20 year old Ariella Morgenstern lost her mother to an evil sorcerer when she was just seven years old, and has had some pain in her heart since, though her father, King Oberon, hates magic, but not nearly as much as King Uther, because of it. Ever s...
I mutter sarcastically as I walk across the main courtyard with Arthur, carrying his armor and weapons in my arms, "Did anyone think this tournament through? A contest, open to all comers, the prize of a hundred gold coins. Hmm. I wonder what kind of people are going to turn up?" Around us, knights, guards servants and newcomers alike are getting ready for the upcoming tournament. I still don't get what's so exciting about it.
Even Ari is excited about this tournament, though that could be partly due to the fact that her brother, Ryder and even Prince Phillip are going to be entering. Ari hasn't really stopped talking about it and she wishes she could enter it herself. But, being a woman, it's not allowed.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she'd dressed up as a man just to be able to enter a tournament one of these days, and that's what scares me...
Arthur responds, "its tradition, Merlin. The tournament's been held every ten years—if centuries. Nothing to worry about!" We enter the training field where coloured tents and targets have been set up for the contestants to practice in.
I nearly jump when a burly man wearing a helmet swings a huge axe and lops off the head of a dummy wearing armor. I ask Arthur, "Tell me he can't use that in the contest?"
"He can use what he likes. It's an open tournament," Arthur states, removing his gloves.
"What about the," I smack my lips pointedly, "Knight's Code?"
Pausing, Arthur turns to me and explains, "That counts for nothing. The only rule is... there are no rules."
Just as I'm about to resume walking, I duck back just in time to avoid getting my own head lopped off by a small axe that's flying at me. It embeds itself in the target. I whip my head from it to its wielder with a gasp. It's another burly looking man with brown hair, beard and moustache, and next to him is a shorter man with a bald head, his arms crossed as he holds a sword beater. They both smirk at me, chuckling.
I mutter, "Yeah, you're right; there's nothing to worry about!" I quickly catch up to Arthur only to see he's stopped to chat with a few men. I was surprised to see Phillip, Eric, Ryder, Simon and a boy with red hair and blue eyes with them.
"Ah, here's Merlin!" Eric greets, grinning when he sees me. I grin back at them and would've shaken Eric's hand, but my arms are full of armor and weapons. "I see you're keeping busy."
"As always," I say. I now remember the red haired boy named Aiden, Phillip's servant. "Have you seen Ari yet?"
"Yes. We saw her just before heading out here," Phillip says.
"Katherine is here, too. She's with my sister at the moment," Eric says.
Arthur says, smirking, "Well, I do wish you luck on the tournament. You will be needing it."
Eric and Phillip chuckle at that. Phillip asks, "Oh, you think so?"
"I know so."
"Well, right back at you."
Arthur scoffs at this before saying, "Well, I'll leave you to it. I have training to get to."
"Have fun, Merlin!" Aiden calls after me, to which I return with an exasperated smile.
Ariella's P. O. V:
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