Gwaine's chapter. Look out for f-bombs (two of them). I apologize beforehand.

And it's been awhile since my disclaimer and in that time, no, I did not come into ownership of Merlin. I would, however, love to own a Round Table (with the added accessories of Knights and King and Queen).

If the sour look Arthur threw at Gwaine was any indication, the party was a success.

Arthur and Guinevere arrived at perfectly on time; they were the last to arrive and therefore were genuinely surprised to see the amount of people gathered in Gwaine's house. Guinevere was delighted and touched and Arthur just a level below fuming because he does not like surprises, especially surprises that puts him in centre of people's attention. But when it was announced that it was a party for his engagement as well, he managed to relax and enjoy a bit and then spent most of his time showing off Guinevere. Of course, he was subtle about it (not so much to Guinevere, naturally, but she let it slide), but there was no doubt that Arthur and the future Mrs Pendragon were enjoying themselves immensely. Of course, more celebrations ensued when Gwaine and Merlin noticed fairly early on that Guinevere was not drinking the champagne and when Gwaine prompted her, asking her if there was something she would like to tell them all, she announced that she and Arthur were expecting a baby in the summer. That gave more reason to celebrate and of course, there was the rather heated discussion on godfather duties between himself, Merlin and Lance, which was put on hold until a more convenient time, when there were less guests and more room for wrestling.

Gwaine did the obligatory host's circuit around the formal sitting room, making sure everyone was having a good time and everyone had a drink in their hands. Lance was across the room, doing the same while Arthur and Guinevere were holding court amongst a few mutual friends. There was a moment of panic when Gwaine realized Merlin was nowhere to be seen, but a quick scan around the room and he saw Merlin near the grand staircase. He was with Morgause and her daughter, Nina, entertaining them with his juggling skills.

Gwaine had seen the look on Merlin's face when he introduced him to Percival, invited as a guest because he played in their weekend football team (he played in goal and Gwaine had lost count at the number of goalposts broken when Percival collided into them during games). He had seen the struggle it took for Merlin to be civil to Gwaine's former boyfriend. It was really rather sweet and endearing, since Merlin obviously does not know what he was doing or feeling and Gwaine was in no hurry to help him out either. In fact, Gwaine found it rather flattering to have Merlin (whom they had pegged down as asexual after the myriads of men and women thrown in his direction that had left him unimpressed as well as just a touch nonplussed) to be all flustered about Gwaine. This was good.

And Gwaine is just going to leave it at that. If anything…anything at all were to happen between them, Merlin has to make the first move.

Gwaine…well, he was contented to just wait.

The champagne (he lost count after the third toast) he drank was working its magic in him, keeping him just pleasantly buzzed. Well, it could be the champagne, could be Merlin all possessive of him, but whatever it was, it gave Gwaine a good feeling. He talked and laughed, solved the minor issue regarding the keys to the silver cabinet (Mrs Baxter did not trust the supervisors of the catering staff) and generally had a good time at the party.

There was also the small matter of the blond woman who came with Lance and was now spending most of her time by herself looking at the various photographs and painting on display in the panelled walls of the hallway between the formal sitting room and the dining room. Gwaine did know what was worse; that a woman as beautiful as her shying away ever so subtly from the crowd or the fact that she had not refreshed her glass of wine since it went empty almost twenty five minutes ago. She was the next person Gwaine had intended to talk to…actually she was the first person Gwaine wanted to talk to all evening. Gwaine could not remember meeting her (and he would have definitely remembered her if he had for she had this wholesomeness about her that was refreshing and warm and lovely to behold) but her attendance at this party was as monumental as she arriving with Lance. Gwaine did not have any time to speak to Lance; the latter keeping himself busy with the guests and generally playing the role of a host way too perfectly for it to be anything but real. Gwaine and Lance had been friends for too long for Gwaine not to realize when Lance was not being himself. And that the easy smile he wore was more forced than one would believe it to be.

Gwaine was about to make his way towards the blond woman when Percival came up to him, with nothing more than a general inquiry to how was he holding up. Gwaine grinned, indicating he was fine; his grin widening at the thought of what this lovely little meeting between them was doing to Merlin. Gwaine took a step towards Percival, unbothered as Percival was regarding personal space because Percival was big enough to make an entire room his personal space. Gwaine did this mainly so that he could put himself in Merlin's line of vision…

And what a bad idea that turned out to be.

Merlin was looking at him, his eyes flashing and his countenance having the same amount of cheer as deepest point of an Arctic winter. He was still juggling and Gwaine could swear Merlin had never looked anymore sexier than he was the whole evening; the furious concentration he utilized for the juggling contrasting yet complimenting beautifully against his apparent rage.

At what?

Gwaine's knees almost gave way when Merlin caught the matryoshka dolls he had been juggling one by one without even looking at them…not out of fear or anything, but mostly because how hot Merlin looked at that moment. He turned and placed the dolls back on the shelf he had picked them up from, went on his haunches, gave Nina a hug, a smile and a lollypop he fished out of his pocket. He straightened up and looked at Gwaine, his eyes blue steel that froze Gwaine's blood. He started walking towards him, with the determination of a man who has been pushed way too far for way too long. And Gwaine knew he had fucked up royally. And that he was fucked.

Things had been going just alright. It had been just for a laugh, the whole thing of making Merlin jealous.

And now…

He seriously did not want this…..

Merlin came to stand before Gwaine. "We need to talk." He was speaking to Gwaine, but his eyes were on Percival, whose laughing eyes belied the serious expression he wore. Percival grinned at Merlin, the self – satisfied grin of having accomplished something or being in the know of a big a secret that was teetering towards not being a secret anymore.

"Now." This time Merlin looked at Gwaine and because of their heights difference (just a couple of inches, not a big deal and whenever the fact that Gwaine is shorter than his mates were brought up, Gwaine always maintained that he had the extra inches where it mattered and that would shut them all up very quickly or cause pillows –or anything close at hand- to be thrown in his direction), Gwaine found himself looking up at Merlin, simultaneously afraid and (he could not believe it himself) extremely horny for Merlin.

And to make his point clear, because Gwaine was beyond hints and all that (Gwaine blames it on the fire blazing in Merlin's eyes; never has Merlin looked more assertive…it was a good look on him), Merlin grabbed Gwaine's hand and tugged him towards him.

Somewhere between Gwaine taking a step towards him and Merlin turning to march them out of the crowded sitting room, their fingers were became entwined, laced together in a perfect fit.

Gwaine brushed his thumb experimentally over the back of Merlin's hand, a barely-there caress of his knuckle.

Merlin's step did not falter. But he did turn around and glanced at Gwaine.

His smile small and the smoulder in his eyes spoke volumes.

Gwaine smiled, giving a Merlin's hand a tentative squeeze. And had the satisfaction of seeing Merlin turn a delightful shade of pink. As well as an increased urgency in which Merlin led Gwaine out of the room full of people to somewhere less intrusive.

The party, Gwaine thought, is a definite success.

=X=