Turns out Merlin wasn't the only guest to the knights' practice the next morning. Enya stood in the center of the training arena, sword in hand and light armour covering her body. It fit her like a glove. She had no helmet on and her red hair glistened in the early morning sunlight. Merlin noticed the tension in the knights' faces. A woman among them? It was unheard of. Arthur went to her side and caught the attention of his knights.
"Now you lot, it's an honour for you all to be shown any kind of technique from Lady Enya here and I expect you all to act appropriately," Arthur barked. One of the knights snickered. Enya turned her cold stare straight to him and held up her gloved hand as Arthur went to say something.
"You, knight, what is your name?" she questioned.
"Gareth," he grunted, not meeting her steely blue eyes.
"So Gareth, I assume you think I can not fight simply because I am a woman? You have heard tales of the Inkwielder knights, have you not?" The man nodded reluctantly.
"Every single one of our knights were taught to fight by me. A woman," suddenly the tension changed, they seemed to be paying more attention, "and if any of you show me any disrespect, I will make you pay."
"How?" Gareth laughed. The princess stepped forward and smiled wickedly, taking the knight's hand.
"Come with me." The rest of the knights whistled garishly as the princess led Gareth into the changing tent, he turned back and wiggled his eyebrows at his friends. Arthur was fuming.
"You've got to be joking," Gareth shouted from inside the tent. Enya rolled her eyes at the team, "come on out Gareth, I did warn you." He shuffled shamefacedly from the tent and everyone around doubled up with laughter. Princess Enya had dressed Gareth in a long, flowy dress and high heeled shoes. He was wielding his sword awkwardly.
"Now, Gareth, I shall show you how a woman fights." She kicked off her leather boots and swapped them for a pair of heels also. Before Gareth could even react, Enya had drawn her blade and was moving toward him with all of her speed and grace. He barely had time to block as she brought her blade crashing down on him.
"Come on Gareth, prove to your peers that you can fight better than a woman," she jeered, slashing quickly at his arms, spinning out of his reach, only to come moving back in. He grabbed her by her swirling red hair and pulled her towards him. Enya knew what he was expecting, so instead of pulling away from him she pushed herself into his chest, headbutted his jaw and pushed him over, sword at his chest. All of this happened almost too fast for the spectators to process.
"I have fought in a dress and high heels more times than I can count. So, Gareth, how does it feel to fight like a woman?" Enya said steadily, just loud enough for the other knights to hear. Gareth was too shocked and embarrassed to say anything. The Princess lifted her head and scanned the line of speechless men standing before her.
"Anyone else?" she asked softly. They shook their head in unison. Even Arthur seemed to be lost for words. Enya withdrew her sword from Gareth's chest and motioned towards the tent.
"Change back into your armour, knight, and come back for training."
Merlin laughed merrily as Enya sat down to join him in cleaning, she had her leather armour draped over her knee and she was grinning at the joy in Merlin's face.
"Gareth is such a prick, I'm so glad you took him down a few notches," he chuckled, starting to polish the first chest piece he'd been assigned.
"I did that to one of my knights, on the first day of me taking over training. I have never been questioned since," she replied casually.
"I can see why," Arthur's voice came from the entrance of the changing tent. She turned to smile at him, blue eyes sparkling.
"I hope you don't mind me being so harsh towards your knights, My Lord, it's just in my experience it's the fastest and most effective way of getting them to listen," she said soberly. Arthur knelt beside her and looked up into her face.
"What you did was brilliant and I couldn't have thought of anything better myself," he said softly. She had the urge to reach out and brush his blonde hair from his forehead, but Ginger arrived at the tent at the same moment.
"My Lady, your father requires your attention," she said, curtseying in their direction. Enya put aside her armour and brushed her dress down quickly before following Ginger from the tent. Arthur noticed Merlin making to follow her.
"No, Merlin, I put you on cleaning duty and you're not to leave this tent until every piece of equipment is sparkling clean," Arthur snapped. Merlin sat down reluctantly as Arthur went to follow the princess.
"Tomorrow, father?" Enya was shocked. She knew that they only reason they had come to Camelot was to sign the peace treaty, but she didn't expect to be leaving so soon. A playful smile danced around the King's lips.
"Yes Enya, we are leaving tomorrow. However…" he took a long pause before turning to Uther, "Both myself and Lord Uther have noticed how happy you have been here. I haven't seen you smile so much since your mother died, so we think, if you would like to stay… Well, Uther says he's more than happy for you to take a room in his palace for however long you would like to spend here."
Arthur kept his face as blank as possible, but his heart and mind were racing. Enya? Stay longer? There were endless possibilities, if only she agrees…
The princess squealed happily and enveloped her father in a backbreaking hug. She turned to Uther, eyes shining.
"I'm sorry if I am speaking out of turn my Lord, but may I hug you also?" Uther laughed.
"Of course My Lady, come here." Enya and Uther hugged, both of them grinning from ear to ear. Arthur had never seen his father hug anyone, except for maybe Morgana. He was quite shocked. She seemed to sober slightly as she stepped backwards, curtseying gracefully, all of the childish abandon gone from her face.
"Thank you Lord Uther, I shall take you up on that offer." Her poise and maturity had returned, but her eyes gave away her sheer joy. Enya and her father left the room at Uther's request, so that only Arthur and his father were left there.
"Arthur I have a question and I ask that you answer me honestly," Uther said seriously. Arthur resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Yes father?"
"Do you have feelings for Lady Enya?" The answer shocked the Prince as all composure left him, exposing his answer briefly on his face. Uther continued before Arthur could answer.
"Yes I thought so. Now, Boromir is insistent that his daughter only marry someone that she too loves, so Arthur, if you want to be with her, I suggest you start making your moves soon."
It was a few moments before Arthur could manage to choke out, "and if she rejects me?"
Uther shrugged, "that is her choice. Peace will remain between our kingdoms no matter what. I just wanted you to know that she is a fine woman and if you so decide to marry, I would be proud to have her as a part of our lineage."