Fic: Freely Given (Merlin/Gwen)

[magog_83]

A couple of weeks ago I was stuck in a fic rut because I haven’t got time to get stuck into my WIPs, but I wanted to write something, so I posted and asked people for prompts. rodneyscat was kind enough to leave me a prompt for Merlin/Gwen, which I’ve never tried to write before (as I’m usually a Merlin/Arthur girl all the way). Anyway, I gave it a go, and really enjoyed writing it and I’m now reposting outside of friend’s lock. The prompt was, I can always use a Gwen/Merlin kiss. Something that's just that little bit more than friendship, but won't really get in the way of that friendship. I just love how sweet they are together and they can both always use a bit of tlc.

Wordcount: 1,700
Pairings: Merlin/Gwen, but also some Morgana/Gwen and Merlin/Arthur hints (because I cannot resist my OTP).
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: Gwen and Merlin share a kiss on May Day, and Merlin decides that destiny is a strange thing.

Beta'd by the wonderful vensre, for whom I made sure to mention freckles, and written for rodneyscat :D


"Oh! There you are, Merlin." Gwen looked a little flustered; her May Day garland was hanging loosely and rather precariously from her dark curls and she was breathing hard.

Merlin grinned at her, lifting his tankard in a cheerful salute. "I'm attending his Pratness."

Gwen looked around, as if expecting the Prince to crawl out from under the long tables (which Merlin would give up all his ale to witness), then frowned. "I thought he went back inside?"

Bugger. Merlin figured he should get some credit for effort at least. "I guess I'm just guarding the broiled ham then. Not all that different..." he trailed off reflectively.

Gwen giggled, then covered her mouth, the way she always did when she found something funny but thought she probably shouldn't. Merlin beamed at her, the sweet ale settling pleasantly in his stomach along with something else — something that he thought might have more to do with the smell of sunbaked grass, wood smoke and the way Gwen was looking at him, happy and hopeful all at once.

Merlin took a mouthful of ale, for courage, and said, "You look very pretty."

Now Gwen really did look flustered and Merlin felt a flush creep up his neck — perhaps he should not have said that. But she did look pretty. Not untouchably beautiful like the Lady Morgana perhaps, but he doubted the Lady Morgana had ever had freckles across her nose or hair that blew every which way and seemed to tempt Merlin's fingers. He frowned down at his tankard — where had that thought come from?

"Would you... would you like to dance?" Her words came out so fast that Merlin almost didn't catch them (busy staring into his tankard as he was). He stared at Gwen, who looked horribly embarrassed. "I mean, you don't have to, I just thought that... As it's May Day and you haven't—"

"I can't," Merlin blurted.

"Oh! Yes, of course, I didn't mean that you—"

"No, I mean I can't," Merlin broke in, before she could look any more disappointed. "Arthur tried to teach me and I gave him a black eye... Don't ask," he said, at Gwen's confused expression. "Gaius made me promise I wouldn't try again. For the sake of the realm." He smiled, apologetic and awkward, feeling his face flush.

Gwen stared at him a moment longer, and then started laughing, eyes bright with mirth and something that looked perilously like affection. "Whatever are we going to do with you, Merlin," she said, in what Merlin thought was a rather uncanny echo of everyone he had ever met in his life. Merlin tried looking terribly put upon, but Gwen only shook her head. "It's a tradition that maidens receive gifts upon May Day." Her voice was warmly teasing, the awkwardness of a moment before seemingly forgotten, and she was just Gwen once more, though a sun-freckled Gwen with white flowers in her hair and as beautiful as Merlin had ever seen her. "But if you are sworn not to dance, you may just have to help me with the laundry baskets later."

Merlin didn't really mind helping Gwen with her baskets, though Arthur teased him for it, so he didn't really know why instead of agreeing he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Gwen's suddenly, nearly dropping his tankard in the process. It was clumsy and too fast and Gwen made a surprised sound against his lips, her hand coming up to rest against his chest — to hold him there or push him away, Merlin wasn't sure. He pulled back after barely a second, his heart pounding painfully and the familiar heat of embarrassment warming his face.

"Sorry! I'm sorry, I didn't mean— you just looked so..."

"I didn't mind," Gwen said, too quickly, and they both stared at each other.

"You know me and baskets," Merlin said weakly. "It's an accident waiting to happen."

Gwen smiled, a nervous smile, and then looked at Merlin's mouth a moment longer than Merlin's stomach was comfortable with. "No baskets then," she said, then swallowed.

Considering he had now at least had one previous attempt, Merlin thought this time round would be more successful and it was, if you didn't count him half standing on Gwen's foot (Gwen just muttered "never mind" when he tried to pull back and apologise, so Merlin decided it didn't matter too much and got back to the kissing). Gwen's mouth was ridiculously soft, and her hair, Merlin discovered, was just how he had imagined it would be (only he hadn't imagined the way it would tickle as it brushed against his skin). Her hand was warm and only a little hesitant as it curled loosely around his neck, calloused, the way his hands were calloused — from too many baskets carried and too many things scrubbed and scoured and polished. Merlin didn't quite know what to do with his hands, so he rested them lightly at her waist, the familiar rough weave of her dress thrillingly exotic in that moment.

"Gwen!" It was Gwen who pulled away first this time, she taking far less time than Merlin to recognise the approaching sound of the Lady Morgana, apparently searching for her handmaiden.

"My lady?" Gwen sounded a bit breathless, and Merlin felt a little that way himself.

"There you are, Gwen. And Merlin!" Lady Morgana appeared from the crowd, radiant in a plain green gown, and Merlin reflected briefly upon the fact that her untouchable beauty did not seem so untouchable now in the waning evening sun, grass on her skirts and the famous porcelain skin touched with the lightest red. Or perhaps it was the presence of Gwen, for whom she always smiled, warm and human. "I have been looking for you." She cast an amused glance at Gwen and then at Merlin, letting her gaze linger on his flushed face. "I hope you have not been importuning my handmaiden, Merlin?" she said, her tone was arch but her eyes were amused.

"Of course not, my lady," Gwen interrupted before Merlin could do more than look guilty. "We were just... discussing baskets."

"Baskets?" said Morgana, a slight smile curving her lips.

"Um... yes?" said Merlin, as Gwen looked at him for confirmation.

"I see," said Morgana. "Well I wouldn't make a habit of it; I don't think Arthur would approve."

Merlin made a face, "He never approves of me with baskets."

Morgana ducked her head, as though to hide a smile, but only said, "Indeed." She turned to Gwen, who had taken the opportunity during their brief preoccupation to right her garland and tidy her hair, "I had hoped to steal you away to the dancing, unless you are otherwise engaged?"

Gwen looked a bit embarrassed at that but said at once, "Of course! I was trying to persuade Merlin, but he didn't think it would be wise." She and Merlin shared a brief conspiratorial look and Merlin felt, in that moment, quite content with his world.

"I hope he gave you a suitable gift instead," said Morgana.

"Oh yes," said Gwen, a bit too enthusiastically, and Morgana laughed and pulled Gwen towards her.

"I'm sure," she said, still laughing, "But I'm afraid I will have to steal her away from you, Merlin, for I cannot be expected to dance alone."

Merlin looked a bit wistfully at the two of them, at the way Gwen did not look awkward or nervous now, but leaned into her lady, already half turned towards the swirling mass of townspeople and courtiers alike. "I'll just guard the ham then," he said.

Morgana looked a bit confused at that but Gwen turned back and then, in a fleeting moment, stepped towards him, her lips pressing all too briefly against Merlin's cheek. "Thank you," she said, just loud enough for Merlin to hear, then in a more normal tone, "And good luck."

"Thanks!" Merlin said after a surprised moment, before stopping to wonder what on earth she was wishing him luck for. But Gwen just smiled, and let Morgana pull her away into the crowd.

"There you are!" came a depressingly familiar voice a second later, answering his question. "You are supposed to be following me around like the loyal servant you're being paid to be, not salivating over a side of ham and making free with the ale. And did you even notice I had left?"

Merlin turned with a loud and very long suffering sigh to see Arthur, his revered employer, stalking towards him with a scowl on his face (and, Merlin was very happy to see, a rather sunburned nose).

"Well?" Arthur demanded.

"I couldn't find you, so I thought if I waited by the ham, you would be bound to turn up sooner or later."

"Excuse me?" snapped the Prince.

Merlin smiled angelically. "I can see the castle entrance from here."

Arthur opened his mouth to argue, then shut it again, unsure (since they could indeed see clearly to the castle entrance). "Well," he said at last, "next time, pay attention."

"Yes, Sire," said Merlin, dutifully.

Arthur looked a bit suspicious at that but then muttered something (probably insulting) and settled back against the table next to him. "What have you been doing anyway?"

"Nothing," said Merlin innocently.

Arthur narrowed his eyes, but evidently seemed satisfied with Merlin's answer, "Good. I am not paying you to flirt with the court ladies."

Merlin swallowed the grin that was threatening to take over his face and looked out instead to the dancers, a sea of ever-moving colour drenched in the golden evening light. He could see Gwen and Morgana now, hands clasped tight and hair flying as they spun and leapt, faster and faster until he could hardly tell them apart, dark and light and breathless laughter. Gwen twirled and caught his eye, still grinning, and Merlin raised his tankard to her and Morgana both, earning himself an odd glance from his companion, but no scathing words this time. Destiny was a funny thing, he thought. The end was set and paths already chosen, but it didn't mean there were no surprises along the way.

The End

Comments

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I just love your writing style. It's always filled with such warmth and charm that I want to read it with hot cocoa in front of a crackling fire.

Loved how flirtatious Gwen was and how Merlin didn't really know how to respond. Loved that Arthur was always looking out for him and making sure he was there, in Arthur's sphere of influence. Just so cute.

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

It's always filled with such warmth and charm that I want to read it with hot cocoa in front of a crackling fire.

Yes that! Very much fics to read comfortably curled up on the couch, snug in a soft sweater :D

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Even though it's May, and getting reasonably warm here, the idea of a crackling fire and hot cocoa is just too tempting :) :) Thank you so much, this was so different to my usual M/A stuff that it felt like a real challenge to try and get into the Gwen and Merlin mindset. But I was really fond of them in series 1, they were so adorable together (I missed that in series 2, I must say), and once I started imagining that lovely sunny evening, it all started to make sense :D

Of course, I couldn't resist bringing Arthur into it even so, so I'm chuffed you liked that bit too! Thanks so much for your comment, as ever :)

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

You are welcome. You are one of my favorite authors and I always look for anything you post in Merlin fandom. :D

Write more!

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I obey ;)

http://ficondemand.dreamwidth.org/4317.html?thread=1245#cmt1245

:D :D

(just a silly Merlin/Arthur comment fic I posted anon the other day).

And thank you again - really, your comments are always hugely appreciated and I'm flattered you enjoy my stuff so much!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the link. I loved it. Very sweet and warm. Loved that Merlin was into the cider and it was only then that he'd tell Arthur how he really felt.

[opusnone.livejournal.com]

So very adorable and fun. The Gwen/Merlin interaction was so lovely and their characterizations delicious. And I adored the contrast of a knowing Morgana and suspicious but stumped Arthur.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Somehow knowing Morgana vs clueless Arthur just seemed right :) I always like to think that the girls are much more on top of things than Merlin and Arthur, who have all the power but none of the intuition ;)

Thanks so much for reading!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i have to love a writer or get a lot of recommendations to read a gwen/merlin, so that just shows how much i think of you ♥

you did a lovely job of capturing everyone here, even off-screen gaius. v. v. sweet. also, lurved the last line to death. ♥

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

:D Aww thank you so much, what a lovely thing to say!! I have to admit, this pairing is not one I've tried before, and my OTP will always be Merlin/Arthur, but it was a real challenge and fun to give it a try so I'm so pleased you enjoyed it anyway. Not that I could quite resist squeezing in Merlin/Arthur (and Gwen/Morgana, my favourite Gwen pairing), but I was very fond of Merlin and Gwen in series 1 and their dorky adorableness.

Thanks again for reading :)

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Awww...this was really sweet. Loved how you wrote the Merlin and Gwen interaction here. I could see them acting like that. LOL at Merlin "guarding" the ham - and I loved Arthur coming in at the end and the usual snark going on between the both of them.

I enjoyed reading this greatly. :) Such a fun, cute story. :)

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

That ham needs to be guarded you know. There are lots of... er, ham thieves... about. You can never be too careful! And Merlin probably does a better job attending the ham than he ever has Arthur ;)

Thanks so much! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, this was something a bit new for me, but I had fun reliving happy season 1 Merlin and Gwen and their adorable crush :D

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Yay, public repost! I'm so proud I inspired you to try something new and really, Gwen/Merlin fits your writing style so beautifully, it was meant to be :D

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Yep, Ven very kindly beta'd it for me first, just to iron out some dodgy grammar and bizarre sentence structure :D

Thank you, I'm really glad in hindsight that I didn't put any caveats on the prompting (I almost did, as I wasn't sure I would be strong enough to write Arthur/Gwen if someone had asked). But this was different, and yet it's a Merlin and Gwen I really love (the way they were in series 1 together I mean) and I got quite nostalgic remembering it and imagining how Gwen might finally get a proper kiss from Merlin. Clearly this prompting business works very well!!!

[norwegianblue47.livejournal.com]

Gah, that's adorable. And Merlin's description of Gwen, that just lovely. It makes me want to have a flower wreath. And then Morgana comes and sort of catches them at it. This was really sweet.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I do love how Gwen often wears flowers in her hair, she wears them very well and it suits her personality I think. I think the flower wreath was the first thing I thought of with this prompt, actually :)

Ah yes, Morgana is totally on to them! Luckily, she's not likely to be quite so grumpy about it as Arthur... ;)

Thanks for commenting!!

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Oh magog! That's so CUTE! I do love Gwen and Merlin when they straddle that line between friends and sweethearts. They do it so well! (Or maybe it's you who did it so well! ;) )

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's just them being so adorable together :D :D It was so nice to think back to series 1 Gwen and Merlin for this one, they were so sweet then, what with the flowers, and the stammering, and Merlin's awkwardness, and that impetuous kiss in the Poisoned Chalice episode. I think if they did ever kiss, it would have to be a bit out of the blue like that, otherwise they'd both get far too flustered ;)

Thanks so much for reading and commenting!!

[capricornucopia.livejournal.com]

This is adorable! Gwen and Merlin are so darn cute together and I love them here because they're just their silly, loving selves. <333

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I wish we could see them being like that more often! But the show seems to keep them apart more now, which is a shame :( Still, they can still be adorable together in the world of fanfic!!

Thanks for commenting :D :D

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_esmeralda_/]

D'aww, this came up via delicious and totally made my night. Gwen/Merlin kisses are one of those things that can never not be adorable, and I love the way you write these two stumbling into it so cutely and impulsively, and the amused Morgana whisking Gwen off to dance later <3

[supergreak.livejournal.com]

This is so canon.
Seriously. Everyone interacting and Merlin's thing with the freckles and not dancing and stepping on her foot. And also, "talking about baskets" is the best kissing metaphor ever.