A/N: This is a little drabbly... I wrote it for Distressed Clover whose at home sick. I had this idea and quickly wrote it out... It's a filler, for sure. But for you, Distressed Clover get better soon! Guest, just read on until right at the end...

Disclaimer: *ahem* This is a pre-recorded message and is not, I repeat, not said under duress. I don't own Merlin. No one is holding a gun at my head.

How to Dance

It was early morning during Merlin's third week in Camelot and he was helping Gaius with his rounds. The old physician and Gwen had shown him where all the herbs grew and he'd written on a parchment the differences between them all to remember whilst he was learning.

His days had fallen into a routine. He spent the morning with Gaius, attending his rounds and then he watched Arthur and Leon train and tagged along with them on their duties for the rest of the evening until dinner.

He only saw Morgana and Gwen when Morgana managed to sneak away from the other ladies in court who were supposed to be teaching her etiquette and stitching. He tended to notice though, that Morgana much preferred sword training and hitting Merlin over the head. It didn't help that she was a head taller than him and an entire month older, a fact she stubbornly reminded him on any given occasion where he proved her wrong.

Sometimes Gwen wouldn't be working, Morgana in long council meetings and dismissing her. During these times, Gwen sat with Merlin in the alcove with a book and he taught her how to read and write. She had always wanted to learn, but her mother thought it more beneficial for her to learn how to stitch and clean instead. Her father taught her smithery so no one had taught her words.

It was a long process but Gwen knew now how to spell out her own name and half the courts. He noted she took special care with the way she did her lettering, curling the a's and looping the end of her g's and y's in a completely girly manner. But the pride in her face when she wrote out her full name correctly for the first time made Merlin feel a little proud too.

Gwen was just a few weeks younger than Merlin and he often felt obliged to stick up for her when one of Morgana's crazy schemes went a step too far and Gwen looked undeniably nervous. He just thanked the gods when she finally agreed with him that stealing the official laws of Camelot and changing them to suit their own needs was a bad idea.

Although, it would have made his magic situation a lot better.

He couldn't explain it but going a day without using magic made him feel ill. Therefore, thrice a day, Merlin alleviated his nausea by making the books in his room frolic about his chambers.

For now, he was okay. Merlin was even smiling as they walked through the lower town. "Merlin!" He looked around and saw Gwen bounding down the hill and coming to a stop in front of him. "I'm glad I found you. I forgot to ask you yesterday."

"Ask me what?" Gaius looked at the two impatiently and Merlin nodded his head to Gwen. "Walk with us?"

Gwen obliged. "Tonight, there is a wedding in the lower town. Everyone will be there. Would you like to come?"

"Who's everyone?" he asked.

"Well myself of course. And you'll finally meet my brother and Leon..."

"Sir Leon?"

"Well... Yes. He grew up alongside of us. My mother was his nurse and when she died, he came often to visit." Gwen rambled. "Oh and Morgana is attempting to sneak out, but only if Helena is asleep."

Helena was Gwen's superior and Morgana's official maid. She would work alongside of Gwen until she was old enough to take the duties on herself. Merlin didn't exactly like her and her mean smirk and neither did Gwen or Morgana. "Can I go, Gaius?" Merlin asked, looking up at his guardian.

"As long as Sir Leon or Elyan walk you back to the castle." he said, his thoughts more concerned with the guards.

"Of course! I'll tell Elyan." Gwen then raced off. "See you tonight then Merlin!"

Night fell quicker than Merlin expected and he was standing beside Gwen watching the hand fastening ceremony conducted by one of the officials. Upon kissing, the bride and groom were surrounded by cheering and joyous cries and Gwen took Merlin's hand and led him through the crowd.

The streets had been cleared and torches lit as celebrations echoed around the lower town with cheers.

Music was played by players and around the central fire, many danced and ribbons were spun around bodies and wrapped around maypoles.

Merlin didn't quite know when he lost Gwen but she fell into a dance with the other women, giggling and he stood back. "Hello there Merlin." Merlin looked up and saw Sir Leon there, out of his knight's uniform and in trousers and a shirt. Beside him was a dark skinned man, possibly Arthur's age with a jug of ale in his hands sitting on a large keg, tall enough for him to lean over to watch Merlin. "How are you enjoying the festivities?" Leon asked.

Merlin grinned. "I've never seen a wedding like this before."

"So you're the great Merlin who I keep getting told about." the boy beside Leon offered out his hand. "The name is Elyan. I am Gwen's brother."

"Merlin." he greeted back.

Though Merlin had shared dinner with Gwen a few times now, Elyan had always been too busy to join them and his name sometimes was accompanied by a look of disappointment from Thomas or said stares into the depths of her bowl from Gwen. Merlin had imagined Elyan would be much taller than he was but couldn't help but see the slight similarities between brother and sister, such as the kindness in their eyes.

"So do you fancy my sister, Merlin?" Elyan asked honestly and Merlin was sure if he'd had a drink in his mouth, he would have spat it out.

"What? No!"

"Calm down, calm down." Elyan laughed. "I'm just teasing... Though I know she fancies you."

Merlin's ears turned bright red. "She... She does?"

"She can't stop yammering on about you. Merlin this and Merlin that. Are you teaching her how to read? I almost feel as though there was no need for introductions."

Merlin felt the heat light up his face and Leon scolded Elyan. "Don't be cruel, Elyan."

"I'm not! She talks nothing of sunshine or daisies or rainbows... It's all, Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. Makes a man worried to hear of his sisters infatuation."

Merlin blushed furiously red and then turned to look at Gwen who was standing on the edge of all the dancing, watching on excitedly. "Oi, Merlin." Elyan poked him in the shoulder. "Do me a favour please? My sister rarely smiles, always busy with order and duty. It will make her year of you ask her to dance."

Merlin's eyes widened. "But you just said..."

"I was only teasing. Anyway, it's good to see Gwen talk about something other than working and preparing dinner. She hasn't had it the easiest over the last few years. Please... If you would?"

Merlin thought of how much Gwen did for him since his first arrival in Camelot and bit his lip. "I've never danced any of these dances." he said, nodding to the crowd. "I know a few but..."

"Just grab her and swing her around." Elyan pushed him on and Leon was smiling, encouraging him. "Go on."

Merlin inhaled then walked to Gwen, trying not to stumble. He stood beside her and she looked at him twice before recognising him. "Oh, hello. Didn't see you there. Isn't it all pretty?" she asked, pointing to the swirling dresses.

"Uhuh." Merlin said quietly, counting the whirling and steps in his mind. Once he found he knew the rough pattern and steps, he turned his head to Gwen and held his hand out. "Want to dance?"

Gwen flushed and turned her head around, looking for someone. "Me?" she asked curiously.

"Ugh… Yeah."

"O-Okay." she took his hand timidly and Merlin pulled her towards him and held one arm on her waist and the other in her hand. She put her hand on his shoulder and Merlin took a quick glance at the other dances to see what they were up to.

He counted quickly two beats then pulled Gwen into the throng, spinning her around. They made a few mistakes at first, but once they both fell into the pattern of waltzing and turning and twisting each other around, they found themselves laughing and enjoying themselves and somehow the centre of the attention around the fire.

The fact was, they were having so much fun, neither of them wished to stop.

There were other dances too, some of which Gwen talked him through until he understood and others where Merlin copied the other footsteps. But some they were free to do as they wished and in those ones, Merlin would just spin Gwen around until they were both giggling and dizzy.

It was overall, the first night in Camelot he spent where he was truly and utterly happy. They danced until their shoes were worn in and painful but it didn't matter.

They were both feverish and sweaty and starving as during all their dancing they didn't eat. When the party started to depart in the early hours of the morning, Merlin snuck into the kitchens and stole food for the both of them plus Leon and Elyan then the four of them took it back to the physician's chambers.

"And where were you four tonight?" Gaius asked, having woken at their entrance.

He didn't look angry though and Merlin just grinned, still flushed with exertion. "Just dancing. You wouldn't understand, old man."

Gaius lightly hit Merlin over the head then stole some of their kitchen loot.

It was a little over two weeks later when Merlin found himself searching for Gwen, Morgana and Arthur but none of them were around. His brow furrowed as he searched all their usual haunts, their rooms, the alcove, the armoury and the training field, only to find Leon. "Do you know where everyone is?" Merlin asked the knight.

He smiled, his eyes glinting with some amusement. "A Lord is arriving for a visit and some grand feast has been prepared. The Lord is a lover of music and dancing, so Arthur and Morgana..." he trailed off to let Merlin catch on.

Merlin's eyes lit up mischievously. "Where?" he asked.

The next thing he knew, him and Leon were watching from the balcony above the great hall as Arthur and Morgana attempted not to kill each other as they stepped on each others toes.

The pinched faced Helena and a dance instructor, Cristopher, were trying to teach the graceless royals as Gwen sat and watched a little way away. For the fifth time since Leon and Merlin's arrival, Cristopher showed them the steps. "I know that dance." Merlin whispered to Leon.

"How?"

"Gwen taught it to me. On the night of the wedding."

A grin grew over Leon's face and before Merlin knew what was happening, the older and stronger knight was pushing him down the stairs onto the floor of the great hall. "Excuse me?" Leon called out. Cristopher and Helena looked offended as Leon interrupted their dance lesson and Arthur looked as though if the earth swallowed him up, he wouldn't be offended. "But maybe this boy can show them."

Helena looked Merlin up and down but Cristopher was the one who was offended. "How could this peasant boy, know a dance better than I?"

"Not just him..." Leon grabbed Gwen up and she reluctantly stood, fighting him and hissing, 'No! Leon...' under her breath. "These two are the best dancers in all of Camelot. I know. I've seen it with my own eyes."

Arthur laughed. "Merlin? Merlin can dance? He can't walk in a straight line without falling!"

"I'll have you know, he's a very good dancer!" Gwen snapped in Merlin's defends then realised what she said and squeaked out, "Sire."

Morgana looked annoyed that Gwen seemed to know this about him and she didn't, crossing her arms over her chest to hide her jealousy. "Show us then. I want to see."

"Morgana!" Helena hissed.

Merlin blushed but turned to Gwen, holding out his hand. She hesitated then took it, just like the night at the wedding. Merlin pulled her slightly closer then looked at her. "One, two, three, four, five, six..." they both counted together and started dancing. It was much slower and more calculated than the way they danced at the wedding, both of them trying so hard not to mess up. Apart from one beat where Merlin started stepping left instead of right and did a strange skip to keep up, they managed the entire dance to perfection.

It was clear from the faces of Cristopher and Helena they weren't pleased with Leon being right about their dancing abilities but it gave Cristopher an idea. "Morgana, pair up with the boy, and Prince Arthur the serving girl. Maybe the problem is you simply cannot dance with each other."

Merlin let go of Gwen and turned to face Morgana who was now red in the face and looked nervous. Merlin peered at Gwen who was visibly shaking at the prospect of dancing with Arthur. He lastly looked to Arthur who was annoyed, though Merlin couldn't tell if it was because he had to dance with Gwen or because someone could do something better than him. As he didn't scowl when he took Gwen's hand, Merlin assumed the latter with some glee.

Anyone would have thought Leon was a proud mother watching his children's weddings the way he was beaming, and Merlin now felt like scowling at him for the embarrassment. But, like a gentlemen he held out his hand to Morgana and she accepted.

It was more awkward than when he first started dancing with Gwen. For one, he had grown a little since getting to Camelot as he was actually eating something other than wheat, barley and berries, but she was still taller than him.

Also, Morgana wore some intoxicating perfume and he wanted to lean closer to smell it, only the dance instructor kept correcting the space between them, saying as they twirled, people should see straight through to the other side of the room. It wasn't how he had danced with Gwen, but then again there had been no room on the streets or any etiquette to say Gwen and Merlin couldn't court each other, thus no gap.

Morgana smiled a bit to him once she started getting the hang of the dance and stopped needing to look at her feet. "You know, this isn't so bad." she said quietly so neither Cristopher nor Helena could hear them.

Merlin smiled.

There was no doubt in his mind that Gwen was beautiful, only it wasn't the sort of beauty that made Merlin grin like a fool. Merlin had a type, apparently. He'd discovered it at a young age when he fell insanely in love with a girl with dark brown locks, almost like midnight, skin like the moon and warm inviting eyes.

Morgana's eyes twinkled like apples under the sun, but they were still beautiful and kind and mischievous to boot. He shied as she smiled at him softly and almost tripped when he remembered the last time she'd smiled at him in such a way she'd kissed his cheek not soon after.

He turned his head away from her to concentrate and watched Arthur and Gwen. They were moving steadily, Gwen dutifully and patiently counting the beats as Arthur tried to follow but it seemed there was something the prince wasn't good at.

Dancing.

"It's useless." he growled. "Why do I have to dance anyway?"

"We don't have any more time for today." Cristopher sighed. Merlin and Morgana were split apart by Helena and Merlin tumbled back into Leon.

He grinned stupidly at Morgana as the effects of her perfume wore off with their distance and she laughed a little. "Come now, Morgana, Guinevere. We must make haste to get Morgana's new dress fitted."

Morgana made a face that her nurse could not see but Merlin could. He laughed again and the girls all left. "Tomorrow then. And beware, sire. Your father will make you dance tomorrow evening at the feast and the entire Court will be there."

Arthur paled at this and when Cristopher left, grabbed Merlin by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to his bedchambers, ignoring Leon.

"How do you know how to dance?" Arthur demanded.

Merlin shrugged. "Gwen taught me."

"When?! You've been here for a month!"

"Technically, six and and half weeks if you include my initial stay..."

"Merlin!" Merlin discovered whenever the prince was annoyed at him, wished him to shut up or simply make a point, he would stress the first part of his name. It had happened a lot since his arrival.

"Well, I could teach you."

If there was anything in life Merlin regretted more in life than those five words, he'd yet to find it. Because the next thing he knew, Arthur was holding his hand and had one hand on his waist, forcing him to teach him. "But I don't know how to be the girl!" Merlin objected as he was forced to put his hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"You are a girl, Merlin. Now teach me!" Arthur said grumpily.

It took twenty minutes for Merlin to first learn the steps backwards then another hour for Arthur to learn them at all. By the time he did, however, Arthur still couldn't lead and Merlin wasn't sure how to stop. The confusion led to Arthur falling backwards and Merlin standing over him for a change.

"I think, I know your problem." Merlin said, helping Arthur up again.

"What?" Arthur demanded but Merlin had already run from his chambers and told Arthur to wait.

When Merlin returned, he had Morgana, Gwen, a plate and a spoon. "Merlin!" Arthur growled, not wanting his step-sister to know what he was doing.

"Arthur, introduce yourself and ask the lady if she wishes to dance."

Merlin said pushing Gwen forward. She stumbled a bit and Arthur caught her before she fell. "Sorry about this." Arthur muttered.

"No problem." Gwen said shakily.

Merlin started to tap out the rhythm on the plate and Morgana hummed the rest of the music. They could both hear Arthur counting under his breath and saw him staring at his feet but eventually, he had it and was watching Gwen instead, a grin on his face. "I did it!"

"See!" Merlin grinned. "All you needed was the music."

"Bravo, Arthur. Now Gwen we need to get back before Helena finds us!" Morgana said, abruptly finishing her humming. Merlin snickered as she grabbed Gwen and started dragging her off, the handmaiden giving a polite little wave before completely darting off.

Arthur grinned and turned to Merlin. "Gwen's really a great teacher, isn't she?"

"But... I just... My feet... Yeah. She is." Merlin dumped the plate and the spoon on the table and grumpily stormed out of the room, leaving a confused Arthur in his wake.

A/N: Please leave a review for this chapter and the previous. I like to hear your thoughts.

Just a heads up. Chapter 12, 13 and 14 will be another slight build up, just establishing the relationship namely between Arthur and Merlin. Then Chapter 15 will make sense. :)

I don't usually do this but I have a feeling this next one is going to take me a little longer to upload so... excerpts to tied you over:

*"What is his obsession with getting himself killed?" Arthur demanded, taking off after him, Morgana and Gwen not far behind.*

*The bed was shabbily made, the clothes Arthur disapproved of piled around the place, the breakfast left on the table and his armour half sprawled on the table, the other half on the floor. "You do know that you're going to have to clean this all up."

Merlin looked around. "Yeah." He didn't actually, but he was fine with pretending.*

*"I'm hopeless, aren't I?"*

*"Well, I didn't know you were the tea party kind, Merlin, but surely you could have found a better venue for it."*

*Arthur smacked his head. "That's right Leon. Just give him a deadlier weapon to knock himself out with."*

*Arthur swallowed. "I umm... Got into an accident whilst training."

Uther's calculated gaze did not shift. "Training? Training with whom?"*

And one from chapter 15 which, from then on in it'll be mainly the main plot line and only a few extra drabbly things...:

Not wanting to talk of it much more, Arthur changed the subject. "Why were you staring at your dagger when I came in here?"

It was Merlin's turn to burn bright red and he nervously tugged the finely crafted blade from his pocket. "I was... I was thinking about my father."