Chapter 9

"Let us begin. Start with two."

"Did you see me the last time? I was begging for mercy after just one."

"Don't waste time arguing with me. Get to it."

Oliver sighed and dropped to his knees. He positioned himself and began. To his amazement, he could do two with relative ease. Lancelot tapped him on the shoulder appreciatively. "Well done. Now we wait a while and then you do three."

"I think I can actually do it now", Oliver claimed victoriously. Lancelot knew he'd come to regret his cocky words in a short while, but let Oliver keep his attitude because it amused him.

Indeed, when Oliver tried to perform three, he struggled greatly. His arms were shaking and he collapsed after the third one. "-Or then I can't."

"You're doing better than I expected", Lancelot admitted. "I really thought you wouldn't be able to do that last one."

"Well, I showed you, didn't I?" Oliver remarked, breathing heavily. Lancelot wondered how rare was the ability to feel victorious even when lying on the ground at the feet of another man.

Once Oliver had drunk some water again, Lancelot estimated that he had had enough rest. "Now, do just two."

"Just two?"

"Just two."

Oliver did as he was asked. This time, it wasn't as hard. After resting, he did two again and to finish

off, Lancelot told him to try at least three or more. Oliver managed the three, but that was his limit and he fell. Once his breathing became normal again, Lancelot kneeled to pat him on the back. "That wasn't half bad!"

Oliver got up to stand. "Thanks. Eating dirt never felt so rewarding."

"It shouldn't. You're already much stronger than you were a few days ago."

Oliver realized the man was right. "Thank you. You've helped me so much already."

"Don't thank me, I'm trying to make you quit" Lancelot smiled in an effort to soften the blow of his words.

Oliver was nonetheless taken aback. "W-what?"

"We both know you shouldn't be here. But, while you are, I'm going to make you see why you can never become a knight." Lancelot explained his view on Oliver's presence in Camelot as if he was describing a grocery list to his servant or something else completely normal.

"You are training me to make me quit?" Oliver asked him incredulously.

"Essentially, yes."

Oliver stared at him challengingly for a while. "Well, you better continue. I'll show you."

"I doubt it, but you are welcome to try."

Oliver stuck out his tongue to Lancelot and ran towards the castle. Lancelot smirked as he watched Oliver's back moving further away from him. This should be fun.

Gwaine was just about to begin eating when Oliver burst through the door. "Hey, dig in. Merlin is out but he should be back soon." He then saw Oliver's face and laid his plate on the table. "What's wrong?"

"He wants me to quit!" Oliver started pacing, walking in a circle in front of Gwaine and the table. He looked agitated and ready to tear someone's head off.

"Who?"

"Lancelot!"

"And?" Gwaine failed to see the big catastrophe. In his life, the people not believing in him had vastly outnumbered those that did believe in him. That was one of the many reasons he so valued Merlin in his life.

"And? His attitude was just so infuriating!" Oliver mumbled something under his breath that sounded like quite imaginative swear words to Gwaine. Oliver then told Gwaine more or less what Lancelot had said to him. Gwaine sighed. Dinner would have to wait.

"That's the problem with you nobles, you expect people to treat you with respect without earning it." Gwaine's words stopped Oliver's pacing. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he said you would never become a knight, and that you are pretty weak. If you reverse his words, it means 'get stronger, become a knight', no?"

"Yeah?" Oliver agreed, still sounding a bit unsure. His body language was still kind of shaky. "Whatever. I need to blow some steam. Let's wrestle."

Gwaine agreed, as the food appeared to be too hot at the moment anyways, something which had never been a problem before, given that the food in taverns, well, you got lucky if you got it at all, let alone heated. The status of a knight had brought with it some unusual perks.

Merlin entered their chambers bearing a bowl of fruit and saw Gwaine lying on top of Oliver, both sweaty and breathing heavily. His brain shut down. Oliver saw his face and quickly sought to resolve the situation. "It's not what it looks like. I asked Gwaine to wrestle. We had just finished when you came in."

"I'm sure you were", Merlin stiffly replied and place the bowl on the table.

"I'm a virgin, I can't have sex. Let alone with men." Oliver continued, only making matters worse.

"Oliver, just because you haven't, doesn't mean you can't-Whatever. Somebody needs to tell you about the birds and the bees, badly", Gwaine said, but after seeing Merlin's scowl, he continued: "But that someone should not be me. Definitely not."

"Let's eat", Merlin said quietly and they all took a seat around the table.

Merlin attempted some polite dinner talk and Oliver told him about his encounter with Lancelot. Merlin was more sympathetic than Gwaine, but Oliver figured it was Gwaine's advice that he should take to heart. It would take a lot of hard work, but eventually he would show Lancelot what he was made of. Quickly after dinner Oliver excused himself, leaving Gwaine alone to deal with Merlin. "So..How mad are you?"

"I believe you." Merlin's words sounded insincere, like he chose to believe Gwaine despite knowing full well he was lying.

"Well, you should, because I'm not lying. Oliver was upset over Lancelot and wanted to wrestle, I enjoy wrestling, so we did it. Wrestle, I mean. Not it." Gwaine laughed pitifully. "Now I remember why I haven't had too much luck with love in the past."

Merlin reached out to place his left arm on Gwaine's shoulder. "I believe you", he repeated, this time sounding more sure. "But it wasn't easy seeing that."

"What, are you jealous?" Gwaine asked him teasingly and poked his arm.

"Yes." Merlin's stern gaze took Gwaine by surprise. "I am jealous over Oliver because you enjoy his company, because you fight with him and because sometimes he seems to understand you better than I do."

"Nothing's going to happen with Oliver. He only understands me better sometimes because we're quite alike. He is my friend. He doesn't like me that way, of that I'm sure, and I don't like him that way either. A certain raven-haired fellow however strikes me as very alluring. Would you happen to know if he might be available tonight?" Gwaine teased Merlin, who gave up and flashed him a grin.

"I know all that. It's just that..This is more or less the first time I have had a lover for a longer period of time. About a year ago I fell in love with a girl, but she died shortly after, so we didn't get to spend a lot of time together. I'm not used to being jealous."

Gwaine processed his words. So, he's been in love before. Somehow, it seemed better to Gwaine. Less pressure.

"Well you better, because I'm not going anywhere", Gwaine closed the distance between them and gave Merlin a small kiss, which deepened into a more passionate one. They made it to Gwaine's bed and Gwaine took off his shirt, revealing his magnificent chest. Merlin caressed his chest with his hands while Gwaine placed himself between Merlin's legs. All the while kissing the boy, he slid his hand on the other man's thigh until he reached his goal.

Merlin got his usual sensation of flight, but Gwaine sensed it and kissed his jaw. "Let me", he pleaded, and Merlin nodded. At the point where he was, he would've said yes to anything Gwaine had asked.

Almost as quickly as it had started, it was suddenly over. Merlin trembled from pleasure, and Gwaine laid next to him. Despite his satisfied glow, Merlin felt bad because he hadn't done anything in return. "Do you want me to-?" He asked, not even sure of what he was offering.

"No. I'm just glad we've reached this new stage in our relationship."

"But if it's just me that gets to.."

"All in good time." Gwaine got up to put his boots back on. "Next time I'll show you what I can do with my tongue", he said, sticking his tongue out seductively to demonstrate.

The look on Merlin's face! Eyes wide, clearly ready to flee. "I think it will take a long time for us to get there", he said, his voice shaking.

"You tell yourself that", Gwaine remarked, raising his eyebrow suggestively.

Merlin looked away to cover his face. He then sighed. Would you still want me if you knew the truth about me? He glanced at Gwaine who waved him goodbye and closed the door behind him, leaving Merlin alone. As he forever would be, if the truth came out.

Soon, it was time for the first of many parties Arthur had decided to arrange to urge his knights to find love. Gwaine took it as an opportunity to laugh his head off at the expense of the other knights and also to spend some time with Merlin. Speaking of spending time with someone, Oliver had been practically glued to Lancelot these past few weeks, and their relationship had become a mixture of reluctant hero worship from Oliver's side (he viewed Lancelot as the perfect knight, and hoped to become a knight like he was one day) and playful antagonism from both of their sides. Earlier on the day of the ball, Oliver had vanished and despite their best efforts to find him, Oliver remained unfound, so Merlin and Gwaine left for the party by themselves.

Merlin and Gwaine entered the hall and were greeted (well, Gwaine was) by other knights who had been expecting Gwaine. After Lancelot, Gwaine was the man the new knights most looked up to for advice. Lancelot arrived shortly after, however, and the knights hurried up to him to follow his example in stead. Gwaine pretended to be wounded by their abandonment and Merlin giggled at his acting.

Arthur came to greet them and told them that the dancing would soon begin. He then hurried off to go save some of the newly-knighted men from embarrassing themselves on the dance floor before it was absolutely necessary. Gwaine watched him go and then turned to Merlin. "I don't dance."

Merlin chuckled. "I think you'll fit right in. Nobody here does."

"This is going to be painful to watch", Oliver remarked and they jumped, as they hadn't noticed his arrival.

"What are you doing here? This is just for knights and ladies."

"And their servants. That's why Merlin is here, isn't it? I'm not quite a servant, not quite a knight, but something between", Oliver pointed to the boy next to him, who in turn tilted his head to Gwaine, signaling he's got a point.

"You're here to see Lancelot, aren't you?" Gwaine smirked at his sudden realization.

Oliver opened his mouth to argue, but then closed it. "Maybe."

"Well, he's right there, so go on", Gwaine urged him to Lancelot's direction.

"No, I don't know what to say to him", Oliver protested, but Gwaine had already pushed him hard against Lancelot's back. Lancelot didn't know what hit him, and the two fell on the floor. Lancelot, a trained warrior, took it as an attack and rolled Oliver off his back by using his hand. He then straddled him and raised his hand ready to hit his attacker when he finally recognized him. "Oliver!" He got up, and pulled Oliver up too. He seemed almost scared at what he'd almost done. "I am terribly sorry, I didn't know it was you." His lavish apologies and his genuinely shaken state of mind showed a new side of him to Oliver, who had expected Lancelot to simply brush him off with a watch where you're going or something to that effect. "It's alright, really. What's with you? I thought you wanted me gone."

"Regardless of my feelings about your stay here, it is not right for a knight to hurt an innocent or a woman." Lancelot spoke as if reciting a knight's handbook.

"Just forget about it. It was Gwaine's fault anyway, he pushed me on you."

Lancelot glanced at Gwaine, who snickered and waved to Lancelot as if to say it was me! Lancelot sighed. "Well then. If you are sure, I need to join the dance, as it will shortly begin."

Lancelot was just about to leave, when he heard Oliver mutter 'like you can dance'. "I'm sorry?"

"I said 'like you can dance'", Oliver repeated, louder this time.

"You doubt my skills?" Lancelot remarked, annoyed at Oliver's audacity. "You ought to treat your betters with a little more respect."

"If they really are better, I will", Oliver replied with a challenging tone.

"I'll show you", Lancelot and grabbed him by his wrist, dragging Oliver to the dance floor, joining the other couples already in their positions. He nodded to Arthur. "I'm giving this brat a dance lesson, if you don't mind."

Arthur made a slight motion with his fingers and music began. The piece they danced to was quick-paced and energetic, and the crowd clapped to the music as the couples moved to its rhythm. It was a group dance, and who danced with who hardly mattered, which was fortunate as Lancelot and Oliver stared at each other during the whole dance, challenging one another to jump higher and to turn in an increasing pace, watching to see the other one make a mistake. Oliver knew the steps more than well, as he had been taught in his father's court to be able to dance to almost any song he'd ever encounter. Yet, dancing with Lancelot was more energizing than any dance he'd ever performed before because it felt more like exercising. When the dance finally ended, Oliver found himself standing next to the lady with whom he'd begun the dance. He quickly excused himself and the girl nodded politely, curtsied and left him panting, trying to catch his breath. "And that's how it's done", Lancelot remarked with a victorious tone of voice as he appeared on Oliver's side. Arthur came to congratulate Lancelot. "You'll find yourself a wife in no time if you dance like that in every ball" he told him, making Lancelot's face drop. Arthur noticed this and laid a hand on his shoulder. "But no pressure, alright? I know Gwen and I.."

"It's alright. It will take some time, that's all", Lancelot replied quietly. Oliver, having heard the whole conversation while pretending to still be be recovering from the dance, frowned. As Arthur left to finally get people ready for the first group dance, Oliver approached Lancelot and tapped his arm. "So. You and Gwen?"

"More like Arthur and Gwen", Lancelot corrected him. "Are you going to mock me now?"

"No." Oliver pushed him gently on the side. "I just don't understand why you would want someone who doesn't want you."

"These aren't the kind of things one chooses", Lancelot explained to Oliver, amused by his simplistic attitude.

"Yes they are. You choose not to get over her and find someone else. If you only heard what the women here have been saying about you. You have your pick of any woman here. Except Gwen, of course." Oliver's sincere attempt to comfort him gave Lancelot some hope, though his heart still sometimes ached when he thought of Gwen. "Thank you for your kind words, but maybe I just don't.."

"Silence." Oliver's tone reminded Lancelot of the fact that he was nonetheless of royal blood. "I'll introduce you to some respectable ladies", Oliver grabbed him by his hand and lead him to some noblewomen he knew by name and status. Lancelot smirked but then caught himself, forcing his face to normal.

Merlin observed the festivities safely from a distance. The knights danced awfully for the most part, but there were some surprising exceptions, like Percival, who had no doubt been taught to dance at Oliver's father's court, and Lancelot, who was the best dancer of the evening by any standards. Gwaine had intended to stay away from the dance floor but Arthur had ordered him to take part in the dancing as well. Merlin watched him sympathetically from afar, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at his moves. Gwaine wasn't a bad dancer, but he was clearly an unwilling participant in this particular party, and that affected his dancing as well. Merlin tried to signal him to smile more, but Gwaine didn't notice him. Merlin sighed and settled to watch.

Suddenly he heard some of the women talk not too far away from him."Have you already picked your favorite of the evening?"

"No, it's so hard! They're both so handsome!" replied the other one. Merlin couldn't help but wonder which 'both' they were talking about. Fortunately the next woman who spoke made things rather clear.

"I hear Lancelot's the best knight, Arthur himself has said so, but just look at Gwaine", she sighed.

"But Lancelot dances better", remarked the first one. "He's also very polite and a perfect gentleman."

"You take him, I'll take my chances with Gwaine", the third firmly stated. "Good evening ladies. You shall see that I'll make him propose by the end of this ball", she declared and started making her way towards Gwaine. Merlin knew he had nothing to worry about. Or did he? Earlier, Gwaine had told him that he didn't solely fancy men. Stop it Merlin, he said he's not going anywhere. Then a small voice inside his head said maybe he'd like to spend time with a nice normal girl who doesn't possess a drop of magic. Merlin forced his mind at ease. Unfortunately he happened to look in Gwaine's direction and saw the girl and the man talking to each other, Gwaine laughing loudly at something she had just said. Merlin forced himself to look elsewhere, and saw Lancelot talking to some noblewomen, coached by Oliver at his side. Lancelot felt his gaze and saw him, excused himself from the ladies' presence and came to Merlin's side. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"Merlin.."

"Alright. That girl over there, who's talking to Gwaine? She said she's going to have him propose by the end of this evening."

"And you believe her over Gwaine?"

"Well.."

"Merlin, you have to understand what it's like for women. Their only chance to succeed in life is to marry well. There's no room for love in that deal. Some get lucky, but more often than not, the marriage is less than happy. She sees Gwaine as her ticket to freedom from her parents."

"But what if Gwaine wants her?"

"Merlin, you disappoint me. Haven't you already talked to Gwaine about your jealousy issues?"

"Yes, we talked about it, but that doesn't mean I stopped feeling that way."

Lancelot shook his head and laughed. "You're hopeless."

Merlin threw his hands in the air, giving up. "Fine." He glanced at Oliver, who seemed to be convincing some ladies to come over and talk to Lancelot, judging from the few words Merlin could hear. Merlin smiled, watching the boy's efforts. He then had an idea that he had earlier when he had seen Oliver defend Lancelot when one of the servants had pointed out how rigid the knight could be. Oliver had come close to manhandling the poor man when he at first refused to take back his words. "Oliver seems intent on getting you a wife."

"So it seems." Lancelot's remark was purely factual, but when he saw Merlin's face he was taken aback by the boy's knowing look. "What?"

"Lancelot, considering you are usually the one who notices everything about everyone, you're missing something big." Merlin laughed and went to help Gwen serve the tables. Lancelot eyed at Oliver, who was coming towards them with two ladies. Once at a hearing distance, Lancelot asked Oliver to meet him in the hallway in a moment. He then bowed to the ladies who seemed disappointed at his departure, but curtsied nonetheless politely in return.

A while later in the hallway, Oliver approached Lancelot. "What is it that you want? I had just found the perfect woman for you."

"I feel I should make my intentions clear to you, as the current situation is less than satisfactory."

"Okay?" Oliver braced himself for Lancelot's next words.

"When you got pushed on top of me and I nearly hit you, you asked me why I was so adamant in begging for your forgiveness." Lancelot crossed his hands behind his back.

"Yes, but you explained that already. No hurting innocents."

"You are not making this easy on me, are you?"

"Making what easy on you?"

"Oliver, I know why you can never become a knight."

"This again? I swear, if you don't stop.."

"Stop pretending." Lancelot's words cut him off like a swift arrow. "I told you before. As a knight, I can't hurt an innocent-", he took a breath to pace himself.

"-Or a woman", he finished, fixing his gaze on Oliver, whose expression had turned into one of pure horror.

End of chapter

Yes, I am evil.

Oliver's exercise plan is from a site which I don't think I can plug here due to ffnet's rules, but I think you will be able to find it by searching with the keywords "hundred" and "push ups". Push ups may or may not have existed in Arthur's era, but let's say for argument's sake that Lancelot had figured it out on his own and it was then simply forgotten until the twentieth century. Plausible? Hardly. What I will go with anyway? You bet.

My view on Lancelot is that of The mists of Avalon (Lancelot is in love with Gwen, as he met her first, AND Arthur, but with the latter mostly because he is what Lancelot strives to be), but since Merlin the tv series doesn't even feature Mordred as Morgana's and Arthur's son, I think Lancelot can be different too, and he's not forever destined to pine over Gwen.

And hey, what do you know, that M-rating actually came in handy for once!