As always Arthur woke up at seven and had a shower and dressed, his sister arrived at eight and then the trolley, Arthur got the footman to take the trolley to outside Merlin's room. Walking passed the protection officer on the door the sidling's went in to the anteroom and heard Merlin walking around in the bedroom. Arthur knocked and went in to see Merlin sat on the bed putting on some shoes. Merlin turned and stood up bowing once more. As did Morris who was holding a comb for Merlin to take.

Arthur smiled at his brother "Did you sleep well?"

"soft bed" came the reply. Merlin took the comb and dragged it through his hair then looked at his elder brother.

Arthur waved towards the door "Morgana and breakfast is waiting"

Merlin walked to towards the door and followed Arthur out when he saw Morgana he bowed once more "Oh Merlin you do not have to bow to me, not even in public! Come on sit down between us."

Morris had followed them out of the bedroom and was waiting to serve the meal. "What do you want to eat Merlin?" again Merlin didn't reply "I'm having bacon, sausage, egg, tomatoes and mushrooms with some toast why don't you have the same, if you want more you can have it"

"The same for me please" Morgana said "I seemed to have missed several meals lately"

The food was soon in front of them as well as orange juice, Morris stood back but Arthur dismissed him "If we want more we can help ourselves" so the footman left. Leaving them to themselves.

Merlin picked up the toast and started to eat. Morgana frowned "Try the rest Merlin you must be hungry"

Merlin reluctantly picked up the sausage and took a bite then another watching Morgana and Arthur eat. Then Merlin picked up the bacon and ate that. Morgana looked at Arthur and said nothing. Merlin then tried the orange juice and pulled such a strange face that Arthur laughed. "You haven't had orange juice before have you?"

"don't like it" Merlin whispered.

Morgana got up and opened a bottle of still water and poured a glass and gave it to Merlin. She also poured out three cups of tea. "Have you had tea before?"

Merlin shook his head "You'll like that" Arthur told him. "Be careful it's hot"

Morgan put extra milk in it as a precaution. It seemed Merlin did like tea. He then ate some more toast and Arthur gave him an extra sausage which Merlin also ate, again with his fingers. Then he used the teaspoon to eat the egg and mushrooms totally ignoring the knife and fork. Morgana rang the bell and the footman cleared away the dishes leaving just the cups placing a fresh pot of tea on the table.

Once they were alone once more Arthur looked at his brother "Did you always use a spoon, where you never given a knife or folk." He asked kindly with no sign of disapproval. At least Merlin had eaten.

Merlin looked ashamed and tugged at his sleeves. "Merlin it doesn't matter we don't blame you we just need to understand" Morgana looked into her brothers eyes.

Something must have made him understand "not allowed…was bad…." He whispered.

"Bad?" Arthur asked

To his amazement and horror Merlin started to cry, Morgana held Merlin's hand but he pulled away. "I'm sorry Merlin I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sure you weren't bad, it was those people who were bad." Arthur put his hand gently under Merlin's chin to get him to look up. "Nothing you could have done would have been bad Merlin"

Merlin very slowly pointed to the back of his left hand and Arthur could see four small old scars. Merlin, or someone else, had clearly at some time stabbed him with a fork.

"bad, not allowed" Merlin whispered.

"Oh Merlin, did you do that to yourself?" Morgana asked

Merlin nodded "was sad."

"They wouldn't let you have forks or knives again" Morgana supplied.

Arthur pinched the top of his nose to stop himself saying anything, this would need very careful handling, and not by him. Morgana hugged her younger brother briefly then Arthur did, feeling it was important for the young man not to feel that what he had said made them angry with him.

It was nine o'clock and Mithian arrived and said hello to them all, Arthur then took her out and told he about the fork incident. "Do we need to be careful still, there is glass and all sorts of object in his room?"

"I will assess him your majesty, it may be that it was years ago, and let's face it his circumstances have changed. It may be that we will need to make sure someone is in the room with him to keep an eye. I will let you know. I want to do some work with him this morning. Would it be alright if I work with him in the mornings leaving him free for visitors in the afternoon and evenings? Although he will need down time. Don't forget he is used to his own company"

"That sounds splendid, I rather think Morgana will spend more time with Merlin then myself, unfortunately I seem to have a great many meetings to go to." Arthur paused "One other thing he's clearly scared of me I would appreciate your input once you have assessed him. Also last night he seemed rather keen to go to the cellar. Why it's a place of bad memories surely"

"I will ensure you are very well informed Sir" Mithian looked at the King "But Sir please consider talking to someone yourself, this will be hard on you as well. As to the cellar you have to realise it was his home for sixteen years, in some ways he probably feels safe there, even though he may have been mistreated. It is all he remembers, you will need to be patient."

"I suppose so, it's just hard to understand I suppose I thought he would be pleased to be somewhere else. As to the speaking to someone I will consider it, but as I said I am very busy, just make sure Merlin is alright, as I said before anything he needs"

"It will be time and love mainly, there will be no miracle cure Sir" Mithian watched as the new King walked away, She hoped he would get help before it all got too much for him.

Morgana left Merlin with Mithian saying if needed she would be at Windsor all day and to send a footman if needed. As she left she found Gwaine standing outside talking to Lance. They both bowed as she appeared "Ma'am the King mentioned you wished to go downstairs, I have checked with the men from the yard, if you wish to go today they request that this morning would be better."

"Then let's go now" Morgana said

"Your Royal Highness, could I accompany you, I feel it would be of benefit" Gwaine asked.

Morgana raised her eyebrow she wasn't sure yet what to make of the man "Do you have a replacement if you leave your post?"

"Yes Ma'am, one of the new team is available and I don't need long"

"In that case you may come, I will go down in fifteen minutes" Morgana had seen Merlin's reaction to his Personal Protection Officer and for now as far as she was concerned if Merlin liked him that was enough.

Gwaine immediately called for his replacement a man he had served with Elyan Smith, Merlin had yet to be introduced to him but as the physiatrist had asked not to be disturbed and Gwaine was only going to be gone for fifteen minutes at the most he was happy.

As soon as the Princess left her rooms Gwaine fell in behind. As they walked through Uther's old chambers Morgana was surprised just how many police and other officials were present. As they reached the stone stairs she paused before continuing down into the cellar. Like her brother she was surprised at what she saw although many items had already been removed. She could still see just how sparsely furnished uninviting it was. Gwaine quickly looked round before going back up to his post. Morgana stayed for about half an hour in all. Asking at one stage if she could be alone with the door shut.

As she stood there she tried to imagine how it must have been for the five year old when he had first arrived and then to stay here mostly alone for the next sixteen years. No wonder Merlin was so affected and that he has stabbed himself with a fork. After that she walked back upstairs and was walking through the corridors when she was stopped by a Police Inspector "Your Royal Highness I have been asked to arrange a meeting with the King and yourself later today"

Morgana looked at him "I am free all day I suggest you contact the Kings Private Secretary to arrange a time, I'm afraid I am not conversant with his movements" she told him and walked on. She didn't fell like talking to anyone at the moment. Like Arthur she had found the visit difficult although she had been glad she had gone.