Yay! Everyone seems to like Kennard so far- I'm glad :D I love that guy.

Be happy that I had a few chapters written already. One of my sisters turned eight today, so it's been a mad rush of screaming children for most of the day. Yikes.

Well, I'll try not to keep you any longer, so here's the next chapter XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Chapter 5

"Alright everyone! I want you to pair up and run through some basic exercises. Warm up, and then I want to see some good sparring going on!"

The Knights split up as Leon ordered, spreading out across the training field. Mordon stood next to him, a scowl marring his normally calm features. Leon grimaced at him.

"Not much this morning, are they?"

"Indeed," replied Mordon. "Bet they'd kick themselves into gear were the Prince out here though. You reckon they know he's probably watching anyway?"

"I doubt it. Mind you, I'm not sure they'd mind as much as you'd think. To be honest," here he leaned in, whispering conspiratorially. "Even I'm beginning to wonder whether Arthur's really fit to be King." He gulped. This was the first time Leon had voiced these thoughts aloud, but he reasoned that Mordon could probably be trusted.

The dark-haired Knight leaned in too. "I know what you mean. A leader needs to know how to move on after tragedy. He's just remained in the same place ever since the execution. And Uther's no better. Did you know they had another falling out yesterday?"

Leon nodded. "Yes. It's why Arthur's not here today- he's been banned from training for the next couple of days."

"Again."

They shared a disapproving look, then turned to face the field. A quick glance over those practising there told the pair that the Knights had at least settled in to an adequate rhythm. To be honest, neither of the two could be bothered to correct the mistakes ranging the field anyway. Everyone was restless- Leon and Mordon included- and it was making them impatient on the battlefield. Prone to more slip-ups than usual. And they just couldn't find it in them to care all that much.

"You want a go?"

Leon grinned determinedly, turning to face his friend of twelve years. "You bet."

They passed the next hour or so sparring each other, minds tuned out of the useless battles dotted around them. Neither man could quite hold back the thought that, even if they had paid attention to the others and offered their advice, there would be no improvement. It was something they had come to realize during the past few months. That they were simply better. In more ways than one.

Finally they broke off, each giving a rueful smile as an admittance that they themselves were at roughly equal levels. Leon tried to hold back his irritation at the thought. He was supposed to be the best on this field. It was why he was always placed in charge in Arthur's many absences, and Mordon always second. What business did the guy have trying to act like they had the same level of talent?

But, being the good Knight he was, he decided to let it go. For now.

After a quick scan of the field, he decided that it was about time to give the order to break it up. It wasn't like the morons would get any better anyway, no matter how long they trained. They weren't like him. He was special.

He paused for a moment, a strange thought nagging at his mind. Did he used to think he was special?

But the thought was gone as fast as it had come- thrown away as you would unnecessary garbage. He knew he was the best. So of course that made him special.

The next five minutes were spent overseeing as the Knights left the training fields. By the end of it, both Leon and Mordon were feeling completely exasperated. How much did you need to yell at those stupid imbeciles and their squires to get them to move just that little bit faster? It was ridiculous how useless the lumps could be sometimes.

As they trudged back in to the castle, they saw Kennard up ahead, staring up at the Prince's windows with a contemplative frown on his face. As was customary between the two brothers, Mordon attempted to sneak up behind his younger sibling and take him by surprise. But, as usual, the younger man simply stepped out of the way at the last minute. A flicker of immense annoyance flashed across Mordon's eyes, before he grinned at his brother and ruffled his already tousled black hair.

"As observant as always," stated Mordon proudly. "I guess I should have known better than to try to sneak up on my little brother, eh?"

Kennard simply swatted Mordon's hand off, then turned his faraway eyes towards Leon. Leon shifted slightly under the younger man's gaze. He knew Kennard was an idiot, but there was always the odd disconcerting moment when it almost felt like the man was analysing him whenever he studied him like that- like those shimmering silver eyes were capable of staring straight through to a man's very soul. It was unnerving to say the least.

He turned his eyes away from the younger man's gaze, and was just opening his mouth to suggest to Mordon that they continue on towards the Knight's quarters, when a whisper from his friend stopped him in his tracks.

"Leon you obnoxious moron, would you just leave already so that I can talk to my brother?"

He spun to face his fellow Knight, and was met by the same furious glare he knew must be on his own face.

"What did you call me?"

The two men froze, as is generally the customary thing to do when two people have just spoken exactly the same words at exactly the same time. Their eyes narrowed.

Leon was the first to speak, his voice low and threatening.

"You just called me an obnoxious moron."

"No, you called me a thimble-minded son of a troll."

"I said no such thing."

Mordon drew himself up, obviously (at least as far as Leon was concerned) pretending to be highly offended. "You dare to impugn my honour? You dare to suggest that I would lie- that I would go against the Knight's code?"

"Well I sure as hell didn't, so it stands to reason that you must have."

They were inches apart now, eyes fixed in a match of death-glares. Both were entirely oblivious to the way young Kennard's brows had suddenly furrowed, his eyes sharpening as they only did when he had worked out something which he had been puzzling over. In fact, all that Leon was noticing was the blind rage he felt swelling up throughout his body. Unable to contain it any longer, he shoved Mordon as hard as he could in the chest, watching with satisfaction as his so-called friend staggered back a few steps.

Mordon, completely overcome with fury now, leaped forward, tackling Leon to the ground.

And so the fight began.

Kennard could only watch, amazed, as the older brother he had admired all his life rolled around on the floor like a common thug. If he didn't know any better, he'd have thought that the two older Knights were intoxicated. Or sworn enemies. But they'd been friends for years, and there was no way they would have had access to mead whilst training.

In short, there was no logical reason for the two men to be having this fight.

Which, in turn, meant that there had to be an illogical one.

But, while that was important, it wasn't a thought for this specific moment in time. A crowd was gathering, and goodness knows the Knights of Camelot had gained enough bad publicity throughout the city lately without rumours beginning to fly about brawls in broad daylight.

So Kennard did the only thing he could- he stepped in to try and stop the fight.

Which, as it turned out, wasn't as easy as it sounded.

One moment Leon was sitting on top of Mordon, pounding his fists in to the other man's already bloodied face, the next Mordon had kicked Leon off and was digging his elbow in to his friend's stomach. If the low-handed blows were anything to go by, the Knight's code most certainly didn't apply right now. Kennard had to weave about for a minute or two, desperately trying to get close enough to stop the two older men without being whacked by one of the many flailing limbs. In fact, it wasn't just difficult, it was downright impossible- as Kennard found out when a stray punch from his brother sent him flying back on to the cobblestones.

He hissed in pain, massaging his wounded jaw, at the same time keeping his his head as still as possible, willing the new-found dizziness and nausea he felt to go away. It wasn't until a strong-looking arm appeared in his field of vision that he noticed that all sounds of fighting had stopped.

Looking up, he found himself staring in to the now lucid, worried eyes of his elder brother. That same old look which had made the man such a favourite back at their family's estate. Grateful, but somewhat bemused, he took the arm Mordon had offered him and used it to pull himself back up on to his feet. As soon as he was up, Mordon started patting him down, looking for all the world like a big, gentle dog who had just accidentally bitten his master's hand.

"I am so sorry Ken, I don't know what came over me. Are you alright? I didn't hit you too hard did I? How's your head? Your vision? Your hearing?"

Kennard had to hold back a snort. "I'm fine Mordon, I think I was just a bit surprised." As he should be. Outside of training, Mordon had never laid a hand on his younger brother in all the years they'd been together. He looked around once more, just in time to see Leon storm away and in to the castle, before realizing that Mordon was still in the process of patting him down. He swatted the older man's hands away, grinning to reassure him. "Look, I told you I'm fine. What I really want to know is just what possessed you back there."

Mordon frowned confusedly, staring down at his hands as though they were suddenly someone else's.

"I don't know," he answered slowly. "I know he's been kind of frustrating me lately, but I never thought I would just lose it like that."

"One question."

"What?"

"Could you tell me precisely when he started annoying you? You two used to get along almost as well as we do."

Mordon blinked a few times, his hand tapping against his thigh as it always did when he was thinking hard. When he did finally answer, he spoke almost tentatively, as though he wasn't really sure of what he was saying.

"I'm not really sure. I guess maybe... a few months now? Maybe about five? It's been sort of a gradual thing."

Kennard just nodded at his brother, his suspicions confirmed. "Alright. I'll see you later."

And with that he walked off, leaving a rather confused Mordon in his wake.

Man- I don't know if any of you have ever realized this, but it's kind of hard to write a Merlin story without Merlin. Well, at least this way my sadistic streak is somewhat appeased, in that I get to torture my readers. See- told you I'm evil. Even if I do love you guys really.

Thanks so much for all the reviews and stuff I've received so far. You should give me more- even if it's only so you can get to imagine the look on my family members' faces when I suddenly start giggling, or talking about how I'm probably going to receive a death threat any day now. Lol.