Chapter 3
It took a long time before Arthur reluctantly handed over the keys to the parking attendant. The bloke couldn't have been much older than Arthur or Merlin and the only reason Arthur assumed that of his age was because you have to be at least eighteen in order to work here. The bloke looked about ten. Arthur glances at the name on the kid's ID.
"Mordred," Arthur reads. "Right, take good care of this car alright? It's very important that absolutely nothing happens to it."
"That's a sure way to get it all dinged up, Arthur," Merlin jokes behind him. "I'm sure he'll handle it like his livelihood depends on it, now let's go. We're losing daylight and we haven't even stepped foot on the beach."
Mordred's lips quirk amusedly and Arthur couldn't get it out of his mind that the kid was coming up with some devious plan. It was the eyes. They were impossibly blue.
And Arthur thought Merlin had crazy blue eyes.
"Fine," Arthur says finally giving in. "We'll be back for this around two?" Arthur turns to Merlin for conformation and Merlin nods his head reluctantly. "Two," Arthur reiterates and Mordred nods his head.
It was really creepy and unnerving how the lad never spoke. Arthur didn't like it.
"Ok," Arthur says as Mordred takes off in Uther's car heading for the garage. Arthur watches until it disappears around a bend, and there's suddenly a weight off his chest. Out of sight, out of mind. "Let's go."
"Gwen's in the shops getting swim suits," Merlin explains.
"Nice one," Arthur says but quickly halts in his tracks. "Oh no."
"What," Merlin asks with a hint of concern.
"Gwen is going to buy the worst ones she can find just to embarrass us."
"Shite."
Both boys rush to the shops just as Gwen was finished paying. She palms the plastic bag protectively and sends a telling smirk in their direction. Arthur groans at the sign in the front door claiming no refunds. He considers dipping into their food stash if the swim suits ended up being too hideous, but ultimately decides they were just going to have to make do. They couldn't possibly be that awful.
He was wrong. Arthur was always wrong.
See, without Merlin Emrys in his life, Arthur would have made a lot more mistakes. Merlin showed him how horrid Sophia was when Arthur thought he was in love with her. He showed him how annoying Vivian was when Arthur thought he loved her as well. Merlin was there when Arthur failed Professor Nim's class and took the time to investigate how that could happen. It turns out the teacher was failing him on purpose in retaliation for something that happened between his father and her a thousand years ago. Merlin promptly had her fired and Arthur didn't have to go to summer school that year. There was the time Merlin's friend from grade school came to visit. Will hated everyone who was rich and Arthur assumed any friendship with him would be a lost cause. However, Merlin never gave up and Will visits every summer for Arthur's annual yearend pool party. Arthur thought Merlin was merely jealous when he started hanging out with his new footy mate Cedric. Apparently Merlin was just trying to obtain evidence that the boy was stealing shite from his house. When Gwen's father Tom was the lead suspect in a ring of thefts happening in Camelot, and Arthur didn't know how to help, Merlin was the one to consider asking Uther. Arthur went to his father that night and convinced him to represent Tom in the trial. For free. How many things would have gone differently if Merlin wasn't there to show Arthur how wrong he was?
"Every time I see them, they just get worse," Arthur says stepping out of their hotel washroom with the SPF50. Large white hibiscus flowers are printed haphazardly on every inch of Arthur's shorts. He stares down at them despondently.
"At least their red. That's your favorite color," Gwen reminds him with a syrupy sweet voice.
"Yeah, that makes them so much better. You're right Gwen," Arthur replies mockingly.
"There was a pair with Minions on them. I could have bought you those instead," Gwen admonishes.
"Oh God no!" Arthur shutters at the thought. "I can't believe those even exist."
"I can't believe these exist," Merlin objects, walking in from the balcony and closing the slider behind him. Arthur stifles a laugh and quickly turns it into a coughing fit. Merlin narrows his eyes.
Merlin's swimming shorts were midnight blue with large yellow stars and crescent moons scattered about.
Gwen gasps indignantly, a hand to her heart as if she was hurt by their hate for the swim suits she bought. "I think you really pull them off Merlin."
"I look like I'm wearing two wizard's hats on my legs," Merlin deadpans and Arthur chokes on air. That was exactly what it looked like.
Gwen scoffs and brushes off the comparison easily. "Well I think you both look adorable." As for Gwen, she bought herself a simple lavender bikini and yellow sundress. She looked perfect. "Well, let's get out of here. We have an ocean to see."
Arthur grunts reluctantly and tosses the SPF50 to Merlin who performs an almost rehearsed fumbling act. He smiles triumphantly at Arthur when he finally catches it and takes a bow like he had just executed a dangerous feat with perfection. When he lift his head, Arthur applauds him with a roll of his eyes. "You best apply that shite generously, or you'll fry out there. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've never stepped a foot outside in your whole life."
"You are unbelievably pale, Merlin," Gwen adds, joining in on the banter.
Merlin responds with an, "Oi," but is too busy rubbing in the sun screen to say much more. When he finishes he looks up at Gwen and Arthur and puts his hands on his hips. "Ready. Let's get the fuck out of this place."
"I got all our stuff in here," Gwen announces, patting her schoolbag. "It sucks to have to carry this around, but if we can't get back to the room for any reason, it's probably for the best."
"Good thinking," Arthur says. "Well I guess that's it then. Everyone, say goodbye to our free suite."
"Goodbye suite," his friends say in unison.
And with that, the three of them leave for Avalon beach.
***I***
It's beautiful out. The sand is soft under his feet and the sky is cloudless above his head. Merlin snaps a picture of it with his iPhone but the result doesn't do it any justice. He wishes he brought along his more expensive camera.
Merlin looks to his right where Arthur lays napping under the warm sun.
The three of them had decided to dig a giant hole. It's something they always did when they came to the ocean. Merlin called it "Leaving their mark on the Earth". For the next two days, anyone who came to the beach would see the hole and wonder about it. And then the sea would wash it away and it would just be a memory. After the hole was finished, Gwen went to find some seashells to decorate the hole with. Arthur crawled inside the hole, sprawling out like a starfish and smiled lazily up at the sun. Nearly two minutes later, Merlin stopped snapping photos to hear his friend snoring softly. When Gwen came back with the shells, Merlin shot her a duplicitous look and they went to work burying the man under the loose sand. They worked quietly and quickly and before long, Arthur was covered from his chest down to his feet with sand and adorned with a pair of shell-covered tits, courtesy of Gwen, and a tiny prick, courtesy of Merlin.
Merlin leans down and captures their masterpiece from a few different angles. He belatedly considers making a mermaid tail but out of the corner of his eye he sees Gwen making her way back, wringing out the excess water from her dark hair. Merlin turns the cameraphone toward Gwen and snaps a few shots of the woman in motion. When he's done he scrolls through the new photos with a small smile on his face.
See, Merlin must have a thousand photos of his friends on his mobile and nearly twice as many on the camera he left at home. They were very easy to photograph. Arthur was tall and blonde. His skin was always a golden tan from his days spent outside playing football or swimming in his pool. The muscles in his arms and chest were defined from years of exercise and his eyes were a stunning dark blue. Gwen was curvy and smooth. Her hair was a mess of beautiful brunette curls that Merlin convinced her should never be pulled back. Her eyes were a guileless brown, always wide and trusting, with just a hint of amusement peaking through the innocence. Her skin was dark and soft. Arthur and Gwen could not look more different. Except for one thing. They had the same smile. Merlin loved catching moments of the two of them smiling at each other. They had no idea how beautiful they were.
Behind him, Merlin hears a grumbled, "No… I… I can't…" Merlin turns and kneels beside Arthur's face.
"What?" he prompts. "What can't you do?"
Blue eyes pop open and Arthur squints up at him. "I can't scratch my face because my so-called mates buried me under a pile of sand, MERlin." Merlin shoots him a smile and snaps a picture of his face to laugh at later. Merlin flicks him in the ear and Arthur yelps in protest. "I'm going to murder you."
"Oh yeah," Merlin says, unimpressed. "Then who's going to get you out of that hole?" Arthur grins, a frightening smile that doesn't really reach his eyes. Merlin reconsiders his impression. Merlin watches as Arthur takes a deep breath gearing up for something. "Arthur?"
Arthur's arms burst from the sand and he grabs Merlin's vest. "You severely underestimate my strength, mate."
"My tits!"
Merlin and Arthur both turn at the interjection to find Gwen looking at the seashells that fell on either side of Arthur, her hands on her hips. The boys look back at each other and break out in laughter. Gwen squawks and stomps over to them both.
"I worked really hard on those," she shouts, but before long she was joining in on the laughter too. The three of them couldn't stop, and just as it was dying down, Arthur looks at the tiny prick still perfectly erect and cries an indignant, "Who gave me a micropenis?!" and that started the giggle fit all over again.
Merlin wipes the tears stinging his eyes letting out one last chuckle and says, "So, who's hungry?" Arthur and Gwen raise a hand in answer.
"Just let me go wash off all the sand," Arthur mumbles, finally extracting himself completely and slapping a wet glob of sand on Merlin's cheek.
Merlin wipes off the sand with a finger and let's it go. Arthur heads to the ocean and Gwen follows brushing large chunks of sand from Arthur's back and bum. Merlin takes his mobile back out and takes a few more pictures as Arthur cleans himself in the salt water. Gwen splashes Arthur playfully and they smile at each other.
Merlin smiles too. He puts the phone back away, pulls his knees to his chest, and watches his friends casually.
This was a good idea. They needed this. Merlin needed this.
***I***
The restaurant is chilly and Gwen pulls tighter on her blazer to retain some of the heat. The three of them argued over where to eat, but ultimately decided to return to the Citadel, change out of their swimsuits and head to the posh restaurant in the lobby. Merlin and Arthur left their suits hanging up in the shower and Gwen doubted that either of them planned on going back for them.
"Cold?"
Gwen nods her head at Arthur and he wraps an arm around her, prompting her to snuggle in close. The blonde was always warm to the touch and Gwen thanks him gratefully.
The Maitre'd walked by at that moment and Gwen watches as Merlin explains who they are and how they were going to pay for the meal. He is quick with the lies and the snooty French bloke accepts the information easily. Arthur squeezes her arm excitedly. It looks like they would be eating for free at the nicest restaurant in Avalon. Gwen is going to order everything on the menu.
"Monsieur, Madame," the Maitre'd says, motioning for Arthur and Gwen to follow him and Merlin. "This way please."
When they are seated, a waiter comes by with a pitcher of cucumber water and when he leaves the three of them chat jovially. Gwen remembers that at this moment all her other classmates are still in school, the bell for lunch break about to ring, and here she was with her two best friends sipping on fresh water and picking at the french rolls and cinnamon biscuits while waiting for their appetizers, fried calamari for Gwen and Arthur and artichoke dumplings for Merlin. She can't believe how lucky she is.
"There's no way she should have died," Gwen argues.
"Agreed. She was right fit," Arthur adds.
Merlin rolls his eyes. "But she wasn't doing anything. Sure, she was attractive, but her death was needed. Everything was going way too well this season. I think we needed to be reminded that we were watching Game of Thrones."
"But why her," Gwen whines. "She was one of my favorites."
"Gwen, everyone is one of your favorites," Arthur reminds her. "As long as they aren't having dogs maul babies or having other characters executed, you want everyone to live. Even Jamie is one of your favorites."
"Oh come on," Gwen says poking Arthur with the end of her fork. "You like Jamie too. He's not that bad."
"I read the books," Arthur returns. "He is way worse in the books."
"Well we aren't talking about the books," Gwen tells him. "Just think of them as completely different characters. Show Jamie Lannister and book Jamie Lannister are not the same.
"Do you think he'll end up killing Cersei," Merlin asks.
"God I hope so. She killed off one of my favorite characters," Gwen reminds him.
"See," Arthur admonishes. "You used to think of Cersei as one of your favorites, but now that she had one of your other favorites executed, you're alright with her biting it?"
"Yup," Gwen replies popping a piece of bread in her mouth.
"You're ridicu—"
Arthur's eyes go wide as he stares blankly at someone behind Gwen and Merlin. They both turn and there in a three piece suit, carrying a briefcase in one hand and shaking another man's hand with the other is Uther Pendragon.
"Shite," Arthur curses and dips under the table. The three of them are partially hidden behind a group of plants around the booth they currently occupy, but Uther and the man he came in with were coming their way.
"What do we do," Gwen asks Merlin panicking.
"Just calm down," Merlin replies curtly. "Turn your head toward me and act like you belong. He won't even notice us, if we don't draw attention to ourselves. This is Uther we're talking about. Has the prick ever noticed us before?"
Merlin doubles over at what Gwen could assume was Arthur punching him in the stomach and Merlin sends a quick kick to the man under the table in retaliation.
"Stop it," Gwen hisses. "He's almost here."
Gwen smiles politely at Merlin, hiding her face. She and the brunette were mere inches apart and to anyone looking at them, it would seem like they were a couple having a quiet, personal conversation while their friend was in the loo.
"So, how are you Gwen," Merlin asks to sever the tension.
"Good," Gwen replies. "You?"
Merlin gives a thoughtful grin, before nodding. "Good."
"Good."
"Great."
"Fantastic," Gwen says with a raised brow.
"Brilliant," Merlin counters, also raising a brow.
Gwen grimaces. "Well nothing's better than brilliant, Merlin. I suppose that ends the game."
Merlin brings a finger discretely to his lips and it takes everything in her to keep herself from turning to look. After a few moments of stilted silence, Merlin finally let's out a breath and Gwen follows.
"Fuck, we need to get out of here," Merlin stage-whispers, loud enough for Arthur to hear.
Gwen nods, grabs one last roll, stuffs it into her blazer pocket, and exits the booth, making sure to keep her back toward where Uther must be. Merlin follows quietly after her, dabbing his face with the napkin that was in his lap before placing it on the empty plate that once held the calamari. They both make room for Arthur to crawl out from the table in front of them, shielding his arrival with their bodies and the three of them leave the restaurant with a quick thanks to the maitre'd.
Once they are all the way out of the hotel, Merlin, Arthur, and Gwen can finally breathe again.
"Fuck, what the hell is he doing here," Arthur shouts.
"It's probably some client," Merlin answers. "Calm down Arthur."
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"
The silence following the outburst is deafening and Gwen considers breaking it, but ultimately decides to stay out of.
Arthur blinks and when he opens his eyes again he looks at Merlin sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
Gwen can see it.
See, Merlin and Arthur never fight. They bicker and wrestle, but Gwen has only seen them have one actual fight in the entire time she's known them. And it was over Morgana.
Morgana and Arthur were close. Closer than a lot of people realized. In public they barely looked at each other, but Gwen knew how much they cared for one another. One morning about a year ago, Arthur plopped down onto the bench between them, gave Gwen a quick kiss, and turned to Merlin with a huge smile on his face.
"Guess what," Arthur asked poking Merlin to get him to look up from his book, recreational of course, because why would Merlin want to read any of the required educational novels.
"What," Merlin mumbles, flipping a page without looking up.
"Well," Arthur said stretching out the word teasingly. "I was talking to Morgana and I think she likes you."
Gwen widened her eyes at the new information. Merlin barely acknowledged it.
"That's good," Merlin muttered. "I thought maybe she hated me or something."
Arthur drew back slightly, but forged on. "No you dollophead. I meant she likes you in like a romantic way."
Merlin looked from his book then. Gwen tensed under Arthur's arm, but she had no idea why.
"What?" Merlin asked, somber and detached. Arthur didn't seem to hear the emotions in the question.
"I know right. She wouldn't shut up about you last night. But now we can go on double dates and we can all hang out. It will be fun," Arthur said, nudging Merlin. But Merlin was stock still. His face was pinched and emotionless. "Hey, you in there—"
"Arthur," Gwen warned, but it was too late.
"No."
The word was unfeeling and cold, and Gwen couldn't stop from shuddering.
"What do you mean no," Arthur asked, still joking. Gwen couldn't see how Arthur could be this dense.
"I mean no, Arthur," Merlin replied, standing up and clutching the book tightly to his chest as if to protect himself. Arthur stood up to join him leaving Gwen alone and conflicted.
"Do you not like Morgana?!"
"I like her fine."
"Then I don't understand…"
Merlin whirled on Arthur. "YOU WOULDN'T!"
Gwen watched mouth agape as the silence stretched. Merlin was no longer impassive. He looked like he was about to punch something… or someone. Merlin had never yelled before. It was hard to watch.
Merlin unclenched his fist and Gwen saw his eyes turn watery. Without a word, Merlin turned around, walked off campus, and didn't return for the rest of the day.
Gwen watched Arthur who watched Merlin. He looked as if all the sunshine and air and water had been sucked away from him, leaving him dry and lifeless. Gwen probably didn't look much better.
"What— what just happened?"
Arthur most likely hadn't been asking Gwen directly, but she answered anyway. "I don't know." She reached out for his hand that lay limply at his side. He flinched but didn't pull away.
The bell rang signaling for everyone to get to class and Arthur finally looked at her. He looked hollow. "Gwen—"
"What are you doing, Arthur?" Gwen interrupted. "Go after him."
Arthur gulped and for the first time since the outburst he looked like himself again. He nodded, leaned down, and kissed her. It lasted longer than usual, but when he pulled back, Gwen still thought it wasn't enough.
"Right," Arthur said and it was so soft, Gwen wasn't sure if he actually said anything.
"When you've made up, I'll be studying at Essitir park," Gwen told him confidently. "Both of you better be there."
There was a peak of a smile as Arthur nodded one final time and left.
When she saw them again, Arthur had his arm around Merlin's shoulder flicking his ear and laughing. Merlin was his normal self again. Gwen never asked them about the fight, partially because she was afraid that bringing it back up would make it start again. But mostly it was because it was none of her business and she was just glad to have her boys back.
***I***
"We promised."
"I know, I'm so sorry Merlin," Arthur pleads. "It's just… never mind. I don't want to make excuses."
Merlin snorts softly and a quick quirk of a smile graces his lips. "I know," Merlin says, rolling his eyes. "He's your father."
Arthur sighs in relief. They promised never to yell at each ever again. Not since that time a year and half ago when they did all the yelling their relationship could ever handle. "Are we ok," Arthur asks.
"Yeah we're good you clotpole," Merlin answers.
Suddenly a hand snakes into his and another into Merlin's, Gwen standing between them, like an anchor bringing them both back to the Earth.
"So…" Gwen asks. "What now?"
Arthur thinks immediately of the man sitting in the restaurant they just left. Arthur can't have him finding out about his day off and looks at his friend's apologetically. "I think we should go home," Arthur proclaims with a grimace.
"Nope," Merlin says immediately. "That's not happening."
"Merlin," Arthur reasons.
"Nope," Merlin says again. "Now we know exactly where your father is so, yeah, the citadel is no longer an option. But this little holiday is not over Arthur." Arthur wants to protest, but Merlin suddenly looks off in another direction. "Come on," he continues dazedly staring at a point in the distance. "It's hardly noon yet. We'll wait a couple hours for your father to leave, and then come back and get the car."
"Yeah," Gwen chimes in. "Let's not risk waiting here while the attendant get's the Ferrari when Uther could come out of those doors any second."
Arthur had to admit, they were right. "Fine, what are we doing then?"
Merlin just turns and grins. "The boardwalk looks open today." Merlin quirks up his eyebrows in question.
Arthur snorts in reply. "Only if we can get Gwen on the ferris wheel."
Both boys turn to the girl waiting for an answer. She looks hesitant, ever afraid of heights, but she's been on worse and survived. "Alright," she conceded and Arthur smothers her in a hug in triumph.
"Yes," Arthur says wrapping an arm around his friends. "Also, let's get candy floss."
The pier was actually pretty busy for so early in the summer, a lot of students home early from uni milling about. Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen fit in perfectly.
They play a couple carnival games, Arthur winning Gwen a stuffed lion and Gwen winning Arthur a stuffed Eagle. Merlin wasn't one for keeping anything, the room in his flat completely bare except for the furniture, a book shelf actually filled with book, and thousands of photos taped to the wall. Merlin had his mobile out the entire time Arthur and Gwen played and Arthur couldn't wait to see the pictures.
It was half an hour later full of candy floss and peanuts before Arthur was finally able to get Gwen in line for the ferris wheel.
"It's not so bad, right," Arthur asks her with a nudge. "It's not nearly as high as the London Eye."
Gwen looks up as Arthur and Merlin drag her forward to the space the people in front of them left when they went to get seated.
"I hated the London Eye," Gwen hisses.
"But you went on it and were completely fine," Merlin whispers rubbing her back comfortingly.
"And we're here to protect you," Arthur adds, pulling on her curls to stop her from looking up. "Gwen?"
She takes a deep breath before saying, "I'm fine. I can do this," ever the brave one.
See, that's what most people don't see when they look at Gwen, but Arthur and Merlin did. She was the brave one. Arthur was athletic, disciplined, and strong. Merlin was adventurous, creative, and fun. And Gwen? Well she was kind, honest, and determined and has been since the day they all met.
Arthur was practicing football with his team, Merlin sitting in the stands reading some horribly boring novel from the victorian age, when Gwen came out of the headmaster's office with a huff. Arthur noticed her immediately and was so distracted he didn't even see his mate kick the ball to him. The football rolled out and Arthur shrugged apologetically.
"Sorry mates, I'll get it." After he tossed the ball to a bloke on the other side of the scrimmage, he decided to take a break and got some water.
Gwen looked around for someone and when she didn't see him, she pulled out her mobile and sat down on the bleachers a few rows below Merlin. Arthur watched her with interest.
After a short time, it seemed whoever was on the other end didn't answer. Gwen sighed and left whoever it was a message. Arthur could barely make it out.
"I'm waiting outside. Come pick me up when you're done snogging whoever it is you literally just met since this is your first day here." She hung up with a frustrated exhale and Arthur wanted to go make sure she was alright, but another person beat him to it.
"Bad day," Merlin asked, earmarking the page he was on and closing the book with a thud.
Gwen glanced up and smiled at him politely. "First day," she explained.
"Aredian being a prick again?"
Gwen chuckled and Arthur thought that sound was perfect. "My brother was supposed to be there with me, but when he didn't show, the headmaster got annoyed."
"He's always annoyed, the git. Don't take him too seriously. I don't." Merlin reached out a hand in greeting. "I'm Merlin."
"Gwen," she said taking his hand. "I'll keep your advice in mind. So what are you doing here?"
"Waiting for someone," Merlin answered.
"Alright, but why are you waiting out here? Wouldn't you rather wait in the library or something," Gwen asked indicating the book.
"I like the sound of football in the background," Merlin replied, and Arthur scoffed. Why didn't he just say he was waiting for Arthur to be done with practice?
"Oh?" Gwen looked at the pitch contemplative. "You don't really seem the type to like sports." When she turned back and saw Merlin's amused face, she winced. "I— I didn't mean like… Umm…"
"What did you mean," Merlin prompted with a grin.
"It's just you don't look like one of those big, muscle-y kind of fellows— I mean I'm sure you're stronger than you look. I just…" Gwen seemed to understand what she just said. "Oh wow, I'm sorry."
Merlin just laughed and Arthur laughed too. "You're an honest one aren't you Gwen," Merlin said with a grin. "But I'll have you know, I'm pretty decent at footie."
He was too. Arthur had begged him to join the team every time the season was about to start, but Merlin would rather take photos of the match than actually be in them. Arthur couldn't really fault him for doing what he wanted to do.
"Really?" Gwen seemed unconvinced.
"I'll have you know I can take any of them. Well, most of them," Merlin corrected. He couldn't take Arthur.
"Which one can't you take," Gwen asked amiably.
Arthur snapped out of his blank-faced gazing and looked back at the field, squirting some water into his mouth and trying his hardest to seem like he hadn't been listening to the entire conversation.
"That one," Merlin said, and Arthur assumed he was pointing at him. He figured he should probably rejoin the game, but when he did, he had a hard time focusing, too busy listening to Merlin and Gwen's conversation.
"Oh yeah? Why not," Gwen asked.
"Arthur's too good, but don't tell him that. Don't need him getting a big head or anything."
"Why would I tell him?"
"Ah never mind he already knows anyway. Clotpole."
Arthur smiled and knew Merlin could tell he was listening.
"Who's that," Gwen asked suddenly, and Arthur turned discreetly to see where she was pointing.
"Morgana," Merlin answers. "She's probably here to tell Arthur something."
Arthur knew that wasn't the case. She had started dating his teammate Cendred a few weeks before and was probably hear to pick him up. The prick couldn't drive yet.
"Oh," Gwen said and if Arthur wasn't mistaken she sounded disappointed. "Girlfriend?"
"Nope," Merlin replied leaning back lazily. "Sister. Why, you jealous or something?"
Gwen sputtered out a quick defense. "I don't even know him."
"Ah what's to know? He's handsome, incredibly fit, hilarious, good taste in clothing, posh, and I have it on good authority he's one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet," Merlin said and Arthur beamed with pride sending the ball he was dribbling into the net.
"Sounds like you want to date him," Gwen said with a smirk.
"Nope," Merlin replied easily. "That'd be like dating my brother."
"Oh," Gwen proclaimed in understanding. "So you guys are close then?"
"Yeah, he's my best mate. So what do you say, want to go out with him?"
"Oh my god Merlin!"
It wasn't until everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Arthur did he realize that he was the one who said it. He cleared his throat nervously and turned to his best mate. "I can get my own dates thank you very much," he told him, sending him a two-fingered salute. When he realized that made him sound and look a little arrogant, he looked over at Gwen. "You are quite lovely though and I am most definitely going to ask you out."
Gwen stared at him incredulously before breaking out into the most gorgeous fit of giggles he had ever heard. When she finished she blushed adorably. "Looking forward to it," she said sweetly without a hint of hesitation.
Arthur smiled up at her until the click and whir of a camera shook him out it. Merlin shrugged unapologetically.
"What, it's gonna be a great photo."
Arthur returned to his practice, shaking his head at what a complete dollophead Merlin was.
Arthur asked Gwen out the next day. Merlin hung up the photo, the first to grace his wall.
"At the top, we take a picture," Gwen says.
Merlin nods and the three of them hobble into the carriage, Gwen in the middle holding both of their hands.
"You good," Arthur asks. Gwen's breathing was a little erratic, but she hadn't started hyperventilating yet.
"I'm gonna," she starts, gulps and tries again. "I'm just gonna close my eyes until we're at the top, alright?"
"That's fine," Arthur assures her, pulling her head toward his shoulder and tugging her hair tenderly. Merlin pats her arm gently and they stay like that until they are stopped near the top on the third time through.
"Open your eyes Gwen," Merlin whispers. "You made it."
And it is gorgeous. For as far the eye can see, there is nothing but blue ocean, soft waves creating little white peaks in the seemingly never-ending water below.
Gwen opens her eyes, biting her lip. When she sees the view, she gasps inaudibly. Arthur watches to make sure she doesn't panic, but Gwen smiles and Arthur relaxes. "Wow."
"Yup," Merlin says and there's suddenly an iPhone obstructing their view. "Say cheese or something."
Arthur and Merlin lean in closer until all three of them were in the frame. "Cheese or something," they all shout in unison.
Merlin taps the button and this moment is forever captured. Arthur leans down and kisses Gwen's cheek and Merlin taps his finger again. When he pulls the iPhone back, Arthur watches him click on the picture and zoom in until it was just Arthur's lips against Gwen's cheek, immediately screen-shotting it when he has the perfect framing.
"That's a good one," Gwen comments before staring back out at the ocean. Arthur grunts in agreement and joins her.
"Thanks," Merlin mutters before slipping his mobile back in his pocket. "Hey look over there," Merlin says suddenly, pointing down to the end of the pier. "Looks like some kind of party."
"We should go," Arthur says instantly. Merlin and Gwen both turn to him in astonishment.
"Seriously?"
"Yes MERlin, seriously," he replies smirking at them both. "Have you ever seen me turn down a good party?"
The carriage jolts, but it seems Gwen is still too stunned to care. "I suppose not," she murmurs.
Arthur chuckles and reaches around Gwen and grabs Merlin's neck, bring his head down until all their faces were inches from each other. "I'm having fun," Arthur tells them. "Thank you."
Merlin looks elated. "You're welcome."
A/N-1 In defense of Guinevere...
So I received a review on my last chapter that simply stated: "I hate Guenevere and Arthur never ever loved her." First of all, I find it hilarious that anyone would even write this out and post it to a story. Like, why? It's a bit random. Yes, this is a story where Arthur and Gwen are together, but I didn't think I was shoving that fact down your throat, anonymous guest review writer. And I won't apologize for forgoing the merthur in favor of the canon relationship this one time.
Gwen is one of my favorite characters in Merlin. She is kind and shy, but unafraid to speak her mind. She wasn't a princess and she never complained about her lot in life. To be quite honest, she reminds me a lot of myself. I can't see myself in the courageous prat Arthur or the secret warrior Merlin or the misunderstood witch Morgana. If I was in that world, I would be Gwen. I would stand by these amazing characters' side and hope that my presence alone would be enough to keep them safe. And I would hope that when I needed them, they would be there to save me.
To claim that Arthur never loved her is absolutely ludicrous. She was loved by all who knew her. Gwaine and Lancelot and Leon. Even the other women in Arthur's life, like Mithian, could not find it in themselves to hate Guinevere. So I wonder why this reviewer loathed the girl so much. Enough to leave a comment that stated it so simply. Did they just go into the search bar and find every story that had [Arthur, Gwen/Guinevere] and write this? And frankly what was the point? Did you want me to agree with you? Did you even think I would acknowledge the comment at all? Or were you just screaming into the void because you were... bored?
I will admit that there are couples on tv and in movies and books that I just don't understand and I would never read a fanfiction that involved them. But if I stumbled onto one, I also wouldn't leave a review like this. In my story Arthur loves Gwen. If you don't like it... well move along and find a fanfiction you do. There is plenty to choose from.
Sincerely,
BingeMac
A/N-2 In defense of this anonymous review: "Well, I was with you right up to point in which the black guy was a drug dealer who had to be bailed out by the white guy at least one or two years his junior. Stereotype much?"
Elyan in the show was no saint and had to be bailed out by Merlin and Arthur and Gwen before he got his life together and became a knight. That is where the idea came from. The show. I was not trying to stereotype. I'm very sorry if it came off that way. And in this universe that I created, people go to Merlin for help. That's just how it works. Merlin was the son of the local detective until Balinor's death, and he soon got the reputation that he will be there if you need him. He may not have magic in this story, but he sort of does. People trust him implicitly. And he comes when you call. That is his superpower.
To this anonymous reviewer, I do hope you can get past this and continue reading my story. However, I doubt you will see this A/N as you have most likely stopped reading after the first chapter. But I thought I would respond anyway.
Sincerely,
BingeMac
