Chapter Twenty-Six, Another Stupid Tournament

Merlyn couldn't believe that Uther was holding another tournament but this time it was an open tournament to all comers across the realm, and that there were no rules. Which made more work for her and the other servants. But also made it harder for her to assess who, if any, of the competitors were a threat to Arthur.
"This is the most stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Merlyn complained to her husband as she got ready for the day after feeding Hope her morning milk. Hope was dressed in a pretty white and hunter's green dress, Merlyn in a long black skirt, an emerald green off-the-shoulder shirt with a black corset with gold embroidery and brown boots, and Gwaine was dressed in brown pants, a grey shirt and a black jacket with dark brown boots.

"I'm with you on that one, love." Gwaine muttered in agreement, kissing Merlyn's neck and tying the end of her side plait for her with a black ribbon.
Before they could say more there was a knock on the door and in entered, once Gwaine had bade them entrance, Arthur with George behind him carrying Arthur's armour and sword.
"Morning Merlyn, Gwaine, Hope." Arthur greeted, "Merlyn, we're heading to the training grounds today."
"No one thought this through did they? Seriously Arthur! A tournament open to all comers for a prize of a hundred gold coins. Are you trying to make my job harder?" Merlyn ranted.

"I happen to agree with my wife. It's ridiculous. Which is why I'm not participating. I'm not causing my Merlyn-bird anymore stress. I wonder what kind of people are going to turn up." Gwaine informed Arthur, who had opened his mouth only to close it again.
"I agree with you Merlyn." Arthur sighed. "But it's tradition. The tournament's been held every ten years for centuries."
"I'll sort Hope out then I'll join you on the field." Merlyn informed Arthur who nodded, turning to leave with George.

"Arthur," Gwaine called, stopping the Prince. "I'll train with you but I won't participate. No matter what people say or think." People I.e. Uther and Morgana were left unsaid.
"Of course." Arthur agreed, leaving his sister and niece in the caring hands of her husband or father in Hope's case. As the door shut he heard Gwaine comforting Merlyn and couldn't help but feel guilty despite that he had no part in organising this. It was all his father's doing.
'Of course it was.' Arthur thought despondently.

***

Arriving at the Training grounds with a sleeping Hope strapped to her chest, Merlyn was shocked at some of the people who had turned up to this tournament let alone the weapons they wielded. As she neared where Arthur and Gwaine were training, George standing at the sidelines, she could see her husband roll his eyes at Arthur as he offhandedly commented there was nothing to worry about.
"Tell me he can't use that in the contest." Merlyn begged alarmed, joining her husband, best friend and acquaintance just as a man dressed as a Viking knocked the head and helmet off of the training dummy with his very large battle axe.

Pausing in their sparring Arthur and Gwaine looked over at Merlyn (and Hope), after taking a swig of water Arthur answered her.
"He can use what he likes. It's an open tournament." Arthur reminded her.
"What about the Knight's Code?" Merlyn queried.
"It counts for nothing, the only rule is there are no rules." Arthur stated ominously.
"Oh, yeah that's a brilliant idea. There's nothing to worry about at all." Merlyn said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at the idiocy of men.

"Relax, love. I'll help you if it comes to it." Gwaine assured, kissing her forehead lovingly then kissing Hope's forehead causing a whine to leave her throat in protest.
Chuckling as he shared a tender look with his beautiful wife, Gwaine kissed her passionately, earning a few wolf whistles from competitors which they ignored and Arthur and Leon glared at those responsible.
"I love you." Gwaine whispered against Merlyn's lips.
"I love you too. Go on, back to training." She teased.

"Yes, thank you Merlyn." Arthur drawled. "And please, stop distracting my Knight." Arthur teased.
"Whatever you say, Dollophead. It's not my fault you're so rusty." Merlyn teased, her cerulean eyes gleaming with happiness. Those around them were surprised (the competitors) at their behaviour while those who lived in Camelot just shook their heads fondly at the pair with a smile, all too used to their behaviour and teasing banter.

***

Later that day while Gwaine was out on patrol with Arthur, Leon and some of the other Knights, Gaius was delivering potions and draughts to the competitors and George was cleaning Arthur's chambers, Merlyn (and a still sleeping Hope) were in the armoury re-lacing Arthur's gauntlets when she was startled by a sudden gruff voice.
"Well, if it isn't the Princess of Camelot. Come give us a kiss or is that just reserved for the Knights of Camelot." A large dark bearded repugnant man asked, causing Merlyn to scrunch up her nose in disgust.

"That was my husband! And it's Lady Merlyn Lotsson." Merlyn sneered at them, a protective hand resting on Hope's head.
"But you don't look like a Lady to me." The man guffawed at her, eyeing her clothes and the work she was doing. "Does she?" He asked his companion.
"No she doesn't." The man replied, chuckling darkly.
"You look like a servant to me. I always wanted a servant." He stomped his dirty boot on the bench beside Merlyn making her jump and Hope to whine softly in distress. "'Ere, clean them." He ordered, leaning closer to Merlyn.

"What?" Merlyn asked incredulously.
"My boots." He responded, but when Merlyn didn't move he lunged forward to grasp the front of her shirt, only just missing as Merlyn quickly leaned back away from him. "Hurry up. Or you could always service us another way." He leered at her. Looking at them cautiously, Merlyn edged around them to get a cloth, even though she knew how to fight with and without her magic she would never do anything to risk Hope.

And there's no telling what else these two would do, who were without a doubt, worse than Valiant who had also leered at her.
'Please. Please can someone enter. Or can someone just walk past. Please!' Merlyn prayed silently, as memories of the fake Sir Ethan and Oswald swirled to the surface.
Meryn yelped in pain as a sudden stinging pain seared on her backside when the man whipped her.

"I'm looking for a cloth!" Merlyn shouted at them, Hope letting out a soft cry at Merlyn's sudden movements and the loud noises.
"I don't care if you use your tongue!" The man refuted angrily, a red tinge appearing on his cheeks, barely seen through his thick dark beard, while his cold icy blue eyes bored lustrously into Merlyn. "Clean 'em! Or you'll serve us the way you do your supposed husband!"
"Stay where you are. And you, you leave her alone!" A voice announced from the doorway. Attracting everyone's attention; to a young man. A man who was very slim and had dark hair and blue eyes just slightly darker than Merlyn's own stood in the doorway.

Merlyn knew better than anyone that a small stature meant nothing and besides, she could feel the magic coming from him as she watched cautiously as the three seemed to know each other.
"Oh, so you've decided to join us after all." The bearded brute simpered to the man in the doorway.
"I think you should put that down, sir." The young man instructed calmly, gesturing towards the whip in the brute's hands. That didn't have the desired effect he was going for as the bald, black eyed man and the dark haired brute just chuckled raucously. Not believing the newcomer or Merlyn was much of a threat to them especially as Merlyn had a crying three month old baby strapped to her front.

"Did you hear that?" The bearded man chuckled, directing his question towards his companion.
"Oh, I heard it all right." The other man agreed.
"Why don't you say it again." The man demanded.
"I'm sorry. This is my fault, leave him out of it." Merlyn interrupted, trying to diffuse the situation but all it did was make the bald man step threateningly towards her.
"I'm not hearing you!" The bearded man jeered.
"I've said what I have to say." The young man, who was perhaps the same age as Merlyn or maybe a little older, replied with an undercurrent of a warning in his tone.

In a matter of seconds the whip was flicked out causing the man's eyes and ring to flare gold causing a sword to fly into his hand meeting the whip and yanking it from the aggressors hands. Not one to be humiliated, the thug pulled out a dagger while the other was distracted as he picked up the whip.
"Watch out!" Merlyn shouted in warning, not wanting him to be injured all because he tried to help her. Unfortunately Hope did not like her mother's yells.

She could no doubt feel the rising tension in the room causing her almost silent whimpers to turn into full blown crying. "Shh! My little dragon. You're okay. Mama has you." Merlyn crooned softly to her daughter while keeping a watchful and cautious eye on the situation. Seeing the dagger lunging for him he jumped backwards avoiding the dagger as he brought down the whip on the thug's knuckles causing him to cry out in pain.

"Now," he said, twirling the whip above his head in warning with one hand and the sword held in front of him with the other, as he edged around them towards Merlyn. "Get out!" He ordered them, the thug glared at them as he held his bleeding hand with the other as they reluctantly left the armoury.
"Thanks for the warming." The young man said, once the others had left as he returned the sword to the rack. "Are you and your babe alright?"
"Yes, thank you." Merlyn said gratefully, finally getting Hope to calm down.
"It's alright. I've already had a run-in with those two." He informed Merlyn, admiring the swords on display.
"You have?" Merlyn asked, concern was clear in her voice as well as shining in her cerulean eyes.

"Yeah, I know what it's like to be picked on. And I couldn't stand by and let something worse happen to you if I could help it."
"Merlyn!" Arthur's voice floated through the open door.
"Thank you again. I'm Merlyn and this is my daughter Hope." Merlyn introduced, turning sideways so he could see Hope who stared up at him with doe-like cerulean eyes beneath sooty lashes and black curly hair.
"I'm Gilli." He introduced a smile upon his lips, as he shook Merlyn's hand before he brought her hand up, lightly kissing her knuckles, in doing so he showed Merlyn a clearer view of his ring. "And she's beautiful. Looks so much like you."
"Thank you." Merlyn smiled, brushing her hand through Hope's hair tenderly.

"Merlyn! MERLYN!" Arthur shouted in concern and slight annoyance when she didn't answer as no one could find her.
"Urgh!" Merlyn groaned, rolling her eyes. "I've gotta go but thank you, again, and good luck in the tournament." She added, before hurrying out of the armoury to see what her Dollophead of a best friend wanted and to also find her husband and give Hope her afternoon feed as she was beginning to become grizzly again as she mouthed at her breasts.
"Hold on, love." Merlyn soothed, a hand to Hope's head and bottom as she hurried down the cobblestone hallways.