Prae, Chapter Five: Valiant, Chapter 1

Author's Note: Hello, all! Here I am, not dead, and with the next chapter! For anyone who's looking for the missing prologue for this chapter: after some consideration and a few chats with Lindsey, I realized I may have made our princess a bit more advanced than the circumstances in the given timeline would've allowed, so it may return in another form later in time. With that cleared up, onward to the beginning of Valiant!

Hauberk. Surcoat. Gorget. Protect the chest.

Vambraces. Pauldron. Couter. Protect the arms—especially the sword-arm.

Mail coif. For the head.

Belt. Sword belt. For the waist and to hold weapons.

Dagger. Sword. Weapons, obviously.

And all that's left is….

"Helmet," I groan, opening my eyes and looking at the small diagram of armour scrawled out on a piece of parchment, the matching terms and definitions on a separate piece in my lap. After waking up early to discover my lessons for this week had been cancelled and that I had been assigned homework, I dropped by Gaius's for some tea and a bit of quiet.

"That sounds like studying is going well," the physician mused lightly, sitting a mug of tea in front of me.

I sighed, using one hand to hold my hair and the other to take a small sip of tea, trying to avoid getting ink on the sleeves of my lavender dress. "I can't believe Arthur expects me to know all of these bits of armour when I can barely fend him off for more than two minutes with two weeks of training. There's no way I would ever be entered into a tournament or go into a battle where I would be wearing all of this!"

"Perhaps he sees some potential in you, my lady," Gaius offered kindly.

"If only I had your confidence," I sighed, though I did smile at his words. "And now he's put off my lessons this entire week for the tournament! If he loses, he's going to take out his frustration on me, and by then I'll be rustier than Father's old mail cuff!"

"Coif?"

"Yes. Coif. Mail coif." I slumped against the table, my head resting on top of my parchments. "I'm hopeless."

I heard Gaius's chuckle as he patted my shoulder lightly before walking away, the sounds of a potion bubbling catching his attention. "I'm sure you could find another knight to help you practice until the tournament is over. Sir Leon, perhaps? He's always been fond of you, and his skills with a sword are second only to your brother's."

"He's not competing in the tournament?"

"I do not believe so, no."

I sat up at that, taking another sip of tea. "Perhaps I shall," I smiled at Gaius, then turned to the door as a familiar, exhausted figure stumbled in, dropping a battered shield and an old helmet as he went.

Gaius turned to the newcomer, swirling the contents of the vial in his hand. "So, how was your first day as Arthur's servant?"

The worn-out servant in question, none other than Merlin himself, tapped his head a few times. "Do you hear clanging?" he asked, looking at both of us in some sort of delirium.

The physician chuckled. "Go change. I'll make more tea and see to your joints when I get back." Merlin's shoulders sagged in relief at the thought, and he slowly trudged to his room, nodding politely to me as he went. "Looks like he didn't go easy on him," Gaius mused.

"He never does; you know that," I sighed, folding my parchments and setting them aside, getting the water pitcher for tea. "Especially around this time of year."

"I understand the amount of pressure and worry your brother must undergo, but…" Gaius paused as he sat the kettle down for it to heat up. "I wish he wouldn't…"

I settled my hand on one of his own. "I understand, Gaius, and I agree. Believe me, I do. I just don't know what will get him to be kinder to those around him."

At that moment, Merlin returned, in a blue tunic and still looking unbelievably sore. He shuffled towards and plopped into the chair I had recently vacated, allowing Gaius to tend to his shoulders.

"Ah!" he winced as Gaius hit a particularly sore spot before unloading about his day. "It was, horrible. Ahh, and I've still got to learn all about tournament…etiquette by the morning." Glancing at a book at the other end of the table, Merlin whispered, his eyes gleaming gold. "Onhríne achtung bregdan."

Like magic, a book slid all the way down the table to him, opening and unfurling part of the pages before him.

The wheels in my head quickly turned, and I gasped. "Oh! That was—"

"Oi!" Gaius scolded, slapping the back of Merlin's head. "What've I told you about using magic like this?"

"If I could actually feel my arms, I'd pick up the book myself," Merlin protested, adding a smack on the head to his list of problems.

"Never mind your arms," Gaius went on. "What do I do if you get caught?" His gaze flickered over to me, and Merlin's followed, widening at the sight of me. I pressed my finger to my lips with a small smile before going to the singing kettle. I am a lady of my word, after all.

Merlin's attention must have gone back to Gaius as I went to pour him a cup of tea, for I heard his curious voice. "What would you do?"

Gaius hesitated before pressing back on Merlin's shoulders. "Well you just make sure it doesn't happen, for both our sakes."

"So that was a spell?" I asked when I had returned with his tea, setting it in front of him.

He nodded, blue eyes bright at both my question and the tea. "Yeah! I just learned it. Its typically used for—"

"Not for summoning books across the table in front of the princess," Gaius finished for him.

Merlin's head drooped a bit. "Yeah, not for that. Sorry, Kyndra."

I smiled warmly at him. "I honestly don't mind. You can ask Gaius; I've always been fascinated by these kinds of things. I've never been able to say that, of course, because of…"

Merlin nodded in understanding, his kind expression twisting as the physician began to stretch his arm. "Ah!" He took a deep breath before continuing. "I save Arthur from being killed and I end up as a servant. How is that fair?"

"I'm not sure fairness comes into it," Gaius admitted. "You never know, it might be fun."

"You think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun?" Merlin scoffed. "You should hear my list of duties."

"We all have our duties. Even Arthur," Gaius answered almost absent-mindedly, working on the joints in Merlin's hand.

Merlin, with only one sore hand to spare, used it to look at the chart of armor before him. "It must be so tough for him, with all the girls and the glory."

"Well, he is a future king," I offered. "People, including our father, expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure."

Crrrrack!

"Ah!" Merlin exclaimed, looking at Gaius as he pushed him arm back into shape. "That makes two of us." His gaze flicked from the chart before him to me. "Do you know any of this?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Arthur does all the fighting and the tournaments; I just get to sit and watch with Father and Morgana."

"Really?" Merlin inquired. "People watch these things?"

"Oh, yes, its quite the big affair in Camelot, especially this tournament," I explained. "Knights from all over come to compete. There's a big banquet the first night, and you get to meet people from around the realm, not to mention the wonderful feast for the winner at the end."

Blue eyes fell upon the chart of armour again. "That means there are going to be servants who know what they're doing," he said softly.

"Have you thought about seeing Guinevere?" I asked by a stroke of unknown inspiration. "She's a servant, too, but she is the daughter of the best blacksmith in Camelot, so she knows a lot about those things. If you could catch her before Morgana sends her away for the evening…"

Merlin eased out of his chair, still looking sore but more determined than when he got up. "I think I can find her before I have to go muck out the stables." He made a face at this, but it turned into a smile as he looked back at me. "Thank you, Kyndra!"

"You're welcome!" I called as he raced out of sight, the door closing quietly behind him.

Gaius smiled, shaking his head. "That boy," he mumbled, amused. "He has more energy in one of his toes than I do in my entire being."

I laughed, walking towards the door. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to take leave of you as well, Gaius. I have duties of my own to attend to." With a final wave, I ventured out of the physician's quarters to make my way to the kitchens. Since it was the last day before the tournament began, many of the servants that usually walked the halls of the castle were outside either cleaning the arena, setting up tents for the competitors to rest in between their matches, or leading knights to various taverns and inns as they arrived. The castle itself was also humming with activity, though it was mainly in the Great Hall, where Father was overlooking all the names of knights hopeful in winning the tournament.

Finally arriving at my destination, I smiled warmly at the staff as they greeted me. "Is Audrey here?" I inquired politely.

"'Eere I am!" the older woman came from behind a large pot of soup, an ever-present dusting of flour on her features. "Ah, 'ello, Princess! To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I was coming by to see if you had any leftovers you are willing to part with," I began.

Audrey smiled at me. "Always thinkin' of the people, you are. I've actually 'ad some of my wits about me, so I made baskets for you this time." Nodding at one of girls that worked with her, several large baskets were brought to me. "I snuck some bread in there, too. 'Ope its not too much…"

I shook my head, a smile on my face. "No, this wonderful. I cannot thank you enough."

The cook waved her hand absently. "If there's anythin' else you need, milady, come back, you hear?"

"Of course. Thank you again!" As the cook shooed all her helpers back to their jobs, I looked at the four baskets before me, trying to figure out how I could carry all of them on my own. I picked up two and began to walk when I noticed a familiar flash of red. Fortunately for me, the red recognized me as well.

"My lady?" Owain inquired, looking at the baskets in my hand curiously.

I smiled at my luck, gently pushing the handles of the baskets in the knight's hands. "I'll be right back," I promised, dashing back to the kitchens to grab the final two objects, returning to Owain with a nod. "Right. Follow me."

After we departed the castle and kept walking, I heard the timid voice of the young knight following me. "If…if you don't mind me asking, my lady…where are we going?"

"The Lower Town," I threw over my shoulder, bowing my head politely at the passing crowd of nobles, who looked at me strangely. "About once a week, I try to see if the cook has anything she can spare, and I bring it here. They don't have much, and food shouldn't go to waste…" My voice trailed off at the sight of a few familiar faces coming my way. Setting down my baskets, I steadied myself just in time for a crowd of children slamming into my skirts.

"Hewo, Pwincess!" a girl with curly brown hair cheered, raising her head from my dress to give me a toothy smile.

"Hello, Abigail!" I replied, ruffling her hair. "How you've grown in a week!"

"We're so glad you're back!" a boy a little older than Abigail shouted, grinning.

"I'm glad to be back, Simon," I answered, looking closely. "Is that a missing tooth? You're growing, too—you all are!" I smiled as I looked behind me; some of the older members of my welcoming committee had surrounded my company, and they were eyeing him suspiciously. "Oh, Aiden, Alfie, Aston, you don't have to worry about him; his name is Owain, and he came to help me carry all these baskets."

The three boys backed away, though they were still wary of the knight. "Is someone causin' you trouble so you need a knight with you?" Aston asked lowly, his green eyes flickering.

I shook my head quickly. "No, of course not. I just ran into him and he was more than happy to help." Satisfied with my answer for now, the boys went to inspect the baskets Owain had held instead, all of the children gasping a little at the sight of the bread Audrey had added before venturing into different directions to different houses, telling their parents about what they had found.

An older girl that had accompanied the children tucked a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. "I know not many people tell you this, but we're so thankful that you come and help," she said softly, blinking back tears. "Some days are harder than others…if there's anything you need, please tell one of us."

"Think nothing of it, Dia," I replied instantly, taking her hand into my own. "Honestly, this is the least I can do."

She smiled a little, keeping a mental count of the children before looking back to me. "If there's anything you ever need, anything you need to know…please, don't hesitate."

I nodded, looking at the sky. "I should be getting back. Look after yourselves, all right?"

Dia curtseyed with a sweet smile. "Of course. Good day, milady!"

After waving goodbye to the children, Owain let me take his arm. "How long have you been doing this?" he asked curiously.

"Since the last festival," I answered. "I had come here with Allison because she knew of a field of flowers that had some of the best primroses she had ever seen. Along the way, I saw…I really saw how these people have to live. Its heartbreaking. This is truly the least I can do. I wish things didn't have to be like this."

Owain nodded in understanding, patting my hand that was settled in his arm. "I understand. Growing up in a noble family, though, it seems like you could lose that connection to those less fortunate than you, but you haven't. I commend you, my lady."

I smiled at his compliment as we arrived back at the castle. "I have to find Allison to see about the banquet for this evening. I suppose I shall see you when the tournament starts?"

The knight smiled with a bow. "If that is your wish, my lady."

****Spells****

Note: All translations are "possible meanings," courtesy of the MerlinWiki.

Onhríne achtung bregdan.

Lay hold of honor, move it quickly.