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"What. The. Fuck."
"Gwaine! There are ladies present!"
"Oh, shut up, Perce. There's a Gwen present. She's heard worse!"
"She's said worse."
"Elyan!"
"What? It's true!" Leon stepped between the two siblings, preventing the teasing argument that was about to break out.
"We don't need to focus on that right now. How about we go back to discussing that." He threw an arm out to gesture toward the field. The five knights, and Gwen, stood off to the side, watching one of the first fights of the tournament. One of the combatants was Sir Finnick, one of the knights who usually patrolled the Southern Border.
The other was Merlin.
Merlin, the Prince-Recently-Turned-King's manservant. Who had never held a sword before, to any of their knowledge. Yet, he was holding his own against Sir Finnick.
More than that, he seemed to be winning.
"Were any of you aware of this?"
"Merlin's ability to hold a sword?"
"His ability to use one better than a trained knight of Camelot!"
It was at that moment that Merlin managed to parry Sir Finnick's sword from his grasp, casting it aside and whipping around to pull Sir Finnick in. Merlin's chest against his back, arms held tightly at his sides, and a blade at his neck. Those watching were silent, listening until they heard a quiet phrase from the knight.
"I surrender. You've won." There was a beat as the audience processed what they'd heard. Then, as Merlin released Sir Finnick and the pair shook hands, cheers broke out from the stands.
"Merlin, you bloody liar! You said you couldn't fight!" Merlin looked into the stands to find Gwaine leaning over the rail, nearly tumbling over it in his excitement. "You dared to tell us you've never held a sword!" Merlin laughed and jogged over.
"Now, Gwaine, I never said that! I told you that, should I ever hold a sword, I would've feared not knowing how to use the damned thing! I'm out of practice is all I meant!" With another laugh, Merlin turned and hurried to the steps so he could join the group.
"Merlin!"
-=o0o=-
Finally, the tournament was down to its finalists. The first was Sir Leon of Camelot, the well-respected Knight and Swordsman from a noble family. The other was Merlin, a servant who had never been seen with a sword in the 7 years he'd lived in Camelot.
"Well, it seems I'll get to see how good you are up close."
"Leon, are we here to chatter or to fight?" Merlin raised his sword to press the tip against Leon's, waiting for the call to begin.
"Believe me, Merlin, I intend to see you fight to your fullest." With that, they started.
On the sidelines, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine, and Gwen watched with bated breath. Merlin and Leon were a surprisingly balanced pair. They traded blows, neither getting the upper hand for more than three swings at a time.
"Are we really used to this already? How is Merlin matching Leon? It's Leon! He's been a knight longer than Merlin's been able to walk!" Percival patted Gwaine on the head with a sigh.
"We haven't grown used to it, Gwaine. We've accepted that we'll have to wait until after the tournament to get any answers." There was another moment as they all watched the fight until Merlin twisted around to stand behind Leon.
"What- What the Fuck!?" This time, it was Gwen cursing, and for good reason. Merlin had somehow managed to grab hold of Leon's sword, now double-wielding them with a grin.
"Merlin, how?!" Even Elyan broke his calm streak. The stands were filled with shouts of shock and confusion.
Merlin spun the swords quickly before settling into a dual-wielding stance. "Surrender?" Leon hesitated, the whole crowd growing silent as they waited for a response.
Then, Leon's hands raised, his mouth pulled into a smile, and three words echoed across the field. "You win, Merlin."
"That Mother Fucker!"
-=o0o=-
"Okay, okay, we've feasted, we've drunk, and we've slept it all off. Now, Merlin, you absolute freak of nature, how did you do that?" The members of the Round Table were gathered for a meeting that Arthur was starting off splendidly.
"How'd I do what?" Merlin smiled in that certain way he always did when teasing the King about the extra holes in his belt.
"You know what! The tournament, Merlin, how'd you win it?"
"With a sword." Groans echoed all around.
"Since when do you know how to wield one?"
"How to wield a what?"
"For gods' sake, Merlin, how and when did you learn to wield a sword?" Merlin seemed to think it over for a moment.
"Do you want to know how or when? Those are two different answers."
"Merlin!" There was a familiar sigh from Gaius' seat at the table.
"My boy, you have been saying it's about time you tell them all the truth. Perhaps now would be an opportune moment? They are asking." Merlin stared at Gaius, a frozen grin on his face until he released it with a sigh and his shoulders slumped.
"Fine. My father was a traveling Nobleman who taught me swordsmanship, penmanship, and a few other skills in hopes that I would one day join him in his home kingdom. I never did because he was disgraced, run out of the kingdom, and eventually died." Leon scoffed.
"Oh, come on, Merlin. I know you like taking the piss, but that's not funny."
"It's not intended to be. I'm telling the truth for the first time in gods' know how long." Leon's face paled.
"But- Merlin, if you're a noble's son-." It was, uncharacteristically, Gwen who interrupted.
"Why on earth have you spent all these years as a servant?"
"Well," Merlin shrugged. "I mentioned my father was disgraced. I thought it best not to mention my relation to him, at first. Then, I'd already kept the secret for so long that it would just be strange to admit. Besides, who would've believed me if I suddenly mentioned that my father was once a member of Camelot's Court?"
"Why?" Everyone looked to Arthur, who was staring Merlin down with a concentration the round table had rarely seen before. "Why was your father disgraced?"
"Does it really matter? His title and name have no meaning anymore."
"Merlin, depending on what he was disgraced for, I may be able to undo my Father's judgment and reinstate your lineage into my court. As in, he would no longer be considered disgraced and you would become Sir Merlin of Camelot."
"Why would I want that?" Arthur raised his eyebrows, sighed, then leveled Merlin with yet another stare.
"You would never have to muck out the stables again."
"His name was Balinor. You met him once." Merlin had barely hesitated.
"Balin- The dragonlord? Your father was disgraced for sorcery?" Merlin sucked air between his teeth.
"Well, he wasn't really a Sorcerer, per se. Technically, that family line is one filled with Warlocks. Sorcerers are those who learn magic by studying books and spells. Warlocks, however, are born with inherited magic that is as natural to them as breathing." Merlin seemed to suddenly become aware of the stares he was receiving from the others seated at the table. "I mean, not that it really matters. You can- um, just forget I said that part."
"I don't think we can forget you saying that your family line is full of warlocks, mate." Percival nudged Gwaine at the comment, but Elyan added to the statement.
"We're also coming back to the fact that your father is Balinor, the man Arthur just called a Dragonlord. I may not know what that is, but it sounds important." The members of the round table started to chime in, each adding a detail they'd taken note of until they all heard the King stutter.
"O-oh gods."
"Sire?"
"Merlin, I- I told you not to cry." Merlin seemed like he was going to ask something, so he continued. "When we went to look for Balinor, you knew and- and then he died and I told you-. Damnit, Merlin, I told you no man is worth your tears! Why didn't you say something? That was your father and it sounds like you hadn't seen him in years and then he died and- fuck." Arthur dropped his head to the table, face pressing uncomfortably into the wood. "Merlin, I am so sorry."
"Arthur, you didn't know."
"You could've at least told me not to be an arse."
"I've been trying for years, sire." Arthur lifted his head just enough to glare at Merlin.
"Either way, you're incredibly lucky that I'd planned to start repealing the magic ban today."
"You what?"
"Yeah, I've been drafting up the papers for a few years now so I'd have them ready as soon as I became king. I suppose it would be just my luck that you're suddenly ready to admit to having magic since birth immediately before I make the announcement." Arthur lifted his head fully and stretched his arms up. "Assuming nobody here has made any reason to argue in favor of the ban, we'll be repealing that, yeah?" There were no protests. "Wonderful. Merlin, I'll also be reinstating your family line as a permanent fixture in my court. 'Sir Merlin, Official Court Warlock of Camelot' certainly has a nice ring to it. It's too late to refuse. I've decided."
Merlin sputtered, trying to argue against it until Arthur stood up with a groan. "I'm gonna go mentally process everything you've just revealed. If anyone needs me, I'll be demolishing a training dummy." Arthur turned and started walking out the door, leaving his round table in shocked silence behind him.
"I haven't even gotten into telling you about the prophecy! Or the Great Dragon! Or the baby dragon!" Merlin jumped up, suddenly smiling and running after Arthur. "Or my immortality! I've effectively died three times, already, Arthur! You can't just walk away without letting me tell you everything! There's also the serkets, the wyverns, the bastet, the-."
"Shut up, Merlin!"
"Arthur, I have so much to tell you!"
"Merlin!"