Things That Merlin Isn't Allowed To Do (According to Prince Arthur)
19: Give His Token of Favour To Anyone Other Than the Prince

Needless to say, Merlin is slightly surprised when the usually quiet and distanced sir Leon comes up to him, just minutes before his round starts. The servant pauses halfway to the prince's tent, his arms full of armour. The knights' opponent is warming up across the field, sword glinting in the sunlight.

"Merlin," sir Leon says, earnestly; "I would be honoured if you allowed me to fight in your favour today."

He's even more surprised when suddenly Gwaine comes into view, throwing away the core of an apple he's been eating on. "No! Stop, wait! Don't listen to him, Merlin - I'm asking that question!"

"It should be I who receives Merlin's favour," Lancelot puts in when he appears from the left, out of thin air. "I am after all an old friend and a faithful, trusted keeper of secrets. Aren't I, Merlin?"

Merlin's eyes flickers confused between the three, but before he can speak up, another knight appears. There's not a single speck of dirt on Percival's chainmail, his shoes are polished and his tunic is spotless. Had he had any longer hair, he would have combed it neatly. "Merlin," Percival says with just a slight hint of nervousness. "Please, would you do me the honour of letting me be your champion?"

"Hang on a moment, that's my line," Gwaine cuts in.

Leon's voice raises above them, a sharp edge to the tone. "I was here first!"

"What are you all doing here?" a displeased-sounding Gareth rounds the corner, frowning at his fellow knights. He pushes Gwaine aside, to stand directly in front of Merlin: "Merlin, I was hoping you'd-"

By now the servant is feeling very crowded, and starts subtly inching in the direction of the prince's tent.

"Err," he cuts in, pausing briefly to think of his wording; causing Gareth to halt his words. Merlin doesn't was to upset the knights, who are all his dear friends, but he doesn't want to make any of them his particular favourite and the man he would prefer to favourite isn't present. "I'm sorry but I can't do that...I can't give my favour to any of you. Not that I like you any less! You're all my friends, but..."

The words are enough to cause uproar.

Merlin glances around, searching for a shield or something, but they're too far away. The prince's tent is eight steps away, but the two newest arrivals are blocking the way. Maybe he has to use magic to escape this, though he doesn't like the idea of using magic on his friends. Even if they're all very clingy. It's just self-defense - they're starting to frighten him slightly now, they all have that look on their faces indicating that they're hunters and he's the deer. The thought is slightly disturbing. Merlin inches to the left - half a step, another step ...

"What? But, but I'm your best friend and let you come to the tavern with me for a drink," Gwaine cries upsetedly, waving his hands to emphasis the best friend-bit. "And I'm clearly the greatest knight here and I actually don't treat you like a servant!"

"Yeah, right!" Lancelot says furiously, pointing at the knight accusingly which causes the long-haired man to pout. "You have Merlin pay for it every time you drag him to the tavern with you, against his will, you drink away his money! And pull stupid, childish pranks and blames Merlin! I know it, I've seen it one time to many!" He turns to the servant, speaking earnestly. "Merlin, I swear to you on my honour, I would never treat you in such a foul manner."

"...but I was here first..."

Leon's voice is rather faint.

"Nothing would give me more gratitude than if you let me have your token of favour for this tournament," Elyan declares loudly. "If I win, I shall forge and gift you with my strongest sword!"

Percival whips out a bouquet of beautiful flowers from under his cloak, which could have worked if he was alone and not surrounded by a horde of other eager impatient knights. The movement just causes Merlin's eye to twitch.

"PLEASE, MERLIN!" the knights cry as one, hands reaching out to grab, the warlock leaning backwards trying to get away; "PICK ME AS YOUR FAVOURED CHAMPION!"

"What's this commotion about?" demands an annoyed voice behind them, a tent flap opening and closing, revealing another man with a sword at his side.

"Arthur!" Merlin shouts, relief filling him at seeing his rescuer. An idea hits him. He drops the armour (making the prince frown, it's his armour after all, and if it's dirty what's he going to wear at the tournament?) and rushes up to the prince's side, hurrying to untie his brilliantly red neckerchief.

"Arthur, I want you to have this." The warlock places the piece of cloth in the prince's hand. Suddenly he feels nervous, just slightly, a blush rising to his cheeks, and he bites lip when looking into Arthur's eyes. "It's, umm, a token. For luck. During the tournament. Will ... will you take it?"

The prince looks at him for a moment, then smiles. "Of course. I'll wear it always." He lets Merlin tie the neckerchief around his upper arm, while doing so slipping his free arm around the warlock's waist and flashing a smirk at the knights when the servant doesn't see.

"NOOO...!"

Feeling bolder, Merlin grins and presses a brief kiss to the prince's cheek. "Good luck."

And a happy warlock leaves the area side-by-side his pleased prince, the group of wailing knights walking dejectedly behind. Elyan is the first to leave; he'll not partake in the tournament until several hours, so he might as well go to the forge. Maybe he could make a grand, beautiful sword.

To console himself, Gwaine takes a bite from the apple he always keeps in his pocket for emergencies. "Hey, Gareth," he says, putting a hand on said knights' arm. "Let's go to the tavern."

Deflated, Percival looks down at the bouquet in his hands. Maybe he should've picked more and bigger flowers, and red and yellow ones; Merlin seems to like those colours ... Yeah. Next time he'll do that.

"I really thought I had a chance," sir Leon murmurs gloomily, now feeling not at all so keen anymore on facing his opponent on the arena. "I was here first, I was - I'm certain of it!"