A/N - Huge thanks to those who review. You guys make my day. Also big thanks to those who read, alerted or favourited. You guys also rock :)
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Chapter 3
Ealdor
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Arthur watched on nervously as Gaius presented his patents of nobility, not able to breathe easily until the old man was walking back towards him, the smile on his face telling him everything he needed to know.
"I can't believe it," he said, not fully believing the warlock's magic would work. "I have to thank you, Gaius."
"It was no trouble, my boy," Gaius replied, looking up at him where he sat on the horse. "I think I'll stick around and see how things turn out. If you'll have me?"
"Of course," Arthur replied, shaking the old man's hand, knowing that having a warlock on his side would be useful.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some supplies I need to get," Gaius said, before turning and walking away.
Smiling, Arthur felt the heaviness that had been weighing on him since he'd heard about the patents lift.
Riding through the streets, he couldn't help but hum, cursing as a cloaked figure walked in front of him, his horse startling and rearing up.
Arthur managed to stay on, calming the horse, before jumping off and grabbing the person who was trying to sneak away.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked, grabbing hold of an arm and pulling the person back.
"I'm sorry," a male voice said, a hand reaching up and pulling away the hood.
Arthur felt his breath catch as he stared into crystal blue eyes, his eyes taking in the pale skin and high cheekbones, all framed by raven hair, a part of him recognizing the man, even though he had never seen him before in his life.
"I wasn't watching where I was going," the man continued, a light blush crossing his cheeks.
Arthur snorted.
"No kidding," he said, although the harsh tone from before was gone.
The man smiled, causing Arthur's heart to flip, giving a shrug of his shoulder.
"Morgana's always saying I'm the clumsiest person she knows," the man said, eyes trailing down to where Arthur's hand was still gripping his arm, his thumb rubbing, unknowingly, up and down.
"Oh," Arthur said, letting the man go suddenly. "Sorry."
"No harm done," the man said, shrugging and walking away.
Watching him go, Arthur felt like a piece of himself was leaving, an emptiness he had never realized before being left with him.
"Wait," he called, pulling himself up onto his horse and riding after the other man. "Would you tell me your name?"
The man laughed looking up at him, as he stopped and turned around.
"Would you care if he was ugly?" a female voice said, as a woman came to stand next to the man.
The woman was beautiful, her look very similar to the man's, blue eyes, raven hair, pale skin, and Arthur wondered if they were brother and sister.
"Yes," he replied, not missing the smile the man gave, or the unimpressed look on the woman. "I mean no … I mean if …"
"You desecrate the King's Palace?" a voice boomed.
Looking up, it took Arthur a moment to realize that he had brought a horse into the King's Palace, having been caught up following the beautiful man, and realizing that it was no way to respect the King.
"Oh," Arthur said, giving a small nervous laugh, hearing both the man and woman laughing also.
Moving backwards away from the guards, he looked over at the man, seeing the blue eyes shining with laughter, a want like nothing he'd ever felt before searing through him.
"Tell me your name," he hissed, eyes imploring.
"And what would you do with his name, Sir Hunter?" the woman called, threading her arm through the man's. "Call him a fox, for that is all he is to you."
Turning the horse, Arthur stole one more look at the man, amused eyes meeting his, before he left the room.
AMAM
Merlin couldn't help but smile as the knight was ushered out of the Palace.
"Another knight, trying to win the Court Sorcerer's hand," Morgana said, once her giggles had subsided, moving him along, heading towards the tournament.
Eyes followed them as they walked. He was used to it, having been Morgana's companion for many years, the only ward of the King, her beauty was something that everyone watched. But over the past few years, when it had been revealed just who he was and what he could do, his favour and hand were almost as sort after as Morgana's.
At first it had been slightly amusing, if not a little embarrassing, but now, it was annoying. People only wanting him because of his so called 'beauty' or because of his power.
"We're almost tied, I think," Morgana continued, as they stopped outside the arena where the sword fighting was set to take place.
"Not even close," he replied quietly, sitting down.
"He is handsome," Morgana said, as a familiar form walked into the ring, his golden hair falling around his head like a halo or a crown. "I'll give him that."
Nodding, Merlin leaned forward, the better to see the match.
When he had first seen the man's face, when his horse had almost crushed him, he had been struck at how beautiful the man was, something inside him coming alive at the touch he had given him.
Even if he had been a bit of a prat.
"I may be wrong," Morgana started, distracting him from the knight in the ring. "But isn't he supposed to not let the other knight hit him?"
Nodding, Merlin watched as his knight took a few blows, clearly not ready, before he straightened and went on the offensive.
Watching him now, Merlin could see the strength the man had, the power each of his strokes impacted, and he couldn't help his heart racing a little faster, his breath becoming shallower, as he watched the other man.
He turned to look at Morgana when he heard her quiet laugh, raising an eyebrow when she just shook her head.
"It's nothing, Merlin," she said, patting his cheek. "Nothing at all."
Frowning, he turned back to the ring, sure that he was missing something, but his thoughts quickly turned back to the golden knight, as he was proclaimed the winner.
"Well, well," Morgana said, as they rose. "Not quiet the loser I had imagined."
"Morgana," Merlin stuttered out in disbelief, following after the Lady.
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A/N - And finally Merlin appears. As always let me know what you thought :D