Ayah Selat Myah Selene

“Ayah Selat. Myah Selene.” Nicholas said patting the horses neck. He heard a cry and turned to the West, where he saw two men on horseback. The younger of the two rode forward. “He says that is his horse.”

“I do not see how. Why does he make that claim?”

“Because it is on his land.”

“I brought this horse with em from France.”

This was translated and the knight responded in Arabic. He says, you are a 'great liar'. And he will fight you not fo the horse, because it is his horse but because you are a liar.”

“I have no desire to fight.”

“Then you must give him the horse!”

“I do not understand you.” Nicholas said, almost to himself. The knight said something in Arabic. “He says give him the horse or fight him for it. That is how it shall be.” Nicholas turned his head as if avoiding some terrible sight. “Or can you not?”

“No, I can fight. And I think I'm good at it. But if the horse is that important to him, have him come down and fight me on equal ground like true men of rank should.”

The stranger seemed taken aback. “You are a knight?”

“I was a baron in Lyon and in Ascelon.”

This was translated and the knight dismounted. Nicholas raised his sword above his head and the fight began. “Stop! Enough. Hyah Kafa.” the mounted servant yelled. His master did not seem to hear him. Soon after the sarcean knight lay dead on the ground. And, blood from his final wound having spooked the other horse away, his servant lay on his back in the sand.

Nicholas approached the man, his sword drawn, but lowered. The man held his hands out in a gesture of surrender.“You take it very well that I have killed your master.”

“It was the end of his time. All is as God wills it. At any rate I am in no place to deny or begrudge him paradise.”

'such a steadfast faith' Nicholas observed, though he said nothing aloud.

“Now finish this.” The man said simply.

“By no means.” Nicholas replied. He stepped away. “Get up.” The man obliged but did not speak. “What was his name?” Nicholas asked, indicating the fallen knight.

“His name was Mummad Al-Fais.”

Nicholas knelt beside the fallen solider. “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the very face of God shine upon you and be gracious to you. May you find rest if you lost it and your reward if you sought it.” He made the sign of the cross and stood up. “Take me to Jerusalem.” Nicholas said to the man.

(((“What happens now?” the stranger asked humbly.

“What do you expect will happen?” Nicholas replied.

“That you will take me with you, wherever you go.” )))

The rode into Jerusalem, Nicolas barely half a nose ahead of his companion. He knew no other word for the man. They stopped at a water trough just inside the city. “He is a very good horse.” Nicholas remarked. “And he seems to like you.” The stranger did not reply, but smiled faintly. In that moment, Nicholas made up his mind. “Take him. Take the horse, and be about your business.”

The man looked at Nicholas as if unsure he'd understood the statement. “Sir, this is your prize of battle. I was the servant of the man you killed in fair combat. I am your prisoner. Your Slave should you wish it.”

“I will never keep a slave nor suffer any to be kept if I can change it. I took my oath on that long ago. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your masters choices. I don't have anyone left in the world anymore. If you do, you should go, and be with them.”

“Are you...demanding that I leave you alone?”

“No. What I am saying is I have a lonely life ahead of me, even if I do find my father's people. And I cannot, I will not pull you into that life.”

“And if I were to choose that life?” Nicholas raised his head sharply. “I told you before ALL is as God wills it. If I did not believe that before I would now. My master challenged you for sport mis-prizing what he saw. If you were to claim me, I would see it as God's justice and your right by the law. But as you will not keep a slave will you accept me as your servant?”

Nicholas looked at him, speechless. “If...If you are willing to follow me I accept your help. There is one thing I will insist upon. My name is Nicholas. Call me by my name or at worst Monsieur. None of that 'Milord' business.”

“If you insist Monsieur. My name is Nasir.”

A story I have been working on for A-While.

I finally at least started putting finger tips to keys.

“Kristan” is an affectionate name Sasha gives to Prince/King Arthur. It means 'Noble heart'. If one stretches the sound Kris-taan, it means 'one who leads with the nobleness of his heart'. It's an honorific that took Arthur more than 2 years to ask about. This scene is set sometime after season 4 of Merlin. In this version of season 4, Lancelot was able to stay with his friends after being brought back from the dead and used as a pawn by Morganna. Sasha has lived among her friends in Camelot for more than a year. With Merlin and Arthur's support-permission-encouragement and in fact at their request, she went to the other side fo the veil and brought Lancelot back to life. She gave him ALL his memories back so he could be entirely his right self again. But there was one memory she could not restore. She had once told Gaius that “Lancelot could walk in this room right now and I would not be able to tell him Merlin has magic.” Which was more true than she realized at the time. She could not give him back that memory. The knowledge that Merlin has magic and by extension the reason Lancelot and Merlin are so close was completely missing from Lancelot's mind. Merlin later told Lancelot, face to face.

Here Merlin has been kidnapped (or he rushed off to save Alator from Morganna) and Sasha is...a shriveled mess. Arthur takes only Lancelot with him to rescue Merlin.

“What is it Lancelot?”

“It's about Merlin.” the knight said slowly.

“You're worried?”

“No. I mean yes I am but that's not what I mean.”

Arthur looked mildly intrigued. “Then what?”

“He's a good man. Arthur”

“I'm well aware. I know he was...is a close friend to you Lancelot. To all the knights. Without him I wouldn't have Gwaine, Percival, or you. None of you would have been my knights without him.”

Arthur's face crinkled in thought. “It's funny how servant could have such an effect on Camelot.”

Lancelot sat up sharply. “I think we both know Merlin is no ordinary servant.”

Arthur leaned forward, now very interest in the conversation. “Agreed. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you think sorcery is evil.” Lancelot's jaw shut and tightened. Arthur could hardly blame him. Under any other set of circumstances that question out of his mouth would have been a challenge and a trap. “I don't believe everyone who practices magic is evil.”

“Nor do I.” Lancelot admitted.

“Then isn't it time we stopped treating them like they are? Sometimes I feel our judgment has been clouded by, hatred and fear.”

“I think you are right.” Lancelot encouraged.

“If I were to lift the law sorcery would reign once more in Camelot. Is that what you'd want?”

“I think that's what Merlin would want.”

“Is there something you're not telling me?”

“Arthur I know.” Lancelot said in a rush.

“You know what?”

“I know Merlin's secret.” Arthur looked at him, doubtfully. "I know Merlin has magic."

“How long have you known?”

“Apparently since he killed the griffin and saved my life.”

“Apparently?”

“After Sasha brought me back, she restored all my memories, I remembered how much you and Merlin mean to me. But I didn't remember what he was. Sasha, didn't or couldn't give me that. He told me himself, some weeks past.”

“Why did you never say anything?”

“For the same reason you haven't.”

“...Because he is a friend.”

“No... because he doesn't deserve to be persecuted for being himself.”

He looked Arthur squarely in the eyes. “And I saw that –I saw who he is– clearly enough.”

“What was he like? The real Merlin, what was he like?”

“Arthur you know Merlin better than anyone.”

“And yet I didn't know he has magic.”

“Does that matter? If I knew him at all I knew this: magic while a part of Merlin, was only one part of who he was.”

“I just wish he trusted me enough to tell me.”

“And if he had, how would you have reacted?”

“...Probably no better than when I saw him save my life.” Arthur admitted.

“I was wondering how you figured it out.”

“Yeah.”

“Where do you think he ran off to anyway?”

“Someone important to him is in trouble, he ran off to save him. It's what he does.”

“Come on, let's go find him.” Arthur stands up. “Since we're already waist deep in stories about our friends, I have an equally stupid question for you, Arthur.”

Arthur sat up and walked to his horse. “Yeah and what would that be?”

“Were Sasha and I close?”

“You knew her as Nikita. That's saying a lot right there. I didn't really see the two of you together much but it goes with out saying she considers you a friend.”

“I know that Arthur. What I mean is...were we as close as you and Merlin?”

“Do you mean, were the two of you together?”

“Did we have something special between us, do you know?”

“I don't think she ever let anyone get THAT close.”