Amelia's POV
Amelia is still mostly on bed rest. No one will let her out of their sight. Uther gave orders for Guards to go around with her all the time, which she finds very annoying. Even more irritating is that Merlin, who was poisoned and practically died for a couple of seconds before the antidote worked, is told he must go and start work again as soon as he is able to stand. She is able to rest more, which is stupid as it is not like once she is up and about she will be doing any strenuous work. Society is stupid.
Soon rumours begin spreading of a creature with wings taking people from Villages. She finds out about it when Arthur and Uther come back from seeing the damage it had done to a Village.
"Arthur?" She calls from the top of the stairs leading to the Castle when she sees both of them dismount from their horses. She had escaped her watchers to have some time on her own but her curiosity got the better of her when she saw Uther and Arthur returning. "Where were the two of you?"
"Amelia! You should not be up." Uther chastises her.
"I'm not going to break at a slight amount of exercise. It is not healthy to sit about all day." Amelia reprimands. Uther acts like he hasn't heard her and walks past her and into the Castle leaving just Amelia and Arthur.
Arthur rolls his eyes and walks up the steps towards her. "Here. I'll take you back to your Chambers."
"Fine." She resigns and lets him guide her. "But where were you? Uther looks worried and so do you."
He sighs as he walks next to her, "A Village has been attacked by a winged beast that seems to have a taste for human flesh." At her horrified look, he says, "Do not worry, we are putting up sentries in all the outlying Villages and lookouts are on full alert. We will be ready for it if it arrives. Do not tell anyone yet."
Having got the jist that Arthur has closed the conversation, Amelia lets him take her to her Chambers and drop her off.
—
Later on, after having snuck out of her Chambers again, Amelia catches Merlin slipping into the Hall of Records so she follows and sees him search for a book then taking one. "Merlin?" She whispers. He jumps. "What are you doing?"
"Er… n-nothing?" What probably is intended as a statement comes out as a question. Amelia shakes her head and just watches him as he glances over his shoulder to Geoffrey of Monmouth who is watching him. "Homework." He says. Merlin opens the book, smiles down and closes it immediately. A cloud of dust rises and he sneezes. Amelia laughs at his face.
"You are planning something." She whispers to him.
"Maybe. You going to help?" He asks.
"I do not particularly like how you are trying to get me involved before I even know what this is about."
"Trust me." Merlin sits down then opens the book to a page of Northumbrian nobility and pulls out a piece of parchment. She frowns wondering what he was intending to do with a book about nobility. "Ic us bisen hræd tán hwanon." He chants. Amelia quickly glances over to Geoffrey in panic, hoping he is not listening but it seems he isn't. Merlin pulls out the piece of parchment, which seems to have copied the other.
Amelia hadn't noticed that Geoffrey had wandered over till she hears him clear his throat. Merlin quickly turns and hands Geoffrey the book. "It's a... real page turner." Before the both of them depart, leaving behind a confused Geoffrey.
—
On the way to Gaius' Chambers, Merlin explains the situation to Amelia. Apparently, a man, called Lancelot, had saved his life from the winged beast and the man really wants to become a Knight but he cannot do that as he is not a member of the nobility. So Merlin is determined to help him.
"You sure there will be no consequences Merlin?" She asks him worriedly.
"It'll be fine Amelia." He says exasperated but she is still concerned. She had checked her notes after Arthur and Uther returned to see any mention of the beast and the notes mentioned that when this beast turns up, Merlin helps a man called Lancelot to become a Knight but Uther figures it out yet the two of them later defeat the winged beast. Thanks for the details past Amelia.
They enter and Lancelot immediately stands up. "My lady." He says bowing. He literally bows.
Amelia looks at Merlin awkwardly but he provides no help. "Ummm… hi? Er… I'm Lady Amelia Hallewell one of the King's wards."
"Amelia, this is Lancelot." Merlin introduces. Lancelot looks shocked at how informally Merlin addresses her, but he does not mention it as he notices the parchment Merlin is holding. "What's that?"
Merlin holds up the parchment, "This is your seal of nobility."
"I don't understand," Lancelot says, clearly hoping Merlin is not saying what he thinks he's saying.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria."
"No, Merlin. No."
"Oh, right. So you don't want to be a Knight, then." Merlin says sarcastically.
"Of course I do!" Lancelot insists.
"Well... the rules don't allow it. Damn the rules! The rules are wrong!" Merlin vehemently declares.
"But it's a lie. It's against everything the Knights stand for."
"You have as much right to be a Knight as any man. I know it." Merlin says
"But the rules, Merlin." Lancelot desperately tries to explain to him.
"Don't let him go against his conscience Merlin," Amelia says.
"But we're not breaking the rules. We're bending them, that's all. You get your foot in the door. But after that, you will be judged on your merit alone. And if you succeed - if they make you a Knight - it'll be because you earned it, noble or not. I can't change the way things are done around here, but you can... if you let me help you."
—
All three of them head to Gwen's house so that Lancelot can get measured for his armour. As Gwen is taking Lancelot's measurements, Lancelot tries to awkwardly talk to her.
"Thi..." He clears his throat. "This is very kind of you, er..."
"Gwen." She tells him.
"Gwen." He repeats.
"Short for Guinevere."
"Ah. Then thank you, Guinevere."
"Don't thank me. Thank Merlin. Merlin would do anything for anyone, wouldn't you, Merlin?" Merlin shrugs as if to say it is nothing. "Sorry, can you raise your arms?" Lancelot raises his arms. "Thank you. Sorry. I think it's great that Merlin's got you this chance. We need men like you." Gwen says.
"You do?" He asks surprised.
"Well, not me personally, but you know... Camelot. Camelot needs Knights. Not just Arthur and his kind, but ordinary people like you and me." Oh, Gwen; so awkward.
"Well, I'm not a Knight yet, My Lady." That was a flirt there.
"And I'm not a lady." Gwen giggles.
"Sorry, my..."
"Okay, we're done. Erm... I should have these ready in no time. It's nice to meet you, Lancelot." Gwen reaches out to shake hands. Lancelot takes her hand and kisses it. Amelia leaves with Merlin and Lancelot before telling them she will meet them later when Lancelot tries to pass the test.
—
Merlin's POV
Merlin and Lancelot walk down the Courtyard Corridor after saying goodbye to both Amelia and Gwen.
"She seems lovely. Guinevere." Lancelot brought up awkwardly.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, she is. And the best seamstress in Camelot, I promise." Merlin says enthusiastically not realising the real reason behind Lancelot's bringing up the subject.
"Are you two... you know." Lancelot once again says awkwardly.
Merlin laughs. "No, no. Just friends." Merlin says definitively, giving Lancelot a sideways look.
"Is there anyone? For you?" Lancelot then asks less awkwardly.
"N-no! No!" Merlin says somewhat nervous and shy now. Lancelot smirks at him.
—
Amelia's POV
Anne arrives at the Training Grounds along with Merlin, Gwen and Amelia to support Lancelot in his attempt to become a Knight.
They all watch as Arthur trains his recruits as Merlin and Gwen fix Lancelot's costume.
"One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. Four."
"Well... you certainly look the part," Merlin says nervously.
"Doesn't he just?" Gwen compliments.
"I don't feel it," Lancelot mutters unsurely. Glancing over to where Arthur is finishing up training.
"Okay, that'll do for today. Well done." Arthur announces.
"Here's your chance. Go for it." Merlin says nudging Lancelot forward. Amelia gives him a smile of encouragement.
As Lancelot approaches Arthur, who is putting a sword in the sword rack, Merlin turns to her and says, "I do not know why you are so worried everything is going to be fine. He deserves this."
"I never said he didn't." She replies. "I just do not believe you should just go against the rules like this Merlin. Lying is not the right way." Before looking over to see Lancelot handing over his 'seal' bowing and saying, "Sire."
Arthur suddenly smacks him and Lancelot falls down. Should have guessed he would do that. "Sluggish reactions. In a battle field you'd be dead by now. Come back when you're ready." Arthur says before walking off. Lancelot gets up and places his hand on his sword.
"I'm ready now, Sire." He says.
Arthur turns back around. "You are, are you?" He asks sarcastically. "Fine. You can start by cleaning out the stables." Onlookers laugh. Lancelot looks uncertainly at Merlin, who gives him two thumbs up while Gwen, Amelia and Anne give him uneasy smiles.
—
So Lancelot finds work at the stables. Merlin tells Amelia how Arthur had approached him to fight with broom handles. She supposes that is a positive even if it did sound a bit odd.
Suddenly the warning bells began ringing. Oh no. This means something had happened with the monster of the week.
She hurries out into the Main Square to see multiple people being brought in. She spots Gaius treating a woman's head near one of the gates and Merlin helping an injured woman to sit near him. She goes over to them forgetting what she'd been told about running around.
As Amelia reaches them, Gaius looks up at her, "My lady you should not be running." He says with a small smile on his face implying that he isn't being serious.
"Yes but you and I both know that I am quite physically recovered and am perfectly capable of running." She responds sarcastically.
He smiles at her before Merlin draws his attention away. "How is she?"
"Okay." Gaius answers. Lancelot runs up to them then. "What happened to these people?" He asks.
"Their Village was attacked by a winged monster," Gaius says. Amelia sees Merlin and Lancelot exchange a look. Had they seen it? Oh, wait she remembers Merlin telling her. Her memory sometimes goes a bit foggy on recent memories unless something reminded her of them.
—
Merlin later hurries up to her telling her that Arthur had agreed to bring Lancelot's test forward to the next morning, which leads to the four of them, Merlin, Gwen, Anne and Amelia, standing at the sidelines to watch.
Arthur and Lancelot stand dressed in full armour opposite each other. "Well, here we are. Your final challenge. Succeed and you join the elite. Fail and your journey ends here. Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria..." Arthur nods to the timekeeper. "Your time starts now."
Arthur and Lancelot put on their helmets. They begin to fight. Lancelot then swings and misses Arthur. Gwen grabs Merlin's shirt in her anxiety. "Oh, sorry." She mutters before letting go. Amelia knows she doesn't need to be nervous, her notes say that he successfully becomes a Knight, it's just what happens after.
Arthur punches Lancelot causing him to fall back, his helmet goes askew. Arthur puts his sword in the ground, removes his helmet and goes to remove Lancelot's flag. "Shame." He says. Lancelot suddenly gets up, knocks Arthur off his feet and puts him at sword point. "Do you submit, Sire?" He asks him.
Guards restrain Lancelot. Arthur gets up, apparently angry, and grabs his sword. "On your knees!" Arthur angrily commanded. Oh Arthur, what a performance. Guards force Lancelot to his knees. Arthur puts the sword to Lancelot's chest.
—
Soon enough they are all in the Throne room watching Lancelot get knighted.
Lancelot kneels with a sword to his chest. "Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot." Uther says putting the sword on each of Lancelot's shoulders before Lancelot stands up and everybody begins to clap.
"Who is this man? He seems to have come out of nowhere." Morgana asks Anne, Gwen and Amelia. Oh Morgana you're missing out.
"I know. It's been a bit of a surprise to all of us." Gwen says giving Anne and Amelia a knowing smile.
Amelia looks over and sees Uther open Lancelot's seal and address a lady of the Court. Matilda something. Judging from his frown, he has realised something.
—
Morgana, Gwen, Anne and Amelia all enter the Hall of Ceremonies together approaching one of the tables before Gwen and Anne split off to walk towards Merlin.
She notices Arthur looking in her and Morgana's direction while Lancelot looks towards Merlin, Anne and Gwen, who are laughing and chatting together, from where they sit on a table. She wrinkles her nose when Morgana notices Arthur's gaze and deliberately looks back. The odd bit is that she knows that, other than being cousins, there is another reason why she does not like it but she can't remember.
"Stop that please," Amelia says to Morgana. She laughs.
Amelia leaves her, meandering towards Merlin, Anne and Gwen as Merlin grabs another drink from a passing servant. "Careful Merlin." She hears Anne joke. Merlin sends a small bashful smile in her direction blushing. Mmm…
"Hello," Amelia says when she places herself at Gwen's side. "What have I missed?"
Merlin snaps out of his embarrassed state and turns to her saying, "Lancelot seems to fancy Gwen!" Gwen shushes him as he had said it quite loudly.
"Anyway." Merlin draws out. "Gwen, just for the sake of argument. If you had to, Arthur or Lancelot."
"But I don't have to and I never will," Gwen says humorously. Oh Gwen, you have no idea.
"Oh, you are no fun, Gwen," Merlin says. They all laugh.
Arthur then pounds on the table he is sitting on getting everyone's attention and stands up. "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to our new recruit, our new Knight of Camelot, Sir Lancelot." He raises his goblet with everyone else. The crowd applauds. Lancelot and Arthur toast.
—
Turns out lying about your status has consequences as Lancelot has been arrested, stripped of his title and thrown into jail.
Merlin had gone to see Lancelot, who had, typically, been all noble and selfless despite the fact that Merlin is the one that had a larger amount of the blame between the two of them.
Merlin now sits sadly on the stairs in Gaius' Chambers in front of Gaius and Amelia.
"Merlin?" Gaius tentatively asks.
"Whatever you do, don't say, "I told you so."" Merlin says stopping him.
"I have no wish to gloat, Merlin. What's done is done." Gaius says.
"Well, Gaius has found something if you are interested?" Amelia asks.
Merlin looks up. "What is it?" He asks.
"Here. Come and take a look at this." Gaius says, opening a book. Merlin and Amelia follow him. "I realised my mistake. I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place, in the records of all known living things in the Kingdom. And then I thought, but what about creatures only recorded in legend? In myth? Then I discovered this." He opens up onto the page of the beast of the week. A Griffin.
"That is it. That's the monster." Merlin says seemingly perked up. Warning bells suddenly sound. Merlin, Gaius and Amelia go to the window. People are running wildly around the Square, screaming as the Griffin swoops down overhead.
"On me! On me!" Arthur cries from the centre of the Square. Knights surround Arthur in a defence pattern. "Defence!" The Knights crouch down. The Griffin attacks. The Knights get up and reform attack pattern. The Griffin lands in the Square. "Charge! On me!" Arthur strikes the Griffin in the chest with a spear. The spear breaks. Arthur looks surprised and falls backwards. A Guard tosses him a torch. Arthur reaches for it and waves the torch at the Griffin and it takes off making hissing sounds.
—
Merlin, Gaius and Amelia are already standing in the corner of the Council Chambers as Arthur, Uther and their entourage enter.
"You said your Knights were the best in the land. You proved that today." Uther says.
"All I know is it's still out there," Arthur says, not as quick to celebrate as his father is.
"Let's not wait for it. The Kingdom has been menaced by this creature for too long. We finish this now." Uther says determinately.
"Sire, if I may." Gaius pipes up.
"Gaius?" Uther asks distractedly as if he has only just noticed their presence.
"I've been researching this creature, Sire. I believe it to be a Griffin."
"A Griffin? What's in a name?" Amelia quietly sniggers at that response. She hadn't drawn Uther's or Gaius' attention but both Merlin and Arthur give her an odd look.
"The Griffin is a creature of magic," Gaius says drawing her, Arthur and Merlin back to the conservation.
"I don't have time for this, Physician." She doesn't know why Uther dismisses Gaius so much, he wouldn't be able to survive without him.
"It is born of magic, Sire, and it can only be killed by magic." Gaius persists.
"You are mistaken. It's a creature of flesh and blood like any other. Arthur proved that today." Idiot.
"I'm not so sure, Father. I think there may be some truth in what he says." Thank you, Arthur.
"What truth?" Uther asks annoyed. He hates to be proven wrong yet he so often is.
"The Griffin was unharmed, Sire. Our weapons seemed useless against it."
"Useless? I think not. No, it's tasted our steel once, the next time will be its last. When will your Knights be ready to ride again?" Once again an idiot.
"An hour. Maybe two." Arthur says resignedly.
"Good. We finish this tonight." Uther says with finality. Amelia purses her lips in annoyance.
—
After grabbing Anne, as she believes they need all the magical help they could get, Amelia enters Gaius' Chambers along with Gaius and Merlin.
"Is it true? The Griffin can only be killed by magic?" Anne asks.
"Yes. I'm certain of it. If Arthur rides out against it, he'll die." Gaius says surely.
"Then he must be stopped. Uther must see reason." Merlin says.
"Where magic is concerned, our King is blind to reason. And yet...magic is our only hope." Well, at least Gaius is aware of their King's stupidity.
"You're not suggesting..." Merlin's sentence pans out as Gaius nods his head. "Why not Anne?"
"It is your destiny, Merlin. The true purpose of your magic." Anne answers him.
"You have all seen it. I can't go up against that thing." Merlin says determinedly.
"But if you do not, then Arthur will probably die," Amelia says.
"No... this is madness. I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way." Merlin says doubtfully as he paces for a moment.
"You should have more faith, Merlin," Amelia says walking up to him. She personally needs it after her memory loss.
"This is the only way," Gaius says.
"Do you even care what happens to me?" Merlin turns his frustration to Gaius. "Oh, just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Go and kill the Griffin, Merlin. I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire." His voice sounds a little watery as if he is trying not to cry.
"Merlin! Merlin, you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought. But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know." Gaius says encouragingly, it is quite sweet actually.
"I'm sorry," Merlin says sorrowfully in an almost whisper.
"I don't know what else I can say," Gaius says resignedly, Anne hums in agreement.
"I'll say it for you. We have two hours to find a way to kill that thing." Merlin says with more confidence.
"Well, what are we standing here for? Let's get on with it!" Amelia cries. They all chuckle at her announcement.
—
Before long they are flipping through Merlin's magic book to find the spell.
"There. You must do this for Arthur." Gaius says pointing at one of the pages.
"I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful," Merlin says sounding insecure again.
"Nothing less will kill it," Anne says.
"Here." Gaius hands Merlin a rusty dagger. "Try. You have it within you. I know you do."
"Bregdan anweald gafeluec." Merlin mutters. Nothing happens. They all look at each other.
"Don't worry, Merlin, we have plenty of time," Amelia says hopefully.
Merlin continues to try the spell around the Chambers and even crouches at one point and it doesn't work.
"Don't worry, Merlin. I know you're trying." Anne says putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"And I'm failing. And if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough..." Merlin says angrily sitting on the steps to his Chamber.
"Merlin!" Gaius reproaches from his seat.
"Maybe you need the adrenaline of the moment?" Amelia suggests. But before anything can be said Gwen runs in.
"Merlin! Lancelot's riding out to kill the Griffin!" She cries.
"He's what?" Merlin says in shock. Gwen shrugs helplessly causing to Merlin stand up and run out.
"Merlin?" Gaius calls but Merlin doesn't answer him. Anne and Amelia run after him.
"Merlin!" Amelia cries, he turns around to them.
"No, no!" He says indisputably. "You two are not going." Anne opens her mouth to protest but it was too late as Merlin has run off again.
"I suppose we wait," Amelia says resignedly. Anne purses her lips in annoyance.
—
After what felt like hours, Merlin bursts into the Physician's Chambers.
"You did it?!" Gaius exclaims from seeing Merlin's cheerful expression.
"I did it," Merlin says with a bright smile taking over his face. Gaius and Merlin hug while Anne and Amelia look at each other smiling before joining in.
"Thank God!" Gaius says.
—
Merlin, Anne and Amelia round the corner and are faced with the closed doors of the Council Chambers with yelling coming from inside and Lancelot waiting anxiously in front of them with two Guards blocking the entrance.
"What are they doing?" Merlin asks.
"Deciding my fate," Lancelot answers simply.
"They'll restore your Knighthood, of course they will. You killed the Griffin," Merlin says confidently.
"But I didn't kill the Griffin," Lancelot says. The rest of them look at each other in shock though Amelia's is faked. Lancelot walks slightly away from the Guards and they follow. "You did."
"That's ridiculous," Merlin says trying to dissuade him.
""Bregdan anweald"... I heard you. I saw you." Merlin looks worried. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me and I suppose they know." Lancelot nods toward Anne and Amelia. They awkwardly smile at him. "But I cannot take the credit for what I did not do. There'll be no more lies, no more deceit." Again with the nobility.
"What are you going to do?" Amelia asks.
"The only thing I can do, my lady." He says bowing before passing the Guards and bursting through the Council Chambers doors.
"He's going to leave isn't he?" Anne said sadly. Amelia nods.
"I believe he will return though." She says with confidence.
—
A/N: Amelia has forgotten a lot of main points that she won't realise has happened. Like main plot points she assumed that she wouldn't forget and did not note them down. She's going to have to deal with going a bit more blind than she is used to.
Anne's magic is a secret, for now, as it is dangerous for people to know plus Anne doesn't really know Lancelot.