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Enjoy this chapter

Chapter 3

Five months later

Arthur was out hunting with his Knights when they heard a scream. They all rushed to the sound, and ran into a village that was being set on fire by a man laughing crazily. Arthur moved forward to attack, but the man froze, choked and then collapsed on the ground unconscious but still alive with his eyes shut. The fires died out and the village repaired itself.

Arthur stared as Merlin bent over and hoisted the man up over his shoulder, eyes fading back into his normal blue.

The villagers noticed the King and knights and recognised them, immediately crowding around Merlin, as if to protect him.

Arthur frowned, then realised they thought he would kill the man for using magic.

Merlin locked eyes with the King for the longest minute of his life and then nodded once. Soon. Merlin mouthed before he disappeared again.

Arthur swallowed hard at the sight of his friend, unable to deal with the rush of anger, pain, betrayal and loss that he felt, and on top of it all, he missed the idiot.

He pushed the feelings away, to deal with later, and moved to the village leader, "Do you need any help with the injured?"

Three months later

Every time they got word of a threat, an animal, a disaster, bandits, anything, by the time the knights and Arthur turned up, the problem had already been taken care of, by a tall, skinny, male brunette, who was always cheerful and would jump in, fix everything then disappear.

Arthur was out with the new knights-to-be, taking them on their first proper hunting trip. He took them the normal pathway, across a narrow bridge over the rapids. The river was notorious for taking lives of those who fell in. The rapids were just under the surface and were strong, even for a good swimmer in naught but his breeches, let alone for a knight in heavy armour.

"Be careful crossing." Arthur warned, before walking carefully yet confidently across. The bridge was rather old, but still in good condition, and it was repaired and replaced every couple of years so it didn't break on anyone.

One of the newbies stepped forward to go next, bravely going first. He began inching his way across, trying to appear cocky and confident, but looking hilarious as he inched his way, feeling with his foot, each step before putting his weight carefully and gingerly down. He was half-way across when there was a snap, and it was almost comical, the way the knight-in-training, Perriman looked up and gave his King a terrified glance. Almost comical.

The bridge snapped, and the knight fell into the water, head dipping under with the currents. The poor boy didn't stand a chance in full armour. Arthur realised, regret and grief passing through him. Another newbie stepped forward on the other bank to go after the boy.

Leon, who was waiting with them, stopped the man. Arthur couldn't hear what he said, but he knew Leon. He would've explained softly that there was no hope, nothing they could do.

All of a sudden, the fallen knight was on the bank, near Leon, coughing and spluttering. Leon and the man who stepped forward was at his side in seconds, dragging him out of the shallow water and up onto the dry bank.

Leon looked up at Arthur and pointed behind him. Arthur turned to see Merlin standing nearby, leaning on a tree.

"The bridge is fine to use again, and it won't need replacing, not for a long time." Merlin informed the King, nodding behind the blond. Arthur looked back to see the bridge back in one piece, and looking much more solid than the previous time. Arthur turned back to Merlin, only to find the man gone.

Arthur still spoke, "Thank you."

Three months later

They were in court, celebrating the news that Gwen was pregnant. She was glowing with happiness and pride, and so was Arthur. She had yet to begin showing, but everyone could tell, and they had announced it a week ago.

The feast was meant to celebrate the new life growing, and everyone relaxed, enjoying themselves.

That was their mistake.

Someone snuck in as a guest, and halfway through the main course, she stood up, standing on the table and drawing all attention to herself.

"You will die for taking my spot as Queen of Camelot!" She screeched, as no one could move a muscle. "I will make you pay!"

She lifted a hand to cast a spell at Gwen, but she ended up jerking her arm up to her neck, her face turning red and then blue. She clutched at her throat, clawing at whatever was blocking her throat but finding nothing. She collapsed, and laid still on the table, except for her chest moving up and down, as she was suddenly able to breath again. Arthur looked up to the door, now able to move, and stared as Merlin walked in, gripped the woman's arm and looked up at Gwen and Arthur. His eyes flashed gold, with his other hand pointed at Gwen. A light flew over and settled around her for a moment before disappearing.

Merlin grinned at the Queen and bowed, "Congratulations on your pregnancy, the baby is perfectly healthy." He then disappeared, taking the sorceress with him.

Gaius was at Gwen's side, taking her pulse and asking her questions, making sure the Queen wasn't in shock, while Arthur stared at the spot his friend had been.

This was getting ridiculous, this jumping in, saving the day and jumping out.

One month later

There was yet another attack, this time a neighbouring kingdom, one who wanted magic returned to the world, and one who wanted Camelot as their own. The enemy King and Arthur met in the middle of the two armies, each with a flag-bearer and their second-in-command.

"Can we not sort this out peacefully?" Arthur asked, not wanting to fight this man. He knew they would win, they had the numbers and advantage, but there would still be casualties, and he did not want to kill the opposing force if he did not have to.

"You are just like your father, killing innocents for their gifts and for learning special abilities –"

Arthur cut the man off, "Look, you have an issue with me, we don't need to have a slaughter to decide a winner. My champion against yours, single-combat." Arthur suggested.

"Whoever wins gains the other one's kingdom." The King sneered. "It's either that, or we fight with our armies, and I will win."

He has sorcerers. If you go into battle with him, it'll be harder for you to win. I'll help, obviously, but single combat will be easier, I'll do it and regardless of whether his champion is a knight or sorcerer, I'll be able to handle it.'

Arthur managed to school his face so he didn't react to the voice he heard in his head all of a sudden.

Oh, and you've not gone crazy, although, you already are, kind of, but I can talk to you mentally. Hi.

"Agreed." Arthur offered his hand. Leon didn't make a noise, but Arthur sensed the disapproval radiating off him.

The other King shook the hand offered and smirked, "My champion is ready, so you can chose when to fight."

Up to you sire, I'm prepared now, but if you want to wait, you know, for suspense of something, I'm fine with that too.

"At midday." Arthur decided, knowing he had a couple of hours until then.

"Very well."

The man walked back to his own army, and Arthur returned to his. They were walking through the ranks to his tent.

"Sire, I know you will fight yourself, and you are an excellent fighter, but what if –" Leon began.

"I'm not fighting." Arthur told the man, who frowned in confusion.

"Luckily, I mean, you'd need me to step in and help either way, and if I did it visibly, then well, it's not single-combat then, is it?"

Merlin appeared out of the crowds, stepping forward from the mass and lowering a hood that was over his face.

"Merlin!" Gwaine called out, also appearing from the crowd.

While Merlin greeted his friend, and the other knights that appeared, Arthur climbed up onto a rock and addressed his men. "At midday there will be single-combat between my champion and theirs. The winner takes all. Kingdom included." Arthur told them all. There was a shocked silence, and Arthur continued, "I won't be fighting; as there is a good chance he will send forward a sorcerer. I should do this in a more formal setting, and I will do so, but as of now, magic is no longer illegal. There will be restrictions, as in no killing, stealing and so on, but you will not be killed for having or learning it. Now, Merlin will be my champion, and will fight for us in two hours from now." Arthur jumped down from his rock and gripped Merlin's arm. He dragged the servant into his tent, and his knights followed.

"Touching speech there, I'm impressed." Merlin grinned, sarcasm evident in his voice.

"I'm sorry." Arthur told the man, whose smile didn't drop, but it did change from a cheeky, sarcastic one to a genuine, warm on.

"I should be the one apologising." Merlin began.

"No, you're my friend. I am still upset you didn't feel like you could trust me to tell me sooner, but I understand, considering the way I reacted. If you hadn't come out as a sorcerer by saving Camelot, I think I would've reacted harshly." Arthur told the man. "I forgive you for lying to me, and for hiding this from me, I only hope you can forgive me for the wrongs I have done."

"You've done nothing wrong Arthur." Merlin argued.

"I've killed people for having magic, stood by while my father killed innocents."

"Quite a lot of the people you actually hunted were evil, or planning to do something nasty and mean to Camelot or you. Uther did kill innocents, but you rarely did."

"How do you know?"

"Where do you think I've been staying this past year? With the druids, they've told me a lot of things Arthur." Merlin grinned. "You were only doing what your father told you, what you believed to be right."

Arthur shook his head, "I disagree, but we don't have time for that. You need to get ready for this fight."

"I'm ready," Merlin shrugged, "It's not that hard to get ready. It's not like I need to put armour on or anything, I've got my magic."

Arthur grimaced, "I forgot, you won't even consider armour?"

"It'll slow me down and make me more vulnerable." Merlin shook his head. "I'm more interested in hearing about your wife and your children that are on their way."

"Gwen's going fine." Arthur smiled fondly in memory of his pregnant wife. "Wait," Arthur froze, "children?"

"Woops, wasn't supposed to tell you that yet, was I?" Merlin winked at the blonde. "Oh well, she's pregnant with twins."

"Twins?" Arthur repeated, staring in shock.

"Yep, two boys."

Looking back, Arthur would always argue he wasn't that shocked, but in reality, he spent the rest of the two hours in a stupor, shocked he was going to be a father to twin boys. Merlin made sure to tell everyone that, while Arthur made sure to deny it.

TBC