Chapter 3
Merlin lets the wind rushing past him as he chases Gwaine egg him on. He can hear Lancelot laughing and probably teases Gwaine about running away but Merlin doesn't care.
He has an alpha to punish.
One of the first things Lancelot ever taught him was how to scoop things up while running. In case he ever needed a shield or sword while running. This time Merlin's picking up a handful of dirt.
Normally Gwaine is much faster than Merlin. But not today when he's wearing heavy armor while Merlin is in his normal clothes.
"Come on Merlin. Don't do this!" Gwaine says and Merlin can hear bets being placed. Well then time to give them a show. He pushes off and tackles Gwaine from behind.
The armor feels rough against his body and Merlin smiles down at Gwaine before throwing the mud in his face and climbing off.
The knights from earlier are laughing at their friend's plight but Merlin can feel other people's appraising and angry gaze on him.
Oh well.
Merlin leans down and helps Gwaine up and turns back to Lancelot grinning before returning to Lady Morgana and Gwen.
"Sorry for the interruption," Merlin says easily.
"How did you outrun him?" Arthur asks.
"Gwaine is usually the faster one, but normally he's not wearing armor. I used it too my advantage," Merlin says and he can see Lancelot trying to help wipe the mud off. Good to know the posturing is over.
Arthur seems to be deep in thought as he walks away.
"So you have any other surprises up your sleeve?" Gwen asks and Merlin lifts his shoulders in a shrug. They know about his magic and about the weapons. There's not much else to tell.
"Nope. That's all my secrets," Merlin says with a shrug. That he can think of at least.
"So...if you had to pick one to mate, would it be Sir Gwaine or Sir Lancelot?" Lady Morgana asks.
"I will never mate. But even if I did, I care about both too much to ever pick between them," Merlin says sitting on the grass.
"Really? You don't find one more attractive than the other?" Gwen asks.
"It's not just a matter of appearance. I know more about either of them than anyone else and they know more about me than I honestly think is safe. Lancelot was my first friend. The first person aside from my mum to know about my magic. While Gwaine was the first to know I was an omega. I've spent more time with Gwaine. I trust both with my life and they trust me. We've been through adventures others would never believe if I told them. I've trusted them both to guard me through my heats and they've trusted me to watch out for them during ruts. There's just so much history between us," Merlin says frowning at the grass.
"That's like what happened with Sir Leon and I. I've knowm him since I was young, since he was young. We know each other better than we know anyone aside from Elyan and because of that we could never be together. We know too much," Gwen says.
"And also the fact that he's far to rule abiding. Arthur's at least willing to examine the validity of the rule," Morgana says.
"And that," Gwen says with a chuckle watching her mate bark orders at the other knights.
"Seems a bit of a knot head if you ask me," Merlin mutters and both women laugh.
"You don't seem to care much about being seen with a Physician's Assistant. Aren't most nobles typically upity about that sort of thing?" Merlin asks.
"Most, not us. Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Elyan are knights yet not of noble birth. Gwen used to be my Lady's Maid. Personally I find most of the other Ladies of Court bothersome and tiring. Your lives are far more interesting," Morgana says.
"That is why I rarely travel or speak to other omegas. Sorry Gwen, they are just too meek. Never willing to stand up for themselves. Just letting an Alpha tell them what to do," Merlin says rolling his eyes.
"Lancelot and Gwaine don't?" Gwen asks.
"They know I would de-knot them," Merlin says making both women giggle.
Meanwhile Arthur notices the three giggling and stiffens.
"Sir Lancelot, Sir Gwaine," he says.
"Yes Princess?" Gwaine asks at the same time Lancelot says, "yes Sire?"
"I want those three kept apart. I shudder at the thought of what those three together could get up to together. Probably a coup," Arthur says.
"Sire, one of them is your wife and the other is your sister," Leon says.
"And Merlin wouldn't plan a coup. Too much bootlicking afterwards," Gwaine says.
"Be that as it may. I will distract my Sister and wife. You all have the day off to distract Merlin. That should give me enough time to plan something more permanent," Arthur says.
"This sounds like a bad idea. Merlin is astoundingly intuitive. He'll know something is amiss," Gwaine says.
"Simply take him to the faire. Surely he will enjoy that," Arthur says heading to collect his wife and sister.
After all.
How difficult could one omega be?