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“What did she say? Will she meet him?” Leon asks through the telephone. Merlin pouts as he shifts his phone from his left ear to his right and walks up to his bed.
“I hope so, Leon.” Merlin sits down at the edge of the bed. “She looked convinced enough…”
“How come I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming along?” Leon asks.
“No, I don’t doubt her, but I hope she doesn’t have segundo thoughts, that’s all,” Merlin assures Leon. The line crackles and Merlin removes his phone from his ear quickly, wincing at the annoying crackle which almost deafens him. He brings it back to his ear only after hearing Leon’s familiar voice.
“What happened?” Leon asks, his voice still crackling through the line.
“Why?”
“I was calling out for you but you seemed to have vanished; where did you go?”
“Oh, the line crackled and you know how disturbing it sounds, so I decided to wait until the crackle stopped… didn’t realise you had been calling for me,” Merlin laughs sheepishly. The line crackles again.
“It happens here all the time… you know how bad the reception is in Mercia? I couldn’t call any of you last night! And I only got you tonight after three attempts, Merlin. Three! It’s that bad,” Leon informs, his voice clearly frustrated.
Merlin laughs again. “How long do you have to be there? We miss you already.”
“I know, I miss you guys as well… and I’m definitely going to miss Gwen and Arthur’s reunion! I wish I could be there in person to see them.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be something, you know… but we’ll keep you informed.”
“Another week, and I’ll be início sweet home. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s fine and he misses you, too, he asked for you yesterday.”
“If it wasn’t for my father, I wouldn’t be stuck here these past weeks,” Leon grumbles. The line crackles and Merlin almost missed the last word.
“Come on… you know how serious he is about this arrangement, Leon. It’s important you get yourself acquainted with Tania before the marriage.”
“Yes but, marriage won’t happen for another two years, Merlin. And that’s twenty-four months away, there’s still plenty of time to get acquainted… plenty! I don’t understand why I have to spend two weeks in her início just to get to know her. She could call or we could go out and there’s messages, twitter, everything technology has to offer, why my father still opts for his conventional way baffles me…”
“Leon, have you forgotten the tradition? Everyone knows how strict your father is when it comes to your family tradition; you are not expecting him to break it now, are you?”
“Of course not, but… this is the twenty-first century, Merlin. Who does this anymore?”
“Maybe it’s important to him, Leon. It probably holds something for him… just do it for his sake, okay?” Merlin advises. He understands Leon’s frustration but he also knows how important this meeting is for Leon’s father. Though he sympathises with Leon, all he can offer is his support because Merlin is with Leon’s father in this case. Ealdor has its own tradition and Merlin has grown up adapting to it so he knows all about it. For someone like Leon, though he has grown in the midst of his father’s strict upbringing and his tradition, he still dislikes it. This explains why Leon still can’t bring himself to get used to the idea.
“This is ridiculous, Merlin. I have never known a tradition like this! This sounds mais like a joke than a tradition. How come you or Gwaine never follow any traditions like this?”
“Oh, watch what you are wishing for, mate. I might not have a ludicrous tradition like yours but in my place, after marriage it’s vital for the men to sleep apart from his wife for three days, starting the night of the wedding. That’s just one, for starters,” Merlin replies with a laugh.
“What!!”
“I told you… better be grateful your father is just following his family tradition. Imagine if he were follow mine.”
“Please, Merlin… don’t mention this to him. I could never succumb to that… please.”
“Hahaha!!!” Merlin laughs and falls back on his bed. The door opens and Gwaine walks in, scooping his cereal. “Can’t urso to live without Tania, eh?” Merlin asks in between his laugh. He hears Leon laughing as well.
“Anyway, Tania sends her regards to all of you. She also thanks you and your mother for the lovely chain your mother made her. She wants to visit Ealdor and she desperately wants to meet your mother.”
“That can be arranged. Tell her she is welcome,” Merlin replies and the line crackles once again. Merlin winces.
“I have to go, Merlin… send my regards to the lads and let me know what happens, all right? Don’t leave anything out. I want full details, understand?” Leon reminds Merlin.
“Yes, of course.”
“Bye, Merlin,” Leon hangs up and Merlin clicks a button on his phone and tosses it aside.
“When he is coming home?” Gwaine asks, munching his cereal.
“Another week, he says,” Merlin respostas and laughs. “He’s itching to get back home. He misses us, Gwaine.”
“Isn’t he the one who wanted to meet Tania so badly?”
“Yup, but he hates staying there. The reception, signal everything is bad. The line crackled all throughout our conversation. I hardly heard him. And you know he hates staying with her family, he rather have her here, among his own.”
“But his father…”
“Yeah, the old man holds on to his traditions and that’s why our friend is irked. He wants her to be here with him and not the other way round.”
“Another week, Leon, just hang tight.” Gwaine shakes his head and laughs.
“And he’s disappointed not being able to be around when Arthur reveals his true feeling towards Gwen.”
“Oh… yeah, pity. That’s once in a lifetime opportunity, I’d say. It’s not every dia you get to see Arthur confess his feelings,” Gwaine says as he plays with his spoon.
“Agree there.”
“He’s missing an opportunity,” Gwaine adds.
“Come on, don’t tell him this. It’s bad enough he can’t be here in person but if you keep mentioning this, he will be pissed,” Merlin says and rises up, folding his arms. Gwaine holds out his hand and nods, agreeing with Merlin.
“Do you think Arthur will be gutted we didn’t go back to his apartment last night?” Gwaine guessed, recalling how both of them went back to Merlin’s apartment instead of Arthur’s. They didn’t do it on purpose but they guessed it was far too late to go back to Arthur’s after visiting Gwen and Merlin forgotten to take the spare key with him.
“I don’t know, Merlin… if he comes início pissed then surely he’d be looking for us, but…”
“No, don’t tell me everything worked well between him and Elena. We just scraped our brains out working out a plan to get Gwen and him together. If Elena comes into this… I don’t know what to say,” Merlin wriggles his finger at Gwaine and shakes his head.
“No… knowing Arthur, he wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”
“I know that, but Uther is the puppeteer, remember?’
“But this time I think Arthur holds the strings… he won’t be easily swayed por his father.”
“With Uther anything can happen, Gwaine; I won’t be surprised if Arthur suddenly has a change of heart,” Merlin rolls his eyes and sighs. Gwaine smiles.
“Have you noticed Arthur seems to have changed a bit after meeting Gwen?” Gwaine asks Merlin, while scooping another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
“Really?”
Gwaine nods and finishes his cereal before continuing. “Yeah… he seems mais sure of himself now compared before where he always had segundo thoughts on everything he did. She must’ve boosted his confidence, allowing him to think for himself.”
“I know, Gwen did wonders with his confidence as well as his ego… but I didn’t pay much attention to that, really. I was too worried about his amor life, I guess,” Merlin confesses.
“I did, and I think he’s mais comfortable now than he had been before. I like his transformation and that’s why I knew his father wouldn’t sway him. He’s in control of his life now, Merlin.”
“That’s good news… I hope he sticks to that. But like I said, with Uther anything is possible. You may never know when that man could change Arthur’s mind and that’s what I fear.”
“Don’t worry… I have strong feelings last night’s plans went awry,” Gwaine says and winks at his friend.
“Hope you’re right.”
“You’ll be thanking me soon, Merlin, soon you’ll find out how everything didn’t work out and how furious Uther was…” Gwaine says, finishing his cereal. Merlin smiles and gives Gwaine a thumbs-up.
“Hey, let’s pay Arthur a visit before heading to work, shall we?”
“Yeah… I’m sure he’ll be expecting us,” Merlin replies. “Besides, I want to find out what happened last night,” he adds.
“I’m in… let me get dressed,” Gwaine replies and leaves the room.
“Can you hand me that file, Gwen?” Lancelot asks without looking at Gwen as he saves his information in his laptop.
But Gwen seems to be in a world of her own. She has been like that all morning and though Gaius was curious he was far too busy to ask her about it. Morgana isn’t around as she went to visit her sister on an emergency matter. The nature of the emergency is still unknown, as Morgana just left a message to Gaius and left in the wee hours. She didn’t even tell Gwen about it. With that matter confusing Gwen in one part of her mind, the other part is deeply involved with Arthur. She is still considering Merlin’s idea about confessing her feelings again to Arthur. Though she has agreed, she’s having segundo thoughts about it. She’s not afraid; she isn’t shamed por it since she was the first person to confess her feelings openly to Arthur. But she is doubtful about Arthur. Will he accept her now? He had been silent when she spoke openly about her feelings, but Merlin said he loves her. Is it true? Merlin wouldn’t be lying if Arthur didn’t tell him about his feelings. She trusts Merlin and she wants to trust Arthur’s words, but…
“Gwen!” Lancelot calls again, his voice flat and this time he is looking at her.
“Huh?” Gwen stirs from her daydream and looks at Lancelot in confusion.
“Are you all right?” he asks, his voice still flat. Gwen knows Lancelot isn’t impressed por what she has just done. Work is always first and he made that clear on his first visit here. She wonders what he will say now. Or how will she explain her lack of attention.
“Yeah… why would you ask that?” she decides to be Valente and tries to be casual when deep down she is nervous.
“You don’t seem all right to me,” he replies, his eyes sharp on her. He is not impressed and he doesn’t hide his feelings.
“I’m fine,” she replies shortly and tries to smile but he doesn’t smile back. Her smile fades.
“Good. Can you hand me the file?”
“Which one?” she is confused.
“The one with the latest version of the system.”
“Where is it?” Gwen looks around the room. She hears him sighing. She curses her luck.
“You asking me? I thought you compiled the reports,” his voice is clearly frustrated and Gwen fears he might shout at her, anytime now. She doesn’t want to be at the end of his screaming but if she still keeps on asking questions, she fears she will be. First she must get her focus back on the work.
“Ohh yes…” she smiles sheepishly and gets up. As Lancelot watches her sharply, she walks over to the cabinet, pulls out the first drawer and searches for the report. It isn’t there so she continues to procurar the remaining drawers. It isn’t there as well. She then moves over to her mesa, tabela and searches there, flipping through all the documents she has on the table. ‘Damn, where are you?’ she asks herself, frustrated.
“Have you found it?” Lancelot asks and Gwen winces. She knows the file isn’t here in the room and that’s not something Lancelot is going to like to hear. She can imagine his screams in her ears now.
“Gwen… have you?” he asks again.
‘How will she tell him?’ she wonders to herself. She hates this, hates telling him she might have lost the file. Might is the right word because she can’t remember where she placed it. It has to be here somewhere but she just couldn’t remember where. Will this go down well with Lancelot?
“Gwen!”
She has to try. “No… it was supposed to be here. I put it here in this room but I can’t find it now.”
“What?” he asks her, crossing his arms. “Do you know how important that file is?” he cannot believe Gwen could be this careless.
“I’m sorry, Lancelot… I know I had it here somewhere, just…”
“I’m not angry, Gwen, just…” Lancelot sighs, unable to continue with his words.
“Disappointed?”
“In a way, yes. First, are you sure you had the file here? Maybe you left it somewhere and you can’t remember…”
“Are you doubting me?” Gwen is irked. She knows she didn’t meet his expectations, but he shouldn’t doubt her. She knows she’s telling him the truth. She never lies.
“Don’t be angry, I’m just thinking you might have placed it elsewhere,” he says softly. Gwen mellows down.
“No, I know where I put it… it is here, I know it.”
“All right then, keep on searching,” he tells her.
Gwen looks for it everywhere but the file was nowhere to be found. Gwen mutters to herself in silence and sighs in frustration. Lancelot keeps watching without saying too much. He knows anything he says will not go down well with her right now. Gwen isn’t the same person today. Something is troubling her and she isn’t saying much. He wants to help her but he can’t do that if she isn’t accepting his help. First, let her locate the file and then he will ask her slowly about her troubles.
“Damn!! Where is it?” she ducks beneath the mesa, tabela and looks for it, in case if the file has accidentally fallen underneath it. It isn’t there, either. She stands up and wipes her forehead.
“Gwen?”
“Sorry, Lancelot, I don’t know where the file is,” she tells him sadly. Lancelot feels disappointed but he keeps his feelings in check. He hides it and offers her a sympathetic smile. If someone else has done this, they would have lost half of their brain listening to his screams, but not Gwen. She holds a special place in his coração and he can still forgive her for her carelessness.
“It’s all right… you said you had it saved in your pen drive. Maybe we can use it… may I have it?”
“But I don’t have my pen drive with me.”
“It’s there, hanging on your neck,” he says, pointing at her.
“Ohh,” Gwen looks down and notices the árvore shaped pen drive hanging around her neck. She feels her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. How could she not see it? She removes the drive from her neck and walks over towards Lancelot, handing it over to him. She doesn’t say anything and thankfully Lancelot doesn’t say anything either. He doesn’t even smile at her. He simply takes it from her and inserts it into his USB slot. The auto play function opens up and he gets back to his work, ignoring her presence. She pulls the chair out beside him and sits down.
Gwen feels embarrassed. The file is missing and the drive was hanging around her neck yet she couldn’t see either of them. What is happening to her? She used to be focused in her work before, now she is losing touch with everything. She is becoming absentminded. And it’s happening often; ever since she became involved with Arthur. Before, her mind would only be filled with work and her family, now Arthur takes almost half of her thoughts. He’s the diversion, the reason for her loss of concentration. She doesn’t know how to handle this anymore. She has to talk to someone, but whom can she talk to? Elyan isn’t home, her father dead, and Morgana is away. There is no one she can confide her matters to. Gaius is one person she can try, but the old man is busy with his new store and she doesn’t want to trouble him with her personal problems. There is no else she trusts enough to talk this matter out.
“Gwen.”
“Yeah?” she turns towards Lancelot immediately, trying to avoid the same embarrassment again.
“I’m done. Would you like to look at it?”
“No, it’s fine. I trust your work,” she tries to smile. He smiles back and gets back to his work.
Gwen thinks about Lancelot. She hasn’t known him too long, yet he seems like someone she could trust with her problems. He had given her sound conselhos the first time she had problems involving Arthur. Maybe she can seek his conselhos once again. But will he listen to her? She is supposed to be assisting him in his work, but since her involvement with Arthur, since she has lost focus with her work, Lancelot is the one who’s been doing almost all the work here. It seems like he is the staff and she’s the helper when it’s supposed to be vice versa.
“Here you go, it’s all converted. Now, you must load it into the server and get it transferred into all the counters. Can you do it por this week because I’ve set the expiry up to Monday, seguinte week?”
“Sure, thanks.”
“All right, then.” Lancelot closes his laptop and swings his chair around, facing her. “What’s your problem?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know what I mean, Gwen. What’s your problem? You’ve looked troubled all dia and you’ve lost your focus. You haven’t been the same since I came back… something’s wrong.”
This is what she’s been expecting. She needed someone to talk to and por God’s grace Lancelot is providing her the invitation himself. How can she deny it? But can she trust him? What if his conselhos turns out to be the opposite of her expectation? What if she doesn’t like his advice?
“Gwen?”
“I’m sorry, Lancelot,” she apologises. She decides to give it a try. Liking his conselhos or not, that’s segundo question. First, she needs some clarification or her head will burst. “I’m having some problems.”
“Personal?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you like to talk about it?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Why would I mind? I’m fine with it as long as you are fine with it,” he says with a smile.
“Thanks,” she smiles back. “I really wanted to talk about this to someone, but everyone is unavailable… I hope I’m not holding you from your work.”
“That’s rubbish, Gwen… of course you are not. Now, tell me what’s bothering you and why it’s coming in between your work?”
“It’s about Arthur.”
Lancelot’s coração sinks. He had been thinking if it had something to do with Arthur though his head has been denying it. Now Gwen’s words clarify everything beautifully. The mere mention of the name explains everything to Lancelot and he didn’t need to hear further. He suspected it has something to do with Arthur, but he didn’t know exactly the cause.
“What about Arthur?” he asks softly.
“Remember when you first arrived and caught me standing in front of this building? With my face swollen? And how Arthur and I were attacked?”
“Yeah.”
“I wasn’t really crying because of that incident, Lancelot. I was upset about something else.”
“Arthur?”
“Yes. I…” Gwen hesitates. Should she tell Lancelot about her feelings for Arthur? What will he say?
“You like him?” he guesses, nearly causing her to cough because she didn’t expect it.
‘What the hell? How did he know?’ she looks at him in bewilderment. “How? How, did you know?”
‘So it’s true then’ Lancelot thinks sadly but he hides his disappointment from Gwen. He smiles and reaches out to clasp her hands. “Usually when someone stammers or finds it difficult to open up, there are only two explanations for it. Either they are in amor or have done something wrong. In your case, I guessed it was the first since you said it’s connected to Arthur.”
Gwen couldn’t believe her lucky stars. “Thanks Lancelot, you made it so much easier to explain. I was hesitating because I was shy. I didn’t know how to tell you or if you’d believe it.”
“You can tell me anything Gwen. Aren’t I your friend?”
“Of course you are… I was shy because I have never really told you anything personal,” Gwen replies. Lancelot smiles and nods at her assuringly.
“Trust me; your secret is seguro with me. You can tell me anything,” Lancelot assures her. Gwen’s spirits lift hearing it. She feels light. She feels she can tell Lancelot everything now. There’s nothing to be afraid or shy about. There is nothing to hide from Lancelot.
“I like him, Lancelot. I really like Arthur. I don’t know how to explain this, but I think it blossomed from the first dia I met him in the hospital. I thought it was pity at first, since I know how strained his relationship with his father is, but it’s mais than that. It might have started of as pity but now, it’s something else. It’s not friends either… do you get what I mean?”
“Love?”
“I don’t know. It could be… or not. But I told him how I feel about him on the dia we were attacked and it didn’t go down well with Arthur. He was quiet and he shut me off.”
“He doesn’t like you?”
“I don’t know, but I was hurt and that’s why I was crying. But after a few days Merlin visited me and said Arthur does like me and told me to confront him once again to share my feelings. He said Arthur felt guilty about my father’s death and decided he wouldn’t be able to give me happiness, and he made up his mind to shut me off”
“Wait, Gwen… your father’s death? What has Arthur got to do with it?” Lancelot is confused. He doesn’t know anything about the accident that caused Arthur his sight and Gwen her father.
“Oh, sorry,” Gwen shakes her head. “A few months back, Arthur accidentally ran over my father, killing him on the spot. It was this same accident that cost him his sight. When I told him about my father, he was plagued por the guilt and he started shutting me off. According to Merlin, he felt guilty and lost his confidence. He didn’t think he’d be able to provide me the happiness he thinks I deserve.”
“Oh, I didn’t know both of you endured so much misery,” Lancelot admits truthfully. He didn’t know the important components of the matter and now that he does, his coração goes out to both Arthur and Gwen.
“None of us expected it, Lancelot, but sometimes things happen when you least expect it. My meeting with Arthur is one such event. I call it fate. If not, why did my father died at his hands, why did he have to turn blind and why did I have to meet him? So many pergunta and yet no answers. But one thing is certain: I was fated to meet him. If only he can understand that.”
“So, he didn’t know about your father’s death until you told him and the guilt bugged him. Which is why he decided to hate you…yes?” Lancelot asks and Gwen nods. “But that isn’t the truth because deep down he likes you.”
“That’s what Merlin tells me.”
“And that bothers you?”
“Yes, in a way.”
“You don’t trust Merlin?”
“I want to… I do, but…”
“Then?”
“I’m afraid, Lancelot.”
“About what?”
“When Arthur rejected me the first time, the pain, God! It’s not something you want to face over and over again… I can’t endure it the segundo time if he decides to stay away. I’m afraid to confront him, to tell him how I feel… I’m afraid of being rejected, yet… if I don’t find out, I’ll go berserk thinking about it. I… I don’t know what to do!”
“So that’s what been keeping you from your work. You are not sure what to do.”
“Yes,” she nods.
“Well…” Lancelot clasps her hand warmly and releases her, leans back and purses his lips. His own coração hurts due to his own disappointment, but Gwen is still his friend and she seeks his help because she trusts him. And he will repay that trust. “First, you need to ask yourself if you are sure of your feelings for him. You need to trust yourself before you can ask him to trust you. And then you have to be confident to confront him with your feelings. Let him say what he wants, but you have to be bold enough to withstand any obstacles. You need to make him see you the way you see him. Allow him in your coração Gwen, make him feel you. Tell him you’ll accept his happiness, regardless what form it comes in. I think Arthur’s as lost as you are and that’s why he’s unsure of himself. He’s losing his confidence and that’s where you need to come in. Make him comfortable and tell him you will be happy with him, and only him. That you need him as much as he needs you. And finally, tell him you have forgiven him, Gwen”
“I did…”
“But he still thinks he’s guilty. Perhaps he still thinks you haven’t forgiven him. Have you told him that in person?”
Gwen thinks a while. Lancelot is right. She forgave Arthur, yes, but she hasn’t told him that in person. She told Arthur not to feel guilty and all that happened was fate but never once she uttered the word forgive in his presence. And that could be the key! Lancelot is right, god! Gwen smiles to herself. Lancelot is a genius.
“No Lancelot, I haven’t,” she respostas him.
“And that can make all the difference, Gwen. If you can make him listen to your forgiveness and make feel your affection, perhaps something might stick,” Lancelot tells her.
“Gosh… thank you so much, Lancelot. That could be it… the key to unlock all this misery,” Gwen says with a huge smile on her face.
“Yup,” he respostas with a smile. “Try it, Gwen, and I’m sure you’ll find your answers,” he adds.
“Lancelot?”
“Hmmm?”
“How do you know so much? Have you ever been in love?”
“No,” he lies with a smile.
“But you sound like a professional.”
“Let’s just say I have my secrets,” Lancelot tells her.
“Secrets? Like secret lover?”
“Something like that…” he shrugs and looks away. Though he lies, he is afraid his eyes might give away the truth. He doesn’t want that, especially now when Gwen seems to have found her solution. He likes Gwen, but he kept his feelings to himself. He didn’t tell her nor did he make any attempts to do so. But Arthur isn’t like that. He likes Gwen and showed her, the same with Gwen. They like each other and Lancelot will never come in between them, never in his life. Before he had his feelings for Gwen, he accepted her as his friend so that’s how she will remain now and forever, as his friend. He will do everything he can to ensure she and Arthur are reunited. It may hurt a while but life goes on and he will learn to forget it. Perhaps, like Gwen says, he may not be her fate after all. Maybe someone else is waiting for him, in some part of this world. Who knows? Lancelot chuckles to himself.
“Lancelot?”
“Sorry Gwen… just thinking,” Lancelot turns back towards Gwen and reaches out to cup Gwen’s cheek. “I am happy for you, Gwen. And of course for Arthur as well. I think both of you are match made in heaven. Or Camelot,” he says with a laugh. Gwen laughs as well. “But really, you and Arthur… you need each other. Because that’s the way it should be. So, stop wasting your time and go and get your man. And never mind the others; your coração is all that matters. Listen to it and it alone. Tell him how you feel and make him feel your love. Arthur will amor you, Gwen, trust me. He might be blind but he will amor you,” Lancelot adds. Gwen smiles at him warmly. She might have had reservations about Lancelot before, but not anymore. Now she knows she has another friend she can count on. One she can trust.
“Thank you, Lancelot,” Gwen says and without giving him any warning, she leans over to him and kisses him on the cheek. The kiss surprises Lancelot but she just smiles it off. “That’s for the help, my friend,” she says.
“Thank you,” Lancelot seems shy.
“One day, you are going to make a lucky woman very happy indeed,” she tells him.
“And when I do, I’ll tell you, promise,” he adds, smiling.
“You must,” she says with a wink. Lancelot smiles back though his coração is laced with sadness.
‘No one can be better than you are, Gwen, but when I do find someone, I’ll remember my promise’ he thinks to himself.
“Arthur?” Gwaine calls as he opens the door and steps inside. Merlin follows behind and closes the door. “Arthur?” Gwaine calls again, removing his coat.
“Maybe he’s in his room,” Merlin suggests and removes his coat, too. He takes Gwaine’s casaco along with his and hangs them on the casaco rack. Gwaine had walked towards Arthur’s room ahead of Merlin but as he pokes his head in, he finds nothing in there. He pulls back and turns towards the approaching Merlin. He shakes his head.
“That’s funny, where is he?” Merlin asks and heads to the kitchen. Gwaine walks over to the other room but he hears Merlin’s call and rushes to the cozinha in hurry.
“Merlin?” Gwaine sounds worried, but he finds Merlin with Arthur, sitting down at the jantar table. Arthur has his head in his hands while Merlin has his own around Arthur’s shoulder.
“Arthur?” Gwaine pulls out a chair opposite the boys and sits down.
“What’s wrong, Arthur?” Merlin asks and when Arthur remains silent, he looks up at Gwaine who shrugs his shoulder.
“Arthur? Are you angry with us?”
“Finally, it dawned on you both!” Arthur snaps and lifts his head, his voice angry.
“Oh, oh!!” Merlin removes his hand from Arthur’s shoulder.
“Is it because we didn’t…”
“Come início last night, yes Gwaine… because of that. Do you both have any idea how long I waited? I could have used your support last night, but no… my friends weren’t around. I don’t mind you having your time out but you could’ve come home. Was I such a burden that you decided to abandon me altogether?”
“Arthur, stop saying this. We didn’t do it on purpose. We went out to meet a friend and headed to a bar afterwards. We thought you could have been asleep so we didn’t want to bother you…” Merlin says.
“And Merlin forgot his spare key!” Gwaine chips in. “We weren’t really drunk just to let you know; we went to meet a friend but it was too late to come início and without the key, we decided not to disturb you. So we headed to the bar and later back to Merlin’s apartment,” he adds.
“Oh… “ Arthur says, almost in surprise.
“Sorry, Arthur,” Merlin tells him, slowly patting him on the shoulder.
“No… I thought you guys decided to leave me on my own, but I really could have used your support last night.”
“Something happened?” Gwaine asks, eyeing Merlin. “What about your meeting with Elena?”
“Well, for starters, it was horrible. She pinned high hopes on me… on us. And when I told her about Guinevere she was disappointed. Not just plain disappointed, she became a monster!”
“You told her about Gwen?” Merlin smiles broadly and looks at Gwaine, who winks at him.
“I had to because she was getting too high on her dreams… besides, I planned to do that someday, so why not yesterday?”
“Really, Arthur, I’m impressed” Merlin adds.
“But I am afraid I hurt her, Merlin… she didn’t deserve it, but…”
“You had no choice, mate,” Gwaine says quickly. “Listen,” he lifts Arthur’s chin and looks straight at him. “I know it hurts to hurt another but this is your life, your future and you didn’t have any other choice. You could have said it differently to her if you had another choice, but you didn’t, and it’s not your fault. You didn’t like her and if I were her, I’d appreciate your bluntness, though it hurts. You have said it, Arthur, and whether she accepts it or not, it’s upon her now. You have a woman to chase after and you can’t dwell on past issues anymore.”
“You mean Guinevere?”
“Yes, you have to go after her now, and…” Gwaine says, but he doesn’t get to finish his sentence.
“I didn’t say I was pursuing her,” Arthur cuts Gwaine off.
“You amor her, don’t you?” Gwaine is irked. Merlin watches both his friends patiently.
Arthur hesitates. They’ve had this discussion before.
“Do you or do you not, Arthur?”
Arthur still finds it hard to confess. He knows he loves Guinevere and he had dismissed it arrogantly in his friend’s presence, but he can’t carry on any further. His coração doesn’t permit him to keep up with his lies, especially to his friends.
“Arthur!”
“Yes…” Arthur finally gives in. There’s no point in lying to Gwaine. “Yes, I do amor her… all my heart,” he says. Merlin smiles.
“Then what’s the bloody hell is wrong with you? Go after her, Arthur!!” Gwaine loses his patience. “Look, Arthur. I’m not Merlin and I’m not Elena. I don’t have the patience they do. I know you like her and I am sure she likes you. You wouldn’t have told Elena about Gwen if you didn’t feel strongly for her. And now all that’s left is to find Gwen and tell her how you feel.”
“But…”
“I understand things haven’t been really good between you and Gwen, and that’s exactly why you need to talk to her. She told you how she feels and now it’s your turn, Arthur,” Gwaine advises, his voice softening. “I am sure she’ll understand… because she loves you, too,” he finishes.
“Gwaine’s right, Arthur. You have to confess and forget everything else. Just mind the two of you. It’s all that matters. Please… for us, for you, and for her… just do it,” Merlin adds.
Arthur keeps his silence for a while. His friends are right. He has to get Guinevere back in his life because he hasn’t been himself without her. He had acted arrogantly and he’s ashamed of it. He owes his friend apologies and Guinevere too. But first he must find her.
“Will you lads find her and bring her here?” Arthur asks.
“I will… Gwaine, get him ready,” Merlin says quickly and leaves, sweeping up the keys as he rushes out.
“That was fast… come on, Arthur. Time to get dressed,” Gwaine helps Arthur and leads him to his room.
“Gwaine?” Arthur calls.
“Hmmm?”
“Will you be honest with me if I ask something?”
“Yeah, of course, mate… what is it?”
“I don’t know how to ask you this, but… you’ve seen Guinevere, haven’t you?”
“Well, yeah,” Gwaine respostas shortly.
“Can you describe her for me?”
“Describe her?” Gwaine looks up from the floor. His fingers stops adjusting Arthur’s pants and he is the very picture of a man clearly clueless of what being asked.
“I know… it’s absurd, I shouldn’t…”
“No, it’s not! It’s quite cute, actually. You just got me stunned, that’s all,” Gwaine laughs, prompting Arthur to smile. “You want me to describe her, why?”
“I can’t see her, and though I want to explore her myself, I’m itching to know what she looks like. Out of anyone, you are the right person to tell me about her. You have seen her, after all.”
“I have, but…”
“You don’t have to if it makes you uneasy …”
“No, not at all, just… will you be fine if I describe her? I mean, you know how I like to really… describe a person,” Gwaine teases, getting up to his feet to help with the cuffs of Arthur’s shirt.
“Just the exterior, Gwaine, that will do,” Arthur says with a laugh.
“As I thought,” Gwaine laughs and helps Arthur into his vest. He adjusts the colarinho, colar and steps back, proudly admiring his friend. “Good,” he pats himself.
“So… where do you want me to start?” Gwaine asks, crossing his hands across his chest.
“Her face… how she looks?” Arthur asks excitedly.
“She has a lovely oval, no, heart-shaped face with gorgeous amêndoa shaped eyes that sit perfectly beneath her neat brows. There’s something about her eyes, Arthur… they are large, warm and expressive with long eyelashes. The moment she looks at you, that’s it: you’re hooked. Each time I talk to her, I find it hard to peel my eyes from hers… they’re like magic. She has some sort of power over you. And I have to be honest mate, I’m hooked on her eyes.”
“Really?”
“No, honestly her eyes are gorgeous. They are beautiful, Arthur, enchanting; I just wish you could see them.”
“The colour, what’s the colour of her eyes?”
“They’re brown, but not just any brown. It’s a translucent brown like warm tea. When she looks at you, she warms your coração and the best part is she doesn’t even realize she does it.” Gwaine explains.
“You got me hooked already… go on,” Arthur asks impatiently.
“Straight nose and full kissable lips. Now, this is another part of her that I’m in amor with. Those lips are lovely, Arthur, and I envy you.”
“Why?”
“You get to kiss her and anyone who would get to kiss those lips is…”
“Gwaine!” Arthur shoots in a warning tone. Gwaine simply replies with laughter.
“What I mean is anyone who gets to kiss her is one bloody lucky man,” Gwaine adds with a snicker. “They’re full and glossy like ripe cherries, to make it short.”
“Her skin?”
“Ahh, the best part. She has the coolest skin I’ve seen. It’s the colour of… hmmm…” Gwaine snaps his fingers, thinking deeply.
“What? What does it look like?” Arthur is impatient again.
“It’s like… ahhh! Yes!” Gwaine’s eyes widen. “Latte. A creamy cup of latte!”
“Creamy latte? Gwaine… I’m sorry, but I need to ask, is it me or do you fancy comparing people to food?”
“Hey, don’t blame me! That’s best way to describe anyone to you. Anyway, you want to listen or not?”
“All right, all right… Go on”
“Her skin’s the colour of creamy latte, a very delicious one and she’s five feet tall, perhaps a little over but definitely a five footer. She petite and shapely as well, not too skinny. Just the right weight. Hmm… what else, let me think,” Gwaine thinks a while as Arthur waits patiently.
“Gwaine?”
“Wait… I’m thinking here. Hmm… oh, she’s got lovely curvy hips, nice round arse and…”
“All right, I get the picture, Gwaine, thank you very much,” Arthur stops Gwaine before the latter can carry on.
“I thought you wanted to know about her?”
“I do, but those details are for me to explore myself, and do plan to do so,” Arthur tells him.
“Jealous, huh?” Gwaine snickers.
“No.”
“Yes, you are. You don’t like me describing her because you are jealous.”
“Fine. Yes, I am, Gwaine. You can be my friend but hearing intimate details about her from you makes me a little jealous. And don’t get me wrong, I’m just irked because you can see her while I can’t.”
“Oh come on, there’s always a way for you to see her,” Gwaine explains, uncrossing his hands and dropping them loosely por his sides.
“No, not the topic on the operation again, Gwaine.”
“Who ever said I’m talking about the operation? What I mean is, you can see her por feeling her. Use your hands and feel her. That’s one way for you to see her and it will be good, if get what I mean,” there was a tinge of tease laced in Gwaine’s voice and Arthur admits the idea is slightly naughty. But he likes it nevertheless.
“Oh, I like that idea Gwaine. Thanks, I’ll try that when she gets here,” Arthur says with a smile.
“There you go, mate.”
“Try what, Arthur?” Guinevere asks as she stands alongside Merlin por the door of Arthur’s room.
“What did she say? Will she meet him?” Leon asks through the telephone. Merlin pouts as he shifts his phone from his left ear to his right and walks up to his bed.
“I hope so, Leon.” Merlin sits down at the edge of the bed. “She looked convinced enough…”
“How come I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming along?” Leon asks.
“No, I don’t doubt her, but I hope she doesn’t have segundo thoughts, that’s all,” Merlin assures Leon. The line crackles and Merlin removes his phone from his ear quickly, wincing at the annoying crackle which almost deafens him. He brings it back to his ear only after hearing Leon’s familiar voice.
“What happened?” Leon asks, his voice still crackling through the line.
“Why?”
“I was calling out for you but you seemed to have vanished; where did you go?”
“Oh, the line crackled and you know how disturbing it sounds, so I decided to wait until the crackle stopped… didn’t realise you had been calling for me,” Merlin laughs sheepishly. The line crackles again.
“It happens here all the time… you know how bad the reception is in Mercia? I couldn’t call any of you last night! And I only got you tonight after three attempts, Merlin. Three! It’s that bad,” Leon informs, his voice clearly frustrated.
Merlin laughs again. “How long do you have to be there? We miss you already.”
“I know, I miss you guys as well… and I’m definitely going to miss Gwen and Arthur’s reunion! I wish I could be there in person to see them.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be something, you know… but we’ll keep you informed.”
“Another week, and I’ll be início sweet home. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s fine and he misses you, too, he asked for you yesterday.”
“If it wasn’t for my father, I wouldn’t be stuck here these past weeks,” Leon grumbles. The line crackles and Merlin almost missed the last word.
“Come on… you know how serious he is about this arrangement, Leon. It’s important you get yourself acquainted with Tania before the marriage.”
“Yes but, marriage won’t happen for another two years, Merlin. And that’s twenty-four months away, there’s still plenty of time to get acquainted… plenty! I don’t understand why I have to spend two weeks in her início just to get to know her. She could call or we could go out and there’s messages, twitter, everything technology has to offer, why my father still opts for his conventional way baffles me…”
“Leon, have you forgotten the tradition? Everyone knows how strict your father is when it comes to your family tradition; you are not expecting him to break it now, are you?”
“Of course not, but… this is the twenty-first century, Merlin. Who does this anymore?”
“Maybe it’s important to him, Leon. It probably holds something for him… just do it for his sake, okay?” Merlin advises. He understands Leon’s frustration but he also knows how important this meeting is for Leon’s father. Though he sympathises with Leon, all he can offer is his support because Merlin is with Leon’s father in this case. Ealdor has its own tradition and Merlin has grown up adapting to it so he knows all about it. For someone like Leon, though he has grown in the midst of his father’s strict upbringing and his tradition, he still dislikes it. This explains why Leon still can’t bring himself to get used to the idea.
“This is ridiculous, Merlin. I have never known a tradition like this! This sounds mais like a joke than a tradition. How come you or Gwaine never follow any traditions like this?”
“Oh, watch what you are wishing for, mate. I might not have a ludicrous tradition like yours but in my place, after marriage it’s vital for the men to sleep apart from his wife for three days, starting the night of the wedding. That’s just one, for starters,” Merlin replies with a laugh.
“What!!”
“I told you… better be grateful your father is just following his family tradition. Imagine if he were follow mine.”
“Please, Merlin… don’t mention this to him. I could never succumb to that… please.”
“Hahaha!!!” Merlin laughs and falls back on his bed. The door opens and Gwaine walks in, scooping his cereal. “Can’t urso to live without Tania, eh?” Merlin asks in between his laugh. He hears Leon laughing as well.
“Anyway, Tania sends her regards to all of you. She also thanks you and your mother for the lovely chain your mother made her. She wants to visit Ealdor and she desperately wants to meet your mother.”
“That can be arranged. Tell her she is welcome,” Merlin replies and the line crackles once again. Merlin winces.
“I have to go, Merlin… send my regards to the lads and let me know what happens, all right? Don’t leave anything out. I want full details, understand?” Leon reminds Merlin.
“Yes, of course.”
“Bye, Merlin,” Leon hangs up and Merlin clicks a button on his phone and tosses it aside.
“When he is coming home?” Gwaine asks, munching his cereal.
“Another week, he says,” Merlin respostas and laughs. “He’s itching to get back home. He misses us, Gwaine.”
“Isn’t he the one who wanted to meet Tania so badly?”
“Yup, but he hates staying there. The reception, signal everything is bad. The line crackled all throughout our conversation. I hardly heard him. And you know he hates staying with her family, he rather have her here, among his own.”
“But his father…”
“Yeah, the old man holds on to his traditions and that’s why our friend is irked. He wants her to be here with him and not the other way round.”
“Another week, Leon, just hang tight.” Gwaine shakes his head and laughs.
“And he’s disappointed not being able to be around when Arthur reveals his true feeling towards Gwen.”
“Oh… yeah, pity. That’s once in a lifetime opportunity, I’d say. It’s not every dia you get to see Arthur confess his feelings,” Gwaine says as he plays with his spoon.
“Agree there.”
“He’s missing an opportunity,” Gwaine adds.
“Come on, don’t tell him this. It’s bad enough he can’t be here in person but if you keep mentioning this, he will be pissed,” Merlin says and rises up, folding his arms. Gwaine holds out his hand and nods, agreeing with Merlin.
“Do you think Arthur will be gutted we didn’t go back to his apartment last night?” Gwaine guessed, recalling how both of them went back to Merlin’s apartment instead of Arthur’s. They didn’t do it on purpose but they guessed it was far too late to go back to Arthur’s after visiting Gwen and Merlin forgotten to take the spare key with him.
“I don’t know, Merlin… if he comes início pissed then surely he’d be looking for us, but…”
“No, don’t tell me everything worked well between him and Elena. We just scraped our brains out working out a plan to get Gwen and him together. If Elena comes into this… I don’t know what to say,” Merlin wriggles his finger at Gwaine and shakes his head.
“No… knowing Arthur, he wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”
“I know that, but Uther is the puppeteer, remember?’
“But this time I think Arthur holds the strings… he won’t be easily swayed por his father.”
“With Uther anything can happen, Gwaine; I won’t be surprised if Arthur suddenly has a change of heart,” Merlin rolls his eyes and sighs. Gwaine smiles.
“Have you noticed Arthur seems to have changed a bit after meeting Gwen?” Gwaine asks Merlin, while scooping another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.
“Really?”
Gwaine nods and finishes his cereal before continuing. “Yeah… he seems mais sure of himself now compared before where he always had segundo thoughts on everything he did. She must’ve boosted his confidence, allowing him to think for himself.”
“I know, Gwen did wonders with his confidence as well as his ego… but I didn’t pay much attention to that, really. I was too worried about his amor life, I guess,” Merlin confesses.
“I did, and I think he’s mais comfortable now than he had been before. I like his transformation and that’s why I knew his father wouldn’t sway him. He’s in control of his life now, Merlin.”
“That’s good news… I hope he sticks to that. But like I said, with Uther anything is possible. You may never know when that man could change Arthur’s mind and that’s what I fear.”
“Don’t worry… I have strong feelings last night’s plans went awry,” Gwaine says and winks at his friend.
“Hope you’re right.”
“You’ll be thanking me soon, Merlin, soon you’ll find out how everything didn’t work out and how furious Uther was…” Gwaine says, finishing his cereal. Merlin smiles and gives Gwaine a thumbs-up.
“Hey, let’s pay Arthur a visit before heading to work, shall we?”
“Yeah… I’m sure he’ll be expecting us,” Merlin replies. “Besides, I want to find out what happened last night,” he adds.
“I’m in… let me get dressed,” Gwaine replies and leaves the room.
“Can you hand me that file, Gwen?” Lancelot asks without looking at Gwen as he saves his information in his laptop.
But Gwen seems to be in a world of her own. She has been like that all morning and though Gaius was curious he was far too busy to ask her about it. Morgana isn’t around as she went to visit her sister on an emergency matter. The nature of the emergency is still unknown, as Morgana just left a message to Gaius and left in the wee hours. She didn’t even tell Gwen about it. With that matter confusing Gwen in one part of her mind, the other part is deeply involved with Arthur. She is still considering Merlin’s idea about confessing her feelings again to Arthur. Though she has agreed, she’s having segundo thoughts about it. She’s not afraid; she isn’t shamed por it since she was the first person to confess her feelings openly to Arthur. But she is doubtful about Arthur. Will he accept her now? He had been silent when she spoke openly about her feelings, but Merlin said he loves her. Is it true? Merlin wouldn’t be lying if Arthur didn’t tell him about his feelings. She trusts Merlin and she wants to trust Arthur’s words, but…
“Gwen!” Lancelot calls again, his voice flat and this time he is looking at her.
“Huh?” Gwen stirs from her daydream and looks at Lancelot in confusion.
“Are you all right?” he asks, his voice still flat. Gwen knows Lancelot isn’t impressed por what she has just done. Work is always first and he made that clear on his first visit here. She wonders what he will say now. Or how will she explain her lack of attention.
“Yeah… why would you ask that?” she decides to be Valente and tries to be casual when deep down she is nervous.
“You don’t seem all right to me,” he replies, his eyes sharp on her. He is not impressed and he doesn’t hide his feelings.
“I’m fine,” she replies shortly and tries to smile but he doesn’t smile back. Her smile fades.
“Good. Can you hand me the file?”
“Which one?” she is confused.
“The one with the latest version of the system.”
“Where is it?” Gwen looks around the room. She hears him sighing. She curses her luck.
“You asking me? I thought you compiled the reports,” his voice is clearly frustrated and Gwen fears he might shout at her, anytime now. She doesn’t want to be at the end of his screaming but if she still keeps on asking questions, she fears she will be. First she must get her focus back on the work.
“Ohh yes…” she smiles sheepishly and gets up. As Lancelot watches her sharply, she walks over to the cabinet, pulls out the first drawer and searches for the report. It isn’t there so she continues to procurar the remaining drawers. It isn’t there as well. She then moves over to her mesa, tabela and searches there, flipping through all the documents she has on the table. ‘Damn, where are you?’ she asks herself, frustrated.
“Have you found it?” Lancelot asks and Gwen winces. She knows the file isn’t here in the room and that’s not something Lancelot is going to like to hear. She can imagine his screams in her ears now.
“Gwen… have you?” he asks again.
‘How will she tell him?’ she wonders to herself. She hates this, hates telling him she might have lost the file. Might is the right word because she can’t remember where she placed it. It has to be here somewhere but she just couldn’t remember where. Will this go down well with Lancelot?
“Gwen!”
She has to try. “No… it was supposed to be here. I put it here in this room but I can’t find it now.”
“What?” he asks her, crossing his arms. “Do you know how important that file is?” he cannot believe Gwen could be this careless.
“I’m sorry, Lancelot… I know I had it here somewhere, just…”
“I’m not angry, Gwen, just…” Lancelot sighs, unable to continue with his words.
“Disappointed?”
“In a way, yes. First, are you sure you had the file here? Maybe you left it somewhere and you can’t remember…”
“Are you doubting me?” Gwen is irked. She knows she didn’t meet his expectations, but he shouldn’t doubt her. She knows she’s telling him the truth. She never lies.
“Don’t be angry, I’m just thinking you might have placed it elsewhere,” he says softly. Gwen mellows down.
“No, I know where I put it… it is here, I know it.”
“All right then, keep on searching,” he tells her.
Gwen looks for it everywhere but the file was nowhere to be found. Gwen mutters to herself in silence and sighs in frustration. Lancelot keeps watching without saying too much. He knows anything he says will not go down well with her right now. Gwen isn’t the same person today. Something is troubling her and she isn’t saying much. He wants to help her but he can’t do that if she isn’t accepting his help. First, let her locate the file and then he will ask her slowly about her troubles.
“Damn!! Where is it?” she ducks beneath the mesa, tabela and looks for it, in case if the file has accidentally fallen underneath it. It isn’t there, either. She stands up and wipes her forehead.
“Gwen?”
“Sorry, Lancelot, I don’t know where the file is,” she tells him sadly. Lancelot feels disappointed but he keeps his feelings in check. He hides it and offers her a sympathetic smile. If someone else has done this, they would have lost half of their brain listening to his screams, but not Gwen. She holds a special place in his coração and he can still forgive her for her carelessness.
“It’s all right… you said you had it saved in your pen drive. Maybe we can use it… may I have it?”
“But I don’t have my pen drive with me.”
“It’s there, hanging on your neck,” he says, pointing at her.
“Ohh,” Gwen looks down and notices the árvore shaped pen drive hanging around her neck. She feels her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. How could she not see it? She removes the drive from her neck and walks over towards Lancelot, handing it over to him. She doesn’t say anything and thankfully Lancelot doesn’t say anything either. He doesn’t even smile at her. He simply takes it from her and inserts it into his USB slot. The auto play function opens up and he gets back to his work, ignoring her presence. She pulls the chair out beside him and sits down.
Gwen feels embarrassed. The file is missing and the drive was hanging around her neck yet she couldn’t see either of them. What is happening to her? She used to be focused in her work before, now she is losing touch with everything. She is becoming absentminded. And it’s happening often; ever since she became involved with Arthur. Before, her mind would only be filled with work and her family, now Arthur takes almost half of her thoughts. He’s the diversion, the reason for her loss of concentration. She doesn’t know how to handle this anymore. She has to talk to someone, but whom can she talk to? Elyan isn’t home, her father dead, and Morgana is away. There is no one she can confide her matters to. Gaius is one person she can try, but the old man is busy with his new store and she doesn’t want to trouble him with her personal problems. There is no else she trusts enough to talk this matter out.
“Gwen.”
“Yeah?” she turns towards Lancelot immediately, trying to avoid the same embarrassment again.
“I’m done. Would you like to look at it?”
“No, it’s fine. I trust your work,” she tries to smile. He smiles back and gets back to his work.
Gwen thinks about Lancelot. She hasn’t known him too long, yet he seems like someone she could trust with her problems. He had given her sound conselhos the first time she had problems involving Arthur. Maybe she can seek his conselhos once again. But will he listen to her? She is supposed to be assisting him in his work, but since her involvement with Arthur, since she has lost focus with her work, Lancelot is the one who’s been doing almost all the work here. It seems like he is the staff and she’s the helper when it’s supposed to be vice versa.
“Here you go, it’s all converted. Now, you must load it into the server and get it transferred into all the counters. Can you do it por this week because I’ve set the expiry up to Monday, seguinte week?”
“Sure, thanks.”
“All right, then.” Lancelot closes his laptop and swings his chair around, facing her. “What’s your problem?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know what I mean, Gwen. What’s your problem? You’ve looked troubled all dia and you’ve lost your focus. You haven’t been the same since I came back… something’s wrong.”
This is what she’s been expecting. She needed someone to talk to and por God’s grace Lancelot is providing her the invitation himself. How can she deny it? But can she trust him? What if his conselhos turns out to be the opposite of her expectation? What if she doesn’t like his advice?
“Gwen?”
“I’m sorry, Lancelot,” she apologises. She decides to give it a try. Liking his conselhos or not, that’s segundo question. First, she needs some clarification or her head will burst. “I’m having some problems.”
“Personal?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you like to talk about it?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Why would I mind? I’m fine with it as long as you are fine with it,” he says with a smile.
“Thanks,” she smiles back. “I really wanted to talk about this to someone, but everyone is unavailable… I hope I’m not holding you from your work.”
“That’s rubbish, Gwen… of course you are not. Now, tell me what’s bothering you and why it’s coming in between your work?”
“It’s about Arthur.”
Lancelot’s coração sinks. He had been thinking if it had something to do with Arthur though his head has been denying it. Now Gwen’s words clarify everything beautifully. The mere mention of the name explains everything to Lancelot and he didn’t need to hear further. He suspected it has something to do with Arthur, but he didn’t know exactly the cause.
“What about Arthur?” he asks softly.
“Remember when you first arrived and caught me standing in front of this building? With my face swollen? And how Arthur and I were attacked?”
“Yeah.”
“I wasn’t really crying because of that incident, Lancelot. I was upset about something else.”
“Arthur?”
“Yes. I…” Gwen hesitates. Should she tell Lancelot about her feelings for Arthur? What will he say?
“You like him?” he guesses, nearly causing her to cough because she didn’t expect it.
‘What the hell? How did he know?’ she looks at him in bewilderment. “How? How, did you know?”
‘So it’s true then’ Lancelot thinks sadly but he hides his disappointment from Gwen. He smiles and reaches out to clasp her hands. “Usually when someone stammers or finds it difficult to open up, there are only two explanations for it. Either they are in amor or have done something wrong. In your case, I guessed it was the first since you said it’s connected to Arthur.”
Gwen couldn’t believe her lucky stars. “Thanks Lancelot, you made it so much easier to explain. I was hesitating because I was shy. I didn’t know how to tell you or if you’d believe it.”
“You can tell me anything Gwen. Aren’t I your friend?”
“Of course you are… I was shy because I have never really told you anything personal,” Gwen replies. Lancelot smiles and nods at her assuringly.
“Trust me; your secret is seguro with me. You can tell me anything,” Lancelot assures her. Gwen’s spirits lift hearing it. She feels light. She feels she can tell Lancelot everything now. There’s nothing to be afraid or shy about. There is nothing to hide from Lancelot.
“I like him, Lancelot. I really like Arthur. I don’t know how to explain this, but I think it blossomed from the first dia I met him in the hospital. I thought it was pity at first, since I know how strained his relationship with his father is, but it’s mais than that. It might have started of as pity but now, it’s something else. It’s not friends either… do you get what I mean?”
“Love?”
“I don’t know. It could be… or not. But I told him how I feel about him on the dia we were attacked and it didn’t go down well with Arthur. He was quiet and he shut me off.”
“He doesn’t like you?”
“I don’t know, but I was hurt and that’s why I was crying. But after a few days Merlin visited me and said Arthur does like me and told me to confront him once again to share my feelings. He said Arthur felt guilty about my father’s death and decided he wouldn’t be able to give me happiness, and he made up his mind to shut me off”
“Wait, Gwen… your father’s death? What has Arthur got to do with it?” Lancelot is confused. He doesn’t know anything about the accident that caused Arthur his sight and Gwen her father.
“Oh, sorry,” Gwen shakes her head. “A few months back, Arthur accidentally ran over my father, killing him on the spot. It was this same accident that cost him his sight. When I told him about my father, he was plagued por the guilt and he started shutting me off. According to Merlin, he felt guilty and lost his confidence. He didn’t think he’d be able to provide me the happiness he thinks I deserve.”
“Oh, I didn’t know both of you endured so much misery,” Lancelot admits truthfully. He didn’t know the important components of the matter and now that he does, his coração goes out to both Arthur and Gwen.
“None of us expected it, Lancelot, but sometimes things happen when you least expect it. My meeting with Arthur is one such event. I call it fate. If not, why did my father died at his hands, why did he have to turn blind and why did I have to meet him? So many pergunta and yet no answers. But one thing is certain: I was fated to meet him. If only he can understand that.”
“So, he didn’t know about your father’s death until you told him and the guilt bugged him. Which is why he decided to hate you…yes?” Lancelot asks and Gwen nods. “But that isn’t the truth because deep down he likes you.”
“That’s what Merlin tells me.”
“And that bothers you?”
“Yes, in a way.”
“You don’t trust Merlin?”
“I want to… I do, but…”
“Then?”
“I’m afraid, Lancelot.”
“About what?”
“When Arthur rejected me the first time, the pain, God! It’s not something you want to face over and over again… I can’t endure it the segundo time if he decides to stay away. I’m afraid to confront him, to tell him how I feel… I’m afraid of being rejected, yet… if I don’t find out, I’ll go berserk thinking about it. I… I don’t know what to do!”
“So that’s what been keeping you from your work. You are not sure what to do.”
“Yes,” she nods.
“Well…” Lancelot clasps her hand warmly and releases her, leans back and purses his lips. His own coração hurts due to his own disappointment, but Gwen is still his friend and she seeks his help because she trusts him. And he will repay that trust. “First, you need to ask yourself if you are sure of your feelings for him. You need to trust yourself before you can ask him to trust you. And then you have to be confident to confront him with your feelings. Let him say what he wants, but you have to be bold enough to withstand any obstacles. You need to make him see you the way you see him. Allow him in your coração Gwen, make him feel you. Tell him you’ll accept his happiness, regardless what form it comes in. I think Arthur’s as lost as you are and that’s why he’s unsure of himself. He’s losing his confidence and that’s where you need to come in. Make him comfortable and tell him you will be happy with him, and only him. That you need him as much as he needs you. And finally, tell him you have forgiven him, Gwen”
“I did…”
“But he still thinks he’s guilty. Perhaps he still thinks you haven’t forgiven him. Have you told him that in person?”
Gwen thinks a while. Lancelot is right. She forgave Arthur, yes, but she hasn’t told him that in person. She told Arthur not to feel guilty and all that happened was fate but never once she uttered the word forgive in his presence. And that could be the key! Lancelot is right, god! Gwen smiles to herself. Lancelot is a genius.
“No Lancelot, I haven’t,” she respostas him.
“And that can make all the difference, Gwen. If you can make him listen to your forgiveness and make feel your affection, perhaps something might stick,” Lancelot tells her.
“Gosh… thank you so much, Lancelot. That could be it… the key to unlock all this misery,” Gwen says with a huge smile on her face.
“Yup,” he respostas with a smile. “Try it, Gwen, and I’m sure you’ll find your answers,” he adds.
“Lancelot?”
“Hmmm?”
“How do you know so much? Have you ever been in love?”
“No,” he lies with a smile.
“But you sound like a professional.”
“Let’s just say I have my secrets,” Lancelot tells her.
“Secrets? Like secret lover?”
“Something like that…” he shrugs and looks away. Though he lies, he is afraid his eyes might give away the truth. He doesn’t want that, especially now when Gwen seems to have found her solution. He likes Gwen, but he kept his feelings to himself. He didn’t tell her nor did he make any attempts to do so. But Arthur isn’t like that. He likes Gwen and showed her, the same with Gwen. They like each other and Lancelot will never come in between them, never in his life. Before he had his feelings for Gwen, he accepted her as his friend so that’s how she will remain now and forever, as his friend. He will do everything he can to ensure she and Arthur are reunited. It may hurt a while but life goes on and he will learn to forget it. Perhaps, like Gwen says, he may not be her fate after all. Maybe someone else is waiting for him, in some part of this world. Who knows? Lancelot chuckles to himself.
“Lancelot?”
“Sorry Gwen… just thinking,” Lancelot turns back towards Gwen and reaches out to cup Gwen’s cheek. “I am happy for you, Gwen. And of course for Arthur as well. I think both of you are match made in heaven. Or Camelot,” he says with a laugh. Gwen laughs as well. “But really, you and Arthur… you need each other. Because that’s the way it should be. So, stop wasting your time and go and get your man. And never mind the others; your coração is all that matters. Listen to it and it alone. Tell him how you feel and make him feel your love. Arthur will amor you, Gwen, trust me. He might be blind but he will amor you,” Lancelot adds. Gwen smiles at him warmly. She might have had reservations about Lancelot before, but not anymore. Now she knows she has another friend she can count on. One she can trust.
“Thank you, Lancelot,” Gwen says and without giving him any warning, she leans over to him and kisses him on the cheek. The kiss surprises Lancelot but she just smiles it off. “That’s for the help, my friend,” she says.
“Thank you,” Lancelot seems shy.
“One day, you are going to make a lucky woman very happy indeed,” she tells him.
“And when I do, I’ll tell you, promise,” he adds, smiling.
“You must,” she says with a wink. Lancelot smiles back though his coração is laced with sadness.
‘No one can be better than you are, Gwen, but when I do find someone, I’ll remember my promise’ he thinks to himself.
“Arthur?” Gwaine calls as he opens the door and steps inside. Merlin follows behind and closes the door. “Arthur?” Gwaine calls again, removing his coat.
“Maybe he’s in his room,” Merlin suggests and removes his coat, too. He takes Gwaine’s casaco along with his and hangs them on the casaco rack. Gwaine had walked towards Arthur’s room ahead of Merlin but as he pokes his head in, he finds nothing in there. He pulls back and turns towards the approaching Merlin. He shakes his head.
“That’s funny, where is he?” Merlin asks and heads to the kitchen. Gwaine walks over to the other room but he hears Merlin’s call and rushes to the cozinha in hurry.
“Merlin?” Gwaine sounds worried, but he finds Merlin with Arthur, sitting down at the jantar table. Arthur has his head in his hands while Merlin has his own around Arthur’s shoulder.
“Arthur?” Gwaine pulls out a chair opposite the boys and sits down.
“What’s wrong, Arthur?” Merlin asks and when Arthur remains silent, he looks up at Gwaine who shrugs his shoulder.
“Arthur? Are you angry with us?”
“Finally, it dawned on you both!” Arthur snaps and lifts his head, his voice angry.
“Oh, oh!!” Merlin removes his hand from Arthur’s shoulder.
“Is it because we didn’t…”
“Come início last night, yes Gwaine… because of that. Do you both have any idea how long I waited? I could have used your support last night, but no… my friends weren’t around. I don’t mind you having your time out but you could’ve come home. Was I such a burden that you decided to abandon me altogether?”
“Arthur, stop saying this. We didn’t do it on purpose. We went out to meet a friend and headed to a bar afterwards. We thought you could have been asleep so we didn’t want to bother you…” Merlin says.
“And Merlin forgot his spare key!” Gwaine chips in. “We weren’t really drunk just to let you know; we went to meet a friend but it was too late to come início and without the key, we decided not to disturb you. So we headed to the bar and later back to Merlin’s apartment,” he adds.
“Oh… “ Arthur says, almost in surprise.
“Sorry, Arthur,” Merlin tells him, slowly patting him on the shoulder.
“No… I thought you guys decided to leave me on my own, but I really could have used your support last night.”
“Something happened?” Gwaine asks, eyeing Merlin. “What about your meeting with Elena?”
“Well, for starters, it was horrible. She pinned high hopes on me… on us. And when I told her about Guinevere she was disappointed. Not just plain disappointed, she became a monster!”
“You told her about Gwen?” Merlin smiles broadly and looks at Gwaine, who winks at him.
“I had to because she was getting too high on her dreams… besides, I planned to do that someday, so why not yesterday?”
“Really, Arthur, I’m impressed” Merlin adds.
“But I am afraid I hurt her, Merlin… she didn’t deserve it, but…”
“You had no choice, mate,” Gwaine says quickly. “Listen,” he lifts Arthur’s chin and looks straight at him. “I know it hurts to hurt another but this is your life, your future and you didn’t have any other choice. You could have said it differently to her if you had another choice, but you didn’t, and it’s not your fault. You didn’t like her and if I were her, I’d appreciate your bluntness, though it hurts. You have said it, Arthur, and whether she accepts it or not, it’s upon her now. You have a woman to chase after and you can’t dwell on past issues anymore.”
“You mean Guinevere?”
“Yes, you have to go after her now, and…” Gwaine says, but he doesn’t get to finish his sentence.
“I didn’t say I was pursuing her,” Arthur cuts Gwaine off.
“You amor her, don’t you?” Gwaine is irked. Merlin watches both his friends patiently.
Arthur hesitates. They’ve had this discussion before.
“Do you or do you not, Arthur?”
Arthur still finds it hard to confess. He knows he loves Guinevere and he had dismissed it arrogantly in his friend’s presence, but he can’t carry on any further. His coração doesn’t permit him to keep up with his lies, especially to his friends.
“Arthur!”
“Yes…” Arthur finally gives in. There’s no point in lying to Gwaine. “Yes, I do amor her… all my heart,” he says. Merlin smiles.
“Then what’s the bloody hell is wrong with you? Go after her, Arthur!!” Gwaine loses his patience. “Look, Arthur. I’m not Merlin and I’m not Elena. I don’t have the patience they do. I know you like her and I am sure she likes you. You wouldn’t have told Elena about Gwen if you didn’t feel strongly for her. And now all that’s left is to find Gwen and tell her how you feel.”
“But…”
“I understand things haven’t been really good between you and Gwen, and that’s exactly why you need to talk to her. She told you how she feels and now it’s your turn, Arthur,” Gwaine advises, his voice softening. “I am sure she’ll understand… because she loves you, too,” he finishes.
“Gwaine’s right, Arthur. You have to confess and forget everything else. Just mind the two of you. It’s all that matters. Please… for us, for you, and for her… just do it,” Merlin adds.
Arthur keeps his silence for a while. His friends are right. He has to get Guinevere back in his life because he hasn’t been himself without her. He had acted arrogantly and he’s ashamed of it. He owes his friend apologies and Guinevere too. But first he must find her.
“Will you lads find her and bring her here?” Arthur asks.
“I will… Gwaine, get him ready,” Merlin says quickly and leaves, sweeping up the keys as he rushes out.
“That was fast… come on, Arthur. Time to get dressed,” Gwaine helps Arthur and leads him to his room.
“Gwaine?” Arthur calls.
“Hmmm?”
“Will you be honest with me if I ask something?”
“Yeah, of course, mate… what is it?”
“I don’t know how to ask you this, but… you’ve seen Guinevere, haven’t you?”
“Well, yeah,” Gwaine respostas shortly.
“Can you describe her for me?”
“Describe her?” Gwaine looks up from the floor. His fingers stops adjusting Arthur’s pants and he is the very picture of a man clearly clueless of what being asked.
“I know… it’s absurd, I shouldn’t…”
“No, it’s not! It’s quite cute, actually. You just got me stunned, that’s all,” Gwaine laughs, prompting Arthur to smile. “You want me to describe her, why?”
“I can’t see her, and though I want to explore her myself, I’m itching to know what she looks like. Out of anyone, you are the right person to tell me about her. You have seen her, after all.”
“I have, but…”
“You don’t have to if it makes you uneasy …”
“No, not at all, just… will you be fine if I describe her? I mean, you know how I like to really… describe a person,” Gwaine teases, getting up to his feet to help with the cuffs of Arthur’s shirt.
“Just the exterior, Gwaine, that will do,” Arthur says with a laugh.
“As I thought,” Gwaine laughs and helps Arthur into his vest. He adjusts the colarinho, colar and steps back, proudly admiring his friend. “Good,” he pats himself.
“So… where do you want me to start?” Gwaine asks, crossing his hands across his chest.
“Her face… how she looks?” Arthur asks excitedly.
“She has a lovely oval, no, heart-shaped face with gorgeous amêndoa shaped eyes that sit perfectly beneath her neat brows. There’s something about her eyes, Arthur… they are large, warm and expressive with long eyelashes. The moment she looks at you, that’s it: you’re hooked. Each time I talk to her, I find it hard to peel my eyes from hers… they’re like magic. She has some sort of power over you. And I have to be honest mate, I’m hooked on her eyes.”
“Really?”
“No, honestly her eyes are gorgeous. They are beautiful, Arthur, enchanting; I just wish you could see them.”
“The colour, what’s the colour of her eyes?”
“They’re brown, but not just any brown. It’s a translucent brown like warm tea. When she looks at you, she warms your coração and the best part is she doesn’t even realize she does it.” Gwaine explains.
“You got me hooked already… go on,” Arthur asks impatiently.
“Straight nose and full kissable lips. Now, this is another part of her that I’m in amor with. Those lips are lovely, Arthur, and I envy you.”
“Why?”
“You get to kiss her and anyone who would get to kiss those lips is…”
“Gwaine!” Arthur shoots in a warning tone. Gwaine simply replies with laughter.
“What I mean is anyone who gets to kiss her is one bloody lucky man,” Gwaine adds with a snicker. “They’re full and glossy like ripe cherries, to make it short.”
“Her skin?”
“Ahh, the best part. She has the coolest skin I’ve seen. It’s the colour of… hmmm…” Gwaine snaps his fingers, thinking deeply.
“What? What does it look like?” Arthur is impatient again.
“It’s like… ahhh! Yes!” Gwaine’s eyes widen. “Latte. A creamy cup of latte!”
“Creamy latte? Gwaine… I’m sorry, but I need to ask, is it me or do you fancy comparing people to food?”
“Hey, don’t blame me! That’s best way to describe anyone to you. Anyway, you want to listen or not?”
“All right, all right… Go on”
“Her skin’s the colour of creamy latte, a very delicious one and she’s five feet tall, perhaps a little over but definitely a five footer. She petite and shapely as well, not too skinny. Just the right weight. Hmm… what else, let me think,” Gwaine thinks a while as Arthur waits patiently.
“Gwaine?”
“Wait… I’m thinking here. Hmm… oh, she’s got lovely curvy hips, nice round arse and…”
“All right, I get the picture, Gwaine, thank you very much,” Arthur stops Gwaine before the latter can carry on.
“I thought you wanted to know about her?”
“I do, but those details are for me to explore myself, and do plan to do so,” Arthur tells him.
“Jealous, huh?” Gwaine snickers.
“No.”
“Yes, you are. You don’t like me describing her because you are jealous.”
“Fine. Yes, I am, Gwaine. You can be my friend but hearing intimate details about her from you makes me a little jealous. And don’t get me wrong, I’m just irked because you can see her while I can’t.”
“Oh come on, there’s always a way for you to see her,” Gwaine explains, uncrossing his hands and dropping them loosely por his sides.
“No, not the topic on the operation again, Gwaine.”
“Who ever said I’m talking about the operation? What I mean is, you can see her por feeling her. Use your hands and feel her. That’s one way for you to see her and it will be good, if get what I mean,” there was a tinge of tease laced in Gwaine’s voice and Arthur admits the idea is slightly naughty. But he likes it nevertheless.
“Oh, I like that idea Gwaine. Thanks, I’ll try that when she gets here,” Arthur says with a smile.
“There you go, mate.”
“Try what, Arthur?” Guinevere asks as she stands alongside Merlin por the door of Arthur’s room.
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![angel Coulby As Jessie in DOTE [6]](http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/33300000/Angel-Coulby-As-Jessie-in-DOTE-6-arthur-and-gwen-33396865-245-160.gif)
