Hey everyone, I apologize for my lateness. I'm trying to find a job and right now, it's not looking so well. I have some good news for any of you who are Phantom of the Opera fans. I have posted the first chapter to my Phantom of the Opera story. The title is called "Red Rose Thorn." Also, don't forget I have a polyvore, if u want to see who Sam is and what she's wearing for the chapters. The link is on my profile. I have a poll question on my profile for my "The Protector's Call" story. I would really appreciate if you could answer the question, if you have time. Enough of me talking, enjoy the chapter.

Standing in the Council Chamber was very nerve racking. All the knights including Valiant, Uther, Arthur, Merlin, and myself were standing in the room. My mind was going to explode, as I tried to remember what happened in this scene. I caught a glimpse of Valiant staring at me and a creepy smirk was on his face. Sometimes I thought, "I can't wait until this episode is over so I don't have to see him ever again." Merlin must have noticed Valiant looking at me, so he grabbed my hand and squeezed it with comfort. Merlin glared at Valiant as Uther sat down on his thrown.

Uther was not in the mood as he asked, "Why have you summoned the court?"

Arthur looked at Valiant before answering, "I believe Knight Valiant is using a magic shield to cheat in the tournament."

The whole council started whispering and looking at each other. I stared at Valiant to see his expression. He looked shocked, but he then tried to compose himself to make himself look as innocent as he could be. Uther glanced at his son before turning his attention to Valiant.

"Valiant, what do you have to say to this," he asked.

Valiant scoffed at Arthur before saying, "My Lord, this is ridiculous. I've never used magic. Does your son have any evidence to support this outrageous accusation?"

Uther turned back to Arthur as he asked him, "Do you have evidence?"

"I do."

Arthur nodded his head for Merlin to come forward with the snake's head. Merlin and I agreed that he would give Arthur the snake's head. Even though I, Sam Welsh, had cut of its head… I still didn't want to touch it. Looking at the head still gave me the creeps and shivers down my spine. Besides, I'm trying to remember something VERY important in this episode that I kept on forgetting.

Arthur walked up to his father and handed Uther the snake head. His eyes were in shock as he stared at the snake's head. I looked back at Valiant to see him looking very calm. My eyebrows drew together as I thought to myself, why is he so calm and relaxed? What's he planning?

"Let me see this shield," said Uther.

As Valiant was about to hand Uther the shield, Merlin whispered to Arthur, "Don't let him get too close."

Arthur nodded his head to Merlin before saying to Uther, "Be careful, My Lord."

Arthur drew his sword as Uther inspected the shield. I didn't realize that Gaius entered the room until I heard him whisper, "Samantha."

I looked to see Gaius standing behind one of the pillars.

As I walked over to him, I heard Arthur whispered to Merlin, "We need Ewan. Find out what's happening."

"What Gaius," I whispered to him.

"Sir Ewan is dead."

My eyes expanded with horror. "What, I thought he was recovering."

"He was. I went back to the room and found him there with his eyes wide open, no pulse, and not breathing. I'm so sorry Samantha, but there was nothing I could do," whispered Gaius grimly.

I thought about for a moment and a flashback hit me. I remembered Ewan in his bed alive, but something jumped at him and bit him to death. How could I forget that part in the episode?

"It was the snake," I whispered.

I turned about to Merlin to see his face shocked and horrified. We lost our one and only witness. My whole body started to tremble as I realized I could have saved Ewan, but now he's dead.

"As you can see, My Lord, it's just an ordinary shield," I heard Valiant say.

"He's not going to let everyone see the snakes come alive," Arthur argued.

Uther looked at both men standing right in front of him. He looked back at his son and asked, "Then how am I to know that what you say is true?"

Arthur smirked at Valiant. "I have a witness. Knight Ewan was bitten by one of the snakes from the shield. Its venom made him grievously ill; however, he has received an antidote. He will confirm that Knight Valiant is using magic."

The council looked at each other whispering as Uther asked, "Where is this witness?"

Arthur glanced around the room before saying, "He should be here..." I turned from Gaius and Merlin to see Arthur was staring at me. He walked up to me and whispered, "Where's Ewan?"

I stared right into his blue eyes as I shook my head. He looked at me so confused before I said the words he didn't want to hear.

"He's dead."

Arthur's eyes enlarged when he heard me. He was completely dumbfounded. Uther was getting really impatient waiting for the witness.

"I'm waiting," he said.

Arthur rotated back to face his father before answering grimly, "I'm afraid the witness is dead."

I heard Valiant snort at the comment. I looked back at him to see him smirking at Arthur. That jerk is making Arthur look like a fool in front of everyone. Uther was not impressed with Arthur at all.

"So you have no proof to support these allegations. Have you seen Valiant using magic?"

Arthur looked back at me before turning back to Uther replying, "No. But one of my servants fought one of the snakes from..."

Uther was fuming by this allegation. "Your servant? You made these outrageous accusations against a knight from the word of your servants?"

I looked at Merlin in shock when I heard what Uther said. Arthur must have seen me because he defended me by saying, "I believe they're telling the truth!"

Valiant looked offended as he asked, "My Lord, am I really to be judged on some hearsay from a boy and a girl?"

"I've seen those snakes come alive! One of them almost attacked me," I screamed.

Immediately I covered my mouth with my hand and my eyes expanded. The whole council, including Merlin and Arthur, stared at me. Valiant narrowed his eyes at me as my knees began to buckle. WHY DIDN'T I KEEP MY BIG STUPID MOUTH SHUT!

Uther was not pleased at what I have said. "How dare you interrupt? Guards!"

I felt my arms being yanked out of my socket as the guards started to drag me out of the room. I was literally panicking as thoughts of the dungeon or worse was waiting for me. I tried to pull free from their strong grip.

"Wait, stop I'm telling the truth!"

Merlin was being held by another guard as he tried to reach for me. It was like deja vu all over again. "Sam! Please let her go!"

I was almost dragged to the doors when the snake knight himself said, "My Lord."

Uther stopped the guards from dragging me away. Immediately they let go of my arms and Merlin grabbed my hand and pulled me into him. He was comforting me as we glanced at Valiant to see what he had to say.

"I'm sure she was merely mistaken. She's just a misunderstood little child who has a massive imagination. I wouldn't want her punished on my account."

I was completely astonished and upset when I heard him speak to Uther. I thought to myself, I AM NOT A CHILD! WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS!

Uther smiled at Valiant before looking very disappointed at Arthur.

"You see? This is how a true knight behaves - with gallantry and honor," he said.

Valiant had to humiliate Arthur even more by saying, "My Lord, if your son made these accusations because he's afraid to fight me, then I will graciously accept his withdrawal."

The whole council was shocked at this statement. Merlin and I stared at Arthur to see his reaction. Arthur looked like he was in the worse situation he had ever been in his entire life.

Uther turned back to his son and asked, "Is this true? Do you wish to withdraw from the tournament?"

Immediately Arthur screamed, "No!"

"Then what am I to make of these allegations," Uther screamed back.

Arthur looked at his father, Valiant, and then to Merlin and I. He looked at me right in the eyes as I shook my head no. He has to believe us. Valiant is the liar. Arthur sighed and turned away from me.

"Obviously there has been a misunderstanding. I withdraw the allegation against Knight Valiant. Please accept my apology."

Valiant smirked at Arthur. "Accepted."

Arthur instantaneously marched right out of the council room. I looked back at Valiant to see him staring at me and leering at me. I grabbed Merlin hand as I pulled him out of the room. We ran right back to Arthur's chambers to see his back was to us. I knew we were in deep trouble with him.

"I believed you, I trusted you, and you made me look a complete fool," we heard Arthur say.

Merlin looked at me before saying, "I know it didn't go exactly to plan…"

Arthur interrupted Merlin and yelled at us. "'Didn't go to plan'? My father and the entire royal court think I'm a coward! YOU BOTH HUMILIATED ME!"

"We can still expose Valiant."

I nodded my head to agree with Merlin. "Valiant is the bad guy and if we don't show everyone who he really is then he will still kill more knights… including you!"

Arthur still had his back to us as he said, "I no longer require your services."

Both Merlin and my eye widen with shock. I suddenly remembered this part. He was going to fire us… AND WE WERE TELLING THE TRUTH!

"You're sacking me," asked Merlin.

I ran up to him and grabbed his shoulder. "Please, you have to believe us."

I jumped slightly when he turned around to face me. My heart was shattering in little pieces when his cold blue eyes were staring at me with disappointment.

"I need servants I can trust," he said with a cold voice. I released his shoulder like it was on fire.

"You can trust us and if you're going to sack someone, sack me not Sam!"

I was astonished to hear him say that. I looked at Merlin and smiled at him. He really does care for me. Of course, Arthur had to ruin things.

"I trusted her too and she's responsible for this as much as you are."

I looked at Arthur and thought of a way to convince him to trust us. I remembered what Valiant tried to do to me in the Armory Room. If I tell Arthur what Valiant almost did to me, he would send him to the dungeon.

"Arthur, please I'm begging you! He will hurt someone else. Plus what he did to me…"

Arthur interrupted me by saying, "I don't care what you have to say. Get out."

Now I am pissed. Why won't this idiot listen to me?

"Are you even listening to me? I'm trying to tell what Valiant did in the armory room. He nearly did something to me. So please…"

"I SAID GET OUT SAMANTHA!"

I felt like I was slapped in the face. He never yelled like that before. Merlin was extremely livid as he marched right up to us and pulled me behind him.

"Excuse me, but how dare you talk to my sister like that! She is trying to tell you something very important! You have to trust us, please!"

Arthur still wouldn't listen to us. "And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!"

Merlin and I could see Arthur was done with us. Arthur looked at us one more time before turning around and stared out his window. I was still shaking with fury and my heart was breaking from disappointment.

Merlin grabbed my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Come on Sam."

As we left Arthur's Chambers and was walking down the hall, I stopped as a thought came to my mind.

"Wait, I have to do something first."

I turned back around and walked back to Arthur's Chambers. Merlin must have sensed what I was planning because his face turned from calm to horror.

"What are you doing? SAM, DON'T DO IT!"

I ignored him as I walked right in the room without knocking on his door. Arthur turned around when he heard me, but he became irritated again.

"I told you leave Samantha," he said.

"I know, but I have something to say since I'm no longer your servant."

Arthur looked confused as I slowly walked up to him. I smiled sweetly at him when I was close enough to touch him. He never suspected that happened next.

SLAP!

My right hand smacked him right in the face. He looked at me stunned before placing his hand on his now red check.

I sneered at him as I said, "You can go to hell Pendragon."

Without waiting for a reply, I stormed out of the room leaving a shocked Arthur behind. I was surprised he didn't call the guards to arrest me again. I walked passed Merlin realizing that he heard the whole thing. My mind was trying to replay what happens next in this episode, but I'm slowly drawing blanks. I decided that tonight I needed to talk to the dragon and get to the bottom of this.

There you have it. I don't know when I'll update next, but I'm hoping it's soon. Please review and tell me what you thought. Until then.

Grapejuice101