A/N: Hello again! Once again, I thank all of those who reviewed, favored, alerted, etc… It makes me very happy! :D I was hesitant on posting this because I wasn't so sure about this one, but I went with it so you didn't have to wait for me to make up my mind (which could've taken a while). So please review it!
Disclaimer: Merlin's not mine, and neither is Arthur, unfortunately, or anyone else for that matter. I only own Jen.
"So many to choose from…" I stood there in my chambers chewing on my lip, wondering what dress I was going to wear to the feast. When I had been walking to my room, I had heard the maids talking about a food fight and I didn't know how to dress for a food fight. I don't have my messy, yard work clothes with me at the moment, so that was out.
I guess all I had to do was hope that I am able to make it out of the room before I get pelted with food. After I confirmed that that was my plan I got dressed in the most formal dress I could find; a royal blue gown that went a bit past my ankles. It had a low neck line and the sleeves were dangling over the shoulders, but still managed to hold up. It was tight and required a corset, something I had no experience with. To my luck, Gwen had come in to check on me and I was able to get her help with the stubborn thing.
"There!" she exclaimed happily once I was all dress up.
"Thanks so much for your help, Gwen." I said wholeheartedly. She excused herself to the feast and I was left trying to figure out how to put my hair.
Staring into the mirror I fiddled with the tangles and knots until it was smooth, then worked on a proper style. It took a while because I couldn't decide between two styles, but I settled with pulling the left front strand back with a beautiful, butterfly comb. I was already late, so it had to be good enough for Camelot.
I slipped on blue slippers that matched the dress I had on. Well, they weren't my Converse, but it would have to do seeing as shoes aren't that good here.
With a pounding chest, I took my first step out of the door. The halls seemed to be extra long and narrow. Each step I took was like a drum banging inside of my brain; just another reminder of why I hate parties! I always got too nervous before them and I would end up making a fool of myself. The thought of going to a feast not knowing most of the people was nerve-wracking. At least I knew four people, but Arthur and Morgana would be busy greeting the guests and Gwen and Merlin would be busy 'keeping their goblets full'. That leaves me with nothing to do but feel awkward.
At last, I reached the big doors that led into the feast. Two guards were standing at the entrance. They bowed their heads and opened the doors. I smile a 'thanks' and walked in. When I got in there, my stomach did a total back flip.
Everyone was staring at me.
Okay, not everyone, but it sure did feel like that! Was it too late to make an embarrassing run for it? My feet ordered me to walk on and so I did. Yes, it was definitely too late to turn back. I was in the middle of the room when Merlin came up to me.
"You sure do know how to catch a knight's eye." He teased. "You look beautiful." Merlin said. It was clear that it was awkward for him to say that. I guess he doesn't have much experience with girls. Oh well, I don't have much with boys.
I returned the compliment. "Thank you very much. You look very handsome." Yes, he was still wearing that lucky red scarf and brown jacket of his.
"I was supposed to wear this ridiculous uniform with a horrid hat, but I was able to talk myself out of it." Merlin explained with a smile. "And no I didn't use magic. I do have other talents, you know?"
I held my hands up defensively. "Hey, I didn't say you didn't!"
"So what were you doing at Gaius' when I wasn't there?" he asked. I giggled.
"Oh he was shocked that I had never seeing a unicorn." I informed him with another laugh. He looked a bit confused.
"Then he must have just been teasing you, because seeing a unicorn is a really rare thing." the all-knowing Merlin said.
"Really?" he nodded. "Weird."
"You don't have unicorn-"
"Merlin, I need more wine!" Arthur ordered. Wow, when he said was there just to fill Arthur's cup he wasn't kidding! Merlin gave me an apologetic look and went after Arthur's drink. I was left on my own again. A small walk would be nice, I suppose.
On this short stroll through the throne room, I received a few winks from the knights. I recognized one of them as the knight that had come up to me yesterday. What was his name? Oh well, that doesn't really matter to me. I wasn't ever going to see him again once I was back to the future.
The stares continued with a few whistles every now and then. That made it really awkward for me. I went over and stood out to the side, facing the doors. Maybe it wasn't too late to bail…
"Jennifer," someone greeted me from behind. Turning around, I saw Prince Arthur standing inches from me wearing long, red robes and a gold crown upon his blond head. It suited him very nicely. "You look simply beautiful tonight."
I looked up at him and raised my eyebrows playfully. "I think that crown of yours is on too tight." I teased. He smiled and rolled his blue eyes.
"Don't say that. Tell me you haven't been noticing that all the men in this room have been interested in you." He challenged. I knew he was right, but I was embarrassed to admit it. I was too self-conscious for my own good.
I blushed and cleared my throat. "So how's the feast?"
"Changing the subject I see." Arthur chuckled. "It's fine, just like all the others." He looked up at the ceiling while I took that chance to take in a deep breath. He looked back at me. "You do realize where you're standing, don't you?"
"Um, in the throne room off to the side?" I asked with a smile.
He shook his head and his face went serious. "Under mistletoe." He said simply. I gasped and looked up. Sure enough, there was that trader plant. The plant that had gotten me into so many weird situations and now here I was, under mistletoe with King… Prince Arthur.
He began to lean in as I stood on my toes, readying myself for the magic that was about to happen. His eyes were closed and I was about to do the same. Yes, I know that this is happening so fast, but one little kiss is fine! My eyes were almost shut, and that's when I saw her. Guinevere. She was standing in a corner. No, she wasn't watching us, but some knights drinking their brains out and cracking jokes. But still, I felt strange doing this. One kiss wouldn't hurt, but I still knew…
Arthur's lips were less than an inch from mine when I stood off to the side. I cleared my throat so he would open his eyes and not kiss the wall. Arthur's eyes flung open. When he saw me looking guilty and had my head down, he sighed.
I glanced back at Gwen who was now talking with Morgana. "Excuse me," I said quickly and walked away leaving Arthur behind. I heard a few knights chuckle loudly and make remarks like, "Better luck next time" and "Even the prince of Camelot gets turned down". Ignoring them, I swiftly walked out the doors without waiting for the guards to open them dramatically for me.
So badly did I want to dissolve into the walls right now! That, unfortunately, wasn't possible, so I settled on turning the corner and collapsing on the floor. "Oh, gosh!" I gasped. Why didn't I kiss him?! The chance was laid perfectly in front of me! I was too dumb to take the chance, though. But Gwen, she was supposed to be Arthur's bride and become queen, not me.
Not that I even considered me and Arthur being together!
Surely, he was going to avoid me now. He had been made a fool of by being turned down by the new girl. I wouldn't get the chance to explain either, because I can't! "Hey, Arthur, guess what! You're going to marry Morgana's maid one day and that's why I'm not going to kiss you!" Yeah, it sounds insane.
I sat there on the cold floor for minutes or hours, for time wasn't of the essence to me. All that mattered was that I was out of that room. All that mattered was that I could suffer in peace, without lingering eyes.
Footsteps were coming my way, but I couldn't care less. "Jen?" a familiar voice asked. It was Merlin. Concern was plastered across his face. He sat down next to me and my pool of blue fabric. "I saw what happened. Most of the guests saw what happened." He shrugged. Tears began to slide down my cheeks. Merlin didn't miss a thing, did he? He lifted my face up and wiped the tears off. "It's going to be alright. Arthur's a prat, remember?"
A single laugh escaped my lips. It was broken and sad, but it was a laugh all the same. This brought a smile to his face.
"It's Gwen isn't it?" his question caught me off guard. "Or Morgana." I gave him a confused look. "I saw you looking that way when you didn't…" he let the sentence float in the air because we both knew he shouldn't finish that line.
"One of them, yes." I said.
He let that subject drop and changed it. "He's really disappointed in there, you know?"
"I'm sorry, but it was just happening too fast!" I lied. Was it really a lie?
"I agree, but you do know that you're only here for a short amount of time." He reminded me, but he didn't have to. I already knew that. It was something that was always haunting me, now. "What do you say about going back in there and I'll get you some wine?"
"As tempting as that sounds, I don't drink." I told him. He shrugged. "I probably should be going to bed anyway. I don't think I could stand the stares." Merlin nodded and helped me to my aching feet.
"It's almost over anyway." He smiled. "Goodnight, Jen." He walked off then, back to Arthur I suppose. I sighed and wiped away the rest of my tears. Looking ahead of me, I put one foot in front of the other. My room wasn't that far away.
It seemed like it took an eternity to get back to my chambers. Collapsing on my bed I realized just how tired and cold I was. I got under the thick covers letting the warmth flow through me. I was about to drift off when there was a knock on my door. I groaned loudly. Easily, I could have told whoever it is to go away, but of course, I had to do the polite thing. "Come in." I grumbled.
The door opened and in stepped Merlin. He had his usual smile on his face and something in his arms. It was striped purple pants with a purple top! I ran over and hugged him.
"Oh, thank you, Merlin, thank you!" I screamed like a little girl.
"Sure, and since last night you slept in your clothes I thought you might need these." He explained and handed me my clothes.
"Yeah, what was I supposed to sleep in anyway?" I asked. He chuckled and went over to my wardrobe. He hunted through the gowns until he pulled out a light blue dress that had long sleeves and touched the floor. "That?" I asked shocked.
He nodded.
"I thought that was just a dress to wear!" I said as he laughed at me again.
"Then it's a good thing I told you before you went walking around Camelot in your nightgown." He put the night gown back in the wardrobe and turned back to me. "Now you have your… night pants."
I giggled. "They're pajamas." I told him. "Not 'night pants', Merlin."
"Sorry I'm not familiar with your strange talk." He teased. "You look pretty tired, so I'll leave you." Merlin was out the door when he turned around. "Get some sleep." He ordered.
"I will, dad!" he chuckled and shut the door.
I sighed and changed into my soft and fuzzy pajamas. I had tossed the other dress over a chair. My own clothes felt good to have on, like part of home was still with me. It eased my nerves drastically. Merlin was a hero! He was definitely the best warlock ever for bringing me my PJs.
Once again I got in the bed and laid my head on the fluffy pillow. My eyes closed and…
Knock, knock, knock!
Great, just great! Don't they know when to give a girl some peace and quiet?
Knock, knock!
"Apparently not." I grumbled. "Go away!" I yelled.
"Jennifer?" a small voice outside my door said. It was Arthur. "Can we talk?"
I groaned. "Fine," I yelled back. I got up and stood in the middle of my room with my arms crossed. He opened the door and came in. Immediately, he looked away.
"You're not even dressed." He said covering his eyes with his right hand only peaking slightly in between the gaps in his fingers.
I snorted. "You know, Artie, I've worn more revealing things out shopping." My hands moved to my hips. He grimaced and dropped his hand. "Now, what did you want?"
"Did you just call me…?" he paused. "You know, most people wouldn't talk to the future king of Camelot like that after denying him a kiss." He pointed out. I rolled my eyes.
"Well, I'm not most people. Now, if you're done talking about yourself in third person can you get to your point?"
Arthur opened his mouth. "I thought that I already did!" I waited. "Why did you run off?" I turned my back and began walking to my bed, hands still on hips.
"I have my reasons." I said simply.
Arthur opened his mouth and a let out a small sigh. "It's going too fast, isn't it?" he asked. "No, there's someone else in your life right now?" I shook my head with a humorless laugh. Then Arthur gasped as if he finally knew the real reason. "I know what it is."
"You do?" I asked skeptically.
"Of course I do. I'm not oblivious to everything, as to what Merlin might tell you." He looked deep into my eyes. "It's my father."
I needed a reason that sounded true, for the actual reason sounded ridiculous. "Yeah, that's it." Maybe that was the truth, too. "Arthur, like you said, you're the prince and I'm a servant girl." Well, I kind of am.
Arthur put his hand up to his temple. He took his crown off and sat it down on the trunk. "There."
I sighed and put my hand on his shoulder. "That doesn't change your identity and I really don't want it to. Look, I'll explain later, maybe, but for now can I get some sleep?" I began pushing him softly out the door. I didn't wait for an answer. "See you in the morning, Arthur."
The door clicked shut and I leaned against the smooth wood. "Man, why can't I just tell him?!" I said aloud, perhaps, a little too loud.
I got into my bed for the third time that night. I leaned over to blow out the single candle on the small bedside table. Darkness engulfed the room with shadows stretching from wall to wall. My head fell back onto the pillow and I looked up at the ceiling. "Goodnight, Camelot. Goodnight, Arthur."
A/N: Sorry for the dorky ending, but I didn't know how to end this chapter. Please review it, since I wasn't sure if this chapter was crap or not, so please I need feedback! That would be very, very, very, nice of you!