Love Match- ch.4
Rating: PG
Genre: Humor/Romance
Length: 7 chapters, 12,993 words
Summary: Uther decides Arthur needs to get married, and this time he's got a game plan- a twisted mix of "Love Connection" and "The Bachelor." And poor Merlin has to make everything go right, of course. Who will really win here? Crack will definitely be involved! Arwen and light Mergana.
.............................................................................................................
The Lady Morgana smoothed her skirt and patted her hair lightly. She stood poised in front of Arthur’s door, ready to knock. Haven’t we been here before, she thought. She blew out a sigh and knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal Merlin, who inclined his head briefly before saying, “Milady.” He gestured for her to enter and turned to face Arthur, who was standing at the table. “Goodnight Sire, Milady. Enjoy your evening.” He bowed then turned back around and walked out the open door, closing it behind him.
Now there’s someone I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. If only, Morgana thought. She sighed internally this time. “Hello Arthur, let’s get this over with, shall we?” she said out loud. She held out her hand for him to kiss.
Arthur took her hand and pecked at it. He gave her a sheepish smile and said, “We might as well observe all the niceties huh?” He pulled out her chair for her to sit, then seated himself.
She looked around the room. Besides those on the table, there were few candles lit. A fire burned merrily in the fireplace and dinner was laid before them. “So is this where we make small talk whilst we enjoy the delectable roast capon in front of us?” she asked.
“That’s not necessary; we can just eat. We know each other well enough after a decade or so,” he replied. He paused while they took a few bites off their plates. “Look, I’m sorry you got dragged into all this. Father just doesn’t know to butt out of my love life.”
“It’s all right Arthur. The dinner and the company are great, even if it was forced on us.” She smiled before her face abruptly changed its expression to confusion. “Hang on, you have a love life?”
“Yes-no-maybe?” He replied, blushing. Morgana started giggling.
“Oh I’m going to have so much fun with this! Who is the lucky lady, hmm?”
Arthur finally recovered himself. “No one you know!” he replied. “Now finish your dinner.” He tried to give her a stern look but it came off as discomfited. They chatted and ate through the various courses until they reached dessert.
“So, are you going to tell me who your mystery woman is?” Morgana asked.
“No,” Arthur replied. “But I will tell you that nothing can ever happen between us, so I don’t know what to do. If anything.”
“Why not?”
“If I tell you that you’ll figure her out.”
“Is she married? Engaged? Not interested in you?”
“You’re not going to get it-please stop.” He put his head in his hands.
“Then she must be lower born.” He groaned then smacked his hands on the table,
“I said ‘stop.’” He pouted.
“You’re cute when you pout, but you shouldn’t give up on her.” She reached out a hand to cover his.
“I won’t. I just wish that . . . things were different. Maybe when I’m king I can change the rules,” he mused. “Not that I want Father to pass on, or
anything . . .”
“I know what you meant, Arthur. There are a few rules I’d like to change too. Hopefully one day we’ll both get what we want.” They finished their desserts, both lost in thought; he about Guinevere and she about exploring her magic freely. And a pair of deep blue eyes.
“How about you Morgana? Has anyone caught your fancy?”
“Really, Arthur?” She crossed her arms and gave him a cold stare.
“Turnabout is fair play.”
“Fine. I’m a strong, independent woman. I don’t need a man to ‘fill my needs’ or make me complete. So, no, there’s no one.”
“Riiiiiiiight. You, who could wrap any unmarried man, and probably most of the married ones, in Camelot around your little finger, fancies no one.”
“Believe what you like, but it’s true. Maybe someday, but for now, I enjoy playing the game too much.”
“All right, if you say so.” He held up his hands in a gesture of defeat.
“I do. And on that note, I think it’s time I retired.”
Morgana stood and Arthur followed a hair behind her. “Thanks for coming Morgana. You didn’t have to follow the stupid rules but you did anyway.” He gave her a quick hug then reached for both of their goblets. He handed hers over and said, “Here’s to finding true love.”
“To true love,” she repeated. They both sipped and set their goblets down. She tilted her head up and gave him a friendly kiss. “Ugh, that was like kissing a brother. No offense.”
“None taken,” he replied, and shuddered a bit.
“Enjoy your next two evenings Arthur. I’ll be watching!” She sashayed over to the door and he opened it for her. “Good night.”
“Good night Morgana.” He closed the door and leaned against it, sighing. “I’m sure you will,” he said to his room. Then he walked over to his
bed and slumped down onto it, waiting for Merlin to arrive to help him get ready for sleep.
xxxXxxx
Morgana walked down the corridor toward her chambers. I’m glad that’s over, she thought. Although I wonder who his mystery woman is? Maybe she’ll be revealed in a few days? She was lost in thought when she abruptly walked into something. Or someone-hands reached out to stop her from falling.
She looked up to see Merlin’s blue eyes looking back at her, polite concern in them. “Are you all right Milady?” he asked.
“F-fine,” she replied, then looked down to her hips, where he’d placed his hands to catch her. She suddenly felt warm all over. He followed her gaze and blushed.
“Ah,” he said, then removed his hands. “Um, so you are walking about the castle with no escort?”
“It would appear so,” she looked up at him again. “Would you like to do me the honor?” What? Am I flirting with him? She thought.
He looked taken aback for a moment, then grinned. “Of course, if Milady wishes it.” He gave her a small bow.
“I do.” He held out his arm and she placed her hand upon it. They continued like this the rest of the way to her chambers.
When they reached the door, she removed her hand and waited for him to open it. He gave her another bow and said, “Here we are Milady.”
She walked past him to step inside, then turned to face him. “Thank you Merlin. I hope Prince Prat isn’t too hard on you for being late.”
“Oh, it won’t be anything I can’t handle.”
“Please let me know if it is, and I will explain why to him. That will put him in his place.”
He chuckled and said, “I will. Good night, Milady. May you have sweet dreams.”
She looked into his eyes again, getting lost there for a long moment. She saw something there, something that . . . suddenly she heard Gwen say, “Milady?” and Morgana shook her head to clear it.
“Good night Merlin.” He inclined his head, stepped back and closed the door for her.
She turned around briskly to face Gwen. “I think I’m ready for bed.”
“How was the dinner?” Gwen asked.
“Oh, the usual. Just small talk with my brother figure. Pleasant enough and no sparks, as usual.” She missed Gwen’s silent sigh of relief.
“That sounds lovely,” Gwen replied.
Morgana stepped behind her screen to change. “Yes. Although he did admit that he was in love, but he wouldn’t tell me the name of the woman. So now I have a mystery to solve.”
Gwen blushed deeply, and her reply came out somewhat strangled, “It sounds like it.” She turned down the bedcovers for her mistress, who flounced into bed.
“Thank you Gwen, that will be all for tonight. Have a good night!”
“Sweet dreams, Morgana.” A very relieved Gwen left her room and headed for home.
Morgana did not have a single nightmare the entire night.
Genre: Humor/Romance
Length: 7 chapters, 12,993 words
Summary: Uther decides Arthur needs to get married, and this time he's got a game plan- a twisted mix of "Love Connection" and "The Bachelor." And poor Merlin has to make everything go right, of course. Who will really win here? Crack will definitely be involved! Arwen and light Mergana.
.............................................................................................................
The Lady Morgana smoothed her skirt and patted her hair lightly. She stood poised in front of Arthur’s door, ready to knock. Haven’t we been here before, she thought. She blew out a sigh and knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal Merlin, who inclined his head briefly before saying, “Milady.” He gestured for her to enter and turned to face Arthur, who was standing at the table. “Goodnight Sire, Milady. Enjoy your evening.” He bowed then turned back around and walked out the open door, closing it behind him.
Now there’s someone I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. If only, Morgana thought. She sighed internally this time. “Hello Arthur, let’s get this over with, shall we?” she said out loud. She held out her hand for him to kiss.
Arthur took her hand and pecked at it. He gave her a sheepish smile and said, “We might as well observe all the niceties huh?” He pulled out her chair for her to sit, then seated himself.
She looked around the room. Besides those on the table, there were few candles lit. A fire burned merrily in the fireplace and dinner was laid before them. “So is this where we make small talk whilst we enjoy the delectable roast capon in front of us?” she asked.
“That’s not necessary; we can just eat. We know each other well enough after a decade or so,” he replied. He paused while they took a few bites off their plates. “Look, I’m sorry you got dragged into all this. Father just doesn’t know to butt out of my love life.”
“It’s all right Arthur. The dinner and the company are great, even if it was forced on us.” She smiled before her face abruptly changed its expression to confusion. “Hang on, you have a love life?”
“Yes-no-maybe?” He replied, blushing. Morgana started giggling.
“Oh I’m going to have so much fun with this! Who is the lucky lady, hmm?”
Arthur finally recovered himself. “No one you know!” he replied. “Now finish your dinner.” He tried to give her a stern look but it came off as discomfited. They chatted and ate through the various courses until they reached dessert.
“So, are you going to tell me who your mystery woman is?” Morgana asked.
“No,” Arthur replied. “But I will tell you that nothing can ever happen between us, so I don’t know what to do. If anything.”
“Why not?”
“If I tell you that you’ll figure her out.”
“Is she married? Engaged? Not interested in you?”
“You’re not going to get it-please stop.” He put his head in his hands.
“Then she must be lower born.” He groaned then smacked his hands on the table,
“I said ‘stop.’” He pouted.
“You’re cute when you pout, but you shouldn’t give up on her.” She reached out a hand to cover his.
“I won’t. I just wish that . . . things were different. Maybe when I’m king I can change the rules,” he mused. “Not that I want Father to pass on, or
anything . . .”
“I know what you meant, Arthur. There are a few rules I’d like to change too. Hopefully one day we’ll both get what we want.” They finished their desserts, both lost in thought; he about Guinevere and she about exploring her magic freely. And a pair of deep blue eyes.
“How about you Morgana? Has anyone caught your fancy?”
“Really, Arthur?” She crossed her arms and gave him a cold stare.
“Turnabout is fair play.”
“Fine. I’m a strong, independent woman. I don’t need a man to ‘fill my needs’ or make me complete. So, no, there’s no one.”
“Riiiiiiiight. You, who could wrap any unmarried man, and probably most of the married ones, in Camelot around your little finger, fancies no one.”
“Believe what you like, but it’s true. Maybe someday, but for now, I enjoy playing the game too much.”
“All right, if you say so.” He held up his hands in a gesture of defeat.
“I do. And on that note, I think it’s time I retired.”
Morgana stood and Arthur followed a hair behind her. “Thanks for coming Morgana. You didn’t have to follow the stupid rules but you did anyway.” He gave her a quick hug then reached for both of their goblets. He handed hers over and said, “Here’s to finding true love.”
“To true love,” she repeated. They both sipped and set their goblets down. She tilted her head up and gave him a friendly kiss. “Ugh, that was like kissing a brother. No offense.”
“None taken,” he replied, and shuddered a bit.
“Enjoy your next two evenings Arthur. I’ll be watching!” She sashayed over to the door and he opened it for her. “Good night.”
“Good night Morgana.” He closed the door and leaned against it, sighing. “I’m sure you will,” he said to his room. Then he walked over to his
bed and slumped down onto it, waiting for Merlin to arrive to help him get ready for sleep.
xxxXxxx
Morgana walked down the corridor toward her chambers. I’m glad that’s over, she thought. Although I wonder who his mystery woman is? Maybe she’ll be revealed in a few days? She was lost in thought when she abruptly walked into something. Or someone-hands reached out to stop her from falling.
She looked up to see Merlin’s blue eyes looking back at her, polite concern in them. “Are you all right Milady?” he asked.
“F-fine,” she replied, then looked down to her hips, where he’d placed his hands to catch her. She suddenly felt warm all over. He followed her gaze and blushed.
“Ah,” he said, then removed his hands. “Um, so you are walking about the castle with no escort?”
“It would appear so,” she looked up at him again. “Would you like to do me the honor?” What? Am I flirting with him? She thought.
He looked taken aback for a moment, then grinned. “Of course, if Milady wishes it.” He gave her a small bow.
“I do.” He held out his arm and she placed her hand upon it. They continued like this the rest of the way to her chambers.
When they reached the door, she removed her hand and waited for him to open it. He gave her another bow and said, “Here we are Milady.”
She walked past him to step inside, then turned to face him. “Thank you Merlin. I hope Prince Prat isn’t too hard on you for being late.”
“Oh, it won’t be anything I can’t handle.”
“Please let me know if it is, and I will explain why to him. That will put him in his place.”
He chuckled and said, “I will. Good night, Milady. May you have sweet dreams.”
She looked into his eyes again, getting lost there for a long moment. She saw something there, something that . . . suddenly she heard Gwen say, “Milady?” and Morgana shook her head to clear it.
“Good night Merlin.” He inclined his head, stepped back and closed the door for her.
She turned around briskly to face Gwen. “I think I’m ready for bed.”
“How was the dinner?” Gwen asked.
“Oh, the usual. Just small talk with my brother figure. Pleasant enough and no sparks, as usual.” She missed Gwen’s silent sigh of relief.
“That sounds lovely,” Gwen replied.
Morgana stepped behind her screen to change. “Yes. Although he did admit that he was in love, but he wouldn’t tell me the name of the woman. So now I have a mystery to solve.”
Gwen blushed deeply, and her reply came out somewhat strangled, “It sounds like it.” She turned down the bedcovers for her mistress, who flounced into bed.
“Thank you Gwen, that will be all for tonight. Have a good night!”
“Sweet dreams, Morgana.” A very relieved Gwen left her room and headed for home.
Morgana did not have a single nightmare the entire night.