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 T just in case. In this chapter there's a no alcohol rule with alcohol and something about dining room doors...Hope you enjoy it!

AN: Italics denote POV and Real Time is in normal font so I hope it doesn't get too confusing. Thank you to my wonderful reviewers, and those who put me on story alerts and favourites list - very humbling indeed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the characters but if I did...

Chapter Ten: The One With (No) Alcohol

At the dinner party…

Satisfied that the phone call had gone according to plan, Gwen smoothes down her top, washes her hands and taking a deep breath, walks back out of the bathroom to the kitchen. She observes that Merlin and Arthur have now joined the rest of the group and the latter is greeting the other guests. They all stop talking when she arrives and Morgana quickly (and visibly nervously) grabs Arthur's arm to pull him towards her.

"Here she is!" Gwen notices that Morgana's tone is forcefully cheerful and she has to clear her throat to stop herself from laughing out loud and instead, projects what she hopes is a stony look on her face.

"Gwen…You remember Arthur? Merlin's friend? Isn't it nice that we can all be here together – as friends…sharing…um, having fun…right?" Her voice trails off when she realises that both Arthur and Gwen are not smiling, even though they are now less than a metre apart, facing each other. She throws a look of semi-desperation in Merlin's general direction and he slightly shakes his head.

Arthur moves towards Gwen, turning his expression into an evil smirk. Gwen follows his lead and glares back.

"Ouch. I say Merlin; perhaps you'd better turn up the air con…It suddenly just got a lot colder in here". Arthur sneers when he makes his comment in a sotto voce tone to Merlin who is standing closest to him, directly in front of Gwen, purposely ignoring her presence.

She whirls around to face them both and retorts, "Of course, why am I not surprised that you've only been here five minutes and already ordering us all around like we're the help in our own homes."

Arthur is delighted she has risen to the bait and continues on.

"And there you go again, assuming you know what everyone's doing all the time. Must be exhausting being you. Or maybe it's because you can't seem to function without carrying an entire household on your shoulders!"

Gwen shakes her head furiously at him, and turns back to where Leon, Elena and Morgana are looking on in horror. "This is going just peachy Morgs! It's not enough you have to force me to go out with this…man – for want of a better term for him, and then you have to invite him to our dinner tonight too. It obv-"

Arthur cuts her off, moving closer towards her, eyes flashing now, "Hah! I like that, "she forced you"…Probably did you a favour is more like! Although I must say if I have to feel sorry for anyone it would have to be those polar bears. You're like a new mechanism for global warming – forget aerosols".

"I'm impressed you even know about global warming, or polar bears – that would constitute you actually caring about something or someone else other then yourself and your own opinions. Got any pocket sized mirrors in your jacket today?"

"Honestly Merlin…I thought you said she was nice. You were probably coming around from a three day hangover when you convinced me to go to that lunch", Arthur dramatically fakes a shudder and then shrugs, rudely dismissing her with one hand.

Feigning boredom with the conversation, he sneers one final time at her and turns away, going into the dining room. Gwen is sputtering indignantly and waits for one second before marching after him towards the dining room, slamming the doors shut behind her, muttering something like "oh no you don't"…

The kitchen is now eerily quiet now and a few seconds pass before Morgana and Elena both rush forward, banging into Leon and Merlin who are blocking their path, in an effort to get to the dining room doors.

"For God's sakes Merlin, do something!" Morgana's voice has risen slightly and Merlin can't help thinking that maybe she needs that vodka more than him.

"Me? What do you expect me to do Morgs? This was your idea! Can't we just leave them to it? Lock the door and let them kill each other. I say we have a drink", Merlin tries to crack a joke but stops when he sees Morgana's crestfallen face and grabs her hand apologetically.

Almost, but not quite forgotten in the foray, Leon steps up to them, gently rubbing his wife's back.

"How about we just give those two twenty minutes to sort it out? Then Morgana, you and Ellie can do… whatever it is you'd like to do? They're both mature adults (well I know Gwen is and Arthur can be - sometimes), so let them sought it out eh?"

Possibly the longest speech Leon's given in a while, but it works and the four friends decide to stay put in the kitchen and wait for them, much to Merlin and Leon's relief.

The relief is short lived when they suddenly hear the raised voices coming from the dining room. Clearly might be a long twenty minutes. Morgana's face is aghast and Leon grimly shrugs.

"Drinks anyone?" Merlin tries once more and is happy to hear no one, not even Morgana objects to a glass of wine as they sit down to wait.

In the dining room…

The two occupants sit on the floor, with bated breath, listening to the not so quiet conversation coming from the kitchen now. Arthur's shoulders are shaking as he laughs silently while Gwen leans against him biting her lip to stop from laughing out loud. When they hear Merlin suggesting they should just have a drink, Gwen snorts loudly and Arthur quickly covers her mouth with his hand, again trying not to notice that her lips feel warm and soft against his hand. Smiling apologetically, he removes his hand. Gwen tries not to think about the tingle on her lips where his hand has just been.

"Don't! You said we had to make it look real didn't you?" he asks her quietly.

"Yes I did…They're hilarious. This is hilarious. I feel mean but…this is funny. And I did say we have to make this realistic Arthur." She reminds him, sitting on the floor now, her tummy sore from laughing too hard.

"Come on, get up then. The fight's not over yet". Arthur reaches for her hand and helps her to her feet, his bright blue eyes twinkling.

"You know what you are Arthur? You're a first class prat! I've never met anyone like you, honestly. And that's saying something" Gwen raises her voice so that it can carry through to the other room. They listen and hearing silence, Arthur grins and replies (also very loudly)

"I can well believe that you don't meet a lot of people Gwen. Something about you – and your choice in attire would also suggest that much is true."

Gwen tries not to laugh again, whispering quickly, "Ooh, that's a good one." Then, "Whatever! I don't know how Merlin can even stand you. Maybe you have a secret twin none of us know about? Like Leo in "The Man in the Iron Mask", like he's the nice one and you're not and you switch around to meet different people? I know which one I got at the bistro!"

This last line is too much for Arthur as he sinks to the floor, against the door, holding his stomach and doubling over with laughter and Gwen is back on the floor too, rolling around from trying not to laugh out loud. They are too busy pissing themselves with laughter they don't hear the footsteps coming to the door. Nor, are they ready when the door is flung open and they both fall back out.

In the kitchen….

Morgana and Co are on to their second wine and no one has eaten anything yet. Merlin drinks his wine and contemplates asking Morgana to open a pack of crisps but wisely says nothing. He thinks about the scene that just took place before and thinks not for the first time that perhaps Morgana doesn't give Gwen enough credit where it's due sometimes. He had figured it out after the dining room door closed. Classic move for Pendragon and Leodegrance.

"What the?", Morgana jumps up and goes to the door, straining to hear any noises as they've both suddenly gone quiet. Curious, Elena hops off the bar stool and tiptoes over to listen with her. Leon and Merlin both exchange a look and continue drinking their wine. Better to let the women handle it. Whatever it is.

"Merlin!" Morgana stage whispers re: quite loudly to him, while beckoning him over with her hand.

"I think they're…laughing! They are! That's it, I'm opening this door and – ", she grabs the door handle and turns it quite violently causing the pair to fall backwards and out of the room.

Gwen's POV

From where we're lying I can see Leon and Merlin (both of who are almost smiling), Elena who looks thoughtful and Morgs – she looks like an upside down pissed off person…Oops! Busted…

Arthur's POV

That was hilarious. Not so much is the pain from falling out of a door to see people looking at you upside down. No wait, we're lying upside down and they're - Whatever. Oh oh…Merlin's girlfriend looks pissed off.

Silence again before Merlin starts to laugh, that second glass and empty stomach assisting him. Leon and Elena also join in as Arthur helps Gwen to her feet, both looking a bit sheepish. Gwen walks over to Morgs and holds her arm gently; she still seems a bit miffed.

"Morgs…Sorry about that. It's just that…well...Arthur and I already sorted out our…crap, and well today was – "

"You mean you guys already made up? When? You didn't tell me…" Morgana sounds like she's slowly warming up again, but her tone indicates she still needs a bit more of an explanation. Gwen smiles at her and turns slightly so all of them can hear her.

"Two weeks ago – one evening at work. Sorry guys! It's just…you don't need to cook up some elaborate plan to get us to be mates. We kinda worked that out on our own. Sorry…doll". Gwen thanks her lucky stars, and not for the first time either because she knows that Morgs can never stay mad at her too long. Two more seconds pass before Morgana shrugs and smacks her in the arm as her way of saying "you suck for not telling me but its ok".

"Fine!" Morgana says, laughing now, with one arm linked through Gwen's. Shaking her head at Arthur (who smiles apologetically at her), she shrugs and moves away, "Ok! Food time! Merlin…? Uh…Merlin, what are you doing with that vodka? Its Sunday afternoon love…Gwaine said what?"…..

Morgana's voice trails off as she follows Merlin back to the kitchen where she's spotted him holding a Smirnoff bottle. Gwen watches her go, smiling before turning back to the others. Leon has his arm around Elena and they're both laughing as Arthur fills them in on the joke they played today.

Gwen's POV

Glad my friends are over their little schemes. M&M were right – we do get on well, even if we don't have that much in common. Why am I standing here watching Arthur talk to the others? Feel like a perve almost…Stop staring Gwen. Stop it. You've seen him talking to people tons of times! Promise me you're not thinking about how he put his hand on your mouth Gwen. Ok, I promise…Liar! Great, I am back to arguing with myself now. Wonderful. He's a great guy, he actually is – if you're not fazed by the fact he runs one of the most powerful companies in the world, has a dragon – figuratively speaking of course, for a father, is worth millions and gets hounded by the media. I wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend. Ok, where did that come from? Maybe he has already…Or he could be gay? Don't get gaydar from him though…Oh shut up Gwen and go help Morgs bring out the food.

As Arthur chats with Leon and Elena about the rugby match earlier that day, he feels someone watching him, and turning his head, he notices Guinevere moving towards the kitchen to help Morgana, and before she turns to go in, she catches his eye, and smiles warmly, momentarily causing Arthur to tune out of the conversation and smile back, somewhat shyly.

Arthur's POV

Wow…That smile…How is this woman single? Stop it Arthur! She's your friend. Yes…my very lovely…and…quite beautiful friend…You touched her mouth on purpose. No I didn't. I was trying to get her to be quiet. Did it feel nice? Uh...no. Liar. Ok it did - very nice...Stop it, you can have beautiful friends. Yes you can! You don't have to sleep with every attractive woman you know. You do. No I don't. Ok, you did. Wait…Am I arguing with…myself? Riiight. Stop staring Arthur. Talk to Leon, stare at him. No don't do that. Oh shut up.

Ten minutes later, the food is ready and Merlin invites everyone to sit down. A short prayer of thanks is given by Leon before they all dig in. Morgana has fully recovered from the earlier display and she is now talking animatedly with Elena and Gwen about some film with that hippy looking American actor that she's dying to see. Merlin can't understand women sometimes – ok, most of the time. I mean honestly, what is so exciting about seeing a movie about a lawyer who runs his practice out of his car in which he happens to live in too? Weird.

Merlin helps himself to another piece of chicken and that's when he notices Arthur talking to Gwen across the table. Not really a big deal and this chicken is divine. Then he takes another look at the two of them, and notices the way they are both looking and smiling at each other in a very friendly way. Merlin grins and starts to eat again. He can't wait to tell the second M about this later.

AN: Thanks for reading folks. As always feedback is welcomed so please review if you get the chance. Next up Chapter Eleven.