Alaia Skyhawk: Well guys, here's the sub-ep. There's lots of fun coming in this one :D
And also, this sub is dedicated to JaydeRayne, who requested the things that this idea was built around hehe.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: The Forged Seal (Merlin OST)
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Chapter 36: A Challenge ~Part 1~
"Good morning, Sire! Breakfast is served!"
The king flinched under his blankets, the covers pulled up over his head to cut out the light when the curtains were yanked open. He didn't want to move, he wanted to have a lie in just this once. Surely as king he could give himself even half a day off?
The man who had come in with his breakfast walked to and came to a stop beside the bed, chuckling once and then unceremoniously divesting his friend of his warm sanctuary. He then just as unceremoniously took hold of him by the ankle, and slowly started to drag him towards the edge of the bed.
Merlin smiled.
"If you don't want to end up on the floor, I suggest you get up."
He pulled Arthur closer to the edge, the young king waiting until the last moment before he grabbed the side of the mattress and kicked his servant with the foot that was being held.
"Let go of me, you idiot. Fine, I'll get up." Looking irritated, he set his foot on the floor and turned himself to sit on the same edge he'd been inches from falling off of. "What's the hurry, anyway? As far as I remember, there's no council meeting today, or any inspections."
Merlin headed for the dressing screen, starting to assemble a formal outfit from the items in the cupboard and drawers beside it.
"Well you do have a guest. He arrived just before dawn, so you couldn't be expected to greet him. However, it is mandatory that you welcome him by calling him to the council chambers as soon as possible. That is if you don't want to cause an offence."
Arthur groaned, flopping backwards onto his bed.
"Great... Who is it?"
"Lord Kelvir. He presides over an estate not too far north of the White Mountains. Your victory over Queen Annis' champion has given him reason to come see you in person." He snorted in amusement. "That and the fact his home is on land that would have been handed over to her if you'd lost... I think he might be a bit displeased about that."
Arthur sat bolt upright again, staring at Merlin with dread.
"You can't be serious. Even my father disliked that man. Every time Kelvir came here when I was a child, I can remember he always had him placed in the guest room furthest from the royal quarters. He might be a noble of Camelot, but to say he's abrasive is an understatement."
Merlin set the garments behind the screen, and now proceeded to collect Arthur's boots from near the door and begin to polish them.
"Well Mr Abrasive has been given a light breakfast and is now waiting in the antechamber close to the council chambers. And I've taken the liberty of asking Georg to put his four bodyguards in the more comfortable part of the guard's quarters. I'd have had them given chambers in the wing, where those Knights of Camelot without homes in the upper town stay, except that apart from being of noble blood themselves, they aren't officially knights. Lord Kelvir apparently lacks sufficient rank and standing to be able to name his men as knights under his service. At least that's what Georg said."
Arthur had now gotten up, and was almost finished with changing into the good shirt and breeches that had been put out for him.
"And that's why he's always been abrasive. My father could have elevated him to a point where he would be permitted to assemble his own force of personal knights, but he wouldn't because Kelvir has never done anything to earn it. That doesn't stop him taking on men from other families that are friends of his though, and keeping them as his personal guard. He just can't give them a title for it. Which incidentally means most of the families he has connections with won't send their sons into his service."
He came out from behind the screen, going to the table and finding that Merlin had thankfully brought him a breakfast that could be picked up and eaten on the move... A thick wedge of toasted bread, with a generous layer of cheese melted onto the top of it.
He picked it up and headed for the door, opening it and striding out while behind him Merlin scrambled to get the crown from the locked cupboard beside the bed. He then was forced to race after the king, and halt him to place said crown upon his head. With someone like Lord Kelvir, it never hurt to use every reminder possible to make sure he knew his place.
Of course, that didn't really help Arthur's mood, as he was then required to sit on his throne in the Council Chambers and wait for the nobleman to be brought to him. An event that began with Lord Kelvir regarding him with one of the sourest expressions Arthur had ever seen, one that didn't improve much when the man smiled and bowed.
"King Arthur, it is an honour to find myself in your presence."
Arthur smiled politely in return.
"I trust your journey here was uneventful. I had the oath from Queen Annis herself, that her army would depart from Camelot's lands without incident. I understand that, since they undoubtedly passed quite close to your home, that you may have had concerns. But, I can assure you, that the scouts along the border have reported that the terms of the agreement I made with her, were adhered to most diligently."
Lord Kelvir frowned a little at that, drawing himself up straight as if gaining some height would gain him an advantage.
"I mean no disrespect, Sire, but I have come here on a most serious matter. Your unbelievable gamble of half of Camelot's lands was atrocious. What if you had lost?"
Arthur did not wince, and hid his resignation at finding Merlin's assessment of the reason for this visit had been correct.
"I 'gambled' what I did to save lives, confident in my ability as Camelot's greatest knight to defend this kingdom and its people. If I had lost, then Camelot would have lost its king, and you... Queen Annis would be your new head of state, is that not correct?" He rose to his feet. "But in making such a gamble, instead of triggering an all out war which would have likely ravaged your estate and led to your own demise, I instead prevented any fight at all and actually gained Queen Annis' respect. She will not attack Camelot again so long as I am king."
The nobleman almost gaped at the bluntness of the explanation.
"But, Sire."
Arthur raised a hand, stopping him.
"I understand that you are upset at my apparent carelessness, but I can assure you that the course of action I chose was done so after a great deal of careful consideration. I regret if that choice has displeased you, but as you can see the results speak for themselves." He headed for the door, pausing at it to glance back at his guest. "Now, perhaps you would like to join me in a surprise inspection of the Knights?"
Lord Kelvir stiffly turned and followed, clearly put out but also clearly aware that he couldn't argue with an explanation like that. He followed Arthur to the training field, Merlin discretely slipping in behind as a silent escort. And all the while the warlock had to wonder if the way Arthur was handling this clearly unwelcome man, was a method learnt from observing how his father had gone about it in the past.
The air between them remained cool during the observations of the knight's morning training. Everything going quite well until Kelvir saw Percival use his mace to whip the axe out of the grip of the noble-born knight he was sparring with. That was when Lord Kelvir's disgusted snort became audible.
Arthur glanced at him, frowning slightly.
"You seem to have a problem with Sir Percival. Might I ask what? Speak frankly if you wish, I will take no offence if you do."
Kelvir hesitated, and then looked disdainfully at Percival.
"Commoners raised to the rank of a Knight of Camelot. It belittles the loyalty of the great noble families that serve you."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"And how is rewarding the true and loyal service of those commoners, who helped me to reclaim this kingdom from Morgana at great personal risk to themselves, 'belittling' the rest of my knights? Ask any of the nobles who serve alongside the three who I rewarded in that way, and they will all speak well of their honour and skill. They have earned this right, just like every other who holds that title."
Kelvir grumbled under his breath.
"I still don't think it's right. They're commoners."
"And what, pray tell, were our ancestors at one point?" Arthur gazed across the field, musing. "What are the nobility, but the descendants of those who once toiled the land and claimed its riches. In time coming to lead other men, and in doing so rise up in rank and power. Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival are no different from yours and my ancestors; striving to make something better of themselves, and to achieve all that they are able to achieve."
Kelvir snorted again.
"If you believe that to be so, then I propose we hold a little competition. You placed my home on the line in your gamble with Queen Annis, and so now I ask this in return for raising no further complaint about it... A set of one-on-one duels, your 'commoner knights' versus my personal guards. To be held the day after tomorrow, to allow the combatants to prepare."
Arthur actually turned to him now, honestly surprised and certainly not objecting to the idea.
"Make that, that you will raise no further complaint about my methods of ruling this kingdom and who I choose to appoint to positions of trust. Should my men win all their fights. If your men win, I will raise your position of influence by one social increment for each victory one of them claims." He could see the glint of glee in Kelvir's eyes now, and knew he had him hooked. It was just a pity the man didn't know there was no chance any warrior trained at his estate could come close to the training and skill of Elyan and the others. "There's just one thing. You have four guards with you, but I only have three 'commoner knights'."
Kelvir smiled a little maliciously.
"But, Sire, surely if they are as skilled as you claim, one of them fighting twice will be as no hardship?"
The young king was about to answer to that, when a familiar voice whispered inside his ears.
"Pick me as well. Agravaine keeps making jabs to members of the court about me knowing how to use a sword."
Arthur smiled, as if at the noble's comment but actually at Merlin's request. It was certainly an interesting idea.
"Actually, I do have four, although the last one isn't a knight. He does act as my bodyguard though, when needed. I trust you will have no objections to him facing your fourth man?"
Kelvir, believing Arthur was setting himself on a path to humiliation, and a path that would give him more social standing and power, clasped his hand.
"I agree to those terms. The duels will take place as I said before, the dawn after tomorrow. It will certainly at least be entertaining."
He turned and walked off back into the castle, a servant who had waited for him hurrying over to guide him to the guest room that had now been prepared... as far from Arthur's chambers as was politely possible. It was as he watched the man go, that Merlin came to Arthur's side, grinning in anticipation.
"He has no idea he's set himself up for defeat." He glanced at his friend. "And by the way, in return for helping you shut that guy up permanently, I want a favour too."
Arthur folded his arms across his chest.
"And what would that be?"
Merlin pretended to look innocent.
"I know it won't be possible inside the castle, and it would get in my way while doing chores anyway, but when we're out hunting or on patrols, or looking into a strange report... I want to be allowed to carry my sword with me, servant or not."
A smile slowly came to Arthur's face at the request, and he chuckled.
"If you can defeat one of Kelvir's men in a duel with that sword, then I can't see anyone raising an objection to me letting you do that." He held out his hand, sealing the bargain. "Agreed."
Merlin clasped and shook Arthur's hand, still grinning.
"And for that, I'll make sure Kelvir gets a show he won't soon forget."
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Alaia Skyhawk: Hee hee hee, I think we all know where this is going XD