Looking to the sky Arther who was laying on the ground believed that he had just lost but after getting up he saw Sir Alynor also standing up.
Indeed through an extremely rare possibility, their respective lances hit their mark with enough force to knock them both off their horses.
2 minutes later they mounted their respective horses and held new lances ready to charge towards each other again.
Both Arther and Alynor felt the exhaustion and pain both also noticing the state of their opponents knew that this would be the last round.
The flags waved ant the horses ran, both felt the strain on their muscles as they lifted their lances and aimed.
* gallup gallup gallup*
They both saw their opponents lance get closer and in one final push, Arther's lance hit its mark barely half a second faster.
Sir Alynor was knocked of his horse and firmly claimed second place.
10 minutes later instead of Arthur revealing himself as he first planned, the man who was the face of sir William got all the glory marking the first time Arther truly understood when to be humble instead of proud.
For the next two days Arther reminded at Guinevere's home while waiting for the guards that had been sent to the northern border to return.
During the days that he had stayed with Guinevere was some of the most significant in his life.
Not only did he learn how the life he lived as Prince Arther had deeply influenced his perception over life and how that things he had taken as natural was a payed service.
But also found his first genuine love.
Once the guards had returned, Arther rendezvous with then in order to keep up the story of his journey to the northern border.
Meanwhile when sir Leon heard that Arther had returned he fell into contemplation.
Obviously Merlin had no choice but to inform him that Arther had faked his journey and was pretending to be someone else in order to participate in the jousting tournament.
But that was on the morning of the finals and he was obviously smart enough to realise that Arther was sir William.
Naturally he would keep that to himself but he respected Arther even more than he had before which had already been very high.
So even though Arther wanted it to stay a secret the people that now know was, Himself, Merlin, Guinevere and Taylor who are the people who Arthur is aware of knowing while Leon, Gaius and Morgana also know and Arther is not aware that they do.
The reason Morgana knows, it's because she has been Uther's ward since she was 9 years old, she has practically grown up with Arther, even though he was wearing a full set of identical armour she would still be able to recognise him.
But nevertheless after Arther returned he spoke with his father and the truth of his journey was never revealed.
…
Many days and weeks passed without incident and during this time Sir Alynor received his commissioned sword, then on one stormy night in Morgana's bedchambers.
Guinevere entered with more blankets Fearing that Morgana might be feeling cold but seeing her sleep remained quiet and set the blankets at the foot of the bed.
But then she looked over and noticed a candle was alight which confused her as she was certain she had put all the candles out before leaving earlier, so she put the candle out a can and took the extinguished candle over to the window before then leaving.
10 minutes later Morgana began to stir in her bed again her eyelids flickered and her blue eyes turned golden for a moment and then the candle was lit again.
Morgana then awoke as though from a nightmare and she looked over to see a lit candle, while looking at her eyes suddenly glowed with a golden light again.
This caused a flame to rise in height, setting a blaze, one of her curtains, causing her to yell out and the window to shatter outwards.
…
The next morning Arther, Merlin, Guinevere and Uther were at the scene discussing what could have happened.
The reason that they didn't come during the night was because After the fire was put out, we gonna order the guards to only alert everyone in the morning when they woke up, mainly because she lit the fire and needed time to think about what happend.
First they checked that Guinevere was certain that she definitely put the candle out which she repeated a couple times that she is absolutely certain and Arther backed her up, thus far passed between the two of them unoticed by Uther but noticed by Merlin.
Arther then voiced the possibility that during the storm lightning broke through the window and set the curtain alight and while Uther did agree with the possibility I could tell from his voice that he wasn't completely convinced so he asked.
" What other explanation is there?"
" Someone started the fire deliberately." With that Uther walked off followed shortly after by Arthur.
While Arther and Uther walked Uther told Arther to arrest all under suspicion of using magic while he goes and questions Taylor.
Meanwhile as Merlin approached the physician quarters he saw Taylor standing outside but before he could say anything Taylor gested for him to stay quiet and listen.
Inside Morgana and Gaius were talking about the 'event'.
" What I don't understand, Morgana, is how the fire started in the first place." Gaius said.
" It all happened so quickly. It was terrifying."
" It's alright. You're safe now." Gaius said In a reassuring tone.
" You're the only person i've told about what the dreams I've had actually were. I know I can trust you Gaius."
While Taylor was a little sad that Morgana didn't trust him enough to confide in him he understood why perfectly fine, after all she has known Gaius from childhood and has even known Merlin for about 3+ years now.
In comparison she has only really known him for nearly 3 months now so really it makes perfect sense. It's just a little sadness that she didn't come to him in matters involving magic.
" Yes, of course you can." Said Gaius well, giving a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
" It was me."
Gaius gave a look of surprise to Morgana for many different reasons that would remain unknown to anyone but him.
" I set the room alight, I started the fire."
Upon hearing this Merlin who was hiding with Taylor on the other side of the door showed a look of genuine shock, while showed no change in his calm expression.
Taylor was obviously fully aware of her talent in this world's magic and that isn't even from him knowing the story in advance.
But Taylor and Merlin kept listening.
" I don't understand. Did you knock a candle over?"
" No, no. That's not what happened."
"I did it just… just by looking at it. The flame suddenly leapt higher."
" It could've been a gust of wind."
" It wasn't. It was me."
A silence passed between both of them for but a moment longer before Morgana said.
" It was magic."
Both Gaius and Merlin give a look of pure astonishment at what she just said.
" My child…" before Gaius could continue.
" I'm not a child!"
" Last night was an accident. It had nothing to do with you. How could it have?"
" I am going to draw you up a fresh remedy that will make you feel better." Gaius said while Morgana was shaking her head clearly about to say no but then Gaius said.
" I promise. You must trust me."
She did trust him but she felt genuinely confused and scared.
…
Later just after dinner time Merlin was siting at the table reading while Gaius was concocting a new remedy.
Merlin then looked over to Gaius and made a decision about what to say.
" I was helping clear up Morgana's chambers earlier."
" Hmm?"
" The Window was blown OUT into the courtyard below."
" Hmm."
" That's odd, isn't it?"
" If lightning had struck the window like Arther said, you'd think the glass would have fallen inside of the window."
" It was magic. You know it was."
Although Gaius still had his back turned to Merlin he stopped concocting the remedy and waited for Merlin to continue.
" And, more importantly, so does she."
Gaius turned to look at Merlin and said, " Morgana knows nothing for certain."
" which makes it even worse. She isn't sure what happeneing to her and it's tearing her apart." Merlin replied.
" And what would you have me do?"
" Talk to her." as if it was most obvious thing in the world.
" Tell her that she'll be okay, tell her that her powers aren't something to be afraid of."
"… I can't."
" I could speak to her then."
" No, Merlin you can't!"
" Why not? I understand what she's going through."
" You must never reveal your secret, not to anyone that doesn't already know."
" Well if not me then someone else."
" Who?"
" In this kingdom, magic is still very much outward, or have you forgotten that?"
" But their are still those who practice it, even if we don't include my teacher there are still the druids. You said they help people like this."
" Uther has vowed to destroy them. And the only reason Taylor isn't among them is due to just how overwhelming his power is."
" So no. The Druids cannot help her, it would be suicide. While Taylor could he would be putting to risk all the Magic users under his wing as Uther may well declare outright war on them damning the consequences."
" Then in your opinion, who can?"
" I will, as I've always done."
Gaius then returned to concocting the remedy. Then Merlin spoke up.
" Then you need to be honest with her."
" And what makes you so certain that you know better than me?" Gaius said with an elevated vocal tone.
" Because I went through the same thing before I met my teacher!"
Both Merlin and Gaius kept eye contact with each other and remained in silence for a short while before Merlin continued.
" I know exactly how she's feeling right now."
Gaius Took a breath and then said " You cannot get involved in this. No good can come with it." Just before Merlin could speak, Gaius continued, "I mean it, Merlin. Stay out of it!"
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Sorry for the long break, I have been in a mix of sick/procrastinating and writers block so hopefully I can get back in to the swing of it
PS it's my birthday today South east Asia time.