I sincerely apologize: it's not nice to mess with one's readers. But seriously, Oliver will make sense eventually. In retrospect, I guess I should've used one of the existing characters, but for the illusion of canonity I went with him. I changed the summary for kicks, not because I have an ulterior motive..or do I? No.

Chapter 7

After the tournament and the events that followed, Gwaine and Oliver became fast friends. Gwaine took Oliver under his wing, and roof, as Oliver temporarily moved in Gwaine's chambers. Merlin observed their interactions from afar. He missed Gwaine. He felt an ache in his chest whenever he saw the man in the halls or passing by in the streets. Worst of all was his increasing jealousy of Oliver, who had replaced Merlin in the man's life, or so he thought. He regretted the fight they had had and especially how it had ended. He had let Gwaine slip through his fingers right at the moment when the man had offered himself to him, and now he had apparently found someone else to keep him company.

Personality-wise, they were strikingly similar. Oliver was always ready to defend someone who was under-handed in a fight, and he, like Gwaine, gained an instant popularity among the women of Camelot. "They are quite popular. With women, I mean." Merlin didn't realize he had spoken aloud before hearing Arthur's answer. "So they are. Lancelot too, I hear." Arthur's forehead wrinkled. "In fact, you've given me an idea. Oh, and I get to kill two birds with one stone. Call the new knights to meet me, I'll grant them an official audience."

Once the knights were all assembled, Arthur greeted them appropriately and then proceeded to the matter at hand. "First off, you will be assigned your own servants. I myself won't need an individual servant for a while, so I'm assigning Merlin to Gwaine for the time being."

Merlin coughed. Then nearly choked. Lancelot, who was standing next to him, smacked him on his back a few times to ease his breathing. "Is there a problem Merlin?" Arthur asked, annoyed.

Merlin glanced at Gwaine, who seemed to share his divided sentiments. "No, of course not."

"Good. You'll begin immediately. You will also help out Oliver, who's staying with Gwaine until he's officially knighted." He spoke as if becoming a knight was an eventuality for the boy, Gwaine noted. Oliver would be pleased to hear that.

"The second affair at hand is that of marriage. Those of you who already have wives may leave now. Congratulations, by the way." Five knights took a bow and left. The rest, almost a dozen in numbers, stared at Arthur, their feelings varying from scared to cautiously optimistic. Arthur saw that among those remaining was Lancelot. Curses. Arthur was aware of his past with Gwen, and he felt like a monster for suggesting this to him of all men. Nonetheless, this applied to all knights.

"You have been knighted, but you have not yet married. It would be in Camelot's best interest that you should marry and have sons, who in turn will one day carry on your legacy and protect Camelot. From this day forth, I will organize a series of festivities during which I hope you men will keep an open mind and heart, and if lady fortuna is willing, find yourself a good woman to love."

Merlin glanced at Gwaine, who looked like he had heard a good jest. Lancelot, however, didn't find Arthur's suggestion humorous. "Is this mandatory?"

"Of course not. I'm the last person to tell you who you should fall in love with. I'm simply giving you the opportunity to meet some women and possibly wed someday. You will not earn points with me simply by getting married with the first girl you see. I expect you all to marry women who are your equals and who you can feel proud to call your wives. Choose well." He dismissed the men and nodded to Merlin in goodbye. It had been a long time since the boy hadn't been nearly constantly by his side. Everything changes, I guess. Merlin simply smiled that quirky smile of his. "You'll beg me to come back in under a fortnight." Before Arthur could retaliate, Merlin ran along, hurrying to catch up to Gwaine.

"So, you and me. Just like old times", Gwaine chuckled and bumped his shoulder. "Yes, except this time it will just be me who will polish shoes. On the upside, this time it's just your shoes, not the whole army's, so maybe I'll manage."

"You are not really going to polish my shoes, are you?"

"I did it for Arthur."

"Maybe, but to me it feels wrong." Gwaine suddenly had an idea. "Where do you usually sleep?"

"Either in Arthur's quarters or at Gaius'. Why?"

"Nuthin'. I just figured you might want to join me and Oliver."

"You and Oliver." Merlin's tone sounded judgmental, which irked Gwaine. "You don't like Oliver?"

"Considering the only time I had even the slightest interaction with him, he was thrown against me by yours truly, I really can't say."

"Then what's with you?" Gwaine pestered him. He couldn't see why Merlin would dislike someone as friendly as Oliver. Maybe the boy has a complex for people who treat him badly, like Arthur.

"Are you with him now?" Merlin asked, having decided to stop beating around the bush.

Gwaine looked sincerely surprised by his question. "Are you kidding me?"

"Well, we ended things on a bad note, and you said we're both free, so it would seem.."

"You are out of it. Firstly, I don't solely like men, and definitely not all men. Secondly, Oliver is my best friend, just like Lancelot is yours. Should I feel jealous of him?"

"Of course not. And he's not my best friend."

"Well he's the one you've spent most of your time with after Morgana disappeared. Not counting Arthur of course. Is he your best friend too?" Gwaine sunk to hug the wall next to him. "This is a ridiculous conversation."

"I just wanted to know if you are with him or not."

"He is my friend, which is more than I can say for you for the past few weeks. Are we still friends?"

"No", Merlin whispered. He looked to see if someone was watching, and then lifted his hands to Gwaine's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. The kiss was interrupted by the guards who passed by and greeted Gwaine, who vaguely replied something appropriate while Merlin struggled to keep his face calm. When they made their way to Gwaine's chambers they couldn't talk due to the servants, guards and other curious passers-by, but Gwaine smiled brightly and Merlin, though slightly embarrassed, felt happy for the first time since their fight.

Outside Gwaine's chambers they heard noise. They recognized the voices, as they belonged to Oliver and Percival. I didn't even know they knew each other, Gwaine whispered to Merlin, who in turn shook his head. Me neither. The conversation seemed agitated so they decided to remain hidden.

"Your father will be furious when he finds out." Percival usually stayed silent so it was surprising to hear him speak in full sentences.

"Cousin, you promised me. You gave me your word that you wouldn't tell."

"Only because I didn't know what I was promising."

"It will be alright. See how well I did in the tournament?"

"You could've been killed."

"You're just pissed because I beat you."

"Don't use that kind of language."

"Fine. If you swear you won't tell my father."

"On the condition that you stay in good health. The minute you get injured, I will call him here, and he will come."

"I know, getting stabbed wasn't exactly my brightest idea, but I promise to work harder on not getting killed."

Percival gave out a loud sigh. "To see that day.." He surprised Gwaine and Merlin by opening the door abruptly, blowing their cover. Oliver's eyes were wide and he was clearly calculating what they had heard. Gwaine, smooth as ever, opened his mouth first. "So, you guys are cousins? Did not know that."

He and Merlin got up and saw that Percival briefly considered denying the fact, but gave up. "Yes."

"I'm the king's son, and he's my father's brother's son, thus making him my cousin", Oliver quickly explained the family tree.

"Why didn't you tell anyone? If anything, having a cousin as a knight here would only help you", Merlin asked him.

"Exactly. I wanted to become a knight on my own. I guess that's done, now." He looked at the ground, clearly begging for sympathy. Percival looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression on his face.

"Nuh, we'll keep your secret, won't be Merlin?" Gwaine raised his eyebrow at the boy next to him, reminding the raven-haired boy of the fact that they had some secrets of their own. Merlin nodded nervously. Percival shook his head and excused himself, leaving the three men by themselves. Oliver's face lighted up at Gwaine's words. "Let's celebrate this joyous occasion with some pie!"

"You need to train every hour of every day if you want to stay fit after all the pies you've eaten here", Gwaine teased him, poking the man's stomach.

"I could give up cakes and train until the end of the world and I still wouldn't look like you do naked", Oliver pushed his chest in revenge. Merlin digested the information. "Naked?"

Oliver was suddenly embarrassed. "Well, it isn't my fault, in his chambers he's usually half-naked. They're his chambers and I'm just a guest, so I'm hardly in the position to complain", he added.

Merlin turned his gaze to Gwaine's, who had a teasing look on his face. "Just so you know: while I'm your servant, you wear clothes at all times."

Gwaine raised his left eyebrow suggestively. "Well, maybe not all the time.."

Merlin closed his eyes and shook his head at Gwaine's shamelessness. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Oliver looking at them with a weird expression on his face.

End of chapter

According to some texts, Percival is either the son of a brave knight, or of a king. In this story his family tree is as previously described. If the fourth season contradicts my view, I can work with that too, but hopefully I won't have to.

Edit: I fixed this chapter as there were some fibs. It's all better now. Sorry to all who wondered where Percy disappeared to at the end.