My apologies for the long wait, lovies, I had a bunch of family crap to deal with. I'll try to do better in the future. Anyway, if you have NOT seen Episode 2 of this season, there IS a spoiler. You have been warned.
Thank you, Crystal1998 and Tagrea for reviewing the last chapter =)
As usual, I don't own anything… except my Merlin plushie...
Enjoy!
After a long day of training with King Arthur, it was nice to simply kick back with a drink and scope out the tavern wenches. Which was precisely what Sir Gwaine was doing, along with Leon who insisted he was only there to make sure he didn't make the Knights of Camelot look the fool; Percival and Elyan were there as well. Percival currently had the serving wench, Beth, practically bending over backwards to his every whim. Gwaine wasn't quite sure how he, Percival, managed to get all the ladies. Did they really find sleeveless chainmail that attractive? This was why he preferred to go to the tavern on his own. Sure, he enjoyed the company of his fellow knights but sometimes he yearned for more feminine company. Too bad Lancealot wasn't around anymore. Gwaine cringed at his own thoughts, taking a swig of his ale to remove any trace of it. Thinking ill of the dead, he really must be lonelier than he thought. That's when he saw her.
In the opposite corner sat a young woman, alone, not daring to look any one in the eye instead she stared intently at her own pints contents. Gwaine began to make his way over, casually, looking the girl up and down. She certainly wasn't anything special by a long shot. However, when a lady obviously has put effort into making herself look more endowed, it would be rude not to say something. Having thoroughly convinced himself of his duty, Gwaine slid into the seat across from the girl. She didn't make eye contact.
"Don't say anything and he'll go away" Merlin repeated to herself. She could practically feel Gwaine's eyes burning a hold into her skull.
"What's a lovely young maiden doing in such a rough place all by her lonesome?" Merlin almost snorted. How did he get girls? "I should let you know, I am a Knight of Camelot and it would be my honor to defend your honor for the evening. For a price, of course; a name, perhaps?" Gwaine persisted. It was obvious that Merlin needed a new plan. Was it hot in here? She could feel her palms sweating.
"Merrr- " Merlin stopped. Why was her throat so tight all of a sudden? "Myrddin!" she managed to squeak out. Did she honestly just squeak? Why were her body and mouth not cooperating with her? Gwaine was smirking. He looked so dreamy….
Merlin mentally slapped herself. Dreamy? Well he did…. "focus" she scolded. Just concentrate on not making a bigger fool of yourself…. It's just Gwaine.
Gwaine who I've seen shirtless.
As a MAN.
Yes, he is, isn't he?
Gwaine was beginning to feel uncomfortable. This girl was rocking back and forth and seemed to be arguing under her breath. Perhaps she was more trouble than she was worth?
Beth's high pitched giggle rang across the room. She all but had her skirts over Percival's head. Disgusting… Lucky bastard. No, he had to follow this through. He could deal with crazy… for a night anyway. With a new found resolve, Gwaine pressed forward.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful maiden" She had nice eyes. He'd let them be his driving force. Now that he had made eye contact, Gwaine was able to closer inspect 'Myrddin'. Those eyes looked so familiar. He chose to ignore the eerie familiarity and instead moved next to the girl, noticing smugly that the other knights had now diverted their attention from Percival's new headdress to himself. He'd show them. Percival had nothing on him
"Where are you from? I think I would have noticed such a beauty if you lived in Camelot." Gwaine smirked as Myrddin stuttered for an answer. It was almost too easy.
"I'm not!" she gasped. "I'm just-passing through. Just here for a visit. Not here for long" she finally managed to stammer out a half coherent statement.
"Just a visit?" Gwaine sidled closer. "Perhaps I could direct you to comfortable lodging?" He took her hand and gently caressed her fingers. A nail biter, how charming, he grimaced inwardly, careful to keep his facial expression pleasant.
"That won't be necessary. I'm staying with friends" her voice had such an irritating pitch…
"I could be your friend" Gwaine swooped in for the kill. He tilted her chin up and began to lower his lips to her own.
"Gwaine, it's me!" Merlin frantically groped around for something, anything, reflective, realizing that if she allowed Gwaine to do this, she would never be able to look at him the same once she was back to normal. Desperate, Merlin grabbed a tin plate from the table behind the two and gestured to her own reflection. "It's Merlin" Gwaine recoiled faster than if he'd been slapped.
"Come again?" he whispered hoarsely, glancing quickly over at the knights' table. They didn't appear to notice anything unusual. "Are you serious?" Merlin nodded
"I woke up like this. Only Gaius and Gwen know"
"Does Arthur know?"
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Merlin rolled her eyes. Her sweaty palms and squeaky voice were completely gone now, much to her relief. She would have to remember to ask Gwen about that. "Obviously he doesn't and you're not going to tell him either" Gwaine stood up forcefully, moving the table several inches as he did so.
"Merlin" he began slowly "you are one of my closest…. Actually, one of my only friends if you want to get technical, but I have to disagree with you on this; Arthur is the king now, if there's sorcery going on in Camelot, he has the need to know". Gwaine had barely taken a step when Merlin muttered, just loud enough for him to hear:
"I wouldn't do that if I were you"
"And why is that?" Gwaine asked, irritated
"Because if you do that then I might have to do this:" In one fluid moment Merlin had leapt from her seat, flung her spindly arms about the knight's neck, and kissed him. The entire tavern erupted in thunderous applause, they knights gave out several hoots of approval. Just as quickly as it occurred, it ended, leaving Gwaine sputtering and Merlin with a very Morgana like smirk on her face.
"If you tell Arthur, he will tell the knights about my condition. That leaves you with only two choices: Either you can live with them tormenting you until your last, dying breath or" Merlin fluttered her eyelashes mockingly "we can go for a little stroll and have a nice, little chat. You leave with your dignity and no one will be the wiser" Gwaine stared.
"You're the devil" he snarled. He roughly grabbed her wrist and walked toward the exit "Fine, I'll play along but I get to tell everyone that you're a regular scarlet woman that let me ride you like a two bit donkey"
"You can hold my hand and walk me home"
"This isn't negotiable"
"It is when you're the one with the black mail"
"Done" the two of them then departed the tavern. They hadn't gone but a few yards when none other than Arthur himself came strolling down the street.
"Evening, Gwaine, M'Lady" he gave Merlin a polite bow, much to her amusement, she burst into gales of hysterical, squeaky giggles. Arthur gaped at the woman who was practically falling onto the ground in her laughter. Gwaine tried not to look either one of them in the eye, instead choosing to pray for a quick and painless end.
"I do believe your… friend may have had a little too much mead." Arthur strained to keep his tone pleasant and non-judgemental, Gwaine wasn't known to have the best taste in the ladies; not since Percival joined up now that he thought about it… he was sure there was no connection.
"Yes, yes hee-she has" Gwaine caught himself just in time, "I was just escorting the young lady home safely"
"I'm sure you were" Arthur replied dryly. "Have a good night then, Gwaine… M'Lady"
Gwaine hauled Merlin to her feet as soon as Arthur passed the pair, she was still giggling.
"Gwaine, before you take off" Arthur turned back around to stare at the couple "Did you see Merlin at the tavern by chance?" At the mention of her name, Merlin immediately sobered up, she looked pleadingly at Gwaine had a malicious smile on his face.
"I did in fact" he began, noticing with glee the look of absolute terror on Merlin's face "He was leaving just as I arrived myself. He was stumbling and falling all over himself like a fool. Said something about proposing to Gwen too" Merlin gawped at Gwaine, knowing that she was helpless to defend her- himself in that case- without giving away her identity.
"Is he still there?" Arthur had asked this with a straight face but the outer edge of his eyebrow was twitching, a dead giveaway that he was in fact, attempting to maintain control of his temper, something Merlin had picked up on fairly early on in their friendship.
"No, of course not" Gwaine was still grinning broadly "He's probably gone home to sleep it off by now, he looked pretty drunk" Arthur groaned.
"Well, that's just great. Why is good help so hard to find these days?" without a departing word, Arthur stormed off. Once he was safely out of sight, Merlin whirled on Gwaine, eyes full of fire.
"Prat" she growled, slapping him on the back of the head.
"Sticks and stones, love" Gwaine smirked. "Now come on, darling, we must get you to bed before you go propose to Gwen"
"I hate you so very much"