Catie's POV

Ever since little Sparrow left, I've been studying harder with Gaius. So that I can be a better healer. It meant more work for Merlin, but he doesn't seem to mind. At least he doesn't complain. But today is a joyous day. Today, Arthur is becoming the crowned prince of Camelot. Sure he has always been a prince as his father is a king. But now he is old enough to take over if anything happened to Uther and with his new title no one can challenge his claim to the throne. Unless his has an older sibling no one knows about.

I'm wearing one of my best dresses as I stand by Gwen. Merlin on Gwen's other side. As Arthur kneels before Uther. "Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?" he asks Arthur.

"I do, sire" Arthur tells him.

"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?" Uther asks.

"I do, sire" Arthur assures him.

"And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?" Uther asks him.

"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples" Arthur swears.

"Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot" Uther declares. We all clap as Arthur stands to face us.

"So how does it feel to be servant to the Crown Prince of Camelot?" Gwen ask Merlin and I.

"Washing his royal socks will be even more of a privilege" Merlin tells her. I giggle.

"We're proud of him, really. Even though Merlin complains about him a lot" I tell her.

"I am not" Merlin disagrees.

"You are. I can see it in your face" Gwen tells him.

"We both can" I add.

"Those socks are very clean! Of course I'm proud of them" he states. Gwen and I laugh. Suddenly a black armoured Knight on a horse bursts through the stained-glass window. Arthur and the knights draw their swords.

"What in the devil's name?!" Uther exclaims.

The horse walks to Arthur and the Black Knight throws down a gauntlet in front of him. Arthur sheathes his sword to pick up the gauntlet, but another knight gets there first. "I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge" Owain declares.

"Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death" the black knight tells him. Then rides out of the hall. Merlin leaves with Gaius. Arthur and I then go to Morgana's chambers with her & Gwen.

"He shouldn't have picked up the gauntlet!" Arthur exclaims.

"So put an end to it" Morgana tells him.

"The challenge has been taken up. The fight cannot be stopped" Arthur tells her.

"Then fight in his place" she suggests.

"The gauntlet was thrown at your feet, not Owain's" I add.

"I can't" he tells us. "You should know that by now Catalina" he adds. I then remember the knight's code and sigh knowing he is right.

"Why not?" Morgana asks confused.

"Owain picked up the gauntlet. Owain is the one who must fight. That's the Knight's Code. He knew that" Arthur explains.

"But it's a fight to the death!" she exclaims.

"I know" Arthur says as he looks out the window down at the black knight. Gwen and I were allowed to go home for the day. So we did.

(Next day)

I sit by Morgana in the stands waiting for the match to begin. Saving Gwen a seat. Who had been sent by Morgana to hand Owain a good luck charm. She returns and sits beside me. Arthur joins us in the stands. "The fight shall be to the knight's rules! To the death!" he announces. "Let the battle commence" he says and sits beside his father. As the fight begins.

"Come on, Owain!" Gwen yells.

"One well-aimed blow!" Arthur shouts. Owain stabs Tristan in the gut. I cheer with Merlin. But the black knight keeps fighting like he hadn't been stabbed. He kills Owain. The crowd gasps in horror. Morgana's good luck charm flutters on the ground. Tristan faces the crowd and takes off his glove.

"Who will take up my challenge?" he asks. Throwing his gauntlet onto the ground. Arthur tries to bolt over the barrier of the stands, but his father grabs him. Another knight jumps over the stands and takes up the gauntlet.

"I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge" he says.

"So be it" the black knight says. He left the arena. Did he not want his wound tended too? I left for my lesson in healing. Only to discover Gaius not in his chambers. So I just grabbed the book we were studying last time and continue to read where we left off.

Sir Pellinor also died at the hands of the black knight. Arthur then challenged the black knight by throwing down his own gauntlet. The knight accepted the challenge. "Do you think Arthur stands a chance tomorrow?" Gwen asks me as we relax at home.

"He is Camelot's best knight" I remind her. Just then Merlin ran into our house. "Don't you know how to knock Merlin?" I ask him.

"I've come to ask a favour" he states.

"Yes?" Gwen asks.

"I'm not sure how to ask it" he tells us.

"Just spit it out Merlin" I tell him.

"I've come to ask for a sword. The strongest sword your father's ever made" he tells us.

"What for?" we ask him.

"To save Arthur" he states. I share a look with Gwen and we nod. I go to a chest  under dad's bed and start to look for the sword as Gwen tells Merlin about it.

"Our father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made" Gwen explains.

"I think he intended to give it to the first man one of us marries" I add. "Ah, here it is" I state taking it out. Showing it to Merlin.

"It's perfect" he tells us.

"He'll kill us if he finds we've taken it" Gwen tells him.

"I'll take the blame" I assure her.

"He'll understand. You both did it for Arthur" Merlin tells us.

"I knew you were proud of him really" Gwen says teasingly. He just smiles and wraps up the sword before leaving. I put the chest back under dad's bed. Hopefully he won't notice the sword missing until after the fight tomorrow.

I help Merlin lay out Arthur's armor in the tent and I notice the sword looks different. Before I can ask Uther appears. "That's a fine blade" he states.

"It's for Arthur" Merlin tells him.

"He won't be needing it today. I will be taking Arthur's place" Uther states.

"But sire..." Merlin says.

"Prepare me for battle" Uther tells us.

"But my lord, Arthur issued the challenge. By the knight's code he should be fighting" I tell him.

"The grievance was with me, the fight is mine" he states.

"I don't have your armor" Merlin tells him.

"That'll do. It's likely to make little difference" Uther says putting to some. I grab it and start to put it on him.

"Erm, I--I'll get you your sword" Merlin states.

"This will be fine" Uther says picking up the sword meant for Arthur.

"No, Sire. You don't understand. Erm, That one was made specifically for Arthur" Merlin tells him. As Uther tests the sword's balance.

"Who made it?" he asks.

"My father, sire" I answer.

"It's worthy of a King" he states. Hence why it was meant for Arthur, the future king.

"You would be better off with a sword you trusted" Merlin tells him and I nod my head in agreement.

"No. It has almost perfect balance. Tom's not the Royal Swordsmith. I'm surprised Arthur went to him" Uther states.

"We did" I tell him.

"We thought he needed a better sword" Merlin adds.

"You both show him the most extraordinary loyalty" Uther comments.

"That is our job, Sire" Merlin tells him. As I continue to put the armor on the king.

"But beyond the line of duty" he states.

"Well... You could say...that there is a bond between us" Merlin tells him.

"I'm glad, look after him" he tells us. I finish with his armor. I then go take my seat and watch the king fight the knight. He won killing the knight in shower of smoke and flame. I later found out Uther had had Gaius drugged Arthur and locked him in his room. But at least it's over, the Black Knight is gone.

A/N

Picture above of the black knight and picture on the external link of Excalibur.