A/N: I'm back! Sorry that it took so long to update but my beta was having wifi problems in fact she says hello as she is sitting near me as I type this out. You should all feel special I'm missing out on Curse of the black pearl for this. Anywho I was going to send it on saturday when she could have gotten it, but I was dragged away to our cabin where I was molested by fish and by the time we got back she had no wifi. Anywho! Enough of my gabbering enjoy!
Merlin paced back and forth in the courtyard and, once again, glanced up at the sky. "I am sure he is fine, Merlin. Auithsa would have told you if something had happened." Gwain had arrived just a few minutes ago and sat on the steps behind him. Merlin sighed and turned to look at him. "I know, Gwain, it is just… I am not ready to be king yet or even prince regent." Gwain smiled at him. "It will be all right, mate. Do not worry."
Merlin. Merlin jerked his head up. Kilgarah. What has happened? Is father all right?
Do not worry so, young Prince. Your father is fine, I send you warning. Your father is bringing guests. Ten, in fact. Prince Arthur and nine of his knights, so tell your mother, would you? I am sure she would like to get some chambers ready. Merlin looked around the courtyard. "You!" He called out to a pacing servant. "What is your name?"
"Tyler, sire, how can I be of service?"
"Find my mother and tell her we are having ten unexpected guests. One of which is Prince Arthur. Quickly now, we do not have much time." The servant nodded and quickly ran off. Merlin turned to find Gwain again, only to find him right behind him. "What do you need me to do?" Merlin smiled at him.
"I need you to find Lancelot. Tell him what is happening, or if you can not find him find Elyan or Percival." Gwain cocked an eyebrow.
"And what is happening?" Merlin smiled at him.
"Something exciting."
It was very quiet. The unnerving quite. Arthur hated quiet. It usually meant something was going to try to eat, maim or seriously incapacitate him. "So…" He trailed off. He looked over at King Balinor. He seemed vastly different from his father. This man was calm and instead of trying to suffocate you with the power that he seemed to have, it seemed like he just wanted to wrap you up in a hug. "Can I ask you something?"
"You already have. But you may ask me something else too, if you want." Arthur swore he saw him smirk.
"Are we prisoners?"
"Do you want to be?"
"No."
"Then you are not. Prince Arthur, I just feel that it is time that your father and I have a long overdo chat. I have turned a blind eye, but this is the last straw. He has dared to attack my kingdom and to make it worse, he does it in a snake-in-the-grass way. We need to clear the air or it will soon be open war." Arthur was shocked. This was not the first time something like this has happened?
"He has been approaching the last straw with the attacks on my son recently and his knight's, but my son is a capable lad and has escaped with just little scratches, as did his knights. You would like them; they would give you a real challenge. Though I have heard you are no pansy yourself when it comes to swords." Arthur smiled at the complement though it was an odd way of giving one.
"Thank you, sire." Balinor just nodded. Arthur looked back at his knights. All except Leon seemed to be very stiff and glared at any of the Elador knights that came too close to them. "How far are we from your castle?" Arthur asked. Balinor shrugged.
"Oh, not far I think, maybe a hour or two. They will know we are coming. Kilgarah will have reached there by now, or he has gotten word to Merlin. Once we are there, I will send word to your father. I am sure he will be eager to join us."
Merlin stood with his hands behind his back, shifted from foot to foot and resisted the urge to pull on his collar. Gods, he hated to wear this type of clothing, but his mother had all but forced him into it. He shifted again and he felt Lancelot, who was standing right behind him, poke him and whisper. "Quit squirming, they are going to be here shortly."
"Shorter then you think." His mother said and Merlin looked up and saw the returning party come cantering into the square. He felt his mother resist the urge to rush down into the square and into his father's arms. She muttered 'screw it' and started to run down into the square. Merlin glanced to the Camelot knights and his gaze zeroed in on a tall, blonde man. He was tall, about as tall as him. His shoulders were wide, his hair was blonde, but it seemed to almost shine in the setting sun. Merlin felt something tug in his chest and he felt this need, this want, to get to know this man. The man glanced up and their eyes connected. They held each other's gazes, before the man bowed his head before turning to look at one of the other knight's that was demanding his attention. "Ah, Merlin. My boy, is everything ready?" Merlin turned his eyes to his father. "Yes, dad. The kitchen is preparing a feast as we speak and the rooms have just been finished being made up for them on the east side of the castle." His father smiled.
"Good lad. Go, run off now. I know Gwain is here, I saw him lurking about just now. Just remember what I told you, Merlin."
Merlin bowed then scampered off.
Merlin looked out the window at the rising sun before padding over to his wardrobe to find some clothes. He glanced back at Gwain, whose back was to him and smiled, admiring the lanky muscle that was there. Merlin looked up at the door when his servant entered. "Good morning, Lewis." He smiled
"Good morning Prince Merlin. Do you wish me to wake up Sir Gwain?" Merlin looked over at Gwain then shook his head. "No thank you, Lewis,let him sleep."
"Very well, Sire. You should know that your father has asked to speak to you at some point today with Prince Arthur and you also have combat training this morning." Merlin groaned at pulled the t-shirt that Lewis handed him over his head.
"Do I have to, Lewis?"
"I am afraid so, Sire." Merlin sighed, but said nothing more.
"Very well, Lewis. I think I will skip breakfast today, but can you bring something up for Gwain?"
"Of course, sire."
Merlin walked out onto the training ground looking around. He heard a loud exclamation from across the field and looked to where it was coming from. The Prince from Camelot stood there with some of his knights. He frowned at the picture that they created. Prince Arthur stood at one end of the field, a servant at another. "You have got to keep moving." Prince Arthur said, then threw a knife into the shield. "Come on," He laughed mockingly, "move!" The servant hefted the shield up and started to jog back and forth as the prince threw more and more daggers. The servant tripped and the target fell and rolled till it clattered to a stop at Merlin's feet. He put his foot on it and the servant looked up at him "Sire." He said, clamoring to his feet. Merlin ignored him. "Hey, come on, that's enough now."
"What?" Prince Arthur walked towards him.
"You have had your fun, my friend."
"Do I know you?"
"I am Prince Merlin." He stuck his hand out, but Arthur did not take it.
"So I do not know you."
"No."
"Yet you called me friend."
"Yeah, that was my mistake."
"Yes, I think so."
"I would never have a friend that could be such an ass." Arthur laughed. "You cannot speak to me like that!" Merlin tipped his head to the side. "Why not?"
"Well, because I am a prince, that is why!"
"And so am I. You also are in my kingdom if you have not noticed, and I also have more power then you." Prince Arthur laughed even harder. "You? I could take you apart with one blow."
"And I could take you apart with less."
"Oh, really?" He held his arms out. "Come on." He taunted. Merlin looked at him debating if it was a good idea. He looked at the Prince's face; he had a cocky smile on his face. Oh, it is on. His eyes flashed gold and Prince Arthur was on the ground. Merlin smirked down at him. "There. I believe that was less then one blow." Arthur grunted up at him. "That was cheating." Merlin's grin brightened. "Was not."
"Was too." They would have kept arguing, but Lewis interrupted them. "Excuse me, Sires, but King Balinor is looking for Prince Arthur. If Prince Arthur would follow me, I will show you to him." They nodded and Arthur followed after Lewis. Merlin stared after them. "Well, that was interesting to watch." Merlin looked over at Lancelot. He just hummed. "Come on, Merlin, you have not gotten out of combat practice yet." Merlin groaned and followed after his friend.
A/N: Just to make it clear Gwain and Merlin are not in a relationship! Okay they kind of are but it is a friends with benefits kind of thing. It will not have anything to do with the merthur that will soon be happening in this story. Hopefully. Maybe.
