Summary: Protect verb (often + from, against) keep (person etc.) safe; shield.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Author's Note: It's been ages, I know! Sorry. It wasn't writer's block - more like the opposite! I have too many ideas at the moment, literally at least half a dozen half-written ones. I'm just not very good at thinking of resolutions to these stories once I start them! So here's another chapter for Protect. As you can see, I went for short and sweet. It's nothing particularly exciting I'm afraid, but I'm going to try my best to finish off some of the other things I have floating around on google docs that I hope are a bit more original!

Thanks for all reviews of all my other fics! I think people are reading more Merlin fanfic now series 5 has started, as I've had a burst more reviews recently, so thank you!

Stand up for– support, side with


Merlin watched as Arthur walked away from their camp, his shoulders slumped. He thought about going after him, but instead turned to the other man.

"Stop it!"

Tristan blinked at him. "Look..."

"No you look! You don't know Arthur, you're in no position to judge him!" Merlin interrupted.

"I know he's a King, that's all I need." Tristan replied arrogantly.

"Really? So you think he's a poor King?" Merlin responded.

The smuggler sneered. "I suppose you're going to tell me he's a great King?"

"No." That at least made him pause. "Right now, he's just a good King. Still, better than any other I've heard of, including his father. But one day he'll be the greatest King this land has ever known!"

Tristan looked pretty startled by this announcement and opened his mouth, but Merlin continued, looking the other man in the eyes. "I know he will."

The smuggler scoffed, but glanced at Isolde, a trace of confusion and curiosity in his gaze. Merlin knew what he was thinking. He didn't often tell people about his unfailing belief that Arthur would be the greatest King, because he knew that they wouldn't understand. But it did at least make them think. Why would this servant, who gets bossed around and belittled by the King all day, every day, have such adamant and unswerving loyalty to him?

"Why would you stand up for him so? I know he's your King..." Isolde questioned.

"He's not just my King, he's my friend. And I'm his friend, even though I'm just a servant." They both looked confused now, so he tried to explain.
"When I first met Arthur, I hated him. I thought he was an arrogant self-centred prat. I didn't want to be his servant, that happened by accident. But the more I got to know him, the more I knew that wasn't true. You'll see it too, before too long."

They were listening to him at least. "Arthur cares about his people more than anything else and will always do what's right by them. He defied his father once, to save my life and has lied to the King to keep me out of trouble. He's broken the code he's meant to live by to allow commoners to join the ranks of his Knights. He's brave, just, noble and fair, and I am proud to call him my King."

Tristan and Isolde looked stunned speechless, but Merlin didn't wait for any response, and turned away abruptly to follow Arthur.

He was frustrated by Tristan's blind prejudice against Arthur, but he was more frustrated by the fact that the King was just taking it. He still had to find some way to knock Arthur out of this miserable funk he'd fallen into, but for now, hopefully he'd at least given Tristan something to think about. If that meant he left Arthur alone a bit, then it was worth it.


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