Morning came and with it came the start of the huge jousting tournament, Knights from all places one or two from over seas came to take part. Many other royal families came to watch and support their knights. There had never been so many people.
Merlin was staring he couldn't believe what he was seeing, he was so amazed that he didn't see Arthur come up behind him. "Merlin!" Merlin spun round taken by surprise.
"Sorry, I'm just…" He trailed off looking at Arthur who was laughing now. "What?" Merlin asked, but Arthur just shook his head finding it too funny to speak. Making their way to Arthur's tent Merlin dressed him in his armour and Arthur put on his helmet. Only Merlin knew which knight was Arthur.
Grinning Igraine turned back to Rose and finished arming her. It was a very long time since she had been to a tournament especially one of this size.
The knights made their way into the arena altogether they looked amazing standing there next to their horses in front of the crowds of people who had come to watch. Rose looked especially amazing standing there in her red armour which was made out of the same thing as her chain-mail. Her helmet was made from the same again, but the helmet's design was of like a dragon head. When she put her own head inside it, the space for the eyes were similar to her own shape, they would open so that she could see out of it. Next to her instead of a horse she had a unicorn beautifully white with a lovely strong looking horn. Everyone was staring at this amazing creature for most had never even seen one and no had seen one so tame as this about to take part in a jousting tournament!
Uther made his opening speech to all the knights by now he knew Rose was taking part and which knight she was for only she would and could have a unicorn. This unicorn went everywhere with her well almost it didn't go inside but it travelled everywhere with her.
Igraine wasn't looking at the knights or Rose or the unicorn she was just staring at Uther. She felt suddenly scared what if he no longer loved her. What if he loved someone else. She pulled herself together of course he loved her. She looked down at the heart round her neck the heart that she had had ever since she had become a Seer all those thousands of years ago. This was what kept her alive, as soon as she had fallen in love with him it had started to beat in time to Uther's heart, if it every stopped beating then if would mean her heart had been broken either by him dying or by him loving another woman. Seers only fell in love once then the heart would begin to beat seeming to count down the days until they died. This was the only way they would die and not come back it was truly the end of that Seer. It was a pink heart with what looked like another heart inside and this heart inside was what was flashing, what was beating.
As the opening speech finished all the knights left to go back to their tents or stand at the sidelines watching, getting ready for their own fight. Two knights didn't leave the arena they were the first to fight. They stood at opposite ends they mounted, took a lance and prepared to fight. One knight was in orange and the other blue.
Merlin came and stood next to Igraine. "Hi I'm Merlin, Rose wanted me to come and see you," Igraine turned and beamed at him she was very happy to meet him. "So you're the one who brought me back to life," she replied he looked confused, he didn't understand how he had brought her back. She just smiled she would explain later or at least Rose would.
The knights were ready now as they got ready to fight the other they could only hope they had an easy opponent or at least a well matched one. The two knights urged their horses forward. The two horses came together at top speed. The two lances came together and splintered off the other's shield. Both knights were thrown from their horses from the true force and power of the collision. The knights jumped to their feet, guards held the horses for the knights and the knights remounted their noble steeds. Preparing for a second run.
Robin came up behind Igraine and Merlin, "what did you do with the horses?" She asked not even bothering to turn round. Robin looked shocked he had no idea how she had seen him. "That's what I went to speak to that guard about, I asked him to have someone ride them back." Igraine nodded still not looking at him, it was easy to see how much she enjoyed watching these fights. "Igraine, Rose needs you and Merlin so does Arthur" he finished. Merlin and Igraine walked together chatting about this and that until they came to their tents. "I can't believe you're the Queen, because you don't treat me as though I'm nothing or an unimportant piece of animal poo!" He said as he turned to go. "That's because you aren't unimportant and I do owe you my life after all." She replied making Merlin feel really good inside, he was about to ask what she meant by she owed him but she had already turned away and gone into Rose's tent.
That night there was to be a feast for the start of the tournament. All the knights were present except one that was Rose she was going to be there but she wasn't thought of as a knight. Rose arrived in a long Crimson floor length dress with long floaty, flowing sleeves. It was embroiled with golden thread which stood out. It had a gold tie around the waist which hugged her figure. The dress almost hung from her shoulders, but at the same time it looked tight and well fitted.
Once more she glided instead of walking making her way over to Merlin, Gwen and Morgana who were standing near to one of the tables. She took a drink from Merlin and smiled "How are you, Morgana?" Morgana smiled it was a long time since she had seen and talked to Rose." I'm well thank you, you really made an entrance, Arthur was quiet which is a change" The two of them laughed and Gwen joined in. "What about you Gwen, I can't remember the last time we spoke" Rose asked turning to Gwen.
"I'm fine my lady" Gwen replied. "You look really amazing." "So do you!" Was Rose's reply, Merlin asked if he may be excused, Arthur was looking for him.
Uther entered and he looked more grand than ever, he strode towards Rose and Morgana. Gwen had gone to see Gaius who was standing by himself watching everyone. "You both look wonderful," was his first words to them. "Well we would compared to you," Rose teased.
Taking their seats they talked even more, Rose sat next to Morgana on Uther's left. Gwen was next to her and on Uther's right sat Arthur with Merlin next to him. The King's table had never been so crowded and Rose knew that soon one more person would be joining them. Igraine.
Uther gave the word for everyone to start eating, Morgana and Gwen were soon in deep conversation. Arthur and Merlin were talking quite often even if Arthur was only half listening to what Merlin had to say. Rose looked round the room and wished Igraine was here there was so much they talked about they were so alike Morgana and Gwen were only even more chatty and maybe a little more rude!
Uther turned to her "Will you be joining me tomorrow or can't you make it again?" He smiled as he said it. Rose smiled back she loved her brother dearly she was having to joust tomorrow. "I'm afraid I can not. I'm sorry for I would love to." She put on a very formal voice when she said this so that it sounded like how some of the guests were speaking. She really hated it when they spoke like this, she had had to put up with some female guests talking in this way.
When the meal was over people started getting up from their seats and Arthur came over to talk to Rose who looked a little annoyed. "What's the matter, Rose?" He asked looking at her. She was staring at a women with a very posh voice who had been with Rose only moments before. "Cow!" She replied as she pulled her gaze away. Arthur snorted into his drink at this, she was probably the only person he knew from a high family that would say that in the company they were with. She wasn't afraid, for she knew no matter what she did Uther would never send her away. After all she could do magic and used it a lot Uther knew this and said that Seer's magic would be the only magic he would tolerate, but only from Rose, Arthur and Igraine knew this. In fact the only time she would never ever use magic was to win a fight or tournament.
Arthur turned to face the rest of the hall "what do you think of these knights then?" Wanting her opinion on whether or not to be worried by them. "She barely gave them a glance as she answered "I don't think they've ever done a good days work. The best knights are the ones who had to work hard before they became a knight. Even if it is a day of hunting or killing beast that is harming, threatening and sometimes killing people. But this lot don't look like they have done any of that and trust me I can tell!" Arthur grinned he was glad he had asked what she thought he didn't know why.
People were beginning to turn in for the night Rose, Arthur, Gaius, Merlin, Gwen and Morgana were some of them. Those knights fighting tomorrow were the first to turn in, they all wanted to win. If they lost a joust they were out simple as that.
Sleep just wouldn't come to Igraine that night there was nothing she could do, no way she could possibly get to sleep. The only thing she could think of was Uther and how much she missed him so much that tears ran down her cheeks.
As dawn broke that morning Igraine groaned she had had a truly awful night. She hadn't got a wink of sleep. She had dry tear tracks down her cheeks and under her eyes there were huge bags.
Robin put his head round the door looking at her. He sighed "You stay in bed, I'll go get Gaius." He left the room again before she could protest.
Robin soon came back with Gaius when he took one look at her and his mouth fell open. "My lady, but I don't understand!" They explained everything. "Well you know that when a Seer dies the killer is cursed, when the killer dies the Seer comes back to life. So when Merlin killed Nimueh I came back to life!"
"Well, we must get you to Uther!" Was the only thing Gaius could say.
Gaius took Igraine to his chambers where they met up with Merlin and Robin who had gone to get Rose. Igraine sat down on Gaius's bed she looked awful, Rose came and sat down with her. She put her arm round Igraine's shoulders.
"Right how are we going to get Uther and Igraine back together?" Robin asked looking from Rose to Gaius for an answer. "Well we'll just have to tell him, I mean maybe Rose could say it. He's more likely to believe her than anyone else, isn't he?" Merlin thought aloud. "It's not that easy," Rose said looking out of the window she needed to get ready for her joust. Gaius finished making something for Igraine. "Here my lady, drink this before you go to bed tonight." "Right Gaius, you think of a way to get them back together I've got a joust to win." This put smiles back on their faces as she and Robin left, Merlin was quick to follow Arthur would be waiting for him, leaving Gaius with Igraine to think up a plan hoping something would come to him.
