Chapter 6: Valiant Part 1

Valiant enters a shady market and goes up to the Merchant.

"I believe that you have a shield for me"

The merchant looks around and motions for him to come closer. The merchant holds up a shield with 3 snakes intertwined together

"With your sword craft and this shield, I guarantee you'll win. "

Valiant nodded his head in understanding and asked how the shield worked.

"Certainly" The merchant looks at the shield and incanted a spell. The snakes immediately came alive and slithers out of the shield.

"When you compete, you pin your opponent under the shield, the snake strikes. Your opponent will be paralysed." The merchant explains with a cruel smile. " The snakes are now under your command and will do whatever you tell them"

"Anything?" Valiant asked.

"Just say the word" The both of them laughed wickedly.

Valiant's laughter came to a sudden stop..

"Kill him" The snake darts out of the shield and strikes the merchant.

Arthur and Merlyn are at the training field. Merlyn looked nervously as Arthur grabs his sword.

"Remind me, why did I agree to help you?"

Arthur laughed while Merlyn took a death grip on the shield.

"Ready?" Arthur asked.

"Would it make a difference if I said no?" Merlyn asked already knowing the answer.

"Not really." Arthur laughs again.

Merlyn draws the shield and Arthur attacks.

"Body. Shield. Body. Shield"

"Shield" Merlyn repeated trying to catch up with great difficulty.

"Head" Arthur said surprising Merlyn.

"Head?" Merlyn said in confusion and Arthur hits Merlyn in the head with his sword.

"Ow" Merlyn complained putting her hand on her helmet.

"Come on Merlyn. Your not even trying." Arthur said in a whiny voice.

"I am"

"Once more" Arthur orders and Merlyn groaned.

"To the left. To the right. And left. Head" Arthur hits Merlyn in the head again.

"OW" Merlyn complains again.

"Come on Merlyn. I have a tournament to win." Arthur moaned.

"Shield."

"Shield. Ah"

Arthur hits her head again. Merlyn falls over and her helmet rolls off.

"Your braver than you look. Most servants collapse after the first blow"

"Is that a compliment?" Merlyn asks and Arthur scoffs.

"You wish" He helps her up.

"You okay?" Arthur whispers.

"No broken bones, so I think so" Merlyn points out looking up and down at herself.

"Good, how's your mace work coming along?" Arthur says loudly.

"Why are we friends?" Merlyn whispers to him and Arthur smiles.

Gaius is in his chambers, working on his potions, when Merlyn enters dropping his armour as she goes.

"So how was your first day working with Arthur?" He laughs.

"Do you hear clanging?" Merlyn asks tapping her head.

Merlyn sits down and Gaius massages her shoulders firmly.

"It was horrible." Merlyn complained. "I've still got to learn all about tournament etiquette by the morning. " She incants a spell and a book slides over to her.

"Oi" He hits Merlyn on the head. "What have I told you about using magic like that?"

"If I could feel my arms, I'd pick the book up myself." She whined.

"Never mind your arms. What would I do if you get caught?"

"What would you do" She asked curiously.

"Well, you just make sure it doesn't happen, for both our sakes. " Gaius said going back to her shoulders.

"How is it fair that I save his life and end up his servant?" She asked.

"Fairness doesn't come into it. You never know it could be fun"

"You think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun? You should hear my list of duties. " Merlyn scoffed.

"We all have duties. Even Arthur."

"Yeah, it must be tough. You know with all the girls and glory."

"He is a future king. People expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure. "

Merlyn was about to say that she was supposed to be the future queen, but remembered Gaius didn't know. Merlyn was brought out of her thoughts as Gaius pressed down hard on her tender arm.

Merlyn asked Gwen to help her and she agreed without any hesitation.

"You have the voiders on the arms." Gwen put the voiders on.

"Ok" Merlyn said.

"The hauberk goes over your chest."

"Chest. Arms. Chest" Merlyn said trying to keep the information in her head.

"I take it you know where to put the helmet." Gwen smiled.

"The feet" Merlyn joked and Gwen laughed. Merlyn put the helmet on her head and Gwen giggled as it was way too big for Merlyn's head.

"How come you're so much better at this than me? " Merlyn asked curiously.

"I'm the blacksmith's daughter. I know pretty much everything there is to know about armour, which is actually kind of sad. " Gwen smiled sadly.

"No it is brilliant " Merlyn reassured her with a hug.

Merlyn is struggling to put the voiders on Arthur.

"You do know the tournament starts today" Arthur reminded her.

"Yes sire."

Merlyn looked at Arthur who was looking at the competitors nervously.

"Are you nervous?"

Arthur scoffed." I don't get nervous"

Merlyn frowned at him and Arthur looked away from her curious glance.

"I thought everyone gets nervous."

"Will you shut up?" Arthur shouts.

"Ok I will. But promise me that you will be careful" Merlyn said looking at him concerned.

"I am always careful" Arthur assured her.

"I think your all set." Merlyn said looking up and down at him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Arthur asked giving her a glare.

"Umm" Merlyn said trying to think about any armour that she had forgotten to put on.

"My sword. " Arthur said and Merlyn blushed.

"Oh yeah. I guess you would need that." Merlyn laughed nervously and Arthur looked unamused.

"Sorry" Merlyn apologised and Arthur marched off.

"That went well" Merlyn said sarcastically.

Gwen and Morgana are sitting in the stands looking at the competitors entering the Arena. Merlyn looks around at Uther as he struts over to the competitors.

"Knights of the realm, it's a great honour to welcome you to a tournament at Camelot. Over the next three days, you will come to put your bravery to the test, your skills as warriors, and of course, to challenge the reigning champion, my son, Prince Arthur. Only one can have the honour of being crowned champion, and he will receive a prize of 1,000 gold pieces. Today we will see if a knight is a coward or a warrior, Let the tournament begin" Uther says and the crowd cheers.

Uther goes over to Arthur and Merlyn had to strain to hear what he said.

"I trust you will make me proud." He said patting his sons shoulder and walking off.

Arthur and the knight begin to fight and Merlyn cheers Arthur on.

"Yeah, come on"

After a while, Arthur stood victorious and the crowd cheers to him. Arthur goes over to Merlyn

"Told you" Arthur said confidently. Sir Valiant begins to fight and she frowned at his anger while fighting.

"He seems good with a sword." Merlyn states and Arthur looks over agreeing with her.

Valiant wins and comes over to Arthur.

"May I offer my congratulations on your victories today? " He said with a smile which made Merlyn's stomach churn.

"Likewise." Arthur said curtly.

"And who are you?" Valiant said looking over to Merlyn greedily.

"Merlyn, I am Prince Arthur's maidservant." Merlyn introduces herself and Valiant kisses her hand.

"Well I hope to see you soon" Valiant leaves after a long moment of staring at Merlyn.

"Creep" Merlyn mutters and Arthur snorts.

The way Valiant stared at Merlyn made Arthur angry and it brought out feelings that Arthur couldn't put his finger on.

"I want you to stay away from him."

"Trust me, I will be." Merlyn said even though she was confused by why Arthur wanted her to stay away from him.

"Uh, for tomorrow you need to repair my shield, wash my tunic, clean my boots, sharpen my sword, and polish my chainmail. " Arthur said hiding his embarrassment and leaving quickly