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merlin:knight,wizard,prince15

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Merlin fidgeted with his jacket, it wasn't made of the same material as Arthurs but it was nearly as good, it fit him well but was still a little stiff, he smiled as he remembered Jane's insisting that the shoulders be  slightly padded, because she felt he was always being thrown against walls. He turned the corner to Arthur's room knowing that Arthur would want to talk to him before meeting his father. He knocked on the door and entered when he heard the prince say he could.
"Merlin? Why is it you finally arrive on time when you no longer need to?" the prince asked with the hint of a laugh in his voice. "Well I do it just to annoy you sire. Just because I'm no longer expected to cater to your every whim does not mean I have to stop catering to that one" the prince was about to retort when he looked up. Merlin was wearing a pair of dark sturdy looking britches which were tucked into his normal boots which had been polished for once, he wore a fine looking blue top that was the same colour as his eyes, over that was a leather jacket of a simple design which had loops in it, Arthur was wondering what they were for when Merlin answered the question "those are so I can attach potions and remedies to my jacket. So it's easier for me to administer medical assistance." Arthurs only reply was to raise a purposefully disinterested eyebrow.
Really he was thinking that if he were honest, Merlin really was a fine specimen of a man, he noticed the hint of a scar on his friend neck, no doubt from one of their many mutual rescue attempts, he wasn't to know it was from Morganna's sword. He finally spoke "you actually look half way presentable my friend. Tristain will be impressed" Merlin mock glared at his friend "I'm sure I don't know what you mean Arthur, we are just friends." "Oh and all those 'training' sessions?" Merlin chuckled and sat down diagonally from his friend. "Those really are training sessions" Arthur decided to leave it at that.
"Sire am I to believe you will shortly be meeting with your father for final battle plans?" Arthur managed to hide his shock at the speed of Merlin changing from friend to advisor. He nodded in acknowledgement. "He needs to remain here and defend the citadel." Arthur went to protest, "I know he won't want to but I have been over previous battle plans and all other kings of your dynasty who have survived this long have remained behind to defend the keep, if you fail, it will be of upmost importance there is a strong second line of defence. The enchantments I have been placing around the inner walls will afford us a buffer but they are not infallible."  Arthur sighed and nodded.
"You are right it's just going to be hard to persuade him to co-operate his just so amazingly stubborn it's maddening, don't say it Merlin!" Merlin held up his hands in surrender fully aware that he was about to point out that it was one of Arthurs flaws as well. "With everything that's happened recently I feel he is readying himself for his death. Its." Merlin leant across and placed his hand over Arthurs for comfort. "It's hard, I know it's hard to look in your fathers eyes and see that he does not expect to live long. It's harder knowing his death will be protecting you, its hard knowing that after his death is when you will truly need his advice and wisdom. Its hard but believe me it gets easier." Arthur looked up at Merlin; he could see the pain hidden in his friend. He realised that Merlin understood better than anyone. He not only had barely met his father, but then he had seen him die so that he could live. He had been left the last and only dragon lord, isolated from his mother.
"Your father was a good man Merlin, I'm sorry things ended the way they did, hell I'm sorry they started the way they did. My father should never have chased him beyond Camelot, I'm sorry" Merlin's face went stony "it is not your place to be sorry sire. It is your fathers. And for that to happen I need to prove him wrong I need him to see the good magic can do." He squeezed Arthur's hand, stood up and left.
Arthur let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and leant back in his chair. This was going to be a long day but it may also be his last day not at war. He found himself wondering what Lancelot was up to. He'd been told the knight had arrived back later last night. He decided to ask, he needed to know everything.

Lancelot was talking to Gawain and Merlin when Arthur finally found him. He appeared to have just been told off good naturedly by Merlin. The prince couldn't help but laugh at Merlin's complete disregard for etiquette, but he supposed in this case it was Merlin who had found the two knights in the first place. An awkward thought crossed his mind, if Merlin were to ever leave his side, leave Camelot would the two knights go with him? "Lancelot, I'm glad you are back safely." Lancelot nodded his thanks to the prince. "I'm sorry I left so suddenly there were things I needed to take care of, but now that they are.  Arthur, sire, there are things I have not told you" Merlin cut him off.
"Just tell him Sir Lancelot. It's best that way." Merlin looked encouragingly at his friend who took a deep breath and spoke. Spoke so fast that Arthur didn't catch any of it. When the knight repeated his sentence Arthur took a few moments to process it before speaking. "You have, a son?  A fifteen year old son? Forgive me but how exactly is that possible?" Lancelot shifted uncomfortably. "Well you see sire, after helping you rescue Lady Gwen, from hengis, I decided to travel and earn knightly valour through chivalry and honour."
Lancelot went on to explain to his friends that he had come across a young woman of roughly his age being attacked by bandits. It was just her and her young brother. She had cared for the boy as if he were her own child and the boy addressed her as such, Lancelot decided to escort them safely where ever they were headed. He taught the boy how to fight but taught him how to avoid it as well. The boy noticed how his sister was around Lancelot. And Lancelot found her companionship, enchanting. Soon the boy was calling him father jokingly and then one day they came across a hermitage and Lancelot had the boy officially named as his son, the priest agreed as he could see how the teen looked up to Lancelot.
Merlin kept catching Lancelot's eye. He knew how much the knight loved Gwen but also knew that his friend had accepted that Gwen and Arthur were destined to be. Merlin felt sad knowing that Lancelot had sought out a woman he could grow to love and boy to call a son, partially so if ever he were to be near Gwen and Arthur it would make her decision easier. Even if it meant she would hate him and mistrust him forever. Arthur was trying to read where this was headed so Merlin took over seeing how hard it was for Lancelot. "Arthur, the boy the young man. He's a good fighter, when the time is right he will make the best of knights. He can wade through the enemy with out getting a scratch and only injuring them never killing. He just." "He just does enough to eliminate one threat before moving onto the other. It is as if his hand is guided by the almighty lord himself." Lancelot finished.
"Why tell me this? Is that where you were? Checking in on him?" Lancelot smiled a little. "He only shares my name and values, he is my son I love him like a son but he bares me no resemblance, he is the light and I am his shadow. He is also currently lining up with Cenred's army" Lancelot's smile widened as he saw it click into place inside Arthur's mind. "We have a man on the inside? How?" Arthur had not even thought of placing a man on the inside, all of Camelot's knights were known to the enemy.  
Lancelot and Merlin explained between them how it had been decided that at a given point during the battle a signal would be given and Galahad would reveal himself and defect to their side. Until then he would play his part well. Cutting a swath through Camelot's army, but cutting for effect, for blood but not for injury. Camelot's knights would fight him and fall or run past. A boy of fifteen would go mostly unnoticed if surrounded by bigger harder to kill men. Arthur stared at them in wonder. He felt slightly over whelmed that they believed in the future he would forge so fully that they would think of such elaborate plans and the boy, this Galahad, would willingly comply. He found himself wanting to ask a question but looked at Merlin for the answer with out speaking.
"I have sent word to him to sneak out and meet us I have an idea. I thought you might want to meet the Apple!" Arthur raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Meet the apple? Merlin you really are an idiot" Merlin waved the mild insult off and corrected himself. "What I meant to say is I need to find an apple to give him." Getting nothing but puzzled looks back he continued. "I'm going to enchant it so that if anyone thinks he did sneak off they will change their minds, also he's a growing lad. Mother always said a growing lad need plenty fruit if he can get it." The two knights and the prince continued to stare at him. "Ok so I'm not the best example but the apple will help him, oh two apples! I'll place a mild hex on the other" his friends all looks slightly startled. "Oh no! The second one isn't for him, I just though if those who eat the second one were a little unlucky it might help."
Merlin finished and shifted uncomfortably from  foot to foot until Gawain slapped the young advisor on the back and said "whatever keeps you busy and away from trouble mate."  He punched Merlin playfully on the shoulder and pushed Lancelot away after they had both bowed to the prince.
"This is happening isn't it. I'm going to war, against an army of magic lead by my sister and our greatest enemy." Arthur said as he turned to face Merlin. He smiled when he saw Merlin standing there with his head tilted to the side clearly still thinking about apples. He cleared his throat and Merlin looked across at him. "Yes. It is happening.  It will happening soon. Tomorrow actually which is why it is important we meet our inside man tonight." Merlin spoke in such a relaxed manor that Arthur took a slight double take before speaking. "You don't seam particularly worried about that Merlin."  He glared at his friend who simply looked back at him.
"I am Emrys. One day I will be the most powerful magical being ever to exist. Already I am capable of feats most train a life time to achieve. It used to be I had to hide that fact. But now? Now I know you will not have me hanged and I know your father is willing to let me live if I protect Camelot. Those who have faced you and me before have not seen even a fraction of what we are capable of. I was holding back before. No more Arthur, no more."  Arthur stared at his friend trying to work out where this new Merlin had come from. But he knew deep down that this Merlin had always been there.
"Well that wasn't at all mellow dramatic Mer-lin." Arthur pushed Merlin on the shoulder. "I hear Elyan has returned Arthur. Someone should fill him in on certain things." Merlin sounded tired, so Arthur nodded his head in agreement and announced that he would go and find the young blacksmith. Merlin turned around and headed back to his room.

Elyan was sitting at the table in the home he used to share with his family and later his sister. Wondering where she was and why no one had been looking at him. He looked up when he heard the door open. He jumped up when he saw the crown prince of Camelot standing in the door way. "Sire, I'm sorry about the state of things, I just arrived back this morning I'm not sure where Gwen is I can" he stopped when he saw the look on the prince's face. "Elyan, there are things you should know. Things you need to know. I think it best we sit down." Elyan motioned for the prince to take a seat at the table. Once both men were seated Arthur began to speak.
Elyan sat in silence as the prince told him about all that had happened in the year and a half since the young black smith had left to help a friend run a forge. He listened as the prince spoke of Merlin's magic, of Morganna's betrayal. He gasped when Arthur finally got round to the part where Gwen had been given to Odin as a ward. Odin was now his sister's guardian. She was now a noble. By extension he was now a noble. "I'm just a blacksmith, she was just a maid why us?"
Arthur smiled. He hadn't noticed it in their previous encounters, when they had rescued Gwen from the castle. When Elyan had been among the few survivors of the immortal army. But he like his sister held a humble power, one that made you listen to what he said, one that made you trust that he knew what needed to be done, and would do it. The prince laughed. "Because before Morganna's betrayal, Gwen was her best friend and sister figure. Because you both posses a quiet nobility of heart. I've seen you fight you are good enough to be a knight of Camelot. Before you couldn't be" Elyan looked up realising what was being said, and finished the prince's sentence " but now I am eligible? Are you sure sire" the prince drew his sword and told Elyan to kneel down. Elyan did as he was told his heart thumping in his chest barely able to comprehend what was happening.
The prince moved the sword from one shoulder to the other and knighted sir Elyan. Elyan stood up and saw the prince's expression. "Arthur? You seam troubled." The prince laughed a humourless laugh. "Oh I suppose that's one way of putting it. Tomorrow we go to war, with magic. And my sister." Elyan laughed the prince looked at the new knight and saw the same determined look that Gwen got when she talked sometimes. "Well it certainly takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level. But you forget, all of us knights serve you and fight at your side out of a fraternal sense of camaraderie. I very much doubt that can be said for your sister. She betrayed the one woman who would have stood by her side." Elyan paused then laughed. "I just did a Merlin didn't I?" it was Arthur's turn to laugh as they headed out side. "Hah I hadn't know that's what stumbling across wisdom was referred to these days" Elyan smiled at the prince, his friend.  "You learn something new everyday sire." they walked through the castle gates, "so it would appear sir Elyan."
Lancelot, Gawain, Percival and Merlin were all standing in the court yard. When the prince and newly knighted Elyan appeared. Merlin smiled and in an oddly wise and solemn voice said.  "At last the table is complete. We only require loves presence" Arthur hit the warlock on the arm. "Now is not the time Merlin." At Elyan's bemused look Arthur explained that when Cenred and morgouse had invaded Camelot the second time capturing the king and creating an immortal army Arthur had fled to the derelict castle of his ancestors where there had been a table. Merlin had discovered that each seat was placed in front of a segment witch had an inscription, each one denoted a defining characteristic, heroic deed, bodily strength, magic, wisdom and so on. Lancelot was not there, nor was Percival, and Elyan had gone on to find back up. They were the three who would have filled the remaining seats.
"We are all here in Camelot except for your sister M'lord." Elyan was about to ask what Gwen's inscription had been when Merlin pre-empted his question "love. Your sister in habited loves seat. As I inhabited magic's" to his credit Elyan mealy nodded in acknowledgement and didn't even act shocked at Merlin's casual revealing of his magic.
"Well as long as it was something nice. May I ask why you are all standing around in the middle of the court yard?  Evening is approaching and I heard we march to war in the morn"  Elyan looked at them all for an explanation.
"We are awaiting the arrival of my adopted son. He has infiltrated the enemy camp and will act on our behalf form within until such a time as he can join us properly." Elyan turned toward Lancelot and forced himself not to frown. Form what he had heard this knight held great affection for his sister, had sworn his love for her, but here he was now father to another woman's son. Elyan took a deep breath and forced himself to be civil he decided that Gwen had always fought her own battles no matter how he and their father protested. He decided she would deal with Lancelot in her own time.
"He's a brave boy doing this. Mad but brave." Gawain muttered a hint of a smile playing on his lips Lancelot laughed. "Cenred's father shot Galahads grand mother dead like a dog because she refused to do certain, unspeakable things, when she was a maid for him. Galahads family fled to another kingdom and built a life for themselves before that life was also shattered. Until I arrived his sister was his mother and he had to protect her. That is no way for a child to live. So I trained him as you trained me and soon by the grace of god he was a better fighter than me." Arthur was about to say something when Merlin cleared his throat and nodded his head to the side where a young knight was walking into the court yard. The young knight looked up and smiled a gentle smile as he saw Lancelot, his guardian, his father.
part 15. yikes. and i've onlyjust started 18. i was planning on having more space between what i was writing and and what i was posting.

another chilled out chapter (sorry) i promice there is some action coming soon. though i've said that before.


i dont own merlin. i own the dvd boxsets that i baught but not the show. or the person. who does own colin morgan? ah, i'm going off on a tangent again aren't i? sorry. i dont own merlin.
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