DISCLAIMER: I don't own Merlin and somethings tells me you know that... right?
AN: I picture Gwen's hair as being Angel's current length rn. So if you need a hair picture, picture Angel's current hair. Boom. Done. This applies to the present chapters. In this.. picture.. s2 length?
Chapter 7
Set during Gwen, Arthur, Merlin & Morgana's university days.
Gwen plonked her books down on the desk and sighed loudly. Loudly enough for her classmate Sefa MacLeod to turn curiously.
"Alright Gwen?" She asked, pushing her own books to the side.
"Oh hey Sefa. Yeah I'm fine. Just...hungover that's all." Gwen replied, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You went to see that crappy band didn't you?" Sefa laughed, and turned to face her.
"Yeah. And I stayed for the karaoke after." Gwen chuckled and rubbed her forehead. "And I snogged my best friend's brother. Eventful night."
Sefa coughed in shock and blinked rapidly, "You snogged Arthur?"
Gwen nodded guiltily and sighed in relief when Professor Annis walked in. "Oh no more talking, lesson's started."
"You're not getting out of this that easily!" Sefa whispered as Annis clapped her hands for attention.
...
"Were you drunk at the time?" Sefa asked as they filed out of the lecture theatre.
"Yeah but not to the point I didn't know what I was doing. I just - god it sounds so cheesy but I couldn't help myself." Gwen whined, hitting her head. Sefa laughed loudly but both girls stopped abruptly as they found Merlin wasn't alone waiting for them. Arthur sat on one of the couches chatting idly to Merlin.
"Ah shit." Gwen whispered. "Maybe I can camp in the theatre. Annis won't mind..."
"You said you wanted to clear the air. There's no time like the present! Hey Merlin!" Sefa called out to Merlin and he stood up.
"Hey Sefa." Merlin grinned. "Where's Gwe..."
Merlin found her trying to mix in with the rest of the crowd.
"I can see you, Gwen. You're not a master of disguise." Merlin smirked as Gwen turned and scowled.
Arthur perked up at her name and looked around Merlin to find her standing, balancing her books on her arm. The wind from outside blew in through the automatic doors and he was momentarily speechless as the breeze caught her hair.
God she is gorgeous. He thought to himself.
Merlin smirked at Gwen's flustered expression and coughed once. "Sefa, would you like to accompany me to Starbucks."
"Why yes, sir. That sounds fantastic." Sefa winked at Gwen and the walked away, chuckling childishly.
Gwen stared at Arthur, puzzled at what to say. "Hi."
"Hi." He replied, his voice hoarse. "Merlin suggested I come by and then we were going to go for lunch but em, well he tricked me."
"Merlin's dead." Gwen replied instantaneously and Arthur laughed.
"Yep." He replied, standing up.
"Look, Arthur. You may regret kissing me last night but I really don't. I don't know why though. I guess I just really like you." Gwen rambled, breathing heavily when she finished.
"I don't regret it." He told her, smiling softly.
"Oh."
"Look why don't we go and get lunch since Merlin is a traitor." Arthur laughed and reached out his hand. Gwen stared at it for a while before accepting it.
"Oh why not." She smiled brightly.
"That's the kind of attitude I like." Arthur brushed his thumb over the back of her hand and he pretended not to notice her breath hitch.
I'm in trouble, Gwen thought to herself.
...
"Guinevere Patricia Grant!" Morgana stormed as Gwen walked through the door.
"Morgana Louise Pendragon!" Gwen mimicked back, laughing.
"Where the fuck were you! You were going to help me decorate the lounge!" Morgana whined, folding her arms.
"I was out." Gwen replied simply and darted past Morgana to go to her room.
"You were 'out.' Be more specific please." Morgana pursued her into the room as Gwen dumped her bag and folders.
"I went out for lunch if you must know." Gwen replied, blinking innocently.
"On your own?" Morgana raised an eyebrow.
"God enough with the twenty questions alright? I had lunch with Arthur." Gwen gave up, throwing her hands in the air.
"WHAT?" Morgana shouted.
"Oh calm down will you. This is why I didn't tell you I kissed him las..." Gwen tailed off as she saw a stormy look appear on her face.
"YOU KISSED HIM?" Morgana screeched.
"Oh what's the big deal!" Gwen exclaimed.
"What if you guys went out and like, you broke up and then I had to choose between you guys I mean..." Morgana flapped.
"But what if it worked out?" Gwen asked, sighing. "Look Morgana I really like him. I promise."
"Double promise?" Morgana's anger was melting away.
"Triple promise." Gwen nodded and hugged her tightly. "Now get out, I need to get changed."
"Get changed? Where are you going?"
"Nowhere but do you realise how uncomfortable these jeans are?" Gwen smirked and pushed her out.
"Well get your plush ass out here when you're done. We have some tree's to decorate."
...
Gwen groaned as the sunshine creeped through her curtains and hit her face. The remainder of their night had been spent drinking cheap wine, singing Christmas songs and chucking tinsel on the tree.
Eventually at 2am, Gwen collapsed into her bed and according to the clock on her phone, it was 7am and she heard the same Christmas CD playing in the kitchen. Gwen got up and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her shoulder length hair was pulled into a messy bun, she wore a t-shirt three sizes too big and her joggers were ripped at the bottom.
"Morgana Pendragon I swear to god I will kill you. It's 7am, I have ANOTHER hangover and you're playing bloody Wizzard!" Gwen grumbled as she plodded into the kitchen. "Oh my god!"
Arthur sat at the breakfast bar and she could see he was deeply amused. Morgana poked her head out behind the fridge and smiled brightly. "Morning, sunshine."
Gwen squeaked and spun quickly out of the kitchen and back into her bedroom.
"Maybe I should of warned her." Morgana grinned and handed Arthur the cereal box. "Then again you never visit me here. It seems you have found something that interests you."
"Shut up, Morgana." Arthur chucked the box back at her.
Gwen appeared ten minutes later wearing a reasonably baggy jumper and a pair of jeans. Her hair was down now and the sides were pleated and pinned to the side.
"Ah Gwennie, you look better." Morgana commented as she sat scooping her cereal into her mouth. Arthur looked up at the mention of her name and smiled at her.
"Fuck off Morgana." Gwen barked and shifted her gaze to Arthur. "Hi Arthur. Sorry! I didn't expect you to be sitting there when I walked in."
"Nah I understand. I don't usually stop by to see Morgs." Arthur dismissed the apology and punched Morgana in the arm. "Right sis?"
"RIght. I wonder why you started, hmm?" Morgana commented, smirking. Arthur punched her again but harder this time.
"Ah that hurt you wanker!" Morgana exclaimed, hitting him back. Arthur blocked the attack and smiled at her.
"You can try but you won't succeed." Arthur laughed as Morgana tried to hit him again.
"Cocky bastard." Morgana mumbled and got up to take her bowl to the sink.
Arthur and Gwen exchanged a brief glance and a smile before Arthur piped up. "Right I better get going. Promised Merlin I'd drop him off at his Mum's. Oh speaking of Merlin!" Arthur spun around to look at Morgana with a wicked gleam.
"What of Merlin?" Morgana jumped to defense.
"Don't pull that shit with me! You know fine well what I mean. Not that I'm all that fond of the thought of you with him..." Morgana smirked and glanced from him to Gwen.
"Point taken but yeah. He likes you a lot." Arthur told her, awkwardly. "Ask him out or something cause he just won't shut up about you and I really don't like listening to him speak about you."
Morgana blushed and smiled. "Thanks, Artie."
"Fuck off Morgana! Don't call me that!" Arthur grumbled. "Right, see you later sis."
"I'll see you out." Gwen smiled at him and she started down the hall.
"You busy later?" He asked as they reached the door. Gwen shook her head and grinned.
"Cool well Merlin's pissing off to see some movie so you can come to our dorm and I'll cook..."
"You can cook?" Gwen asked, impressed.
"Pretty good actually." Arthur replied, winking. "Does that sound cool?"
"Yeah." She replied, nodding. "What time?"
"6?" He asked. Gwen smiled.
"Yeah I'm there."
...
AN: Feliiiz Navidadddd. Sorry listening to that song RN. MacLeod is pronounced Ma-Cloud btw. How're we all feeling now that we've had a day to process the ep?
Right this will happen every weekend I think. Main chapter on Saturday and the flashback chapter on the Sunday!
Songs Listened To:
Classy Girls, Scotland, Flapper Girl, Big Parade all by The Lumineers / Red - Taylor Swift and of course I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
Hannah.