Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

Excalibur (Part 2)

Merlyn was doing her best not to show her nerves as she helped Owain into his armour, she only fumbled twice which was a new record while Arthur paced in front of him trying to find the words to knock into the boy's thick skull that this was a fight to the death. Owain was a decent fighter but he was severely inexperienced, even her own children had seen more mortal combat than the foolish boy in front of her who had a cock-sure smile making the boys frown at him.

"You've never fought in mortal combat before. It's different. It's not like the training I've been giving you." Arthur began one of his awe-inspiring speeches and Merlyn had to hold back her snort having listened to one too many of them during training. Merlyn watched her Prince and could see the worry in the lines of his body even though his face was a mask of perfect calm.

"Yeah, I know." Owain dismissed Arthur's ramblings making Merlyn want to slap the little prick in the back of the head and tell him to pay attention but she couldn't so she sufficed with pulling one of the straps a little too tight causing the man to grunt in discomfort.

"Listen to me. The problem is, we've never seen him fight. You have to quickly get the measure of him." Arthur tried again to get something through the numpty's thick skull but all he got in return was a cocky grin.

"But I have the same advantage. He's never seen me fight."

"True." Arthur sighed realising this was a lost cause.

"You've watched me."

"Yes." Arthur tried not to grimace and instead plastered a fake smile on his face.

"And?"

"And you're a bloody idiot." Arty snapped from where he and Rowan had been silently watching the exchange, all heads turned to him as his expression became fierce.

"I'm a knight! You can't talk to me like that!" Owain barked and both boys grinned wickedly causing Merlyn to sigh at the lecture the poor boy was going to get.

"A knight you may be but you have yet to draw blood in combat. So instead of being a cocky prick, I suggest you listen to his Highness before you get yourself killed." Arty replied coolly causing Owain to turn several shades of red.

"And what would you know of combat?!" He growled back at both boys who simply looked amused.

"Well for starters I killed the sorcerer Muriden while he was trying to kill me with an axe. My brother and I both faced down the griffin and managed to injure it. We took down another knight, Sir Richard I believe on our second day in Camelot. And we have on occasion been known to take the Prince off his feet during training." Arty grinned crossing his arms smugly as Owain paled.

"So if you want to make it through this alive we suggest you take the Prince's advice otherwise you'll be six feet under before you can scream for your mummy." Rowan snapped viciously causing Merlyn to flinch at his venomous tone.

Arthur looked between the twins and the stunned knight with shock and amusement before chuckling catching the knights attention. "The boys are right Owain you need to listen to the advice of others if you wish to get anywhere. For now, the only advice I can give is; all it takes to kill a man is one well-aimed blow." Owain swallowed and nodded.

There was a knock at the door and Gwen entered holding a white piece of fabric, she curtsied to Arthur before holding the fabric out to the Knight.

"The Lady Morgana asked me to give you this token. She wishes you to wear it for luck."

"You can thank her, and tell her I shall wear it with pride." Owain handed the fabric to Merlyn who quickly tied it around his left bicep before turning and grabbing his sword. She handed the blade to him and sent up a silent prayer to the gods to let him be victorious before following them out to the arena.