Pairing: LancelotxGwen
Rating: PG
Word Count: 532
Notes: Spoilers for episode 5
Disclaimer: I own nothing in connection with BBC's Merlin, nor do I make any money through writing this fanfiction.
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And Be Merry
The first glance is entirely accidental. There is a roar of drunken laughter from somewhere across the hall where the celebration is being held and it attracts mass momentary attention, including his. Lancelot sees the man, swaying dangerously on his feet and somehow, miraculously, managing to stay upon them. Then, as he turns his attention back to the conversation which had been interrupted, he meets Gwen's eye. She smiles at him and he manages to return the gesture just before he looks away.
Throughout the evening the stolen glances continue and Lancelot quickly realises they're doing it on purpose. They both mix with different people; Lancelot with the knights and Gwen with Morgana and those carrying around trays of drink. As they do, they seem to be circling each other, continuing those brief looks. There is still a smile upon her face which her eyes reflect and Lancelot hopes he doesn't look too stupid when he tries to return those silent messages.
Empty mugs keep getting swapped for full ones and Lancelot's mind starts to buzz dully with the ale he drinks. He barely notices how people are starting to filter out of the hall, yawning and sometimes stumbling as they try to walk in a somewhat-straight line towards their own beds. There are barely any guests remaining when Merlin suddenly shows up from wherever he's been amongst the celebration. He's come to fetch him back and they'll need to be quiet as they go otherwise they'll wake Gaius. And that, Lancelot is told, would be a very bad thing, especially considering their instructions to not stay too late. Instructions which they both appear to have unintentionally ignored.
Lancelot waves Merlin ahead, telling him he'll catch up down the corridors, and he exchanges his last words to his now-fellow knights. They're all starting to mutter now about calling an end to the night. They have training tomorrow morning which they know will be especially intense concerning the issue with the griffin.
He leaves the hall and turns to jog up the corridors in order to catch up with Merlin. Then, and all of a sudden, she's there. So suddenly he almost lurches right into her.
Gwen laughs, quickly and softly, as Lancelot stumbles back half a pace and then steadies himself. She congratulates him, still smiling and her cheeks are darkened with a blush. As he nods and thanks her, Lancelot suddenly comes to realise that, despite all the times they caught each other's eye, they never once stepped close to each other during the entire evening.
His head is still buzzing and it's starting to hurt. Lancelot wonders if he's stumbled forward again and somehow failed to notice because Gwen suddenly seems a lot closer than she did a second ago.
Their lips press together and for half a moment his body freezes. He sees the fine points of her eyelashes, the way a few strands of her hair has fallen in front of her closed eyes and how her cheeks go that little bit darker. Then his eyes close as well.
He realises at that moment that Gwen hasn't touched a drop of alcohol all night. And that's amazingly reassuring.
END