Merlin: the secret prince

Arthur and Merlin's 'duel'

Arthur turns to merlin and asks him one question that held more meaning than anyone else could imagine "Why?"

"Because Arthur you are my best friend. I may have come here because I needed a place to hide and stay hidden from my tyrant uncle but I stayed for you and the knights. I wanted to tell you so much over the years but I also couldn't see him hurt my family. Back home I had my brother, baby sister, and the love of my life. my friends and my people I had to think about. If he found me all those people would have been heartbroken if they found out what happened to me. But that wasn't the only reason though I promised will that I would stay hidden until they came looking for it only took them this long because they didn't know I would be in a kingdom that hated magic," Merlin replied with nothing but sincerity in his voice with broke the camoliteian knights, and the pendragon family's hearts

"Love of your life, eh?" Gwaine immediately says a smirk growing on his face after recovering from what his friend had told him

"I agree with Gwaine who is this lucky girl? I would like to meet her Merls," Morgana says smiling softly at her friend and she adds telepathically "You'll also have to tell me how hid the fact that you were Emrys for so long."

"I'll tell you about her later. We have to first have to decide when we will leave anything like that. I don't want to keep my kingdom waiting any longer," Merlin says a small smile gracing his features as if he is remembering something 

"Before that Merls, I would like some competition. From what your knights and your brother have told us you are an excellent swordsman," Arthur says grinning from ear to ear 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, princess," Gwaine retorts 

"And why is that Wayne?" Arthur asks 

"He'll hand your arse to quicker than you can say 'Camelot'. Don't say that I didn't warn you," Gwaine says chuckling slightly 

"I don't believe you," Arthur says 

"Gwaine is telling the truth, Arthur. And you do have competition. Percy could have beat you any day, he always went easy on us," Lancelot says backing his friends with a grin of his own plastered on his face

"Instead of arguing like girls why don't we take this to the training fields?" Gwen suggests 

Arthur and Merlin look at each other and simultaneously yell before bolting to the door "RACE YOU!" 

All the knights, the princess, and Queen laugh at the antics and childishness of the king and prince before setting off after them at a much slower rate. 

As soon as their friends and family enter the training grounds merlin waves them over and says "took guys long enough. I want to warm up. Arty, can I enchant some of the training dummies so they fight back?"

"Sure but be careful Merlin, don't hurt yourself," Arthur says concern weaving into his voice 

"Do you want to try as well?" Merlin asks his friend 

"I don't see why not," Arthur says 

"Percy? Noah?" 

"Sure," Both the knight and prince say simultaneously 

Merlin immediately sets up the Dummies and asks "Easy, Medium or hard boys?" 

"The usual for me, lin," Percival answers 

"Hard for me Brother," Noah replies 

"Hard for me as well Merlin," Arthur replies 

"Are you sure Arty? You never done this before," Merlin asks eyebrow raised 

Arthur just nods and merlin does as requested. And the Two princes, King and knight get ready for a practice duel against the dummies. 30 seconds after beginning Merlin walks over to the rest of his friends and watches the king and his brother and knight. Percival finishes 2 minutes after, Noah 3 minutes. Arthur is still going against the dummy. 10 minutes and the young king is still not done with his warm-up duel. Merlin notices Arthur slowly getting tired so he jumps in pushes the king to the side and finishes off in seconds. 

Turning around fuming Merlin walks toward Arthur and says "Why did you not ask for help? I warned you that you will not be able to keep up. You could have been killed. Why don't you ever listen to what you are told?" 

"I'm sorry Merls, I didn't think it'd be that hard," Arthur replies guilty his head hung like a child when being told off by their mother 

"of course, you didn't. Next time listen to me when it comes to battles like these okay?" Merlin says calming down a bit 

"I will, but why did you let your brother and Percy do it on hard?" Arthur asks sounding like a little kid 

"Because this is the kind of training that is given to every soldier in the army of Deria. Only a few people other than myself can go against the dummies in hard mode. Being the first knight of Deria Percival was required to know how to fight in this mode, Noah because after me he is the next heir to the throne if I never marry or don't have kids, the other knights of Deria because they are the first line of defence for me and my siblings as well as Lilliana, my younger sister, Amelia, because she needs to be able to fight off any trouble if another attack ever happens again, and finally Lilliana because she is the future queen of Deria and if she were to be injured or killed the kingdom will lose another mother figure and I can't let that happen," Merlin says 

"Can we still duel?" Arthur asks hopefully despite the lecture he just got

"No! Have you seen the injuries you got. Off to Gaius," Merlin says sternly 

Arthur just hangs his head and walks off to the court physician's chambers with the help of the court Physician himself 

"I got to say, Merlin, Wayne, Lance and your knights weren't lying when they said that you were the best swordsman in the five kingdoms," Morgana praises 

"I'm not the best Ana, I simply had more practice than everyone present here," Merlin replies modestly 

"Nonsense, Merlin. What the princess said is true. I'm sure your army is one of the best," Leon says 

Smiling Gwen softly says "guys, that's enough. Merlin what they said is true however it's late so I suggest everyone retire to their chambers we can discuss plans tomorrow."