Disclaimer: I do not own the characters below, nor do I own the Monty Python lyrics. :)

Thank you to everyone who reviewed so far! :) I'm glad you are enjoying it. I worked quite a lot on the initial meeting of everyone in this chapter, so I hope you like it. To be honest, I'm still a bit unsure about it. :S

Also, I am going away for a few weeks to celebrate Christmas with relatives, so I may not be able to update soon. I will however keep writing and when I get back, I'll post straight away :)

Two

The Doctor and Rose spent the rest of the day casually meandering through the forest, which turned out to be a lot denser and longer that they had originally thought. They did amuse themselves, however, by occasionally breaking out into song.

"We're... Knights of the Round Table, we dance whene'er we're able. We do routines and chorus scenes with footwork impeccable. We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot!" The pair of them began humming the tune, before they both promptly bursting into laughter.

"I love this song!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Good old Monty Python. And you know no one in all of Earth's history has ever been able to match them in that classic British comedy."

"I could have picked you for a Python fan," Rose told him. "But ahh, this is going to be such a laugh," she grinning at him, hanging off his arm casually.

The Time Lord paused in his laugher to mockingly roll his eyes, "I knew I should have picked Sherwood Forest instead."

"Seriously? Robin Hood existed too?"

"Yup," The Doctor nodded again, before smirking. "And Marion, as well. She fancied me for a bit, actually."

Rose screwed her nose up. "Eergh. I'm guessing you managed to set that straight, right?"

The Doctor was about to reply when the forest suddenly ended and they were met with a beautiful sight of the afternoon sun, just peeking out from behind the tallest tower of the castle.

"It's beautiful," Rose murmured, their previous conversation forgotten. The Doctor merely smiled at the awe in Rose's voice. "Hey, what's that down there?" Rose suddenly pointed to a small arena, where two men were fighting with wooden swords. One of them was clearly more efficient than the other; who fell down moments after Rose had spotted them.

"Knights of the Realm!" The Doctor exclaimed, excitedly "Let go down and have a look."

"Seriously?" Rose questioned, glancing down at the fighting pair, before turn back to the Doctor and cocking an eyebrow. "Knights of the Realm? Don't you go all Dungeons and Dragons on me."

"Dungeons and what?"

"Oh come on," Rose answered by grabbing his arm and pulling him along to where the two knights were.

* * *

"Come on, Merlin!" Arthur complained, bending over to look at his fallen servant. "How hard can it be?"

"I'm not sure why you don't just get one of your real knights to practise with," Merlin responded, managing to prop himself up onto an elbow, ignoring the wooden practice sword beside him.

"Because they know how to fight and you don't," Arthur countered.

"And I need to learn sword fighting?"

"Yes," Arthur replied as though it were obvious. "You may not be a knight, but you get yourself into trouble more than anyone. Thus, you need to know how to defend yourself."

Merlin sighed. He had his magic to defend himself with. Too bad Arthur didn't know about it, then he'd be able to get out of these practises. Although, even if the truth was to be revealed he had the feeling Arthur would keep it up, just to annoy him. "Fine," he grudgingly answered accepting the Prince's offered arm to help himself up.

"Good," Arthur grinned somewhat evilly before continuing. "Now, ready position."

Luckily Merlin was saved by the arrival of two strangers. Arthur, in one swift movement, drew his real sword and turned to stand protectively in front of Merlin, facing the new pair; a blonde woman and a man thinner than Merlin. With the recent disappearances, Arthur was taking no chances, especially when approached by strangers.

"Hello there!" the man in the brown suit greeted, with a cheery wave.

"Who are you?" Arthur demanded, gripping his sword tighter.

The man reached into his pockets and pulled out a sheet of paper. "I'm the Doctor and this is my companion Rose Tyler."

Arthur frowned for a moment, as he read the pair's documentation. He then nodded, seeming satisfied with what it read, not noticed the brief look the Doctor and Rose shared. "What is your business here in Camelot?"

"Does it not say?" the Doctor asked, surprised as he gestured to what he knew was the physic paper. "I'm guessing not, otherwise you wouldn't have asked. Unless you can't read. You can read, right?"

"Doctor," Rose said pointedly through gritted teeth.

"Sorry, that was rude," he said, with sudden realisation.

"We're just sightseeing," Rose ignored her friend and answered the Prince's question, seeing as the Doctor wasn't going to.

"I hope you enjoy your time here, then. You must stay in the castle... Sir? Doctor."

"It's just Doctor," was the replied Arthur received.

"Of course, and-" he turned, noticing Rose seemingly for the first time and how beautiful she was. "And... it... it's certainly a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rose," he reached out, grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to it, completely missing the glare he received from both Merlin and the Doctor.

The latter coughed and Arthur withdrew. "So who are you two then?" Rose asked.

"I'm Arthur Pendragon," the blonde, more muscular one with the sword stated pompously.

"Arthur? As in King Arthur?" Rose raised her eyebrows and looked him up and down. "You're a bit young to be King aren't you?" she turned to the Doctor who shrugged.

"It's Prince Arthur," Merlin answered, stepping out from behind Arthur's significantly larger form.

"Ahh, Prince," the Doctor nodded in understanding. "Course you're the Prince," he turned to Rose and whispered quietly, "We're a bit early. No round table yet."

"Oh, never mind," Rose replied with a small smile, before the two time travellers turned back to the Prince and his companion and grinned.

"So who is your knight… Sire?" the Doctor asked.

"Knight?" Arthur scoffed, turning to glace at the dark haired, thinner man before bursting out laughing. "You've got to be kidding me. Merlin's not a knight. He barely makes a good manservant as it is!"

"Oi!" Merlin protested.

Rose chocked on the air. "Wait, Merlin?" she spluttered, with wide eyes. "Merlin's your manservant? As in the Merlin is your manservant?"

"The Merlin?" Arthur and Merlin chorused.

"You know. Merlin the -" Rose was cut off by the Doctor who nudged her and gave a slight shake of his head. "Sorry, it's just -"

"What? Did you really expect him to be an old geezer his whole life?"

"Well, I though..." she trailed off and turned back to Arthur and Merlin and smiling.

"Don't mind her," the Doctor told them. "She thought you were someone else, right Rose?"

"Uh, yeah. Sorry," she widened her smile, secretly glad the Doctor hadn't simply told them she was from Barcelona.

"It seems as though you already know us, though," Arthur stated with a frown, choosing to ignore the previous comments regarding Merlin. "How is that possible."

The Doctor ran a hand through his hair. "It's a bit complicated."

"Complicated? You're not sorcerers are you?" and Arthur raised his sword threateningly.

"Sorcerers?" Rose raised an eyebrow. "But isn't -"

Again the Doctor cut her off. "Of course we're not sorcerers. Nope, not at all."

"Good," and Arthur lowered his sword once more. "We've had a few disappearances lately. It's my duty to ask."

"Disappearances?" the Doctor asked, seriously.

"People have been going missing. We are naturally presuming a sorcerer is behind it."

"You mean to say that sorcery and magic is banned here?" Rose asked, as the Doctor paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Ever since my father became King," Arthur replied.

Rose frowned slightly and adjusted her view to stare Merlin directly in the eye, knowing exactly what he was. The young sorcerer and apparent manservant blushed slightly and looked away.

"Your father?"

"Ahh, of course. Uther Pendragon," the Doctor answered, turning back to Rose again.

"And where are my manners?" Arthur muttered after a few moments of silence. "I shall grant you an audience with him immediately."

"Thank you, Sire," Rose replied with a wobbly curtsy, when the Doctor did not reply. The Time Lord attention had strayed once again and he was now staring over the shoulder of the Prince, looking at a statue of an angel with a slight frown on his face.

Arthur nodded, before turning to his servant. "Merlin, put these swords away will you."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Please." Arthur added, trying not to smile fondly at his servant.

"Yes Sire," Merlin replied cheerfully, taking the practice sword off the Prince, before walking away to pick up a spare shield.

"If you'll follow me," Arthur turned back to the two newcomers, a look of happiness on his face.

"Of course," Rose replied again, nudging the Doctor. "Come on, Doctor," she muttered.

"Hmm?" he tore his gaze away from the statue to look at Rose and then at Arthur. "Yup, sorry. I'm coming."

Rose tilted her head questioning at the Doctor, recognising his frown and strayed attention as a sign of possible trouble.

"What?" she mouthed to him.

The Doctor just shook his head and the two of them proceeded to follow the Prince back to the castle. Just before they entered through the gates, the Doctor turned to glance once more at the statue.

It had gone.

Coming up:

Rose and the Doctor meet Uther, Morgana and Guinevere, resulting in Rose asking A LOT of questions!