le Fay it is my duty to protect those of our kind, and it is the honorable thing to do, protecting him," she replies.
After a moment, the younger cousin cannot help, but to question, "Do you like him?"
Estella then stopped what she is doing and gives her cousin a confused look, "In what context-No, never mind, no… Why are you asking this?"
"I just pity him," Morgana answers, "Since Gwen is now with Lancelot, Merlin is a bit melancholy because of that, I have seen his almost heartbroken looks, and I thought maybe-"
"No, do not continue that sentence," the older woman shakes her head, "I have sworn off boys."
The younger cousin gives her an amused look, "But not men-"
"We are not speaking of that, we are going to practice." Estella pushes the book in front of Morgana. "You need to work on controlling fire."
The younger cousin stands up with the book in her arms as the elder moves the chairs and puts a single candle on the table. "You barely have any control over fire either."
"I can start one and put one out without chaos and I do not accidently sent off fires in my sleep," she points out.
Morgana mock sneers, "You are cruel."
Estella retorts, "No, I am brutally honest, now, concentrate," she tilts her head to the object for extra emphasis. Her cousin exhales and then takes a deep breath. "Ignore all else," the atmosphere in the room seems to lighten, the air seems to stop shifting, time even seems to stand still, there is not even a whisper of a sound. "Focus all your energy inward and then toward the candle," Morgana closes her eyes and does as her cousin instructs. "Summon your energy and light the candle." Morgana struggles with keeping a firm grip on her energy, using too much of it will end up burning down Estella's chambers. Noticing her forehead tighten, "Do not be so tense. Calm yourself and relax. Treat you powers as if they are sand – you can hold a firm grip, but eventually, you must let go, let the grains seep through your fingers as they will."
Estella watches with bated breath. She knows that Morgana can do this, she has total confidence in her cousin and yet she is unconsciously holding her breath with her hands tightly gripped into fists at her sides.
'Light the candle,' Morgana hears in her mind… she focuses her energy on the candle, pictures her desired outcome… then hears a gasp from Estella. When she opens her eyes, she can see why. The candle is brightly lit, but the flame is growing. The Lady uses her magic to extinguish the fire and she is surprised to see that she succeeded.
Morgana moves to sit on the chaise. The spell may have been basic, but the effort she used to rein in the flame took a bit of energy. Estella gives her a goblet of wine dosed with a hint of vitality potion. "You are improving."
"Not fast enough," the younger cousin takes a sip from the goblet.
"You have mastered scrying, levitation, moving objects, control of the elements-"
Morgana interrupts, "Not-"
But so does her cousin, "-To a great extent, I know, which is why I said 'mastered' instead of 'master of,' but come now, cousin, have patience," the older woman advises. "You know not all of us can be Morgause."
Morgana chuckles at that. Her elder sister, the oldest of the three Le Fays daughter and the only one who handled her magic as effortlessly as picking up leaves from the ground and throwing them to the wind so they dance in the breeze. Many years now have passed since they were children, but the youngest Le Fays are sure that Morgause's magic is still as powerful and grand as ever and in her complete control. Morgana obviously has trouble with this, but as much as she hides it, as does Estella. The daughter of Valeria rarely if ever shows her inabilities. She knows that through all of this, Morgana needs her to stand strong and at least look invincible, since she cannot completely be as such.
"Any news on Morgause?" she then asks her elder cousin.
She shakes her head, "Not that I know of." The duchess sighs, "She would have done a better job with this than me – training you." Morgana turns to look at her cousin. There is an unreadable expression on her face, but then she turns to face her, "I know how hard this is for you, to try and catch up to the level you are meant to be on with your powers and if we could switch places, I would stand in you place so you would not have to struggle and I would in your stead."
Morgana smiles, "I know you would… but as we have learned, we are Le Fays and we face whatever trials come our way and no matter what, we face them together."
They share a soft laugh until they hear Arthur yelling and suddenly Estella's door slamming. After a moment, the prince walks into the bedchambers where the two women are.
"Father has summoned us now for dinner," he announces to them.
The eldest of the three then speaks, "Well, we are ready, but may I ask what all that noise was?"
"Merlin trying to sneak into here," Arthur answers and then grins, "And as we know, I am the only man allowed in your chambers, Cousin."
"You know that can be taken several different ways," Morgana quips with a smirk on her lips.
The prince is taken aback at her wit (he has been deprived of it for awhile), "Wel- well, you know what I mean." He gives them a dry look. Although, their cousin notices a certain glint in both Arthur and Morgana's eyes.
"Yes, thankfully we do," she intercedes to stop any further conversation. "Now let's go, I am quite famished." Their cousin then takes them by the sleeves and drags them out of her chambers. (She may love them, but they are not making up in her rooms).
In the stands, on the dais set for royalty, there are five chairs rather than the usual four. In the middle is the king's, to the right, Morgana, garbed in purple and teal, sits in her usual seat to Estella's left. To her right are Estella's knights who are not competing, her Ladies, and Gwen and Hefina. On the other side, sits Agravaine and his ward Elaine, both looking ostentatious in their jeweled clothes. Their guards are sitting in the section to their left.
Along with all the crimson and gold, there is midnight blue and gray. The crowds cheer as the knights, bearing the crest of their houses, begin to enter the jousting pitch on their horses. When they are lined up in front of the royal dais, the king stands to give his introduction speech.
"Knights of the realm, welcome to Camelot. You have trained for this day and now your bravery, strength and your skill will be put to the test. Today you will fight for glory and for honor. For this is the ultimate test of courage. And it will be the measure of you as men. For only the most skilful, the most fearless among you will emerge as a worthy champion, not only for the title but also the chance of escorting Lady Estella de Bois, Duchess of Caerleon to the feast at the end of this tourney." The king graces his niece with a smile as she lowers her gray gaze onto the knights before her. Of course all of them are staring at herself and her cousin beside her. Uther then continues, "I would also like to thank you all for your attendance of this event. For this may be a competition, but it is also to honor a great woman who could not be with us today." His eyes are distant and sad, but he refuses to look weak in front of the crowds so he quickly buries his melancholy and remorse and calls for the tournament to begin.
The king allows for himself not to dwell on his wife's memory as he watches the event with enthusiasm. His brother-in-law and the Lady beside him seem entertained, as well. The duchess and her cousin, however, are wincing whenever the lances break and someone falls heavily to the ground. At one point, one of the fallen jousters is dragged by his foot by the horse.
Before Arthur's last joust, Morgana somehow catches sight of one of the spectators in the opposite stands. He is at the very top, sitting amongst people and yet isolated from them. He is dark-skinned, more than Gwen with an even darker look in his eye as he stares at the prince. The way his expression is set… it is almost predatory. And for the rest of the time, the Lady has her eyes on the strange man, until Arthur is safely away in his tent and Estella calls out to her.
When they are alone, Morgana speaks of the man and her anxiety about him. Estella does not like what she hears, but she does not know who this man could be. They decide to keep this information between them unless something comes up. He is only one man after all. Whoever he is, if he is after Arthur, the Le Fays can handle him and there is also their mothers and of course Merlin watching out for the prince.
It is early evening when Merlin finishes the chores of repairing Arthur's lances, polishing his armor, grooming his horse, and then gathering herbs for Gaius. On his way from the forest, back to the castle, he decides to visit Gwen.
It is a friendly visit of course. The manservant had thrown away his former feelings for the maid and the wounds from her choosing Lancelot have healed. Unfortunately for Merlin, he has now been pursuing a most unattainable woman indeed. Estella de Bois is not only the king's niece and his master's cousin, but a ruling duchess in her own right, as well as a Le Fay and the women of this family are known to for their want to seem out of reach of all men (at least that is what Gaius told him once).
"Merlin!" the warlock looks up at the sound of Gwen's voice to see that he had been so deep in thought that he unceremoniously entered Gwen's house.
"Err, sorry Gwen, I meant to knock, but I guess I was too lost in my mind." He apologizes sheepishly.
The younger woman smiles graciously, accustomed to her friend's somewhat strange habits "It's alright; you know you are always welcome."
Merlin smiles and nods as his form of greeting to Lancelot (they're on pleasant terms again, even though the knight is unaware of Merlin's past feelings) who is standing at Gwen's table – which is littered with lilies, freesias, and delphiniums – next to a pretty and petite, fair-haired woman. The warlock recalls her face but not her name. She approaches him. "So you are, Merlin," she smiles, "I'm Duchess Estella's maid Hefina."
He smiles and shakes her hand and then gestures to table, "What are all the flowers for?"
Gwen moves to Lancelot's side, "Hefina and I are making the victory garland. It is tradition that the winner of the tournament crowns a woman, usually one he is or intends to court or even marry and if he is married his wife of course, with a wreath of flowers."
"King Uther himself asked for Queen Ygraine's hand after the first joust during his reign," Hefina adds.
Lancelot asks curiously, "What happened last year?"
"Prince Arthur won, as you know, and, as expected, every woman coveted that garland, but the prince chose to crown his cousin to honor his mother and her house. He mostly likely will do the same thing this year if he wins again," Hefina says.
"Well, I disagree," Gwen remarks.
Merlin quirks a brow in interest, "Why?"
The maid smiles in an almost conspiratorial way, "I did say once Merlin, 'some people are just born to be queen' I still stand by that." And no one in the room needs to voice what she means by that.
"Hmm, well, we'll see then. I should be getting these to Gaius," the dark-haired servants gestures to his basket, "I'll see you later," he says to the three and they wave to him as he leaves.
It is quite late in the night as Morgana lurks the corridors of the castle. Despite the increase in the guards, she has no fear of getting caught; she has taken to walking with the shadows as Estella does – and is doing right now. Uther had tried to keep the news of an assassin after his son a secret and for the most part it still is. The only people aside from the king, the prince, the guards, Merlin, and Gaius who know are Agravaine, Elaine, Morgana, and Estella.
And speaking of Elaine… said woman is making her way across the corridor to her chambers. "Well, if it isn't the virtuous Lady Elaine," she turns sharply at the sound of Morgana's voice, "Out for a midnight stroll?"
Elaine scowls in that unattractive way of hers. "Since when is what I do any of your business, Morgana?"
The Lady wrinkles her nose at the scent coming off of the other woman – mud, dirt, sweat, and… the results of her explicit activities outside the castle. "Never is it my concern, but I do wonder if Lord Agravaine knows how much of a slut his ward truly is?" Morgana knows that provoking her is not the smartest of things to do. Elaine has magic as well and is more experienced than she in its practice, but her Le Fay pride gives her boldness that always takes over even when the odds are not (supposedly) in her favor.
The older woman scoffs, "Well, Le Fay, think about your own cousin and her numerous affairs she has right under the king's nose. It is no wonder Agravaine likes me so much more. I am surprised she has not gone down with some sort of outlandish disease."
Morgana narrows her eyes. She knows full well that Estella is no virgin, but all the explicit details her cousin has kept to herself. In spite of this, she knows that the duchess chooses her men carefully and is even more careful to prevent certain 'occurrences', which is why her reputation stands unsullied, unlike Elaine's. "Estella may not be a maiden, but she is no harlot."
"Spoken as a true Le Fay, always wanting to protect family, whether it be from danger or ridicule," Elaine mocks, "But I am sure Estella has not shared her bedchamber activities with you and so you would not really know, would you?"
The Lady remains undaunted. No matter her being uninformed or her ignorance, she stands by her cousin. "There is an assassin roaming Camelot, I think you should go to the safety of your chambers."
Elaine scoffs, "Why should I care about a killer after someone who is not me? We both know you fear not for my life, but Arthur's whose life is in danger."
The tone of hidden glee does not go unnoticed. "If you are somehow involved-"
"What, what will you do little Le Fay?" the other woman taunts. "You are a disgrace to your family, only recently has your magic manifested and to spite of any training you may have had, it was all without the presence of your magic and I am sure you have noticed the difference." She laughs in her sniveling way, "My, how it is that you will keep the prince safe if you can barely watch over yourself with your weak sparks of sorcery?"
The Lady's eyes harden into green crystals. Elaine, of course, does not know the secret of Morgana's magic being forced into dormancy. She believes that her magic had simply been undeveloped itself until now. It is quite a common incident – for one's powers not show to themselves until later in life. "No matter what it takes," she starts in an exceedingly cutting tone, "I will protect Arthur, as he has always protected me." Her eyes glow brilliantly amber and Elaine winces at the sudden pain she feels in her nerves. Morgana then proceeds to walk away from her. The older swears that it is simply the darkness, fatigue, and the beams of moonlight, but an ethereal sort of light emits from the king's ward as she disappears into the shadows.
"Quite an attractive woman," a male voice with a foreign accent comments from the shadows.
Elaine steels herself and glares at the dark-skinned man coming out from the behind the tapestry. "I hired you, Myror, to do what you do best and that is not lust after so-called beautiful women!"
"I may be an assassin, Lady Elaine, but I am also a man, so I will observe when great beauty is before me," Myror replies smoothly, "Especially if it is that of a Le Fay."
"Unless you want your head on a spike, I suggest you get to doing your job correctly." She moves to walk away but he grabs her wrist tightly and she gasps.
"You were the one who wanted for me to intimidate him, shame him, and then kill him," he reminds the woman, "What better way than to make the prince become wary of my presence, make him lose the tournament, and kill him at the end?"
Elaine breaths sharply through her nose, "I have put a very generous bounty on Arthur's head and have given you extra pleasures as payment for his death, so where Knight Valiant failed me, I sincerely hope you succeed." Yanking her wrist back, she briskly walks to her chambers, rubbing her sore wrist while trying not to look back at the assassin's predatory expression set on her.
"Stop fidgeting," Merlin demands as he helps Arthur with his armor.
The prince scoffs, "I am not fidgeting."
"Yes you are," the boy insists.
"No, I am not," he nearly growls to his servant.
Merlin laughs a bit, "You're nervous."
Tightening his gloves, "I am not nervous, I don't get nervous. We have been over this."
The servant steps back as the prince gets up. "But last time it was the final for just a sword-to-sword duel, this time, it is a joust while you also have an assassin out for your head and he has managed to already get you as a warning that he is after you," Merlin points to the bandage covering the wound where a thin arrow had hit Arthur earlier that day, ironically, it is the same spot that Sir Leon hit during the practice joust. "So, with all that over your head, if I were you I would be anxious."
"Well, this is why you are not me then, because unlike you I can handle an assassin in the shadows lurking around and jousting while injured," Arthur throws back. A woman clearing her throat interrupts their banter. Turning to the tent flap they see Morgana, behind her is Estella with her face turned away. "Get out," the prince commands.
The warlock's eyes are on the duchess, "Huh."
Rolling his eyes and shoving his servant, "Get out, Merlin."
"Oh, right," as Morgana steps into the tent and out of the boy's way, he stumbles over his feet and nearly runs into Estella who closes the tent flap.
"Do always have to be so mean to him?"
Arthur shrugs, "If he would learn to leave when he should and learn to just keep his mouth shut then we would not have a problem. But I am not that terrible to him." And she sighs because the latter part is quite right; there are masters and mistresses out there who are much worse.
The atmosphere becomes tense, as it always is, when the prince and the Lady are alone. The woman walks over to the man and gently runs her fingers on his bandage, her eyes not meeting his. "Are you alright?" she asks.
He knits his eyebrows as he looks at the anxiety wrought into her fine features and of course, he hates to see her this way, "Are you worried?"
She gives him an annoyed look, "I asked you a question first."
"But you seem more out of sorts than I," Arthur points out, "So I thought I should interrogate you, as well." Her eyes finally meet his but she is silent, "Alright, how about we answer both questions at the same time."
Slowly she nods and after a moment's pause, they both say, "Yes," but once again they are quiet.
Finally Morgana pulls back her hand and steps away from Arthur, "I should allow you to ready yourself for the final joust." She turns to leave but the prince stops her.
"Wait… are you really going to just come in here and then just leave like that?" he sounds incredulous.
Morgana cannot help but smile at his petulant tone, "Come now, Arthur, you are well, so there is no point in me staying with you. So, be a brave prince and just voice whatever it is you desire."
The prince then grins wickedly, "Well, I don't think we'll have time for what I really desire at this moment." She blushes slightly. "But a kiss or a favor from you would be nice."
The Lady laughs as she goes back to him and pins a silver wyvern brooch with a pearl for an eye to his gambeson, "Good luck."
"I don't need luck," his smirk and arrogant tone earns him a dry look. "Although…" the prince runs his finger along the woman's jaw and of course, she interrupts his sign. Leaning forward, she kisses him soundly on the lips while he pulls her close.
Ever so slowly, Morgana moves her hands down his chest and to his confusion she pushes him away, "There is still a joust for you to win, Arthur," she reminds him.
And with that said, the both of them leave the tent. Arthur goes to his horse and Merlin hands him his lance while the Ladies go to their seats.
...
Morgana's breath hitches as she sees the glint of a sharp point on the lance of Arthur's opponent. She moves to alert someone of this, but Estella catches her. "If you say something, he may attack you," her cousin warns.
"But Arthur-," the jousters charge toward each other and without thinking, but with her heart racing, Morgana's eyes turn amber and the lance tip breaks.
By the time Myror rebalances his lance, due to the lost of the point, Arthur meets him and unhorses him. The people cheer loudly for their prince's victory. The assassin falls and is stabbed by his broken tip. The guards quickly take him away after Estella informs the king of the man's try to kill the prince in the tournament.
The prince removes his helmet and trades it for the victory garland from Merlin. He rides along the list and approaches the royal dais. Arthur pauses, apprehension freezing his actions. But after a moment, an invisible force seems to steer his hand holding the lance bearing the wreath toward a direction and the king sees this.
The king's ward looks with wide eyes at the flowers on Arthur's lance before her. Her cousin elbows her and then the younger woman rises from her seat and accepts the garland. The crowds cheer once more as the prince goes on a victory lap, but his eyes locked with Morgana's.
Uther smiles proudly at the sight. The wind picks up and he hears a gentle laugh and feels a soft caress on his cheek. "Ygraine," he whispers.
The king knows that it was she who was the force their son felt. This year, Arthur is of age to be king and Ygraine guided his hand to crown his queen.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and please review. If there's anything that you'd like to see in future chapters, let me know, I'll try to put it in.