Merlin would never drink again. Really, that was where this whole mess had started - at Gwen's latest book launch last month, where champagne flowed like water and the waiters stopped just short of flinging canapes into peoples mouths with slingshots. Yes, it was all Gwen's fault and now Merlin found himself working with a person he completely hated and despised, except that he actually loved him and it took all Merlin's self control not to accost the stupid prat and ravish him right there on the ridiculously large green sofa in front of the camera's and the entire population of Britain and really it was all getting a bit out of hand because now Merlin was trying to decide between homicide and suicide and it was only 8am.

Merlin needed a drink.

"Merlin," Gwen whined, evidently ignoring Merlin's emphatic head shaking. "Come on, it'll be fun."

Merlin took a momentary break from his head shaking to give Gwen a pointed look. "No, it won't be" he said firmly, memories of the mind-numbing dullness of Gwen's last book launch in his mind. "You'll abandon me to talk to boring entertainment-type business people and I'll get asked if I'm your assistant. Again."

Gwen pouted and Merlin felt his resolution waver just a bit. He wanted to help her, he really did and he knew that Gwen was only trying to make this event a success to please a very respectable client of P&R Publishing but he also knew how shockingly boring these events were for anybody who wasn't anybody. Like Merlin.

"I am sorry Gwen, I know you want this to be a success but there is absolutely no way I'm going." he said, with an air of finality in his voice.

"There's free food and it's an open bar." Gwen said. Then again, Merlin thought, anything to help out a friend.

"I'll be ready in twenty minutes."

This was Merlin's first mistake as later that night, he found himself surrounded by boring entertainment-type business people and the party was even more dull that Merlin could have possibly imagined. Also, Gwen had lied. There was no free bar; only endless flutes of champagne being passed around by waitresses who continuously assured anyone they met that they were really an actress/singer/model.

So this was how Merlin found himself at 10.30pm on a Wednesday night, sitting at the non-open bar clutching his drink and waiting for the next arrival of canapes when he felt movement to his side. He turned to face a

cascade of ebony black hair and a Blackberry clutched to an ear.

"I don't care…you can tell Uther it'll be fine, I'll find somebody to replace the silly girl…yes, of course, by the end of the week - okay, bye" With that, the woman turned to Merlin, a smile on her face and returned the mobile to a tiny gold bag.

Merlin passed the glass of champagne to the woman, stating "Here, I think you need this more than I do." The woman didn't pause before draining the glass in one go.

"God, I really did. Honestly, dealing with that man is worse than slaying a dragon." she said, more to herself. "I'm Morgana."

"Merlin" he replied, "These parties are dull enough, without adding being sober to the mix."

Morgana laughed, a high tinkle that showed off how beautiful she really was. If Merlin had even the slightest interest in girls, he would probably be falling over his feet to flirt with her.

"Tell me about it, I'm only here supporting dear brother - he always manages to guilt me into coming," she said as she turned around to score two more glasses off a passing tray and handed one to Merlin.

"Change that to 'flatmate' and it's my predicament exactly" Merlin clinked his glass against hers before taking a large gulp. "So what was all that about on the phone?"

Morgana sighed, "It was a whole big thing really. Basically, we had somebody, this silly twit called Sophia, to host this show I produce and now she's buggered off and we're left in the lurch. The previous hosts leave on Friday. I told Uther not to push to have Arthur host so fast but of course, he never listens to me. So I've got a find somebody who'll put up with Arthur's crap and whose also charming and able to do the show otherwise Uther will feed me to the dogs." She finished her rant and took a deep breath, followed by a large drink.

"Well…" Merlin said, feeling quite stunned. "That's quite a situation. Would you like to make a joke about my name to cheer you up? It amuses many people." When Morgana smiled but didn't laugh, he continued. "Have you got nobody in mind?"

Morgana shook her head, before quickly turning to look curiously at Merlin, who in turn felt quite worried. She had a very scary expression on her face.

"This is gonna sound bizarre but would you be interested in doing the show?" she asked, as if it was a perfectly normal thing to ask someone you've just met.

Merlin spluttered, "Well - I…er? What? You don't even know me?"

Morgana shrugged, "I know you're funny and nice and you understand the importance of alcohol which is very important when working with Arthur. Listen, just swing by tomorrow and we'll try you out with Arthur, see if the chemistry is there. Okay?"

At this point, Merlin had just enough champagne that he didn't immediately refuse and run away. Fast. "Uh…I'm not-"

"Listen, I've got to dash. Here's my card and the address is on there too. Just, think about it." Morgana gave him a peck on the cheek before jumping down from the bar stool and pulling out her Blackberry and walking away.

Merlin sat shellshocked, holding the card in his hand and wondering what the hell had just happened. After a few moments, he regained his sanity long enough to glance down at the card to catch the address which read 'Morgana le Fay, Pendragon Tower, Bank, London'. Pendragon Tower. Uther Pendragon, one of the richest men in the country and Arthur Pendragon, his son and rumoured to be the new host of Wake Up Britain. Apparantly, now alongside Merlin.

'Oh hell' Merlin thought to himself. 'There is no way this can end well.'

Later that night, after Merlin had regained his senses and Gwen had taken pity on him, they arrived home in a buzz of alcohol and free food. Their flat was always being described as 'cosy' which they knew was a fake compliment, actually meaning 'small' but it never bothered them. It was the best that an aspiring publisher and part-time waiter could afford in London. The first thing Merlin did was to slump on the sofa and pull out the food wrapped in napkins that he had stuffed into his jacket pockets when he thought nobody was looking. Gwen, too used to this to comment, just rolled her eyes and sat down next to him.

"Did you get any of the goat's cheese tart thingies?" she asked casually, sifting through the stolen food.

Merlin shook his head. "Sorry, I was a bit distracted. Not up to my usual thieving standards tonight I'm afraid." He glanced over at Gwen who had an eyebrow raised, which Merlin knew, after being best friends for twelve years, to mean 'spill it'. He thought she must have learnt it from Uncle Gaius because the resemblance was really quite similar. "I had a bit of a…strange encounter," he finally said, prompting a knowing look from Gwen.

"Ah, yes I saw you talking to Morgana," she said with a smile, "She's both lovely and terrifying at the same time."

Merlin laughed, "Yeah I got that - wait you know Morgana?"

Gwen looked at him as if he were very slow, which happened too much for Merlin's liking. "I know of her," she said slowly, "She's the boss's stepdaughter."

Merlin groaned, he'd forgotten the P in P&R Publishing stood for Pendragon. "God, is there anything the Pendragon's don't own?"

"Nope" Gwen replied cheerfully, "They're taking over the world, one industry at a time. What did Morgana want with you anyway?"

Merlin looked at her, trying to decide how to put this. "Well, she kind of wanted me to be on this show she's producing."

Gwen sat bolt upright and turned to Merlin, gripping his arms. "Morgana wants you to host Wake Up Britain," she said, an air of incredulity in her voice.

Merlin nodded, "Ridiculous, I know. She said their host dropped out at the last minute and so they're desperate."

Gwen gripped his arms tighter; really how was somebody so tiny so strong? Or was Merlin just outrageously weak? Probably both.

A few minutes passed where Gwen just stared at him. "Uh Gwen?" he said, glancing at his arms.

"What- oh sorry?" she released him, but still continued to stare at him. "You have to do it," she stated suddenly.

"Uh what? Of course I can't do it! For one thing, I hate mornings." Merlin said, attempting a weak looked at him as if he were stupid again.

"Merlin," she began evenly, "Do you know what happens when people say no to the Pendragon's?" When Merlin simply stared at her blankly, she continued "They don't."

Merlin gave her a look that clearly said 'Seriously?' but Gwen just met his look.

"Look, Uther Pendragon is my boss. He owns the publishing house. You're my friend. You turn down his stepdaughter, he is not going to be best pleased."

"Gwen-" Merlin began, seeing where this was going but Gwen interrupted him, "I know you don't want to do but please just go to the meeting. For me."

Merlin was all set to argue his case until Gwen flashed him The Eyes that deserved their own capitalisation because Merlin could never resist them without feeling like he'd just told a five year old that Santa was a drunk wife-beater.

"Okay, fine!" Merlin conceded. "I'll go - for you" he added.

Gwen squealed, "Ooh thank you. Chances are they wont want you to do it anyway."