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It's a few weeks after they've returned from Camlann that Arthur remembers his conversation with Merlin "I tried to take your head off with a mace" he'd said in fond amusement, looking up at his friend with a small smile, dispite the pain he'd been in "and I stopped you, using magic" Merlin had responded, sounding both proud and just as amused. At the time Arthur couldn't believe that the man had cheated his way through their fight and very nearly won! hell he had won but had become distracted by Gaius, which allowed the then prince to get the upper hand.
So upon remembering this, Arthur made his way to the armoury and grabbed two of the best maces he could find then went about finding his wayward manservant turned advisor. He's eventually found having a discussion of some kind with Gwen, which stops Arthur in his tracks for a few seconds as it's been quite awhile since he'd seen the two like this, Merlin talking about something rather animatedly and Gwen hanging onto every word he said with a soft smile on her face.
Arthur almost felt bad about disturbing the two friends, but he was adamant about having a rematch now he wasn't intending to take some mouthy peasants head off. So clearing his throat, he watched as Gwen's eyes light up before frowning when she catches sight as to what's in his hands "Arthur! We were just talking about you" Merlin says, oblivious as ever to the things around him as he smirks at the king. Arthur raises an eyebrow but thinks better than to ask what exactly they'd been saying about him "is that so? Well I need you else where Merlin" he says, smirking slightly when Merlin rolls his eyes and gives Gwen that familiar look of disbelief before getting up and leaving the room.
Gwen chuckles at their antics before looking at Arthur with cautious curiousity "what exactly are you planning to do with those?" She asks, her tone filled with confusion and quiet protection of Merlin. Arthur can't help but smile softly at hearing it before responding "remember the mace fight we had on his second day in Camelot?" At her quiet groan and slight nod he continues "well he cheated using magic so I'm demanding a rematch" sounding slightly perpetualant, much to his wife's amusement as she waves him off.
As he leaves the room he hears "good luck, my love! You'll need it" and begins to wonder if sitting beside the training grounds for the last 10 years had given Merlin the upper hand. The man knew all of Arthur's fighting techniques, all of his moves and subtle gestures that even his knights were still learning whilst Arthur had never actually seen Merlin fight or defend himself before.
Hell half of the time Merlin defended himself whilst Arthur's back is turned! The king only ever realises after he's heard the tell tale sound of a body falling to the floor, and has turned to make sure the idiots alright, only to find an enemy on the ground and Merlin either pulling his sword back towards himself or he still had his hand outstretched from where he's thrown one of his many throwing knives!
Still he pulls Merlin with him to the training grounds, it's empty save for a few knights doing exercises or trying out the new fighting techniques that Leon and Merlin had been teaching for the past few days. As soon as Arthur comes to a stop in the very middle of the grounds where fights usually take place, Merlin lets out an annoyed huff and moves a few paces back as he looks his king up and down.
It's then he finally spots the maces in Arthur's hand and groans "I thought I wasn't your training bag anymore" he whined, obviously thinking that Arthur wants to train, now that Gaius had given him the all clear to get back into full training once more, dispite the fact that Merlin's magic had healed him completely before they'd even got back to Camelot.
He can't help the quiet chuckle that escapes him, before shaking his head in a way that makes Merlin nervous, "oh no, Merlin. We Arn't training, I demand a rematch for the fight you cheated in 10 years ago" he says, watching as Merlin frowns in confusion before rolling his eyes with a muttered "I was hoping you didn't remember that" and holding out his hand with a look of defeat, causing Arthur's eyes to light up as he swings one experimentally, before tossing it to Merlin the same way he had all those years ago.
The only difference between then and now, is the fact that Merlin catches it and replicates Arthur's experimental swing, before correcting his hold and giving Arthur a look of defiance as he looks him up and down once more. He takes up a defensive stance before tilting his head "what are the rules? First blood? First one to catch the other wins?" He asks, causing Arthur to feel a small swell of pride that Merlin remembers to ask the terms of a duel before starting.
Arthur hadn't thought of that, he just wanted a rematch because Merlin had cheated the first time "first to be touched by the mace and knocked off their feet wins" he decides, wanting to see if Merlin had been watching training sessions for the last 10 years or not. Merlin nods and Arthur sees the moment he goes from playful, clumsy Merlin into calculating, warrior like Merlin that he'd seen when the man had saved his life.
It isn't long before they are circling each other and swinging their maces just enough to catch the others attention, but not enough to actually hit them as they both test the waters for a few minutes before Merlin takes him by suprise as he bolts forwards, mace swinging just enough that Arthur had to duck out the way.
He suprised that Merlin doesn't fall from his sudden change of direction, but uses the momentum to swing himself back around on his heel. It's an impressive move and Arthur can't help but hum quietly as his mind changes from fighting to categorising every move Merlin makes. He comes to find that Merlin is incredibly quick on his feet, moving towards Arthur at speeds he isn't used to and bouncing back just before Arthur manages to catch his mace against the front of Merlin's jacket. He isn't suprised to find that the Knights that had been around had now stopped what they were doing in order to watch the strange dance they seemed to be in.
Due to him becoming distracted by his knights he wasn't prepared to dodge out of Merlin's way, he only just managed to duck in order to not take a mace to the side of the head. It's because of this that he hadn't been paying attention to where Merlin had put himself, so wasn't expecting to feel a foot wrap itself around his ankle and yank with enough force to unbalance him. He goes down with a startled yell and a huff of air once he hits the ground with suprising force, groaning quietly when he feels the gentle force of a mace against his chest.
It takes him a few seconds to figure out what just happened, before looking up at Merlin with a suprised look when he sees the man leaning over him with a smirk on his face "do you yield?" He hears, that same heated voice from 10 years ago coming back to him and he can't help but bite out "to you?" Causing Merlin's lips to twitch up in amusement "do you? Do you yield?" He asks, a little more heat to his voice this time and Arthur holds his hands up good naturedly, knowing he's well and truly been beaten "I yield" he calls out, causing cheers to ring out throughout the training grounds as for the first time since he was 12, Arthur had been beaten in a duel.
Merlin is quick to drop his mace and hold out a hand to help his friend up, making Arthur smile as he wasn't sure if Merlin would rub it in his face before doing this, but Arthur is suprised to find he's rather humble about it "told you I could take you apart with less than one blow" he hears Merlin say causing Arthur to burst into laughter as he hadn't been expecting him to say such a thing "you still can't talk to me like that" he responds as the two head back to the castle.