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<< The Sorcerer’s Shadow >>
A snapping twig nearby woke Leon from his sleep – his knights’ instincts pulling him from an admittedly light slumber. Without thinking he scrambled for the sword beside his bedroll, fighting the blankets in an attempt to get to his feet. Even through his bleary vision, Leon caught sight of a figure disappearing into the woods that surrounded their measly little camp in the forest. The fire had long died out, and Leon couldn’t make out any details about the intruder before he vanished into the trees’ shadows.
“A thief,” he whispered to himself. Leon didn’t bother waking any of the other knights, they still had a long ride ahead of them, and he was sure he could handle whatever person had decided to snoop around a knight’s camp in the middle of the knight. Still grasping his sword, he jogged out in the direction the figure had gone, following the sound of footsteps walking across the forest floor ahead of him. Leon only lost the trail once, but he was quickly alerted to the whereabouts of the thief by a yelp that was followed by a loud thump – almost as though the thief had tripped over.
Leon followed silently, determined to see where the midnight intruder was going. They were in the middle of the Black Wood, there were no permanent residents in a place like this. He wasn’t led very far from the camp, only to a stack of large boulders they had passed the day before on their patrol.
The figure approached them, and Leon continued to sneak behind him, until he walked into a huge spiderweb hanging between some low-hanging branches. “Augh, ah,” he spluttered as he tried to get the web off of his face. He should have controlled himself, because the person ahead paused and looked back. Leon jumped behind a tree, not doing so much as breathing. Following him only to get caught now would be pretty hard to explain to Arthur and the other knights when they had to come and rescue him.
It took a moment, but the person must have decided there was nothing there after all, because they turned back around and began to climb up the rocks.
Leon finally breathed out, and snuck over to the boulder, pressing his back to it and being careful not to make another sound. He continued to follow, until the figure – a man, he realised now that they were out of the shadows – sat down on the flat top of a rock. Hiding himself behind another boulder, Leon watched. What was this? Who crept into a camp filled with sleeping knights of Camelot and then went to sit on some rocks? It made no sense.
And then it did.
When the strange man said some quiet words that Leon didn’t understand, and a ball of light appeared above them, blue but somehow also gold, it made sense. “Magic,” he whispered under his breath, both in awe and in fear. But it wasn’t to fear – if it hadn’t been magic, Leon could have called it beautiful. It glittered just like the stars, but he didn’t have time to fully comprehend it before the light lowered, and Leon only barely contained his gasp at what it revealed.
The sorcerer sitting on the rock. Illuminated under the blue light, Leon could make out familiar features – a red neckerchief, a sharp jawline, dark hair. Merlin.
Merlin was using magic. Leon felt like he couldn’t breathe.
As if on cue with Leon’s realisation, Merlin uttered a few more indecipherable words, and the magical orb split into two, and then three, then five, until there was too many smaller balls of light to bother counting. They danced over the boulders, and the sorcerer laughed softly. That laugh… there was no mistaking it as anything but Merlin’s.
Leon turned and slumped back against the boulder he’d been peering over. Merlin couldn’t have magic, magic was evil! It corrupted! And yet Merlin was the Prince’s servant… and the most loyal person Leon had ever met. One of the best people Leon had ever met. It didn’t make sense.
He should arrest Merlin, right now. He was a knight of Camelot, and he knew magic was evil. Leon had seen so many attacks, sorcerers using their magic only to prove they were evil as they tried to kill him, or his friends. But Merlin was his friend.
Leon didn’t dare look again, he wasn’t sure his heart could take it. How could Merlin do this? Betray them – betray Arthur? This was the same Merlin who had tripped in the wood just a few minutes ago, and who followed them into every battle, brave as any knight. Leon breathed shakily, and got to his feet. He couldn’t let Merlin know he’d seen him, and if he wasn’t in his bedroll by the time Merlin got back, then surely he would connect the dots.
Leon crept back down the boulders and into the trees, his mind racing and his heart pounding. Merlin was a sorcerer, and sorcerer’s were meant to die. Yet Leon couldn’t connect the image of Merlin and execution, it just felt wrong. He couldn’t kill Merlin, and certainly couldn’t watch Uther or Arthur do it. Merlin was his friend.
Even after getting back to the camp, Leon couldn’t calm his brain. He laid awake, staring up at the sky for hours trying figure it out. He heard when Merlin crept back into camp, and was surprised when Arthur didn’t wake up after Merlin tripped over his sleeping body, only grumbling Merlin’s name and turning over. What kind of sorcerer tripped over the Prince of Camelot, and proceeded to climb into a bedroll near him? Didn’t he understand the danger he was in?
Leon didn’t get another minute of sleep that night, but by the time the other knights were rousing, he’d come to a few decisions. The first was that while Merlin might have magic, he couldn’t be evil. He’d witnessed that night the beauty of Merlin’s magic, and honestly, Merlin? Evil? He shouldn’t have even considered that as an option.
The second was more of a realisation that Merlin being a sorcerer made a whole lot of events make way more sense. Flying objects that no one threw in battles, branches conveniently falling on the opponents but never knights of Camelot, the like. There was probably far more that Leon didn’t know about.
The third and final decision was that he wasn’t going to tell anyone. Not Arthur, not even Merlin. It was a dangerous secret to have, and Leon didn’t know how Arthur would react. He loved his Prince, and they had always been good mates, but he couldn’t risk Merlin’s life. Leon also had the suspicion that letting Arthur kill Merlin would affect Arthur in more ways than he could know. So he would keep the secret, and if Merlin didn’t know that he knew, than he wouldn’t let his guard down. Merlin needed to be on high alert, but Leon supposed he probably already knew that.
“More beans?” Merlin’s voice drew Leon out of his head for the first time all night. Leon blinked at him. A sorcerer was offering him a second helping of breakfast. “Leon? Is something wrong?”
“No, No. Everything’s fine.”
“Ookay,” Merlin said slowly. “So no more?”
“No thanks,” he said at the same time as Arthur yelled across camp,
“Merlin! Bring me more breakfast!” Merlin rolled his eyes at Leon, before heading towards his master. Leon watched, and was sure he’d made the right choices. He’d keep Merlin’s secret.
<< The Last Dragonlord >>
Over the past year or so that Leon had known about Merlin’s magic, he’d seen a lot of things. Merlin muttering a spell that almost revealed the Lady Catrina as troll (Leon had nearly smacked him – what kind of secret sorcerer used magic in front of the King?!), Merlin’s eyes glowing gold, Merlin hiding the druid girl from bounty hunters. All these things that happened in plain sight but no one ever seemed to notice.
When the Witchfinder had come to Camelot, and he’d had to help search Merlin’s room, Leon had found about three spell books and some sort of magic-looking staff under his bed, and just put them back, declaring the room clear. When he’d seen the bracelet in Gaius’ pot, he’d simply closed the lid and said it was empty. Of course someone else had smashed the pot and found it anyway, but Leon had done the best he could.
He nearly lost it when Gaius got possessed and spat all over him, but he kept it together. Gaius obviously mentored Merlin, and it simply wouldn’t do for Merlin to be without a guardian – Leon was only watching over him part time and he still couldn’t keep up!
Overall though, Leon thought that he had done an admirable job of keeping the secret, and Merlin had never once made him regret his choices. Every time Leon saw him using magic, it was always for Arthur, or for Camelot in some way shape or form. The only time Merlin used magic for himself (that Leon knew of, anyway) was when they were camping somewhere and Merlin would sneak off just as he did when Leon had first learnt of his sorcery.
Sometimes, Leon tailed him when he saw him creeping away, but not often. No, Leon was far more likely to follow when Merlin was sneaking off at a far less convenient time, usually so that Arthur never had to face the magical side of magical threats. He just felt that if he followed, then at least he could step in if someone saw Merlin using magic. He knew Merlin didn’t need protecting, but at the same time he felt like it was the least he could do, given all that Merlin obviously did for them.
Leon was bound to learn his lesson that stalking wasn’t very polite eventually.
That night, Leon had been on a late night guard duty when he saw Merlin creeping through the lower town towards the gate. He knew there were plenty of guard on patrol tonight, so he followed him all the way to a large clearing outside the city. He recognised this clearing – Arthur liked to bring his knights here to practice cavalry tactics in the open. Leon waited in the trees as Merlin shouted some of his magic words at the sky. These sounded slightly different, though, deeper and more throaty.
Leon frowned – what was Merlin doing?
And then a huge, golden dragon descended from the sky, its beating winds sending Leon’s hair swirling. He stood in shock as he stared at the creature from in the trees, and then it started speaking, and Leon nearly fainted.
“I was wondering when you were going to call on me again, young warlock.”
Nope. No, no, no, no, no. No. A dragon?! The dragon?!
There was only so much one man’s heart could take, and this exceeded it tenfold. He had dealt with all of Merlin’s shenanigans, but this was too much. Finally, Leon lost it.
He exploded from the forest, sword gripped in his hand. “WHAT IN ALL HELLS, MERLIN!” He yelled.
“L- Leon?”
“The dragon? The fucking dragon?” Leon gestured exasperatedly. “It almost killed us! It almost destroyed Camelot!” Merlin had the audacity to look shocked.
“It’s not what it looks like!”
“Oh really? It’s not? Because to me it looks like you called a whole fucking dragon right outside the city where anyone who looked out a window could see!” he yelled, wide eyed and incredulous as he stalked up to Merlin.
“Leon-”
“I’ve spent the past year trying to help you hide your sorcery, but the dragon?! That is too far, Merlin! Are you trying to kill me?”
Merlin frowned. “What?” he looked up at the dragon.
Leon exhaled and grabbed his chest. “I think I’m actually going to have a heart attack. You can’t do this to me.”
“Calm yourself, Sir Knight. Your time is not yet upon you.” The dragon said, and Leon paled even more.
“IT TALKS!”
“Leon- what are you doing here?”
“Following you! Because you always get into trouble and its only a matter of time before someone that’s not me see’s you using your magic.” Leon was hyperventilating now. Gods, he was going to die.
“You know about my magic?” Merlin was standing between Leon and the dragon, extremely confused.
“For fucks- Yes, Merlin. I’ve known- I’ve been covering for you for a year, and you don’t make it easy! But a dragon?”
“He’s harmless,” Merlin said, still not comprehending Leon’s words. The dragon snorted, offended. Merlin side eyed it. “Harmless to us,” he amended.
“Don’t you remember when it tried to kill us? And nearly destroyed Camelot?” Leon asked, still not taking an eye off of the beast. “I thought it was slain by Arthur.”
Merlin laughed nervously. “Yeah… Arthur was knocked out and I just kind of… ordered him away.”
“You ordered him away,” Leon deadpanned.
“I’m a Dragonlord?”
Leon swayed on his feet. “A Dragonlord. And a sorcerer. Is that it? Because I’m not sure I can handle any more. I think I’m going to die.” He pressed his fingers against his temples, trying to calm himself.
“Leon?” Merlin asked timidly, taking a single step closer.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. You’re a Dragonlord and a sorcerer in Camelot and I’m a knight. It’s fine.”
Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. “How did you find out about my magic?”
“You are not very good at being discreet.” Merlin blushed. “I followed you when you snuck off during a patrol. Saw you use magic.”
“And you didn’t report me to the King? To Arthur?”
“And let you die?”
“I-” Merlin started, looking touched.
“As heartening as this is-” The dragon did not sound heartened. “-was there something you required of me, young warlock?”
Merlin glanced at Leon.
“Yes…”
<<>>
After blowing on Merlin (which apparently was actually giving him a spell) and nodding at them both stoically, the dragon took off into the night sky, quickly disappearing from sight. Merlin looked back at Leon, who had finally stopped feeling like he was going to drop dead from shock.
“Thank you. For not freaking out,” he said.
“I am freaking out.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Leon sighed. “Merlin, you’re my friend. I’ve learnt over the past year that you do so much more than anybody has ever thought to give you credit for, and I’m grateful. But I draw the line at dragons.” Merlin chuckled.
“He’s not that bad… just a little cryptic.” Leon shot Merlin a glance. “Fine, maybe he’s a pain in my arse, but we’re kin. It’s in my blood.”
“I can’t say I understand. Merlin, we live in Camelot. You work in the royal household, for the prince! You need to be more careful.”
“Eugh. You sound like Gaius.”
“Good. Gaius is very responsible.”
“…You need to spend more time with Gaius.”
“Merlin.”
“Fine. I didn’t learn magic, okay? I’m a warlock- I was born with it. My mother could tell you all the stories of me starting fires and moving objects across the room before I could walk, or speak.” Merlin toed at a tuft of grass. “It’s as natural to me as breathing.”
“Is that why you sneak off during patrol?”
“I only use my magic for Arthur. Only for him. And a lot of that means using it as a weapon, like you use your sword for him. Sometimes it’s nice to remember that it can be pretty, as well.” Leon contemplated him for a moment, before nodding.
“I suppose I can understand that.”
Merlin smiled. “Why didn’t you tell anyone, when you found out? Why not tell me?”
“I told you- you’re my friend. I knew you would never use it to hurt Arthur, even a blind man can see your loyalty to him.”
“Yeah well. He’s a prat,” Merlin huffed, and Leon chuckled.
“Are you ever going to tell him?”
“I don’t know,” he answered, a hint of pain underlying his words.
“Well, if you don’t want him to know then you should stop being so obvious about it.”
“Oh, I don’t worry about that. His obliviousness knows no bounds. Do you know how many times I’ve shouted spells into his ear and he just never notices?” Merlin said conversationally, and no, Leon did not know the answer to that.
“Please don’t tell me. My heart has stopped more times today than healthy.”
“Don’t be dramatic, sir Leon.”
“Dramatic?!” Leon screeched.
<< What the Druids Call Me >>
Only the sounds of the forest surrounded them as Leon, Arthur, Merlin, and small group of knights approached the cave entrance. Their newly crowned king turned to face them.
“The druids are a peaceful people. No one is to harm either them or their possessions,” Arthur ordered. The men, including Leon, nodded. It was only Leon, however, that noticed the way Merlin looked at Arthur as he spoke to them. “We get what we came for and we get out.”
“There’s talk of bandits in this part of the forest, sire. Some of us should stand guard,” Leon advised. With the recent change in crown, the bandits and bloodthirsty, money hungry mercenaries of the woods had been particularly tactless, attacking almost anything and anyone they saw. Arthur nodded.
“You’re right, but I want you with me. Pellinore, Geraint, Percival, and Gwaine will stay out here. The rest of you, with me.” With that, he turned and began to enter the cave, Merlin whispering something by his side that resulted in a soft chuckle. Leon, Elyan, and Bedivere followed, swords still sheathed at their waists.
It was creepily quiet in the cave as they continued to go deeper. Every breath and footstep could be heard, until they finally saw the signs of inhabitancy.
“Hello?” Arthur’s voice rang through the chamber, the small group spreading out and taking in their surroundings. There were carts of vegetables, canvas for tents – all the materials a nomadic people would need. “We mean no harm.”
Their was a sudden rustling, and before knights could turn around, a man Leon recognised by his light blonde hair stood in front of Arthur. Merlin hovered at his shoulder, as he always did.
“Arthur Pendragon,” the man said. Arthur lifted his chin. “I was wondering when you would return.”
“Have we met?”
Leon watched as the druid’s eyes flicked to Merlin’s, who was staring intently. “I am Iseldir, spokesperson of the eastern coven. My people wish to congratulate you on your recent coronation. Your ascension brings Camelot closer to its golden age.”
“Erm-” Arthur glanced at Merlin, who was still staring at Iseldir. “-Thank you.”
“What brings you us, today?”
“You haven’t responded to my invitation to Camelot.”
“I’m sure you can understand why we would be… sceptical, of such an invitation,” the druid said.
Arthur grimaced. “I mean no harm, I promise.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“Diplomacy. I wish to secure the Druids’ safety in my kingdom. I can admit you have suffered… far more than those that advocate for peace should.” Again – Leon watched in curiosity – Iseldir looked at Merlin before he answered Arthur. The glances were fleeting, but they were undoubtedly there. What was Leon missing? Was there some kind of magical history he wasn’t aware of? “I want to formally apologise, and sign the correct documentation to prevent a repeat of those events.”
“And magic in general?”
“This is an exception for your people. Because I believe I can trust in your pacifism.”
There was a silence that dragged his feet, until Iseldir spoke again, a small smile gracing his lips. “We have waited decades for this moment, Arthur Pendragon.”
Arthur coughed. “Is that a yes then?”
“It has been long foretold that these oaths will be made at the next full moon, in the woods outside of Camelot. That is how it shall be.”
Arthur looked at Merlin, who nodded with encouragement. Leon did similarly when Arthur looked his way. This was the first major decision Arthur had made since becoming King, other than awarding commoners knighthoods, and Leon was proud of the man he’d grown up beside. Arthur was the King Leon had become a knight for, even during Uther’s reign.
“That is how it shall be,” he echoed, and Leon looked at Merlin. The smile that adorned his face as he gazed at Arthur – full of beaming pride – was wide, and Leon didn’t miss how Merlin’s eyes watered slightly.
The moment was cut short by a sudden flooding of the cavern, people streaming in and filling the air with excited chatter, which soon quieted into a solemn regard. Arthur looked at them, and for once bowed his head. Leon led the knights in doing the same.
“Emrys!” A young voice exclaimed, and Leon watched as a little girl escaped her mother grasp and sprinted towards Merlin. “Look Mummy! Emrys is here! From the stories!” She collided with Merlin’s legs, and he looked strangely terrified at the concept of a little girl. All eyes were on him, as the girl’s mother shuffled towards him with her head bowed.
“Matilda!” the woman whisper-shouted, “Remember the warnings.” She tried to pry the girl off Merlin’s legs, until Merlin finally caved, slowly crouching to be face to face with the little girl.
“I’m Merlin,” he said, and Leon couldn’t keep the frown off of his face while there was a weird silence following his words. He could see that Arthur was similar confused.
“That’s my servant, Merlin,” he told the girl, who finally ripped her eyes from Merlin’s to instead face the King. “Who is Emrys?” he asked kindly. Merlin looked at Leon with wide eyes as the child began to babble.
“Only the bestest, goodest most powerfullest warlock ever,” Merlin smiled, but Leon could see the panic in it. Leon! He tensed, looking around him. Who said his name?
Leon! The voice said again. It wasn’t unfamiliar, just odd. He must finally be losing his mind. You need to stop her from talking! Please!
“And he’s your destiny. Emrys tells me not to tell you but his real name is-”
“Sire. It’s getting late, we must be going soon to ensure a safe return to Camelot,” Leon interrupted the girl, as the voice in his head bade. It almost sounded like Merlin… but not quite. Though Leon couldn’t think where else such a voice would come from.
“Sir Leon is right,” Iseldir said, and Leon – already jumpy – startled. He hadn’t expected the druid to remember his name… it had been years since they saved his life. “we will meet in three weeks’ time.”
“I look forward to it,” Arthur said, offering his hand to shake. Iseldir did not take it, only bowed.
“As do I.”
<<>>
“Was that you? In my head?” Leon asked Merlin as he helped him put Arthur’s horse away.
Merlin laughed, as if Leon’s constant state of Merlin-driven anxiety was funny to him. “Yeah, sorry I couldn’t let the girl keep talking but if I’d interrupted Arthur would have gotten suspicious. I can already see his beady eyes staring at me,” Merlin shuddered. “Thanks.”
Leon frowned. “Why would he get suspicious? And where did you learn that?!”
“Oh, the druids speak telepathically,” he said flippantly. All of a sudden the weird silences in the cave made more sense. “And because I’m Emrys, and she was about to reveal that my true name is Merlin which would be… bad.”
“I’m sorry- you’re Emrys?”
“Yeah I was surprise when I first heard too,” Merlin said casually, and Leon just looked at him, eyebrows nearly touching. How on earth did Merlin’s brain work- actually. Leon really didn’t think he wanted to know. He had a feeling he’d be horrified.
“What?”
“My whole life, my name was Merlin and then I came to Camelot,” he tsked, “people start calling me Emrys and I asked Kilgharrah and he just told me it was my name.”
“The dragon?” Leon asked while he hung the bridle up on the hook on the stall door.
“I talked to him way more when he was chained up under the castle. You’d think they would guard a dragon better, but no one ever caught me,” he chuckled as he finished brushing down the mare.
“They never told the knights that they kept a dragon down there.”
“If you didn’t know he was there than you never knew to look. It was probably for the best, he’s a scaly old bastard.”
“I thought you liked him.” Merlin shrugged, and Leon shook his head. “What does Emrys mean then, if its another name for you?”
“No one really wants to tell me, but it’s got to do with Arthur and I’s destiny, once and future king and Emrys and all that. It also means immortal in the old language but I still feel very much like I might die anytime,” Merlin rambled and Leon felt like he had whiplash.
“What destiny? Merlin, you don’t tell me anything, do you?”
Merlin at least had the decency to look slightly apologetic for Leon’s being about a million years behind. He moved to sit on the bench in the stables, having finished washing down Arthur’s mare, and Leon sat down next to him.
“I guess… I’m just not really used to sharing my magic with anybody.” Merlin said, quieter. Leon softened, sometimes he forgot the however stressed about the magic he might be, Merlin must have it much, much worse. It was his life on the line, after all.
“How about you start with telling me about this destiny.”
Merlin smiled, a little sadly. “Its not clear, just bits I’ve picked up here and there.”
“You can tell me whatever you want, I just don’t want you sharing the burden alone.” Leon leaned over and nudged him with his shoulder, smiling kindly.
“I- I appreciate that.” Merlin said, staring at his feet. “I suppose its easiest to start with the me and Arthur part- he’s supposed to be the once and future king, who’s long been destined to bring the golden age of Camelot.”
“It that what Iseldir was talking about? Earlier today?”
“Yeah. He said that Arthur’s reign was already taking the favourable road of destiny, whatever that means.”
Leon frowned. “When did he say that?”
“Oh, the druids speak telepathically. That’s where I learnt.”
“That… explains a few things, actually.”
“Yeah. Anyway, I’m not very sure on the details of what once and future mean, whether it’s literal or not. I think the dragon knows but he won’t tell me. ‘No man can know his destiny’ and all that. But Arthur needed – and still needs – a protector. Emrys. That’s meant to be me, but I think they’ve got some of that wrong.”
“Why?”
“Because,” Merlin looked at Leon. “The druids treat me like some sort of messiah, but it’s all Arthur, not me. They say I’m the most powerful sorcerer who’s ever walked the Earth, and that can’t be true.”
Leon looked at him. There was a long silence.
Merlin? The most powerful sorcerer? It was like forcing two puzzle pieces together when they didn’t quite fit – the image of a powerful sorcerer, able to bend the very rules of the world to his will, and, well. Merlin.
“I…”
“Yeah. And I think there are multiple parts that I don’t know, and maybe different branches? Like the dragon always said Morgana would turn against us but she hasn’t. But I suppose if I listened to him she might have.” Merlin groaned. “It’s so confusing, and I don’t have time to figure it out when everybody in this world is trying to kill Arthur.”
Leon was still in shock, his head not processing quite right. Now Lady Morgana was meant to turn against them? Merlin is the most powerful sorcerer to walk the Earth?
“Did you… did you only stay because of destiny?” Leon finally asked. All this… it seemed so heavy. He knew Merlin was only young when he first arrived in Camelot – to young for all this, surely. “You could go anywhere, do anything, why did you stay here?”
“No. Never,” Merlin shook his head. “It was my first week in Camelot and Arthur was a prat and when the dragon told me we were two sides of the same coin and my destiny, I just told him he was wrong,” he laughed, and Leon joined him with a chuckle. It was concerningly to easy to see younger Merlin sassing the dragon the first time he met him. “But then I was made Arthur’s servant, and I got to know him. I learnt to like him, clotpole that he is, and I made friends. Camelot is my home. That’s why I stayed- stay.”
Inside him, Leon knew that Merlin’s answer was always going to be grounded in love, for his friends, and more importantly, for Arthur. That’s what made Leon love Merlin so much, what made him never reveal his secret even when it broke his knight’s oath. Because Merlin loved so hard, and deserved to eb loved back. And Leon knew he was, a lot, but something felt different about being able to really know Merlin, not that he ever fully would, but to know such a part of him that was secret to everyone else. Merlin deserved to be loved for all that he was.
“Anymore secrets you’re hiding in there?” Leon punched Merlin’s shoulder, a little awkwardly. He never ad been good at showing his affections.
“Guess you’ll have to find out,” Merlin smiled at him, and Leon gave a slightly exasperated smile back.
<< I’m Teaching Him Some Poetry >>
Leon liked to think he was a good knight. He followed his orders, he upheld the knights code – well, except for the one thing he didn’t do, which was report Merlin. But aside from that, his mother had raised him well - he was polite, respectful, and never spread gossip.
In fact, gossip had a tendency to make him uncomfortable. Did he tell the subject of the talk what was being said about them? Or save them the knowledge? Especially since he never could quite tell what was truth and what was merely rumour. Sometimes, he just had to guess between the two and act accordingly.
It was early one morning and he was in the armoury with the rest of the knights, getting ready for training. Arthur, even so many months into his reign, still insisted on leading the drills every day, and he had not become any less brutal. The only difference was now they had to learn how to spar against those with magic, especially since it had now been months since the legalisation of Magic in Camelot.
(and boy, had that been a shock to Leon. He’d had like three consecutive heart attacks in the span of an hour as first Merlin came to him in tears saying Arthur knew about his magic, and then Arthur called a meeting of the round table without issuing a topic, and then announced his plans to repeal the ban on magic. Leon was convinced he’d almost died, and Gaius didn’t even try to contradict him.)
Anyway, he was sitting on a bench on the armoury, putting his gauntlets on, when the young Sir Kay – who had only recently been appointed his knighthood – barged into the room. “You lot will never guess what I just heard from the kitchens,” he said excitedly. Immediately, all of the men looked towards him.
“Well, come on, tell us!” Gwaine called as Kay caught his breath. They’d never admit to it, but Leon was convinced Camelot’s knights were more susceptible to sharing castle gossip than the young ladies sent by their fathers to woo the king.
“All the kitchen staff are talking about it! Apparently Henry heard from Anne in laundry who heard from George from serving staff that the King and Merlin are finally a couple!”
There were mixed reactions.
Some of the knights laughed – about time, they said.
Some of the knights rolled their eyes – about time, they said.
Some of the knights, those that made up Arthur’s inner circle, only groaned. “Mate,” Percival sighed. “That rumour has been around since the dawn of time. It’s never true.”
“Yeah, I would know about it,” Gwaine joined in. “I’ve put money on that not happening until we’re all old and grey, and those two finally have had enough of dancing around each other.”
“Don’t be stupid Gwaine, you know they’ll never get sick of it,” Elyan chastised. Leon just listened in from where he sat.
“Apparently Arthur kissed Merlin on the hand, like a lady!” Kay defended uselessly.
“And that’s probably true – its just doesn’t mean their a couple. Don’t try to understand it, you’ll get a migraine. Like Leon over there.”
“You are the main source of my headaches, Gwaine.” Leon said, getting up. He’d had enough of the gossip, it was always the same, and it was never true.
“I’m flattered.”
<<>>
As it always did, the Arthur and Merlin rumours died down again within a week. Leon shook his head as he walked through the corridor. He hated guard duty. As first knight, he thought he wouldn’t have to do it anymore, but he’d felt bad when Geraint (the guard who was scheduled on) explained that his wife hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep in weeks thanks to their newborn, and that he wanted to give her the chance for some well-deserved rest. Who was Leon to refuse him? He still thought all the knight were deserving of leave after the birth of their children, he could literally see their dark circles seeping into their skulls.
It was dark, it was quiet. It was boring. But he was a good knight, and he managed to keep his eyes open and alert. Surely Merlin could just set more wards in the castle and guard duty would be redundant. Isn’t that what the Court Sorcerer was meant to do?
Leon had watched as Merlin grew into his role, and he had never been prouder of his friend. He still remembered that first night following Merlin and seeing him use magic for the first time. He was glad the secret was no longer eating Merlin up on the inside, that he was finally able to share all of himself with the people he loved.
He was occupied with such thoughts when there was a loud clash a little ways down the hallway. Cursing himself for being distracted, he unsheathed his sword and began to sneak down the corridor – it had sounded like metal hitting the wall, so the intruder must be armed. The door to the broom closet a little further from his creaked shut, and Leon knew he had them. Really, who hid in a closet when they broke into a castle – this was an amateur job.
Pressing his ear up against the door, he heard muffled voices but couldn’t make out a word. More than one, he thought. He definitely should have been paying more attention.
Counting to three, with one hand on the doorknob and the other gripping his sword, Leon prepared to apprehend the intruders.
1… 2… 3!
He pushed the door forward, ready to bodily slam the interlopers and arrest them, when he had to stop himself.
Wait. What?
In front of his, in the darkened broom closet, stood Arthur and Merlin, scrambling to put distance between them. Leon could only blink.
“Sire?”
“Leon.”
“Merlin?”
“… hi Leon.” Leon looked between them, noticing not only their guilt ridden faces, but also the mussed hair, the armour only half strapped to Arthur, and Merlin’s neckerchief in the King’s hand…
Oh.
Oh no.
Why was it always Leon.
“What are you doing?” He asked dumbly. Mentally, he cursed himself. Why the fuck did he ask that? He knew what they were doing! He did not want to know any more!
“We’re, um. Merlin. Tell Leon what we’re doing.” Arthur said, pressing his lips together.
“I… I’m teaching him some poetry.” Leon didn’t even want to know.
“Poetry.” And yet his dumb mouth moved without him being able to do anything about it. Right now, in this moment, Leon hated himself for every decision he’d ever made that led to having him in this situation.
“I… love… poetry.” Arthur tried to say, glaring at Merlin who even in the darkness was obviously bright red.
“I’ll… leave you to your poetry then.”
“Thanks,” Merlin said, and Arthur hit him in he stomach.
“Can I ask that you do your… poetry… somewhere else? I have to stand out here for hours.”
“Uh- yes. Of course, Leon.”
“Thank you, sire.”
Leon closed the door with a click. This felt like… a reverse of his normal heart attacks. Like instead of his heart speeding up to the point where it stopped, now it just slowed. And so did all brain function.
He supposed the rumours were right.
At least Gwaine would never see any of that money he bet on two years from now.
Leon sighed, standing at his post. Surely, Camelot could have no more secrets. And even if there were, he most certainly did not want to know about them.