Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter nineteen: Lancelot and Guinevere and beauty and the beast part one.

"So what do you think so far?" Gwaine asks. "Is Merlin awesome or what?"

Percival sighs. "He is powerful…. Sigan proved that. He's also really good at using magic right in front of people, without anyone noticing."

Elyan nodes. "How though? So far Lancelot is the only one who has noticed."

"Yeah, but bright blue flames are quite hard to miss." Leon mutters. "I think even Gwaine would have noticed that."

"Hey!" Gwaine complained.

Gwen rolls her eyes. "We have a lot to thank Merlin for…. I just hope we see him again."

Isolde smiles. "You'll see him again."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because," Tristan answers. "The next time you need saving, he'll turn up to save you just like every other time."

Gaius nodes. "Merlin may not be able to return to Camelot, but he would rather die than abandon you to your deaths."

Arthur nodes. "But if I change the law on magic, he will return…. Right?"

Taliesin looks at them all. "He may or may not return. He has a lot of people relying on him now, he cannot just abandon his duties to the magical community…. Plus you will not be able to see him until we are finished here, we don't have all day so we must get on."

And so their short lunch break ended.

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In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

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"Have you people in Camelot never heard of scouts?" Gwaine asks.

"What do you mean? Of course we have." Leon answers.

"Well then why don't you use them?" Gwaine mutters.

"The path they took is usually perfectly safe. Before Morgana turned against us she would make that trip once a year." Leon answers.

"All the more reason to have scouts check the area first," Gwaine explains. "If the same path is used every year, it will be known as a good place to try and kidnap her."

Arthur sighs. "Can we talk about this later, we talk about this in training. Right now I want to talk about what happened, Gwen could have been killed."

Elyan smiled slightly. "I'm glad you care so much for my sister…. But Gwen here is more than capable of taking care of herself."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "That's never stopped you protecting me."

"Yeah, well, you are my sister. It is the job of a brother to protect his sister."

Gwaine grins. "Who knew Morgana could punch. That was quite some skills with a sword too."

Percival grins. "Remember Morgana told Arthur she had beaten him before."

"Oh yeah," Gwaine grin. "Not only has Arthur been saved by a girl, he been beaten by one too."

Arthur face quickly turns a bright shade of red, but before he can express his fury Gwen rests a hand on his arm.

"Stop teasing him," Gwen smiles. "It's not his fault the only one who could save him was a girl…. Or beat him." Gwen remembered quite well his fight with Morgause, it almost made sense that both the people who beat him were almost family.

Gaius sighs. "Morgana used to be so kind…. Her fear and hate turned her into what she is today. But I still miss her."

Gwen smiles sadly. "So do I."

Isolde smiles at Gwen. "I must say Gwen, it was brave what you did. You only had to say the wrong thing and you would have been found out."

"I have been Morgana's maid for years. I tried my best to act like her." Gwen answers.

Tristan nodes. "You couldn't have done it better…. I now understand why even Arthur is scared of you."

"I am not scared of Gwen," Arthur mutters. "I just hate seeing her angry and upset, so by agreeing with her or doing what she says makes her happy, I will do it."

"Of course," Gwaine laughs. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Percival looks at Arthur. "You know you could have just sent Merlin on his own…. I mean Merlin wouldn't have even had to do much. Just a couple of spells."

Leon nodes. "I'm beginning to fear for our guards, though."

"Why?" Elyan asks.

"Well Merlin is truly making them look stupid. First they chase after dice, second they fail to notice Merlin escaping and third they were knocked out by some enchanted barrels." Leon answers.

"Merlin is right though, Arthur," Gwaine mutters. "'There is just no pleasing you sometimes'."

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"Seeing Lancelot was a surprise." Percival mutters. "He seemed surprised to see you Gwen."

Elyan glares at Percival. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"I was just saying." Percival mutters. "Lancelot even fought with honour when forced to fight in a place like that."

Gwaine nodes. "Allow I bet the person he was fighting wished he didn't."

"What was that thing, in all my time smuggling, I have never come across a creature such as that."

"They were Wilddeoren." Arthur answers. "They live underground mostly, nobody uses the tunnels they live in, so it's no surprise you haven't heard of them."

"Is it just me, or can Merlin fall asleep anywhere?" Gwaine asks.

Gaius nodes. "I believe Merlin can sleep anywhere."

Gwaine grins. "You only throw water at him? I thought it was usually hard objects."

Arthur rolls his eyes. "It was all I had."

"Well lest Gwen had Lancelot for company, while Merlin had to put up with you and your 'prattish ways' as Merlin calls them." Gwaine grins.

Arthur glares at Gwaine.

Isolde smiles slightly. "I can see why you liked him Gwen, but you did not love him the way you love Arthur. Anyone can see that."

Gwen smiles at Isolde. "Lancelot was a good friend, not only to me but Merlin too."

"It is common for you to tell Merlin to shut up when you know he is right?" Tristan asks, glancing at Arthur.

Leon grins. "It is, allow Arthur will never admit it, Merlin is right most of the time of you think about it."

Percival nodes. "I love how he knew he wasn't going to like what was in the tunnels just by the look on Arthur's face."

"Giant baby rats," Elyan laughs. "They look nothing like baby rats."

Gwaine grins. "Merlin probably could have just used a spell and appeared on the other side of the mountain."

Gaius shakes his head. "Merlin's magic was not that advanced at the time, transportation spells are incredibly hard to master and if they go wrong…. Well, you don't want to know."

"What about a spell to hide his sent?"

"He could have done that, yes," Gaius answers. "But it would have been hard with Arthur there."

"I must say Wilddeoren are not the most intelligent of animals," A voice behind them speaks. "I mean they live in those tunnels day in day out and suddenly there is the scent of berries right in the middle and they didn't even wounded how they got there."

Everyone spins round to find Merlin standing there, with a young boy at his side.

"Merlin!" Gwaine yells. "What are you doing here?"

Merlin holds up a letter. "It turns out I now have the job of messenger boy."

Gwaine quickly takes the letter. "Did you speak with her?"

Merlin nodes. "I did, she is well. I must say I have to work on greeting people, poor women thought you were dead."

Taliesin looks at Merlin. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought that was obvious, but oh well, I had to deliver a letter to Gwaine. Now I'll be on my way, I have tons of work to do and I thought it was bad being Arthur's servant."

"Wait!" Gwen yells, suddenly. "Can't you stay for a bit…? We have a lot to talk about."

Merlin shake his head. "I cannot stay where I am not welcome."

"But you are welcome here." Arthur quickly speaks up.

Merlin turn to look at Arthur. "But I am not. Magic is illegal here, in Camelot. I may return when you can truly accept me and my kind. But until then I cannot return."

Gaius walks forward and pulls Merlin into a hug. "I will see you soon my boy."

Merlin smiles. "Alice misses you."

"Mister Merlin?" Terrance calls pulling on Merlin cloak. "Mister Merlin?"

Merlin glances down at Terrance. "What is it?"

"Can I show your friends the spell you taught me?"

Merlin grins. "Of course," he turns back to face the group. "This by the way, is Terrance. He is my apprentice."

Gaius raises an eyebrow. "How is this not going to end in trouble?"

Merlin grins, as Terrance preforms the spell. A small bird made from fire bursts to life on his palm before flying around the cave and vanishing. Gwen smiles at the display, while everyone else was slightly shocked. Gaius couldn't believe someone so young could preforms such a spell.

"Well like I said, I must be going." Merlin grins, as he and Terrance vanish from sight.

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"Merlin is just so funny sometimes." Gwaine laughs. "'oh, oh, what's that Wilddeoren eating…. It's alright, don't worry it's just Merlin!'."

Arthur smiles at that. "And seconds later Merlin proves who wise he can be sometimes."

"Yeah," Percival snorts. "Who knew you were capable of doing emotional speeches."

Isolde glances at Gwen before smiling. "See Gwen he wanted to marry you, even then. And he was willing to risk his life for you."

Gwen smiles slightly. "Feeling change, do they not?"

Elyan smiles. "Like Arthur could walk and talk at the same time, that is after all multitasking."

Leon smiles. "I'm surprised he can use a sword and shield at the same time."

Arthur just glared at them. "Has Gwaine put you up to this?"

"Have I put them up to what?" Gwaine asks.

Arthur just glared at them. "I am your king, remember that."

"Yeah, like we could forget. It's all you go on about." Gwaine mutters. "Between being king and going on about how evil sorcerer is there is little else you talk about."

Elyan nodes. "Now we all know why Merlin gets so fed up with him sometimes."

Percival nodes. "You have to feel sorry for Merlin, being insulted all the time and being told you are no more than a servant."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Arthur growls.

Leon shakes his head. "The only thing missing is Merlin."

"It was brave of Lancelot to recue Gwen like that. I mean the risk he took was quite large." Tristan mutters.

"Arthur and Merlin recued them," Isolde points out. "There were only two of them."

"Yeah but one is the most powerful warlock ever."

Isolde rolls her eyes. "There were still only two of them."

"Merlin really does have a habit of dropping lights on people doesn't he?" Percival mutters. "First Mary Collins now this."

Gwaine grins. "So you're safe from Merlin as long as you do not stand under anything droppable, such as lights, trees, walls-"

"We get in Gwaine." Elyan snaps.

Leon glances at Arthur. "He isn't that useless, the speed he climbed over that fence. I don't think you could have gotten over that quick without a run up."

"And so Merlin saves you all once again." Gwaine grins. "How are you ever going to pay Merlin back, Arthur?"

"I have some ideas." Percival grins.

Elyan shakes his head. "You really know what to say don't you Arthur? And you wounded why it took you and Gwen so long to get together."

Leon nodes. "But it proves Lancelot was both brave, noble and honourable."

Gwen smiles sadly. "He left so me and Arthur could be happy and look how that turned out."

Arthur turns to face Gwen. "I guess now is the right time to say it-"

"No, Arthur, please. I cannot forgive myself."

"I don't care…. I just don't want to ever lose you."

Arthur takes both of Gwen's hands in his, suddenly in a world of their own.

"Will you marry me?" Arthur asks.

"Yes," Gwen replies trying not to cry. "Yes with all my heart."

And they kiss.

"And they all lived happily ever after." Gwaine grins, ruining the moment completely.

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In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

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"Troll magic," Gaius mutters shaking his head. "Even Merlin found in complicated."

Gwaine looks at Gaius. "So like anyone could do that? I mean change their appearance."

Gaius nodes. "All those with magic are capable of doing it, if they know the right spell. Merlin has changed his appearance before. You can use spells or you can use glamour's."

"What are glamour's?" Gwen asks.

"A spell which changes the eye which see you, not what you actually look like." Gaius answers. "Those with strong magic can see through glamour's, so Merlin has always had to use spells which change his appearance. Otherwise Morgana would have known who he was from the start."

Elyan glances at Gaius. "Pot collecting every Thursday? I can see why Merlin found that boring."

"If I do not have pots, I have nothing to store my herds in. If I have no herds I can make no medicine." Gaius answers. "Merlin was my apprentice you know. It was his job to help me, well still is."

"Still is?" Percival asks.

Gaius nodes. "Merlin is now mine and Alice's joint apprentice. Alice teaches him healing spells, while I teach him the nature based side of healing. We will make a physician out of him yet."

"God help Merlin," Leon mutters. "He's going to need it." Leon had once talked to Gaius about the healing arts, so knew how passionate Gaius was about the subject.

"You were wary of Lady Katrina from the start," Gwen mutters. "Why was that?"

"Lady Katrina was said to have died like the rest of her family." Gaius answers. "And then she suddenly turns up in Camelot with no more than one servant."

Gwaine grins at Arthur. "I see you enjoyed your father flirting with the lady Katrina."

Arthur groans. "Don't remind me…. And even to this day Merlin hasn't learnt to knock."

Isolde looks at Gaius. "So that test proved to you that the lady Katrina wasn't who she said she was. But I don't get what you could have done about it? I mean the king was quite taken with her."

Gaius nodes. "Me and Merlin knew we could do something about it, if we knew who we were up against. Well Merlin would do most of the work."

"Merlin really does have a habit of spying on people, doesn't he?" Tristan mutters.

Gaius smiles. "Merlin is always spying on people. But he only spied on those who need to be spied on."

"Well his spying paid off," Leon mutters. "He found out Jonas had a tail."

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"I can see how you and Merlin had a hard time trying to convince the king, that his 'new lady friend' was a troll." Gwaine grins.

Elyan grins. "Must have been hard on you and Merlin, Gaius. You both knew the truth but no believed you."

Leon nodes. "Uthur really did fall for her fast."

"Merlin as it seems is also good at following people." Percival mutters.

"And sneaking about in my room." Arthur adds.

Gwen glances at Arthur. "I can now see why Merlin found it so easy to lie about his magic, you came up with the lie for him."

"Feed him to the dogs?" Tristan asks.

Arthur rolls his eyes. "How was I to know he was spying on her, to find out she was a troll."

"Well maybe you should start believing Merlin more." Leon advices.

Gaius smiles slightly. "It's just a shame every time Merlin uncovers something like this he always becomes the target for assassinations or traps or even unfortunate accidents."

"Assassinations?" Gwaine yells.

Gaius nodes. "He uncovers at least two or three plots each year and ends up becoming the target. Thinking about it you might see some of those adventures."

"Well I'm just glad Merlin was there," Gwen mutters. "I know you and Merlin have saved us."

Gaius smiles. "Even I have the honour of taking credit for Merlin work. As much as Merlin complains about it, he wouldn't want to be rewarded for it, I'm surprised he even let the druids crown him. He has never liked being centre of attention, with everyone watching him his secret was more likely to be discovered."

"And so the king was enchanted by a troll." Gwaine grins.

Tristan nodes. "It could have been worse."

"How could my father marrying a troll be worse?" Arthur demands.

"He could have banished you and Morgana, lady Katrina certainly didn't like the fact you and Morgana were around and trying to convince the king of her true form." Tristan answers.

Gwen looks at Gaius. "You really wanted Merlin to use magic in front of the king?"

Gaius nodes. "It was the only way we could expose Katrina."

Isolde shakes head. "He could have been caught. Uthur would have had him executed."

"We knew the risks." Gaius mutters.

"I can see why Merlin has to do most of the work." Gwaine mutters. "Least he doesn't sleep on the job."

Gaius looks slightly sheepish at that. "It had been a long day, I'm not as young as I once was."

Arthur shakes his head. "I can't believe Merlin used magic in front of the whole council like that and no one noticed."

"Jonas noticed." Percival points out.

Leon nodes. "So now Jonas and Katrina know Merlin has magic, that can't end well for Merlin."

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"I don't know who is more stupid, Gaius for telling the king. Or Merlin for telling Arthur." Elyan mutters. "I'm sure both of them knew it wasn't going to end well."

Arthur sighs. "A troll, I mean come on. Like anyone would have believed that."

"Gaius believed it." Percival points out.

Gwaine nodes. "Jonas had a tail that was all the proof you really needed to know something wasn't right."

"Merlin knew it was a trap so why did he go?" Leon asks.

"Merlin had no choice, of what Jonas said was right and Merlin did not go, Katrina would become queen. But if it was a trap Merlin knew he could get out of it and he would know to look for the potions elsewhere." Gaius explains.

"Trapped in the trolls' lair." Tristan mutters. "I bet he enjoyed that."

"Must have been tiring, spending your whole night repeating the same spell." Isolde mutters. "That must have been powerful magic."

Gaius nodes. "It was. But Merlin has power beyond all others, nothing poses a challenge for too long."

"And so Merlin escapes," Gwaine mutters. "That spell must be so useful when he needs to escape from places."

"It is." Gaius answers. "Merlin has been trapped plenty of times in the past, but I fear at the time it was too late, he arrived after the wedding was complete."

Percival smiles. "So the king married a troll."

Gwaine starts to laugh, while all the others try to keep a straight face. Arthur just glares at Gwaine.

"This isn't funny." Arthur growls. "My father married a troll."

With that all the other knights start to laugh, even Leon. Tristan and Isolde can't help but smile and Gaius and Gwen try and hide their laughs the best they can. Arthur just glares at them and shakes his head, it really wasn't funny, he was just glad Merlin wasn't here. He could almost hear the 'I told you so'.

Hey all, hope you liked that chapter. I will return Freya soon. I'm planning on returning here after they have all seen her in the water the fisher king gave Merlin, so it won't be for a couple of chapter. But Merlin will speak of her and possible see her before that ;). Leave a review and let me know what you think,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.