Chapter 2: A Drunken Arthur

A/N: This is a cute fluff fic, where Arthur comes home to his loving wife after a rather rambunctious night at the tavern with some friends and his trusty sidekick, Merlin. I love the really cute scenes between Arthur and Gwen, and I wish we had more of them. Again, ARGHHH to BBC for not indulging the Arwen lovers out there :(.

Rating: K+

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"Shhh!" Arthur slurred. He tripped over his feet climbing the stairs, clanging a coat stand near the wall.

"I am being quiet, Sire. You tripped, not me," Merlin responded.

"Oh..." Arthur looked like a bewildered puppy. His eyes were wide and his mouth formed a round 'O'.

Merlin reached down to help his King up the stairs. Arthur was like dead weight when he was drunk. Merlin knew from countless experiences dragging his master through the castle in the wee hours of the morning. He was having trouble holding himself upright, having had more than his share of mead over the course of the evening. He made a mental note to speak to Gwaine and Percival tomorrow about the risks of peer pressure at a tavern. He hauled Arthur over the last step and they both stumbled over the flat relief of the corridor.

"You must be strong to hold me up, Merlin," Arthur whispered loudly, with an attempt at a sly smile.

"Yes, I am very strong. I thought you were only heavy when you have your armour on. But now I see you're just fat," he sniggered.

"You ass!" Arthur responded indignantly, eliciting a chuckle from his friend.

Eventually, after receiving numerous strange looks from the guards around the castle, they reached the doors to the royal chambers. Merlin made to open them, trying desperately to do so as silently as possible. Arthur's hand stopped him, and they engaged in a silent argument about entering the chambers, which contained the sleeping Queen Guinevere. Merlin wanted to come in and help his master undress and get into bed, while Arthur was adamant that Merlin go to bed himself. Truthfully, Arthur wished to simply get into bed beside his wife after a night at the tavern, as a commoner would. He didn't want Merlin and his foolishness getting in the way, and potentially waking Gwen. Thankfully Merlin backed down, and retreated with a drunken stumble to his own quarters.

Arthur silently opened the door and stopped just inside. He watched Gwen turn over in her sleep to face the door - to face him. He smiled lovingly at his beautiful wife, whose mouth was twitching in her sleep. He crept towards her as quietly as possible with this much alcohol in him, but failed dismally. He tripped over a piece of armour, which Merlin had evidently forgotten to retrieve in his daytime duties. The armour made a loud clamour, and he cursed at his servant. He looked up in a vain hope that Gwen might still be asleep. Alas, she was wide awake now, leaning on her side, chuckling quietly at her clumsy oaf of a husband.

"Arthur, you idiot," she laughed as she stifled a yawn.

"Sorry," he shrugged, a look of boyish guilt all over his face. "I tripped."

"I can see that."

Gwen got out of bed, her flimsy nightgown barely covering her shoulders. She reached down to help him up. Gwen had never seen her husband this drunk before. Sure, he had had his share of fun with his knights before, but this time he was even too drunk to feign being sober.

"I may have drunk all the mead in the kingdom," he conceded. He fell into her small frame, and Gwen led him towards the bed where she flopped him down.

"Arthur, you know you have a signing ceremony tomorrow morning with Lord Altworth, right? In just a few hours…" Gwen asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ummm… yes. I think I do remember that. Oh, well!" he nearly shouted with glee. "I guess you will have to sign for me instead."

"You know I can't do that, love. I'm not the King of Camelot."

"Oh. Right. You aren't are you…" he looked utterly confused.

Gwen had to laugh; she couldn't help herself. Here was her mighty, brave, sexy King, entirely pathetic and useless. What a powerful brew alcohol could be, she thought. At least someone brought him home safely. She pulled him to sit up, and removed his shirt over his head. He obliged like a little baby. Throwing the stale shirt into the wash basket on the way, she retrieved his nightshirt and trousers from the screen. The new garments thankfully didn't reek of sweat, tobacco, and beer.

She lifted Arthur's arms again and pulled the nightshirt over his floppy hands, getting a strong whiff of alcohol on his breath. He smiled and leaned towards her, eyes half-closed.

"Mmmm," he hummed, leaning towards her sweet smell and beautiful face. He was stopped by one finger pressed against his lips, Gwen shaking her head with disapproving humour.

"Not tonight, love."

"Aw, please Guinevere," Arthur pleaded. "You're just so beautiful." He reached his hands around her waist and pulled her towards him, pressing his head into her breasts.

"Absolutely not," she laughed. "You stink, and you can barely sit up straight." Gwen pushed him back down onto the bed, which he accepted with a huff. She reached down to his trousers, undid the buttons, and pulled them off his legs. This act of dressing and undressing was so intimate that Gwen felt a wave of love wash over her despite Arthur's stench. Her King was so undeniably at her mercy, and she found it quite endearing. She pushed the new pair of trousers over his toes. He lifted his hips so she could pull them up to his waist, and she watched as he pathetically tried to do the button with his own fumbling fingers.

"Let me," she said softly, her deft fingers closing the buttons quickly.

Arthur grabbed her fingers on his waist and pulled her down to the bed. Gwen fell on top of him with a squeal, and she rolled over to her side of the bed. She lifted the covers to enfold both her and Arthur in their warmth and blew out the last candle. Arthur snuggled against her as the big spoon, pressing a kiss against her bare shoulder. Her hands wrapped around his and they settled at her waist.

"Goodnight Arthur," she said and waited for a response. He was already fast asleep, and she smiled contentedly.

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Endnote: Please review! I really appreciate it, and it would spur me on to write more. If you have any suggestions or ideas please PM me. I'd love to hear what you guys think - if anyone is reading this at all.