At the beginning of the next day, there were 8 competitors waiting in their respective tents. Gwen and Merlin were waiting with Arthur in his red and gold tent and he was mad at Merlin – once again – for not sharpening his sword.

"What if a blunt sword costs me the competition Merlin?" Arthur bellowed as Merlin frantically sharpened the sword.

"It's hardly a matter of life and death Arthur," Gwen tried to calm him.

"What if Sir Alexander takes a fatal swing at me and I can't return it because my sword is too blunt to make an effect? What if Sir Blaise takes a stab at my leg and I can't return it because my sword won't cut through his armour? What if-"

"Arthur! Look, Merlin's finished and your sword is as sharp as it was before now calm down and go get to the finals, okay?" Gwen smiled at him, pecking his cheek and making him blush slightly.

"Sorry," He muttered, pushing past Merlin out of the tent and into the arena. Merlin and Gwen watched from the entrance, as Merlin had the day before. Arthur was fighting Sir Eric and he was putting up a good fight, though everyone knew Arthur was destined to win. The determination etched into Arthur's featured banished any doubts Merlin may have had that Eric was going to win. That and the fact Merlin was prepared to utter a spell under his breath and hope no one saw his eyes glow to protect Arthur, no matter who the opponent was. Though it didn't stop Gwen gasping every time Eric's sword came close to leaving a gash in Arthur's leg or his shield wasn't quite close enough to him to prevent injury. Though it was no surprise that he came out unscathed with an easy victory in his grasps. But it didn't alter the fact the Gwen had to wait till Arthur was safely back in his tent with the curtains shut before she could throw her arms around his neck.

"You didn't doubt me did you?" Arthur teased, holding her gaze.

"Of course not, but nothing will stop me worrying." Gwen whispered, stating what Arthur already knew. Arthur let his lips meet hers for the briefest of seconds and Merlin – having been the first to enter the tent – felt quite awkward and almost certain that one or both of them had forgotten his presence.

"You forget that when I fight, I fight for you. Merlin, why haven't you re-sharpened my sword or fixed my shield yet?" Arthur called, raising his voice yet not letting his eyes wonder from Gwen's; not wanted to see Merlin's thin figure hovering uncertainly, not doing what he was supposed to.

"Oh, yeah, sorry." Merlin mumbled, jumping into action and grabbing the shield and a hammer, ready to bang it into place before Arthur's match this afternoon and the final tomorrow.

Xxx

With his work for Arthur's next match complete, Merlin spent his afternoon – in the build up to the next match – wondering aimlessly round the city. He hoped more than anything that he might 'bump into' Anna but with the competition so close to its end, he knew she'd be busy making amendments to Oliver's armour and cleaning it, to make sure he looked his best.

Merlin, on the other hand, was instructed to leave Arthur in peace after his armour was mended and cleaned. He'd not seen Anna since the night she'd promised she'd spend as much time with him as he liked once the tournament was over. Merlin was tracking Oliver's state in the competition as much as he had Arthur's. He knew he was thinking of Anna too much but he felt a connection with her he'd not felt with anyone else; it wasn't necessarily something romantic but it was something; something Merlin was willing to build on.

Merlin never thought Arthur's semi-final match would ever be a challenge for him, it shouldn't have been. Sir Blaise should have only made Arthur a little warn out at most. Nothing more. Arthur shouldn't have been struggling to breath, he shouldn't have had a small gash on his left arm and he shouldn't have needed a new shield. But he did.

"Merlin, why am I so weak?" Arthur demanded as soon as he'd finished waving to the crowd, pretending his win was another effortless act.

"Why would I know?" Merlin answered back, only succeeding to anger Arthur further.

"I've never felt so," Arthur paused, searching within his tired mind to find a word to fit how he felt. "Useless! That should have been easy. Why? Why was that so hard?" Arthur whined.

"Err; have you eaten anything given to you by someone other than me? It might have been poisoned or something?"

"I've been poisoned?" Arthur exploded.

"No! It's just a theory, nimrod." Merlin sighed.

"Don't call me a nimrod!" Arthur snapped, collapsing back on his chair.

"Sorry. Do you want me to get Gaius?" Merlin asked, trying to be at least a little bit helpful.

Arthur nodded, still breathing heavily from the match. Merlin jogged out the tent and looked for the physician, soon finding him in his chambers.

"Gaius, Arthur wants to see you." Merlin stated, bursting into the room.

"What's wrong?"

"We don't know; he's really weak. He almost didn't win his last match. I'm not sure he'll be fit for the final tomorrow."

"Bring him up here. No use trying to treat him in his tent." Gaius instructed. Merlin sighed and started jogging back down to the Prince, soon arriving back in the tent, slightly short of breath.

"Gaius says he'll examine you upstairs." Merlin told Arthur.

"Why?" Arthur whined. "I've been fighting all day and he expects me to go all the way up to his chambers?"

"Sorry Princess." Merlin sighed, walking over to Arthur and hauling his arm over his shoulders and beginning to help him upstairs.

"I'm not walking out this tent looking weak,"

"You said you felt weak?"

"Doesn't mean I need to show it." Arthur grunted through his teeth. Merlin sighed and let him walk (stumble) ahead on his own.

I know I said 3 matches one day, 2 the next and the final the day after but I've planned the tournament better now :) It doesn't matter anyways, I just need to update more :')

Sorry it took so long; I don't want to rush it and I want to make it worth updating so hopefully you guys will drop me some reviews ;) Thanks for the reviews so far and please continue to read :)