The mask hid half his face and obscured his eyes, but it didn't matter because Jennifer knew him, understood him even if she couldn't look into his eyes. She pushed away the thought that -

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting Arthur Penn for dinner? Why are you still here?" Marilyn, her colleague and sometimes friend asked as she leaned over the low, flimsy cubicle wall, one thin, plucked eyebrow arched.

Gwen immediately jabbed at her keyboard, relief coursing through her as the document minimised, revealing a photo of her, Arthur and Merlin squinting into the sun. She turned and flashed Marilyn a smile. "You gave me a shock! I was just doing some last minute research."

That thin, plucked eyebrow lifted even higher, disappearing into the thick bangs that covered Marilyn's forehead. She nodded at the newspaper with a large photo of Dragoon and the Swordsman splashed on it next to Gwen's laptop. "Research into Dragoon, who as far as I know, is not the subject of your book. And that's not even today's newspaper."

"It just happened to be there." Gwen stood and shoved the newspaper into her drawer. She tossed her notebook into her bag. Pen, notebook, recorder and phone. That must be everything. A glance at the frog clock that sat on her desk, a present from Merlin delivered to her with a wink that she still didn't understand, told her that she was still early for her meeting with Arthur.

"Right. Sometimes, I think you're more interested in Dragoon than in Arthur Penn."

Gwen slung the bag onto her shoulder. "I'm just curious about who he really is. What does he look like? What does he do when there are no magical creatures on the prowl? What does he like to eat? Does he always wear that purple cloth around his neck? And if he does, what is he hiding?"

Marilyn's nails clacked against the cubicle wall as she drummed her fingers. "I do want an answer to that purple cloth question. Maybe we can offer him a makeover with the magazine. Just imagine - we can jazz up his country boy clothes, get rid of that rag around his neck and put him in a nice suit. Or maybe something more edgy - fur maybe. Like a gladiator wrestling mythical beasts, winning and wearing the spoils of his victory."

"I'll ask him when I see him," laughed Gwen. "Hey Dragoon, would you like to do a fashion spread for Metropolitan magazine. We're not the biggest magazine in town but we're your biggest fans. Also, haven't you always wanted to be a caveman?"

Marilyn let out a sigh. "Are you sure you don't need a photo spread for Arthur Penn? Now, him I'll put in leather. Or nothing."

"You're in a relationship, Marilyn."

"Hey, Joanne is as in lust with Arthur as I am," said Marilyn. "We read gossip about him in bed -"

Gwen raised her hands. "Ok. I don't need to know what you and Joanne do in bed. Now I really have to go."

The car sent to bring her to the restaurant where Arthur wanted to eat was idling outside the entrance to her office block when she walked out.

"Hey, George." She greeted Arthur's chauffeur then slid into the car, sinking into the seat's leathery embrace. The joys of being rich. It was no wonder that he was Camelot's most eligible bachelor. One day, he would get married, probably to one of those women he tended to date – blonde, tall, leggy and of impeccable heritage. None of these descriptions applied to her which was why she was careful to keep her crush for him when they were in university under wraps. She had thought she was over him but sometimes she wondered. Several moments had passed between them in the past few months that made Gwen wonder if Arthur felt something more than friendship for her too. Like last night, when he'd cleaned her scratches, then stayed with her most of the night, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, eating ice cream and watching terrible movies. But Gwen was far too much of a coward to do anything, the spectre of losing his friendship far too terrifying.

"Where are we headed today?" Gwen leaned forward and opened the privacy screen so she could chat with George.

"Japanese, I believe. It's a new place."

Gwen made a face. Arthur's love for raw fish continued to mystify her. At least she enjoyed the fried stuff. "How's Denise and the children?"

"Good. Alex just came in second in the school's spelling bee. She can spell words I've never heard of. I don't know what it is Denise feeds her but she's a brainy one. Mr Penn says if she continues to do well, he'll give her a scholarship to attend Lakeside School for Girls."

"Lakeside!" Gwen whistled. "That's prestigious. Seems like a lot of pressure for a little girl though. Not that you or Denise are pressuring Alex, I'm sure. It's just that it's such a pity if she spent all her time studying instead of running around outside playing, and I should stop talking now."

"I know you mean well, Gwen," said George with laughter in his voice. "And you should stop talking because we're here."

"I'll get some takeaway for you later," said Gwen as she opened the door, the cool evening air hitting her. "See you."

With barely a purr, the car drove off, sliding smoothly into the peak hour traffic. Gwen straightened her dress before pushing open the heavy doors that separated the haves from the unwashed masses outside the restaurant. She was led to a private booth, tucked in the corner of the restaurant. As usual, Arthur stood when she approached the table, kissing her cheek briefly.

"You look good."

"You always say that. It loses meaning when you say it all the time."

He shrugged. "You always look good to me."

"Be careful," said Gwen as she opened the menu, keeping her tone light and her eyes on the wide variety of raw fish on offer. "I might get the wrong idea."

He caught her in his gaze. "How do you know it's the wrong idea?"

And again, that moment was there again. The moment when Gwen wondered if she should put herself out there.

But then, Arthur laughed.

"I didn't scout the restaurant beforehand. Didn't realise that it was so romantic. Anyway, I was thinking dinner first, then interviews." He gestured to a large bag that he had beside him. "As a gesture of my sincerity, I brought a photo album for you."

"Baby?"

"Secondary school."

Gwen grinned. "And I suppose even if I asked nicely you won't show me till after dinner."

"Of course not. Never mix pleasure with business."

Arthur ordered a selection of sushi while Gwen settled for some noodles. Hot, thoroughly cooked noodles. They chatted - he told her about a new show that his television arm was picking up and the drama that was happening behind the scenes while she shared her latest attempt to cross-stitch.

"You've started a new project? I don't remember seeing your finished fairies around the well design."

"I messed up some stitches." She looked at Arthur and tried not to smile. "Anyway, I got a custom pattern of Dragoon."

He reacted as she expected. Predictable man. "Dragoon! What about the Swordsman?"

"Well, I don't think that could manage two people so I had to choose between them."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "You're teasing me."

"I don't know why you're always so defensive of the Swordsman," said Gwen with a laugh. "It's cute. I almost think you have a crush on him."

"I just think that people don't give him enough -" His phone beeped and the smile that was on his face faded. "Uh, I have to go."

"Go? Now? Is Merlin alright?"

Arthur nodded and slipped his phone into his pocket as he stood. "Nothing to worry about. Finish your food. George will bring you home."

"What about our interview?" She stood as well, concern and annoyance warring in her. "You promised -"

"I know. I'm so sorry but uh - I need to feed my cat."

Annoyance started to win. "You don't have a cat!"

"It's the office cat. We just got her."

"I can go -"

The kiss Arthur dropped on her cheek barely hit its aim and was not enough to ease her growing irritation with him. But before she could say anything, Arthur was gone and she was all alone in that romantic, private booth, fuming. A cat. A cat in his office that he'd forgotten to feed. Did Arthur think she was a fool? She called the waiter over, her appetite disappearing.

"Mr Penn said to put the meal on the bill. Would you like some dessert, miss?"

"No, thanks. I'm done." Gwen picked up her handbag and was just about to leave when she noticed that Arthur had left his photo album behind. At least she had that, she thought, grabbing it. With every step that she took, her mind churned. Arthur was sometimes evasive when she wanted to hang out and he didn't but she had attributed that to him going on dates that he didn't want to tell her about. But, obviously, that wasn't the reason for today's botched dinner. Could it be that he really didn't want to do the interview? Initially, he had been fairly enthusiastic about the biography, keen that it would put to rest some outlandish notions the public had of him. However, as time passed, Arthur seemed to have lost interest in it.

Still, that was no reason for him to be so rude tonight.

In fact, thought Gwen, as she stepped through the heavy doors and the cool evening air smacked her in the face, Arthur would never behave in this manner if it wasn't anything important.

"Where did Arthur go, George?"

"No idea, Gwen. Told me to wait for you, then grabbed a cab."

"Did you see which way the cab went?"

The car pulled away from the kerb. "Up Ealdor Street. Home, Gwen?"

"No, let's go up Ealdor Street."

"Gwen -"

"Aren't you curious? Worried? Does Arthur do this often? Go places without you?" Leaning forward, Gwen tried to read George's face in the flashing street lights.

"Gwen -" said George again, a warning in his tone.

"You're a good employee, George." Gwen slumped back into the leather seats and silently wished that George wasn't such a good employee. "Let me out then. I'll walk up Ealdor Street."

George made a sharp right turn into Ealdor Street. Then, he sighed. "Making you walk is probably a greater sin than stalking my boss."

"I don't want -"

"It's fine, Gwen. It's fine."

Aside from a few cars, Ealdor Street was empty, unsurprising since it was home to various office buildings including hers. But it wasn't where Arthur's office was. She called Arthur, then Merlin but as expected neither one of them answered. Seeing how attached Merlin was to his phone, it was obvious that something was up and that something involved the two of them.

Without her.

"We're at the end of the street," said George. "Shall we head to your home -"

Purple light flashed in the distance.

"Oh no."

Gwen knew that George was less than keen on his part in this but he obediently drove towards where they had seen the light. All sorts of thoughts and possibilities raced through Gwen's mind - did Arthur and Merlin know Dragoon and the Swordsman? Or was it just a coincidence that they all happened to be in the same area at the same time?

"Here. I think they were here." Winding down the window, she sniffed the air. "I can smell smoke."

Once the car came to a stop, Gwen hopped out and walked to where there was a smudge of ash on the ground - an obvious sign that Dragoon had slayed yet another monster in that area. But they were too late and aside from the ash and lingering smell of smoke, there was no sign of anyone. She turned to the car where George was speaking on the phone, a frown etched on his face.

"Yes, I understand. Of course, Mr Penn -"

Gwen gestured for the phone. George shook his head and turned away.

"Let me talk to Arthur."

"Yes, she's with me. She wants to talk to you - yes, ok." George handed the phone to Gwen.

Immediately, Arthur launched into the lecture Gwen knew was coming. When he finally took a breath, Gwen muttered an insincere apology and assured him that she was fine.

"Come over to my place," said Gwen. "You still owe me that interview."

"I can't."

"Why? Your cat needs cuddling now?"

"Look, Gwen -"

"Forget it. I'm tired and upset. I'm going home. You should be pleased." Arthur said something but Gwen had passed the phone back to George. Without even looking at George, she opened the car door and slid inside, blinking away the tears that had suddenly sprung up. She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the seat and tried not to think about Arthur blatantly lying to her.

It didn't take long for George to arrive at her apartment block. She said a quiet goodbye to him, then got out of the car. As she did so, her hand hit something - it was Arthur's photo album. For a moment, she wanted to leave it in the car, but then, she grabbed it and took it with her.

Her stomach was rumbling by the time she entered her apartment, and Gwen thought back to the half-finished bowl of noodles she had left in the restaurant. That was all Arthur's fault. She pulled out a packet of potato chips and tore into it, settling on the sofa, planning to spend the rest of the night fuming over Arthur. Halfway through the bag of chips, Gwen reached for the photo album and flipped it open.

There were photos of Arthur with his parents. He was such a scrawny teen with such bad hair and if Gwen hadn't been so pissed with him, she might have texted him to tease him. There were photos of him at fencing training, then holding aloft various trophies. Merlin appeared fairly regularly, his ears still far too big for his face and his smile still wide.

Then, she turned the page again.

It was a photo of Arthur with his arm slung around Merlin, both of them grinning. It wasn't much different from any other photos with the two of them, only around his neck, Merlin wore a purple cloth.