Happy Holidays, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Lancelot
Morgana stands alone on the battlements while looking down at Arthur in the training grounds. Grumant, the second son of Wessex, is the next candidate that the prince will test to see if he has what it takes to be a knight of Camelot. This responsibility is frustrating for the prince as of late (he's complained incessantly), since every man seemed to be keen on failing the test.
The Lady then notices Gwen conversing with Sir Leon and this brings back memories. There was a time when Morgana believed that Leon and Gwen would marry, despite the difference in their rank. They were as Morgana and Arthur had been, inseparatable and the best of friends (although their friendship had some restriction due to Gwen's lowly status).
Unfortunately, as time went on, the companionship became strained. Leon started to focus more on his knighthood (the same thing happened with Arthur) and Gwen was left with her duties as a personal maidservant. Thankfully, the two girls left behind became closer.
Now, there is only a shadow of what was between them. Morgana, herself didn't really mind, but she did miss how close she and Arthur had been. This is the point in which she envies Estella. Her cousin, ever the constant in her life (and Arthur's), has this ability to simply let go and move on (or so Morgana believes).
When she is in Camelot, Estella spends the majority of her time alone. Even when they were children she preferred solitude to company. It wasn't as though she was left out. There were several occasions in which Arthur and Morgana begged her to join them, but more often than not she declined. The reasons why are a mystery to her two cousins.
The wind caresses her face and the Lady sighs, contentedly. She is glad that Gwen is better off. There may not be Leon (who, of course, also turned his interests to other women, Estella being one of them), but there is Merlin. Another smile crosses her face as she recalls how uncomfortable Merlin had been when she mentioned his feelings for her maid. Still, the two are teased endlessly (but they don't mind).
Thankfully, the awkwardness that was usually between the two servants had disappeared. The ward could only wonder why if not for the tidbit Estella mentioned of Gwen kissing Merlin after he was cured about two weeks ago.
Seeing Gwen make her way into the castle, Morgana decides to do the same, as to not alarm the poor girl of the unknown whereabouts of her mistress.
Merlin looks up from the mushrooms he is picking to see an enormous eagle-faced creature charging towards him. Acting on instinct, the young boy starts to run, but his clumsiness causes him to trip on some tree roots. He continues to attempt escape, but the creature is instantly above him. Preparing for the worse, Merlin closes his eyes tightly, waiting for the pain or death.
However, a young man appears, seemingly out of nowhere, brandishing sword against the beast. The warlock sits up, but is still too petrified to move. The creature slashes it's claws at the armed man and he, in turn, drives his sword into its chest. But to his dismay, his blade shatters.
Completely defenseless, he turns to Merlin, "Run!"
The pair swiftly weave through the trees until they find a few fallen trucks that they hide behind. When the creature emerges from the forest it immediately takes flight.
"It's gone," the boy says breathlessly. He turns to his savior, "You saved my life." The other man does not respond, still trying to catch his breath. "I'm Merlin," the warlock says while offering his hand.
"Lancelot," the stranger replies, but he soon passes out, the adrenaline leaving him, as well as the blood from his wound.
Merlin quickly gathers the stranger, so as to take him to Gaius for treatment.
"Estella... Estella!" The woman jumps at the sound of her name.
She looks at Morgana, "What?"
Her cousin raises an eyebrow. "Are you well? You seem completely out of sorts, today."
She puts on a faint smile. "Of course. I simply didn't sleep much last night."
The king's ward purses her lips. "Hmm… Sir Owain has been keeping you up, again (she knows that her cousin has gotten over that sadness and this was not about she and Owain as a couple anyway)? Or was it Leon this time? Or was it both-?"
"Oh, thank you, dear cousin. I appreciate how highly you think of me." Estella gives Morgana a dry look to which she answers with a partially apologetic one (and for good reason). "And for your information it was neither of them. It was just another sleepless night for me."
"Why don't you go to Gaius? Perhaps he could make you a draught." She suggests.
Estella scoffs and then sighs while shaking her head. "No amount of remedies can cure me of anything. No tonics, elixirs, or draughts have ever and probably will ever work on me. It is as though my body is immune to them all."
Morgana is about to reply, but the sight of a stranger catches her attention. Standing next to Merlin is a tall, attractive man with brown hair and dark brown eyes.
The king's niece notices the other Lady's distraction. She follows her line of sight and the face she'd been seeing as of late in her visions is before her – Lancelot.
"A rather handsome one isn't he?" the king's ward hums in agreement. "Come, let's go introduce ourselves." Estella says rather giddily as she hooks her arm with Morgana's and pulls her toward the pair of men. The other woman rolls her eyes affectionately at her elder cousin's habit of chasing men a bit too blatantly (what she does not know is that it is all a farce).
Merlin notices the two noblewomen coming toward them and he quickly bows his head, "My Ladies." Lancelot follows suit, despite his ignorance of their identities.
"Merlin," Morgana starts with a smile, "and who would you be?" the Lady inquires the stranger.
The manservant quickly answers, since Lancelot seemed to be in awe of the beauties in his presence. "This is Lancelot." The boy turns to his new friend. "Lancelot, this is the Lady Morgana, the king's ward and his niece, the Lady Estella of Caerleon."
Lancelot regains coherent thoughts and kisses both Ladies' hands chivalrously. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my Ladies."
"Pleasure's all our," Estella replies.
"So are you interested in becoming a knight of Camelot." Morgana inquires.
The newcomer nods. "It's been my dream ever since I was a child."
The ward smiles and is about respond when Arthur arriving at the training grounds interrupts their conversation. The prince, clad in armor and his Pendragon crest, adjusts his gloves and speaks haughtily.
"Right, you jumped-up dung beetle, this is it, the final test. Pass this and you're a knight of Camelot. Fail and you are no one. You face the most feared of all foes, the ultimate killing machine." Morgana rolls her eyes dramatically, while Estella suppresses a laugh. It never ceases to amaze them how arrogant Arthur is. "You face me. Your challenge is to last one minute, free combat. Grumant, second son of Wessex, your time starts now." Merlin and Lancelot eagerly watch, as Estella and Morgana are barely entertained (they have seen this routine numerous times before). Despite Grumant's good show of wielding two swords at once, the man is on the ground before Arthur even strikes with his sword. The prince addresses Merlin, "Take him away." The manservant does as his master bids, giving Lancelot an assuring look.
Estella had already departed and that left Lancelot with Morgana. "Don't be intimidated." Lancelot looks at the ward, his anxiousness written plainly on his face. "Grumant is not as good a warrior as he likes to show and Arthur's ego is too large for all of Camelot to shelter. I'm sure you will pass."
He smiles thankfully at her. "I wish I could have your confidence, my Lady."
"When you face Arthur, I'm sure you will." With one last encouraging smile the woman leaves the training grounds and the man, after a brief moment of watching her, returns to Gaius' chambers.
Lancelot shifts slightly as the young woman takes his measurements. The silence in the house feeling a bit awkward he says, "This is very kind of you…"
The dark-skinned woman looks up at him, "Gwen," she says sweetly, "short for Guinevere."
"Ah, well then, thank you, Guinevere." He smiles at her.
Lancelot did not quite know what he is feeling. This girl before him is statistically not the fairest (that title would be given to either Lady Morgana or Lady Estella), but something about her subtle beauty attracts him. Was it the brightness of her eyes, the dimples of her cheeks, the sweetness of her smile? The man is not sure, but he tries to catch her eye, however she concentrates on her task (for now oblivious to the attention he is giving her).
"Oh, don't thank me." She glances at her friend. "Thank Merlin. Merlin would do anything for anyone, wouldn't you Merlin." The boy in question simply smiles as the maid continues measuring and he writes down the numbers for her. "I think it's great Merlin's got you this chance. We need men like you."
"You do?" And suddenly their gazes meet directly. Warmth spreads through Lancelot's chest. And Gwen feels a fluttering in her stomach, the same feeling she got with Leon when they were younger and then Merlin when he came to Camelot, but… this feeling is… stronger.
And as is her tactic whenever someone's attention is solely on her (and she's aware of it), she brushes her other words aside. "Well, not me, personally but, you know, Camelot. Camelot needs knights. Not just Arthur and his kind but people like you and me."
Merlin immediately notices the spark between his friends and smiles.
Lancelot chuckles, "Well, I'm not a knight yet, my Lady."
"And I'm not a Lady." Gwen laughs softly. The two share a brief look as Merlin looks on. "Well, we're done here. I should have these ready in no time." She puts her hand out, "It was nice to meet you, Lancelot."
On impulse, the man takes the maid's hand and kisses it. When the two men leave, Gwen finally allows herself to let out the breath she was unconsciously holding.
She silently curses herself. Why did her innocent, young heart always yearn for whatever new man that came to Camelot? Whatever this feeling is that Lancelot is stirring up, she finds herself wanting to know what it is and yet wanting to avoid it altogether.
...
"She seems very lovely, Guinevere," Lancelot comments with a clearly besotted tone.
The warlock nods, "Oh, yeah, she is. And she's the best seamstress in Camelot, I promise."
Uncomfortably, the other young man asks, "Are you two… you know…"
Merlin laughs, thoroughly amused by his friend's inquiry, "No, no, we're just friends," (In his mind at least).
Lancelot merely nods, feigning indifference. The two do not notice Estella as she turns toward the corridor leading to her chambers, a pleased smirk set on her face.
As Arthur finished up training with his knights, Gwen and Merlin are helping Lancelot with his armor. The man is constantly fidgeting with anxiety, but he tries to remain straight-faced.
"Well, you certainly look the part," Merlin observes.
"Doesn't he just," Gwen adds gleefully.
Lancelot lets out a nervous breath, shaking his head, "I don't feel it."
The prince dismisses his knights and walks over to the rack to put away his sword.
"Here's your chance, go for it." Merlin pats his friend's back and pushes him forward.
The aspiring knight walks to Arthur.
The prince curiously looks up at him, "Yes?"
The other man nods his head, "Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria."
Arthur examines the man before him. "Lance-a-lot," he says, testing his name. "My servant mentioned. Got your seal?"
He offers the seal and bows slightly, "Sire."
The prince strikes him and the man apathetically falls to the ground. Gwen covers her mouth to suppress her gasp of surprise at what just happened.
"Sluggish reactions. On a battlefield you'd be dead by now." Arthur turns away, noncommittally. "Come back when you're ready."
Lancelot quickly gets back on his feet and confidently states, "I'm ready now, Sire."
The other man is blatantly amused. "You are, are you?" He nods. "Fine, you can start by cleaning out the stables."
The other knights that were standing around began laughing. Immediately deflated, Lancelot turns to Merlin who grins broadly at him. If not for Gwen's encouraging smile, Lancelot would have probably run out of Camelot in humiliation.
It had been a few days since Lancelot arrived in Camelot and since the creature was making its way to Camelot, Prince Arthur allowed the newcomer to take the test early.
"Well, here we are your final challenge. Succeed and you join the elite, fail and your journey ends here. Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria, your time starts, now." The two men put on their helmets and take their stances.
In the next moment they strike at each other. Merlin and Gwen are standing on the sidelines, anxiously watching. They smile brightly when it seems that Lancelot has the upper hand. However when Arthur ducks an attack, Gwen audibly gasps and fiercely grabs Merlin's jacket tightly. She doesn't notice that she's done this until her friend says her name and she is quick to apologize and let go.
The fight continues until Arthur hits Lancelot and, once more, knocks him down. The prince plants his sword into the ground and removes his helmet.
"Shame," he says as he stoops down to grab the cloth attached to the other man's belt. Before he is able to, Lancelot opens his eyes and kicks Arthur's feet under, causing him to lose his balance. The man grabs his sword and stands over the prince with the blade over his heart.
"Do you submit, Sire?"
Merlin and Gwen look on in excitement until the guards grab Lancelot and the prince retrieves his sword.
"On your knees," Arthur commands, roughly. Lancelot's heart is beating rapidly where Camelot's prince has his blade pointed. He won the only way he knew how and now he is starting to regret his actions, but he soon learns that he needn't had worried.
In the Throne Room, Lancelot kneels before King Uther as he is knighted. "Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot."
The people in the hall immediately applaud as the new knight stands before them. Arthur is looking proudly as Merlin stands beside his master, rather pleased with what his friend accomplished.
"It's almost as if he came out of thin air," Morgana comments.
"I know. It's been a bit of a surprise, to all of us," Gwen replies.
"You do us a great honor, Sir Lancelot. Knighthood is the very foundation of Camelot." Uther says to the knight.
"The honor is all mine, Sire." Lancelot says, still in awe that he actually achieved his goal.
The king nods. "Your father would be very proud."
"Yes, Sire." Lancelot is hesitant, feeling as though he is being interrogated.
"I have not seen Lord Eldred for many years. Longer than I'd imagined, it seems." The older man pauses. "Last time I saw him, he only had four sons."
The younger man nearly panics, but he remains composed. "Well... Here I am."
Uther smiles. "Indeed you are, and I've kept you too long already. Enjoy the celebrations."
"Sire," Lancelot bows and the king turns away. The other knights immediately surround Lancelot to congratulate him personally and lead him to the Hall of Ceremonies.
The prince and his new knight are sitting on a table conversing and fully enjoying the festivities in Lancelot's honor. Arthur takes a long drink, but as he lowers his tankard, he sees Morgana walking with her maidservant to the table, his eyes widen and his breath is suddenly caught in his throat. She is wearing that wine-colored dress again, but this time the belt of leaves is replaced with a jeweled belt and her back is bare. Her raven hair is pulled up and her lips are red.
Steeling himself, he amusingly comments, "Here's trouble." Lancelot, not missing the touch of affection in Arthur's tone, looks up to see the Lady Morgana. "Tell me," the prince continues, "Do you… think her…" he struggles with what word he should use and having nothing else in mind settles for, "beautiful?"
The new knight only glimpses at the lovely Morgana as his eyes stray to sweet Guinevere approaching Merlin. Without really thinking he answers, "Yes, Sire. I do."
Arthur sighs, not noticing that Lancelot was talking about Gwen instead of Morgana (though the new knight's answer would have been the same nonetheless). "Yeah… I suppose she is," he sighs.
Morgana's eyes meets his as she flirtatiously pops a grape in her mouth and smiles. Arthur could do nothing but smile back, while the wine allowed his mind to think of things he really shouldn't being thinking, especially about Morgana.
...
In a dim corner of the hall, Estella is nursing a goblet of wine as she watches her cousins mentally undress each other. A pleased smile spreads on her lips, but it falters a bit. 'How long are they going to do this only mentally, though?' The frustration she has from her cousins constantly denying any attraction between them is nearly fatal. Almost as deadly as standing in their proximity when they look at each other as they are now.
Her thoughts are interrupted as strong arms slip around her slender waist and lips are pressed onto her neck. She pulls away from the man's embrace.
"Owain, really, it's too early in the night to be drunk already." She chastises.
The knight laughs as tightens his hold on the woman, but refrains from kissing her. "I'm not drunk."
"Then why are you so publicly displaying affection?" Her tone is lethal.
Owain puts on that brave front that Arthur's taught him. "My affections should be declared to the world."
The Lady roughly pushes the knight to the wall. "And I thought we made it clear what this relationship is."
"Estella-" He starts.
But of course, she interrupts, "You know that the king would not take it lightly if he was learn that his beloved niece was not as innocent as she seems and he would inflict his wrath on the man responsible for it."
Horror fills the young knight's eyes. "It is not I-I I was not the one who took your virtue."
Her face is void of emotion as she lifts a delicate brow, "Yes, but it would be your word against mind and we both know whose side my uncle will take. So, unless you have a death wish, you will never come to me again in such a way."
She moves to walk away, but he tugs at her bare arm. She glares at him and he immediately releases her. He stutters, "Are you- do you mean to-?"
"Don't drink too much this evening. I would hate to be displeased," (Although, it is more concern for his health and sobriety than his abilities in the bed chamber). With that said, she quickly walks away from Owain, leaving him watching her longingly.
...
"You know what," Merlin starts as his friend looks at him curiously, "I think our Sir Lancelot may have eyes for you, Gwen."
The maid chuckles, dismissing the other servant's thoughts, "Don't be silly."
"What, so what if he did, would that really be so bad?" he asks.
"He's not really my type," she sighs.
"Oh, well there's a surprise." Merlin leans toward her. "Sometimes, Guinevere, I wonder if you knew what your type was, whether you'd notice if he were standing right next to you."
Gwen slightly shifts her feet, "You're probably right." Her eyes flicker to his face when he's not looking.
Merlin retrieves another tankard of wine. Looking back at the Lancelot and Arthur, he sees that Leon had joined the other two knights and an idea comes to him (he is aware of the history that Leon and Gwen has).
He turns back to Gwen, grinning, "So, come on, just for the sake of argument. If you had to: Lancelot or Leon?"
This catches her by surprise and it takes her a moment to answer. Leon, her old friend and first crush or Lancelot her– No, no he isn't really her anything. Merlin is smiling in the way that tells her that he knows that she is actually contemplating between the two men (though there is some pity in his eyes, for he sees the conflict she feels). Pushing away her thoughts she chuckles and replies, "I don't have to and I never will."
Merlin scoffs good-naturedly, "Ah, you are no fun, Gwen."
They share another laugh as the celebration continue well into the night.
Unfortunately, these happy times were not to last. Geoffrey of Monmouth discovers that Lancelot forged his seal and the king had the man arrested.
As he sits now, awaiting his fate, the door to his cell opens and the prince storms in. Lancelot stands before him, preparing for the worse.
His words are laced with anger. "I should have known. How could I have been so stupid? You don't sound like a knight. You don't even look like a knight!"
The dark-haired man nods slowly, "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." The prince's tone eases. "Because, Lancelot, you fight like a knight. And I need... Camelot needs..."
"The creature?" he inquires.
The golden-haired man nods. "We could not kill it. I've never faced it's like."
"I faced it myself, Sire, some days past." He exhales thoughtful. "I struck it full square. I wondered how it endured."
The prince's blue eyes stare at the other man's face. "There are those who believe this creature, this griffin, is a creature of magic. It's only magic that can destroy it."
Lancelot steps forward. "Do you believe this?"
Arthur turns from him. "It doesn't matter what I believe. Use of magic is not permitted. Knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone."
"Sire..."
"There's a horse waiting outside." He tells him.
Misunderstanding the prince's words, he says, "Thank you. Thank you, Sire-"
"Lancelot, take it and never return to this place," the prince orders (the words are bitter on his tongue and he truly wishes he did not have to do this, but it is better than seeing this man dead).
Lancelot shakes his head. "No, no... Please... It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honor."
"I know." Arthur nods.
"Then let me ride with you, Sire." Lancelot nearly begs.
Arthur faces him again. "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."
He turns his back again to the former knight, discontinuing the conversation and Lancelot recognizes this and takes his leave.
A knock at her door causes the handmaid to turn.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, my Lady." The young man says as he enters Gwen's house.
The maid stands up from her desk. "Lancelot, what are you doing here?"
"I have no time to explain. I need weapons, armor the best you've got." He tells her.
Gwen's forehead wrinkles, "What's this all about?"
"Arthur stands in mortal peril. I must do what I can to protect him. It's my duty, knight or not." Lancelot explains.
She gives him a look of stern wonder. "You really believe that, don't you?"
"Yes, my Lady." He says with no doubt.
"Lancelot, I don't believe I've ever met your like before." She remarks while shaking her head.
The man steps closer to Gwen, "Guinevere, if I should not return-"
Fear grips at her heart, so she interrupts him, "Don't go, Lancelot. Please."
The two stare deeply into each other's eyes. Gwen's eyes pleading, Lancelot's torn, but he is known as 'the Bravest and Most Noblest of Them All' and that is title he will strive to live up to.
He looks away and quickly back at the woman in front of him. "But go I must," he tells her and she can only accept this as she goes to gather what he requires.
The knights of Camelot sent to kill the monster lay strewn on the ground, all of them dead. One warrior, however, remains.
In silver armor, Lancelot sits astride his white horse, brandishing a long spear.
The Griffon emerges from the light fog and charges toward the man, shrieking as it takes flight.
Merlin stands a distance behind, repeating the spell that would kill the monster, "Bregdan anweald gafeluec!"
The spell finally works. An electric, blue flame ignites from the tip of the spear. Lancelot strikes and kills the beast.
Despite his triumph over the creature and Arthur's strong protests, Uther refuses to bend the laws for Lancelot. And Lancelot ever the honorable (he wasn't known as 'the Bravest and Most Noblest of Them All' for nothing) could not stand for there to be conflict between father and son on his behalf.
His final words: "I must start again, far from here, and maybe one day fate will grant me another chance to prove to myself that I am truly worthy of being a knight of Camelot."
...
Estella is contemplating a vase of flowers when she catches sight of her maid staring out of the window with a sad expression on her face.
"Gwen? Guinevere?" the girl does not respond as her mistress approaches, "Lancelot?" Estella questions with a knowing expression.
"Oh… yes," Gwen sighs. (She still does not understand the feelings she has around and for Lancelot, but she believes that her fancy of Merlin has passed).
The Lady sympathizes with her maid. She knows the feeling of having someone dear leaving too soon. She decides to distract her, at least for now (for their journeys are not over yet).
"Come, Gwen. Busy day ahead," she beckons for her maid to follow and, after one last glance at Lancelot, the girl does.
Arthur stands atop the battlements as he watches Lancelot gallop away on his horse. He feels a presence coming up to him and instinctively knows that it is Morgana. They stand together in comfortable silence until he speaks up.
"Father should have restored his knighthood." He states.
Morgana nods. "I know, but you know your father. The law is the law and nothing and no one will help him see reason to change…" Arthur would have asked Estella to try her luck, which more often than not worked, but somehow he knew that this is one the rare occasions where Estella could not persuade her uncle. "However, I must say, this is probably the first time I've heard you speak so avidly against Uther."
The prince exhales deeply. "I guess you're becoming a bad influence on me."
She narrows her eyes, though the quirk of his lips refrains her from completely lashing out. "Since when is it a bad thing to stand up for what you think is right."
"Since you've got me doing it," The prince explains, "It's uncharacteristic of me."
She gives him a dry look. "Your superior façade only works on your subjects, Arthur and I am not one of them." (Of course he knows this, but it does not mean that he will drop the pretense, they all have their roles to play).
The two are quiet for a few more moments and then Arthur asks, "Do think he will ever return?"
Morgana sighs and quotes Estella, "One way or another, if something is meant to be it will happen, it only needs time."
Arthur nods, thinking of something else that he secretly (unknowingly) hopes would happen in time.
Author's Note: If it seems like Estella's got a somewhat split personality then good because this is somewhat the approach I'm going for (if not, then whatever, it's fine) I promise if you just bare with me, all will be clear, in time. And don't worry, we'll be seeing Lancelot again, sooner than in the show ;).
The Leon and Gwen supposed romance bit? I blame it on Angel and Rupert being so cute together. As usual, let me know what you think and if you have any questions, I'm always keen to answer. Thanks for reading and please review (and please don't favorite or subscribe w/o reviewing, I would like to know to what you liked about the story, I am a paranoid writer).