A/N: as you may know I have no idea where I'm going with this. And since I have writers block I'm not sure if I'm going to finish it. But here's chapter 3 of whatever this is…
Arthur got off work early enough to meet Merlin at a bar downtown. Merlin waved to him as he walked in.
"There's the good doctor!" Merlin slurred. He already had two drinks, and another one still in his hand. Arthur and Merlin sat down at the bar and Arthur ordered a beer. He couldn't drink too heavy seeing as though he had work tomorrow.
"So how was work?" merlin asked
"The same. I had a kid come in with a butt injury today. He had a small ball stuck in between the crevices of his ass." merlin started laughing out loud, which made him almost tip over in his stool. Merlin's laugh made Arthur's weary mood change, suddenly he wasn't feeling so tired.
The night slowed and they discussed the moments of the day and laughed and bitched together just like they did in high school.
"My dad is retiring..." Arthur said to merlin after merlin admitted he used the women's bathroom in school today.
"Oh wow... I honestly thought he'd stay at the hospital until he took his last breath." Merlin drawled.
"Me too." Arthur began "but no, he's retiring and get this... He wants me to run the entire trauma ward once he does." Arthur looked up to see Merlin's face; he had a very surprised expression.
"Wow... Arthur, is that something you think you would want?"
"What are you talking about? I'm great at what I do, why wouldn't I want it?"
"Well one it's way more responsibility then you have now and two... I remember a time when you didn't want to be a doctor. Once you take over the ward... There's no turning back."
Arthur knew Merlin was right. He loved being a doctor, he loved helping people. But he pushed all of his would be teenage dreams away just so that he could please his father. Nothing excited him more then seeing his father's smile once he graduated medical school. He was so proud of him. From then on Arthur made every decision based off of how happy he could make his father. And taking over the trauma ward would do nothing less but make Uther happy and eat Arthur alive at the same time.
"I haven't made any decisions yet... So I have time to think about it."
"Think hard, and make sure whatever your decision is... It's right for you." Merlin grabbed his hand and the bartender looked down noticing. Arthur swatted Merlin's hand away and said
"He's just drunk..." the bartender gave him an-I -don't- believe- a -word you're saying look and walked away.
"We're not gay!" Arthur yelled. But the bartender was long gone.
Merlin just laughed and took another swig of his beer.
Arthur thought that it was maybe time to call it a night when someone walked in. Her hair flipped back and forth in a shiny glaze, her dress fit tight to her very super model thin figure, and her legs looked like they could go on for miles. Every man in the bar was staring at her, even the gays. Her heels clicked back and forth as she made her way to the bar and ordered a martini.
"Sweet lord in heaven..." Merlin said "I give up my entire 8th grade class just for one night with that sandy blonde goddess."
Arthur looked her over. She was a dream in that black dress and matching heels. But something about it just wasn't exciting him like usual.
"Merlin... Did you forget that you're getting married in 4 months?"
"Come on... A guy can look can't he? Besides... Tell me you wouldn't hit that."
"Nope... I've seen prettier." Arthur said
As he took another sip of his beer Merlin turned to him with a dumbfounded look.
"Arthur what's going on with you? The Arthur I knew would be all over that in seconds. No matter her hotness factor."
"Nothing... I don't find her that hot. Sue me!"
"Oh my god... You've met someone!" Merlin pushed his shoulder playfully.
"What? No I haven't!" Merlin watched his nose twitch. That's how he always knew he was lying.
"What's her name Arthur?" Merlin questioned.
"It doesn't matter... She's not interested in me anyway."
"Stop talking around the subject and tell me her name!"
Arthur looked at Merlin and then exhaled. "Alright... Her name is Guinevere."
Gwen was in the Market stocking up on the things she needed so Morgana could maintain her I'm better than you persona. Gwen looked through all of the silk and lace and apart of her secretly wished she could afford to dress like morgana. All pretty and glowing. She sighed and picked up a yard of purple silk.
Arthur was in the market too. But this time he wasn't looking for anything important. Sometimes he liked to come down and say hello to his people. That's why they loved him, not only was he willing to lay his life on the line for them, but he treated them as equals. He took pride in it. He walked around the market and many young serving girls flirted with him and the men greeted him and offered to give him fruit and spices for free.
Arthur was sampling a very particular spice as he saw her. She was looking through the silk cloths and smiling when she saw someone she knew. He took an apple from the fruit stand and made his way over to fabrics.
"Apple... For the lady?" he held it out in front of her. She turned her head to look at him and smiled.
"No thank you sire." she began to walk away but he followed her.
"You know... We never got to finish a certain talk that I started days ago." he said
"I understand that and I think we should not finish... Whatever you were planning to say."
"Why not?" he asked confused
"Because I'm not who you want me to be."
He stopped her completely taken aback by her words. "What are you talking about."
"I'm only a servant and whatever you think you feel for me is not... Cannot be real." she looked down avoiding his gaze
"Why can't it be real? Because I am a prince of Camelot?" he picked up her chin so that they eyes met. Arthur didn't care about who saw, and that made Gwen uneasy.
"We should not talk about this here..."
She released his hand from under her chin and placed it by his side.
"Where can we talk about it?"
Arthur said in a determined tone.
"I do not know... "
Arthur saw her face and he looked around. A few people were watching them. Gwen looked down so that she couldn't see the squawkers.
"Meet me in the forest tonight. I promise you won't be disappointed."
He whispered into her ear. Then made his way back to the castle. Gwen stood there trying to compose herself, his hot breath against her ear a second ago almost made Gwen regret she still had her virtue. She fixed her hair, tucking it behind her ear and finished paying for her materials.
As she left the market her friend Annabelle whom Gwen had known since they were both young maids came up to her. Annabelle had witness the interaction between them and curiosity was getting the best of her.
"Guinevere... Hello." she said
"Anna!" Gwen gave her a half sided hug since she was holding fabric in her right hand.
"Do you mind if we talked... For a second?" Gwen shook her head "of course not!"
Annabelle grabbed her so they could talk somewhere privately. Gwen followed almost dropping what she was holding in the process. Once Annabelle found a place she deemed secluded enough she hit Gwen on the arm.
"What was that for!" she asked as she rubbed her shoulder and looked into the blonde's wondering eyes.
"You and the Prince Pendragon are frolicking around and you choose to flaunt this in public?"
"What?" Gwen said in shock "I frolic... With no man. I work for the Pendragon's now. Arthur was just being friendly."
"Guinevere do not lie to me! I saw the you two... The way he looks at you. Like you are the only woman on earth…" Annabelle said, trying not to sound too jealous.
Gwen felt her face getting hot. She didn't even realize she was blushing. "The prince is just being kind, I assure you I have no intention of being... Anything to prince Arthur. Trust me."
"Well you may not want him but he definitely wants you. Do you think he plans on formally courting you?"
This time it was Gwen's turn to hit Annabelle. She shrieked starling a few pigs.
"The king would never allow his only son to marry a servant. So there will be no courting... Or otherwise with me and the Prince, understand?"
Annabelle shook her head yes and then Gwen started to walk once again towards the castle. Annabelle stopped her before Gwen reached the steps and said, "I know you do not want him Gwen.. Because of his status and yours, but it wouldn't hurt for a little romance in your life. Even if it is with the Prince... If it were me, I would definitely be charming my way into that beautiful man's life." she smiled at Gwen and then walked off.
Gwen stood there contemplating. Maybe Annabelle was right, Gwen was so busy with helping her father and now working for Morgana that she had no time or anything especially not romance. Gwen bit down on her lip and thought, "what harm could it do?"
Romance... Was there any place for it in Gwen's life? Especially with the crowned prince of Camelot?