This is the first of two fics that come out of a recent discussion on Camelot_love regarding Gwen’s relationship with Uther (or lack of it), how it will be shaped in the future, how we want Uther to see the ‘inner queen’ in Gwen and then to realise just how much see remind him of Igraine.

The link for the discussions is here: http://community.livejournal.com/camelot_love/201886.html#cutid1

Pairing : Arthur/Gwen, Uther, Morgana, Merlin and Gaius make appearances.
Spoliers : Everything up to 'the once and future queen'.
Summary : Uther's realises how much two of his servants have had an effect on Arthur and Morgana (namely Arthur), but its bugging him as to why.
 

More Than Just The Influence of a Servant.

 Uther was King of Camelot and while he took great pride in his kingdom, he had never really taken much interest in getting to know his servants. As King, he didn’t have to know them, they worked for him, they should count themselves lucky that he had hired them, but there were two that had grabbed his attention over the previous months.

 First off was Arthur’s manservant, Merlin. He had saved Arthur’s life within days of him arriving in Camelot, so it only seemed right that he should be rewarded for what he had done. Plus the young boy seemed to have a history with Gaius and if Uther had one true friend in Camelot it was Gaius. The two boys clashed from the moment they met and while they still do, Uther had noticed a different element to their relationship recently. While he was still an idiot, Merlin had proven to be a true and loyal friend to Arthur, like Gaius was to him and although it had taken him a long time to realise it, Arthur was going to need someone like Merlin for when eventually became King.

 However the other servant who had grabbed his attention more recently was that of Morgana’s maidservant, Gwen. The girl had been Morgana’s maid for as long as he could remember, in fact he was pretty sure that she had been with Morgana since she first arrived in Camelot all those years ago as a ten year old. The two of them had become firm friends and although they were both aware of the class divide and adhered to this in public to please him, Uther knew that in private, both girls confided in each other and actually enjoyed each other’s company, something that was almost unheard of between master/mistress and servant.

 But it was not Gwen’s friendship with Morgana that was occupying his thoughts, it was that of Arthur and Gwen. He had never really taken much notice to his son’s friendship with Gwen, as he thought Arthur was just being nice to Gwen to keep Morgana happy. Although this had not been the case for a while now and there was something that was bugging him about the two of them.

 It had all started when he had had Gwen’s father, Tom killed for associating with Tauren. At the time he believed he had done the right thing, after all Tauren was known for his use of magic and Tom really should have known better, there was only one outcome and even more so when he tried to escape from jail, he was guilty end of. Morgana had challenged him over it and even to this day, he swears she still holds it against him. He had never seen his ward so rattled over the death of her maid’s father, he knew how much the loss of her own father effect her, but this seem to effect her even more. But as a loyal friend she cared for Gwen during that initial tough period and Uther expected nothing different from her, it was just who Morgana was.

 But Arthur, well that was different, he was his heir, he should have supported him on this, but he didn’t. Arthur had challenged him on so many things before, but over this Arthur’s was totally different. As soon as he sentenced Tom to death, Arthur had tried to change his mind and when he hadn’t been able to, he had forced him to let Gwen not only keep her job as Morgana’s maid, but also her home for as long as she wanted it. It was as if his son wanted to make sure she was provided for. It was a caring side of Arthur that Uther had not seen before, but doing this for Gwen unsettled him.

 The next time Uther had noticed a difference between Arthur and Gwen was while Arthur recovered from his near death experience with the Questing Beast. Uther had been beside himself with worry for Arthur, but he soon noticed he wasn’t the only one. Uther had been worried when he saw Gaius leaving Arthur’s chambers, so he opened the door quietly and was shocked to see Gwen tending to Arthur. From where he was standing, Uther could see that she was sitting on his bed and trying to call down Arthur’s raging fever. But it was the next bit that got him; “You’re not going to die Arthur, I’m telling you, because I know one day that you will be King. A greater King than your father could ever be. That’s what keeps me going. You are going to live to be the man I’ve seen inside you Arthur. I can see a Camelot that is fair and just. I can see a King that the people will love and be proud to call their Sovereign. For the love of Camelot, you have to live”

.Those words hit him hard and as King he wasn’t used to being effected by what others said, let alone that of a servant, but Gwen’s words triggered something inside of him and again it bothered him, but why? Was it because she had more faith in his son, than him? Did all of Camelot think what Gwen had just said? Or was it simply because she was servant and how dare she say this? But to Uther it all felt familiar. Of course Gwen and even Arthur never knew that he had heard what she had said that day and he intended to keep it that way.

 The third time had been after the annual jousting tournament. Arthur always looked forward to any tournament, but he had missed this one after going to track down some creature. Although as they announced his return to court, there was a change in the air. He wasn’t sure what had happened while Arthur had been away from Camelot, but he was not the Arthur who had left Camelot. Uther wasn’t stupid, he knew he had struggled with Arthur after Igraine had died and kept the boy at an arms length, but he knew his son and the truth was Arthur was no longer a boy and see him before him make him realise it even more, he had changed. While listening to what had happened while his son had been away, Uther focused on Arthur to see if his son would give some hints to why he had changed and although he didn’t know it, Arthur did exactly that. While talking, Uther noticed that Arthur kept looking over at Gwen and Gwen to Arthur. The looks and even the odd smile exchanged between the two of them said it all and it was then that it hit Uther.

 Gwen was looking at Arthur how Igraine used to look at him! As he sat there looking at his son, he saw that sparkle that Igraine had mentioned all those years ago, that he himself used to have when they were younger. That was why Arthur’s relationship with Gwen bothered him so much, he could see that his son was beginning to have feelings for her. Uther wasn’t sure how far these feelings had developed but now it was obvious and thinking about it he could see why.

 Again it had never occurred to him, but Gwen was so like his wife it made him feel uneasy. She was loyal, trust-worthy and a hard worker. He hadn’t noticed it himself, but if he was right about the above, he was pretty sure that Gwen was also challenging Arthur like Igraine used to challenge him, when she felt strongly about something or felt he was making the wrong decision. Igraine would stand there for hours trying to get him to make sense, to calm down or even relax and Gwen seemed to have the same hold and calming influence over Arthur.

And while this was good for his son, to Uther there was still one difference between his marriage to Igraine and Arthur’s relationship with Gwen and it was big one, one that would never be allowed to be crossed. Arthur was Crowned Prince of Camelot, heir to the kingdom and Gwen was a servant. Igraine had been of noble birth, so her marrying Uther had not been a problem, he was King after all, but Gwen, she was the daughter of a blacksmith and as Prince of Camelot, Arthur would have to marry someone of much higher ranking. Tradition wouldn’t allow it and he was not about to go against tradition, it wasn’t right.

 There was just two problems with this, first he was going to have to hurt his son, how finally seemed happy and second to hurt Arthur he would have to hurt Gwen and that would be like hurting Igraine and he wasn’t sure if he could do it.

 It was times like these when he hated being King.

Title: Party Time (Bradley/Angel fic)

Rating: PG 13

Summary: It’s series two’s wrap party which happens to be on the same day as Bradley’s birthday. Angel realises what Bradley means to her, Bradley figures out what is missing from his birthday, while Katie and Colin steal Bradley’s camcorder.

NB: This was written after requests for a fic based on the fact that the wrap party and Bradley’s birthday were on the same day this year.

Party Time.

 It was the cast wrap party and well everyone was there expect Bradley and Colin and well that was for a good reason, as today was also Bradley’s birthday, so Colin had been sent to go and get him, to make sure he got to the party after everyone else. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, while waiting for the guys to get there, but Katie noticed there was something wrong with Angel. She had seemed to have a nervousness about her all day, she had been quiet while they were getting changed and even as they put up some decorations for the party, Angel had kept herself to herself. Katie wasn’t sure what it was but she was worried about her friend, she had never seen her like this before.

 Angel was standing talking to Richard and Anthony, so Katie went over to join them. “What time are the guys meant to be getting here?” asked Richard. “Soon” replied Katie, “Colin text me about half an hour ago, saying he was just leaving to get Bradley and that he would text again when they were nearly here”. “Well I can’t wait to see Bradley’s face when he gets here, he’s got no idea that they have made the wrap party a joint birthday party for him has he?” asked Anthony. “Nope” said Katie looking in Angel’s direction who had remained quiet. “This time the joke’s on him and I’ve even managed to sneak out his camcorder, I bet he’s wondering where it is” she said laughing. “That’s just cruel Katie” stated Richard, “he’s probably looking for it right now, you know him and that camera”. “I know that’s why I took it, that and I wanted to capture all the good bits for him, people have even been taping birthday messages for him, so he can watch it at a later date” Katie explained, “actually you three haven’t recorded a message yet”. “Okay we’ll do ours now” said Richard and Anthony together. “Angel?” asked Katie. “I’ll do mine later, I’ve got to sort some last minute bits out” said Angel, not really want an inquisition on why she didn’t want to record her message right that second. “No problem, I’ll come and find you later’ replied Katie and with that Angel walked off.

 “Is Angel okay? She doesn’t seem herself” Anthony direct at Katie, if anyone knew what was up with her, Katie would know. “I think so, but I don’t know, I’ve got this nagging feeling about something and I’m not sure what” Katie said. All three of them looked at each other, wondering what was bothering Angel, when Katie’s phone beeped, it was Colin – On our way, mins away from party. Bradley looking for camera!!! Katie tried not to laugh as she read Colin’s message, “they are on their way, they are 5 minutes away” and with that everyone stopped talking and went to stand ready for the birthday boy’s arrival.

 As Katie shouted that they were on their way, Angel felt nervous. She hoped that Katie hadn’t made too much of her not wanting to record Bradley a birthday message earlier. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to leave a message for him, she just wasn’t sure what she was going to say. How was she meant to record a message for him, when she wasn’t sure what was going on between them. Ever since they had started filming series two, her relationship with Bradley had changed. Of course this was bound to happen over the years both on and off screen, as friends and as the characters they played, everyone knows the story of Arthur and Guinevere, it’s legendary. But since episode two and that kiss something had shifted between them. They were still Angel and Bradley, they were close, loved playing practical jokes on each other, the usual stuff, but there was an awkwardness there as well and now even though she had only seen Bradley this morning, she was nervous about seeing him again. ‘What was wrong with her’ she wondered. She heard someone shout ‘lights out’ so she knew that Bradley and Colin had arrived, so she tried to put everything out of her mind for now and enjoy the party.

 As he walked down the hall to where the wrap party was being held, Bradley still hadn’t gotten over the fact that he couldn’t find his beloved camcorder and he was annoyed. The wrap party always provided him with some great footage and it was the final part of the series. Colin was trying not to laugh over his reaction, knowing that Katie had it already in the room, Bradley was going to kill her when he found out. “Come on Bradley, we are going to be late” said Colin trying to hurry his friend up. “What are you on about Morgan, we are going to be the first ones there at this rate. I bet Angel and Katie are still getting changed” Bradley replied. Reaching the door, “Happy, we are here now” said Bradley, “yes, go on you go first, you are the birthday boy after all” laughed Colin. “And you’ve got to be nice to me because its my birthday” Bradley joked. As he walked into the room, the lights were out, “see I told you we would be the first ones here” Bradley told Colin, but as he did this, someone switched the lights on and there was a loud chorus of ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADLEY’. Bradley was shocked, he wasn’t expecting this, it was the wrap party for the series, he wasn’t expecting a birthday party at the same time.

 As he turned to his left, he saw Colin laughing along with Anthony, Richard and Katie, who was holding his camcorder. “So that’s where my camera went!” exclaimed Bradley, “Sorry Bradley, I couldn’t resist not having it for you entrance” explained Katie who went over to give him a birthday hug. Anthony and Richard also offered their birthday wishes before leaving Bradley to walk round and talk to everyone else. However Katie had noticed that Angel remained in the background, so she passed Colin the camera and excused herself and went to talk to her friend.

 She didn’t see Katie heading over to her, she was too busy watching everyone trying to talk to Bradley. When he walked into the room, he looked so surprised Angel thought, he really wasn’t expecting it. “Angel” said Katie coming up from behind her, “what’s wrong? And don’t try denying that you are okay, I know something is wrong, I know you too well”. Angel sighed, she had hoped she had convinced Katie that she was all right, but she was right, she did know her too well, she wanted to tell her everything but the words just weren’t coming out of her mouth. Katie was just about to say something, when Bradley came up from behind the pair of them, making them both jump. “Hi Angel, Hi Katie” he said with a smile on his face, he was clearly enjoying the party. “Hi” both the girls replied. “Thanks for all this” said Bradley, “I heard it was you two that sorted it all out”. “Well we couldn’t not let you have a party just because it was the wrap party could we, you would only sulk” said Katie jokingly. “I do not sulk” Bradley responded, “but thank you” as he turned to hug both girls. It was while Bradley was hugging Angel, that it clicked with Katie what had been bothering her, it was Bradley. She could tell from the expression on her face, she seemed uneasy and content at the same time. If she had to drag it out of her, she would. “Come on Bradley” shouted Jeremy time who was holding up a drink, “Look’s like I’m being called, I’ll catch up with you again later” Bradley said smiling at both Angel and Katie. As they watched Bradley go and join Jeremy, Colin, Richard and Anthony, Katie turned to Angel, “come on Angel, lets go and talk” Katie said to Angel, dragging her in the direction of the adjoining garden. There was no point in arguing with Katie, so Angel let herself be dragged outside.

 As Bradley walked towards the bar, he couldn’t help but think that he had done something to annoy Angel. She had barely said a word to him since he arrived at the party and even just now, she didn’t seem herself. He had seen her this morning and she was okay with him. Angel’s behaviour just confused him even more. They had always been close, she had been the first person that he had really been drawn to when they first started Merlin a couple of years ago. Of course on screen, it was Arthur’s relationship with Merlin that was key in series one, but it was his off screen relationship with Angel that had developed first during that series. It was well known that the relationship between himself and Colin was a slow burner, but now they were like brothers, they bounced off each other so well. Series two had seen the relationship between Arthur and Gwen develop into more than just ‘Prince and Handmaiden’ and it had helped that him and Angel were so close because of certain scenes that needed to be filmed. Everyone knew the legend and what would eventually happen between the two characters and with Angel it felt easier for him to film these scenes, she knew him so well, as he did her.

 But for Bradley he could pinpoint when things had changed, it was the kiss. It was the first time, Arthur realised that maybe Gwen meant more to him than just being Morgana’s servant, she had helped him out during the tournament and he had kissed her the morning of the final. That kiss was the turning point for so many things and not just in the show. True the kiss had started off as one between Arthur and Gwen but by the end of it, Bradley felt as if it was between him and Angel. The thing was neither of them had mentioned it after filming the scene, but an awkwardness between them had remained and Bradley was left confused and if it was one thing Bradley didn’t like it was being confused. Looking back towards where he had just been standing, he saw Katie pulling Angel in the direction of the garden and he wondered what they were up to. “Come on Bradley!” shouted Colin who was armed with Bradley’s camcorder, so Bradley turned and headed towards the bar, he needed a drink.

 Outside Angel and Katie were sat on the wall. “It’s Bradley isn’t it?” Katie asked Angel. Angel just looked at her and that was all Katie needed for Angel to confirm what she had just asked. “So what’s going on between the two of you?” Katie questioned again. Angel sighed, “Nothing is going on, but…its too confusing to even talk about” she replied. “Just try, that’s what I’m here for, you vent, I listen” Katie told Angel. And before Angel knew it, it all came spilling out, “I don’t know, we’ve always been close ever since we first started filming, but this year things have been different and what with that and our change of status on screen, it just got more and more confusing. I can feel safe and nervous at the same time when I’m around him, that smile of his sends me to mush everything, but I can’t talk to him about things I used to be able to and then there’s the kiss. When we were doing that kiss, well it didn’t feel like Gwen kissing Arthur, it was more me kissing Bradley. But what is driving me mad is that I can read what he is thinking, I mean its Bradley, do any of us know what he is really thinking”. Katie knew what Angel was talking about, as much as they all loved Bradley, none of them ever knew what mood he would turn up in or even what he was thinking, he kept things very close to his chest and didn’t give a lot away.

 "I knew it had to do with Bradley the moment he hugged you” Katie stated, “the look in your face said it all, I just can’t believe you didn’t feel as if you could talk to be about it before”. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to you, god so many times I needed someone to talk to and I wanted your advice, but I just couldn’t, I was trying to work how I felt myself. That was why I didn’t want to record the video message, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. How can I tell Bradley that I’ve fallen for him?” Angel continued. Katie was about to say something when they both jumped as they heard a noise coming from behind them. Turning around, they saw that it was Bradley, Angel felt embarrassed, she didn’t know what to say or do, she wasn’t sure what he had heard. Katie turned back to Angel, “I think you just did” and with that she turned to join Colin and the others inside, leaving Bradley and Angel alone.

 He wasn’t sure what had made him go outside in the first place. He had been talking with everyone and was having a great time, but something was bugging him. Well it wasn’t a something, it was a someone. Someone was missing and that someone was Angel. She should be the room with him, enjoying the evening but she wasn’t, she was outside talking to Katie. Looking towards the door he wondered what they had to talk about that couldn’t wait until later, they had been out there for ages now. He made his excuses leaving Colin and Anthony playing table tennis, while Richard was filming it and made his way to the garden. But when he got there he couldn’t take the final step and go outside, so he just stood there listening to the girls talking. He knew he shouldn’t but then again he always did things he shouldn’t be doing. As he stood there, he heard Katie saying ‘I knew it had to do with Bradley the moment he hugged you’. They were talking about him, but why, what did it have to do with him hugging Angel and then he heard Angel “………How can I tell Bradley that I’ve fallen for him?” It was at that moment that everything fell into place, not only why Angel had been weird around him, but also what had been bugging him, it was Angel, it had always been Angel. With that, he stepped outside and coughed making his presence known to the girls. As Katie walked passed him, leaving them alone, she smiled and whispered, ‘play nice’, but all he knew was he had to talk to Angel.

 Bradley joined Angel on the wall, both of them not knowing what to say or do next. “So you’ve fallen for me then?” Bradley said with that cheeky smile that always got to Angel. “Don’t go getting a big head Bradley, I’m sure it’s a momentary thing and it will pass. Actually I know it will pass, yep its gone” replied Angel. Bradley could tell she wasn’t being serious, she had forgotten he knew her better than anyone else and he knew he was going to have to be the one who made the first move. “Well if its passed you won’t mind me doing this…..” he said looking at Angel, “what are you going to……..”started Angel until she was cut off as Bradley kissed her.

 For a moment she wasn’t sure if it was real, she felt as if she was back where she had stood all those months ago, filming the Arthur/Gwen kiss. The kiss was so soft and gentle, but it felt right. After what seemed to be a lifetime, they parted but stood there looking at each other, Angel had seen this look from Bradley before, but this time it felt perfect and seemed so right. Bradley stood there looking at Angel, knowing that this was what his birthday was missing, him and Angel. “So has it still passed?” joked Bradley, as Angel smiled at him, “What do you think?” was Angel reply, to which Bradley replied with another kiss. But like earlier there was a noise from behind them, which broke the moment, it was Colin, Katie and Anthony all standing by the door, Katie and Colin shouting “about time too you two”, while Anthony shouted “enjoying your birthday Bradley?” all of the laughing, while Katie who armed with the camcorder had caught the whole moment, Bradley and Angel were going to kill her, but she didn’t care. “Yes thanks Tony” said Bradley who turned to face Angel, “best birthday ever” and as he said that Angel knew that everything was going to be okay between them, as Colin and Katie dragged them inside to dance!

 BEST WRAP PARTY/BIRTHDAY EVER!!

Jousting Fun and Games (PG13)
Chapter 4

 It was later that day and Gwen was back in Morgana’s chambers mending the hem on her favourite dress. She had been in a world of her own since she had agreed to let Arthur stay, she couldn’t shake him from her thoughts, but she did what she always did and carried on. Morgana entered the room ‘I’ve nearly finished your dress for you’ said Gwen lightly. ‘Thank you Gwen, I don’t know what I would do without you’ replied Morgana. Gwen smiled, her relationship with Morgana was the most stable thing in her life, she knew where she stood with her, it wasn’t complicated like it was with Arthur. Again Arthur ended up in her thoughts, when she wants even thinking about him! Morgana wasn’t stupid, Gwen hadn’t been right for the last few weeks and if she was being honest, since their trip to Ealdor. Morgana had also noticed that Gwen seemed to clam up or get nervous when a certain Prince was around. This wasn’t new, she had noticed it before when Merlin first arrived in Camelot, but it seemed as if Arthur was the one who was having an effect on her best friend. Bloody Arthur, it was always Arthur. ‘Gwen are you ok? You’ve been so quiet today’ asked Morgana. Gwen thought for a moment, could she really talk to Morgana about Arthur, when she wasn’t sure what it all meant? ‘Yes I’m fine my lady’ said Gwen unsure. ‘Ok but you know where I am….’started Morgana as Arthur and Merlin came through the door.

 ‘Have you two forgotten how to knock?’ shouted Morgana. ‘Obviously’ said Arthur sarcastically. ‘Play nice you two’ said Merlin. ‘Actually Morgana we need to talk to you’. ‘You do, do you? But myself and Gwen were talking before we were interrupted’ Morgana replied, still annoyed. Arthur and Merlin looked t Gwen, who herself felt pretty uneasy, especially as she felt Arthur’s eyes on her. ‘It’s ok, it was nothing important’ stated Gwen, ‘we can talk later’. ‘Ok well here’s the thing…’Arthur started ‘I need a favour Morgana’. ‘Well go ahead’ Morgana responded. Arthur looked at Merlin before carrying on, ‘It’s about the tournament, I want to enter and try to win on my own merit, not because the other knights have let me win, because I’m the Prince. So I’m going to do it this year, but it involves me moving out of the castle. ‘So where are you going to stay?’ asked Morgana. Arthur looked at Gwen, ‘At mine Morgana’ said Gwen. ‘But you haven’t ……began Morgana. ‘I know’ relied Gwen, ‘but I’m helping out and its not as if I’ll be on my own’ looking at Arthur, who’s reaction was being watched by Merlin.

 ‘Ok so here do I come into it?’ asked Morgana. ‘Well we need you to keep an eye out on what’s going on in the castle and try and keep Uther off Arthur’s trail’ explained Merlin. ‘I can do that’ said Morgana, ‘but your forgetting one thing?’ ‘What?’ said Arthur, Gwen and Merlin all that the same time. ‘What excuse are you going to use for not entering the tournament Arthur? Uther is going to wonder why you aren’t competing’ Morgana stated. ‘Merlin, you idiot, how did you forget about that?’ exclaimed Arthur. ‘I can’t be expected to think of everything’ said Merlin, ‘I thought of the everything else’. Gwen and Morgana exchanged glances, ‘boys’ they both thought. ‘Hang on a minute’ said Morgana ‘Isn’t there a hunting trip tomorrow?’ ‘Yes you know there is’ said Arthur. ‘Well tomorrow when you are hunting, do something that will make it look as if you have inured yourself. That way when you come back, there is no way Uther can make you compete’ she explained. ‘And by then, it will be so busy, that he won’t have time to keep track of your every movement, making it easy for you to sneak out to Gwen’s’.

 ‘That’s a good plan’ said Gwen, ‘Yeah who knew you could actually use that brain of yours Morgana’ said Arthur sarcastically. ‘ARTHUR!’ shouted Gwen, in that tine of voice that made Arthur pay attention to her (it was the one that she had used in Ealdor the morning before the fight). Morgana and Merlin were also shocked. ‘Sorry, I was only joking’ said Arthur realising that Gwen was not impressed by what he had done. Morgana tried not to laugh, she’d never seen anyone have an effect like that on Arthur, her gut feeling was right, there was something that had changed between her foster-brother and her handmaiden.

 ‘Ok so that’s sorted then’ said Merlin trying to get everyone back on the subject, while trying not to find it funny that Gwen had told Arthur off. ‘We just have to wait till the morning and then Operation Merit is in play’. ‘Sounds good, but until then I’ve got things to do’ said Arthur ‘Ladies we will leave you to talk now’ Arthur continued, dragging Merlin towards the door…’And thank you’, as they left. Morgana looked at Gwen, who was staring at the door, ‘What was all that about?’ asked Morgana. All Gwen had to do was look at Morgana for her to guess. It was always Arthur!! 

Title: Deep In Thought.

Characters: Arthur/Gwen with appearances from Merlin, Morgana and Lancelot.

Summary: Based on the events on ‘Lancelot and Guinevere’, with mentions of events during season one.

Rating: PG13

After writing a fic from Gwen’s point of view based on the events of’ The Once and Future Queen’ , I thought I would try to write something from Arthur’s point of view. Hope you like it. 

 Deep In Thought 

 Arthur stood in his room, looking out of the window. In the courtyard below, he saw Morgana and Gwen sitting down by the stairs talking. He wasn’t sure about what, but he couldn’t help but stare at Gwen, Guinevere to him…..ever since the tournament she had gotten to him. He wasn’t sure how but he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since then. They had had so many moments during those few days, but they both knew nothing could ever happen between them, Uther wouldn’t allow it. His reaction with Sophia had shown him how impatient Uther was going to be when it came to Arthur and women. They had all thought Sophia was of noble birth and look how that turned out, there is no way he would let Arthur date a servant, let along marry one.

 The look on her face in the corridor during that talk haunted Arthur. She was giving him a way out, but he didn’t want a way out, he wanted her to say something, something to make him fight for them and what they could be, “Maybe when you are King, things will change” she replied. That was the response he got and it made him think; maybe things would change when he was King but until then what was he meant to do?

 It wasn’t as if he could ignore her, she was always around, with Morgana, with Merlin, always there and it drove him crazy. And then there was the other day. Morgana and Guinevere had gone to visit Morgana’s father’s grave and Guinevere had been captured by Hengis’ men and held for ransom, as they believed she was Morgana. He stood in front of his father, with Morgana and Merlin and watched Morgana beg Uther to pay the ransom, who refused to do so for a servant. Standing there was torture for him and he wanted to shout at his father, tell him that she wasn’t just a servant and that she meant everything to him. But how could he?? He was the Crowned Prince of Camelot and could not be seen to disobey the King in public. When Uther said she might be dead already, he felt sick, she couldn’t be, he didn’t know what he would do if she was.

 Morgana was still rating and raving when she went to see him, but when she finally realised that he wasn’t going to leave Gwen there, she begged him to bring her home safely and that’s what he planned to do, bring her home, where she belonged. Merlin of course was going with him, like Arthur he would do anything for Gwen. Arthur was glad but he just wanted to see her again and hold her.

 The journey seemed to take longer than it actually did, but he pinned that down to his nerves. What would Guinevere’s reaction be when he turned up? Did she want to see him? What would he say or do? Was she even still alive? Again that thought came into his head so many times throughout the journey, there was no stopping it, he just had to see her.

 One thing he didn’t bank on doing was telling Merlin how he felt for Guinevere, but typical Merlin he could read him like a book. “I’ve never seen you act this way before, about anyone” Merlin had said. “What are you on about?” replied Arthur, “Gwen” stated Merlin. Dam it he thought, Merlin had caught him out, you couldn’t hide anything from him, git! “How can I admit that I think about her all the time? Or that I care for her more than anyone? How can I admit that I don’t know what I’d do if any harm came to her”…….. he didn’t know what came over him, it just came spilling out, he confessed everything to Merlin. “It’s all talk and that’s all it can ever be. I can’t ask her to wait for me”. He just couldn’t do it to he, it wasn’t fair on her.  "If she feels as you do, she’ll wait" said Merlin. But how could he, he could never ask her to wait for him, who knew how long it would be before he could admit his feelings in public and be with her. No he couldn’t do it. He just needed to get to her and that was all that mattered.

 Then it all went wrong. When they got there, Arthur saw Guinevere in the middle of a cage tied up next to…Lancelot. WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING THERE? Arthur though. Seeing him that close to Gwen cut into him, he knew how Gwen had felt when Lancelot had left Camelot all those months ago, but surely things were different now. Never mind that, first he had to get her out of there, the adrenalin was pumping round his body as he jumped over the gates of the cage. Cutting the rope round both Gwen and Lancelot’s hands, he pushed her behind him, as long as she was behind him, she was safe. As they escaped down the tunnel, he saw something that stirred something inside of him….Lancelot grabbing Gwen’s hand, ‘his Guinevere’ holding Lancelot’s hand… jealousy arose within him and what’s more Merlin caught it too. What confused Arthur even more was that as soon as Guinevere saw Arthur’s reaction, she dropped Lancelot’s hand, maybe she did feel something for him after all.

 She was safe and that was all that mattered to him. If only he could grab hold of her, tell her how much she meant to him, how it hurt seeing her with Lancelot, tell her how worried he was when she had gone missing, even to kiss her. Those soft, gentle lips that he couldn’t stop thinking about since he kissed during his time staying at her home. He would give everything, just to hold her, but he knew he couldn’t and it tore him in two.

 Then he went and ruined it all, bloody Lancelot, he questioned him why he and Merlin had come to rescue Gwen on their own. How dare he! It was none of his business, why he had come to rescue Gwen. At least he had been able to get her out of there, Lancelot’s attempt had just put her in even more danger. Idiot! “Truth is I only came because Morgana begged me”, okay so he was the idiot now. Why did he say that? But that look Guinevere gave him, hurt all over. She had to know he wasn’t telling the truth. Morgana didn’t need to beg him, he was going anyway. Gwen meant everything to him, he wasn’t about to let her down. The look was full of disappointment in him, Merlin was right he was a prat.

 Merlin said something about Lancelot leaving, he wasn’t really listening, all he could do was focus on Gwen. She was crying, upset that Lancelot had left her. Did Lancelot mean more to her, than he did Arthur wondered. He desperately wanted to talk to her, but now was not the time, so he left her to it, saying that they needed to get going. The ride home was also not what he was expecting it to be, she was meant to be riding with him, not on Merlin’s horse. But she hadn’t said a word to him since the campsite. He just kept thinking about the whole thing over and over again, what he had said, what he had done, Guinevere’s reactions, everything!

 Uther even had a go at him when they got back and boy was he mad. For a second he thought he was going to throw him in the dungeons again, but he didn’t care, for Gwen he would have stayed down there forever, he’d got her home and she was safe that was all that mattered. Morgana of course was pleased to see him, but he had just brought her best friend home, so she had to be nice to him. Even as Morgana hugged Gwen, the looks between Arthur and Gwen had more hidden meanings, but neither were any closer to breaking down the barriers that were between them.

 Still staring out the window at her, brought it all flooding back. Everything that they had been through, Ealdor, her father being killed by Uther (he would never forgive him for that), her looking after him when he was so close to dying, her surprising him, every second when he stayed with her during the tournament and now this. The sun shone perfectly down on her brown hair, she lost in conversation with Morgana, but then when he wasn’t expecting it, she looked up catching his stare. She looked up to his window, as if she knew he was standing there, just for a second, but it was long enough to give him a look, a look that told him she was still there, still thinking about him, waiting for him…..all he had to do was ask. With that she turned back to Morgana and he moved away from the window deep in thought.

 That finally look meant everything to him and he held it in his head for as long as he could. For once maybe he would have to take Merlin’s advice, but did he have the guts to ask her to wait for him?? Two things were certain, one, he Arthur Pendragon was in love with Guinevere and two, he had to do something about it, because the other option was too painful to even think about.

Characters: Arthur/Gwen

Summary: Based on episodes up to 202.

Rating: PG13.

NB: I don’t own any of the characters, as much as I would love to. They all belong to the BBC

 Realisation

 Two weeks ago everything seemed so simple, she was Gwen, Morgana’s maid and Merlin’s friend. She knew what she was meant to be doing each day, from mending Morgana’s dresses to arranging flowers. Life was simple and she had her routine. That was until Merlin had asked a small favour and things hadn’t been the same since, why had she not just said no? It was Merlin that was why, she could never say no to him, he had done so much for her in the past, she owed him this. But letting Arthur stay in her home was just asking for trouble and that was what she had got.

 Arthur wasn’t trouble as a person, it was just he was Prince Arthur and well it came with the title. Okay so he was arrogant, self-centred and well a prat as Merlin called him, but when he came to stay she had seen another side to him. They had gotten off on the wrong foot, while he was trying to prove a point, he had treated her like a servant and that was when something clicked inside of her. She was going to stand up to him and she did. She told him point blank what she thought of him and his ways. What surprised her was that he actually seemed to be paying attention. Prince Arthur, who always thought he was right no matter what, was standing there in front of her apologising. In that split second he was no longer Prince Arthur, but Arthur, the man that she had seen after her father had been killed, the man that had followed her and Morgana to Ealdor to help Merlin’s mother, even the man who she sat tending too when it looked as if he was dying after being bitten by the Questen Beast.

 This was the man that she had begun to have feelings for. He didn’t want to be treated as a Prince all the time, he wanted to be Arthur, who did things on his own, win tournaments because he was good and not because of who he was. This was the self-less side of him and she had fallen for this Arthur.

 Ever since he said about learning how to talk to people who he cared about, Gwen had done nothing but think about the what ifs? But it was that morning when he was standing in front of her, in that blue cloak, staring at her as if he wanted to tell her something. She wasn’t sure what it was, she wasn’t sure if he even knew what he wanted to tell her or if he was just nervous because of the tournament or the assain. That was until he kissed her!

 One minute she was standing there looking into those blue eyes of his and the next thing she was kissing him. She, Gwen was kissing Arthur. She hadn’t expected it but it felt right. Everything from the moment Arthur bent down and moved towards her, to kissing her so gently that she could swear she was floating on air, to when the broke apart. She didn’t want the kiss to stop and as she looked at him again, she realised that she wasn’t the only one who was trying to make sense of what had just happened, Arthur’s expression said exactly what she was thinking too. As he turned to leave, she desperately wanted to work out where this left them both.

 She got her answer though later that day when they were all back at the castle. Standing there in front of the King, explaining what had happened, Arthur kept it looking at her and she at him. Both acknowledging one another, with looks and smiles. Gwen knew that the kiss had affected her in ways that she wasn’t expecting, but it had also affected Arthur. The looks that passed between them said a thousand words, but then the King would speak and it was back to reality.

 Then there was the awkward talk in the hallway. Gwen knew it was coming, they couldn’t be together, Uther would never allow it, Arthur knew it and so did Gwen. So she gave him a way out, ‘maybe when you are king it will be different’. She had been holding onto the king that Arthur would be and now she had to believe in this too, it was too painful not to. The situation was awkward but at least they had talked about it. Just not the ending that Gwen wanted. It was Uther that disturbed the silence between them and regretfully Arthur turned and followed his father. However as he did, he turned and looked back at Gwen, with a look that said it all……things between them were not over, he didn’t mean what he had just said, everything that had happened had meant something to him, as it had her. For Gwen, the events that had passed were just the realisation that people could change and for her Arthur was one of those people and he had surprised her in ways that he would never know.

 For her and Arthur, their journey was just beginning………………

               Moment of Truth In So Many Ways

 Chapter 2

Angel’s alarm when off at 6am. Dam the early call she thought as she awoke. But as she woke up, she realised she wasn’t alone. That was it Bradley had come knocking at her door at some stupid time of the morning. What time did she fall asleep? She didn’t remember. As she moved, she realised that she had been resting on Bradley. What had happened last night? The last thing she remembered they had been reading lines. At least she was fully clothed, thought Angel as she tried to work out what had happened, they must have just fallen asleep.

‘Morning’ she heard Bradley say. ‘Hey, sleep well?’ she replied. ‘Surprisingly well actually considering you fell asleep on me’ teased Bradley. ‘Well you did come into my room at stupid o’clock this morning’ snapped Angel. ‘Well it’s still bugging me because you fell asleep, but I guess I should go shower and get changed’ Bradley responded. ‘Yes you should, we’ve got to meet the others in half an hour’ Angel stated. ‘Well we all know Colin will be late, he always is’ laughed Bradley heading towards the door. Angel smiled as Bradley left, even at 6am he could make her smile.

 As she closed the door, Angel stood there thinking about Bradley. Today was going to be difficult to get through, especially after last night. She had never slept so peacefully than she had last night, but Bradley had caught her out last night by turning up and she had let her guard down. She couldn’t afford to do that not with a busy day ahead of her, there was no way she could tell him……

 Unbeknown to Angel, Bradley was on the other side of the door, trying to work out what was wrong with Angel this morning. She seemed slightly weird to him, when they had woken up, but he couldn’t work out why. The female mind was something that confused him at the best of times, but even more so at 6am. What had happened last night?

 6.30am arrived and Angel was downstairs talking to Katie. Katie wasn’t stupid, she knew something was up with Angel. She hadn’t been right for a few days and seemed even more off since they announced that they would be shooting the Arthur/Gwen scenes that week. And when Bradley was in the room, she seemed even more distant. Surely there wasn’t anything going on between Angel and Bradley was there? She wasn’t sure but she was going to find out.

 When Bradley arrived five minutes after the girls, he looked at Angel who smiled back. ‘Worked out what it is yet?’ asked Angel. ‘Nope’ replied Bradley ‘and its going to drive me mad all day if I cant figure it out soon’. ‘You and all of us’ said Angel, she knew if something was annoying Bradley, then he would annoy them all day too, not that she minded, it was all part of the Bradley James charm. True to form Colin was last, arriving ten minutes after everyone else. Bradley gave Angel that ‘I told you so look’, before shouting ‘Merlin, late again’ in his ‘Arthur’ tone as they began their day.

Why wont the LJ cuts work for me!!!?? having so much trouble its driving me mad!!

ok rant over! here's another attempt of mine for an Arthur/Gwen fic! based on the SPOLIERS we have had for 202, so if you want to stay SPOILER FREE then dont read. my idea on how it should go!!! (not sure how many chapters it will be yet, got 3 so far, so if u want more then please comment).

Chapter 1

It was time for Camelot’s annual jousting tournament. It was a busy time for everyone who lived in the kingdom, as people from all over to compete against Camelot’s finest. While all of Camelot’s knights were the best in the realm, there was one that stood out every year and that was Prince Arthur. He was the unbeaten champion in every competition and many believe it an honour just to compete against him. However for Arthur it was another matter.

 Every tournament, year in, year out, Arthur won and he was sure that this was because his opponents let him win because of his rank. So he was more skilled than most, but he still has his pride and we wanted to win on his own merit, not because they let him. This year was going to be different, he would enter but no one would just hand him the championship because he was the Prince, he would win it because he deserved to. All he needed was a plan.

 It was after talking to Merlin that the idea first came to Arthur. ‘I’m sick of winning just because of who I am’ he complained to Merlin a few days before the tournament began. ‘Well do something about it then and stop whining about it’ stated Merlin. Arthur signed ‘ I would if I couldn’t, but how? The whole kingdom expects me to compete, how can I not?’ ‘Don’t look at me like that’ said Merlin, ‘what am I meant to do?’ ‘Come up with an idea to help for a change’ argued Arthur. ‘Why you never listen to anything I say’ Merlin said looking at Arthur…..’fine how about you go undercover and enter as a member of the public’ he suggested, full well knowing that Arthur would not go for it. Arthur looked surprised…..’you surprise me Merlin, that’s actually a good idea, where did that come from?’ ‘My brain, I do have one you know’ laughed Merlin, for he was used to this by now. ‘The only thing is how am I going to do that? Replied Arthur. ‘Do I have to think of everything?’ Asked Merlin……’ok I guess I do, leave it with me’.

 So he left Arthur stewing, he knew well enough now that once he got an idea into his head, it was best to leave him to it. Merlin however had to plan how Arthur was going to go undercover during such a high profile tournament. For one thing he was going to have to move out of the castle for the duration of the tournament, but where too was the question? It wasn’t as if Arthur knew many people who were that trust worthy outside the castle. As Merlin turned the corner deep in thought, he didn’t see Gwen coming around the same corner at the same time and he crashed into her. ‘Merlin I’m sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going’ said Gwen startled. ‘Neither was I’ replied Merlin, ‘so what are you up to today then Gwen?’ Gwen replied ‘Not much actually, Morgana is having a lie down’ giving Merlin that look that he knew too well, for Morgana had been having trouble sleeping again, ‘so I’m just going to catch up with a few things at home, you know……’ Gwen continued before trailing off. Merlin knew that since the death of her father, she had preferred to stay at the castle at night usually with Morgana or on the rare occasion with himself and Guais, but she still liked to keep things tidy at home, after all it was her home.

 That was when it hit Merlin, of course Gwen’s house. Why hadn’t he thought of it before. If Gwen was ok with it, Arthur could stay at her’s. ‘Actually Gwen, I need to ask you a HUGE favour’ said Merlin. Puzzled Gwen replied ‘Of course, ask away’. ‘Well it’s for Arthur really’ said Merlin. ‘Oh right what’s he done now’ laughed Gwen, knowing that Arthur always got Merlin to do his dirty work for him. Merlin sniffled a laugh, ‘nothing yet, but its about the tournament. He’s got it into this head that he only ever wins because the other nights let him win because he’s the crowned prince. So this time he’s determined to win on his own merit’ explained Merlin. ‘And what has this got to do with me? Asked Gwen still confused. Merlin continued ‘well to do this he needs to go undercover, which means he needs to move out of the castle while the tournament is on and I was wondering if he could stay at your house?’

 Gwen stood there in shock, she wasn’t expecting that one. She hadn’t spent the night in her house for months now and here Merlin was asking if Arthur could more in for a while, what was she supposed to say? ‘But….Merlin, I don’t know….it’s not somewhere…..’Gwen stammered. ‘Gwen I wouldn’t ask usually, I know you don’t feel comfortable there lately, but its for Arthur and to be honest I’ve never seen him so committed to anything like this before and you know what a stubborn prat he can be when he wants to be’ begged Merlin with that smile that Gwen couldn’t say no to. Gwen gave in ‘Ok Merlin, Arthur can stay for the tournament if he wants to’. ‘Thanks Gwen’ replied Merlin, ‘I owe you one’. ‘Yes you do’, a big one thought Gwen to herself. ‘I’ll see you later’ and with that they parted, Merlin to tell Arthur the news and Gwen off to get things sorted and to work out what had just actually happened.