Chapter 2: Desiring
After all of the commotion over his clothes, Merlin ended up outside the main door to Morgana's building almost half an hour late.
"Sorry," he apologised, as she answered the intercom. "I really do need to work on my time keeping skills."
"That's fine, I was a bit late back from work anyway," came her worryingly calm reply. Merlin bit his lip as the door buzzed for him to push open and quickly looked at his Comp to confirm the flat number.
He walked up one flight of stairs and found himself outside the correctly numbered door which immediately swung open before he had a chance to knock. Merlin nearly gasped out loud when he saw Morgana standing in front of him, her long, dark hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders and drawing his gaze automatically down to her low cut green top. Highly embarrassed, he moved his eyes back up to hers - a far brighter green than he'd remembered - and his heart beat faster from that sight than from the more suggestive one.
"Come in," she said, sounding incredibly calm, even though her eyes were quite obviously scanning him intently. He had no idea why so many girls seemed to find him attractive as he was sure he wasn't – not compared to Arthur or Morgana's date from Saturday … and he still hadn't been able to work out why she'd even noticed him at all when there was someone like that sitting right next to her. However, he had seen the way she had looked at him that night and the way she was looking at him now, and even he couldn't deny what he was seeing. That she was attracted to him would have been obvious enough just from her body language, even if it wasn't for the strong hum of energy that he could feel crackling between them. Very strong, in fact.
Could she have some innate ability too?
"Didn't know what to wear, and didn't know how to ask that question of a photographer without it sounding a bit weird," he said, attempting a relaxed grin. He saw her eyes scan him up and down again and her lips turned up into the very smallest of smiles.
"Well, if you don't mind coming straight through ... the light won't last that long." His heart pounded with nerves again as he followed her toward the door on the left, it's surface covered with so much art work and clothes hooks that he was quite convinced that she was taking him into a cupboard.
"Okay, but I'm still not sure about this. As I said before, I'm not the typical model type." It was in fact a fairly large room. A second bedroom, probably, although it was currently set up as a photo studio, its walls covered with pictures – obviously hers. At first glance it all looked very impressive.
"I know enough people with those sort of looks," she replied waving at the same pictures. "I'd rather have something a little different." Merlin found his eyes drawn quickly to a familiar handsome blond portrait and he grinned as he thought of what Gwen's reaction would be to that sight. Perhaps he could ask for a copy?
"Ah ... the prat. He photographs rather well, doesn't he?" he said instead.
"The camera loves him and he loves being in front of a camera," Morgana replied in a slightly bored tone.
"Don't see that other fellow here ... oh, blind date, you said?" Like he hadn't latched onto that the instant she had told him!
"Lancelot is a sweetie," she replied, "and probably well worth photographing at some point but ... if I can avoid another date with him I will."
Merlin couldn't believe how relieved he felt as she said that, although the curiosity was certainly there too. "Oh?"
"Not my type. Will you sit on that stool, Merlin? Don't look so nervous, I'm not going to bite." He was nervous and, if he had been so attracted to Morgana, there was no way he would have ever agreed to something like this. "Well, not this early on in our relationship anyway," she continued cheekily as she looked into her lens.
"Huh?" Merlin squeaked and she pressed the shutter as he did so, grinning broadly at him afterwards. He dreaded to think what that shot would look like. She then asked him to turn a little to the left, tip his head up, down. Stand up, sight back down, although she did talk to him too. How much of the questioning was small talk in order to get some reaction from him, and how much she was genuinely interested in, he didn't know, but he hoped she was distracted enough by her task not to notice just how evasive he was being as he talked about Kilgharrah's. His restaurant was everything to him – his whole life and he knew nothing about her yet, which meant that he couldn't risk telling her anything of importance. Couldn't risk his cover being blown.
"Ah well ... you know how it is with big business? ... keep it in the family ... do a favour for a friend? The university clans etc. ... I suppose it was always inevitable I'd get roped in at some point," he said. "What about you?"
"Much the same, by the sound of it? I work in management ... boring really. The Pendragon corporation, you know?"
Which meant he'd made the right decision. His heart fell on hearing the news, even as he tried to brush it off with a joke. "Ooh, the enemy ... fascinating. So, if you're working for the Pendragon clan then I suppose we were correct in guessing your group to be Dark Blues on Saturday."
"You label your customers?"
"Oh, come on, who doesn't?"
"Yes well, Lancelot had already told us that you were mostly Light Blue if we couldn't have guessed from the attitude."
"Says the girl from the Dark side?" Merlin scoffed.
"What?"
"Sorry, Cambridge joke." The rivalry between the two universities was really rather silly. He knew a number of people who would be genuinely shocked about him being here with an Oxford educated girl. As prejudices about race and disability had faded to practically nothing, brand new prejudices had emerged to take their place. Was it too much to hope that the human race would ever improve?
"Was it our imagination or where there rather a lot of university types working there?" Morgana asked him then.
"Probably more than at somewhere like Camelot," Merlin replied. "Seriously, as you probably know, Cambridge hold all the arts in high regard – believing that, in learning them, students are well rounded individuals. Whereas, the Oxford Dons seem to think that the road to success can only be reached by exclusively studying the academic subjects and leaving art in all it's form to the masses."
"I suppose that's an improvement on the day when Art was only for the elite?" she suggested.
"Perhaps but, by not taking them seriously, Oxford's devaluing them anyway. Which brings me to my one burning question for the night?"
"Oh?"
"What is a true Dark Blue like you doing dabbling in photography?" She giggled and his heart soared. He knew his sense of humour took a little getting used to, but that fact that she seemed get his jokes instantly made him feel that they may have more in common than their backgrounds might initially suggest.
"I happen to agree with the Cambridge model actually," she replied a little haughtily. "I always have. I was just too scared to go against my family."
"I can't imagine you being scared of anything."
"You'd be surprised. So, what's your art?"
"Seriously?" She gave a confused shrug. "Catering?" She couldn't have worked that one out?
"Oh, that's how you got started. Did you used to work in the kitchens then?"
"Yup. Prodigy child chef."
"No! Ah, why are you out front now then?"
"Oh, I'm not always. Another of Kilgharrah's philosophies ... which is again a Cambridge one, of course. Variety is the spice of life etc., etc. We all work at least a couple of jobs, some take it very literally. The young man on the desk Saturday?"
"Yes?" said Morgana, interested.
"Gwen's brother, Elyan."
"Really ... ah, our waitress Guinevere, right?"
"Yeah, but only ever Gwen to her friends. Anyway, Elyan deliberately does six different jobs – says he gets bored otherwise. He's sometimes maître d', does preparation in the kitchens, barman upstairs or down and croupier at the casino. Gwen's much the same; barmaid, croupier and our most popular waitress – as you probably gathered." He looked up at her just as she clicked the shutter but, this time, instead of a small approving nod, her eyes suddenly widened and she stared at her camera in disbelief – obviously looking at the digital viewer that she had set up on her very traditional camera.
"Oh my ..." she breathed.
"What?" Merlin asked nervously.
"We might as well stop on a high note," she said, signalling over and he got off his stool to stand next to her.
"That's never me?" He was genuinely stunned at the image he saw before him. It was him but then again, it wasn't quite. He shook his head in confusion.
"And you said you weren't the model type," she said as she started to pack up her equipment. Merlin hoped he wasn't turning too pink.
"Well, the genius photographer that can make some skinny little no-one into ... well ... that, deserves some food cooked by the genius chef. Can I have a riffle in your cupboards?" he asked, heading towards her small kitchenette.
Morgana gave a delighted laugh, and it took a moment for Merlin to realise what he'd said. Thank goodness he hadn't said 'drawers' that would have been even worse.
xoxOxox
Merlin found it a nice challenge to cook a meal from a random set of basic ingredients. It reminded him of his competition days when they were often asked to improvise a menu live in front of judges. Nowadays he could hand pick the very best, most expensive ingredients, and take months to come up with new menus. This, however, was fun, despite Morgana seeming quite concerned about him cooking on his day off.
He loved seeing people's reaction to his food. Not that he had ever considered himself a show-off. In fact, everyone always seemed surprised when they met him and said how modest he was considering his very great talent. No, what he really loved was making them happy, seeing them slowly savour his food and enjoy the often new experience of the special way the different flavours could melt on their tongue. So, he perhaps used his extra talent a little but only very subtly, just enhancing or exaggerating the flavours that were already there - sometimes making it so that one flavour would have a delayed reaction and wouldn't be tasted until several seconds after the others.
"I'd ask you what the Kilgharrah's secret is," Morgana said, as if reading his mind, "but I suppose you're not allowed to say?"
"I could tell you," he replied seriously, "but then ... I'd have to kill you." She smiled at him again and his heart attempted a somersault. Seriously, this had to be a dream. How could anyone that beautiful be so obviously attracted to him? Was his worst fear justified and she had somehow found out exactly who he was and was trying to get him to divulge his company's secrets by seducing him?
He suddenly became aware of the small packages in his pocket and squirmed slightly on his seat at the very thought of making love to the beauty in front of him. His eyes flicked from her own gaze to her lips as she took another taste of his food and back to her low cut top, his over active imagination quickly trying to guess what she would look like without it on, or without anything on at all! He wriggled on his seat again, but for quite a different reason this time. It was all very well for Gwen to suggest these particular jeans, but she wouldn't have had any idea at how uncomfortable tight they were becoming right now. He really should have worn something baggy.
Morgana asked a bit more about how he'd managed to cook such food with what he had and he automatically replied with his usual 'it's magic' line. Sometimes telling part of the truth was a great way to avoid having to tell the whole truth. Still, he was happy enough to tell her some things about his past.
"Well, that's what they said when I was a kid. I was quite the child star ... 'Merlin with the magic touch'. I was famous for my sauces." He looked up at her with a sly grin, knowing she'd appreciate this next joke. "Merlin the 'Saucerer'. It has a nice ring, don't you think?"
"Oh, that's awful," she groaned as he laughed at the look on her face. "Where did you grow up anyway?" she continued "I can't place your accent it's just sort of Celtic." Merlin grinned at the description.
"That just about sums me up, yes. Welsh mother, Irish father, a couple of Scottish grandparents and a bit of Cornish in me somewhere too. Then, of course, I travelled around so much as a child, that my accent got all jumbled up."
"I like it." Her smile and the compliment was enough to have him squirming in his seat again.
"Thanks. What about you?"
"I've an Irish mother, as it happens. Well, we've both that complexion, haven't we?" He was relaxing a bit now, pleased that he was finding out more about her. Pleased that she was talking to him, enjoying his company and apparently genuinely interested in the answers. He was looking forward to finding out even more about her when they were interrupted by the doorbell, and his heart fell when he realised that it was her date from the other night and that she was obviously going to let him in.
His insecurities started to surface again. Fine when he was the only male in Morgana's general vicinity but now this Lancelot would be there too, surely she would see exactly what she'd turned down on Saturday and quickly change her mind.
Although, she did seem genuinely annoyed by the interruption which gave him some very small hope that their evening might not be over quite yet. She gave him a slightly apologetic shrug and opened the door to let the handsome man in.
"Sorry, Morgana, it's just that I felt I had to come over and apologise in person about Saturday and talk to you to see exactly where we are and ..." Lancelot suddenly noticed him and he frowned slightly. Merlin gave him a smile and a nervous half-wave. "Ah, you didn't say you had company."
"Well, you didn't exactly give me the chance," Morgana replied. Yes, she did sound quite a bit annoyed by the interruption.
"Ah no, I suppose not but I thought, on a Monday evening …?" He turned back to Merlin again and frowned. "Sorry, have we met before? You seem somewhat familiar." Merlin just smiled, wondering if Morgana would introduce them or if Lancelot might even remember for himself. "Oh, it's you ... from the restaurant ... with the joke about the stocks."
"Oh, how my star has fallen," said Merlin falling back on his usual security blanket when feeling under pressure – his rather bizarre sense of humour.
"But ... I was ..." Lancelot looked between Merlin and Morgana, a slight frown marring his handsome features. "I felt the need to come over to apologise for flirting with that waitress all night Saturday."
"Ah, the delicious irony," Merlin replied, genuinely amused.
"Well, I spent some of the evening flirting with the waiter," Morgana replied, waving an arm in Merlin's direction. "So, I guess that makes us even?"
"So, you don't mind if ... ah, if we don't go on another date? Only, well my father said that your father insisted." She raised an eyebrow. "Not that I would object, of course," he finished apologetically.
Must be a dream, Merlin thought. Far too good to be true.
"I could fight you for her if it makes you feel any better?" he said out loud, "but, by the looks of you, I'm fairly certain I'd loose."
"Ah ..." said Lancelot, still confused, and Merlin exchanged a look with Morgana and was delighted at how amused she seemed by the situation.
"Hang on ... which waitress were you after?" Merlin asked, suddenly realising what Lancelot had said about flirting.
"Guess," said Morgana with a wry smile and Merlin groaned. That did not make things much easier for Gwen. She liked both of them and they both liked her.
"What is it with that girl? Honestly, she's a sweet as anything – never chases after men, never leads them on and yet they all just swarm around her like moths to a flame. One night in a restaurant and two guys both ditch their stunning Oxford beauties to ask her out." He felt a flicker of panic as he said it. Had Morgana fully registered that? Was it a bit … much? He'd only said what he was thinking but, luckily, she seemed not to be reacting so he followed her example and pretended he hadn't said anything of importance.
They continued to exchange surprisingly pleasant pleasantries which resulted in Lancelot asking Merlin to pass his number onto Gwen too. Honestly, the poor girl waits months for a date and then two come along at the same time. He tried not to openly grin at his own joke.
"Now, it really is great that we're all being so 'Cambridge' about this situation," Morgana said, "but, I invited Merlin here for a shoot and he's cooked me a meal – Kilgharrah's style – which, as I'm sure you can imagine, I'm loathed to let get cold."
"Really?" Lancelot's eyes fell on the table greedily as Morgana pushed him towards the door to usher him out. The pair exchanged a couple more whispered comments which Merlin decided he didn't want to try and eavesdrop on, and instead turned back to continue his meal.
"So ..." he said as she sat back down at the table and tucked greedily into the rest of her dish. "Where were we?"
"You were saying how sensible Gwen was for not allowing herself to get picked up at work," Morgana answered with a grin.
"I did say that, yes," he replied. "However, I didn't say that I was sensible."
"I'm very glad to hear it. Now, tell me ... Saucerer. What can you do with that bar of expensive chocolate I have in my fridge?"
xoxOxox
Next Time: Chapter 3 - Succumbing: The M rated version of Merlin and Morgana's first night together.
A/N. Okay, so much of this is repeating 'Kilgharrah's', but last chapter's reviewers seemed pleased to be seeing the story from Merlin's pov so I'm assuming the rest of you don't mind either. I always wanted to show what he was thinking in 'K's' but didn't know how to do that without giving away spoilers. As you can see, Merlin's actually a lot less confident than he made out.
I'm done quite a bit on this over the last few days and now have the various plot points roughly placed into chapters. As usual, I'm starting to put this information on my profile page so feel free to take a look if you want to see what's coming up. If you're new to this universe, you will also find a link to the photo that got Morgana so worked up and had much the same effect on me when I first saw it.
Do let me know if there's something from Kilgharrah's that you'd like me to explore in this fic. I've got the basic story structure sorted now but there's still plenty of room for extra sub-plots. I will reply to any comments/questions too so feel free to leave a review or PM.
30/09/11. Series 4 starts tomorrow! Yeah!