"It's so clean looking it's almost a shame to use it."
Arthur tugged at the chain mail shirt that Percival had helped him into.
"Elyan spent the last two days making it, he'd probably be quite offended if you didn't."
As he spoke Percival started to put the armour on, as he straightened out the buckles the door opened and Gwen came hurrying in. Both of them looked up, turning their heads towards her.
"Oh! Don't do that yet."
"Why not?" Percival asked. Arthur frowned in confusion. He glanced at the bundle of red material that she held carefully in her hands.
"Because this has to go underneath it," Gwen said.
She unfolded the material to reveal the tunic. The front of the red material had been stitched with a gold design. After staring at it for a moment Arthur realised what it was.
"Is that a dragon on it?"
"Yes," Gwen said, glancing down at it. She looked back up at Arthur and then her eyes glimmered with sympathy as she realised that again, it needed explaining to Arthur.
"It's the Pendragon symbol. It's your father's and the symbol of Camelot. Merlin thought it was appropriate."
Merlin, therefore, probably had a hand in getting it made up so quickly.
"Well, if we go down, at least we do it in style."
Arthur turned his head further to glower at Percival. "I thought you said we should be optimistic."
"True, let's win with style then," Percival said, he lifted the shoulder guards over Arthur's head and a moment later Gwen stepped forward, unfolding the tunic fully and she dropped that over Arthur's head, straightening it up as Percival put the armour back. Arthur stayed still as Gwen reached for his belt and wrapped it around his waist. As she buckled that Percival secured on the armour. Arthur looked down at himself carefully feeling the soft material of the tunic, and pressing down tested the harsh metal of the chain mail underneath.
"I don't think I have ever been so well dressed in my life."
Percival patted his shoulder heavily. "That's nice."
Arthur tugged on the tunic some more and Gwen patiently straightened it again.
"Aaliah said red suited me."
"Who?" Gwen asked.
"The little druid girl with the cat," Percival said. "She and the cat have a fondness for Arthur. I think Arthur reciprocates, that's another time he nearly got himself killed."
"Again with the optimism, Percival."
"Don't sound so glum," Percival said landing a heavy hand on his shoulder again, shaking him slightly. "I said nearly. You'll be fine, between what we taught you and that sword's desire to defend you I think you can do enough to win. He'll underestimate you, and if all else fails, leave it to the sword to guide your arm. I don't think that thing will let you down."
Arthur turned his head, Gwen had carefully picked Excalibur up, before turning and holding it out to Arthur. He looked at it, the hilt resting on one of her palms, the blade in the other. Relaxing his mind he felt the pull, the subtle song that seemed to linger at the back of his mind, it had since he had arrived on the Isle Of The Blessed and he had come into proximity of the weapon. Percival moved around to Arthur's left side and reaching out took the sword from Gwen before carefully sliding it into Arthur's belt, resting it by his side.
"And by some odd coincidence," Percival drawled. "This was with your armour this morning."
He took the cover off the shield to display, again, the dragon symbol that now sat on Arthur's chest. However, the shield looked scuffed, as if it had been, at some point, regularly used.
"I'm guessing this was your father's, it must have been here somewhere. Merlin probably had a hand in finding it, as well as making that tunic," Percival said.
"I did sew some of that," Gwen announced lifting the hem.
"Thank you, Gwen," Arthur said as he pulled on the set of leather gloves that had been made for him and Percival carefully fitted the shield onto his left arm. "Is Merlin all right?"
"He's in the royal box," Gwen said. "Morgana went with him. Balinor wanted to as well but Merlin ordered him not to."
"The last thing we need is them holding a Dragonlord hostage," Percival said.
"Balinor wasn't happy about it, but he understands the reason. He'll order the dragon to flee if he needs to."
Arthur took a deep breath, listening to the conversation. Percival put his hand back onto Arthur's shoulder. This time in a gentler gesture.
"You can do this."
Arthur's hand drifted to Excalibur's hilt, and he closed his eyes. The murmur in his mind rose and slowly he opened his eyes again. A moment later Lancelot gave a gentle knock on the door, peering around it.
"Come on Arthur, everyone's waiting."
Arthur exhaled. "I'm ready."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Gwaine had to admit Merlin looked utterly composed. He came and sat in his designated place and then Lady Morgana upset everything by standing by Merlin and glaring at the servants until they produced a chair for her. She sat on Merlin's right, a small distance back from him. She could still reach out and touch him, but she didn't. He was not proving entirely tractable this morning and she understood why. Morgana left it alone but she seemed to have made her allegiance clear.
Gwaine couldn't do the same, having to sit with his father and brother, and he tried to keep his tension in check. He glared at Maleagant, already in the ring casually talking with one of the other knights who had accompanied him and swinging his sword in a casual gesture. If Gwaine could have struck him down from where he sat he probably would have done. Although Gwaine didn't think that would really do much good, Bayard would just choose someone else to face Arthur.
He turned his head as the gathered crowd started to murmur. The soldiers with some consternation, and the citizens of the ruined citadel babbled in hushed whispers. Gwaine sat up straighter. He had a better view of the assembled civilians and the older ones appeared to be the most excited. Merlin, with a slightly clearer view of the entrance had also straightened up, Morgana's eyes widened and the rest of the royal box tensed as Arthur came into full view.
Percival walked on one side of him, Lancelot on the other. They had donned the symbol that Merlin used, the flying dragon on a green background. Between them Arthur's red contrasted, and the golden dragon, brighter than Merlin's, looked settled and almost stoic.
"What is the meaning of this?" Bayard hissed turning an accusing glare in Merlin's direction.
Gwaine watched the others turn in the same direction, with varying expressions of shock and anger. He controlled his own desire to smirk and did so easily by keeping his gaze on Arthur. Maleagant had moved closer, his two companions backing off. Gwaine watched as Percival offered Arthur the helmet but he felt no surprise as Arthur quite clearly shook his head.
"No," Arthur said. "It won't help."
The helmet hadn't, the whole thing felt far too claustrophobic and Arthur hadn't been able to handle it. Nobody had asked him what caused the adverse reaction, which Arthur felt glad about, it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. He had noticed Gwaine came the closest to asking him, but then seemed to sense that it wouldn't be welcome. As Percival stepped back Arthur noted Maleagant watching the interaction carefully and a second later tossed his own helmet back towards the knight on his left. The man fumbled to catch it, caught out by the sudden gesture.
"I don't suppose it makes a difference."
Arthur said nothing, he didn't think he would have been able to make anything sound coherent. Butterflies dived around his stomach and he felt slightly shaky, now faced with the reality of what he had done. Conversations made in hurried whispers still rippled around the arena and Arthur didn't dare look in the direction of the royal box. Checking on Merlin would have helped him but Arthur didn't want to risk catching the eye on any of the kings.
In the end, however, he was left with little choice. Maleagant turned to incline his head in the direction of the kings to acknowledge them. Arthur did the same, thankfully seeing Merlin before the others. Merlin looked calm, and resolute. Arthur couldn't help but let his gaze drift. And quite oddly, the sight of the people who had chosen to abuse him for so long calmed him. He stared at them almost as if he didn't know them. All of them had seen nothing wrong with what had been done to him; his own kingdom, his father's kingdom, destroyed. Arthur saw the point of that, what Balinor had told him, of what Uther had done to Hunith, he could understand why they had acted against him.
But Arthur got the feeling that the reason that Balinor had given was something that the kings hid behind. Gaius made sure that Arthur had learnt some of the history, and Camelot had reigned at the centre of the kingdoms, and it's loss destroyed a balance, and for sixteen years it had remained unsettled.
No doubt, Arthur thought to himself, each king had planned to take that prominent spot and not one of them had yet reached it. And now he stood quite ready to take that place.
His gaze remained completely dispassionate as he regarded them. Bayard looked furious, his gaze on Arthur's chest where the golden dragon lay. Arthur had to resist the temptation to look down again, to view the symbol. Bayard's gaze drifted back to Merlin.
"This is your doing!" the king hissed.
Merlin said nothing for a moment. Bayard's shift of attention seemed to act as some kind of signal. Arthur and Maleagant turned to look at each other again and Maleagant reached for the hilt of his sword. Arthur did the same, his gaze not moving from his opponent but his hand found Excalibur's hilt with ease.
As he slowly drew the weapon Percival leant in to whisper in Arthur's ear.
"You'll be fine."
The words drifted over Arthur, and he felt aware of Percival and Lancelot moving away, just as the two knights by Maleagant backed off. Arthur lifted his shield and checked his grip on Excalibur, raising the blade and planting his feet carefully.
Merlin watched, not bothering to turn to Bayard as he replied to his furious accusation.
"It's the symbol of his house," Merlin announced. "And his kingdom, which by his actions he is defending."
Bayard hissed. He tensed as a hand landed on his arm, pulling him back, although the king hadn't even been aware that he had moved, turning in his chair.
"It's an item of clothing Bayard! Get a hold of yourself!" Lot ordered him.
The king sank back in his chair, forcing himself to relax. His gaze turning back to the two men now circling each other in the ring. Arthur stumbled a little and Maleagant launched himself forward. The sound of metal on metal rang through the air as the blades struck to signify the start of the fight.
It didn't take long for Arthur to realise, and he guessed anyone who understood combat realised the same, that Maleagant was playing with him. He attacked, then backed off, and when Arthur attempted his own strikes Maleagant deflected him easily. Even before they had started the obvious mismatch between the opponents was a common fact. Arthur had been given no more than a few days training, although he was fit enough to cope. There was nothing wrong with his stamina, he had worked hard all his life, and could manage for hours. He'd get tired but he could keep going. His inexperience in battle was the issue.
Slowly he allowed himself to relax, he didn't want to rely too much on the magic that powered Excalibur but he had to. The lightness of the sword in his hand also helped, his arm didn't seem to tire as much as when Percival gave him another sword to use. But he had to think of something else, some way to push the issue.
He lifted his shield to ward off another blow, trying to lash out at Maleagant's leg. The knight dodged to the side and used his own shield slamming it against Arthur and sending him sprawling. He crashed heavily into the side of the arena and froze in shock. Arthur tried to get up but he couldn't move and he realised, in horror, that the side of his shield had somehow wedged into the wood of the barrier. Arthur's eyes widened and he pulled, putting his bodyweight into trying to get himself free, aware of Maleagant baring down on him. Arthur half turned, as the crowd gasped in horror, and he lifted his sword. The sunlight caught his eyes and he had to guess where to meet the blow. He felt his shoulder throb as it wrenched violently and he knew Excalibur again moved of it's own accord, helping him to block the blow. His nerves sent flares of pain across his back and down his arm as he braced. With both arms occupied Arthur risked losing his balance and he kicked out at Maleagant's leg, hooking him at the back of the knee and pulling him over. He went down and Arthur tried to follow up by slicing his sword down. Maleagant rolled clear, smoothly getting to his feet in the same movement. Arthur yanked on the shield again. He couldn't pull his arm free with his elbow wedged against the wood.
He tried to unbuckle the straps but he didn't have enough time. He had to get himself free. Taking a deep breath, he did the only thing he could think of. Swiftly he eased Excalibur's blade down in the gap between the shield and his arm and he yanked the sword down to slice through the leather straps. He just had to hope that it wouldn't cut himself, in fact he felt fairly assured that it wouldn't. His arm moved as the leather cut cleanly and he fell back as Maleagant thrust his sword forward.
By the angle of the attack Arthur knew it wouldn't have cut him, and he leapt upwards, moving towards Maleagant for an attack. He watched as Maleagant's eyes widened and he backed up, changing the angle of his thrust mid-strike. Arthur swiped with Excalibur and Maleagant backed up another step. The knight looked furious and disconcerted. Then Arthur knew, Maleagant did plan to win the fight without killing him. Disarming and subduing him would be enough to ensure his victory. Arthur moved forward again, and a gasp of shock rippled through the crowd. He pushed the issue further, pushing Maleagant back.
The knight recovered quickly enough dodging one blow and thrusting at Arthur's knee. Arthur jumped aside, stumbling as he did so, landing on his shoulder and scrabbling inelegantly to his feet. He turned wincing as he put pressure on his right ankle realising he had turned it slightly in the fall. Maleagant smirked.
"Don't think I won't hurt you," the knight drawled. "As long as you can still lie on your belly with your legs spread it won't be much of an inconvenience."
Arthur felt a stirring of sickness, but the rest of his body remained calm and he answered as they circled each other again.
"Well," he announced, as conversationally as he could while he panted with exertion. "You're not exactly a huge inconvenience, are you?"
As he spoke Arthur dropped his gaze, his intonation making the meaning of his words obvious. Maleagant's eyes widened, and the audience who had heard the exchange tittered. The knight's eyes shifted in their direction briefly, his jaw tensing with fury.
Merlin suppressed a smirk but heard Percival's voice from somewhere close by announce.
"Oh, you brilliant boy."
If Arthur heard the pronouncement he gave no indication of it. Instead he added.
"Let's face it, I know who's got what."
The fact was, Arthur probably didn't. Most of them had become faceless over the years but no one else needed to know that. Maleagant looked furious and he leapt forward, his assault frenzied as he reacted to the insult.
Morgana couldn't help herself, she let her gaze drift from the fight to look at the king's reaction. Bayard looked fit to explode and all of them shifted a little uncomfortably, except Gwaine who made no attempt to hide the fact that he was laughing. But what else she saw made her eyes narrow as Alined turned his head slightly and behind him Trickler looked around and nodded his head at someone close by. Morgana tensed, her eyes widening. She wasn't sure if she felt shock or fury as she spotted a cloaked figure. Despite the folds of material and the hood carefully concealing the face of the person she knew them, she had known them all her life. But she used her magic anyway, just to make sure. With a flare of gold briefly flashing in her eyes she whipped the hood away from Morgause's head.
Her sister turned, her own eyes gold and they locked eyes. The gaze broke as the crowd reacted, some screaming, others gasping. Both of them watched as Arthur's sword seemed to suddenly drop, as if it had become heavier within a second, but then Arthur, blinking in surprise recovered himself. He seemed unaware, looking confused as Maleagant backed up a step. Arthur clearly didn't see as Excalibur reacted to the magical assault which had been aimed at it, and it's master.
A mist suddenly seemed to swirl up around Arthur, glistening golden. It flared out from the blade as the sword defended itself, forming into a spread of wings, and a head rose up on a long elegant neck. The head swivelled, locating the source of the attack, it's dark eyes locked on Morgause's and a moment later her eyes rolled back in her head and she crumpled to the ground.
That attracted attention as she fell, and the misty dragon, satisfied with that, burst apart seeming to be nothing more than dust swirling in the air. Morgana's eyes widened further and she screamed out.
"Sister!"
Whatever she had done, Morgana could not ignore her. She leapt up and lifted her skirts to run down the steps and around to where her sister lay in a heap. Two soldiers had reached her but Morgana pushed them aside to lift her sister, putting her hand under her shoulders and she touched Morgause's face. Her skin felt ice cold and looked so pale it seemed almost blue.
"Let me look child," Gaius announced. He hobbled towards her as quickly as he could holding his medical bag. Gaius was there waiting for the outcome of the match. He might be needed, whatever happened. Now he ignored the conflict in the arena and knelt by Morgause's side, opposite Morgana.
"She's so cold. She used magic, against Arthur."
"Whatever enchantments she used lashed back at her, it will have drained her. Lancelot, get me some warm blankets and I need a room with a fire for her to be moved to."
"She didn't mean to. Whatever she did..." Morgana tailed off. The attack had been directed at Arthur, there was no doubt about that. Gaius looked up from his patient to meet her eyes.
"I dare say child, whatever the circumstances, Arthur will hold no grudge."
Morgana looked down at her sister's pale face.
"He is the only one that does not."
Merlin's attention snapped towards Morgause, and he had seen the image as the sword reacted. He looked at the kings slowly and steadily, his jaw tensing as he glared at them.
"It's my trickery that needs observing, is it?" he snarled.
Arthur didn't know any of it. He didn't know why Maleagant looked, suddenly, so disconcerted. Instead he pressed forward, heat running over him as he sensed an advantage and he attacked. Maleagant, shaken by what he had witnessed, lost his footing and fell back. Arthur heard the shouts from the crowd as he moved in. He put both hands on the hilt to increase his grip and as Maleagant thrust upwards to slash at him Arthur batted at the blade with his own. The force of the blow sent the sword flying from Maleagant's and as the knight tried to used his shield Arthur furious slammed at him again, sending a fierce shockwave down Maleagant's arm. Arthur followed up by stamping on the shield and pinning his arm, the one Arthur knew was in recovery from an injury. Maleagant's eyes widened as Arthur lifted Excalibur, still in a double-handed grip, and thrust downwards.
At the last moment, he felt it. He felt the sword, the heat, the anger, and the power. His insides tightened and Arthur knew what he could do. At the last moment he fought his instinct. His eyes locked on Maleagant's throat and his mind considered the idea of the blade slicing into that delicate flesh.
But Arthur didn't want to kill anyone. It didn't seem like a good place to start. In that second his arm quivered, the sword wanting something and Arthur needing more than that. Maleagant tensed as the edge of the blade caught his throat but that was the worst Arthur did. Excalibur's point drove into the earth and the side of the blade nicked Maleagant's skin. Blood welled around the blade, flowing slowly, not fatally but enough that Arthur could make his point.
Arthur exhaled through clenched teeth as he dropped to one knee, both hands still gripping the hilt, and resting there for a moment. Maleagant's eyes flashed open and stared up at Arthur.
For a moment Arthur struggled with the emotions, at least he thought that was what they were. He couldn't tell if they were coming from the sword, or himself or from those around him. As he spoke, Arthur could only say what was on his mind.
"I've beaten you. But killing you as well; that will solve nothing."
Arthur huffed again as he tiredly got to his feet. His knees felt weak and his shoulders throbbed with the exertion. Sweat ran from what seemed to be every pore in his body under the wool shirt and chain mail. Looking down at the tunic he realised it was now dust ridden and battered. Arthur shook his head and backed away. Maleagant lay where he fell, staring up at Arthur.
No one moved, having heard Arthur's words. He had won. He had beaten Maleagant in combat. There was no rule that said he had to kill his opponent. Merlin started to rise, his gaze still on the group in the royal box.
"And what did you hope to achieve?"
"He is not the king of Albion," Bayard snarled.
"I think Arthur just proved that he is, and that you, not me, are the ones that are not to be trusted!" Merlin hissed.
"Even the weather is on Arthur's side," Gwaine said.
The steadily floating white cloud had suddenly, carefully, parted, allowing the sun to filter through, lighting Arthur's blond hair as he looked around, now confused as to what to do next. Lancelot had rushed off with Gaius, carrying Morgause and Percival appeared to be nowhere in sight. Arthur turned to the royal box, and then looked around at the crowd.
The little figure that walked into the arena didn't get noticed for a moment. Slowly the little girl caught everyone's attention as she walked in, carrying a tiny kitten, holding it tightly in her arms, her head tilted to rest her cheek on the kitten's flat head. As she reached the centre of the arena, she lifted her head and changed her grip, still holding the cat as she reached out to slid a hand into Arthur's.
It made him jump and turn his head, looking down at her. Aaliah smiled.
"It's done Arthur."
"Erm, yes, I think so. I won didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Aaliah said. Backing up she pulled Arthur's hand. "Come on now."
Still holding Excalibur in his other hand Arthur allowed Aaliah to lead him from the arena.
"Where did she come from? Who is she?" Gaheris asked.
"More to the point," Gwaine said, standing up. "Why isn't she casting any shadow?"