Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 36: Punches and Bruises

Chapter 36

"How did talking to Gilli go?" Elena asks in the morning after the warlock prepared Arthur for his next bout. Merlin shakes his head.

"I warned him, I tried but he's so set on trying to prove himself," he answers. Elene bites her cheeks, looking out over the tournament ground.

"He's not going to be proving much except that he can use magic. He might not even get away from it. It's a fool's errand," she scowls.

"Maybe you should talk to him," Merlin suggests. "You're a bit more...forward with words than I am." Elena squints to peer up at the warlock.

"I'm not sure if that is an insult or not," she retorts. Merlin laughs, shrugging his shoulders.

"Take it as you will, but I clearly remember you standing up against Will when he dared to say anything against Arthur," he says, holding back the sad memory of his lost friend. It's been years but the memory never leaves. Elena snorts.

"Yes, but he deserved it. With Gilli, I'm not sure what he deserves right now. Sure, he's being stupid and reckless, and I don't agree with what he is doing, but as long as he doesn't actually harm anybody than maybe we should just let him be. Who knows, maybe he'll win."

"Arthur would be complaining for weeks," Merlin sniggers, leaning against the railing. "Do you really want to put up with that?"

Elena sighs, resting her forearms next to Merlin as the next competitors make their way onto the field. "No, but I'd rather him alive to complain so let's make sure Gilli stays under control."

Arthur wins his fight. Not with the same ease he had the previous day and for a moment Elena is terrified that this man's mace is about to smash against the side of his head but the Prince manages to block it with his shield in the nick of time.

The King is faced with similar difficulties, but both are born and trained warriors against a group of men that are only trained to fight with whatever means available. Their footwork is shoddy, and they swing based on a determination to win the entirety of the competition rather than just focusing on the battle in front of them. They wear themselves down and both the King and Prince of Camelot are victorious, meaning they are to face each other in the semi-finals.

Elena and Merlin wait for Arthur to leave the Pendragon tent but are glad that decide to stay out as Gilli is the next match, opposed by Nollar who is the burly man from before.

Before much can happen in the fight, Nollar attacks him, pressing him up against the stands. Tindr, the other man, grabs Gilli from behind, holding him in place.

"Is that even allowed?" Elena gapes, leaning over the fence to get a better look. Merlin does the same, grimacing.

"To quote Arthur...There are no rules."

Nollar is suddenly thrown away from Gilli, allowing him to escape Tindr. Neither warlock nor seamstress need to speak, as both know that magic had to have been used. With the upper hand, Gilli drives his sword through Nollar, killing him.

Elena's stomach drops as the man dies right before her eyes. This boy is going to win, no matter if he kills or not. She will not let him continue, not when Arthur or even Uther's lives are on the line.

"We are going to stop him," she growls to Merlin. The warlock knows how serious this has become and nods with wide eyes. "I understand if that was some sort of revenge act, but if it continues, there is no way I am going to stand back and wait for him to do something else."

After the match, Merlin and Elena (well, mostly Elena) storm into the armoury where she had seen Gilli sulk off to. She goes in with blazing eyes, ready to give the boy a stern few choices of words but they die in her throat as Gilli speaks first.