Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Nineteen (V)

"But I don't have to and I never will." Gwen stated happily taking another sip of her drink.

Merlin couldn't stop himself from pouting. "Oh, you are no fun, Gwen."

Everyone's head snapped to the heir to throne as he slams a fist on the table. He had a huge smile lifting his drink up. "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to our new recruit, our new knight of Camelot, Sir Lancelot." A loud roar of cheers rang through the room people rasing their drinks in the air.

--

Lancelot's head spun in agony as he attempted to sit up. He grasped his head trying to stop the world from spinning. A groan came from the floor as Merlin sat up as well. Merlin looked up at Lancelot sending him a painful grimace. They slowly pulled themselves to their feet leaning on each other to remain standing. Together they stumble out of Merlin's room groaning and moaning.

"Argh. Two yards of ale? Two miles, more like it." Lancelot whined as they stopped in front of a smiling Gaius.

He smiled at the two boys suffering from a hangover. "Good morning, gentlemen." He said cheerfully passing to drinks that were fizzing. They looked down at it and back up looking at Gaius to explain what they were about to put in their mouth. "Don't look at it, don't smell it, just down it in one." Gaius ordered. The two glance at each other shrugging before chugging the drink.

"Argh." Lancelot grimaced at the taste as Merlin was gagging next to him.

Gaius nodded in satisfaction. "Better? Good. Can't have you nodding off first day on the job, Lancelot." Lancelot's face glowed with excitement.

Merlin scowled however pointing to Gaius. "That's Sir Lancelot, if you don't mind." In the end he was grinning not at all angry. Laughter rumbled out of the three.

It was a shot lived joy as guards slammed open the door. The three turn to the guards Merlin's heart started to race. He hadn't really been using his magic all that much recently how could they have found out. " What are you doing?" Merlin asked trying to hide how nervous he was in case that wasn't why they were there.

"King's orders." One the guards said simply nodding at his companions. They stepped forward grabbing Lancelot. Lancelot lowered his head not fighting against it.

"Stop!" Merlin called as they left the room.

--

Lancelot sat on his knee's his head bowed. Artura looked sadly at the boy. She knew something wasn't right, but she prayed it didn't cost his life he was a good man. Uther stood up drawing everyone's attention to him. "Tell him what you told me." He instructed Geoffrey.

Clearing his throat he spoke loudly, "These credentials are faked. The seal itself is faultless, forgery of the highest possible standard, but a forgery it must be. There is no record of the fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria. Therefore he..."

"Lied. Do you deny it?" Uther cut in standing high above Lancelot. Artura bit her lip refraining from stepping in when there were was an audience.

Lancelot looked up at the two royals. He showed no fear and he in fact not much regret either. "No, Sire." He confirmed. Artura's heart leapt how could a man be so honorable. She longed to have people like him working for her rather than nobility who think they are the best just because they have the money to be there.

Uther would never see that way though he would only see the crime never the good. "You've broken the First Code of Camelot. You've brought shame upon yourself and upon us. You are not worthy of the knighthood bestowed upon you. You never were. And you never will be. Get him out of my sight." He dismissed him and the crowd.