Arthur had stormed out from his father's house determined never to return, since he was old enough to understand, and take notice, he had become more and more disillusioned with his father's beliefs. Uther's stance on magic users had become harder and harder, even to the fact he had treated his own daughter like dirt once she could no longer hide her growing powers as a seer. Arthur knew his half-sister was not evil, in fact it had been him she had turned to for help once she could no longer hide things. After yet another argument over his sisters treatment Arthur decided that he was breaking his ties once and for all with Uther. Something he had started several years ago when he had moved out and went his own way, refusing to work for Pendragons Corp. Then he hadn't been able to take Morgana with him as she was a minor but now he was taking his sister out of the house and her father's control.
Arthur would support her, unlike Morgana he had his own money and would not tolerate her treatment one more moment. Pendragon Corp had led the way in magic suppression treatments for the past twenty four years and Uther had forced his daughter to take the latest drugs from the age of fourteen when he realised she was 'tainted' with magic. She had had no freedom, Uther had controlled everything she did. She had run away from home once but her father had found her and dragged her back. Everything she did had to be approved by Uther, he had even taken away her phone and had her home schooled not allowing her to mix with her old friends. Her life had been hell.
As Arthur left he went to the back door, where he had told Morgana to wait with whatever she wanted to take with her. Now Morgana was eighteen, today was her birthday, Arthur had finally told his father she would be living with him. Morgana was waiting in the car for him, she was six years younger than her brother. The result of an affair Uther had had with a married woman whilst her husband was away serving in the army. Her mother was unable to keep Morgana, as her husband refused to bring up another man's child and as she had another young daughter and felt she couldn't just leave her husband. So Morgana was dumped on Uther's doorstep. For years he had pretended that Morgana was a foundling he had taken in, not willing for anyone with Pendragon blood to be put in care. But, when at fourteen Morgana had had a vision she started to investigate, snooping through her father's office when he was at work, it was then she found out the truth. This had rocked both the siblings, Arthur had listened for years as he father took the high moral ground on every issue he could, to find out he had been hiding such a secret had shaken him.
As Arthur got into the car he looked at his sister and smiled "Got everything you want?"
"I don't want much, it's all in the boot" Morgana said mournfully. Not because she was sad leaving but because she had so little to take with her that meant anything.
"Don't worry tomorrow we go shopping. I owe you a birthday present" Arthur smiled "It will be great having you with me and you will no longer have to hide yourself"
As they travelled they talked about all sorts of things, but mostly about Arthur's plans for Morgana. He had found someone who could help her come off the drugs that controlled her life, and also help with her powers and allow her to gain the control she needed. It took then an hour and a half to get to Ealdor and Arthur's home. The house was in a nice area and had once belonged to Arthur's mother, it had been part of the estate left to the blonde when his mother died. Along with enough money that if he hadn't wanted to, he needn't have worked. But that had never been Arthur's intention. He had worked hard at getting his doctorate and despite his young age was clinical psychologist working with the police on victim support as well as a few private clients. A career his father had been strongly opposed to. But Arthur had been determined and had taken his A levels a year early, and then funded his own University studies getting through in a short as period as he could. He took his career seriously and loved it. Much preferring it to the job his father had mapped out for him in his pharmaceutical company. As he worked from home, except when going on home visits or the police station, he felt he could also offer Morgana the support she would need.
As the house was larger than Arthur needed for his own use, he had converted some of the rooms to a self-contained unit that his housekeeper Gwen and her husband, Lance de Luc, a policeman, lived in. It worked out well for all of them. The only other person regularly around the place was a gardener/handyman who looked after the large grounds and helped Gwen with the heavier work. Tristan was a few years older than Arthur, he had a way with plants and loved working outside, and he was occasionally helped by his wife Isolde. Arthur gave him free rein in the garden. Tristan kept himself to himself but was a hard worker. Arthur had employed him at the suggestion of his doctor, Gaius, who said Tristan was trying to make a new start for himself and his wife. His brothers had been part of a gang and when they were arrested he had been sacked by his employers and their neighbours had turned against them not believing they had known nothing about his brother's crimes. It had made Tristan bitter and withdrawn.
Pulling up outside the house Arthur got out and collected Morgana's bags from the boot of his car. "Come on let's get you settled. I have a room ready for you, I think you'll like it, but if you don't you can either change it or use one of the other rooms."
Morgana had been to her brother's house once before, but it had been a long time ago, as her father hadn't allowed her to visit for several years. Arthur took her upstairs to a large and airy room to the back of the house. "You have a good view of the garden and the river beyond as well as your own on suite" he grinned. My room is next door"
Morgana was still feeling overwhelmed by what had happened, although she was a feisty young woman she had had some of her spirit dampened down by her father and the drugs she was made to take. Looking round the room she smiled at Arthur "Thank you"
"Look Morgana we will get you sorted I promise. Do you remember Gaius?" he said kindly.
Morgana nodded, Gaius was an old friend of Uther's who had eventually fallen out with Uther over his treatment of his children. He used to be the family doctor.
"Well he lives in Ealdor now, he is now my doctor and he will be over soon. He will work out a safe regime to get you off the drugs you have been on. I managed to get a list from George" Arthur smiled "Poor George isn't as clever as he thinks he is."
George was their father's butler cum house manager who had been with the family for over twenty years. He was privy to more information than any other person in Uther's household.
Morgana looked at her brother "I don't know what I would have done without your Arthur. But I have no means to pay for anything, I will have to get a job"
"You can once you are better, you have no need to but I know better than to argue with you, especially once you are off those damn drugs. Remember Gana I have enough money to keep us both, hell I'm earning enough for that without my inheritance. You are all the family I have now so don't argue. We are better off without Uther in our lives. If you want when you feel up to it you can help type out my reports!" he joked, paperwork was the one thing about his job he hated. With that he left his sister to settle in and explore the house.
When Gaius arrived Arthur found his sister with Gwen the two seemed to have already made friends. Gaius examined Morgana before speaking to Arthur
"It will take some time to wean Morgana off the drugs she is on. Some she can stop right away, but some need to be reduced over a period of time. You will get your plucky sister back before long. As to her magic I can recommend someone to help her with that." He paused before continuing "My Grandson, Merlin, he has moved back from London. He is a powerful warlock and it was getting to dangerous for him there with the increased prejudice against magic users. Unfortunate the people like your father seem to be getting support."
"I know, they play on people's fears and jealousy to wipe up hatred. With times getting hard with the recession it's all too easy, everyone is looking for someone to blame for their problems." Arthur agreed. "I will pay your grandson, just let me know how much. He can even stay here if he wants, there plenty of room."
"At the moment he will stay with me. I haven't seen much of him one way and another." Gaius paused. "Like many magic users he has had a hard time Arthur, he lost his mother recently to cancer and also his best friend Will, who was identified as a sorcerer and disappeared shortly afterwards. The boy was no more a sorcerer than you are. I suspect you know of the disappearances?"
Arthur nodded "I do, I understand the numbers are estimated to be in the hundreds now. Sorcery isn't a crime yet the Government seem to be doing nothing."
"Too many people in high office and wealthy like your father are feeding the hatred, we will need to be careful with Morgana. In a way your father may have actually kept her safe." Gaius said "Not that I condone what he did"
"Please he is no longer my father, we finally disowned each other this morning and when he realises I have taken Morgana I suspect that will turn to hatred on his part. I have tried Gaius but I can no longer stand by and do nothing. I hate all he stands for. I know he is my father but his attitude to Morgana and his deceit all these years while claiming to be above reproach and while condemning others who do far less morally reprehensible things than he himself ….."
Gaius patted Arthurs arm. He had looked on Arthur as a son for years and had seen the struggle the blonde had gone through trying to please a man who he would never be good enough for had saddened him. "I know my boy, you did all you could, you can be proud of yourself and I know your mother would have been proud of you. There was nothing more you could have done."
Both men were aware of the growing hatred being stirred up against magic users. Ten years previously Uther's company had finally developed an effective suppression drug that could be given to children when they first showed signs of magic. Usually at puberty. This meant they no longer needed to wear the collars previously developed by Uther and used worldwide. With the growing prejudice against magic users many parents took the opportunity to give their children a more 'normal' life and the drugs became more and more popular. People were becoming increasingly scare to admit if they had magic, even though it hadn't yet been made illegal. Uther made no secret that his company was working on a way to remove magic completely. He had an almost pathological hatred of magic since Arthur's mother had died in childbirth, something he blamed on the midwife who used magic to unsuccessfully try to save Ygraine. Or that's what he had always told Arthur.
Two days later Arthur took his sister shopping. She was a bit overwhelmed with the crowds and noise but soon relaxed as she spent her brother's money. For so long she had had to wear whatever her father had chosen for her. To have nice clothes that fitted properly was a real joy to her and lifted her mood.
Over the next week the old Morgana gradually emerged as the drugs left her system. Arthur helped where he could and the pair spent hours talking to one another putting ghosts to rest and rekindling their relationship. After a week Gaius brought a young man with him on his daily visit. Gaius introduced him as Merlin. Arthur understood he was twenty one but Merlin looked younger than his years, until you looked at his eyes, they showed his recent grief and the toll the building hatred of magic was having on him. He was a fraction taller than Arthur but very slender, looking almost starving. He had black hair and blue eyes with very pale skin and prominent ears, and prominent cheekbones. Arthur thought he looked like a colt that had yet to grow into his body.
"Hello Merlin I'm Arthur and this is Morgana my sister, welcome and thank you for agreeing to help us" Arthur gave the boy a welcoming smile and held out his hand. "I know you will be staying with your grandfather for now, but feel free to stay here whenever you want to."
Merlin nervously shook Arthur's hand and then looked at Morgana, as they looked at each other they recognised a kindred spirit and Merlin beamed. "Hi Morgana, great to meet you, I look forward to helping you once the drugs have left your system, but before then we can talk through things"
Morgana smiled in a way Arthur hadn't seen for a long time. Taking Merlin's hand she shook it and moved forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much you have no idea what this means to me. I have been so scared" With that she hugged him.
Gaius smiled at the pair "Go on go and get to know one another I will come up later and check how you are doing Morgana"
As the couple went off together Gaius looked at Arthur "Well that went well."
"He is very young Gaius will he really be able to help her?" Arthur felt Merlin was somehow younger than his years.
"He's not that much younger than you Arthur and believe me he will help. Merlin is the most powerful warlock I have ever seen of whatever age. He was using magic within days of being born. It hasn't been easy for him. He knows what it's like to feel isolated and scared. His mother did very well with him but she had no magic and mine as you know is very weak." Gaius said for a moment looking very sad.
"Was his father a sorcerer?" Arthur asked curious. He had known Gaius all his life but had never really known a lot about the older man's family life. Something he now felt guilty about.
Gaius nodded "Yes, but not as powerful as Merlin by any means, he left without even knowing Hunith was pregnant. He was another man who used to be close to your father. But when Uther began his crusade against magic they parted company. Balinor left and moved to Australia I think he felt it was best thinking it would be too much to expect Hunith to move to the other side of the world. Alice my late wife was poorly at the time. That was also something that made me leave your father, he said a lot of hurtful things to Hunith about being pregnant and unmarried. As it was I bless the timing, if he had known about Merlin's powers I don't know what would have happened"
"So Merlin has never met his father?" Arthur said sadly
"No I think Balinor felt it would be best to make a clean break, he didn't leave contact details." Gaius looked at Arthur "Don't feel sorry for Merlin for that, his mother more than made up for his absence they were very close."
Morgana had been over the moon when Arthur had told her that Gaius's grandson had magic and was willing to help her understand and use her own powers. One of the worse things in the past few years had been the feeling of isolation and that she was a freak in some way. This hadn't been helped by her father's treatment of her and his beliefs. To meet Merlin was like all her Christmas's and birthdays in one.
The next few weeks saw Morgana and Merlin get to know one another. Arthur had taken two weeks off work so he was about for her as well. They went shopping and Morgana was thrilled to be able to choose her own clothes instead of having then purchased by Uther. Arthur was pleased to see his sisters character emerge from the drugged haze, Even if it did cause some clashed as Morgana was naturally as stubborn as her brother. But on the whole they got on well and Morgana was so grateful to Arthur that she usually listened to him. The siblings were amazed to hear that Merlin had wanted to be a vet but had faced so much prejudice he was forced to give up his studies unless he took the suppression drugs. That was something he wouldn't do so had been working in a series of low paid jobs until moving back with his uncle. Now as well as helping Morgana and his uncle he also found himself helping Gwen with odds and ends as well as helping Tristan, who seemed to have formed a bond with Merlin, who had a very likeable nature and seemed to have no problem making friends. Arthur gradually introduced Morgana and Merlin to his friends. He had a close group of friends from the police force. They had a habit of meeting up at Arthur's at the weekend. The couple were well liked and soon fitted in.
As Morgana's magic started to surface Merlin taught her to control it. Especially her visions. He told her how to block some out and only allow the important ones through. "You will go mad otherwise, you need to have a life. And remember if you do dream about something it doesn't mean it is how it appears. Sometimes it is best to do nothing, interfering in such things can make it happen" he told her.
They soon realised that as well as a seer she had other magical powers and they started to work with those. Although it was weeks before Morgana could use her other magic, the first time she managed to make a flame she had insisted on celebrating and cooked a special meal and invited Gaius. The four of them sat together as Merlin used his magic freely to dish up and pour the drinks. It was the first time that Arthur had seen magic used for normal things. When he commented on it Merlin looked guilty.
"I shouldn't really my Mum would have been cross, she said it would make me lazy, but I just wanted to show Morgana magic was not something she has to be scared of." He looked very sad as he mentioned his mother.
Gaius comforted Merlin "I don't think she would have minded this time my boy"
Arthur asked "What do you use it for, normally I mean, and do you mind if I ask how powerful you are?"
Merlin shrugged "All sorts but mainly to help people. Magic is beautiful. As to how powerful I am I don't know I haven't found my limit yet and I don't think I want to"
"He is very powerful, the druids say Merlin is magic, and it runs through him naturally. They say very few people in history have had his level. When I pressed then they believe Merlin is like the original Merlin in power, and only the second person ever born like it." Gaius looked at his grandson "It is just as well he is such a modest boy"
Arthur looked shocked "There really was a Merlin? I thought that was just a legend"
"Is that all you got from that Arthur! Didn't you hear how powerful Merlin is!?" Morgana laughed. "Well I for one wouldn't want to be that powerful, think of the temptation."
"I'm glad you realise that magic can be bad in the wrong hands my dear" Gaius told her "As you use yours remember that magic is a tool and can be both good and bad. Always use it for good"
Arthur looked thoughtful then said "I can see what you mean Gaius, that much power…"
"That goes for any power though doesn't it" Morgana told her brother "I mean look at Uther, he abuse's his power and influence"
"Well I don't want power and I can't even influence my legs to work properly, I'm always falling over" Merlin grinned
"You know what your mother said, it's your magic's way of grounding you" Gaius said.
"Talking of grounding you, Morgana cooked the meal we'll clear up" Arthur told Merlin
"And no using your magic" a smiling Gaius told his grandson
The meal was soon over and Merlin agreed to come over the next day. Then Gaius and Merlin left for home.