"Aye, men," Gwaine challenges. "T'was a close one today. Whomever has the best story gets a free ale."
Merlin thinks for a moment, sure that this time he might actually win something without magic.
The knights tell tales of battle, training accidents, and illness, both heroic and stupid. Often both.
Leon, inevitably has the best with his story of being struck by the Great Dragon. (The incident with the Cup Of Life is left unspoken. Even in Camelot, among friends, you could never know who might be listening. It's safer that way.)
When the various men had told their respective stories and the group falls into silence, Merlin opens his mouth. "I've got one better than even that. When I was about fifteen, I fell off a roof and cracked my head open. Mum said she even saw bone fragments."
He parts his dark hair and sure enough, the scars of multiple tiny, neatly healed stitches can be seen nestled against his scalp. He presses one spot, showing the softness where his mother hadn't been able to find all the pieces.
"No wonder you're addled." Arthur grins, cuffing him lightly. The knights roar mirth.
But behind the laughter Leon and Merlin share a look. Neither say anything.
Fin