BRAVEST AND MOST NOBLE • merlot post

[northumbria]

brave warlock

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HERE WE GO

[bravelyspoken]

Merlin has always been a little different.

In a village as small as Ealdor rumours spread quickly, suspicion is as difficult to deal with as the petty gossip. People are as quick to protect as they are to ostracise.

Merlin has learnt this the hard way.

Yet through all of it there has been Will and Lance. His closest friends. Without them Merlin is sure he would have never become the person he is, without their encouragement and their friendship and compassion.

Lancelot, certainly, is the kindest and noblest man Merlin knows. While Will has always been more cynical, cautious, guarded -- Lance is open, wears his heart on his sleeve. They've been in endless trouble together, because it isn't just that Lance does not fear Merlin's gifts. More than that, he accepts and encourages them. Merlin well knows there is danger in that, that not everyone thinks the way Lance does, but when Lance smiles at him tells him things are fine Merlin can't do anything but believe it is true.

He feels safe around the man, and Merlin things anyone would have trouble not to.

Such things cannot last forever, though.

He sighs as he pulls up another stray weed from the grass, frowning down at Ealdor below them. Merlin knew he never really belonged here, felt it in his bones, but the idea of leaving is still a difficult one. Ealdor is still his home.

"Do you think I'll make friends there? In Camelot."

Part of him is curious, almost excited, but Camelot feels so big and so far away and he can't help but doubt a little. What if he doesn't? What if everyone hates him? What if he messes up and gets in trouble?

wiggles with happiness

[northumbria]

Lancelot, he feels, hasn't been very different at all. He can survive well enough. Farming and hunting and all that. He can barely fight. There's hardly been much reason in Ealdor, save for some punches exchanged as they grew. He wants to make himself better. He wants to be able to protect people like Merlin and Will and his mother no matter what might try to hurt them. He wants to stand for nobility and honor.

He wants to be a knight.

And he can't be one in Ealdor.

And he doesn't have a plan.

Merlin's got the right idea. Go to a neighboring kingdom. Step out of this place to see what you can really accomplish. The thought of joining him has been bouncing around in his mind for days. He still, probably, wouldn't be much use as a man without so much as a dagger.

Lancelot, laying next to Merlin and looking at nothing in particular, smiles at the very thought. "You can make friends with any one, any where. You'll have them charmed within a week."

[bravelyspoken]

Merlin huffs at that, squirms to elbow Lancelot a little.

"Flatterer," he chides, then rolls onto his side properly to face his friend -- expression pulled into a frown. "I won't make any as good as you. I couldn't."

Nobody as kind or generous. Nobody as loyal or just. It aches in his chest how much he'll miss his friend.

[northumbria]

Lancelot does his lazy best to hit Merlin back. He knows he's probably not going to get much but a touch to his friend's arm. Lancelot himself only turns his head so he can look into those blue eyes. The ones that shine bright gold and do amazing things. How anyone could hate him for a gift so beautiful he will never know.

"It's not the last time we'll see each other. At least I'll know where you are."

Can't be that bad! He will have to visit. He'd miss the sense of familiarity and peace that always comes with Merlin around.

[bravelyspoken]

"Will you visit?" He settles a little more comfortably onto his side, holding Lancelot's gaze in a mixture of hope and curiosity. "While I'm there, I mean. Will you come see me? I know it's a long way, but... I'll miss you. You're the best friend I've ever had, and I know you'll be great. Honestly, you'll be amazing at whatever you do. I just know it."

[northumbria]

Lancelot's own is ... He's not even sure. Part of him cannot wait for the adventure, the chance to finally become what he knows he should be. He should be a knight to be able to defend anyone that needs it.

But... Merlin's still got a lot of needed protecting. There's no denying Lancelot will miss everything from his terrible jokes to his perfect ability to get in trouble.

"I'll miss you too much not to visit you." Maybe they should focus on the positive instead. Merlin's got a lot of faith in him. Lancelot should return the favor. "What do you think you'll do when you get there? Not like you can farm anymore."

[bravelyspoken]

Merlin sighs at that and rolls under his back again, lips twitching ruefully.

"I don't know. Magic's the only thing I've ever been good at." He mulls it over a moment, watching the clouds. "I'll find something. Maybe I can do jobs Gaius until I do. He's the Court Physician there, he was friends with my mother once. A long time ago. She thinks he'll help me."

[northumbria]

"I hope so." The worry is impossible to hide. He wouldn't bother anyway. They don't really know who this Gaius is, if he'll help. But, no one could argue with Hunith. Wisest woman you could ever meet and Lancelot is all the more thankful for it.

"I'm.. sure it will be fine," he adds to convince himself and Merlin. "You're better at a lot more than you realize."

[bravelyspoken]

He snorts a that, turning to look sideways at Lancelot again.

"Like what?"

Merlin doesn't think eating a lot of food counts as an actual skill.

[northumbria]

Lancelot has to stare up at the sky long and hard.

And stare.

"You can..."

Most of it is just for show, but some of it was honest. Not that Lancelot could to any better. "Well you're not dead yet," he offers with a shrug and jutted out bottom lip.

Finally he turns to his friend, "At least you aren't trying to be a knight with no fighting skills. Besides rescuing you and Will.."

[bravelyspoken]

"I knew it," he groans dramatically, "I'm going to be useless. At least you know what you want to do -- you can learn to fight."

Merlin doesn't even know what he should start learning. He suspects he'd be a terrible physician. Panic and do something wrong.

[northumbria]

"You aren't useless," He reassures with what can only be a desperate plea of sincerity. "You'll find what you're good at in no time at all."

That's the thing about Merlin: he's clever. He's clumsy but he's capable of doing anything he tries. Maybe it's the magic working in a different way. Lancelot finally sits up to properly look at his friend and another wave of longing hits him.

"You'll be fine."

[bravelyspoken]

Merlin sighs and rolls over onto his stomach, picking at the grass miserably. He probably will be fine, he knows that really, but that doesn't mean he has to enjoy it.

"I wish I had your confidence. You always seem to just... know."

Beltaine | Modern AU

[bravelyspoken]

"Hold still," Merlin chides gently, and he grins as Lance tries not to fidget -- leaning back a little as he slips a band around the bottom of the tiny braid he's woven in his hair. "Oh, very nice, you look utterly charming."

He squirms back to bask in the sight of Lance in the flickering firelight. Their garden isn't exactly big, and is slightly worse for wear now that the English summer rain has been interspersed with actual sun to give the grass a growth spurt, but it's big enough for a bonfire which is all they need. The smell of it is somehow comforting.

"Beltaine is... well, sort of all about love and trust and stuff. I guess that's most of the festivals. Love, trust, nature and bonfires."

[dulacs]

It's very difficult not to fidget. Lancelot is used to Merlin wanting to run fingers through his hair, but this is something different entirely. It tickles. And he's never been one for completely sitting still anyway.

Once it's done, he reaches to touch the new addition. He'll have to look for a mirror before they head out. Lancelot wants to double check. He's nervous. About everything. He's got no real frame of reference for these sorts of things other than very very inaccurate movies.

Still, he offers a grin to Merlin as a thank you for his handiwork.

"What sort of thing should I expect to be seeing? Other than the bonfires."

[bravelyspoken]

"... Lots of people kissing," he says after a moment's thought. "It's possible they might get excited and start dancing badly." He grins in a way that says yes he is well aware it will probably be embarrassing but no he doesn't care. "I won't make you dance if you don't want to, don't worry."

[dulacs]

Initially, he says nothing and nods only. He's trying to take it all in and prepare himself for the ... worst? Worst is a bad word. Lancelot is preparing himself for the unexpected. Kissing he can absolutely handle. Especially if it's an excuse to kiss Merlin in a crowd.

Dancing, on the other hand, perks him right up. He almost looks relieved. "Could we? Dance, that is." Doesn't matter how good or bad he might be at it, Lancelot has always favored dancing. Perfect excuse to get up close to someone without it being uncomfortable. "You'd probably have to teach me any of the steps."

Stereotype says that they either dance in perfect sync or go wild. Both are probably very inaccurate. Lancelot finally stands and offers his hand to Merlin. Now he's a little more than anxious to go, partially out of curiosity and partially out of nerves.

[bravelyspoken]

Merlin hauls himself up on Lance's hand and pauses to brush off his jeans, grins at him.

"Not really steps exactly either, but we can dance. Can't promise to dance well, but it's fun even if you're not good." He leans in to kiss Lance quickly and gives one of his hands a reassuring squeeze. "You'll be fine, honestly. I promise. Go grab our coats, I'll make the fire safe."

[dulacs]

"Even better." Dances without steps he could absolutely do. Merlin might end up taking out someone's eye, but at least Lancelot could keep them together. The kiss, squeeze, and words do little to actually reassure him. Merlin isn't known for wise choices. Look who he's with!

But, like a good husband, he does as he's told and fetches their coats. His own goes on as he waits for Merlin. He'll only get more distracted as the trip goes on. Good thing one can always count on Merlin to take up at least half the conversation by himself.

"Ready?" he calls, still with that faint antsy feeling.

[bravelyspoken]

"Ready," Merlin calls back once the fire is safely out. He ambles back over to grab his coat, slips it on and begins to do it up a little before grabbing his keys. It isn't that cold really, it's quite nice, but it's habit. He'll be hot in approximately 10 minutes and start undoing it again. "Come on then," he encourages, and shuffles them both out the house -- locking up behind them and grabbing out for Lancelot's hand again. He gives it a gentle, reassuring squeeze as they head up the road. "They might have a maypole. The traditions are all a bit... muddled, some branches use some bits and some ignore them and use others -- like branches of Christianity I suppose. Anyway, we all agree that there should be fires and stuff so that bit stays. Sex in the woods is optional."

He winks playfully, nudges Lancelot as they walk.

[dulacs]

Partially out of nerves and partially because one of them has to be the one to remember, Lancelot goes through the mental checklist of necessities. Keys, wallet, Merlin. Right. Okay. Yeah, he can do this.

Without hesitation, Lancelot takes Merlin's hand. He listens carefully about the different branches and everything. But then there's, uh, a mention of sex in the woods.

"Does that really happen?"

Maybe he can't do this. He can't tell if Merlin's joking or not.

[bravelyspoken]

"Well, it's not banned -- you know, other than under indecent exposure laws." Merlin waggles his eyebrows, grins ruefully. "It was sort of a tradition, once upon a time. Beltaine is sort of -- uh, all about that kind of thing. A lot of people get handfasted on Beltaine. There's a lot of symbolic imagery around it. Union of the God and Goddess to bring fertility and life to the earth, union of earthy and sky, purity and life and spring turning into summer. So, you know, I wouldn't put it past at least one couple to try and sneak off to get back to nature. Not compulsory though, like I said. I just like watching people try to dance and enjoying the fire."

[dulacs]

Lancelot tries to hide the shock/horror/general lack of ability to process that information. He's sure it doesn't work. At least Merlin's very upfront about what's to be expected. He can't imagine going off with several couples in the woods. What if someone saw them? More importantly, what if someone saw Merlin?

He's not a jealous man, but, well. He might be protective from time to time. The thought makes him give a squeeze to Merlin's hand in his. How about a wonderful topic change from thoughts like that.

"Is this where the Christians stole Easter or was that something else?"

[bravelyspoken]

"Partly. Most of it is Ostara, spring equinox. That's where the rabbits and eggs and stuff come from. Maypoles come from Beltaine though. It represents the -- uh... the... union of the god and goddess." Merlin presses his lips into a thin line, clamping down on amusement, then smirks. "I don't think the Christians that engage in maypole dancing quite realise the significance of the pole itself. Anyway." He grins and swings their joined hands a little, turns to intercept Lancelot and forces him to slow down. "I promise not to dance with anyone else, around euphemistic poles or otherwise."

[dulacs]

Ostara... Lancelot catalogs that in the back of his mind for future research. He's gotten in the habit of Googling some of the things his husband says. He's good at getting a basic explanation out, really, but Lancelot feels silly constantly asking him very obvious questions.

The rest of the story for Maypoles... Lancelot couldn't hold back the grin if he tried. The irony. And it makes a lot more sense than doing it "just because." He is this close to laughing at the ridiculousness of it. "No, we definitely don't."

Now faced with a wonderful sight of his better half, Lancelot grins in a different way entirely. Maybe even teasing him. "Promise? I don't want to ruin the spirit of the holiday with pulling you away from anyone."