-4-
Morgana gave Merlin's hand one last squeeze as they exited the private elevator that led to Arthur Pendragon's office. They had left shortly after the Queen, taking the black town car that had been a perk from the man for whom they worked.
It was a short drive to the steel and glass building that was the Pendragon headquarters, and it was traveled without a word said between the two of them. It was only when they were about to enter Arthur's office that Morgana spoke.
"This is always the hardest part for me," she said before schooling her features into the cool and detached expression that had become her trademark.
"It's different now, Morgana," Merlin straightened his tie. "As far as Arthur's concerned we're completely harmless."
They exchanged another glance and Merlin raised his hand to knock at the door. Three raps, a pause, and then a voice bid them to enter.
Both witch and warlock squared their shoulders as Merlin opened the door, motioning for Morgana to go before him.
Arthur Pendragon stood behind an expansive desk. His coat was off and the sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up his arms. One hand was shoved inside a trouser pocket, and the other was flipping through papers that were scattered on his desk.
Arthur looked up and saw that they were now standing in front of his desk.
"Right on time," he said after looking at the watch on his wrist. "It's almost magic how you two arrive on the dot every time."
"We do as we're told," Merlin said, his hands clasped in front of him.
Morgana glanced at the man beside her. She knew that his magic bubbled to the surface every time he was near Arthur or Guinevere. She was the same, it was how they found the King and Queen through the ages.
"That you do," Arthur said, a slight smile on his lips as he rubbed his jaw with one hand. "So, tell me. Have you secured the permits?"
"All but one," Morgana reached into her pocket and took out a business card. "Leodegrance refuses to sell."
Arthur took the card and looked at it with cool disdain.
"Thomas Leodegrance," he said slowly. "He owns that small repair shop, doesn't he?"
Merlin nodded. "We've spoken to him and his daughter. They're not budging."
"I'll take care of this," Arthur pocketed the card and turned his attention again to the pair still standing before him. "How are things?"
Morgana and Merlin exchanged a glance.
"What do you mean, Mr. Pendragon?" Morgana's voice was calm and even.
As far as Arthur knew, they were lawyers employed by Pendragon, Inc. They were the best damned lawyers in the legal department, and naturally, worked closest with the boss.
"You two haven't taken a day off since you started working for me, what? Three years ago?" Arthur said. "You arrive at eight-thirty in the morning every day, take your breaks on the dot, and leave at six in the evening."
He raised an eyebrow at them.
"You arrive together, take your breaks together, and leave together," Arthur's hands were now on his hips. "Are you two married?"
The ghost of a smile bowed Morgana's lips. She and Merlin knew this would eventually come up and they had prepared for it.
"Morgana and I are practically siblings, Mr. Pendragon," Merlin answered smoothly. "My grandfather was her godfather and he took care of both of us after our parents died."
"My apologies," Arthur was taken aback. "I did not know that."
"It's not something one brings up with one's employees, sir," Morgana said.
"And that," Arthur pointed at Morgana. "Why do you talk like that?"
"Like what, sir?"
"Why the 'sir' and why so formal?"
"Does it bother you, Mr. Pendragon?"
"No, not really. It's just," Arthur searched for the right word. "It's unusual, that's all."
He then ran a hand through his hair, and suddenly pressed his fingers to his temples. His eyes shut tightly.
"Is anything wrong Mr. Pendragon?" Merlin asked cautiously. Could it be?
"No," Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes still closed tight. "I just haven't been sleeping well and I've been getting these headaches because of it."
Morgana walked over to one of the carved oak side tables in the office and withdrew a small pill case from one of the drawers. She shook out a tablet still inside a blister pack, then poured water from a glass decanter into a crystal tumbler. She walked over to Arthur and handed these to him.
"Take this," she pressed the pill and the glass of water to the man who was in obvious pain.
"Thanks," Arthur swallowed the medicine with a swig of water. "You didn't have to do that, Ms. Fay."
"It was no bother," Morgana's voice was calm, not betraying the glee that was bubbling up inside her. It was starting to work!
Arthur looked at his watch again.
"I want to meet Thomas Leodegrance tomorrow," he said. His voice strong and forceful once again. "The sooner this is sorted out, the better off we'll all be."
"It's Saturday tomorrow, Mr. Pendragon," Merlin reminded him.
"Which means that I will not be bothered by anything or anyone else," Arthur's eyes bored into Merlin, daring him to say any more.
"Of course, Mr. Pendragon," Merlin gave the slightest of bows. He remembered how mercurial Arthur's temper can be, just one of the many things about the King that didn't change over the ages.
"Tell Geoffrey to set it for 10 in the morning," Arthur said, referring to his personal assistant. "Remind him to phrase it so that Mr. Leodegrance will expect me at his shop at that time."
"Very well, Mr. Pendragon," Merlin said. "Anything else?"
"Take the rest of the day off," he told both lawyers. "I'm about to go home as well. This headache is getting worse."
With a wave of his hand that indicated that they had been dismissed, Merlin and Morgana made their way out of the office. They kept quiet until they were inside the elevator.
"The charms are working," Merlin said to Morgana.
Morgana nodded. "We can expect him to start having the visions soon."
Merlin was quiet for a moment.
"He will not be happy when he remembers," he said to his companion.
"Arthur will be easy enough to deal with," Morgana's voice was confident. "It was his promise that brought him here."
Merlin didn't argue with that.
"It is the Queen all of us should be afraid of," Morgana said quietly. "She will not be happy to see him so soon, and with having no idea about who she is."
"We have no choice," Merlin said sadly. "We only have..."
"This lifetime. I know."