"Grummund's the third to fail this month. How am I meant to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?"

"Well, I think I might be able to help."

"You, Merlin?" Arthur scoffed. "You haven't the faintest idea what it takes to become a knight. Courage, fortitude, discipline, lawfulness."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "No, no, no, of course, I don't, but I do know someone who does."

"Yeah?" Arthur said mindlessly, still trying to imagine Merlin as a knight. The boy couldn't even hold a sword right. He'd be on the ground in seconds in a bout against Arthur, supposing he didn't cheat with a little…

"He saved my life."

Arthur snorted. "That's blowing it for starters."

Merlin bumped his shoulder against Arthur's. "No, no, no. He's really good. Honestly."

"Good as in with a sword or…" Arthur wiggled his fingers.

"With a sword. If he's got," Merlin mockingly wiggled his fingers, "then I don't know about it."

Arthur bumped their shoulders together this time and Merlin staggered to the side.

Yeah, he definitely could never be a knight.

"That's great, Merlin. I'm sure he's terrific, but you forget the First Code of Camelot."

"The what?"

"The First Code. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So, unless your friend is a nobleman…"

"Oh, er, he, he is a nobleman."

Arthur turned to face Merlin fully. "Want to try that again?"

"He is."

"Is he?"

"Absolutely," Merlin said, resolutely.

Arthur stared him down. "Very well. Bring him to the training ground tomorrow. And make sure he brings his seal of nobility."

That should put the idiot off whatever hair-brained scheme he's cooked up.

"Thanks, Arthur. You won't regret it," Merlin said before running off.

He really needed to stop overestimating the warlock's intelligence.

Arthur looked over the paper as he walked up behind Guinevere. It sure seemed real, however…

"Please tell me you at least tried to talk him out of this."

She jumped and spun around. "Your Highness," she greeted curtsying.

He just stared at her and held up Lancelot's seal.

She sighed. "I warned him it would be dangerous. I explained why your father created the first code - or at least what I'd learned about it while Mother was working in the DeGrance household - but he simply said it was unfair and showed up with that to talk Lancelot into it. We're just lucky Gaius hadn't overheard Lancelot say he wasn't a nobleman or it never would have gotten this far."

"That would have been for the best. I can't let him be a knight."

Guinevere ducked her head. "I know the law, but… couldn't you at least give him a chance? Lancelot is a good man, doesn't he deserve the opportunity to prove his merits despite his blood?"

"The law is the law."

She nodded. "Of course."

Arthur watched her walk off, then glanced down at the paper in his hand.

Arthur scowled as he felt a familiar presence at his side.

"Is this all just a game to you?"

"No, of course not."

"You're playing with other people's lives."

"All he wants is to be a knight. To serve and protect his kingdom, like you. I owe Lancelot my life. I am paying for that debt the only way I can by giving him the opportunity he deserves. If you want to punish me for it, go ahead."

Arthur walked off, having never looked at the warlock. He grabbed a broom as he neared Lancelot.

Arthur was pacing when Merlin reached his room. He paused and turned to him as soon as the door was shut. "Is it true? The griffin can only be killed by that? "

"Gaius certainly thinks so. Arthur, you can't go out there."

"I have no choice, not unless my father can see reason."

Merlin snorted and walked over to check Arthur's armor. "Right, and the chances of that are?"

"Slim, but we need to defeat the beast before it hurts anyone else, which means there's only one thing we can do."

He froze. "Are you actually suggesting…"

"If that is the only way to kill it, then we have no choice. "

"You're always the one getting mad when I use it!"

"You're always the one using it like an idiot. Why are you complaining?"

"Because this is madness," Merlin said, starting to pace himself. "I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way."

"Not according to Gaius."

Merlin threw his hands in the air. "And what happens if one of the knights see? Do you even care what happens to me? Oh, just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Help me kill the griffin, Merlin. It's just death you're worried about, Merlin!"

"Merlin!" Arthur snapped, grabbing his shoulders. "What would you have me do? Just abandon my people? Let them be picked off by the griffin one by one?"

Merlin flinched and ducked his head. "I'm sorry."

Arthur sighed and let him go. "I'm not… It isn't an order, Merlin. I need you. Camelot needs you. I know what I'm asking, but…"

Merlin nodded. "You're right."

Arthur shifted and looked away. "I'm always right, haven't you learned that by now?"

The boy rolled his eyes and walked over to Arthur's wardrobe.

"Something to say, Merlin?"

"Only that I should get to work, Sire, " he said, pulling his magic book from the hidden compartment. "You've given me two hours to find a way to kill that thing."

Lancelot leaped to his feet as a guard opened the door for Arthur.

"Leave us," Arthur ordered. The guard hesitated for a second before marching off.

"Prince Arthur, I'm sorry. I-"

"Don't be."

"But I lied to you. I should never ha-"

"Lancelot, I've always known you weren't of noble blood."

The former knight paused. "You knew?"

"I know Merlin too well to be fooled by his tricks."

"But then why did you let me become a knight?"

"As a favor to Merlin. And because you fight like a knight."

"I'm honored that you'd turn a blind eye for me."

"It's not just for you. Camelot needs good knights, especially right now."

"The creature?"

"We could not kill it. I've never faced its like."

"I faced it myself, Sire. Some days past."

"So Merlin said."

"I struck it full square. I wondered how it endured."

"There are those that believe this creature, this griffin, is a creature of magic, that only magic can destroy it."

"Do you believe this?"

Arthur thought about the warlock currently studying in his room. He turned away from Lancelot. "It doesn't matter what I believe. The use of magic is not permitted. The knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone."

"Sire…"

Arthur sighed and stepped aside so he wasn't blocking the door. "There's a horse waiting outside."

"Thank you. Thank you, Sire."

"Lancelot," Arthur cut in, facing the former knight. "Take it and never return to this place."

Lancelot shook his head. "No. No, please, I…" he begged, stepping towards the prince. "It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honor."

"I know."

"Then let me ride with you, Sire."

"I cannot. My father knows nothing of this. I release you myself, but I can do no more. Now go before I change my mind," Arthur said, stepping across to a wall so his back was to both the door and Lancelot. He waited until the footsteps had faded away before leaving. The guard looked up at him as he passed, but he waved him away, back to his duties.

He checked in on his knights before returning to his room to see Merlin huddled over his book, Cavall draped over his shoulders.

"Anything?"

"I've found a spell that should work, but, Arthur, I've never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful."

"Will anything less kill it?"

"No."

"Then you have to try. I've seen you slow time, this shouldn't be too hard for you."

"Th-that was just instinct!"

"All the more reason this should be easy!"

Merlin groaned and muttered something that sounded treasonous under his breath, but Arthur ignored him and looked down at the book. Like always, he couldn't read the writing, but the glowing sword drawn on the page was obvious enough.

"The spell enchants a weapon?"

"Yes, which should allow the wielder of the weapon to strike down the griffin."

Arthur pulled out his dagger and held it out. "Then practice with this."

Merlin took the dagger with a nod. He sat up straight, waking Cavall. The cat gave an annoyed hiss and jumped off to go lie on Arthur's bed.

Arthur glared at the cat before turning to the warlock to see him focusing on the blade.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

They stared at the dagger for a few moments before Merlin sighed and lowered it.

"Keep trying."

Arthur idly scratched at Cavall's head as he watched Merlin try the spell.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

Someone knocked on the door and the two shared a look, Merlin looking ill.

"What is it?" Arthur called and Merlin tugged some papers over the spellbook.

"The knights are ready Sire."

"I'm coming."

"Arthur," Merlin whispered.

"Keep trying."

"You can't go."

"I have to. Just catch up once you've figured it out," the prince said, standing up and grabbed his helmet.

"And if I don't?"

"You will."

"Arthur."

The prince ignored him as he pushed through the door.

Merlin groaned and refocused on the dagger, saying the spell once, twice, three times, to no effect. Merlin growled and looked back down at the book. "What am I doing wrong?"

The door slammed open and Merlin jumped up, starting to shove the papers back over the book before relaxing when he saw it was only Gwen.

"Merlin!"

"Gwen, I'm sorry, but not right now, I have to fig-"

"Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!"

"He's what?" Merlin breathed and Gwen shrugged. Great, I've got two idiots riding to their deaths, Merlin thought, standing up. "Hide the book," he called to her before running out of the room.

He ran down to the lower town to see Lancelot saddling a horse outside Gwen's house.

"I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not."

"Just try and stop me."

"Merlin, you're not a soldier."

"You said it yourself, Lancelot, Arthur needs all the help he can get. Now let's go."

Gwen was still in Arthur's room when Merlin returned.

"You did it?"

"I did it! They're both safe."

"Thank god," she sighed, hugging him. "And Lancelot? What's going to happen to him?"

Merlin frowned. "He's decided to leave. He feels he needs to restore his honor after everything that happened."

"Which he's already done by slaying the griffin," Arthur huffed, coming into the room.

"Yes, well, he doesn't seem to think he should take credit for that," Merlin snorted. "Which doesn't make sense, as he's the one that actually stabbed the thing with the lance!"

Arthur narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, but it was Gwen who spoke. "If he killed the griffin, why does he think he doesn't deserve the credit?"

Merlin looked between the two before pointing at Arthur. "I told him it was a bad idea to have me out there. I knew someone was going to see me."

"Clearly I overestimated your ability to be stealthy," Arthur muttered quietly before saying, "So Lancelot knows?"

"Yes… But he swore he wouldn't say anything!

"Honestly, Merlin, do you even understand the concept of a secret?"

"Do you trust Lancelot to keep quiet?" Gwen asked before they could get going.

"I do," Merlin said at once.

Arthur was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Lancelot is honorable, even if someone was able to talk him into lying. If he said he wouldn't tell, then I believe him."

"Then I don't think there's anything we can do now," Gwen said and the two agreed. "I should get going. It's getting late. Goodnight, Your Highness. Merlin."

"Goodnight, Guinevere."

"Goodnight, Gwen."

Arthur watched her curtsey and leave before nudging Merlin. "You should have offered to walk her home."

"I have to get you out of your armor. Gwen can handle herself."

"It's not a matter of handling herself, it's a matter of her fancying you."

Merlin blushed as the memory of their kiss flashed through his mind and quickly went behind Arthur to start work on his armor in order to hide it. "I told you before, it's not like that between us."

"Maybe not on your end, but she definitely fancies you. You know, she's quite pretty, and for some reason she actually likes you. You could do worse."

Merlin just rolled his eyes. "If Gwen fancies anyone, it was Lancelot. You should have seen the way those two stared at each other."

"See, you already have competition. Better scoop her up before you lose your chance."

"I'll keep that in mind," Merlin said with another eye roll and an accidental tug on a piece of armor that had the prince yelping in pain. "Sorry, Sire."