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 one there's a chat with a PA, sights (all kinds), a wee bit of ArWen, merlot, bridges, and a teeny bit of Merlin as well thrown in for good measure :)

AN: Italics denote POV and Real Time is in normal font so I hope it doesn't get too confusing. I am so sorry for the delay and tech problems from yesterday! I was editing this chap and tried to post it just after we had a brief power cut so am sorry if you tried to read the update and got some blank message. Merci beaucoup Elbatering for pointing that out :) Here it is, hopefully fully loaded for your reading pleasure :) Thank you all for the alerts, favourites and reviews - they're much appreciated...Hope you all enjoy it! :)

Disclaimer: Which i haven't done in a while - my bad. Obviously i don't own Merlin or the characters, but if i did...

Chapter 29: The One with Sights

Arthur arrives in India and meanwhile back at PI Headquarters…

When Agravaine walks into Arthur's offices on the Friday he left, Arthur's PA Marilyn looks surprised for a few seconds before recovering and rising from behind her desk to greet him.

"Good Morning Sir. Art- er, Mr. Pendragon is taking a few personal days. May I help you with something?" she offers.

Agravaine nods slowly, a pensive look etching across his features. Inclining his head, he gestures for Marilyn to follow him into the conference room that Arthur and his staff use. Frowning slightly, the PA follows him in slowly.

"Please Ms. Hill, have a seat. I would very much like to talk to you about something".

He smiles briefly, and gestures towards a seat across from where he is now perched casually.

Sitting down gingerly, Marilyn faces him.

"How's Maxwell 's wife Janine doing these days? It must be hard for him, what with her being bedridden for so many years with her dilapidating illness. I imagine their marriage can't be a happy one because of this?" Agravaine ponders out loud in a lazy drawl, furtively gleeful to see the look of shock register across the middle aged attractive woman's face as she tries to rearrange her features but it's too late.

"Oh yes Marilyn, I know all about your little intra office antics with the company Financial Director. I've known for some time now…" He pauses and looks at her before continuing.

"Frankly I'm surprised no one else has caught on. Tsk tsk…These pesky PI office policies really do tend to get in the way of people's lives don't they? Shame really…"

"Sir…I…I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about! Now if you'll excuse me, I must fini-", Marilyn makes as if she's about to get up and leave when Agravaine waves his hand dismissively in the air.

"Oh come come Marilyn…We both know that if anyone found out about the affair you would be out of a job, and a very nice flat…Do you think you could find another admin post at your age that has such good…perks for want of a better word? Good luck with that my dear. As for dear old Maxwell, let's just say his twenty five year marriage would become a lovely tale for the tabloids for the wrong reasons wouldn't it? Anyway, I am not really interested in talking about people's sordid affairs so please sit."

She narrows her eyes at the man in front of her and then thinking better of it, sits back down.

"So…you want…?"

Agravaine smiles wider and leans forward in his chair.

"Well, you work very closely with the younger Mr. Pendragon and you are privy to…information that could prove useful if I am to properly assist him in his work here at PI. You would be doing a great service for the company in the long run."

Marilyn's eyes widen and she looks at Agravaine to make sure she has heard him right.

"What sort of information?...Surely you don't….Are you asking me to…spy on my boss? What on earth for?"

Agravaine sighs as if he is bored with the whole conversation and speaks slower this time.

"Spy? Goodness, one would think you are being recruited for MI-6 or something Marilyn! No no, just from time to time, I may require some insider information and I am hoping that you are more than willing to help in this way…Of course, if you'd rather it became public knowledge about you and Maxwell then…"

Shaking her head in horror, she feels tears forming in her eyes. Agravaine raises his eyebrows in question and she nods slightly.

"Well alright then. So…you wouldn't happen to know where your boss went for his time off would you?"

She shakes her head again.

"No Sir. He just said he would be on a break for a couple of days and that if anybody needed him they could call but only if it's an emergency as he has roaming. He didn't book using the company card or take the jet. He just…left – I've always done logistics for him but not this time. I think he also left some instructions for Merlin to finalise some documentation because he brought it in first thing this morning and said it was from Mr. Pendragon."

Agravaine looks up sharply, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he stands up quickly and moves past the still seated lady and out of the doors calling over his shoulder.

"Thank you my dear. You may go, 'til next time…"

Marilyn bites her lip and scurries out of the room.

He passes Merlin in the hallway and they nod politely at each other as he continues on towards the lifts.

In her haste, Marilyn almost bumps into Merlin who was coming to find her to give her some more documents. She side steps him and sits back down behind her desk. Merlin looks back at Agravaine's retreating figure as he steps into the elevator.

"What is he doing here so early?" Merlin asks Marilyn who looks somewhat flustered and fusses with the papers on her desk.

Shrugging she reaches out for the files in Merlin's hand, "He just wanted to introduce himself and book a meeting with Arthur for Wednesday morning."

Merlin nods and then shrugging away any further thoughts he could have contemplated about Agravaine, he changes the subject.

Over the next three days Arthur and Gwen indulged in sightseeing and soaking up the local scenes of the city. They had managed to see a few things 'off the beaten track' as well thanks to their friend Mr. Lal who'd also invited the two of them to dine with him and his family, the Patel's, Sonal, and Sarah who Arthur had finally met. He was grateful he had thought to bring a camera as he and Gwen must've taken a ton of photos and video to show their friends. Taking a long sip of his fresh lime drink, he attempts to tune back into the conversation because he thinks he must look like a bit of a goon, sitting there staring at her while she talks animatedly about the crafts market they'd visited on Sunday. Of course, he wouldn't have minded even if they did nothing or went nowhere; he just wanted to be wherever Gwen was.

Arthur's POV

Geez…Can you sound anymore like a Cecelia Ahern plot? Oh shut up! I am happy…Yes, you are Arthur, and that's a good thing. It's taken you bloody long enough…What's that? Er…nothing…Just you talking internally to yourself again. I wonder what it was like when Father met my mother…Were they happy like this? Okaaay…Where did that come from? Um…Nowhere…Okay well try and concentrate on what she's saying, not her mouth, or her eyes, or her…Arthur? Focus!...What was she talking about again? Speaking of which, what are you going to do for your real first date this afternoon? Crap!Crap!Crap! Where the hell is Merlin when you need him? Bloody useless git. Okaaay…How is this his fault again? No, it's not really…I've just been made painfully aware that I wanted to do something special for that first date and well, that's kind of tonight…And?...And nothing…Crap! Well you've just spent half of your last day with Gwen at the school take the kids for sports – who would've thought that playing touch rugby with five to ten year olds could be so dangerous!…Last day with Gwen…last night. Yeah, don't remind me! Too late. Okay, getting back to the issue at hand, what to do, what to do?...Wait! I've got it! I just need to talk with Mr. Lal to help me organise things so I sho-

"Arthur?..." Gwen pauses as she waits for him to come out of his daze. He blushes slightly, clears his throat, and shifting his gaze down to his drink, he points at it.

"Er…Sorry, yeah, this is good juice isn't it?" he finally offers, taking a large slurp and choking in the process. Gwen reaches over and rubs his back gently, biting back her laugh. She knows he was just sitting there starting at her. Again. He seems to do that a lot and while it's quite sweet, she does get embarrassed, because she's never experienced this before; having a guy around who is happy to just sit and listen to you talk and not run off because you're too plain, boring, or poor – all three being experiences she's had in the past.

When he can finally breathe normally again, Arthur reaches for his cell phone and apologetically tells her he needs to check something with his hotel and then leaves the bench to make a call. Gwen smiles as she watches his retreating figure talking on the phone, and sits back, thinking about how things have changed.

Gwen's POV

The last few days have been…magic…Almost the whole freaking carpet ride scene from Aladdin…Its our last night together tonight…He leaves early tomorrow to go back. We've been sightseeing; meeting up with friends and enjoying the local culture together…I still had to pinch myself when I woke up the next morning after he'd surprised me at the Patel's house that it wasn't all a dream. That I didn't just imagine that a guy who I just happen to be crazy about didn't just jump on a plane and fly 4,000 miles to see me…But he did…I love seeing how he is when he's not surrounded by the PI world that he knows – it's refreshing…and it's great to see him having fun and to be spending time alone with him but…Uh uh…Here we go… No, I am not second guessing things but I feel like there's something he's not telling me…Okay well here's a tip; ask him. I did! He just said he's just happy to be having a real break; a holiday and that work stuff will keep 'til he gets back. I even asked about his dad but he kind of went blank when I did that. I hope they're not fighting again…You remember what he said? Yes, it's not for me to fix, or obsess over but it affects Arthur and I care about him.

Mr. Patel had generously allowed Gwen to take the rest of the day off to spend it with Arthur seeing as it was his last day. After saying goodbye to his new friends, he and Gwen walk back to the house so she can pack a bag for the evening. An Arthur smile mysteriously and tells her to make sure she packs "something warm to wear".

They spend the rest of the afternoon browsing through the artisan markets so he can pick up little mementos for their friends and Gwen spots some lovely fabric that she is certain Elena, Morgs and Gaius' wife Alice would give their right hands for. It is late afternoon when Arthur suggests they go back to his hotel room so they can freshen up before their evening activity.

Gwen is not used to being surprised by people; it's not something that's happened often so of course so she wants to know what is happening.

"What are you up to Arthur Pendragon?" she asks with a mock frown on her face as she follows him into the lobby of Hotel M_ towards the lifts.

He shrugs innocently as he guides her gently into the lift.

"Guinevere honestly, didn't anyone ever tell you that curiosity killed the cat?" he teases her. She giggles and shakes her head.

"Yeees, but then again they do have nine lives so..," she tries again. Arthur merely gives her an 'I-don't- know- what-on-Earth-you're-talking-about' look and grabs her hand pulling her out of the lift towards his room.

Thirty minutes later they are in the hotel van with Sujit heading for the 'surprise destination'. Gwen notices they are driving to what looks like a hilly park area on the outskirts of the city. Arthur looks over at her and smiles briefly as he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze and continues to chat with Sujit about the global financial crisis as Gwen is left to guess where they are going.

When the car finally comes to a stop, Arthur opens the door and reaches out his hand to her again. Grabbing his, she thanks Sujit for the ride and he nods with a broad smile, telling Arthur he will be back in an hour and a half. Gwen turns to Arthur, puzzled as he continues to lead her away.

"Wait… Where are we Arthur? I didn't recognise the name of the area when we passed the sign…Come on, the suspense is killing me!" He laughs at her impatience, pleasantly surprised that there are some things he still doesn't know about Gwen but revels in learning such as knowing that she hates surprises and can be quite persistent when she wants to be. He stops and removes a PI red scarf from his back pack causing her to raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"I am going to blindfold you now. No, don't give me that look – this is not the beginning of a kidnapping or anything dodgy like that…" They both laugh and he shakes his head, his voice softer now.

"Please? Just…trust me?" Gwen nods slowly and he fastens the fabric over her eyes, then grabs her hand and pulls her gently.

"Just walk…I've got you". They walk slower, up an incline, well it feels like they are going up a bit of a hill, Gwen cannot really tell because she can't see anything.

"How much further?" she asks, still holding Arthur's hand tightly.

"Okay…we're here. You can stop now Guinevere."

"So? No planks or dark rooms huh?" she jokes, as she feels him reach behind her head to untie the bind.

Arthur laughs as he removes the fabric.

"Nope. Not unless they make these things jumbo sized so one can fit".

Right in front of Gwen not two metres away is a huge hot air balloon with a smiling man waving at them as he checks the rigs and supplies.

Gwen gasps and bites her lip. She lets out a half laugh and looks back at Arthur who is quietly watching her with a small smile on his face.

"Arthur…? Oh my God, I don't know what to say…This is…"

He shrugs and moves closer to stand right in front of her, holding her around her waist lightly.

"So…I know I asked you out – a while ago, one night and things got messed up and we never got to have that first date. You did agree to do it when you got back but then, I was never one to wait – so I figured, since I was already in the neighborhood we could just have that date now?..." he stops speaking, smiling down at her in a way that always makes her feel like butterflies are permanently camped out in her stomach.

She pulls him closer by grabbing his jacket and kisses him lightly on his lips.

Arthur grabs her hand and then they make their way over to the hot air balloon where they meet the pilot, an American called Joel Weston, and he tells them they will be leaving in five minutes. All too soon they are up and away flying over the city, taking in the sights by sunset.

The pilot points out several important landmarks and after a while serves them wine – Gwen is thrilled to see that it's her favourite kind of merlot, and Arthur offers her local nuts and fruits from a small platter. It is much cooler this high up and Gwen is glad she has worn her khaki pants, a long sleeved top and her jacket. Arthur pulls her close to him and wraps his arms around her as they enjoy the scenery cuddling. It is another one of those moments where words are not really needed. When they can just be Arthur and Gwen, having fun. Together.

"Arthur…?" she says quietly, turning slightly to look up at him, catching his half dreamy expression.

"Mhmmm?" he answers somewhat absentmindedly, breathing in her scent and feeling those curls he loves so much against his cheek.

"Thank you…for doing this…Its…No one's…No one's ever done something like this for me. I'm not really used to people doing really nice things for me…And please don't think I am being ungrateful, I'm not! But…well, I mean it's enough that you came all this way and then…well this is the kind of first date from fairytales or Disney. Not that Disney characters are real which is kind of daft to say 'cos you are definitely real and...Anyway! This, all of this is...amazing…and you're...amazing", she stumbles over her words, suddenly nervous, then blushes.

"And you are worth all of this. And more…" he replies quietly, as he watches her blushing again.

She feels him tighten his grip around her and then slowly she turns back towards him and he reaches for her again, and they kiss. It is way too short a kiss for Arthur's liking and he deepens the kiss, gently teasing her lips, and then taking his time as he feels her responding.

Gwen's POV

No, I take back what I said earlier. This is the whole freaking carpet ride scene and then some!

Eventually they come up for air and the pilot asks them if they want to pose for some pictures. The rest of the hour passes very quickly and soon he is guiding the hot air balloon back down to the field. After thanking him for the wonderful ride, the pair race each other all the way back down the hill towards where Sujit is waiting with the van, ready to take them back to the city. Gwen wins, but Arthur secretly likes to think that he let her win.

On route back to the city Arthur watches Gwen as she leans back in the vehicle sitting against him with her hand entwined in his telling Sujit how wonderful the ride was. Her dark eyes are dancing and he reaches over to tuck a curl behind her ear as she laughs at something Sujit said.

Arthur's POV

Well done my boy! Is that a new level of vanity? Praising oneself internally? Perhaps, but haven't you always been that way? Gee, thanks sub conscious. You're welcome. Anyhoo, nicely done. You really really care for her don't you? Don't say it. What? The L word. The what? Geez, what are you? 16? If only Father…If only Father what? Your father doesn't always know what's what. Doesn't he? No. And you want to be with her…Yes I do…He doesn't have to know about it. You sure that's wise? I don't care. I want to be with Guinevere. I've….I've never felt like this before and…yeah…You should talk to her about what's been happening at PI. Why? Why not? Because.

After dinner at a romantic little restaurant near the city centre, they go back to the hotel to find Sujit who will drive Gwen home.

Gwen stops to admire the hand crafted pillars of the historical hotel buildings, wishing Morgana could see the designs.

"I am so glad I came. And I am so glad you came. Wow, this is beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes…Almost perfect really…" he answers softly.

She turns to Arthur who has also stopped but he isn't looking at the buildings, he is starting at her. Again.

Reddening, Gwen lightly punches his arm and they laugh, then both speak at the same time.

"So what time tom-"

"Well I guess we –"

They both stop and Gwen smiles ruefully, shaking her head.

"Stop it you", she teases.

"You stop it", he jibes right back, pulling her towards him and enfolding her into his strong arms. Gwen can feel a lump rising in her throat as she breathes in his cologne and feels his warmth, resting her cheek against his chest.

Gwen's POV

Crap, am I going to cry? No…Okay, he's leaving tomorrow, but…you will see him in a couple of months. God, how I am ever going to wait that long? You will survive. Thank you Gloria Gaynor. No! I mean…You can do it. You both can…

"My flight leaves at 6 tomorrow…I fly out of Delhi at 8:30 tomorrow. Lovely…Twelve hours, three time zones…With any luck I should be staring at Merlin's ugly mug by 8:30 tomorrow night. If he remembers to pick me up that is. He's pretty useless most of the time, but at least he makes a good make shift PA". They both laugh as Gwen reluctantly pulls away from him and she shakes her head at him.

"You know you love Merlin and you know you'd be lost most of the time without him. Admit it", she admonishes gently.

Arthur scoffs and rolls his eyes, pulling her back in his arms as they stand out in the hotel gardens, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Hmmpf! Maybe…And maybe I would be lost, but as long as you're there with me, I would be happy to remain lost for quite some time. Particularly if it's somewhere Father or anything remotely relevant to PI is concerned…" his voice trails off uncomfortably and Gwen briefly looks back up at him with concern.

"Arthur? Did…something happen? Merlin said that your uncle was back? Your…mother's brother?"

Arthur frowns and then nods, trying to adopt a casual tone.

"Well, my Father is actually taking some time off…He says he is taking a sabbatical. Something he has never done – well I don't actually remember the last time he did that. He says his doctor told him to but…Anyway, he appointed my uncle Agravaine Du Bois as his acting while he is away. Anyway, it's already been decided and it's not a big deal Guinevere. It's just…"

Gwen gently removes his hold of her and moves to face him.

"Oh Arthur…I'm still sorry to hear that though. I know that must have been hard to hear…Are you, are you close to your uncle? What did your Father say when you spoke to him about it?"

Arthur's POV

You should tell her what he said about you and Gwen. Why? What will you do? Enjoy the evening. Look, I don't want to upset her. Like I told her, it's my problem, not hers. What he doesn't know won't kill him. Famous (and daft) words.

Arthur is clearly uncomfortable with the whole conversation and shrugs.

"He told me the same old thing. Traditions, procedures, everything the Pendragon way…Guinevere, it was unexpected but on some level I knew he would do this. And to be fair, he did state that he was not trying to deny my place in the company, just that I needed some help to see things from his perspective and that Agravaine can help me."

Gwen nods slowly, watching Arthur as he speaks.

"Help with how you are running things or help to see things only his way?" she finally asks. For some reason, when she says it, Arthur doesn't feel annoyance but digests what she says. Yet another thing he loves about Gwen, that she can ask him the 'hard' things he is already thinking of, and get him to think about them.

"His way I guess. I did speak to my uncle after he made the announcement and he, well even though we aren't the Cosby's, I think we can make the best of it – Uncle Agravaine certainly spoke quite positively about it, and it's not forever. I have Gaius, and Merlin, and the guys so…Anyway, why are we talking so much about this on our last night? Come on; let's go check out that bridge. I hear it's supposed to be very romantic…or whatever it is you girls like".

Gwen can't help wondering if he is telling her everything but then knowing that discussing his family and his relationship with his father is hard for him, she doesn't want to push him or ruin their last evening together.

Smiling she shakes her head at his comment.

"Bridges are romantic? Really? Who told you that? The makeup artist while she was re-touching you for the '50 Sexiest Men on the Planet' shoot? Are you just trying to get another kiss mister?" she retorts, laughing as they walk hand in hand onto the bridge overlooking the pond.

Arthur grins impishly then pulls her into his arms and silences her with a brief, soft kiss. It's enough to stop Gwen's laughter, her next words and most likely any more coherent thoughts in her head. The mischievous grin is back on his face as he pulls away and caresses her cheek.

"So? Did that answer your question my fair lady?" he says lightheartedly. She gives him a fake stern look and pulls him back towards her.

"Did I say you could stop?" she asks.

He tightens his grip around her waist and laughs quietly as she runs her fingers through his hair.

"Yes mi'lady", he says before capturing her lips with his again.

Making his way through the exit signs, he spots a tired looking Merlin nursing a cup of coffee waving cheerfully at him. Arthur shakes his hand and then grabs the coffee with his other hand smiling brightly at his friend's angry glare.

"Thank you mate! You shouldn't have", Arthur takes a long slurp of the hot liquid and nudges his bag over to Merlin's leg, indicating that he should pick it up. He is looking forward to more sleep after a full day of travelling. Not to mention sleeping will mean the hours will pass, and the days will pass, until finally three months are over and Gwen would be back.

Merlin scowls and picks up the bag following him towards the airport entrance.

"Nice to see you too. Was it too much to ask that Gwen keep you with her for the next three months? We all would've been much better off without you ordering us aro-" he mutters to himself, suddenly interrupted by Arthur's voice.

"What are you nattering about now? Come on, let's go. I need to sleep. So? What's been going on with work?"

Merlin sighs loudly as if he's in pain.

"Nothing…So? How is the lovely Gwen?" he asks, trying not to break into a grin.

Arthur's expression goes softer at the mention of her name and he bites his lip, happy that they've reached the car and grabbing the bags from Merlin, he puts them in the back seat and hops in the front passengers' side.

Merlin starts the car and they negotiate their way out of the car park. It is a while before Arthur speaks.

"She's….perfect…Just…perfect", he finally speaks.

Arthur's POV

Hearing her name means I am replaying the whole wonderful last few days together and how saying goodbye to her last night was something that made me feel so…empty. Now here I am; back in 'my' world and she's half a world (literally) away. So, what happens when she gets back? Well we will be together…We are already! Why would things change just because she'd be back here? We would, could be...Together. We would! Wouldn't we?

Meanwhile, upon hearing his brief words, Merlin can barely contain his own excitement and looks briefly over at his friend with a broad grin on his face.

"Hah! You should see your face right now! This. Is. Absolutely. Bloody. Brilliant! Didn't I tell you? Oh ho! And you said "Merlin you're a clot pole!"; "What an absurd idea – me being set up with one of your girlfriend's friends?"; "Could you possibly have gotten any dumber Merlin?", but here you are and –"

Arthur rubs his eyes with his hands and turns to glare at Merlin.

"Merlin?"

"Yes Arthur?"

"Shut. Up. Please."

Still grinning, Merlin shrugs good-naturedly.

"Whatever you say…Artie".

"Merlin!"

A/N: And there we have it; the visit is over and Artie's back in RW aka all things mighty and seriousness PI. Hmm...What's the used car saleman Aggravating up to now? Are all things good in the hood for ArWen or what? :) As always thanks for sticking around and reading guys! If you have time, i love reviews and feedback, so please drop me a line.