Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
The next morning found Merlin standing outside in the light, drizzling rain with a pounding headache and feeling completely miserable. The feast had passed without much interest. All it had done was reinforce Merlin's beliefs about Prince Cador, who it quickly transpired was rude, arrogant and egotistical. Merlin had watched, disgusted as the Prince ate and drank at an incredible rate, while slyly insulting almost everyone he was introduced to. Even though he was young, and almost every knight of Camelot was a more experienced fighter, he boasted loudly and unashamedly about his 'fight with the lord of something-or-other' and his duel with 'Sir Someone of god-knows-where'. But what infuriated Merlin more than anything, was his barely concealed dislike of the Queen. Every time Guinevere had attempted to engage him in conversation, she was met with a cold, blank stare. It amazed Merlin that Arthur managed to keep his temper in check for the whole evening. Though, on more than one occasion Merlin saw a muscle jump in his jaw in response to something Cador had said. Guinevere had retired from the feast early, and Merlin made a mental note to go and see how she was at some point during the day. Though that wouldn't be easy. Merlin valued Guinevere's friendship greatly, and knew that Guinevere felt the same. Though the time he could spend with her was limited now that she was Queen. Once the Prince and his knights had finally retired to their chambers, the feast broke up and people began to leave in twos and threes. Before Merlin had left, Arthur had informed him that the Prince would be joining the knights of Camelot in a training session the following morning. Merlin had frowned, thinking that Arthur had looked a bit too grimly-satisfied about being given the opportunity to run at Cador with a sword.
"Merlin!" Merlin was jerked roughly from his thoughts by Gwaine, who was striding across the field towards him. "Lovely day for it," he said cheerfully, holding his palms up towards the sky and feeling the rain.
Merlin made an indifferent noise at the back of his throat and passed Gwaine a sword and shield.
"What's wrong with you?" Gwaine asked.
Without saying a word, Merlin jerked his chin towards the Prince who was talking to Sir Leon a few metres away from the training field.
"Ah," Gwaine nodded, understandingly. "Tell me about it; what an arse."
Merlin looked up at the knight in disbelief. "You can't say things like that! Do you want to give him an excuse not to sign the treaty?"
Gwaine shrugged half heartedly, "If the people of East Anglia are anything like their Prince, I'm not sure I want to be at peace with them. I mean, did you see the way he was treating the Queen?!"
"I know," Merlin said darkly. "The sooner the thing is signed, the better. I'm not sure Arthur's temper will last much longer."
"Speak of the devil," Gwaine muttered. Merlin turned and saw Arthur marching towards them.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked.
"What? Yes, yes of course," Arthur snapped, drawing his sword. "Come," he said to Gwaine, "Let's get started. Merlin, I want you with the shield."
Merlin groaned; trust Arthur to give the most gruelling training task he could think of today.
Arthur turned, "Problem?" he asked.
"Yes, there is as a matter of fact," Merlin replied without even thinking. "You expect me to stand here for two hours while you take out your anger at Cador on me?"
Arthur made to respond, but before he could, a loud, sneering voice cut across him.
"I don't know what you're saying boy. But it sounds far to bold for my liking."
Merlin gritted his teeth and turned, "Yes sire. Sorry sire."
Cador looked at him scathingly and Merlin had to fight not to respond with the filthiest look he could muster.
"Well," he drawled, turning away from Merlin as if bored with the whole thing. "Let us hope the knights of Camelot perform better than their servants do." He drew his sword with an entirely unnecessary flourish and placed the tip lightly under Merlin's chin. Gwaine and Arthur took an involuntary step forward. Merlin flinched but stood his ground, lowering his eyes from the Prince's and bowing his head slightly like a servant should.
"That's better," laughed the Prince, abruptly turning his attention to Arthur. "Shall we get started then, Arthur?"
Arthur smile was painfully fake, "Of course!" he said, "Knights!"
And Arthur's word, the knights, Prince Cador and Arthur gathered in the middle of the field.
"Today," Arthur said, "We're going to focus on landing your blow successfully, when your opponent has the shield and you don't." Arthur allowed himself a brief grin. "And for this, we're going to need Merlin to act as the 'deadly opponent' with the shield."
Gwaine, Leon, Percival and Mordred shot Merlin looks of amusement. Merlin grimaced; typical Arthur, he thought to himself; making him suffer because he's annoyed at someone else.
"So!" Arthur clapped his hands together. "Who wants to go first? Remember for this exercise, we don't want anything illegitimate. So as tempted as you may be to punch Merlin in the face, please only attack with the sword."
To Merlin's intense relief, Percival raised his hand and drew his sword. Despite his appearance (which certainly suggested otherwise) Percival, of all the knights was more likely to go easy on him.
The other knights, Arthur and Cador stepped back while Merlin, grimacing hugely, picked up the heavy shield and braced himself for Percival's attack. He supposed, in some respects he should be grateful that he wouldn't need a sword for this exercise. It meant that he could concentrate more on making sure no one landed their blow, instead of waving his sword around pointlessly trying to land his own.
Percival flexed his sword hand and shot Merlin another mingled look of sympathy and amusement. Then he attacked. It wasn't so bad. Percival certainly didn't use his full strength when he was practising with servants. Each blow hit the shield with a force that sent vibrations up Merlin's arm, but for a good minute or so, he managed to block each attack as it came. Finally, Percival upped his game a little and managed get his sword pass the shield and touch Merlin's shoulder lightly. Percival grinned as the other knights applauded him politely and Merlin let the shield fall to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Well done Percival," said Arthur, whose mood seemed to have improved a great deal now that Merlin was being attacked. "Remember that in a real context, your opponent will probably remember to move his feet," here Arthur rolled his eyes at Merlin. "So you'll have to compensate around that."
Percival nodded, and sipped some water from the cup Gwaine had offered him.
"Right, who else wants a go?" Arthur said, grinning at Merlin who had been scowling deeply through the whole exchange between Arthur and Percival.
Cador squared his shoulders, "Who am I to turn down an excuse to beat up a servant?" he said loudly, to the immense amusement of his own knights who laughed raucously.
Merlin glanced at Arthur and for a moment, thought he saw a trace of reluctance on his face. But then he gestured for Cador to step forward.
"Be my guest," he said neutrally, stepping back.
Merlin huffed and picked up the shield, making sure neither Arthur nor Cador could see his face. Something about the prospect of having Cador practise with him actually frightened him. He had a particularly evil glint in his eye as he swung his sword around unnecessarily.
Merlin tightened his hold on the shield; he doubted the Prince would cease his attack if he dropped it-
Wham! Merlin gasped as the first blow came without warning. He stumbled backwards, his entire arm throbbing in protest. Cador grinned and advanced on him, striking the shield relentlessly again and again and again. It was almost as if he wasn't trying to get past the shield at all, just strike it until Merlin weakened and it fell from his grip. Well, thought Merlin fiercely, that wasn't going to happen. He began to circle the Prince, raising the shield and defending himself as blow after blow shook him. After a while, Cador's look of glee hardened and he became rather red in the face. Merlin actually laughed a little and to his delight, this seemed to infuriate the Prince even further. However, he soon regretted this action as with a snarl, the Prince did something that no other knight present would have done. Ignoring Arthur's instructions completely, he kicked the bottom of Merlin's shield with all this strength. Merlin yelled as the shield traps twisted painfully around his wrist and he fell flat on his back, the shield clattering to the floor. Cador's knights cheered loudly and the Prince stabbed his sword into the ground, his red face shining with sweat.
Merlin lay staring at the sky, completely winded and his wrist burning. Cador, apparently satisfied now with his work, threw his arm over the shoulders of one of his knights and together the group left the training field, discussing the 'fight' in loud, arrogant voices. Arthur stabbed his own sword into grass and stared after them, his dislike of Cador threatening to overspill. Deciding it wasn't worth the trouble; he turned and saw Leon helping Merlin to his feet.
"Are you alright?" the knight asked, seriously.
Merlin dusted himself off with his good hand, wincing as he flexed the fingers of the bad one.
"Of course I am," he grimly. Then he muttered something that Arthur didn't hear, but that made Gwaine laugh.
"What was that?" Arthur inquired, in mock annoyance.
To his surprise, Merlin ignored him completely. Leon took Merlin's wrist and examined it; a faint purple-blue bruise was forming there.
"You should go and see Gaius," Leon announced. "It looks like it may be sprained."
Merlin nodded and without even glancing at Arthur, left the training field in the opposite direction to the Prince. Arthur stared after him before raising his eye brows at Gwaine who just shrugged.
"What's his problem?"
Bit of a filler chapter, I know but I hoped you liked it :D I was so pleased with the response to the first chapter! Please keep your lovely reviews coming! xxx