Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Six (II)

"I'm afraid it counts for very little as far as the King is concerned. That's the way it is." Gaius said his frown deepening. He believed Merlin, but that could not be said of Merlin. Not even Gaius could convince him without physical proof of the magic at hand. Merlin's head slumped in defeat as he trudged off to who knows where
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Gwen and Morgana watched as Merlin prepared Arthur for his next fight. The two glanced between him and his next opponent. He had to be around six-five or a least somewhere around that. He looked like a bear getting ready to find some dinner. His servant was tiny and had to use a tall stool to place his armour upon him.

Merlin agreed with Gwen and Morgana he was going or be a problem. "You're telling me you've got to fight that?"

Arthur looked over at his next opponent nodding grimly. "Yes, and he's strong as a bear. But he's slow."

"He looks like a bear." Morgana added under her breath. Gwen giggles nodding switching between the three men inform of them.

Merlin nodded catching on to his plan. "Ah, and you're fast."

Arthur smiled at the boy proudly. "Exactly." Merlin smiled also proud. He patted Arthur done with putting on his armour. The two walked off Merlin asking more about how he planned to defeat him but Arthur never gave him to much detail in case someone was listening in.

Self consciously Morgana strokes Gwen's clock as they sat in the stands.

"You're not worried, are you?" She teased smirking. She wished Morgana would see the real man in front of her. Valiant creeped Gwen out she didn't want Morgana anywhere near him.

Morgana glared at Arthur as he entered the arena. "No." Gwen nods eyebrow raised slightly.

The bell rang and the fight commenced. Arthur lunged to the side as the bear swung his giant ax at him. Quick on his feet Arthur went for the leg. He got a little slice before having to parried out of the man's swing.

Artura makes the mistake of booking a hit sending shock waves throughout her entire body. She stumbled back her vision askew, but thanks to that she saw a weakness she wouldn't have seen any other way. Artura jumps to the bears left switching her sword to her right and being it down the opposite of where she was going.

The bear surprised and hurt was easy to knock over reminding Artura of a tree. Laughing as the bell rung giving her the win she threw her hands up into the air screaming. The crowd screamed along with her pleased with how the fight went.

After a short but momentous victory she heads over the bear helping him up. She walks out with him starting a conversation up. He was an excellent fighter and if he could work out his few opening that happened he would have definitely won and she made sure he knew about them.

Unfortunately, Artura had things to take care of and couldn't watch her next opponents match. She normally would be frustrated but she had seen enough of Valiant's fights to know what she was up against and what she had to prepare for.
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Enjoying his free time Merlin took it upon himself to have a proper meal that would not be interrupted. He was wrong as Gaius came in guilt running through his veins. "Merlin, about what I said yesterday... Look, Uther wouldn't really listen to you or me, but you are right. We can't let Valiant get away with this."

He wanted to agree but thinking back to the conversation Gaius was right about one thing. "But we don't have any proof."

"Well, if we could cure Ewan, he could tell the King that Valiant was using magic. The King would believe another knight. But how we get the antidote...Well, that's another matter." Gaius recommends pacing back and forth.

Merlin followed him letting his mind come up with a solution. It wasn't long before it hit him he knew what he had to do and he had a feeling it wouldn't be pretty or easy.

He stood up heading towards the door only pausing when Gaius speaks, "Merlin?" Merlin smiles nodding to Gaius before leaving.

He knew what he had to do. Gaius needed the snake to create an antidote so be it. He had watched Valiant lure them out and it didn't require any spells just food.

Checking the council chambers finding Valiant there without his trusty shield. Merlin smiled it was perfect almost to perfect but he couldn't rick missing it so deep into the castle he went.
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She could not believe it her father had the audacity to invite the creepy creep around longer than he was now. Artura didn't know why she hated him so much. He just didn't fit her image of a worthy and amazing warrior.

He looked at people to long not to mention the whole Sir Ewan situation. According the Gaius he had been bitten by a snake. If he had been bitten before the fight he surely would have at least mentioned it to Gaius. The snake bite had to have been during the fight. Valiant had something to do with it she was sure of it.

Sir Leon walked over to her brooding corner. "What do you want Leon?" she asked sipping some wine that wasn't too strong so she wouldn't have a hangover the next day.

Sir Leon chuckled slapping her hard on the back. He leaned against the corner staring at the people in the room with her. "I was wondering why it was getting so dark and cold in the room until I spotted you." he teased. She lowered the intensity of her glare giving him a small smile.

"You and I both know that isn't why you came over." Artura nudged him allowing her glare to fade away.

"Look I know you've heard a ton about how to defeat each of your opponents by your father, but word of advice Knight Valiant relies on his shield a lot more than his sword." Sir Leon said lifting his cup towards Valiant.

Artura caught Valiant looking over at them and she raised an eyebrow glaring at the man challenging him. "Thanks Leon. Sorry Father wouldn't let you fight this time. I was hoping for a real fight."

Sir Leon chuckled taking a step away from the brooding corner patting her back to come with him. "Its for the best we wouldn't want you to lose in front of all those people." Artura let out a very unprincess like snort shaking her head in disbelief.
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Merlin enter Gaius's room triumphant. He held up one of the three snakes head. Gaius gasped taking the snake. "I'll get started preparing the antidote."

Merlin nodded born ones his job was not over. They needed someone Uther would listen too, to make an accusation like this. "I'm going to tell Arthur."

Gaius pressed downward with the snake dropping the venom into a beaker. He stared at it before handing Merlin the head. "You'll need this." Merlin grabs it smiling at Gaius. Turning to leave the door Gaius adds, "And Merlin, what you did was very brave." Merlin's smile could be challenged the sun. It felt good to be congratulated of sorts rather than being scolded. He would have to do good more often for sure.
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A.N: I keep getting eager writing what happens before it actually happens. Merlin is so adorable I love him.

Issue #6: I can't write a main character as jerk so I keep making Arthur/Artura seem like not the one to blame for it all, but Arthur really is a bit over confident something that is apparently really hard to display.

What do I do?!