#oc knights

[churchofpossum]

Devotion

[fluffywing-e-tarot]

What I am not (Fic Idea)

Summary.

Merlin of Ealdor, son of Huneith, was many things that revolved around Prince Arthur Pendragon. He is not Arthur Pendragon.

Where, Merlin changes all but Afew’s perception into believing he is Prince Arthur Pendragon.

~*~

Leon returned to Camelot after spending time away with his family and managing his land. Leon knew he would need to go out on patrol soon.

“Sir Leon”, a squire greeted him with groomsmen from the stable. Taking the reign as he dismounts

“Prince Arthur requests your presence.”

Leon walks to the prince’s chamber, contemplating the topic. There's the Harvest count. Patrol routes. Potential knights. A new training regiment.

Leon arrived, knocking on the door.

“Enter,” his lord grants. Leon enters the room, ready to do whatever Arthur deems necessary to reevaluate. Standing over the table in the prince's chamber, a map and papers strewn across the surface weren't the blonde prince but the raven hair of the Manservant.

“Merlin?” Leon asks.

Merlin’s head snaps to look into his eyes.

“Leon, you recognise me,” Merlin said. A look of disbelief on his face

“Of course, Merlin,” Leon said

“Close the door.” Merlin looked stern as one of the guards outside the door. They noticed the conversation.

Leon closed the door. Then looked around the room for the blond prince. “ Where is Arthur?”

“Leon, I need you to promise me something,” Merlin said. Blue eyes giving a frigid satire.

“What do I need to promise?”

“What I'm about to tell you doesn’t make it to King Uther.” Merlin started to pace; he looked frustrated.

“I cannot promise you, Merlin. If what you tell me is a danger to Camalot. Then, as her knight, I must tell him.”

“I’m Prince Arthur,” Merlin said. Leon scoffed.

 “That’s impossible. I would have remembered growing up with your scrawny limbs on the training ground,” Leon said 

Merlin continued, “That’s what the entire castle believes.”

“ You don’t resemble Arthur at all. And you’ve worked for him for years.”Leon said the pieces fell into place. Leon whispers, “There’s magic involved.”

Merlin snapped towards the quiet declaration.

“Are you cursed, Merlin?” Leon asks. “You never liked Royalty; must have cursed you.”

“In a manner.”Merlin said, “But it hasn’t affected everyone.”

“Who else knows?”

“Gaius, Gwen, Arthur, and now you,” Merlin said.

“How do you know Arthur knows.”

“I designed it that way,” Merlin mumbled 

“Say again?”

 “It was during Negotiations,” Merlin said clearly. Leon’s stomach dropped.

“This happened when Camelot was in negotiation with another Kingdom?”

“Yes,” Merlin said, slumping.“ They had already known Arthur's appearance and mannerisms. I didn’t want to panic the delegation, so I did something stupid.”

Leon felt his chest tighten and worry that a curse was upon his friend to pose as Arthur. However, both Gwen and Gaius know Arthur is currently the manservant.

 “You Cast the spell.” Leon pointed his blade at Merlin. Merlin didn’t resist; a small trickle of blood fell from his neck. Merlin looked resigned to his fate of death. Leon let him keep talking.

“Two days after the Noble delegation arrived, Arthur decided to go Hunting. At the third watch of the Night, he burst into my room and took me hunting for the morning. While we were hunting, I tripped, and during my recovery, someone attacked, overwhelming and taking Arthur, disappearing before I could follow.”

Leon could tell where this was going.

“I didn't want to be punished for losing Arthur. The negotiations were just starting, and Arthur needed to be present. I cast a spell to have the Bandits and Cort believe me as the Prince.” Merlin bounced his leg. “ I did it in hopes Arthur would be back by now. I can’t lift it until Arthur is safe. I can’t let up now.”

“You would immediately be charged with treason and impersonating royalty,” Leon said. But he understood. Merlin didn’t want to die. No one wanted to die. Merlin had to act dispassionate because that is what was expected of him, not to throw the kingdom into chaos. Leon dropped his sword. He was kneeling before Merlin.

“Sire,” Leon said affectionately, despite Merlin only posing as the prince.“I will find your manservant. I will bring him home.”

“Leon, I can’t in good conscience allow you to undertake such a feat alone.”

“Perhaps not. You must have allies outside the castle. Could your magic lead me to them?”

“Lancelot and Gwain. Those two would be the only people I trust to help.” Merlin said

Leon left Prince Arthur’s chamber with five letters. He dared not touch them for the magic that Merlin enchanted three of them with. He began to walk towards Gaius but was intercepted by a summons to Uther.

“How is Arthur?”

Leon had to remind himself that Merlin was currently Arthur.

“Missing his Mansurvant.”

“That boy can get another one,” Uther said. Leon knowing Merlin’s magic, determined. No other servant is out there with the magic or loyalty to Arthur.

Leon gathered his squier and another knight he knew who thought the private conversation wasn’t entirely adverse for magic to set out on patrol. Leon hoped that he wouldn’t report the use immediately upon seeing it.

“You rarely choose me as your partner, Leon.” Sir Dresden said.

“There is an important task given to me by his highness,” Leon said

“I didn’t hear anything different?“ Hurlburt, his squire said.

Once they left the city, Leon called to halt dismounting.

“What is it?”

“What I am going to tell you must be kept secret.”

“What is it?”

“ An enchantment has been placed on the whole of Camelot.”

They both looked stunned. “Leon, how do you know this?”

“A sorcerer is posing as Prince Arthur,” Leon said. They both laughed at him.

“There is no way Prince Arthur is a sorcerer.”

“King Uther enchanted and marring a troll,” Leon said. They both stopped laughing, remembering that such an alteration to the king’s perception had almost lost the kingdom’s stability and heir.

“I see.” Sir Dresden said. “ and why do you trust this sorcerer?”

Leon didn’t want to reveal that Merlin was the sorcerer, so he said, “The sorcerer gave me the quest to find the real prince.”

“And what must we do to aid you?”

“Continue on patrol. I hope my quest will yield results.”

“I will join you.” Sir Dresden said.

“ So will I.” Hulburt siad.

They mounted up again. Leon told Dresden where to meet on the patrol route, handed over one of the enchanted and standard letters, and demonstrated how to operate the enchanted letter.

He went for Gwaine and handed him the regular letter. Gwaine joined immediately after reading it. They went to the meeting spot and opened the final letter, leading him to the prince.

The battle to reclaim Prince Arthur was short, and he was glad he had accepted Sir Dresden's offer and his squire as there were more than he was comfortable with for the bandits and a sorcerer leading the troop. Lancelot delivered the final blow to the sorcerer.

Arthur was severely injured due to the torture he took. They found a farmer’s house near the woods and summoned Gaius for treatment. Gwain and Lancelot promised to stick around and watch Arthur on his recovery.

When Gaius cleared Arthur to return to the castle, Merlin declared he was going hunting. When he reached the farmhouse, he dispelled the enchantment and roughed himself up—with assistance. 

Merlin's return was appreciated by both Arthur and much of the surviving staff. Merlin’s normal workload was stressing many servants out. Leon smiled when Hespotted Merlin with the wash maids in intense discussion. Uther was none the wiser to what was happening around Arthur. 

[elletromil]

Unfridging

For @solrosan based on this post

--

Unfridging

There were a few conclusions the newest Knights had drawn since Galahad had come out of retirement to help put a stop Chadwick Price’s attempts at destroying the world.

One, he had definitely held Galahad’s mantle at one point before their time at Kingsman. The lack of awkwardness or confusion from everyone calling him by the code name was proof enough on its own. Even agent Ginger from Statesman, his partner for the mission since Lancelot was out of commission with three bruised ribs and a sprained ankle and Percival was deep undercover somewhere, had greeted him by that name as if she already knew.

Two, he definitely had some connection to Arthur. Not only was he using a code name that was usually reserved for their leader whenever he was needed on a mission, but no one just hugs like how those two hugged when Galahad suddenly appeared at the manor during the briefing.

Tristan even thought there was enough of a ressemblance for them to be father and son, but Gawain wasn’t convinced. Sure, the fact Arthur had never tried to hide his relationship with Merlin did not mean in any way he didn’t have children, but she simply didn’t get that kind of vibe from them. But none in their group felt brave enough to ask, at least not in the middle of a crisis.

Third, whatever his backstory was, it was tragic. The man was definitely efficient, but there was an anger in him that just screamed of unresolved trauma. And even if they were still young, they were in no way naive. One usually does not retire from the spy world. Heck, if anyone would have had any reason to retire, it would have been Merlin who had been very honest as to how exactly he had lost his legs to a fucking landmine. And yet, the man was still here, the Knights’ most trusted handler.

Fourth, that tragic backstory definitely involved a wife. Galahad wasn’t exactly the silent type if the situation did not call for it and he had mentioned a wife a few time. That in itself sure wasn’t enough to draw conclusions of any sorts, but when one of those mention was something along the lines of ‘after what happened to my wife last time’ paired with Arthur’s obvious guilty looks, well, they were not spies for nothing. They could read between the lines.

And so they had all agreed that Galahad had definitely been a Kingsman agent before his wife had met with a probably spy-related death and he had been left a broken man. Neither of them agreed on whether he had retired of his own accord after realising he could only be a danger to himself in his grief or if he been forced into it by Arthur. But there was no doubt on any of their mind that when duty had called, he had come back to protect those who didn’t even know they needed protection and in some way avenge his lost wife.

A brave man that Galahad, the likes they could only aspire to resemble one day.

Which meant they were in for a bit of a shock at the end of the debrief after Price was successfully put in jail.

“Well that’s me off then,” Galahad announced as he got out of his chair, stretching in ways that should have been uncomfortable but only betrayed how flexible he was, “can’t wait to go back to my wife.”

“Ah, no need for that my dear boy,” Arthur waved from where he was sitting with a benevolent smile. “She’s flying in as we speak. She should be at the manor in about half an hour”

“What? Harry-!”

“You know there’s no stopping her when she’s made her mind. I’d rather makes sure she arrives safely to you than have her trek across countries on foot.”

“I think she’d at least hot-wire a car since she’s pregnant, but yeah, you’ve got a point.” Far from looking upset, Galahad rather looked both proud and smitten.

It’s at that point that one of them finally find their voice again.

“We thought she was dead!” As soon as he had spoken, Bedivere visibly blushed looking like a deer in the headlights when everyone minus the newest Knights turned to stare at him with confusion.

“Who? Tilde? Was there an attempt on her life while I was away? What the fuck Harry, why didn’t you tell me!”

Galahad turned to glare at Arthur but the man was already raising his hands up to calm him. “I’m quite sure I don’t know what Bedivere is talking about Eggsy. Merlin would have informed us both, I’m sure.”

But Merlin shook his head from his place across the table, but there was a glint in his eyes that clearly meant he was already putting things together into a clear picture.

Before he could say anything however, another of the new Knight let out an exclamation.

“Oh fuck me! I knew it! I knew I had seen you before!” If Bedivere hadn’t been hiding his head in his arms, he might have been relieved when all eyes turned to Kay, prompting her to continue. “You’re him right? You’re Prince Gary, the bloke who married the Swedish Crown Princess!”

“Erm, yes, I am. I thought you all knew? Isn’t it like... covered in training or something?”

He turned with confusion to Merlin but the handler just leveled him with a bland stare. “You went through training not that long ago Eggsy, you know there is no ‘who’s who in Kingsman’ class. You want to know something, you find sources. We’re a spy agency, not a gossip rag.”

“Tell that to Harry and Roxy when they do spa day with Tilde.”

They could all see the second Arthur wisely decided to stay out of the particular conversation, right about the time Merlin stopped rolling his eyes.

“What Arthur does when off the clock does not reflect the work Kingsman does.”

“What about Roxy?” It seemed like an innocent question, but there was no mistaking the mischievous twist of Galahad’s smile

“Agent Lancelot can do whatever she damn please.”

“You’re just scared of what she’d do to you if you tried to tell her what to do outside of a mission.”

“That’s call ‘having survival instincts’ lad.”

Since everyone else seemed highly invested in Merlin and Galahad’s bickering, the young Knights all decided this was the best moment for a tactical retreat. They clearly had a lot to learn yet, but this they definitely got down to an art already.

[ranavosart]

Knight Adventures: Stale meme featuring @thedovahcat

[churchofpossum]

More of them.

[churchofpossum]

I beg of thee, please take my hand Crop of something dramatic but smutty. Full is up on twitter and bluesky.

[churchofpossum]

Reopening of old scars... I forgot I could finally post this piece I did for the OC zine this summer. I really enjoyed working on this one, I love packing in some symbolism and longing for these boys.