It's taken me forever to write another chapter, having been so busy with work and everything! I'm sorry for the long wait, I promise it won't be so long next time. Thank you for following and favouriting, it means the world to me :)
After the council meeting was finished, Arthur bolted straight out of the room, feeling the need for fresh air. How he managed to conclude the meeting with "This has been a fantastic Merlin," he would never know. He'd started to do that a lot.
He slipped out of the door into the castle grounds, taking a breath of relief. This breath was then superseded by a wave of panic as he realised his next, most imminent task was to train for his duel – for next week. That entailed finding Merlin, and undertaking physical activity which actually counted towards his training... dear lord.
"Arthur!" Gwaine greeted him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Arthur turned to him, "Gwaine," he nodded.
"Do you want me to help you with your training?" Gwaine asked, with an unfamiliar edge to this question – Arthur chose to ignore it, he'd probably been at the tavern or something.
"That would be wonderful," Arthur replied.
"Right, I'll go and get Merlin to help you change," Gwaine immediately told him, walking swiftly towards the armoury.
"GWAINE!" Arthur called desperately. Gwaine pretended not to hear him, chuckling to himself. Arthur wasn't having any of it, he chased after Gwaine and seized his arm.
"Sire?" Gwaine said to him, looking extremely innocent.
"Let's just go and train now," Arthur blurted out, "Um, I'm – I'm in the mindset now, I'm ready to go now."
"If you get injured training you'll be in no fit state to battle," Gwaine protested. He came up with a fantastic idea, "Come with me, we'll get you to your servant quicker."
"Are you underestimating my swordplay abilities?" Arthur asked him. "When was I last injured in battle?"
"Oh, your swordplay abilities are just fiiine! I think you underestimate Merlin," Gwaine retorted, enjoying himself tremendously. They were almost in the armoury. "He'll have you dressed in no time."
Before Arthur could open his mouth, the door was opened and Merlin stood there before the two men, startled. There was a crash as Arthur's armour fell to the floor.
"Have you been juggling again?" Arthur asked after a long pause.
"No," Merlin shook his head.
"You idiot, Merlin," Arthur spat with a fire he never normally possessed on his tongue.
"Ok, you two need to get ready to train! I'll meet you in the training grounds soon," Gwaine said, making a swift exit.
"Merlin, make it quick," Arthur said after Gwaine had gone, not looking at him.
"Uh, quick?" Merlin wondered, turning as red as the market tomatoes he'd been subjected to in the stocks.
"Yes, quickly, I need to get training,"
"Make what quickly, exactly?"
Arthur closed his eyes. There was a very, very long pause indeed.
"Get me ready!" he barked at Merlin, still refusing to look at him. Arthur had turned almost as red as Merlin now.
"Yes, that is what I thought you meant," Merlin laughed nervously, "I'm just being dim today."
"You're always dim, you dimwitted dung beetle," Arthur said.
"Well then, raise your arms," Merlin commanded.
He did as Merlin asked, and they didn't exchange another word. Merlin handed him his helmet, looking at him straight in the eyes as he did so. Arthur finally raised his gaze to meet Merlin's, and their eyes were locked again. Arthur grabbed Merlin by his neckerchief. He just began to yank at it -
when the door opened, and suddenly Leon entered the room.
"Sire, Merlin," Leon greeted, regarding both of them.
"We were just getting ready for training," Arthur said quickly, jumping a foot back from Merlin.
"I was just making sure his helmet was on all right," Merlin said.
Leon looked at Arthur holding his helmet in his hands.
"Evidently it isn't, Merlin, because I'm not wearing my helmet," Arthur shook his head, looking at Leon.
"I know," Merlin said quickly, "I did a bad job," he shook his head, tutting at himself.
"Right, shall we go to the training grounds then?" Leon suggested, turning to walk back out of the room.
Arthur and Merlin scuttled after Leon.
X
"Harder sire!" Merlin squeaked.
Arthur grunted, thrusting at Merlin.
Merlin took the movement like a man, and kept his position strongly.
Arthur repeated the motion, again and again and again and again.
"Sire!" Merlin cried, as Arthur delivered one last, devastating blow.
The two of them stopped for air.
"Their training is going well," Lancelot remarked. "They're really getting into it."
"They are," Leon nodded. He suddenly trained his watchful eye upon Gwaine, who seemed to be enjoying the show. He frowned. The weight of Camelot resting on his shoulders every day was nothing compared to the secret he was now harbouring. He could bring down his king if he let it slip.
"Leon," Lancelot poked him. "Is something the matter?"
"No," Leon answered. "Nothing's the matter."
Lancelot couldn't tell if Leon was being Leon, or if he was actually hiding something. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Leon nodded.
"But are you really sure?"
"I'm really sure."
Lancelot wasn't having any of it, and excused himself. He marched up to Gwaine and tried to act casual.
"Their training is going great," Gwaine told him, "look at them go!"
"Arthur will be in great shape for his sword fight," Lancelot nodded.
Gwaine opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. He felt ready to burst with his secret, he wanted to gossip to everyone. He looked at Leon, then at Lancelot, then back at Arthur and Merlin. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He felt like everyone could see through him, like everything was looking into him.
He felt like the leaves were staring at him. He felt the earth staring at him. He felt the training dummies staring at him. He felt the haystack staring at him. He felt Lancelot staring at him.
"I'm gonna head to the tavern if that's okay," Gwaine said before Lancelot could speak.
"Gwaine," Lancelot raised his hand to stop him. "What's going on?"
Leon had walked off to attend to his duties.
Before Gwaine could restrain himself, the words were out.
"Leon slept with Arthur."
"LEON?" Lancelot repeated.
"He is Arthur's golden boy, after all," Gwaine blurted, trying to comprehend what he'd just done. He figured it would do no harm.
"This could be good for him, I suppose," Lancelot considered this information for a few moments, heading towards the tavern with Gwaine.
"It might not be," Gwaine disagreed, but then wondered why he would say such a thing.
"You think?" Lancelot asked.
"Well, Arthur needs someone more fun and less... Leon," Gwaine decided. There was no stopping his mouth, it had a mind of its own.
"Leon is very serious, but level-headed," Lancelot pointed out, "it might do Arthur some good – but you could be right."
"You do know this is top secret, right?" Gwaine said to Lancelot, taking on a more serious tone.
"I will be discrete about this," he replied, adding, "I won't drink too much at the tavern." Lancelot knew he could bear secrets, since he still had Merlin's magic under wraps.
"I can always count on you," Gwaine patted his friend on the shoulder, sauntering into the tavern to wash away his worries.