Hey everyone, I hope you all are having a great Christmas/Holiday Break. I am SO SORRY for the long update, but I'm glad I was finally done with this chapter.

I want to dedicate this chapter to my friend Miyu101. You were so sweet for that one-short story as a Christmas present for me. I was so happy you did that for me. You are so awesome!

I don't know when I'll update next, but I hope it's soon. So for now, enjoy this chapter.

Merlin and I were out of breath when we were back in our room safe and sound. I dropped Arthur's armor on the floor as I walked to my bed. As I sat down on my bed, I couldn't get rid of the sick feeling of what would have happened, if I didn't escape Valiant. I shivered in disgust as I remembered the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, and the way his breath smelled, like onions. Thank God I took those 5 years in Tia Qwan Do. Merlin sat down next to me and pulled me into him. I don't know what came over me, but I was crying so hard that I was ruining Merlin's shirt. He didn't mind as he shushed me and rubbed my back for comfort. After a few minutes of crying, Merlin pulled away from me and looked me in the eyes.

"Are you ok? He didn't do anything to you, did he," he asked me with concerned look in his eyes.

I smiled at him and said, "I'm fine, he didn't rape me, if that's what you mean. But Merlin, I need to tell you something really important."

Merlin looked concerned and confused at what I was about to say, "What is it?"

Before I could tell him, I walked to our door and opened to make sure Gaius wasn't listening. I knew I had to tell him what happened with the shield because he wasn't with me when it happened. I knew I had to get the episode back on track.

I turned back to Merlin and whispered to him, "Valiant's shield, the snakes, they are alive." Merlin looked at me very stunned. After a minute or two, he was suddenly laughing his head off. My eyes were widened with shock. How come he's laughing? Does he not believe me? "What's so funny? This is no laughing matter Merlin."

Merlin whipped his eyes as he said to me, "I'm sorry Sam, but that's hard to believe."

Say what? How could he say that? I looked at him with disbelief before I yelled at him, "Hard to believe? Merlin, we are in a world of magic and you are saying, that the snakes on the shield that come to life are hard to believe?"

Merlin smiled at me and said, "Oh come on, you're not serious Sam." After a few seconds, his smile slowly dropped when he was looking to see I wasn't laughing. "You are serious? How is that possible? How can you tell the snakes are real?"

"Well, when I entered the room, I heard hissing noises and when I got close to the shield, one of the snakes winked at me," I said to him. Merlin still looked confused as I sighed. "Look, I'm just saying, we have to keep an eye out for him. I have a bad feeling that he will do something in this tournament."

Even though I know what's going to happen.

Merlin sighed as he said to me, "Alright, I believe you. Just so you know, you're staying close to me. I don't want you to go near him."

I smiled at him, well at least he said he believed me. It was only then when we realized we were going to be late for Arthur's tournament, AND WE HAVE TO GIVE ARTHUR'S ARMOR TO HIM! We grabbed his armor and ran to his chambers. When we entered his chambers, we saw him standing by the window glaring at us. Oh crap, we're dead.

"Where the hell were you two? You were supposed to be here a few minutes ago," said Arthur with anger.

I didn't want Merlin to get in trouble so I said, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I didn't realize how late it was."

Arthur just sighed as he forgave me. "However, if you both are late again, I will throw you both in the stock. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sire," said both Merlin and I. Man, someone is in a grumpy mode today.

Arthur nodded to us as we laid down his armor on the table. Arthur walked up to us to examine his armor. He didn't realize that his hand accidentally touched mine. It had to take all the will power for me not to blush.

Arthur seemed surprised as he looked at Merlin, "You did all this on your own?"

Merlin smiled as he said, "Yes, Sire…" I elbowed him in the stomach as he grunted and looked at me. He sighed as he said, "Well Sam helped… just a little bit."

Arthur smirked at me and said, "That's what I thought. Now Merlin, let's see if you can get me into it without forgetting anything."

I sat down in one for the chairs as I watched Merlin place on Arthur's hauberk and surcoat, followed by the gorget, vambraces, pauldron, and couter. Next, Merlin placed his mail coif, belt, sword belt, dagger, and sword. I was still so surprised that not only Merlin remembered everything, but that there were so many items of Arthur's armor, that I don't think I could have dressed Arthur the correct way like Merlin had. Merlin finally handed Arthur his helmet. Arthur indeed looked like a true knight ready for battle.

Arthur nodded at Merlin for satisfaction. "That was much better. Not that it could have got any worse."

Merlin smiled as he said, "I'm a fast learner."

Arthur smirked as he said, "I hope, for you sake, that's true."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his comment.

Merlin smiled as he said to Arthur, "Good luck."

Arthur was about to leave, when I leaped out of the chair and said, "Arthur wait."

He turned to me before reaching the door and asked, "What is it Sam?"

I was about to tell him what I was about to say, when my eyes once again were in a trance with his crystal blue eyes. I mentally slapped myself to get myself out of the trance. I smiled weakly as I said, "I just… I want to say… Please be careful out there."

Arthur smiled down at me as he placed his hand that wasn't holding his helmet on my shoulder as if he was comforting me. My whole body warmed up as I felt his hand connected with my shoulder. Ok, I really need to stop doing that. He's future King Arthur for Pete sake, whose Queen is going to be Gwen… right?

"Don't worry Sam, I'm always careful," said Arthur.

I nodded my head, but in my heart, I knew something bad was going to happen. I felt the warmth of my body leave as his hand disappeared from my shoulder. He gave me one last smile as he left his chambers. I stood there watching the door, as Merlin walked up next to me. I looked up at him to see him smirking at me.

I looked confused at him. "What?"

He still smirked as he said, "Oh I don't know. I say you looked very concerned about him."

My checks were burning red as I looked down to the ground. I looked back up at him to see his smirk was a full grin. "Shut up Merlin. Besides, I don't want to talk about it. Right now, I'm mostly worried about Valiant's opponent," I said to him.

He just nodded his head as he placed his arm around my shoulder. About 30 minutes to an hour, we were both standing at the entrance of the arena as Arthur and his opponent marched into the arena. Arthur smiled and acknowledged the crowd. I could have sworn he looked at me and smiled at me. I didn't realize that while I was watching Arthur, Gaius walked right next to me.

Gaius looked at me and Merlin and asked us, "Is it my imagination, or are you two beginning to enjoy yourself?"

I jumped a little and said, "Gaius, don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack."

Merlin chuckled at me and said to Gaius, "It… It isn't totally horrible all the time."

I laughed at what he said, but when I looked across the arena, my heart stopped. Staring right at me was Valiant. He had a smirk on his face and was again looking at me up and down. Merlin saw that I was nervous, so he placed his arm around my shoulders.

I looked up at him as he whispered in my ear saying, "It's ok Sam. He's not going anywhere near you."

I nodded and smiled as I felt him kiss my forehead. I also smiled in the inside, as I remember that Valiant would get what he deserves at the end. I know it sounds selfish and rude, but what he did to me is personal. I looked back at Arthur, as he and his opponent started to fight. They were both neck and neck and I could see Uther was a little nervous for his son. Even Morgana held Gwen hands for comfort. I smiled and cheered as Arthur knocked down his opponent and won. However, my smile vanished as Valiant entered the arena and faced Ewan. I was trying to remember what happened in this part. Cut me some slack, there are 13 or 14 episode in each series! I can't remember every single detail! My eyes widen as I saw Valiant knocked Ewan down and pinned Ewan with the shield. I was about to move, but Merlin's hand, that was holding my arm, prevented me to move. I guess he thought that since Valiant was up, he would try to protect or comfort me from this monster. I gasped and covered my mouth as Valiant hit Ewan and stood up. Everyone was cheering for Valiant's victory, but I couldn't take my eyes off of Sir Ewan. He was lying on the ground like he was dead.

A moment later Merlin looked concerned as he said, "I think he's badly hurt."

Gaius looked at us before he entered the arena with his medical bag. Sir Ewan was still on the ground and not moving at all.

"It's the shield," I thought to Merlin.

He just looked at me before we both ran to the arena to help Gaius with Sir Ewan. After the tournament, I was in Gaius's chambers watching him as he tried to figure out what's wrong with Sir Ewan. I was a little nervous and debating if I should tell Gaius what happened. I felt like since I knew what happened in the show, that it was my fault for not helping or saving Sir Ewan. I could have saved him! I felt horrible that he might have been saved, if I didn't just stand there looking like a coward. However, I knew sometimes I needed to let the show go on. I promised myself that when something horrible was about to happen, I would try to stop it. Not a minute later, Merlin came in through the door with Arthur's armor.

Merlin looked at me before asking Gaius, "How is he?"

Gaius looked confused at first before answering Merlin's question, "It's most odd. Look at this. See these two small wounds. Looks like a snake bite."

Merlin's eyes widen as he turned to look at me. I glared at him as I thought to him, "I told you so."

So, there you have it and I hope you enjoyed it. Again, I don't know when my next chapter will be posted, but hopefully soon. For now I want to say, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYES EVERYONE!