Chapter 16-The Sins of the Father
Hey guys, so it's been a little while I do apologize, but my internet at home is a new level of rubbish. We are getting a new server in a couple of weeks so I will be able to update every two days or so (hopefully). Anyway I don't own Merlin, but Laudine, Elizabeth and Kay are all my wonderful creations. Enjoy!
I didn't understand the appeal of knighting ceremonies. A group of nobles crowded in the room, listening to Uther drown on in the background about responsibility. I had been good at avoiding such events back home but in Camelot I had no choice but to attend, no matter how much I wished I was asleep. I was beginning to close my eyes while standing up when I was startled awake by a loud crashing noise outside the room. The doors opened and a single knight entered, dressed in a similar outfit to the Camelot knights but the air around him was strong with magic, something I hadn't seen since facing Nimueh. Arthur pushed his way to the front as the new knights all pulled out their swords.
The lone knight stopped in front of him, dropping down a gauntlet in a challenge. Arthur looked at it for a moment before picking it up. I could feel myself tensing up in fear, "I accept your challenge. If I'm to face you in combat, do me the courtesy of revealing your identity," Arthur said coldly.
The knight slowly removed the helmet revealing long blonde hair and a face I recognised from my childhood, "My name is Morgause."
Almost immediately after that the nobles and knights were dismissed, and Morgause given a room for the night which left Arthur, Uther and I in the council chambers with Geoffrey, "I've searched the records going back more than 300 years. I could find nothing to say a woman cannot issue a challenge," Geoffrey explained.
"There must be some way to put a stop to this," Uther argued back.
Geoffrey shook his head, "According to the Knight's Rules, it appears her challenge is perfectly valid."
"It is because you have never had a female trained swordman issue a challenge before so no one thought it was important to write it in there," I informed them all, "You can't stop it. She has as much right to challenge as anyone else."
"Thank you," Arthur nodded at me.
"Oh I didn't say it wasn't completely stupid to accept a challenge without knowing anything about your opponent. That's basic rules," I shot back, slightly upset and annoyed at Arthur's stupidity.
"I accepted the challenge. If I refuse to fight, it'll be seen as an act of cowardice," Arthur pointed out.
"She killed five guards. You should not underestimate her," Uther argued.
"I cannot demand that my knights uphold the code, then be seen to break it myself. I must face her tomorrow," Arthur said firmly.
After Uther excused us I walked back with Arthur to his chambers meeting Merlin there, "Do you know why she challenged you?" Merlin asked as soon as we entered the room.
Arthur shrugged, "I'm the King's son. Perhaps she believed she will prove herself."
"Yeah, but you don't want to fight her, do you?" Merlin asked.
"I have no choice. If I refuse to fight her, I'm a coward. If I kill her, what am I then?" Arthur asked, I gave him a look which he noticed, "What is it?"
"You have never faced a woman in combat before Arthur what if you hesitate?" I questioned.
"You believe she is going to defeat me," Arthur said sounding disappointed in me.
"No, but I believe you don't know how to fight a woman and I worry for you," I said softly.
"It isn't different," Arthur said dismissively.
I shook my head at him before reaching over and grabbing him pulling him from the room and down the corridors towards the training grounds. I could hear Merlin following behind us, "Where are we going?"
"To prove a point," I answered simply leaving Arthur's side to grab a pair of wooden swords, thanking the gods that I had chose to wear tighter clothing today so easier for combat. I threw one of the swords over to Arthur and he caught it perfectly, "Think of this as you're training."
"I won't fight you Lizzy," Arthur argued letting the sword drop to his side.
I laughed at him, "Scared of a girl now are we?" I knew what I was doing, winding him up but I also knew it was the only way to get him to actually take this seriously.
Arthur got a hard expression on his face before flicking the sword around a bit feeling the weight, "I won't go easy on you."
"I don't expect you to," I snapped back as he made the first move. I dodged and rolled out of the way of the sword blows waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Arthur although stronger wasn't as quick as me, I noticed when he lunged forward he left his right side more vulnerable to attack. The next time he lunged I turned away before slamming my sword into his right side cause him to be winded and drop his sword in surprise, "And you're dead," I told him simply.
"A woman may not be as strong as a man but we are quicker on our feet. You leave your right side free when you attack and you can't hesitate, it will only take one mistake Arthur. I just want you safe," I whispered the last part before kissing him lightly on the cheek, "You should sleep now tomorrow's a big day."
When I awoke early the next morning my stomach was filled with dread, Laudine helped me get ready for the day in complete silence, neither of us having the heart to say what we were thinking. By the time we made it to the Tournament grounds the air was ripe with tension. I took my spot next to the King trying to watch coldly as Arthur came out in the grounds, the crowd cheering him on.
Uther stood next to me, "The fight is by the Knights' Rules. And to the death."
The drums began in the background as the two opponents prepared to fight. Morgause made the first move but Arthur quickly blocked. They were both equally skilled fighters, between the crowd cheering Arthur on and the clashing of swords the atmosphere was electric. Arthur swung his sword down cutting into Morgause arm causing her to let go of her sword, "Do it," I whispered softly willing Arthur to use that moment to make the final move, instead he chose to back away giving Morgause a chance to pick up her sword. I knew then that would be the wrong decision. Morgause fought back with even more determination, eventually knocking Arthur onto his back and his sword to far out of reach. Morgause put her sword towards Arthur's neck and I readied myself to use my magic, not caring if Uther was right next to me, but instead of moving into strike Morgause seemed to be speaking to Arthur. I couldn't hear what was being said from my distance away but it seemed like a deal was being struck. Morgause held out her hand and pulled Arthur up. The crowd around us had grown completely still, so quiet I could hear my own breathing. Morgause moved forward and nodded at Uther before disappearing out of the grounds.
I made my way quickly over to Arthur's chambers once we were all dismissed finding Arthur inside with Merlin removing his chain mail, "Are you okay?" I asked him immediately checking him once over for any damage that Morgause could have done.
Arthur shrugged at me obviously sulking. Merlin pipped up, "It could have been worse."
"How so?" Arthur asked annoyed.
"You could be dead," Merlin pointed out.
"At least I wouldn't have to face anyone," Arthur sulked, "I have never felt so humiliated in my entire life. I was defeated by a girl."
"Twice in two days actually," I said from the side ignoring the dark look Arthur gave me, "You let her get her sword, you can blame no one but yourself."
Merlin let out a laugh, "It's actually quite funny when you think about it," Arthur dark look got trasferred to him, "Or not."
"No but it's like you said I let her get her sword I went easy on her," Arthur argued perking up a bit.
"And what is your excuse for yesterday then?" I questioned watching Arthur's face fall again, "What did she want from you anyway?"
"She said in three days I have to meet her and she will give me a challenge I have to accept," Arthur explained to me.
I turned around and began to walk out of the door, "Where are you going?" Arthur called after me.
"To see if I can get any information about the challenge," I said simply before leaving Arthur's room.
It didn't take an expert to realise where Morgause would be. I walked slowly into Gaius's chamber to see Morgause sitting on the table her arm bandaged, "Gaius may I have a moment?" I asked him politely as Morgause just smiled at me.
Gaius didn't speak just nodded and walked out of the room leaving Morgause and me alone, "My Lady Elizabeth it has been a while," Morgause greeted me happily.
"Yes it has Morgause. A lot has changed since then," I said softly.
"As I am aware, I would never have thought that you would be tied down by a man, let alone a Prince of Camelot," Morgause said her voice light but the disapproval was obvious.
"I do my duty for my land and my people. What is the challenge you have issued him?" I asked changing the subject.
"I cannot tell you My Lady," Morgause replied simply.
"Then will you at least allow me to accompany Arthur in your challenge?" I asked trying to get a compromise.
"Of course you can. Do you not trust me?" Morgause questioned her smile fixed in place.
I shook my head, "I never trusted you Morgause that was always my mother."
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Artistic-Blue-Eyes
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