Advent Challenge - modern era + canon links
Fandom: Merlin (modern AU)
Day 11
Pairing: Arthur/Gwen with mentions of Gwen/Lancelot
Title: How could you?
Author: shutupeccles
Rating: pg (for swear words and themes)
Disclaimer: characters owned by people other than myself.
Summary: Arthur and Gwen's loved ones discover they are engaged and the shit starts to fly
How Could You?
"How could you do this Arthur? To your best friend? To me?" Morgana's indignation is in full force.
For most of their time living together Arthur has been able to forget that Morgana is the younger sister of that witch Morgause. Now is not one of those times. He understands her point in regards to Lancelot, he knew how his friend felt about Guinevere. But that didn't make him love her any less himself. What did Morgana mean by that last bit?
"And what, pray tell me Morgana, has my asking Guinevere to marry me done to you?"
Her green eyes narrow and her mouth twists as she tries to find the right words. Knowing Morgana she will want them to be pointed, sharp and tipped with acid.
"I am going to be the one caught in the middle, trying to keep you and Uther from tearing each other to shreds - not to mention shielding poor Gwen from his wrath! Did you honestly think this through at all? You know his low opinion of the two of you sharing a house with Lancelot and myself, if he'd known for one minute you'd been sharing a room with her all along, sharing a bed!"
"Alright, you've made your point. I'll speak to father alone before we announce our engagement. I was hoping to do it at the Christmas dinner tonight, that was the purpose behind our early return after all." Arthur sits defeated on the couch and runs both hands through his hair. "I thought you of all people would be happy for me Morgana. Even Guinevere..."
He cannot finish voicing his observation that his fiancee's enthusiasm has dimmed since he told their housemates that his proposal had been accepted. He didn't understand it. Their holiday and this renewal of their commitment was supposed to fix everything that had started going wrong between them. For twenty six glorious hours he believed it had, that it would.
But everything was going wrong.
~~~
"How could you say yes after all those tears you've shed because of him? Do you really believe that over-priced trinket will stop him putting his Father, future prospects and charity causes first? Asking you to marry him is the most selfish thing he has ever done. You have always been fourth in his priorities. You only come first when he's fucking you!"
Gwen's hand snaps out and cracks loudly across Lancelot's face.
"You know nothing, nothing of what we have been through together. When his sisters ganged up on him, where were you? When I was accused of stealing from the Estate, where were you? When my father died, where were you?"
"I was there whenever I could be, for both of you! If I'd lived in the shadow of his manor home and suffered through those things with you both every minute instead of being an accessory after the fact, would you be with me now, instead? Would you be mine then Gwen, like you promised before you went away with him?"
"You'll never understand." Gwen sobs, ashamed of being unable to decide between two such wonderful men, ashamed of striking Lancelot, ashamed of the need to keep them both close until she truly knows her own heart. She thought she knew. Whenever she and Arthur were alone she thought she knew. Whenever she was with Lancelot she doubted. "I thought I knew!"
"I do understand Gwen, because I love him too. When you come to realise that the love you feel for him is the same love of solid friendship that Morgana and I feel for him, then you will know where your heart belongs. Then you will know."
~~~
Uther cannot believe his eyes as the girl, who less than two years ago was their kitchen maid, reaches for the glass of wine Arthur offers with her left hand.
"What is that?" he asks brusquely, nodding toward her finger. He is rewarded by her tipping her glass in an effort to hide her hand. He turns deliberately emotionless eyes to Arthur. He cannot believe his son is actually this stupid. "Why is the hired help wearing your mother's engagement ring?"
Arthur's expression is at first confused, until Gwen shakes her head and offers tearful apologies, trying too late to remove the evidence of Arthur's folly.
"I'm sorry Arthur, I forgot I had it on, I'm sorry."
"Morgana, take Guinevere upstairs please. Go play dolls in your old room I don't care, just get her out of here." Arthur's anger reveals more than any words could have. Their engagement is supposed to be a secret.
"Perhaps your bride to be hoped I would suffer a coronary, sparing you both the trouble of seeking my blessing which you know I cannot give."
"With or without your blessing we intend to be married once we finish our degrees, the weekend after our graduation ceremonies in fact."
"Good, that gives you eighteen months to put an end to this nonsense! How could you give your mother's ring to that grasping...?"
"Guinevere is not a thief, or a gold digger, or a trollop or any other horrible names you think up to call her. She was always more than a serving girl. Guinevere has been a good friend to both myself and Morgana. We've been living together as a couple for eighteen months, the engagement and marriage are only formalising our relationship."
"You foolish boy! When are you going to stop thinking with your genitals and use the brains your mother died giving you?!"
"It always comes back to that doesn't it? 'How could you disappoint me in this way Arthur, after your very existence took my wife away from me?' My mother is dead and I am all that is left." Arthur stands with his arms outstretched. "Take a good look Father, because if you dare insult my future wife again or try to blackmail her into breaking our engagement, this will be the last you see of me."
~~~
"How could you put me in that position Guinevere? Honestly!"
"I beg your pardon? Put you in that position?"
"I forgot I had it on," Arthur performs a harsh imitation of Gwen's panic. "How could you possibly forget you're wearing my mother's ring? It's monstrous!"
Gwen cannot believe the change in Arthur as he drives them back to the shared house. It's as if they've travelled back in time to when he was the world's biggest prat! Where is the sensitive, caring man she fell in love with; able to contol his temper, use diplomacy and logic to resolve conflict instead of yelling and making threats?
"I consented to marry you Arthur Pendragon because I thought you'd changed! But no, you're still the same rude, arrogant pig!"
He stops the car and gets out, leaving the engine running. Gwen doesn't even know where they are and there is no way she is driving this expensive piece of motor engineering so much as an inch. When he doesn't return after half a minute she reaches over to turn the ignition off. Gwen broods in silence, trying not to glance at Ygraine's sapphire sparkling as it catches the ambient light.
Arthur's right, it is monstrous on Gwen's short, slender finger. But she truly had forgotten she was wearing it because from the moment he slipped it on it felt so perfectly right. His expression as he'd done so with trembling hands, and his words - 'I'd almost given up all hope that I could ever be good enough for you' - had melted the last of the ice that had recently formed in her heart, or so she thought.
She finds him standing under a tree, staring up at it's leaves. It is the only tree on the street with any leaves remaining. It has only has two, both of those from the same bud.
"Will I ever be good enough for you?" he asks without shifting his gaze, as if it is his will keeping the leaves together.
Gwen sees how the leaves might be symbolic of their relationship and adds her will to Arthur's. "You are good enough for me."
She joins her hand with his and he raises it to his lips.
"I'm sorry Guinevere."
"I'm sorry too Arthur."
They kiss beneath the tree before walking back to the car, sharing a warm embrace.
Neither sees the leaves fall from the tree and land on opposite sides of the path.