"Dean, get up. If we don't do stuff in the morning we'll look suspicious." Cas shook Dean awake and was grateful that he actually got up and nodded his head.
Dean opened his eyes and noticed that he was already dressed and in different clothes. More than likely due to Cas' angel mojo. He looked around a little more and thought he saw Merlin next to him, but his vision cleared and he noticed that Cas was still wearing the same outfit from yesterday. "Cas...don't take this the wrong way man...but I thought you were Merlin for a second there."
Cas laughed lightly and he shook his head. "I am not Merlin."
"Yeah...Cas I know...you know what...never mind. Hey...I'm probably gonna need to learn how to use the sword while I'm here. I do great with knives and an angel blade...but it's not a sword. Could you teach me?"
Cas' eyes abruptly met Dean's a his smile was so wide it caused even his eyes to smile. "I would love to. I'm sure Prince Arthur won't mind. They may even want to see how you fight."
"Hey I want in too!" Sam whined as he pouted, because he felt left out.
"Perhaps tomorrow...it may actually be something we can use to our advantage. They will see what type of skills we have. The only thing is we can't tell them I'm training you...we are sparring."
"Okay!" Dean said as he nodded his head in excitement.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Cas had placed the spell back on shortly before they left the room, and now they were arriving at the practice area. "Oh, Prince Arthur. Training your knights I see." Dean said as he got closer to the clearing.
"Well, if I'm not going to put these men into shape who else will. Say...you said your servant fights with the skill of a knight. Allow me test that."
"We are your guests. I have no qualms about it. Castiel, do you wish to accept his challenge?"
"I do. Thank you, Dean." Cas grinned and grabbed a sword from the wrack that felt similar to the angel blade but it was the length of an average sword. He waved the sword around, testing it's strength and weight and once he was ready he took a proper stance and smirked. Dean was taken back by it, and now he was intrigued with how this spar session might go. "What are the rules of your challenge, Sire?"
"Before I get to that, are you not going to wear any armor?"
"I won't need it." Cas shrugged. "Rules?"
"Cocky aren't we?" Arthur laughed out. "Very well, land three would be deadly blows using the hilt or knock me down on my backside twice."
"That's all?" Cas asked, feigning disappointment. "You begin, Sire."
Without further questioning, Arthur lunged forward and was abruptly stopped with a parry from Cas. Arthur moved to strike at Cas' hip but Cas grabbed Arthur's right wrist lifted it up and slammed the bottom of the hilt into Arthur's ribs. "One." Cas smirked.
Arthur felt the pain in his side clear as day, and he had never seen a fighting move like that before. "One." He agreed. He moved to aim his sword for the middle of the man in front of him but was surprised to see the man spin out of reach of the blade and land another blow to the other side of his ribs, which knocked the wind out of Arthur. 'I will not be humiliated like this.'
"Two." Cas said as he kept his calm composure and stance. Meanwhile at the corner of his eyes towards one of the gates he could see King Uther observing.
"Two." Arthur relented with a heavy breath. "Who trained you?"
"My many siblings, and Dean. Samuel assisted in my training but Dean has taught me much."
"I noticed you do not call them King or Prince...why is that?"
"They have asked me not to, so I do not. Now, I believe we were sparring were we not?"
"You speak like a noble."
"I'm an educated servant I assure you."
"Yes I can see that, and yes we were." The next round was close. There were parries, blocks, close calls with being knocked over. Then, Cas found himself on the ground due to Prince Arthur tripping him and forcing a misstep. "One." Arthur beamed.
"That will be the only one. I assure you." Cas got up and noticed the shocked expression on Arthur's face.
"You really think you're gonna win?" Arthur asked, having never seen such conviction in anyone's eyes but Merlin's. In fact if he were to look closely the two were similar in some ways.
"I know I will win." They began another bout and just when Arthur was going to try the same trick Cas did...at the moment Arthur lifted his arm, Cas used that moment to spin inward to Arthur, pull the arm down, and flip him over his entire body and onto the ground. "One." He smiled. "For getting you on the ground."
Arthur looked up at Cas, bewildered and amazed. After a short while he composed himself and stood up, readied himself once more, and they began another bout. However, this one took almost five minutes to finish as they kept matching the other's moves.
From where Uther stood he was incredibly impressed with the strength, tactic, determination, and cockiness of King Dean's servant, and he could tell by looking at his new ally, that King Dean has seen this before. He made his way to the young King and cleared his throat. "King Dean..."
"Yes, Sire?" Dean asked as he kept his eyes on the fighting.
"Have you often seen your servant fight like this? I know you said that he has saved your life many times and as I watch him fight I find myself unable to doubt that or his strength any longer but..."
"He is very experienced." Dean quickly answered. "Make no mistake, Sire...he could tear me apart if he wished to." He heard a gasp come from Uther and allowed the smile to creep onto his face. "He has had many many brothers and sisters and they all betrayed him."
"Why is that?"
"Because he wanted to be by my side. His family didn't agree. He was trained as a warrior and conditioned to not care about emotions...ever. However, he pulled me out of a situation I can only describe as pure torturous hell...and since then, I owe him more than I can ever hope to repay."
"What do you mean by torturous hell?"
"You remember the witch we told you about who is working with a creature of darkness...we called it a demon?" King Uther nodded. "Well, let's just say that I was dragged to their nest and they tortured me for a long time. Then, Castiel showed up and fought them all off. After he defeated as many as he could, he rescued me. His brothers and sisters had gotten the order as a mission but Castiel was the only one to rescue me in the end. After that, his family said they had plans for me...I highly disagreed with their plans and for some reason Castiel did to."
"Sounds like he betrayed them..." Uther stated as he now stared at his son and the servant as they continued to battle. Castiel had won about two minutes ago, but they seemed to be caught up in sparring and he certainly wasn't going to interrupt anyone teaching his son some humility.
"No...because even though it was their mission to try and save me from the nest of demons where I had been tortured and they forced me to do the same..." Dean shook his head and let out a shaky breath. "...they lied to him about the orders they were giving him, and had me torture someone. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to make me do that because he had seen what I had been through when he saved me, but they asked and I did because people were killing off members of his family...then this is where they lied...they were killing off each other and if he didn't agree to kill those who were against them and work under those who would corrupt and kill...using magic...he would be killed too. Given his choices he valiantly and with determination...chose my brother and I, and for that they have on a number of occasions tried to kill him, me, and my brother. He still has a few loyal brothers left...but only a few. Ever since then he has joined my brother and I and assisted us in matters where he has far more knowledge than either of us. He has also healed us when we've needed it. He is adept in many areas, and has been a most trusted ally and friend."
"You've had tragedy sewn into your life haven't you?" Uther questioned, genuinely shocked at how the events turned out for both the King and his servant.
"Seems like it most days. We hunt those types of creatures down so they can't hurt or corrupt anyone else ever again. We've put many sorcerers to death as well, but by our own hand. We gave them no audience. Anyway, Castiel has become like family. He has defied his own family to be loyal to us, and he refused their offer to corrupt and kill without mercy, because we were the first people in his life that told him he has a choice. We didn't even mean us...we just meant he could choose not to follow them. So, in the end...he became our friend, brother, and servant. It must seem a strange combination to you."
"No...not entirely. I can actually sympathize somewhat. Gaius, our court physician...even though he works under me...he is my most trusted friend. We have been through much together. In truth, Arthur's mother died in childbirth due to an act of sorcery and Gaius helped raise Arthur on the days that I could not find the strength to even stand. I have wronged him too many times to count, and yet..."
"Even though you wrong him too many times to count and you find you have no reason for his forgiveness...he forgives you anyway?" Uther nodded ans Dean held out his arm as if to say 'That's what Castiel is like' and Uther understood.
"It's good to have friends such as those. I believe Arthur has found the same type of friend in the servant I have placed with him."
"You gave Prince Arthur...Merlin?"
"Yes. The young man pulled my son out of the way of a dagger that would've undoubtedly killed him. So, as thanks I gave him a position in the royal household as Prince Arthur's manservant." Uther chuckled lightly as Castiel landed his son on his backside again and he noticed that Arthur's servant was stifling laughter. "You see there...he laughs at Arthur's defeat against your servant."
Dean looked to where Uther was pointing and he noticed that Merlin was grinning like a fool and desperately trying not to bellow out a laugh. "I see." He stated with smile.
"Before he became his servant...my son was brash, boorish, uncaring, snide, and prideful. He was a good son...but not a good prince. I don't know what it is about Merlin...but he brought out a good man and a good prince in my son. He is a lousy servant but because of that I allow him to stay with Arthur. Other than that...they have risked their lives for one another with one simple reason. They are friends. It's strange but it' s like they are two sides of the same coin."
"I believe you may be right."
"I believe the same can be said for you and your servant if what you say is true...but we shall see won't we."
"I would be eager to see that." Dean smirked, but it only grew when he noticed that Castiel wasn't tiring but the prince obviously was. "Castiel, that's enough. You have to let him rest."
Castiel held out his arm to help Arthur up, and was glad to see that the prince took it appreciatively. "You know, perhaps you could teach Merlin a thing or two."
"I'm sure he does just fine by your side. Besides, I was actually suppose to assist Dean in his swordsmanship. He's more of an archer than anything."
"Aren't you exhausted after all of that sparring?" Arthur asked as he dropped his arm from Cas'.
"I don't tire easily, so no, and I still have enough energy to help Dean."
Arthur nodded his head and he looked around to his knights who were greatly impressed by Cas' display of skill. He couldn't help but laugh aloud. Once it calmed he looked around once more and nodded his head. "You may all go now. Training is over for the day." Once the knights scattered he noticed that King Dean and his father were coming up to meet them both. "Father, it turns out that Castiel still has energy to assist King Dean with his swordsmanship. I think it would be a great opportunity to see his skill as well."
"I believe you're right. Would that be alright with you, King Dean?"
"Not at all. I know my friend here has almost inhuman stamina so, this shoulder be interesting." Dean promised as he unsheathed his own sword. "Let's spar in the same area you sparred with the prince. Right here."
"Very well, Dean. However, I won't go easy on you like I did on the prince."
"You went easy on me!?" Arthur shouted.
They both ignored his outburst as well as the intrigued look coming from Uther and they both laughed lightly. "What are your rules, your majesty?" Castiel asked with a dramatic bow.
Dean chuckled and rolled his eyed. "Oh, you know me Castiel, no holds barred."
"You sure you don't want me to hold back?"
"Not at all. I know you'll stop if my life is being risked, so...give me your all."
"King Dean, you can't be suggesting what I think you're suggesting." Arthur asked with a concerned expression, but confusion was also held in his eyes.
"I have spoken with the king himself, Arthur. I believe he is asking exactly what you think. He knows the true strength of his servant and if what the king has told me is true then he truly did go easy on you."
"Castiel..." Merlin asked as he stood by Arthur's side.
"Yes Merlin?" Cas asked as he kept his eyes focused on Dean.
"Would you like to at least wear some armor now?"
"No he would not." Dean answered for Cas. "He has not worn armor at any point in his life and I rarely wear armor. We will spar just as we are." Dean unclasped his cape and set it to the side and he earned a knowing smirk from Cas. "Your move, Castiel."