Oh sad, this fics done and dusted :( I hope you like the ending.

Thank you to:

Silvercharm - I know it's a bit exciting and a bit sad and it makes me feel a little guilty actually because of my other fics. Just between us (well not really) I may have sort of accidently started another fic (*Gasp*) ...I didn't mean to, honestly.

I thought I could walk away after 'Connected' but this kept bouncing around my head and I watched an Arwen Youtube with the song 'Chemistry of a car crash' and was compelled to write more Merlin fic. Absolutely compelled. So that might turn up on here before too long.

Meg - I'm glad you're enjoying it and I'm sorry it's over as well. This one's my favorite.

ShiBurrowes - Of course he can't get enough of Gwen :)

I don't own Merlin...which is probably a good thing - then I'd get really obsessed and that wouldn't be good.

Anyway on with the show.

Previously on Merlin:

"How did Merlin ever get lucky enough to work for a man like you?" She replied, launching herself up the stairs.

Arthur grinned, then it faltered. "Guinevere, were you joking?"

Gwen giggled and climbed faster.

Gwen strode quickly through the castle doors into the courtyard, Arthur on her heels – he spun her around.

He waved a finger at her; "You have entirely too much energy for someone I'm sending home for sleep." He puffed, out of breath. He hunched over a little, his hands on his thighs.

Gwen gave him a meek servant smile, her eyes twinkling at him from under her lashes.

"Don't you try that with me." He warned, straightening up. He threw his arms into the air, "And you're not even out of breath!" he hissed. "I've been chasing you through the whole bloody castle and YOU..." He scowled.

Gwen regarded him, her hands clasped before her. "Yes, Sire?" she asked pleasantly.

Arthur spared a glance at the curious guards standing either side of the door, not within earshot but definitely paying their little discussion attention. He took a hold of her elbow and pulled her further down the stairs.

"Don't think I'm not noticing a pattern." Arthur accused under his breath.

"A pattern, Sire?"

Arthur stopped, pulling Gwen to a stop as well – he stood in front of her on a lower step, making their height a little more equal – he looked right into her eyes.

"A pattern, Guinevere."

He took a few more deep breaths, "Oh, a feel a bit dizzy."

Gwen made a spluttering noise and clamped both hands over her mouth, glancing away.

Arthur shook his head, "That's right, don't get concerned or anything."

Gwen studiously kept her eyes away from him; she dropped her hands from her mouth, tentatively. "It's just…" she fought to control her face. "I've never seen you this way." She stole a glance at him and squeaked, "Sire."

Arthur used a hand to tip her head up so that her eyes met his, Gwen's lips tightened – her eyes full of laughter. He gave her a challenging look.

Suddenly it was like a dam broke and giggles burst free from within Gwen, her shoulders shook and her eyes watered. She reached for him, unconsciously – as her small frame shook.

Arthur sighed, letting her hands tangle in his shirtsleeves. He studiously avoided looking anyone in the eye, because it seemed they were drawing a bit of attention.

When she was quite under control, Gwen wiped at her eyes and bit her lip – carefully going back into handmaiden mode, hands clasped before her, and face free of her previous mirth.

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Well, are you ready to listen, now?" he asked sarcastically.

Gwen sniffed, keeping her tone low. "Just don't make me laugh again, my tummy hurts."

"Oh! And we can't have that now can we?" He scoffed.

"Are you still feeling dizzy, Sire?" Gwen inquired, looking politely interested.

Arthur crossed his arms over his chest, "Much better, thank you Guinevere." He answered wryly.

She waited for a moment with her gaze lowered before looking into his face, "You mentioned a pattern…Sire?"

Arthur nodded, "Yes, a pattern."

He frowned and pointed a finger at her, "You support me in public – promote me even, but in private you ridicule me."

Gwen pressed a hand to her warm cheek, "And which do you think this would qualify as, Sire. So I can adjust my behaviour accordingly."

Arthur glowered at her and Gwen tried her best not to roll her eyes.

She sighed, "People are going to talk." She muttered, glancing around the courtyard.

"Well, let them talk." Arthur said, shifting his weight to the opposite leg.

Something in Gwen snapped, "Just because you don't like being laughed at doesn't mean you have to be such a bully!" she said heatedly.

"Who says I don't like being laughed at?" Arthur sneered. "Was it Merlin? Morgana? Oh I know…Lancelot!"

Gwen gave a frustrated growl, "I can't talk to you like this." She said darting around him and descending quickly down the stairs.

Arthur leaped after her, racing to stand in front of her, angrily. "You can leave when I say you can leave."

Gwen gritted her teeth and sort an appropriate response to such an inappropriate situation – both of them standing fists clenched.

"Arthur!" A deep voice called from the castle gates.

Both Gwen and Arthur's flushed faces drained of colour.

Gwen noticed her face was wet and she rubbed at it as Uther and Morgana rode up.

"Father." Arthur greeted, turning on the spot. "What are you doing back so soon?"

Morgana dismounted with a little help from a knight, she looked at Arthur concerned. "It's raining, Arthur. Off and on all day - not really superb weather for tracking."

Arthur looked down suddenly noticing the wet courtyard, the puddles and the drops sliding down his nose.

"Oh."

Gwen went to Morgana's side, "Did you have a good time, my lady?" She asked quietly.

Morgana dropped the hood of her cloak and looked at Gwen. "Have you two been standing in the rain?"

Arthur's eyes went to his father who had dismounted and was now discussing something with one of his knights. He looked at Gwen, suddenly seeing that her curls were plastered to the side of her face.

"Of course not Morgana." He sneered. "How foolish do you think we are?"

"Gwen – not at all." Morgana assured, she shook her head, "But when we rode up it looked like you were stopping her from leaving."

Gwen pulled her hair away from her face, "Arthur was just trying to convince me to stay instead of making a dash home." She explained.

Morgana nodded, "How thoughtful of him." she murmured dubiously.

Arthur gave her a sullen look.

The rain went from being fairly light to falling swift and heavily. Uther sent the men away with the horses and turned back for Morgana.

"Morgana!"

Gwen sighed and shook her head sending droplets flying. Morgana grinned as a few hit her cheek and opened her mouth to complain.

"Would it be alright, do you think – if I stayed the night at the castle?" Gwen asked with a fleeting look at Morgana.

Morgana clapped her hands; "I'd love you to, Gwen. I'll have someone make up a bed for you in my room." She squeezed Gwen's arm, "And you can tell me all what happened after I left." She hurried off to Uther's side – and into the castle, out of the rain.

Gwen and Arthur stood facing the castle as the water poured down, soaking them to the bone. Watching everybody else scatter and run for shelter.

"Thought you wanted to leave?" Arthur yelled over the rain, not looking at her.

Gwen ducked her head, "Well, the problem is…" she looked over at him. "I can't leave until you say so." She yelled back. He looked at her curiously, shielding his eyes from the rain.

"Is that so?"

She nodded, blinking back the rain. "That's what I hear."

"And what if I say you can't leave tomorrow?" Arthur asked, beginning to walk towards the castle.

"Then I guess I'll have to stay." Gwen replied, keeping pace with him.

Arthur looked around the empty courtyard; even the guards had gone inside. He reached for her hand and gave her a charming smile before taking off, dragging her along with him towards the castle.

Gwen shrieked and held on tightly, he looked at her, "You know I think Morgana was right."

"About what?"

Arthur gave her a secretive smirk and shook his head as they reached the doors; he pushed her in before him and pulled them shut.

Inside they both took deep breaths for a moment, looking at each other's appearance – and privately feeling that the other looked like a drowned rat.

Gwen smoothed a hand over her wet hair as her dress stuck to her and her shoes squelched. She made a face, "I should go."

Arthur looked at her, wringing water from his tunic. "Why?"

Gwen gave him a look, "Why?" she echoed, looking down at herself. "Because Arthur, hear that dripping? That's me." She licked her bottom lip. "Actually that's both of us." She corrected.

Gwen waved an arm and water flew from her sleeve and splashed onto the floor.

They both stared at it, Gwen looked up. "And if I don't leave soon I'm going to laugh and you'll get angry again."

Arthur shook his head like a wet dog, sending a barrage of droplets towards Gwen – she held up her hands "Hey!"

A little drier he smirked, "I promise I won't get mad again, as long as you admit your doing that thing again."

"What thing?" Gwen asked, hands on hips.

Arthur smiled, "That thing where you use my title when it suits you." His smiled widened. "You're trying to make us equals." He waved a finger at her.

Gwen narrowed her eyes, "And is this part of 'the pattern'?"

"You say that like you don't believe me. But it's happening right now."

Gwen moved over to the staircase, "I'm tired and I'm wet and you want to play games." She complained, starting up the stairs.

Arthur appeared beside her and Gwen glanced at him with a smirk, "I know what this is about."

He looked at her curiously, "And what would that be?"

Gwen shook her head, "You're still smarting from me beating you."

Arthur scoffed, "You beating me?"

"Out of the castle." Gwen reminded.

"That was hardly a proper race."

Gwen gave him a look, "Do you want to go, again?" she challenged.

Arthur's blue eyes flashed.

So......What are you thinking?

Was it alright? A fitting ending? Too quick? Too slow? Too fluffy?

I made them stand in the rain, I'm so mean - still it got them alone didn't it? Plus I had to cool them off :)

I would love there to be a scene where they get soaked...So Merlin writers? I'm sure a rain machine isn't too expensive, or hey grab a hose.

This was a lot of fun to write. So, thank you for reading (and reviewing and alerting etc).

I hope more people start writing Arwen because the fact that Merlin/Arthur has 31 pages Vs. Arwen's 4 is completely ridiculous...and yet more then Merlin/Gwen or Gwen/Morgana...so that's SOMETHING.