WHEN ARTHUR MET GUINEVERE

Summary: This is the story of how Arthur and Guinevere first met told as a modern fiction so there's a fair bit of AU and OOC. Multi chapters and rated M just in case.

AN: Italics denote POV and Real Time is in normal font so I hope it doesn't get too confusing. R&Rs are more than welcome and FYI I'm a newbie so be kind-ish. Hope you enjoy it! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the characters but if I did...

Chapter One: The One With The Rain

"Wait! Hold the elevator please!" Gwen calls out as she attempts to sprint all the way down the hall, weighed down by text books, and her travel mug of scalding tea.

She is too late and watches as the doors close in her face.

Gwen's POV

I stare at the slightly out of breath person wearing a black faded coat with dark, curly hair tamed five seconds ago, now coming undone, looking back at me. Realizing that I don't have time to fix it and that the elevator doors are not as dirty as I thought, I walk down the four flights – telling myself while holding two bags and a half filled mug that taking the stairs is good for your constitution. My left wrist smarts from the spilt tea and I'm sure I'm running late. I know that much without even looking at my wristwatch, which you can't really do while carrying three items anyway. Not a good start Gwen! Great. Now you're talking to yourself again. Oh well, no matter. At least it's not aloud like last night when you gave the old lady in 3C a near heart attack. How were you to know she "hears things", as Morgs said anyhow?

Gwen looks up at the dark sky as she swings the door open. At least her shift did not start until six that evening. If the whole thing falls through, she figures can always arrive a bit early and get some extra reading done for the eight am class tomorrow. Besides, she knows the proposed venue well, being friends with the owners, so at least she is guaranteed a decent lunch.

Arthur's POV

The city looks the same, but it's all changed too. Almost an oxymoron. I recall Merlin's reaction when I responded to him asking how I liked being back.

"A what?", Merlin asked, scratching his shaggy brown mop. I didn't bother to answer him. He hasn't changed much – except for the fact he is in love. Then it was my turn to ask him.

"You're what?" I asked, incredulous that such a thing was possible. Perhaps there was a little tinge of jealousy in there also. I mean, Merlin has sort of always been the one person I could depend on, for pretty much most of my life, and he's always been there, right there in the thick of things. Not that I would ever tell him that – unless we were trapped in a car with a ticking time bomb or perhaps hanging off a cliff face. I haven't met Morgana yet - or the second part of "M&M" as they have sickeningly named themselves. I shake my head thinking of my clueless mate Merlin and how perhaps, his life is over now that he is voluntarily known as half of a chocolate covered candy that apparently melt in your mouth but not your hand.

Arthur excuses himself from the manager's room and picking up his bag and coat, leaves to grab a taxi knowing that with the state of the traffic he will most probably be a bit late. Perhaps not a bad thing given the circumstances.

Gwen's POV

Bloody Morgs! This is all her fault. Well hers and Merlin's. Maybe on some crazy karmic level it's my fault. I mean, it was me that introduced them to each other nine months ago, after a year into my job and I had made friends with Merlin - the only other person who had a decent sense of humour in the whole building! Of course these days the two of them are all about fluffy pillows and roses and it was inevitable that once encapsulated in the love balloon, given time, there would be an attempt to make Gwen "happy" too with the predictable – but still as ever so annoying "Oh why don't we set Gwen up with your best mate that's back from New York to take over the family business?" Obviously a rhetorical question for M&M, (which, by the way, is their not too original but still OTT (self) made up joint moniker – a la "Marshmallow and Lilypad, etc) because rhetorical statements are pretty much the go with M&M meaning "You HAVE to do it Gwen. Come on, you'll love him". Riiight. Of course, after numerous attempts to bribe me and a lot of embarrassing begging in public places, I caved in and said yes in the most reluctant tone one can muster in these civilised times. One more block to go. Great. Is that rain? Of course its rain. Two bags and no brolly. Walk and look Gwen. Now I am giving myself mental instructions? Could be in this –

BAAANNGG!

Arthur's POV

The meeting went later than I expected and this was only the first one of many since I have come back to take over the company. I still have to meet with the Boss and that was one meeting I wasn't looking forward to. Although, given where I am off to now, I almost wish I had another meeting to go to. Another annoying thing about Merlin being in love is his insistence that I should be "happy" too. As if I am not happy. What does that even mean anyway? I have my health, a successful career, a very comfortable life, family, friends, and there is no shortage of beautiful women – who contrary to what many women's mags will tell you nowadays, do enjoy the casual, no strings style that I tend to go for. So why in God's name did I agree to M&M's harebrained idea to "do lunch with Morgana's best friend"? I don't know. Maybe, like in those other rare moments, I am just trying to be a good friend to Merlin and get Morgana off his back, as I am pretty sure this is her idea; only women think of insane things like setting up their friends, obviously. Plus, I have agreed to meet her at a place which sits on the waterfront owned by an old family friend and his wife, so perhaps I can have a drink with them if things do not pan out. This traffic is awful! I have to get out here and walk the last few blocks. I am glad I brought my proper coat, no idea where this downpour came from. I think I'll go down this alley – I remember it's a shortcut to -

BAAANNGG!

"Oww!"

"My books!"

Arthur is quite glad that he has managed to remain upright and not sprawled ungracefully like a leopard seal on the now drenched corner like the lady in front of him. They were both trying to run in the same direction but with him covering his head with his coat, coming through the alleyway, and she running towards him whilst rummaging in a humongous shoulder bag, it was inevitable there would be a collision. This is obviously all her fault. Who fiddles with bags during a downpour on a busy street?

The woman is scrambling around trying to pick up her bags (Arthur is not sure how many exactly she has) and spilled contents. Arthur asks, "Are you alright? You banged in to me pretty hard. Here. Let me...", bending down to assist her with the task at hand, and realizing he has also dropped his bag during the accident. She says nothing and Arthur cannot help staring down at this lady who is now soaked, and covered in what looks like…tea? It could be tea, he thinks, looking closer to study the brown liquid on her face and in her hair, as she scrambles around madly, picking up items from her bags.

Finally, she stands up; dark brown hair dripping with rain and dark eyes flashing, "It's really alright, and actually you banged into me", all the while putting things back into her monster bags. Arthur also straightens up still holding some books and replies in a surprised tone, "Well to be fair, no one should be running while looking in their bag at the same time, that's quite daft".

He wanted it to come out as a joke, but he is not able to keep the irritation out of his voice. She has made him late, and he is getting even more soaked out here. He doesn't count on those dark eyes flashing at him once more as she tries to wipe the tea and water off her face.

"No more daft than someone who covers their eyes and runs in the rain. Unless you're a blind superhero that Ben Affleck played once, you really have no business doing that. I will thank you to return my stuff now", the retort is sharp and her tone implies displeasure. Arthur rolls his eyes and barks out a laugh. His arrogant laugh Merlin calls it, and much to Arthur's surprise, this time Merlin is correct; the glare returns.

"Right. Well then you are very welcome for the assistance", his tone is now patronizing as he thrusts the damp books into her already full arms. She grabs them and glares some more. Another polar ice cap just melted, Arthur thinks crossly.

"I'm welcome? Yeah. Thanks ever so much. You have a great day." Sarcasm coupled with a final glare and she is off, struggling under the weight of the now wet and twice as heavy bags to her destination while Arthur retrieves his bag from the ground and shakes his head at the retreating figure storming away. He notices the travel mug near his bag. She must have forgotten it in her hurry to leave. Picking it up, he studies the worn Shrek and Princess Fiona pictures. She would have a Sherk mug. He makes to throw it into a nearby bin, but then decides to put it into his bag. Maybe he will get Merlin to drop it off at a Salvos later.

Gwen's POV

"You're very welcome"? The nerve of that full of it, pompous...He was quite rude! He didn't even say sorry! I feel sorry for his wife! As if someone like that would be married. Crap, I am definitely late now. Not that I care. Morgs, you owe me the whole bloody raspberry cheesecake now, not just the one slice for this!

Arthur's POV

Geez! No idea what her problem was. Obviously one of those odd women you see in the park sometimes with ten bags and twenty cats. And that hair! I am not even going to attempt to explain the Shrek mug. Who even remembers anything Ben Affleck was in anyway? Yep, I'm late. Oh well, with any luck Morgana's friend has probably long gone.

AN: There we have it folks! Thanks for taking the time to read. Love it or loathe it I welcome constructive feedback. Next up: Chapter Two.