And Everything ComesTumbling Down (5/?)
Chapter 5. A & G went up the hill…
AN: Anything you recognize from Merlin I do not own. Unbeta'ed and written at 1AM so do forgive typos and grammatical errors when you find them. Thanks for reading!
***
Prev
Merlin doesn't quite know whether to laugh or be mortified as Arthur stops Gwen's tirade by pulling her forcefully into his arms and kissing the living daylights out of her before picking her up and carrying her into the castle.
It's a cinematically romantic and perfect take too - if this move is in the script.
It isn't.
But since JM didn't say anything, he continues on with his dialogue until he finally hears the word "Cut."
There's silence right after, broken only by muffled squeals from fans across the courtyard. He looks at their director to see how he's reacted to the liberties taken by his co-actor in the scene they just shot and grimaces at the still shell-shocked expression on his face.
It takes a while before the crew manages to start moving again. Someone follows his fellow-actors into the castle, and Merlin is left standing where he is, still staring at their director who finally meets his eyes with a question of his own.
He shrugs in response as he too is baffled at the turn of events. They both try not to react overtly, ever conscious of the fact that this isn't a closed set.
Finally, JM starts giving directions to the crew about their next scene.
***
"Are you two trying to give me a heart attack?"
Silence.
"Nothing to say?"
More silence.
"Don't make me give you two a time-out…"
Nothing.
"If that's how you two want to play this, you're both off tomorrow."
Two figures start to get up from their respective chairs.
"Did I say you two can go?"
Both slump back into their seats.
"Okay this is how this will work. You are both taking a day off from shooting tomorrow BUT you're both going somewhere."
"Somewhere?"
"Ah, he finally speaks."
Arthur flushes.
"Yes, somewhere. Together!"
"But…" This time, it's Gwen who breaks her silence.
"No buts. You are both to go to our next shooting location."
"I thought we weren't shooting…"
"You won't be filming but you are having your photo shoot for the promo stills."
"But…"
"No buts. I suggest you two talk about whatever it is you two need to talk about while you're up there because I can't have another one of your antics ending up on YouTube again."
"It wasn't…"
"Not a word, Arthur. You're lucky I'm not making you do something worse. The car will pick you up and take you there."
…
"Well, what are you two waiting for? Get out of here."
…
"What new location were you talking about? I don't remember anything about a new location…" The room's other occupant asks as two of the series' lead actors leave.
Silence.
"I see. Is there actually going to be a photo shoot at all?"
More silence.
"Then what..."
Both share a look.
"You're playing Cupid?"
There's a loud sigh.
"I shouldn't meddle but have you seen the videos?"
"You do know that this could blow up in our faces…"
"Yes, but that last stunt he pulled was ..."
"You didn't cut?"
"Actually, I'm thinking of leaving it in…"
"You do know that it's probably already up on YouTube by now…"
"Oh I'm counting on it."
They both laugh.
"Best damned viral marketing ever for the show…"
***
Next day, on the way to the mysterious location.
"You do know you'll have to talk to me eventually…"
She doesn't say a word and continues to look out the window.
"I'm sorry." He apologizes.
She finally looks at him and asks. "Why do you keep doing those things?"
He shrugs and tries to avoid her gaze.
She faces him fully and reaches out to touch his arm. "Why?" she asks again.
"Because…"
She waits.
He sighs. "You know why…"
"No, I don't."
He finally looks at her in frustration. "You do."
"What about her?" She asks.
"What about him?" He counters.
Both wait for the other to answer.
Neither does.
And so they both turn away.
***
"Are you sure this is the right location?" Arthur asks the driver as he gets out of the van first.
"That's what the ticket says…" the driver replies. "I think they're waiting for you there…" he points to the shack a little further up the hill.
"That looks like a long climb…" Gwen observes as she too alights from the van and stands next to Arthur. "Can't you drive us closer?"
"Sorry, it's too steep." The driver looks apologetic but doesn't budge from his seat.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Arthur asks as he picks up both his and her stuff from the van.
"I'll come back for you two later. I think I'm supposed to pick up your lunch too."
"Oh, okay. We'll see you later then."
***
"That's strange…"
"What?"
"There's no one here…"
"Are you su…"
Both stare at the empty shack from the door.
"I don't understand…"
Gwen rifles through her bag to get her phone. "Bloody hell!"
"Cussy!"
"Don't start…can you check if you have signal? Mine doesn't."
Arthur looks at his phone and muffles a curse.
"What are we supposed to do now?"
Arthur enters and looks around. "We can wait in here I suppose…"
***
Gwen follows him reluctantly and notes the sparse furnishing inside the shack. She sees a wooden bench next to a table on one corner, a narrow bed on the corner furthest from the door, there's an ice box, a stove next to the sink and a door. "Please tell me that door leads to the bathroom…"
Arthur, who's nearest said door quickly walks to open it. "It is…"
"Oh, thank God!" She shudders just thinking about having to go in the woods for nature's call.
"Well it does look like something you'd see in the show, except for this ice box." He squats to look inside.
"What's in it?"
"Bottled water, juice and some fruits."
She moves past him to open the cupboards above the sink and sees some pans, a kettle, glasses, plates, cutlery and canned goods - LOTS of canned goods. She doesn't quite know whether to be comforted by that last bit or frightened by it. Because, what does it mean that the cupboard's stocked?
"What's wrong? You look spooked."
"You think the driver's coming back for us anytime soon?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
"I just…" she breaks off, not sure how to proceed. "I just have a funny feeling about this whole thing…"
"What do you mean?" He gets a bottle of water and offers her one.
"What if they…" A thought occurs to her. "Please tell me you have nothing to do with this."
"Nothing to do with what?" He looks baffled.
"This! Our being stuck here, by ourselves for who knows how long!"
***
"What?" Arthur asks indignantly. "Why would I…" he breaks off as he realizes exactly what Gwen was thinking. "Oh…"
They both stare at each other in silence.
Finally, "I'm sorry…" her words come out tentatively.
"I…" he doesn't know quite what to say. While a part of him was appalled at the predicament they were in, another part of him was secretly glad to have this time alone with her. And if he were more honest with himself, he'd admit that the thought of being able to talk to her, without fear she'd walk away or leave, cheered him up considerably. "Well at least we won't starve." He finally offers, knowing how often she gets hungry. For such a small person, she has a very healthy appetite.
***
Gwen sighs heavily as she walks slowly to sit on the bed. "At least the mattress is soft." She thinks, and gives a start at the direction her thoughts had taken. "Surely they wouldn't leave us here overnight, would they?" She swallows and hopes her dismay doesn't show on her face. "Well, what shall we do in the meantime?"
***
Arthur considers sitting next to her on the bed but figures she might not appreciate it and so moves to sit down on the bench. Of course it's too low and would most likely make his back hurt if he sat on it for long - but unless he sat on the floor, there was no other option. "I have some movies in my laptop - we can watch something if you like…" he asks her.
She considers his suggestion for a moment before she finally nods her head. "Okay."
***
Two movies, four bottles of water, an apple, some chocolates and several strawberries later…
"How long do you think before they come for us?" Gwen asks.
"I have no idea." Arthur answers as he stretches. His back's on fire from sitting on the bench without proper back support. He's glad he'd taken off the chain mail earlier or else he'd be in more pain.
"Arthur…"
He looks at her in question.
"How bad is it?"
"It's not…"
"How bad is it?" She interrupts him.
He sighs. "Like it's on fire…" he finally admits.
She motions for him to come to her but he hesitates.
That she knows he's in pain doesn't surprise him. She's always been able to sense whenever his back was troubling him and in the past, she would give him a backrub in between takes. What does surprise him is that she's willing to do so again. He didn't think she'd offer again after everything that's happened since the end of shooting for the fourth series.
"I have nothing better to do anyway…" she tells him.
Still he hesitates, not because he doesn't want to but because of how badly he wants to.
"My offer expires in five…four…three…"
He's already lying across her lap on the bed before she finishes her countdown.
Next
AN: Anything you recognize from Merlin I do not own. Unbeta'ed and written at 1AM so do forgive typos and grammatical errors when you find them. Thanks for reading!
***
Prev
Merlin doesn't quite know whether to laugh or be mortified as Arthur stops Gwen's tirade by pulling her forcefully into his arms and kissing the living daylights out of her before picking her up and carrying her into the castle.
It's a cinematically romantic and perfect take too - if this move is in the script.
It isn't.
But since JM didn't say anything, he continues on with his dialogue until he finally hears the word "Cut."
There's silence right after, broken only by muffled squeals from fans across the courtyard. He looks at their director to see how he's reacted to the liberties taken by his co-actor in the scene they just shot and grimaces at the still shell-shocked expression on his face.
It takes a while before the crew manages to start moving again. Someone follows his fellow-actors into the castle, and Merlin is left standing where he is, still staring at their director who finally meets his eyes with a question of his own.
He shrugs in response as he too is baffled at the turn of events. They both try not to react overtly, ever conscious of the fact that this isn't a closed set.
Finally, JM starts giving directions to the crew about their next scene.
***
"Are you two trying to give me a heart attack?"
Silence.
"Nothing to say?"
More silence.
"Don't make me give you two a time-out…"
Nothing.
"If that's how you two want to play this, you're both off tomorrow."
Two figures start to get up from their respective chairs.
"Did I say you two can go?"
Both slump back into their seats.
"Okay this is how this will work. You are both taking a day off from shooting tomorrow BUT you're both going somewhere."
"Somewhere?"
"Ah, he finally speaks."
Arthur flushes.
"Yes, somewhere. Together!"
"But…" This time, it's Gwen who breaks her silence.
"No buts. You are both to go to our next shooting location."
"I thought we weren't shooting…"
"You won't be filming but you are having your photo shoot for the promo stills."
"But…"
"No buts. I suggest you two talk about whatever it is you two need to talk about while you're up there because I can't have another one of your antics ending up on YouTube again."
"It wasn't…"
"Not a word, Arthur. You're lucky I'm not making you do something worse. The car will pick you up and take you there."
…
"Well, what are you two waiting for? Get out of here."
…
"What new location were you talking about? I don't remember anything about a new location…" The room's other occupant asks as two of the series' lead actors leave.
Silence.
"I see. Is there actually going to be a photo shoot at all?"
More silence.
"Then what..."
Both share a look.
"You're playing Cupid?"
There's a loud sigh.
"I shouldn't meddle but have you seen the videos?"
"You do know that this could blow up in our faces…"
"Yes, but that last stunt he pulled was ..."
"You didn't cut?"
"Actually, I'm thinking of leaving it in…"
"You do know that it's probably already up on YouTube by now…"
"Oh I'm counting on it."
They both laugh.
"Best damned viral marketing ever for the show…"
***
Next day, on the way to the mysterious location.
"You do know you'll have to talk to me eventually…"
She doesn't say a word and continues to look out the window.
"I'm sorry." He apologizes.
She finally looks at him and asks. "Why do you keep doing those things?"
He shrugs and tries to avoid her gaze.
She faces him fully and reaches out to touch his arm. "Why?" she asks again.
"Because…"
She waits.
He sighs. "You know why…"
"No, I don't."
He finally looks at her in frustration. "You do."
"What about her?" She asks.
"What about him?" He counters.
Both wait for the other to answer.
Neither does.
And so they both turn away.
***
"Are you sure this is the right location?" Arthur asks the driver as he gets out of the van first.
"That's what the ticket says…" the driver replies. "I think they're waiting for you there…" he points to the shack a little further up the hill.
"That looks like a long climb…" Gwen observes as she too alights from the van and stands next to Arthur. "Can't you drive us closer?"
"Sorry, it's too steep." The driver looks apologetic but doesn't budge from his seat.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Arthur asks as he picks up both his and her stuff from the van.
"I'll come back for you two later. I think I'm supposed to pick up your lunch too."
"Oh, okay. We'll see you later then."
***
"That's strange…"
"What?"
"There's no one here…"
"Are you su…"
Both stare at the empty shack from the door.
"I don't understand…"
Gwen rifles through her bag to get her phone. "Bloody hell!"
"Cussy!"
"Don't start…can you check if you have signal? Mine doesn't."
Arthur looks at his phone and muffles a curse.
"What are we supposed to do now?"
Arthur enters and looks around. "We can wait in here I suppose…"
***
Gwen follows him reluctantly and notes the sparse furnishing inside the shack. She sees a wooden bench next to a table on one corner, a narrow bed on the corner furthest from the door, there's an ice box, a stove next to the sink and a door. "Please tell me that door leads to the bathroom…"
Arthur, who's nearest said door quickly walks to open it. "It is…"
"Oh, thank God!" She shudders just thinking about having to go in the woods for nature's call.
"Well it does look like something you'd see in the show, except for this ice box." He squats to look inside.
"What's in it?"
"Bottled water, juice and some fruits."
She moves past him to open the cupboards above the sink and sees some pans, a kettle, glasses, plates, cutlery and canned goods - LOTS of canned goods. She doesn't quite know whether to be comforted by that last bit or frightened by it. Because, what does it mean that the cupboard's stocked?
"What's wrong? You look spooked."
"You think the driver's coming back for us anytime soon?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
"I just…" she breaks off, not sure how to proceed. "I just have a funny feeling about this whole thing…"
"What do you mean?" He gets a bottle of water and offers her one.
"What if they…" A thought occurs to her. "Please tell me you have nothing to do with this."
"Nothing to do with what?" He looks baffled.
"This! Our being stuck here, by ourselves for who knows how long!"
***
"What?" Arthur asks indignantly. "Why would I…" he breaks off as he realizes exactly what Gwen was thinking. "Oh…"
They both stare at each other in silence.
Finally, "I'm sorry…" her words come out tentatively.
"I…" he doesn't know quite what to say. While a part of him was appalled at the predicament they were in, another part of him was secretly glad to have this time alone with her. And if he were more honest with himself, he'd admit that the thought of being able to talk to her, without fear she'd walk away or leave, cheered him up considerably. "Well at least we won't starve." He finally offers, knowing how often she gets hungry. For such a small person, she has a very healthy appetite.
***
Gwen sighs heavily as she walks slowly to sit on the bed. "At least the mattress is soft." She thinks, and gives a start at the direction her thoughts had taken. "Surely they wouldn't leave us here overnight, would they?" She swallows and hopes her dismay doesn't show on her face. "Well, what shall we do in the meantime?"
***
Arthur considers sitting next to her on the bed but figures she might not appreciate it and so moves to sit down on the bench. Of course it's too low and would most likely make his back hurt if he sat on it for long - but unless he sat on the floor, there was no other option. "I have some movies in my laptop - we can watch something if you like…" he asks her.
She considers his suggestion for a moment before she finally nods her head. "Okay."
***
Two movies, four bottles of water, an apple, some chocolates and several strawberries later…
"How long do you think before they come for us?" Gwen asks.
"I have no idea." Arthur answers as he stretches. His back's on fire from sitting on the bench without proper back support. He's glad he'd taken off the chain mail earlier or else he'd be in more pain.
"Arthur…"
He looks at her in question.
"How bad is it?"
"It's not…"
"How bad is it?" She interrupts him.
He sighs. "Like it's on fire…" he finally admits.
She motions for him to come to her but he hesitates.
That she knows he's in pain doesn't surprise him. She's always been able to sense whenever his back was troubling him and in the past, she would give him a backrub in between takes. What does surprise him is that she's willing to do so again. He didn't think she'd offer again after everything that's happened since the end of shooting for the fourth series.
"I have nothing better to do anyway…" she tells him.
Still he hesitates, not because he doesn't want to but because of how badly he wants to.
"My offer expires in five…four…three…"
He's already lying across her lap on the bed before she finishes her countdown.
Next