Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Merlin or anything affiliated with it.
"Finally!" Gwaine cheered as the group laid eyes on an inn as the last rays of sunlight faded, "A warm bed to sleep in- and the mead!"
"No mead," Arthur spoke with tight lips, "you have to be alert tomorrow. We're only staying here because it's nearby. If I catch any of you-" here, Arthur raised his voice "-drinking mead, there will be consequences."
Gwaine leaned over to Percival with a smirk, "Catch being the operative word." He winked at the larger knight, who just rolled his eyes. It's not like Percival would tattle to Arthur- he didn't speak much of anything anyway.
The innkeeper was more than happy to supply three rooms for the eight knights and Merlin, though he was disappointed when the knights quickly retired to their rooms without spending any of their gold on mead.
Elyan looked dismayed at the room arrangements. Arthur and Merlin shared a room together next door while Leon and Percival shared a room across from his and Gwaine's. Elyan knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight when Gwaine burst into the room, already mid-sentence. "… taking the bed on the left, would you?"
"Sorry?"
Gwaine dumped his saddle on the bed Elyan was about to take, "You wouldn't mind taking the bed on the left, would you?"
"I didn't take you for a superstitious type, Gwaine," Elyan smirked, rolling his irritation off his shoulders. As long as he got a good nights' rest in any bed, it didn't matter what side of the room he slept.
Gwaine snorted, "You're right about that. No, this bed is against the wall separating us from Arthur. I thought it'd be a little fun to knock on it now and then during the night."
Elyan did not like where this was going. "I don't know about you, but I'd like a night without any knocking, thanks."
"Not even from a lady?"
"I just want to sleep," Elyan's ears turned red from embarrassment and to his disappointment, Gwaine took notice.
"You know," Gwaine smirked, "you've never had a girl come knocking, have you?" Elyan scratched his head and turned around and placed his saddle at the end of his bed. "Oh, come on, it was an innocent question. Well, maybe innocent is the right word here, eh?"
"No," Elyan's voice was thin, "I haven't."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gwaine strode to Elyan and clapped him on the shoulder, "I'll show you all there is to know about wooing women. Come!" He roughly grabbed Elyan by his chainmail and dragged him downstairs where the mead ran freely.
Elyan regretfully kissed his good night's rest goodbye.