"Merlin stop fidgeting," Arthur commanded. He was seated at his spot at the table in the royal dining room. Visitors mulled about and took their seats at their leisure. It was a celebration, the inevitable signing of the peace treaty and many high class families were there to be a part of it. Boromir had arrived and was already seated next to Uther, Enya was due to be down at any moment. Her serving girl was already standing behind her seat, just as Merlin was standing behind Arthur.

"Sorry, Sire." Usually Merlin would have admitted that he was excited to see the princess, but he was wary of the fact that Arthur may possibly feel the same way he did and he didn't want to make his master angry.

The doors to the dining room opened and in walked Princess Enya. Floated may be the right word. Because she definitely wasn't just walking. She was wearing a small amount of jewellery to accompany her beautiful emerald green dress, which flattered her beautifully, with her hair styled on top of her head and her huge eyes outlined with silver. She looked ethereal and Arthur couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Neither could Merlin. Everyone in the room started to clap and she blushed, almost stumbling. Enya was used to attention but even so, she felt shy. Her seat was next to Arthur's and she sat down, arranging her dress carefully so she wouldn't have to look up and see everyone's eyes on her.

"They're looking away, My Lady," Ginger leaned down and whispered. Arthur was still staring as she lifted her head and turned to smile nervously at him.

"You can't tell me you're not used to having all eyes in the room on you," Arthur whispered. Something in his voice sent a tingle down Enya's spine.

"All eyes on me, yeah, that's normal. Clapping when I walk into a room? Not really," she responded slightly breathlessly. Merlin leaned down and whispered in her ear so quietly that Arthur couldn't hear, "you look beautiful, Enya." She smiled softly at him.

"Thank you Merlin."

The night passed in a haze of food, wine, music and entertainment. Arthur couldn't help but continuously glance at the Enya. He felt strange inside. That afternoon he'd seen her as a fierce competitor, a strong warrior… now? Now he didn't want any harm to come to her. He didn't want her to get hurt. He wanted to protect her.

"You were right, Merlin. She's not just another princess."

Dawn approached rapidly. It seemed like minutes before Arthur opened his eyes to Merlin shaking him awake. Images flashed in his head of Enya the previous night. From all angles. Smiling, blushing, looking away from him, looking at him. But now he had to banish those images. Now he had to fight his hardest, because he wanted to see if she could compare to him. If she could beat him.

As promised, waiting in the ring, after Merlin helped him into his armour, Arthur saw Enya approach with Ginger at her side. No one else. Just the two royals and their closest servants. Luckily she had her helmet on already, so Arthur didn't have to stare into her piercing blue eyes, fight the urge to push a lock of her shining hair behind her ear and leave his hand on her cheek…

"That's a fine blade you have there," he said, shaking himself from these wistful fantasies. She was wielding a long, silver blade, curved at the tip, with emeralds encrusted in the hilt.

"My father's tutor gave this to me, along with the 2 blades you saw yesterday, they match, and a bow. All bearing my birth stone. All my lucky charms I guess you could say."

"Right, knight's rules, this will be a fight that will stop where one has the other in a position that could result in death."

They bowed to each other, waited a few moments, then Merlin made a loud noise and they began. Swords spinning through the air, Arthur attacking and Enya defending. Clanging, clashing. Blade meeting blade, steel on steel. Until suddenly Enya's sword was swung from her grip and Arthur had her on the ground with his sword at her neck.

"You let me win." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"No I didn't," Enya replied. She was lying and Arthur knew it.

"Why let me win?" he asked, pulling her to her feet.

"I knew you… didn't want to be beaten by a girl," she responded bitterly. Arthur put his hand beneath the chin of her helmet and gently pulled her face up, to where her eyes, beneath that helmet, would meet his. Thank God he couldn't actually see them.

"You are not a girl, Lady Enya. You are a warrior who I am honoured to fight with. Give me everything you have." Her determination returned as she picked her sword up. This time, she would fight with everything in her.

This time she was on the attack, Arthur barely managing to match her speed, fending off her sword with his own. Even though he had seen her fight the previous day, he was still shocked by her speed and power. He thought he might be able to win, then she hit the back of his knee with the flat of her blade and he fell to the ground, losing his grip on his sword. Now her sword was at his throat. For some reason, he wasn't surprised. He knew she'd win. He hadn't let her, but he still knew she would. She pulled off her helmet and looked him in the eyes. Now this surprised him, she had tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Arthur," she dropped her sword, turned and ran from him. Merlin jumped over the fence of the ring and ran to his master's side, Ginger at his heels.

"She was amazing," Merlin gasped, Arthur nodding his head in agreement.

"But where is she going, why is she going?" he asked, out of breath.

"Just leave her be for now," was all Ginger said before going after her mistress.

"She's something else," Arthur said to Merlin, as he helped him to his feet.

"Are you going to go after her?" Merlin enquired.

"Soon, Merlin. Soon."