OMG! I HAVE OVER 100 REVIEWS! *hyperventilates in excitement before passing out dramatically*

Merlin: Don't worry, I got this. *grabs a cup of water and pours it on my head*

Me: *sputtering* I'm awake!

You guys are AMAZING! And thanks to everyone who helped out with my author's note, all of your advice was much appreciated! Just so you all know, I've decided to change my writing style very little, just summarizing the unimportant scenes rather than completely taking them out.

As always, Enjoy!

MERLINNILREM

"I have an idea!" Gwaine exclaims as they wait for the next memory to be played.

Arthur raises an eyebrow at that. "Does this idea involve ale or magical pranks?" he asks wryly.

"Of course not!" Gwaine denies, sounding slightly hurt. Merlin just gives him a knowing look and chuckles. "Well, okay, one of them does, but that's a plan for another time. What I was going to say now was, we should keep track of how many times Merlin has to save Arthur or Camelot! That way we can hold it over his head whenever he tries to be too princess-like." Gwaine chuckled.

Arthur rolled his eyes at the last part, but seemed to agree with the idea. "Why not?"

"I'm kind of curious about how many times there will be." Leon interjected.

"That's really not necessary, guys." Merlin tried to argue modestly.

"And we should add a tally for how many times one of us saves his butt." Elyan added. "We can compare numbers later on."

Merlin tried to argue again, but his protests were overruled. "Let's do it!" Gwaine laughed, before realizing that they had no paper or quill or ink to write anything down. Merlin was about the smirk when Ella smiled and said, "I think I can help with that."

She held her hand out and muttered some words in the Old Religion. Pieces of parchment, a quill, and ink appeared on a nearby rock. "There you go." She said nonchalantly.

"Thank you, my Lady." Gwaine said, bowing and giving her a huge grin.

Ella blushes slightly and turns away. As the world swirled around them in a way that was fast becoming familiar, the paper was put into Gaius' possession, who began to scratch down tally marks.

Merlin wanders through the woods, picking mushrooms.

"Ah, Merlin's second favorite activity besides mucking out the stables and spending the day at the tavern." Arthur joked.

He hears screeching and turns to see a griffin running at him before turning and running away. Merlin trips on something unseen and tries to crawl away before realizing it's too late. He closes his eyes and waits for a deadly blow. Lancelot yells and charges in, attacking the griffin with a sword, while Merlin watches from behind. On one of his strikes, the sword breaks against the griffin's hide.

"That really can't be good." Leon mutters.

Dropping the sword, Lancelot yelled "Run! Run!" as he grabs Merlin. They run and hide behind a fallen tree, and the griffin takes off and flies away. Both men breathe heavily and Lancelot holds his wounded side.

"It's gone. You saved my life. I'm Merlin." He says, sounding slightly awed.

Everyone seems to sigh at the sight of their now deceased friend. He had been a good knight, and a great person, but the events during the last time that they had seen him had left a bad taste in all of their mouths.

Merlin felt guilt welling up inside of him. It was his fault that Lancelot had died; he should never had told Lancelot what he was planning to do. It was another life that he should have saved. He also felt guilty that he hadn't been able to stop the wraith Lancelot from interfering with Gwen.

Lancelot introduces himself. "Lancelot."

Arthur couldn't help but tense slightly at the sight of his former friend. He let go of Gwen's hand, and she looked slightly hurt even though she understood. That situation had put a strain on them all.

They shake hands before Lancelot groans and passes out, and Merlin looks on concerned.

Ella watched as all of their faces fell at the sight of the dead knight. She, of course, knew of the situation with Guinevere, and what had happened between the two. But she also knew what nobody else knew, namely of Morgana's involvement, even though Merlin and Gaius knew some. Coming to a decision, she threw her hand out and froze the image of the memory.

Everyone turned to look at her in surprise. She them a soft smile, Merlin in particular. "I know what befell Lancelot, and I am truly sorry for your loss." She said softly. "I also know what happened the last time you all saw him." She glanced at Guinevere for a moment before turning to the king.

"Sire?" She said. Arthur turned to her with an unreadable expression. "I know what transpired, and what Lancelot did. But there was more to that situation than most of you realized."

Arthur prodded her when it looked like she wasn't going to say anything more. "What do you mean?"

Ella took a deep breath. "Lancelot was not himself. He was a pawn of the Lady Morgana's, who was trying to stop Gwen's ascension to the throne she believed to be hers." Merlin met her eyes, and she nodded at his unspoken question.

Arthur looked like he was going to ask another question, but Ella stopped him with a raised hand. "Forgive me sire, but I can't say anything more right now. You need to see these things as they happened, and I swore that I would not reveal anything before it's time." She looked genuinely regretful. "All that you need to know right now is that Lancelot is a man of honor, and you should not let one action cancel out everything else that he has done. Please."

She watched as everyone nodded, and gave them all a smile before resuming the memory.

In the Physician's chambers, Gaius checks out Lancelot's injuries. "The wound itself is superficial." Gaius assures Merlin. "The fever will pass. He should be fine in the morning."

Uther and Arthur survey a burning village.

"What creature could've done this?" Uther wonders.

"The griffin?" Percival asked.

Arthur nodded.

"We found no tracks in or out. What the villagers say must be true: it has wings and..." Arthur's voice trails off.

"What?" Uther encourages.

"And it took no livestock, only people. Whatever it is, it has a taste for human flesh." Arthur informed him.

Gwen grimaced. "That's terrible." She said.

Uther looks worried. "Post centuries in all the outlying villages. Put the lookouts on full alert. If this thing should make for Camelot, we must be ready."

Gwaine frowned slightly, "And once again, all Uther cares about is Camelot; forget about the surrounding villages."

Lancelot looks out of the window in Merlin's room, taking in the spectacular view of Camelot. "Ever since I was a child I've dreamed of coming here. It's my life's ambition to join the knights of Camelot." Merlin smiles and throws a hand up. "I know what you're thinking," Lancelot assumes, "I...I expect too much. After all, who am I? They have their pick of the best and bravest in the land."

Merlin just smiled. "Lancelot."

"He definitely was not a mind reader." Merlin chuckled.

"Yes?" He turned towards Merlin.

"They are going to love you." Merlin assures him.

"And we did." Percival said quietly.

"They are?" Lancelot questions.

Merlin laughs. "I've seen you in action. You could shame the great Arthur himself."

"Did Merlin just give Arthur a compliment?" Leon said, faking a gasp of surprise.

"I think he did!" Arthur agreed, laughing.

"Prat." Merlin glowered.

"I hardly think so." Lancelot denies.

"In fact, you know what I'm going to do?" Lancelot just gives him a blank stare. "I'm going to talk to him right now." Merlin gets up and heads for the door.

"You know Arthur?" Lancelot asks incredulously.

"Oh yes." Merlin grins.

"Unfortunately." Current Merlin adds, smiling slightly.

Arthur gives Merlin a punch to the arm.

"Ow!" Merlin cries, rubbing his bruised arm dramatically and whining about bruised arms.

Everybody chuckles.

Merlin and Lancelot watch as one of the men trying out for the knights, whom Arthur calls 'Grummond, Second son of Wessex' goes through his test: facing Arthur in a fight and lasting for more than one minute in free combat. Even though the man fights with two swords, he doesn't last two hits before Arthur takes him down with a knee to the head.

"I don't think he was really knight material." Gwaine joked.

"You think? He got knocked out in two hits!" Arthur said.

Arthur looks slightly annoyed as he reaches down to rip off the flag attached to the man's belt.

Merlin follows Arthur through the lower town carrying his armor while Arthur complains about the fight. "Grummund's the third to fail this month. How am I meant to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?"

"Get some outside help." Percival joked.

"Well, I think I might be able to help." Merlin interjects.

"You, Merlin?" Arthur scoffs. "You haven't the faintest idea what it takes to become a knight. Courage, fortitude, discipline." Arthur finishes as he sets his sword and belt on top of the pile of armor that Merlin is holding.

Merlin scoffed. "I'd be a rubbish knight, besides, I'm more than happy being a warlock." Merlin grinned lopsidedly.

"Yeah, you would be a rubbish knight. You should never be let anywhere near anything sharp or pointy." Arthur agreed, grinning.

"Oi! I'm not that bad!" Merlin argued.

Arthur and the knights just laughed, and Gaius raised an eyebrow. Obviously they were all thinking of his natural clumsiness, and the phrase 'it feels very swordy' ran through Gwen's head.

Merlin just huffed. "Fine, but I'm not totally terrible with a sword, thank you very much."

"No, no, no, of course I don't, but I do know someone who does." Merlin smiles.

"Yeah?" Arthur stops and turns to look at him.

"He saved my life."

Arthur laughed. "That's blowing it for starters."

"No, no, no. He's really good. Honestly." Merlin assures him.

"That's great, Merlin. I'm sure he's terrific, but you forget the First Code of Camelot."

"Yeah, the first code is pretty much null now, huh?" Elyan commented. All of the 'commoner knights' had been taught about the first code when they became knights, but they were living proof that Arthur had decided not to stick to it like gospel.

"The what?" Merlin asks.

"The First Code." Arthur repeats. "Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So, unless your friend is a nobleman."

"That was a stupid rule to begin with." Merlin said, annoyed.

"Oh, er, he-he is a nobleman."

"So it was you who started that lie!" Arthur said, giving Merlin a short-lived glare.

Merlin shrugged. "Lancelot deserved it, and the law was wrong."

"That doesn't make it better, Merlin." Gaius reminded him.

"Is he?" Arthur looks surprised.

"Absolutely." Merlin assures him.

"Very well." Arthur agrees, smiling slightly. "Bring him to the training ground tomorrow. And make sure he brings his seal of nobility."

"Ah, yes, his seal. How exactly did Lancelot end up with a seal of nobility, Merlin?" Arthur said pointedly.

Merlin looked slightly sheepish. "You'll see." Was all he would say.

That probably means he used magic for something he shouldn't have. Arthur guessed with a small chuckle.

"Thanks, Arthur. You won't regret it." Merlin calls after him.

When Merlin enters the Physician's chambers, Lancelot immediately questions him. "Well? Did you speak to him?"

"Yeah, I spoke to him."

"And?"

"And..." Merlin feigns disappointment.

"Merlin!" Hunith scolded, although she couldn't help but chuckle.

"It was just a joke. Besides, he didn't get mad about it." Merlin pointed out.

"No." Lancelot shakes his head, disappointed.

"He said he would like to meet you." Merlin divulged, grinning like a mad man.

Lancelot looks ecstatic. "Yes! Thank you. Thank you!"

"Being a knight really meant a lot to him, didn't it?" that comment came, surprisingly, from Ella.

All the knights nodded. "It was his life's dream and ambition." Merlin said.

"Hey, really, it was no problem, really. It's nothing." Merlin coughs before asking, "You're not a nobleman, by any chance, are you?"

"Did you honestly think he was a nobleman?" Percival asked.

"I didn't know for sure. Besides, sometimes nobles aren't what you expect." Merlin added, throwing a sideways look at Gwaine.

"A nobleman? No." Lancelot laughs, pointing at himself before laughing again. "Good lord, no. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that there's this..."

Gaius cuts in. "The First Code of Camelot states that only those of noble blood can serve as a knight. Uther created the knights to protect this kingdom from those who wished to destroy it. He knew he would have to trust each of his knights with his life. So he chose them from the families that had sworn allegiance to him."

"The nobility." Merlin adds.

"And thus the First Code of Camelot was born, and ever since that day, only the sons of noble families have served as knights." Gaius finishes.

"But that is not fair." Merlin argues.

"No, it really isn't." Arthur agrees. "That's why I changed it, at least for you five… I mean four."

"Fair or unfair, that's the way it is. I'm sorry, Lancelot. Truly, I am." Gaius says, looking down at Lancelot, who had sunk into a chair. Lancelot put his head in his hands.

"Why do you want to be a knight so much?" Merlin asks when the two of them were in his room alone.

Lancelot messes with the leather band around his wrist before he answers. "When I was a boy, my village was attacked by raiders from the northern plains. They were slaughtered where they stood, my father, my mother. Everyone. I alone escaped. I vowed that day that never again would I be helpless in the face of tyranny.

"Poor Lancelot. That must have been traumatizing to see that happen as a child." Gwen said softly.

"And it's no wonder that he had such a desire to serve and protect." Arthur added.

I made sword craft my life. Every waking hour since that day, I devoted to the art of combat, and when I was ready, I set forth for Camelot. And now, it seems, my journey ends. Everything I fought for, wasted."

"I give you my word, whatever it takes, I will make this right." Merlin promises.

Merlin enters the dusty library and searches for a book, while Geoffrey of Monmouth watches him from his desk. Merlin takes a book from the shelves, and notices Geoffrey's attention.

"Homework." Merlin states, rolling his eyes slightly when his back was to Geoffrey.

Gwen giggled softly. "Merlin, did you honestly think that excuse would work? Most servants didn't know how to read at all."

"I didn't really think of that." Merlin admitted.

"I was taught by my parents when I was younger, and I made sure to teach Merlin how. I didn't want him growing up illiterate." Hunith added.

Merlin opens the book to check that it is the right one, and smiles when he sees it is. He slams it shut, releasing a cloud of dust, and promptly sneezes, to the annoyance of Geoffrey.

"I don't think he really likes me much." Merlin chuckled.

"He was always rather brusque with people he didn't know." Gaius came to the defense of his old friend. "That came from a lifetime spent among dusty books rather than people."

He then takes it to a table and opens the book to a page of Northumbrian nobility before pulling out a piece of parchment, catching the attention of Geoffrey.

Holding his hand over the seal, Merlin chants, "Icuis bisan raditani huhnan."

"For us, I swiftly copy the branches of offspring." Merlin translated.

The image of the seal magically copies onto the parchment, except that it has Lancelot's name on it. Geoffrey wanders over as Merlin checks it against the book with a smile.

"Ahem."

Merlin closes the book nonchalantly and hands it to Geoffrey.

"Yes, Merlin, that doesn't look suspicious at all." Arthur teased.

"It's a..." Merlin pats the cover, "real page turner."

Everybody laughed at that. "That is the overstatement of the century." Elyan laughed.

Geoffrey frowns and looks at the title as Merlin walks away.

"Yeah, I think Geoffrey agrees with you, Elyan." Percival joked.

Merlin enters the physician's chambers and holds up the parchment to Lancelot, who is skinning an apple.

"What's that?" Lancelot asks.

"This is your seal of nobility." Merlin answers, grinning madly.

"I don't understand."

Merlin unrolls the parchment and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria."

"You have to wonder where exactly he thought you got that seal from on such short notice." Gwen commented.

Merlin just shrugged. "Who knows?" he replied. "People in Camelot aren't exactly known for their observational or logical skills."

"Oi!" Arthur exclaimed. "I take offense at that."

Merlin jerked his thumb at Arthur. "Case and point." He said to the rest of their group, some of whom just chuckled at their antics.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" He asked, indignant.

Merlin rolled his eyes before answering, "It means, you are the epitome of the lack of those two qualities. Some of the things I've managed to slip by you all this time… Makes me worry for Camelot sometimes." Merlin teased.

"No, Merlin. No." Lancelot says, shaking a finger at Merlin.

"Oh, right. So you don't want to be a knight, then." Merlin replies, rolling up the parchment and turning to walk away.

"Of course I do!" Lancelot says indignantly.

"Well...the rules don't allow it. Damn the rules! The rules are wrong!"

"Says the rule-breaking warlock." Leon pointed out.

"But it's a lie. It's against everything the knights stand for." Lancelot argues.

"You have as much right to be a knight as any man. I know it." Merlin replies passionately.

"But the rules, Merlin." Lancelot reminded him.

"We're not breaking the rules. We're bending them, that's all." Merlin assures him.

"I was born breaking the laws of Camelot." Merlin says softly. "And I could have just as easily been executed for something I had absolutely no choice in. I just can't spend my time worrying about following rules that are unfair."

Gwen reached over and gave his hand a squeeze of comfort.

"You get your foot in the door. But after that you will be judged on your merit alone. And if you succeed - if they make you a knight - it'll be because you earned it, noble or not." Lancelot leaned against the table, giving Merlin a slight smile. "I can't change the way things are done around here, but you can...if you let me help you."

"And Merlin's wise side makes a brief appearance." Gwaine announces.

The group watch as Gwen takes Lancelot's measurements for his new armor and knight outfit. They briefly introduce themselves, and talk about Merlin's willingness to help people and Camelot's need for non-arrogant knights before Merlin and Lancelot leave and head back to the castle.

"Awkward!" Gwaine mutters loudly under his breath.

Merlin and Lancelot walk down the corridor adjacent to the courtyard.

"She seems lovely. Guinevere." Lancelot comments.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, she is. And the best seamstress in Camelot, I promise." Merlin replies.

"That was sweet of you to say, Merlin." Gwen said.

"Are you two..." Lancelot motions around vaguely. "you know."

Merlin laughs. "No, no. Just friends." Merlin gives Lancelot a sideways look.

Gwen chuckled in remembrance of the crush she used to have on Merlin. Apparently, he had never noticed.

Arthur trains recruits as Merlin and Gwen fix Lancelot's knight costume.

"You did a really good job on that costume, Gwen." Merlin said.

"It looks perfect. I never would have guessed he wasn't a knight of Northumbria." Leon commented.

Gwen smiled at them both. "Thank you."

"One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. Four." Arthur calls with the beat of a drum.

"Well...you certainly look the part." Merlin says as Lancelot messes with his armor.

"Doesn't he just?" Gwen says, looking proud of her work.

"I don't feel it." Lancelot mutters.

"It's hard to when you haven't been ingrained from birth to think your God's gift to mankind." Merlin muttered.

Arthur and Leon, the only two noble born knights there, (they weren't counting Gwaine) rolled their eyes at that comment, but let it slide.

"Okay, that'll do for today. Well done." Arthur calls to the recruits, causing them to break up and wander off.

"Here's your chance. Go for it." Merlin encourages.

Arthur puts a sword in the sword rack as Lancelot approaches him.

"Yes?" Arthur asks.

"Lancelot, 5th son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria." Lancelot states, looking a little nervous.

"Lance...a lot? My servant mentioned you. Got your seal?"

"You don't look very impressed, Sire." Leon commented.

Lancelot bows as he presents the fake seal to Arthur. "Sire."

Arthur smacks him, and Lancelot falls down. Gwen gasps in the background.

"Sluggish reactions. In a battle field you'd be dead by now. Come back when you're ready." Arthur calls over his shoulder as he walks off.

"No offense, sire, but reflexes on a battlefield and those in a castle while bowing to a king are quite different. There would be no reason to expect anything at that point." Elyan pointed out.

"Knights also need to be ready to go to battle at any time, and in any mentality." Arthur replied smoothly.

Lancelot immediately gets up and places his hand on his sword. "I'm ready now, Sire."

Arthur turns back around, smiling. "You are, are you?" Lancelot nods. "Fine. You can start by cleaning out the stables."

"Why did you give him stable duty, Sire?" Gaius asked.

"Seeing if he was really ready, how much he wanted it, and if he was willing to work for it. Most nobility wouldn't go anywhere near mucking out a stable, even for an early chance at the knights. So I was testing his perseverance." Arthur replied.

Onlookers laugh as Arthur walks away. Lancelot looks uncertainly at Merlin who gives him two thumbs up.

In their chambers, Merlin helps Gaius prepare some of his medicines. "I'm sorry about Lancelot. I see you were upset." Gaius says.

"Oh. You know...that's life. You win some, you lose some." Merlin comments offhandedly.

"You're taking it very well, I have to say. Very mature." Gaius comments, giving his ward a sideways look.

"You suspected something, didn't you Gaius?" Hunith asked.

Gaius raised an eyebrow. "This is Merlin we are talking about. It would be easier to tell you when he wasn't up to something. So I just learn to expect it, especially with something like this."

Arthur chuckled at that.

"Thank you, Gaius." Merlin replies, sounding genuinely pleased.

Lancelot enters covered in...stuff that isn't dirt.

"How'd it go?" Merlin asks eagerly.

"Ugh." Lancelot groans before going to Merlin's Chamber. Gaius gives Merlin a look.

"He looked like you did after your first time mucking out the stables." Gaius chuckled at that memory.

"He found work at the stables." Merlin explains.

"I see." Gaius nods. "And the truth before I lose my temper?"

"He's er...trying out for the knights." Merlin says sheepishly.

"Plus, it meant I didn't have to muck out the stables that day!" Merlin joked.

"The First Code of Camelot has never been broken for any man. What've you done, Merlin?" Gaius exclaims.

"Okay, I bent the rules a little, but the rules are wrong. They're unfair."

"You bent the rules? Using magic?" Gaius guesses correctly.

"And there's Gaius, straight to the heart of the matter." Merlin chuckled.

Merlin sighs before answering, "It was nothing, honestly. It was more of a trick than actual magic."

Arthur lightly cuffed him on the back of the head. "That doesn't make it any better. Actually, that probably just makes it worse." he stated.

"Your magic is not a toy, Merlin. It's not for you to use or abuse as you see fit." Gaius scolds.

Merlin turned away. "I know. I know." He sighed.

"Then why'd you do it?"

Merlin turned to face Gaius, turning serious. "I owe Lancelot my life. I am paying for that debt the only way I can by giving him the opportunity he deserves. If you want to punish me for it, go ahead."

"You'd do anything for your friends, wouldn't you, Merlin?" Gwen murmured.

"Of course." Merlin stated, like it was obvious (which it pretty much was).

Arthur and a few guards approach Lancelot, who is in the lower town sharpening swords. Arthur grabs a nearby broom and tosses it at Lancelot. Lancelot looks up suddenly and catches it.

"Not bad." Arthur says, walking around a pole.

Lancelot stands and bows to Arthur. "Would you like me to sweep the guardhouse again, Sire?"

"It certainly needs sweeping. But first," Arthur says, picking up a broom and removing the bristles. "I'd like you to kill me."

Merlin groaned at that. "Arthur, never tell anyone that. It's hard enough to protect you without you giving people an open invitation."

"Sire?" Lancelot asks, not sure if he heard that right.

"Come on. Don't pretend you don't want to." Arthur says. "Hell, if I were you, I'd want to. Come on."

"Yeah, well your prattish ways do that to a lot of people." Merlin commented offhandedly.

Arthur gave him a good natured scowl.

Lancelot removes the bristles on his broom, and both men take a swordsman's stance. A fight ensues.

"Come on, Lancelot, you're not beating a carpet." Arthur taunts.

"And you just can't resist taunting them, can you?" Merlin added.

They continue fighting, as passerby's stop to watch. The fight ends as Arthur hits Lancelot in the gut.

"Congratulations, Lancelot." Arthur tosses the stick to Lancelot. "You just made basic training."

Warning bells suddenly toll. Arthur and Lancelot exchange glances before Arthur takes off running toward the screams.

Scores of injured peasants make their way into the square. Merlin helps an injured woman to sit near Gaius. "You're safe now, I promise." Merlin murmurs comfortingly.

Gaius tends another woman.

"How is she?" Merlin asks as he joins Gaius.

"These must have been some of the refugees from griffin attacks." Leon stated. "I was in the opposite side of the kingdom at the time, running patrols, so I wasn't there when the griffin attacked. But I heard the stories."

"Okay."

Lancelot runs into the Square. "What happened to these people?" He asks.

"Their village was attacked by a winged monster." Gaius informs them.

Merlin and Lancelot exchange a look.

Uther and Arthur look down at the Square.

"I'd hunt this thing down if I could, but I cannot track a creature through the air." Arthur mutters annoyed to his father.

"I could!" Merlin piped up.

"You don't have to track it. First Greenswood, then Willowdale. The creature's heading south, towards the mouth of the valley."

"To Camelot." Arthur infers.

"Of course it is." Gwaine states wryly. "You people seem to have some sort of magical creature attractor or something.

"You must prepare your knights, Arthur." Uther says.

"Have faith, Father. We'll be ready." Arthur replies confidently.

Gaius flips through a book of monsters. "The wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. The wings of an eagle and the body of a lion." He mutters as he searches.

Arthur speaks to the knights of Camelot. "The beast is heading for Camelot. It's fast and agile, but big enough to hit and hit hard. Starting today your training routines will concentrate on an attack strategy. We don't have much time. Dismissed."

Lancelot approaches Arthur and bows as the knights disperse.

"Yes, Lancelot?" Arthur says, Lancelot walking at his side.

"Is there anything I can do, Sire?" Lancelot asks. "It's just...I know that in the event of battle, only a knight may serve."

"And yet, I've been in several battles, and I'm not a knight. I'm a servant! A servant that is also a secret warlock, but a servant nonetheless." Merlin comments.

"That was never done before you started tagging along." Arthur said.

"That's correct, Lancelot. And you are not yet a knight." Arthur stops walking and turns to face him. "Which is why I'm bringing your test forward. You'll face me in the morning." Lancelot stares after him before taking a deep breath and smiling.

Arthur and Lancelot, dressed in full armor, face each other on the training grounds. Merlin and Gwen watch from the sidelines.

"Well, here we are. Your final challenge. Succeed and you join the elite. Fail and your journey ends here. Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria..." Arthur nods to the timekeeper. "Your time starts now."

Arthur and Lancelot put on their helmets and draw their swords, and the fight begins. At one point, Lancelot swings and misses Arthur, and Gwen grabs Merlin's shirt in her anxiety.

"Aw, Gwen's worried about her future husband already." Gwaine teased.

Gwen gave him a slightly annoyed look.

"Oh, sorry." Gwen mutters her apology.

After several more hits between them with the sword, Arthur punches Lancelot. Lancelot falls back, his helmet flying off. Arthur puts his sword in the ground, removes his helmet and looks over Lancelot's apparently unconscious form.

"Shame." Arthur says, reaching down to remove Lancelot's flag.

Lancelot suddenly sits up, knocks Arthur off his feet and puts him on the ground at sword point.

"Woah!" Elyan said.

"Nice move there." Percival commented.

"Go Lancelot! WOO!" Gwaine yelled.

"Um, Gwaine? These are memories, they can't hear you." Merlin reminded him.

Gwaine shrugged. "So?"

"Do you submit, Sire?" Lancelot asks.

Guards restrain Lancelot and force him to his knees. Arthur gets up, apparently angry, and grabs his sword. "On your knees!" He hisses, holding his sword to Lancelot's chest.

"Oops, injured pride alert!" Gwaine exclaimed.

Merlin chuckled, and Arthur frowned at both of them.

Lancelot kneels in the throne room, a sword to his chest.

"Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot." Uther states solemnly.

The knights applaud as Lancelot stands.

"Who is this man? He seems to have come out of nowhere." Morgana murmurs to Gwen.

"I know. It's been a bit of a surprise to all of us." Gwen replies knowingly.

"You do us a great honor, Sir Lancelot. The knighthood is the very foundation of Camelot." Uther says, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"The honor is all mine, Sire." Lancelot assures him.

"Your father would be very proud."

"I'm sure that he would have been." Percival said.

"Yes, Sire." Lancelot agrees.

"I have not seen Lord Eldred for many years. Longer than I'd imagined, it seems. Last time I saw him, he only had four sons." Uther states.

"Uh-oh. He's suspicious." Elyan said.

"Unfortunately." Merlin replied.

The room seemed to grow quieter around them. "Well...here I am." Lancelot laughs nervously.

"Indeed you are. And I've kept you too long already. Enjoy the celebrations." Uther said, clapping him on the back as he walked away.

"Sire." Lancelot bows.

Knights approach him and shake his hand. Uther opens Lancelot's seal and addresses a lady of the court.

"Take this seal to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Court Genealogist." Uther orders, looking over at Lancelot.

"He's very suspicious. This isn't going to end well for Lancelot, is it?" Elyan asked.

Merlin gave a guilty shrug. "Not really."

The knights walk out, Arthur's arm around Lancelot's shoulders.

"I want his opinion by morning." Uther says, looking solemn.

Arthur and Lancelot sit on table with their drinks in the middle of a celebration. Merlin stands off to the side with Gaius.

"Look at him, Gaius. Does not Lancelot deserve this moment?" Merlin asks, looking slightly proud.

"Uh-oh. Never get in those kinds of discussions with your uncle, Merlin. He's bound to win." Hunith giggled.

"Your uncle? Gaius is your uncle?"* Gwen asked.

Merlin and Gaius nodded.

"He is my brother." Hunith added

"I have just never called him that." Merlin shrugged.

"I never said he didn't. But destiny and desserts are not the same thing. You played God, Merlin. You set him on a path of your choosing. Tonight you brought him triumph, but who knows what the future may hold." Gaius countered.

"Yeah, I don't know what it said on your invitation, but on mine it said celebration." Merlin laughed.

Arthur laughed, "Never seen you pull out of an argument like that, Merlin."

"Well, it's Gaius! Nobody wins in an argument with him." Merlin replied.

Gaius chuckled, "And that's the way that it should be."

Gaius chuckles. "Point taken. Don't come back too late." Gaius says before walking out.

"All right." Merlin chuckled.

Geoffrey of Monmouth looks over court records in the library. Geoffrey finds the page of Lord Eldred of Northumbria and looks up, displeased.

"Well, they know it's a fake now." Percival commented.

Arthur watches Gwen and Morgana while he and Lancelot sit on a table, drinks in their hands. "Here's trouble. Tell me, do you think her...beautiful?" Arthur asks as he watches Morgana.

Lancelot's eyes follow Gwen as she goes to stand by Merlin. "Yes, Sire. I do."

"Yeah. I suppose she is." Arthur murmurs.

Morgana notices Arthur's gaze and smiles.

"You do realize you're ogling your half sister, right?" Merlin commented.

"Shut up." Arthur muttered, his face turning slightly red.

"You know what? I think our Sir Lancelot might have eyes for you, Gwen." Merlin teases.

Gwen laughs. "Don't be silly."

"What? So what if he did? Would that really be so bad?"

Gwen sighs. "He's not really my type."

"Oh, well, there's a surprise." Merlin teases. "Sometimes, Guinevere, I wonder if you'd know what your type was if he was standing right next to you."

Gwen looks wistfully at Merlin. "You're probably right."

"Mate, I need to teach you how to woo a woman," Gwaine said, throwing an arm around Merlin's shoulders. "Especially if you can't even see when one likes you."

Merlin's face reddened, much to the amusement of the knights. "I just didn't see her like that." He muttered.

Merlin grabs another drink from a passing servant. "So, come on. Just for the sake of argument." Merlin motioned to the two men still sitting on the table. "If you had to, Arthur or Lancelot."

Arthur looked very interested in the answer to that question, even if the answer was not what he was expecting.

"But I don't have to and I never will." Gwen said in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, you are no fun, Gwen." Merlin teases, and they both laugh.

Arthur pounds on the table before standing to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to our new recruit, our new knight of Camelot, Sir Lancelot." Arthur grabs him by the arm and forces him to stand.

The crowd applauds. Lancelot and Arthur toast.

Merlin and Lancelot come out of Merlin's room with obvious hangovers.

"Aw, I don't even get to see what Merlin is like when he is drunk?" Gwaine complained.

Merlin chuckled. "Nope."

"Argh. Two yards of ale? Two miles, more like it." Lancelot mutters, and Merlin groans in agreement.

"Good morning, gentlemen." Gaius says cheerfully, and holds out two fizzing drinks. "Don't look at it, don't smell it, just down it in one."

"That's the best way with Gaius' medicines." Merlin grimaced.

"But they do work." Gaius reminded him.

Merlin and Lancelot grab the cups and share looks before downing the contents.

"Argh." Lancelot groans.

"Better? Good." Gaius smiles. "Can't have you nodding off first day on the job, Lancelot."

"That's Sir Lancelot, if you don't mind." Merlin interjects.

They all laugh. Their mirth is short lived when guards unexpectedly enter.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asks.

"King's orders." One of the guards states before they grab Lancelot and escort him out.

"Stop!" Merlin calls after them.

Lancelot is put on his knees before the court.

"Tell him what you told me." Uther says to Geoffrey, sounding disappointed.

"These credentials are faked." Arthur winced slightly in disappointment. "The seal itself is faultless, forgery of the highest possible standard, but a forgery it must be. There is no record of the fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria. Therefore he..."

"Lied." Uther finished solemnly. "Do you deny it?"

"No, Sire." Lancelot forced out.

"You've broken the First Code of Camelot. You've brought shame upon yourself and upon us. You are not worthy of the knighthood bestowed upon you. You never were. And you never will be." Lancelot looks up, upset, at that. "Get him out of my sight."

"At least that part wasn't true. He was a very worthy knight, at least until..." Arthur said, throwing a quick glance at Ella. She just gave him a sad smile.

Guards quickly escort Lancelot out.

"Sire." Arthur says when Lancelot is out of sight.

"Do you contest my judgment?" Uther asks, walking over to the side of the room and poured himself a glass of wine.

"Yeah, he does." Gwaine muttered.

"His deception was inexcusable." Arthur admitted. "But he meant no harm, Sire, I'm sure of it. He only wished to serve."

"The First Code is a sacred bond of trust. It is what binds the knights together. How can you trust a man who's lied to you?" Uther asks over his shoulder.

"Yeah, Uther, how should he?" Merlin muttered. Arthur gave him a questioning look that Merlin waved away.

Merlin visits Lancelot's cell looking apologetic.

"I don't know what to say to you, Lancelot." Merlin says, leaning against the door to the cell.

"You're not to blame." Lancelot states firmly.

"Yes, I am. I pushed you. I made you lie." Merlin argues.

"The choice was mine. My punishment is mine to bear, and mine to bear alone." Lancelot tells him.

"You can't blame yourself for everything that happens, Merlin." Gwen said softly, laying a hand on his arm.

"I can if it's my fault to begin with." Merlin replied in a hard voice, thinking of all of his choices that had brought hardship on Camelot. The dragon, Morgana, just to name a couple.

"I wish there was something I could do." Merlin says softly.

"There is. You can stop blaming yourself." Lancelot says, and Merlin gives him a small quirk of a smile.

"Merlin?" Gaius asks when Merlin enters their chambers.

"Whatever you do, don't say, 'I told you so.'" Merlin says tiredly, sitting in a chair.

"I have no wish to gloat, Merlin. What's done is done." Gaius motions him over before putting a hand on the book he was looking at. "Here. Come and take a look at this. I realized my mistake. I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place, in the records of all known living things in the kingdom. And then I thought, but what about creatures only recorded in legend? In myth? Then I discovered this."

"Creatures of Myth attacking Camelot? How unusual." Arthur muttered

Gaius removes his and to reveal a picture of the griffin.

"That is it." Merlin breathes. "That's the monster."

Warning bells sound, and Merlin and Gaius go to the window to see what is happening. People run wildly around the Square, screaming as the griffin swoops down overhead.

"Has anyone else noticed that people running around screaming generally does not help in the slightest in these kind of situations?" Gwaine commented.

"On me! On me!" Arthur yells to the knights.

Knights surround Arthur in a defensive pattern.

"Defend!" Arthur yells, and the knights crouch down. The griffin attacks the group.

Lancelot hears the noises of the battle and checks the window before he rushes to the bars of his cell. "What's happening?" Lancelot yells.

The knights get up and reform attack pattern. The griffin lands in the Square.
"Charge! On me!" The knights surround the griffin, and Arthur tries to attack it with a spear.

"Something tells me that the spear isn't going to work well." Elyan said.

When Arthur strikes the griffin in the chest the spear shatters.

"That's definitely not good." Leon winced.

Arthur's eyes widen and he falls backwards. A guard tosses him a torch. Arthur waves the torch at the griffin and it takes off making annoyed hissing sounds. Arthur and the knights watch it fly off.

Arthur and Uther enter the council chambers with their entourage.

"You said your knights were the best in the land. You proved that today." Uther said, sounding proud of his son.

"Although I'm not really sure how failing to even injure the creature proved that the knights were the best." Merlin commented.

Arthur tried to clip him outside the back of the head, but Merlin ducked with a grin. "We still managed to drive it off and protect the people of Camelot. What exactly were you doing, oh powerful warlock?"

Merlin quirked an eyebrow in a very good imitation of Gaius. "Researching said creature to find a weakness or way of destroying it." He said.

"All I know is it's still out there." Arthur replies.

"Let's not wait for it. The kingdom has been menaced by this creature for too long. We finish this now."

"Sire, if I may." Gaius interjects.

"Gaius?" Uther acknowledges.

"I've been researching this creature, Sire. I believe it to be a griffin." Gaius informs him.

"A griffin? What's in a name?" Uther asks.

"The griffin is a creature of magic." Gaius states.

"The king is not going to like that statement." Leon said.

Uther's face hardens at the mention of magic. "I don't have time for this, physician."

"Nope. Not at all." Merlin replied.

"It is born of magic, Sire, and it can only be killed by magic." Gaius presses.

Arthur looks thoughtful, but Uther continues to deny it. "You are mistaken. It's a creature of flesh and blood like any other. Arthur proved that today."

"It's a good thing that you were there, Gaius, or the king would have led Camelot to its destruction long ago." Merlin said sagely.

"And it's a good thing you were there to take care of things that we couldn't." Arthur added. Then a thought occurred to him. "If the griffin could only be defeated by magic, who really killed the griffin?"

"Just watch." Merlin chuckled.

"I'm not so sure, Father." Arthur argues. "I think there may be some truth in what he says."

"What truth?" Uther questions.

"The griffin was unharmed, Sire. Our weapons seemed useless against it."

"And the princess shows he has a brain and can use it!" Gwaine exalted.

"Stop calling me that." Arthur growled.

"Only if Merlin stops calling you a prat." Gwaine grinned.

"And that'll never happen." Merlin added with a chuckle.

"There you have it then." Gwaine laughed, and he and Merlin shared evil grins.

"Useless? I think not." Uther scoffed. "No, it's tasted our steel once, the next time will be its last. When will your knights be ready to ride again?"

"An hour. Maybe two." Arthur says.

"Good. We finish this tonight." Uther says definitively. Merlin and Gaius exchange looks, while Arthur looks at them, concerned.

Merlin and Gaius enter the Physicians chambers, the former looking thoughtful.

"Is it true? The griffin can only be killed by magic?" Merlin asks his mentor.

"Did you not believe him?" Gwen asked curiously.

"Yes, I did. I was just making sure." Merlin replied.

"Yes, Merlin. I'm certain of it. If Arthur rides out against it, he'll die." Gaius says matter-of-factly.

"Then he must be stopped. Uther must see reason." Merlin mutters.

"Fat chance of that." Current Merlin muttered.

"Merlin, that is my father that you're talking about." Arthur reminded him.

"I know, I'm just glad that you aren't too much like him. Otherwise Camelot would be in very big trouble." Merlin said seriously.

"Where magic is concerned, our King is blind to reason. And yet...magic is our only hope." Gaius finishes, giving Merlin a pointed look.

Merlin looks like he can't believe what his mentor is suggesting. "You're not suggesting..."

Gaius nods in response. "It is your destiny, Merlin. The true purpose of your magic."

Merlin looks scared. "You saw it, Gaius. I can't go up against that thing." He says softly.

"But if you do not, then Arthur will surely perish." Gaius replies.

"No...this is madness." Merlin denies, starting to pace. "I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way."

"Your magic was more than powerful enough, Merlin. You just had to believe in it and yourself." Gaius said.

"This is the only way." Gaius counters.

"Do you even care what happens to me?" Merlin asks incredulously. "Oh, just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Go and kill the griffin, Merlin. I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire."

"Merlin! He is just trying to help!" Hunith scolded.

"I know, mother, I know. I was just scared." Merlin said.

"Merlin!" Gaius scolds before his voice goes soft. "Merlin, you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought. But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know."

"I'm sorry." Merlin apologizes softly after a minute.

"I am sorry for taking it out on you, Gaius." Merlin repeated.

"I know, my boy." Gaius replied.

"I don't know what else I can say." Gaius says.

"I'll say it for you. We have two hours to find a way to kill that thing." Merlin replies, his voice slightly more sure.

Lancelot stands up as Arthur enters his cell. "I should've known. How could I have been so stupid?" Arthur said, his face set in anger. "You don't sound like a knight, you don't even look like a knight!"

"We were wondering that as well." Gwaine said.

"Shut up, Gwaine." Arthur muttered.

"I'm sorry." Lancelot apologizes with a small bow.

"I'm sorry, too. Because, Lancelot, you fight like a knight. And I need...Camelot needs..." Arthur's voice trails off.

"The creature?" Lancelot guesses.

"We could not kill it. I've never faced its like."

"I faced it myself, Sire. Some days past. I struck if full square. I wondered how it endured." Lancelot tells him.

"There are those that believe this creature, this...griffin, is a creature of magic, that only magic can destroy it." Arthur reveals.

"Do you believe this?" Lancelot says, taking a step closer.

"It doesn't matter what I believe. The use of magic is not permitted. The knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone." Arthur says, gritting his teeth somewhat.

"At least you were a little more open minded." Gwen said, squeezing his hand.

"Sire." Lancelot says, bowing slightly again.

"There's a horse waiting outside." Arthur tells him.

Lancelot smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you. Thank you, Sire."

"He thought you were going to let him help." Gwen stated.

Arthur nodded.

Arthur turned and gave him a serious look. "Lancelot, take it and never return to this place."

"No." Lancelot disagreed. "No, please, I...It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honor."

"I know." Arthur replies.

"Then let me ride with you, Sire." Lancelot begs.

"I cannot. My father knows nothing of this. I release you myself, but I can do no more. Now go before I change my mind." Arthur stepped forwards and didn't look as Lancelot walked out.

"And yet he still came to help and killed the griffin." Arthur muttered.

Gaius and Merlin flip through a book until Gaius finds the right page. "There." Gaius says, pointing out the right spell. "You must do this for Arthur."

Merlin looks down at the spell. "I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful." He says softly.

"But you are also the kind of warlock who learns powerful spells rather fast." Gaius points out.

"Luckily." Merlin added.

"Nothing less will kill it. Here." Gaius hands Merlin a rusty dagger. "Try. You have it within you. I know you do." Gaius assures him.

Merlin looks at the book and holds the dagger up. "Bregdan anweald gafeluec." He chants softly.

"Move the powerful javelin." Merlin translated.

"Javelin?" Arthur asked.

Merlin just shrugged.

Nothing happens. Merlin and Gaius look at each other.

"Don't worry, Merlin, we have plenty of time."

"Yep. About an hour." Gwaine added.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Yes, because that would have helped immensely." Merlin replied sarcastically.

Lancelot knocks on the Gwen's door and enters. Gwen looks up from her sewing.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, My Lady." Lancelot says.

Gwen stands up. "Lancelot, what are you doing here?" She asks.

"I thought he was still in prison." Gwen added.

"I have no time to explain. I need weapons, armor; and the best you've got." Lancelot requests.

"But what's this all about?" Gwen asks, confused.

"Arthur stands in mortal peril. I must do what I can to protect him. It's my duty. Knight or not." Lancelot says, determined.

"A man of well-earned nobility." Merlin murmured.

"You really believe that, don't you?" Gwen says with a half smile.

"Yes, My Lady." Lancelot replies.

"Lancelot, I don't believe I've ever met your like before." Gwen says solemnly, shaking her head.

Lancelot takes a few steps forward. "Guinevere, if I should not return..."

"Don't go, Lancelot. Please." Gwen begged, taking a step forward as well.

Arthur couldn't help but turn his head away for a moment. He may have forgiven Gwen, but that didn't mean the memories couldn't still hurt.

The two stare at each other before Lancelot looks away. "But go I must."

Gwen nods in understanding.

Arthur marches down line of armored knights. "It's time." He says. He leaves, and the knights follow him out and ride out of Camelot.

Merlin continues to try the spell on the dagger, but still fails.

"Don't worry, Merlin. I know you're trying." Gaius says, trying to reassure him.

Merlin sits down hard on the steps leading up to his room. "And I'm failing. And if Arthur dies because I'm not good enough..."

"You shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself." Hunith said softly.

"I don't have a choice." Merlin replied just as softly.

"Merlin!" Gaius scolds.

Gwen runs in. "Merlin! Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!" She exclaims breathlessly.

"He's what?" Merlin says, looking stunned.

Gwen shrugs her helplessness before Merlin runs out.

"And Merlin once again runs out to save the day!" Gwaine exclaims.

"Merlin?" Gaius calls after him.

Merlin runs up to Lancelot as Lancelot saddles a horse.

"I'm coming with you." Merlin said, breathless from running.

"No, you're not." Lancelot argued.

Merlin scoffed. "Just try and stop me."

Arthur scoffed. "Are you kidding? Merlin follows like a loyal dog. I know from experience it's next to impossible to keep him away when he's put his mind to it."

"I resent being called a dog." Merlin retorted.

"I just call it as I see it." Arthur replied jokingly.

"Merlin, you're not a soldier." Lancelot reminded him.

"Nope, I'm a warlock. And happy to stay that." Merlin grinned.

"You said it yourself, Lancelot, Arthur needs all the help he can get. Now let's go." Merlin said, his face and tone serious. Merlin starts to walk away, and Lancelot watches him for a moment before messing with the saddle.

Mounted knights approach the griffin in the woods. Arthur draws his sword at the sight of the creature.

"For Camelot!" Arthur yells.

The knights draw their swords and yell, "For Camelot!"

Merlin and Lancelot ride along, listening to the sounds of dying men, swords clanging, and the screech/hissing griffin. Everything falls silent as they reach the fallen knights and dismount.

Merlin searches among the fallen knights for the prince. "Arthur." Merlin exclaims once he sees him.

"What about the other knights?" Leon asked.

"Some of them were killed, but a few of them were able to be saved by Gaius." Arthur answered.

Merlin feels for Arthur's pulse.

"Well?" Lancelot asks.

"He's alive." Merlin says gratefully.

The griffin hisses, the sound echoing around them. Lancelot rides into attack position with a lance and shuts his visor.

"Okay, Merlin, it's now or never." Merlin tells himself.

Arthur looks thoughtful for a moment before stating, "You know, Merlin, talking to oneself is a sign of mental illness. Maybe Gaius should be checking you out."

"Ha-ha, very funny, Sire." Merlin retorted.

Lancelot rears his horse and begins to charge. Merlin chants the spell three times as Lancelot charges towards the griffin.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec"

The fourth time, blue flames erupt up and down the lance. Lancelot strikes the griffin with the enchanted lance, and the griffin falls down dead. The magic glow disappears as soon as the griffin is and Merlin celebrates.

"So it really was you who killed the griffin!" Arthur realized.

"I think that would be fairly obvious by now, Sire." Elyan joked.

"But how did Lancelot not notice the obvious magical flames on the lance?" Percival wondered.

Merlin just bit his lip, and wondered what they would say when they saw that Lancelot had learned of his magic all those years ago.

"Yes!" Merlin laughs.

When Arthur wakes, Merlin turns quiet runs off back towards Camelot. Lancelot removes his helmet when Arthur looks towards him.

"Lancelot." Arthur mutters, stunned.

"Definitely not what I was expecting to see when I woke up." Arthur added.

"Sire." Lancelot replies.

"You did it. You killed it, Lancelot!" Arthur yells in jubilation.

Merlin bursts in to the physician's chambers, and Gaius meets him with a smile.

"You did it?" Gaius exclaims.

"I did it." Merlin replies with a big smile. Gaius and Merlin hug in relief and happiness.

"I think that's another mark on the sheet." Gwaine chuckled.

"Would that be under 'save Arthur' or 'save Camelot'?" Elyan asked.

"Under saving Camelot. That list includes saving Arthur's life anyways, and Merlin saved much more than that." Gwaine replied.

"Thank God!" Gaius exclaims, patting him on the back.

Arthur enters the council chamber.

"You did it, my son. You did it." Uther congratulates him, clapping him on the shoulders.

Arthur shakes his head before correcting him. "Not I, Father. It was Lancelot."

They both turn to look as Lancelot enters.

"He's not going to like that." Merlin stated.

"What's he doing here?" Uther asks, frowning.

"Father, I can explain." Arthur speaks up.

"You! Wait outside." Uther orders.

"Yep. Told you so." Merlin said.

Lancelot bows and exits and the guards close the doors. "You had no right to...!"

The doors block out all sound. Merlin rounds the corner to see Lancelot standing there.

"What are they doing?" Merlin asks.

"What were you doing there?" Percival asked curiously.

"Seeing what they said about Lancelot." Merlin said simply.

"Deciding my fate." Lancelot shrugs.

Uther and Arthur argue in the council chambers.

"I confess it, Sire. I released him and I'll take the consequences. But surely Lancelot's actions change things?" Arthur yells.

"His actions change nothing. He broke the code!" Uther says stubbornly.

"He laid down his life for me! He served with honor." Arthur argues.

"Once again, you prove that you are a better man than your father could ever hope to be, Arthur." Merlin said sagely.

"And just as stubborn." Gaius chuckled.

"Definitely just as stubborn." Merlin repeated.

"I see you feel strongly about this, Arthur. Under the circumstances? A pardon, perhaps." Uther offers.

"No, not good enough, Father. You must restore Lancelot to his rightful place, as a knight of Camelot." Arthur states seriously.

"Never." Uther sneers. "The law is the law. The Code bends for no man."

"Then the code is wrong!" Arthur bellows.

"Yeah!" Gwaine yelled. "Go Arthur!"

"They'll restore your knighthood, of course they will. You killed the griffin." Merlin said, pacing slightly in front of the doors to the council chambers.

"But I didn't kill the griffin." Lancelot says, walking a few steps away from the guards. Merlin followed with a confused look.

Lancelot looked him straight in the eye. "You did."

"Wait, he did see what happened?" Percival said.

"Yeah, he did." Merlin replied.

Merlin scoffs. "That's ridiculous." He laughs.

"'Bregdan anweald" Lancelot quotes. Merlin turned to look at the guard before looking back at Lancelot, all signs of laughter gone. "...I heard you. I saw you."

"So all that time, Lancelot knew you had magic? I knew you two were close, I guess that explains why." Arthur stated.

"Yeah, he knew. He helped to cover for me if I needed it, and he was someone that I could talk to, besides Gaius." Merlin replied.

"I can't believe Lance knew before I did!" Gwaine exclaimed, looking put out.

"Well, he was here first Gwaine. I don't even meet you for another three years at this point." Merlin pointed out.

Merlin gives Lancelot a worried look.

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Lancelot assures him, and Merlin looks slightly relieved. "But I cannot take the credit for what I did not do. There'll be no more lies, no more deceit."

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asks seriously.

"The only thing I can do." Lancelot says simply.

"So that's why he really left." Arthur said.

Merlin nodded. "He didn't want to lie to you all anymore. He didn't want to take credit for something he didn't do."

Lancelot bursts through the doors to the council chambers, interrupting Arthur and Uther's discussion.

"What is this?" Uther asks

Guards restrain Lancelot.

"Let me speak!" Lancelot demands.

"Wait! I'll hear him." Uther nods to the guards, who release Lancelot.

"Forgive me, Sire. I've come to bid you farewell."

Arthur looks confused. "What is this, Lancelot?"

"I lied to you both and now there is conflict between you. I cannot bear that burden, as you should not bear mine. I must start again, far from here. Then maybe one day fate shall grant me another chance to prove myself a worthy knight of Camelot."

"As he did." Percival stated, watching the image of his old friend.

"But...Lancelot, you've...already proved that to us." Arthur assures him.

"But I must prove it to myself. Your Highness." Lancelot replies. In the background, Uther looks thoughtful. Lancelot bows to Uther.

"Prince Arthur." Lancelot bows to Arthur and backs out of the room. Arthur looks crestfallen.

Gwen watches Lancelot from the window, and Morgana gains her attention, asking if Lancelot is what is on her mind. When Gwen admits it, Morgana just gives her an understanding smile and they start to get ready for the day.

"That explains how Morgana knew about Gwen's feelings for Lancelot." Merlin stated with a hint of bitterness.

From the battlements, Merlin and Gaius also watch Lancelot ride off.

"Perhaps you were right, Gaius. Perhaps I should have never got involved." Merlin said, sounding sad that he had caused this.

"Merlin not get involved? That'll never happen." Arthur said

"Yeah, but it has saved your life more than once, so don't knock it." Merlin reminded him

"No Merlin, I was wrong. Lancelot needed you and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were entwined."

"Will he ever return?" Merlin asks.

"Yeah, he will." Merlin replied to his past self's question.

"That I cannot say." Gaius says, watching as the retreating figure rides past where they can see.

Merlin smiled at the quickly disappearing knight. "Till next time then, Sir Lancelot."

The images around them cleared, and they were once again in the cave.

"Unless there is something you all need to discuss, I'll go ahead and begin the next memory. And Gwaine?" Ella called.

Gwaine hmm'ed, and Ella's eyes grew gold as a jug appeared in his hand. Gwaine gave it a sniff, and then gave a huge grin. "Thank you, beautiful Ella." Gwaine said before taking a big drink.

"Did you really think giving him alcohol was wise?" Arthur asked wryly, inferring what was in the jug.

"I made sure that it's not that strong, besides, I told him I would give him some eventually. Who knows, it might even make him more interesting." Ella teased before messing with the crystal. "All right, on to the next memory: A Remedy to Cure All Ills."

MERLINNILREM

*I read somewhere that Gaius is Merlin's uncle, so I'm going with that

And there we are, the end of another chapter! Hope you guys liked it, and that the characters weren't too OOC.

And for anyone wondering, I am planning on keeping track of how many times Merlin has to save all their butts Unless you guys think it's a totally terrible idea, I'll post the stats in the story every once in a while.

Reviews always make my day, so please feel free to leave one!

See you all in the next chapter!