Chapter 2
"Merlin has Magic"
Those three words were running around in Merlin's head as he ran. He ran and ran until his lungs hurt but he just kept running. He had no idea where is was heading until he was at the training field where all five of Arthur's knights were training. Luckily Arthur was not with them, Merlin didn't know what he would do.
Lancelot was sparring against Percival both of them using maces. Leon was against Gwaine with swords and the more experienced knight was actually able to hold his own against the talented swordsman. Elyan was watching both matches acting as the referee.
Merlin stopped to watch the men and catch his breath. He secretly loved watching the knight's train, not so much when he was the victim, but it was fun all the same. These matches were fun and light hearted. No one was ever seriously hurt and no one ever died in one of these matches. Insults were flung back and forth but it was always in brotherly love.
"Is that all you have? Guinevere can fight better then you" Perceval mocked at Lancelot. Lancelot froze in that split second and Perceval landed an immense blow to Lancelot's shoulder, denting the protective armor there.
Lancelot dropped his mace as pain shot down his arm. Merlin ran over to him to check and make sure his friend was alright.
"I'm sorry Lancelot, I don't know my own strength" Percival said, checking on his friend.
"That was a low blow" Lancelot said with a smile on his face, softening his words. "Bringing up Gwen like that"
Percival laughed "Maybe, but she would have been able to block that blow"
"That she would have" Lancelot laughed as well and right then they knew their friendship was still intact.
Merlin took off Lancelot's armor and pulled the shoulder of his shirt and chainmail down so he could see the damage. There was bruising already and Lancelot winced in pain at any movement to his arm.
"You're going to need Gaius to look at this" Merlin said and helped the man up and walked with him to the physician's chambers.
Gaius was not in his room when they arrived. Lancelot sat down on a stool and with Merlin's help he removed his shirt and the rest of his armor. His shoulder was now badly bruised but he still had motion in it and Merlin determined that is was not broken.
"I should have known better then to go against him with a mace" Lancelot was scolding himself. "Played into his strength and height advantage."
Merlin was oddly quite as he looked around the room and found a suave that Gaius would use to treat muscle aches and bruising like Lancelot now had. He didn't say anything as he went to Lance and started rubbing the suave into his shoulder. Lance groaned in pain at first and then relaxed into it. He could clearly see that something was bothering the sorcerer but was not going to push for information. So the two sat in silence as Merlin massaged Lancelot's shoulder much longer then was necessary for the medicine.
"He knows" Merlin said quietly as his hands dropped to his side. "Arthur knows." It was just a whisper and tears started to fall from his eyes. Not tears of sadness or those of pain, but tears of fear. The sorcerer was terrified of what Arthur was going to do to him now.
Lancelot pulled Merlin into a hug. The knight didn't have to ask what is was the Arthur knew, there was only one thing that would make Merlin feel like this. Arthur knew of his magic and there was nothing Lancelot could do to fix this.
"It will be alright" he promised "I won't let anything happen to you." He would rather die than see Merlin hurt for the gift he had been born with. It was nothing Merlin could control having and it was something he used almost daily to keep the prince alive. Who could ever was to harm him for doing that?
"I'll be killed" Merlin was holding onto Lancelot like he was the only solid thing in the world. "I'll be burned alive."
Lancelot lightly placed his hand under Merlin's chin and made the young wizard look him in the eyes. "I would die before I let that happen to you. You are too important to that Royal prat, too important to Camelot, too important to me"
The last part was just a whisper but Merlin heard it and all the feelings behind those simple words. His eyes grew wide with shock as he looked up at the knight. Lancelot was his best friend, the man that knew everything about him and stood with him just the same. He would protect Lancelot with his life, not because it was his destiny to like with Arthur, because he wanted to.
Merlin wasn't sure which one of them had move, who started what happened next, but the next thing he knew was that Lancelot's lips were pressed against his in the sweetest kiss he had ever felt.
A/N I always loved Lancelot and Merlin together so I hope you do as well.
