Just Between Friends [Alex | Gwen]

[Guinevère]

Guinevère walked out of the main dinning room and away from the crowd of people who had gathered for a meal. It wasn't an official dinner but it was still it was one were the talk was high. Arthur and his band of newly knight men (all of lesser blood then the Code Of Camelot allowed) had just taken the kingdom back almost two weeks ago. While everything still held a dark uncertainty around the kingdom, the light was starting to be seen at the end of the tunnel.

Hope was budding, and life was returning the city that Morgana had almost taken to it's knees. The power and love of the people to each other (as well as the true Pendragon heir), was growing. It seemed that with more time, the kingdom would be it's self again. It would thrive again. Everything would be it's self again.

Everything but the Pendragon's themselves at least. Arthur for one had seemed to loose faith in this father, and there was talk of the royal council being uneasy with Uther at rule while he was 'unwell'. Arthur had taken up unofficial control of the kingdom but everyone seemed to recall the year Uther nearly killed his army in order to find Morgana. No one wanted that again.

The other change was with her own self. When Arthur had sent his most trusted men to escort her back to Camelot once he'd reclaimed it; she had ridden in and he'd met her in the courtyard, embraced her before everyone and kissed her. While nothing official had been spoken of, it seemed everyone knew there was something there. With her brother a knight, she was being treated as a lady now. Not expected to work and do anything but shop.

Still, Guinevère was never one to be idle. Over the last week and a half she had used her new found 'title' for what she could. Helping the lowertown rebuild it's self after Morgana's rule. Making sure there was enough food for the ones who lost love ones, or who could not earn coin to buy it.

There was one, however, that she had only seen at a distance. While Guinevère made friends easily, the deeper true friends were rare in her life. Currently, most of them were apart of Arthur's knights and council. Merlin, Gwaine, Elyan, and the others; they were the brothers of her hearts. Yet there was one other she would call brother in many ways: Alex. She had yet to see him and speak with him after her 'return' to the kingdom.

While serving Morgana, she knew some saw her as betraying them; but she had to pretend to be there for Morgana. After her return, she had been a noble, and the servants she had once been apart of and called friend seemed distant. Not in a bad way, but in a way that suggested they saw her as a lady now, rather then one of the servants.

She wasn't sure how Alex would see her, but she hoped that they could still be friends. She knew it would not be easy, since they were of different rank now; but Arthur was changing that. Giving people the chance to grow based on their actions and not bloodlines. Surely a friendship between a lady . . . and one day a q-queen would be seen in a new light?

She walked into the kitchen, and noticed that he was alone for the moment. "Hullo," She called out softly and hesitantly. "Would you like some help?" She managed to offer with a bit more cheer. She'd had fond memories of helping him before, on the day they first meet almost two and half years ago.

[Alexander]

The recent events in Camelot had changed everyone. It was impossible for anyone to go back to how it was before and yet the future was one that people could look forward to. A shadow had past and the sun once again saw Camelot as the shining city it was. With the rebuilding occurring, it was only a matter of time before Camelot entered a new age of glory. Alex thought about this and chuckled as he waxed lyrical on the subject. It sounded a bit cliche in his head and would most likely sound worse out loud.

This could mark the change that had found Alex in particular. These days he found himself thinking before he spoke more often. He would still say what he meant, but he would at least run it through his head before it came out. Perhaps it was a sign of growing maturity, but it could also be a leftover remnant from a short period of time where the wrong words were your own death warrant. It had not been a good time for Alex who had never made much of a secret on his feelings about Morgana's regime. It was a time Alex didn't wish to speak of.

However, not all had been dark. Alex's family had come out fine. Being away from the castle had spared them much of the trouble Alex had run into and they had holed up in their bakery for the fighting. Not only that, but Alex had had something else to keep him going. If there had been any doubt Alex loved Brynn before, that was gone. Alex had had one burning fear in him from the first clash of swords that marked Morgana's rise to power. Even now he could recall the clench in his stomach and the itching need to hide Brynn away from the rest of the world. Alex had been at his worst when a stray arrow had found Brynn's shoulder.

Now, Alex felt more at ease and could breathe a whole lot easier. It helped that now a days everyone seemed ready to celebrate at any given time. Coming out of such a disaster had put everyone in moods that rivaled Alex's exuberance. In fact, since Arthur's triumphant return, there had been endless festivities. It seemed that whenever the city was working together to rebuild it was throwing a party. The overall atmosphere of joy and community reminded Alex of why he loved this city so much.

Speaking of triumphant returns. Arthur and his knights were the subject of almost every conversation. Not only were they non-nobles, but they were now the object of everyone's admiration and the sign for a new age. Now it was not uncommon to see a bit more go between the classes. Another huge breakthrough could be seen in the relationship of the crown prince and regent, and a woman Alex considered his sister. He had not seen her since Morgana's fall, but the relationship was common knowledge now. This in and of itself was a huge change. It was still strange for Alex to hear of it from stranger's when he had been among the few to know about it when it was still a secret.

Speaking of Gwen, Alex wished he could find the time to seek her out. It had been hard to get away from everything long enough to find her. Not to mention that she was smack dab in the middle of everything now. It made Alex glad to know she was finally being treated like the lady she was. It was nice to see someone who truly deserved a happy ending get one. Alex could think of no one better to be Camelot's future queen. And there was no doubt Alex would tease her endlessly even when the crown sat atop her head.

Alex currently thought about all of this as he set dishes aside carefully, with a casual ease that spoke of long practice. The chef had promoted him no more then a week ago to a minor chef in training, but Alex still did the dishes now and then since he found the repetitive motions soothing. Much about him had changed recently, but Alex didn't ever think that he would ever find this minor task less comforting.

The soft voice behind him had him lower the plate he held before turning around. He gestured to the dishes still left to wash and reveled in the symmetry of this meeting and their first. As he had though before, it was nice to have something to return to.
"I would never turn away such a beautiful lady. Although for the opportunity I believe a hug would be proper payment." Alex said with a grin that rivaled his old smiles. For his heart's sister he could manage a smile that outshone any. That much had not changed and never would.

[Guinevère]

Gwen has not been truly afraid of Alex's reaction to her being in the kitchens, at least not in the since that she would use the word fear. Nervous perhaps, that he might have different actions toward her or not wish her help since she was not paid to work at the castle anymore--perhaps even more so that something might have happened to his natural joy that she loved so much, while Morgana had ruled. However, everything disappeared with his smile and his words, "I would never turn away such a beautiful lady. Although for the opportunity I believe a hug would be proper payment."

Her return smile was instant and she almost ran forward to embarrass him in a tight and slightly prolonged hug. She'd missed him so much, especially when times had grown dark and unsure; she would think of both Alex and Merlin's natural happiness and pray for better times among them. Pulling away from the much needed hug, she felt the joy of knowing that while everything had changed--nothing had truly changed between them. Alex was still her brother, and dear-dear friend. "You have no idea how much I have missed you." And it had in truth only been a short while.

Still, in that short while so much had happened. What was weeks, felt like years in a way. Months at least. "I was nervous about coming down here to see you." She admitted, feeling silly not that she had (even in the smallest of ways) had doubt in their friendship. "I wish I had done it sooner."

She felt as if she owed Alex allot, not in terms of gold but as in he had been one of the best friends anyone could have ever wanted. While he might not know it, he had helped her though many dark times. Some only emotional, and silent as she had never spoken of them--some such as her arrested, were every real. She hoped that she gave him a ounce of the ease of friendship and joy that he gave to her and everyone around him.

With Alex, there had never been anything but friendship--a deep and solid one but never anything of a romantic nature. Knowing how fickle her heart could be, and how much damage it could do, she was glad that Alex had found his place in her heart as a brother. No man would ever be who Arthur was to her (For only once and while did a love so strong that it touched your soul come into someone's life), but there were a few whom she loved differently and strongly.

[Alexander]

When Gwen came forward Alex simply swept her up with a laugh. Now he could feel like all his family was complete. He picked her up and spun once still chuckling. The lightness in his mood was emphasized and he found himself chasing the slightly heavy memories of a darker time away to the small crevices of his mind where they belonged. All of Gwen's nervousness seemed to have disappeared and Alex was happy to see her smiling. He set her down after their hug and took a step back so he could look at her.

"And I have missed you. It seems certain matters have kept us apart these last two weeks. But never fear, time is only a simple obstacle to be conquered." Alex said. He found himself easily lulled back into his chatter now that they could speak again. It had been hard to not talk with someone he was so close to when Morgana had risen to power. He had known it was too dangerous for both of them. He was not subtle in his dislike for the fake queen and he did not wish for Gwen to be discovered as also against Morgana. Many had maybe doubted Gwen's intentions, but Alex had known about her and Arthur and had defended her when given the chance.

"There was no need to be nervous." Alex thought he knew why she might be nervous. It would be too easy to assume he had avoided her because he had been a doubter.
"I knew you were true. Anyone who looks at Arthur as you do could not be anything but. So smile and know that I would never doubt you." Alex said with a softer smile. He knew all to well what love like that was, and admired Gwen all the more for her patience in waiting for Arthur to return. If not for her many things could have ended differently.

"And you are here now which is what matters, yes?" Alex said with renewed energy. Gwen tended to have that effect on him. He could always feel his mood turn happier when he was around. It was easy to be friends with her and it had been a friendship that was strong from there very first meeting. Even through times where it seemed all odds were against them, their bond had not broken. Alex knew that as he was there for her, Gwen would always be there for him. Whether it was through dark times, or simply to give romantic advice to a very flustered Alex.

Alex knew that many had asked about his friendship to Gwen and had questioned his devotion to Brynn, but Alex had merely explained that while he loved them both, it was in a very different manner. Brynn was his first true love and Gwen was the sister of his heart. Both were highly placed in his heart but neither would have to ever fear the other. Alex was also aware that Gwen was irrevocably in love with Arthur and Alex would never break that up. In fact, when people asked about him and Gwen, Alex tended to simply laugh. Gwen was and would always be a part of him, even if it was romantically.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt Alex spin her and she held on tightly, not fearing he would drop her--for she trusted him--but more because between his spin and her suddenly light emotions she felt slightly dizzy. Wonderfully so. It was amazing to feel so light for the first time since returning home to Camelot. Arthur gave her unlimited joy, but having her family complete made it all the more perfect.

She looked up into Alex's face as he assured her, she did not have to be nervous. That he had not doubted in her. No, Alex had not. Yet she had doubted in him in the smallest of ways and the biggest of ways. Doubted in their friendship. By not running to him sooner, and by wondering if she would be welcome like she used to have been she had should doubt.

But she was going to admen that! She was going to be a better friend! Perhaps better was the wrong word, but stronger! She would never let her fears take hold of her and keep her from her friends again.

When Alex so casually spoke Arthur's name she paused her thoughts. It was hard to break three years of keeping something so powerful a secret. Every time someone talked about him to her now, (as they were not hiding anything anymore), she still felt exposed. She was slowly getting better, but she knew it would take time.

Alex had been one of the few who had known for a while now. He'd been there when she was arrested over it, and she had felt safe while speaking with him on Arthur. Alex made her feel safe allot. "And you are here now which is what matters, yes?" She was not going to let anything darken this moment, so she let the welcome joy fill her as she smiled brightly up at her brother; "Yes! Oh Alex I have missed you so!" She knew she could say that a million times and it would not show how much!

She wanted to know everything that had happened with him for the last few weeks, but she knew that asking so many questions in a row would over whelm event the talkative Alex! She also had something to tell him. Something she had wanted him to know long before he would hear the rumors of it.

Not letting him go, she started with one of the more important questions, "How have you been? Is all well with you?" She prayed it was! His sister! She hoped she was unharmed by the recent events! As well as his family and lady love!