So sorry for the wait, but I'm done with exams! Hooray! I start work next week, but I'll do my best to update at least once a week.
Morgana looked at Alvarr and then at her sister and Nimueh. She rolled her eyes at the nickname she hated and the declaration of love, "Just give us a few minutes, yeah?" she requested of her band mates.
Both women gave tentative little nods and made their way to the dressing room to change before heading out to sign autographs.
"We're meeting later," Morgause reminded her of their plan for drinks with Last Dragonlord at the hotel bar.
Morgana nodded and watched them leave. She wasn't really looking forward to that, what with her trying to avoid Merlin after what she saw as a brutal rejection. She had more pressing matters at hand, anyway.
She turned to face Alvarr, displeasure clear on her face. She tilted her head and led him to the corner where they'd be out of the way of the crew who was cleaning up.
"I don't love you. I never did. I don't want to get back together," she said bluntly.
"How can you say that?" Alvarr asked, looking hurt. He stepped towards her as if he wanted to take her hand.
"We dated because it was easy and the sex was nice. It wasn't fantastic, to be honest," she shrugged, perhaps a bit heartlessly.
"Are you dating someone?" Alvarr narrowed his eyes.
"Not that it's any of your business, no," Morgana wished she could breathe fire and set him aflame.
"So you're not dating that Last Dragonlord fellow?" Alvarr asked.
Morgana's lips quirked into a smile, "Which one?"
"The one you've been spotted with all over the place," Alvarr was getting exasperated with her, "The Magic Man," he practically spat the name of the song they had just played in her face.
Merlin. He meant Merlin. Oh, God. Pretty man with blue eyes, that was Merlin alright. How had she been so stupid? Going on and singing that song when everyone already thought there was something going on? Her eyes narrowed and she scowled.
"What I do in my spare time is none of your concern. And for the record, we're all friends on this tour."
"That's just what you publicist puts out. I know you and I know you jumped at the chance to fuck that Emrys guy since he's more talented than you'll ever be and you need him for more attention," he snarled. All pretences of wanting to get back together because he loved her were dropped.
Truth was, his publicist said Morgana was good for his image, more so than his current girlfriend who people saw as a home wrecker.
Morgana's hands curled into fists. She gave Alvarr a right hook, sending him reeling back. He wailed in pain and held his cheek.
"You bitch! I have to film scenes tomorrow," he groaned.
"Everything okay here?" Merlin walked towards the secluded corner she and Alvarr were in. Morgause had found him and Gwaine waiting by their dressing room to escort them to the car waiting to take them to the hotel, and she had quietly confided that Morgana may need back up. She knew her sister and how if provoked, she'd attack with all her might.
He saw the red mark on Alvarr's cheek and the redness of Morgana's hand.
"Morgana?" he asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, Merlin," she smiled at him, "I'm more than fine. You can see yourself out, right, Alvarr?"
Alvarr glared at her, then gave Merlin an once-over. He scowled at them, and finally nodded.
Merlin looked at Morgana, waiting for an explanation. She shook her head and took his arm, dragging him away. This was the most they had spoken to each other in days, and now she was touching him again. Well, dragging him away. But still.
They neared her dressing room, and she let out a shaky laugh. Merlin looked at her strangely, and took her hand. She didn't wince away, and he relaxed a bit. He was still concerned about her hand though.
"You hurt yourself punching him," Merlin said, examining her red, raw knuckles.
"Totally worth it," she tried to wave it off.
Merlin opened the door to her dressing room for the two nights of concerts, and led her in. He sat her down in front of the mirror.
"Do you have a first aid kit or something?" Merlin asked.
Morgana snorted, "I've got some band-aids in my bag, but I'm fine."
Merlin gave a small nod. Morgana had her moments of clumsiness, so it was to be expected she carried around bandages. Her falling while walking (especially in heels) was nothing new. She seemed to put together though for someone so uncoordinated.
"Your hand says otherwise," Merlin let go of her hand and walked across the room to pick up her bag. She took it with her uninjured hand and found the small box of bandages. She handed it to him and he frowned.
"You need ice, not a band-aid," Merlin murmured.
Morgana bit her tongue to keep from talking back. Alvarr had ruined her streak of avoiding Merlin. Damn him.
Merlin wandered into the adjoining toilet where there was a sink and a towel. He wet the towel with cold water and brought back to Morgana. He sat down in front of her, took her hand again and placed the towel on her wound. She hissed, not expecting it to hurt.
"How'd you know to arrive at that exact moment?" Morgana asked through gritted teeth.
"Morgause told me to come get you. They're done signing and stuff. Gwaine went with her and Nimueh back to the hotel. Fans are still waiting for you, you know," he informed her and gently patted the towel on her hand.
Of course Morgause had sent him to check on the situation. Her older sister sure had a strange way of showing she didn't want them to get together.
"Can't exactly sign like this," Morgana sighed, "They deserve to get autographs, though."
"You have time," Merlin said quietly.
"I'm sorry I've been avoiding you," Morgana said softly, "I was mad."
Merlin looked up from her hand with a questioning look, "Whatever I did, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad."
She let out a laugh.
"I know you didn't," she said. But he did. He made her mad and she didn't know why she was so mad. He was infuriating sometimes.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.
"I know," she offered him a small smile.
He looked down at her hand again and pressed the towel down to try to alleviate some of the redness. His fingers grazed across her wrist and she closed her eyes for a split second.
He set the towel aside and looked at her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles gingerly. Morgana bit her lip.
"It's going to bruise," he said.
"It's fine," Morgana said, "I don't need a band-aid."
"Okay," Merlin conceded, much to Morgana's relief. The cut on her hand was small, but the bruising would be pretty bad later.
He let go of her hand and stood. Her hand twitched.
"You do what you need to do. I'll be by the exit," Merlin said lightly.
Morgana nodded, watching him leave. Once the door closed she changed out of her black dress and heels and into a grey shirt with the Ramones emblazoned on it and dark blue jeans, and plain trainers. She put on a black jacket over her shirt, grabbed her bag, and met Merlin by the doors.
Upon exiting, she was surprised to see so many people still waiting. They burst into screams when they spotted the pair of them together. Merlin took out his own pen and started to sign autographs as a surprise.
Morgana went off in the other direction, signing photos and posters and papers for her own fans. She glanced at Merlin and grinned a bit as he talked to a little girl. He'd just made that kid's day by taking a picture with her and giving her a high five. Merlin with children was just about the cutest thing she'd ever seen. So much for trying to avoid him.
She shouldn't have been surprised that the entertainment section was abuzz with her argument with Alvarr (though no one knew the details) and her and Merlin's autograph session long after everyone had left. Unsurprisingly, there was also an analysis of the songs they had performed that night and what message she could be trying to send to Alvarr, or alternatively, Merlin. She shouldn't have scowled when she read about more dating rumours because they took a car to the hotel together. It was a part of the job, she supposed. People were interested in her personal life, annoying as it was.
They were on the Euro Star to France, and Merlin was seated next to Gwen, across from Freya (who was currently seated next to Lancelot and had been using his shoulder as a pillow).
Gwaine and Percival were sat together, and Will and Nimueh were next to each other, Morgause on the other side. For some reason Arthur and Morgana had been placed in a different coach. Arthur was undoubtedly asleep, but at that moment Morgana shuffled through the automatic doors.
"You're here," Gwen smiled.
"Yay," Merlin cheered, hoping he didn't sound sarcastic. It was a genuine yay.
He hadn't had much of an opportunity to talk to her the night before. She had been quiet at breakfast, likely due to the altercation with Alvarr. He wondered if she actually cared about her ex before reminding himself it wasn't his business. He missed their late-night/early morning drunken writing session, though. It was the part of the day he ended up looking forward to the most. And since she hadn't been speaking to him for near a week, he found himself in a creative rut. He frowned slightly. Since when did he need Morgana to be creative?
"No, I'm going somewhere else, you can calm down," she tilted her head towards the other end of that coach.
Her hair was in a bun and she wore her glasses and an oversized sweater.
"Where to?" Gwen asked.
"Getting food. And seeing if there are ear plugs. Arthur snores," she wrinkled her nose.
Merlin snorted and Lancelot cracked a smile. Freya was supposedly asleep, but her lips quirked up ever so slightly.
"Come on, then," she looked at Merlin.
"Why me?" Merlin asked suspiciously.
"Because Lancelot's being used as a human pillow and Gwen looks comfortably seated," she answered easily.
Merlin rolled his eyes and stood up to follow her. At least now he had an excuse to talk to her. They had catching up to do.
Gwen and Lancelot shared a look as their friends left, and Freya opened her eyes.
"I keep telling you, Lance, you owe me twenty quid," she mumbled.
"Not yet," he mumbled, and patted her head affectionately.
"I'm in on this bet and I'm with Freya," Gwen told the man. Arthur wanted in, too, apparently. He was betting on Merlin never giving into his feelings, though.
When Elyan had told her how charged the two had been during their little photo shoot, Gwen's mind had gone into overdrive. She could see it, the electricity between them, even if they couldn't. Morgana was less surly and Merlin was more open. They were better together.
"Just don't let anyone else on it. It's likely he'll be broke by the end of the month," Freya smirked.
Lancelot shook his head and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. While the press were busy hounding Morgana and Merlin about their non-existent relationship, they had neglected to notice the blossoming one between Freya and Lancelot (the one relationship that had been developing and forming for years, long before the band was even famous).
Merlin waited as Morgana purchased a sandwich and he bought himself a bottle of water.
"You barely ate at breakfast," she pursed her lips.
He had been quieter than usual, and she didn't know how to strike up a conversation when he seemed so out of it. Everyone else had been chattering as if nothing was wrong, but the two of them remained silent.
"Not hungry," Merlin shrugged.
Morgana gazed at him and shook her head.
"They didn't have ear plugs," she muttered.
"Listen to your iPod," Merlin suggested.
"Not even that can drown out Arthur's snores," Morgana snorted, earning a laugh from Merlin. It was a start.
A few days earlier
Arthur walked down the hotel corridor, eyes fixed to his smart phone. He tapped at the screen, viewing his emails from his father, from reporters, from assistants. He sighed, reading Uther's message about calling a meeting to extend the tour. Last Dragonlord still needed to record their third album. Extending the tour meant they would have to push the release back into spring of next year. Fall was supposed to be for recording until the winter tour. He needed to find Guinevere to talk about the possible extension.
His mobile buzzed and he brought it to his ear.
"Pendragon," he said, stepping into the lift. Answering with his surname caused confusion at times, but surely he didn't sound like Uther.
He frowned as he listened to Uther's assistant prattle on about ticket sales and a new group he wanted to sign, but wanted Arthur to see them as well (a formality more than anything else). Arthur gave his assurances about seeing the new group when they were all back in London.
The lift reached the ground floor and he stepped out, nearly crashing into Guinevere.
"Ah, Guinevere, just the person I wanted to see," Arthur's expression brightened.
"Morning, Arthur," Gwen said politely.
"Have you received the oh-so-convincing emails about extending the tour?" he asked, falling in step with her as they walked towards the hotel's café.
She nodded, and frowned, "They're not going to like this. Morgana's still writing and there's not enough time."
"Uther suggests recording on tour," Arthur held the door open for her, earning a small smile.
"They'll be tired, over-worked, and their voices will be shot," Gwen sighed, taking a seat at a small table. Arthur followed suit and sat across from her.
"Sound mixing and editing," Arthur suggested with a scowl. He didn't like that idea, knowing how much the band wanted to sound like themselves in the recordings.
"You and I both know how well that'd go over with them," Gwen stated.
A waiter came by, took their orders for coffee and eggs and pancakes, and went on his way.
"Are you going to see that new pop group Uther's been talking about?" Guinevere asked as the waiter brought them their coffee.
Arthur nodded, "Looking forward to it."
Gwen let out a snort, "Don't sound too excited."
"Oh, I'm overjoyed at the addition of some pretty boys dancing in sync," he deadpanned.
"I thought it was a girl group," Gwen giggled, picking up her cup of coffee.
"Same difference," Arthur shrugged, "they'll likely lip sync, be too young to know what they're getting themselves into, and be micromanaged by fame mongering parents."
Gwen nodded sympathetically, "Sophia's a pop singer though."
"Sophia is also a grown woman and capable of singing live and making her own decisions," Arthur pointed out. Gwen nodded in agreement. She quite liked Sophia.
Her mobile buzzed and she dug it out of her bag. She read the message and frowned while typing a response.
Arthur looked at her with a raised brow.
"Mithian about some publicity…bad publicity," she sighed, clicking the link to a short video of Morgana and Merlin smoking outside. It was from that night she and Arthur lectured them.
She held the mobile out to Arthur, who scowled. It wasn't anyone else's business what they did on their own time. How did they always manage to find these things?
"They've been avoiding each other," Gwen said matter-of-factly, putting her phone away.
"Do you think it's because we told them to be careful?" Arthur took a sip of his coffee.
"I don't know what happened, but Merlin looks at Morgana like a wounded puppy, and Morgana freezes up at the mention of him," she shrugged.
"How do you know all this?" Arthur asked.
"Because, my dear Watson, I don't just look, I see," Guinevere smiled.
Arthur laughed a bit.
"Do you want to come see the group with me?" Arthur asked, changing the topic.
"I think Uther intends to make them your responsibility," Gwen smiled slightly, glad she wasn't going to get stuck with them, especially if Arthur's guesses were spot-on.
"Don't make me go alone, Guinevere. Please," he said, his eyes widening.
Gwen leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms. Arthur could be quite convincing. She bit her lip, then smiled.
"Fine."
"I owe you, m'lady," Arthur let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll hold you to that," Gwen said with a small smirk. She had clearly been spending too much time with Morgana.
Sometimes Arthur felt like he and Guinevere shared a brain. They had been in the studio together, listening to Uther's newest prey, errr, prospect. They weren't bad, but they weren't good, either. Did the world really need more teenybopper boy bands? Uther apparently thought so.
They sat in a restaurant in the middle of London. Gwen picked at her mashed potatoes and Arthur munched on some chicken.
"What?" Arthur asked, noting the pensive look on his friend's face.
"Nothing," she shook her head.
"Guinevere," Arthur said softly.
Gwen looked up from her plate and made a face of discomfort, "I'm just concerned that Uther's going to end up overworking the band. Bands," she said, correcting herself.
Arthur nodded solemnly. He was thinking the same thing. Sometimes it seemed his father was more interested in making money than making music. Uther Pendragon hadn't always been that way.
It was nice to be back in her flat. It wasn't the largest or most expensive, but it was hers. A brief reprieve in London was what she needed. In two days they'd be on the EuroStar to France after two shows, but for now she was home. She shoved her laundry in the machine, wrinkling her nose at the sheer amount amassed over the past month. Sure usually she took it to the dry cleaners, but there was something soothing about watching the clothes tumble in the wash.
Morgana sat down on her couch and propped her legs up, bringing her knees to her chest. She was tired. Achingly tired. There was only so much time on a tour bus she could take. She wished she were calmer and more resilient like Morgause and Nimueh. Maybe she complained too much.
She switched on the telly and smiled. When Harry Met Sally was halfway through, but she watched it anyway. Anything to get her mind off of her responsibilities. She was supposed to be writing and composing. All she wanted was a break. Her migraines started after the near-kiss with Merlin, and she attributed it to her body's way of telling her to lay off the booze. She frowned upon remembering that night, well, morning. She thought he liked her. She thought wrong, clearly.
Arthur's job consisted of a lot of calls and corrections and well, managing. He let the publicists deal with the press, for the most part. He just had to take care of recording schedules, tour dates, signings, interviews, and the like. They were due for a press conference in Paris the next day as the popularity of both groups was growing on the continent, as well as in the States. It was no wonder Uther wanted to extend the tour, but if he wanted a longer tour, they'd have to push back the album release. He can't have everything.
As he wasn't a publicist, he didn't expect his job to consist of quieting scandals. Freya's stalker had been one issue, Gwaine coming out of the closet another (though that wasn't really much of an issue since Gwaine was beautiful and men and women everywhere would still love him), but Merlin's downward spiral had been the worst. The man had looked half-dead after a short stay in the hospital, and he insisted he didn't need rehab. Merlin instead threw himself into writing and composing, and slowly but surely he seemed to get better. Now, just when it seemed he was getting back to his old self, the dead expression in his eyes returned once in a while. Arthur had kept what Gwen said in his head, and had not noticed how Merlin's eyes would lose their light whenever Morgana was near. He didn't know what happened. He didn't think he wanted to know.
Needless to say, he was pleasantly surprised to wake up on the EuroStar to find Morgana and Merlin laughing quietly.
"What?" Arthur asked groggily, wiping at his eyes.
"Nothing," Merlin said quickly, earning and giggle from Morgana.
She held her mobile in her hand and tapped a button. Sounds of snores echoed through the speakers, and Merlin sniggered like a little boy.
"Have a nice nap?" Morgana asked her childhood friend.
" 'S not me," Arthur said indignantly, pouting.
Morgana and Merlin collapsed into fits of laughter, and Arthur smiled slightly. Better, this was better.
The press conference is in the next chapter. As they'll be taking audience questions, I'd really appreciate it if you leave questions for any of the characters that are band members in a review. Morgana, Freya, Merlin, Will, Gwaine, Nimueh, Lancelot, Gwaine, Morgause, any of them. I thought it'd be nice to have reader interaction. Let me know what you think and please review.