The morning sun entered Arthur's room and he awoke to the warmth it provided him with by shining over his bed. He stared up at the roof and then out of the window, not knowing what to do with his feelings for the princess that grew stronger and stronger every day.
''Father will have my head,'' he sighed to himself before tossing his legs over the bed and raising.
''God morning,'' Merlin entered and Arthur greeted his friend.
''Are you looking forward for your duel with Sebastian today?'' Merlin asked as he walked around and prepared Arthur's clothes. Henry had withdrawn out of respect yesterday and with that, Arthur advanced to the final where he will face Sebastian.
''Yeah,'' Arthur said and Merlin stopped to observe him.
''There's something going on with you,'' Merlin said and Arthur snorted, trying to object to Merlin's accusations.
''And it's not like you to keep things from me like this,'' Merlin continued and ignored Arthur's attempt to gaslight him, he knew him all too well.
''Don't be ridiculous now Merlin, there's nothing,'' Arthur replied and Merlin just looked at him for a while before giving away a slow nod and then returning to his work. Arthur could see that he took offense, but he couldn't tell him. He can't tell anyone.
Arthur and Sebastian were now standing in front of the royal booth, awaiting Uther's signal.
''Let's settle this once and for all, may the best man win!'' he said and the crowd cheered with him. Arthur looked over at Elena and met her eyes. He bowed his head slightly to show respect before breaking the eye contact by placing the helmet over his head, now turning towards his opponent. Uther turned his head towards Elena as he noticed Arthur's gesture and was met by the young woman's gaze. She was standing next to Anthony and James that now looked at him as he was looking at their direction. Uther quickly smiled politely to avoid questions before turning his head back towards the battlefield, mumbling underneath his breath.
''Let's do this,'' Sebastian said as he spun his sword in his hand and Arthur smirked. Sebastian struck the first strike and the match began. Both of them were quite comparable in both skills and strength, and the crowd cheered like never before. Sebastian eventually managed to get Arthur off his feet and he fell to the ground. Arthur quickly kicked Sebastian's shin and the young prince yelped as he bent down in pain. Arthur rose with this opportunity and knocked Sebastian over with a spear. He then took his sword and placed it towards Sebastian's chest, making the prince let go of the sword he was reaching for. The bell rang and people started to cheer as a champion finally was appointed.
''Congratulations, well earned,'' Sebastian said and placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
''Thank you. You were a worthy opponent,'' Arthur said and with that, the two men collided hands.
A feast was held that night to celebrate the tournament and its champion, Arthur. Uther and the rest of the kings were already drunk as their laughter and voices echoed loudly through the entire ballroom. It didn't really bother anyone since most of the people were as drunk as them. Arthur had tried to see if he could spot Elena but there were too many people approaching to greet him.
''Congratulations are in place, very impressive skills,'' Henry now came up to Arthur that was sitting with his knights, celebrating with each beer in hand.
''Thank you,'' Arthur smiled.
''I hope Sebastian is not too upset about it,'' he added and Henry laughed.
''I'm pretty sure he's fine,'' Henry said and nodded against the prince that was standing with a woman against the wall, and his tongue down her throat.
''No, he seems fine indeed,'' Arthur laughed as everyone else joined him.
''I never got the chance to thank you,'' Henry added.
''Nothing to thank me for, everyone would have done the same thing,'' Arthur smiled and raised his cup. Henry raised his own and they toasted before throwing the liquid down.
''Ladies, as I promised - the champion!'' Uther now came up to the table and Arthur turned to face his father. In certain angels, it looked like there were two of him, he thought. Before he had the chance to react, a woman sat on his lap and placed her hand on his chest before giggling. He blinked a little confused before his attention was shifted towards his knights that seemed to have gotten company of their own that they seemed to enjoy. He noticed how Lancelot carefully slid his woman off him and placed a kiss on her hand before leaving the table, stumbling away on his own. A hand crawled up Arthur's neck and into his hair and he turned to see another woman behind him that leaned forward and captured his lips. He furrowed his eyebrows but his body didn't respond to his brain. Eventually the woman broke the kiss and giggled as she kept playing with his hair. The other woman that was still sitting on his lap turned his head towards her with her fingers before pressing her own lips to his.
''Hi, Merlin,'' Merlin jerked a little as Elena approached him. He was looking at Arthur, surprised and shocked over his behavior.
''Hi,'' he said nervously and noticed how she too looked over at Arthur before looking back at him again. She made a face expression that he didn't know how to read, but she kept the smile on her face.
''I've never seen him behave like that... he's never been this drunk,'' Merlin found himself trying to explain his master's behavior but was not sure why. But he had understood that Arthur cared for her in some way.
''He's the champion, he deserves to celebrate,'' she replied and this time Merlin was a little surer he could read her disappointment, but she was quite good at hiding it.
''Are you having fun?'' she asked and shifted the conversation away from the initial topic.
''Yeah, but I'm not really a big fan of alcohol. But the music is nice,'' Merlin said and Elena giggled too how charming he could be.
''Same here,'' she said.
''Merlin? Would you mind... giving me a hand?'' Lancelot said and stumbled up to Merlin as both Elena and him caught him when he was about to fall.
''Whoa, how much did you have?'' Merlin said and frowned at his friend.
''Too much,'' he shook his head and noticed the female hands that was steading him. He followed them and saw Elena.
''I'm sorry my lady, I...'' he panicked and tried to stand up but managed to almost fall in the process as Merlin and Elena caught him again.
''No, it's okay, you don't have to do that with me,'' she tried as they managed to get a grip of him. He met her eyes.
''I'm quite used to drunk men. I actually know the best remedy for it,'' she smiled and Merlin and Lancelot looked questioningly at her. She laughed before she nodded towards the exit, aiming for them to walk towards it.
They made it up the stares and Lancelot made sure to put most of his weight on Merlin. Elena opened the door and not until now he realized that they were on the roof. The cold air hit his face and he inhaled it heavily, making Elena giggle.
''You see? Air,'' she said and him and Merlin laughed. There was a chair beside the wall and they sat Lancelot on it.
''I think Gaius has a bottle of something for the headache, I'll go grab it,'' Merlin said and Lancelot nodded a little absent.
''Will you be okay?'' he turned to Elena and she nodded at him with a smile.
''Go, I'll keep an eye on him,'' she said and Merlin smiled back before he left.
''It's very pretty up here,'' Elena said after a while and peeked over the wall to view the kingdom.
''Yes, you won't find a better kingdom,'' he said as he observed her peeking over the wall.
''But perhaps better mannered knights,'' Lancelot added with an empty look across his face. By his words she glanced over at him. She walked over to him and bent down in front of him before placing one hand on his lap, making him look at her.
''Stop it. I'm having a really nice time and have only good impressions of you,'' she said with a soft smile and he looked at her in silence for a while, observing her beauty.
''May I kiss you?'' he dared to ask and she frowned surprised before laughing a little nervously.
''I don't think that's a good idea,'' she said softly, still smiling at him.
''I don't think so either. But I'm going to do it anyway, my lady,'' he said and leaned forward. She watched him do so and instead of pushing him away, she let him kiss her as their lips connected.
She pulled away after a while by placing her hand on his chest to stop him. None of them said anything for a while as they looked at each other.
''You were right, this did make me feel better,'' he said with a low voice. She didn't reply.
''I found it!'' Merlin came running and Elena quickly rose from the ground, brushing her dress off a little anxiously before clearing her throat. Merlin stopped and observed her for a while before looking over at Lancelot that was looking at her.
''Is everything okay?'' he asked confused and she turned towards him.
''Yes, yes. Everything's fine. You found the bottle?'' she said and shifted the attention away from her.
''Ehrm, yes. Here,'' Merlin said as he walked over to Lancelot and slightly bent down.
''Bottom up,'' he smirked and Lancelot took the bottle from him before throwing its content into his mouth. Lancelot made a face to show that it didn't taste good and this managed to make both Merlin and Elena laugh.
