Title: Euphoria

Characters/Pairing: Arthur/Gwen, Arthur/Mithian (background), Elena, Merlin, Morgana (and a fair few others make an appearance)

Summary: Forever until the end of time or so Gwen thought...

Based on my drabble 'Foolish Heart' written for AG_Fics Mini Challenge 5.

Warnings: T rating but this may change, Un-Betaed, adult concepts and maybe a little swearing.

Disclaimer: I don't own nuthin' of Merlin, it all belongs to Shine and the BBC.

This has been re-uploaded as I needed to make a few corrections!

30 minutes till home time ...

Guinevere Thomas looked at the clock and sighed, five o'clock wasn't coming around any faster and no amount of desk tidying was going to breach the laws of time.

Maybe another biscuit then can't all look like Miss Perfect can we?

Blindly she reached for the packet of Jammy Dodgers on her desk and found it empty.

Maybe not then.

She chanced another glance at the clock.

29 Minutes to go...

Gwen couldn't understand why she was clock watching, it wasn't like she was looking forward to the long walk home. The nights were drawing in, there was a distinct chill in the air as summer turned into autumn. All that awaited her was an empty flat, a bottle of wine and the latest episode of Eastenders.

Her flat.

Her home.

A place she used to love, a place that was now haunted by memories.

Candles, promises of forever love, a touch that left a trail of blistering heat on her caramel skin, tangled sheets, ecstasy, euphoria, heartbreak...

Four months ago her world had been turned upside down, her boyfriend, Arthur, had left her. It had been been one of the most painful days, no, few months of Gwen's life.

Four months, nine days, 16 hours and 12 minutes to be precise...not that I'm counting.

He told her that she was no longer appropriate for his lifestyle. She simply could not compete in his privileged and gilded world. As the daughter of a humble Farrier, her face did not fit.

Gwen had met Arthur when they were nineteen. She had accompanied her father on a job to shoe the horses of the Pendragon family. On that day she made firm friends with Arthur's sister, Morgana, and Arthur's best friend, Merlin. She thought Arthur, on the other hand, to be a total prat.

He told me it was love at first sight for him.

Gradually, over the next few years, Arthur had changed for the better and they had fallen deeply in love with each other. She saw the man she knew him to be inside. Not many people had expected them to last but last they did for five years.

23 minutes to go...

She looked down at the open pages of the glossy magazine in front of her. The amazingly photogenic couple's smiling faces beamed out at her.

Yes, there they are Miss Perfect and Mr Wonderful.

'Miss Perfect' was beautiful, long straight brown hair, flawless alabaster skin, big doe eyes and a figure to die for.

"My opposite" she said out loud to no one in particular.

Her finger traced his handsome face on the page, gently caressing his strong jaw. She noticed that his smile did not reach his blue eyes for they held a different emotion but she wasn't sure what. His blond hair had gotten longer and she wasn't sure but she thought he'd put on a bit of weight since... tears started to form, quickly she wiped them away. It was the nearest she had been to him in all that time.

She had heard things about him on the grapevine but she felt awkward trying to talk to anyone about it. Morgana hadn't a clue as she had taken Gwen's 'side' and had decided to disown her brother for what he done; Morgs had not spoken to him since that day. Gwen had thought that someone would have told her about this though but no-one had. Not even her own brother, Elyan.

Her eyes skimmed the article for the twentieth time, her heartbreaking with each word;

'Arthur Pendragon and Mithian Nemeth announce their engagement!' screamed the headline.

'Today's the day when a million hearts broke as Arthur Pendragon, son of deceased industrialist Uther, announced his engagement to Mithian Nemeth, daughter of Lord Bran of Geldref. Their marriage will bring together two of England's most powerful families...'

She had changed her mind, five o'clock couldn't come soon enough in her opinion. For today was the day she wanted to run home, bury herself under her duvet and hide away from everyone and everything and just cry and it was all because of him. For the fifth time that day, her eyes filled with stinging tears.

"You OK G?" a soft voice asked.

Gwen looked up to see her gloriously clumsy, messily haired blond friend holding out a tissue and looking at her with concern. Elena glanced down to the magazine on Gwen's desk, her eyes widening comically as she saw the photograph.

"Oh Gwen I'm so so sorry."

"I'm fine Len, honestly, It's fine, he's moved on.." Her voice quaked and she took a shuddering breath "I knew that he would eventually, I mean she's beautiful, rich. According to a source in the article they have so much in common and the children would be beautiful, she's perfect for him really." she said wiping her eyes.

"Liar, you're not fine and stop being so nice about it" Elena chides as she perched herself on the corner of Gwen's desk. "And stop looking at this thing!" She reached over and closed the offending magazine, her face suddenly brightens.

"God, you need major cheering up my girl. Right get some lippy on, unleash those gorgeous curls, we are going out! I'll call Freya, Sophia and urgh...Vivian, you call Morgana."

"Thanks honey but dinner, Eastenders and my bed are calling me."

"Moping is not helping you you know and definitely not while listening to the sexy Mr Blunt's 'Goodbye my Lover'. I know you too well Guinevere Thomas! " Elena chuckled "Come on we'll help you drown your sorrows. I'm sure Morgana will toast your lucky escape."

"ELENA GODWIN!"

"No excuses Gwen..." A wicked glint appeared in her navy blue eyes. "You need this...You never know you might meet a fantastically hunky guy and have the best sex ever! How long is it since you last had sex? I guarantee you that it'll make you feel better, you can regret everything in the morning, it's what I normally do!" Elena laughed.

Gwen decided that sticking her fingers in her ears and singing "La la la la I can't hear you" is her best bet.

Elena's face suddenly became serious, "You need to get over him sweetheart. You are a beautiful, sexy woman and I don't think you realise that. I haven't heard you laugh in months? Start having a life again Gwen, meet someone new, move on, he has..."

With that Elena got up and started to walk away leaving Gwen to contemplate what she just said. "I'm going to get my bag, call Morgana!" she called over her shoulder.

Gwen looked at the clock again.

3 Minutes to go...It's going to be a long night.