Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Seven (II)

"You see? This is how a true knight behaves - with gallantry and honour." Uther praised ignoring Artura struggling to hold on showing off his new knight.

The valiant friend was not done, no a simple stab to the gut was not all. He raised his sword strike at the heart. "My Lord, if your son made these accusations because he's afraid to fight me, then I will graciously accept his withdrawal." Artura could not believe she could handle being called a prat, idiot, jerk, etc. But to call her a coward was low. She fought men while people didn't believe in the strength of women. She was facing her father head on taking sides with a...a simpleton.

Uther was blind by many things, she didn't think he would ever view her as a coward and yet he was questioning it. 'Is this true? Do you wish to withdraw from the tournament?"

Her eyes widened shaking her head. "No!" She shouted this wasn't the plan and now because of Merlin she was to blame.

"Then what am I to make of these allegations?" Uther asked looking around the room. He was right she was a coward trying to get out of the fight. No! She could handle Valiant she could not defeat magic however and that yes did frighten her.

Taking a deep breath she pushed away all fear running a hand threw her hair. "Obviously there has been a misunderstanding. I withdraw the allegation against Knight Valiant. Please accept my apology." Use bowed to the man completely humiliated. She trusted Merlin this was supposed to go well not disgrace her and embarrass her good name.

He placed a hand in Artura's shoulder nodding his head. "Accepted."
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She had to get out of their quick because she was going to explode. Her anger did not match her father but could one day be a worthy rival. She stormed past her guards and into her room Merlin right behind her.

"I believed you, I trusted you, and you made me look a complete fool." Artura began her voice low and dangerous, but it wouldn't stay like that for long.

Merlin bit his lip running both hands through his hair. "I know it didn't go exactly to plan."

Her face brightened. She could not believe how casual and calm Merlin was. He could've died for questioning a knight. ""Didn't go to plan"?! My father and the entire royal court think I'm a coward! YOU HUMILIATED ME!" She had lost her cool shoving things off her desk.

He just wouldn't give up or in fact shut up. "We can still expose Valiant."

She was done with him. She had tried to be good to Merlin to befriend him like Morgana had to Gwen, but this...this was bad. She sighed she hated to do this to the young boy. "I no longer require your services."

"You're sacking me?" Merlin asked his voice cracking a little.

She had a hand on her forehead looking down at the ground. "I need a servant I can trust." she could face him. If she looked at his face she would lose the rope she had on her emotions.

This broke Merlin he want a friend to and Artura wasn't as bad as she had first came across as. "You can trust me!" He cried pushing at his chest.

She wanted to believe him to trust him but his trust didn't do anything for her or at least anything good. "And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!" She didn't move until she heard the door close.

Slowly she fell to the floor allowing a single tear to fall. She couldn't phantom how boys concealed their feelings. Maybe she had too much and that's why she struggled so much.
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Artura sat on the ground staring at the wall waiting for the storm to come. You can't hide from a storm it always finds you so she didn't she just sat and waited.

'BANG!' the doors slammed open and then closed. Footsteps stomped up to her. Uther grabbed her shirt pulling her to her feet. She kept her head down feeling his hot angry breath on hers.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING!" Uther shouted into her ear. "LOOK AT ME WHEN I AM SPEAKING TO YOU!" Quickly her eyes drifted up to his but never full making it.

He shoved her backwards causing her to run into her desk and fall over. "I-I..."

"YOU ARE DISGRACE Y-you have brought shame upon this family." his voice going from loud and angry to quiet and pissed in a second flat.

"I-I didn't m-mean to." Artura whispered. He raised his hand up and she flinched back.

Instead of slapping her he grasped her chin hard. "Where are your dress up clothes?" Artura shrugged avoid his look. She loved her outfits they were her freedom she didn't want him to take them away. "Where are your dress up clothes." he growled squeezing harder.

She tried to pull back as his nails dug into her skin. "I-In the-the chest o-over there." she stutters pointing to her chest.

"Do not stutter it makes you appear as you are a coward." he shoved her again this time she ran into the wall. She stayed on her feet not wanting to be pulled up again. "Grab the torch," he ordered waking over to her chest.

"Father, no please," She cried the tears pooling up threatening to fall.

"The torch now. Or do I need to teach you another lesson about questioning my leadership." he asked ripping open the chest.

Choosing silence she scrambled for the torch and over to her father. She pushes it over to him but he shakes his head pointing to the chest. Gulping she turned towards her chest, towards her freedom and brought the blasted torch down to the clothes letting it slip out of her hands. The clothed caught fire right away brightening the room.

"You have gotten to friendly with the people coming to believe they are one of us. They are not we are above them. We tell them what to do and they obey. We are the masters and they are out dogs. Don't treat them any other way." Uther lectured staring into the fire.

She watched with him horrified. A nod and a tear. They weren't meant to be friends that wasn't how a royal life went. She was alone with no one there to be by her side.
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Merlin needed answers. He needed to inform The Great Dragon to give his message to the next unlucky man who walked into his cage. He held his torch but made no move to search for him he was sure he would hear. "Where are you? I just came to tell you: whatever you think my destiny, whatever it is you think I'm supposed to do, you've got the wrong person! That's it. Goodbye." Merlin turned to leave.

A loud laugh bounced off the walls along with a couple gust of wind. He dropped onto his rock looking down at Merlin. "If only it were so easy to escape one's destiny."

"How can it be my destiny to protect someone who hates me?" Merlin asked turning to face him fling an arm out to the side.

The great Dragon shook his head. "A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole. Very soon you shall learn that."

Merlin rolled his eyes just what he was searching for. "Oh, great. Just what I needed, another riddle." Merlin was done with the dragons and others I'm straight answers.

"That your and Arthur's path lies together is but the truth." Kilgharrah clarifies.

Merlin did not understand he could really put things together at the moment he had to many things running through his head. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know, young warlock, this is not the end. It is the beginning." Spreading his wings out he took flight up into the cage where he could no longer be seen.

"Just give me a straight answer!" Merlin shouted after him. He huffed in annoyance before stalking out of the cave.
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A.N: Dudes I was so unsure about writing the scene what Artura has to burn her clothes because I didn't want Uther to come across as a monster. Also I'm like way close with my emotions so I struggle with writing unattached characters.

Issue #7: Most girls express their emotions differently to boys. Artura had been suppressing them for so long and everyone has to break at some point right. Was she to emotional?