Prince For Rent [Guinevère | Merlin]

[em]

Never before had Arthur come up with a more ridiculous idea than this! Merlin knew that one way or another, something was bound to go wrong, and all because he wanted to prove himself worthy of winning a torunament?! Clearly this was crazy. Merlin kicked himself – after all, hadnt he said “you can’t change who you are?” and suddenly BAM! A new plan in the pipeline that would involve sneaking about and lying once again. even to Gauis! He had no idea how Arthur would find a way of convincing his father that he wouldn’t be taking part this year (well, not as himself anyway). He didn’t really want to.

The only way that this would work would be for Arthur to stay in Camelot without anyone else knowing, apart from Merlin of course. Merlin knew he couldn’t hide him in the quarters he shared with Gauis. It was too risky. Arthur most certainly couldn’t stay within the castle walls, and there was no way he’d live in the forest throughout the duration of the tournament either.

There was only one thing for it. Merlin held the flowers tightly in his grasp as he headed down the street, coming to a stop outside a house. This was the only way that Arthur could take part without having anyone else know of his true identity. Merlin had also been instructed to look for someone to pose as the substitute for Arthur. This would mean Arthur doing all the work (for once) and the fake knight receiving all the glory. Oh how the tables had turned, but for now he had to focus on the most important thing. Finding a place to harbour Arthur whilst all this went on.

Flowers in hand, Merlin raised his fist and gave a swift knock on the door. Hopefully Guinevère would be at home and not still up at the castle.

Tagged: Guinevère
Timeline: S2 – Once and Future Queen
Setting: Late Evening – Guinevère’s House [/color]

[Guinevère]

The day had been long as everyone was beginning to prepare for the tournament in a few days. Dresses had to be washed, chambers cleaned for guest, the guest that were arriving had to be taken to their rooms and to make matters more complicated the restorations from the magical attack on the kingdom just months ago were only just being completed, so there were many, many people moving very. very quickly all around the whole castle all day--and while they were at it, they had to been see as little as possible and hear not at all!

Guinevère was in her white dress, with her red cloak wrapped around her as she walked home and saw Merlin standing out side her door with flowers! She smiled brightly, suddenly feeling like the day had been short and sweet. The surprise was welcome and made her walk a bit lighter as she hurried up to her friend. "Merlin?" She questioned as walked up behind him and opened her door, "Come in!" She walked in side and left her cloak on while she went to start a fire so the warmth would fill the small home. Once done she turned to take the flowers from him.

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[em]

She wasn’t home. That would mean having to wait until morning. Ah well, he could always hunt Gwen down in the castle. Usually she was in Morgana’s chambers, so perhaps he’d even find her there. As he turned to leave he saw a familiar figure approaching. He smiled. Gwen. As soon as she saw him her pace sped up.

“Hello Gwen” he smiled as she greeted him.

Merlin followed her inside and handed her the flowers, “I thought I’d bring you these,” he told her. Hopefully this would soften her little, ready for the bombshell that he was about to drop on her. He hoped that she would agree – if not then he was screwed for finding accommodation. Arthur would have to hide in the stables, actually – that didn’t sound like such a bad idea.

“This is a nice table” he knocked on the top of it, “and is that wood? That it’s made of” he tried to sound enthusiastic about it.

Clearly he knew that Gwen would know that he hadn’t come here to talk about her table. It seemed as though since they had come to know one another she knew when something was on his mind or if he’d had a bad day. He knew that if this was the case with her then her day was about to get worse!

“Soooooo…” he began, but found that asking her this favour was going to be far harder than he’d anticipated

[Guinevère]

Guinevère smiled as she got down a jar for the flowers, Merlin was so sweet to her. She knew she was lucky to have him as a friend. Merlin was one of the few people in this world whom she knew that no matter what he would have something wonderful to say, or positive comment. His naturally happy mood just fit with her own, making them perfect for friends. With her real brother missing, she liked to pretend Merlin was her brother. That he was her family. With her father gone, he was her only family.

He was talking about her table and she paused to watch him a moment. Merlin was happy yes, but he often did things that she could not explain, and that seemed off. She'd learned however to not question it, and just accept that Merlin was 'strange' but in a nice way. "Merlin, would you like to sit at my wooden table, and stay for supper?" She asked him while sitting the flowers down. She could tell that they were a bribe because he was going to ask for a favor. Last time he had asked for a favor, she'd given him her father's sword, and never seen it again. She never asked where it went, nor what happened to it; but she trusted Merlin. "While we eat you can ask me whatever it is you've come to ask me. You know I will do anything for you."

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[em]

He was glad she liked the flowers. Well that was a start. Now she was giving him a funny look about the table. "Merlin, would you like to sit at my wooden table, and stay for supper?"
That seemed tempting. At least then he could be able to explain the situation to her and try to list all the advantages of allowing Arthur to stay at her home. He gave a small smile and shook his head. “Oh really, I don’t want you to gout of your way, I just thought I’d quickly pop in”
Yeah. Quickly pop in and convince Gwen to rent out her home to Prince Arthur for a few days.

Gwen knew him too well – the look on her face said it all as she set the flowers down. She knew that he wanted a favour from her and he wasn’t going to lie. "While we eat you can ask me whatever it is you've come to ask me. You know I will do anything for you."

“You won’t with this one” he chuckled, “and if you’re certain, then I’ll stay” he nodded, “Thank you”. Merlin felt sorry for Gwen, alone here in her house with her father gone and only Morgana and himself to fill her days with laughter and smiles. She didn’t deserve to be alone, Gwen was the sweetest and kindest person he knew. She’d been the first to approach him in the stocks when he’d first come to Camelot. At one point he was sure that she liked him more than a friend, but that had changed since they’d come to know one another.

Merlin thought of Gwen as a sister he’d never had, and he was glad that he could rely on and trust her in times of desperate need. Such as this. He took a seat at the table and looked down at the top, drumming his fingers on the surface. “Im sorry to just barge in tonight, you must be tired” he apologised, “but im sure you know that I have a favour to ask you” he sighed, “and to be honest, I don’t think you’re gonna like it, but you did say that you'd do anything...” he put on his best puppy dog eyes and gave her a small pout.

[Guinevère]

"Never too tired for a friend," She promised, as he finally took a seat. "Really, I promise. Your never to feel unwelcome in my home, Merlin. I like it when you come over, and love to supper with friends. You should do it more often. Gaius too." She encourage for no matter how tired she was, she loved to spent time with friends. Merlin, Morgana, Alex from the kitchens. They were all friends of hers and she wanted them to know she valued each and everyone.

She wasn't going to like this one? She eyed Merlin for a moment in a teasing sort of way before turning to pull down some plates and then unwrap the meat she had bought before coming home. When her father was alive they had not been able to afford much, as between both their coins they were still just getting by. However, when the king had her father killed; the prince had come to her and promised that her home would be her's for life. The next month when tax time came, no tax collector came t her door. When rent time came, no bill ever showed up. When she questioned it, they said the prince was taking care of that himself.

So all her coins where her's to keep. So the meat she now had was of a bit better quality, and her dresses were growing nicer; and her home was getting some changes. Turning she sat the plates down on the table, with the meat on them and a bit of bread before laughing at his 'puppy eyes'; "Oh Merlin, even if I don't like it I would still do anything for you. Your like my brother, I can't say no to a brother."

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[em]

He smiled at her words of kindness. "Really, I promise. Your never to feel unwelcome in my home, Merlin. I like it when you come over, and love to supper with friends. You should do it more often. Gaius too." That was Gwen all over, then again who else had she to share her evenings with apart from herself?

“Gauis only eats things that are green, gooey and look like it’s come from a griffins nose!” he snorted, “I think he’d appreciate your cooking more”. Just the other evening they’d eaten something that Merlin had immediately brought up again.

"Oh Merlin, even if I don't like it I would still do anything for you. Your like my brother, I can't say no to a brother." At least they were on the same line of friendship then. It was true though. “Well…ok then, but you’d better prepare yourself”

He took a deep breath before saying,
“Arthurhasthisridiculousideathathewantstoplayafakeknightinthetournamentandneedsaplacetostay."
He paused
"pleasecanhestayhereuntilitsalloverandhegoesbacktobeingtheclotpoleheis!”

He said this so quickly that even he was surprised at just how fast he’d managed to get that out. He looked over to her where there was just silence now filling the air. “Please Gwen, I wouldn’t ask this if I didn’t think I could trust you, it’s only for a few days” he tried to justify the situation but knew it wasn’t exactly the best thing he could offer Gwen. Three days with Arthur was like three days stuck in Groundhog Day – same chores, same insults.

He waited patiently for Gwen to either say yes or no, this wasn’t going to be easy, but he had to convince her one way or another. Perhaps he could put some kind of spell on her, but deep down he knew he couldn’t do that to her. He trusted Gwen with his life and hopefully she with his.

[Guinevère]

She made a face at his griffin comment but didn't give a reply. When he finally managed to get out his favor he asked to SO fast that she missed most of it. Arthur and what? Needs space? Stay where? She was sure his comments ended on an insult against the crown but she still could not be sure. What did the crown prince need from her? “Please Gwen, I wouldn’t ask this if I didn’t think I could trust you, it’s only for a few days.” What was for a few days?

His slower comments is what made everything connect in her mind. She didn't know why or . . . WHY, but the 'Arthur' and 'Needs space' and then his few days comment made her know one thing. He wanted Arthur to stay here!? "W-w-what!?" She asked trying to follow him, "Wait Merlin! I-i-i-i think you need to slow down a bit. You've going to laugh when I tell you what I thought I just heard!" She knew he could NOT have asked her what she thought he asked her. It was too crazy. too far out there. Why would a prince who had the world at his feet even need to stay here?! yes, she MUST have heard him wrong!

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[em]

She had known what he’d said – even if it had all been a massive fast sentence. Now she thought it was some kind of joke. Of course she would, Merlin hadn’t even asked her anything like this before. To her, this situation must seem like Merlin was throwing her into a pit of wild bears or something.

“Errr…Gwen?” he began and looked at her seriously, “Im serious – Please? Would you mind if Arthur stayed here during the joust?” he asked again, this time a little slower than before.

He could see Gwen’s face changing before him. “You’re the only person who I can trust with this, I can’t tell Gauis or anyone else, im sworn to secrecy! He can’t stay in the castle walls because he’ll be recognised. If I didn’t share quarters with Gauis then I could’ve hid him out there”.

Merlin hated this situation almost as much as Gwen appeared to right now. “Please” he begged again, “I’ll do your cooking for a week, your washing even! I’ll even attend to Morgana if I have to! But please Gwen, im not asking you to make up your mind now, but at least consider it?”

[Guinevère]

“I'm serious – Please? Would you mind if Arthur stayed here during the joust?” Not a joke? NOT A JOKE! Granted just moments ago she had said she would do anything for him--and in the past she had lived up to those words by doing things such as the time he asked her to help Lancelot pretend to be a noble, and giving him her father's greatest sword no questioned asked--but this . . . .THIS . . . THE PRINCE?! Guinevère's head slowly started moving to the right before slowly moving to the left and back again as if she was thinking the word no even as he was talking.

“You’re the only person who I can trust with this, I can’t tell Gaius or anyone else, I'm sworn to secrecy! He can’t stay in the castle walls because he’ll be recognized. If I didn’t share quarters with Gaius then I could’ve hid him out there.” Can't tell Gaius?! Why? She didn't understand why they needed to do this. Merlin's comment on being the only one he could trust however stopped her head from shaking no more then the few turns it made. This was no good! She glanced around her home and recalled how Arthur had acted in Eldor. He had been nice to the people but had done things to suggest the whole place, the food, and the living was too far below him! This was her home and it was just slightly different from Eldor.

“Please; I’ll do your cooking for a week, your washing even! I’ll even attend to Morgana if I have to! But please Gwen, I'm not asking you to make up your mind now, but at least consider it?” She hated hearing him beg, but knew that Arthur Pendragon, the crown prince of the kingdom of Camelot could not stay here! Especially not for days on end! "Oh Merlin, I don't know. Here?! He's a prince! This is not even close to the living he is used to. He might not be the bully he was a year ago, but . . . . I . . . . I don't think this would be a good idea. . . . " But she HATED telling Merlin no. It was clear in her tone that she was hesitant to say no at all, but that she was just afraid to say yes.

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[em]

Oh Merlin, I don't know. Here?! He's a prince! This is not even close to the living he is used to. He might not be the bully he was a year ago, but . . . . I . . . . I don't think this would be a good idea. . . . "

Merlin knew that would be the answer – no matter how much he could beg, Gwen wasn’t going to back down on this one.
He scratched the back of his neck and gave a small fake sigh. “Oh well, I tried” he began and headed for the door, “ I guess I’ll just have to tell Arthur that it was a stupid idea that he should enter a tournament to earn some respect for who he actually is, and not just because he’s the prince but oh well” he shrugged and opened the door. “He was looking forward to coming here as well” he bit his lip knowingly.
That was a lie. Arthur would have to like staying at Gwen’s or lump it. “Being amongst the people and proving to himself that he could do this…guess a man just has to keep his dreams and reality separate” he shrugged it off.

Yes he was going to play the guilt card. Gwen was his last and only resort. She had seemed hesitant in saying no, so Merlin knew he’d have to twist and turn until she gave in.

“Thanks anyway Gwen” he smiled disappointingly and walked out of the door, closing it behind him. Oh yes. He was such a good actor he’d even convinced himself that he was gutted she’d refused.

Now to give her time

As began to walk to the castle he smiled cheekily to himself. He knew what she would do next.

“Five…four…three…two…one…” he counted down to himself

[Guinevère]

“Oh well, I tried” Guinevère hated telling him no but she simply knew this was better for their friendship if they didn't have this between them. If something went wrong then the fact that the prince was displeased with her would be between them! Or worse, she would have to hear the prince talk down about her friend for days and not be able to say anything because he was a prince!

“I guess I’ll just have to tell Arthur that it was a stupid idea that he should enter a tournament to earn some respect for who he actually is, and not just because he’s the prince but oh well" Wait! He told Arthur this plan before her!? If she was turning down a request from the PRINCE?! No! That would not do! He had helped Merlin and Morgana save her life! She owed him! “He was looking forward to coming here as well” Oh!!!

Guinevère watched Merlin walk out and found her self walking around her small home with no where in mind of where to go. Should she do it? What if she did? What's the worst that could happen? The prince turns out to be a bully and a she would try to avoid him? She had done that for years before Merlin came into their lives!

Merlin had never really asked her for anything other then the sword. She looked at the door and groaned before walking to it and opening it. "Merlin?!" She called not leaving the door way. She hoped he would come walking back since they could not talk about this in the open. "You said you would stay for dinner!" She wanted the company and to ask a few questions before officially saying yes. Even though she knew her mind was already made up and that she would be agreeing to this.

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[em]

"Merlin?!"

He small grin crossed his lips as he carried on walking. Of course she would have called him back. He knew Gwen like the back of a book. He knew now she was considering it and he wasn’t expecting her to say yes straight away, but he knew if he kept on working at it (perhaps throwing in some puppy dog eyes to keep it sweet) then she would eventually agree.
Merlin knew it wouldn’t be the nicest of things – having Arthur (who snored like a pig and didn’t do any cooking or cleaning of any kind) staying in the house, but what other options were there? There was no way that Arthur would hide out in a cave for a week.

He put on an innocent look and turned around. “Yes?”

"You said you would stay for dinner!"

“Oh” he shifted slightly, “I guess I did…that is, if you still want me after my shocking proposal”

Another smirk emerged this time in full view for Gwen to see. She was defiantly considering it.

[Guinevère]

“I guess I did…that is, if you still want me after my shocking proposal.” When he said that a few people turned to look at them with surprised, or pleased stares. Her face turned a darker shade as the blushed. She didn't correct the stares, as for the moment she could not explain what he meant. She gestured to her door and waited until Merlin was inside before shutting the door.

That had been embarrassing! "I always want you to stay for supper, Merlin. No matter what you ask of me." That sounded . . . intimate. "Well, not no matter what but not this. I meant, with this you--Oh!" She was rambling again! "Please stay for supper!"

And, because she had to be honest with him, "Perhaps I was too quick to say no. I had not known you'd already told the prince. I can not afford to tell him no after what all he has done for me." When her father had died, the prince had promised her home would be her's for life. Since then he'd paid for both rent, and taxes upon it. She owed him very much indeed.

What did one do with a prince for three days?!

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[em]

Merlin loved it when Gwen rambled. It was always as though she’d thought she’d offended someone or the fact that it might have sounded more inappropriate than it had been in her mind.
Merlin frowned; he still couldn’t exactly make out what she was saying. “I err…well im just gonna nod now” he told her and put on a ridiculous face and nodded.

"Please stay for supper!" she finally stopped and now decided to be blunt.

Merlin put on his little act again and rolled his eyes, “Oh alright then!” he pretended to give in easily and started to walk with her back to the house, “So…what’s for dinner?” he decided to lightly change the subject, but it seemed the shock of having Arthur as a roommate hadn’t yet sunk in properly.

“Perhaps I was too quick to say no. I had not known you'd already told the prince. I can not afford to tell him no after what all he has done for me."

Merlin closed the door as they went back inside. “Oh – yeah well…you might need earplugs – Arthur isn’t the quietest of sleepers” he told her and gave her a dorky thumbs up.
He sat back down and looked at the tabletop. “Im sorry to ask you Gwen, I know it’s completely out of character, but you know Arthur – once he’s set on something, he wont give in. I’ve had to find a complete nobody to play this fake knight” he rolled his eyes
Well actually he’d met one potential in one of the outline villages – and once a bit of bribery and a lot of ale had fallen into his hands, the farmer had agreed.

“Might need your help on that one actually – armour wise and whatnot” he shifted uncomfortably. He was asking waaaay too much of Gwen, but if this was going to be pulled off successfully then Merlin had no choice.

[Guinevère]

What was for supper? She could not even recall what she had been planning to fix! She looked around for a short moment before looking back at Merlin, "I have a bit of smoked quail." She told him, hoping it would do to fill him. She'd had enough for her and some extra that she'd planned to take to the man who replaced her father at the forge. She could just get some on the morrow for him.

Thanks to the prince taking in her two major bills, she had extra money to spend on better quality meat as well as being able to buy it more often then her neighbors. When her father was alive, it had been a joke--that the smoked quail had more smoke then quail--now it wasn't a joke she had to make.

Merlin make a joke about the Prince but she only looked at him with a bit of worry. Wait! Where would he sleep!? Then he said he would need her help to make this fake knight's clothing. She'd done it before with Lancelot. Between that and this two new things, and her father's sword it proved she'd do anything for him. "I can help with that. Easy." She offered, "I can sew a tunic, if you tell me the colors and the seal to put on it."

She was willing to help--but afraid of the prince.

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[em]

Come to think of it – Merlin was quite hungry. He hadn’t eaten all day as Arthur had had him running about hunting down someone to play the substitute knight and then he’d had to go to Gwen’s to bribe her. It seemed to have done the trick but Merlin knew she wasn’t happy about it – even if he had said he’d do all of her chores for Morgana for a week.

“I’ll eat anything right now” he smiled, “I haven’t eaten all day”

At least she’d help him with the clothes for the fake knight. “Thank you – really Gwen, I don’t know what I’d do without you” he got up and walked over to her, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. Taking in Arthur was going to be hard work, and even harder as he knew that the prince would moan about something or other. Oh well…he’d just have to put up with it for now.

Merlin went and sat back down, resting his chin in his hands – elbows supporting him. His eyes travelled to where Gwen was pottering about. “I know that sharing a house with Arthur doesn’t exactly sound like heaven – but really…if he gets out of hand I know you’ll tell it how it is – this is your home after all” he stated. Gwen had her opinions and views. Some of which she expressed to Merlin when he was in a time of need. This is why he trusted her.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère turned and began preparing the meal for them. She wasn't quite sure why Merlin had not ate all day but she disapproved. She didn't say anything to him about it, for he was a grown man and could care for himself; but she still wished he would take better care of himself. She thought the prince worked him too hard and that he should have two servants instead of just Merlin. If he really needed all that done and more then he had the money to give another in need a job, and Merlin half as much to do.

At Merlin's words she looked over her shoulder at him in a soft mocking glare, before looking back at what she was doing. "I am not about to tell a prince how it is." She told him, "Not in my father's home! and not when he is my guest!" Just the thought of being rude to a guest while in the home of her father (even if he did not share it with her anymore) was horrid. She would be the perfect hostess---IF she did this. . . . of course she was going to do it. She just didn't have to like it. Turning, she sat a plate before him, and one where she was going to sit before getting them two glasses of water.

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[em]

Merlin could tell that Gwen was annoyed at him for not eating all day. She was practically like his mother, always advising him that he should slow down, but when you worked for Arthur, slowing down wasn’t an option. Neither were delays. Merlin hadn’t even noticed he’d missed lunch until he’d got to Gwen’s house and she’d mentioned staying. That just showed how hard he was working his butt off for Arthur’s benefit – and still the Prince couldn’t see it! Nor did Merlin get any sort of thanks for it.

“I am not about to tell a prince how it is."

Was that a glare? Ooooh, Merlin had certainly hit a nerve there. “Why?” he shrugged, “I do it all the time”. He couldn’t help but grin at Gwen. They both knew what kind of relationship Arthur and Merlin had going for them. “He does listen…well…sometimes.” Merlin raised his brows to himself.

“Not in my father's home! and not when he is my guest!" ok. He’d totally hit a nerve. Merlin really couldn’t see a Gwen vs Arthur showdown anyway. Still, there would be a day when even she would be able to see what he was like and give him some gentle backchat. It wasn’t hard to do – Merlin had been giving Arthur backchat from the first day he’d met him. At least Arthur had grown accustomed to it.

Merlin sat there in silence for a while. He was unsure of what to say now. Instead he chose to pick at the fraying sleeves of his jacket. At least it passed some time until supper was ready.

[Guinevère]

Turning to put the meal she had fixed on the table she noticed Merlin was looking looking at her. "I never did understand how you could be so bold and talk back to him." Even less how they could be friends like it seem they were at times. Arthur made Merlin's life four times as hard as it needed to be!

Talking the seat on the other side of Merlin she waited for him to beginning eating before she did it. "What do I do with a prince for three days?" She asked, forgetting to phrase it as if she was making up her mind, and that her slip would make it seem as if she had agreed. Which she had, but she was afraid. This was the worse idea Merlin ever had (and Merlin was known for being wonderful and strange with his bold ideas).

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