Chapter 4
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"You know what you need after a hard day's hunt?" Arthur asked the siblings as they neared a small village.
"Sleep?" Merlin replied to the Prince.
"A nice cold tankard of mead." Arthur said.
"Mead." Merlin repeated dejectedly.
"Makes perfect sense." Emma let out a long breath.
The Prince and his servants had left Camelot in the early hours of the day to go on the Prince's regular hunting trips. Merlin, more than his sister, did not like going on those hunting trips. He loathed this activity more than anything. Going after innocent and defenseless creatures was not exactly fun to Merlin. Neither was it to his sister. Although, she could see the necessity in it.
However, they had been trekking through the woods, hunting, being hit by branches for an entire day. All the siblings wished to do was to go home and have a good night sleep. But the Prince did not share that wish.
"No better place to measure the mood of your people than the local tavern." Arthur said as they tied up their horses.
"This is one of those moments where we tell you something isn't a good idea and you ignore us, isn't it?" Merlin retorted.
"You're learning, Merlin. Slowly. But you're learning." Arthur smirked. Emma groaned and rolled her eyes. "Now, remember in here, you're not my servants. I'm just a simple peasant like everyone else."
"The simple part's right." Merlin said under his breath. Emma snorted.
"What?"
"I said 'the sun is very bright.'" Merlin said louder.
"Yeah, yeah, it is."
The tavern was busy. People chattering, drinking, mainly men, Emma noticed. She was probably the only woman there, apart from the tavern keeper. The three of them sat at a small table. Emma sat next to Arthur across Merlin.
"Afternoon, what will it be?" The tavern keeper came to their table. "Mmh, you're an handsome fella."
"What?" Emma frowned up at her.
"Well, you wouldn't be the first to say it." Arthur answered to her.
"Oh, no, sorry." She apologized. "I was talking about your friend here." She pointedly looked at Merlin.
"Him?" Emma laughed.
"Thank you." Merlin said very pleased with himself.
"Three tankards of mead, please." Arthur was very unhappy.
"I was wrong." Merlin smirked. "Coming here was a great idea."
Emma was still laughing at Arthur when the tavernkeeper brought them their drinks. The door to the tavern opened and silence fell on the tavern. A man walked in as though he owned the tavern. There were many scars on his face. As he passed one of the servers, he slapped the tray out of their hands.
"Afternoon, Mary. Business looks good." He said.
"We have our better days." Mary answered.
"I don't suppose you'll begrudge me my share then." He continued.
"I don't like this." Emma said glancing at Arthur.
"And the rest?" The man asked after Mary had put some gold coins on the bar.
"That's all we've got." Mary told him.
"I'll not ask again." He grabbed her by the neck and put a knife to her throat.
"Take your hands off her." Arthur stood up and walked up to the man.
The man attacked Arthur immediately. Arthur dodged him and kicked him, sending him into the wall.
"I'm gonna make you pay for that." The man threatened.
"I would like to see you try." Merlin laughed. Emma slapped his arm.
The man whistled and more men came in. Emma and Merlin stood up,
"You had to open your big mouth, didn't you Merlin?" Arthur said between his teeth.
Emma glared at her brother. "I did warn you about running your mouth, didn't I?"
"You, three, have got yourselves in a bit of a pickle, haven't you?" A young and handsome man walked up to them, a tankard in his hand.
"You should get out of here while you have the chance." Arthur advised him.
"You're probably right." He took a sip from his drink and gave the tankard to the leader. And punch him.
"Oh, no." Emma groaned. "This was definitely a bad idea."
All hell broke loose after that. Emma never thought in a million years that working for the Prince of Camelot would land her here. Who would have thought that she would take part in a bar brawl? She ducked under a table while chaos was raging around her. She was brutally pulled from under the table. A big burly man grabbed her by her collar and pulled her up.
"Merlin!" Emma called her brother's name.
A bench flew and hit the man on the head. Knocking him out. Merlin arrived to his sister's rescue and pushed her towards the bar. They both got behind it. Merlin broke a jug over the head of their pursuers. Emma grabbed plates and started to throw them at random men.
The young man who started this fight, was holding a man that he pulled behind him before knocking them down.
"Pass the jug." He asked them. Merlin turned around and grabbed the jug and gave it to the man. He drank from it.
"Watch out!" Emma called as a man came from behind him.
Without hesitation, he turned around and punched the man. "What do they call you then?"
"Merlin."
"Nellie."
"Gwaine." He shook their hands. "Pleasure to meet you." A man rushed to him with a battle cry. Gwaine broke the jug over his head. "Such a waste." Gwaine smiled, winking at Emma.
It then all happened so fast. The gang leader pulled out a blade, Gwaine jumped on him and both landed on the ground.
Now stabbed in the thigh, Gwaine tried to stand up. He fell back on the ground, his head hitting a wooden stool.
Emma rushed to him. "How is he?" Arthur asked her.
"Not good. He's losing a lot of blood." Emma bandaged his leg. "I can stop him from bleeding but he hit his head pretty hard."
"We'll take him back to Camelot." Arthur said.
They reached Camelot at dawn. Arthur and Merlin carried Gwaine to their chambers.
"Merlin, fetch me some fresh water, towel, a needle and a silk thread." Gaius instructed as he examined Gwaine's wound.
"Honey?" Merlin added.
"You're learning." Gaius smiled approvingly.
Emma looked up at Arthur, seeing the frown on his face. "Helps fight the infection." She provided.
"But he'll be alright?" Arthur asked Gaius.
"Providing he's strong."
"He's that all right." Arthur assured the physician. "The man saved my life, Gaius. He's to be given anything he needs." Emma smiled at Arthur as he left the chambers.
"Don't just stand there, Nellie." Gaius said. "Go wash your hands."
"What? Why?" Emma asked him confused.
"Why, his wound needs tending."
"What? I'm doing the stitches?" Emma exclaimed. "But you're the physician."
"And you're my apprentice." Gaius retorted. "It's not anything you haven't learned about."
"But I've never done it before." Merlin arrived with all the necessary tools.
"Well, you know what to do."
Gaius and Merlin removed Gwaine's trousers as Emma sat on a stool near the bed. Gwaine was not the first man she had seen in his underclothes. While on her rounds with Gaius, she had seen many men in their small clothing. Mostly, knights. Of course, they felt embarrassed to find themselves undressed facing this young woman. But no one was as mortified as Emma. She could barely look them in the eye. Gaius had berated her for her behavior. Emma's own embarrassment only made some of her male patients ashamed when they shouldn't be. So, the young apprentice swallowed her own embarrassment. And her male patients felt more comfortable around her. Slightly ashamed, still. But more comfortable.
"It's not too bad for your first time, Nellie." Gaius examined her work.
"Really?"
"Trust me, my dear, you're on your way to be a great physician."
A great physician. Emma scoffed at the idea. She would never be as great as Gaius. A good physician maybe half-decent. But great, she didn't think so. But maybe that was her destiny. It may not be as great as Arthur's and Merlin's but it was hers. Being a physician allowed her to help her people. It allowed her to help her brother and the Prince to fulfill their destinies.
"How's Gwaine?" Arthur asked them while stretching.
"Recovering." Emma answered making the bed.
"Who's that?" Merlin asked looking out of the window. Emma and Arthur moved to the window next to Merlin.
"Ah, Sir Darien." Arthur told them. "He's here for the melee."
"I almost forgot about the melee." Emma rolled her eyes and returned to her chores.
"How could you forget, Nellie?" Merlin followed her example. "The tournament where the knights ride around, hitting each other with blunt weapons for no good reason."
"A little more to it than that." Arthur said back.
"Really?" Merlin scoffed. "All I've ever seen is people getting the seven bells knocked out of them so that the last man standing can be called the winner."
"The melee is the ultimate test of strength and courage…" Emma said by the bed. Merlin and Arthur looked at her. "What? I listen when you talk." She said to Arthur.
"Are you sure we are talking about the same thing, sister?" Merlin asked her.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're not a knight." Arthur replied.
'Well, if it means I don't get clobbered around the head." Merlin snorted. "I'm glad of it."
"I'm afraid it doesn't." Arthur grabbed a goblet on his desk and threw it at Merlin's head. "I need that lot cleaned by noon." Merlin walked out of the Prince's chambers, nursing the back of his head.
"You didn't need to throw your goblet at him, Arthur." Emma shook her head disapprovingly.
"What can I say, your brother brought it upon himself." Arthur walked up to Emma.
"Oh, really? How exactly did he do that? " Emma looked up at him as he stopped in front of her.
"Unlike you, your brother doesn't understand the importance of the melee." Arthur brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Understanding the melee means understanding you better." Emma said softly. "However, I don't think you need to prove your strength and courage to the people."
"Why?"
"They've already seen it in the past." Emma sighed. "But it's tradition and it makes for great entertainment."
As she turned to leave, Arthur pulled her back to his chest and kissed her. A long slow kiss. The world disappeared around them. They were no longer a Prince and a maidservant. They were in those rare moments, just Arthur and Emma. Two people in love with each other. And nothing else mattered.
Strolling down in the market, Emma was buying well needed supplies for the days to come. The melee might just be for entertainment and the blades meant to be blunt, still the participants could still be hurt while fighting one another. It was now her duty to buy what they needed before the melee.
"Gwaine?" Emma called as she crossed paths with him in the market.
"Nellie." He smiled, a young woman was passing by with a basket full of flowers. He picked one of them and offered it to Nellie. "I believe this belongs to you."
"Does it now?" Emma laughed as Gwaine placed it in her hair.
"I hear that I have you to thank for tending to my wound." Gwaine continued.
"You don't have to thank me, Gwaine. I was only repaying a debt." Emma replied. "After all, you did help us."
"I must insist." He bowed. "Thank you, My lady."
The people around her were staring at them. "Stop it, everybody's looking." She pulled him up. "And I am not a Lady."
"But you are to me."
Emma looked up at him and then laughed. "Has this ever worked on anyone?"
Gwaine scoffed. "Not really."
"Well, at least you tried." Emma smiled at him. "And now, you learned when to give up." She pulled out the flower from her hair. "I think this belongs to you. Let someone else take your fancy."
"I only have eyes for you."
"Somehow, I doubt it." Emma called over her shoulder as she walked away.
While on her way to Morgana's chambers, Emma kept smiling to herself. Gwaine's flirting was not unwelcomed, rather unexpected. It was stupid, she thought. It was stupid to feel pretty after Gwaine had flirted with her. Maybe it was and still, it felt nice to know that someone other than Arthur thought of her as beautiful.
"I brought you some flowers." Emma put them in a vase by Morgana's bed. "I thought they may cheer you up."
"Thank you, Nellie." Morgana smiled but the smile did not quite reach her eyes. "I thought I may have scared you away."
"You haven't," Emma reassured her. She took Morgana's hand in hers. "I'm your friend, Morgana. I know you. Your heart is kind and good. Magic won't change that."
Morgana hugged the maidservant. "You don't know how much it means to me."
Emma pulled away. "I don't have magic. I will never understand what it's like to hide who you are." She paused. "Just know that your secret is safe with me. If you need help, I'm here."
"Why?" Morgana frowned up.
"What?" Emma looked at her confused.
"Why would you help me?" Morgana stepped away from her. "Most people think of magic as being evil. But you don't. Why?"
Emma hesitated. And then sighed. "The belief that magic is evil. That magic corrupts the user. It all came from Uther's grief and anger and fear. It came from a place of pain." She took Morgana's hand. "But magic isn't evil, neither is it good. Magic only depends on the wielder. Mordred isn't evil. The druids aren't evil. And neither are you."
Morgana was not evil. She never was. Emma had faith in her as much as she had in Arthur or Merlin. Destinies could be changed. All of their stories could be rewritten. Legends after all were just old tales. Tales that were told over time, passed down from one generation to another. And which each generation passing, the stories changed.
The only way for Morgana to not follow Morgause's path in darkness would be for Merlin to share his secret with her. But even that was dangerous. How would she react knowing Merlin had magic like her? She could react in anger and completely turn to Morgause and become an enemy. Or she would be relieved to know that she wasn't alone in Camelot to have magic. That she wasn't the only one to carry a burden so heavy. If Morgana knew she had friends within the walls of Camelot, her destiny may not be the same. She could yet be saved.
"Sir Oswald!" Arthur trotted down the stairs followed by Merlin and Emma. "Didn't think you'd be brave enough to show up." Two young knights climbed down their horses.
"And miss the chance of putting you on your backside?" Oswald greeted him back.
Arthur laughed. "You've never managed it before."
"That was then, this is now." Oswald retorted. Merlin and Emma glanced at each other and rolled their eyes at their antics.
Arthur then turned to Oswald's fellow knight. "Sir Ethan." The man introduced himself.
"These are my servants Merlin and Emma." Arthur introduced the siblings. "They love hard work, anything you need, just give them a call."
"Believe me, I will." Oswald eyed them both strangely.
Emma frowned up, she was confused as to why Sir Oswald was almost glaring at them.
Arthur had made a mistake, Emma thought. Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan were awful. Worse than Arthur. They spent the entire day slaving away, doing various chores for Sir Oswald and Ethan. They barely had time to eat.
"It's very hard to work out whether you are eating or inhaling that soup?" Gaius asked the siblings as they both slurped up their soup really fast.
"We haven't had anything all day," Merlin answered. "Sir Oswald has us at his beck and call."
"How is he?" Gaius questioned.
"Awful, he treats us like dirt," Emma said between two gulps.
"That doesn't sound like the young man I knew," Gaius said. "He always struck me as a rather kind and thoughtful soul."
"People change, Gaius." Emma retorted.
"You must remember that not all masters are as good to their servants as Arthur." Merlin spat his food in Gaius' face. "Thank you, Merlin."
"Yes, thank you, brother." Emma wiped some of the food off of her face.
"Sorry."
Gwen walked into their chambers. "Merlin. Nellie. I think you need to come with me."
"You drank all this?" Merlin asked baffled looking at the bill in his hands.
Guinevere had led them to the tavern. Gwaine had drunk quite a lot and could not afford to pay for the drinks.
"With some help from my new friends," Gwaine answered waving at some patrons standing behind them.
"He says he hasn't got any money." The tavernkeeper grabbed Merlin by his shirt and lifted him up. "So, it looks like you have to pay."
"Alright," Emma stepped in. "let's all keep calm." The tavernkeeper looked down at her. "Put my brother down."
"I want my money." He released Merlin.
"And we will give it to you," Emma promised.
"We can't afford this." Merlin reminded her. And it was true. They were both servants and as an apprentice, Emma didn't make much money.
"You better find someone who can." The siblings glanced at each other. And quietly agreed. Arthur would make them regret it.
"You're the best friends I've ever had." Gwaine drunkenly said to them as they put him to bed.
"You seem to have quite a few," Merlin replied. The three of them laughed.
"I'd love to see Arthur's face when he gets that bill."
"Right." Merlin walked around the bed. "What is it with you and nobles?"
"Nothing," Gwaine answered. "My father was a knight in Carleon's army. He died in battle. Leave my mother penniless. And when she went to the King for help, he turned her away."
"Did you know your father?" Emma asked him.
"Not at all," Gwaine said quietly. "Just some stories I've been told."
"Yeah, we know how that feels." Merlin scoffed. "I met my father, just briefly, before he died."
"Why?" Gwaine sat up.
"He was banished."
"What had he done?"
"Nothing." Merlin shrugged. "He served the King."
"But the King turned against him." Gwaine shook his head and smirked. "That doesn't surprise me."
"Arthur's not like that." Merlin defended.
"Maybe." Gwaine laughed. "But none of them are worth dying for, uh?"
He laughed again before falling back on the bed.
Gwaine was definitely intriguing. A drunk, reckless, and a quite angry man, it seemed. His low opinion of the nobles was understandable but there was hatred there too. If only he could see that Arthur had nothing to do with the nobles he had known so far, maybe he'd change his mind about the Prince.
Emmanuelle was making Arthur's bed as she does every morning while Merlin went to get his breakfast. Arthur was sitting at his desk, being awfully quiet.
"Sorry." Merlin apologized quickly. "I know I'm late."
"Not at all," Arthur replied.
"Good." Merlin nodded before moving to the bed.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Arthur asked. "You're not sick? Unsteady? About to burst into songs?"
"No. Why?" Merlin asked him. Emma looked between the Prince and her brother, frowning.
Arthur made a show of picking up a piece of parchment on his desk. "Fourteen quarts of mead, three flagons of wine, five quarts of cider…"
"There's an explanation to this," Emma said quickly.
"Four dozen pickled eggs."
"That was Gwaine. He went to the tavern and…uh, he couldn't pay for it." Merlin explained.
"So, you said I would."
"Mm. You know, if we hadn't, that innkeeper…he, he would've strung them both up." Emma added.
"I fail to see the downside." Arthur countered.
"You said he should be given anything he needs." Merlin reminded him.
"Four dozen pickled eggs?!" Arthur repeated quite angrily.
"Sorry…we'll pay for it." Merlin offered.
"Yes, we will." Emma agreed.
"You most certainly will."
"Arthur is a thoroughbred little braggart," Gwaine said.
The three of them were in the throne room cleaning boots. "Why?" Merlin asked.
"For making us do this," Gwaine replied.
"I think it's fair."
"For the entire army?"
Emma spoke. "If you'd told him your father was a knight, you wouldn't have to."
"Maybe." Gwaine reluctantly agreed. "But I'm not making the same mistakes he did." He sighed. "Anyway, my father always treated his servants well."
Emma stopped polishing and looked up at her brother. He was as confused as she was. "You didn't know him." Merlin reminded him.
"Well, I like to think that he did," Gwaine replied. "What about yours?"
"No, he didn't have any servants. He didn't have…" Merlin trailed off. "…Anyone."
"When did he die?"
"About a year ago, I just wish I had a chance to know him better," Merlin answered. "So much he could have taught me."
Emma remained quiet and said nothing. She had known Balinor briefly. She had been so young, then. She barely remembered him.
"I would have loved to see him again," Emma said quietly.
"At least, you've got to know him," Gwaine said to them both.
"Yeah."
"If there's one thing that I learned from my father's life, is that titles don't mean anything. It's what's inside that counts."
"Spoken like a true knight," Emma said.
Gwaine glared at the maid. "Never."
"Never say never, Gwaine." Emma chuckled.
Gwaine nudged her away. "Not funny, Nellie."
Gwaine, just as much as Lancelot, was destined to be a knight. A knight of the Rounded Table. He was merely a drunk now, reckless too. But there was more to him. Much more.
During Arthur's training session, Emma tended to her other duties. Those of an apprentice physician. She went with Gaius on his rounds, prepared draughts and potions for him. While her brother, Merlin, assisted the Prince during his sessions. When Merlin came back with a cut finger, Emma did not think much of it. On the other hand, what he told them was quite concerning.
"To the eyes, the sword appeared blunt but when I touched it…"Merlin explained as Gaius was bandaging his finger.
"You were lucky." Gwaine told him. "I've seen those blades in action. They're forged using sorcery."
"What would they want with such a blade?" Gaius wondered.
"I think they mean to kill Arthur in the melee." Merlin said.
"But in front of all those people?"
"It's the perfect cover." Gwaine retorted. "They succeed, no one would suspect it was intentional."
"We need to warn Arthur." Merlin went to stand up.
"We'll need proof, Merlin." Emma looked to her brother. "It's your word against a Knight's. Uther will favor him over us."
"Then we need that blade."
"I'll get it." Gwaine volunteered.
Merlin shook his head. "What if they catch you? What reason would you have to be in Sir Oswald's chamber? No, it's safer if I do it."
"Merlin's right." Emma nodded. "You won't be able to explain why you're in his chamber." She turned to her brother. "I'm coming with you."
Emmanuelle could not let her brother face Sir Oswald on his own. Those men, who had used sorcery to make their swords appear blunt to the naked eye, could only be dangerous. And what reason could they have to want Arthur dead? Maybe they would find the answers tonight.
Sir Oswald was deep into slumber when they stepped in quietly. Emma followed Merlin to the chest near Oswald's bed. Merlin carefully grabbed the sword, Oswald stirred in his sleep and turned on his back. The siblings froze. There, on Oswald's chest, rested a crystal. Merlin put the sword back in its chest. The crystal glowed slightly. Magic was clearly involved. And not just for the sword.
Merlin glanced at his sister before moving to the bed to have a better look at the crystal. This was too risky but magic was involved and Arthur's life was threatened. They had to know. Emma followed her brother quietly. They both took a closer look at the crystal. There was a face but it wasn't Sir Oswald. It was Dagr. And he had woken up.
"We were just rearranging the bedclothes, that's all," Merlin said as Oswald was throwing daggers over his head.
"You hear that, Sir Ethan?" Oswald turned to his accomplice. The latter was holding Emma tightly. "They were just rearranging the bedclothes."
"My mistake." He tightened his grip on Emma's arm as she struggled to get away from him. "They're not the sniveling thieves I thought they were."
"Merlin!" Emma gasped as Oswald (Dagr) attacked him with a sword. "Stop it, please! We're telling you the truth."
"Of course, you are." Sir Ethan sneered at her.
"Is there a problem here?" Emma turned to her left to find Gwaine. She felt relief to see him there.
"No. Now leave." Oswald (Dagr) answered quickly.
"Not before you let go of the Lady." Ethan slowly released Emma. She rushed to her brother. "You alright?"
"No." Merlin shook his head.
"I thought I told you to leave." Oswald (Dagr) insisted.
"I wasn't talking to you." Gwaine retorted.
"How dare you speak to a knight like that!" Ethan said and Gwaine pulled out his sword.
Ethan attacked Gwaine. Gwaine disarmed Ethan quickly, caught the blade, and kicked him down. Oswald attacked him and again, Gwaine disarmed him as fast as he had disarmed Ethan. They were two against one but they were no match to Gwaine's skills. Gwaine turned out to be a better swordsman than Oswald and Ethan combined.
"What's going on?" Sir Leon had arrived on the scene with guards.
Oswald slapped Gwaine. "This man attacked me! I demand an audience with the King!"
"It's not Sir Oswald," Merlin said to Gaius as they walked to the Council chambers. "It's that thug from the tavern, Dagr. He's using a magical crystal to change his appearance."
The guards brought in Gwaine and pushed him to his knees at Uther's feet.
"Sire, this man attacked me…with a sword." Oswald started. "Tried to kill me."
"Is this true?" Uther asked Gwaine.
"I stepped in to protect Merlin and Nellie," Gwaine answered.
Arthur's eyes immediately landed on Emma. The maid looked back at him.
"I tried to talk to him but he was like a man possessed." Oswald continued to lie. "I'm sure Sir Ethan will back me up."
"Indeed. I can vouch for his every word." Sir Ethan declared.
Gwaine sprang up, ready to attack them. "He's a liar."
"I will have your tongue." Uther threatened him. "How dare you speak to a knight in that way."
"Nobility is defined by what you do. Not by who you are." Gwaine said. His words put a smile on Emma's face. He had spoken like a true knight. "And these men are anything but. They are arrogant thugs!"
"Gwaine." Arthur tried.
"Well, you see, Sire, how he behaves." Oswald (Dagr) continued.
"I've heard enough," Uther said. "For a commoner to attack a nobleman is in violation of the Knight's Code."
"I couldn't agree with you more, Sire. He must be made an example of." Oswald (Dagr) suggested.
"Sir Oswald, please." Arthur intervened.
"Nothing less than his execution will give me satisfaction."
"Father, I understand how this must look, it's an embarrassing situation." Arthur pleaded. "Sir Oswald is a dear friend and our guest here in Camelot. But Gwaine is my guest here, too. And he may not be of noble birth, but I can vouch that he has a noble heart."
"How can you say that when you see the way he behaves?" Uther argued back.
"Gwaine risked his life to save mine. I beg you, please, if a knight's word is his, then I give you my word Gwaine is a good man. He deserves clemency."
Uther turned to Gwaine. "You are banished from Camelot. If you ever return, you will pay for it with your life. You have until dawn to leave the city."
Banished. Gwaine was banished. He had done nothing wrong. He defended them against two thugs. He had shown himself to be a noble man. And he was the one being punished, banished because he wasn't of noble birth.
"You're not leaving without saying goodbye, are you?" Emma asked as she met up with Gwaine in the corridors.
"I would never dream of it, my Lady." Gwaine bowed to Emma.
"Stop." Emma chuckled. "Not a lady remember."
"You will always be to me."
"I'm sorry you have to leave."
"Don't be," Gwaine reassured her. "You would have gotten sick of me, eventually."
"Never."
"Never say never, Nellie."
"I would never get sick of you, Gwaine," Emma assured him. "You're a good friend. And maybe one day, you'll be a great knight. Who knows?" Gwaine scoffed. "I know Arthur. He is nothing like his father. He will remember what you did for him."
"He seems a better man than his father." Gwaine nodded.
"And he is." Emma agreed. "He's fair and loyal. And I know one day, he'll be a great king. A greater king than his father."
"Clearly." Gwaine stared at her. Emma looked up at him. "If he makes everyone feel the way that you do." Emma chuckled. "At least, now I know why you turned me down." There was no need in denying it.
"Feelings aside. There are many that believe in him."
"I'm sure there are," Gwaine said. "Let's hope he lives that long." And Gwaine left.
Emma walked into the physician's chambers. Her brother was pacing up and down.
"I could try and persuade Arthur to withdraw from the contest." Gaius was saying as she walked in.
"He won't," Emma replied sitting across him. "I know Arthur. The melee is too important for him."
Merlin sat down next to her. "I'll have to somehow…use my powers to defend him."
"With the King and half of Camelot watching?" Gaius asked him worriedly.
"I don't have a choice."
Emma hated this. Arthur's life was in danger. And there was nothing she could do to prevent it. The only one who could do something was her brother. But by doing so, he was also risking his life. Magic was punishable by death. He was risking his life to save Arthur. And what was she doing? Nothing. She had no magic and she could not wield a sword. All she could do was to stand on the sidelines and watch. Nothing more. She felt so powerless.
"You know those moments when we tell you something isn't a good idea?" Merlin started as he helped the Prince. Emma stood by the window looking down at the tournament grounds.
"And then I ignored you, yeah." Arthur nodded.
"And then, we're proved right?" Merlin continued.
Arthur sighed. "Merlin, your concern for my wellbeing is touching."
Emma remained silent and turned to him as her brother spoke again. "I'm serious. I think you should withdraw."
"Look, I know you think the melee is some kind of stupid game." Arthur started. "But it's more than that. It's about proving to the people that I'm fit to lead them." Emma offered him a small smile when his eyes landed on her.
"We know." Merlin handed him the dull sword. "Be careful."
Merlin and Emma joined Gaius on the tournament grounds. All of Camelot's inhabitants came to watch the melee. Many of them carried flags and waved them in cheers and excitement. And all Emma could feel was that heavy rock in her stomach.
Men on their horses stood on either side of the grounds. Uther gave the signal and the melee ensued. It was chaos on the grounds. Many men were unhorsed and hit the ground harshly as they fell. The sounds of swords clashing were deafening, echoed only by the crowd's cheers. Many of the injured men were taken away from the grounds as the melee kept on.
Emma kept her eyes on Arthur as best as she could. Soon, Dagr and his accomplice targeted Arthur. Quickly the other opponents had been eliminated. Only Arthur, Darg, and his accomplice were still standing and fighting. Two against one. Merlin used his magic to unhorse Dagr.
Soon, a fourth man joined the fight. He stood next to Arthur, fighting at his side, facing Dagr and Ethan.
"Who is that? Helping Arthur?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know but we should be thankful he is," Gaius answered.
The new fighter disarmed Ethan and caught the blade. "Gwaine!" Emma grinned. Gwaine stabbed Ethan with his own blade.
Dagr and Arthur were still fighting each other. Dagr managed to have the upper hand. Arthur was knocked to the ground, Dagr ready to strike him down. Gwaine stopped his blade with his own, before stabbing the thug in the same manner he had Ethan. Now, there were only Arthur and Gwaine left standing.
Gwaine turned his blades on Arthur. None of them made any movements to attack the other. A few seconds passed before Arthur took off his helmet. Gwaine stabbed his sword into the ground and followed his example. Emma and Merlin glanced at each other smiling. But it was short-lived as Uther ordered the guards to arrest Gwaine.
Emma, her brother, and her new friend were awaiting Uther's decision. She had this feeling of déjà-vu. She was reminded of a moment similar to this one where they stood with another one of their friends; Lancelot. In the end, Lancelot made the decision to leave Camelot. He had to prove to himself that he was worthy of being a knight. Although, Emma already knew the answer to that.
Arthur stopped next to them. "The King is prepared to overlook the fact you fought in the melee."
"That's fantastic," Merlin grinned.
"Thank you, Arthur." Gwaine nodded.
"But…" Emma's eyes fell shut. "He's a stubborn man. He would not rescind his judgment. You must leave Camelot."
"You've got to speak to him, Arthur." Merlin pleaded. "Make him change his mind."
"Merlin…" Gwaine stopped him.
"I'm sorry, Gwaine." Arthur apologized. "My father's wrong. If it were up to me."
"I know. You don't need to explain yourself."
"You have until sunset."
"I was afraid I'd missed you." Emma had caught up o Gwaine as he was making his way out of Camelot.
"I wouldn't have left without saying goodbye, my lady." Gwaine smiled down at the maid.
Emma laughed. "Where will you go now?"
"I don't know, yet. Maybe Mercia." Gwaine answered.
"Mercia?" Emma asked in concern. "It's dangerous."
"This is what makes it fun, right?"
"You don't have to leave, you know," Emma said. "You could tell the King the truth. Who you really are. You could stay here, in Camelot. Be a knight."
"You truly believe that." Gwaine stared down at her. "You truly believe I could be a knight."
"I have faith in you. As I have faith in my brother. In Arthur." Emma nodded. "I truly believe that there are certain people, in this world, who are born with great destinies." She held his hands. "I believe you are one of those."
"Ah, Nellie! You are giving me too much credit."
"And I think you are not giving yourself enough." Emma retorted. "I know that when you'll come back to Camelot. You'll come back a Knight."
"I'll take your words for it." He squeezed her hands before kissing her knuckles. "Until we meet again, Princess Emma."
Emma chuckled. "Until we meet again, Ser Knight." He stepped away waving goodbye. "Just be careful," Emma called after him. "You have friends in Camelot who cares about you, Gwaine."