WHEN ARTHUR MET GUINEVERE
Summary: This is the story of how Arthur and Guinevere first met told as a modern fiction so there's a fair bit of AU and OOC. Multi- chapters and rated M just in case. In this chapter there are meds, sarcastic exchanges, and mini electric shocks (not necessarily in that order). Hope you enjoy it! :)
AN: Thanks for the alerts, reviews, and a special shout out to Lara Smith - you're right on the money with the summary girl! R&Rs are more than welcome.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the characters but if I did...
Chapter Three: The One With The "2 for 1 Special"
Gwen's POV
It's been 24 hours since my "ordeal" as I melodramatically called it, ranting to Morgs – when she finally returned my calls. While it's just a bit of a weird event now, I am kinda, sorta (maybe) over it and have even (slightly) forgiven Morgs, even if all she said was "Sorry doll, maybe he was having a shite day at work? You know it's a lot of pressure…" Her voice trailed off when she saw my face. What really sucks is that I have now got a nasty head cold – a left over from yesterday's dampness (in more ways than one).
I still have to get to my night job by 6 so I will need some cold meds – the self medicating kind. Cleaning offices at Pendragon Industries (PI for short) from 6-10PM five days a week means silent, dark, luxurious rooms with latte vending machines. It also means oodles of room and quiet for me to study for my daytime classes when I am done with my section for the night. In this day in age, you wouldn't think people care too much about class, status and all of that, but the few times I actually bothered to go out with friends and would meet guys, they asked what I did, and I discovered that apparently being a cleaner is a turn off.
Not that it matters too much to me; my mother was housekeeper to Morg's family and we lived on their estate. Dad was a mechanic with the local village garage, so even if my home life was modest and simple compared to other people, I am still grateful and we were happy. My parents have always taught Elyan and me to value what we have and be thankful for our opportunities. I'm not ashamed of being a cleaner – it's a good job, I get physical exercise, has flexi hours, and gives me the much needed finances to finish my post grad studies in special needs teaching. I've figured out that if people are that shallow, why waste time getting to know them? Shallow…Sort of like Mr. Arrogant yesterday, the smarmy g- Ok! Ok! Finding my centre now. Oh crap! It's almost 4. There's a chemist down the road from PI I think.
Arthur's POV
I suppose I did give Merlin quite a bit of an earful for yesterday's fiasco. Not that he seemed mollified in the least. Basically, after silently and patiently waiting for me to run out of steam, he simply offered, "Yeah well, maybe it was a bad day all around? She really is a lovely girl Arthur, you –" Of course that elicited a slap upside his head from me to which he responded with a yelp of pain and incidentally, that did make me feel better even if it is was a little immature.
"A bad day? Mel Gibson has bad days! Merlin you didn't see her! The woman seems to be having a permanent bad hair day! She was like a crazy bag lady!" While I try not to dwell on unpleasant circumstances for too long, and the events from 24 hours ago have somewhat dulled, I found myself getting peeved again when Merlin tried to smooth it over. Merlin of course, the (nowhere near anything remotely funny) clown and optimist walked five metres away from me (he has learnt from past experiences) and then said cheekily, "You know what they say Artie (a nickname I told him to never call me unless he wanted to be in traction for the rest of his life), 'third time's a charm'". With that he scampered off down the hall towards his office, leaving me frowning and contemplating running after him and slapping him again. I resisted and in doing so proceeded to go into a fit of sneezes.
The best thing about the whole episode yesterday was the dreadful cold I was now plagued with. As if trying to mentally prepare myself for the meeting with the Boss at 6 wasn't enough. Looking at my watch, I realised I had just enough time to pop down to the chemist across the street.
The shop is full with late afternoon customers on their way to catch trains and buses during the home rush. Gwen pushes open the doors and begins looking up at the aisle signs for cold meds. Right! Aisle 3!
Having been away Arthur had forgotten that this particular chemist was right near the tube and bus stand so there were quite a few people inside. He didn't want to be here for too long as he still needed to read through the final brief before the meeting at 6. He asks a staff member where the cold medication is stocked and sets off for Aisle 3.
Gwen excuses herself past two elderly ladies and turns the corner, walking right into someone coming in the opposite direction. Thankfully, she is not carrying a mug of tea (a mug which she cannot find anywhere by the way), just her two bags. The other person is tall and wearing an awfully familiar charcoal grey coloured suit, with neatly cut blonde hair and surprised bright blue eyes, and like her, is clearly not expecting another collision quite so soon after the last time.
"You! AGAIN?" They both exclaim loudly at the same time.
Gwen's POV
Of course it would be him; somebody up there must not like me. What are the odds? Mr. Arrogant two days in a row?
Arthur's POV
Seriously? This is crazy. I thought this was supposed to be a huge city where you see people on the street and then never again. Maybe Bag Lady is stalking me…
Gwen finally finds her voice, "Excuse me, I am trying to get down this aisle", as stiffly, albeit politely as she can. Arthur quickly replies, "After you, I insist", which is obviously the wrong thing to say because Gwen turns and glares at him, while he continues to fall her down Aisle 3.
Gwen's POV
Yep, still arrogant. Why is he following me? Aren't there enough chemists in the whole city? Mental note to self: Do not ever come back here again – even if your fave crisps are on half price special.
Arthur's POV
Walking around with a mean glare like that it's no wonder she has to resort being set up by mates! Couldn't she have gone down another aisle? It's bad enough I keep getting a view of her back and crazy curls stomping angrily away two days in a row now!
Gwen spots the medicine she's after and stops, as does Mr. Arrogant. At the exact moment, they both reach out to grab a packet and their hands touch, sending a jolt – not unlike static when they meet. Reacting almost immediately they both snatch their hands back and move away from each other.
She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a deep breath, before opening them and looking over at the man who is muttering something under his breath, something about…cats and..ammo? Clearly this is getting ridiculous on all fronts!
"Excuse me," she says as crisply as she can muster through a blocked nose, "You can get yours first. Sir". The man, she notices has very bright (and now very runny) blue eyes and he shakes his head, "Ladies first", in an equally polite, if not disdainful tone.
Arthur's POV
Hah! Take that! Two can play the snark game. That is solely for the hand held mirror comment. I know it's childish and one could argue somewhat prattish of me, but she asked for it. I am not really sorry either that she also has a bad cold from yesterday. Join the club.
Gwen's POV
I blame what happened next on a couple of things that I am 60% sure could be the cause. Maybe it's because I was feeling like crap from my cold, or I was annoyed with myself because truthfully I was still not completely over yesterday, or that he emphasized the word Ladies jus as I had meant to stress the Sir, like he is mocking me or something. It annoys me that I even care! Perhaps it's all in my head, or it was my evil doppelganger, but I couldn't resist a parting shot.
Gwen quickly grabs a box and blurts out, "Why couldn't you have gone to another chemist? There's one on every corner you know?" After this exchange she turns and walks back towards the cashier, not caring to continue the conversation another moment.
Mr. Arrogant follows her, also going to purchase his meds and sharply replies (to her retreating back, of course, like always, Arthur muses irritably), "Great idea. Why didn't you think of it? Did you bring another bag specifically to carry your medicine in as well?"
Arthur's POV
Wait for it…Wait for it…There it is! Another poor polar bear just lost a bit more of his habitat.
Gwen's POV
WHAT is with all the bag comments? That's IT!
Gwen reaches the counter and slaps her purchases down where a cashier name tagged Jane waits. Her cheeks are flushed red, not with shame, but in anger. Whirling around she faces the man who stands behind her smirking arrogantly.
"Another funny joke! You're like Owen Wilson's younger brother, only more annoying. What do you even need cold & flu medication for? Why don't you just click your Armani heels together while looking in one of your mirrors and heal yourself with your self-importance?" She is momentarily pleased when she sees his blue eyes flash and he steps closer to her.
"Right. Well, you obviously know so much about me after two occasions wherein a person with questionable coordination skills – uh that would be you by the way, banged into me, incidentally caused my cold and pretty much ruined my lunch hour yesterday! So let me guess, in your spare time when you're not de-worming your cats you analyse people on the street?"
Arthur's POV
Shit! Too far maybe Arthur? Well she deserved it! She started it! Yes, the immature side of me whispers in my ear. Bullocks! Arthur you shit! She is just a harmless lady buying cold and flu tablets. Mental note to self: NEVER tell Merlin about this, he may never speak to me again. Wait, how is that exactly a bad thing? Oh crap!
Arthur knows he has gone too far when he sees the hurt look in her eyes, but he's too angry and irked that a complete stranger knows exactly which buttons to push. Jane looks on with much interest while giving Gwen her change. Lovers tiffs were always more interesting than irate customers complaining about the labels being too small to read and so on. Jane observes that the woman looks a bit hurt when the man ends his tirade, and she scoops up her packet, storming out of the store.
The man moves up the line and watches her retreating figure as she leaves. Jane reckons he looks guilty, even if it is only for a millisecond. Sighing, he places his purchase on the counter – the exact same medication as the lady's. Jane frowns and can't help making, what she believes, could be a welcomed suggestion to the customer.
"Sir, forgive my intrusion but that pack your girlfriend purchased is part of our "2 for 1 special" in the store this week. I didn't get the chance to tell her since you all were…um…talking, but you can just take the other free packet if you like since we don't give out refunds if you only take the one." Jane waits, watching the man who still looks deep in thought.
Arthur comes back down from the clouds as the cashier finishes speaking. He looks at her name tag…Jane. Something about "2 for 1 specials" and "girlfriends"…? Jane notices his confusion and recalls how her hubby Nicky can be a bit slow after one of their fights and he is feeling guilty. She nods in the general direction of the exit.
"I said you can take the second pack since your partner already paid because of the "2 for 1 special", she enunciates every word like a mother speaking to a 4 year old. Arthur shakes his head vehemently and laughs out loud. Girlfriend? Bag Lady? Yeah that was a laugh all right!
"No, no – she is definitely not my girlfriend. I don't even know that woman – well I met, not really met, but sort of, well twice really, but…" he trails off when he realises Jane is looking at him funny. He gives up, thanks her for the meds (which he pays a whole new "special" for) and leaves the store, trying to put thoughts of Bag Lady out of his head knowing that he has less than an hour before his meeting.
Jane watches the man leave with his medicine and shakes her head, ready to serve the next person.
"Not my girlfriend...Yeah right!" she snorts before turning to smile at the next customer, "Next please!"
AN: Yep, no typical Arwen style love there...but then I did say this was about how they FIRST met. Please R&R, I welcome constructive feedback. Next up: Chapter Four...