az: Got distracted with Doctor Who. XP. Well, in between making a ficlet for that I managed to finish this... though I really need to start on that muse for oddly...

Tiny Steps

Written by Izzu alias honou-no-izumi

o

o

Ever since this morning, the citadel and the lower towns have been abuzz with gossips and chatter. As he predicted, there was a lot of reactions arising from Arthur's sudden announcement. Thankfully, there were not that much panic amongst the people. While some were still fearful about the king's decision, some of the people had supported Arthur in making that decree.

Then again, Merlin was not that surprised to find that out. Some of those who had supported Arthur's decision were those who have been on good terms with the druids and others... being the few people that Alice had treated in the past as well as the more level-headed people who saw the sence in taking that stand. In a way, he was a bit thankful. It was good to know that not all of the people of Camelot were being excessively distrustful against people with magic. Not sure about the rest...

Regardless, he was glad that none of the people reacted very badly to the point they might want Arthur to step down the throne as the king of Camelot. Perhaps, that moment where he had gathered everyone to witness Arthur pulling Excalibur out were still afresh in their minds... thus allowing them to have faith on Arthur in deciding the future of Camelot.

Or just maybe... it was all thanks to his great skill in writing Arthur's speech that managed to convince everyone. That was a nice thought...

Merlin jumped as a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder before puling him aside in a partial embrace. He cried out before turning to find Gwaine grinning at him.

"Gwaine! You almost gave me a heart attack!" he exclaimed as the knight chuckled at him.

"You seemed to be in a good mood," said Gwaine as Merlin stared at him pointedly. "Though I'm not really sure why... was this about the decree Arthur just made today?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "You think? You don't like it?"

Gwaine shrugged. "Not quite. After all... I've had my shares of meeting some decent people who used magic back then. I understand the need to protect those people from injustice, especially when they did not do anything wrong to others. Though I can't really say much here, Camelot seemed to have a habit to attract a lot of bad magical people. But you have to blame that on the old king..."

Merlin smiled weakly before another thought crossed his mind.

"Err... Gwaine? Supposed you have a friend you knew for a long time suddenly reveal to you that they had magic; that they've kept it a secret from you in order to continue to protect you, what would you do?"

Gwaine blinked before staring at Merlin curiously. "Merlin...? Are you trying to imply something there?"

Merlin smiled nervously. "I just said... supposedly..."

Gwaine frowned before shrugging. "Well... it might come as a shock, yes... but if that friend was someone I know very well, I'd probably be able to accept them. I mean... if they had been watching my back all these times after all."

He gave Merlin a look before chuckling softly. "Like say... if you had magic, I'd probably find it amusing instead of being wary. Imagine what we can do with it... we can make pranks on Arthur... Leon... Elyan or Percival... that would be so fun!"

Merlin gave Gwaine a weird look as he tried not to appear too amused. Perhaps he would let Gwaine in on his secret much later. Who knows what mischief he would get himself into—Gwaine started to feel similar to Will after all—yeah! Arthur would not have liked it otherwise.

Though knowing that Gwaine might not react too badly on his secret, that was a comfort. But who knows what he thinks if he knew that Dragoon and him was literally the same person. Merlin thought of that encounter at the woods...

Ah, knowing Gwaine he might find that to be all too deserving. Who asked them to gang up on one innocent old man when he did nothing to provoke them. Merlin grinned, he would think about that later when the time finally came for explanations.

"Gwaine... you're ridiculous! If I had magic, I won't let you use it like a new toy to make pranks on people!"

Gwaine laughed. "Well... I tried at least..."