Rosemary
two
"Please, sit."
The frightened warlock sat, like a rabbit cowering to the fox.
"I must thank you for helping my son." The smile was genuine, "he's had hard time since his sister left and he has found a most… unfortunate outlet for expressing himself."
Merlin nodded, unsure how to respond.
"You see it would be bad on my son if anyone else was to hear about this." He suddenly snapped into a disquieting businesslike manner.
"You haven't told anyone about this." I was a statement, not a question.
"No, no." Merlin stuttered "I took Arthur strait here."
Uther smiled warmly, his eyes stayed cold.
"Very wise. You see I'm worried about my son's future. He's bright enough to take over the company when I'm gone but for some reason he's not happy. I think perhaps he needs someone his own age to talk to now his sister has gone."
Uther gave a laugh. "I'm not worried about him for my own sake of course. True if compromising pictures of Arthur were featured in the newspapers it would reflect badly on my company. But, I'm more concerned as a father not a businessman."
"Why are you telling me this? I only happened to be in the right place at the right time." Merlin tried to disguise the note of panic in his voice.
"Don't you see, I want you to be that friend?" Uther smiled.
Merlin spluttered, in fear and confusion. "I'm sorry Mr. Pendragon but you've got the wrong guy."
He stood up and walked toward the door "Thank you for your offer but I don't think you're son and I would get on well.
"Merlin, unusual name isn't it."
Merlin paused at this unexpected conversational cueball. "Yes, it is." He murmured.
"What's you're surname."
Merlin's answer was a terrified whisper, "Emrys"
"Emrys," Uther repeated, rolling the word round his mouth like a tasty bait. "I'm sure you look familiar, I'm sure I've heard that name before."
He fixed the petrified Merlin with a grim stare "I'm sure if I thought about it, I would remember. Or if you give me a reason to."
Merlin couldn't reply, his mouth was dry.
"You and Arthur attend the same University." Uther carried on, Merlin's silence was all the agreement he needed.
"And I saw that you're in need of a flat."
Uther seemed to enjoy the way Merlin started. He's read my file!
"You live with your uncle, is that correct?"
Merlin only trusted himself to nod.
"Well I'm sure I can arrange for you to share Arthur's. It's far too big for only him."
Merlin was finally able to form a sentence. "Are you sure Arthur won't mind?" he almost pleaded.
""It's not his decision." Uther smiled dangerously.
_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
Merlin and Gaius staggered with Merlin's chest of draws to the young Pendragon's apartment. This particular bit of furniture had come with Merlin from Ealdor and now it was on the move again.
"Are you sure about this Merlin?" Gaius asked in, Merlin's irritability, sounded like the hundredth time.
"I don't have the luxury of choice." He sighed. Fumbling one handed in his hoodie pocket for the key for his new 'home'.
"Even Merlin had to admit the flat was impressive. There was an open plan sitting room kitchen thing, or whatever that was called in estate agent speak.
"At least your room has a lock; you don't want him walking in on you."
That was fortunate. Merlin really didn't want his new room mate to walk in on him practising the thing that was number one on his fathers hate list.
"At least it's a nice room." Merlin murmured.
Gaius snorted "You can keep a bird in a gilded cage; it's still a cage Merlin."
Merlin ran his fingers through his hair as they finally set the chest down under the widow sill. The late afternoon sun dappled the old oak, picking up shadows on the ornate Celtic patterns. Merlin ran his fingers subconsciously over his favourite, a dragon with eyes that seemed to stare right at you from the wooden carving.
"Perhaps he won't be like his father." Merlin said, trying to convince himself more than Gaius.
Gaius snorted again. He had visited them in Ealdor to help in the protest against the testing centre. He's been so worried about the effect on the magical community that he left his shop for nearly a fortnight. Gaius owned a little shop on one of the many winding back streets that sold herbal remedies. His uncle had been the reason Merlin had chosen to take up his course at the university on medieval medicine. He remembered fondly the holidays he'd spent getting under his uncle's feet in the shop.
"Please be careful Merlin. If Arthur was to find out about your powers…"
Merlin saw the worry in his uncle worn and lined face.
"I'll be careful." he promised softly.
_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._