With the shop empty and seeing her son was alone Hunith came to her son's side "Well what was the job?"
Merlin smiled at his mum "Not sure it's for me, some sort of glorified housekeeper and tea maker." He hoped desperately his mum didn't ask anymore until he had time to think. Luck was on his side as the door opened and customers came in. "Just going for a walk to think things through Mum." he said and shot out of the door.
Morgana walked away satisfied she had done her best. Like she had told Merlin she really did think he would be good for her brother. Arthur needed someone in his life, someone to show him that he was loved and could love, someone to support him in the changes he wanted to bring in. And maybe soften his hard edges. Morgana sometimes worried about the influence his upbringing had had on her brother. She was sure that, although young, Merlin was the one who could do it. She wasn't finished yet, the second stage of their plan was yet to be put into place. Morgana got into the car and looked at Elyan "Come on next stop."
Merlin walked out of the shop as fast as he could and went down to the side of the lake, a place he went to when he needed to think. He sat down and thought about everything Morgana had told him, but mostly about what she had told him about his mother's loans. It made him feel incredibly guilty that he hadn't known and that the loans had been taken out because of him. He knew that was what Morgana had intended, but he also knew he needed to ask his mother if it was true. If it was he thought he really had no choice but to help his mother. Thinking through things he realised that he had known from the beginning that the gang boss had been looking at him in a way they was clear what he wanted. But could Merlin give him that? He was under no illusions no matter what Morgana had said that if he moved in he would end up in the blonde's bed. The gang leader wouldn't take no for an answer it wasn't a word he would be used to. The man had an animal magnetism that would make it difficult to resist him. But Merlin's past would get in the way. Merlin was no fool, he had often wondered what it would be like to be held in another man's arms. It was after all something he had known he wanted since he was fourteen, but never thought he would ever have. Merlin realised he had a lot to overcome before he could have sex with anyone and wasn't convinced he ever would. He admitted to himself at least that the gang leader was good looking, if rather arrogant. But even if he did agree would it mean he was not better than a prostitute? After all he would be getting paid he knew many gays slept around as a matter of course, not having to worry about getting pregnant was a bonus of the gay life. Who besides him would even care? Well his mum would, how could he explain why he was working for the gang leader? Which alone would worry his mother sick, if she knew why he was doing it see would stop him. Merlin was so deep in thought he didn't hear a group of men approaching, so didn't look up until he realised he was surrounded.
"I thought it was you, what brings you back to these parts faggot" it was a voice Merlin hoped never to hear again. He looked into the eyes of the man who had led the attack on him all those years before, he hadn't changed enough for Merlin not to recognise him, what's more he had the same group with him.
"Mordred" Merlin said "I came from this city I have every right to be here." Merlin tried to keep his voice stable, he realised he was surrounded and hoped against hope it wasn't going to be a repeat of before. "I thought you might have changed."
"No I still hate faggots, should have killed you last time." Mordred was the same age as Merlin with much the same colouring but he had a bitter and hard heart. He had been an active part of the gangs since his teenage years. "In fact we all hate pansies don't we boys?" he asked the other four young men who grunted in agreement. "In fact I think it's time we got rid of you for good." Mordred sneered "You really shouldn't have come back, you were told last time the penalty and now it's time to pay, but we won't make it easy, after all you faggots need a lesson."
They moved in on Merlin who in his fear started to try to defend himself it wasn't going to be a repeat of before, not if he could help it, he would rather die. Merlin fell to the ground and the kicks and punches started to hit him. But then they stopped.
Merlin had been saved by none other than Gwaine and two of Arthur's men Pellinore and Kay. They had been walking through the park and noticed Mordred and his group approaching someone. Gwaine watched them carefully, as he knew Mordred was trouble. Although in the middle layer membership of Camelot's ruling gang they were kept very much on the periphery by the new leader. The only reason Arthur hadn't ran them out was that his father liked the youngster and was something of a mentor to him, especially since Uther had married Mordred's mother. Suddenly realising what the group were about to do Gwaine quickened his pace, and as he saw the man go down he had a sinking feeling he knew who it was. Running closer he piled in and pulled Mordred way as the other two also jumped in to help. Realising they were being stopped by a knight Mordred turned on Gwaine "Mate what you doing? we were only giving this fudge packer a lesson."
Gwaine snarled "I'm not your mate!" he looked at the group "You bastard's need to act in a group do you?" with that he threw a punch that knocked out Mordred. "The rest of you don't move." he snarled as he dropped to Merlin's side. "Fuck it, Merlin where are you hurt?"
Merlin looked up his eye already closing when he had been hit. "Everywhere." came the reply. He then closed his eyes and then opened them. "m..kay"
"Like shit you are." Gwaine looked at Pellinore and Kay "Keep this lot close, I think the boss might want to see them." At that the group looked pretty sick, giving Mordred a kick with his foot Gwaine snarled "As for that garbage you lot can carry him" he growled at the other youngsters.
Gwaine bent down and scooped Merlin up bridal style "Come on mate let's get you looked at" he looked at the others "I'm taking the car. Call for backup."