"Where the hell is she?" asked Emma after the abrupt disappearance of Katie. The girls had been searching the courtyard and surrounding area for the last ten minutes, but to no avail. Katie was simply nowhere to be seen!
"You don't suppose…" started Becca turning towards Holly.
"No! Surely not, I mean they are KNIGHTS Becca! Replied Holly, astonished at the thought.
"But considering who these knights are…" started Emma with a frown "You don't suppose…"
"NO!" Yelled Lili and Holly simultaneously, loud enough for Arthur and Leon still standing nearby to hear.
"Is there a problem ladies?" As Leon and Arthur rushed over at their cries.
"We-" began Becca, but before she could explain Holly elbowed her in the ribs, causing her to double over. Leon began to look worried at this sudden display of violence in the girls – he expected it from the knights, duh, but something was clearly up.
"Are you sure, you look, er, worried," said Arthur motioning towards them.
"Everything is fine and under control thank you Sire," said Lili with a polite and innocent smile towards the crown prince.
"If you insist…" muttered Leon dragging Arthur away to speak to the King who was currently engaged in yelling at the crowd who were seen cheering for the girls whilst they beat, no THRASHED the knights in the first half.
Meanwhile Emma had engaged the now recovered Becca in a hastily whispered conversation.
"I don't think they are above kidnap Em," said Becca with a suspicious glance towards Gwaine and Percival who had now re-entered the courtyard.
"I know – I mean they did nearly arrest us when we arrived."
"TEN MINUTES TILL WE RESUME PLAY!" Came a yell from Uther. Glancing round Emma could see that Lili and Holly were now chatting to Percival and Gwaine quite sociably, probably about the game.
"Right here's the plan," said Emma. Becca grinned as she listened to a hastily drawn together plan being muttered into her ear.
"Let's do it!" She replied with a glint in her eye. The two girls walked over to join their friends talking to the two knights.
"I mean, obviously we were discovering your weakness' in the first half," explained Gwaine arrogantly to the girls, in a way that only Gwaine could. "And now we know… well don't hold your breath for a win!" The girls chuckled, like they would be beaten!
"Sir Percival, Sir Gwaine we were wondering if you had seen our friend Katie?" Asked Emma innocently.
"Emma, Katie probably just got lost like she usually does," Said Lili, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah but Katie doesn't get lost does she?" Replied Becca glancing towards the knights who were beginning to look slightly uneasy.
"Well, I'm sure there is a perfectly logical explanation!" Said Holly with a forced laugh.
"Like kidnap?" Suggested Emma, this time she turned to glare at the two knights, who began to look exceedingly guilty "We know you know where she is!"
"Ah but you don't know where she is still!" Replied Gwaine with a cheeky grin, as he and Percival walked away, looking very smug with themselves.
"Told you!" Said Becca as she turned to face Lili and Holly "Right let's split up, we have 5 minutes!"
"I love hide and Seek" muttered Holly sarcastically as she turned to run into the crowd, meaning to search their immediate surroundings. Lili and Becca headed straight for the castle however, whilst Emma went for a different tactic completely.
"Merlin!" She called to the gangly manservant as he strode out into the sunlight. He looked momentarily puzzled as he approached, but his confusion soon turned to guilt. "Where is Katie?" Asked Emma politely.
"Ah, well, you see this is a bit of a problem… um, I can't tell you, err, sorry?" Stuttered the warlock, his eyes searching for a way out of this potential problem. Luckily for him, a solution soon presented itself
"Merlin!" Came the customary yell from Arthur. Merlin shrugged and jogged over to see what the Prince wanted now.
"Damn," muttered Emma as she turned to go search the stables. But she soon stopped in her tracks as Uther yelled for the game to restart. "Double damn," She trudged back over to the court trying to kill an incredibly smug looking band of knights by glaring at them. She heard footsteps behind her and span around to see if her team mates had returned – which in fact they had, but still minus Katie.
"I searched all of the nearby houses," said Holly quickly.
"I did the ground floor and Gaius and Merlin's room," contributed Becca,
"And I did our rooms and the library," said Lili, who looked extremely worried by now.
"ON COURT!" Yelled Uther – it appeared he was not used to being kept waiting.
"We can't just leave her!" Hissed Emma to the others as they trudged over to the court.
"I'll carry on looking for her," volunteered Lili.
"But that will leave three of us to play!" Said Holly with an exasperated look.
"C'mon we can do this, Holly, if you stay as Goal Attack, and then we can still defend," she said motioning to herself and Becca.
"No that will never work, we need a Centre…"
"Yeah but if you haven't noticed, Katie isn't here!" Lili gave Becca a patronizing look.
"I know, but did I ever tell you I used to play Centre?" Asked Becca innocently, and then they shared a smile – perhaps this could work out for them yet!
"Ok then," said Lili "I will go find Katie, she said running off. The remaining three girls took their positions, much to the knight's confusion and happiness – now there were even less of them! Gwaine smirked at Emma as she took her position, who merely shrugged and put her full attention on Becca, standing in the centre circle, ball in hand. Uther's whistle blew, and they were off!
Sprinting forwards Holly jumped high to receive an ambitious pass from Becca. She passed it back to Emma after seeing Percival, man-mountain himself come charging towards her. Emma grabbed the ball, to have Gwaine practically collide with her, grabbing the ball on the way. Emma turned to face Uther, expecting a penalty pass, but was greeted with a
"YES! GO CAMELOT!" From the king, who was doing a merry little jig to celebrate the knights' possession of the ball. Gwaine lobbed it Merlin, who unfortunately managed to trip over his own feet and drop it, right into Becca's hand.
"Ta Merlin!" She yelled as she pivoted on the spot and threw it to Emma. Gwaine once again came charging towards her like a man possessed (which to be honest, he could have been) but this time she was ready. As he neared she chucked the ball to Holly, and skilfully managed to whack Gwaine in the face at the same time, bringing him to a halt. A few quick passes more and there was another goal to the girls. Uther looked like he was about to start breathing fire, he was so mad – lucky he didn't really, what with the inevitability of someone accusing him of sorcery. Instead in a strangled tone he told Gaius to play.
"But Sire!" Yelled the old man indignantly. After all the things he had been asked to do, this was it!
"I am your KING!" yelled Uther. Gaius then snatched a ribbon from a tiny girl nearby, and proceeded to tie his long, silvery white hair up. He strode on to the court, still fuming at his King's foolishness. Just as he was about to walk on he watched Arthur seemingly pluck the ball from mid-air and throw it Sir Leon. Passing it back to Lancelot, who consequently passed it back to Leon for a shot, he took aim. Emma tried in vain to run into the D, but was quickly grabbed from behind in a vice like grip by Arthur, and so was left to watch helplessly. Leon took a careful aim, and went to score.
"YESSSSS!" Yelled Gwaine happily, now demonstrating a perfect macarena as the ball soared through the net. The girls shared a look. 'Right' they all thought 'now things were going to get serious'.
Back in the castle, Lili was continuing to creep round all of the rooms, hoping to find Katie soon.
"Katie?" She whispered as she pushed open a door. She glanced quickly round the room and stopped in shock at what she saw there. A blue box. A Police Public Call Box to be exact, covered in cobwebs and failing miserably to blend into the surroundings. She slowly backed out of the room and proceeded up to the next floor. Seeing a cloaked figure sweep behind a pillar, she ran towards them and enveloped them in a hug. "KATIE! I've found you!" The figure turned to face her in confusion. It was Morgana. "Or not," said Lili backing off. Morgana placed a finger on her lips, and disappeared, just like that. "Right…" muttered Lili, continuing on her quest to find Katie – it seemed Camelot was full of secrets. After another 5 minutes or so she went up yet another flight of stairs – blimey, Camelot sure looked bigger than in real life!
She heard some muffled yells coming from halfway down the corridor. That was when she realised which corridor she was in. The third floor corridor. Yet again. Muttering under her breath she tip toed down towards the door, and upon putting her ear to said door, she heard a string of colourful curses. Really hoping that this was actually Katie, she unlocked the door, and was immediately pounced upon by an enraged Katie holding various items of cutlery in her hand.
"KATIE!" she screamed, before the girl actually hit her with a spoon. The girl looked down at her.
"Lili! I am so glad to see you!" Lili looked pointedly towards the spoon, still raised above Katie's head. "What!?" Katie then realised the irony of the situation, "Ok, yes, I was going to attack you with a spoon Lil's" After a brief hug they started to run back towards the corridor, Katie explaining her abduction to Lili, and Lili explaining her crazy finds back to Katie. As they exited the castle, they were just hoping that they still had the lead in the netball match.
Panting slightly, the two girls returned to the match, discovering that there were now eight players on Camelot's side, but the girls had miraculously managed to increase their lead to 10 – 0.
"HA!" Laughed Katie, "serves them right for cheating and kidnapping me!"
"We're back!" cried Lili. In response the other three girls cheered loudly, startling Gwaine once again, causing him to drop the ball again.
Play then continued as normal. Well, as normal as it could under the circumstances. The girls now had a nice little routine going, so the ball only really needed to be passed four times for them to score a point. They were, however, getting slightly concerned about Uther, though. He had gone purple in the face.
'Steam's going to start coming out of his ears soon if he doesn't calm down' thought Becca, worrying a bit. "Emma…do you get the feeling that something bad is going to happen soon?" she asked, "'Cause I do…"
But at that point in time Emma was very nearly engaged in combat with Percival, who had just insulted Holly. Emma was too distracted to notice Uther, but Merlin who had been listening to Becca did.
"I'm going to have to do something" he muttered to himself, trying to think of something – anything – that he could legally do for help. He came up blank, though, and looked towards Gaius for help.
"Uh oh, I know that look Merlin. What's wrong?" questioned Gaius, trying to stay away from any action. So Merlin quickly explained his thoughts. "Merlin…I think you may have to do something, um, not quite allowed, if you get my meaning."
"But Gaius, the girls know – they KNOW."
"Ah, yes. Now I see your dilemma." He pondered for a few moments, trying to decide which was worse: five girls being executed for sorcery, or a possible accusation by the same five unrepeatable girls to Arthur that Merlin was a sorcerer. "I think you are our best chance, Merlin. Go ahead – it's safe enough"
So with Gaius' approval, Merlin began planning his intervention.
While this conversation was going on, Gwaine had fallen over again, but this time onto his face. He was sat on the ground looking slightly dazed. He looked up to see Arthur laughing at him and was very confused. He put his hands to his face and discovered what Arthur found so funny – he had stones and dust ground into his face and hair. His poor hair! He would have to wash it maybe six or seven times to get all of this out of it – how awful is that?
"Clotpole" he muttered under his breath to cheer himself up.
"What was that?" asked Arthur
"Oh, nothing" replied Gwaine innocently, grinning up at him.
A/N: So WE HAVE ALL FINISHED EXAMS AND SUMMER HAS BEGUN! Hopefully, this means more updates on the drabbles and as we approach the end of this story, a sequel is in sight!
Again thank you so much for reading and we just passed over 1,000 views on the story. Don't forget to review!
~Katie from the Camelot Netball Team x