Chapter 2: What it's like

Ok, I didn't know if I was going to continue with this set of oneshots, but someone reviewed with a idea and I fell for it. So here it is, I hope it's not OOC.

I own nothing except the plot.

_line break_

The sound of swords striking metal filled the training ground. Knights were scattered around the area, sparring in pairs or groups. Off to one side, a group of the most loyal and brave knights in the realm were gathered around the once and future king as he used his servant as a training dummy.

"Shoulder, side, left. Come on Merlin, wake up." Called the king Prat.

"Hey, I was the one to have to get you up this morning!" Exclaimed Merlin from under the shield he held above his head. They had been out here for three hours, and the last two had been spent watching Arthur and Merlin spar. Though Merlin wasn't fighting back physically, he used his words to counterattack the king's blows. Sadly this only increase Arthur's anger, making the blows harder and faster.

After a few more seconds, Merlin fell onto his back. The knights cheer.

"Well done Merlin, you lasted much longer than usual!" Elyen congratulated, slapping him on the back.

"Ok knights, next activity. Sir Leon vs Sir Elyen." Arthur instructed, walking over to Merlin.

"Next time, try to be at least competent with self defence. It's like sparring a chicken when you fight." Arthur mocked.

Merlin didn't mind, it meant Arthur was more likely to spar one of the knights if Merlin was no challenge.

Merlin and the knights watched as Leon disarmed Elyen with a very skilful move, earning cheers from the watchers.

"My dad taught me that move, best move he knew!" Leon replied when asked where he learnt it.

"Well my old man taught me how to make the swords we use, that's a much better skill!" Exclaimed Elyen, smarting from his defeat.

"Hey, my father, and my father's father, worked in mines to get the iron in your swords, that's even more impressive!" Percival piped up, joining the competition.

"Hey, Gwaine, what'd your old man?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah, did he teach you how to win a tavern fight, or how to pick up women?" Elyen joked.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, I'm going to take a break." Gwaine replied, avoiding the question.

The other knights and the king went back to training, but Merlin had seen something in Gwaine's eyes, a look he sometimes adopted himself. The look of hiding mental anguish. He needed to follow him. Merlin ran after him, eventually catching up to him in the woods outside Camelot. He was sat on a fallen log. Gwaine must have heard him following, as he looked back at him and didn't seem surprised.

"Why did you leave the training, you normally love it?" Merlin asked innocently, but he felt he knew the reason.

"I don't know, I got bored of playing soldiers."

Merlin looked him in the eye. "You can tell me, I wouldn't tell anyone else." Merlin promised.

It was like a mask had fallen from his face. Gwaine's head fell into his hands, his shoulders dropped and he let out a long sigh.

"It's just that the other knights don't understand. I can't blame them, they don't know. But it hurt, hearing all the things their fathers taught them, knowing my father never had the chance to pass any skills to me. They don't know what it's like!" After his rant, Gwaine suddenly raised his head and stared straight at Merlin. His eyes had a crazed, cloudy look to them.

Merlin could tell Gwaine was drunk, he was never normally this emotional. He needed a friend right now, and Merlin was willing to comfort him.

"I understand, you could've talked to me." Merlin finally said after a few minutes.

"I know, you're the only one that does." Gwaine replied, standing up and walking over to Merlin. "I'm just being stupid, lets go back."

"No Gwaine, if you want to talk about this, we can do it now." Merlin offered, "Anyway, if I go back now, Arthur will load me with chores."

Both men sat back down on the log, looking out into the forest for a moment.

"What do you wish you dad had taught you?" Merlin asked, wanting to start the conversion.

"Mostly, just how to live, how to deal with life's problems. What he wanted me to do, stay with my family, or go it alone?" Gwaine admitted, "I just with he had been there, alive!"

"What about you?" Gwaine asked, looking over at his friend, his first friend.

"Me, same as you I guess, there were so many things he could've taught me, but I know that he is with me, inside."

"I guess we will just have to carve our own path in life, since are fathers couldn't pass theirs on." Gwaine said to his friend.

Both of them sat, watching the sun set on the forest. Their thought with their fathers, who never knew them, hoping they were proud.

_line break_

AN: Ok this probably sucks, I am sorry. I have no experience of living with out a dad so I don't know what it is like. If I offended you, I'm so sorry. This was written late at night, proving to me that I should never do this again.

I don't know if anyone still wants me to continue with this. If you do I need ideas, please. My muse is dead and I can't find a replacement for it!

Please review and follow

Bye

Wyrenfire