Gwen's back! And she's finally ready to talk to her bffs about everything that happened with Arthur. I'm curious to see whether everyone thinks Arwen is endgame or not! Although, their story isn't really the main focus here, so there won't be a lot of chapters dedicated to it.

I'm thinking of writing another fic for this fandom (after this one's done, of course). It would be an avatar AU because I can't get the thought of zuko!Merlin and avatar!Arthur out of my head lol. I feel like people would expect it to be the other way around but I'm really not sure. Would anyone be interested in reading that fic? Leave a review, and let me know what you think!

"Men are all trash, anyway," Fawn said sagely while she scrubbed at the wet cloth in the tub before her.

Gwen sighed as Merlin nodded his agreement. She appreciated her friends' unquestioning support but she hadn't even told them what had happened yet. The three of them sat at their respective workstations, dutifully doing the laundry even as they talked. It was a tradition they'd worked hard to keep up over the years, with their conflicting duties and unpredictable schedules; they still always managed to meet up this way during work at least a few times a week. Gwen had figured this would be the perfect time to bring up her situation with Arthur and the rather uncomfortable conversation she'd had with him about it. She'd barely just told Fawn and Merlin that she and Arthur were going through a rough patch in their relationship when her friends both made it very clear that they were absolutely willing and ready to teach Arthur a lesson, if she so wished. It was heartwarming, if unnecessary.

"Arthur hasn't done anything," she said, ignoring the doubtful looks Fawn shot her. At least Merlin seemed convinced, but he did know Arthur best out of the three of them. "He really hasn't. It's just… I've been thinking about our relationship recently, and I- Arthur and I aren't together anymore." There, she'd said it.

Merlin dropped Arthur's robe back into the tub with a splash. Judging by the looks of shock he and Fawn were sporting, that was not something they'd ever expected to happen. Gwen knew most people considered her and Arthur inseparable, but that just brought her back to the toxic thoughts she'd been entertaining for the past week. She wished everyone would stop assuming. It seemed even Arthur had started doing the same, and Gwen still cringed every time she remembered their conversation.

She had decided to approach Arthur after he was mostly done with his duties for the day; she did not want to distract him from his work, after all. He'd been as warm and ecstatic as ever at seeing her, and she'd just been- nauseous. Perhaps it had been obvious- something in her hesitance to sit with him, or in her insincere smile- because Arthur's welcoming expression had immediately shifted to one of concern, and with a bit of coaxing, it all came out. Arthur had been- had attempted to be understanding at first, perhaps thinking that everything would be alright if he were to just put her doubts to rest. As the conversation progressed and the depth of her reluctance became evident, however, he'd grown angry and defensive. You want to just give up on us, after everything I've given up for you, he'd said and looked so wounded that she'd almost agreed with him for a moment. I've never let any obstacles or doubts stop me; I love you enough to fight for us. Do you not feel the same?

What obstacles, she'd wanted to ask, but Gwen had promised herself she wouldn't let the conversation devolve into a fight. All she'd said was that she wanted to put her needs first and take some time to consider her options; he could wait for her if he so wished, but she would never ask him to do so. Selfish, he'd called her. Fickle. And with that, she'd lost her temper, all of her rage and humiliation at everyone's treatment of her- in stark contrast to their treatment of Arthur- spilling past her lips in a poisonous flood that had Arthur's eyes widening, his anger utterly drained. He'd looked more shamefaced then, and asked in a small voice why she hadn't told him; he would've put an end to the rumours and defended her, but she- hadn't wanted to say anything. Gwen never wanted to burden anyone with her troubles, especially not Arthur. She held no resentment toward him for not noticing the way everyone had been treating her, but how dare he claim that he'd suffered more for them? Arthur seemed to have forgotten the multiple times she'd almost been executed, and the multiple times he'd told her she wasn't appropriate because of her station. He'd flinched when she'd reminded him in a voice cold as ice, and his apology had finally calm her down enough to think past the haze of fury and hurt and bring the conversation back on track.

The two of them hadn't spent much longer speaking after that- just long enough for Arthur to apologise once more and promise to wait for her, and for Gwen to reluctantly warn him that there was no guarantee she'd decide to restart their relationship. His flinch had hurt her, because she really did still love Arthur, but it was worth it for the sense of freedom it brought her, if nothing else.

It didn't take very long for Gwen to relate the whole sorry tale to her friends while they both sat there, their work now completely abandoned even as she finished hers. She didn't exactly take pleasure in the dumbfounded looks on both Merlin and Fawn's faces, but they were entertaining. Just a bit.

There was a heavy pause once she was done speaking, her best friends blinking slowly as they allowed this new reality to sink in. A moment later, Fawn lunged toward Gwen and gathered her up in a slightly suffocating hug.

"Oh, that must have been difficult," she murmured sympathetically as Gwen returned the hug and relaxed in her arms. "It was definitely the right thing to do, though, in case you had any doubts."

Gwen hid her smile in the other woman's neck, so relieved she could hardly speak for a moment. It wasn't that she'd thought her best friends would be unsupportive, but she'd feared they too would think she was being ungrateful, or fickle. It was an utterly ridiculous fear, she now realised.

"Thanks, Fawn," she finally replied. "And don't worry; I don't have any doubts about this."

"Good," Fawn said firmly, before she pulled out of the hug. Gwen blinked as she caught sight of Merlin and remembered he was still there, the fear returning at once. He was her friend, of course, but he was Arthur's too. Would he be upset with her for hurting him? It certainly seemed that way, considering how oddly silent he'd been; Merlin was never silent.

She cleared her throat. "Merlin?"

"Hm?" He blinked at her in confusion.

"You've been too quiet," Fawn pointed out drily. "Gwen's probably worried that you've been possessed."

"You're hilarious," was all Merlin told her in a flat tone before he turned to Gwen once more. "I didn't want to intrude, considering I probably couldn't understand what you've been going through; I know you would not have been targeted quite as much, had you been a man."

That was considerate of him. Gwen would appreciate it more once she made sure he wasn't angry with her. "So… you're not mad?"

"Why would he be mad?" Fawn asked indignantly.

"Yes, why would I?" Merlin echoed, even as he poked Fawn in the shoulder to shush her.

"Well, I know Arthur's your best friend…" Gwen trailed off when she saw two sets of narrowed eyes glaring at her. "I would understand if you were upset on his behalf. He's- feeling very hurt right now."

Before Fawn could say something undoubtedly offensive about Arthur and his feelings, Merlin said with a huff, "What, and you're not my friend? You haven't been feeling hurt by everything that's been going on since you chose him? You made the best decision for yourself, and Arthur's a big boy; he can deal with it! I'd never be angry with you for doing something that's good for you, just because Arthur's going to get hurt."

Gwen felt her eyes fill with tears. Oh, she was so lucky to have such wonderful friends. All of her worries seemed very silly, now; how could she have ever thought they wouldn't stand by her?

"I'm so proud of you," Merlin added softly. "It was probably not an easy choice to make, and I am so proud of you for being brave enough to go through with it."

That proved to be too much for Gwen. Her eyes overflowed with tears, and she was soon crying in Fawn's arms once more. They were happy tears, though. She may have made one of the most difficult decisions in her life, and she did not know if it would end up hurting her, but sitting there, surrounded by the two dearest friends who'd stood by her through everything, Gwen knew she would be alright.