Bedside Manners

[Arthur Pendragon]

It had started with a simple lunch -- with a very strange interruption -- and as always, one thing led to another. Completely unplanned, yet never unwanted. With the way things were going, and less barriers in their relationship -- practically none at this point -- self control was a difficult thing to exercise. And he was quite tired of fighting against it. It was why he was currently taking a few steps forward, until he felt Guinevère's back make contact with the wall. His lips were still pressed against her, the passion in the kiss rising to levels that made them both aware of what would soon come. The bed was a more convenient place, having more space and it was more comfortable to move around on. But the wall was closer, and right now, that was all that seemed to matter. Because he was getting desperate; impatient and he was not even trying to conceal the urgency in the kiss.

Even though he knew that she deserved better than to be pressed against the the stone cold wall. Yet, thinking was not something he was capable of right now. Only feeling and doing. Once her back as against the wall, he slightly lowered himself, not enough to break the contact of the kiss however. Only at an easier angle to move his hands under her dress, so that they were under her thighs, though he had a few ideas as to where else he wanted them. But there would be time for that. Right now, the objective was to get her into a desirable position. So with his hands under her bare thighs, caressing the skin for a moment, he lifted her up a bit, so that her legs would more easily wrap around him. Once she had that support, his hands trailed upwards, pausing when her dress prevented him from being able to move any higher. He needed to change that. Right now.

He moved his hands inwards, before quickly pulling them out, aware of which area he had almost been teasing. Instead, he used them to undo the brown belt she wore around her waist, letting it fall to the ground. He moved his hands along her sides, feeling the curves of her figure. He had to move her forward a bit, so he took a small step backwards, just enough so that she wasn't totally pressed against the wall. So that he could begin to undo her back lacings, knowing he had a lot of layers to work through and getting too eager to stop and think for a moment. All he was consumed with was how much he wanted her. How much he had missed her even just from that one short journey out of the city. So he just began to pull out one tie at a time, his breathing becoming more accelerated as his kiss filled with more ardor.


_{Setting: Arthur's chambers
Time of Day: Late Afternoon
Timeline: During A Servant of Two Masters
Tag: Guinevère and Merlin}

[Guinevère]

Guinevère gasped when her back came against the wall and she felt her self shiver with the anticipation of something new. They'd never been together like this before. On the table, or in the chair but never with the wall at her back and Arthur supporting them both! He lifted her so that her legs were around his and she forgot all about how she was worried for Merlin's mood and worried for the treaty Arthur was working on and worried about the doors not being locked.

She locked her legs around Arthur's waist and pulled up his shirt, and only broke the kiss to pull it from his head. "Arthur!" she panted his name breathlessly, before her lips took his again. There was a burning need to go faster, even if they'd not been without each other long. Lunch had been slightly awkward after Merlin had said what he did, but Arthur seemed determined to make her forget about it. Her hands held onto his shoulder, leaving little half moons where she held on too tight in the pleasure of the moment.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt her hands move to shed him of his shirt, which proved as an effective distraction from his current mission to get her undressed. Never the less, he lifted his arms enough for his shirt to be tossed to the side, immediately regaining his previous position once it was off: his lips on hers, and his hands on her lacings. Her fingernails digging into his back held no pain for him whatsoever. He felt encouraged by it in fact. And the way she said his name only filled him with more of a burning desire for her, feeling even more encouraged and feeling like he would not be able to last much longer. So he hurried, finally getting to the last of it; the first layer of her dress coming off with ease, allowing his touch to linger along her back for a few moments, feeling the skin rather than the fabric of her dress. The arousal of this becoming all the more stronger.

He needed to work on her next layer: the frontal area. He moved forward again, her back -- as before -- pressed against the wall because now, he needed to concentrate on her ties that bound in the front. His hands moved forward, starting with the first, his lips moving down her neck and then lower to gently brush against what exposed skin there was thanks to her lower collared shirt. But he knew he wanted them elsewhere, not just on the small bits of skin he could get access to. He worked on the second lacing, unable to control himself so found his lips back on hers, as his body heaved with sheer desire. Third lacing. He was getting closer and closer to where he wanted. The anticipation nearly driving him to madness.

[Guinevère]

Arthur was going to cause her to faint! She was taking deeper breathes int he moments she could breathe and right when she thought she might be about to catch her breath he did something to make her gasp or hold it, or lose it all over again! "Arthur!" She cried, "Please!" He was teasing her and tempting her. She was begging him to give her what she needed!

Her own hands moved from his back, to the lacing in front of him. She pulled them out quickly and moved his trousers down just enough to free him completely. The lower Arthur's lips move the more out of reach his hips grew for her! Her under dress finally came open and she helped slid it down, so her dress was bunched up at the waist and down at the top. Without bothering to remove it, her hands with to Arthur's head as she held him closer to her chest, his kisses nearly making her finish without him.

[em]

Merlin had spent most of the morning trying to figure out how on earth to kill Arthur - his first chance had been ruined with her, being there all the bloody time. Merlin was angry. Angry that Arthur hadn't taken his food, while he'd spent all of his precious time poisoning it. Never the less! there was always more options to consider, and now was the time again to try and take down the prat with a crown.

He'd found some flowers, after some search and had come up with a potion to allow Arthur to be poisoned by the fragrence, whilst being completly unaware. It was odorless, and Merlin could leave them in Arthur's room, but of course he had to get rid of him quickly. He'd make Arthur smell the flower and then BANG. dead. Then he could always kill Gwen too if the mood was right. To test this theory, he had waved the flowers under the nose of an unsuspecting pig. The only confirmation of it working, being that it fell straight to the ground. He was pleased with the result
and decided that flowers would be the best way to do the job right.
On top of that, he'd even taken it upon himself to make Arthur a coffin - managing to estimate his height by measuring his clothes. So far it was half complete and hidden in Merlin's room - out of the view of Gauis of course! The old man was becoming more irritating by the hour.

Making his way to Arthur's room, he hummed cheerily to himself, coming to the door. He wouldn't bother knocking - Arthur would only be at his desk working anyway. Merlin threw the door open and walked in. "So i found these..." he stopped, his face blank and calm, and seeing exactly what he didnt want to see. Arthur and Gwen. Together. Awkwardly. UNDRESSED!
Now had he have been in the right state of mind, he would've immediatly walked back out again, but he wasn't. Instead he looked at the flowers and hastily chucked them behind him - sending them flying over the dressing screen and landing behind it. Another bloody plan thwarted because of Gwen!

Merlin then looked the pair up and down, crossed his arms and glared - even tapping his foot to make a point!"Oh now that is just disgusting!" he began, "and to think! You have an unlocked door where ANYONE can just waltz in!". He shot a look from Arthur to Gwen - "I suppose this was your idea?" he said to her, "well of course it was - why shouldn't it be when you're here - with him - everyday". The words just rolled off of his tongue furiously - He didn't bother giving them both time to explain. HE JUST WANTED ARTHUR DEAD! WAS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK!

[Arthur Pendragon]

When he felt the ties of his trousers loosen and slowly move down enough, he felt the instant gratification and relief. He paused only for a second, to absorb the moment and try to still his heavily beating heart. He pressed himself closer to her; his kisses along her now fully exposed chest became more passionate, moaning her name in between as they were getting closer and closer. He was getting ready to enter her . . . when suddenly he heard the door fly open, and all too familiar voice, and then harsh words. Arthur immediately spun around, staying close to her, pressing his back against her, to cover her. To shield her from Merlin's eyes for she was undressed. When he spun around, it took him a quick moment to realize that he had no pants on! Damn it! He quickly moved down, pulling up his pants with one hand, covering his modesty! While his other arm was out at his side, still holding her back and trying to protect her own modesty!

And that was when the anger set in. All this took only seconds, but it felt so drawn out . . . especially with Merlin just standing there. "Get out!" He yelled angrily. What was he doing in here?! Usually people knocked! Even Merlin at times when he knew that Guinevère would be in his chambers! Most did not just waltz into the king's chambers without so much as a warning knock! Then again . . . it was Merlin. Arthur should have known better. Merlin had a point; anyone could have walked in. And by anyone, really, only Merlin. It did however get worse though, for he was still just standing there, staring and furthermore . . . blaming Guinevère for this?! What the bloody hell was wrong with him! His behavior was bad enough at lunch! Arthur had been kind then for he just thought that Merlin had been a bit disoriented after his ordeal. But now this?! Saying it was disgusting, and then criticizing Guinevère?! Merlin had gone too far this time. Still holding his pants up with one hand, standing directly in front of Guinevère, his anger grew with Merlin's lingering presence and his horribly rude and unacceptable words.

"Merlin! Shut up and get the hell out!" He snapped, even louder this time. If he was within reach of something, he would throw it at him! Why was he staring?! Had he no decency?! No respect?! If not for Arthur, then at least for Guinevère's sake! He should understand that she was very exposed right now, and how inappropriate Merlin's presence was right now! It was only making Arthur fume with more anger, for he would not allow any man's eyes rest on Guinevère when she was so . . . unclad. And yet, here was Merlin. Shocked no doubt, but still not doing anything to remedy this. Really, the only way to remedy it was by him leaving! Which for some bizarre reason, he was not doing! And Arthur couldn't move, because until Guinevère got her dress back on, he was the only thing keeping her covered. He had a feeling that part of his anger was due to frustration, over having been so close and then so rudely interrupted. But with Merlin standing and staring, it was just becoming pure anger and annoyance towards him.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt him down there! He was about to give her what she'd been trying to get from--"So i found these..." Her eyes flew open and from above Arthur's head she saw Merlin! "Oh now that is just disgusting!" By this time Arthur was moving and she could react properly! She gasped in shock and her hands came up to cover her self! "Get out!"

"And to think! You have an unlocked door where ANYONE can just waltz in!" Merlin was still talking and Guinevère could not even think about asking WHY he wasn't leaving. In her mind she only knew that Merlin her dearest friend and closest friend had just not only see her naked but open and exposed and with the king's head in a place that no man's head should be on an unmarried woman! Would he think her a loose woman? "I suppose this was your idea?" Who's idea?

She was pulling on her under dress as Arthur's back served as her protection! She had the lances done up in record time, but her face was so red, and tears of embarrassment were about to fall. Where was her blue dress? "Well of course it was - why shouldn't it be when you're here - with him - everyday." Wait?! Her?! Merlin was saying what? "Merlin! Shut up and get the hell out!"

She paused looking for her dress and half peeked out from behind Arthur. Merlin was being rather harsh, or was this his anger at finding out she was not as moral and good as he once thought? Surely he would not be mean?

Finding her dress near her feet, she ducked down to grab it, but only held it against her. This WHOLE event was enough that she wanted to run away but she knew better then to run from her troubles. She used the dress to wipe away the few tears that fell and then raised her chin higher trying to not look as embarrassed as she felt in this moment. Even still she was NOT going to come out from behind Arthur just yet.

[em]

How was he supposed to kill Arthur now?! Why was it that all of his plans were interrupted by the most irrelevent of things?! "Merlin! Shut up and get the hell out!"
Merlin ignored Arthur, had Gwen have not been there the King would be lying dead on the floor by now. Perhaps the poisonous wine would've been a more appropriate option for a time like this.

"How am I supposed to get on with my duties when you're always kicking me out" he replied irritably, "Next you'll be moaning because I haven't done any of them, and whose fault is that?" He shot a look at Gwen and then back to Arthur. "You might as well just have Gwen serve you, because she seems to be doing a pretty good job already" he snapped and headed for the door. Time to go and work on a new plan.

As he opened it, he looked back to Arthur and Gwen calmly, "When you've quite finished, I need to wash those trousers" he said and with that, walked out - slamming door behind him.
Now...where could he get hold of some more deathly weapons? Ah! The armoury - a crossbow would do nicely.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur did not like the way Merlin was shooting looks at Guinevère. It reminded him of that bizarre lunch moment, where Merlin had seemed so angry that he had not eaten the food that he prepared. He was usually so very understanding about things between him and Guinevère. As Merlin was the first one who found out about his feelings for her . . . he had been rather supportive of it. Which was why Arthur had no idea what was wrong with him right now! The way he was blaming her and lashing. This wasn't like him. Had he hit his head? Was he just lacking sleep? Either way, Arthur was not quite expressing understanding and leniency right now. He was angry. And Merlin was just standing there spouting out rude remarks! If Arthur could move -- if he wasn't shielding Guinevère -- he would have found something to throw at Merlin. His boot was looking very tempting right now. "LEAVE!" He demanded once more, ignoring everything that Merlin had just went on about. Finally, he had left, slamming the door behind him. Who said he could slam the door?!

Arthur was going to have a very interesting conversation with him later about his lack of manners, rudeness, and for not knocking! Once he was out of the room, Arthur quickly laced up his pants and then turned around to see Guinevère. She had managed to pull up her dress in time . . . though he knew that Merlin had still witnessed far more than he ever should have. "I'm so sorry," Arthur said, his voice softening significantly from the tone he'd used with Merlin. He saw the sign of tears in her eyes, and felt horrible! He should have locked the door. Or waited until tonight. He certainly shouldn't have pressed her against the wall and let his passionate actions get the better of him. He put both his hands on either side of her upper arms, slightly lowering himself so that he was more on the same eye level as her. "Are you alright?" More so, emotionally rather than physically. Because right now, his greatest concern was her. And his next would be how to beat some sense into his idiot servant.

[Guinevère]

"You might as well just have Gwen serve you, because she seems to be doing a pretty good job already. When you've quite finished, I need to wash those trousers!" Merlin walked out then, and Arthur turned toward her. Guinevère was feeling exposed and and as if her brother had seen her naked. Which he had.

Arthur was apologizing but all she could hear was Merlin's voice who had suggested she was 'servicing the king'! She had known that if anyone caught her with him they could call her things like whore and the king's mistress but for it to come from Merlin! It hurt! In ways she did not know Merlin could hurt her! His words had been harsh, and after walking in on her and Arthur, she had thought he'd back out and then blush all the way to his ears when he saw her next. Not say things to hurt her.

Looking up at Arthur, she didn't want to make things hard for Merlin. "He was just surprised. He didn't mean it."