The Dragonlady (A Merlin fanfiction; sequel to Camelot)

Chapter Eleven

I was wearing my hunting clothes.

Gray, cotton trousers, a white, silk blouse, black hunting boots, and a piece of armor on my torso. My hair was up in a braid, and the sword that Arthur gave me during The Battle of Cedric hung by my side.

But I wasn't going hunting.

No, I was out for different pray.

I stormed down the castle halls, anger burning in my bosom and fingers tingling with rage as I walked to my destination.

After turning into the last corridor, the door lay right in front of me. I opened the doors without hesitation, and saw my target right in front of me.

Arthur.

Arthur gave me an irritated look "Beatrice? Don't you know how to knock?"

I ignored him as I stormed right up to him and slapped his face with all the strength I could muster.

Arthur clutched his cheek "Ow! You do realize that I could have you arrested for that."

"You killed her." I said, my voice quivering with rage.

"I don't know who you're referring to."

"You know exactly who I'm referring to."

"No, Beatrice, I truly don't."

I grabbed Arthur's face and brought it closer to mine "Look into my eyes and tell me you don't know who I'm referring to."

He looked into my eyes for a few seconds, and then a look of realization flashed across his face "Oh, Beatrice, I'm so sor-"

I grabbed a glove from out of my trouser pockets. I didn't have a glove like the Knights do, so I used a white, silk glove that I stole from Morgana's chambers instead. I threw it on the ground next to Arthur.

Arthur looked at me in pure shock "Beatrice?"

"Pick it up." I commanded in a calm yet fierce tone.

"I know you're upset, and you have a right to be, but I refuse to-"

I unsheathed my sword "Pick. It. Up."

"Beatrice, I don't want to hurt you, so don't make me do this."

"I SAID PICK IT UP, YOU COWARD!" I shouted as I swung, aiming for his head. Luckily for him, he managed to duck a split second before my blade hit him.

Arthur grabbed his sword, anger burning in his eyes (though he had no right to be angry) "Alright then, Beatrice. Have it your way."

He swung, and I blocked it quickly. My vision was red from fury. He would swing, and I would parry, then I would go in for the attack, but he would always block it.

We fought for a long while, and Arthur's original anger disappeared, whereas mine just kept growing.

"Beatrice, please," he pleaded as we fought "I was young and foolish back then!"

"SHUT UP!" I yelled as I tried stabbing his chest, but he deflected.

"I-I just wanted to-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" I screamed, hitting him in the chest with the butt of my sword so hard that he fell to the ground, clutching his chest.

I put the tip of my sword at his throat.

"Who's bad at sword fighting now?"

I was just about to slit his throat, when I heard a voice in my head, Beatrice, don't.

I gasped. It was my mother's voice.

Why? I thought, he killed you!

I know. But Arthur is destined to be the best king that Camelot has ever known. He will be the the King of Albion, and sorcerers will roam free. So, please, don't do this.

But I must avenge you!

No, please, I don't need to be avenged. Don't kill Arthur. Please.

I tried to hold back my tears, but a few escaped.

"Beatrice." Arthur croaked "As I said, I was young and foolish back then. And, I was trying to impress my father; trying to make him proud of me. But-" his voice cracked, and his eyes began to water "But when I saw you crying over your mother's dead body, I realized what I did was monstrous. I was ashamed that I killed a little girl's mother right in front of her. That's why I let you go with your life that day.

"And when I saw you again all these years later, I recognized you immediately. I knew you were that little girl whose mother I killed all those years ago, because you look just like your mother. I pretended that I didn't recognize you at first, saying that you merely looked familiar, but I remembered vividly.

"That's why I treated you with such disrespect; why I hated you so much. Not because I didn't trust you; not because I believed you had magic, but because you look just like her, and every time I saw you, I was reminded of what I did, and the guilt washed over me. Every time I looked into your eyes, I was reminded of the pain that I caused you. So I tried pushing you away just so I wouldn't feel the pain, the guilt. But it was- it was so wrong!" Arthur let a few more tears fall silently. He was clearly ashamed.

My hands shook, and my vision was blurred from my tears.

Then, I dropped my sword.

I fell to my knees and sobbed into my hands.

I could feel Arthur's hand around my shoulder, but I didn't necessarily want his comfort.

"I'm so sorry, Beatrice." Arthur sighed "I wish I would've known what pain my decision would cause."

I continued to cry.

"I can't bring your mother back, but I can promise you this. I will do anything to make this up to you. Whenever you need me, I'll be there."

After a long while, I removed my hands from my face and stood up "Thank you, Arthur."

Arthur gave me a hug "I'm sorry, Beatrice."

I didn't reply. I wasn't ready to forgive him then. In fact, I wasn't sure if I ever would be ready.

Arthur gave me a confused look "Beatrice?"

I picked up my sword off the ground "Um, goodbye, Arthur."

I started walking towards the door, when Merlin walked in "Arthur, I wanted to- Beatrice? What's going on?"

I walked right past Merlin "I don't want to talk about it."

I stormed back into my chambers, and threw my sword on the ground.

I immediately regretted my decision of letting Arthur live.