This episode has been nagging me from the start, just how wretchedly jealous Arthur was. So decided to fix and alter it a bit to my liking... It'll definitely be mature somewhere the end. ( It's a bit of my atonement for' Arthur's secret', which you still keep nagging me about. :-) )
Gwen noticed the servant girl immediately. It was rather hard not to when Arthur was glaring at her like she had personally wronged him—which was strange, considering not even Gwen had ever seen the girl before in her life.
And she knew for sure that normally the serving staff was far below Arthur's notice. Not because he was still treating anyone in the same way he was treating them years ago. No, he simply never bothered to pay attention to them as long as everything was run smoothly.
Gwen shot another glance at Arthur who had an odd, strange expression on his face, something vaguely disapproving what Gwen had never seen before. Blue eyes shifting from Merlin and then to the girl again, he furrowed his brows and ground his jaw.
Then Gwen slanted a look at Merlin, who was just being nice, even if he was a little bit fawning over the girl while helping her gathering up the scattered fruits from the floor.
He was holding one of the fruits out to her and flashing at her his usual, bright smile, he said teasingly with a gleam in his eyes. ''If you need help with anything, let me know!''
The girl reached for the plum and a blush crept up into her face as she gazed at Merlin through adoring, hopeful eyes.
And Gwen couldn't help the indulgent smile from spreading on her face because the two just looked too adorable together.
Her eyes flicking back to Arthur again, Gwen noticed the dark expression on his face when those sky-colored eyes landed on Merlin, registering Merlin's attempt at flirting. `
Jaw tightening, there was a flare of anger in Arthur's eyes. Stormy blue eyes snapped to her for an instant before his armor of indifference slipped back on his face.
Arthur's expression remained closed-off, and he kept his gaze trained on the ground for the whole time he was storming toward their chamber. He shouted Merlin's name and two seconds later he shouted it again impatiently as if he's already called several times.
There was definitely something off about Arthur tonight, Gwen thought confused and surprised about Arthurs behavior. There was a strange knot in her stomach, although she couldn't quite say why. Something- something very important was nagging in the back of her mind, some sort of realization that felt extremely important...but she couldn't dwell on it because she was approached and called away by the steward.
...
''He's gone to visit someone.'' Gwen lied without a second thought.
''Who?'' Arthur asked.
And Gwen couldn't help noticing the tightening of Arthur's face, the clenching of his jaw and the creasing of his brow.
''He is not in danger, he is seeing a girl.'' Another lie slipped easily out.
''Merlin?!'' Arthur exclaimed, looking at Gwen with all the disbelief a man could muster.
''Gaius, I'm sorry, but there is no reason to worry.'' Gwen turned her gaze at the physician, trying to reassure him with a false smile.
''Except the poor girl,'' Arthur said, rolling his eyes, trying to sound funny but only half succeeding because the tensing of his shoulders and the tight clutch of his fingers at the end of the table said otherwise.
''I should have told you but I don't think he wanted anyone to know,'' Gwen said with a fabricated act of affection and guilt.
''Thank you my lady,'' Gaius replied politely, but his expression was heavy with displeasure and his gaze told her clearly, he didn't believe a single word about what she just said.
''Good.'' Arthur declared.
And though a tiny smile stretched across his lips it never reached his eyes, and his face gone even tighter. Gwen didn't miss the unconscious jerk of his head, the stiffening of his back, either. Or the way he tried valiantly to conceal his nervousness by sifting through the papers on his desk.
Strange, really strange, Gwen thought, and if she wasn't under Morgana's spell... she must have realized earlier what it meant.
Because there were all the signs. Only she would have paid attention to them earlier.
Arthur clapped the physician on his shoulder then raced off, leaving her standing alone with Gaius.
Gaius, who was giving her a look, the one... that if she wasn't under Morgana's control she would have shrunk below. Still, she marveled about how he did it? How he could look searing daggers at her and still speak in that controlled, courteous voice?
...
Dinner was a tense affair.
Gwen was trying to engage Arthur in some kind of conversation, but he gave only curt and distracted answers while his eyes were fixed either on the table or gazing at Merlin, eyes assessing- for the whole time.
She might as well have been invisible for all the attention Arthur paid her.
''I still can't believe how lucky I was. I owe that boy my life, and I don't know who he was or where he's from.'' Arthur said with heavy sadness in his voice. '' You need to make sure he's got a decent burial.'' He ordered Merlin.
'' I'll do that,'' Merlin answered, turning to Arthur. ''If you'll allow me the time.''
''Oh. So you can go and visit like girl again.'' Arthur said, turning his head toward Merlin.
And though he was aiming for casual, Gwen snapped her head up at the thick accusation in his voice. And he was looking at Merlin with that look-all focus, his gaze intense, almost fierce on his face.
And if Gwen's senses weren't sharpened under Morgana's spell, if she hadn't just spent years recording the different looks on Arthur's features…. she might have missed it.
She might have missed how Arthur's knuckles clenched tightly around his utensils, going white from the strain. She might have missed how tense his shoulders were. She might have missed the cold white lines around his mouth as it hardened into a very formidable line. She also might have missed the licks of temper behind his blue eyes, though he was trying hard to give the impression of nonchalance.
''What?!'' Merlin asked confused, snapping his head sharply up, eyes landing on Arthur's face.
'' Giiirl.'' Arthur drawled the word, aiming and failing miserably to keep his voice easy and slightly taunting.
''I don't have one,'' Merlin answered with an exasperated sigh.
'' That's not what Guinevere tells me.'' Arthur retorted, and though his voice was measured, when Gwen darted another glance at him she was taken aback by his face. Which was pale and serious and a vein was jumping on his face from the way he was biting the insides of his cheek.
'' So why don't you tell us all about her?'' Arthur inclined his head and looked expectantly at Merlin. And he was watching him now, his eyes very focused and very cool. And there was something on his face, something Gwen couldn't quite decipher, something that reminded her… No. That's stupid, that's foolish, of course, it couldn't be… Gwen berated herself…. but if she didn't know better… she might have thought it was something… something very close to…to...jealousy.
Merlin looked even more befuddled for a moment before comprehension passed through his face. ''Right.'' He sighed, catching Gwen's gaze.
He was walking towards her, leveling her with cool, mocking eyes and Gwen lifted a brow, daring him to say otherwise.
Merlin's eyes flashed on her with a power, that if Gwen wasn't sure it was only Merlin, it would have made her shiver in fright.
'' And why are you walking with a limp?'' Arthur's voice cut through the dining room, the sound sharp and lethal as an arrow from a master archer's bow.
