So for this chapter I've tried to introduce the humour element of the story. Ahh, good old Gwaine and Percival - bromanceee. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to improve the story, and if there are any mistakes I've made.
Arthur and Merlin were so lost in each other that they hadn't taken into account how exposed they were to their surroundings, as two of Arthur's best knights discovered.
"Shit!" Gwaine giggled, diving behind a bush for cover. "We found more than we bargained for," he laughed, trying desperately to keep his voice low enough so they wouldn't be heard.
"Gwaine, they'll hear you," Percival hushed him by nudging him in the side, kneeling down to join him.
They could just about make out Merlin and Arthur through an obscuring mix of branches.
"You know you owe me ten now, right?" Gwaine reminded him, nodding at the latest development in Merlin and Arthur's relationship.
Percival sighed heavily and begrudgingly handed over the money. The two knights shamelessly watched the scene evolve into an animal-like frenzy.
"He really knows how to drive his sword," Gwaine said after a while, "he's impaled the boy."
Percival's expression went dead-pan. He'd heard enough of Gwaine's terrible jokes to last him the whole year.
"You know, I don't think we should tell anyone about... this," Percival managed.
"Arthur getting physical with a servant?" Gwaine said, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "It's pure gold – I bet we can get away with anything now."
"You're going to blackmail the king!?" Percival asked incredulously, punching his fist into the ground. "Gwaine, you're a moron."
"It's a great idea!" Gwaine argued, getting overly excited. "I'm going to propose free drinks for myself and my ladies in the tavern."
Gwaine was just beginning to really enjoy himself, then Percival suddenly freaked out and ran off, saying nothing more than, "That's enough for me!"
"What did I -" Gwaine began, "Ooooh."
Merlin and Arthur were no longer obscured by branches. It was also much, much louder now.
"Oh dear God," Gwaine muttered, getting up and running for it. "My poor eyes. Though I admire the man's technique," he added, referring to Arthur. This caused Percival to trip over a tree root.
"Sometimes I question your sanity," Percival shook his head, standing up and trying to regain his composure.
"I think we're in the clear now," Gwaine said, ignoring this comment.
"We should head back to the castle," Percival told him. "We'll say their training is going well, and that they should be back soon."
"Soon?" Gwaine interjected, remarking "you have little faith in Arthur's prowess. Give them an hour at least."
"Lord give me strength," Percival muttered, going to elbow Gwaine but only narrowly missing.
Apparently Gwaine knew his stuff, since an hour later, on the dot, a slightly dishevelled-looking Merlin and Arthur entered the gates of the castle grounds.
"Hope your training went well, My Lord," a knight nodded at Arthur. Arthur responded by shoving his shield into Merlin's arms and ordering him to clean his shield – and properly this time.
"It went alright," he replied to the knight, before strutting towards the doors of the castle, keenly training his gaze upon anything but Merlin. They'll be able to tell, unless I maintain 'dollop head' form, he thought.
Just as Arthur thought he could have a moment to collect his thoughts in the quiet corridors, he ran into the person he wanted to see the least. Gwen.
"My Lord," she bowed.
"Gwen," he acknowledged, trying to edge past.
"Have you seen Merlin, by any chance?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm to catch his attention before he sped off.
Arthur went rigid. "No," he scoffed, shrugging, "I can't keep tabs on the imbecile the whole time. Why would I know where he is? Has he been causing trouble in the castle? Has he been making outrageous claims again? Merlin, – I'm going to put him in the stocks for this," he resolved in outrage.
"No sire, - wait!" Gwen called; it was too late, Arthur had stomped off to his chambers.
Likewise, Merlin needed somewhere to cool off, and barrelled into Gaius' chambers, trying to look incredibly busy.
"Merlin," Gaius greeted him. "Oh dear, my boy, what have you been up to-"
"Nothing!" Merlin answered too quickly. Gaius raised his all-knowing eyebrow. Merlin pointed towards his room, plastering a wide grin on his face, "Things for Arthur – I mean to help him. With king duties! He has training to do. I have to go."
"Merlin, I can tell when you're lying," Gaius protested.
"Or can you?" Merlin went. "Maybe I'm putting it on. Maybe it's all a ruse."
This dumbfounded Gaius enough to allow Merlin to slip into his room and slam the door behind him.