Fireheart (A Merlin Love Story)

Chapter 54, Part 1

Songs used:

I'll Make A Man Out Of You by Donny Osmund from Disney's Mulan

Ariella's P. O. V:

I sit on a bench next to my husband in my uniform as we watch Mordred stand before Arthur, swords in hand.

With a grunt of exertion, Mordred lunges at Arthur, bringing his sword down. Merlin and I watch carefully as the two exchange blows, Mordred swinging his sword from his right, only to get shoved by Arthur's shield.

Mordred swings his sword upward, causing Arthur to jerk his head back, before Mordred slugs him in the stomach with a kick that sends the blonde falling to the ground. Mordred spins his sword in hand and goes to bring it down upon Arthur, but he rolls out of the way just in time, and jumps to his feet.

Mordred swings his right arm outward in an attempt to slash at Arthur, but Arthur catches Mordred's arm and snatches his sword out of his hand, before throwing the Druid boy onto the ground.

Arthur then points Mordred's own weapon at him warningly. Everyone else bursts into applause as Arthur thrusts the sword tip into the ground.

"You're getting good, Mordred," Arthur praises as he takes the Druid's hand to help him to his feet. "Very good."

I glance at Merlin as Mordred utters gratefully, "My Lord."

"I may have to start trying soon," Arthur says.

"My Lord," Merlin and I say in a tone of astonishment as we clap, and get to our feet to meet with Arthur. But Arthur was busy giving Mordred some tips as Mordred dumps his shield on the ground, and they walk past us, Arthur's arm over the Druid's shoulder.

I sigh slightly as I place a hand on Merlin's shoulder, causing him to give me a slight smile in return. I knew why:

We were both worried about what my visions showed of Mordred one day killing Arthur.

After training, I head home for lunch and get changed in my long sleeved pink dress with the Cupid's arrow and heart jewellery set, my hair loose around my shoulders.

I was sorting the books in my library in another room upstairs with Merlin and the kids helping, as Merlin tells me what he thinks of Mordred being a knight. Luna, Bella and Max are here, too, roaming around.

"You don't think he's ready?" I ask him as I pass Mira a book to put on one of the lower shelves and Merlin puts one on a higher shelf, having to stand on a wheeled ladder, as my bookshelves touch the ceiling and have balconies running along them.

"I can't ignore what I saw. And neither can you. Remember what you saw in your visions, Ari?" Merlin replies, turning to glance at me once he's put the book away. "Mordred is destined to play a part in Arthur's death."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. The future has many paths. Not just only one. I've only ever seen him show nothing but kindness towards Arthur. Have you?" I state.

"No, but—" Merlin begins, only to be cut off by me.

I grab a massive, leather bound book to give him as I say, "If Mordred wished to ill reason, he'd have an ample opportunity to do so. I know what I saw in my vision, but I've also seen how Mordred is around Arthur. And the kids. He's a likeable boy, Merlin."

Weariness glints in Merlin's blue grey eyes at that as he says, "I'm surprised, but I know. I like him myself, but I can't ignore what I saw. Neither can you."

"Seeing is not the same as knowing, and we must know before we act," I say, handing Merlin a slightly bigger book, the one that Morgana gave me for my birthday so long ago. Merlin gives me a raised eyebrow at this, to which I shrug my shoulders. "What? I know she's an evil witch, but I really love that book! There's no way I'm throwing it out."