"Ready?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, yes, he is!" I cried from the side.

"Would it make any difference if I said no?" Merlin questioned.

"Not really," Arthur answered.

Merlin drew his sword and Arthur quickly attacked.

"Body. Shield. Body. Shield," Arthur called out.

"Hit him, Arthur! Not like that! Aim for his feet, he's not coordinated!" Arthur smiled.

"A little encouragement would be wonderful!" Merlin shouted.

"You're right, Merlin." I paused. "Good job, Arthur! Keep going! You're doing great!"

"Come on!" Merlin cried as Arthur laughed.

"Head," Arthur warned.

"Head?" His question was quickly answered with a whack on the head.

"Come on, Merlin. You're not even trying," Arthur complained, tagging Merlin on the back.

"I know," he whined.

"Once more," Arthur ordered.

"Oh, no," Merlin mumbled.

"To the left, to the right. And left. Head."

Merlin got hit in the head again.

"Come on, Merlin, I've got a tournament to win!"

"Can we stop now, please? Ow! Shield, body."

"Shield," Arthur corrected.

"Shield," Merlin repeated, He hissed and fell after receiving another blow to the head. His helmet rolled off.

"Well done, Arthur," I complimented. "Merlin, you could use some more work," I added with a smile.

He glared at me weakly.

"He didn't do too bad. He's much braver than he looks. Most servants collapse after the first blow," Arthur argued, sending me a smile.

"Is it over?"

"That was just the warm up. How's your mace work coming along?"

Merlin sighed and I just laughed.

"Can't Ky jump in yet?"

"Ladies shouldn't fight."

My head snapped over to Arthur. "Oh, really? Hand me a mace, Merlin. Prince Arthur is going to eat his words." I smirked.

~

I sluggishly dragged myself into the physician's chambers, Merlin lagging closely behind. I opened the door for myself and let Merlin through. He was much more exhausted than me. He quickly began to discard his seemingly endless layers of armor around the quarters. I groaned as I reached high into the air, stretching my back.

"So, how was your first day as Arthur's servants?" Gaius chuckled.

Merlin tapped his head. "Do you hear clanging?" He questioned.

"No, but I do hear an echo," I joked tiredly.

He glared at me with little enthusiasm. He plopped down at the table and Gaius began to massage his shoulders. "It was horrible!" He groaned. "And I've still got to learn all about tournament etiquette by the morning." He raised his palm weakly. "Onhrine achtung bregdan," he muttered, causing a book to slide over to him and open right up.

"Oi!" Gaius exclaimed, smacking Merlin's head. "What have I told you about using magic like this?"

"If I could actually feel my arms, I'd pick up the book myself."

"Never mind your arms," Gaius scolded.

"You could have just asked one of us to grab the book for you, idiot. What would we do if you got caught?" I added.

"What would you do if I got caught?" Merlin repeated.

"I don't know. . . " I admitted, half awake. I sighed and laid my head on my arms as a makeshift pillow.

"Well, you just make sure it doesn't happen, for both our sakes," Gaius decided, going back to treating Merlin's shoulders.

"We save Arthur from being killed and we end up as servants. How is that fair?" Merlin cried.

I shrugged.

"I'm not sure fairness comes into it. You never know, it might be fun."

Merlin scoffed. "You think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun? You should hear my list of chores. Ky has it so much better."

"True. I'm a girl so I get all the easy jobs because I'm 'weak' and 'innocent'." I rolled my eyes.

"We all have our duties. Even Arthur."

"It must be tough for him with all the girls and the glory."

"He is a future king. People expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure," Gaius reasoned.

"Well, that makes two of us!"

"If you don't stop complaining I'll show you real pressure," I threatened.

~

In order to learn how to put on all of Arthur's armor, Merlin and I went to Gwen's so she could tutor us.

"So, you've got voiders on the arms."

Merlin hummed as he watched her assemble the armor.

"The hauberk goes over the chest."

"The chest. The arms, the chest," he repeated.

I stood to the side to watch how it was done.

"I guess you know what to do with the helmet."

"Erm, yeah. Yeah, that's the only bit I figured out," Merlin admitted.

Gwen giggled as Merlin put on the helmet.

"How come you're so much better at this than me?"

"I'm the blacksmith's daughter. I know pretty much everything there is to know about armor, which is actually kind of sad."

"No, it's brilliant," Merlin denied.

"Yeah, we'd be goners if you didn't teach us this stuff." I immediately regretted opening my mouth and ruining their moment.

~

Merlin struggled to get the vambrace on Arthur's lower arm.

"Merlin, you do know the tournament starts today?"

"Yes, Sire," he replied, finishing his task as I began to fix the buckle on the gorget.

I tried to distract Arthur from Merlin's nervous job. "Are you nervous?"

"I don't get nervous," Arthur denied.

"Really? I thought everyone got nervous," Merlin remarked.

"Will you shut up!" Arthur demanded.

"Stop it, both of you! Merlin, stop being annoying. Arthur, stop being petty. We're stuck doing this job whether any of us like it or not. So you might as well just get over it!" I scolded, grabbing Arthur's cape and chucking it at Merlin to tie. I handed Arthur his helmet. "We hate this just as much as you. If we behave like children, we'll always be miserable. If we behave like proper human beings, this will be much easier for all of us to bear," I advised. I handed him his sword. "Good luck in your tournament," I called as he marchedc out of the tent.

"That went well. . . " Merlin stated sarcastically. Merlin and I peeked curiously around the entrance to get a good view of the tournament.

"Knights of the realm, it's a great honor to welcome you to a tournament at Camelot. Over the next three days, you will come to put your bravery to the test, your skills as warriors, and of course, to challenge the reigning champion, my son, Prince Arthur."

I rolled my eyes.

""Only one can have the honor of being crowned champion, and he will receive a prize of 1,000 gold pieces," Uther explained as a box full of gold is opened for the crowd. "It is in combat that we learn a knight's true nature, whether he is indeed a warrior or a coward. The tournament begins!" Uther declared, sparking a massive chorus of cheers in the crowd.

The knights all exit aside from Arthur and his opponent. They take off their capes and put on their helmets.

"Yeah! Come on!" Merlin cheered from beside me as the fight began.

"Go, Arthur!" I joined in.

Arthur quickly won the match and a new round of applause and cries erupted.

~

Merlin, Arthur, and I watched intently as Knight Valiant fought his opponent.

"Knight Valiant looks pretty handy with a sword," Merlin commented.

Valiant won the battle and stopped near Arthur. "May I offer y congratulations on your victory today?"

"Likewise," Arthur replied bluntly.

"I hope to see you at the reception this evening," Valiant concluded, walking away with his servant.

"Creep," I muttered. I was surprised when my brother wasn't the only one who snorted at my comment.

"Merlin, for tomorrow, I need you to repair my shield, sharpen my sword, and polish my chain mail. Kyleighra, polish my tunic and clean my boots."

"Thank you, Sire," I smiled.

"What?"

"Thank you. For giving me the easy chores. As a woman, I truly can't imagine having to do something as masculine as sharpening a sword or polishing armor." I sighed in false relief. "So, thank you, My Lord. Thank you, so much." I placed my hand over my heart in mock appreciation with a smile.

Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Fine, you can polish my armor. Merlin, you clean my boots. Better?"

"I suppose. It would have been better if you apologized and made Merlin do all of the chores though."

~

"You're going to get it," I sang as I dunked Arthur's tunic into the water again.

"Gaius will never find out. As long as you don't tell him," Merlin argued, turning a page in his magic book. He was using his magic to finish his chores while he read the book.

"I won't have to tell him. You'll do something stupid and tell him yourself."

"You're really mean, you know that?"

"I prefer the term brutally honest," I corrected.

Just then, Gaius walked in and all the objects dropped as Merlin's eyes widened. "Are you using magic again?"

"No."

"What's all this then?"

Merlin shrugged.

"I just came to tell you dinner's ready," Gaius informed us, before closing the door.

"Told you," I sang.

~

"You get all the easy chores."

"Yes. Polishing armor and washing clothes isn't that bad. I have no idea how to repair a shield. Good luck with that."

"You say that as if I know how to fix it."

"Maybe Gwen will help you."

"I can't figure out if you're insulting me or not."

"Depends. Does me teasing you about your crush on Gwen count as an insult?"

"Yes."

"Then yes. I was definitely insulting you, Merlin."

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. He held the door of the armory open for me as we walked in to collect Arthur's armor and weapons. As we reached his designated shelf, we heard a low hiss.

"Hello? Is someone there?" Merlin called.

I glanced around curiously. I noticed an eye of one of the snakes on Valiant's shield blink. I moved closer to examine it. I reached out to touch the snake when a sword was placed at my throat. I gasped and stood back up.

"Can I help you with something, girl?"

Merlin rushed to my side.

"No. I-I'm good. I was- I was just. . . My- uh, my brother and I here to collect the prince's armor for polishing," I stuttered, anxiously aware of sword still pointed at me.

"Then you'd best be on your way."

I nodded furiously and bowed my head respectfully before Merlin and I quickly began to gather his armor and stumbled out feverishly.

"That was terrifying," Merlin commented.

"Did you see the snake's eye move?"

"No."

"I could have sworn it moved. It had to be magic."

"That's not possible. Knights aren't allowed to use magic, it'd be crazy to try it in front a crowd. Especially with Uther front and center. You must have imagined it."

"But I didn't, Merlin! I know what I saw!" I exclaimed quietly.

"It was dark, we're tired, it's our largest secret, it's a reasonable thing to imagine."

My shoulders slumped. "Maybe. . . " I mumbled.

"Come on, we've got armor to clean," he reminded me, "and I'd like to go to bed soon."

~

"It's beautiful, Leon," I sighed happily, admiring the golden dragon in the mirror.

"Custom-made. Thought it'd be fitting considering who you're marrying," Leon explained over my shoulder. The dragon's body wrapped perfectly around my ear, it's detailed, rugged scales still somehow smooth enough not to irritate my ear. The little red gem as the eye was the best part. I turned around and hugged Leon tightly.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty," he joked.

~

"Really? You're dreaming about marrying him now?"

"Yes. When I woke up I wasn't sure if I should scream or cry or kill myself. I can't imagine marrying someone as self-centered as Arthur."

"I wonder if you're dreaming about this because of what the dragon said or because our royal prat is beginning to grow on you."

"I'd bet my life on the dragon."

"Well, I think you love him."

I chucked an apple at him angrily.

"Watch it! You'll bruise the fruit!" Gaius scolded.

"Sorry," I muttered, still glaring at my smirking brother. He stood where Gaius couldn't see and stuck his tongue out.

~

Merlin and I waited patiently for Arthur in his chambers, his armor laid out on the table.

Arthur entered, clad in his gambeson. "You did all your chores?"

"Yes, Sire," Merlin answered. I nodded.

"Good," he commented, as if shocked that we managed to finish. "Now, let's if you can get me into this without forgetting anything."

I went over the list of pieces in my head, Merlin and I each taking turns grabbing the next item. The process went silently and efficiently. Finally, Merlin handed him his sword and I his dagger and helmet.

"That was much better. Not that it could have been any worse," Arthur admitted.

"I'm a fast learner," Merlin decided.

"I hope, for your sake, that's true."

"Boys, do you realize what just happened?" They both looked at me expectantly. "We managed to get you ready without arguing! See? We're getting better at this."

"Don't push your luck," Arthur muttered, exiting the tent as we wished him luck.

"You really had to say that? It was going so well until you opened your big mouth, Ky."

"Well, excuse me for being proud of us."

~

Merlin and I watched from the entrance as Arthur marched into the arena and acknowledged the crowd.

"Is it my imagination, or are you beginning to enjoy yourself?" Gaius teased.

"It. . . " Merlin sighed. "It isn't totally horrible all the time," he admitted.

"Liar!" I declared. "They got along, Gaius! We managed to put Arthur into his armor without fighting. I mean, they bickered a little, but it was mostly playful!"

"No, we did not. We did not get along. Don't listen to her, Gaius, she's insane. He's still a prat."

"Hey! This is an accomplishment for us, Arthur included."

"Just watch the match, Ky."

"Ha! You changed the subject which means I won. I'm right."

"You are so immature!"

"Noted," I replied carelessly.

"You both are acting like children if you ask me."

"Are you really surprised?" I asked. Though we didn't get a verbal reply, his expression said it all. The old man was growing on me, and I think we were growing on him. I grinned and cheered Arthur on, seeing as he was the only person on the tournament that I knew.

"Someone's getting into this," Merlin commented.

"No, dodge! No, stop! No! Just stab him already!"

"Perhaps a bit too much even. . . "

~

We watched as Valiant fought Sir Ewan. Valiant knocked him off of his feet, pinning Ewan to the ground with his shield. Ewan's helmet rolled off and Valiant hit him, standing back up. Arthur joined Gaius, Merlin, and I as we all anxiously waited for Ewan to get up. He didn't.

"I think he's badly hurt," Merlin said.

Merlin and I quickly helped Gaius move Ewan to the physician's chambers. I ran back to help Arthur with his armor.

"How is Ewan?" Arthur questioned as I took off his armor piece by piece.

"I don't know. I ran back here as soon as we got back to the infirmary.

"Where's Merlin?"

"Helping Gaius. We agreed someone should stay and Merlin is a better medic than I am."

"Oh." We fell into an awkward silence. The only sound in the tent was distant cheers and the clanging of metal.

(A/N) Can you tell I had absolutely no idea how to write anything between Ky and Arthur? In the beginning he's just so cold, it's hard to see him let down his guard and connect with someone.