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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 một giây 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 bạn but bạn seemed to have vanished; where did bạn go?”
“Oh, the line crackled and bạn know how disturbing it sounds, so I decided to wait until the crackle stopped… didn’t realise bạn had been calling for me,” Merlin laughs sheepishly. The line crackles again.
“It happens here all the time… bạn know how bad the reception is in Mercia? I couldn’t call any of bạn last night! And I only got bạn tonight after three attempts, Merlin. Three! It’s that bad,” Leon informs, his voice clearly frustrated.
Merlin laughs again. “How long do bạn have to be there? We miss bạn already.”
“I know, I miss bạn 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, bạn know… but we’ll keep bạn informed.”
“Another week, and I’ll be trang chủ sweet home. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s fine and he misses you, too, he asked for bạn 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… bạn know how serious he is about this arrangement, Leon. It’s important bạn 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 trang chủ just to get to know her. She could call hoặc 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 bạn forgotten the tradition? Everyone knows how strict your father is when it comes to your family tradition; bạn 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 thêm like a joke than a tradition. How come bạn hoặc Gwaine never follow any traditions like this?”
“Oh, watch what bạn 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 các câu trả lời 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 chịu, gấu 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 bạn 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 các câu trả lời 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 các câu trả lời 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 bạn 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 ngày bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn 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 trang chủ 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 bởi 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 bạn 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 thêm sure of himself now compared before where he always had một giây 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 tình yêu life, I guess,” Merlin confesses.
“I did, and I think he’s thêm 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. bạn 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 các câu trả lời and leaves the room.
“Can bạn 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 một giây thoughts about it. She’s not afraid; she isn’t shamed bởi 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 đã đưa ý kiến 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 bạn all right?” he asks, his voice still flat. Gwen knows Lancelot isn’t impressed bởi 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. hoặc how will she explain her lack of attention.
“Yeah… why would bạn ask that?” she decides to be Công chúa tóc xù 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 các câu trả lời shortly and tries to smile but he doesn’t smile back. Her smile fades.
“Good. Can bạn 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 bạn 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 tìm kiếm the remaining drawers. It isn’t there as well. She then moves over to her bàn and searches there, flipping through all the documents she has on the table. ‘Damn, where are you?’ she asks herself, frustrated.
“Have bạn 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 Mất tích 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 bạn 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 bạn sure bạn had the file here? Maybe bạn left it somewhere and bạn can’t remember…”
“Are bạn 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 bạn 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 bàn 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 Mất tích half of their brain listening to his screams, but not Gwen. She holds a special place in his tim, trái tim and he can still forgive her for her carelessness.
“It’s all right… bạn đã đưa ý kiến bạn 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 cây 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 bạn 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 được trao her sound Lời khuyên the first time she had problems involving Arthur. Maybe she can seek his Lời khuyên 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 Mất tích 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 bạn go, it’s all converted. Now, bạn must load it into the server and get it transferred into all the counters. Can bạn do it bởi this week because I’ve set the expiry up to Monday, tiếp theo 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 ngày and you’ve Mất tích your focus. bạn 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 bởi God’s grace Lancelot is providing her the invitation himself. How can she deny it? But can she trust him? What if his Lời khuyên 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 Lời khuyên hoặc not, that’s một giây question. First, she needs some clarification hoặc her head will burst. “I’m having some problems.”
“Personal?”
“Yeah.”
“Would bạn like to talk about it?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Why would I mind? I’m fine with it as long as bạn 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 bạn from your work.”
“That’s rubbish, Gwen… of course bạn are not. Now, tell me what’s bothering bạn and why it’s coming in between your work?”
“It’s about Arthur.”
Lancelot’s tim, trái tim 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 bạn 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 bạn 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 hoặc finds it difficult to open up, there are only two explanations for it. Either they are in tình yêu hoặc have done something wrong. In your case, I guessed it was the first since bạn đã đưa ý kiến it’s connected to Arthur.”
Gwen couldn’t believe her lucky stars. “Thanks Lancelot, bạn made it so much easier to explain. I was hesitating because I was shy. I didn’t know how to tell bạn hoặc if you’d believe it.”
“You can tell me anything Gwen. Aren’t I your friend?”
“Of course bạn are… I was shy because I have never really told bạn anything personal,” Gwen replies. Lancelot smiles and nods at her assuringly.
“Trust me; your secret is an toàn, két an toàn with me. bạn 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 hoặc 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 ngày 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 thêm than that. It might have started of as pity but now, it’s something else. It’s not Những người bạn either… do bạn get what I mean?”
“Love?”
“I don’t know. It could be… hoặc not. But I told him how I feel about him on the ngày 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 đã đưa ý kiến Arthur does like me and told me to confront him once again to share my feelings. He đã đưa ý kiến 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 bởi the guilt and he started shutting me off. According to Merlin, he felt guilty and Mất tích 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 bạn endured so much misery,” Lancelot admits truthfully. He didn’t know the important components of the matter and now that he does, his tim, trái tim goes out to both Arthur and Gwen.
“None of us expected it, Lancelot, but sometimes things happen when bạn 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 câu hỏi 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 bạn 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 bạn want to face over and over again… I can’t endure it the một giây 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 bạn from your work. bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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, bạn need to ask yourself if bạn are sure of your feelings for him. bạn need to trust yourself before bạn can ask him to trust you. And then bạn have to be confident to confront him with your feelings. Let him say what he wants, but bạn have to be bold enough to withstand any obstacles. bạn need to make him see bạn the way bạn see him. Allow him in your tim, trái tim Gwen, make him feel you. Tell him you’ll accept his happiness, regardless what form it comes in. I think Arthur’s as Mất tích as bạn are and that’s why he’s unsure of himself. He’s losing his confidence and that’s where bạn need to come in. Make him comfortable and tell him bạn will be happy with him, and only him. That bạn need him as much as he needs you. And finally, tell him bạn have forgiven him, Gwen”
“I did…”
“But he still thinks he’s guilty. Perhaps he still thinks bạn haven’t forgiven him. Have bạn 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 các câu trả lời him.
“And that can make all the difference, Gwen. If bạn can make him listen to your forgiveness and make feel your affection, perhaps something might stick,” Lancelot tells her.
“Gosh… thank bạn 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 các câu trả lời with a smile. “Try it, Gwen, and I’m sure you’ll find your answers,” he adds.
“Lancelot?”
“Hmmm?”
“How do bạn know so much? Have bạn ever been in love?”
“No,” he lies with a smile.
“But bạn 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 bạn are match made in heaven. hoặc Camelot,” he says with a laugh. Gwen laughs as well. “But really, bạn and Arthur… bạn 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 tim, trái tim is all that matters. Listen to it and it alone. Tell him how bạn feel and make him feel your love. Arthur will tình yêu you, Gwen, trust me. He might be blind but he will tình yêu 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, bạn 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 tim, trái tim is laced with sadness.
‘No one can be better than bạn 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 áo, áo khoác along with his and hangs them on the áo, áo khoác 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 phòng bếp, nhà bếp in hurry.
“Merlin?” Gwaine sounds worried, but he finds Merlin with Arthur, sitting down at the bữa tối, bữa ăn tối 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 bạn angry with us?”
“Finally, it dawned on bạn 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 trang chủ last night, yes Gwaine… because of that. Do bạn both have any idea how long I waited? I could have used your support last night, but no… my Những người bạn weren’t around. I don’t mind bạn having your time out but bạn could’ve come home. Was I such a burden that bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn know; we went to meet a friend but it was too late to come trang chủ 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 bạn 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 bạn didn’t have any other choice. bạn could have đã đưa ý kiến it differently to her if bạn had another choice, but bạn didn’t, and it’s not your fault. bạn didn’t like her and if I were her, I’d appreciate your bluntness, though it hurts. bạn have đã đưa ý kiến it, Arthur, and whether she accepts it hoặc not, it’s upon her now. bạn have a woman to chase after and bạn can’t dwell on past issues anymore.”
“You mean Guinevere?”
“Yes, bạn 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 tình yêu her, don’t you?” Gwaine is irked. Merlin watches both his Những người bạn patiently.
Arthur hesitates. They’ve had this discussion before.
“Do bạn hoặc do bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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 tình yêu 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 bạn like her and I am sure she likes you. bạn wouldn’t have told Elena about Gwen if bạn didn’t feel strongly for her. And now all that’s left is to find Gwen and tell her how bạn feel.”
“But…”
“I understand things haven’t been really good between bạn and Gwen, and that’s exactly why bạn need to talk to her. She told bạn 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. bạn 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 Những người bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn be honest with me if I ask something?”
“Yeah, of course, mate… what is it?”
“I don’t know how to ask bạn this, but… you’ve seen Guinevere, haven’t you?”
“Well, yeah,” Gwaine các câu trả lời shortly.
“Can bạn 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. bạn 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, bạn are the right person to tell me about her. bạn have seen her, after all.”
“I have, but…”
“You don’t have to if it makes bạn uneasy …”
“No, not at all, just… will bạn be fine if I describe her? I mean, bạn 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 cổ áo and steps back, proudly admiring his friend. “Good,” he pats himself.
“So… where do bạn 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 hạnh nhân 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 bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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 tình yêu 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 các câu trả lời 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 hoặc do bạn fancy comparing people to food?”
“Hey, don’t blame me! That’s best way to describe anyone to you. Anyway, bạn want to listen hoặc 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 bạn very much,” Arthur stops Gwaine before the latter can carry on.
“I thought bạn 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, bạn are. bạn don’t like me describing her because bạn are jealous.”
“Fine. Yes, I am, Gwaine. bạn can be my friend but hearing intimate details about her from bạn makes me a little jealous. And don’t get me wrong, I’m just irked because bạn can see her while I can’t.”
“Oh come on, there’s always a way for bạn to see her,” Gwaine explains, uncrossing his hands and dropping them loosely bởi his sides.
“No, not the topic on the operation again, Gwaine.”
“Who ever đã đưa ý kiến I’m talking about the operation? What I mean is, bạn can see her bởi feeling her. Use your hands and feel her. That’s one way for bạn 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 bạn go, mate.”
“Try what, Arthur?” Guinevere asks as she stands alongside Merlin bởi 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 một giây 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 bạn but bạn seemed to have vanished; where did bạn go?”
“Oh, the line crackled and bạn know how disturbing it sounds, so I decided to wait until the crackle stopped… didn’t realise bạn had been calling for me,” Merlin laughs sheepishly. The line crackles again.
“It happens here all the time… bạn know how bad the reception is in Mercia? I couldn’t call any of bạn last night! And I only got bạn tonight after three attempts, Merlin. Three! It’s that bad,” Leon informs, his voice clearly frustrated.
Merlin laughs again. “How long do bạn have to be there? We miss bạn already.”
“I know, I miss bạn 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, bạn know… but we’ll keep bạn informed.”
“Another week, and I’ll be trang chủ sweet home. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s fine and he misses you, too, he asked for bạn 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… bạn know how serious he is about this arrangement, Leon. It’s important bạn 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 trang chủ just to get to know her. She could call hoặc 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 bạn forgotten the tradition? Everyone knows how strict your father is when it comes to your family tradition; bạn 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 thêm like a joke than a tradition. How come bạn hoặc Gwaine never follow any traditions like this?”
“Oh, watch what bạn 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 các câu trả lời 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 chịu, gấu 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 bạn 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 các câu trả lời 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 các câu trả lời 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 bạn 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 ngày bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn 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 trang chủ 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 bởi 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 bạn 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 thêm sure of himself now compared before where he always had một giây 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 tình yêu life, I guess,” Merlin confesses.
“I did, and I think he’s thêm 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. bạn 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 các câu trả lời and leaves the room.
“Can bạn 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 một giây thoughts about it. She’s not afraid; she isn’t shamed bởi 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 đã đưa ý kiến 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 bạn all right?” he asks, his voice still flat. Gwen knows Lancelot isn’t impressed bởi 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. hoặc how will she explain her lack of attention.
“Yeah… why would bạn ask that?” she decides to be Công chúa tóc xù 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 các câu trả lời shortly and tries to smile but he doesn’t smile back. Her smile fades.
“Good. Can bạn 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 bạn 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 tìm kiếm the remaining drawers. It isn’t there as well. She then moves over to her bàn and searches there, flipping through all the documents she has on the table. ‘Damn, where are you?’ she asks herself, frustrated.
“Have bạn 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 Mất tích 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 bạn 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 bạn sure bạn had the file here? Maybe bạn left it somewhere and bạn can’t remember…”
“Are bạn 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 bạn 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 bàn 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 Mất tích half of their brain listening to his screams, but not Gwen. She holds a special place in his tim, trái tim and he can still forgive her for her carelessness.
“It’s all right… bạn đã đưa ý kiến bạn 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 cây 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 bạn 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 được trao her sound Lời khuyên the first time she had problems involving Arthur. Maybe she can seek his Lời khuyên 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 Mất tích 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 bạn go, it’s all converted. Now, bạn must load it into the server and get it transferred into all the counters. Can bạn do it bởi this week because I’ve set the expiry up to Monday, tiếp theo 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 ngày and you’ve Mất tích your focus. bạn 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 bởi God’s grace Lancelot is providing her the invitation himself. How can she deny it? But can she trust him? What if his Lời khuyên 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 Lời khuyên hoặc not, that’s một giây question. First, she needs some clarification hoặc her head will burst. “I’m having some problems.”
“Personal?”
“Yeah.”
“Would bạn like to talk about it?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Why would I mind? I’m fine with it as long as bạn 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 bạn from your work.”
“That’s rubbish, Gwen… of course bạn are not. Now, tell me what’s bothering bạn and why it’s coming in between your work?”
“It’s about Arthur.”
Lancelot’s tim, trái tim 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 bạn 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 bạn 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 hoặc finds it difficult to open up, there are only two explanations for it. Either they are in tình yêu hoặc have done something wrong. In your case, I guessed it was the first since bạn đã đưa ý kiến it’s connected to Arthur.”
Gwen couldn’t believe her lucky stars. “Thanks Lancelot, bạn made it so much easier to explain. I was hesitating because I was shy. I didn’t know how to tell bạn hoặc if you’d believe it.”
“You can tell me anything Gwen. Aren’t I your friend?”
“Of course bạn are… I was shy because I have never really told bạn anything personal,” Gwen replies. Lancelot smiles and nods at her assuringly.
“Trust me; your secret is an toàn, két an toàn with me. bạn 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 hoặc 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 ngày 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 thêm than that. It might have started of as pity but now, it’s something else. It’s not Những người bạn either… do bạn get what I mean?”
“Love?”
“I don’t know. It could be… hoặc not. But I told him how I feel about him on the ngày 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 đã đưa ý kiến Arthur does like me and told me to confront him once again to share my feelings. He đã đưa ý kiến 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 bởi the guilt and he started shutting me off. According to Merlin, he felt guilty and Mất tích 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 bạn endured so much misery,” Lancelot admits truthfully. He didn’t know the important components of the matter and now that he does, his tim, trái tim goes out to both Arthur and Gwen.
“None of us expected it, Lancelot, but sometimes things happen when bạn 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 câu hỏi 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 bạn 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 bạn want to face over and over again… I can’t endure it the một giây 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 bạn from your work. bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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, bạn need to ask yourself if bạn are sure of your feelings for him. bạn need to trust yourself before bạn can ask him to trust you. And then bạn have to be confident to confront him with your feelings. Let him say what he wants, but bạn have to be bold enough to withstand any obstacles. bạn need to make him see bạn the way bạn see him. Allow him in your tim, trái tim Gwen, make him feel you. Tell him you’ll accept his happiness, regardless what form it comes in. I think Arthur’s as Mất tích as bạn are and that’s why he’s unsure of himself. He’s losing his confidence and that’s where bạn need to come in. Make him comfortable and tell him bạn will be happy with him, and only him. That bạn need him as much as he needs you. And finally, tell him bạn have forgiven him, Gwen”
“I did…”
“But he still thinks he’s guilty. Perhaps he still thinks bạn haven’t forgiven him. Have bạn 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 các câu trả lời him.
“And that can make all the difference, Gwen. If bạn can make him listen to your forgiveness and make feel your affection, perhaps something might stick,” Lancelot tells her.
“Gosh… thank bạn 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 các câu trả lời with a smile. “Try it, Gwen, and I’m sure you’ll find your answers,” he adds.
“Lancelot?”
“Hmmm?”
“How do bạn know so much? Have bạn ever been in love?”
“No,” he lies with a smile.
“But bạn 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 bạn are match made in heaven. hoặc Camelot,” he says with a laugh. Gwen laughs as well. “But really, bạn and Arthur… bạn 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 tim, trái tim is all that matters. Listen to it and it alone. Tell him how bạn feel and make him feel your love. Arthur will tình yêu you, Gwen, trust me. He might be blind but he will tình yêu 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, bạn 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 tim, trái tim is laced with sadness.
‘No one can be better than bạn 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 áo, áo khoác along with his and hangs them on the áo, áo khoác 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 phòng bếp, nhà bếp in hurry.
“Merlin?” Gwaine sounds worried, but he finds Merlin with Arthur, sitting down at the bữa tối, bữa ăn tối 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 bạn angry with us?”
“Finally, it dawned on bạn 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 trang chủ last night, yes Gwaine… because of that. Do bạn both have any idea how long I waited? I could have used your support last night, but no… my Những người bạn weren’t around. I don’t mind bạn having your time out but bạn could’ve come home. Was I such a burden that bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn know; we went to meet a friend but it was too late to come trang chủ 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 bạn 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 bạn didn’t have any other choice. bạn could have đã đưa ý kiến it differently to her if bạn had another choice, but bạn didn’t, and it’s not your fault. bạn didn’t like her and if I were her, I’d appreciate your bluntness, though it hurts. bạn have đã đưa ý kiến it, Arthur, and whether she accepts it hoặc not, it’s upon her now. bạn have a woman to chase after and bạn can’t dwell on past issues anymore.”
“You mean Guinevere?”
“Yes, bạn 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 tình yêu her, don’t you?” Gwaine is irked. Merlin watches both his Những người bạn patiently.
Arthur hesitates. They’ve had this discussion before.
“Do bạn hoặc do bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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 tình yêu 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 bạn like her and I am sure she likes you. bạn wouldn’t have told Elena about Gwen if bạn didn’t feel strongly for her. And now all that’s left is to find Gwen and tell her how bạn feel.”
“But…”
“I understand things haven’t been really good between bạn and Gwen, and that’s exactly why bạn need to talk to her. She told bạn 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. bạn 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 Những người bạn 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 bạn 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 bạn be honest with me if I ask something?”
“Yeah, of course, mate… what is it?”
“I don’t know how to ask bạn this, but… you’ve seen Guinevere, haven’t you?”
“Well, yeah,” Gwaine các câu trả lời shortly.
“Can bạn 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. bạn 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, bạn are the right person to tell me about her. bạn have seen her, after all.”
“I have, but…”
“You don’t have to if it makes bạn uneasy …”
“No, not at all, just… will bạn be fine if I describe her? I mean, bạn 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 cổ áo and steps back, proudly admiring his friend. “Good,” he pats himself.
“So… where do bạn 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 hạnh nhân 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 bạn 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 tim, trái tim 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 tình yêu 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 các câu trả lời 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 hoặc do bạn fancy comparing people to food?”
“Hey, don’t blame me! That’s best way to describe anyone to you. Anyway, bạn want to listen hoặc 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 bạn very much,” Arthur stops Gwaine before the latter can carry on.
“I thought bạn 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, bạn are. bạn don’t like me describing her because bạn are jealous.”
“Fine. Yes, I am, Gwaine. bạn can be my friend but hearing intimate details about her from bạn makes me a little jealous. And don’t get me wrong, I’m just irked because bạn can see her while I can’t.”
“Oh come on, there’s always a way for bạn to see her,” Gwaine explains, uncrossing his hands and dropping them loosely bởi his sides.
“No, not the topic on the operation again, Gwaine.”
“Who ever đã đưa ý kiến I’m talking about the operation? What I mean is, bạn can see her bởi feeling her. Use your hands and feel her. That’s one way for bạn 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 bạn go, mate.”
“Try what, Arthur?” Guinevere asks as she stands alongside Merlin bởi the door of Arthur’s room.
