Gwen should really have known better. She was a Camelot girl, born and bred in this bustling metropolis, and yet here she was, clinging to a branch clearly not capable of supporting her weight for much longer, with a large manticore prowling below, hissing and snarling at her.
A creak.
Gwen tightened her grip on the branch, the rough bark cutting into her skin.
The manticore reared up and growled, a low, rumbling sound that Gwen could feel in her bones. She suppressed a shudder.
"You know, Dragoon, if you're around, this would be a really good time to rescue me!"
The branch seemed to bend a little more. If Dragoon wasn't going to turn up, she needed an escape plan. Her eyes focused on her apartment block across the road. The streets were empty although some lights were switched on in the block. Gwen suspected that no one could see her in the tree. Obviously, everyone was smarter than her, staying at home and locking their doors during the full moon.
The manticore growled once more, this time, slamming his substantial weight against the tree, causing it to shake.
"Stop hitting the tree. I can't think and cling to a branch at the same time." She had to distract the manticore to buy herself enough time to dash across the road and into the safety of her apartment.
"Hey manticore!"
In response, the manticore growled again.
Gingerly reaching back, Gwen unhooked one of her shoes and dangled it in front of the manticore. True to its cat-like form, its eyes latched onto the swinging, red shoe, following its every swing. Such a pity it was her favourite.
"Here, manticore." With as much force as she could, considering that she was clinging onto a branch that was quickly giving way with only one arm, she tossed her shoe away from the tree.
As she'd hoped, the manticore turn its head to follow the trajectory of the shoe, it's front paws twitching as if it wanted to chase after the shoe.
"Go on! Get the shoe!" Gwen didn't really think that the manticore would understand her instructions but it wasn't like she had many options at the moment. She glanced up into the sky, wondering if she would see the familiar purple burst of light that accompanied Dragoon's entrance but all she saw were the stars winking mockingly at her.
Slipping off her other shoe, she repeated her actions.
Her shoe arched gracefully in the air and this time, the manticore reacted, swivelling and launching itself at the shoe. The moment the manticore turned its back on her, Gwen let go of the branch, landing painfully on her foot, but she had no time to worry about that.
The good thing about being barefoot was that it was easier to run than wearing her usual heels. The bad thing was that stones and gravel dug into the soles of her feet, sending sharp pains shooting through her. Perhaps she shouldn't have skipped her weekly exercise class so often, then she wouldn't be panting so much. Gwen gulped in a mouthful of air just as she heard a growl just behind her.
Damn. She willed her legs to move faster. Shelter beckoned just minutes away, if she could outrun a large, supernatural cat that was keen to devour her for dinner.
Purple light flashed.
She stumbled, landing on her knees on the hard asphalt. Quickly, she swung around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dragoon. In the moonlight, she could make out his dark hair and slender physique. Pretty sure that she was safe, she lingered. It wasn't every day she got to watch the great Dragoon in action live and she deserved it after the harrowing experience moments ago.
Dragoon must have cast some sort of trap as she saw the manticore struggle against some invisible bonds. It growled and snarled but whatever it was holding him remained firm. He glanced to the side, and it was then Gwen noticed that his loyal sidekick, the Swordsman, was here as well. As predictable as clockwork, her heart sped up. Dragoon was Camelot's hero but it was his sidekick that Gwen had the most inconvenient crush on. The Swordsman moved like a dancer, graceful and smooth, confidence oozing from him as he wielded the sword he carried. And although a red hood pulled low obscured his features, Gwen imagined that he was a dark and broodingly handsome, like many of her favourite literary heroes.
The Swordsman lifted his sword with his usual grace, and plunged it into the manticore. Immediately, the manticore burst into an explosion of dust.
Gwen gasped and Dragoon and the Swordsman turned to look at her.
"You should go home." Dragoon rasped, taking a step back.
For a moment, Gwen thought that the Swordsman was about to approach her, and her heart started to beat wildly. But it must have been wishful thinking on her part, because he didn't.
"Thank you," she said.
The Swordsman smiled, his eyes hidden under the hood. "Take care."
Gwen nodded, a whole hue of emotions coursing through her, rendering her tongue-tied. She looked at Dragoon again, trying to make out his features in the moonlight but as usual, he was shrouded in darkness. Gwen suspected it was a spell he cast on himself since he wore no mask.
And then, in a flash of purple light, she was all alone, kneeling in the middle of the road.
Gwen picked herself up with as much dignity as she could and brushed dirt off her hands and knees. The area might be devoid of people, but Gwen wasn't foolish enough to think that no-one was peering from their windows, especially with the bright purple lights signalling Dragoon's appearance. It was bad enough that she was the damsel in distress. She would at least be a dignified damsel in distress.
"Need someone to walk you home?"
The slightly teasing voice made her smile and she turned to see Arthur leaning casually against a lamp post with his arms crossed.
"Hey you. You could have gotten here earlier to save me from the manticore."
Arthur pushed himself off the lamp post and walked towards her. "And deprive you of being rescued by the Swordsman and Dragoon? How would you ever get your book written?"
"Dragoon and the Swordsman," said Gwen automatically as she fell into step next to him, partly because it was an easy way to annoy Arthur. Even in the darkness, Gwen knew he was rolling his eyes at her.
"You know, the Swordsman does as much, if not more, than Dragoon. Just because he has sparkly purple lights, he gets top billing."
Gwen laughed, her body releasing all the tension from earlier. "Why are you out on a full moon anyway?"
"I should be asking you that! I heard that someone was being menaced by a manticore in this area, and I figured it would be you."
"Aww." Gwen stopped walking and placed a hand on Arthur's arm, copping a feel of the muscles that bunched under her touch. "And you thought you'd come save me?"
"No. I thought I would come watch you get torn limb from limb by a manticore. Really, Gwen." The teasing in his voice disappeared, replaced by frustration and muted anger. "I know you're determined to write a book about Dragoon but putting yourself in danger is ridiculously foolish."
She pulled her hand away. "I didn't do it on purpose. I forgot it was a full moon. And you're the reason I forgot, so maybe you should be angry with yourself."
"Me?"
"Yup. Because I was too busy worrying about your book. The publisher wants to see some chapters soon. And you haven't given me that interview you promised."
They reached her apartment block, and Arthur, like he always did, lifted the keys from her hand and opened the main door for her.
"The book isn't that important," said Arthur from behind her as they climbed the two storeys to her flat.
"Not to you. There must be a million unauthorised biographies about you in the bookshops. But it's important to me."
Once again, Arthur unlocked her front door for her, then dropped the key into her outstretched palm. "I'll sign off on whatever you write and you'll get the money anyway. It doesn't matter what you write. The public will eat it up. You've been given the advance already, right?"
Gwen scowled at him as she moved towards her laptop and shut it. One could never be too careful. "It's not just the money. If I write a terrible book, it's my reputation at stake! Aside from those articles and a few short stories I published, this is my big break. I can't write some second rate book."
"Well," said Arthur as placed his hands on her shoulders and maneuvered her to sit on her sofa. "I chose you to write my official biography because firstly, you're a great writer and secondly, you know me. You know me more than my own father does. I have complete faith in you writing a great biography of me." Then he tutted and shook his head. "Look at you. You've lost your shoes and there are scratches all over your arms and legs."
Before she could say anything, Arthur had disappeared into her bathroom. Leaning back into her sofa, letting her head drop back, Gwen let out a sigh. While she was immensely grateful and secretly thrilled that Dragoon and the Swordsman had turned up to rescue her, she was glad Arthur had turned up. Adrenaline was still pumping through her and his presence would definitely help her calm down. Arthur and ice cream. Gwen was sure she had ice cream in her freezer.
"Hey Arthur!"
"Hmm?" He stepped out of her bathroom, laden with all the first aid things he could find. "Did you know that half the things in your first aid box is expired?"
"I don't get injured that much," she shrugged. "You know what isn't expired? The cookie dough ice cream in my freezer."
"After I wash your scratches."
"Promise? You have to share it with me or I'll eat the whole tub."
His laugh was soft and Arthur tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear. "I've seen that happen. It was not a good sight. At least, not the aftermath."
Affection filled Gwen and she smiled down at the top of his blonde head as he kneeled in front of her and busied himself dabbing at the scratches on her legs. Arthur Penn, one time World Champion fencer and now owner the huge conglomerate that was Albion Media, most eligible bachelor three years in a row and no good playboy, was one of her best friends. All thanks to that scholarship she got to university. That and Merlin.
"If you keep staring at me like that, I'll think that you've become like all those people who swear they are in love with me."
Gwen grinned. "We both know me falling for you is about as likely as Merlin quitting all those soap operas he loves. Speaking of Merlin, why isn't he with you?"
"He's not quite as foolish to venture out on a full moon."
"Smart man. And you?"
Arthur lifted his head. "I told you, I heard you were in trouble."
"How did – ouch! Hey, be gentle. I'm injured."
"They aren't that deep. Don't be a baby."
Gwen touched his hair, running her hand through the soft strands. "Thank you. For caring."
His eyes met hers again, and he held her gaze. And again, that strange tension built between them and Gwen couldn't look away. Then he blinked, flashed her a wide smile and flicked her nose. "You'd do the same for me, hopefully."
"Hopefully." And she stuck out her tongue to break the weird mood.
With a sigh, Arthur got up and sat down next to her on the sofa. "Arms. Then ice cream."
She agreed with that sequence of events, so she obediently stuck out her arms for him.
AN: Written for the roundtablemanagers on tumblr August prompts.
