"I don't know what to do Gaius." Hunith told her old friend with tears in her eyes. "I cannot take care of him. He cannot learn, he has magic that is out of control, and he doesn't understand me. I have thought many times to just leave him in the forest." She admitted, Gaius looked stricken with disbelief.
"He has the ability to learn." Gaius told Hunith, she shook her head.
"I have tried, he cannot learn." Hunith looked toward her son who was idly playing with a knight figurine that the prince gave him.
"Prince Arthur was playing with him yesterday, and they were able to communicate." Gaius told her, his eyes pleading for her to understand.
"Impossible." She looked at Gaius in wonder. "How?"
"I do not know, but Merlin healed Prince Arthur's broken arm by just holding his arm. Arthur has already sworn not to tell anyone and to protect Merlin. Arthur then began to use his hands and tried to communicate."
"The prince is a child. He will tell his father and Merlin will burn, or be drowned. We have to go. Now." Hunith stood immediately and grabbed the toy knight out of Merlin's hand. Merlin became angry and the vials on Gaius' desk shattered with Merlin's cries.
"He cannot leave." Gaius said sternly. "If he leaves he will never learn how to control his magic. He will never learn to communicate." Gaius stood also and picked up the wailing boy who calmed slightly, but his cries continued and another vial shattered.
Gaius pointed to himself and then pointed up. Merlin stopped crying and nodded almost immediately.
"See Hunith? He understood." Hunith glanced between the old physician and the young boy.
"You keep him then. I cannot." Hunith walked out of the chambers without looking back. Merlin had not notice that she left, but he was too busy looking up excitedly.
Gaius sighed and waved his hand in front of the boy. Merlin looked at the old man with his eyebrows down and his hands at his shoulders. Gaius got the impression that he meant "What?"
Gaius spoke. "We are going to see Prince Arthur." Merlin gave him the same look. Gaius sighed and pointed to them and then up. Merlin nodded again and ran toward the door.
Once in the hallway, Gaius asked a servant to find Geoffrey and bring him to Prince Arthur's room.
Prince Arthur was happy to see his new friend, and even more happy when Gaius told him he would be staying for a long time. The boy's began to play and Geoffrey entered the room.
"Arthur, watch over Merlin please." Gaius told the little blonde prince who nodded.
"Gaius." Geoffrey nodded to his old friend. Gaius smiled nodded to his friend.
"Geoffrey, I now have a new ward." Geoffrey's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "And he is deaf." Geoffrey frowned, scratching his head.
"How do you intend to teach this boy about medicine if he has no hearing?" Gaius shook his head.
"I am not sure, but I was curious. Is there any history of language for deaf people?" Geoffrey thought for a moment, his brows coming together in concentration.
"I am not sure. How has he been communicating?"
"Nothing until yesterday. And now it seems mostly gestures and pointing." Gaius sighed.
"I will research this for you, my friend. In the meantime, I would try to come up with a system that uses body movement and your hands.
Gaius nodded and bade his friend goodbye. He reentered the prince's room to see the boys continuing their play.
"This is a knight." Gaius heard Arthur say and watched as Arthur tried to show with his body what a knight was. He stood straight and poised. Merlin copied and pointed to the figurine of the knight.
"Yes!" Arthur said while nodding his head. Merlin pointed to the horse with his eyebrows down and hands at his shoulders. Arthur thought a moment. "Horse." And the young prince put his hands on his head to show the ears of a horse. Merlin started to laugh and Arthur joined him.
Gaius watched with interest. The prince did not have to be told on how to communicate, he was doing it by himself in the most practical way. Gaius smiled, Arthur may be only five years old, but he was a problem solver. Something that would help when he became king.
Merlin pointed to the figurine of a castle. Arthur scratched his head and pointed to the walls surrounding them He tried to draw in the air what the castle looked like but shook his head.
"Castle." Arthur said, he used two hands to show the walls and made a circle with them. He then dragged Merlin to the window and pointed to the far tower and the length of the citadel. He made the hand movement again and Merlin copied and pointed to the far tower. Arthur beamed with pride.
"Sire, you are a genius." Gaius praised as he came toward the two boys. Arthur tapped Merlin's shoulder and pointed. Merlin turned and smiled at the old man approaching.
"Why?"
"You are teaching him in a way he understands. He cannot hear the words but he can understand the hand motions and body motions. Perhaps, you and I together can teach Merlin."
Arthur nodded enthusiastically as he looked at his new friend who was looking out the window with fascination. Merlin looked at the far tower and used his hands to mimic what the prince had shown him earlier.
Arthur looked at the old man, and he had a look of determination. "I will help Merlin as much as I can. He healed my arm. I can help him with this." Gaius smiled at the young prince and waved his hand in front of Merlin's face.
Gaius pointed down and Merlin nodded, he turned and hugged the young prince and pointed to his eye and then at Arthur.
"What could that mean?" Arthur asked.
"You use your eye to see."
"So he sees me?"
"Maybe he means he will see you soon." Gaius offered. Arthur shrugged and pointed to his eye and pointed to Merlin. The black haired boy jumped with joy and ran out the door. Gaius sighed and began the trek to his chambers with an enthusiastic boy.