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'They're good' Merlin said laughing inwardly as he watched Will and Archer glare at the knights of the round table and Arthur as they practiced and moved through forms with ease.
'We're better' Will said his head held high.
'Of course you are' Merlin replied laughing.
'Merlin, we were selected by the crystal of talent' Will replied and Archer nodded along with him. Merlin loved his friends a lot but he knew they were flawed. Arrogance being one of them, but after working with Cenred he supposed arrogance came with the job.
'And you're telling me that none of those knights would have been chosen if they had the chance?' Merlin asked his eyebrows raised. Will turned his glare away from Arthur to glare at Merlin.
'Yes' Will said.
'Oh come on Will, you have to admit Arthur is a fantastic swordsman' Archer admitted.
'I could take him' Will said sniffing.
'No doubt' Archer replied.
'He's very elegant, he moves with grace, like that sword is an extension of him. You on the other hand, fight with the same grim determination and strength' Merlin said.
'It would be an interesting fight to see' Archer replied.
'Okay so maybe the crystal would have picked Arthur, but the others…Never!' Will replied.
'Whatever you say' Merlin replied gently shoving Will's shoulder from where he was perched on the fence.
He turned his gaze back to Arthur, as he watched him instruct his knights with an air of superiority that suited him. He watched as the knights even the stubborn one Gwaine followed his every command. They were very loyal he observed, almost as much as Will and Archer were to him. But what he had ever done to earn their devotion was beyond him. All he saw himself as was the one who ruined their lives and forced them into servitude of Cenred.
'Are you two coming over any time soon?' Arthur yelled.
Archer and Will looked at each other before they grinned and hopped of the fence and made towards the open space were the knights were practicng.
'Knock 'em dead' Merlin cheered helpfully, grinning as he watched his friends mock salutes him in response.
'Not literally though!' he yelled after them.
'So what do you do over in Essetir then?' Arthur asked looking Will and Archer up and down whilst his knights sniggered in the back ground.
'Basically the same thing you do, although we combine all disciplines together, we don't have a higher archy you appear to have' Archer said.
'What do you mean?' Arthur asked.
'It's obvious you think the sword is a superior weapon, to let's say a bow' Archer said, pulling his own from its quiver.
'Well, Archery is a useful skill but man on man sword wins every time, why would I have my archers train with my swordsman?' Arthur asked.
'No wonder you were defeated so easily' Will snorted, ignoring Arthurs glare.
'I also notice no archer or axe man, in your group of knights, may I ask why?' Archer asked.
'Because there not good enough' Leon answered.
'I would like to test that' Archer said, and bowed to Leon in question.
'You want to fight me?' Leon asked looking archer up and down.
'I do' Archer answered nodding.
'With a bow?' Leon asked again sounding increasingly more sceptical.
'Yes please' Archer replied.
'Fine' Leon replied.
The two men squared up against each other as the crowd cleared. Gwaine, Arthur noticed went to stand near Merlin who was sat upon the fence feigning nonchalance and boredom.
'Your friend is going get hurt, hope you know some healing spells' Gwaine said.
Merlin had watched the young knight approach with interest. They really hadn't gotten off to a good start but since then he had noticed Gwaine eyeing him with interest, like he was puzzle he couldn't figure out. Almost as if he couldn't decide whether to like Merlin or hate him.
Merlin looked into his eyes and raised his eyebrows as Gwaine stared back coldly and unafraid, refusing to look away giving Merlin free access to his eyes and mind.
He felt sorry for Merlin, seeing his chains around his wrists and neck which created sympathy in the young knight. At the same time he didn't know what to think of Merlin, he appeared to hate Cenred yet he had used his powers on Gwaine with relish. He was also wary of Camelot's laws that had been drummed into his head. Magic was evil and not to be trusted. Yet Gwaine saw something in Merlin he had hardly ever seen, innocence and a yearning to be free he could relate too.
'I don't relish my magic' Merlin replied, and watched as Gwaine's eyebrows rose.
'You're very good' Gwaine replied.
'You knew what I could do' Merlin replied confused.
'Yes, but I wondered if your accuracy was always this reliable' Gwaine said.
'It generally is' Merlin replied. 'I don't relish my magic or what it can do, all it has ever done is cause trouble' Merlin continued.
'You didn't seem to mind when we first met' Gwaine replied.
'You insulted my friends and I reacted, I couldn't help it' Merlin replied looking down.
'I'm sorry' Gwaine said.
'Don't be, you already apologised' Merlin said.
They both turned towards the fight as Archer and Leon prepared to duel.
'He won't lose' Merlin said replying to Gwaine's earlier comment.
'How can an archer defeat a swordsman? It's just not possible' Gwaine said.
'Watch' Merlin replied.
Archer's bow was no ordinary bow; it was made out of maple which although springy was reinforced by Merlin's magic so it would never snap or break. The magic did not affect Archer's skill; all it did was reinforce the wood.
Archer spread his feet into a combat position as Leon drew his sword, Archer didn't notch an arrow. Leon struck striking out with his sword aimed at Archer's chest, which Archer easily blocked with his bow. Merlin smiled as he saw the knight's eyebrows rise in the uncommon technique. Archer blocked and used his bow in a way Arthur had never seen before; he had never considered that the bow could be a weapon on its own.
Leon struck low this time and Archer claimed his advantage, he twisted the bow so that the sword went through the gap and twisted so the sword was wrenched out of Leon's hand, In his shock Archer kicked Leon back onto his back on the ground and notched an arrow with a speed that Arthur had never seen and had it pointing at Leon's head. His aim perfectly steady.
'Yeah!' Merlin yelled cheering whilst everyone else watched in shock 'You go Archer!'
Will just smiled and shook his head at Merlin's antics. Archer put his arrow back in the quiver and held a hand out to Leon which was grudgingly took, and Archer pulled the young man to his feet.
'And that Sir Knights are how an archer defeats a swordsman' Archer said then turned to bow to Merlin who was still cheering like a child in the background to Gwaine's amusement.
'The wood of your bow, it should have broken' Leon said.
'It's reinforced not to break, it's blessed with Merlin's magic' Archer replied, and watched as the knights faces instantly turned cold.
'You used magic to win?' Leon asked.
'Of course not, the skill was all mine, all Merlin's magic does is stop my bow from snapping' Archer replied.
'Still sounds like cheating to me' Leon sniffed refusing to accept defeat.
'Well why not challenge me then' Will said striding forwards 'I assure you my blade is not tampered with.'
'Very well' Leon replied.
'Okay so your friend is good' Gwaine said, as they watched Archer go to talk to Percival and Elyan.
'He's very good, very talented' Merlin replied emphasising the word talented.
'Well his talents would be better served under someone other than Cenred' Gwaine said.
'I agree' Merlin replied smiling at the young knight.
'Why don't you join in?' Gwaine asked looking up at Merlin who was still sat on the fence.
'And scare all of Camelot with my magic, thanks but I'll pass' Merlin laughed.
'No I meant with a sword' Gwaine said.
'Oh' Merlin laughed again 'I'm not much use with one, I tend to fall over my own feet'
'Really?' Gwaine replied looking surprised.
'Really' Merlin said.
'You don't seem the clumsy type' Gwaine said remembering his grace on his white mare from earlier.
'Oh, I'm good with magic, I'm good with animals, I'm good with walking but when it comes to swordplay I'm hopeless, Will tried to teach me and gave up after about ten minutes even Cenred tried to teach me' Merlin said.
'Cenred taught you swordplay?' Gwaine questioned.
'Of course, he said it would teach me discipline and control, and Cenred is a very talented swordsman but even he couldn't drill any good into me' Merlin laughed.
'Well how about me?' Gwaine said smiling.
'You?' Merlin questioned.
'Why not, I'm not as good as Arthur, but I can handle myself just fine with a sword perhaps my style of teaching will help' Gwaine replied.
'I don't need a sword to kill someone' Merlin said his eyes cold.
'No I suppose you don't' Gwaine replied 'But it's still a useful skill to have'
'Oh why not' said Merlin hopping down and following Gwaine into a secluded part of the yard they were practicing in.
Meanwhile Arthur was observing Will fight Leon, he had to admit he had never seen anyone fight with this much passion, it was as if Will's every blow came from the heart, he also combined hand to hand combat in his style, Will wasn't above kicking someone or head butting them to get on top in a fight. He moved in a style Arthur had never seen before. He even considered for a moment that even he wouldn't be able to beat him. It would be an interesting fight.
Leon was down on his back for a second time, and Arthur was shocked. Leon was his best knight, and he had been defeated as if he was an amateur and yet Will was just a farm boy from Essetir, how the hell had Cenred found these kids? He knew it had to do with the finer details Merlin kept from him.
'To tell you, would reveal Cenred's secrets which would cost me and my friends our lives' Merlin said.
He knew this was the secret that made Cenred so strong. Where and how had he found these three kids? They would have been just simple farmers, maybe not Merlin; he had magic all his life. But Will and Archer definitely shouldn't be known to him. He wondered if Merlin had seen their destiny change in the stars along with his.
'Would you like to spar Sire?' Will asked turning to Arthur.
'Of course' Arthur replied.
'Wait a second, where's Merlin?' Archer asked.
Will and Arthur whipped round instantly to where Merlin had been sitting and found him missing.
'Does he make a habit out of disappearing, your friend?' Arthur asked anger clouding his voice.
'He's over there' Percival said 'with…Gwaine'
Arthur turned to where Percival was pointing and his mouth opened in shock. Gwaine and Merlin were laughing as if they were long distant friends. They each held a sword, albeit Merlin seemed very unsteady with it. But no, what really caught his attention was the way Gwaine had his arms wrapped round the boy and was teaching him to stand and grip the sword properly. Arthur felt a wave of jealously flow through him which he tried to turn into anger. Why on earth was Gwaine socialising with the sorcerer? Did he have to put his arms round him Arthur thought possessively?
'Oh dear lord' Will said apparently none pulsed by the scene 'good luck with that, Merlin is hopeless with any kind of weapon.'
But Arthur had seen enough and strode towards them with a determined air, ignoring the way the rest of the knights exchanged looks of shock and quickly strolled after their king with Will and Archer in toe.
'What the hell is going on here?' Arthur asked when he reached the giggling pair.
'I'm attempting to teach Merlin here how to fight' replied Gwaine.
'Yeah, how that's going?' Will asked laughing.
'Not very well I must admit' Gwaine replied.
'Hey!' Merlin said and dug his elbow into the knight who retaliated by ruffling his hair.
'If you two have finished flirting we have a treaty to discuss, I really don't think this sorcerer needs any more skills added to his list' Arthur said.
'Flirting?' Merlin question incredulously trying to catch Arthurs eyes for an explanation but he was defiantly staring at Gwaine.
'Arthur I was just being friendly' Gwaine said stepping away from Merlin.
'A little too friendly if you ask me' Arthur said 'Remember, he's a sorcerer and he's here for a reason, and that reason is not to make friends with us or anything else for that matter.'
Merlin glared at Arthur who still refused to look at him and stepped forwards.
'Fine, let's go discuss this treaty, the sooner we finish the sooner Cenred gets his land and the sooner I can get out of your sight, Sire' Merlin finished with a mocking bow, he then tugged his hood up around his head wiping his smile and turning into the intimidating sorcerer that was feared across the five kingdoms and walked away, with Will and Archer following dutifully behind.
'Well done' Gwaine said glaring at Arthur.
'What?' Arthur thundered.
'In a moment of petty jealously you've gone and pissed off your only chance of making a somewhat peaceful treaty' Gwaine replied.
'What's there to be jealous of?' Arthur replied.
'Oh please Arthur, it's obvious you're attracted to him that's why you refuse to even look at him, you're afraid he'll read it in your eyes' Gwaine said.
'You speak out of line Sir Gwaine' Arthur said his voice cold.
'No what's out of line is that you may have just cost this kingdom more than it can afford to lose' Gwaine said ignoring Arthur's menacing step forward.
'Carry on and I'll have you restrained' Arthur said.
'Well, like father like son' Gwaine replied.
And instead of making Arthur madder, the fire left his eyes and Arthur flinched with hurt and lowered his eyes away from Gwaine's. He sighed softly and turned his back on the knights and trudged after the warlock who fate and saw fit to throw his way and make his life a misery and a happiness all at the same time.
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