Disclaimer: I still don't own Merlin!
Sorry it's been so long but work has been a nightmare.
As always constructive comments are welcome.
Please enjoy chapter Fourteen!
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Chapter Fourteen
Over the next three weeks the crew of Excalibur only did three trips – mainly because it was getting towards the end of the year and Lincolnshire was getting its fair share of snow – it looked like it might be a white Christmas.
As Arthur brought Excalibur in carefully for a landing – the night before another crew had been killed when just after touching down, their tyres had hit 'black ice' and skidded, the Lancaster ground looped and crashed in a fiery ball just off the runway. It was a sobering reminder to be extra careful.
This was trip number twenty two and it had been to Dusseldorf, they had dropped their bombs on the target. The trip home once they were over the Channel was lighter, they had known for a week they had leave coming.
They had already organised what they were going to do. The boys Percy, Elyan, Merlin, Gwaine and Leon were going to Leon's family home – a large house near Nottingham, Leon's father was an investment banker who had managed to increase the family's sizable fortune even further. Leon was going to show the others a nice time and a place to relax.
Arthur and Gwen were going to stay a couple of days at Uther's mansion in Buckinghamshire and then go up to Sheffield and stay with Tom for the last half of the week. Gwen had managed to get the time off by doing a lot of extra shifts.
But before that there was an engagement party to be held the following night.
After debriefing Arthur made his way over to the medical flight. Gwen had worked a night shift, so Arthur was going to walk her back to the Block – any excuse to see her!
Arthur had just got comfortable leaning against the wall in his usual spot when the door opened and Gwen came over to him "Hello darling" she said snuggling into his arms.
"Ahem"
Gwen and Arthur broke apart and looked around – SQN LDR Hughes was standing sheepishly there.
"I'm so very sorry, I have forgotten what time the party is tonight, and I thought I'd better ask before you left." Gaius looked embarrassed to interrupt them – he liked the pair of them and was happy things had turned out as it had.
"Its ok sir," Arthur said putting his arm around Gwen's shoulders, "Things are set for 1900hrs at the Rising Sun."
"Ok thankyou, I'll see you there then." He said.
"Thankyou sir." They chorused as Gaius turned and left.
"How was your night sweetheart?" Arthur asked.
"A lot better than last night, thank god!" Gwen said with feeling – with the crash the night before some of the fire crew were burned as they tried to get to the doomed crew.
"We went to Dusseldorf, it was ok – everyone came back ok in the squadron too!" Arthur told her, they had lost five crews over the past three weeks.
Gwen yawned "Come on darling let's get you over to the Block for a quick breakfast and then bed.
"Yes Dr Pendragon" Gwen smiled and they started to head over to the Block.
"Dad rang yesterday afternoon, he came up by train to Lincoln and is staying at The White Hart Inn again, so he'll be alright to come tonight." Gwen told Arthur.
"Fantastic! Father rang yesterday as well, he drove up here and guess what? He's staying at The White Hart Inn as well!"
"That's great, so after the party they can get to know each other better." Gwen said.
Arthur pulled her into his arms when they walked around the back of one of the buildings. He bent down and nuzzled her neck, Gwen's head lulled back giving him more room to explore, she held on to his broad shoulders. Arthur made his way up to her lips which he started to kiss deeply, their tongues playing a game of tag.
When they broke apart panting Arthur looked sheepishly at her and smiled "I cannot ever get enough of you my darling Guinevere, I love you so much!"
"Just as well we're engaged then." Gwen said and then kissed him again. "I love you too Arthur."
"So much for getting you back to the Block for a quick breakfast and then bed hey!" Arthur laughed.
"Yes, you're a bad man Arthur Pendragon!" Gwen smiled at him.
"But you will make me a good man won't you?" Arthur's cheeky grin and glint in his eyes was too much for Gwen who started to laugh. "Come on Guinevere we better get you over to the Block before they send out a search party." He kissed her again and when they came up for air they started off towards the Block again.
When they were close Arthur turned to her "What time do you want me to pick you up darling?"
"1800hrs too soon?" Gwen asked.
"No, we can get over there and see if we can help Gilli with the small bar." Arthur said.
The Rising Sun had two bars- the main bar and the small bar- almost a snug, Gilli was letting them hold the engagement party there. It was just a celebration with family and friends plus they had told everyone no gifts they had no room to store them anyway.
Arthur picked Gwen up at 1800hrs and they headed to The rising Sun, Gilli met them and congratulated them again, he then showed them into the small bar. There were tables set up with sandwiches and some cakes for the party.
Gilli said "I don't suppose you two have had anything to eat?"
"No" Arthur and Gwen chorused.
"Well here you go then fresh out of the oven my Beryl made a couple extra when we had our tea, Cornish pasties." He smiled at them.
"Oh Gilli thankyou." Gwen said and kissed him.
"Thanks Gilli, how much do we owe you?" Arthur asked.
"Nothing thanks Arthur." Gilli grinned "Enjoy your party," he waved off their thanks and returned to the main bar.
After Arthur and Gwen had finished their delicious Cornish pasties they looked around the room, everything was ready.
"Well Guinevere I don't know when I'm going to get the chance next so I will say it now, I love you and you have made me the happiest man on earth when you said you would marry me." His eyes smouldered and he leant down and kissed her passionately. Gwen wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss.
"I think this is a party for two." Said a voice from the doorway, they broke apart hastily and looked Gwaine, Morgana, Merlin, Freya and the rest of the crew were there smiling at them.
"You did tell us to come at 1830hrs Skip." Merlin said smiling.
"Yeah ok." Arthur grinned "Come in we wanted to say something to you before the main party starts." He walked over to the bar and picked up a bottle and returned with it.
"As you know I proposed to Guinevere at The Dorchester, they gave us this bottle of champagne but as we already had one bottle on the go we thought we would bring this one back and share it with the people who mean the most to us, you all feel like family to us and we both know you would do anything for us just as we would do anything for you." As he spoke he got the bottle ready to uncork, there were ten glasses on the table Arthur popped the cork and poured a little into each glass, after he had emptied the bottle he and Gwen handed round the glasses.
Freya said she should not be included, Merlin wrapped his arm around her shoulders-there was a chorus of "No's" from everyone Arthur told her she was just as much a part of the group as anyone else.
With that settled Arthur raised his glass to toast them "To the people who mean more to me than my family- I thankyou cheers."
"Cheers." They chorused and drank.
A short time later the first of the other guests arrived Tom Madden, Arthur and Gwen greeted him at the door and ushered him in they introduced him to everyone then Elyan guided him over to the bar where Beryl was and got him a drink – Arthur was paying the tab on the bar tonight.
A few other guests arrived and people began to mingle. W/C Tristan and a few of the other officers were there also. Arthur was heading back from the bar with drinks for Gwen, Tom and himself when he looked at the door just in time to see Uther walk in, he quickly gave Gwen and Tom their drinks and went to meet him "Father."
Uther turned "Arthur it's good to see you again so soon." He held out his hand, Arthur shook it – it was as close as Uther went to being a loving father.
Arthur brought him over to where Gwen and Tom were. "Father there is someone you should meet." Arthur was about to introduce Tom to him when he heard:-
"Tom Madden! How are you?" Uther held out his hand to Tom and he had a grin on his face "It's been too long."
"Twenty five years Uther." Tom replied.
Arthur and Gwen were stunned.
Arthur recovered "Excuse me but is there something the pair of you would like to tell us?"
"Hello Arthur, Gwen and is that Uther Pendragon and Tom Madden- how are the pair of you?" they all turned to find Gaius Hughes standing there.
Arthur and Gwen exchanged a look of "What is going on?" and then looked at the other three.
"Would someone please us how all three of you know each other." Arthur asked.
Uther said "We all served in the same RFC squadron in the Great War, Tom was the armaments officer, Gaius was the squadron's doctor and I flew Hadley- Paige Hereford bombers.
"You what!" Arthur was able to control himself from yelling but only just. He glared at his father "Just when were you going to tell me that?"
"Arthur calm down." Gwen said as she turned to the other three "I'm wondering if the three of you were ever going to tell us." She glared.
"Gwen, Arthur please believe me it was not my place to tell you that I knew your father or Arthur's, if I had it would have only brought forward questions that only they could answer, I am so sorry- forgive me." Gaius said.
"Thankyou sir I appreciate the position you were in." Arthur told him, he had calmed down some.
Uther and Tom looked at each other and then at Arthur and Gwen. Uther nodded to Tom.
Tom said "Gwen I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I was trying to get on with my life, first I had met your mother, then there was you and Elyan, then I lost the love of my life and I had two beautiful children to raise and I had to work hard. I should have said something but I never did. I promise I will tell you everything when you come home this week- that is if you still want to." Tom looked sadly at them.
"No Tom, we'd still like to come, and I know that I for one would love to hear your story." Arthur told him, he turned to Uther "I want to hear your story too Father considering how you told me I was wasting all that time and money doing my law degree to go and join the RAF."
"I know Arthur, I will tell you everything if you want to come home as you planned, any questions you or Gwen have I will gladly answer, it is what you deserve." Uther looked at the pair of them.
"Yes Uther we will come." Gwen told him.
"Ok that's enough bombshells for one night I think." Arthur said "Let's get on and enjoy our party." He looked at Gwen and then the three men, they nodded.
"That's a fantastic idea darling." Gwen said and wrapped her arms around his waist as his went around her shoulders in a reflex.
Arthur and Gwen went to the middle of the room, Arthur got a knife and gently tapped it on the table, everyone started to turn around to see what was happening.
Arthur smiled at them "Thankyou everyone for coming to our little party, as you know Guinevere and I have been going together since about a month after I arrived on the base and then three weeks ago I asked her to marry me and she said yes! We would just like to say thanks again for coming and hope you enjoy yourselves."
Everyone cheered.
Arthur heard the undeniable voice of Gwaine say "Go on Skip kiss her."
Arthur looked down at Gwen and raised an eyebrow "What do you think?" he asked
She smiled at him and nodded. He bent down and gently lifted her chin with one hand and started to kiss her gently but soon both of them had deepened the kiss and they had to remind themselves that they were with other people, when they broke apart for air Arthur was looking sheepish and Gwen was giggling. There was a chorus of wolf whistles that Arthur knew came from where his crew were standing
After that the party really got going, the next day there were quite a few people nursing hangovers.
Authors note: RFC Royal Flying Corp the predecessor of the RAF.