A/N: Here's chapter 9! Hope you enjoy it and please review. Thank you :)
As Merlin was driving a few blocks from Morgana's place to the pub Arthur was in, he suddenly thought to himself.
Yup, I'll be in trouble for this. But come to think of it, when am I never in trouble? *sigh* time to see how Arthur's doing.
Merlin arrived at the pub and went in, immediately looking around for Arthur. After turning his head around, he finally sees him, seated in a bar stool with his head lying flat on the counter table, gesturing to the bartender for another drink. Merlin breathed deeply and started walking toward him. Arthur sees him and as he was within reach, Arthur suddenly grabbed a shocked Merlin's shirt collar.
"Take me to her, Merlin. Please." Arthur said desperately. Merlin looked at him with sympathy.
I've never seen him like this. This is not good.
Merlin raised both his arms as if he was held at gun point.
"Hey! Arthur calm down. And take your hands off my collar." he said as he removed Arthur's arms from his shirt.
Arthur looked at him pleadingly and sighed deeply, returning to his seat and his waiting drink. He then rested his elbows upright on the table and buried his head in them.
"I miss her so much, Merlin. I don't know what's happening." Arthur whispered sadly.
You're just a lovesick fool.
Merlin came to him and put his hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
"I know." he said plainly. "But we both know you're not in the proper state to see anyone at the moment…" he muttered and reluctantly continued after sighing "so I'm taking you to Morgana's." he muttered.
Arthur looked up and turned to Merlin "What did you say? We're going to Morgana's?" he asked, not daring to hope but he can't seem to help it. Merlin noticed his eyes light up a bit but he refused to encourage it.
"Yes, but not in the way that you think." Merlin said firmly.
"But I'm going to see Guinevere." Arthur retorted to himself. Merlin widen his eyes.
Oh no. That's not why I'm taking you there. Maybe Leon was right. Merlin thought, starting to regret his decision.
"Arthur, no. I'm only driving you to Morgana's because we both know that you'll continue drinking at your place, you always have dozens of beers stacked up in your fridge and there's no way those stacks will be emptied into your system… Morgana doesn't know this but, I'm going to sneak you into the guest room so please, don't do anything reckless, just do as I say and we'll be fine." Merlin advised and helped Arthur to stand up as he put Arthur's arm over his shoulder.
The drive was eerily quiet and Merlin was somewhat confused why Arthur just agreed with Merlin. After a few minutes, they finally arrive and Merlin couldn't get any more nervous than what he was feeling right now. Arthur on the other hand, despite Merlin's warning, he can't help feeling eager to see Guinevere even if he knew that she shouldn't be seeing him.
They both went out of the car and walked toward the building into the elevator. As they waited for their floor, Merlin was helping Arthur maintain his upright posture.
"I always wonder how she's doing." Arthur muttered unconsciously. Merlin looked at him, feeling sorry for him.
"You and me both, Arthur. All of us wonder how she's been." Merlin muttered back. They arrive on their floor and as the doors slide open, they go out to see that Gwen was actually outside, alone in the hallway. Merlin panicked and looked at Arthur hanging on his shoulder looking down thankfully then to Gwen who was leaning on the wall with her eyes closed.
"Arthur, come on we have to go." Merlin said quickly as he started dragging Arthur back into the elevator but unfortunately, it was useless because Arthur didn't even move no matter how hard he tried.
"What are you talking about? I thought I was staying here?" Arthur asked as he looked up at him. He just stared at Merlin for a moment and looked away, only to realize that the one he's been waiting to see was standing right in front of him. He walked away from Merlin, who was trying every bit to stop him but he couldn't.
Arthur slowed down once he was near enough and stared at her before speaking up.
It's her. It's actually her. I can't believe it.
"Guinevere?"
Gwen suddenly stopped hitting her head to the wall as she heard an all-too familiar voice saying her name. She slowly opened her eyes and turned to where she heard the voice and found herself looking at the man who caused her to leave five months ago.
I must be dreaming. It's not him. I'm just imagining this. But why can't I look away? Why do I feel like it is him? I'm seeing his tired eyes and his unruly hair that I just want to sweep away from his forehead with my fingers.
"Arthur." Gwen whispered to herself.
And before she knew it, Gwen was pulled into Arthur's embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her, with his head buried deep in the crook of her neck. After realizing it, she then found herself wrapping her arms just as tightly as Arthur.
It's her. I missed her so much. I'm never going to let go this time.
It's him. I missed him so much. I didn't know just how much until I was in his arms.
At that moment, Gwen knew it was happening even though she was still shocked but, she couldn't find it in herself to pull away. She let herself savor the moment as it was happening. She hears Arthur whisper soft words and constant apologies into her neck. But reality had to come back to her when the door suddenly opened to a slightly worried Morgana, obviously looking for Gwen.
"Gwen?" she called as she opened the door. At this moment, the surprise seemed to be on her when she sees that Gwen was not alone. She was with the person she said she didn't want to see, but here she was, letting him hold her in his arms. Morgana's eyes fully widened and panicked the same way Merlin did a while ago. Soon, the panicking also turned into annoyance, anger, and frustration as she knew exactly the one who was responsible for this situation.
Merlin. I can't believe he let this happen! He has a lot of explaining to do.
"Arthur?!" Morgana called loudly in disbelief. By her voice, Gwen was able to snap out of her stupor and pull away from him, stunned and shocked by all that's happened.
Gwen looks at Arthur, then Merlin and Morgana, who looked at her with apologetically and sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, I just need to go outside." Gwen muttered breathily as she walked in a quick pace, wrapping her arms around herself as if she wanted to be protected. She then hears Morgana calling her but she didn't care. The elevator doors slide open and she went in without hesitation.
And then there were the three of them. After realizing that Gwen was leaving, Arthur wanted to follow her but he was stopped by Morgana, who pushed him hard on the wall.
"But Guinevere-"
"No, Arthur! You shouldn't even be here in the first place. Stay right there! I mean it." Morgana hissed.
She then turns to glare at Merlin and soon he found himself being dragged away by the arm. Morgana continued to drag him until she thought they were at a good distance away from Arthur as she stopped. She glared at him for a moment then she hit him hard on the arm.
"Ow! That hurt!" Merlin complained.
"Oh, it's not like you didn't deserve it. Start talking! How did this happen?! Tell me what the hell is Arthur doing here?!" she whispered menacingly, looking him straight in the eye.
"He was drinking, Morgana. I couldn't take him to his place because you and I both know he's going to start drinking again, so I thought I'd sneak him into your guest room and hope that none of you noticed." Merlin whispered exasperatingly, glancing back to make sure if Arthur was still there.
"You were going to sneak him into my place without so much as telling me?! He's my brother for crying out loud, I had the right to know! And you actually think none of us will notice? Well, thanks to you, the one person who shouldn't have noticed him the most, turned out to be the first one to see him! What were you thinking?" Morgana retorted frustratingly.
Merlin sighed deeply and looked at Morgana "I was thinking that he needed a friend. He needed someone to look after him while he was drowning in his own misery. He's my best friend, Morgana. You can't expect me to sit around and do nothing while we celebrate here knowing that he's alone, thinking that he has no one to hold onto since Gwen left." Merlin muttered.
Morgana's expression softened and looked at Merlin. They stare at each other in silence for a moment the Morgana sighed.
He's right. He always was. I was just doing the same. I was sticking out for Gwen, my best friend.
"I completely understand, Merlin, you know I do. Arthur's my brother and I love him more than anything in this world. But I have a best friend, too. I'm just looking out for Gwen, like you've been doing for Arthur. " Morgana softly said.
"How long was he at the bar?" she whispered after a moment.
"Long enough, I think. He's drunk but not that drunk. He still knows what he was doing… and what you saw just now, I didn't mean for that to happen but when she hugged him back… I was surprised too." Merlin said back softly.
Morgana nodded her head and replied "I know… maybe Arthur wasn't the only one who's been miserable for the past few months after all." she concluded. They both went silent for a moment and looked at each other with sympathy. She clears her throat.
"I have to go find Gwen. You go and take Arthur into the guest room, and try to not let people see him like this. Just explain everything he needs to know. There's no use in hiding it now anyway. I'll handle everything else, alright?" Morgana muttered as she glanced back at Arthur, who was now seated miserably on the floor. She turns back to a solemnly nodding Merlin and gave his shoulder a squeeze before heading to the elevator.