Fic-A Rose By Any Other Name, 4/?
Title: A Rose by Any Other Name, Chapter 4/?
Author: ne_rien
Rating: Overall PG14-ish, but this chapter’s got some serious swearing so it’s rated R to be safe
Word count: This chapter runs at about 2,200 words
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin, Morgana, other, Morgana/Merlin if you squint really hard and stand on your head
Spoilers/Warnings: Modern AU so it’s slightly crack-tastic. Contains mild language and sexual content. Also, this hasn’t been Brit-picked so forgive any errors.
Disclaimer: If I owned this show, it would be sexy!times all the time bbs. And Gwen would be sword wielding at all times.
Prompt: camelot_love's Spring Fling prompt U-5: Arthur, Gwen, Morgana, and Merlin all get in their high school spring play "Romeo and Juliet” courtesy of the lovely wickedvampirate .
Author’s notes: I apologize for the long wait bbs! I had the dreaded writer’s block and I’ve been up to my eyeballs in summer coursework as well as other boring RL stuff. This chapter’s longer than the others to make up for it <3. Comments=♥♥!
** **
It was with some surprise that Gwen realized nearly five months had gone by since the start of her relationship with Arthur, and neither Morgana nor Merlin were any the wiser. Not that they were hiding the fact that they were together exactly, but neither Arthur nor herself were particularly eager to hear their best friends’ opinions on the matter, so keeping a low profile had seemed like a good idea at first and besides, Arthur added, he liked having her all to himself.
They didn’t get to spend very much time together during the week what with classes and footie practice, but during rehearsals, study periods, and for a good portion of the weekends, they were nearly inseparable. Morgana had commented on this new development once in passing but had no real suspicion whatsoever about their being together. Gwen had to admit that she loved the freedom of being just a woman crazy about a man in a new relationship.
“You’ve been awfully cheerful lately,” Morgana commented one day after a rather pointless rehearsal in which almost nothing got done.
Gwen shrugged, well aware that she was smiling and perhaps even humming. “What’s not to be cheerful about?” she remarked flippantly.
Both girls waved as Merlin shouted a goodbye to them from across the hall. Arthur, who was stood beside him, rolled his eyes at his best mate and then a slow, full-fledged smile spread across his face as he caught sight of them. He held a hand up in silent farewell.
Morgana frowned, flipping the bird. “I don’t know what Arthur’s up to. Since when do we warrant attention from the royal pain in the-“ she stopped mid rant as she noticed Gwen’s hand go up as she returned Arthur’s gesture and the very obvious emotion conveyed between the two. “Oh dear God,” she breathed, going even more pale. “Gwen?”
“Hmm?” was her absent response as the petite beauty continued to watch Arthur walk away, her expression best described as being dreamy.
“Please tell me you haven’t fallen for my prat brother.”
“He’s not a prat Morgana,” Gwen quickly responded, and then blushed as she realized she’d just given herself away.
“Well, maybe not all of the time; he has to sleep after all. My God, have you two been having-no, on second thought, forget I asked. I don’t even want to think about the possibility of you two having sex.”
Guinevere turned her full attention to the slightly queasy woman at her side. “For pity’s sakes Morgana; you were just commenting not ten minutes ago how happy I’ve been. Is it too hard to imagine that Arthur’s the reason behind it?”
“Yes,” was the sullen response.
“Well, try harder,” Gwen answered softly. “If you’re really my best mate, it shouldn’t be all that hard.”
Morgana made a face. “Why couldn’t it have been nearly anyone else? Why not Merlin?” she moaned, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
Gwen’s lips twitched as she attempted to contain her laughter. “That would be a bit boring, wouldn’t it? Merlin and I get along too well and thanks to your last birthday party, I know more about him than any woman should.”
“I don’t even want to know. And I’m not just saying that; I might actually become ill if you were to even hint at what you learned.”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy, so your sanity at least is safe,” Gwen assured her. “I know it’s strange to picture me and Arthur together at first, but the more time you have to think about it-“
Morgana met her gaze, her own face brightening in dawning realization. “The more it begins to make perfect sense,” she finished her voice full of awe. “I can’t believe I never saw it. Actually, I can’t believe you were able to keep it from me for this long.”
“Trust me it wasn’t easy and you aren’t the only one who never even considered it. Arthur and I never saw each other as anything beyond ‘Morgana’s decent looking, annoying prat brother’ and ‘that quiet and strange friend of Merlin’s’. That night I went over to help him out with his maths, we saw each other as just regular people for the first time. Since then I haven’t been able to or even wanted to see anyone else,” Gwen finished, her cheeks flushed.
Morgana rolled her eyes. “God that’s so incredibly cheesy and lovely and so you,” she laughed. “I am completely for anything that makes you this happy, my prat brother included.” She sobered suddenly as she thought of something. “Just promise me Guinevere that I never have to see or hear anything to do with your sexcapades, because that’s the kind of trauma you can’t ever come back from.”
Gwen smiled enigmatically. “Done. And it’s not like there’s much of anything to tell just yet.”
Her best mate looked pained. Gwen knew that Morgana was currently torn between her overwhelming desire (or nosiness as Arthur referred to it) to hear how the sex part of their relationship was going-much as she had with Lancelot-and her need to avoid any mention of her brother in any kind of sex context.
“That reminds me, I completely forgot to disinfect the kitchen counter after we finished last night,” Gwen mused aloud to herself. She burst into laughter at Morgana’s horrified expression. “I’m only teasing. I didn’t forget; that would be unsanitary. I got you again! We haven’t had a chance to do it there yet. Arthur’s so keen on using that armchair Uther got you.”
Morgana’s face was a mixture of horror, disgust, and trepidation. “Guinevere Leodegrance!”
Gwen laughed again. “Sorry, but this is brilliant! If I knew that dating Arthur would allow me this golden opportunity to take the mickey out of you, I would’ve started years ago.”
“Well played, Gwen,” Morgana answered, her lips twitching upwards despite herself.
** ** **
Five days later, the four friends-Arthur, Morgana, Gwen, and Merlin-met at their usual pub in an effort to boost morale after a particularly grueling rehearsal in which Morgana had finally snapped at Gaius’ disapproving eyebrow raising and wound up in his face staring him down until Gwen and Merlin dragged her away.
“This is just the kind of relaxation I need,” Morgana sighed as she eased down into a chair next to Merlin.
Merlin rolled his eyes. “Anything that’ll keep you from winding up in a showdown with Gaius is good in my book.”
She waved her hand at him dismissively, watching as Gwen and Arthur finally found their way through the busy pub to their table. A mischievous smile crept across her face as she decided to have a little fun at Arthur’s expense.
“Oy Pendragon. What in hell are you doing?”
Arthur, who was in the process of holding out Gwen’s chair, froze; a guilty flush momentarily staining his features before he managed to reply in the sarcastic tone he did all too well. “I’m holding a chair out for a lady. It’s all part of something we like to call ‘manners’ Morgana. Since you so seldom use them, it’s no wonder you’re not able to recognize proper etiquette when you see it.”
His sister snorted. “I know what manners are you berk. I’m just a bit shocked that you of all people do and in public as well,” she paused a beat as she smiled at Gwen. “I guess our miracle worker Gwen’s brought out the best in you then.”
Guinevere blushed as Arthur sat down beside her, definite fondness all over his face. “For once, you’re right Morgana,” he answered his voice much gentler than either his sister or best mate had ever heard.
“Yeah, yeah. Why don’t you two just put us all out of our misery and go out already?” Merlin groaned, tearing his paper napkin to shreds.
Gwen shot Arthur and Morgana a conspiratorial glance. “You’re absolutely right Merlin,” she told him, somehow managing to keep a straight face as he met her gaze, his eyes widened in disbelief. “What on earth are we waiting for? Arthur Pendragon, will you be my boyfriend?”
He feigned a cough to cover his smile as she turned in her seat to look at him. “I thought you’d never ask Guinevere. So long as it doesn’t cut into footie practice, I don’t see why not.”
She extended her hand to him and they shook hands solemnly before simultaneously bursting into laughter, leaning toward one another.
Morgana smiled wistfully as she took her mobile from her purse. “Ladies and gents, my eejit brother and nutter best mate.”
“Hang on,” Merlin exclaimed, looking disbelievingly back and forth between Gwen and Arthur. “Are you two really-I mean, you’re already-?”
“Finally cottoning on are you Merlin? ‘Bout bloody time mate,” Uther’s ward drawled, opening the menu to peruse the starters.
“Well, that would explain why I saw ‘Mrs. Guinevere Pendragon’ scrawled across someone’s biochemistry homework last week,” Merlin mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, his eyes bright with amusement.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “He’s clearly lying.”
“He probably wrote it there himself,” Morgana added, not looking up.
“Obviously. Gwen’s been at me to take her last name,” Arthur teased. His girlfriend poked him in the ribs for that one, her face flushed once again.
Morgana did look up at this, her expression thoughtful. “’Arthur Leodegrance’. I don’t hate it actually. It sounds a good deal less poncey than ‘Arthur Pendragon’ at any rate.”
“Ha. Ha,” was her brother’s sarcastic response.
“No one will be taking anyone’s name any time soon,” Gwen interrupted, standing up to go to the bar. “I think a bribe’s in order to move this conversation along to more interesting subjects. I’m buying first round. Arthur, will you help me carry please?”
He stood up, bowing slightly in her direction. “As her ladyship commands.”
Her lips twitched as she fought a smile. “Come on then you big loon,” she told him gently, taking his hand.
Once they left, Merlin kicked Morgana under the table, not noticing in his excitement the glare she gave him in response. “Can you believe those two?! I didn’t even know Gwen liked Arthur, did you?”
Morgana closed the menu with the sigh of the long suffering. “No one likes Arthur because it’s not humanly possible Merlin. I’m almost certain it’s mostly pity on her part.”
Merlin narrows his eyes at her until she continued.
“Fine, you want to know what I really think about all of this? I think Gwen and Arthur are perfect for each other in most ways but I have a feeling they’re in for a rough time of it because Uther sure as hell won’t approve of his precious son marrying anyone whose family doesn’t ‘meet up to muster’ and despite what he pretends, Arthur wants his father’s approval. Not only that, but there will be those that will want to believe the worse about Gwen for no other reason than because she’s different.”
Morgana pauses to take a breath, her expression pained as she watched the pair stood at the bar; Arthur apparently in the middle of very animatedly telling a story and Gwen laughing, her hand on his arm, looking more happy and relaxed than she’d been in years.
“They obviously care for each other a great deal, and I’m truly glad. I just hope it’s enough to keep them together.”
Merlin remained silent for several minutes after Morgana’s speech, his expression thoughtful.
Just as she’d begun texting Leon-a bloke in one of her classes and one of Arthur’s mates with an actual brain-he broke the silence between them. “Do you reckon their relationship could withstand a bit of a blow? Like, for example, if Lancelot were to show up?”
Morgana froze, a look of apprehension on her face as her mind went to the tempestuous year and a half in which her best mate had dated that ‘bloody bastard’ as she’d dubbed him in her mind and in quite a few heated rants post break-up much to Gwen’s chagrin. “Why do you ask Merlin?” she asked calmly. Serenely even.
He shifted in his seat a bit nervously, hoping she wasn’t going to somehow make this his fault. “Because he’s just walked in the door with another woman hanging all over him and they’re headed for the bar.”
“Bloodyfuckingshit,” she breathed as she spun to face the bar and registered the shock on Gwen’s face and the sudden tension on Arthur’s as they recognized who was now stood beside them.
“My thoughts exactly,” Merlin muttered. He half stood, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Should we go over there, or would that only make it worse?”
Morgana Le Fay, world-renowned beauty, media darling, and a bit of a bad girl who always had a snappy answer to everything found herself for the first time in her life at a complete loss. “I’m not sure Merlin. Let’s give them a moment and then, if it looks like it’s going to get ugly, we’ll either get them out of here or pummel the hell out of Poncelot. I’m sure it goes without saying that I’m much more keen on that second option.”
** ** **