A.N: Here it is... the first chapter of my new story that I feel like I have been promoting for way too long. I really, really hope that it lives up to your expectations. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I am going to enjoy writing it. This is a big project I am embarking on so please be patient with me since I don't know yet what my updating schedule will be like. I have the basics planned out and you can expect a whole lot of angst, drama, romance, friendship, etc etc. This is a modern twist on a classic tale. It'll be a spin on what the show gave. The roles have been reversed but I'm going to be working hard to keep everyone in character. As much as I can anyway without sacrificing the narrative. I've always believed the trick to writing good fanfic is keeping the beloved characters... well in character... but the tables are turned so some things may be a little different. Hopefully, it doesn't make you cringe. And oh yeah... the trailer... the beautiful trailer that I have been gushing about for weeks... that will be uploaded fairly soon. I'll hopefully be able to have a link up here with my next update. But, if you do not want to wait that long (and I know you don't) I'd suggest following LonerCheerleader on YouTube. She'll be posting the video really soon. Sooner than you think! Anyways... here it is... enjoy... and remember... comments are always welcome. Good or bad, they help us write better. Believe it or not. Constructive criticism is especially welcome! ;)

Chapter 1

Arthur Pendragon opened his eyes suddenly when the sound of his cheap alarm clock beeped loudly causing him to groan as he lay back on his mattress and rubbed the palms of hands against his eyes. He squinted against the sunlight pouring in through his windows. He frowned and cursed that he couldn't even afford curtains to cover those windows. He sat up in bed, cringing when he looked down and noticed how bruised his ribs had gotten overnight. His knuckles were red with cuts and skin was peeling. He sighed and looked at the bills of money sitting on the floor next to his wallet by the mattress. He picked it up and counted it again for what felt like the millionth time since it had been handed to him the night before.

He sighed, separating what he would have to give for rent later that morning before he left for class. He was left with ten pounds. He stood up stretching his arms and walked toward the loose floorboard in his flat. Getting on his knees he stuck his hand inside, reaching for a small tin can, and pulled it out slowly so he wouldn't drop and spill its contents. He lifted the top and stuck the money he had left over inside before putting the can back in the floor.

He stood up and walked toward the shower to start his day.

Gwen Leodagrance opened her eyes slowly to the sound of her cell phone's alarm. She smiled at the music she'd set as her alarm rang inside her room. Stretching on her bed, she sat up and stood walking toward the curtains in her room to open them. She let the sunlight pour over her for a minute before walking toward her bathroom to start her shower. A knock on her door caused her to turn toward the sound. Her maid poked her head inside.

"Oh, you're up… Good morning, dear."

Gwen smiled. "Good morning, Collette."

"Let me start your bath for you."

"It's not necessary…" Gwen frowned. "I can do it."

"None sense." Collette said stepping further into the room. "You sit here and wait for me."

Gwen sighed sitting back on her bed. "Is daddy still here?"

"Your father had to leave for the office early this morning." Collette was saying from the bathroom. "But, not to worry… James will take you to uni."

"I can drive myself, you know."

"We know you can…" Collette walked back into her room drying her hands on her apron. "But your daddy would prefer you didn't."

"Of course," Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Gwen…" Collette frowned. "What is it?"

"I'm nineteen." She sighed. "And daddy still treats me like I'm nine."

"He loves you."

"I know he does."

"And things haven't been the same since your mama passed and Eli left."

Gwen's mother had passed away when she was just nine years old. She'd lost a long time battle to lung cancer. Elian had been eighteen when he left home three years ago. Gwen was just sixteen years old when she came home from school one day to find his room completely packed. Collette said that Eli and their father had fought and said some nasty things. Tom had wanted his eldest son to go on to law school and become a lawyer like him. Eli wanted to have his own life. It had been three years since they'd heard from him.

"Gwennie?"

She looked up and smiled sadly at her maid who for as long as she could remember had been like a second mother to her.

"I'll be alright."

"Good… better get on with it then. You don't want to be late."

The morning had passed fairly quickly for Arthur. He'd been able to pay his landlord before leaving his flat. With his earnings from the night before he had been able to pay the last month he owed as well as this one. He knew he would be fine for the next few weeks but he still needed to schedule a few more fights that week in order to have some spending money. He tucked his hands inside pockets to ward of the biting cold as he walked toward his school. He hadn't slept well in two nights and he supposed he should go see a doctor about his ribs but they would ask questions and it wasn't like what he was doing was exactly legal.

He was about to cross the street with a town car sped past knocking him back a few paces. "Bloody bastard." He growled to himself. He watched the car park in front of the uni and a chauffeur walk around to the open the door for his passenger. He narrowed his eyes when he saw a young girl with curly hair and cinnamon skin step out and shook his head. "God forbid the Princess was late…" he mumbled. "Even if it means running down the rest of us mere mortals…"

He frowned when she looked back and caught him staring. He lowered his eyes to the ground quickly. When he looked up again she was already walking toward the building in front of them. He crossed the street as quickly as he could trying not to be later than he already was.

"Gwen!"

She looked up and smiled at her friends that were waving her over. Vivian, Mithian and Elena smiled from their benches in the quad.

"You're late." Vivian greeted with an eye roll.

"Late start this morning," Gwen said with shrug. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing," Mithian cut into the conversation. "You know Viv… she expects everyone to arrive before her."

Gwen bit back a grin.

"Are you auditioning for the spring musical?" Vivian asked ignoring Mithian.

"Of course she is." Elena cut in. "Gwen's singing voice is beautiful."

"I've thought about it." Gwen admitted. "I'm not certain I want to do it though."

"What?" Mithian asked.

"Why?" Elena frowned.

"Ladies, if Gwen doesn't want to then she shouldn't be forced to." Vivian said with a smile. "Leave her alone."

"Oh bollocks, Viv." Mithian glared. "You just don't want the competition."

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "I'm not threatened by Gwen's talent."

"You should be." Elena mumbled to herself causing the prickly blond to snap her head toward her.

"Alright…." Gwen cut in. "Enough. I wasn't planning to audition because I have too much packed on this semester. I've got to focus on my studies."

Mithian and Elena frowned while Vivian grinned broadly.

A scuffle behind them caught their attention and they noticed someone had tripped. Gwen frowned recognizing Merlin who was trying to hastily pick up his bag and the books that had poured out of it. Gwen watched a blond man walk up to the scrawny brunette and help him lift a book. She smiled softly before turning back toward her friends who were watching the entire exchange as well.

"He's a nancy, you know…" Vivian shuddered with a disgusted. "Everyone knows. I don't understand why he insists on hiding it."

Gwen frowned.

"Probably because he doesn't want people like you to know he prefers the company of men." Elena narrowed her eyes at Vivian.

"It's none of our business anyway," Mithian stated.

Gwen watched them with a frown before standing. "I should go."

"Where are you off to, Gwen?"

She cringed when she felt him behind her.

"Hi Lance…" she smiled tightly when she turned around.

"I thought I'd walk you to class."

"It's not necessary." Gwen said pulling Mithian to stand beside her. "Mithian was going to walk with me."

"I can't join you ladies?" Lance asked with a smile.

"We have a personal matter to discuss, Lance," Mithian answered eyeing her friend warily. "Sorry."

"Of course," Lance said lifting Gwen's hand in his to place a kiss on it. "I'll see you later."

"Definitely," Gwen said before walking around him and pulling Mithian with her.

"What was that about?" Mithian asked when they were out of ear shot.

"He's been coming around a lot more lately."

"Does he want to get back together?" Mithian asked.

"I think so," Gwen shrugged.

"And you don't want to…" Mithian finished for her. "Is there a reason?"

"I guess I just don't feel the same…."

"Oh… Gwennie…" Mithian frowned. "Well, maybe your knight in shining armor is still out there somewhere."

"Maybe," Gwen shrugged. "Maybe I'm not meant to be someone's princess."

"I don't believe that for a second." Mithian said stopping causing her friend to stop beside her. "You're meant to be happy."

Gwen smiled. "We'll see."

He didn't know what had gotten into him when he helped that scrawny kid out in the quad. He usually tries really hard to go unnoticed but it was bothering him to see how everyone had just stared and hadn't done anything.

Arthur stepped behind the building finding the person he'd spent all morning looking for.

"Gwaine," he called out.

Gwaine turned toward him with a grin and a fag hanging from his mouth. "Arthur! How's my favorite fighter?"

Arthur reached the Irish bookie giving him a hand shake that ended in a half hug including a pat on the back. "Exhausted from last night…"

"You took quite a beating, mate," Gwaine said with a nod throwing out his cig as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him. "You back for more?"

"I need the money." Arthur shrugged. "Do you have anything?"

"Listen, Arthur…" Gwaine tried. "Maybe you should sit this one out. I saw your ribs and I'm willing to bet they didn't completely heal over night."

"I'm fine," Arthur cut him off. "I'm broke, man. I need the money… just set me up for another fight."

"Alright," Gwaine answered after some time. "Tonight good for you?"

"Tonight's perfect actually." Arthur said with a grin. "Where?"

"I'll text you the address right before the fight." Gwaine said. "You know I can't give out the address before then. Otherwise the bobbies would crash the party."

Arthur nodded understanding. "Alright, tonight though…"

"Yeah, Arthur," Gwaine said patting his shoulder and watching the blond cringe. "Sorry."

"I'm okay…" Arthur rolled his shoulders. "I'll see you tonight."

"See you, mate." Gwaine called after his retreating figure with a sigh.

Gwen stepped inside her musical theater class and sat in front of the piano watching the young man play on the keys. He was really into the music he was creating with his fingertips. Wearing his signature dark shades, Merlin seemed to have yet notice his audience. He stopped suddenly before sitting up stiffly.

"I feel you sitting behind me, Gwen." He said turning around to face her.

"How are you feeling?" she asked. "You took quite a nasty spill."

"I'm fine." He answered curtly with a shrug. "I wasn't looking where I was going is all."

"You okay, Merlin?" she tried.

"I'm fine," he answered with a soft smile. "Why?"

"Just…. You seem distracted today."

"No more than usual." He stated.

She gasped covering her mouth. "It's today, isn't it? The anniversary of your mum's passing…?"

He nodded with a sad smile because she remembered. Gwen sat on the bench next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"I'm so sorry, Merlin…" she repeated.

"It's been a year," he answered. "I'm quite over it."

"It's also been a year since you've been clean." She moved her arm and bumped his shoulder instead. "There's something to celebrate."

He lowered his gaze. "I wasn't going to do much celebrating today."

"Well, let's change that." She said holding on tightly to the bench as she sat. "Me and you…. Let's go tonight to the theater and catch a flick. What do you say?"

He smiled slowly. "Sounds like fun."

"Good." She said with a defiant nod. "I'll even let you pick. But nothing gory…"

"Scout's honor." He said lifting his two fingers. "I'll pick something you can stomach."

She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't stand up and help you this morning."

"It's okay…" he said.

"Do you know who it is that did help you?" she asked.

"No…" Merlin shook his head. "I've never seen him before. Which is a shame… because he was really fit."
Gwen shook her head. "It was nice of him, is all."

Merlin eyed her with a knowing smile. "And watching him walk away wasn't half bad either, was it Gwen?"

"Oh shut up, Merlin."

Arthur walked into his flat when his phone went off alerting him to a text message. He pulled his mobile out and saw that Gwaine had text him the address to an old abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The fight was scheduled for six in the afternoon so that gave him a couple of hours to get inside to drop off his things and change before he had to leave again. Not having a car meant he would have to take the tube and then walk the rest of the way. It would take him at least an hour to get to the warehouse.

Within minutes, he was already on the tube. He'd text Gwaine that he was on his way to the location to let him know. Gwaine had texted back that the odds were in his favor tonight because the bets were coming in and most were betting on him. Arthur smiled at that. He'd created a reputation for himself it would seem.

He reached his final exit and was watching the floor as he stepped off the tube causing him to bump into someone. "I'm sorry." He mumbled before looking up. He recognized her immediately. The girl with the cinnamon skin and curly hair.

"You're fine." She said with the smile.

He narrowed his eyes. "First your driver and now you… looks like you won't stop until you've succeeded knocking me over completely, is that right?"

"Excuse me?" she asked with widened eyes.

"Excuse me." He muttered before walking around her and leaving the station. He left the two people he'd just bumped into staring behind him in confusion.

Arthur walked for almost half an hour before he saw the warehouse. He walked inside and immediately went to a corner to try and warm up. He knew he was the first fight of the evening. Putting his headphones in his ears, he started throwing punches into the air trying to warm up his muscles and prepare for the fight.

He didn't notice the commotion until it was too late.

The police raided the warehouse quickly causing the fighters to run in all kinds of directions. Arthur realized what was going on and ran toward the exit. He knew if he could just make it to the fields, he could lose them.

He ran as fast as he could through the tall grass but he knew he was being chased. He felt the wind get knocked out of him when he was dropped to the ground. He fought against the weight holding down.

"Hold… still…."

Arthur growled. "Get… off… me…"

"You're under arrest, kid."

He sighed and stopped fighting. It was over. They'd caught him.