Ok. This chapter is longest so far as I seem to have gotten slightly carried away. I hope that it still reads well and you all enjoy it. :) Thanks to everyone who continues to read.

Elyan

Gwaine stopped the bottle's motion with his hand and everyone looked to him confused at his action.

'I've just realised,' he mused. 'We have all done either a truth or a dare. So now it gets interesting.'

'How so?' Lancelot asked, his forehead creased slightly in confusion.

'Well, whoever it stops on first they have to do a dare if they did a truth or a truth if they did a dare.'

'Kinda obvious Gwaine,' Leon looked a little irritated as if Gwaine was suggesting the rules were difficult.

'Ah, but the next person has to be the opposite of the first person so we have to spin until we have both a truth and a dare.' Gwaine smiled triumphantly as everyone else rolled their eyes. The rules really weren't that difficult.

Gwaine set the bottle in motion once more and everyone eyed it with suspicion. The bottle finally started to slow and stopped on Elyan.

'Right Elyan,' Gwaine grinned mischievously, 'you did a truth last time so now you must do a dare.'

Elan sighed as he really didn't want to do a dare. None of the dares had gone without problems and he knew his certainly wouldn't. He always ended up in trouble.

'Leon,' Elyan declared hoping that the blonde knight would be kind. Leon's smile said otherwise.

'I dare you to play a trick on your sister,' Leon eyes were twinkling now and Elyan groaned aloud. This was what he had dreaded.

'Do I have to prank my sister?' he whined and everyone else started laughing loudly.

'Yes you do!' Gwaine said cheerfully while Elyan groaned again. Gwaine shoved the bottle into Elyan's hands and Elyan made to spin it but Gwaine stopped him.

'As Elyan did a dare there is only me, Leon and Percival who have yet to do a truth. So if the bottle stops on Merlin, Lancelot or Elyan we have to spin again,' he clarified. He removed his hand from the bottle and spun it again.

The bottle stopped at Lancelot who just smirked. He had gotten off easy with his truth and due to Elyan's dare he knew he couldn't be chosen. Elyan reached out and spun the bottle again this time it landed on Merlin.

Elyan rolled his eyes, 'Third time lucky,' he announced as he spun the bottle again and this time it landed on Percival who let out a low groan.

'So Percival, who is going to ask you a truth?' Gwaine was definitely in his element.

Percival considered for a moment, 'Merlin,' he finally decided.

Merlin sat there thinking for a moment as he was sure that Percival would pick Elyan or Gwaine. The men had become rather close since their sudden appointments as Knights of Camelot.

'Ok. Have you ever been beaten by a girl?' he asked as the other knights dissolved into laughter. However Percival lowered his eyes to the floor and showed no sign of amusement. It was something they often joked about with Percival being as large as he was. Merlin quickly realised he had hit some kind of nerve as did the others when they noticed Percival's demeanour.

'Oh Percival I'm sorry I-,' Merlin stammered but Percival didn't appear to hear him. The big man just stared at the floor lost in his own thoughts. Concerned gazes were met around the room and eventually Lancelot placed a gentle hand on Percival's left shoulder trying not to startle him.

Percival turned to Lancelot and then looked around the room and saw the concerned looks on his friend's faces. Maybe it was time they knew. Lancelot knew some of it but rarely did he speak of his past. He didn't really know how to approach the subject if he was honest. Was now the moment to tell them? Would they think less of him if he told them who he was before he met them? Lancelot never viewed him differently.

'Percival I'm sorry. I could ask something else,' Merlin looked clearly distraught at the pain he had obviously caused the big knight.

'It's ok Merlin,' Percival did his best to smile at his friend. 'I think maybe it's time I told you all the truth about my past.'

'You don't have to if you don't want to,' Leon said kindly.

'Yeah. This is only a stupid game,' Gwaine agreed.

'I'd like to, if you'd all hear it,' Percival said slightly apprehensively but was reassured when they all nodded. He bent his knees towards his chest and rested his arms on his knees, linking his hands together. Lancelot gave his shoulder a squeeze in encouragement.

'In answer to your question Merlin, yes I was constantly beaten by a girl until I had a growth spurt at thirteen,' Percival offered a weak smile to Arthur's servant and Merlin returned it. 'That girl was my older sister.'

Everyone was listening intently. They all knew that Percival had suffered at the hands of Cenred but none of them knew in detail what had happened. Percival was an enigma when he arrived alongside Lancelot and he was generally quiet and didn't talk about himself.

'She was five years older than me,' Percival continued. 'Her name was Alana,' Percival smiled fondly remembering his sister. 'She wasn't a lady, my sister. We grew up Lonsdale, a small border village. She would pick a fight with any of the boys she could and usually she won,' Percival was smiling from the heart now as the others could clearly see it.

'Did she fight you?' Elyan asked quietly.

'Of course she did,' Percival laughed. 'She was five years older than me so she won most of the time. Only once I started growing did I start to win. By the time I was eighteen I could easily lift her over my shoulder. She hated that.'

'I hate that!' Gwaine quipped as everyone laughed heartily, including Percival.

Percival's face darkened quickly as everyone realised that this tale did not have a happy ending for Alana.

'I was in the forest when it happened,' the big man's eyes dropped to the floor again. 'I heard screams coming from the village but by the time I got there Cenred's men had destroyed everything and set the village on fire. I never heard my parents or my sister screaming so they must have been killed before our house was set alight.'

Lancelot's hand was still on Percival's shoulder and Percival couldn't have been more grateful. Tears were starting to run down his cheeks as he realised he was crying openly and no-one was judging him. A square handkerchief appeared in front of him and he looked up to see Merlin holding it. He took it and nodded his thanks to his friend as he dabbed his eyes.

Percival suddenly became aware that everyone was closer to him now. Without him noticing the circle had closed to comfort him and he couldn't help but smile weakly at his friends' gesture.

'I remember being taken to another village but I didn't stay there long,' Percival's voice was scratchy but he wanted to continue. 'I swore revenge on Cenred but I didn't know how to fight. In my grief I decided to pick a fight with any man that would fight back,' Percival admitted feeling ashamed of his actions. 'I quickly realised that if I was going to get to Cenred I had to learn to fight with a sword. I travelled all around and started to earn money for my fights. I used my height and strength to my advantage and continued to win. I thought I was invincible and that I could fight my way through Cenred's guards and kill the man himself. To be honest I'd lost all respect for myself.' Percival was now wringing his hands in a nervous gesture but the other men in the room didn't comment.

'Then I picked one fight too far,' Percival turned to Lancelot whose hand hadn't left Percival's left shoulder since Percival had started talking. Lancelot smiled in response.

'He beat ya?' Gwaine grinned taking a swig of wine.

'Yep,' Percival nodded. 'Disarmed me and knocked me on my backside in three moves.'

'He is rather good,' Merlin said understatedly causing everyone in the room to roar with laughter.

'So you two became friends after that?' Leon asked.

'Not exactly,' Lancelot replied smiling, offering reassurance to Percival. He knew this would be difficult for the big man.

'I attacked him,' Percival was staring at the ground again. 'I couldn't understand how I had lost.'

'He's bloody good, that's why!' Gwaine quipped as Percival smirked at his friend's joyful banter.

'You must remember that I thought I was invincible,' Percival explained. 'How could I be beaten? I attacked and tried to strangle him. I had a very good grip but he weaselled out of that as well.'

'To be fair I had no choice,' Lancelot added cheerfully. 'That's quite a grip you have but luckily for me I had a few tricks up my sleeve.'

'I kept trying to beat the man who beat me. In the end Lancelot took me down with a ferocious blow,' Percival was now sure that the men in this room would not judge him just like he and they hadn't judged Elyan. 'Next thing I remember was waking up on a bed in the tavern. Lancelot was reading a book and smiled cheerfully when he realised I was awake.' Percival suddenly realised that he had never thought to ask Lancelot a very important question and turned to the knight on his left, 'Why did you help me? Why not just leave me where I fell? I tried to kill you!'

'Quite simply because I saw myself in you,' Lancelot replied honestly. 'I had been in that frame of mind where I didn't truly care if I lived or died. I fought for money but to be honest I couldn't have cared if the next fight was my last. You were in the same darkness that I had been in. The only remedy that I know of is having a friend that cares about you.' Lancelot turned to his left to smile at Merlin.

'That's why you kept in touch,' the warlock smiled at his friend who nodded.

'I remembered why I wanted to live,' Lancelot then turned back to Percival. 'I wanted to give you a reason to live.'

'You did,' Percival replied with fondness in his voice. 'Lancelot helped to train me with a sword and how to use my height and strength as an advantage. Also how to overcome my weaknesses. He allowed me to travel with him and I knew you sent a letter when we moved but I never asked. When we were in Haldor that was when you got Merlin's message about him needing your help. I was so surprised at how you made the decision instantly that you were leaving at first light for Camelot. You told me it would be dangerous and that I could come with you if I wanted to. You had something to fight for. It was only after I agreed that you told me that Cenred's army was involved.'

'I wanted you to come with me for the right reasons,' Lancelot said quietly.

'The rest you all know,' Percival continued. 'We came up to the cave and saw you all trying to flee from the men chasing you and I pushed the rocks to block their path. I was surprised at Arthur. He didn't act like a prince. I never saw any judgement from him which was something I was afraid of. I know it was a suicide mission to go with Arthur to take back Camelot but I finally felt that I had something to fight for. I could never have dreamed of becoming a knight.' Percival finished and looked up at the others for their response.

'Thanks for telling us,' Leon smiled at his friend.

'We've all been to dark places. There's no shame in it,' Gwaine agreed.

'Well, Gwaine should know as he goes there frequently,' Merlin's eyes were sparkling with mischief as the mood was suddenly lifted and the knights roared with laughter.

'Now that's just not fair,' Gwaine retorted once the laughter had died down. 'Wait a minute,' he looked at the empty wine bottle in front of him, 'actually it's perfectly fair.' Raucous laughter filled the room as Gwaine's expense.

Percival felt his spirits lift. These men were his friends and they would never have judged him harshly for his past and he was glad he had shared the truth with them. They all had the ability to understand the when to listen and comfort and when the mood needed to be lifted. He knew his parents and Alana would be proud of him and he was proud of the man he had become.

Elyan had no idea how he could prank his sister. He was pacing in his room trying to think of a way to get to her. After pacing in his room for a while Elyan decided to go for a walk. He met Gwaine in one of Camelot's many corridors.

'Got your prank sorted yet?' Gwaine teased.

'No,' Elyan admitted. 'I have no idea how to get to her.'

'You'll think of something. I think she went down to the market,' Gwaine winked and left.

Elyan decided that he had no better plan and made his way down to the market. Maybe he could find some inspiration here. He spotted his sister talking with one of the other maids. They were stood by the perfume stall and Elyan decided to move closer.

'Oh it smells lovely,' Gwen gushed at a perfume she was testing.

'It's so unusual,' her friend said.

'I'm going to get it,' Gwen was giggling and laughing and Elyan saw the perfume bottle that she purchased and a brilliant idea entered his head. He watched as Gwen and her friend moved away happy with their purchases.

He moved over to the stall and the vendor asked what he was looking for. Elyan immediately spotted the perfume bottle and asked to look at it.

'Been popular that one,' the vendor grinned. 'You looking for a lady friend?' the vendor looked knowingly at Elyan.

'Something like that,' he replied as paid the man and left. He needed one more item for his plan to work. He spotted the correct stall and quickly purchased what he needed. Now he just needed to set it up.

Elyan watched as Gwen left her house and quickly swapped her perfume bottle with the sabotaged one. He placed the real one in the cupboard. He knew he may have to wait for the results but he was sure it would work. He quickly left and returned to the castle in a triumphant mood.

'You look happy,' Percival commented on seeing Elyan. 'You got it sorted then?' he whispered and Elyan nodded in reply.

A FEW HOURS LATER

Elyan was sat in his room doing everything he could to scrub his hands but they just wouldn't come clean. He was starving and needed to eat but the state of his hands was obvious. He decided to put on his gloves and say his hands were cold.

Gwen applied her new perfume and returned to the castle to tend to the King. It smelled lovely and she had not noticed the problem that had been caused by Elyan's sabotage. She realised that she was getting some strange looks but dismissed them as she served the King his dinner.

Uther was struggling in the aftermath of Morgana's betrayal and she tended to him for Arthur. Uther looked strangely up at Gwen and Gwen realised that it was same look that everyone else had been giving her.

'Why is your neck blue?' Uther asked and Gwen dashed to the mirror to see her skin was bright blue from where she had applied the perfume. She quickly snatched a cloth, wet it and tried to remove the colour but it was no use.

She quickly made her excuses and found her friend who was horrified and said she too had applied the perfume but she wasn't blue. Gwen knew she had to get home and then Arthur appeared with Merlin alongside. She tried to move out of his way but he saw her.

'Gwen,' he called and she placed her hands over her neck. 'Is something wrong with your neck?'

'No, I'm fine,' she tried to convince him but he knew her better than that. He carefully pulled at her hands to reveal her blue neck. Merlin had to restrain himself from laughing as he realised that this was Elyan's work.

'What happened?' Arthur asked shocked at the sight before him.

'Somebody has clearly swapped the perfume I bought at the market this morning,' Gwen was thoroughly embarrassed. 'It was fine when I tested it so someone has done this on purpose,' she sighed heavily trying not to cry.

'When I find who has done this they will spend a month in the stocks,' Arthur replied defiantly. Arthur noticed Merlin's slight change in demeanour and began to wonder if his servant knew about this. There had been a lot of strange goings on recently but he couldn't prove that Merlin and most likely the knights were involved.

'I'll see if I can find something to help,' Merlin said quickly and left, increasing Arthur's suspicion.

'Go home. It will be ok,' Arthur said as he wrapped his arms around Gwen. She nodded as she didn't trust herself to speak and headed home.

Merlin searched for Elyan and finally found him in the mess hall where the knights ate. Amusingly Elyan was wearing his gloves and Merlin knew exactly why.

'Elyan, why are you wearing your gloves?' Merlin asked and the other knights turned their attention to the two men.

'My hands are cold,' Elyan replied. It was same lie he had told everyone else.

'So cold that they've turned blue no doubt?' Merlin was pleased to see the realisation on Elyan's face and the other knights twigged that Elyan's prank had come to the fore.

'Show us your hands then!' Gwaine was positively beside himself.

Elyan slowly removed his gloves to reveal his fingertips were stained bright blue. For some reason the knights found this hilarious.

'It won't come off!' he whined and that only made the knights laugh louder.

'So you are the reason why your sister's neck is blue,' Merlin stated smugly grinning at the now shrinking form of Elyan in his embarrassment.

'Wait a minute, you dyed your sister's neck blue?' Lancelot asked shocked.

'How?' Leon questioned with his voice dripping with amusement.

Elyan became aware that all there focus was on him. He knew he would have to tell them how he did it.

'I saw her buy some blue perfume so I bought the same bottle,' he started. 'I then bought some blue dye and poured the dye into my bottle and then switched it for hers,' Elyan looked sheepishly to his friends who were now in fits of laughter.

'I need to see this,' Gwaine made to move but Merlin stopped him.

'I don't think that's a good idea,' he said. 'She was rather upset.'

'I'm not surprised,' Percival mused. 'If any of you try something like that on me, I'll pummel you!'

'So how do we solve this problem?' Lancelot tried to keep his voice steady but failed as his amusement was clear.

'I'm going to go to the laundry and see if they have anything that might help,' Merlin answered.

'Please Merlin, find something,' Elyan begged. 'I can't have blue fingers!'

'Not to mention that Arthur will work it out and-' Leon added.

'We'll all be taking turns in the stocks for the next couple months,' Lancelot finished.

Just at that moment Arthur walked into the mess hall and he wasn't surprised to find Merlin there with the knights. Elyan quickly hid his hands and the knights turned innocently towards their prince.

'Merlin!' Arthur barked at his servant. 'Don't you have more pressing matters?' Arthur knew Merlin would understand him but if there was any chance that the knights didn't know what had happened to Gwen he wanted to keep if from them.

'Oh. Yes. Going,' and Merlin left Arthur to glare at his knights.

'I hope you're all enjoying your holiday,' Arthur smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. This did not go unnoticed by the knights. 'Tomorrow there will be training so don't be late.' Arthur turned and left.

'He knows, doesn't he?' Gwaine whispered.

'He's not stupid,' Lancelot agreed.

'He doesn't have any evidence yet,' Leon reminded them as Elyan quickly secured his gloves.

Merlin made his way down to the section of the laundry where material was dyed and quickly found the person he was looking for.

'Hello Mary,' he called cheerfully.

'Merlin,' she replied. She was a large woman, about five years older than Merlin with dark brown hair and eyes to match. 'Been too long. Where ya been?' she pulled him into a hug and Merlin hugged back.

'Been chasing around after the royal prat,' he said quietly and she playfully slapped on the arm.

'What you need?' she asked raising her eyebrows.

'A friend of mine had had an accident with some dye,' Merlin decided that this was enough detail as he really didn't want rumours spreading. 'Do you have an effective way of removing dye stains?'

'Course we do you numbskull,' she responded playfully. 'You think I go home lookin' like this!' she showed him her hands which we covered in purple and red dye. She moved over to a cupboard and brought out a large jar that was half-filled with white power.

'Here,' she thrust it into his arms. 'For hands you need two teaspoons in water and the dye should come right off. For harder to reach areas, she rolled up her sleeve to show her forearm, make a paste and rub on to the skin and then wash off gently.'

'Thanks Mary,' Merlin smiled.

'Now get out of ma laundry,' she shouted grinning as the young man left.

Merlin made his way up to Elyan's room and found the rest of the knights sat on Elyan's bed while the man himself was desperately scrubbing his hands.

'Elyan stop,' Merlin made his presence known.

'Please tell me that's going to work Merlin,' Elyan's tone was rather desperate.

Merlin added two tablespoons of the powder to the basin Elyan was using and slowly the water turned blue as the blue dye was removed from Elyan's hands. Elyan's relief was clear for all to see.

'Well at least he can't be caught blue-handed!' Gwaine exclaimed to the laughter in the room.

'You've been sitting on that since you saw my hands, haven't you?' Gwaine could only nod and chuckle in reply.

'Merlin, where are you going?' Lancelot asked.

'To give this to Gwen,' Merlin ran from the room.

Merlin knocked on Gwen's door but received no reply. He knew she must be inside so he tried again.

'Gwen it's Merlin,' still no reply. 'I think have something that may help you.' He heard footsteps and the door opened a fraction and a clearly despondent Gwen looked up at Merlin.

'Can I come inside?' he asked as she let him in.

'I found the real perfume bottle,' she held it out. 'It didn't turn my wrist blue,' she showed her wrist to Merlin.

Merlin handed her a small jar of the powder. He had decanted some of the powder as the original jar was very heavy.

'Make it into a paste, rub it on your neck and then wash it off,' he said. 'Mary swears by it.' Gwen smiled as she was also familiar with Mary.

'Thank you Merlin,' Gwen took the jar and Merlin left her alone.

Later that evening the knights were gathered in a corridor discussing the events of the day when Gwen saw them and approached. She saw instantly that there was guilt and amusement in their eyes.

'If any of you had anything to do with what happened to me today, Arthur will find out and your lives will become hell,' she said with a powerful and determined voice.

'We don't what you're referring to,' Lancelot answered innocently and Gwen almost believed him but the others looked like they had been found out.

She walked away without another word but she knew that they were up to something.

The knights walked to Gwaine's room and waited for Merlin to arrive.

'I reckon it's going to be a hard training session tomorrow,' Leon said quietly.

'Ya think?' Gwaine retorted.

'We're going to have to be careful as Arthur suspects us,' Lancelot had everyone murmuring in agreement.

When Merlin finally arrived Percival set the bottle in motion glad that he and Elyan had completed their truths and dares.

A/N: Will any of their pranks go to plan? ;)