Entry: OC01En01

Title: The Pendragon Prat

Word count: 8,258

Theme and/or Prompt/s: Beginnings

Rating: PG-13

Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin/Morgana-ish

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to Shine and the BBC.

Summary: Put our OT4 in secondary school in the present day, add a bit of Pride and Prejudice, quite a bit of teen angst and here’s the result...

Author’s notes: Apologies for the randomness of this fic and if it feels totally rushed, RL would not permit anything else. :D

‘Why the hell do I have to tutor him?’ Merlin said scowling, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

‘You don’t, you could have just said no’

‘Like it’s that easy, you should have seen Mum’s face’ he sighed, ‘and if that wasn’t enough- Merlin’ he said adopting a breathy, pleading voice, ‘Mr Pendragon would really appreciate it and he is my boss and you remember about the job cuts I was telling you about...- emotional blackmail is what I call it’ he muttered mutinously.

‘So you agreed because you’re a wonderful human being’ Gwen said with a grin, ‘and it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that you’ll get pay twenty quid an hour and get a five hundred pound bonus if Arthur gets an A in his Maths exams at the end of the year?’

Merlin clapped a hand to his heart as if mortally wounded by such accusations, ‘I can’t believe you think so little of me’

Gwen giggled, giving him a playful shove and slipping her arm into his, ‘I don’t blame you, I’d do anything to be earning that kind of money’

‘You could teach Arthur!’ he exclaimed enthusiastically, his face lighting up like a sun in the midst of the dreary December day.

‘Yeah, because that would work, given I’m not even studying Maths’

‘Oh right’ Merlin said glumly, sinking back into his bad mood, ‘though to be honest you’re probably better at Maths than Arthur is’

‘He can’t be that bad’

‘He’s worse, I have no idea how he did so well last year, maybe he got someone to sit his Maths papers for him- sounds like something he might do’

‘I think you’re being too hard on him’

‘Gwen, you don’t even know him and you’re defending him?’

‘Appearances can be deceiving sometimes’ she shrugged.

‘You are incapable of not looking for the best in people aren’t you?’

‘I just think there might to be more to him than you think, I know he seems like a stuck-up private school prat but-’

A wave of cold water washed over the pair of them as a silver Mercedes drove, very deliberately, through the large puddle they had just been walking past.

‘Albion Grammar freaks’ was all they managed to catch through the unwound window, that, and a glimpse of Arthur Pendragon’s smug face on the driver’s side.

‘You were saying?’ Merlin said wiping the water droplets from his face.

‘Gwen?’ he said turning to look at her.

Her mouth was slightly open, her face blank.

‘Are you alright?’

She didn’t respond, instead she marched onwards.

Merlin had to jog to keep up with her.

She turned into Camelot Avenue.

‘Gwen it’s okay, you don’t have to walk me to Arthur’s house, I’ve found it on my own before’

‘I would like to a have a little word with Arthur Pendragon if that’s alright with you?’ she said, her voice calm, but strained and there was a steeliness in her eyes which told him that the question was rhetorical.

‘Sure’ he mumbled pointlessly, trying to keep pace with her.

They reached number eight, the silver Mercedes parked outside, and looked up the wide steps to the imposing black door.

‘I’ll wait here’ Merlin said, clinging to the iron railings, half nervous, half intrigued.

Gwen gave him a curt nod and made her way up the steps alone.

She pressed the doorbell.

A few seconds passed and then the door swung open.

‘Hi’ said the willowy, raven haired girl.

‘Hi’ Gwen responded, chewing the inside of her lip, ‘I’m Gwen’

‘Nice to meet you Gwen’ the girl smiled, ‘I’m Morgana’

‘Nice to meet you Morgana’ she replied, returning her smile warmly.

‘Are you okay? You seem to be a bit...wet’

‘I’m fine thank you’

‘I take it you’re here to see my brother?’

‘Your brother?’ Gwen said blankly.

‘Arthur’

‘Oh right, yeah I am’ she said nervously.

‘I must say you’re a vast improvement on the last one’ she said brightly, but before Gwen could decipher her meaning Morgana had disappeared with the words, ‘I’ll just go and get him’

Gwen heard the sound of feet on stairs and calls of ‘Arthur! Arthur!’

‘What are you shouting about now?’ came the disgruntled response.

‘Well if you weren’t listening the bloody Prodigy so bloody loudly maybe I wouldn’t have to shout’

‘Oh yeah because you blaring angry chick music is so much better’

‘Paramore is not angry chick music!’

‘Whatever’

‘There’s someone at the door for you’

‘Who?’

‘Someone who is way too good for you’ she snapped.

There was the sound of two pairs of feet descending the staircase.

And Arthur Pendragon appeared at the door.

‘Why hello there’ he drawled upon seeing Gwen, a smirk on his handsome features, ‘can I help you?’

‘Arthur Pendragon, you think you’re something special, but you’re not. And you might think that your Daddy’s money gives you some kind of God given right to treat people like dirt, but it doesn’t. While you’re at Kilgharrah Academy you might be able to get away with murder because of who you are, or who your father is, but let me tell you something, the minute you get thrown out into the real world no one is going to care that you’ve had a silver spoon shoved in every orifice since birth. No one will give a shit that you are Arthur Pendragon and everyone will just see you for the jumped up prick you are.’

He looked at her, his mouth hanging open slightly.

She flushed scarlet as her disproportionate rage left her and mortification filled the void. She didn’t know where that anger had come from.

She noticed Morgana’s grin over her brother’s shoulder.

‘I’m sorry’ Gwen stuttered, ‘I shouldn’t have-’ she began, turning away.

‘What did I do?’ he asked, hollowly.

Morgana snorted from behind him, he ignored her.

‘You got me wet’ Gwen said shame-facedly, staring at her sodden shoes.

‘Well I couldn’t really help that now could I?’ he said with a swift return to his normal self.

Gwen looked up to see his wide, cocky smile.

She would have sorely liked to slap that smirk right off of his pretty face but her sanity had returned and with it, her restraint.

The same could not be said for Morgana who administered a swift blow to his head.

‘Ow’ he said rubbing the point of contact rather gingerly.

‘Idiot’ she hissed under her breath.

‘You splashed us as you drove past us about five minutes ago’ Gwen said, clarifying her point by tugging self consciously at her jacket, her cheeks a little pink.

‘Us?’

‘Merlin and I’

‘Oh’ Arthur said awkwardly, noticing Merlin at the bottom of the steps for the first time, ‘sorry’

‘Why’d you do it? Merlin is trying to help you pass your exams, to get you into a good University and this is how you repay him?’

‘I never asked for his help’ he muttered darkly, folding his arms defensively.

‘But you’ve accepted it’

‘Like I had a choice’

‘Don’t play the victim card, it doesn’t suit you’

He glowered back at her.

‘The fact of the matter is that you shouldn’t have done that to anyone, it was really harsh. You didn’t even know me but thought it was okay on account of the school I go to’

‘I didn’t want to’ he offered lamely, ‘but the guys-’

‘You’re pathetic’ she said, her voice seeping with distain, before muttering-half to herself- ‘I can’t believe I defended you’

‘You defended me?’ he said, a little awed.

‘Yeah, I said that there might be more to you than meets the eye, that you might be more than just an arrogant idiot with more money than you know what to do with’ she said before adding rather coolly, ‘evidently I was wrong’

‘You weren’t, I just-’he began, not entirely sure why he felt the need to justify himself to this girl.

‘Need to grow a pair and grow up?’ she suggested, turning away and descending one step.

She turned back to door, ‘it was lovely to meet you Morgana’ she said with a disarming smile which Arthur found totally unnerving.

‘Have a nice Maths lesson Arthur’ she said perfectly pleasantly before descending the remaining steps.

‘See you later Merlin’ she said pulling him into a hug.

‘See you’ he smiled back.

The three of them watched Gwen’s retreating back until she turned the corner.

‘I like her’ Morgana said with a grin.

‘How about we get started on differentiation?’ Merlin suggested weakly as he climbed the stone steps.

‘Whatever,’ Arthur shrugged.

Arthur was half way through exercise two, Merlin peering over his shoulder to make sure he was actually working, even if it was at a snail’s pace, when Arthur put down his pencil, ‘who was that girl?’

‘Finish the exercise and I’ll tell you’

‘Why don’t you just tell me now?’

‘Because you are supposed to be doing your work’

‘Is she your girlfriend?’ he asked a little timidly.

‘I’ll tell you once you’ve finished these questions’ Merlin replied with an infuriating smile.

Scowling at his tutor he picked up his pencil and continued to work.

Merlin leant back in his chair and yawned widely.

Five minutes later Arthur laid down his pencil once more.

‘Arthur what’s the problem?’

‘Huh?’

‘Why have you stopped?’

‘I finished the exercise’

Merlin frowned, ‘you can’t have done, it took you half an hour to do the first three’

He took Arthur’s paper from him and checked the answers at the back of the textbook and to his great surprise each was correct.

‘I don’t understand-’Merlin began.

‘So who was she?’

‘She?’ Merlin said blankly.

‘The girl who shouted at me’

‘Right’ Merlin said, still rather thrown ‘that was Gwen’ he explained distractedly, checking his pupil’s answers for the third time.

‘Gwen?’

‘Short for Guinevere’

‘Guinevere’ he repeated, liking the feel of the syllables on his lips, ‘and she is...?’

‘My best mate’

‘Not your girlfriend then?’

‘No’ a small frown creased Merlin’s brow, ‘but since when has my private life been of any interest to you?’

‘I dunno, I’m just not really accustomed to girls I don’t know having a go at me like that’

‘Well you did deserve it’ Merlin said with a grin.

‘I know’ Arthur agreed, much to Merlin’s surprise, ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done it, and I’m sorry for being such a git to you, especially seeing as you are giving up your time to help me out’

Merlin shrugged away his apology, ‘I get it I guess, you have a reputation- you’re supposed to be a tool’

Arthur grinned.

‘What I don’t understand is why I’m helping you out’

‘Cause my Dad wants you to’

‘But you are really good at Maths, I thought your A* last year was just a fluke, but you actually get this stuff’ he said gesturing at the open text book, ‘so why have you been throwing your grades?’

‘I never really wanted to take Maths, Dad convinced me, but then he started talking about how I should do it at Uni seeing as how I was doing so well, I told him I wanted to do English Lit and he just laughed at me. Told me no one would take me seriously in the business world with a degree in English. He can’t understand why I wouldn’t want to take Maths, he thinks being good at a subject should be enough for me’

‘-but it’s not?’

‘No. So I figured maybe if I flunked a few Maths tests he might change his mind. Instead-’

‘-you got me?’

‘Yeah’ Arthur sighed, leaning back in his chair.

‘That sucks’ Merlin said; for the first time feeling a twinge of sympathy for his student.

‘So I guess I might as well go back to being good at Maths’ Arthur groaned, running a hand through his hair, ‘do you wanna play on the Xbox or something?’

‘Sure’

‘I got Knights of the Round last week, wanna have a go?’ Arthur said as they made their way downstairs and into the basement.

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

‘Look, Morgana refuses to play it with me and I can’t play it with the guys from school because...’ he trailed off.

‘-because they’d think you were a massive dork’ Merlin finished his sentence for him, ‘and you reckon I might just be geeky enough to play?’

Arthur grinned, ‘well am I right?’

‘Yeah’ Merlin conceded with a smile as Arthur handed him one of the controllers.

‘Merlin, you just killed me again!’

‘Oh, was I not supposed to?’

‘I thought we were working as a team’

‘Really?’

‘What’s going on?’ Morgana said, descending the stairs, ‘why are you two down here? Isn’t Merlin supposed to be teaching you Maths?’

‘Nah, I told him the truth’ Arthur said, his eyes still focused on the screen, the tip of his tongue visible between his teeth.

‘That you are actually a massive Maths nerd?’

‘I’m not a nerd!’ Arthur protested with a scowl, pausing the game.

‘Well you kinda are’ Merlin said with a shrug and a grin.

Arthur gave Merlin a sharp jab in the ribs with his elbow, ‘I can’t believe you are siding with her’

Morgana smirked from the stairs just as Merlin’s phone vibrated in his pocket.

He looked down at the screen and wrote a hasty reply.

‘Oh it’s just Gwen’ Merlin said in answer to Arthur’s questioning look, ‘we are having a movie night tonight and she wanted to know if she is allowed to bring Pan’s Labyrinth again’

‘And I thought she seemed normal’ Morgana said with a grin.

‘What do you mean?’ Merlin asked confused.

‘It one of Arthur’s all time favourite films and if she’s got anything in common with my brother there has to be something wrong with her’

‘Oh shut up, you just don’t like it because it has subtitles’

‘Look if I wanted to spend two hours reading I’d get a book’ she snapped back.

‘I’m with Morgana, subtitles give me a headache’

‘So what are you going to watch instead?’

‘Oh no, we are going to be watching Pan’s Labyrinth’

‘I thought you said-’ Arthur began.

‘If I say no the minute I see her she will give me these massive Bambi eyes- you know the ones after his mum just got shot- and she will make me feel really bad and then I’ll say that I’m really sorry and maybe we could watch it next time and she’ll pull the DVD out of her bag and say that now is as good a time as any.’

Arthur chuckled.

‘Sounds like she’s got you wrapped round her little finger’ Morgana said with a smile.

‘Kinda’ Merlin replied, ‘but I am making her watch Inglorious Bastards for the fourth time- the historical inaccuracies drive her mad, and she goes on these massive long rants-’

‘Longer than her one today?’ Morgana asked.

‘Oh yes, it’s hilarious’

‘See, look on the bright side Arthur, at least Gwen hates you less than Quentin Tarantino’ Morgana said smirking as she headed back upstairs.

‘I should probably get going’ Merlin said pulling on his blazer, ‘I’m supposed to be meeting Gwen in half an hour’

‘Oh okay’ Arthur said, in a voice which almost sounded disappointed, ‘I’ll show you out’

‘I actually sort of enjoyed hanging out today’ Merlin said as they emerged into the foyer.

Arthur shrugged as he passed Merlin two crisp twenty pound notes.

‘Arthur I can’t take this!’ Merlin exclaimed, ‘I was only teaching you for forty-five minutes’

‘My Dad doesn’t need to know that’

‘Arthur-’

‘And we’ll carry on having study sessions okay’

‘But-’

‘I know I don’t need them but you do’ he said without thinking.

Merlin flushed and Arthur attempted to rectify his mistake, ‘-in order to have any hope of beating my high score on Knights of the Round I mean’

Merlin smiled, ‘thanks’ he said as he stuck the notes into his trouser pocket.

Arthur shrugged and opened the front door.

‘I think maybe you were right’

‘Merlin I am always right’ Gwen grinned as they sat down on the sofa, ‘so you are going to have to be a little more specific’

‘About Arthur’

‘The Pendragon Prat?’

‘He’s actually alright’

‘Oh really?’ Gwen said arching an eyebrow.

‘Yeah, turns out he’s actually really good at Maths, he was flunking his tests on purpose, he doesn’t need my help at all, and once he told me that we just hung out instead- seems that he’s actually a pretty alright guy. And what’s more Arthur says he wants me to keep going over there twice a week because he knows I really need the cash’

Gwen looked at him, a slight frown on her face.

‘Look as far as apologies go this is a pretty good one’

‘It isn’t even his money, it’s his father’s money’

‘I don’t care whose money it is if it’ll help me pay for Uni’

‘But don’t you get how wrong this is, he thinks he can just throw money at you and then everything he’s done will be forgiven.’

‘Hey if I get that five hundred pound bonus in the summer without having to do any work whatsoever he can drive through as many puddles near me as he likes’

Gwen huffed but didn’t argue as she pressed play on the TV remote.

She was walking home alone, plugged into her mp3 player, a teetering pile of books in one hand, the other trying to stop her umbrella being blown inside out by the wind, all the while having to dodge the puddles which had formed sporadically on the pavement. She was therefore totally oblivious to the silver Mercedes which had pulled up just ahead of her. As she passed it the window slid down and the driver called loudly, ‘Gwen do you want a lift?’

She looked up in shock, nearly dropping her pile of books in her surprise. Once she saw the handsome features of Arthur Pendragon looking out at her from the plush leather interior, however, her expression changed from one of shock to one of icy composure, ‘no thank you’ she said raising her chin a little higher.

‘You might as well’ he said as she continued on her way.

The car began to creep along beside her.

‘Gwen you will get soaked’ he called from the still open window.

She rolled her eyes, ‘because that would make such a change’

‘I’m sorry’ he said.

‘Go away’

‘Why don’t you just get in?’

‘You do realise you look like a massive creep right now?’

‘Why won’t you let me give you a lift?’

Just then Gwen lost her battle with the umbrella.

‘Well now you really need a lift’ Arthur said with a wide grin which did not do anything to abate Gwen’s agitation.

‘Fine’ she snapped as Arthur stopped the car once more and she hopped into the passenger seat, hastily trying fix her umbrella and spraying water droplets all over Arthur- not that she minded.

All credit to him, he didn’t complain, ‘you can chuck some of your stuff on the back seat if you want’

‘Thanks’ she said, taking up his offer.

‘So how come no Merlin today?’ he asked as he pulled away.

‘He has band practice’

‘Oh really?’ he asked, one eyebrow arched.

‘Yes’ she said, trying to keep a straight face, ‘he has just started a rock band, he’s the lead singer’

Arthur snorted, ‘wow, I really want to see that’

‘See it yes, hear it no’ she laughed before realising what she was doing and promptly stopping.

‘So have they actually had a gig yet?’

‘They’ve actually got their first one in two weeks, Jake- the drummer’s- dad works at a pub and they are playing there’

‘Are you going?’

‘Of course, I’ve been appointed head groupie’ she grinned.

‘Then maybe I’ll stop by’ he said without thinking, ‘-I mean’ he said, a little breathlessly, his cheeks scarlet, ‘maybe I’ll stop by to see the band’

She shot him a curious glance, ‘I figured.’

‘You’ll have to give me directions to your house’ he said quickly, hoping to change the subject.

‘Okay’ she said, maybe he was, like Merlin had said, alright after all.

‘It’s just here, number twenty one’

Arthur pulled up right outside her front door.

Just then his phone rang, ‘sorry’ he mouthed to Gwen as he pressed the handset to his ear.

‘Hey Adam’ he said as she got out of the car.

‘What are you up to?’ came the response, just audible, from the other end of the line as she opened the side door and pulled out her school bag.

‘Nothing’ he replied as she gathered up her books.

‘Thanks Arthur’ she said in barely more than a whisper.

‘Who’s that?’ Adam’s voice asked, full of curiosity.

‘No one’ Arthur responded swiftly and without thought.

Gwen slammed the car door shut.

‘I’ll call you back mate’ Arthur said quickly and got out of the car, ‘Gwen wait!’

‘Don’t even bother’ she snapped as she flounced towards her house, the rain falling thick and fast, her broken umbrella stuffed under one arm- she did not turn around.

He stood on the doorstep, rubbing his hands together in a vain attempt to encourage bloodflow to his frozen extremities.

The door opened.

Warm brown eyes found his own.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked quickly without thinking.

‘I’m hanging out with Merlin’ she said, her hands flying to her hips in indignation, ‘or do I need permission from you to spend time with my best friend?’

‘No’ he said nervously, ‘I was just surprised to see you’

She looked at him, ‘well you might as well come in, you look frozen’

‘Thanks’ he offered her a timid smile, she didn’t return it.

She led him into the sitting room, ‘sorry you’ll have to wait for Merlin, he’s in the shower at the moment’

Arthur looked questioning at her.

‘Merlin thinks that being off school negates the need for showering on a regular basis and as I am going to be sitting next to him at the cinema I told him he was not allowed to leave the house until he was washed and in a clean set of clothes- boys really are disgusting creatures’

‘I shower every morning’ he proclaimed without thinking, cringing internally even as the words left his lips.

She raised an eyebrow, ‘er thanks for sharing’

He turned a deep red.

She sat down on the sofa and he followed her lead.

‘So what movie are you going to see?’

A small frown creased her forehead momentarily, ‘you’ll mock me’

‘It’s not the new Twilight movie is it?’

It was her turn to blush then.

It was his turn to raise a mocking brow, ‘-cause you think the vamp is hot?’

‘You might only watch movies based on the attractiveness of the cast but please don’t apply your standards to other people. And as a matter of fact the vamp isn’t really my type’

‘Really?’ he said a little too brightly and a little too quickly.

‘I know it’s stupid but even in movies I find it impossible to separate looks from personality and the vamp is just so morose and a bit of prat really, I don’t know why, but I just can’t get past that’

Their eyes met.

‘Sorry, I was just rambling’ she mumbled, rather flustered.

‘It’s okay, I don’t mind’ he said with a gentle smile she didn’t quite understand.

He held her gaze for a moment before pulling his bag into his lap, ‘the reason I’m here is because Merlin

asked to borrow this after I finished it’ he said as he withdrew a paperback entitled Knight Life.

‘Can I have a look?’

‘Sure’ he said handing it to her, their fingertips brushing barely as she took it. He was keenly aware of his

thrumming pulse and the way his lungs seemed unable to inflate normally but also of the fact that

Gwen seemed totally at ease as she bent over the blurb. He watched as her eyes flickered back and

forth and as an individual curl escaped her silver clip and fell against her cheek. He had an inexplicable

urge to tuck it back behind her ear and his hand began to move in spite of himself. He clamped it firmly

between his knees, what the hell was going on?

‘Looks like it might be a good laugh’ she smiled looking up at him.

His breath caught in his throat, ‘uhuh’ was all he was able to choke out.

‘Are you alright Arthur?’ she asked looking genuinely concerned.

‘Oh I thought I heard voices’ said Hunith brightly as she poked her head around the door, ‘but I thought you were just watching TV Gwen, I didn’t hear the doorbell go’

‘Hi’ Arthur said, waving awkwardly from the sofa.

‘Are you Gwen’s boyfriend?’

Both teenagers’ eyes widened.

Before either could answer Hunith continued, ‘well you have to take very good care of Gwen, she is a brilliant girl and very important to me and Merlin’

‘Um-’ Arthur began.

‘I think you two make a very sweet couple, I’m just so glad that you could pop round, and that you’re not the jealous type, I know that Merlin and Gwen being best friends has caused Gwen some trouble in the past. Her previous boyfriends just don’t seem to have liked the idea of her hanging around with another boy so much- not that there have been that many boyfriends of course’ Hunith said in a rush.

Gwen’s face felt as if it was on fire.

‘Do you two want some tea and biscuits?’

Neither of them had a chance to answer her before she was gone.

‘I am so sorry’ Gwen said, her face radiating heat.

‘It’s no problem’

She looked unconvinced.

‘Really’

‘Well you now know me a little better than you wanted to’ she said awkwardly, interlocking her fingers.

‘I think it’s interesting’

‘What is?’

‘The fact that guys don’t like your friendship with Merlin’

‘I guess they feel threatened’

‘Then they are very insecure’

‘Well maybe they’re kinda justified’

‘I don’t think so, you and Merlin are just friends right?’

‘Of course’

‘And you don’t seem like the friends with benefits kinda girl, or the kind of person who would cheat, so what’s a guy got to worry about?’ he asked with a grin.

‘You think you have me all figured out’

‘Well don’t I?’ he asked, leaning in towards her a fraction, his eyes seeking hers.

‘Here you go you two’ Hunith said loudly as they flew apart, and she lay a tray down in front of them.

‘Thanks very much’ Gwen said.

‘Yeah thanks’ echoed Arthur, his cheeks a little flushed.

As Hunith left the room once more Gwen took a bite of one of the homemade biscuits left for them. Arthur followed suit and promptly spat it back out into his hand ‘Gwen why did you let me put that in my mouth? It’s vile.’

‘Arthur!’

‘No wonder Merlin’s so thin, he probably doesn’t eat anything out of fear of being poisoned’

There was a creak of floorboards and both of them looked up to see Hunith standing in the doorway holding a bowl of sugar cubes ‘for your tea’ she said faintly.

‘I’m sorry-’ Arthur began.

‘Its fine, I know I’ve never been a dab hand in the kitchen’ she replied placing the bowl on the tray with a weak smile.

Arthur swallowed drily as Hunith left.

‘What?’ he snapped defensively in response to Gwen’s glare, ‘I tried to apologise didn’t I?’

‘Well have you ever thought about not being insensitive in the first place- I know it’s a novel thought and pretty radical but you might want to give it a go sometime’ she said standing up.

‘Well maybe you should have warned me beforehand, but no, you wanted to see my reaction. And you’re glad I messed up, it means that you can back up all your pre-formed conclusions about me’ he retorted, bearing down on her.

‘Oh because of course this all about you’ she spat, rolling her eyes.

‘Isn’t it?’

‘No, it isn’t you self absorbed, overly righteous, arrogant pig’

‘I’m sorry, me overly righteous, what about you?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Oh did you not catch that, hard to hear from all the way up there on the moral high ground?’

‘You really are something’

‘So I’ve been told’ he drawled with a smirk.

Her hands curled into fists, her nails biting down on her soft palms.

‘One of these days someone is going to take you down’

‘Well if you’re offering?’ he said raising his eyebrows suggestively.

She had never wanted to slap someone so much in her entire life but she held back the urge, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had pushed her to the edge. Instead she took a calming breath. Two could play at that game.

She took a step towards him and leant in, ‘what if I was offering?’ she breathed seductively into his ear.

He coughed as he choked on air, having totally forgotten to breathe at all.

‘I-’ he stammered, ‘-well- would want to take it- you know- slow’

‘Huh?’ she said pulling away from him looking confused, ‘Arthur, I was joking’

He paled, ‘well so was I’ he said with a nervous laugh and something like vulnerability in his eyes.

She was about to speak when Merlin appeared.

‘At last’ Arthur said quickly with a swift return to his normal self, ‘you’ve been ages, I’ve been waiting to give you the book we talked about’

‘Oh cool, but as you’re here do you wanna come see the new Twilight movie with us?’

‘No!’ Arthur and Gwen said in unison.

‘I know it’ll be rubbish but we’ll have a good laugh tearing it apart’

‘He’s busy’ Gwen said.

‘That’s a shame, sure you can’t reschedule?’

‘I’m sure, things to do- you know- sorry mate’ Arthur said quickly before practically sprinting to the front door, ‘nice seeing you’ he added to no one in particularly as he pulled the door shut behind him.

He was grateful for the icy wind and the snow burdened clouds above him. It kept his mind occupied, at least in part, and kept at bay thoughts about warm brown eyes, burnished red lips and dark, perfect tendrils against honey coloured skin- sort of.

‘Merlin I was wondering if maybe it would be okay for me to come to your gig next week?’

‘Sure’ Merlin said with a yawn ‘-hang on, how do you know even know about Merlin and the Wizards?

Arthur choked on orange juice he was downing.

‘Okay’ he spluttered, ‘she did not tell me about the band name’

‘Who?’

‘Gwen’

‘Oh right, did she mention it when you brought over the book?’

‘No, we talked about it when I gave her a lift home last week.’ Seeing Merlin’s blank look he added, ‘she didn’t mention it?’

‘No’ he said with a frown, ‘should she have done?’

‘Oh no, there’s no reason she ought to have done, I just thought maybe she might have done- you know’ he said, rather flustered.

Merlin’s frown deepened.

‘So I was wondering if I could come?’

‘You’re not allowed to throw stuff at us’

‘Okay’

‘Or boo’

‘Okay’

‘Or bring a load of your mates along to throw stuff at us or boo us for you’

‘Okay’

‘So why are you coming?’

‘I dunno, we are kinda friends now I guess and this is the kind of thing friends do, right?’

‘I suppose’

‘So can I come?’

‘Okay’ Merlin said a little tentatively.

‘Come to what?’ Morgana asked as she entered the kitchen.

‘The Merlin and the Wizards gig next week’ Merlin said without blinking.

Morgana looked enquiringly at Arthur.

‘He’s not joking’ he said, answering her unasked question.

‘Can I come?’

‘No’ Arthur said quickly.

‘Sure’ Merlin replied, ‘more tickets sold the better’

‘So can I bring a few friends along too?’

‘No problem’

‘Cool, I’ll just go and give some of them a call’

‘It’s Friday night’

‘Brilliant’

Once Morgana had left Arthur rounded on his ex-tutor, ‘Merlin what was that?’

‘Huh?’ Merlin said, his eyes still on the now empty doorway.

‘You don’t- you know?’

‘What?’

‘-fancy my sister do you?’

‘What? No! Of course not’ Merlin said quickly, his cheeks flushing pink.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

‘No way’ Merlin assured him, ‘she’s alright and all but totally not my type’

‘That’s good cause now that we are mates you couldn’t date her without my permission’ he said putting an arm around Merlin’s skinny shoulders.

‘What?’

‘It’s part of the blokes’ code, no going after each other’s crushes, exes, sisters- or other relatives- without express permission’

‘So’ Merlin said slowly, ‘that means if you wanted you couldn’t go after Gwen then?’

‘I’m sorry, what?’ Arthur said with wide eyes, ‘you fancy Gwen?’

‘No, don’t be stupid’ he replied, enjoying the look on Arthur’s face, ‘we are exes- technically’

Arthur’s jaw dropped, ‘no way’

‘Yes way, we went out in Year Seven for a week’

Arthur pulled himself together ‘well that doesn’t count’

‘Yeah it does, you said no exes, you didn’t specify how recent they have to be to qualify’

‘This is ridiculous’

‘You made the rules’ Merlin said with an infuriating smile as he slipped out of the kitchen.

‘Hey Gwen’ Morgana shouted, coming over to her, ‘how are you doing?’

‘I’m good’ she beamed back, struggling to make herself heard over the racket Merlin and his Wizards were making.

‘I brought some friends along, this is Alice’ the petite brunette smiled, ‘this is James’ the muscular guy standing behind Morgana gave her a jaunty wave, ‘and this is Lance.’

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you’ Lance said stepping forward slightly, his eyes never leaving Gwen’s face.

‘Hi’ she replied to group at large, though her smile was directed at him.

Seeing this Morgana said casually, ‘Lance joined our Sixth Form, he’s a transfer student from Seville’

‘Wow Spain, and what made you want to come here of all places?’

‘I didn’t have a lot of choice really, my father’s job- you know’

She smiled in response as Morgana ushered the rest of the group away, leaving the pair of them alone.

‘Are you happy here?’

‘I like England a great deal, though it does seem to rain an awful lot’

She laughed, ‘unfortunately that will be something you have to get used to. Are you staying long? Or is it just a temporary move?’

‘I do hope it is permanent’ he said catching her gaze and she held it for a full ten seconds before looking away, at which point her gaze alighted upon Arthur Pendragon.

‘Oh no’ she breathed.

Lancelot turned to see the unaware recipient of this cold welcome.

‘I see we hold a similar opinion of the wonderful Mr Pendragon’ he said sarcastically.

‘You don’t like him much huh?’

‘I have my reasons’ Lance said darkly.

‘I’m intrigued’

‘I will tell you, but I’m going to go and grab a drink first’ he said, ‘would you like anything?’

Gwen lifted her half full glass to signal she was fine and he disappeared into the crowd.

She attempted to look over the heads of the other people packing the pub, most of whom were people from school, she noticed, and made her way over to a couple of girls from her English Literature class who were waving frantically at her.

‘Hi’ she said hugging them one after the other, ‘I’m so glad you could come’

‘Everyone has come’

‘Well being head of the Sixth Form Council does help with getting the word out I imagine eh Gwen?’

‘Very true’ Gwen said with a smile over the rim of her glass.

Just then she became aware of the conversation taking place just behind her, the speakers with their backs to her, clearly oblivious to her presence.

‘Of course I don’t fancy her’ said Arthur Pendragon in a very defensive tone.

‘There is nothing wrong with liking her’ Morgana responded, ‘why don’t you just go and talk to her?’

‘I don’t like’ -he spat the word as if it was something particularly sour than he did not want anywhere near his mouth- ‘her’

‘She a nice girl’

‘She is not, did you not hear how she spoke to me that first time?’

‘You deserved it, she was just bringing you down a peg or two’

Gwen became immediately aware that this might not be a conversation she ought to be overhearing.

‘And who says I would even be interested in a nice girl, they are dull’

‘She’s not dull and she’s really pretty’

‘I think that’s a matter of opinion’

‘Anyone in their right mind would say Gwen’s pretty’

‘Or anyone with a severe visual impairment’

She had heard enough.

‘I should go’ Gwen said gesticulating vaguely in the direction of the bar.

‘Oh okay’ the girls said, a little disappointed, ‘see you at Alex’s New Year’s eve party?’

Gwen nodded distractedly, she just needed to be somewhere else.

‘Hey Gwen’ Lance said spotting her, ‘are you alright? You look a bit upset?’

‘I’m fine’ she said tugging on her lower lip with her teeth before forcing a smile.

‘Well how about I dish the dirt on Arthur Pendragon eh?’ he said with a wink.

She shrugged, but followed him as he led her outside.

‘So how well do you know Arthur?’

‘As well as I ever hope to know him’ she replied, pulling her jacket more tightly around herself in an effort to ward off the icy breeze.

‘Again we seem to be like-minded on this issue’ he grinned, ‘but I suppose you must be wondering exactly why I dislike Arthur so much’

Honestly she was not that interested but she felt it impolite to point it out so she remained silent.

‘He didn’t like me from the word go. The only reason I’m at the school is because I got a Rugby Scholarship, there’s no way my parents could have afforded the tuition fees, so of course that brands me as different: the charity case. And it just so happens that the individual who donated the Sports Scholarship this year was, yes, Mr Pendragon, Arthur’s dad.’

‘Oh no’ Gwen breathed.

‘So ever since I turned up in September he’s been making my life a living hell. He hates the fact that I’m better than him on the Rugby pitch-’

Gwen’s eyes widened a fraction at this assertion.

‘-and he was worried he’d lose the Captaincy to me. He’s insecure and he’s taking it out on me. First of all it was just making sure his mates didn’t talk to me, generally making me feel unwelcome, you know. But it’s got worse, he actually managed to convince the coach to throw me off the team, coach said that I was the best player on the team but he had to let me go’

‘What?’ Gwen exclaimed, ‘how could he do that? It’s so unfair’ she objected.

‘Tell me about it’ he said glumly, ‘though I suppose I don’t really blame him, he felt threatened so he lashed out’ he shrugged.

‘Don’t make excuses for him’

‘I’m sure he is a nice person when he wants to be’

‘I can’t believe the nerve of him, even if he doesn’t get on with you he should have thought about what was best for the team’

‘That is my biggest regret’ Lance said shaking his head, ‘I’m not losing my Scholarship though’ he forced a smile, ‘I ought really to thank Arthur for at least stopping short of encouraging his father revoke the Sport Scholarship, which he could have done given I’ve been kicked off the team’

‘How can you be so calm about this?’ Gwen asked outraged, ‘you should, by rights, be livid, you should not being thanking him for not cheating you out funding for tuition fees, you should be furious that it was his doing which put your Scholarship in jeopardy in the first place and meant you lost your position on the team and made your first term at Kilgarrah a horrible experience’

‘Morgana’s been good about it, she lets me hang out with a lot of her mates’

‘Morgana’s cool, I expect she feels guilty that her brother is such a massive prat’ Gwen smiled.

Lance smiled back, but it was a strange smile, almost calculating as his eyes flitted between her eyes and her lips.

‘I think maybe we should get back inside’ she said, biting her lip and breaking eye contact with him.

He looked at her silently as if weighing up his options.

‘It’s cold’ she said, rubbing her hands together to prove the point.

‘Then let me warm you up’ he replied, wrapping both arms around her much smaller frame and pulling his own jacket around her too so that she was pressed up against his chest.

Arthur looked on. He had followed Morgana’s advice and come to find her, to talk, but he had come too late. Lancelot had beaten him to it. He swallowed drily as Gwen’s eyes found his face through a gap in Lancelot’s embrace. There was half curiosity in her look, half fierce, unfounded anger. He couldn’t understand what he had done that would cause her to look at him as she did then. She had shown dislike of him before, certainly and understandably, now it was bordering on something more like loathing. He turned away, though he could felt her gaze on the back of his head, scalding him, punishing him for Lord knows what.

Her cheeks were hot, even with the cold wind battering at them. She shouldn’t be out here with a guy she barely knew, missing her best friend’s gig, and being held in such an intimate fashion by little more than a total stranger.

Gwen coughed, pulling away from Lancelot’s strong, warm arms, ‘I need another drink’

‘Let me go and get it for you’ he said quickly.

‘I’m okay thanks, I really should be inside anyway, my friends will be wondering where I am.’

He looked disappointed but shrugged.

‘It was lovely to make your acquaintance’ he said formally with a wide grin and a wink which rather ruined the effect.

She smiled and disappeared back into the pub without a backwards glance.

But just as she pushed open the door she bumped into someone, ‘sorry’ she said quickly as the person turned to face her.

‘Oh’ she said, her cheeks flushing with a combination of embarrassment and anger as his eyes found hers.

‘Gwen-’ he began.

‘I should be going’

She turned to leave, but his hand caught her arm.

‘What did he tell you?’ he almost pleaded, hating the weakness in his voice.

‘That you’re even more of a prat than I thought’

His brow furrowed, ‘what does that mean?’

‘You should know’ she snapped back at him.

‘What is it he has accused me of doing exactly?’

She glared at him.

He just looked expectantly at her.

‘You got him thrown off the rugby team!’

‘Of course I did!’

‘What?’ she stammered, ‘you freely admit it?’

‘Damn straight’

‘You don’t feel at all guilty?’ she asked furiously.

‘Certainly not’ he said smugly.

‘You are disgusting’ she spat.

‘And why do you say that?’ he asked, a glint in his eye signalling a clear challenge.

‘Because you got him kicked off the team because you don’t like him, I mean how petty are you?’

He snorted, ‘you ought to get your facts straight before jumping to conclusions’

‘Lance told me everything, you treat him like scum’

‘Did it not occur to you at any point when he was chatting you up that maybe he is scum?’

‘He was not chatting me up!’ she protested.

‘Like hell he wasn’t, and if you can’t see that you are blind’

‘Oh I’m sorry I just thought that was anyone who found me attractive’

He paled, visibly.

‘I didn’t realise you heard that’ he said, his voice hollow.

‘I figured’

‘So that’s why you’re having a go at me?’ he said with a look of dawning comprehension.

She could have hit him.

‘I’m having a go at you for how you’ve treated Lance’

‘But it wouldn’t have bothered you nearly as much if I hadn’t insulted you right?’

She coloured then, unable to answer him honestly.

‘Look did Lance mention why I had words with the coach?’

‘Because you two don’t get on’ she said, though with such uncertainty that it sounded more like a question than a statement.

‘Hah!’ he scoffed, ‘surely you can not think me so very petty?’

Her silence gave him his answer.

‘Lance was taking steroids’ he said matter-of-factly.

Gwen’s eyes widened.

‘I saw him at it and I kinda flew off the handle about it. I was furious that the team has been training so hard for the last year for the Daily Mail Cup and we could have lost it all if someone had found out what Lance was up to. I told the coach. I’m not proud of it, but it had to be done.’

‘And it didn’t go any further? I would have thought something like that would enough to get you expelled from somewhere like Kilgharrah and he certainly should have lost his scholarship’

‘Everyone makes mistakes Guinevere’

‘You defended him’ she stated incredulously.

Arthur shrugged, ‘I might be a jumped up private school prat but I’m not malicious’

‘I never thought...’ she trailed off.

‘Besides my father has always taught me to pity those less fortunate than myself and when it comes to looks that means I have to feel really really sorry for Lance’

‘You are so full of it’ she said rolling her eyes, ‘and as it happens I think Lancelot is very attractive, he has fantastic bone structure’

‘Ow dirty’ Arthur said with a smirk and raising his eyebrows suggestively.

She flushed.

‘Well I’ll see you around’ she said vaguely.

Their eyes locked.

Blue on brown.

Then his gaze flickered to her lips and he leaned into her.

‘I don’t think so’ she said in a tone gentler than her words implied.

He pulled back, his mouth dry.

‘I think I’d prefer to stick with the visual impaired guys,’ she grinned.

‘Didn’t I mention that I actually have a slight stigmatism?’

She laughed.

‘Goodnight Arthur’

And with that she was gone.

‘Arthur what’s wrong with you?’ Morgana asked entering his bedroom without bothering to knock.

‘Huh?’ he said lying on his bed and looking up at the ceiling.

‘I have been blaring Paramore solidly for the last hour and a half and you haven’t complained once and I come in here and you’re looking all morose and listening to Coldplay- what’s up bro?’ she asked as she sat down at the end of his bed.

He shrugged.

‘Don’t give me that’

‘Maybe I don’t want to talk about it’

‘Oh don’t give me all that I’m such a misunderstood angsty teenager act, I mastered that years ago’

‘You like her don’t you?’

‘What?’ he said sitting bolt upright, ‘who?’

‘You know who’

‘No I don’t’ he said, pouting like a small child.

‘Merlin told me what happened’

‘How does he know?’ he said, before answering his own question, ‘-Gwen told him, should have guessed’ he muttered bitterly as he flopped back down onto the bed.

‘They are best friends, you can hardly expect her to keep that quiet’

‘The fact that she hates me?’

‘Oh stop being melodramatic, she doesn’t hate you’ Morgana said reasonably, ‘she just thinks you’re a total tool’

‘Oh and that’s supposed to make me feel better is it?’

‘It should do’

Arthur scowled.

‘You can fix this’

‘How?’

Without responding Morgana stood up and left the room.

A moment later she reappeared and dropped a book onto his stomach.

‘Oww’ he whinged as he sat up, ‘what the hell am I supposed to do with Pride and Prejudice?’ he asked, brandishing the book with a look of disgust.

‘I dunno’ Morgana said rolling her eyes, ‘read it maybe?’

‘But it’s a girl’s book’

‘Exactly’ she said triumphantly, ‘and it’s Gwen’s favourite- Merlin told me’ she added before Arthur could ask.

‘Okay’ he said slowly.

‘Besides I reckon you could learn a thing or two from Mr Darcy’ she said with a wink before disappearing through the door.

-Chapter one-

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Arthur grimaced, well this certainly had all the makings of a page-turner. But he would just have to grin and bear it, he thought grimly as he rolled onto his stomach and turn to page two, he hated that Mrs Bennet already.

‘Oh and Arthur’ Morgana said popping her head back round the door, ‘Merlin told me to tell you that given you disregard the er-’ she mimed quotation marks ‘-blokes code, he’ll do the same- whatever that means’

‘I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough’ he muttered darkly under his breath once she had left.

This day just keeps getting better and better he thought sourly as he continued to read, and jeez this Darcy guy really is a complete prat.