"God, this is posh. Do I look all right?"
"You look gorgeous; you always do," Merlin said. Gwen bit down on her lip and looked around nervously, smoothing down the fabric of her dress.
"Can I help you?" the waiter asked them, sounding as if he didn't want to. Merlin turned to look at him, and as he did he caught sight of Arthur waving at them vigorously.
"No need," Merlin said pleasantly. "I can see where we're going."
Merlin took Gwen's arm and brushed past the waiter and headed towards Arthur, who stopped waving enthusiastically and started to look at the table layout, commenting to the older man sat with him. Gwen looked back at the man still minding the door.
"I can't believe you just did that."
"Why?" Merlin asked. "Arthur was waving at us and he's an arse."
"Not Arthur?" Gwen asked.
"Not me what?" Arthur said.
"No, you were waving at us. That man is an arse, he looked at us as if we didn't belong here, and he did that to Gwen. Me I can accept in that respect, but Gwen..."
"Looks exceptionally lovely, and that man will not get a tip," Arthur said kissing Gwen's cheek. "That colour is very good on you."
"Thank you," Gwen said.
"Right, we were just working out how to sit everyone. Merlin..."
"Will have Gwaine insisting he sits next to me."
"So am I," Arthur said. "We have taken that into account. This is my father, by the way. Dad, this is Merlin, and Gwen."
"Ah," the man said, assessing both of them carefully, he held his hand out to Merlin, who held out his own and found Uther's grip firm, almost to the point of testing, but he bore it. "The artist. That portrait you did of Arthur is exceptionally good."
"Thank you," Merlin said, rather stunned at the praise.
"Dad," Arthur warned. Uther looked at his son.
"It is. I'm sure Mr Emrys is perfectly capable of accepting a compliment."
"I am indeed."
"And this is Gwen," Arthur said, seemingly suddenly irritated by his father's behaviour.
"Hello," Gwen said, holding out her own hand. Uther shook it, but judging by the movement of his hand, Uther was far gentler with her than he had been Merlin.
"Pleasure," Uther said. "Arthur is right, that colour is very flattering on you."
"Thank you," Gwen said nervously. Once she retrieved her hand she straightened her dress up again, glancing around nervously. Merlin had noticed people looking at her, but not in the way Gwen thought. Men were sneaking looks at her, and the women were eyeing her carefully, assessing the flattering dress, and Gwen's rich, tumbling curls, which she always left natural, and loose. She was beautifully distracted by Lancelot appearing, with Gwaine in tow, who grinned.
"Merlin!" Gwaine said loudly.
"I'm not deaf," Merlin pointed out as Gwaine engulfed him in a bear hug.
"No, and you have lovely ears," Gwaine said as he pulled back.
"Gwaine, behave," Arthur said. "Merlin sit there, you can talk to me and ignore Gwaine."
"And also talk to me," Uther said as he occupied the seat one away from Arthur on the other side, so he was almost opposite Merlin. "Although shall we try and stick to some level of etiquette and put some girls in place."
"Gwen next to me," Lancelot said.
"And me, she can glare at Arthur if he's mean to me," Gwaine said.
"Don't be daft," Gwen said, but moved into place, Lancelot taking the chair on her other side.
"So, Mithian next to Lancelot, Leon next to her and hello Elena."
"Hello! Oh goodness, I'm going to end up tipping wine into your lap Uncle Uther."
"Put your wine glass on this side, then it will be me," Arthur said, rearranging the glasses.
"It's fine. Hello, my dear," Uther said kissing his niece, catching her as she stumbled over her own heels.
"Oh dear," Elena said. "Sorry, Uncle Uther, I'm a bit of a health hazard."
"We'll set you on someone who deserves it," Morgana said as she strode though the restaurant.
"That maitre'd," Arthur murmured to Merlin, who smirked.
"Hello, Daddy. Happy birthday Arthur," she said, kissing her father and handing her brother a card and small package. "Are we sitting boy, girl, boy, girl?"
"Not over here," Gwaine said.
"Thank you Morgana, and not to worry, Merlin is an utter girl really," Arthur said. "Ow!", he yelped as Merlin swatted his arm.
"And we should have invited Percival," Merlin added.
"And whom is that?" Uther asked.
"The man who owns the pub in town. We are regulars, and he's a friend," Merlin said. "I'm doing some gothic drawings for him, and a mural."
"Oh, I saw the sketches on his Facebook page," Uther said. "An interesting angle, it will draw a few more people in. I suggested a few news cuttings."
"That was you?" Merlin asked. "I'm working on them. As a bit of excess artistry, rather than rooting out some actual cuttings. I'm trying out my calligraphy skills."
"You are expanding, well done you," Gwaine said.
"I know. I feel... shit!"
"Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"Oh, hell!" Gwen added glancing around.
"Bell-end alert?" Gwaine asked as he followed Merlin's line of sight and looked at the man holding a chair out for a blonde woman. Merlin looked at Cenred, his jaw clenching as he waited for that inevitable gut-punch feeling he got when he looked at him.
And it didn't happen.
Arthur had draped his arm around the back of Merlin's chair, leaning over to murmur in Merlin's ear.
"You can move round if you want. If you take Mithian's seat you can put your back to him."
Merlin debated that option, as Uther said. "Why on Earth should Merlin have to do that?"
"He doesn't want to look at Cenred's ugly face," Gwaine said. "If you go over there you can feast your eyes on me."
Merlin giggled. "No, I'm fine. Why the hell should I worry?"
"Well, said," Gwen said. "And if all else fails we can throw breadsticks at him."
"Yey to that," Gwaine said.
"No breadstick throwing," Merlin said. "I am perfectly grown-up enough to handle it."
"Would you like any drinks?" a waiter asked distracting them as he started to hand out menus, so at least they were occupied for a little while as Merlin debated what to have, as he didn't think cider seemed appropriate for where he was.
"He'll have a cider," Arthur eventually said, taking the decision out of Merlin's hands. The waiter made a note on his pad, checked everyone was happy and trotted off.
"Right, what is everyone having?" Elena asked as she looked the menu over. "I'm not dieting, today."
"You say that all the time," Arthur said. "And you're as skinny as a rake."
"That's because I am dieting the rest of the time. Or not really," Elena said with a grin and almost knocked her water over. Uther moved it out of the way.
"Sorry, Uncle Uther!" she yelped. Loudly enough that Morgause turned to glower in their direction, and Arthur noticed her eyes darken as she caught sight of Merlin. Thankfully Merlin was listening to Gwaine and remained oblivious. Although Arthur thought that probably wouldn't last as Morgause turned to talk to Cenred, who also looked over.
It was, Arthur thought, nothing to do with them where his father chose to bring him for his birthday, and it was entirely up to Arthur who he invited to such an event. As Merlin said, they were grown-ups, and Cenred was on the other side of the room. They had no reason to interact. What they needed to do was to keep Merlin distracted and talking enough to keep his eyes off his ex-husband. Which actually, Arthur noticed, was not that difficult. Merlin's eyes drifted occasionally, but it never lasted as Arthur kept the drinks coming and the conversation flowed without any issue.
They were all chatting, having an entirely good time, Arthur decided. Everyone was enjoying his birthday meal, and he was making sure people chose what they wanted, and drank what they wanted. His father was paying, and he wasn't trying to eak every last penny off him, but he didn't want Gwen just having a salad, because she saw the prices, or just drinking the tap water. So he worked that out. Morgana, Elena, Leon, Mithian, Lancelot, and Gwaine could help with this. They had been to these occasions. Uther was not the most outgoing of people, but he loved Arthur, and wanted to celebrate his birthday, he never forgot what he needed to do as a parent. And all their friends were invited, and Uther had been rather intrigued by the inclusion of Merlin.
Gwen, Lancelot's girlfriend, was an expected addition and Arthur hadn't minded giving information about her. However, when Uther asked about Merlin, Arthur became rather twitchy and defensive. He didn't think his son was in love, but there was something about Merlin that Arthur wanted to keep to himself. Which only intrigued Uther more, especially as he had seen the portrait Merlin had done of Arthur on the day they met.
And Merlin found that he was rather enjoying himself. Gwen seemed to have got over her initial nerves and conversation batted back and forth around the table. Although Arthur had assured him he didn't need to worry about the cost, Merlin didn't think he should take advantage of that, and ordered something rather modest, because it was something he really liked. Uther and Arthur both seemed intent on ensuring everyone had everything they needed, and Merlin noticed that every time Uther glanced up a waiter appeared in a flash.
"He tips really well," Arthur murmured to Merlin, as he watched a young waiter dash over at the sight of Uther's raised hand.
"Cenred doesn't," Merlin said, as he heard his ex talking sharply to his own waiter. Arthur clocked who was working that area, and made a note to ensure that poor sod got a tip as well.
"Just some for the landlord of our local," Merlin was now saying across him, to Elena, as the subject turned to Merlin's art. "A sort of gothic theme to go with the highwayman history."
"Cool," Elena enthused. "I saw the picture you did of Arthur."
"I didn't know you had shown anyone," Merlin said to Arthur.
"I saw it," Uther said. "I had it framed. I did tell you I thought it was exceptional."
"Dad," Arthur warned him.
"I'm hardly saying it to be polite," Uther said.
"You are really good though," Gwaine said.
"The picture you did for me was really good," Mithian said.
"I just don't feel that if I took it seriously, like a job, I wouldn't be that good because of the pressure of having to keep it up."
"Well, you can just do what you like with it. You could just keep doing the odd bit of commission work. Did you sign up for that class?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, it starts next week, so I might find out I'm rubbish."
"I hardly think that is likely," Gwaine said. "We all say you're good. But what do we know?"
"Uncle Uther might," Elena said.
There was a general consensus around the table, which made Merlin flush, but he also looked pleased. Arthur guessed he had drunk a little more than usual, which was fine, Arthur wanted people to be enjoying themselves.
"At this point I am going to excuse myself and go to the bathroom," Merlin said.
As he wandered off Merlin realised he was a little drunk, not stupidly, as they sometimes did at the pub, but just happy enough. So happy that he didn't see Cenred get up and follow him. However, several people at the table did. Arthur held them back.
"But you know he's going in there to follow Merlin."
Arthur looked steadily at Gwaine. "And that is Cenred following Merlin. Merlin has had his closure, I guess Cenred hasn't."
"Will he be ok?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, Merlin is probably happy to give him said closure. It's not making Morgause very happy though. Should we send over drinks?"
"Don't be petty Arthur. This is nothing to do with us," Uther said.
"Unless he upsets Merlin," Gwaine said.
"In case who upsets me," Merlin asked as he came back, looking composed, calm and smirking slightly.
"I'm presuming no one," Lancelot commented. "You did run into Cenred didn't you?"
"Yes, I said hello, and I couldn't get tangled up with talking, because we have nothing to say to each other and I am busy with my friends. You know, the ones you said I didn't have."
"Well done," Arthur said as the members of the table who understood that roared with laughter. "Extra drinks for Merlin!"
"And this is relevant because?" Elena said.
"Because Cenred told Merlin that he didn't have any friends, and I think, at that time, at that moment, Merlin believed him. Then we all got cross about this, and we unleashed our greatest power on Cenred, who deserved it," Morgana said.
Uther glowered at Morgana. "If what I read was correct, it was certainly not your power, but mine. However, I concurred with both Morgana and Arthur in the fact that we most certainly not to agree with the terms of the contract."
Merlin wilted under Uther's gaze.
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, be more aware next time," Uther said. "It's not as if you can't find a legal mind to look it over for you."
"I'm inundated with them now," Merlin said. "In a good way."
"But none of them are the handsome prince you are going to marry," Gwaine said.
"No," Merlin said. "I'm not waiting for one of those. A scruffy, rather strange, financial advisor might do."
"See!" Gwaine said proudly to Arthur. "I'm making progress."
"You clearly are," Arthur said.
"Good," Gwaine said, happy with the way his conversation ended. Instead he watched as Cenred went back to his table and Morgause leant forward to hiss at whatever Cenred said to her. Whatever it was clearly didn't make her happy. Arthur wondered what her problem was. Cenred had chosen her over Merlin. He had left Merlin for her. What could she be moaning about now. Whatever it was made her stridently call for the bill, and Cenred continued to snarl at her.
"Merlin, pay no attention; Gwaine, waffle at him."
"Merlin, you're going to marry me, but we have to go on a date first. Are we up to being able to date yet, or is it like some kind of mourning period..."
"Gwaine, you don't need to. I'm not going to pay attention to him," Merlin said calmly. "Now, are we having desserts?" Merlin asked everyone. "Although I rather like a cheese board, as long as there isn't too much blue cheese on it."
"I agree," Uther said. "Although I never mind some blue cheese, we can probably share a platter."
"That's sounds good," Arthur said. "Although I'm wondering about cheesecake."
"That's different from a cheeseboard," Gwaine said.
"I know that," Arthur said patiently. "It still has cheese in it though."
"Cheesecake sounds good," Elena said. "I'm not dieting."
"I have never seen you dieting."
"Crème brulee for me," Gwen said.
"Excellent choice," Morgana said. "I might go for the same, I love creme brulee, and they do a very nice mini portion, which is all I can handle after that main. And they haven't even given us the menus yet."
"I need to decide, so does Leon. How he manages to be as scary in court as he is, when he's so indecisive is beyond me," Gwaine announced. "And we need liqueurs to celebrate Merlin's grown-up-ness."
"Is that even a word?" Leon asked. "And I'm not indecisive."
"What are you having?" Arthur asked with a slight grin. Leon frowned as a waiter handed him the menu and he disappeared behind it. Next him Mithian made a great show of watching him and pulling faces at the others. Arthur giggled, Merlin elbowed him in the ribs.
"Behave."
"It's my birthday, I don't have to behave," Arthur said.
"Yes, you do. I'm not having a repeat of your 21st birthday," Uther said. Merlin's eyes widened.
"What did you do?"
"It was my 21st birthday," Arthur said.
"That was not excuse," Uther said.
"I'm intrigued," Merlin said. "And Arthur's embarrassed."
"I am, and I'm not telling you."
"Share a cab with me on the way home, I'll tell you," Gwaine said.
"You are just angling to be alone with Merlin," Gwen pointed out.
"Yes, I am. I want cheesecake as well, I've decided," Gwaine said, looking pointedly at Leon, who was still behind his menu. Merlin waved a hand to attract the waiter, who obediently came trotting over.
"Yes, sir."
"Can I ask who was waiting on that table over there?" Merlin pointed over to Cenred's table, which was in the process of being cleared.
"That would be Steve. He erm..." the waiter looked rather confused. Merlin rummaged in his wallet.
"I presume he didn't tip."
"He complained about the service," the waiter said, looking increasingly anxious, he glanced at Uther, who was well known in the restaurant, and who was talking to Mithian and Morgana, and utterly unconcerned about Merlin's behaviour.
"Can I speak to Steve please?"
"Is there a problem?" the maitre d' asked coming over.
"I would like to apologise on behalf of the person who was sitting at that table," Merlin pointed again, guessing that Steve was the person clearing up, as he had paused to watch. "And being served by the unfortunate Steve, who did nothing wrong. I am just aware the man at that table never tips, and can be very hard work to manage. Therefore, could you please, in recompense, take this and put it into Steve's tips, with my sympathies for having to deal with that man."
"And woman," Gwaine added. "She didn't look like she was being very nice either."
"I hate obnoxious people in restaurants," Elena said. "You can give Steve my sympathies as well."
"And mine," Gwen said.
Merlin handed the waiter a twenty pound note. "That is for Steve, for having to deal with them. If they did complain about the service, they were probably talking bollocks," Merlin added to the maitre d', who looked confused. "Trust me, he is."
"Thank you Sir," the waiter said disappearing off with the note in his hand. Merlin looked up at the maitre d', giving him a hard stare.
"Nothing to worry about, I've dealt with it," Merlin said firmly.
"He has," Arthur said. "Can we get our waiter back, I think, on that note, we are ready to order our desserts."