A/N: Warning of brief mention of suicide - no detail
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia can't help but smile brightly as she watches Arthur kneel before Uther at the end of the Hall of Ceremonies. He holds onto a staff that Uther holds in front of him. By this point of the day, night has fallen and she and Morgana are dressed up to the nines standing behind Uther to the right.
"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this Kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?" Uther asks him.
"I do, Sire."
"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?"
"I do, Sire."
"And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?"
"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the Kingdom and its peoples."
"Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot." Uther places a circlet crown on Arthur's head. The Court applauds and Arthur stands up and faces the crowd. Amelia claps enthusiastically. She almost lets out a sequel but she contains herself and sticks to lightly bouncing on her feet.
Suddenly a Black armoured Knight on a horse bursts through the stained-glass window at the end of the hall. Arthur and the Knights draw their swords. Amelia grips the dagger she carries in one of the pockets of her dress; she had demanded for them as there is no way she is going to be walking around with no pockets. She looks over at Gwen, Merlin and Anne in concern, but they all seem fine just alarmed.
"What in the devil's name?" She hears Uther gasp.
The Black Knight walks down the room between the two long tables to reach the block of Arthur and the Knights and throws down a gauntlet. Arthur sheathes his sword to pick up the gauntlet, but another Knight gets there first.
"I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge."
"Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death." The Black Knight rides out. Amelia can't help but worry. Sir Owain looks so young.
—
"He shouldn't have picked up the gauntlet!" Arthur says angrily. Amelia stands in Morgana's Chambers with said woman, Gwen and Anne while Arthur stands in front of them.
"So put an end to it," Morgana demands.
"The challenge has been taken up. The fight cannot be stopped." He says resigned.
"Then fight in his place."
"I can't."
"Why not?" Amelia demands frustrated.
"Owain picked up the gauntlet. Owain is the one who must fight. That's the Knight's Code. He knew that." Arthur ends his speech quietly and sadly, walking away.
"But it's a fight to the death!" Morgana cries, stopping him.
"I know." He says over his shoulder before leaving.
—
The next morning, Morgana insists that she sends a ribbon to Sir Owain for luck, however, while he had accepted it, he had said that he did not need luck. Amelia could not help but scoff at the statement. These men can be so cocky sometimes.
Merlin had told her that Gaius had said that he did not know who the Knight is but had seemed shifty. Amelia knows that if Gaius pretends that he does not know something, it is likely he actually does. Her notes told her that Ygraine's dead brother returns and kills a few Knights before getting to Uther. She can only assume this is him though she does not know how he is stopped. She feels very annoyed at her past self.
Amelia sits in the Tournament Grounds with Morgana on her left and Gwen and Anne on her right. The Black Knight waits in the arena unmoving. After a brief while of waiting, Arthur walks into the Tournament Grounds with Sir Owain and both enter the arena though Owain walks up to the Knight while Arthur sidles into the stands.
"Let battle commence!" He announces. Tristan and Owain begin to fight.
"Come on, Owain!" Gwen cries.
"One well-aimed blow!" Arthur advises. Owain stabs Tristan in the gut but nothing happens and the Black Knight keeps fighting and kills Owain. The crowd gasps in horror. Morgana's favour flutters on the ground.
The Black Knight faces the crowd and takes off his glove. "Who will take up my challenge?" He throws down his gauntlet. Arthur tries to bolt over the barrier of the stands, but his father grabs him. Another Knight jumps over the stands and takes up the gauntlet.
"I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge."
"So be it." The Black Knight exits the arena. Amelia can't help but gape after him. He should be dead! Yet he seems perfectly fine. She knows he is already technically dead but it still feels terrifying to see in person.
—
Merlin tells her and Anne of his and Gaius' suspicions that the Black Knight might actually be already dead, which leads to them all entering the Tunnel Corridor to the Burial Vaults. Amelia had commented that the crypts are probably cryptic but her joke was met with an unimpressed audience.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Merlin asks worriedly.
"You're not scared, are you?" Anne asks.
"It is becoming a common occurrence," Amelia adds jokingly.
"No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else." As soon as he has said that, the door slams behind them.
"Must've been a gust of wind," Gaius says.
"We should've brought a torch." Merlin comments then turns to Anne. "Do you want to have the honours?"
Anne smiles before chanting, "Leohtbora." A torch sitting on the wall lights up.
"Huh. Handy!" Gaius says.
"Yes."
They reach the bottom of the steps and walk among the graves. Amelia can't help but shiver uncomfortably.
"What are we looking for?" Merlin asks, wandering off in one direction.
"Bring your torch over here," Gaius tells him from the other side.
"We're breaking into someone's grave?" Anne asks. Amelia then sees an open Tomb once she and Merlin reach where Gaius and Anne stand.
"We're too late. I think someone's already broken out."
—
They move into Gaius' Chambers so that Gaius can explain more to them. As soon as they all enter his Chambers, Gaius begins speaking. "Tristan de Bois was the brother of Agravaine, Ygraine, Uther's wife, and Vivienne, Gorlois' wife."
"Arthur's and Morgana's mothers?" Merlin questions as they follow Gaius.
"Ygraine died in childbirth. Shortly after she received news that Vivienne had died after self inflicted wounds." Amelia had learned as she had gotten older that Vivienne had actually died of suicide.
Gaius continues. "He blamed Uther for both and came to the gates of Camelot and challenged him." Gaius reaches the corner of the room and picks up a book and turns round.
"To single combat," Amelia says, filling in the blanks.
"Uther won. But in his dying breath, Tristan cursed Camelot to one day suffer his return. I thought it was the ramblings of a dying man." He places the book down on a table and begins flicking through.
"Wait so Vivienne and Ygraine's brother has literally come back from the dead?" Amelia asks a little sarcastically, trying to play the dumb card here and pretend that she sort of knew already.
"Exactly," Gaius says seriously, pointing at her.
"Men don't just rise up from the dead, though, no matter how angry they are," Merlin says. Anne nods in agreement.
Gaius reaches a page where on one side there is writing and on the other stands a skeleton with a sword and shield in its hands with its hair flowing behind it standing in front of an open grave. "It's my guess we're dealing with a wraith."
"A wraith?" Anne asks.
"The spirit of a dead man conjured from the grave," Gaius explains.
"So this is the work of a sorcerer?" Merlin asks.
"Powerful magic can harness the grief and rage of a tormented soul and make it live again."
"How do we stop it?" Merlin asks, bending over the book again.
"We can't," Gaius says causing Merlin to look back at him again. "Because it's not alive, no mortal weapon can kill it."
"Surely there must be something," Amelia says.
"Nothing can stop it until it has achieved what it came for."
"And what's that?" Anne asks.
"Revenge."
"On Camelot?" Gaius nods gravely. "What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?" Merlin asks worriedly.
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good." Well, this is just great.
—
They are all in the Tournament Grounds once again watching Sir Pellinor fight Tristan de Bois in the arena. Pellinor continuously blocks Tristan's aggressive attack strikes. Amelia can't help but flinch as she watches. After a few strikes back, Pellinor is able to hit Tristan in the face with his shield. The crowd cheers. Tristan fights back but Pellinor is able to dodge his blows but after a struggle with their swords, Pellinor gets knocked back and another struggle between their swords ensues. But Pellinor is able to break free and swipe his sword at Tristan's stomach, which he dodges, and the crowd cheers in excitement.
The two pause circling one another before passing blows at one another again. Once Tristan is distracted by Pellinor stopping his sword with his shield, Pellinor takes the opportunity and stabs Tristan in the gut. There is silence as no one makes a sound, too drawn in but, after staggering back, Tristan does not fall.
"The sword went in, I'm sure of it," Gwen murmurs to Amelia, Anne and Morgana.
"I saw too." Morgana answers. Amelia can't help but glance worriedly over Gwen to Anne and sees Anne giving her the same look.
Tristan takes advantage of Pellinor's confusion and takes his sword and stabs him in the gut killing him. The crowd groans and Tristan turns to face them. Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia notices a gauntlet be thrown to the ground snapping her out of her shocked daze. She looks and realises that Arthur had thrown his gauntlet down before Uther could try to stop it.
"I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you."
"So be it."
"Single combat. Noon. Tomorrow." They need to solve this now!
—
Anne, Amelia and Gaius stand in the Physician's Chambers as Merlin paces in front of them.
"You were right," Merlin says.
"I wish I wasn't," Gaius says.
"If Arthur fights that thing, he'll die," Anne says. Merlin pauses in his pacing.
"He is Camelot's strongest warrior. If anyone can defeat it, he can." Gaius says pointlessly.
"You said yourself, no mortal weapon can kill it. Which means we have to find a way to defeat the wraith ourselves." Merlin says.
"How?" Amelia asks him.
"If no mortal sword will kill it..." Merlin trails off running to his Chamber and comes back with his magic book. "…then I will." He puts the book down on a table and begins flicking through. "With mortal magic." Amelia feels doubtful.
"Merlin, it's too dangerous," Gaius tells him, frowning.
"We don't have a choice," Merlin says, looking at them all. Merlin goes back to flicking through the book.
Merlin goes with Anne to try and kill the Knight while Gaius goes to talk to Uther.
—
Merlin and Anne's attempt to kill Tristan does not work so this means they have to find another way to stop Tristan before he can kill Arthur.
Amelia, Anne and Merlin sneak into the Library and begin searching through old tomes. And this is how Geoffrey finds them.
"How did you get in here?"
"The door was open," Merlin says distractedly and continues to read as if he hasn't done anything wrong. Amelia on the other hand stops and looks at Geoffrey awkwardly.
"No, I locked it," Geoffrey says disbelievingly.
"Well, someone else must've opened it, then," Anne says.
"And you thought you'd come in and help yourself?"
Amelia decides to be drastic and try and get his help. "We were looking for a book. For Gaius. He thinks the Black Knight is a wraith."
"Then Arthur is in grave peril," Geoffrey says in surprise and concern.
"Which is why we are here. We need to find a weapon that will kill something that's already dead." Anne explains.
"Well, I've read of such things in the ancient chronicles."
"Really? What did they say?" Merlin asks, now turning his full attention to Geoffrey.
"Well, several fables speak of ancient swords."
"That can kill the dead?" Amelia asks. This must be it! This must be how they defeat Tristan!
"The swords the fables speak of could destroy anything, alive or dead."
"Can you show me one of these fables?" Merlin more demands than asks.
"Well, let me think. Yes. Mmmm..." Geoffrey searches a shelf.
"I'm sort of in a hurry," Merlin says not very politely.
"Yes, you young people always are. This is the Chronicle of Beltain." Geoffrey finally picks up a book and flips through it. "Now then... Ah, here we are. "Sir Marhaus looked upon the great sword, begotten in the Dragon's breath and found it passing good.""
"What did you say?" Amelia says. Now, this is definitely the answer.
""Sir Marhaus...""
"No. No, no. No, no. Not about him. The Dragon." Merlin says. Anne looks at them curiously. Amelia then remembers that while Anne is aware of Kilgharrah, she has not met him.
""The great sword begotten in the Dragon's breath..." Merlin takes off and Amelia quickly follows with Anne trailing after her.
—
Amelia and Anne follow Merlin till he reaches Morgana's Chambers and knocks.
Gwen opens Morgana's door. "What are you all doing here?" Amelia smiles at her in greeting.
"We've come to ask a favour," Merlin tells her. He must be getting the sword.
"Yes?"
"I'm not sure how to ask it."
"Ask, Merlin. You know I'd grant you anything." Gwen then pauses clearly realising how that had sounded and quickly tries to cover herself. "I mean, not anything. Obviously, not anything. What is it you want?" Oh, Gwen.
"I've come to ask for a sword. The strongest sword your father's ever made."
"What for?"
"To save Arthur."
—
They reach Gwen's house and Gwen pulls a sword out from under her father's bed. She places it on the bed and unwraps it. "My father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made."
"It's perfect," Merlin says picking it up.
"He'll kill me if he finds I've taken it." Gwen rests her head on her arms, which lay crossed on the bed.
"He'll understand," Amelia tells her reassuringly.
"You did it for Arthur," Merlin says.
"I knew you were proud of him really." Anne jokes nudging him in the side.
Merlin gives her a look before rewrapping the sword and carries it with him out of Gwen's house. Amelia and Anne follow, something that they both seem to be doing a lot lately.
—
Amelia carries the sword down to the Cave that Kilgharrah lives in with Merlin carrying the torch and Anne trailing after them hesitantly. If she had not already met the Dragon and had repeatedly gone down into the depths of the stairs, Amelia would be quite nervous herself.
When they reach the platform, Amelia sees that Kilgharrah is already sitting on his large stone. "Merlin. Amelia. And who's this?" He greets.
"Anne," Anne tells him.
"Ah of course." He says. "You too have a great destiny and Merlin and Arthur will need you at their side." Amelia sees Anne look at her questioningly but she shakes her head. There is no point in asking Kilgharrah what he means and it is best to simply go along with it.
"Do you know why I'm here?" Merlin impatiently asks. He clearly does not see the point of having a chat before getting to business.
"It may surprise you, Merlin, but my knowledge of your life is not universal." This causes Amelia to smile slightly.
"It's to do with Arthur. His life's in danger. He will die unless we can make a weapon that will kill the dead." Amelia explains to him.
"So what do you come to ask of me?"
Amelia releases her grip on the sword and Merlin floats the sword in front of Kilgharrah.
"Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?" Merlin asks.
"The dead do not return without reason. Who has he come for?"
"Uther." Anne shakily says.
"Then let him take his vengeance and the wraith will die without my aid."
"But it's Arthur who's going to fight him. You have to save him." Merlin says.
"That is your destiny, young warlock, not mine." Amelia had forgotten how difficult Kilgharrah is initially.
"But Camelot will have no heir if Arthur fights the wraith and dies. Merlin or even Anne will have no destiny." Amelia tells him.
"A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power."
"I know," Merlin says.
"You do not know. You can only guess. You have not seen what I have seen. If you had, perhaps you would not ask this of me."
"What do you mean?" Anne asks.
"In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone."
"We understand," Amelia says though she has a sinking feeling as she says this.
"You must do more than understand. You must promise."
Merlin glances at Amelia and Anne, they both nod, before turning back to Kilgharrah. "We promise." Kilgharrah breathes fire on the sword. Amelia flinches away from the flames. When he has finished, Amelia can see that the sword had new markings in gold on either side of the blade.
"Heed my words. The sword was forged for Arthur, and him alone."
—
Amelia takes her seat in the Tournament Grounds along with Morgana, Gwen and Anne. Tristan de Bois waits for Arthur in the arena. She has been quite nervous and staring at what her notes said did not help. She has a niggling feeling that something will go wrong.
She's proven right when, instead of Arthur, Uther enters the arena. The crowd murmurs in surprise. Oh no. This is not how this is supposed to go.
Amelia can see Uther murmur something to Tristan, but she cannot hear. A Guard then removes Uther's cape. The fight begins. Uther knocks off Tristan's helmet to reveal the mummified face. Amelia can't help but gape in surprise.
Uther then loses his sword. Tristan has him on the ground, but his sword gets stuck in Uther's shield. Uther kicks his shield at Tristan to distract him, grabs his sword and runs him through. Tristan cries and groans before exploding. Uther gets up and removes his helmet and the crowd cheers. Uther tosses the sword on the ground.
While she is glad that the wraith has been stopped, Amelia can't help but be concerned with what Uther wielding the sword means. Kilgharrah is not going to be happy.
—
Turns out Kilgharrah was not happy and had demanded that he put the sword where no mortal can find it. Merlin had to walk to the Lake of Avalon and had thrown the sword into the lake.