Lady of the Court

XXII

Ava sits, staring at the fire. The duel will be soon, but she doesn't want it to. Least she could do is help him prepare. Even if it was just sharpening his blade.

"Are you making plans for the next thing you set on fire?" She hears. She grabs a pillow, chucking it at Arthur.

"That was your fault," she reminds him.

"You were the one holding the candle."

She rolls her eyes, looking at him. He is dressed in armor, ready for the battle. She stands up, grabbing the sword laying on the coffee table. She holds it out for him to take. He lifts the blade, putting it in the sheath. The two siblings walk out towards the battle field. Ava heads to sit by her father as her brother prepares to fight. She watches as the two fighters prepare for the duel. Arthur makes the first swing. Both move gracefully as they fight each other. Metal clangs against metal. Arthur having the upper hand. He knick Morgause's sword out of her hand. Instead of taking the free shot, he let's her grab her sword. This gives her the advantage. She knocks Arthur down and points her blade at his chest.

"I will spare you if you meet me three days time outside of Camelot," she states. Arthur agrees and she let's him up.

~~~

Ava hears her father shouting across the hallway. She leans against the wall, breathing. Uther is against Arthur keeping his word. She is unsure who is right in this situation. Arthur or Uther. Both have points that are fair, but wrong in some way. Soon it ends and she hears footsteps outside her door. Her family all in one area, not allowed to leave their chambers. Her door opens slightly as Merlin slips in.

"What are you doing here?" she whispers.

"Letting you out," he smiles. She notices how his shirt is bit more filled than usual. She lifts it up a bit to see rope wrapped around his stomach. She smirks.

"You think you can hold me?"

"I lowered Arthur down."

She agrees, but quickly change to trousers and a top behind the folding panels. She pulls on boots and grab her sword and dagger.

"Ready?" Merlin asks, opening her window, lowering the rope. Her fingers wrap around the rough material. She stand up at the sill, ready to climb down.

"Promise you won't drop me?" She double checks.

"I promise."

She starts climbing down the wall, trying to leave the stone building. Below, her brother is waiting with three horses. Once her feet touch the ground, the rope falls. She climbs on her steed, waiting for Merlin to join them. The time it takes him could have been enough for the two to get caught. They were lucky. Merlin climbs on his horse and the three ride off. All in a rush to get out of town, none discussed where they were going. Soon the trio realizes that no one knows where they need to meet Morguase. While the two men debate about it, Arthur's horse starts going in one direction.

"I have a feeling he knows where to go," Ava laughs. The group continue the path as the sun start to rise in the sky. Arthur and Merlin occasionally bicker back and forth about distance and speed. Arthur points out he has no control over the creature. Ava leans forward, rubbing her horse by the ear. Merlin also keeps asking what the prince will do if Morgause wants him to do something terrible. Soon they arrive at a lake. Arthur's horse continues.

"I think you're going to get wet," Merlin smirks.

"Yeah," Arthur responds. "I see that."

"We're about to be in the same situation," Ava points out. She follows her brother into the lake. The water is shallow enough where it is no difficulty for the equestrians to Wade through. Once on the opposing bank, a structure looms before them. One they did not see before.

"Do you need any more proof of witchcraft?" Ava asks her brother. Maybe he'll abandoned the notion of doing what Morgause asks.

"That's how she defeated me," Arthur perks up. "By magic."

"It didn't look like she used magic," Merlin snickers.

"What do you know about magic?"

"Oh nothing."

The three dismount their steeds, tying the reigns to a tree. They wander inside to see Morgause waiting for them. She is in a red dress that is very fancy.

"You kept your word," she smiles. "Follow me."

They cautiously follow her further into the fortress. She picks up an axe off of an execution block.

"Put your head here," she orders.

"Don't," Ava hisses.

"I made a promise."

Arthur goes and kneels before the block. He lays his head forward. The blade falls, but misses him completely. Morguase lays the axe back down.

"You kept your word. What does your heart desire?"

"You said you know my mother. Can you tell me about her?"

"Why don't you come talk to her?"