The Squires' Revenge

Chapter 5

"Yeah. Where are you going, Merlin? What's the rush?' Gaheris asks.

Merlin struggles, anxious to get away, as Gareth holds him in a rough grip pressed against the pillar. "That's none of your business. Let me go."

"Why, so you can go running to your master to squeal on us, you little rat?"

"You're not worth the effort. Now let me pass."

Gaheris sees Sir Leon and his squire approaching and hisses to his brother, "Trouble comes. Let him go."

Merlin makes his escape through the doorway and runs frantically down the stairs to the dragon's cave under the Citadel.

Sir Leon's voice calls out, "Gareth, Gaheris, wait a moment." He turns to his squire. "Aurelius, you can go to the tourney. I'll be there shortly." Aurelius walks off into the courtyard, glancing back at Leon and the Orkney brothers.

"Yes, Sir Leon?" Gaheris says politely. Gareth adds, "did you need us for something?"

"No," Leon says, his face grim. "I want to know what you wanted with Merlin."

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Prince Arthur's servant. It looked like you were threatening him," Leon says.

"He was rude to us."

"He's just a serving boy. Why do you care?"

Leon looks affronted. "He's a Camelot servant, and you two are guests here."

"In Orkney, we teach our servants to show proper respect when speaking to a prince." Gareth says smugly.

"I know what you two did," Leon states, although he's not altogether certain that they planted the knife in Merlin's room. He wants to see how they react to an accusation. "You set him up so that it looked like he stole the dagger from your father's chambers."

"Why would we do that?"

"I don't know, but it was very odd that you found it so quickly in his room," Leon argues.

"He obviously didn't hide it very well, now did he?"

"He got what he deserved," Gaheris insists, and the two brothers walk away through the courtyard. Leon looks at them, not convinced of their innocence.

xXx

Merlin runs up the stairs after talking to the dragon. He has to find Gwen. The dragon said that only 'true love's kiss' would break the enchantment. She's the key to save Arthur. Merlin knows they love each other, even if neither would admit it. He hadn't seen Gwen at the tourney, and could perfectly understand why she chose to stay away, unable to watch him battle for the love of another woman. But she doesn't know that Arthur's been enchanted.

Not sure where she could be, Merlin heads first to Morgana's chambers. No one answers his knock, and he doesn't hear any noise coming from inside. He looks around for the guard or a passing servant. Seeing no one, he holds out his hand, and spells open the door. Poking his head in, he calls, "Gwen?" He enters the room and looks around. No Gwen.

He dashes out of the room, and practically flies down the spiral staircase, continuing down the grand staircase and out the door. Bypassing the tourney grounds, he continues on down to the lower town heading to Gwen's house.

As Merlin runs down the street, he's seen by the Orkney twins who are sitting outside the tavern, tankards of ale on the table in front of them. They look at each other in surprise. "What's with him?" Gareth says. "He's running all over the place today." Gaheris laughs, "the idiot doesn't know whether he's coming or going."

"Let's get him." They look around to see who might be watching. The coast is clear. All eyes are on Arthur as he battles King Olaf with the mace at the tourney.

As Merlin passes the stables, Gareth grabs him from behind, holding him still. Merlin tries to wrench himself free.

"Let go!" Merlin yells. "What do you want?"

"What did you tell Sir Leon?" Gaheris demands.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Gaheris punches him in the stomach and Merlin doubles over, still restrained by Gareth.

"I don't have time for this!" Merlin spits out. "Let me go. Please!"

"We need to teach you a lesson."

Merlin's had it. "Enough!" he yells.

For the barest instant, his eyes spark gold. He leans back onto Gareth, using this leverage to kick out at Gaheris ramming him squarely in his midsection with his right foot. Gaheris is taken by surprise at the force of the blow; he staggers a few steps trying to regain his balance, but cannot fight the momentum and falls backward to the ground. When Merlin regains his own balance he stomps down hard with his left foot onto Gareth's instep and jerks his elbow back into Gareth's ribs. Gareth releases his hold on Merlin's arms a bit at the unexpectedly sharp pains, and Merlin is able to whip around to free himself, shoving Gareth aside and ass-backwards onto the ground. The twins sit there, stunned.

Not sparing them another thought, Merlin runs to Gwen's house, tearing open the door and lurching inside. "Gwen!" he calls.

xXx

After his conversation with Gwen, Merlin watches her run to find Arthur in the tent, brushing past Gaius in her hurry to reach him. Merlin catches up with Arthur as he is leaving his tent, with an expression of determination on his face. Just before he enters the arena to face King Olaf with his sword in the third event of the tourney, Arthur tells Merlin to look after Gwen should anything happen to him. Merlin promises, confident that it won't be necessary, confident that Arthur will prevail.

He stands and watches Arthur win the sword fight with Olaf, granting the older man his life to preserve peace in the Kingdoms. Merlin smiles with pride as he listens to Arthur's words from the sidelines. He is relieved that Gwen made it in time to see Arthur and was able to break the enchantment. "I knew it," he thinks, smiling to himself. "She kissed him. In the tent."

xXx

The treaty signed, the visiting Kings have all departed Camelot, save King Lothian. On the day before his planned departure, he and his sons are standing before King Uther in the throne room. The courtiers and Knight of Camelot are standing along the sides of the chambers as witnesses to the ceremony to welcome Gaheris and Gareth as Squires. Arthur is standing slightly behind Uther, on his right side. He is watching the young men.

The two boys stand on either side of their father, nervous. King Uther summons them forward. "Kneel Gareth of Orkney. Kneel Gaheris of Orkney." The boys step forward and fall to their knees before King Uther.

"Your father has entrusted your training and education to us," Uther begins. "By becoming squires to the Knights of Camelot, you will learn what it means to be a knight – to fight and to protect. You will learn and follow the knight's code. You will learn through proper training, study, and following the example of my son, Prince Arthur and all the other Knights of Camelot. Will you do so willingly?"

"Yes, my Lord. I will," each boy says, looking over to see Prince Arthur.

"When you are invested as knights, you will be asked to make the oath to uphold the knight's code. You must swear: 'I will develop my life for the greater good. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth, I will never boast, but cherish humility instead, I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word, and I will defend those who cannot defend themselves.' Can you do this willingly?"

"Yes, my Lord. I will," the boys say, gazing up at the King.

"You may stand and be recognized as squires – to learn and to serve."

The twins stand, bow to King Uther and to Prince Arthur, then turn to face the assembly. They bow to the Knights, who lead the applause to welcome them to Camelot, all but Sir Leon, whose face is impassive as he witnesses the ceremony. Leon looks over to where Merlin stands in the background. He sees Merlin's body tense, watching the twins, unsmiling. Leon nods to himself; he is certain he knows the truth now.

END