Hello, Sunshine [9B/25]
"This isn't a very practical outfit," said Gwen, zipping her green jumpsuit in the ladies room. "I feel so exposed…"
She stood up awkwardly beside her teammates, who didn't seem at all bothered by the get up.
"You look hot," said Isuelt placing an encouraging hand on her shoulder. "We all do. It's all part of the strategy."
"Distract and attack," Morgana said, touching up her lipstick in her compact. "Every girl playing paintball knows these simple rules. It helps even the playing field."
Gwen looked skeptical.
"It sounds like cheating to me," she said wryly, checking her own face in the mirror. "I don't think I've ever worn red lipstick."
Morgana shut her mirror with a snap and gawked openly at her.
"Oh honey," she said, reaching out to touch her face. "You don't get out much, do you?"
"I guess not," Gwen mumbled, feeling even more embarrassed.
Morgana reached into her purse and, after a few moments of rummaging, dropped something into her hands.
"Take it," she said, winking. "Red lipstick is a necessity, just like the little black dress."
Gwen lifted the cylindrical container and gasped when she realized the case was diamond encrusted.
"This is Chanel," she said, holding the lipstick away from her. "I can't take this! It must have cost you a fortune!"
"I'm rich, remember?" Morgana winked. "Besides," she said, using her hand to curl Gwen's fingers over the lipstick, "red is definitely your color."
"Thanks," Gwen whispered, slipping the gift into her purse. "I've never owned something so nice."
"Since Lancelot," added Isuelt, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"I don't own him," she corrected. "He's my boyfriend."
"Which means he's yours," she said, grinning evilly. "I've got quite a lot to teach you when we go shopping. Thank God I've got time."
Gwen had the nagging feeling that the pretty blond would teach her things she really didn't want to know.
"Alright," said Morgana, sounding serious. "I'll take Merlin. He's easy, bless him. Isuelt will take Lancelot-"
Gwen made a sound of protest.
"I think I should be the one to handle him-"
Morgana shook her head.
"You have to deal with Arthur, remember? I'm not just assigning you to him because he has a huge soft spot for you. You two obviously need to talk," she said.
Gwen sighed.
"And Isuelt," said Morgana warningly, "you have to turn off your inner fangirl. This is a code 45, section 7."
Isuelt nodded, suddenly looking serious.
"What's a code 45 section whatever?" asked Gwen, looking clueless.
"Never you mind." Morgana patted her on the back. "Let's roll girls," she said, grabbing her sleek black paintball gun from the bench.
The other two girls grabbed their guns and followed.
When almost stopped to look at her surroundings in utter amazement. They'd stepped out of the girl's locker room and into a jungle. There was actual wet grass under her feet and tall trees with leafy branches that bent over them. For a moment, she thought a snake would wind down one of the vines or she'd see a monkey sail over her head.
"They really pulled out all the stops on this place," she whispered in awe. "I feel like I'm in the Jungle Book!"
The other two girls didn't respond. They were too busy listening to their surroundings. Gwen shook her head. She'd never seen two people who took winning so seriously.
Feeling adventurous, she decided to creep away from her teammates and find Arthur on her own.
Meanwhile, Arthur, Lancelot, and Merlin emerged from their locker room, carrying their guns in front of them and looking around for their opponents.
"Alright," said Arthur, turning to his allies, "I think Merlin should take Isuelt. She seems to be the most green member of their team."
"What are you trying to say?" Merlin asked, narrowing his eyes. "Are you suggesting that I'm not good at this game?"
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting. I'd much rather have Mordred here, since he has killer aim, but there's an age limit to these things." Arthur responded without missing a beat. "Anyways, Lance should take Morgana and I'll take Guinevere."
"That's funny," said Lancelot in mock contemplation, "Gwen's the only one that's never played this game before. Don't you think Merlin should go after her?"
Arthur resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Look," he said through gritted teeth, "I'm trying to tolerate you and be civil for Gwen's sake. Don't try my patience."
"You know what I think?" Lancelot said, smirking, "I think you're attracted to her and you'd make any excuse to try to be with her. It'd be cute if it wasn't so… pathetic."
Lance froze when he felt the cold barrel of Arthur's gun on his neck.
"Shut up," he hissed.
Lance didn't look scared at all. His smirk widened and he continued.
"Some guy attacks her and you completely give up," he said, giving Arthur a sideways glance. "You say you want to keep her safe, but you're afraid that the more you open up to her, the more she'll hate you."
Arthur pressed the gun deeper in Lance's neck.
"You really want me to shoot you, don't you?"
"You had your chance, Pendragon," Lance said, narrowing his eyes and pushing the gun away in one swift movement, "let her go. Stop messing around with her head. If you care about her at all, you'll let her be happy with someone else."
Arthur shook his head.
"I don't trust you," he snarled, glaring at him. "She's not like the other airheaded girls you usually date. You're up to something and I won't stand by and watch you manipulate her."
"Guys?" Merlin piped up.
"Right." Lancelot chuckled aridly. "Because that's your job-"
"DUCK!"
At Merlin's yell, the two men crouched low to the ground as bright lime green paintballs sailed over their heads and exploded against the nearby trees.
Arthur looked up and noticed a retreating female figure in the distance. Guinevere. He jumped up and followed after her, gun in hand.
He ran as fast as he could, cursing the labyrinth of trees he had to navigate as he followed her. She wasn't easy to spot in her forest green body suit, but he somehow managed to keep his eyes fixed on her.
Suddenly, she slipped and tumbled to the ground, landing flat on her face. In the time it took her to get back on her feet, he caught up with her.
To his surprise, she shot him square in the chest the moment she turned around. From the close range, it hurt him more than he expected it would.
"Now I just have to find the others," she said, turning to run back in the opposite direction.
"Guinevere, wait," Arthur said.
She stood with her back towards him for a moment as though contemplating whether she should stay at all. After a few agonizing moments, she turned to face him, her expression stony.
"I've behaved… appallingly," he said slowly.
He paused and tried to think of something else to say to her. Apologies were never really his thing.
"You behaved appallingly." She repeated, looking up at him in disbelief "That's all you have to say?"
He could see the anger just below the surface and he felt his stomach drop to his shoes. Uh oh.
BAM!
She had pulled the trigger again and another paintball hit him on the upper shoulder. He bit his lip from the impact.
"After coming here I heard about what a rude-" BAM! "-proud," BAM! "arrogant man people believe you to be, Arthur Pendragon. I never believed them for one day because you've been so wonderful to me. You made me forget that I'm just some little nobody from the lower city
"But today," she said, lowering her gun, "today you reminded me of just that. From anyone else, it would have been fine but hearing you say it really hurt me."
Seeing her face crumble with sadness and disappointment made him forget about the pain in his chest for a moment.
"Guinev-"
"If you have such a poor opinion of me, why did you even bother with the rest of it?" she yelled, tears shining in her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. "Why didn't you just tell me you thought I was trash instead of making me feel like this?"
It was raining now but, through the false droplets of rain, he could see she was really crying.
"Like what?" he asked, stepping closer.
She completely ignored him.
"I know I was wrong to lie to you about Lance," she continued, "but, frankly, it's none of your business. You should follow your own advice and know your place instead of saying all of those nasty things to me."
He was standing right in front of her now, anger flashing in his eyes now too.
"I know I was wrong to speak to you like that," he admitted. "I should have just told you that my wife is a sore subject for Mordred and me. I shouldn't have yelled at you and I regretted it afterwards. I'm not perfect, Guinevere. Sometimes I say things I shouldn't and I'm sorry that my words hurt you."
She turned away from him and he paused to lift her chin, forcing her to look him in they eye.
"But let me make one thing perfectly clear to you; the fact that you're dating Lancelot is my business," he told her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"And just how do you figure that?" she asked, glaring at him.
"I don't want him to touch you," Arthur seethed. "I don't want him to even look at you. I think about you with him and it makes my skin crawl and I feel like I want to punch a wall or something."
"Because you don't like him," she said with certainty.
"No," Arthur said sighing. "I mean, of course I don't like him. He's toying with you, Gwen. I know he is. But it's…it's more complicated than that."
"Just spit it out, Arthur," Gwen said, suddenly feeling weary from all the yelling. "I'm already tired of being angry with you. If you have something to say, just say it."
"Guinevere," he began, meeting her waiting gaze, "I… can't."
"Then I'll just be on my way then," she said icily, brushing past him.
She felt his hand lightly grip her lower arm, and she stared at it for a moment. The imitation rain was making her feel cold and clammy, but his touch sent a ripple of heat up her arm.
"How can I admit that I think about you all the time?" he said, his voice both frustrating and imploring. "How can I admit that I care about you more than I thought I was even capable of?"
Gwen just stared at him, the fire beginning to leave her eyes as the implications of his statement became clear. She was completely speechless. This was completely out of left field. She'd expected him to bumble his way with another half-assed apology. She was not prepared for this.
His hand slid from the crook of her arm to her shoulders before she could even blink.
"I don't know what I'll do if any harm comes to you," he said, resting his own forehead on hers. "From Lancelot or from anyone who is out to ruin me."
It was far too intimate than anything she was used to. She could feel the tip of his nose on the curve of his and feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke. His fingers were caressing her shoulders and the small of her back in a slow, vertical motion that was sending her over the edge.
Her head was a swirling mass of confusion, guilt, and excitement at their proximity, but she was in so much shock she could only manage to place her hand on his chest. She was unsure however if she wanted to warn him or feel the warmth of his chest on the palm of her hand.
"I want to do everything in my power to keep you safe, even from me," he said, his hands gripping her shoulders. "I'll put you through hell. That's why I didn't want you asking questions about Mordred's mother. That is why I've tried to convince myself that nothing can ever happen between us even though it hurt me to let you go."
The rain stopped as Arthur wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her to him in a swift moment.
"I know it's selfish, and weak," he said, lifting his head to look down at her, "but I just can't stay away from you, Guinevere. It would take me decades to explain why. I just know I'm supposed to be with you. "
He stood there, staring down at her, waiting for her to say something, anything.
"I-I didn't know you felt that way about me," she managed to murmur as she kept her gaze away from his eyes. "I don't really know what to say."
"Just tell me what you're thinking," he said, rubbing his thumbs over the curves of her shoulders.
"I have a boyfriend," she said, holding up a finger, "and despite what you say, he's been really good to me. Secondly, your son will hate me, and I've worked so hard just to get him to tolerate me. And last, but not least," she said, peeling his hands of her waist and holding them in front of her, "you're my boss. Ever heard of the phrase, 'Don't dip your pen in the company ink?'"
Despite her reasoning, Arthur grinned wolfishly at her.
"So you don't deny that you feel something too?" he asked, crossing his hands over his chest. "I mean, let's face it, look at me."
"I've seen better," she said, raising an eyebrow, "but I'll admit, you're not bad. You work with what you've got, I suppose."
He looked at her, a hurt expression on his face, before exploding in laughter. She followed suit, placing a hand on his arm to steady her self.
When her laughter subsided, she realized her hand was gripping his bicep, and she tried to pull away in her shock. His hand encircled her wrist before she could bring it back to her side. Her eyes followed his motion until he placed her hand over his beating heart.
She looked up at him and began to feel nervous again at the sight of his enchanted expression. Had he always looked at her like this?
"Arthur," she said, placing her other hand on his shoulder. "I'm the only woman you see every morning and every evening. I think what you're feeling is a result of that. I don't think I can measure up to this idea of me you seem to have in your head. One day, you'll meet a girl who exemplifies all of those qualities, but I don't think I'm that girl-"
He pulled her close to his chest and their lips met before she could blink an eye. For a moment, she couldn't even move. She just stood there wide-eyed as he kissed her. She placed her hand on his chest again. This was wrong and she needed it to stop. She had to push him away.
Only, she didn't.
Her hand slipped under the padding of his 'armor' and curled around the soft material of his suit, pulling him even closer. Her other hand slipped through his hair. She gripped his locks on the roots, and he gasped in surprised tipping his head back a little in response.
She took control and captured his bottom lip between hers, slipping it back and forth between her teeth. They were going too fast and she wanted to slow things down. To savor it before her conscience fully kicked in.
It was unlike any kiss she'd ever shared. Lance was an excellent kisser, there was no doubt about that. But he was always cool and calm and, almost calculating when he handled her. Arthur Pendragon was all fire. She could feel it from his lips, his fingers, his chest. The warmth spread throughout her body, setting every cell in her body on fire.
Her hands gripped his shoulders to hold herself steady as he slipped away, resting his forehead on hers. They were both breathing in long shuddering breaths.
"Arthur we can't-"
He kissed her again, more hungrily than the first time. She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He cradled her back with his hand, dipping her slightly. Their bodies moved in a rhythm as they kissed. Back and forth, back and forth, as they struggled to find the equilibrium between his firey passion and hers, that was slowly breaking through the cracks of her resistance.
Gwen pulled away and stared at him for a moment, shocked again at the longing in his face.
"Arthur," she said, stepping away from him, lest she loose control again, "I mean it. This can't happen. We can't happen. No matter how much I…" she stopped and shook her head, looking at him pleadingly. "Please. Just stop making this harder than it has to be."
He shook his head.
"If you tell me you I'm alone in this, I promise I'll leave you alone," he said, completely straight-faced. "I won't mention this again and you and I can just put this whole thing behind us."
She bit her lip, as she often did when faced with a difficult situation. It was obvious what she had to do.
"Arthur," she began, clearing her throat, "I…do have feelings for you. But I also care for Lance very deeply. I would never want to do anything to hurt him more than I already have. He's been nothing but wonderful to me. I can't… I won't do this to him."
"As long as I know you feel the same way," he said, smiling, "I'm not going to give up. Pendragons don't stop until they get what they want. And I've never wanted anything more than I want you."
Something about his unwavering confidence sent a wave of pleasant chills down her spine.
She knelt down to pick up her gun, and she noticed his blue eyes following her every motion. If he kept this up, she knew she didn't stand a chance in hell.
"Then I'll never give in to you," she retorted, her voice considerably less confident.
"I think you already have," he said, looking down at her lips.
She opened her mouth to counter him, but a rustling in the bushes stopped her short. She raised her gun and waited.
Mordred emerged from the bushes, looking as gleeful as she'd ever seen him. He was holding a nerf super-soaker in his left hand and a small paintball gun in his right. His body was completely unscathed.
"Mordred!" she gasped. "You're not supposed to be on this level. You have to be sixteen to be on this level."
"I already beat all the other kids," he said, shrugging. "It was too boring. I wanted to find daddy so I could help him win!"
"It's too late for that, Mor," Arthur said, patting his son's head and pointing to his vest. "I'm afraid Guinevere already got me."
Mordred glared at her.
"My daddy was a gladiatator in his past life," he said. "How did you manage to beat him?"
"Pretty girls are scary when they're mad," Arthur explained. "They have these magical powers that can make us stop moving."
Gwen scowled at him, and he smirked back at her, as though threatening her to say otherwise.
"That's cheating," Mordred said, in a matter of fact tone. "Daddy won fair and scare."
Morgana emerged from the trees, with Isuelt on her heels, both looking quite angry.
"You sent Mordred up here to shoot us?" she growled, pointing her gun at her brother. "You've crossed the line, brother. That's cheating. He's too good at this game."
"Scarily good," Isuelt agreed, looking down at the blue paint on her armor. "That kid's got amazing aim."
Morgana eyed Gwen's armor and looked back and forth between the nanny and her brother.
"I guess the girls win then," she said, smiling. "Gwen's the only one that didn't get hit."
"Nuh uh!" Mordred protested. "She's got green paint all over her! If you get shot, you lose, remember!"
"If I recall," Morgana said, her smile widening, "Arthur's paintballs were orange, not green. It doesn't count if you get your own paint on yourself."
Gwen blushed, cursing herself for not thinking of it sooner.
"I fell on him," she explained, shrugging. "It's kind of dark in here, if you haven't noticed."
Isuelt and Morgana exchanged doubtful looks.
"Riiight," Morgana said, looking back at her. "You that must have been quite the fall."
"In any case," said Gwen loudly, desperate to change the subject as Lance appeared. "Our team wins. Shall the bragging commence?"
She steeped back to join her two teammates and they all started jumping up and down, squealing as loud as you could.
"Let that be a lesson to you," said Morgana, pointing at Arthur . "From now on, I want you to look in the mirror and realize what a complete and utter failure you've become."
"It's not that serious-"
Merlin placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and shook his head at him.
"Just let them have their fun," he said. "If you think Morgana is scary when she's mad, wait until you see the blond one in action. I've never been so scared in my life."
"I doubt that," Arthur said dubiously.
"Well, it's been really fun hanging out with you all," said Lance, glancing at his paint-splattered watch, "but I've got to get going. I've got a rehearsal to get back to."
He looked at Gwen, frowning at the green paint smeared all over her.
"Let's go, Gwen," he said, gesturing to her. "I'll drop you off."
"Alright," she said, her smile slipping as he refused to look at her. "Thanks for coming Isuelt. I suppose I'll be seeing the rest of you soon enough."
"Thanks for inviting me!" said the blond gratefully. "Remember to call me up so we can go shopping!"
Gwen nodded to her and waved goodbye to all the others. She glanced at Arthur for a moment, her gaze reflecting the fear and guilt in her heart.
Then, she turned and walked away, knowing in her heart that this was not going to end well.
For Gwen, silence was the worst punishment of all. It gave her more time to think about the horrible thing she'd done. Even worse, it made her realize that she had enjoyed it far more than she should have.
In the silence, she couldn't make her case. She couldn't apologize. She could only wait until he decided to say something to her.
"This is my fault," he said suddenly, surprising her out of her reverie.
Of all the things she'd imagined him saying. This had definitely not been one of them.
"I pushed him towards you. I taunted him," he said, clenching his fists in his lap. "I knew he had feelings for you and that you were out of his reach, but I kept goading him. I didn't think he'd actually do anything."
"You say it as if he forced himself on me," she said. "He didn't. I kissed him back, Lance, and I think… no, I know I enjoyed it. If you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at me."
"I am mad at you," he corrected her. "I've been nothing but faithful to you from the start, and I've had plenty of opportunities to give into temptation. I'm surrounded by beautiful women all day, but I look away because you're worth much more to me than some meaningless fuck."
She was startled by his vulgarity. He hardly ever said anything profane.
"Oh God," she said, suddenly realizing what his words implied. "We didn't… I mean… we kissed. That's all. I mean, not all. It's still horrible in its own right. But we didn't do what you think we did."
"I'm glad," he said, sighing in relief. "You don't want to get mixed up with the Pendragons. They have secrets that will make your toes curl."
"I will not have you insult him," she said, feeling the anger rising. "I did a horrible thing. Please don't bring Arthur's integrity into this. He's a good man. I know it."
"Fine, I'll let you figure it out for yourself," he said, brushing her off. "But he's not good for you. He acted on jealousy and lust. He doesn't truly feel anything for you. He just wants to prove he can take you away from me."
Gwen wanted to shout at him, but she knew he had the moral high ground and there was nothing she could do. Instead she sat back in her seat and pondered what he said to her. She thought about their near miss in his office. It had happened right after their run in with Lance. Their kiss today as well.
"I entered into this relationship knowing you had feelings for him," Lance said, after giving her a moment to mull over his words. "But I don't deserve this, Gwen. I'm a good man who's been nothing but kind to you."
"Lance, I'm sorry," she said, placing a hand on his upper thigh. "I promise it won't happen again. I was just off my guard."
It was a bold faced lie and they both knew it.
"He'll always have the advantage because he lives with you," he growled. "That's why I want you to come live with me."
They pulled up to the Pendragon mansion and Gwen turned to look at him, her mouth agape.
"You know I can't do that," she said. "I have a job here. I-"
"I know you don't want to be a nanny forever," he said, cutting her off. "I'll help you with whatever you want. I can help you build a career. Living in this house isn't your only option anymore."
"But Mordred-"
"They'll find someone who can take your place," said Lance, brushing off her concern. "I can have someone drop you off until they find someone else."
"Don't you think it's too soon for us to be living together?" she asked, grasping for some kind of counterargument.
"I think it's unfair for you to be living with a man who's attracted to you," he said, leaving no room for argument. "It's not fair to me and I won't stand for it. You have to make a choice and decide for yourself what you want."
She shook her head and placed her hand back in her lap.
"But I don't know what I want," she said sounding exasperated. "I don't know. This is all too much for me to digest."
"Then we should take a break," he said, sighing.
She knew this was coming, she just hadn't prepared for it as much as she'd hoped. Her entire body felt cold as she turned to stare at him wide eyed.
"Until you figure out what you want," he said, looking away from her, "we shouldn't see each other. I'll wait for you for one month. Then I'll let you go. You're free to see whomever you want until then, even Pendragon. But mark my words; he'll break your heart and you'll realize that I'm the one who really understands you. The one who really loves you and has never stopped loving you even after today."
He snapped his fingers and the chauffeur walked around and opened the door for her. She sat there, still immobilized by shock.
"Lance, I-"
"Please," he said, still refusing to look at her, "just go."
She sent him one last glance, pleading for him to forgive her, to give her some words of comfort. Anything.
He still refused to look to look at her, waiting for her to take her leave.
"For what it's worth, I'm really sorry for all of this," she said, still looking at him
She slipped away, out of his car, knowing in her heart that there was probably no turning back from this.
When he was certain she was out of earshot, he pulled the pen out of his pocket and pressed the button on its side.
He pulled the phone out of his pocket and started dialing the number with shaking hands.
"Listen," he said, "I can't do this anymore. I'm done. I can't even say what I feel anymore. I just let her go because you told me to and I'm pretty sure she's not coming back after this."
"Are you telling me you care more about this girl than your own flesh and blood?" said the voice on the line. "Without my help, you'll lose the one thing that's most important to you. If everything goes the way it's supposed to, you get the girl and you'll get what I promised. You just have to be patient."
"You have to promise me she won't get hurt," he said, sternly. "I didn't care at first, but she… she's just different. She's worked hard to forget everything that's happened. She doesn't need someone to bring it up."
"She won't get hurt if you do what I say," the voice said. "I'll call you soon. There's something else I need you to do for me."
The line went dead and Lance threw the phone against the leather seat and stared hatefully at it for a few moments.
Right now, he wanted more than anything to go back to that house and tell her not to go, but he knew he couldn't betray one loved one for another, no matter how badly he wanted to.
"My feelings don't matter," he said, sighing. "I will not come between them for now," he said, leaning back in his seat.
He knew Arthur was bound to mess things up without his help.
"I thought we were going home," said Morgana, looking from Merlin to her brother suspiciously. "Why on Earth are we in front of Pendragon Publishing? Aren't you off today?"
"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Arthur said, grinning.
"Arthur," she said, her voice slow, "I've told you you're a horrible matchmaker. You set me up with that Gawain guy from work, remember. And, if I recall, it was an f'ing disaster. He ran of with the barmaid."
Arthur, still grinning, reached over, opened the door and shoved her unceremoniously out of the limo.
Morgana started banging on the car door, screaming obscenities at her smirking brother.
"You still haven't changed, Morgana."
She straightened and turned around quickly, instantly recognizing the voice.
"Leon," she said, actually tilting her head to look up at him. "What are you doing here?
"Arthur told me he needed to approve the pictures of the last photo shoot," he said, narrowing his eyes at his boss through the tinted windows, "even though he signed off on them less than a week ago. I didn't know you'd be here, to be honest."
"Oh," she said, desperate to look anywhere else but in his eyes. "I suppose I'll just go then. I have to pack, after all. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"No!"
She gave him a strange look.
"I mean, it's been so long, after all," he said, threading his fingers through his hair. "It would be a shame if you left before we could catch up."
He was fiddling with the edges of his camera strap and Morgana couldn't help but smile a little at his cute nervousness.
"Sure, " she said, leaning back against the limo. "I mean, I don't have anything else planned. I could really go for a Cosi salad."
He chuckled. "What you really mean, is that you could really go for a burger and fries," he said.
"Oh, god yes," she said. "I forgot that you know how to speak model."
"No," he said, shaking his head, "I know how to speak Morgana."
She swatted his shoulder and he dodged expertly, grinning widely at her.
"Just take me to dinner, you big clumsy oaf," she said, taking his left hand in hers.
"I've missed you too, Morgana," he said.
As he walked away, hand and hand with her, he turned around and mouthed 'thank you' to Arthur, who gave him a thumbs up in return.
"Just call me Dr. Love," he said, leaning back in his chair and looking extremely satisfied.
"No, I'd rather keep my lunch inside my stomach, thank you," Merlin said, looking disgusted.
He taped on the window that separated the chauffeur from the passengers.
"Yes, Master Emrys," said Charles. "Where would you like to go?"
"New Hope Hospital," he said.
"Right away, sir," he said, beaming at him.
"Ok, fine I get it," said Arthur. "My joke was so bad you have to go to the hospital. Hardy har."
He placed Mordred's head on one of the decorative pillows. He'd fallen asleep on the way back from Extreme Paintball.
"Now there's someone I'd like you to meet," he said, his voice earnest. "I told her all about you, but that doesn't mean you can say something stupid to scare her away."
"What's going on with you?" asked Arthur. "You're acting really strange."
"I saw you," he said, grinning. "You kissed her. In the forest. Twice."
"The only thing that proves is that you're a bit of a pervert," Arthur concluded. "I don't see how that has anything to do with your girlfriend."
"You'll see," Merlin said, his smile faltering a little.
They pulled up to the hospital in less than ten minutes. Merlin had not said a word the entire way there. He just stared out the window, looking solemn. Arthur was growing more and more worried for his friend with each passing moment.
They took the employee entrance, to avoid having to deal with the nurse at the visitor's desk. They took the elevator to the fourth floor, and Merlin knocked softly on a door down the hall.
"Merlin!" Arthur whispered in surprise. "What are you doing? I thought we were visiting your-"
"Come in," said a tired sounding voice from within.
Merlin opened the door, motioning for a stunned Arthur to follow.
Freya sat up in her hospital bed, smiling weakly at them.
"So this is the famous Arthur," she said, giving him an appraising glance. "Merlin described you eerily well. He's told me so many nice things about you. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was seeing you behind my back."
"No, Ma'am," Arthur said.
"I'm dying," she said, laughing, "I'm not a drill sergeant."
"Freya!" Merlin said disapprovingly. "You really shouldn't talk about your condition so frankly."
"He treats me like such a doll sometimes," she said, turning to Arthur. "It's sweet, but sometimes, I just want to punch him."
"This is the general consensus when it comes to Merlin." He sighed. "He's an annoyance to all."
"That's not true," he said, pouting a little. "Gwen likes me."
"Gwen probably writes mean things about you in her journal, dear," she said, patting his leg comfortingly. "No one's that nice."
"Some girlfriend you are," Merlin mumbled.
"And from what I hear," she said, ignoring Merlin, "she likes you, Arthur. Not that that's an uncommon thing. Half this floor is in love with you."
Merlin eyed her suspiciously and she sighed, grabbing his hand.
"No, not me of course," she said, rolling her eyes. "I unfortunately am attracted to tall, big-eared, jealous types."
She turned to Arthur again, once again ignoring her pouting boyfriend.
"Your face just lit up when we said her name," she said, smiling softly. "That's something you can't hide. I can tell you really like this girl."
"I do," he said, collapsing in the visitor's chair next to her, "and I told her that I won't give up, but she's with someone else. Someone I can't stand and who I think is up to no good."
"Screw him," she said, simply. "And screw your defeatist attitude. You're Arthur freaking Pendragon. Stop being a wuss and go after her with all you've got. Use every trick in your arsenal, if you have to. I promise she won't stand a chance."
Arthur turned to Merlin and smiled. "I approve of this one."
"That's because you're practically the same person," Merlin said, rolling his eyes. "Which is a little scary when I think about it."
"I don't want to see you in this room until you've won her over. I don't care if you have to pull a Mr. Darcy to do it," Freya said, pointing at the door. "Go."
"You sure you're not dating a drill sergeant?" Arthur asked Merlin.
Merlin shrugged.
"Sometimes I wonder."
"Thank you, Merlin," he said, nodding at his friend. "I understand why you brought me here and how hard it must have been for you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, shrugging again.
Arthur noticed that he gripped Freya's hand even harder, despite his nonchalant statement.
"Thank you, Freya," Arthur said, turning to her. "I suppose I'll be seeing you really soon."
"That's more like it," she said, nodding.
He said his thanks one more time before leaving the couple alone in the room. He sensed that time was not on their side and he didn't want to take any more of it away from them.
"Now I'm in the mood for some Pride and Prejudice," Freya said once Arthur left.
"The Keira Knightly one?" Merlin asked hopefully.
"No," she said, rolling her eyes. "The Colin Firth one. It's my turn for unattainable celebrity eye candy."
Merlin groaned.
"Fine," he said, lifting the covers and hopping into bed with her, "but tomorrow, we're watching Transformers."
After putting Mordred to bed, Arthur knocked on Gwen's door, feeling more confident than ever.
When the door swung open, he was surprised to see, that her eyes were red and her normally tidy hair was a complete mess.
"Arthur," she said, hastily wiping her tears away, "is there something you need?"
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice a little more forceful than he intended. "What happened?"
"Lance knows what happened during paintball," she said, hugging herself. "He's thinks we should…see other people for a month. He… broke up with me. Just like that. He didn't even give me any time to explain."
"Of course he didn't, the bastard," Arthur replied, trying hard to keep the grin from his face. "He's probably off kissing some model as we speak."
This brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes and Arthur cursed himself for his insensitivity.
"Gosh, I'm horrible at this," he mumbled. "Look, Gwen," he said, looking her in the eyes. "No man is worth your tears. He can't even see them and if he cared enough, he would be the one at your door, not me."
"Why are you here?" she asked, sniffling. "This is half your fault."
"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said without a moment's hesitation. "I'd do it right now if you'd let me."
"I won't," she said a little too quickly. "I've become a loose woman, thanks to you."
He eyed her bunny slippers skeptically.
"I don't think you're in danger of becoming a loose woman any time soon," he said.
"You didn't answer my question."
"I'm here because my job… is to woo," he said, leaning against her doorframe.
"To woo," she said, deadpanning.
"Yes," he said. "I won't stop trying until you say yes."
He tried to cross his legs, but he immediately lost his balance and forwards onto the floor.
He lay sprawled in front of her on the floor, looking embarrassed. She covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
She knelt down in front of him and he looked up at her, blushing a little from the mishap.
"You're ridiculous," she said, placing her hand on his cheek, "but cute all the same."
She pressed her lips to his forehead and he closed his eyes, relishing the feeling.
"Thanks. I really needed a good laugh," she said, patting the top of his head before standing up.
"Good night, Arthur."
She sent him a soft smile before closing the door behind her.
He sighed. This was definitely going to be much harder than he thought.
This chapter was important and I've been wanting to write it for ages so it's the longest one yet.
I know I promised more Mordred, but then I realized how much Mordred there is in the next chapter and I didn't feel nearly as bad. He's not going to be pleased when he discovers this new development. It's going to have to stay secret.
But yay! Confessions are out, even though it took jealousy to coax it out of him. Look out for more wooing in the next few chapters. I'm having a lot of fun writing it :0).
I know I said this story would be Merlin/Morgana, but I've found that I can't imagine him with anyone but Freya in this story. So I've changed a few things up. Don't kill me, please.
And Lance? I actually felt bad for him while I was writing. Then I remembered that he's lying to Gwen and I didn't feel nearly as bad anymore.
As always, let me know what you thought of this chapter. It took me ages to write. I'm trying to get out two more chapters before school starts and then I have to go on hiatus until at least November :(
Thanks for reading!
::The title of this chapter comes from the Florence + the Machine song of the same name. ::
She stood up awkwardly beside her teammates, who didn't seem at all bothered by the get up.
"You look hot," said Isuelt placing an encouraging hand on her shoulder. "We all do. It's all part of the strategy."
"Distract and attack," Morgana said, touching up her lipstick in her compact. "Every girl playing paintball knows these simple rules. It helps even the playing field."
Gwen looked skeptical.
"It sounds like cheating to me," she said wryly, checking her own face in the mirror. "I don't think I've ever worn red lipstick."
Morgana shut her mirror with a snap and gawked openly at her.
"Oh honey," she said, reaching out to touch her face. "You don't get out much, do you?"
"I guess not," Gwen mumbled, feeling even more embarrassed.
Morgana reached into her purse and, after a few moments of rummaging, dropped something into her hands.
"Take it," she said, winking. "Red lipstick is a necessity, just like the little black dress."
Gwen lifted the cylindrical container and gasped when she realized the case was diamond encrusted.
"This is Chanel," she said, holding the lipstick away from her. "I can't take this! It must have cost you a fortune!"
"I'm rich, remember?" Morgana winked. "Besides," she said, using her hand to curl Gwen's fingers over the lipstick, "red is definitely your color."
"Thanks," Gwen whispered, slipping the gift into her purse. "I've never owned something so nice."
"Since Lancelot," added Isuelt, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"I don't own him," she corrected. "He's my boyfriend."
"Which means he's yours," she said, grinning evilly. "I've got quite a lot to teach you when we go shopping. Thank God I've got time."
Gwen had the nagging feeling that the pretty blond would teach her things she really didn't want to know.
"Alright," said Morgana, sounding serious. "I'll take Merlin. He's easy, bless him. Isuelt will take Lancelot-"
Gwen made a sound of protest.
"I think I should be the one to handle him-"
Morgana shook her head.
"You have to deal with Arthur, remember? I'm not just assigning you to him because he has a huge soft spot for you. You two obviously need to talk," she said.
Gwen sighed.
"And Isuelt," said Morgana warningly, "you have to turn off your inner fangirl. This is a code 45, section 7."
Isuelt nodded, suddenly looking serious.
"What's a code 45 section whatever?" asked Gwen, looking clueless.
"Never you mind." Morgana patted her on the back. "Let's roll girls," she said, grabbing her sleek black paintball gun from the bench.
The other two girls grabbed their guns and followed.
When almost stopped to look at her surroundings in utter amazement. They'd stepped out of the girl's locker room and into a jungle. There was actual wet grass under her feet and tall trees with leafy branches that bent over them. For a moment, she thought a snake would wind down one of the vines or she'd see a monkey sail over her head.
"They really pulled out all the stops on this place," she whispered in awe. "I feel like I'm in the Jungle Book!"
The other two girls didn't respond. They were too busy listening to their surroundings. Gwen shook her head. She'd never seen two people who took winning so seriously.
Feeling adventurous, she decided to creep away from her teammates and find Arthur on her own.
Meanwhile, Arthur, Lancelot, and Merlin emerged from their locker room, carrying their guns in front of them and looking around for their opponents.
"Alright," said Arthur, turning to his allies, "I think Merlin should take Isuelt. She seems to be the most green member of their team."
"What are you trying to say?" Merlin asked, narrowing his eyes. "Are you suggesting that I'm not good at this game?"
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting. I'd much rather have Mordred here, since he has killer aim, but there's an age limit to these things." Arthur responded without missing a beat. "Anyways, Lance should take Morgana and I'll take Guinevere."
"That's funny," said Lancelot in mock contemplation, "Gwen's the only one that's never played this game before. Don't you think Merlin should go after her?"
Arthur resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Look," he said through gritted teeth, "I'm trying to tolerate you and be civil for Gwen's sake. Don't try my patience."
"You know what I think?" Lancelot said, smirking, "I think you're attracted to her and you'd make any excuse to try to be with her. It'd be cute if it wasn't so… pathetic."
Lance froze when he felt the cold barrel of Arthur's gun on his neck.
"Shut up," he hissed.
Lance didn't look scared at all. His smirk widened and he continued.
"Some guy attacks her and you completely give up," he said, giving Arthur a sideways glance. "You say you want to keep her safe, but you're afraid that the more you open up to her, the more she'll hate you."
Arthur pressed the gun deeper in Lance's neck.
"You really want me to shoot you, don't you?"
"You had your chance, Pendragon," Lance said, narrowing his eyes and pushing the gun away in one swift movement, "let her go. Stop messing around with her head. If you care about her at all, you'll let her be happy with someone else."
Arthur shook his head.
"I don't trust you," he snarled, glaring at him. "She's not like the other airheaded girls you usually date. You're up to something and I won't stand by and watch you manipulate her."
"Guys?" Merlin piped up.
"Right." Lancelot chuckled aridly. "Because that's your job-"
"DUCK!"
At Merlin's yell, the two men crouched low to the ground as bright lime green paintballs sailed over their heads and exploded against the nearby trees.
Arthur looked up and noticed a retreating female figure in the distance. Guinevere. He jumped up and followed after her, gun in hand.
He ran as fast as he could, cursing the labyrinth of trees he had to navigate as he followed her. She wasn't easy to spot in her forest green body suit, but he somehow managed to keep his eyes fixed on her.
Suddenly, she slipped and tumbled to the ground, landing flat on her face. In the time it took her to get back on her feet, he caught up with her.
To his surprise, she shot him square in the chest the moment she turned around. From the close range, it hurt him more than he expected it would.
"Now I just have to find the others," she said, turning to run back in the opposite direction.
"Guinevere, wait," Arthur said.
She stood with her back towards him for a moment as though contemplating whether she should stay at all. After a few agonizing moments, she turned to face him, her expression stony.
"I've behaved… appallingly," he said slowly.
He paused and tried to think of something else to say to her. Apologies were never really his thing.
"You behaved appallingly." She repeated, looking up at him in disbelief "That's all you have to say?"
He could see the anger just below the surface and he felt his stomach drop to his shoes. Uh oh.
BAM!
She had pulled the trigger again and another paintball hit him on the upper shoulder. He bit his lip from the impact.
"After coming here I heard about what a rude-" BAM! "-proud," BAM! "arrogant man people believe you to be, Arthur Pendragon. I never believed them for one day because you've been so wonderful to me. You made me forget that I'm just some little nobody from the lower city
"But today," she said, lowering her gun, "today you reminded me of just that. From anyone else, it would have been fine but hearing you say it really hurt me."
Seeing her face crumble with sadness and disappointment made him forget about the pain in his chest for a moment.
"Guinev-"
"If you have such a poor opinion of me, why did you even bother with the rest of it?" she yelled, tears shining in her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. "Why didn't you just tell me you thought I was trash instead of making me feel like this?"
It was raining now but, through the false droplets of rain, he could see she was really crying.
"Like what?" he asked, stepping closer.
She completely ignored him.
"I know I was wrong to lie to you about Lance," she continued, "but, frankly, it's none of your business. You should follow your own advice and know your place instead of saying all of those nasty things to me."
He was standing right in front of her now, anger flashing in his eyes now too.
"I know I was wrong to speak to you like that," he admitted. "I should have just told you that my wife is a sore subject for Mordred and me. I shouldn't have yelled at you and I regretted it afterwards. I'm not perfect, Guinevere. Sometimes I say things I shouldn't and I'm sorry that my words hurt you."
She turned away from him and he paused to lift her chin, forcing her to look him in they eye.
"But let me make one thing perfectly clear to you; the fact that you're dating Lancelot is my business," he told her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"And just how do you figure that?" she asked, glaring at him.
"I don't want him to touch you," Arthur seethed. "I don't want him to even look at you. I think about you with him and it makes my skin crawl and I feel like I want to punch a wall or something."
"Because you don't like him," she said with certainty.
"No," Arthur said sighing. "I mean, of course I don't like him. He's toying with you, Gwen. I know he is. But it's…it's more complicated than that."
"Just spit it out, Arthur," Gwen said, suddenly feeling weary from all the yelling. "I'm already tired of being angry with you. If you have something to say, just say it."
"Guinevere," he began, meeting her waiting gaze, "I… can't."
"Then I'll just be on my way then," she said icily, brushing past him.
She felt his hand lightly grip her lower arm, and she stared at it for a moment. The imitation rain was making her feel cold and clammy, but his touch sent a ripple of heat up her arm.
"How can I admit that I think about you all the time?" he said, his voice both frustrating and imploring. "How can I admit that I care about you more than I thought I was even capable of?"
Gwen just stared at him, the fire beginning to leave her eyes as the implications of his statement became clear. She was completely speechless. This was completely out of left field. She'd expected him to bumble his way with another half-assed apology. She was not prepared for this.
His hand slid from the crook of her arm to her shoulders before she could even blink.
"I don't know what I'll do if any harm comes to you," he said, resting his own forehead on hers. "From Lancelot or from anyone who is out to ruin me."
It was far too intimate than anything she was used to. She could feel the tip of his nose on the curve of his and feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke. His fingers were caressing her shoulders and the small of her back in a slow, vertical motion that was sending her over the edge.
Her head was a swirling mass of confusion, guilt, and excitement at their proximity, but she was in so much shock she could only manage to place her hand on his chest. She was unsure however if she wanted to warn him or feel the warmth of his chest on the palm of her hand.
"I want to do everything in my power to keep you safe, even from me," he said, his hands gripping her shoulders. "I'll put you through hell. That's why I didn't want you asking questions about Mordred's mother. That is why I've tried to convince myself that nothing can ever happen between us even though it hurt me to let you go."
The rain stopped as Arthur wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her to him in a swift moment.
"I know it's selfish, and weak," he said, lifting his head to look down at her, "but I just can't stay away from you, Guinevere. It would take me decades to explain why. I just know I'm supposed to be with you. "
He stood there, staring down at her, waiting for her to say something, anything.
"I-I didn't know you felt that way about me," she managed to murmur as she kept her gaze away from his eyes. "I don't really know what to say."
"Just tell me what you're thinking," he said, rubbing his thumbs over the curves of her shoulders.
"I have a boyfriend," she said, holding up a finger, "and despite what you say, he's been really good to me. Secondly, your son will hate me, and I've worked so hard just to get him to tolerate me. And last, but not least," she said, peeling his hands of her waist and holding them in front of her, "you're my boss. Ever heard of the phrase, 'Don't dip your pen in the company ink?'"
Despite her reasoning, Arthur grinned wolfishly at her.
"So you don't deny that you feel something too?" he asked, crossing his hands over his chest. "I mean, let's face it, look at me."
"I've seen better," she said, raising an eyebrow, "but I'll admit, you're not bad. You work with what you've got, I suppose."
He looked at her, a hurt expression on his face, before exploding in laughter. She followed suit, placing a hand on his arm to steady her self.
When her laughter subsided, she realized her hand was gripping his bicep, and she tried to pull away in her shock. His hand encircled her wrist before she could bring it back to her side. Her eyes followed his motion until he placed her hand over his beating heart.
She looked up at him and began to feel nervous again at the sight of his enchanted expression. Had he always looked at her like this?
"Arthur," she said, placing her other hand on his shoulder. "I'm the only woman you see every morning and every evening. I think what you're feeling is a result of that. I don't think I can measure up to this idea of me you seem to have in your head. One day, you'll meet a girl who exemplifies all of those qualities, but I don't think I'm that girl-"
He pulled her close to his chest and their lips met before she could blink an eye. For a moment, she couldn't even move. She just stood there wide-eyed as he kissed her. She placed her hand on his chest again. This was wrong and she needed it to stop. She had to push him away.
Only, she didn't.
Her hand slipped under the padding of his 'armor' and curled around the soft material of his suit, pulling him even closer. Her other hand slipped through his hair. She gripped his locks on the roots, and he gasped in surprised tipping his head back a little in response.
She took control and captured his bottom lip between hers, slipping it back and forth between her teeth. They were going too fast and she wanted to slow things down. To savor it before her conscience fully kicked in.
It was unlike any kiss she'd ever shared. Lance was an excellent kisser, there was no doubt about that. But he was always cool and calm and, almost calculating when he handled her. Arthur Pendragon was all fire. She could feel it from his lips, his fingers, his chest. The warmth spread throughout her body, setting every cell in her body on fire.
Her hands gripped his shoulders to hold herself steady as he slipped away, resting his forehead on hers. They were both breathing in long shuddering breaths.
"Arthur we can't-"
He kissed her again, more hungrily than the first time. She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He cradled her back with his hand, dipping her slightly. Their bodies moved in a rhythm as they kissed. Back and forth, back and forth, as they struggled to find the equilibrium between his firey passion and hers, that was slowly breaking through the cracks of her resistance.
Gwen pulled away and stared at him for a moment, shocked again at the longing in his face.
"Arthur," she said, stepping away from him, lest she loose control again, "I mean it. This can't happen. We can't happen. No matter how much I…" she stopped and shook her head, looking at him pleadingly. "Please. Just stop making this harder than it has to be."
He shook his head.
"If you tell me you I'm alone in this, I promise I'll leave you alone," he said, completely straight-faced. "I won't mention this again and you and I can just put this whole thing behind us."
She bit her lip, as she often did when faced with a difficult situation. It was obvious what she had to do.
"Arthur," she began, clearing her throat, "I…do have feelings for you. But I also care for Lance very deeply. I would never want to do anything to hurt him more than I already have. He's been nothing but wonderful to me. I can't… I won't do this to him."
"As long as I know you feel the same way," he said, smiling, "I'm not going to give up. Pendragons don't stop until they get what they want. And I've never wanted anything more than I want you."
Something about his unwavering confidence sent a wave of pleasant chills down her spine.
She knelt down to pick up her gun, and she noticed his blue eyes following her every motion. If he kept this up, she knew she didn't stand a chance in hell.
"Then I'll never give in to you," she retorted, her voice considerably less confident.
"I think you already have," he said, looking down at her lips.
She opened her mouth to counter him, but a rustling in the bushes stopped her short. She raised her gun and waited.
Mordred emerged from the bushes, looking as gleeful as she'd ever seen him. He was holding a nerf super-soaker in his left hand and a small paintball gun in his right. His body was completely unscathed.
"Mordred!" she gasped. "You're not supposed to be on this level. You have to be sixteen to be on this level."
"I already beat all the other kids," he said, shrugging. "It was too boring. I wanted to find daddy so I could help him win!"
"It's too late for that, Mor," Arthur said, patting his son's head and pointing to his vest. "I'm afraid Guinevere already got me."
Mordred glared at her.
"My daddy was a gladiatator in his past life," he said. "How did you manage to beat him?"
"Pretty girls are scary when they're mad," Arthur explained. "They have these magical powers that can make us stop moving."
Gwen scowled at him, and he smirked back at her, as though threatening her to say otherwise.
"That's cheating," Mordred said, in a matter of fact tone. "Daddy won fair and scare."
Morgana emerged from the trees, with Isuelt on her heels, both looking quite angry.
"You sent Mordred up here to shoot us?" she growled, pointing her gun at her brother. "You've crossed the line, brother. That's cheating. He's too good at this game."
"Scarily good," Isuelt agreed, looking down at the blue paint on her armor. "That kid's got amazing aim."
Morgana eyed Gwen's armor and looked back and forth between the nanny and her brother.
"I guess the girls win then," she said, smiling. "Gwen's the only one that didn't get hit."
"Nuh uh!" Mordred protested. "She's got green paint all over her! If you get shot, you lose, remember!"
"If I recall," Morgana said, her smile widening, "Arthur's paintballs were orange, not green. It doesn't count if you get your own paint on yourself."
Gwen blushed, cursing herself for not thinking of it sooner.
"I fell on him," she explained, shrugging. "It's kind of dark in here, if you haven't noticed."
Isuelt and Morgana exchanged doubtful looks.
"Riiight," Morgana said, looking back at her. "You that must have been quite the fall."
"In any case," said Gwen loudly, desperate to change the subject as Lance appeared. "Our team wins. Shall the bragging commence?"
She steeped back to join her two teammates and they all started jumping up and down, squealing as loud as you could.
"Let that be a lesson to you," said Morgana, pointing at Arthur . "From now on, I want you to look in the mirror and realize what a complete and utter failure you've become."
"It's not that serious-"
Merlin placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and shook his head at him.
"Just let them have their fun," he said. "If you think Morgana is scary when she's mad, wait until you see the blond one in action. I've never been so scared in my life."
"I doubt that," Arthur said dubiously.
"Well, it's been really fun hanging out with you all," said Lance, glancing at his paint-splattered watch, "but I've got to get going. I've got a rehearsal to get back to."
He looked at Gwen, frowning at the green paint smeared all over her.
"Let's go, Gwen," he said, gesturing to her. "I'll drop you off."
"Alright," she said, her smile slipping as he refused to look at her. "Thanks for coming Isuelt. I suppose I'll be seeing the rest of you soon enough."
"Thanks for inviting me!" said the blond gratefully. "Remember to call me up so we can go shopping!"
Gwen nodded to her and waved goodbye to all the others. She glanced at Arthur for a moment, her gaze reflecting the fear and guilt in her heart.
Then, she turned and walked away, knowing in her heart that this was not going to end well.
For Gwen, silence was the worst punishment of all. It gave her more time to think about the horrible thing she'd done. Even worse, it made her realize that she had enjoyed it far more than she should have.
In the silence, she couldn't make her case. She couldn't apologize. She could only wait until he decided to say something to her.
"This is my fault," he said suddenly, surprising her out of her reverie.
Of all the things she'd imagined him saying. This had definitely not been one of them.
"I pushed him towards you. I taunted him," he said, clenching his fists in his lap. "I knew he had feelings for you and that you were out of his reach, but I kept goading him. I didn't think he'd actually do anything."
"You say it as if he forced himself on me," she said. "He didn't. I kissed him back, Lance, and I think… no, I know I enjoyed it. If you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at me."
"I am mad at you," he corrected her. "I've been nothing but faithful to you from the start, and I've had plenty of opportunities to give into temptation. I'm surrounded by beautiful women all day, but I look away because you're worth much more to me than some meaningless fuck."
She was startled by his vulgarity. He hardly ever said anything profane.
"Oh God," she said, suddenly realizing what his words implied. "We didn't… I mean… we kissed. That's all. I mean, not all. It's still horrible in its own right. But we didn't do what you think we did."
"I'm glad," he said, sighing in relief. "You don't want to get mixed up with the Pendragons. They have secrets that will make your toes curl."
"I will not have you insult him," she said, feeling the anger rising. "I did a horrible thing. Please don't bring Arthur's integrity into this. He's a good man. I know it."
"Fine, I'll let you figure it out for yourself," he said, brushing her off. "But he's not good for you. He acted on jealousy and lust. He doesn't truly feel anything for you. He just wants to prove he can take you away from me."
Gwen wanted to shout at him, but she knew he had the moral high ground and there was nothing she could do. Instead she sat back in her seat and pondered what he said to her. She thought about their near miss in his office. It had happened right after their run in with Lance. Their kiss today as well.
"I entered into this relationship knowing you had feelings for him," Lance said, after giving her a moment to mull over his words. "But I don't deserve this, Gwen. I'm a good man who's been nothing but kind to you."
"Lance, I'm sorry," she said, placing a hand on his upper thigh. "I promise it won't happen again. I was just off my guard."
It was a bold faced lie and they both knew it.
"He'll always have the advantage because he lives with you," he growled. "That's why I want you to come live with me."
They pulled up to the Pendragon mansion and Gwen turned to look at him, her mouth agape.
"You know I can't do that," she said. "I have a job here. I-"
"I know you don't want to be a nanny forever," he said, cutting her off. "I'll help you with whatever you want. I can help you build a career. Living in this house isn't your only option anymore."
"But Mordred-"
"They'll find someone who can take your place," said Lance, brushing off her concern. "I can have someone drop you off until they find someone else."
"Don't you think it's too soon for us to be living together?" she asked, grasping for some kind of counterargument.
"I think it's unfair for you to be living with a man who's attracted to you," he said, leaving no room for argument. "It's not fair to me and I won't stand for it. You have to make a choice and decide for yourself what you want."
She shook her head and placed her hand back in her lap.
"But I don't know what I want," she said sounding exasperated. "I don't know. This is all too much for me to digest."
"Then we should take a break," he said, sighing.
She knew this was coming, she just hadn't prepared for it as much as she'd hoped. Her entire body felt cold as she turned to stare at him wide eyed.
"Until you figure out what you want," he said, looking away from her, "we shouldn't see each other. I'll wait for you for one month. Then I'll let you go. You're free to see whomever you want until then, even Pendragon. But mark my words; he'll break your heart and you'll realize that I'm the one who really understands you. The one who really loves you and has never stopped loving you even after today."
He snapped his fingers and the chauffeur walked around and opened the door for her. She sat there, still immobilized by shock.
"Lance, I-"
"Please," he said, still refusing to look at her, "just go."
She sent him one last glance, pleading for him to forgive her, to give her some words of comfort. Anything.
He still refused to look to look at her, waiting for her to take her leave.
"For what it's worth, I'm really sorry for all of this," she said, still looking at him
She slipped away, out of his car, knowing in her heart that there was probably no turning back from this.
When he was certain she was out of earshot, he pulled the pen out of his pocket and pressed the button on its side.
He pulled the phone out of his pocket and started dialing the number with shaking hands.
"Listen," he said, "I can't do this anymore. I'm done. I can't even say what I feel anymore. I just let her go because you told me to and I'm pretty sure she's not coming back after this."
"Are you telling me you care more about this girl than your own flesh and blood?" said the voice on the line. "Without my help, you'll lose the one thing that's most important to you. If everything goes the way it's supposed to, you get the girl and you'll get what I promised. You just have to be patient."
"You have to promise me she won't get hurt," he said, sternly. "I didn't care at first, but she… she's just different. She's worked hard to forget everything that's happened. She doesn't need someone to bring it up."
"She won't get hurt if you do what I say," the voice said. "I'll call you soon. There's something else I need you to do for me."
The line went dead and Lance threw the phone against the leather seat and stared hatefully at it for a few moments.
Right now, he wanted more than anything to go back to that house and tell her not to go, but he knew he couldn't betray one loved one for another, no matter how badly he wanted to.
"My feelings don't matter," he said, sighing. "I will not come between them for now," he said, leaning back in his seat.
He knew Arthur was bound to mess things up without his help.
"I thought we were going home," said Morgana, looking from Merlin to her brother suspiciously. "Why on Earth are we in front of Pendragon Publishing? Aren't you off today?"
"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Arthur said, grinning.
"Arthur," she said, her voice slow, "I've told you you're a horrible matchmaker. You set me up with that Gawain guy from work, remember. And, if I recall, it was an f'ing disaster. He ran of with the barmaid."
Arthur, still grinning, reached over, opened the door and shoved her unceremoniously out of the limo.
Morgana started banging on the car door, screaming obscenities at her smirking brother.
"You still haven't changed, Morgana."
She straightened and turned around quickly, instantly recognizing the voice.
"Leon," she said, actually tilting her head to look up at him. "What are you doing here?
"Arthur told me he needed to approve the pictures of the last photo shoot," he said, narrowing his eyes at his boss through the tinted windows, "even though he signed off on them less than a week ago. I didn't know you'd be here, to be honest."
"Oh," she said, desperate to look anywhere else but in his eyes. "I suppose I'll just go then. I have to pack, after all. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"No!"
She gave him a strange look.
"I mean, it's been so long, after all," he said, threading his fingers through his hair. "It would be a shame if you left before we could catch up."
He was fiddling with the edges of his camera strap and Morgana couldn't help but smile a little at his cute nervousness.
"Sure, " she said, leaning back against the limo. "I mean, I don't have anything else planned. I could really go for a Cosi salad."
He chuckled. "What you really mean, is that you could really go for a burger and fries," he said.
"Oh, god yes," she said. "I forgot that you know how to speak model."
"No," he said, shaking his head, "I know how to speak Morgana."
She swatted his shoulder and he dodged expertly, grinning widely at her.
"Just take me to dinner, you big clumsy oaf," she said, taking his left hand in hers.
"I've missed you too, Morgana," he said.
As he walked away, hand and hand with her, he turned around and mouthed 'thank you' to Arthur, who gave him a thumbs up in return.
"Just call me Dr. Love," he said, leaning back in his chair and looking extremely satisfied.
"No, I'd rather keep my lunch inside my stomach, thank you," Merlin said, looking disgusted.
He taped on the window that separated the chauffeur from the passengers.
"Yes, Master Emrys," said Charles. "Where would you like to go?"
"New Hope Hospital," he said.
"Right away, sir," he said, beaming at him.
"Ok, fine I get it," said Arthur. "My joke was so bad you have to go to the hospital. Hardy har."
He placed Mordred's head on one of the decorative pillows. He'd fallen asleep on the way back from Extreme Paintball.
"Now there's someone I'd like you to meet," he said, his voice earnest. "I told her all about you, but that doesn't mean you can say something stupid to scare her away."
"What's going on with you?" asked Arthur. "You're acting really strange."
"I saw you," he said, grinning. "You kissed her. In the forest. Twice."
"The only thing that proves is that you're a bit of a pervert," Arthur concluded. "I don't see how that has anything to do with your girlfriend."
"You'll see," Merlin said, his smile faltering a little.
They pulled up to the hospital in less than ten minutes. Merlin had not said a word the entire way there. He just stared out the window, looking solemn. Arthur was growing more and more worried for his friend with each passing moment.
They took the employee entrance, to avoid having to deal with the nurse at the visitor's desk. They took the elevator to the fourth floor, and Merlin knocked softly on a door down the hall.
"Merlin!" Arthur whispered in surprise. "What are you doing? I thought we were visiting your-"
"Come in," said a tired sounding voice from within.
Merlin opened the door, motioning for a stunned Arthur to follow.
Freya sat up in her hospital bed, smiling weakly at them.
"So this is the famous Arthur," she said, giving him an appraising glance. "Merlin described you eerily well. He's told me so many nice things about you. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was seeing you behind my back."
"No, Ma'am," Arthur said.
"I'm dying," she said, laughing, "I'm not a drill sergeant."
"Freya!" Merlin said disapprovingly. "You really shouldn't talk about your condition so frankly."
"He treats me like such a doll sometimes," she said, turning to Arthur. "It's sweet, but sometimes, I just want to punch him."
"This is the general consensus when it comes to Merlin." He sighed. "He's an annoyance to all."
"That's not true," he said, pouting a little. "Gwen likes me."
"Gwen probably writes mean things about you in her journal, dear," she said, patting his leg comfortingly. "No one's that nice."
"Some girlfriend you are," Merlin mumbled.
"And from what I hear," she said, ignoring Merlin, "she likes you, Arthur. Not that that's an uncommon thing. Half this floor is in love with you."
Merlin eyed her suspiciously and she sighed, grabbing his hand.
"No, not me of course," she said, rolling her eyes. "I unfortunately am attracted to tall, big-eared, jealous types."
She turned to Arthur again, once again ignoring her pouting boyfriend.
"Your face just lit up when we said her name," she said, smiling softly. "That's something you can't hide. I can tell you really like this girl."
"I do," he said, collapsing in the visitor's chair next to her, "and I told her that I won't give up, but she's with someone else. Someone I can't stand and who I think is up to no good."
"Screw him," she said, simply. "And screw your defeatist attitude. You're Arthur freaking Pendragon. Stop being a wuss and go after her with all you've got. Use every trick in your arsenal, if you have to. I promise she won't stand a chance."
Arthur turned to Merlin and smiled. "I approve of this one."
"That's because you're practically the same person," Merlin said, rolling his eyes. "Which is a little scary when I think about it."
"I don't want to see you in this room until you've won her over. I don't care if you have to pull a Mr. Darcy to do it," Freya said, pointing at the door. "Go."
"You sure you're not dating a drill sergeant?" Arthur asked Merlin.
Merlin shrugged.
"Sometimes I wonder."
"Thank you, Merlin," he said, nodding at his friend. "I understand why you brought me here and how hard it must have been for you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, shrugging again.
Arthur noticed that he gripped Freya's hand even harder, despite his nonchalant statement.
"Thank you, Freya," Arthur said, turning to her. "I suppose I'll be seeing you really soon."
"That's more like it," she said, nodding.
He said his thanks one more time before leaving the couple alone in the room. He sensed that time was not on their side and he didn't want to take any more of it away from them.
"Now I'm in the mood for some Pride and Prejudice," Freya said once Arthur left.
"The Keira Knightly one?" Merlin asked hopefully.
"No," she said, rolling her eyes. "The Colin Firth one. It's my turn for unattainable celebrity eye candy."
Merlin groaned.
"Fine," he said, lifting the covers and hopping into bed with her, "but tomorrow, we're watching Transformers."
After putting Mordred to bed, Arthur knocked on Gwen's door, feeling more confident than ever.
When the door swung open, he was surprised to see, that her eyes were red and her normally tidy hair was a complete mess.
"Arthur," she said, hastily wiping her tears away, "is there something you need?"
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice a little more forceful than he intended. "What happened?"
"Lance knows what happened during paintball," she said, hugging herself. "He's thinks we should…see other people for a month. He… broke up with me. Just like that. He didn't even give me any time to explain."
"Of course he didn't, the bastard," Arthur replied, trying hard to keep the grin from his face. "He's probably off kissing some model as we speak."
This brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes and Arthur cursed himself for his insensitivity.
"Gosh, I'm horrible at this," he mumbled. "Look, Gwen," he said, looking her in the eyes. "No man is worth your tears. He can't even see them and if he cared enough, he would be the one at your door, not me."
"Why are you here?" she asked, sniffling. "This is half your fault."
"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said without a moment's hesitation. "I'd do it right now if you'd let me."
"I won't," she said a little too quickly. "I've become a loose woman, thanks to you."
He eyed her bunny slippers skeptically.
"I don't think you're in danger of becoming a loose woman any time soon," he said.
"You didn't answer my question."
"I'm here because my job… is to woo," he said, leaning against her doorframe.
"To woo," she said, deadpanning.
"Yes," he said. "I won't stop trying until you say yes."
He tried to cross his legs, but he immediately lost his balance and forwards onto the floor.
He lay sprawled in front of her on the floor, looking embarrassed. She covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
She knelt down in front of him and he looked up at her, blushing a little from the mishap.
"You're ridiculous," she said, placing her hand on his cheek, "but cute all the same."
She pressed her lips to his forehead and he closed his eyes, relishing the feeling.
"Thanks. I really needed a good laugh," she said, patting the top of his head before standing up.
"Good night, Arthur."
She sent him a soft smile before closing the door behind her.
He sighed. This was definitely going to be much harder than he thought.
This chapter was important and I've been wanting to write it for ages so it's the longest one yet.
I know I promised more Mordred, but then I realized how much Mordred there is in the next chapter and I didn't feel nearly as bad. He's not going to be pleased when he discovers this new development. It's going to have to stay secret.
But yay! Confessions are out, even though it took jealousy to coax it out of him. Look out for more wooing in the next few chapters. I'm having a lot of fun writing it :0).
I know I said this story would be Merlin/Morgana, but I've found that I can't imagine him with anyone but Freya in this story. So I've changed a few things up. Don't kill me, please.
And Lance? I actually felt bad for him while I was writing. Then I remembered that he's lying to Gwen and I didn't feel nearly as bad anymore.
As always, let me know what you thought of this chapter. It took me ages to write. I'm trying to get out two more chapters before school starts and then I have to go on hiatus until at least November :(
Thanks for reading!
::The title of this chapter comes from the Florence + the Machine song of the same name. ::