Chapter Text
Lancelot du Lac, the bravest and most noble of them all.
Lancelot du Lac, slayer of wicked monsters, feared red knight.
He is no protector. He buries the bodies of sorcerers he’d killed because of hatred planted long ago by a heartless man. He inspires fear and chases entire families out of their homes, their only crime being born with something they can’t control. He stands by the side, helpless, as he watches his best friend, the man who saved his life and his dream, wither away in hiding.
Helpless.
Lancelot believes that there comes a point in someone’s life when they arrive at a crossroads.
Today is one of those days.
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Once per week, Arthur holds a meeting with his closer circle to keep tabs on the ingoings of the castle and prepare for the following week. It was at one of these, not too public that Lancelot would humiliate and belittle his king in front of the entire court, but public enough so that it would indicate the seriousness of his request.
It was late morning and the knights and certain councillors were finishing chatting and drinking the morning snacks that had been brought for the meeting. Lancelot stood to the side, back straight and face serious. In just a couple of moments, the peace of the morning would be sure to vanish.
The large wooden doors groaned as King Arthur stepped through, Merlin slowing his pace to go behind him. The hubbub of the room died down as everyone took their seats. Everyone except Lancelot.
His friends looked at him weirdly, Lancelot was known for being prim and proper, so to see him, and not someone like Gwaine, breaking protocol made for an awkward confused pause as everyone realized who was stopping the meeting from starting.
Finally, Leon broke out of the short moment of confusion. “Sir Lancelot, please take your seat.”
Lancelot didn’t answer. Instead he looked towards Merlin, standing loyally behind Arthur, who tilted his head in question, and took a deep breath before stepping forward towards Arthur.
“Sire, with your permission, there is something of great urgency that I must discuss with you and can wait no longer.”
Arthur furrowed his brows. “Of course Sir Lancelot, this is what these meetings are for. You may speak freely.”
“Your Majesty, I would like to start by saying that it is an honour to be able to serve as your knight and sit beside you and my brothers at the Round Table. Even after only one year of your reign you have shown that you are a just and compassionate ruler which has made me proud to serve you.”
“… um, I thank you Sir Lancelot, but where exactly are you going with this?”
“It is therefore with utmost regret that I humbly rescind my knighthood and return my cape and sword to you.”
In demonstration, he removed his sword belt and cape and laid it gently on the table.
The King’s eyes grew wide and Lancelot could feel the utter bewilderment taking over very single person in the room.
“Lancelot I ---
I will not keep a man who is unwilling to be here, but where is this coming from?”
“I can no longer in good conscience keep on serving a law that is unjust and cruel. Your majesty, I know you are a good man, please know that it is not you, but your fathers’ legacy, his war against magic, which I can no longer be a part of.”
“This is because of magic?” Arthur sounded dazed.
“No Sire, not because of magic, because of the ban on magic and its unfair persecution.”
“Lancelot you can’t be serious!” Elyan, who seemed to be the first to shake the shock off, had jumped up and slammed his hands down on the table. The noise seemed to break the tension and the room was filled with frenzied shouts and questions.
“Lancelot…”, Arthur’s gaze had turned dark, “have you started practicing magic?”
“I have not broken the law, Sire. I have just been witness to its cruelty.”
“Magic has hurt countless people!”
“It was not magic that murdered my family. It was knights who decided to raise their swords against innocent people. Magic is no different.”
“Magic it corrupts, it …”
“That’s because you never gave anyone the chance to ever show you it can be used for good.”
Arthur had no answer to that, and just stared mouth slightly ajar.
“I assure you that I will be gone by sundown. It has been an honour my Lord.”
He bowed and turned around leaving the room and the chaos he created behind.
—
Merlin crashed into his room as he was packing, eyes wide and face red from exertion.
“Lancelot! What the heck!”
“Hello Merlin. I hope Arthur isn’t having me arrested.”
“What!? No ! I mean … he’s confused, we’re all confused !! What were you thinking?”
“I think I made my intentions clear back there.” He folded some shirts but Merlin put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“If you’re doing this for me, don’t. I don’t want you to do this.”
He sighed.
“Merlin I am doing this for you but not just for you. I’m doing it because I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Lancelot almost laughed at the face Merlin was giving him.
“But it’s your dream," he cried softly.
Placing his hands on his friends shoulders in what he hoped was a grounding action.
“My dream, Merlin, is to help and protect people. This is what I need to do. For myself.”
He finished adding some things to his pack and grabbed a small parcel.
“Would you give this to Gwen ? It’s for her birthday. I would give it to her in person but it seems I’m a coward when it comes to her.” He gave Merlin a lopsided smile who nodded and took the gift.
“Please don’t go.”
“I’m sorry Merlin,” he leaned in and placed their foreheads together. “I promise we’ll see each other again. I’ll write to you.”
They stayed like that a couple of long moments before he released him and walked out.