A Marriage that Started a Legend Chapter 175, a merlin fanfic

Bringer of treaties…defender of the peace…two hard won titles that belonged to one man…to Merlin Pendragon. A man who was so strong and capable and fierce, able to fly on the wings of courage and not drown even when he ended up pushed beneath the waves. The wings of change was ahead of them, and it could lead with Lancelot. Who would have the full backing of the Consort if he went through with their original plan…to lie his way into knighthood. Lancelot knew very well how wrong it had been, going along with Merlin's plan when he had first suggested it all those days ago, but somehow…knowing that Merlin was consort, it didn't feel as dishonorable as it once did. Consort Merlin would be 'relying' on him to open the doorway, to be the reason for other commoners to have the same chance that he had now. But Lancelot hadn't came all this way to become a…spokesperson for Commoner Rights. He had simply wanted to serve, and do his part in making this kingdom safe from those who were too greedy to live their life in an honest manner.

A simple man such as Lancelot, couldn't be what Merlin needed.

But Merlin made him want too.

More than anything, Merlin made him want to pledge his alliance and begin his duty serving beneath the crown. Before all this…it had simply been an abstract idea to Lancelot. Pledge his loyalty and his sword to shadowy figures that he'd only heard about among his journeys. But the figures weren't so shadowy any longer. The king himself was still mostly covered with shadows, but the prince had been revealed to Lancelot as nothing more than an abuser and a snake, no different than the tyrants that had once torn straight through Lancelot's village all those years ago. And the consort…the beacon of light…Lancelot would have been honored to get down on one knee for Merlin and have him bestowed him with the title of knight. But to pledge loyalty to Merlin, meant pledging loyalty to a viper, just waiting to suck Merlin dry the second Lancelot had his back to him. Gwen's loyalty, it seemed…hadn't been misplaced when she had chosen to give it to Merlin.

"You know, Guinevere and I were having a pretty interesting conversation just before your husband tried to kill me. She had many kind things to say when in regard to yourself. She trusts you with everything in her entire heart, even that much is very clear to a stranger such as myself." Lancelot said, when the other boy didn't react to the titles his husband had generously bestowed in an effort to make Lancelot feel less than he was. And it had worked for a time, Lancelot had truly felt as if he should not have been allowed in Merlin's company. Much too plain and unworthy to have won the consort's support. Merlin was starting to blush now, pretty and pink and Lancelot nodded to himself…it was clear the Great Consort didn't have a good opinion of himself. Lancelot wanted to help change that, though perhaps it was asking too much…a simple man thinking it would be him who could help the consort. He still tried, anyway, "She said you helped her when you didn't have to. Told me how important you were, and how I, pretty much, would only be hurting myself if I didn't forgive you for all of the lies and the secrecy. And I admit…at first, I truly didn't understand how I could let it go. How foolish I must have seemed to you, coming here with nothing but a blade and the clothes on my back. I was almost prepared to exile myself, just to save myself the embarrassment of facing you again."

Merlin immediately turned shame faced, averting his eyes down to the ground as if trying to hide himself the best that he could. But that hadn't exactly been what Lancelot wanted. He didn't want to…shame…Merlin. He understood just a bit better now, and honestly, he probably would have done the exact same if it was him in Merlin's position. If Lancelot had ever had the misfortune of ending up married to a beast like Arthur, he would want to hide that fact too. Nobody decent would ever admit they were married to such a cruel man. He honestly didn't have any idea how Merlin had ended up entangled with such a man, but that wasn't any of his business. Nothing was, other than the role Merlin would want to play in his life.

"No, Merlin, you don't need to hide your face. In fact…I never want you to hide your face. You are Consort, and you should own that fact no matter who you're unfortunate enough to be married too." Lancelot said firmly, he wanted to test his luck and tap Merlin on the underside of his chin, giving his head a nudge to look up. But Lancelot wasn't exactly sure if that was proper behavior between a commoner and a consort, it probably wasn't. But then again…Merlin was the most uncommon consort seen in all the five kingdoms, and that wasn't exactly a bad thing. "But as I was trying to tell you, Merlin…I wasn't entirely sure what m'lady was speaking about, the sheer trust she had in you outstanding! Until…I saw Consort Merlin in action. Not just with you helping the people who arrived here today, but before that. When you dove in between me and Arthur because you wanted to protect me, protect the ones who were there…because you had to stop him when nobody else would."

Lancelot took a shuddering breath, he remembered back to that moment when he had been filled with so much awe and amazement that he could barely even stand it. Lying in that cart with all the hay, preparing for Arthur to bring down the killing blow, only for Merlin to appear, as if summoned by the horror of the situation. Merlin had hardly coward in front of that monster known as Arthur…he had been one man against an unrelenting force. A single boy with no honest to god combat training who should have ended up crumbled on the ground as the broomstick Arthur had been swinging struck him on the head, against the prince himself. And it was more than just that…Merlin had managed to stop all of it without lifting a single hand against Arthur. He had been brutal and cruel, but had delivered nothing but the cold, hard facts as he gestured to the towns people conjugating around them. It took a special kind of somebody to get the results that Merlin did, and it took a special kind of person to wear the title of Consort so effortlessly. That had been what had really won Lancelot over, and it would give him no amount of endless pleasure to become a simple man who was known by the consort. Anything else…it would be the gravy poured on top of Lancelot's life. The extra that made Lancelot's life better than it was before he had arrived.

…

"I'm not a victim!" Merlin blurted out of nowhere, immediately looking as if he was embarrassed by his sudden outburst, especially when Lancelot looked as if he was startled. But Merlin cleared his throat, and wet his lips before he was speaking in a rush, barely forming the thoughts in his mind before he spoke of them. "What I mean is…Gwen told me why you were fighting against Arthur to begin with! About what he…did to me. And she shouldn't have told you any of that, but it's not exactly like it's a secret! But please, don't deny yourself your right to take a place among their ranks just because Arthur is the arsehole that leads them! Do this for yourself, for all the hard work that you've done over the last decade just to make this happen! I can hardly imagine what you must have thought when she told you, but…I refuse to be a victim because of it! That was why I dove in between you and Arthur, because I'm not going to let Arthur ruin everything that's good in my life. And you must think I'm terribly stupid to have agreed to marry Arthur in the first place. But I didn't have any choice! It was all this contract signed between our parents before we were born! I wouldn't have agreed to this union if that damn thing hadn't forced both of our han-"

Merlin suddenly cut himself off, Lancelot staring at him with wide eyes as the smaller boy threw a hand up over his mouth, as if he was trying to force those words back down his gullet. But they were already out in the open, the can of worms that could not be closed, the truth of the matter striking Lancelot with dumb force. The warrior could only stare blankly…he had figured, after having learned what kind of abusive monster Arthur was, that it had been a far more recent development. Arthur and Merlin had only been married for a few short months, so perhaps Arthur had only turned abusive after their marriage ended up finalized. Where he could trap Merlin down, and the boy wouldn't have the easy option of breaking up with him for laying a hand on him. As nobody that was in their right mind would agree to marry somebody who was showing them violent tendencies. Or perhaps Arthur had offered Merlin something, perhaps even something that would have made the abuse worth it, but…Merlin wasn't striking Lancelot as somebody willing to put up with such disrespect because they could bare a noble title. But this…this was something that Lancelot hadn't been expecting…the reason for the marriage coming to life and unfolding right in front of him. A contract…it had been because of a contract…but it was clear that Merlin hadn't meant to tell him. The terrified look on the boy's face spoke volumes, and then Merlin was jumping to his feet and grabbing Lancelot along his wrist. Lancelot followed without protest, back down the stairs and straight to the shadowy corner hidden beneath the staircase itself, away from anybody who might want to pry into their privacy.

Lancelot was against the wall before he knew it, and Merlin was standing a bit further out, frantically glancing around to make sure nobody had seen the two of them disappearing into the shadows. Frantic to make sure that nobody was going to know what was going on here today, and when Merlin disappeared to the shadows with him, and Lancelot saw the sheer paleness in his face…it was quite clear that he had just walked into something that he shouldn't have. Had just heard some kind of state secret; the kind of secret liable to get the wrong people killed if they knew of it. And Merlin…Merlin was the one that had let the truth out, was the one who would be in the most danger if Lancelot ever let on that he knew things he shouldn't…

"Please! Lancelot! You cannot tell anybody what I just said! You cannot even give away that you suspect the truth, or the king will have both of our heads on a silver platter! Not even Gwen knows the real reason that I have married Arthur! I'm not allowed to tell anybody! Only my uncle, the royal family, and a few trusted members of the court are even aware that such a contract exists at all. Yet alone that I am bound by it." Merlin immediately started in his frantic tone…he truly believed that the king would kill him for speaking of the secrets he had. And Lancelot swallowed past the thick lump growing in his throat…the consort was in danger, had put himself in danger accidentally. He lived and he died by the king's discretion…this was an even tighter secret if not even Gwen was aware of such a thing. "And god, now I've gone and put you in danger just because I have a big mouth! Uther won't hesitate to kill me, I truly fear what he would do to you to keep you quiet! Burned alive probably…or he'd just get you to disappear quietly and have the knights get rid of your body in case you say something to somebody else…please! Lancelot! You cannot speak the truth! In fact, it might be best that you left the kingdom all together! Somewhere Uther won't even be able to follow you!"

Tears were starting to flood from Merlin's eyes, but he made no move to clear them from his face. Instead, he reached out his hand, grabbing onto Lancelot …so much smaller and more delicate than Lancelot's own. And yet…all Merlin's concern seemed to be focused sorely onto him. Merlin could die because of all this as well, and yet…it was Lancelot's safety that worried him. He didn't want Lancelot to die because of a hapless mistake that he had made…Lancelot felt the muscles in his jawline starting to harden. Determination flooding although him, buried underneath the weight of Merlin's tears…he could only imagine the weight of this secret bearing down on Merlin's shoulders. Merlin might just be the Great Consort Lancelot had dreamed him to be, but it didn't mean that the smaller boy didn't deserve somebody to bear that weight for him. A problem bored by two, was a problem halved…Lancelot already knew what his answer was going to be before Merlin had spoken.

"Merlin, please, calm yourself down. I swear…I won't tell anybody what you've told me today, and I won't tell anybody what you will tell me. But I also promise you…I'm not leaving this kingdom. Not now…probably not ever." Lancelot said, pressing as much earnestly into his voice as he could…he had always planned on living in Camelot full time anyway. But now that he knew this…it only fueled his desire to stay even more. Even when he'd been wondering if he should stay or not, after learning he wouldn't be accepted as a knight because of his own common heritage…now he knew he would be staying. Merlin clearly needed to have somebody who could watch his back, somebody who could be trusted to keep the matters of the court secret. And somebody who could protect him if the worse happens. Merlin might even need to flee the city someday, if all this proved to be as bad as it sounded, and if he did that…he would surely need to have somebody willing to keep him protected. Lancelot would do that, but first things first, before he got a head of himself, "I need to you ask you though…what exactly has been going on. I understand if you can't tell me…knowing less will probably only help me in the long run. But it won't help YOU. So I ask you…let me in, Merlin. Let me know the truth."

Lancelot's sacred vow to not speak a word about what happened between the two of them seemed to hover in the air between them, where Merlin darted his eyes between each of Lancelot's own, clearly wondering if he should dive into his issues deeper, and tell Lancelot…everything that he had lived through. And when Merlin opened his mouth…speak the truth he did. It was clear that Merlin had wanted to get this off of his chest for a while, because he dove right down into a spiral, Lancelot barely able to keep up as it was. But keep up he did, the warrior learning that Merlin's parents were dear friends of the king and the late queen before he was born. That each parent, upon Queen Ygraine discovering she was pregnant with Arthur, made and documented an official contract that said their heir would marry the child of his parents…meaning Merlin. They were meant to make a happy union, combining their two families into one to become a stronger unit because apparently…while Merlin's mother had been a peasant woman, simple and plain when compared to the king and queen, the consort's father was important to the king. How so, Merlin didn't really understand, but the king approved of the union and the bond was struck, before Merlin'd even been in the womb.

But then everything fell apart.

Lancelot learned more details than he probably should've been told, all about how Queen Ygraine had died in childbirth, and how Uther had started his great purge on magic only weeks after Arthur had been born, once his grace period of mourning had ended. How Merlin's parents had gotten scared by being right in the middle of all the changes happening, scared Uther would turn his anger onto them if they stuck around. So they planned their escape…Merlin's father was meant to leave the city and secure a place for them to go. And his mother was meant to stay in Camelot for a few weeks to avoid suspicion…the warrior was able to understand that. He had only heard stories about the early days of the great purge, how fear had been abundant in the streets and how anybody could be accused of witchcraft and burned on the pyre without one thought on whether or not the claims had been true. But, according to Merlin's story…their plan fell apart when Merlin's mother had grown sick before she was due to get out of the city. And after seeing a private healer in the castle to make sure she wouldn't be too sick to travel, not that it mattered considering staying inside of the kingdom apparently wasn't an option, she had discovered she was with a child.

But Merlin's mother had trusted the wrong person.

The day before she was to leave the city for good, only a few days after she'd been told her unexpected news, guards had arrived at her home and took her to the king. And the king had not been pleased that the woman hadn't told him immediately of the news, upset he had to hear it from the healer instead. Uther had considered her silence on the matter as a betrayal, thought her attempt to escape the kingdom-the woman's packed belongings all the proof he needed that she was leaving-was a way of stealing away his heir's future bride. Uther's ire had only grown when he learned Merlin's father had already gotten out the kingdom, so when she had refused to admit she knew where he was going, the king had this brave young woman locked away within the castle. To keep an eye on her and her developing womb, to make sure the babe destined to be a Pendragon was growing proper.

He kept her locked away for eight months…

But Merlin's mother was smarter than the king thought, and she made herself out to be a nuisance to the man. So when she came to him to make a deal…she would get to raise her son in peace in a cabin far from Camelot so the king did not have to spend every day looking at her, then she would give her child over to the king upon its eighteenth birthday. To be married off to the king's heir, to become a ruler of Camelot, and educated as the king deemed fit. Uther readily agreed, not realizing he had only given her eighteen years to think of a plan to keep her child safe. Uther thought he had won, getting the child in the air and not having to deal with the mother. It was an arrangement that really would've worked…if the king had assigned different guards to watch over her.

Uther believed he was keeping her right where he wanted her…

But Merlin's mother had played a dangerous game, and she had won. Playing innocent in a little cabin in the woods on the far side of the kingdom, she gave birth to Merlin while the guards grew lazy with her compliance. Never noticing the way she stored bits of food in a hiding hole during the course of the month as she planned her escape. Tucking away spare coins she managed to put her hands on. Merlin's mother thought the game was over…when she gave birth to a boy, knowing Uther's own heir was also a son. But despite this, the contract still stood, and Uther's fury was stronger than the sun itself when he realized his mistake not specifying gender upon the parchment. But a mother's love for her son would always be stronger than the king's greed and desire to ruin her.

It took two years…

Merlin's mother stayed in that cabin for two long years, gaining the trust of the men assigned to watch her, watching as they grew lazy and lax until they were no longer keeping her under constant supervision. Trusting her to stay exactly where she had been all this time…believing they had the cushiest job in all the kingdom. And only then, had the woman made her escape, stealing away one of their horses in the dead of night, the supplies she had managed to keep, as well as her son, and rode off into the night. And she didn't stop running till she reached somewhere safe. For weeks she hid in the woods, steadily making her way further and further west of the kingdom. Until she finally managed to get to the boarders of the kingdom, crossing the line where Uther would not tread lest war be declared between him and Cenred.

She hid there in plain sight for nineteen years…an entire year of extra time she got to keep before they had been found…an entire year that Uther had to look for her upon realizing she had escaped years before. His guards having gone and disappeared into the night when they couldn't find her, knowing that their execution would be upon them at their failure. And Merlin still didn't know just how him and his mother had been found over the boarder, where nobody from Camelot who may know them could have seen them. But found them they had been, and three knights had shown up upon their doorstep, every intention to take Merlin back to Camelot. By force, if his mother tried to fight…

Merlin hadn't known any of this…

He had been taken by strangers, and brought to a strange land away from the life he had known. Never to see the land they had made their home, laugh with the friends he had made, see the neighbors who had watched him grow under the watchful and protective eye of the mother who knew he could be taken out of her care at a moment's notice. He came here, and was married off to a man he had met for all of five minutes before the wedding. Had been expected from the very start to be their consort, and offered nothing to prepare him for such a role. Threatened by the king they keep their contract secret…abused by the very man meant to love him…ruined until there was very little of what remained of the old Merlin.

It was a horror story, if Lancelot had ever heard one.

A story that was not befitting for the Greatest Consort Camelot had seen.

But it was a story that made Merlin a survivor.

"Thank you, Merlin. For telling me all of this. I know that it couldn't be easy to admit some of this. But I will keep my promise to you, and I swear…nobody is ever going to hear these secrets from my lips." Lancelot said only after Merlin had finished his story, the consort biting down on his lip and looking with huge wounded eyes…as if he feared Lancelot would run and sell the true tragedy of the royal family to whoever wanted it. But now, Merlin exhaled a large breath of relief, knees practically shaking as he sagged into himself…and Lancelot made his shoulders go back. Squaring himself up for the challenge that was going to be ahead of him in the upcoming days. It was going to be very difficult to stop himself from going after Arthur once again, the next time they met, which was likely going to be very soon. "I'll do it, Merlin. I'll become a knight of Camelot just as you asked, and I will work under Arthur's command, but only…only so I can stand by your side when you need me too."

Merlin's eyes grew rounded and wide, and Lancelot felt as if he had just swore his soul to the devil himself. Knowing he would be spending his days bowing to Arthur's command, following his laws as if they were a sacred order, being the good little soldier Camelot needed at their helm. It wasn't the kind of situation Lancelot had imagined himself in, nor was it the kind of honorable call to duty his service to the crown had been meant to be. And yet…Lancelot would do it for Merlin. After what Merlin had lived through…it was about time somebody in the kingdom started giving back. It was about time that somebody was able to protect Merlin more personally than a few women and an elderly uncle would be able to physically. It might be Arthur, that Lancelot was pledging his sword too. But it was Merlin…Consort Merlin…that Lancelot would pledge his loyalty too. And it was Merlin, that Lancelot would fight in the name of. And maybe a day would come, a day would come in which he and Merlin could do what his mother had done all those years ago.

Break him out of his prison.

"You don't have to do that. I mean…I meant what I said earlier. You should only agree with this if it is sincerely what you want to do. If you are willing to spend the next few decades of your life serving under a man like Arthur. It's a choice that shouldn't be taken lightly, and if you have a choice to stay away from him …then it's probably one that you should take." Merlin insisted, suddenly going around and switching his tune…he had been so certain about Lancelot taking a spot in the Royal armies, that this change made Lancelot grin. He knew exactly what Merlin was doing…trying to make Lancelot stop because he didn't wish to be the reason for Lancelot's choice. He didn't want Lancelot to put himself in a position like this…just for him. And true enough, Merlin turned his eyes toward the ground. "You can help so much by doing things elsewhere. There's not one reason you should condemn yourself to Arthur's presence…just for me. Just to save…the Consort of Camelot. Some thing's aren't worth that kind of fight."

Lancelot shook his head, a rueful grin growing on his face as he looked toward the sky, where the sky had darker into navy blue and the moon was becoming their only source of light very quickly. If only Merlin knew…Lancelot had every reason in the world to dedicate his life to this. What was more honorable than being loyal to a man like Merlin? What was more honorable than trying to make the kingdom a better place for all? What was more honorable, then changing the rules the kingdom dictated they live by, by protecting the one who had the ability to make the changes happen. Yes…this wasn't going to be any kind of prison sentence for Lancelot. He would happily spend the next few decades of his life, defending Merlin from those who wished to seek him harm. Even if this meant his blade would eventually cross the throats of those who'd been meant to call him…family.

A spy amongst the royal court…

A protector of the consort…

Loyal only to the one who gave him a chance…

That wasn't the waste of a life at all. In fact, it sounded exactly like the kind of thing he should be doing. And if he died in the crossfire, well…at least he was going to die making sure his consort lived. At least he was going to die doing the right thing. And wasn't that what being a knight is meant to be in the first place? Sacrificing one's self, so those who couldn't protect themselves or had a bigger destiny than a simple peasant man like him…could go on. It would be leaving behind a legacy…for Merlin. And Lancelot couldn't have wished for any thing better.

It wouldn't be a bad thing for a peasant to leave behind them…

"Please Merlin, I am not doing this for my consort. I am not swearing myself to Camelot's Great Consort who is destined to do good for this kingdom. I'm not even doing this for peace of my own mind." Lancelot spoke, grin growing even wider when he saw Merlin's brows furrow into the middle of his forehead, and tilting his head to the side confused. It was fun to play with him, but this would not be the time for games. This was Lancelot…vowing to stand by Merlin's side until he no longer needed him. "I'm doing this for MERLIN. For the boy who did not have any thought to himself as he dove between me and my end, who did not back down as he fought for the people, who healed those who needed the help with his bare hands. For the boy who had nothing but a clump of wood to defend himself with, and still fought with all the power he held against the two trained soldiers and still didn't give up. For the boy who looked at me, and who can see something better than what I see in myself. THAT is who I'll be doing it for. And one day…one day you will see that I am not alone. Camelot might be a messed up place, but the people on the outside…I bet they'll stand behind you should they be called."

By the time Lancelot was done speaking, there was a wet sheen forming in the consort's eyes…grateful tears. Lancelot never thought he would be proud with himself to have made somebody cried, but he supposed this was considered a …special occasion. It wasn't everyday that Lancelot swore his loyalty toward a man who truly deserved it. And there wasn't a single lie in what Lancelot said…he knew, without a doubt, that there were many more people in the outer lying villages that would gladly take up arms if their Consort demanded it. And that was just the people who believed in their consort. People who actually met the boy…they wouldn't even hesitate if their consort was threatened. Riling up just behind him, the trust earned through blood and sweat and tears, whether than bought.

"I…I hardly know think that they would do that. But you…I guess that means…you really aren't disappointed that I am the consort you have been dying to meet?" Merlin asked of him, scratching at the dampness in his eyes with this balled up fist, it made him look much younger than his nineteen years would claim. And Lancelot wanted to shake his head and laugh…disappointed? The very last thing that Lancelot could've said he was would be…disappointed. "I mean…you've probably imagined the Consort being somebody much cooler or at least more put together than I am. You say all these things about me, about how you're going to do this…for me and not for the consort. But all I really do is end up disappointing people…"

It was such a ridiculous notion for Merlin to have said, something born from his own self-doubt rearing its ugly head, but Lancelot knew that it wasn't possibly true. Merlin had his uncle, and he had Gwen, and Lancelot doubted that Merlin had ever disappointed those two for long. Or at all, even. They all seemed as if they were so close knit…so together…Lancelot wanted to be apart of that. It'd been a long time…since his parents had died actually…since Lancelot felt as if he truly belonged someplace. But he could probably find his place here, in the heart of Camelot…with Merlin. The man behind the legend being told along the boarders of Camelot. The man who stood while others would cower, even after knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered or out skilled. The man who'd take all the hits, just so others wouldn't. Yeah…it felt as if Camelot would finally be the IT place for him. And that was going to be in a large part, thanks to his friend…Merlin Pendragon.

"Yeah, Merlin…I supposed you aren't the Consort I was picturing in my mind. I had this whole…eternal god thing, resting in my head. Somebody more golden than the sun, who radiated hope and strength. Who saw injustices happening and actually cared enough to stop it. And then I came here, and I see what the real consort is all about." Lancelot gestured down to Merlin's body, his lip lifted into a little half smile as Merlin subconsciously pulled on his tunic, Merlin's lips pushing out a little in a worried pout. As if Lancelot's description happened to describe somebody else. But Merlin…he was all of that. All of that and more. It was exactly what Lancelot told him, "I'm not disappointed in you, not even by a long shot. The Consort is real now, in my eyes. He's not just a story, of some far off hero that couldn't possibly exist in the real world. He's…you. And you're him. And I for one, am tired of listening to the stories. I want to be part of them myself, to know the real facts from the ones exaggerated as it got passed from one mouth to the next. To be the one who stands…with the man that has given me a real purpose in my life."

Merlin made some choked up sound in the back of his throat, and scrubbed a bit more harsher at his eyes…Lancelot smiled more gently. He wanted to wrap Merlin in his arms, and do nothing more than give that boy a hug. Like one may when a little brother was going through a hard time, or realizing there actually was more people than just his one friend and his one relative who could care for him. But he didn't, because Lancelot wanted to remember this moment. He wanted to breathe in the damp night air until it filled his mouth and caused his senses to muddle. He wanted to remember the light of the moon that case this half-light around Merlin…wanted to remember the wet sheen of Merlin's eyes and the pink flush in his cheeks. His rumbled clothing from a day of exhausting work. This was a day to be marked in the history books, or at least a day that should be marked in Lancelot's book. Because this was the day that Lancelot's destiny started turning. The day that put him on the path towards what would be his ultimate end. The day where Lancelot's track in life started…completely changing course.

"C'mon now, let me do my first duty and walk you home safe and sound. I am kinda living there at the moment, so I'm sure your uncle will start to wonder if something happened to us if we don't return soon." Lancelot said, clasping a hand onto the consort…onto Merlin's…shoulder, and started leading him out of the shadows of the staircase. Merlin followed him easily, the unwavering in his strength and dedication to doing what was right nowhere to be seen. Replaced with something softer, like a small puppy trusting the man he followed blindly…it was a trust, Lancelot knew, that he would never break, eyes already glancing around them for any threats but finding none but the stray person hurrying off home. He would treat the trust being given to him, like a fragile little bird, one that could break if he treaded too hard. Because Merlin deserved a person he could break down in front of without judgement. Deserved a person that would not fail him like his husband had. "Now…perhaps you can explain to me exactly why Arthur, back when he told me who you were, insisted that I not spread any rumors about you living with your uncle. Because I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be something that could be hidden, or something even Arthur should've been so weird about."

There was a moment of silence, before Merlin threw his head back to laugh at the unexpected question. And the whole way back to Gaius', Merlin regaled his warrior with the story. Telling him all about how he had been gifted with a room in the royal suites upon his arrival, probably the only thing the royal family had given him. But had detested the idea of sleeping so close to Arthur, so Merlin stored away in the early hour's of the morning, deciding to live with his uncle instead. He had been there for days before Arthur had even figured it out-and just how did somebody not realize their own husband hadn't been sleeping in their bed-and hadn't been pleased with it. Arthur had eventually stopped all of his complaining though, as long as Merlin never told anybody where he would be spending his nights…the king would have forced Merlin back in a heartbeat.

Several hours later found Gaius sitting at one of his tables, it was far past time for him to be sleeping, but Gaius was used to long hours. And it didn't bother him at all, as he carefully flipped through the latest tome he was looking at, it's hardly the first one he had looked at during these last few days. He had been looking for answers ever since his nephew had turned up on his doorstep with a knight holding a bleeding stranger over his shoulder, searching through each and every single one of his books. But none of his searches had turned up one single hint of the creature Merlin had described as the one that had attacked them. It was exactly why Gaius had resorted to looking through…other types of books. He probably should have started from this type of book to begin with…he doubted the description he had been told could be found in just any book.

A snore broke through the night air, and Gaius glanced over his shoulder to where Lancelot was sprawled out across the ground in a corner of the room…a thin blanket half kicked off of him. Gaius shook his head, Lancelot and Merlin had turned up only a few hours ago, smiling and laughing and looking as thick as thieves. It was nice to see Merlin with a friend, behaving like a real teenager who didn't have a single care in the world. It was the only reason that he didn't say anything about the late hour, despite having been worrying himself half to death wondering what trouble Merlin must've gotten himself into. But now his nephew was upstairs, safe and sound and tucked away in his bed. Just where he should be…

Gaius turned back to his book and flipped through a few more of the pages of it…he had already seen multiple sketches of multiple different creatures. The kind of creatures that weren't normal, the kind of creatures that many wouldn't see in their day to day lives. The kind of creatures that only existed with myths and legends, stories and folktales. He's seen elves, and fairies, and unicorns…had seen mermaids and sirens and trolls as well. And about a thousand other types of creatures, creature of power beyond this world's knowledge. Beasts that were otherworldly, and would otherwise take something with much more force than a simple sword, in order to destroy it. Gaius hoped it wasn't a beast from this book…getting rid of dangerous creatures, creatures born from magic, was going to be a struggle. But of course, as if to prove something to him, the next page that Gaius flipped to had him stopping.

Frowning heavily, Gaius moved the heavy text closer to the candlelight he had been using to read by, adjusting his glasses so he could see the sketching with a more…keen eye. "…the wings of an eagle…" Gaius mused under his breath, as he recalled the words Merlin had used when describing his attacker, he placed a finger along the back of the great beast. Sliding his finger up along the arch of its wing, spread far and wide, it had to have a wingspan of ten feet or more. Dangerous and deadly, even moreso from the sharp talons Gaius could see on its feet, and the sharp beak that poked out of its head. This was a beast that'd been designed to kill when threatened, not something that could be gentled or tamed in the least. Volatile and temperamental. "The face of a bird with a body of a horse…"

Gaius trailed off, trailing his fingers across the long length of the body in the book…there was no doubt about it. This creature matched perfectly with all of the details Merlin had provided him. Which meant, now that he knew what this thing was…he could learn more about it. Knowledge was forewarned, and if he knew what this creature wanted to begin with, it might lead to a way of getting it to go away. Or a way of stopping it…unfortunately, when Gaius started a slow study of the passages written on the page, he found mostly warnings that told hiding was the only chance somebody had to survive. Unless they were magic …magic could destroy magic. And only an equal force could subdue the beast from its rampage…Gaius hummed in the back of his throat, his eyes drifting up to look towards the floorboards above his head. Where Merlin was sleeping at the very moment…Magic could destroy magic. It would be a few hours before Gaius finally decided to retire for the night, and when he did, he finally looked at the title on the top of the page, telling him the name of this deadly beast.

GRIFFIN.

Early the next morning, Merlin Pendragon found himself sitting on the edge of the training grounds. There was a large tree poised just there, casting over his form with the shadows made from the thick branches that stretched across his head. It was a beautiful spot, a place where Merlin could sit and read through his book in peace, without being seen. He was close enough to where he could see the people on the field and what was going on, but far enough away that he would not be immediately noticed as a viewer, which was exactly what he wanted. He had already seen Lancelot off, and the other man now stood by the old fence the knights used to keep regular people out of the way. Lancelot wanted to get a closer look at the kind of training he would have to go through so he could be prepared, and he needed to tell Arthur he accepted his offer…

Merlin hadn't wanted to get any closer than he already was.

Lancelot was the only reason he had came this close to begin with…

Merlin leaned back against the thick trunk of the tree…there had to be at least a good twenty or so men working on the field this morning…so early that it was an ungodly hour. But none of the men didn't look as if they had been forced to leave their warm beds-like Merlin had been-in order to come here. The consort stifled a heavy yawn threatening to overtake him, eyes scanning over all of the red capes standing at attention, waiting for the one who would give them order to move. The one who commanded the training field with the ease of a person who had done this for years, and knew very well how to garner his own men's attention.

Arthur Bloody Fucking Pendragon…

Merlin glanced down at the thick tome in his lap, a book that he had stolen off of one of Gaius' bookshelves in order to keep him occupy while Lancelot was hard at work. He opened up the heavy cover, and flipped to a random page in the book…the words were all fuzzy and unfocused. Even if he was staring at it with the same intensity of a thousand suns, Merlin found that he wasn't able to actually understand a single word in the book. It may as well have been written in Greek or some other language he wouldn't have a hope of understanding…it didn't take long before Merlin glanced up out the corner of his eye to see what was going on in the fields. Arthur, with his long cape dragging back behind his form as he strode in and out between his men, was correcting their forms just as he saw fit. Straightening a spine here, kicking a pair of feet until they stood shoulder width apart to give them a better stance…all things Arthur had once done to him. Many months ago when they'd been forced to spend their time as a married couple for the first time under Uther's orders…

Arthur had taken him training, and Merlin had returned with more aches than he knew what to do with…

Merlin blushed furiously at the memories, and tugged his book higher up onto his knees so that he could hide his face behind its pages. This also happened to be the very first time Merlin had seen Arthur since he had gone on his whole highly inappropriate rant about how possessive he was. Which would actually be the main reason as to why Merlin was hiding away in the corner, he had not wanted Arthur to see him and immediately start on something else about him, but he could hardly miss Lancelot's first practice as a knight! Lancelot would need all the support he was going to get if they were really going to pull all of this off. Which meant Merlin couldn't hide away in his room just because he'd be seeing Arthur a lot, or because Arthur was a freak…

Merlin's blush grew darker, his hands clenching around the book tighter, as he thought back to Arthur's possessive manner…how Arthur had been screeching about his hair for anybody in the city to have heard him. How he had been scathing about the color of Merlin's eyes…exactly how did Merlin's eye color distract Arthur enough for the prince to tell him the wrong color when Merlin had asked him what his favorite color was? It's hardly Merlin's fault that Arthur was so simple minded, that he could be distracted far easier than a child! And then there had been Arthur's rant about his skin…and his nose?…and the way he spoke to people? The whole experience had ended up being, quite honestly, terrifying as hell. It left Merlin with disgust coiling in the pits of his stomach, warning him to leave before Arthur's rant escalated to something physical. Another backhand maybe?

And left Merlin had, with all the pride that he could muster up.

And here he was once again…forced to endure Arthur's presence.

Merlin Pendragon cleared his throat, and turned back to his book, this time he blinked a few times to get the words to sharpen in his vision, actually looking as if it could pass for English this time. Just because Merlin was here, did not mean he had to waste his time looking at Arthur doing his bloody job. He was only waiting for Lancelot to get a word in with Arthur, just so he could be sure Arthur wasn't going to go back on his word and try denying Lancelot a spot in the program once again. But until that happened, the only thing that he had to do was put Arthur's weird arse possessive rant to the back of his mind, and do a bit of studying. He was going to need all the information prep he'd be able to get his hands on if Gaius was really going to teach him a few things.

Everything had been chaotic, with getting Lancelot ready to be a knight and then with Arthur's weirdness added into the mix and dealing with the warrior finding out who he was and then the survivors showing up….this was honestly the first moment Merlin had to really breathe. And he was going to use some of that time doing what he liked to do…learning something new. His uncle had told him, when Merlin had first brought Lancelot to him to be healed, that the physician would teach Merlin how to do stitches proper. He had already read a bit yesterday morning, but now he wanted to read a bit more…maybe see if he could finally understand how to tie off the knot. Perhaps it would have been far bette if Merlin had brought himself some string with him, maybe a little doll he could practice on…reading about it could only get him so far. And practice was liable to impress his uncle when Merlin showed him he wouldn't need to start at the very beginning.

But alas…Merlin hadn't thought that far ahead, so all he really had was his one book…

Merlin glanced up when he heard something going off not far away from him, it was very distracting from his reading…people. There were a group of peasants carrying laundry baskets, Camelot city natives and not their guests, standing a few feet away from him. Merlin frowned, they were doing that thing that all the peasants did when they saw Merlin nearby. Whispering, talking about him, and doing absolutely nothing to hide that fact. Merlin's hands clenched around his book a bit tighter, did nobody have anything else to do but stare at him…time itself seemed to stop when the small group noticed Merlin had seen them. By this point, usually, the peasants would have scoffed or stormed off with heads held high and a swagger in their step…looking down their nose at him as if he's the one that was scum beneath their boots. Everything they could do that was just short of public disrespect, being that they weren't able to get away with as much as the knights could.

But this time was different…

When the laundry girls noticed he was watching them, they flushed scarlet in embarrassment, and then took off running across the field as fast as they were able to in the other direction…Merlin's frown became more prominent. That had to be the weirdest interaction with the servants that he's had yet, and he could not even begin to know why they were…weird. And it hadn't just been them, he had noticed many of the servants on his walk here pausing to stare as he was walking by. Lancelot had thought it was funny, laughing at Merlin's confusion but doing nothing to offer any kind of explanation. It was very…odd…and he'd grown to not like odd things lately. It usually meant some kind of trouble would be heading his way…Merlin turned back to his book to try and get back to his studying, the very same studying Arthur had interrupted just to tell him about a stupid trial he wasn't going to participate in…

'You're mine.'

Those words hit Merlin without warning, the text in the book blurring as he got hit with full force by the memory. They were the same words Arthur had ended up whispering to him as Merlin sat on his healing bed, after he had first woken from the poison…the first time Arthur had voice his possessiveness. There was a horrid, chilling shiver that rolled down his spine, causing him to drag his legs closer to his stomach in an effort to beat it, the book spread out along the top of his knees. Try as he might, being this close to Arthur was making the horrid memory resurface. Brought back to the forefront of Merlin's mind after Arthur had went off on him yesterday about all his…traits. It was nearly impossible for it to leave his mind, no matter how much he tried to distract himself. Reading a book, even if it was for education purposes, would hardly get the chill to leave his bones. And it would hardly stop the nerves of goosebumps forming all over his arms, positive that any second now, the prince would notice him there and turn those scorching blue eyes back onto him. Scorching blue eyes that would tell Merlin everything he needed to know about how much of a freak the other man was, before he even opened his mouth to try convincing 'His' Consort to come watch closer…just so he could show off again.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. I never thought I would see the day come where our beloved Consort would grace us with his presence again. Did you think we'd see him again, all by himself, boys?" Another voice interrupted his studying (mentally cursing Arthur out), and Merlin had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at his company. He glanced past the knight that had appeared in his line of sight, hoping to see Lancelot coming…but the other had already been swallowed up by the crowd standing by the fence. And Merlin could only barely see the back of his head, several people standing in his way. "You know, Consort Merlin…there's been an awfully lot of rumors going off around you this day. Already I've heard something about you…stopping Arthur from punishing a mouthy trainee? And then there was something that's got the servants to be all riled up, though only heaven knows what that one is about. And yet…I have found myself most concerned about the third one I've heard…is it true that you are the reason Bryon and Julian have been arrested?"

Merlin turned back to the man in front of him…Knight Markus…it'd been quite a while since Merlin had seen the other man. He couldn't remember the last time he had a confrontation with him, too busy with all the other shit that he'd been going through to worry about one knight in the long list of knights that wanted to see him dead. The peasants might be all in a tizzy right now, but the knights seemed to be avoiding him altogether. Until now…Merlin glanced behind him to see the other five or six knights standing behind them. All of them looked as if they were new recruits, too small to fill out their armor properly and too young to understand their ringleader was only going to lead them to ruin. Their cocky grins said they expected Merlin to tremble at their feet, now that he was being all but surrounded by them. It figured though…Merlin knew the group of three knights Markus usually hung around with. And since Julian and Bryon were in a cell, and Christian was probably actually doing his job at the moment since the man wasn't down here now, it seemed Markus had decided to grab some fresh meat to be his back up today. Nothing more pathetic than some group of men trying to gang up on somebody smaller than them…it almost reminded Merlin of the second time he and Arthur had met. When Arthur had approached him in the marketplace only to challenge him to a mace fight shortly after, having a similar group of men following his every word…

"…I think that you underestimate me being 'alone' just because I'm sitting here trying to enjoy a peaceful day while I still can." Merlin said, making sure he was keeping his voice as calm and as steady as it could be…Markus was far less of a threat than Arthur was. To be honest, he was nothing more than this really annoying gnat. Who was ruining his peaceful day, considering Merlin was sure that was supposed to be reserved for the next time Arthur tried to approach him. The consort carefully closed his book, figuring he wouldn't be able to get any actual reading done, "But if you came all the way over here just so you can tell me off about Bryon and Julian, I should let you know that it was Arthur that had them arrested after he found out what they did to me. I wasn't part of this until after it already happen. But if you plan on confronting Arthur about this next, you should probably be warned…Arthur seems to think he's the only one who is allowed to hurt me. He doesn't like that their 'fun' with me could've got me killed."

It was perhaps a cheap move, considering how much Merlin wished he could take Arthur's own bloody sword and stab him in the gut with it over and over again, until the other man finally admitted that Merlin would never be his. But Merlin could be petty when he wanted to be, and some knights might actually back off if they thought Arthur wouldn't like it. Using Arthur like some kind of shield though…it made Merlin feel disgusting and clammy with himself. Like he 'approved' of Arthur and his methods, but…this had been the exact thing that Merlin had tried to warn Arthur about. Back when Arthur had first told him the two knights had been arrested, and Merlin had freaked out because he KNEW there would be retributions cast upon him by the other knights. And now look at where he was…surrounded by knights and everybody nearby so focused on Arthur training the new recruits that…yeah. He may as well be on his own. Not even Lancelot had returned to check on him quite yet…

"Please, you think you can scare us away by pretending Arthur cares for such a thing as you? Everybody knows that he detests you, especially since you've done nothing but bring shame onto him and his family name. The only reason he arrested Bryon and Julian to begin with, is because he had no choice when you accused them of whatever they did." Markus said bluntly, and Merlin had to bite back a sigh…yeah, he had known that wasn't going to work. Arthur had made his position on Merlin quite clear to his people, and Merlin hadn't been called 'unwanted' for nothing. And it wasn't as if Markus was wrong…the blond man didn't care for him at all. Arthur only saw him as a thing, an object that is meant for him to possess, a toy he can throw in the dirt whenever he decided he was done with it. Merlin had hoped Arthur would be done with him soon but after his outburst…that didn't seem as if it would happen anytime soon. "Now, Merlin I think that there is something that can be done about all this unpleasantness. I think the only thing you need to do, is give Arthur an excuse to release them from their cells. You tell Arthur everything they did was simply some kind of…misunderstanding. That you mistook their intentions and acted out of turn. So Arthur can free them, and we can all move on with our lives."

Honestly…that had been what Merlin wanted to happen. He never wanted for Arthur to arrest them, because it would save him from having to deal with the shit like this. And he never wanted a trial to go through, because he refused to subject himself to more ridicule from Camelot. But just because Markus had all of this…gall…to demand Merlin lie to get them out, had Merlin bristling. Had he been a cat, Merlin's fur would've been standing on end as he hissed, throwing out his claws at the two men. Merlin hadn't wanted any of this to happen, but he REFUSED to say nothing had happened. Merlin didn't want to deal with any of it, and yet, now that Arthur had gotten the ball rolling…the two men WOULD stand trial for what they've done to him. It was the simple facts of the matter, and Merlin wasn't going to lie about the truth. Nobody might believe him about what really happened, but they were less likely to believe him if he recanted a story like this. Merlin wasn't going to lie for ANYTHING.

"No, I don't think that I will. I think I would rather sit around and see exactly how their trial actually goes. Maybe you'll get your wish and we'll actually see them walking free, just strolling down Main Street so they can continue their rein of terror now that they know they can get away with attacking a member of the royal family." Merlin said bluntly, his words sharp and twisted with cruel intent. He had every faith that this was how things were going to be, a knight against the consort, well…he's already had that type of fight and knew exactly how it would turn out. But he wasn't afraid of using the endless possibilities to get beneath Markus' skin, as he leaned forward in his spot so he could look at the man towering over him dead in the eye. "Or maybe things will end up going my way. And maybe…maybe they won't ever walk the streets of Camelot again. Maybe this kingdom will be free from them trying to push their weight around to get what they want. Maybe they'll be forced to leave for good, I don't know what the punishment for what they've done is. But I know I won't ever have to see them again, and THAT would be good enough for me."

Merlin kept his cool demeanor in place as he leaned back against the tree, as if he didn't have a single care in the world. Knight Markus could just bite him if he thought Merlin would be scared of him, some idle little man that would pop up whenever he pleased to throw his own weight around, as if he was actually some big man around these parts. But as far as Merlin could tell, there wasn't anything special about Markus. Nothing but his temper and his desire to end up far better than where he was…from the way Markus' eye was twitching with a violent intent, Merlin just knew the other man was restraining himself from grabbing onto him. Nobody might be paying attention, but Merlin screeching like a hellcat when Markus dragged him off the ground was surely going to end up garnering them attention from those on the field. Attention neither of them particularly care for at the moment.

"I don't think…I don't think that you are…quite understanding what I am trying to tell you…Consort Merlin. Bryon and Julian are…very important men amongst our court, and it would be a shame to lose such capable fighters." Said Markus in a forceful tone, doing a marvelous job at reining in his temper. But the black haired boy was still able to see the signs…the anger in his eyes. It was really a pathetic and pitiful display. Merlin himself could do a far better job at that. To be honest…he already was. With the way Merlin was lying back along the tree trunk, nobody would've been able to tell how irritated Merlin was by their mere presence. "Perhaps Arthur's never complained about it to you before, but the prince has been having a lot of trouble trying to find fresh knights who's able to pass the criteria to become knights. Not many are doing it these days, and we are going to need all the help that we can get if we are going to be able to stop this beast attacking the villages. Bryon and Julian could be the fighters we need to turn the tides, and you will only be cursing us to damnation if you deny them their right to fight."

Such an obvious tactic…manipulation at its best, Merlin thought with this cold smile. He had been trained to spot such tactics by noticing them when Arthur would use such things on him. And Markus wasn't even close to the range of skill Arthur had in that department. The manipulation was written all over him, saturating his words with their lies. He didn't care about Bryon and Julian, and needing them to join the fight…none of them did, Merlin noted as he watched all the other knights behind Markus nodding their heads like these dumb little critters. Hardly knowing what they were agreeing with, or what they had gone and gotten themselves involved with by following Markus over to him. All this was only to convince Merlin to recant his story. But if Markus was really oh so concerned about needing men to fill the ranks, Merlin actually did remember the way Arthur had complained about the lack of men when they first started their 'date' before Merlin had even known it was a date, then he didn't need to worry himself about it. Merlin was convinced that Lancelot had ten times the skills than either Bryon or Julian, and had a far higher chance of surviving the fight than either of them had. Hell, Lancelot had already fought against it the once and managed to live. While all Bryon and Julian had done was run away as if they were bloody cowards. Cowards like that didn't even deserve to be a knight, or wear a title of nobility as if it was something they've earned instead of something they had simply been born into.

"I think that you are overestimating Bryon and Julian's abilities as knights…it's quite obvious that neither of them are well equipped to handle this creature. If it was as easy as you seem to think, it would have already gotten taken care of by one of the other knights. I personally, wouldn't put my trust in them to keep me safe the next time the beast comes after us." Merlin said bluntly, watching as Markus' disgusting sneer grew in agitation. So emotional…so easily angered he was. So pathetic. Bryon and Julian had already shown Merlin who they were and if there had been anything Arthur had taught him, when somebody shows who they really were, it was best to listen. "If you have any complains about all of this though, perhaps you can take them to Arthur. I am sure he will be happy to hear you defending those men. Or perhaps he will not be happy to know you are wanting to give these men a free pass for their crimes. Do you want to take out a wager on whether or not you'll end up in a jail cell right beside them after Arthur gets done tearing you a new one?"

Merlin could manipulate the situation as well, and he was almost pleased when he saw Markus start wavering on the spot…clearly this wasn't going as he had planned. He thought he would come to find a weak willed Merlin who wouldn't hesitate to cower under the much larger knight. If only that was true, then the knight would be having a much easier time than he was. And while Merlin did doubt Arthur would throw his 'friend' in a jail cell, it satisfied him to know that Markus was doubting he wouldn't. But then again…Merlin thought back to the way Arthur had ranted at him about how it was Merlin's fault he always felt so possessive over him. The way Arthur had whispered to Merlin about being his while they sat on his healing bed. The crushing way Arthur had dragged their mouth's together, biting his lips to sink his tongue into the depths of Merlin's mouth. The way Arthur had tried to kill Lancelot just for sleeping in the same house as him…a warm flush built beneath Merlin's skin. A heat that he couldn't quite identify…it reminded him of the strange way he had felt when Arthur held his thigh beneath the table during the banquet, and rubbed dangerously close up his leg. Perhaps it wasn't such a far off idea, for Arthur to start going after Markus with the same unrelenting force that he went after everything else.

"Even after everything you've been through, you still think that you're better than the rest of us, don't you? You still think being consort makes you more important than any of us knights? Why? Just because Arthur is doing away his own army for you? I don't think it takes much skill to whisper sweet nothings in the prince's ear when he's done with you late at night." Markus sneered, but it was the tremor detected in his voice that convinced Merlin he had managed to get beneath Markus' skin like he wanted. But Merlin still cocked an eyebrow up with confusion…what were 'sweet nothings?' And why would Merlin be telling them to Arthur? And what did that have to do with being around Arthur late at night…Merlin didn't think he had been around Arthur after dark since the night of the banquet. So that made absolutely no sense…was Markus suggesting the consort had whispered into Arthur's ear to arrest those men? And that…what? Arthur had just followed along with it like a mindless creature trying to do the consort's bidding? What utter hogwash! Though…Merlin being consort didn't make him better than Markus. Merlin being literally anybody other than Markus was what made him better than Markus. "Perhaps it's time you got something that will humble you down to size? Boys, why don't you give our consort your things, just as we discussed?"

Merlin frowned…a nasty and disgraceful smile had spread across Markus' lips, and the six men standing behind him broke into snickers as if whatever they've been planning was the funniest thing on the planet. And despite the extremely strong external demeanor Merlin gave to the outside world, the muscles in his stomach were starting to clench anxiously. What Markus had said…made him think for a brief minute there, that Markus was going to try and finish what his friends had started, and kill him off before the trial could happen, perhaps the knight thought Merlin was going to speak and wanted to silence him before he could damn his friends to hell. But surely Markus wasn't so stupid as to try to attempt something here, out in the open. At least Bryon and Julian had waited to get him out of the public's eye before they tried to attack him…but then the 'boys' Markus had joined up with started throwing something beside Merlin. It formed a large, towering pile right beside him, completely ruining the peace this tree was supposed to bring him, with the stale scent of feet and socks.

"…I don't suppose you are planning on telling me what I am meant to do with all of this? Because I might not know everything about Camelot, but I'm sure just throwing your things around to mess up the fields isn't acceptable," the consort said blandly, wrinkling his nose at the tower. There had to be six pairs of boots beside him, twelve all in total, each one looking more frayed and dirty than the last one. Shoelaces were coming undone, the long tongue on top looked as if it was about to come out, the soles were nearly ripped off the bottom and even the toes looked like they were pealing and scratched beyond belief. And each one was coated in a layer of mud and dirt that would need somebody to scratch off by hand to clean the actual boot underneath. All in all…Merlin had never seen so many shoes in such a dirty state. Merlin's own boots had kept his feet warm for over a year now, and only bore a few scratches…he knew to take care of things that weren't easily accessible. And a new pair of boots was not something that can usually be guaranteed where he came from. "I'm sure even Arthur would find leaving your boots hanging around isn't good behavior for a knight to have. He might reconsider your job here as a knight if your plan here is to have the fields cluttered. You can hardly fight each other with your swords if you're going to be tripping over own bloody boots in the yard."

And honestly…the boots were both disgusting and an eyesore. Even for Merlin who had been raised to never waste anything, he couldn't see a future for the boots that didn't end with them being placed in a burn pile. But the group of knights were starting to snicker at him again, looking like the cat that managed to catch the canary…was Merlin missing something here? Because he honestly didn't see how a bunch of boots next to him was somehow…funny. He could've just as easily moved to another area of the field, one that smelt like freshly cut grass instead of sweaty toes, if they thought this 'plan' of theirs was going to chase him away. A bunch of boots wasn't nearly as daunting as they thought it would be…Arthur's breath was more terrifying than those things.

"Ah, no, Merlin. There seems to be some kind of miscommunication going on here. You see, we won't be tripping over these boots, as you are going to be putting them away for us." Markus said brightly, cocky arse grin growing while the men behind him broke out into laughter like hyenas. Nearly falling over the other as they clutched onto each other to prevent from falling to the grass due to how bloody hilarious this all was to them. But Merlin's brow only furrowed in deeper, even more confused than he had been before…why the bloody hell did Markus think he was going to waste his time taking their extra boots away? Or better question…why did they drag their extra boots all the way here to begin with. Markus apparently decided to take pity on him, and explained in this very condescending manner, "The boys and I have been talking about how you have to do something around here to start pulling your weight. So that Arthur does not have to keep wasting his time bailing you out for every other reason. And since you clearly cannot be a proper consort, we thought work you might be a bit more…familiar with, would be appropriate. So you'll need to clean our boots up, and I want them to be polished until they shine bright enough for me to be able to see my face in them. Some bits need to be stitched back up, since you can see that they're falling apart. And the laces themselves will obviously need you to completely replace them. Do you think you can handle THAT, Merlin?"

Markus had completely dropped the 'consort' to his title, making it clear that he had only been using it under the pretense of 'mocking respect.' But now, as the consort had refused to get his friends out of jail, saw no reason to keep up the use of it. But this fact was barely noted to Merlin, as he eyes the boots for the millionth time, and then Markus again, as he finally understood what they were doing…the humiliation burned brightly in Merlin for a minute there. They were treating him…treating him as if he was a servant! Somebody they could order to do chores that a servant would have to jump to do without question or hesitation. And while Merlin thought there was nothing wrong with somebody being an actual servant, they WERE the backbone of the kingdom after all, the idea of these pesky men treating him like one left something bitter on the back of his tongue. While Merlin had the upmost respect for the servants and all the things that they did…these knights didn't. And they were basically saying that Merlin was lower than dirt, so beneath them, that the only thing he was good for was making their boots shine. Merlin's fingers clamped tightly around the corners of his book…he saw nothing wrong with getting dirty and helping one of the servants complete their work. He saw a THOUSAND wrong things with a group of cocky knights trying to boss their consort into doing this work.

"Perhaps you should try doing your boots yourself, instead of fostering this on somebody else. Or is learning how to scrub your own boots a little too hard for you to learn how to do." Merlin said snappily, already knowing that he wouldn't be touching these boots with a ten foot pole even if they paid him for the day's work, which they obviously wouldn't. Merlin was…he was…Merlin hated saying that he was the Consort. But he was. And these men were disgraceful to treat anybody like they've been treating Merlin. It wasn't acceptable. "Or perhaps it is for a different reason. Maybe you're scared you'll be mistaken as servants yourself, if you had a skill that included more than bashing a sword against a person's skull."

Merlin would sooner burn these boots himself, then he would clean them. He would use his magic right here and now if he could, to watch them start their burning and blistering and darkening before ultimately bursting into flames. A sight it would be, watching his little bonfire crackling and spurting out the old metal bits clinging to the boot for 'decorative purposes.' Because how bloody dare these men think that 'he' would stoop so low as to actually do this. Were they actually dumb enough to think MERLIN would just submit and scrub their boots as if he was supposed to? There were definitely people around here that needed to be humbled, but Merlin was confident that this person wasn't him.

"You've got to be kidding me? Do you honestly think we've got the time to do something like that! Or that any of 'us' would really be mistaken for something as common as 'servants?" Markus spit out the word, gesturing to him and the other knights, who all puffed out their chests in their shining armor as if they were some kind of rare gem only found on the moors of some far off land none of them had ever been too before. It was a stupid display of masculinity Merlin could've surely done without. "Besides, that's not the way the world works, do you not know that by now? People like us do the heavy lifting, we're protectors who keep order around this kingdom. And peasants like you, well…they just are not good for anything that's more complicated than being a boot scrubber. I'm sure something simple like this will actually be a relief to you, considering that you aren't exactly…equipped…to be our consort."

Markus thought he was saying something new, something that Merlin already didn't know, but it still made Merlin's face go blistering red…the gall that this man actually had. Markus claimed that the 'knights' brought order to the city, but where were they yesterday when Arthur was trying to take off Lancelot's head in a public space? Where were they when apples had gone flying and the people had gone screaming and the crates had been crushed beyond able to use? Or did 'keeping the order' somehow not extend to when their precious prince was out for blood. Protector of the people…what utter crap! Arthur had called Merlin a 'defender of the people', and he had done far more than Markus had even tried to do. And for him to just come strutting around in front of him as if he thought himself some kind of prized peacock…it was disgusting. Made even worse because it was clear Markus truly believed he was something else entirely…

"I suggest that you get started with those boots and hurry up, I don't think any of us would like to be the reason you got held up for the celebrations that are happening tomorrow night. I know servants take a while to get anything done around here, so hard to find good help these days and all of that." Markus said smoothly, his new lackeys bursting into more laughter as he started leading all of them back to the fields. Merlin perked his head up…celebration? They were having another celebration? Merlin could've swore, he had never had so many parties in all his life! He didn't even want to know what excuse this party was going to be held for, but Markus seemed to read his expression and scoffed as if it was somehow Merlin's problem for not being informed about this stuff. "Do you seriously not know anything? The party tomorrow is going to celebrate the knights that managed to pass their training. I believe the prince only has a few more men he has to test, all men that he can get done sometime today, so the king can have them officially knighted tomorrow. Do try not to get into another spectacle, won't you? I would like to attend one party that doesn't see you on the floor having a fit just because of a little poison."

Markus gave Merlin one more final sneer, treating his near death as if it wasn't anything more than a joke to be made fun of, before following his friends off to where the crowd was gathered around Arthur's latest training session, but the consort paid him leaving barely any mind. A celebration…for those that would be becoming official knights of the kingdom…Merlin bit down on his lip and he tapped his fingers on the spine of his book. He wondered if Lancelot would be allowed to participate…he had never actually partaken in the basic training so his skills weren't noted officially. But Lancelot had managed to hold his own up against Arthur…if Lancelot could do that again in a more official capacity…if he was able to beat Arthur during one of these training tests…would they make an exception and allow Lancelot to skip over the training? Surely they would! The consort, as far as he could see, figured that the tests were simply about Arthur teaching his men how to use a sword properly. How to beat their opponent. So if Lancelot was already a better fighter…going through the training wouldn't be anything more than a waste of time…

Wait…another thought struck Merlin, and he groaned heavily before bending himself nearly in half so he could rest his forehead against the hard cover of his book. If everything actually went good, and Lancelot was allowed to be one of the men knighted tomorrow, then of course Merlin would have to be there to see it. And considering this was a celebration…it probably meant that he would need to dress up again. More uncomfortable silks to wrap across his body, and even more people staring at him because he looked so different…fuck. This, he figured, was just one of the many unfortunate prices that came with being the consort of a kingdom.

If only Markus, Merlin, or any of the many lackeys, had noticed somebody was watching them this whole time. If only somebody had noticed this person had heard everything that was being said. If only they had noticed the knight who stood on the other side of the tree…perhaps the goon squad wouldn't have left so pleased with themselves. If only they had noticed…then perhaps they would have walked away, instead of giving this knight important information to bring straight to Prince Arthur. Respect was extremely important to nobility, and this knight would not stand for the disrespect that had just been shown to Arthur's consort…

"One!"

Arthur started screaming his numbers again, as he usually did at this point in his training sessions, and watched as his men responded by instinct. Falling in the right stances…Arthur trailed down one path of men to the next. The work was second nature to him, and he kicked feet wider apart while adjusting the grip some people were holding their swords with, absentmindedly. All of this was only a training session to keep the beginner's skills sharp, to keep them alive…Arthur would be working with the more advanced group later on. They would be prepared and ready for when their attacker came for them…

"Two!"

Arthur hardly noticed as his men dropped down into the second position, his eyes scanning over the crowd blandly…this whole thing felt like it was nothing more than a waste of time. He should be the one holding a blade, and should be the one throwing his men onto the ground when they couldn't beat him. As important as it was for Arthur to keep his men alive, he couldn't help but find today's work to be an…utter bore. He needed something important to keep his focus…restless, that was what he was, Arthur decided as he briefly noticed his friend Markus joining in the sidelines. It reminded Arthur after this class, he'd be training the even NEWER recruits. The ones who had just arrived within the kingdom, the ones that would need to be beaten into shape like the class he's already teaching had been. Arthur had put aside today to focus mainly on their training, with that beast out there and no idea when it would strike, it seemed as if it was the most prudent thing to do. Preparing his knights. But why didn't he feel…satisfied, with the way their progress was going? Probably because it was pitiful, Arthur had basically needed to start from the very top considering not one of these men had been paying enough attention during the last several months of training, since not one of them had past his test. Like Arthur said…it was a waste of time if they weren't taking this seriously.

"Three!"

The group of men were coming up into the third position when Arthur finally caught eyes with SOMEBODY that garnered his attention for more than just a brief moment…Lancelot. Lancelot was standing just behind the fence, keeping a close eye on their session…Arthur's jaw clenched and purposely turned back around so he wouldn't have to look at him. God…just one quick punch towards the jaw would probably be enough to satisfy the itch that had formed beneath his skin. But…bloody hell, no. He wasn't fucking ALLOWED to come after that man again. Arthur needed to be on his 'BEST' behavior…but then again, Arthur hadn't seen Merlin around. Surely he wouldn't need to know if things grew out of hand between them…no, Arthur shook his head violently. What was he really thinking? That he could just go up to Lancelot and clock him along the face all over again? Merlin had been pissed enough the last time he had gotten into a fight with that man, and…Arthur bit on his lip and ignored the pain of guilt that shot through his heart. Maybe he HAD gotten carried away during their fight-considering the way his people and Merlin had been staring at him-but that…that man! He was just so infuriating, being able to stand near Merlin without the other boy curdling from his touch…

"FOUR!"

Arthur's voice was louder than before, the only indication of his agitation as his men dropped into his fourth stance. It may have been an entire night that's passed since he had last seen Lancelot, but it had done very little to calm his temper somewhat. Arthur didn't think a day would go by in which he wouldn't wish to see that man's head on a plate, but Merlin…Arthur just had to keep his memory of Merlin. And how…willing…his consort had been to throw himself in-between them during their battle. Arthur's heart ached when a fresh wave of guilt nearly had him crumbling to his knees. He could have killed Merlin…if he had been only a second too late from stopping himself, he could've slammed that broomstick into Merlin's skull and crushed it beneath the force. And then he wouldn't get to…see Merlin anymore. He'd never be rewarded with a smile that he gave so freely to others. Would have lived the rest of his life, knowing Merlin's life had been ended with his hand, before he had even made a single dent in fixing their relationship. That…that honestly sounded like a fate that'd be far worse than death itself.

"FIV-"

Arthur Pendragon was forced to stop in mid-sentence when a hand landed on his shoulder from behind. He had been standing in front of his men, watching as they started to already shift into the final position, so the hand was quite a surprise…the knight was lucky Arthur hadn't been startled enough to land his fist into his gut. Startling a knight was a very dangerous thing to do, since one wrong move could make somebody believe somebody was trying to attack. He wasn't entirely pleased to see it was Knight Justin that was interrupting them…Arthur's had a bit of a grudge towards the other man. Ever since Arthur ended up taken prisoner in his own home when he returned to the castle after having to fight for his life to get his hands on the flower Merlin needed to wake from the poison. Knight Justin had been the man that led the charge, dragging him from his horse in an effort to subdue him…Arthur was pretty sure he'd broken Justin's nose during that fight. But there had been so much chaos during that fight, he hardly knew which of the men had ended up needing a physician after they managed to wrestle him into a cell.

The entire field of knights went silence as Justin leaned into Arthur and begun whispering something urgently in his ear…many people were tense. It was not often that training got interrupted like this…training was so important, that the only thing to ever make one stop in the middle was if there was an emergency happening. Had something happened in some other part of the city? Was the king alright? Had the beast struck again, instead of heading towards Camelot as they thought…the whispers coming from Justin seemed to speed up. But it was inaudible to anybody else. At first, there wasn't any reaction coming from Arthur, nothing that'd give anybody a hint as to what was going on. But slowly and steadily, Arthur's eyes started to go wide…stunned. Baffled. Disbelieving…

"WHAT!"