-9-
Merlin and Morgana sat at the cafe table after Gwen left. She had received a phone call that cut their afternoon short-something about a thesis meeting at the University and excused herself. With Gwen gone, Merlin and Morgana soon got down to the business of discussing step two of their grand master plan.
"Morgana," Merlin began. "As long as we're on the subject of great interruptions, remind me again why we're doing this."
Morgana raised an elegant eyebrow and sat back in her chair. "We need to dislodge the iron rod that seems to be permanently stuck up Arthur's ass," she said simply.
"And how does Gwen fit into this?" Merlin's forehead was a map of confused lines.
"Gwen will do it for us," Morgana pronounced.
"The mental image of that is disgusting," was all Merlin could reply.
Morgana gave a small chuckle. She did rather think that it made Gwen sound like a plumber.
"I love Arthur," she said softly. "Even though I show it in a roundabout way. Seeing him now, being constantly under Father's shadow...it's killing him, Merlin."
Merlin looked at the woman seated across him. Displays of sentimentality were uncharacteristic of Morgana, she usually hid whatever she was feeling with a joke or a sneer.
"Arthur was always so fun to be around," Morgana continued. "I took the mickey out of him when we were growing up-he rose to the bait and gave as much as he got!" Her voice was becoming more passionate now.
"But the last three years," she shook her head and sighed. "He has to have something good, something beautiful in his life or he's just going to fade away."
"And Gwen...," the question was evident in Merlin's tone.
"She reminds me of mom," Morgana looked at Merlin and in her eyes was a softness that made Merlin catch his breath. "There's a light about her that Arthur needs. I don't know Merlin," she sighed. "I just know that they have to meet each other."
"And how do you know that?" Merlin asked. "This is a little loopy Morgs, even for you."
Merlin knew that he wasn't getting the complete picture, and he wanted to know everything before he plowed headlong into this scheme.
Morgana looked steadily at Merlin and then dropped her eyes. When she looked back up, he saw the familiar glint of mischief that was her trademark.
"Gwen is LadyInLavender."
"Say what?" Merlin was confused.
Morgana told Merlin about the story and the e-mails. With each revelation, Merlin's eyebrows shot further skyward until he resembled a startled fish. He knew because Morgana told him so.
"Let me get this straight," he said after Morgana was done. "Answer with a simple yes or no, and please, tell me if I get anything confused."
"Okay," Morgana said.
"Arthur-Prince Perfect-is obsessed with a story someone wrote about him?"
"Yes."
"This someone is LadyInLavender."
"Yes."
"Who just happens to be Gwen."
"Yes."
"And he sought her out."
"Yes."
"He," Merlin emphasized the word. "Got in touch with her."
"Yes."
"He wants to get to know her."
"Yes," Morgana was starting to grit her teeth.
"He, Arthur, wants to know who she, LadyInLavender who turns out to be Gwen, really is."
"Get on with it Merlin," Morgana snarled.
"So we have to get them together," Merlin said quickly.
"Correct."
"How does that help us with the bet?"
"The bet has nothing to do with this..."
"Why not?" Merlin protested. "Do you know how many hours I've spent trying to read that stupid book and trying to find the right words..."
"Merlin," Morgana cut into Merlin's tirade. "The bet has nothing to do with this directly..."
Merlin started to protest again but Morgana put a hand up to stop him from speaking.
"But when they get together, attention will shift from these writers pairing Arthur with every fictional female in the universe, to just Gwen with Arthur," Morgana's smile was brilliant. "And really, how many stories of perfect couples can you make up, hmmm?"
"Huh?" Merlin was confused. He liked the epic love scheme part, but the rest was just blah-blah-blah to him.
"People get tired of perfect couples, Merlin," Morgana spoke slowly. "And when they get tired of them, they will naturally turn to me."
"Us," Merlin corrected.
"Fine, us," Morgana gave in.
"You said when they get together," Merlin recalled Morgana's words. "Shouldn't that be an 'if'? As in, 'if they get together?'"
"No ifs," Morgana said. "I meant 'when'. 'If' does not factor into this."
Merlin considered this. He rather liked the concept of being more notorious, he'd been Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes for far too long.
"Sign me up," he said. "I'm in."
Morgana smiled and got out her phone. She pressed a few buttons and waited for a call to connect.
"Hello, Arthur," her tone was silky and even as she spoke into her mobile. "I've found you a wife."
