Arthur, Guinevere, Llacheu, Thomas and Gwendolyn stood in the court yard.

Merlin stood slightly behind Arthur.

It was mid-day and Merlin guessed they've been standing outside to greet people for about three hours.

Nemeth, Caerleon, Powys and Cornwall had arrived. Gawant was to arrive tomorrow because Percival and Elena had completely misconstrued the time and date… again.

Nemeth had just arrived and Tabitha went to show Elliot and Cordelia their rooms while Daq took the queen and her knights to their chambers.

"I'm exhausted" Llacheu groaned.

Arthur ruffled his head in agreement, "As am I my son," he said.

Gwen let a sigh and turned to her family, "I suppose it wouldn't be a crime for you all to eat a small snack and retire for just for a moment, you all need energy to entertain the visiting children tonight."

They all obediently nodded, "Thank you mother." Thomas said.

Gwen gave a small smile.

Merlin stretched out his limbs and yawned dramatically, causing small giggles to erupt from Esmeralda.

"I wish I could take a nap, but no. I have to make sure everything is running smoothly and try to keep an eye for young visitants with magic that can't quite control themselves." He complained

Thomas's eyes widened in excitement, "Can I help Merlin? I have my power under control."

"In time my young apprentice" Merlin said in a histrionic manner.

This caused Arthur roll his eyes, "For two minutes Merlin would you-", but the unmistakable sound of hooves hitting the pavement cut him off.

"I thought Percival and Elena were coming tomorrow" Llacheu said.

"They said they were." Arthur said.

But it wasn't Gawant's party.

Merlin was the first to see the red and black cloaks flowing in the wind behind two horseman surrounded by about ten other men on horses.

Knights rushed forward the unfamiliar party and Arthur's hand instinctevly went to Excalibur.

When the cavalcade settled they could see they definitely weren't Gawant.

They looked more… unruly.

The knights were draped in red and black cloaks and had strong builds with nearly black eyes and dark hair.

In the middle of them sat two men on horses who seemed to be their sovereigns.

The eldest one wore black. His eyes were emerald green and his hair was as dark as midnight. Plus he had an unmissable scar that went down his face.

Arthur couldn't shake the sense of familiarity he felt with the mysterious man.

He had seen him before, he was sure of it.

Next to him was the boy draped in red.

He seemed to be about fifteen summers. He had trimmed brown hair and green eyes.

He had a tenser look to him unlike his partner.

"Who are you and what business have you here?" Sir George asked.

The eldest one dismounted his horse before giving a look to his party indicating to stay put.

He strode forward before ungloving one of his hands, "King Owain of Rheged." He introduced.

Arthur raised a brow, "You're King Urien's son?" Arthur asked.

"My father has passed, I am now king of Rheged." Owain said, "And this my son Ither." He said moving his hand to point to the boy in the red cloak.

Ither gave small smile revealing dimples.

"Please do not take my curiosity for nerve, King Owain, it's just that Rheged has never attended the tournaments before."

"If I dare say, I've heard many stories of Camelot's beauty and I wanted to see for myself.'' Ither said.

His eyes then landed on Esmeralda and Guinevere.

This caused Esmeralda to blush and Guinevere to smile.

"Very well, my condolences. But I'm afraid I haven't enough rooms to accommodate all of your knights."

Owain gave a small smile, "That is fine. I understand you have inns in Camelot."

Arthur gave a tight smile, "Indeed, just pick two knights to stay with you."

"Roland, Graham" He said.

A knight the size of Percival descended off his horse and a boy Ither's age dismounted too.

Merlin carefully watched Owain and his party.

Something was off about him.

Owain caught his gaze and gave a twisted smile.

"King Arthur, you have quite a lovely family." His eyes lingering on Gwen.

"Let me introduce you." Arthur said not noticing.

"This is my wife, Queen Guinevere." He said.

Owain grabbed her hand and tenderly kissed, "The rumors of your beauty does not do you justice my lady." He said.

Gwen couldn't help but blush. She felt no desire towards him but she has never seen a man so audacious in the presence of her husband before, not anyone since Gwaine anyway.

Arthur noticed this time and his glare was undeniable.

He quickly introduce his children then Merlin.

"He's my trusted advisor." He said.

"Pleasure" Owain said politely shaking his hand.

Merlin felt a shock go through his body as their hands touched, "You have magic." He accused.

"I know Emmys, I was born with it, I might even say it was inherited, a gift from my mother."

Arthur bit his lip before looking at a servant, "Escort these men to their chambers please."

The servant nodded before leaving, Owain and his party trailing after.

When his knights saw their king and prince were safely in the castle they gave curt nods and made their way out the court yard.

"Who were they?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know" Esmeralda said dreamily staring at the castle.

Llacheu gave out a disgusted grunt, "You don't fancy that Ither fellow do you?"

"What?! No!" She said nearly appalled.

"Yeah okay." Llacheu said sarcastically.

"Enough." Arthur said before looking to Merlin, "Check the documents, make sure he's legit, and you three, to your rooms, you won't be missed until it's time for dinner." He said.

They slumped their shoulders before nodding, "Yes father."

Merlin followed their lead.

Gwen walked over to her distressed husband, "You needn't worry, my love, I think they were genuine." Gwen assured.

Arthur gave out a low grunt, "Of course you would."

Gwen pulled away from him and raised a brow, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know what it means, it was clear you were infatuated with him. It was embarrassing to watch, really." Arthur said.

To say Gwen was hurt was an understatement, "You'd question my virtues? After all these years?" Gwen nodded to herself before walking away from him.

Realizing his mistake Arthur called out to her, "Guinevere! Please come back, I'm sorry"

"You won't be missed until dinner" She said with scorching glare before continuing her walk in the castle.

Arthur groaned in exasperation.

"If I may sire, that wasn't the best way to handle it." A knight said.

Arthur just glared before walking away.

Merlin grudgingly walked into the library.

King Owain weighing on his mind. Why was he so familiar? Had they met before? Perhaps he had seen him at a tavern.

Merlin brushed off the notion, he doubts a 'king' would make idle chat a tavern.

But he had magic, inherited magic. Did that mean he was born with it?

Merlin reluctantly looked to Geoffrey, who was sitting behind a table with hands folded peacefully sleeping.

He didn't want to disturb the old bloke, but he's been around, he probably knew him or at least knew of him. Days like these Merlin wished he had Gaius back. He was always such help and kept him from going mad.

Taking a deep breath for confidence Merlin lightly tapped Geoffrey causing the old man to quickly open his eyes.

"Oh, Merlin, what can I do for you?" He asked.

"I was just wondering if you know anything Rheged and King Urien." Merlin said.

"Yes of course, Urien was an old friend of mine. I'd visit every hundredth day."

"Really?" Merlin asked a bit surprised.

"Yes, he wasn't quite as old as I, but he was a joy to be around."

Merlin nodded in reply before looking around for an old record book.

Geoffrey looked at him in question, "Say, why are you asking all this?" he asked.

"King Arthur wanted to know more about Rheged." Merlin explained taking the book off the shelf.

"Why are they coming?" He asked at full attention.

"Already here," Merlin said distractedly while opening the book and coughing a little from the dust that was flying off of it.

"Such a shame Urien passed. I've always wanted to see him once more." Geoffrey stated.

This caused Merlin to slam the book shut, "He really died? How come Camelot hasn't heard this?"

"Of course he died. It's the same reason Rheged didn't hear about the death of Uther Pendragon until a decade later. They were hot-headed kings who didn't see eye to eye." He explained.

"But you just said he was joy to be around." Merlin accused.

"When came to his son- what was that blasted boy's name?" Geoffrey said thinking a little, "Oh yes, Owain, I believe, he was more ill-tempered when it came to him. I can faintly remember Urien getting so mad at him one day that he took a sword and…" Geoffrey just trailed off not daring to repeat the incident.

Merlin sat in shock, all he could think of was the scar going down Owain's face.

"He struck him didn't he? Right on his face?" Merlin guessed.

Geoffrey gravely nodded.

"What off his mother?" Merlin asked.

Geoffrey just shrugged, "No one knew who she was. Rumors were she was just a girl taken advantage of by the king."

Merlin nearly choked on his throat, "Like… uncongenial adultery?" He asked.

Geoffrey's silence and avoidance to meet his eyes was answer enough.

Merlin's face contorted in disgust, "What kind of a sick perverted monster would impregnate a little girl."

"It was just rumor," Geoffrey tried to assure.

"But it had to come from somewhere."

Geoffrey remained quiet.

"You know the rumored girl don't you?" Merlin asked.

Geoffrey paused before nodding.

Taking a wild guest based on Owain's looks, Merlin looked to Geoffrey, "Was it Morgana?"

Owain looked around his room

It was fairly small compared to the ones he had back home.

This room was far too… bright, for his liking.

Back home his ward, Evangeline, was probably sitting in her room twice this size reading or sewing.

He had refused to let her come because of the red armor that needed looking after.

She wouldn't hesitate to make adjustments if necessary.

"Father," Ither called out while walking into his room his friend, Graham, walking next to him.

"My son?"

Ither shuffled nervously before looking to his father, "I wish to participate in the tournaments."

Owain looked quizzically at his son then Graham, "Did he put you up to this?" He asked motioning to Graham.

"No father." Ither assured.

"Then why participate? Fancy any of the princesses or ladies to be a potential wife?" He asked chuckling and clamping down a heavy hand on his son's shoulder.

Ither's cheeks tinged pink at his father's remarks.

"Father!" Ither exclaimed.

Graham let out a laugh at his friend's expense.

Owain smiled at him, "What of you? You have your eyes on a certain bird?"

Graham shrugged while smiling, "Perhaps, what of you, sire? Any lovely ladies you have your sights on?"

Owain just shrugged, "I have to lovely ladies on my radar as of today." He said charmingly taking off his gloves and throwing it on his designated desk.

Ither gave out a cry of disgust, "Father, please."

"C'mon, I'm still an attractive bloke, a king on top of that." He said.

This caused another ripple of laughter to come from Graham, "Your father has more skill than you."

Ither slapped Graham on the back of his head, "What was that for?" Graham asked while rubbing the back of his head.

"You're an idiot." He said.

Owain gave out small laugh before looking to his son, "Have fun my son. Do as you please but I will need you sooner than later." He said.

Ither gave his father a curt nod, "Yes father"

"And give word to Evangeline we have arrived safely."

Ither nodded before walking out his room, Graham walking behind him.

Owain looked around his guest room for a moment and noticed the purplish linen.

Queen Guinevere instantly popped into his head,

What a beauty she was.

He meant what he said, he had two lovely ladies in his sight.

Their names were Guinevere and Excalibur.

Arthur was walking down the corridors to the throne room since Gwen was still upset with him. He hadn't meant to hurt his feelings, it was just how openly attracted Owain seemed to be with his wife that really put him off.

Who was Owain to swagger onto his wife with such audacity?

He didn't even know King Urien had a son, let alone died.

"Sire!" Merlin's voice rang out.

Arthur turned around to see Merlin hurdling towards him.

"What is it Merlin? Did you find out if Owain is legit?" Arthur asked.

"His story checks out, he's in the records and Geoffrey remembers him as a child, hell, he even described his scar and how he got it."

"Damnit" Arthur muttered forgetting Merlin was right there.

Merlin quirked a brow, "Were you hoping he was illegitimate so you could kick him out of Camelot and embarrass him in front of Gwen?"

"Don't be ridiculous Merlin." Arthur said denying it.

Merlin gave him a look before dropping it, "That's not it Arthur."

"He's legit Merlin. You said it. He's not posing a threat to Camelot, especially when he only has ten knights with him and two knights in the castle, I won't let my personal dislikes for him get in the way of Guinevere and I's anniversary or the tournaments, neither should you." Arthur said taking long strides as Merlin ran to catch up.

"You don't understand Arthur." Merlin said.

Arthur spun to look at Merlin, "What don't I understand?" He asked patronizingly.

"Owain is Morgana's son." Merlin blurted.

Arthur's eyes widened and he stood stupefied.

"I-I don't understand, how? He's no more than five years our age, surely she couldn't have been that young."

Merlin's eyes said it all.

"She was that young" Arthur said.

"They look just alike Arthur, and when we shook hands I felt his magic, it felt just like hers."

"We have to get him out of Camelot." Arthur said with finality.

"That's your nephew Arthur. Plus we don't even know if he actually knew her. He had a horrible childhood with his father." Merlin reasoned.

Arthur gave out a humorless laugh, "Join the club."

"His father gave him that scar Arthur. Plus, how suspicious would it seem of you throwing out Rheged because of its king lineage." Merlin said.

Arthur pondered his statement for a moment, "Owain is my nephew?"

"Apparently," Merlin said.

Arthur nodded to himself before looking down the corridors where his room would be, "He mustn't find out if he knows already, get our best servants to look after him and his son, we'll finish discussing this later, I promised Victor to a spar on the training field." With that he walked away.

A/N: That's it for this chapter. Next chapter will be focused a little on Cordelia and Esmeralda but their will be jealous Arthur, Jealous Gwen, Smitten Llacheu and snoopy Thomas. Plus we'll see Arthur, Percival and Leon reunite.

Will Arthur's knowledge of Owain's lineage affect his later decisions?