WHEN ARTHUR MET GUINEVERE
Summary: This is the story of how Arthur and Guinevere first met. Modern fic with some of the gang doing an AU and OOC number. No fluff and stuff here sorry. Like Deborah Conway sings, "Its only the beginning..."
A/N: Thank you for the reviews and alerts people. I am glad some of you are not too peeved with them not being in luuurve straight off 'cos that's not how I roll. Keep 'em coming please. Also, about the "many bags of Gwen's"question, well it's just something I could see Gwen doing – being busy and doing 101 things all at once means you need lots of stuff and space for said stuff :) Hope you enjoy this next installment!
Chapter Two: The One With Leon
Gwen glances at her reflection in the windows as she nears the bistro, knowing she is a) late, b) soaked, and c) resembles a tea-stained drowned rat with her crazy hair. Sighing, she walks in and braces herself for some sort of reaction. Sure enough Elena spots her straight away and pulls her towards the bathroom babbling something about rats, tea and how long it should take Leon to find a clean towel to dry her off. Gwen is silent and compliant as Elena attempts to wring out her wet hair and rummages through her bag looking for a comb.
While she is in the restroom, Arthur arrives and is greeted by Leon, following him to a corner table that M&M have "thoughtfully" reserved for the reluctant pair, chatting about his time in New York. He cannot help hoping that he has missed Morgana's friend seeing as he is so late. After Leon leaves, Arthur dabs at his wet suit with a napkin and scans the room a second time, this time catching two attractive looking women sitting near the bar eyeing him appreciatively. Perhaps if this does not pan out, there could be other opportunities. He spots Leon coming back with someone behind him so he focuses his attention in their direction and gets ready to stand up. Morgana's friend is a lot shorter than he thought she would be, his usual preference being taller, leggier women. She definitely doesn't have a stylist, and she's wet from the rain. Wait a minute, isn't that –
Gwen exits the Ladies' trying to care that she did not bring any make up save for coloured lip gloss. Her bags only contained tissues, Tic Tacs, a tiny bottle of lavender oil, and a ratty hair tie which Elena has used to tie back her curls. Gwen is past worrying and feels like she has already done all she can to make herself more presentable and honestly, she knows that she is only here because Morgs begged her to. The guy is probably long gone anyway because she took so long to get here. Leon grins and tells her that her date is already there, leading the way towards the corner table. Gwen cannot really see his face as he is still a bit far away and the lights here are those dimmer ones. Charcoal grey suit. Blonde. Wet from the rain. Tall. Hang on a mo-
"YOU'RE the friend?" they both half shout, standing stock still blinking at each other.
Gwen's POV
It's Mr. Arrogant from the street! THIS is Merlin's best mate? No way! Maybe I am being Punk'd? Too bad my blind date isn't Ashton! Crap! Crap!
Arthur's POV
It's the lady with the bags! Whaaat? Morgana is very attractive (I've endured looking at numerous lovey dovey pictures of M&M on their JOINT Facebook page), and THIS is her friend? I don't want to sound (too) shallow here but I thought that attractive women all hung out together, a safety in numbers thing or something as such?
Normally Leon would say "Jinx!" as one does when two people say the exact same thing at the same time but in this case he senses something is a bit off and uneasily waits to see what will happen next. He knows them both – Gwen through Elena who has known her and Morgs for years, and Arthur is a school and family friend, although he has never known them to run in the same circles, yet here they are, set up on a blind date by M&M. Elena said it was a terrible idea, but Leon, ever the quiet optimist thought it was great and had even offered their place as the meeting point. Perhaps this is the reason his old man told him on his wedding day to never argue with his wife because a wife always knows best?
Gwen's POV
Say something! Tell him this is a mistake. That he is a pompous pretty boy. Or that you'd rather have a root canal! NOW Gwen!
Silence ensues as a tension filled staring match lasts five painful seconds. Leon looks relieved when Gwen is the first to break the silence. Elena always says that he does not "do" emotional scenes well.
"Well this is…" Gwen doesn't finish her sentence. Leon knows he should leave, but this is more riveting than the mini row that he knows is currently going on between the two junior chefs over the soup in the kitchen.
Arthur's POV
Follow her lead. Leave! This is weird. She is weird and you're still annoyed from her earlier comments. She is obviously devoid of any sense of humour and be honest with yourself Arthur, she is a little bit scary.
Arthur shakes his head and attempts a half laugh. Which he does not think sounds arrogant at all, right? Wrong.
"Weird. Yeah I know", Arthur finishes, somewhat smug that he has fulfilled what was basically required of him by at least meeting her. "The good news is we can tell those two that it obviously didn't work out can't we?" He now adopts an air of rudeness and boredom, turning around to pick up his coat while Leon uses the opportunity to edge away. This is now bordering on dangerous territory what with Gwen's stormy looking face and Arthur's atypical snobbish tone which Leon knows he only uses when he wants to put people off. Plus, he doesn't want to be put on the jury stand when Elena and M&M grill him for info later.
Gwen looks at him sharply, "Yes, particularly when said persons bang into the other during a downpour and act like a prat". She bites her lip. The words are out before she can use her diplomacy skills. Too late.
Arthur cannot resist a retort, "I'm actually amazed you even managed to get here, what with the forty bags you were lugging around, I was under the impression you were moving houses".
Gwen turns red and lifts her chin up to stare him down, "Lovely, you're a comedian too? Do you practice your jokes in front of a large mirror? It must do wonders for your self esteem as you are clearly not lacking in that department".
Gwen's POV
Stop talking to this horrible person Gwen! Leave now! Ooh but he makes me so mad! Mr. Arrogant! Glad to see his $5,000 suit is ruined now after all that rain; I suppose that is some small (petty) consolation.
Arthur's POV
Just as I expected: A bitter, new age, neo-feminist type who probably carries homemade C4 in her fifty bags. She could take someone's eye out with one of those! Like I said: Bag Lady.
Arthur walks towards her, as they are both ready to leave, and smirking, speaks quieter now, "Why don't we try and salvage what's left of our day and get on with our respective lives? Don't take this the wrong way, but you're not really my type".
Gwen shrugs and hoists her bags back onto her shoulders, moving briskly past Arthur towards the bistro entrance.
"At least we agree on something. Have a great life!" Her tone is cold and indifferent.
They both march past a confused looking Elena and worried Leon and out onto the street. The rain has stopped. As they both exit the bistro, they glare at each other one last time before striding off in opposite directions, both pulling out cell phones immediately to call their respective M.
Gwen's POV
That has to be the worst date or whatever it was meant to be I have ever experienced! Not that there've been many but honestly! What was Morgs thinking? I hope Leon was not involved in all of this either, usually he keeps right out of this sort of fiasco. Why is she not picking up? Eww no, I don't want to think about what she and Merlin could be doing during their lunch break! Pick UP Morgs!
Arthur's POV
Merlin you really are a first class clot pole! That was…I don't even know how to describe the last hour of my life – except that I know I will never get it back! I can't believe Leon's wife is good mates with this woman! Elena is quite normal…It truly was a surreal experience where I was the only passenger on a speeding bullet train to destination Crazy Bag Lady Land. Now I get the mug - Merlin can give it back to her since he loves her so much! Come on Merlin! Answer your bloody phone!
So what say you? Too much? Too little? Too late? Let us know; reviews feed the soul (figuratively of course). Thanks for taking the time though. Chapter Three on its way soon.