The Squires' Revenge
Synopsis: Takes place in Season 2 during episode 10, "Sweet Dreams." While Arthur is enchanted to fall in love with Lady Vivian, Merlin is tormented by two young newcomers to Camelot who interfere with his destiny to protect Arthur.
Chapter 1
King Uther and Prince Arthur, with several knights and servants, are standing on the grand staircase in the courtyard, near King Bruta's statute to welcome King Lothian of Orkney and his retinue. King Lothian is the first to arrive in Camelot for the peace talks among the rulers of five kingdoms. Uther has been negotiating the terms of the talks for months, through his representatives and ambassadors. The Crown Prince himself played a key role in his developing relationship with King Claudius of the Western Isles and the other kingdoms he's visited. Uther looks solemn, as befits such a momentous occasion; he is proud of his accomplishment in bringing the rulers together in Camelot to find a way to ensure peace.
Arthur and Uther descend the steps to greet the King of Orkney, who dismounts from his horse with two young men just behind him. Lothian is a tall man, with flowing black hair, and a trim beard. The two young men, identical twins, strongly resemble him.
Uther says, in a voice that reaches the corners of the courtyard, "King Lothian, you are welcome to Camelot. And these two strapping young lads who must be your sons."
"Thank you Your Majesty, we are grateful for your invitation and welcome the opportunity to seek peace among the kingdoms. These are my sons, Gareth and Gaheris," indicating the boys. In a lower voice he asks, "may we speak later?" He is anxious about the introduction of his two young sons, about 15 years old, whom he hopes will be accepted by Uther to be squires for training as knights. He and Uther are going to be negotiating this agreement separately while the larger peace talks are going on.
"Of course. I received your request. If we can agree to terms, I think we can accept the boys as squires to our knights." He turns to Arthur, "why don't you take the twins to see the armory and meet some of the knights. Then come back here in time to greet King Alined."
"Yes, father." Arthur calls to the two boys to follow him, and they head off to the armory, the twins practically dancing in their excitement to finally meet a few of the famed Knights of Camelot.
xXx
Later in the evening, Merlin stands behind Arthur at the feast, holding a pitcher of wine and watching Trickler's antics igniting candles and creating butterflies in his hands. "What's he up to?" he wonders, as Trickler, King Alined's servant, conjures a butterfly from Lady Vivian's hair. Everyone at the feast is entranced as Trickler entertains. Merlin leans in to refill Arthur's goblet, then turns to walk down to the pantry to get more wine, frowning.
Outside the banquet hall, in the passageway leading to the kitchens, he sees a young page standing near two young men. He realizes that these two must be the Orkney twins, sons of King Lothian. Arthur had mentioned that they might remain in Camelot as squires to train as knights. Now, though, they are towering over a small boy, not more than 7 years old. He is looking up at one of the twins in fear, who is raising his hand, about to strike.
"Robert!" he calls to the page, as he strides down the hallway, closing the distance to the group. "Are you all right?"
Robert, with fear expressed in his face and body, shakes his head and mouths a silent "No."
"What's going on here?" Merlin demands of the twin about to hit the young page.
"The boy refused to fetch me more wine," Gaheris spits. "I was merely trying to teach him his place."
"Robert, go back to the kitchens," Merlin says to the page, and the boy ducks away gratefully.
"Hang on!" the other twin sputters.
"You don't need to hit him," Merlin says. "He knows his place and is an obedient page."
"We just wanted more wine. He should have fetched it for us when we asked."
"Children are not permitted to serve wine. You should ask one of the serving men or maids." Merlin turns and continues on his way to the pantry at the end of the hallway. "Those two are bullies," he thinks. "They're going to be trouble."
They are angry that he spoiled their fun. But they don't know who he is, so they don't protest, but head back into the banquet hall.
xXx
The next day, Gaheris and Gareth are lounging with a few of the younger knights and squires on the steps near the statue, eager to fit in and impress. They are chatting with Prince Aurelius, Arthur's cousin, who became Sir Leon's squire several months ago. His father, King Ambrosius, is King Uther's brother, and he had asked if Arthur would help complete the boy's training as a knight.
"He's besotted," Aurelius says.
"Who?" Gareth asks.
"Arthur, with Lady Vivian."
"What?"
"How do you know?"
"Well, have you seen his face when he sees her?" This comment provokes a hearty round of laughter among the group.
"She's betrothed, I understand," one of the young knights says.
"Really? To whom?"
"A doctor . . . "
"A doctor . . . ?"
"Who is also a Lord," the first young knight frowns at the interruption.
"From Olaf's kingdom?"
"Don't know, but I hear that he travels all the time."
"All the time?"
"Okay, maybe not all the time. But a lot."
"No wonder King Olaf is so protective." More laughter.
"Oh, look, there's the lover-boy now," Aurelius says, pointing to his right.
They all look over to see Arthur, trailed by Merlin walking and talking in the corridor outside the banquet hall as Lady Vivian and her maid approach from the opposite direction. They all look at each other and laugh again seeing Arthur's enchanted expression. Arthur and Merlin are standing still watching the women walk toward them.
"Besotted. Definitely besotted," Aurelius chortles.
Suddenly Arthur slaps Merlin hard across the face in response to something Merlin said. With a raised finger in Merlin's face, Arthur appears to be threatening him before he turns and walks in the other direction.
Gareth raises his eyebrows at Gaheris, who asks one of the knights "Who's that skinny guy with Prince Arthur?"
The knight replies, "Oh, that's just Merlin, the prince's servant. He's a bit of a clumsy idiot, really harmless. He's also the physician's assistant."
The twins are really annoyed because they let a serving boy scold them and tell them what to do the night before at the banquet. They exchange a knowing look.
xXx
A short while later, Merlin is leaving Gwen's house, anxious about the consequences because he was too late to retrieve the flowers and letter from Arthur that he had left on Gwen's table. "How was I supposed to know that Arthur meant to woo Lady Vivian?" he asks himself. "Just yesterday he said she wasn't his type." He's heading back to the castle, when he hears a scream as he passes the tavern, coming from the alleyway next to it.
He runs past the tavern to the alley to see what's going on. The Orkney twins are struggling with a serving girl, who is trapped beneath them on the ground. One is kneeling at her head, holding her hands so she cannot move. The other has his knees pressed between her legs, forcing them apart, and pulling up her skirts. Merlin rushes in and physically grabs him off the girl. The twin holding her down loosens his grip in surprise at Merlin's action. Merlin tells the girl to run, reaching down to help her up, and she scrambles to her feet, pulling her clothing to order.
Merlin glares at the the two boys furious at their behavior. "You two do not deserve to be knights of Camelot!" he snarls.
"We were just having a little fun," whines Gareth. "No harm in that, is there?"
"She's just a serving girl," Gaheris agrees.
"Yes, and that's why she deserved your protection!" Merlin shouts. "A true knight treats everyone with respect, no matter who they are."
"What would you know about it? You're not a knight. You're just a serving boy!" Gareth shouts back at him.
"I may be only a servant, but I know what honor and nobility are - and you have neither. You two are nothing but arrogant bullies."
Merlin angrily walks away from altercation, running into Sir Leon watching from the end of the alleyway near the tavern. "What's going on?" Leon asks Merlin.
"Nothing."
Leon looks down the alleyway and sees the twins in close conversation, glaring at Merlin.