Title: Being Arthur: Romantic

Author: sue

Rating: PG13

Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen-ish

Spoilers: None

Word count: 700+

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. Oh, woe me.

Summary: Arthur can be romantic, if he wants to.

A/N: I've written this years ago but for some reason I didn't post this here. So here it is. Hope all of you will enjoy this. Thanks!

Romantic

The morning air lifted stray tendrils of her neck as she made her way down the deserted hallway, the breeze a welcome reprieve from the smothering heat they had to suffer through yesterday. She transferred the heavy laundry basket she was holding to one hip and used her free hand to scrap the flying strands from her face. Gwen stopped walking; her dark eyes unfocused as she stared at the distant horizon, enjoying a few seconds of solitude before she had to dive back to her hectic life when suddenly, something grabbed her arm.

She jumped and the basket tumbled to the floor, her washing scattered as another arm materialized and clamped on her other hand and started to pull her backwards, straight into the waiting darkness. Gwen was about to ram her elbow into her attacker's ribs when a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

'Did I scare you?'

Her stiff muscles relaxed and she slumped into him, feeling her tripping heart slowing down somewhat. 'You did,' she laughed as his hand left her arms to lock around her waist. Gwen leant into him, her back molded against the familiar contour of his body as he pulled her closer to him. Her eyes fluttered close when she felt his lips hovering over the side of her neck.

'I didn't see you yesterday,' he mumbled between light, sweet kisses.

'I was..' her body was swaying and she gripped his arm for support, 'busy.'

'Uh huh.' The vibration from his deep voice sent ripples of shiver down her spine, his lips moving slowly to the curve of her shoulder before he turned her around to face him.

'It is your fault, my lord,' she smiled and he placed her arms around his shoulders. 'You gave Merlin too much to do, he needed my help.'

Arthur envies her sometimes, what with her knack to multitask and her ability to think straight at times such as this. 'Did he?' A mock frown creased his forehead but a second later he was smiling, his fingers framing her face as he bent to kiss her.

'Yes,' she whispered when he broke the kiss, a little breathless. 'He did.'

Arthur rolled his eyes as he pulled back a little, leaning back against a pillar, his arms still around her. 'Gwen, why are we talking about Merlin? When there are so many other things we can do?'

She took a step back but Arthur didn't relinquish her fingers. 'And I, my lord, am expected with that.' She pointed towards the laundry basket with her free hand and tried to ignore the warm rush of feelings as his thumb drew abstract swirls over her skin.

'Very well,' he sighed as he bent to retrieve the fallen basket for her. She took the basket with a smile and as she was about to leave, he stopped her.

'Guinevere, wait.'

She turned as he was drawing something out from his jacket and her eyes widened as he held it out to her.

'It is a little squashed,' he shrugged, a hint of red tainting his cheekbones. He was first and foremost, a warrior, more at ease with weapons, battles and long hard rides. He would rather swallow one of his swords than get caught picking flowers. But when he saw that one lone bloom fluttering in the field of scraggy grass, he knew he had to have it. The fragile petals seemed to beckon him from afar, whispering alluring words he couldn't really understand. But one thing for sure, he knew he wanted it for her. He wants her to have that, to own something so lovely and precious.

'It's beautiful,' she breathed as she took the professed flower, still warm from his body and she didn't care that half of the petals are missing or that the leaves had withered.

Arthur winced when he suddenly saw the sad state of his flower. 'I had it on me too long, I didn't realize it had been reduced to this,' he held out his hand, his palm out towards her. 'I'll get you another one.'

'No.' Gwen shook her head but her smile was like a dash of sunlight on a dark rainy day. She placed the flower on her washing, the tip of her fingers trailing across the velvety petals softly. Reverently. 'This is beautiful. Thank you Arthur.'

He watched her as she walked away, with that shiny glaze in her eyes like he had presented her with valuable jewels instead of a dying flower. And that made him smile.