Many months had passed since the abduction with two big and amusing events having happened, the first was Uther's marriage to a troll and the other was the arrival of a Witchfinder.
Although the Witchfinder was very difficult for Morgana, Merlin and Gaius to deal with it ended in the death of said Witchfinder and no permanent damage for the three.
But Uther's marriage was truly a good laugh the troll Initially disguised herself as an old friend of the pendragon dynasty the lady Catrina of house Tregor.
While she spent time with Uather flirting and whatnot until Merlin confirmed her secret of being a troll making her speed up her plan by putting an enchanted necklace on Uther.
And although Merlin tried to dispel it, his magic didn't work as troll magic is immune to dispelling through any type of magic in this world's magic system and Taylor wasn't going to use the Fate magic system for this as it would be a valuable lesson in this world magic system for both Merlin and Morgana.
And after many issues that happened during the days 'Catrina' managed to successfully marry Uther while he was under her spell.
Then during a new tax that was obviously 'Catrina's' idea Uther and Arther had a falling out.
And then thanks to 'Catrina' guidance Uther strips Arther of his title and position as hair to the throne giving it to 'Catrina'.
During the coronation 'Catrina' felt her illusion began to break due to the combined efforts of Merlin and Gaius recreating the potion that 'Catrina' often needed to drink in order to maintain the illusion just without the actual illusion effect.
But before it did break the coronation was complete and she took her crown and ran.
Followed by Arther, Uther, Merlin, Morgana, Taylor and a handful of knights.
Merlin and Morgana through unintentional synchronisation both cast a spell to lock the door to trap 'Catrina' in an adjacent room, Morgana remained unaware that Merlin is a magic user.
And then in front of everyone that followed her she showed herself in all her troll glory which isn't much as trolls are repulsively ugly then again, trolls do sleep in piles of literal shit and eat stuff that is also literally rotten.
Yet Uther still under the enchantment didn't see her any different and so it wasn't long before all of Camelot Learned that their new queen was a troll.
At every council meeting she would be sitting on a pile of horse shit that was freshly mucked out of the stables earlier that day, she even gave Uther a small ball of horse shit as a gift.
And Taylor wasn't going to stop it for two reasons, the first was because it was hilarious and the second was because Merlin and Gaius found a way to break the enchantment.
With the help of Arther who drank a potion that would bring him to the brink of death, it caused Uther to cry tears of true remorse Breaking the Trolls enchantment, The result of which caused her to die by Arthur's sword after he was given the antidote.
Now Taylor plays an amusing joke on Uther by making a ball of horse shit every day and placing it in the council chambers with a little note that said from your loving wife Catrina.
Although obviously he's the one that can get away with it as ther rest of Camelot is forbidden to ever mention it.
…
And today Uther and Arther are holding a knighting ceremony while Taylor was training Morgana.
Morgana told Uther that she found the knighting ceremony boring and would rather stay in her room, a half truth half lie.
While the newly knighted men were having a great time outside the doors the sounds on soldiers getting killed could be heard bringing the joyous atmosphere to a halt until a knight in full plate armour Broke open the doors and entered.
" Who are you?" Asked Arther.
The knight stayed silent and threw down their gauntlet, it landed right at Arther's feet.
Arther leaned down and picked it up accepting the knightly dual.
" I will accept your dual, but can I at least have the honour to know the face and name of my opponent?"
The knight unbuckled the straps of their helmet and removed it revealing long flowing blonde hair.
Then she revealed her name, " my name is morgouse."
…
Meanwhile Taylor and Morgana had just finished their training.
" Teacher, there is something that I have been wondering for some time now, may I ask you about it?"
" Sure, what would you like to ask?"
" Well I've been curious as to why Merlin is the only one who can lead me to the training area and you don't just tell me how to enter on my own?"
" I have my reasons, Maybe you should actually talk with Merlin one on one and it might help you understand my reasons."
Morgana spent no more that a second to Realise that she had been so focused on training that she hasn't actually talked with her friend other than when coming to the training area.
Although she has primarily been focused on mastering magic she was obviously still smart enough to make sure that this did not affect her in her day to day interactions.
" You are right teacher, I haven't really been talking to him as often as I should have about this, after all aside from you he is the only one I can really talk to about it."
After this chat Morgana snuck back to her chambers and only after looking out her bedroom window, did she see the female knight feeling an odd sense of familiarity.
…
After Morgouse left, in the council room Uther, Arther and Geoffrey of Monmouth who is the court genealogist and manager of the Royal Library of Camelot was giving his report on his hyper critical study of of the knights code.
" Apologies my lord but there is nothing in the knights code that forbids a woman from issuing a knights challenge." Said Geoffrey.
But Uther was not having any of that, " Well look again there must be something."
" Father even if you do find something I will not dropout of a challenge I have accepted."
While Uther was displeased he still trusted his son, and considering that they probably wouldn't find anything to stop the challenge Uther gave warning instead.
" Very well all I ask is that you do not underestimate her, we do not know what she is truly capable of."
Later that night Arther asked Merlin to ask Morgouse to resign her challenge as even though she is challenging him as a knight, he does not want to have to kill a woman.
Plus, if he withdrawals it will be seen as a sign of cowardice.
Although Merlin wasn't completely wrong in thinking that it sounds more like Arther's pride talking.
But nevertheless Merlin did deliver the message to Morgouse to which she declined.
…
The next day most of Camelot came to watch the dual, as the last of the audience took their seats they all had to stand again as king Uther Pendragon walked along the stands toward his sitting area.
While Uther was walking to his seat Arther offered Morgouse one last out as he truly didn't want to kill a woman but Morgouse in her full plate armour helmet included just looked at him silently.
Arther knew that she had just declined so he put on his own helmet and waited for his father to announce the beginning of the knight's challenge.
After a few moments Uther began his announcement, " Today we stand here to witness a knights challenge, the challenged party is Arther Pendragon…"
Hearing the name of the kingdom's prince the crowd cheered.
"… and the challenger is the knight that goes by the name of Morgouse."
While there was no cheering for her there was the sound of respectful applause from the crowd.
" As this is a knights challenge that means it will follow the knights rules and to the death."
After addressing the crowd Uther addressed the participants.
" Are you both ready?"
Both Arther and Morgouse nodded.
" Then began." Said Uther as he sat down.
As Arther turned with sword in hand he saw Morgouse's sword flying at him, he deflected the attack thanks to his reaction time and physical strength.
Both Arther and Morgouse kept each other at sword length constantly moving while trying to break through each other's defence.
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
But soon enough Arther was able to knock the Sword out of Morgouse's hands and knocked her to the ground with his sword pointed at her throat.
Yet either due to pride or honour or some other reason Arther backed off and signals to her to retrieve her weapon so they could continue.
And the crowd cheered for him.
After retrieving her weapon they continued their dual both continuing to fight hard.
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
But soon enough Morgouse suddenly disarmed Arther and knocked him on his back with her sword pointing at his throat.
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Apologies for the long hiatus I have been reading a lot of chapters from novels and fanfics that I have been saving up as well as a couple of Netflix series
I have also been trying some new writing styles such as the end of the last chapter and the beginning of this chapter do you let me know what you think about it?
And once again I'm sorry for the unannounced delay and can only ask for your forgiveness.