Hi my dear readers! I'm so sorry it took me this long, 'cause I just got involved in a bloody war between fanfiction, Supernatural, life goals and grades. *glares at notes from school* *and glares at Supernatural for making my life miserable* And please, no spoilers, 'cause I am currently lamenting for the fact that Guinevere is under Morgana's spell. I'm not through Season 5. Oh, poor Arthur... *sobs* But that's why we have fanfictions, right? *grins almost manically* I'm sorry again 'cause this is so late.

fabul0u5: Belated Happy Birthday! Really really sorry that I couldn't make it in time...

Thanks to: Dani McLean, darknight014, fabul0u5, Guest, Guest, Cats are my World, Guest, SeaLion37, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, and Midna18.

UPDATE: OH GOD, I FORGOT SOMETHING. SORRY TO CAUSE SO MUCH CONFUSION AFTER THE 'HIDEY-HOLE PART. I JUST TOOK NOTICE WHEN IT WAS MENTIONED TWICE IN THE REVIEWS. THANKS TO: Dani McLean AND limegreenarcher. So sorry again, he mistake must have been donewhen I tried to post notes to the Docs app on my phone, and didn't proofread it. 'Cause I just type on my notes to go and copy & paste it to Docs. Oh, gods, I am so so sorry to the 100+ who read it. T.T

Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor Percy Jackson.

"I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny to sit on a throne but in his blood he was a king. I also knew a man who was the king of a small kingdom, it was very small and his throne very humble but he and his people were all brave and worthy conquerors. And I knew a man who sat on a magnificent throne of a big and majestic kingdom, but he was not a king at all, he was only a cowardly steward. If you are the king of a great kingdom, you will always be the only king though you live in the bushes. If you are the king of a small kingdom, you can lead your people in worth and honor and together conquer anything. And if you are not a king, though you sit on the king's throne and drape yourself in many fine robes of silk and velvet, you are still not the king and you will never be one."
―C. JoyBell C.

Chapter 3: Pale Kings and Princes

The fields around them was quiet for a while, the silence broken by the soft clattering of hooves on soil. The grass swayed drunkenly along the wind, and the sun was warm enough to be bearable. Clouds drifted and blocked the sun from time to time.

Then the peaceful silence was shattered as someone - something - growled. The two were sitting upright at an instant, the prince's hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the warlock's fingers twitching, eyes flitting around for any sign of danger.

"That was just me," mumbled Percy, going red in the face.

"What..." asked Arthur, trailing off, confused.

Merlin, off to one side, relaxed and tried to smother his snickers.

"I said that's just me," muttered the demigod loudly enough for the prince to hear, going redder by the minute. "I haven't eaten anything for almost two days. That's why I came into the tavern, but you three wrecked it before I could even step into it," he said accusingly.

Merlin was now laughing openly, and Arthur's face dawned in realization.

In retaliation, Percy silently commanded Merlin's mare to halt. The horse instantly obeyed, standing still to where she was commanded. Merlin kicked the mare's side gently, but she wouldn't budge.

The warlock glared at the laughing demigod, Arthur's face clouding with confusion. Poor Arthur.

"Come on, Merlin," mocked Percy, grinning. "Surely you can control that horse?"

The young warlock kicked the horse a little too hard on the sides, and the mare reared on her hind legs, causing Merlin to fall off to the ground.

Arthur's laughter joined with Percy's chuckles, mingling in the crisp air. The son of Poseidon unhurriedly commanded Merlin's horse to obey her master's wishes.

Merlin picked himself off the ground, glaring at Percy. "Glad you found my predicament amusing," he grumbled, straddling his horse, and looked relieved when the horse started to trot with a gentle kick.

The air, which was slightly hostile because of Percy's presence just a minute ago, turned something akin to friendliness.

As they entered Camelot, Percy was surprised when Arthur didn't leave for some princely duties. He even offered to carry the long-haired man to the physician's chambers, but Percy shook his head and lugged Gwaine by himself.

Percy should have accepted the offer. The injured man was almost twice his weight.

Arthur led the way to the physician's chambers, Percy carrying Gwaine bridal style and Merlin following close behind. The prince didn't bother to knock; he opened the door unhesitantly and gestured for Percy to lay the man to the spare bed.

The physician's eyebrow jumped at the sudden intrusion, eyes flitting across the four, but quickly set off to remove the bandages and examine the wound, Merlin, Arthur and Percy hovering at his side.

"Merlin, get me some fresh water, towels, needle and silk thread," Gaius ordered.

"And honey?" added Merlin helpfully.

Gaius smiled. "You're learning." At Arthur's inquiring look, he said, "It helps fight the infection."

Percy studied the old physician in front of him. It seemed like Gaius was a knowledgeable one, and would probably know what the mysterious lady meant, but he couldn't talk about it until the prince walks out of the room.

"But he'll be alright?" asked Arthur.

"Provided he's strong."

Arthur and Percy shared a look. "He's that alright. The man saved my life, Gaius."

Gaius looked up at the prince, shock evident in his face. It must be a shock, the demigod thought, that even the most powerful warlock couldn't save a prince's life on his own alone.

"He's to be given anything he needs." Turning to Percy, he sincerely said, "Thank you."

Without further note, Arthur left the room with a nod at the demigod and physician.

Merlin came back, carrying a sweet-smelling jar, a question in his face. "Arthur's gone?"

Gaius nodded, taking the jar from him. "Seems to be." Shooting a look at Percy, he said, "Though I would like to know what happened here."

"Tavern fight," said Merlin casually, leaning in further to examine the wound.

From what Percy had seen earlier, the dagger was buried hilt-deep into Gwaine's hip. Even then, the three had taken care covering it with new, fresh cloths for bandages.

The old physician shook his head. "Only you two could get into such trouble," he muttered. Merlin quirked a half-smile.

Merlin and Gaius had covered the wound with proper bandages, Percy sitting on the lone chair inside the room, tapping his foot rhythmically on the wood floor.

He looked around and took in the state of the room: the bed a while ago was a mess, the sheets thrown hastily around; there was a lone cupboard that had seen better days. He realized, looking around, that this might be Merlin's room.

Percy stopped tapping his foot. The sound it made was hollow, and when he peered at the wooden floor, there was a barely noticeable dent in it.

"Nice hidey-hole you got there, dude," said Percy appreciatively, tapping the floor with his foot.

Merlin made a face, while Gaius raised an eyebrow at the warlock. "Don't shout it to the world. And what's a 'dude' anyway?"

"Merlin," warned Gaius.

The warlock grinned, giving a sideways glance at Percy. "He knows."

Gaius raised an eyebrow, making Merlin sigh. "He's a demigod." At the physician's confused look, he amended, "A half-god, half-human."

Percy put in, "And I'm supposed to help take part in Arthur's destiny. It was said by…" His brow wrinkled as he tried to remember the mysterious lady's name. "Fryngidd, I think?"

The physician paled, staggering a step back. "The Destiny Weaver herself," he whispered reverently.

Merlin had moved closer to Gaius, wary and confused. "The who?"

Gaius scrubbed a hand to his wrinkled face. "I thought they were only rumors," he began. "But as a magic user, there was the occasional whisper that there was Fryngidd, the Destiny Weaver, had predicted of Emrys and the Once and Future King."

"And then she said that she had to... change something," said Percy. "She intercepted, more like. And then she threw me in."

Merlin's face clouded with displeasure. "So she's the one who started it all."

Percy shot the young warlock a look. "What?"

"The prophecies. She's the one who made those damned destiny and prophecies.

Percy shrugged. "At least you've got a headstart." Merlin looked bewildered. "Hey, prophecies are helpful, and on first glance, they could be grim, but hey," he said, shrugging, "things may not as well as they could be."

He could be blind sometimes, but let it never be said that Percy couldn't be wise at certain times.

Besides, he got five years of acquaintance with crazy prophecies that's enough for a lifetime (*cough* Hera *cough*) and it seemed that he was thrown into another one.

"You'll never know unless it's real happening," the demigod said confidently, "so the best we could do at the present is to prepare. Right? And now you've got little me." Percy shot a reassuring grin at them, to which Merlin returned blindingly, looking like the world have been lifted off his shoulders.

"Thanks, Percy."

Gaius smiled at the two, and turned strict. "I'll need someone to redress the man's wound every hour. There's a woman in need of birthing to a child that I'll attend to."

"I'll do it," volunteered Percy. "You go attend to Arthur," he told the servant.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Honestly, helping Gwaine seemed a better option than that prat," he muttered. "He's insufferable." Then his eyes lit up. "Wait, you said you're hungry, right?" Percy nodded. "I'll see what I can sneak from the kitchens."

Percy smiled gratefully. "Sure."

The servant came back half an hour later looking haggard, but at the same time, looking happier like Percy had seen him banter with Arthur.

When Merlin set the tray in front of him, his stomach growled, and he snatched the bread instantly and started to chew.

Merlin stared at him. Percy shrugged, and would've smiled if his cheeks weren't full of food. "You really are hungry."

Percy, rather getting unnerved by those really blue eyes, said between bites, "So tell me how you met Arthur."

The young warlock grinned.

Just an hour later, long after Percy had eaten all of food on his pitiful plate and missed hamburgers so much, when Merlin was finished with his tale of destiny and witches and talking dragons, Arthur called him ("Get here, you lazy servant! You've still got to polish my armor!") and Percy was left alone with an unconscious Gwaine.

With nothing better to do, he changed the man's bandages and sat back on his seat. And waited. And waited some more.

The demigod didn't remember falling asleep, but suddenly he was dreaming.

He wondered if he will get a crick in the neck for falling asleep uncomfortably on the chair beside the bed.

He was dreaming of the three thugs, one he recognized and the leader that they met at the tavern.

He didn't recognized the third man.

Percy's nose wrinkled. Still with the demigod dreams, but how could possibly these three unpleasantries were threats?

He watched, unable to move, as they approached an old man with a hunching back that he was almost bent forward.

The old man kneeled in front of a man and offered a sword wrapped in a dark fabric. "Stalorne blades, just as you requested."

The bald man held one and tested its weight, Percy almost leaning in further to look. It glittered in the moonlight, beautiful but round-edged. "They're blunt," one of the accomplices said accusingly.

"This is only how they appear," the bald man said, pointing the sword point to his accomplice's tunic, and with a light swipe downward, slashed a thin line of the fabric open. They laughed together, the old man looking between the two.

The second accomplice only smirked from the shadows.

"Why would you want such weapon?" the old man asked apprehensively.

The bald man turned towards the kneeling dealer, the blade coming dangerously close to his neck. "That's none of your business, old man," he said lowly. The dealer shook his head vigorously. He took the fabric from the dealer's hands.

"You have the crystals?" acquired the bald man.

"Money first," the dealer said. Huh, the demigod thought amusedly, he had guts to tell him that, considering that the one he's talking to was holding blade.

The bald man procured a pouch presumably with the money. He dropped it to the greedy hands of the old man. The dealer stood up and went to his desk, the three exchanging glances. He turned back with a tiny chest held reverently held close to him, opening the lid. The bald man made a move to take the crystals that lie within, but the dealer drew the chest back.

"Not yet," he said, smiling excitedly. And creepily, Percy thought. He held a hand above the three crystals, moving it in a circular motion. "Pecce treowan andwittan heora fram gesihoe eallra," he whispered, the foreign language falling from his lips stiltedly. The crystals glowed briefly, the color red-orange of the fire.

The old dealer smiled up at the bald man, who smiled back, too innocently. With careful movements, he closed the lid of the chest and offered it to him, his accomplices watching with narrowed eyes.

"The wearer of the crystals will be able to take on the form of whoever's blood they touch," the dealer explained, and the bald man's smile turned to a grin.

"Thank you," the bald man said.

"Thank you," the old man said gratefully to the three of them, patting the pouch satisfactorily, which clinked.

When the old man turned his back to them, pouring the coins greedily to his hand, Percy's senses tingled. The bald man thrusted the sword deep into the dealer's back. The old man was dead even before the body hit his ground.

"Now what?" asked his accomplice.

"Now, Ebor," the bald man said, turning on him and nodding at the third of the party, who nodded back, "we can take our revenge on Prince Arthur of Camelot and that green-eyed brat."

Percy woke with a strangled noise just as Gwaine woke up, sitting at the bed.

The door creaked open and two heads turned at the sound. Merlin came in grinning, balancing a tray in one hand.

"What am I doing in this bed?" asked Gwaine suspiciously, looking around, just as Percy groaned, "Have I slept that long?"

Gwaine looking suspicious sleeping comfortably in a bed may had come from him not sleeping in a bed at all.

"You were wounded," said Merlin as an answer to Gwaine's question. "And yes, you looked comfortable in the chair with drool coming out of your mouth."

"What?" protested Percy. "You could've told me! Now my back aches all over!"

"Mind introducing me to your friend?" Gwaine drawled, looking amusedly between the two.

"Gwaine, this is Percy, the one who saved us when we were caught unawares."

Percy stretched, arms reaching high on the air, bones audibly cracking.

"And Percy, this is Gwaine, who I'm sure you saw saved Arthur's life."

The demigod turned around with a lopsided grin and offered a hand. "Percy. You must have a suicide wish to charge a man with a knife. I'm impressed." Turning to Merlin, he stage-whispered, "He's my new idol."

Gwaine clasped his hand in both of his firmly and shook it, mirroring his lopsided grin. "I already like you."

"Arthur wanted to make sure you were treated by his physician," the young warlock said.

The long-haired knight stared at him uncertainly. "Arthur?"

Merlin dipped his head, looking a tad confused. "Prince... Arthur. You saved his life."

Gwaine gave an ironic smile and turned around to fix the pillows for him to properly sit up. "If I'd known who he was... I probably wouldn't have."

At Percy and Merlin's questioning stares, he explained, "He's a noble."

Merlin set the tray on the table, from which Percy nicked a piece bread. "Yeah, but he's a good man."

The long-haired man laughed. "If you say so," Gwaine said, unbelieving, while Percy snorted.

"Well, you two are heroes," said Merlin, Gwaine examining the tray's contents. "The King wants to thank you... in person."

The long-haired man choked on the water he'd been drinking, while Percy continued chewing his bread slowly, inwardly impressed.

It wasn't as if he was a hero. Hell, he was the Hero of Olympus. It was just... he wasn't used to being thanked at. Not from the gods, certainly not. Even Zeus, after the Titan War, seemed forced to acknowledge that a bunch of demigods saved the world.

But now, the King of Camelot wanted to thank him. King. Of Camelot.

He wouldn't tell yet that he recognized their names. King Arthur of Camelot and his loyal wizard at his side, ruling Albion.

Then there were the Knights of the Round Table, and the demigod was sure that 'Sir Percy' wasn't one of them.

The rest of the details were blurry. He didn't pay much attention to his History class.

Unbidden, a thought came to his mind. "Be a Knight of Camelot. Gain Prince Arthur's trust."

"Please, no," Gwaine was saying. "I've met a few kings. Once you met one, you've met them all."

Merlin inclined his head, confused. "He'll probably give you a reward."

"I'm not interested," Gwaine said, chewing bread. "Besides, I've got everything in here." He patted his bag, which was hanging from the wall.

Percy's head was reeling. He couldn't be a Knight without noble blood, but...

"Why did you help us?" asked Merlin curiously.

"Your chances looked between slim and none," said Gwaine, raising his arms to put his hands behind his head. He grinned. "I ah, guess I kinda looked the kind of those odds."

"I'd like to meet him."

Both heads snapped at the eagerness of Percy's voice. In fact, now that he heard himself, he sounded a little too eager.

The demigod beamed at them.

"Is this really necessary?" whispered Percy to Merlin, glancing at the two knights flanking them as they rounded yet another corner of the castle. Arthur, who was walking up ahead, didn't hear him.

"Well, you did just save his life," said Merlin amiably, not bothering to lower his voice. The prince, who heard, raised turned around with eyebrow raised. The servant grinned while Percy just smiled impishly.

They stopped in front of a pair of large wooden doors, which Percy assumed lead to the throne room. The doors loomed above him like an omen, closed shut like they were keeping their own secrets to themselves.

Percy mentally berated himself. They were just doors.

With the king inside, who should accept his one-time offer.

Facing gods who knew about him and his inherited powers were one thing. Facing kings who had the absolute power to raise his state or to execute him because of those powers were another.

Arthur swept open the doors without knocking, without hesitating, looking regal and confident.

The throne room was huge and certainly grand, but it couldn't undoubtedly match Olympus.

The king, who was discussing something with two richly-dressed men over papers, immediately looked up to see Arthur, Merlin, Percy and the knights. The prince executed a slight bow, while Merlin ducked his head respectfully. Percy bowed his head in respect, for once not hesitating.

His hands were working nervously, over-thinking would his plan work or not.

"Father," Arthur said. "This is the boy who saved my life."

Indignation seeped from Percy. Boy? asked the demigod silently with an inquiring eyebrow to Merlin, who smiled apologetically.

"And the other?" asked the king.

"He refused," said the prince, confusion coloring his tone slightly. "Said that he... was content enough."

The hesitant tone caught Percy's attention. There was few who would refuse the king, he mused. Most would be grateful to be met and be heard by the king, much more when awarded to.

It was a rare thing, indeed, that men with great power would humble themselves down to acknowledge ordinary persons. Now take that, Zeus, he thought viciously.

"You are dismissed," the king, whom the demigod had yet to learn the name, ordered the two men who was standing uncertainly by his side. They bowed, low mutterings of "Yes, sire," reaching his ears, and left quickly, leaving the three to the king's mercy.

The knights were pretty much useless, anyway.

The king's gaze shifted on him, and he jutted his chin out and stood straighter.

His earlier nervousness was seemingly forgotten. He didn't bow down to gods, and he certainly wouldn't bow down to kings.

"My Lord," Percy said, with the practiced reverent tone he usually used when meeting gods except a select few.

When he met the king's gaze, he saw that the king had dipped his head. There was a curious look in his eye─something amused and a little inquisitive, as to why a seventeen-year-old had saved the prince's life and wouldn't wilt under the king's intense stare.

If you would look at the gods whom you will stare long enough with disrespect, they will probably incinerate you to ashes.

He was probably underestimating him. It if there was one thing he learned, it was never to underestimate someone or something. You wouldn't know what hit you until you're on the ground, bleeding to death.

And that's speaking from experience.

"You must be rewarded," the king said at last. "What do you propose, boy?"

Percy hesitated, knowing that this was a crucial moment. One wrong step and he will not get another chance. He took a deep breath and steeled himself.

"I... only wish for a position in Camelot," said Percy. The king narrowed his eyes, and the demigod could hear the sharp intake of Arthur's breath and could feel Merlin's anticipation. "A one-time offer. Trainer with a sword."

The plan was thrown into the air. He wondered if he should tell the king that there were some people who would want to murder the prince, but figured it would be a problem for another time.

The king titled his head, definitely curious. The prince leaned forward, taking the reins.

"Just how good are you with a sword?" asked Arthur.

The king thought about it for a moment. "There will be a swordfight between you and my son. Arthur will report to me what will happen." The prince nodded, eyes narrowed and calculating. "Since your manservant is useless with a sword─" the demigod could feel Merlin's indignation and thought, maybe useless with a sword, but he got powerful magic,"─and if you bested Arthur in the fight, you will be his personal trainer."

Percy smirked, green eyes dancing. "Sounds perfect."

Was it short? And for the hundredth time, I'm so sorry for delaying this chapter! Now I feel like I disappointed you all. T.T Really. And your summer is ending soon, right? So maybe this was a good luck gift to y'all.

I'm feeling pretty fucking useless. Could you tell me that I'm not useless?

Review.

Peace out.

~BloodDarkerThanCrimson out.