A/N:

I'm a wee bit late. Désole. Big thank you to everyone that reviewed, and without further ado…

Enjoy!

Ilandrae

Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own Merlin. Not. At. All.

CHAPTER 16 – OLD MEN AND OLD RULES

Camelot Council Chamber

"-dead. Many of which were knights of Camelot. The wounded have been gathering in the town square and the city physicians are offering any aid they can" Merlin winced as he heard the casualty count, more lives which he had not been able to save.

He looked to Gwen from where he stood in the shadows. While the Queen said nothing, a look of sorrow flashed across her face, a sorrow that mirrored Merlin's own as he listened to the reports that were being given.

The warlock had snuck into the Council chambers before the meeting even started, concealing himself even from the Queen. A few whispered words and flash of gold activating one of his amulets to do what the shadowy corner in which he stood could not.

He'd been told that only those present at the time of his unveiling even knew of his presence in Camelot, and his hidden magic. All those who knew had also been sworn to secrecy.

So, in actual fact, none of the men at the council table, other than Leon and Geoffrey, even knew of Merlin's continued existence.

"How much of the garrison remains" Gwen asked wearily.

"About half of the common soldiers."

"And the knights?"

"Only a quarter remain" Merlin winced again, over half the knights of Camelot dead… in one night.

"Your majesty" one of the council members said interrupting Merlin's melancholy thoughts, "over half of Camelot's fighting force is dead. If the Black Sorcerer's army returns, we-"

"He won't" Gwen interrupted.

"With all due respect Your Majesty we do not even know why they all suddenly left. If they were merely regrouping, we-"

"They will not return Samuel" Guinevere said sternly, "Not for a time at least."

"My Queen how could you possibly be sure" Samuel certainly was persistent.

"They won't be returning anytime soon Samuel. You can be assured. Because-"

"Because they know that I'm here now" Merlin would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the looks of absolute astonishment that were directed his way as he deactivated his concealment charm and stepped from the shadows, "Camelot's not so easy to conquer now that you've got some proper defences."

Samuel opened his mouth, most likely to call the guards, "Don't you think about it" Gwen ordered, recovering from her own shock, "This man is under my protection."

"And who is he?" Samuel barely concealed his sneer.

"I'm not surprised that you don't recognise me" Merlin said with a small smile, "you were usually all grovelling to Arthur and trying your best to pretend that I didn't even exist."

Leon shook his head in exasperation at Merlin's snide remark. But Merlin had had enough of hiding in the shadows and trying not to upset the 'important' people of Camelot. If he was going to stay in Camelot, he was going to be himself, magic and all. They would just have to get used to it.

Still not comprehending the council turned to their Queen, "Your Majesty?"

"This is the man who defeated the Black Sorcerer's apprentice and sent his army fleeing from the city. This is Emrys, though you would have known him as Merlin. He's a sorcerer."

Merlin smiled grimly as all hell broke loose, now it had truly begun.

Training Grounds

Mel watched their movements. The deadly pieces of steel they held arched intricate patterns in their air, so fluid and graceful. Slash, parry, thrust. Clash, clang, shriek.

All the while their scarlet red cloaks snapped in the wind.

It's beautiful… in a deadly sort of way the girl thought to herself. She was perched on the fence of the training grounds, eyes locked on the training knights.

She saw Art walk out with Percival and the other knights. As they laughed and joked, she saw the comradery they shared even if Art was but a boy.

She remembered her conversation with Art the day before, when everyone had been in the super top-secret meeting upon their return.

She'd asked Art about the knights of Camelot. The boy had replied eagerly.

"Camelot knights are the best in Albion. We are a brotherhood, a-"

"We?" she interrupted.

The young prince looked a little sheepish, "I'm not really a knight yet but I've already started training. I've grown up listening to the knight's code, trying to embody it in my life. I feel like it's already part of me."

"What's in the code?"

Art got a faraway look in his eyes, "A knight does no harm, to woman, to innocent, to those who have only good intent. A knight serves their King, their country, and all that is good. A knight upholds honour, chivalry, and bravery, never turning away those in need and always showing mercy for those who ask it."

"Helping those in need and making sure that bad people don't hurt innocents?" Mel had said, "That sounds pretty cool."

"Yeah" Art turned serious, "Being a knight of Camelot is a calling. But it's also a responsibility. Knights swear an oath, and it's one they must keep til death"

Now as Mel watched them train, she thought once more of the Knights of Camelot. A brotherhood who sought to protect innocents and stop bad from happening in the world? That sounded like something she would like to be a part of.

No. She thought again. It was something she needed to be a part of. It's a calling Art had said, and Mel felt that call deep inside. She knew that this was what she was meant to do.

So, the girl swung off her seat on the fence to approach the knights.

"Melisadrae" Percival greeted her with a little confusion, "What are you doing here?"

"Hello Percival" Mel flashed him one of her smiles, the ones that normally helped her get things from her father, "It's Mel by the way. Only my parents ever called me Melisandrae. I just wanted to watch the knights train."

"Oh, ok" the knight seemed a little more sure of himself, "Well you're welcome to watch just don't get to close, these swords are sharp"

Nah duh… Mel thought with a roll of her eyes They'd be a little useless if they weren't.

Art smirked as if he knew what she was thinking.

She raised a challenging eyebrow at him but he simply shrugged back.

She watched as Percival began to warm up, "How long have you been wielding a sword Percival?"

The big knight smiled "Since I was about Art's age. After my father was killed, I realised it was up to me to protect my family, so I got about learning how."

"So, it takes that long to get good?"

"Only if you train hard enough and often enough. If you do that anything's possible."

"So, I need to start training now then?"

Percival froze, "What?"

Art too stopped mid swing.

Mel summoned up her courage as she felt all eyes turn to her, "If I wanted to be a knight. I would need to start training now."

Realisation dawned in Art's eyes in the moments of silence that followed.

"A KNIGHT!" Mel turned towards the incredulous voice, seeing a brute of a man with close shaven dark hair, "Girls can't be knights! It's laughable!" then he did laugh, long and loud.

"Dryth…" Percival said tensely but Dryth ignored him.

"It's bad enough that commoners are now able to achieve knighthood" Percival's scowl only deepened at the arrogant knight's words. By now movement on the practise field had stopped and everyone was watching the commotion. At Dryth's comment about commoners Mel saw more than a few scowls.

"Besides" Dryth sneered, "your nothing but a little village girl. Come to the big city. There are only a few things any girls are good for" Mel frowned at his suggestive tone, "but fighting isn't one of them"

"I don't know what you're implying you pretentious bastard" Dryth prickled at Mel's harsh words, "But I-"

"Big words for a little girl. What would your father think-"

"Don't you dare talk about my father" Mel snarled, "You don't know a thi-"

"Oh, I'm sure he's mighty proud of your fowl mouth. Does he know what kind of daughter he's raised. Why don't you run home to daddy and show him? I'm sure-"

"ENOUGH DRYTH, STAND DOWN!" everyone froze at the stern words. For the first time Dryth seemed to remember that they were not alone, that they were in fact in the presence of the crown Prince of Camelot.

Art stood there, rage evident in his stiff stance and sparking eyes. His fists were clenched tightly by his side and he seemed to be trying to hold himself back. Mel remembered that he had instinctual magic that reacted to his emotions. It seemed like he was quite emotional now.

Art may be but a boy, but he was still a prince. He was still to be obeyed. Dryth cast his eyes downwards and Mel saw the flash of rage at having to follow the orders of a boy.

"Indeed, Sir Dryth" Dryth paled further as Leon walked onto the field, "That is no way for a knight of Camelot to behave" he surveyed the gathered crowd sternly, "Now what is all this commotion about?

Dryth grinned as he replied, "This little girl thinks she can become a knight."

Leon's eyes widened and he turned to Mel, "Is this true?"

She drew herself to her tallest height, "Yes Sir Leon" she tied to not let her voice waver, "I want to be a knight. One day that is."

Leon grimaced awkwardly before saying, not unkindly, "Mel, Knight Orders are built on tradition. Tradition that borders on law."

She looked at him, refusing to accept what he was trying to hint at.

Leon sighed, "Mel, traditionally it is only noble sons that have the privilege of joining the knighthood."

"But non-nobles are allowed to become knights now" she countered.

"Only with special permission from the King" Leon said sternly.

"An action that I feel we will regret in the future" Dryth muttered under his breath earning himself glares from more than a few.

"Well if commoners can now become knights why can't girls?" Mel was starting to get angry, apparently even knights were as pigheaded as the rest of their sex.

"Because it's just not something that can happen Mel!" Leon snapped, guilt instantly flickering across his face, "Mel I'm sorry, I didn't m-" but Mel cut him off.

"Oh no" she said desperately holding off the tears of anger that she felt forming, "I understand. Tradition. Another word for stubbornness and stupidity! Just because it's the way things are doesn't mean it's the way things will always have to be!" with that she turned and stalked from the fields.

Before she got too far, she encountered an obstacle. She kicked the wall in front of her, ignoring the flash of pain in her foot she turned to sit on the wall.

She was staring stubbornly at the ground when she heard footsteps approach.

"It's just not the way things are Mel" Percival consoled, "Maybe one day, but not now. I'm sorry" the big knight turned and headed back to the practise field.

Mel felt a single solitary tear slide down her face. Her dreams only recently found, and already crumbling to dust.

Someone sat next to her and upon seeing Art's sympathetic look, she felt shame and anger bite into her being.

"How is it fair!" she yelled standing up and glaring at the boy as if he was the source of all her troubles.

"How is it fair that you can, and I can't solely on the fact that I'm a girl!" Mel fumed, "I want to learn how to protect others! I want to make sure that no one has to go through what I went through ever again!" Mel turned away, her fury leading to tears once more. Tears that she did not want anyone to see. "How is it fair?" she said one last time and then stormed away, trying to get to her rooms before anybody saw the tears that were about to overwhelm her.

If she'd looked back, she might have seen Art's look of sadness. She'd might have heard his angry sigh and whisper of, "It's not fair Mel. It's not"

Camelot Town

"Who told you no?" Mel looked up in surprise at his voice.

Merlin had been heading to the lower town, hoping that the familiar feel of the commons would help ease the frustrations that had come as a result of the council meeting.

It had been all he's a sorcerer… magic this… magic that… ok so maybe he zoned out a bit. Either way the council were still a bunch of old men intent on clutching on to their power and old ways until it had to be pried out of their cold dead hands.

But maybe Merlin was biased.

Either way, he'd given up. And just like all those years ago, everyone was so engrossed in their arguing that no one even noticed as he slipped out and made his way from the castle.

So intent on trying to distract himself, he'd run right into Mel. One look at her furious face, eyes shining with unshed tears, he knew something had not gone her way.

"I don't want to talk about it" she huffed in response.

"Fair enough" he shrugged. He knew from experience that pushing would only cause her to leave him in a huff too.

He made to continue walking towards the town and the girl's curiosity was piqued, as he knew it would be, "where are you going?"

"I'm heading to the lower town. It's been a time since I've been here, and I got sick of listening to a bunch of old men argue about rules and traditions."

Mel rolled her eyes, "Same here" pausing a moment she added, "Can I come? I've never seen the lower town before, at least when it wasn't on fire."

Merlin winced, "Avoid mentioning that maybe. It was only last week. Besides, though it may not be on fire anymore it will be far from fixed."

"It never took that long to fix stuff back home" Mel was confused, "Like remember when Declan's son accidently nearly burnt their house down? It was fixed within a day."

"That's because I fixed it Mel" Merlin said, "You have to remember there's no-" he lowered his voice "-magic here. No spells, no enchantments, no charms. Even possessing a basic protection amulet can get you sent to the chopping block. We're not in Ameldry anymore Mel. This is Camelot, things are different here."

Despite his grim words Merlin couldn't help the smile that sprung to his lips. Walking through these streets once more, contentment that he hadn't felt in years began to seep into his bones.

Mel caught his smile, a small one crossing her own face, "You speak of death and disease Emrys, but I don't think I've ever seen you so at peace… so at home."

When she said that something clicked into place in Merlin's heart, "I think I am home Mel… and it's been far too long."

"I don't see what's so special" Mel fell into step beside him and Merlin made sure his hood was pulled up. Despite Leon's words that his presence was not public, he didn't want to attract too much attention even if it was a friendly face.

"Camelot is a special place Mel. Built hundreds of years ago on foundations of ancient magic it stood unconquered until just over a decade ago. Despite the rocky times of the past the Kingdom of Camelot remains one of the most prosperous lands of Albion, still desired by nearly every ruler who lays eyes upon it. Camelot has its own heart. Arthur in particular was always able to see it, it's what put him at odds with his father a lot of the time."

"How can a city have a heart? It's stone."

Merlin thought for a moment before he answered, "A kingdom is no more than land without its populace. A city only stone without those who live in it. A King is merely an old man in a chair without his people who follow him. Power and privilege mean nothing if there are no people to keep a kingdom alive. Camelot's people are the city's heart." Merlin stopped walking having reached where he was leading the girl.

He'd thought about heading to the Rising Sun but thought that would bring up too many bad memories for the girl. As he saw Mel's eyes widen, he knew he'd made the right call.

Bartering day in Ameldry could not compare with the Camelot markets. Everywhere you looked vendors pushed their wares, countless stalls selling every item imaginable. People pushed and shoved, pickpockets and thieves making the most of distractions caused by the crowd. The crowd seemed to breath as if it were a living thing itself, shifting and flowing from stall to stall as citizens of Camelot battled for the best deals.

And the noise, the roar of the crowd and shouts of the vendors, it was enough to stun even Mel. As she gazed upon the heart of Camelot, the thing that made it the city and the kingdom that it was, she looked a little lost.

"I… It's so… much"

Merlin laughed, "City folk are too much Mel. Get used to it."

She grinned, "So that's where you get it from then Emrys?"

He gave her a playful shove which he instantly regretted as the girl tripped over a loose flagstone and tumbled into a nearby stall. She managed to save herself from causing too much damage, but it was enough to attract the attention of the vendor.

Merlin went to help the girl, his hood slipping as he neared and his eyes locking with those of the stall vendor. With start he recognised the embroiderer and jeweller he used to go to when serving Arthur.

The man's eyes widened "Merl-"

Merlin put a silent finger to his lips but flashed the man a small smile. The vendor smiled and nodded, giving him a questioning look.

"OH MY GOD THIS IS GORGEOUS!"

Mel's excited shriek drew both their attentions and Merlin saw her admiring one of the intricately embroidered scarves she had nearly knocked in the dirt.

Merlin grinned before fishing for his coin purse.

He watched him from the shadows, from a dark alley that no one took any notice of. And he was amazed that no one saw what he was seeing.

"Sorcerer" his fist clenched as he studied his target. Anger and hatred rising as he looked at the man who was no doubt merely an empty shell filled with darkness.

The evil scum handed over some coins to the stall vendor and the girl who was with him squealed with glee.

Magic, it corrupted all. He had to stop him. He had to stop the sorcerer before he brought Camelot down, no matter what the queen said about magic being good.

The sorcerer wouldn't live the week, of that he would make sure.

A/N:

Hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks

I ;)