"Sir Leon, could you repeat that? I'm trying to write word for word."

The knight paused with his mouth opened, confused. "You want me to repeat telling you to bugger off?" The small servant boy looked up after finishing his sentence, smiling satisfied. He froze at Leon's irate expression.

"I'll, er- I'll take my leave." Gideon, barely past 14 winters, had been running around the castle all day. His mother worked in the kitchens, and he was recently anointed with job of washing dishes. It wasn't really his job, but his mother gave him a few coins for helping her out. This meant Gideon was allowed to enter the castle, and with a few innocent smiles, wander throughout its walls.

That was how he made it into the knights' quarters, excited to meet them. His first meeting with Sir Leon was not going so well. Sir Leon had a habit of appearing more volatile than he truly was. This made for an advantage on the battlefield, and occasionally, in the chasing off of adolescents.

Sir Leon looks off into the wall, and sighs deeply. The boy was amusing, and had a charm that reminded him of Merlin actually- though maybe that was the insolence. He hadn't asked for his name.

Gideon, now skipping down the hallway, with the full honest intention of leaving, was stopped by the sight of another man. Sir Gwaine was smirking at the boy.

"I heard you tell Leon you were interested in interviewing the knights?" Gideon skid to a stop, smiling back at the brunet.

"Yes, I had this idea to document the innermost workings of the castle. Maybe I'd even show it to the people in the citadel, and boost morale and patriotism!" Gideon was naïve for his age, all filled up to the brim with that delirious thing called hope. From a young age he enjoyed writing, but it seemed unheard of to write true occurrences in real time. He was determined to get other people invested in the importance of documentation.

Sir Gwaine was amused, and like Leon, saw the Merlin-like charm in the boy. Perhaps that was why he was intrigued. He leaned against the door frame of his chambers, wearing a blouse too revealing for a lord to wear, and flipped his hair back.

"Alright then. Uh-"

"My name's Gideon." He was named after his grandfather who came from overseas many years ago. He knew it was an uncommon name in Camelot- considered he was likely the only Gideon- and was used to the reactions he got. His skin was a bit darker than most, and that often confirmed questions before they need be asked.

Sir Gwaine didn't blink at the kid's foreign name or skin because he wasn't a racist twat.

"Gideon. You have me intrigued. Tell me- how ambitious are you?" He slowly smirked, lips curling up in a nasty, not-yet-evil way. Gideon's hand curled around his half-dried quill.

........

"Are you writing down everything I say?" The crown prince was trying to lean over the desk to see what the boy was writing. Gideon moved quickly the hide the paper, just a touch, before almost glaring at the prince. He wasn't sure if it was treasonous to do so, so he hid his angst behind a stressed smile.

"Yes, I am trying to... sire." Gideon was not yet used to referring to people with proper titles.

Prince Arthur was starting to see why Gwaine liked the boy. Sir Gwaine was at this time leaning, as he did often, against the frame of Arthur's bed. They were situated in his chambers. It was a miracle he had been so open to this idea, but Gwaine did name drop a certain manservant.

Arthur was intrigued, and perhaps a bit pleased with the idea of this kind of attention. People had to listen to him, but not many people interviewed him. He supposed none would dare suggest they questioned him. Except maybe Merlin, the knights, Gwen, Morgana, Uther, Gaius- this list was longer than he thought. He held his hands clasped together under his chin.

"Well then. Ask away." He didn't smile at the boy, but Arthur felt a stir of excitement.

"Do you actually eat three meals worth for breakfast?"

"What-?! Where did you get this- Gwaine!" Sir Gwaine was bent over, laughing at the fluster of the princess. Arthur's weight was a sore spot. He had also guessed correctly that Gwaine must have whispered some bloody treasonous rumours to Gideon, knowing they would get back to Arthur.

"I'm sorry sire, I did not mean-" Gideon felt a flicker of fear at Arthur's red-faced anger, but he was staring at Gwaine, paying no mind to him.

"No, it's alright. You've just reminded me I've been too lenient in training these days. It must be getting to Gwaine's stupid head." Sir Gwaine stilled at the mention of leniency. He was not fond of the hard runs he was made to do to better his heart or his something or other. He thought it unnecessary and horrible.

"So, you do not eat three-"

"No, I do not eat three- I eat the normal amount! I'm not fat!" Gideon looked at Sir Gwaine. He had finally caught on.

"My apologies sire, I didn't realize it was a sore spot-"

"I'm fighting fit! Did Merlin tell you...?!" The princess was spitting his words out to Sir Gwaine, who had regained his composure. Merlin was missing from this discussion because he was out running an errand for Gaius, or saving Camelot from a magical threat, one of the two for sure.

"...Did Merlin tell me that he had to poke another hole into your belt? No, he wouldn't dare divulge such personal information." Arthur glared, his fists on the table.

Gideon wrote that down.

........

"Lady Morgana!" Gideon tripped over his feet as he entered her chambers. He was not prepared for her beauty. He blushed like an idiot.

Sir Gwaine rolled his eyes as he followed the boy inside. The lady Morgana was already seated at her desk and her handmaiden, Guinevere, was standing behind her.

"Arthur told me that you insulted him, so I have graciously accepted your request for an interview. But I warn you-",

"-Gideon,"

"-Gideon; if you pull a stunt like that with me, I will be displeased. I believe you would not want to see me displeased." Morgana moved around like a cat. Calculated, elegant; supernatural. Gideon drew little hearts around her name, as he notated her words.

Guinevere resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Morgana's attempt to intimidate the boy. It appears she did not notice the boy's googly eyes.

"What do you think of Camelot?" Morgana narrowed her eyes, almost imperceptibly, at the question. Had the boy come here to get her to admit to having magic? That she thought Camelot was a hot load of shit for all Uther Pendragon made of it, and that a lot could change around here? Was this meant to be a confession to a treasonous heart? What kind of game-

Gwen rested her hand on Morgana's shoulder. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"It's- it's a place. My home." Gideon thought Morgana did a lot of frowning.

"Do you have more questions?" Guinevere asked the boy. He thought she was kind of overstepping her role as a servant, but to be fair, he wasn't so familiar with what it meant to be a maidservant. Perhaps her closeness to Lady Morgana offered more freedom of will.

"I'm sorry, that was a bit of a dull question. What do you ladies think of the crown prince?" Gideon felt it was more appropriate to address both of them. Gwaine sucked in his lips to stop the smile that came from the immediate reactions of the two women.

Both Morgana and Gwen looked as if they had sucked on a lemon. The smiles that graced their faces were mere decorum. Sir Gwaine let out a breath in an attempt to hide the laugh that threatened to interrupt the moment. Not every lady that walked through Camelot was fond of the prince, nor of being asked such a degrading question. Surely women had more value than just side pieces to men?

"He's acceptable." Morgana knew she couldn't say shit if this was to get out to the public, which she believed to be the intention of the boy. It occurred to her she should say something more- something polite, but she struggled to find the words. Arthur was still, as Merlin eloquently put it, a prat and a half. Hopefully one day, should the kingdom hope for an heir, he would grow out of it.

Gwen nodded along, also coming to the conclusion that they should say nicer words. What could she say about Prince Arthur?

"He has lovely hair." Morgana caught Gwen's eye.

"Oh- yes. Such a golden hue. And redeemable shoulders." The girls nodded to themselves. Gwaine eyes rolled into the back of his head and fell to the floor, where they rolled out the door, to Camelot's border, and disappeared to never return. Or so it felt.

Gideon awkwardly wrote down the superficial notions of the prince, hoping this wasn't illegal. Was objectifying men a discussion to be held in the 15th or whatever century? No, it was not.

"He'll be a good king." Morgana confirmed. She genuinely believed that at least. Merlin had told her all about the prophecies of him bringing back magic and uniting all of Albion- and of Merlin's own power. But no one else in the room knew, and so she could not say that Arthur was the Once and Future King.

Gwen and Gwaine both knew of this prophecy and of Merlin's magic. He told Morgana, Gwen, and Lancelot separately. Well. Lancelot found out on his own, and so did Gwen. He told Morgana because she also had magic. Lancelot then told Leon, assuming Leon had already known. He hadn't. Leon told Percival, but only because he could not keep his mouth shut under the pressure to hide it from Arthur- and Percival told Gwaine, because Percy was a naïve buffoon who saw the good in Gwaine and thought it would be a good idea to tell him. Gwaine had already deduced himself, but didn't tell anyone, and so only Percival knew that he knew. At least so he thought. The situation was relatively under control.

Gideon nodded politely, assuming incorrectly that Lady Morgana was saying such a thing out of expectance. He did not know of such prophesies.

"And what of his manservant- Merlin?" Comically, everyone's eyes lit up. Gwaine stood up straighter, Gwen leaned forward, and Morgana grinned demurely (as she did to not give away the warmth in her chest). Gideon noted the change in spirit.

"Why he's quite lovely. A bit of a clumsy fool but compassionate- and- and unassumingly beautiful." Morgana covered her mouth, lips parted in surprise that she had dared say such a thing. Surely now everyone would make fun of her for speaking so highly of the bumbling idiot. Perhaps she was enchanted.

Gwaine smiled, and Gwen nodded wistfully. "He's also very funny, and... charming."

"He's a good man... with pretty eyes."

"And the way he riles up Arthur is delightful."

"And he's always there to help me if I ask-"

Gideon noted that everyone in Camelot may have a crush on Merlin.

........

Merlin was a busy man. He didn't have much time to sit around talking to the boy no matter how many times Gwaine batted his lashes at him. He could already hear Arthur yelling at him for being late.

"Please, please, please Merlin just a moment?" He couldn't fault the boy for trying so hard.

Gideon was desperate to get a moment alone to talk to the manservant. Everyone had something to say about him. He wanted to know what he had to say.

"Alright- but-" Gideon took that as an invitation to grab Merlin's wrist and shove him down into the chair he prepared. Merlin sat shoök with his mouth open. He shook his head. Well, he's agreed to it now.

"Merlin, you seem to be the busiest person in all of Camelot. What is it that you are doing all the time?" Merlin adjusted himself uncomfortably.

"You do know I'm the prince's manservant, right? I have chores to do."

"Mmm, you seem too busy for just that." Gideon wanted the honest truth of Camelot. What actually went on around here. It wouldn't do to keep secrets.

"You know one day, I may share what I learn here with the world, but I swear to you, on my grave, that I live to honour the truth. I want to know what really goes on in Camelot- even if it means bearing the burden of knowing the worst of secrets. You, Merlin, appear to be the main man around here. Please, don't waste both of our times."

Merlin looked at the young boy. He considered the consequences of telling him the truth- that maybe he would let the king know he was harbouring a sorcerer under his nose. It would be Merlin's word against the boy's and maybe that confidence was what triggered it, but something started to blossom.

Gideon felt the air change, and he knew he was fina get the real tea.

........

Two weeks later... did they have weeks back then? How the FUCK did they keep track of time?? Because was there a Sunday for church and shit or...? None of my business...

Gideon faced Prince Arthur. He had that irritated expression that Gideon knew meant Arthur was ready to overshare.

"Last night... Merlin made me eat rat." Arthur sighed, staring at the table with a lack of the usual fire.

"I never thought he would stoop so low. I feel degraded. Am I even fit to be king anymore? Goodness knows I am well acquainted with my chamber pot now." Gideon stared at Arthur, unsure of what to say.

Arthur had loads left to say.

"Of course, I made him eat some of the stew as well. But it still... hurts, that he would do something like that. It seems too evil." Arthur held onto his bottom lip thoughtfully.

Gideon couldn't believe the prince had dragged him here for this. He had been under the impression the prince was emotionally restrained. Was it really so bad?

"I know I complained about the rat a lot, and maybe that was frustrating for Merlin, but I feel as if my boundaries were disrespected."

Gideon dutifully notated all the prince had to say, but the cost of the truth was never being able to share. He had sworn an oath to the people of Camelot, that he would not share what he had learned without explicit permission. He held onto a vain hope that one day he could.

Arthur sighed and rolled his head onto his arms. Then after sulking for a moment, he shot up and stared at Gideon. He opened his mouth as if to speak, and then shook his head, his hand going back to play with his mouth.

"I feel...defiled."

"Sire?" Arthur finally noticed Gideon's corporeal form.

"Yes?"

"I was hoping you would tell me more about what happened when Merlin drank the poison for you?"

"Oh? Which time do you mean?"

It was much like this every day; Gideon would do rounds and speak to whoever he could find. He found some people had more to share than others.

"When you went to go get him that flower?" Arthur straightened up in his chair, a dull look on his face.

"I did what any man would do."

"You- you disobeyed your father-"

"Yes."

"-And risked your life for a servant-"

"Anyone would have done the same." Gideon resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Anyone would have done the same because everyone loved Merlin.

Arthur looked disinterested. "It was just a stupid flower. As the prince I should be capable of picking flowers. It was a simple decision."

"So, you would've done that for Gaius?" Arthur balked, face folding in on itself.

"Gaius was never poisoned!"

"So, you wouldn't have-"

"I don't know! Why are you asking me this?" For all the strategy Arthur had as Crown Prince, he was an idiot to his own feelings. Gideon was simply curious as to when he would first acknowledge that he also loved Merlin.

"It's my job."

........

Gaius was one of the hardest to snag.

"I'm an old man, and a busy one." He always sat with his hands together in his lap.

"What do you want to get off your chest, old man?" Gaius raised an eyebrow at that, though didn't comment because respectfully, he should've seen it coming.

"There is not much someone at my age has to tell, boy." Gideon frowned at Gaius.

"I would think it's the opposite." They were seated in the physician's quarters, sometime late in the evening.

"I am not one for gossip." Gideon scoffed at that.

"Well, Merlin has lots to say about you. He told you that I'm documenting only the truth, right? I know of his magic." Gideon had indeed learnt of the prophecies and nuances of powerful sorcerers and future kings and what not. He was most amused at how just about everyone knew- but no one knew that everyone else knew. Certainly not Merlin.

Gaius rolled his eyes. He was aware of Gideon's role within the castle, and despite holding a lame curiosity towards what complaints people like Leon and Guinevere would have, he wasn't interested in getting his hands in the water.

Gideon knew Gaius would be a tough one to crack, but as the mountain will eventually crumble to the rain, so shall Gaius open the fuck up.

They all eventually did.

Thus, begins a collection of the innermost workings of Camelot; the absolute true stories and accounts of the Once and Future King.