Chapter 6: Valiant Part 2
The tournament knights were in line to meet the Lady Morgana and King Uther. Valiant walks up to Uther confidently.
"Knight Valiant of the Western Isles, My Lord." He introduces himself.
"I saw you fighting today. You have a very aggressive style. " Uther said with a glint in his eyes.
"Well, as My Lord said, To lose is to be disgraced." Sir Valiant said and Uther looked happy at that.
"Couldn't agree more. Knight Valiant, may I present the Lady Morgana, my ward." The King said proudly.
Valiant bows and kisses Morgana's hand while giving Arthur a smile.
"My Lady" He greeted.
"I saw you competing today. " She flirted.
"I saw you watching. I understand the tournament champion has the honour of escorting My Lady to the feast. " He continued.
"That's correct." She smiled.
"Then I will give everything to win the tournament" She smiled and they both nodded to each other.
"My Lady." Valiant leaves and Arthur bows to his father.
"Arthur." Uther greets coldly.
"Father" Arthur nods and goes over to Morgana.
"They are all seemed impressed by Sir Valiant. " Morgana said knowingly.
"There not the only ones" Arthur mutters.
"You're not jealous, are you? " Morgana smiled.
"I don't see anything to be jealous of." Arthur lied and Morgana's smile faded. Arthur left and Morgana spoke to Gwen.
"Could Arthur be any more annoying? I so hope Knight Valiant wins the tournament. "
"You don't really mean that." Gwen said knowing that Morgana didn't mean it.
"Yes I do." Morgana said sincerely.
Merlyn went to the Armoury to get Arthur's armour and she heard a hissing sound. She looked over to Sir Valiant's shield and felt a weird churning feeling in her stomach.
"Can I help you with something?" Sir Valiant's voice came from behind her. She quickly turned around and he came closer.
"Nope. I'm good. I, I was just... I was, err, gathering my master's armour." Merlyn said trying to back away, but Valiant kept coming closer and backed her in a corner.
"Excuse me, Sir Valiant." She tried to move again, but this time, Valiant held her chin and kissed her. Merlyn tried to push him, but he was too strong. She gasped when he brushed his hand over her breasts and down her body.
"SIR VALIANT" A familiar voice shouted angrily and grabbed Valiant around his neck. When she looked up, she saw Arthur looking livid at Valiant who was shaking.
"APOLIGISE TO HER NOW." Arthur said angrily and Valiant spluttered an apology.
"If I catch you, so much as staring at her, I will make you pay." Arthur threatened letting go of his neck and he ran away like the coward, that he was.
Merlyn started crying and Arthur went to comfort her. He hugged her and rubbed her back until she stopped crying.
"I-I'm sorry." She apologised and Arthur looked shocked.
"It wasn't your fault. I am taking you to Gaius." He said and helped her up.
"No. It is fine, I don't wish to bother him." She said pulling his arm to stop him.
"What? You wouldn't bother him, this is important." Arthur said looking into her eyes with concern.
"N-no.. All he did was kiss me and I am not even injured." She protested and Arthur sighed at her stubborn nature.
"Are you sure that you are ok?" He said looking up and down at her.
"Yes, I am fine. Can I stay at the servant chambers, next to your room? It's just Gaius is going to a village tonight and I don't want to be by myself." Merlyn babbled and Arthur put a hand to her shoulder.
"Of course you can." He assured her.
"Thank you" She said gratefully.
"What are friends for?" He smiled and Merlyn hugged him tightly.
Merlyn spent the night happily at the servants chamber, feeling safe knowing Arthur was in the other room. She started preparing him for the tournament.
Once Arthur was ready, he began to leave and Merlyn stopped him.
"Be careful, I am not losing any friends today."
"You won't" Arthur assured her and left.
Merlyn looked at Sir Ewan lying on the bed looking sweaty.
"How is he?" She asked when Gaius entered the room
It's most odd. Look at this. See these two small wounds. Looks like a snake bite." Gaius said pointing to Sir Ewan's neck and Merlyn frowned.
"He was in a tournament, how could he have been bitten by a snake?" She asked.
"But the symptoms are consistent with poisoning: slow pulse, fever, paralysis. " He stated the symptoms.
"Can you heal him?" She asked with concern.
"Well, if it is a snake bite, I'll have to extract venom from the snake that bit him to make an antidote. " Gaius answered.
"And if he doesn't get the antidote?" Merlyn asked not liking where this was going.
"Then I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do for him. He's going to die. " Gaius stated sadly and Merlyn then remembered who he was fighting with.
"Sir Valiant. " She muttered to herself.
"What is that?" Gaius asked looking at her like she had gone mad.
"Nothing." Merlyn lied.