A/N: Well, avid readers, I present to you: Chapter 6 of Camelot Academy! *trumpet fanfare*

I hope you've all been eagerly looking forward to this chapter, in which we shall have part one of jousting hijinks. Be sure to review after you're done reading, please. I love hearing from you guys. :D

(Oh, and I'm really sorry for the delay in posting this; we no longer have internet at my house, so I'm having to bike to the library to do all fanfic-related things.)

After the adventure in the forest, Arthur started spending more time with Merlin and his friends, much to the distaste of his previous acquaintances. Whenever Merlin asked about it, all he'd say was 'I'm enjoying myself more with you'.

"What day is it?" Merlin asked groggily when Arthur and Lancelot, who had become fast friends, showed up at his room.

"It's Thursday, you clod, get up." Arthur grabbed the blanket and yanked it away. "And we're late for class."

"…..mm." He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow.

Lancelot sighed. "Come on, Merlin, get up." No response. "Merlin?"

"I'm sleeping," the wizard answered, "Come back later."

Arthur took the pillow away, and Merlin sat up, looking irritated.

"Don't make that face," Arthur scolded, tossing the pillow into a corner. "We've been told to be on time to class today."

"Yeah, and you're such a stickler for rules."

"I am when it's Ceremonial Fighting." The prince said defensively.

"Ugh."

"If you don't like the class," Lancelot said, "why are you taking it? I mean, Marlet has to, he's low on academic credits. But you're doing fine. So why?"

"Arthur made me." Merlin answered, getting out of bed. "Now go away, I need to get dressed."

"Need some help?" Arthur teased. "You still look pretty out of it."

Merlin tossed an almanac at him and he left with Lancelot, laughing.

Ten minutes later, Merlin emerged, looking decidedly disgruntled. But he followed Arthur and Lancelot out onto the training field where the class was. He'd rather be miserable in a class with Arthur than sleeping in his room.

Together the three of them joined the cluster of students listening avidly to the teacher.

"You see," Arthur hissed, "class has already started."

Merlin just shrugged.

"Shh," Lancelot said when Arthur opened his mouth to say something else, "I can't hear."

The prince lapsed into silence after shooting Lancelot a dark look.

"As I was saying," the teacher said, continuing a monologue they'd missed the beginning of, "this is an honor to the school. Never before in the academy's history have we had such a splendid opportunity to showcase our fighting talents. Now," the man gestured to a rack of jousting gear, "this tournament tomorrow is an excellent opportunity for all of you as well. Each of you shall be outfitted with armor and weaponry, provided with a mount, and entered in the tournament. You're going to be graded on how well you perform in the tournament, so I encourage each and every one of you to give it your all."

This tirade was met with cheers from everyone in the class, with the exception of Merlin and Marlet, who exchanged horrified looks.

This is going to end badly, Merlin thought, eyeing the jousting equipment apprehensively.

"Come on, Merlin, at least try holding it properly!" Arthur snapped, shifting in his saddle.

"I am trying!" Merlin shouted back. "It's…" he hefted it irritably. "Heavy!"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course it's heavy, you dolt. It's a weapon."

Merlin huffed but didn't answer.

"Oh, come on, don't be such a big baby," Arthur said, nudging his horse towards Merlin's. "It's not as hard as you're making it out to be."

Merlin glared at him. "I'm not cut out for this warrior thing, okay?"

The prince looked him over. "No," he agreed after a moment. "You're really not."

"Switch partners!" The teacher called out.

Merlin cursed.

"Best of luck," Arthur offered cheerily. "You're with Lancelot next."

Merlin groaned. Lancelot was exceptionally gifted at jousting; the teacher had repeatedly proclaimed him a prodigy. "I'm doomed."

"Yeah."

"Why is participation mandatory?" Merlin demanded later at dinner. "Shouldn't we be allowed to drop out if we really want to?"

"You could fake an injury," Marlet offered. "Though since your uncle's the nurse, that might not go well…"

"He'd probably send me straight back to the tournament," Merlin agreed. "He thinks I should try to fit in more."

"Well," Marlet said, "he does sort of have a point. I mean, we need to be careful, you know? If we avoid to many of these physical-type things, people will start snooping around. Who knows what they'll find?"

"Meaning our magic," Merlin sighed. "I know, Mar. It just bothers me."

"It bothers me, too. I spent half of class partner with that giant they call Duke Liam's son."

"Hey, you two." Lancelot came over and sat. "Excited for tomorrow?""No," they answered flatly.

He shook his head. "I think you're both being ridiculous. It's not so bad once you practice a bit."

"Lance," Merlin said seriously, "You have years of practice more than we do. I'm not into this whole warrior thing."

Lancelot nodded. "Arthur said something about that earlier. He also said you need to get a little more muscle on you. Something about being too scrawny. And pale."

Merlin shook his head. "He's being stupid."

"Sounds like he's worried," Marlet said.

"Arthur? Worried about me?" Merlin shook his head again. "Not likely."

"Mm…" Marlet bit his lip. "I dunno. I think he cares about-"

"Attention, students!" A teacher called, interrupting whatever Marlet had been about to say. "If you'd be so kind as you give me a moment of your time, I'm like to announce the line-ups for the jousting tournament tomorrow." Murmurs broke out as the teacher continued. "The first match will be-"

"Ugh." Merlin slammed his head on the table. "This is horrible."

Lancelot ignored him, listening raptly, while Marlet just stared dejectedly into his soup.

A/N: Okay, so right about now you're probably all going "What? That was short!" or something like that, right? I meant for the tournament to happen in this chapter, but I'm having trouble writing it so I don't have it done yet. But it's been too long since I posted anything, so I figured you'd all rather have a short chapter than nothing at all, so….yeah. Feel free to rage at me for leaving you hanging and for taking so long to post this in the first place, just keep in mind it wasn't my intention.

Anyhow….reviews = love. :D

And there's no preview since the last one still applies. Let's say this jousting business is a two-part episode, shall we? ;P