Merlin's Birthday Surprise
Hi all! Seamstress Javert here, posting my very first story. I've lurked for ages, reading all these great fanfics and finally decided to write one of my own. I hope you enjoy and review with lots of advice!
Disclaimer: I own nothing here, but oh, how I wish I did.
Chapter One
It dawned a beautiful day in Camelot, the sun rising tenderly from behind the distant hills, birds heralding the arrival of a new day. Yes, a new day in Camelot, that vast and peaceful kingdom, ruled over by a handsome and wise king, protected from dangers by her brave and valiant knights, the very highest exemplars of wisdom and honour and courage—
'GWAINE! I will have your head, you drunken, idiotic, blasted excuse for a knight!'
Alas, the delicate beauty of the dewy morning mutated swiftly into a scene of chaos and fury, as a roguishly handsome devil and his knight companion of wavy golden locks burst into the courtyard. Several birds pecking at their breakfast trampled each other in their haste to avoid the heavy boot soles of Sirs Gwaine and Leon, which were covered in Kilgarrah-knows-what.
'Relax, Leon!' Gwaine yelled over his shoulder, escaping the furious Leon who was not, as he should be, the cool, composed second-in-command of Arthur's knights. Nay, he was more like a golden-haired Keeper of the Tavern, cursing skilfully, arms akimbo, and legs in all directions. 'Merlin'll never know till it's too late!'
'Merlin'll never know what?' A sleepy, confused voice broke in. Leon froze and silently damned Gwaine to the lowest circle of Hell. Gwaine, for his part, let loose with an enormous grin and grabbed his skinny-manservant-best-mate in an equally enormous bear hug. 'Merlin! The man of the hour! It's your birthday tomorrow, you little wench!'
The full force of Gwaine's bear hug knocked the air out of Merlin; rubbing his chest, he beamed at Gwaine. 'Which reminds me, Arthur hasn't given me the night off tomorrow, but I was going to go down to the tavern to celebrate, if you'd all like to come.'
Gwaine's answer was assumed beforehand to be 'yes', considering it involved two of his favourite things: ale and Merlin, while Leon confirmed on behalf of the knights.
'Great!' Merlin beamed again. 'But what were you guys talking about before? About me not knowing something before it's too late.'
Gwaine, still suffering from the effects of a very, very, very late night, had barely opened his mouth before Leon simultaneously clapped a hand over it and inserted his other into Gwaine's stomach, laughing nervously all the while. 'Oh, nothing, really, Merlin. We were just talking about how it wouldn't be great if Gwaine here, ah…if Gwaine here were to disrupt you from hanging up your clothes so you wouldn't know till it's too late oh look at the time! Gotta run, Merlin, c'mon Gwaine, we need to go, er…practice.' Leon gave Merlin a smile (though somewhat strained, Merlin thought) and dragged Gwaine away, hand still over the other knight's mouth. Merlin was left in bewilderment at Leon's completely nonsensical explanation, until an earth-shattering roar sent the birds scurrying over each other for the second time that morning.
'MERLIN! WHERE'S MY BREAKFAST!'
End Chapter One
First chapter done! Thanks for reading and please review!