ELIZABETH LOOKED AT the score board with a small glare. "Worry, he will win me?" Arthur said from behind her. Elizabeth turned to face him with a small frown.  The prince looked at Elizabeth who shrugged in repose. "Honestly, I don't know. Maybe. Yerstday, two of his advisors ended up injured. I don't want you to end up like that." Elizabeth told him. 

"I will be fine. Don't worry about it." Arthur told her, giving her an encouraging smile. "Have you seen Merlin, around here?" Arthur asked her. She shook her head. 

"I can go and look for him. He is probably on your tent." Elizabeth told him before walking away. As she walked up to the tents that belonged to each knight who was competing in the tournament, she spotted Merlin talking to Gaius, Camelot's healer and trusted advisor of King Uther. The red head stopped when she noticed their whispering and the mention of Arthur. The princess let herself be guided to a near tent while she tried to listen to their conversations. 

Merlin looked at Gaius, troubled be the results in the score board. "Valiant is going to fight Arthur in the final." The healer told his apprentice. 

"He will use the shield to kill him." Merlin commented. Elizabeth's eyes widen at the news. She tried to remain calm, slowly walking towards them. 

"Merlin, hi. Sorry to interrupt...but Arthur was apparently looking for you. I don't know what for..but I think you should know." Elizabeth said to him, before waving kindly at Gaius. 

"Oh, alright. Thank you, my lady." Merlin bowed slightly. 

He was about to step away when Elizabeth took his arm. "You don't have to bow or call me that. You can call me Elizabeth." Elizabeth said, while awkwardly pulling away her hand. Merlin nodded at her before walking away. Elizabeth then turned to Gaius with a small smile. "Hi, I'm Elizabeth. Nice to see you Gaius." 

"It is nice to see you too, your highness. You have grown beautifully." Gaius said to her. Elizabeth smiled back at him. 

"If you will excuse me, I have to get back to the castle. See if I can get a piece of chocolate cake before the feast. The cook told me there will be one tonight." Elizabeth told him, showing the miscfief in her eyes. Elizabeth walked away with Merlin's word still stuck on her head. 

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Elizabeth sat next to Arthur, looking around the room. "You have been quiet all day. Something wrong?" Arthur asked Elizabeth, who turned around to face him. 

"Nothing at all. Just...I have a lot on my mind." Elizabeth told Arthur. Arthur nodded in responce. 

"Valiant, you have reached the finals. I believe you will be fightinging agaisnt my son." Uther told Valiant, catching the friend's attention. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the news. 

"He is a great warrior. I do hope to be a worthy opponent." Valiant commented, before taking 

"In reality you are not." Elizabeth nurtured, making Valiant look at her. 

"What did you say Elizabeth?" Uther asked the red head, who was sitting next to her son. 

Arthur sighed, turning to face his father. "She said it will be an incredible fight since both opponents are talented." Arthur said, causing Elizabeth to chuckle. The prince leant towards his friend. "I'm trying to cover you. Stop digging yourself a whole that you can't escape from." Arthur told her. 

"I am not digging myself a whole. I am defending my dignity. Why is it so horrible for a woman to at least speak out and defend her thoughts and dignity?" Elizabeth whispered back at Arthur, who just leant back and drank his drink. 

Uther looked at the two unsure before returning back to his conversation with Valiant. "You should stay in Camelot after the tournament. I do hope the wedding will be here." Uther said to him, making both friend stiffen. Arthur put over Elizabeth's hand, who was trembling. "I could do with more knights like you." 

"I will be honored, my lord." 

"There will be no wedding!" Elizabeth snapped, standing up from her seat. "I will marry whoever I want! And that viper is not it!" Elizabeth snapped at Uther, pointing her finger at Valiant.

"And who are you to question that? You are simply a princess!" Uther snapped at Elizabeth, standing up from his seat. 

"Father." Arthur called out his father, trying to take away the focus off Elizabeth.

Uther ignored him, keeping his eyes on her. "Who are you to question marriage? Who are you to defy me?" Uther asked me. 

"I'm Elizabeth Hellions, princess of the kingdoms of the North; and I am the one who will deny any man who I do not seem fit! I am not only thinking for myself, but for my kingdom. If I do have to rule by myself I will, but I will not simply marry a stranger just because my mother or even you says it. You are no one to tell me who I shall marry." Elizabeth said to him calmly, trying to hold back the urge to snap at him. 

"I'm your King!" Uther yelled, causing some to jump. 

"No you are not. You are just a man with a crown." Elizabeth snapped back at him before leaving the hall. 

As the doors closed after her, Arthur stood up from his seat. "If you will excuse me. I will go and search for her before she explodes." Arthur told everyone, standing from his seat. His father looked at him with disapproval. 

"You will not. She left, and you will stay." Uther told his son. 

Arthur sighed, looking at him. "She is my friend, and I am going after her you like it or not." Arthur told his father, before quickly leaving the table. The table fell silent after the prince's exit, for no one wanted to anger more the fuming King of Camelot. 

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Elizabeth walked through the halls, shaking with anger. As she turned a corner, she crashed into someone. Elizabeth looked at Merlin with a apologetic look. "I'm so sorry Merlin. I crashed into you. I apologize, I wasn't looking where I was going." Elizabeth told him. 

Merlin gave her a small smile. "It's fine. It's my-" Merlin started, but was cut off by Elizabeth. 

"No, don't think its your fault. Lets.....lets say it was the wall's fault? I mean it does not allow people to see around the corner." Elizabeth mumbled, shuffling a little bit. Merlin chuckled, causing Elizabeth to smile. 

"I defiantly agree, my-Elizab-Hellions." Merlin stuttered. Elizabeth laughed quietly. "I-" Merlin started, but did not finished. 

"I told you to call me Elizabeth." The Princess reminded Merlin. 

"Well, umm...you told Valiant to call you Hellions." Merlin reminded her. 

Elizabeth shrugged. "That's because I do no like him, and he thinks he is the boss just because he has won all of his battles so far." Elizabeth said to Merlin. "But I like you. You seemed like a nice person...and I like nice persons. I think you and I will get a long quite well." Elizabeth told Merlin. 

Merlin nodded at her, his eyes glued to hers. "You are a nice person too. I me-mean great princess, very very...umm...kind and beautiful." Merlin said, shuffling around a little bit. He crashed into an armor which then fell to the floor, making the halls louder than usual. Elizabeth tried to hide a laugh, but failed too. Merlin looked at her, who was smiling brightly at him. 

"You okay?" Elizabeth asked him, smiling down at him. Merlin nodded at her, quickly nodding at her. "You sure?" Elizabeth asked him, and he gave her a small smile. "I also crash into things all the time. It's one of my gifts. Though, I laugh if off. It's the best medicine after all." Elizabeth commented. 

Merlin looked at her with curiosity and amusement. "What are your other gifts?" Merlin asked her. 

Elizabeth shrugged, looking at him through her eyelashes. "You will have to get to know me to find out." Elizabeth said, causing Merlin to blush. 

"Elizabeth! Liz are you there?" Arthur's voice echoed through the halls. 

"I got to g-" Merlin started, but was cut off by Arthur, who has just arrived. 

"There you are Elizabeth. You were talking too....Merlin. What are you doing here?" Arthur asked his servant. 

"Well...I was just on my way to Gaius, and I bumped into Elizabeth. He is working on an antidote for the wounded knight, Ewan." Merlin informed Arthur. Arthur nodded at him, and watched him leave quickly. The prince turned to the princess. "What were you guys talking about?" Arthur asked her. 

Elizabeth shrugged at him. "Just talking." Elizabeth told him. Arthur sighed, following Elizabeth. "Why are you here? Aren't you suppose to be having dinner? You didn't have to follow me here." Elizabeth told him, looking at him from over her shoulder. 

"I just wanted to check up on you. Is it illegal to do so?" Arthur sarcastically said. Elizabeth sighed, stopping to look at him. "You have the right to say that you don't want to marry a certain person. It is you who will spend the rest of your life with. I understand. Now, I know you don't want to marry Valiant, and neither do I, so lets act natural about this thing. I will win, and I will escort you to the feast. I know we will be back in square one, but it is better than you marrying an estranger. What is the worst that can happen? You marry me? Well, then it will be amazing for both of us because it will mean we do get to spend more time with each other." Arthur told her. Elizabeth smiled at the last part. "And you will became a Queen and be the greatest Queen of all time." Arthur added. 

Elizabeth smiled at him, before giving him a hug. "Thank you. I'm sorry for running off. Now, your dad is going to be mad at you for following me." Elizabeth told him. 

"Nothing that I can't deal with myself." Arthur reminded her. He smiled as well, pulling away. 

"You hungry? I know the cooks are still holding some food for me. Care to join me?" Elizabeth asked him. Arthur nodded, linking arms with her. 

☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒

"You chopped his head off?" Arthur asked his servant, amused by Merlin's words. 

Elizabeth sat opposite to Arthur, eating some of her food that she and Arthur had collected from the maids in the Kitchen; who adored Elizabeth. "Ewan was bitten by a snake from the shield when he was fighting Valiant. You can talk it to Gaius. You can see the puncture wounds on Ewan's neck where the snake bit him." Merlin said to Arthur. "Ewan was beating him. He had to cheat." He added. 

Arthur looked at him unsure. "Valiant wouldn't dare to use magic in Camelot." Arthur commented. 

"Ewan was pinned under Valiant's shield. No one could see the snake bite him." Merlin said to him. 

"He has a point." Elizabeth said to Arthur, before turning to Merlin. "Chocolate cake?" She asked him. Merlin shook his head, but gave her a small. "More for me then." She mumbled, taking another piece. 

"You shouldn't eat that much. You are going to get sick." Arthur told her, turning towards her. Elizabeth shrugged, looking at Arthur while taking another bite. "I don't even know why I even bother." Arthur mumbled, causing Merlin to hold back a laugh. The prince turned to Merlin, shrugging. "I don't like the guy, but that doesn't mean he is cheating." He pointed told Merlin. 

Merlin sighed. "Gaius is preparing an antidote to the snake venom. When Ewan's conscious, he will tell you what happened. If you fight Valiant in the final, he will use the shield. It's the only way he can beat you. Look at it. Have you ever seen any snakes like this in Camelot?" Merlin said, handling the snake's head to Arthur. "I know I'm just a servant and my word doesn't count for anything. I wouldn't lie to you." Merlin told Arthur. 

"I want you to swear to me that what you are telling me it's true." Arthur told him, standing up from his seat.

"I swear it is true." Merlin told him. 

"Then I believe you." Arthur sighed, nodding at Merlin. 

"And so do I." Elizabeth told them, raising her hand from where she sat. The two young men turned to look at the princess who had a childish smile. They both smiled at her. 

☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒

Elizabeth stood next to Merlin as the court of Camelot arrived. "I hope this works. I don't want Arthur getting hurt." Elizabeth told Merlin. 

Merlin looked at her. "Do you like him?" Merlin asked her. 

Elizabeth smiled at him. "Of course I do. He is my best friend. One of the people I trust the most." Elizabeth told him "We knew each others as kids. He was the only boy who will stand my witty remarks and the only one who was at the same level of sword fighting as me." Elizabeth explained. 

"I know. I mean, your sword fighting skills. I saw you fight with Arthur the other day. You were great." Merlin told her. Elizabeth's cheeks blushed slightly at the compliment, for nobody - specially a man - had complimented her fighting skills. 

"Thank you." Elizabeth said, smiling at Merlin. 

"Why have you summon the court?" Uther loudly said, making everyone turn around to him. 

Arthur linked eyes with Merlin and Elizabeth. "I believe Knight Valiant is using a magic shield to cheat in the tournament." Arthur told him. 

"Valiant, what do you have to say to this?" Uther asked the knight, turning to give him his full attention. 

Valiant walked up to the King of Camelot, looking half insulted by the accusations. "My lord, this is ridiculous. I have never used magic." He told Uther. 

Elizabeth sighed, stepping up behind Arthur. "He could be lying, sir." Elizabeth said, earning the attention of the others. Merlin smiled at her, admiring her bravery. 

One of the men from the court, stepped up from the sidelines as he kept his eyes on Elizabeth. "Or he could be telling the truth? The court is no place for a lady." He told her. 

Elizabeth scoffed at his words. "And the castle is not a place for jerks, but sadly you are still here. I guess we are all in the wrong place." Elizabeth told him, glaring at the man. 

"Does your son have any evidence to support this outrageous accusations?" Uther asked Arthur, ignoring the princess behind him.  

"I do." Arthur said, taking out the serpent's head that Merlin ad given him late last night. 

Uther took it in his hand, before turning to one of his service men. "Let me see the shield." He asked, and in matter of seconds the shield was given to him. 

"Be careful, my lord." Arthur said, taking out his sword. 

Uther looked at it, inspecting it. "As you can see my lord, it's just an ordinary shield." Valiant commented. 

"He is not going to let everyone see the snakes come alive." Arthur added, slightly glaring at Valiant. 

"Then how am I to know that what your say is true?" Uther asked 

"He is your son, Uther." Elizabeth snapped at him. 

Arthur pulled her behind him, knowing she was about to snap at Uther again. "Quiet, Liz." Arthur told the princess who was behind him. He then turned back to his father. "I have a witness, knight Ewan was bitten by one of the snakes from the shield. The venom made him grievously ill. However, he was received an antidote. He will confirm that knight Valiant is using magic." Arthur commented. 

"Where is this witness?" Uther agaisnt, ignoring the princess' words. 

"He should be here." Arthur told him, turning to look at Merlin who was discussing something with Gaius. 

"I'm waiting." Uther said. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. Arthur walked up to Merlin, who had a grieving face. 

Elizabeth sighed along with Arthur, who had been told the news. Arthur motioned Elizabeth to stay with Merlin while he turned to his father. "I'm afraid the witness is dead." Arthur commented. 

"So you have no proof to support this allegations. Have you seen Valiant using magic?" Uther asked his son. 

"No...but my servant fought the-" Arthur started, but was cut off by his own father. 

"Your servant? You make these outrageous accusations against a knight on the word of your servant?" Uther's voice boomed in the room. He seemed half amused by his son's words, which only made Elizabeth's anger grow. 

"I believe he is telling the truth." Arthur told his father. 

"And that shows he will be forever be a better king that you will ever be!" Elizabeth yelled. 

"My lord, am I really to be judged on some hearsay from a boy?" Valiant asked Uther, keeping his eyes on Arthur. 

"Oh, you shut up before I cut you in half." Elizabeth yelled at him, glaring daggers through her eyes. 

"You don't know how to use a sword." Valiant said, making Elizabeth's face turn as red as her hair. Elizabeth was about to step up, but Merlin held her back. 

"I have seen those snakes come alive." Merlin said to Uther. 

Uther turned his head towards him in anger. "How dare you interrupt?" Uther yelled at Merlin. 

Elizabeth stepped up again, standing in front of Merlin protectively. "How dare you speak to him like that! You ignorant bastard!" Elizabeth yelled, her throat becoming itchy at how loud she yelled.  

"Be quiet." Uther snapped at her. 

"I will not be quiet about this. I will never be." Elizabeth said, standing tall in front of Uther. 

"Guards." Uther said, making both Merlin and Arthur uneasy. 

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked his father, who were approaching Elizabeth and Merlin. 

"Are you defending this man?" Uther asked Elizabeth, who gave him a small smirk. 

"I will always defend the people I know are innocent. Doesn't matter if they are servants or not, I will defend them. Something you have to understand." She said to him calmly in a low voice. Uther turned to his son, who remain quiet. 

"Take him." Uther muttered. Elizabeth punched one of the guards in the face. She was held back by others guard, allowing the other four to take Merlin away. 

"You beasts. Let me go!" Elizabeth yelled, struggling against them. Arthur approached the knights, who pushed the princess towards him. Elizabeth had angry tears in her eyes. She could not believe what she was watching. 

"My lord." Valiant whispered to the king. 

"Wait." Uther said, raising his hand. He turned to the knight, who was striking at Arthur. 

"I'm sure he was merely mistaken. I wouldn't want him punished on my account." Valiant told the king. 

Uther nodded, turning to his son. "You see, this is how a true knight behaves, with gallantry and honor." Uther told Arthur. Arthur remained silent as he clenched his jaw. 

Elizabeth let out a sarcastic laugh. "What honor? If he could barely tell the truth." Elizabeth snapped at him. She looked at Uther in anger. "Any woman will be more of a knight than this idiot." 

"Respect." Uther told her in a deadly voice, that did not scare her even the slightest bit. 

"I will not respect this man." Elizabeth snapped at him. 

"My lord, if your son made these accusations because he is afraid to fight me, then I will graciously accept his withdrawal." Valiant said to him. 

Elizabeth pushed Arthur away, looking at Valiant like with pure fury. "You are dead" Elizabeth yelled, taking a hold of his sword and punishing him to the nearest wall. "Show some respect, coward. You think you are so smart, but I will proof them you are lying." She said, putting the tip of the sword in his neck. 

"Is this true? Do you wish to withdraw from the tournament?" Uther asked his son. 

"No." Arthur said, keeping his eyes on the armed guards that took their swords out. 

"Then what am I to make of these allegations?" Uther asked his son. 

Elizabeth, tired of how Uther was treating his son spoke up again. "Pathetic, you believe this stranger more than you son. A servant will be better king than you." Elizabeth snapped at Urther. She threw Valiant his sword back. A serious of whispered emerged through the room. "I'm not a killer like you, coward." Elizabeth told him, before spitting his shoes. The where various screams of horror in response to Elizabeth's behavior. Arthur reached 

"Obviously, there has been a misunderstanding. I withdraw the allegations against knight Valiant. Please, accept my apology." Arthur said, looking down at the floor. Elizabeth walked backwards to Arthur, who felt betrayed an ashamed. 

"I accept. Plus, I want to show Princess Elizabeth how good my intentions are here." Valiant said to Arthur, letting his eyes fall on Elizabeth's waist an under. Elizabeth was about to yell at him, but Arthur held her back. The prince walked out of the room with Elizabeth following. 

☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒

Elizabeth knocked on Arthur's room the next morning. A soft 'come in' was heard from inside. The princess closed the door behind her, and nodded softly at the maid helping Arthur. "Where's Merlin?" Elizabeth asked Arthur, walking towards him. She had decided to check on him later the evening  before and all she heard was an argument between Merlin and him. She thought it was best to let him alone. 

Arthur looked at her from over his shoulder. "I told him to leave. He betrayed me." Arthur told Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled at the maid, while motioning her to leave. The woman nodded at her before leaving. The red head walked up to Arthur, fixing the not of his tunic. 

"Your father didn't listen. I bet Merlin had the best intentions." Elizabeth said to him, before taking another piece of his armor to put it on. 

"He lied to me." Arthur told her. 

"Is not his fault that your father did not believe you, nor that Ewan died. Well, let's forget about it. Yeah?" Elizabeth told him, passing him his sword. She was going to pass him his shield, but she hesitated. "Promise me you be careful. Please, stay away from his shield." Elizabeth whispered to him. 

Arthur nodded at her. "I will be fine." Arthur told her. He saw she would not move, and nodded at her again. "I promise." He said to her. 

Elizabeth nodded at him."Be careful Arthur, Valiant is dangerous." Elizabeth told him. Arthur sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. 

The two of them silently walked to the the stands. They both stopped in front of the arena. Elizabeth gave him a small wave before returning to her place on the stands. She took a seat next to Morgana, ignoring the screams of excitement that the people let out once the fight started. 

It was nerve-wracking for Elizabeth to watch the fight. However, it was not until the snakes came out of Valiant's shield that her heart felt like it was about to burst. She stood up from her place, looking around for the nearest sword. She took one of the guard next to her and threw it at Arthur. Arthur took it, and cut the heads of both snakes. Elizabeth sighed, sitting back down and watched how Arthur defeated Valiant with ease. 

Morgana smiled at the sight of the worried princess, half amused by her reactions. "Calm down, look he is fine." Morgana told her. Elizabeth sighed nodding at her. Elizabeth linked eyes with Arthur who was giving her an encouraging smile. Elizabeth smiled back, clapping along with the rest of the people in stand. 

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M A N I P   O F : 

Arthur & Elizabeth.