Hi everyone!

Here is my new chapter. I suppose this is where you are all going to hate me because once again, we go (a little) back in time and because this probably isn't what you were expecting... I hope it will not disapoint you too much!

Thanks very much for your followings/favoritings/reviewings!

Onward!

Updated November 7th 2015 with corrections by my Beta!

Chapter 37:

"I'm definitively glad Merlin wasn't at that council cession." Leon said as he sat down beside Gwaine to eat his lunch.

"Why?" Elyan asked before taking another mouthful of porridge.

"It was awful. When Arthur announced he wanted to repel the ban, the whole Council went into uproar. Nearly every lord added his own hateful comment about magic users. I can't even repeat their words. I was expecting them to reject the idea but not to be so vehement about it. I had a hard time keep calm. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Arthur. It's a miracle he managed." Leon explained and Percival shook his head sadly.

He also had expected the council lord to take the news of a change in the law badly but he had forgotten that, in Camelot, the hate against anything magic was so strong. Back in his own little village, a lifetime ago, he remembered that, even if they weren't numerous, there had been a few magic users and it hadn't meant anything to anyone. It was just the way it was. He remembered the shock he had felt the first time he had heard how it was in Camelot. He had never been able to understand why magic was so feared. For him, magic users were nothing more or nothing less than humans, with a skill he didn't have.

"Those lords are stupid toads." Gwaine said angrily, frowning at his plate as if it has offended him. "If they knew how much Merlin had done for them, they wouldn't say that! I bet they wouldn't even be alive without him."

"Probably, but as it is, they don't know. And I tend to say that's a good thing." Leon agreed, pricking Percival's curiosity.

"Why do you say that?"

"I'm worried about how they're going to react to that news. What if they think Merlin enchanted Arthur? What if their hate pushes them to some… Unwise acts?"

"You don't think they would do something harsh?" Elyan asked in a breath, looking scared.

"I don't know. But some of the lords in there were really hideous…" Leon answered hesitantly.

"If one of them so much as looks threateningly at Merlin they will have me to answer too." Gwaine declared solemnly and unsurprisingly for Percival who couldn't help but agree wholeheartedly.

"Let's hope it doesn't get that far." Leon concluded wisely, before finishing his plate.

Later that night, Percival found himself lying wide awake on his bed, staring at his darkening ceiling. Unbidden, his thoughts turned back towards one of his conversations with Lancelot. It had been not long after they had met and they were still discovering each other's life stories. The other man had talked a bit about the first time in Camelot and had told Percival about a young man that he had encountered there. Lancelot had said he was one of the most courageous and loyal person he ever met and Percival understood only now how true that was. Of course, when he had first met Merlin, he had seen a glimpse of how courageous and loyal the young man could be but he hadn't been able to grasp just how deep this loyalty could go. Because, who could live in a kingdom where you would be burn at the stake if you ever even hinted at who you truly were and yet still get on with your life with a smile and an optimism like no one else?

This revelation made Percival admire Merlin even more. It also made him look back on the nearly two years he had spent in Camelot and, he had to admit that, in retrospective, he should have known, or at least, suspected. Because really, there had been too many times they shouldn't have come back alive and yet had. And what about Merlin always coming out without even a bruise from all those battles and encounters with bandits?

Percival almost laughed out loud at their shared obliviousness. But then, his smile dropped when he realized that it all could have been different if they hadn't all been so blind. Merlin's magic surely could have helped them out of many tight situations in a blink of an eye. Maybe Merlin could even have stopped Agravaine before Morgana took the throne. Maybe, if they had known, he could have saved his mentor. Percival sighed. One sure was certain, he would now do everything in his power to support and protect their young and secret sorcerer.

It was almost a week later that Percival and the whole of Camelot were finally asked to come in the courtyard by their king. Percival could almost feel the anticipation and curiosity of the crowd and felt oddly excited at the fact that he knew what was going to be said. He watched as conversations made their way along the people and smiled. Noticing Elyan and Leon standing in a corner of the courtyard, he went to join them.

"Arthur look a bit stressed, doesn't he?" Percival asked in a joyous tone when the king and queen made their way onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard.

"Yeah. But that's expected." Elyan answered, making Leon smile fondly.

After that, silence quickly fell on the people as Arthur began to talk. Percival listened to him with pride swelling in his heart but he also kept his eyes on the people around him, trying to gauge their reactions. It was all pretty mixed with some people looking doubtful, some pretty happy and some clearly rebellious. But as Arthur continued to speak, more and more people seemed to accept his words, making Percival feel more and more relaxed.

At the end of Arthur's speech he wholeheartedly joined the "Long Live The King!" that echoed through the vast space and he felt himself grin happily, his thoughts going to Merlin, wishing he was here.

When the people began filing out the courtyard, the three knights made their way back towards the castle but suddenly Gwaine froze, his gaze fixed on a point at the opposite side of the square. Percival also stopped, trying to ask what the matter was but Gwaine was already running towards the shadowy place. The knight was confused but he suddenly felt his grin widen when he recognized the person his friend was now hugging tightly.

"Merlin looks like a startled rabbit, doesn't he?" Leon said with a smile.

Percival let out a bark of laugh. "Yeah. Well, I suppose we all would look like that if Gwaine appeared out of nowhere to hug us."

Leon nodded and they both watched from afar as their queen and king also made their way towards Gwaine and Merlin. They talked for a bit and Gwen hugged Merlin tightly. Percival felt happiness spread through him as he watched the group interact and the smile on Merlin face. He was surprised when he saw the young man bow to his king, looking grateful.

"Well, that's a new one." Leon said and Percival turned to see him smile brightly.

"I guess Merlin will never stop surprising us." Percival acknowledged.

They turned their attention back to the group in the courtyard and saw them walking towards them with a happy smile on their face.

When they were near enough, Percival saw Merlin's smile flatter a bit as he seemed to suddenly become anxious about their reactions. The knight sent him a grin and took a step forward to greet him.

"Merlin, I'm glad to see you back." He said, hugging him quickly.

"Well I'm glad to be back." The young servant answered after Leon and Elyan hugged him too. "I want to apologize though… For making you worry about me and… Well… For not telling you myself…"

"There's nothing to apologize for Merlin. We are just glad you're alright now."

Merlin nodded, looking very grateful for their acceptance and followed the king and queen who had already entered the Castle.

So... A little review to tell me if I had surprised you? If you'd liked this little insight on Percival's mind?