Welcome to book 5 - my equivalent of season 7 of Merlin. This series starts with Two Sides of the Coin, which can be found on my profile page. Thank you to all those continuing to follow and inspire me for this series! *air kisses* *hug* *rescued puppies*

If you need some incentive to begin reading please check out the fanvid trailer beautifully made by Aylass84 at youtube dot com /watch?v=EMzLKC40btE as thanks to her, I have named an upcoming character in her honor.

Special thanks to Sarajm, LyricalSinger, IcarusLSU, and Matthew1972 for their help in different areas of plot, flow, and generally listening to me whine and moan about parts of this story.

Also, to Nance for her wonderful proofreading and line edits.

All remaining errors are all my own...Sadly, Merlin (and Gwaine) aren't mine

Please enjoy and leave some reviews along the way, they are food for muses!

Prologue:

The smuggler sighed as he looked over his caravan. He used to take such joy in his work, but nowadays nothing was quite the same, and it hadn't been for years. Not since the love of his life, a former queen he had stolen away from her husband had died for another king they barely knew. He never blamed King Arthur, although it would have made things simpler if he had, but he and Isolde had gone into Camelot willingly on that fateful day. Arthur offered Tristan a place to stay afterwards and even a knighthood for his bravery and sacrifice. The old smuggler refused however and went on his way.

He had obligations to attend to and clients to repay for his missing goods. The material objects meant little without his fair Isolde and aside from that he still had a living to make and a daughter - hidden away from the world, to take care of. Aylass had just turned eighteen the past spring and was just as beautiful as her mother had been. Tristan shoved down his emotions. If he didn't get this load of cargo through soon there might not be enough coin to see him and his girl through the winter.

Once or twice Tristan considered going back to his family and asking for forgiveness. He was a prince after all, not that anybody cared after he ran off with his uncle's bride. Even before his foray into the lifestyle of a smuggler as a way to make living-Tristan was already a wanted man.

Over two decades ago he had been royalty and a rather accomplished harpist. He was sent to Ireland to collect his uncle's bride-to-be, not realizing on the journey back how madly in love he and the princess Isolde would fall. They returned home and Isolde was married to King Mark, but on her wedding night she refused to lay with him and in the dark she convinced her maid, a pleasant but homely girl named Brangwain to take her place, and the lovers ran away.

Tristan took his love first to his childhood home. He had been fostered by Duke Hoel of Cornwall and though he knew Hoel was no longer living, Tristan hoped his foster brother Gorlois would take him in. He arrived just as Gorlois was preparing to leave for battle and they spoke briefly.

"Please, you are like a brother to me, grant us sanctuary, I beg you!" Tristan had pleaded. He was so distracted by his own love that he failed to notice the despair that clung to his foster brother.

"These are dark times for all of us, Tristan. I have enough trouble dealing with my own liege, King Uther, to invite the wrath of King Mark and your family as well."

"Where is your wife, Lady Vivienne? Perhaps she can talk some sense into you brother." The blond prince said in a snarky voice. He was unprepared for the anger that flowed from Gorlois.

The blow landed solidly on his face and Tristan could sense straight away through the dancing stars before his eyes that his nose was broken. He heard Isolde cry out in shock as she raced to him from where she had been sitting and playing with a young dark-haired girl.

"Get out." The words were frigid, and the intention was clear.

The two men never spoke again as Isolde gathered her love in her arms and they fled the castle of Tintagel. It was only years later through rumors and bard stories that he began to understand the source of his brother's pain. And only recent years he felt the pain himself of losing his love and trying to raise a daughter.

"Tristan! My old friend!" A voice called out and broke him from his daydreams. The blond smuggler turned around to see who was speaking. He immediately wished he hadn't and groaned loudly with a roll of his eyes.

"Go away Alvarr," He stated grumpily.

"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat the man who brings you the opportunity of a lifetime?"

Tristan graced the sorcerer with a half-bored expression before breaking into a grin and embracing the other outlaw. Their dealings throughout the years were few, but always profitable so long as Alvarr kept his hands and eyes off of Isolde. For him to say the 'opportunity of a lifetime' certainly was enough temptation for Tristan to at least offer the man some supper and listen to his proposal.

Chapter One

The barely perceptible sound of the blunted edge on the hardened steel slicing through the air was music to his ears. The feel of the hilt across the palm of his hand and the brush of the pommel against the edges as he allowed the sword to swing freely in his grip while his fingers shifted to keep perfect control, was marvelous. The weight of the mail on his shoulders, the firm and supple padding underneath, down to very leather that had been worked, broken and molded to the contours of the arches of his feet - it all felt wondrous.

He tuned out the murmurs of the people nearby as they watched. A few more lazy swings of the castle forged practice blade and he fell easily into his stance. Blue-gray eyes lifted to meet brown ones and with a single nod they came together in a dance of muscle, sinew, and metal.

His opponent was cocky and underestimated him, thinking the long sleep may have dulled his senses, or that the injury to his leg might give the other an advantage. Gwaine couldn't be more wrong. The curse had effectively halted everything about Leon from the day of the battle, so to the blond knight and his body, it only seemed like a couple of weeks that he had been out of commission. Merlin was right about Alice's healing skills and after only a single visit nothing remained of the injury inflicted by Morgause but a faded scar. The fact he forgot to tell the rogue prince about the care he received must have purposely slipped his mind.

Leon's face gave nothing away. Up until the moment when their swords first met, he kept up the pretense of the limp. After the initial impact, he dropped the bluff and allowed his instincts to take over.

Gwaine was trying to show off, to go easy on him. A part of Leon could appreciate that as this was only training. The teacher in him allowed it for a bit and even played into it. He had been gone for a year; he needed to prove his worth to the newer and younger generation of knights and squires. If they had either heard tales of his battle prowess or actually knew him before his curse was irrelevant.

The blond man understood he was not the fiercest of warriors, nor was he the flashiest, but what he was... was experienced. He allowed Gwaine to nearly overtake him a few times as the clash of steel resounded again and again as Leon stayed for the most part on the defensive. He kept his features impassive, only offering a hint of surprise to show in his eyes for good measure.

The brunette's blade flashed and spun as he executed his deadly dance. And then Leon saw it.

It was the opening he had been waiting for years to see as he finally figured out how to counter the rogue's signature move. Gwaine's wrist twitched in a circular motion; one that could easily disarm many a man. Instead of fighting against it and trying to maintain his grip, he allowed Gwaine to easily disarm him. Quick as lightning he stepped into the rogue's space sweeping his foot behind the other man's ankle before catching his own sword and holding it above a very surprised Gwaine that was sprawled out on the ground.

Around him the sounds of the world came back. First his own breath and heartbeat ringing in his ears, followed by gasps of astonishment and then cheers of amazement from the men around him. He breathed a silent sigh of relief as he secured his place before them as their commander. Leon stepped back and held out his hand to a very shocked Gwaine.

The rogue stood and laughed, "Wow, I have to say I'm speechless."

Leon chuckled and slapped him on the back before turning to the audience of men with a bow. As Hector called to the knights to pair off and continue with their own training, now that the show was over, Leon found his eyes drifting towards the gates at the edge of the training field. He'd been back in Camelot just over a week so he wasn't surprised to see Cai leaning casually against the wall watching him. Lisanor stood next to her brother, her hand linked over his elbow.

Gwaine chuckled next to him and Leon turned with a raised eyebrow to notice the roguish man looking in the same direction. "She is a pretty little thing. If Cai didn't know me, I'd try to make a move to court her."

"Oh really?" Leon snickered.

"Yeah, but after seeing what he did to that monster of a cat with only a shield..." The brunette knight shivered visibly. "I don't care to get on his bad side. It's no wonder she hasn't married and it has nothing to do with her kid, if you know what I mean."

"Careful how you speak of my future wife, Gwaine." Leon stated evenly, and turned back towards the siblings, who were now making their way to them.

Leon heard Gwaine sputter an apology but failed to notice the look in the rogue's eye or how the man observed that it wasn't exactly Lisanor the older knight was looking at.

(*~*~*~*)

Candles and wall sconces lit the room just off the armory. Sir Hector had recently departed, leaving Leon alone with a pile of parchments and record books in front of him. Shelves lined the wall behind the desk, filled with more books and scroll cases. Many of the tomes held accounts of the knights of Camelot from years past; lists of men who served and perished in the name of the king and accounts of the battles they fought for glory and honor.

He read over Percival's scrawl from the past year, trying desperately to make sense of it. It was quite obvious the large knight didn't have any formal education and Leon's head was beginning to ache. Finally he sighed and sat back, rubbing his temples.

He was saved any further agony when someone knocked on the door.

"Enter." He called gratefully, and he stood when he saw Arthur and Merlin enter. Although it had become a normal part of life in Camelot to see these two men together, it still gave him pause to see Merlin no longer following the king as a servant. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to the man who before was always like a boy, appearing older and more mature now than the king.

"I thought we'd find you here!" Merlin chirped as he and Arthur sat down opposite the knight.

Leon shook his head and waved a hand over his desk. "I have a lot to catch up on, although I had sincerely hoped the paperwork would be the least of my worries."

Arthur chuckled, "I completely understand. I thought with the arrival of ...Lady Lisanor today you would put it aside."

Leon caught Arthur's stumble and saw the king's eyes flick towards Merlin. "He knows as well, Sire," the knight stated softly. A brief part of him had thought to have some amusement at what could be an interesting dance around certain topics of the conversation, but he decided he was too tired from the week of non-stop activities since his arrival home. It was best just to have the air cleared between them.

Both men looked at each other for the briefest of moments before breathing simultaneous sighs of relief.

"How did the introductions with your family go?" Arthur asked having known that Leon was planning to speak with his family about the marriage.

Leon bristled slightly, "My father thought the idea of Lisanor and I marrying was a grand one considering it was he and Lord Ector discussing it years ago. My mother on the other hand had plenty to say otherwise. I thought Cai was going to call everything off and take Lisanor back to Anjou tonight with the thinly veiled, yet polite insults Thea was dishing out concerning Lisanor and Loholt."

Merlin and Arthur glanced at each other and chuckled both comprehending how protective the dark-haired knight was.

"So what happened?" The warlock ventured to ask.

The knight chuckled, "My father put his foot down and reminded her of her own recent indiscretions. She closed her mouth right quick at that and welcomed Lisanor to the family."

"So everything is still copesetic for when the others arrive back to have a wedding?" Arthur asked.

Leon nodded, "It is. I think Lisanor would appreciate any help you think the queen might be willing to give. If not for her, than..."

"Nonsense! Guinevere would love the chance to plan for a wedding," Arthur said with surety. He had in fact already hinted to his wife over dinner about the proposed union and she suggested happily that she would be willing to assist if necessary.

"And you'd love the chance to plan for the tournament that would accompany the wedding." Merlin said dryly and was cuffed across the back of his skull for the comment.

"That reminds me I wanted to ask..." Arthur leaned in and lowered his voice. "How is the whole wedding night thing going to work?"

Leon's face went pale. It was one thing to hear a similar question from Merlin, a completely different thing to have it asked by the king.

Merlin stared wide eyed in complete disbelief of the verbalized inquiry and nearly choked from the bluntness of it.

Arthur looked back and forth between them both before finally realizing the implications behind his words and then even he was blushing. "I didn't mean THAT part of it. I meant...like where were you planning to live or ...Oh gods I don't even know what I meant now." He pulled his hand across his face and scowled at the other two.

(*~*~*~*)

He was a curious sort, although he would never admit it out loud. Years of being pegged as a drunkard had many fooled about the intellect that was hidden just beneath the surface. Years of being a drunkard before that only added to the impressions. However those few that truly knew him, if they paid attention, would have realized that in recent times he acted more the intoxicated fool than he really was.

Right now, Gwaine was on a mission. He was determined to figure out how Leon floored him during the training session. The rogue knight walked through the main armory and into the anteroom that served as the commander's office. The three men sitting in there were an odd sight to behold, all blushing and laughing hysterically.

His lips quirked up and his eyes danced with mirth. "So, what were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." They answered simultaneously. Arthur appeared the worst, with a grimace of distaste on his face amidst the chuckles of pure embarrassment.

Gwaine leaned against the wall and eyed them all suspiciously. "Fine, I'll play this little game." He studied the three men silently and noticed how edgy Leon suddenly seemed while Merlin appeared to be thoroughly caught between stunned and flabbergasted. Much like when Morgana, or worse, Arthur, would get to teasing him about his night-time activities. "Ok, so Merlin here is obviously thinking about ducks..." Gwaine was rewarded when Merlin groaned and covered his face.

"Ducks?" Leon blinked turned his gaze towards the warlock, his eyebrows half-way up his forehead.

"Don't ask!" Merlin protested. Arthur burst out in nearly girlish giggles.

Gwaine sniggered, "Well I'm right on that. And..." He bit his lip and studied Leon and Arthur. His mind raced through the information. Leon was going to be getting married to Cai's sister, but something didn't fit right. The mortified sniggering between the three men as well as Merlin's continuing innocence outside his and Morgana's bedroom gave him pause. Suddenly his eyes widened in realization, "Oh bloody hell!"

"What?" Leon asked reluctantly.

"I was trying to take Cai to the wrong types of brothels, wasn't I?"

Merlin burst out laughing. Ever surprised at Gwaine's way with words, he couldn't stop himself. Finally gasping for air, he managed to control himself, although he nearly lost it again when he noticed how Arthur was glaring at Gwaine with a mix of wonder and suspicion and how Leon seemed to want nothing more than to crawl under the table.

Flipping his hair back Gwaine leaned over the desk. "You know, there is this amazing bath house in Rome, I once visited..."

The glower from Leon's eyes stopped the rogue's train of thought.

Merlin wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up, patting his friend on the shoulder. "C'mon Gwaine, I'll buy you a drink."

Gwaine shrugged and smiled before following the warlock out into the hall. His conversation with Leon about training could obviously wait until later.

"Gwaine!" The king called after him, before closing the door.

The rogue turned around and was met with a meaningful look. He nodded in understanding, knowing full well this new revelation was not meant for public knowledge.

Arthur sat back down after latching the door. He and Leon's eyes met and the snickering started again.

Grinning Leon had to ask. "Ducks?"

Sighing heavily the king began to tell Leon the tale of the morning after Merlin's wedding and the dragon child. He spoke of young Galahad and also how Lancelot had returned with them all. Leon questioned the reappearance of the once honorable knight. Merlin mentioned something to him of it, but Arthur helped to fill in the blanks. It was well into the night when they finally parted ways.

The knight commander looked at his desk and realized he still had stacks of papers to go through. He picked up the next pile and sat back to read. When Percival returned that boy was in for an earful on how to properly record everything.

Thank you Nance for the proofing!

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