Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
To Brotherhood
"It all makes sense now, you know."
Gwaine turned to Merlin with a raised eyebrow and a grin. "What does?"
Merlin didn't look at him. He simply looked ahead as they walked through the village, his face serious. It set Gwaine on edge.
"Just the little things. I thought it was odd that you refused to tell Uther who you were, even to get out of the banishment. I mean, most people would have done it just out of spite."
"Well, I'm not most people, am I. Though I am curious why you think there's more to it than what I told you." He smiled teasingly. "Or did you only just figure out what I meant?"
"No… I'm just not sure I believe your distaste for nobility is the only reason. And I'm certain your anger is not completely aimed at Uther."
"Why the sudden distrust, Merlin?"
Merlin stopped and faced his friend, out of earshot of the commoners at market. "Because there is something you didn't tell me, isn't there?"
Gwaine's face was overtaken by that expression again- the one he hated, the one that felt so heavy. "Surely I'm not the only one."
Now a flash of confusion passed over Merlin's face. "What?"
"I may be a bit slipshod, but I'm not an idiot. Did you really think I'd fall for the 'there's wolves out there, Gwaine, so you should get the firewood' act?"
Merlin's face was normal, but he blinked a few too many times. "I don't know what you mean. Are talking about right after we lost the Cup?"
Gwaine chuckled slightly. "You're too much like me, Merlin. We both find it more convenient to play the fool."
Merlin sighed, finally letting the badly-formed illusion drop. "You know."
"Yes. And I won't say anything. After all, you didn't tell Arthur my father was a knight."
"It doesn't bother you?" the young man asked, too turned around by the way Gwaine had turned the tables on him to remember that he was supposed to be the one running this chat.
"No. You're a good man. I can tell. I'm very good at that sort of thing." Gwaine was grinning again, his usual charming self returning to further manipulate the conversation. Merlin grinned back. "What do you say you help me pull a prank on His Royal Highness to celebrate this new level of brotherhood?"
It was the word "brotherhood" that did it. Merlin's smile began to fade and soon he was laughing ironically. "Oh, you're good. But I haven't forgotten why I wanted to talk to you."
"Why was that?" Gwaine asked innocently.
"I saw you last night!" he finally blurted.
At first, Gwaine's eyebrows rose. Then they fell, then they sunk, taking his mouth with them, and Merlin saw the same look he had seen when the scruffy man had received his knighthood, and even farther back when he had suggested telling Uther his heritage and remaining in Camelot to become a knight. He looked… angry or disturbed. Something he had never really thought too much about until now.
"I understand why you didn't tell me. I mean, I wouldn't have told me either. And as I said, it all makes so much sense now. Why you wander, why you have issues with Camelot, why you were so against becoming a knight, even how…"
"Even how I was able to figure out your secret, yah?" All traces of his usual good humor were gone.
"You didn't want this, did you?" It was finally dawning on Merlin just what had transpired, what must have been weighing on his friend all this time. "You were ashamed."
"No," Gwaine snapped. "I wasn't ashamed." He spoke slowly. "I didn't agree with her and I severed all ties with her when I found out what she was doing." He looked Merlin directly in the eyes, but seemed to look through him. "I have nothing to be ashamed of."
"And yet you'd die if they ever found out," Merlin said, shaking his head.
Gwaine turned to look out toward the forest, running a hand through his hair. "That's the way of this place."
Merlin's mouth hung open slightly and his voice was unbelieving. "I've helped them clip your wings."
Gwaine was silent for a moment before turned to face Merlin again. "No," he said with a smile, then a laugh. "I've never had friends before. I've never been truly needed, let alone wanted. I was living my life one way, and now it's time to try another. It should be good fun!"
"You've a good heart, Gwaine. I think you'll be the best knight Camelot's ever seen." There was silence for a moment and a small, joking smile cracked his face. "Even if you are more than a bit slipshod!"
Gwaine laughed. "That's Sir Slipshod to you!"
"Ah, yes, well Sir Slipshod, didn't you mention something about pulling a prank on a prince?"
"I think I mentioned it, yes. Do you know where we could find some frogs?"
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has read this story, and a special thanks to those of you who reviewed and added it to favorites or alert. I hope you've all enjoyed, and if you're interested, there is a short sequel called "The Fourth Tale." Wishing you all wonderful days, A.P.
