Secrets of Many

"Hello Lady Morgana." Jonathan bowed as he kissed the girl's hand. Alanna felt a familiar surge of jealousy but shoved it away. She was Squire Alan at the moment. Anyways, from the Lady Morgana's expression, a prince didn't kiss her every day. Alanna also was glad that Morgana wasn't Delia. Delia was just evil.

Morgana herself wasn't sure what to make of the Tortallans. They came from were magic wasn't punished by death yet it still received little respect. She had heard that magic ran in the Conte line but hadn't believed it until she felt the Crown Prince's power. Morgana had never felt magic in anyone else before, she hadn't even been able to find her own magic until a year ago, so catching a spark of the man's power surprised her. It was a very different magic than hers. Morgana's powers were destructive and unpredictable while Jonathan's was a mix of cultured book learning, raw talent and a tie to something else. Immediately she wondered if he'd be a good ally. As he had magic he would have to join her once he found out of the atrocities Uther committed to their kindred. As soon as the prince turned his head, she smirked.

Only two people in the great hall noticed the Lady Morgana's smirk; Merlin did, as ever, and Alanna. Merlin became sure that Morgana was going to attempt some plot dealing with the Tortallans and Alanna took a dislike to her. Morgana was going to be another Delia. Alanna really was not looking forward to Jonathan's upcoming moodiness.

Although Alanna and Jonathan were sort of courting each other, Alanna didn't think the prince was serious. He had dropped Delia for her but he still... Alanna loved him deeply, even if she'd never admit it, but she couldn't think of spending her life with her prince. She did not think Jon did either. Jonathan would need to marry a princess who would bring a good political impact or at least a pretty and feminine lady. Morgana was beautiful and the ward of Camelot's king, she might be the one.

Luckily for Alanna, tonight she wouldn't have to act as a servant. Camelot's traditions were quite different than Tortall's in the ways of knighthood. Apparently any noblemen who could last a designated time against Prince Arthur was knighted. They didn't have squires so the Camelotians just saw her as a young noblemen and gave her as much courtesy as any of the knights. At least officially, behind the scenes she was looked down on for her diminutive stature and youth.

Alanna set next to Myles and Jonathan so she was near the royalty. She was not impressed with Uther but Arthur was very similar to Jon. Morgana spent an absurdly long amount of time smirking, so long Alanna wondered if she had some sort of facial tic or something.

"More wine sire?" Merlin asked Arthur.

"Yes." Arthur suddenly gained an ornery light to his eyes. When Merlin finished pouring and backed up, Arthur snapped, "I think the Lady Morgana would like some as well."

"No, I would not!" Morgana yelped and pulled her goblet away from the servant. Merlin frowned.

"Morgana!" Arthur reprimanded her like she had foiled his plot.

"I'm sorry Arthur but I am not thirsty." Her voice filled with a strange tension and she glared at Arthur's manservant.

...

Early that morning Alanna and Jonathan went down to the courtyard to train with the prince.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled at his servant after a loud crash of armor.

"Sorry," Merlin didn't sound apologetic,

"Well clean it up then!"

"Yes clotpole."

Alanna looked at Jonathan in confusion,

"What does that mean?"

"In two words?" Merlin answered her. Arthur was turning slightly red.

"Yes," Alanna nodded, quite curious.

"Prince Arthur." Merlin continued picking up the armor. Alanna and Jonathan looked at each other in shock, a servant acting like that to a prince?

"Looks like we have a new plan for training today!" Arthur tossed Merlin a shield. A few of the knight chuckled and Merlin looked decidedly unhappy.

When Alanna saw what Arthur had planned to do to Merlin she couldn't stop herself from protesting. Jonathan tried to stop her but she didn't believe in being cruel to servants.

After her tirade, Arthur was blinking and Merlin was grinning. The prince elbowed him sharply and Merlin attempted to look seriously.

Arthur couldn't help being reminded of the first time he met Merlin. Merlin had gotten on to him similarly. Only in Alan's case, he could tell the squire had lost his temper. Merlin didn't have much of a temper, he always had a goofy smile on his face and an upbeat attitude.

When Arthur chuckled everyone besides Merlin was surprised. Alan tensed and Arthur realized he must think he wasn't taking him seriously.

"I'm sorry Alan but this is Merlin and I can assure you I don't mistreat him in anyway. I don't know Tortall's customs but I very much doubt it someone insulted Jonathan they would get away with a little training practice."

"They'd be challenged to a duel if they were a nobleman." Jonathan replied, "And commoners... It's up to the noble. You'll have to excuse Alan, he's very hot tempered and speaks his mind."

"It doesn't help that insanity runs in my family." Alan laughed with Jonathan over a clearly familiar joke.

"I don't usually work with beginners so Alan, go over there and-"

"I'm not a beginner!" the squire squeaked,

"I'm sorry your smaller that Merlin there and he's-"

"I'm seventeen!" Alan was blushing, "I know swordplay."

"At your size you wouldn't thirty seconds against me." Arthur laughed,

"Do you want to test that?" Jonathan asked in a polite tone, "I'm very interested to see the difference between Camelot's and Tortall's knights."

"I would squish him!"

"Is that a bet?"

That was how Arthur and Alan ended up fighting.

...

A\N: Thank you for reading this! Also thanking all those people who alerted this and my lone reveiwer kyuuo! Not meaning to beg for reviews or something but can everyone try to leave a review possibly? It doesn't have to fancy or anything, just a :) or a good or a meh will do. It's a proven fact that authors write faster the more reviews they get. You don't even have to have an account. Seriously, push the yellow button! *using force thing* Push the yellow button reader, push the yellow button! Yeah... I'll just write the next chapter now...

I don't own Merlin and I'm not Tamora Pierce.