Several hours later Arthur arrived back at the infirmary with a couple of bowls of stew for the two doctors "You missed the meal, Audrey said if the boy wakes up to let her know she has some broth for him" he looked at the boy asleep on the bed "How is he?"

"He is dehydrated, malnourished, has a couple of cracked ribs, bruising, burns and infected wounds on his neck, as well as his feet, that he has clearly been walking on bare foot for too long" Gaius listed "He hasn't woken up yet and when he does I expect him to have psychological problems and well as grieving for his mum" he looked at Arthur's face "I'm sorry but I tell it how it is, I can't understand how someone can do this to another human being"

Lance butted in, Gaius was clearly exhausted and not at his best "Can you ask one of the woman to come and sit with Merlin. Not Gwen, she already cares for the others and Merlin will need lots of help in the coming days. Only when he does wake he might be better with a woman if he did see what happened to his mother. He can't be left not with that drip in, someone needs to stay awake and by him"

Arthur nodded "Of course if you think it best. I'll ask Mithian" Arthur had been going to offer himself and Gwaine, who had already offered to help when he got back from burying Hunith. But what Lance said made sense.

As the men talked they failed to notice that even though the boys remained asleep there was a golden glow visible through his eyelids and Merlin shock slightly. The glow soon faded and didn't return and in his exhaustion Merlin didn't stir from his deep sleep. In the end Mithian, Morgana and Eira took it in turns to sit with Merlin. It wasn't until the morning that he woke. As he opened his eyes Mithian could see the fear in them and he looked around. He sat up in a panic but Mithian soon calmed him enough to get him to lie down again. Gently smiling at him she said

"I won't hurt you Merlin, I am just here to help you, be careful of your arm, the doctor is making you better." He looked at his arm and saw the bandage holding the drip in place and the tube leading to the bag. "I'm sure once you are drinking enough we can get rid of that." Mithian reassured him "How are you feeling?"

The big cerulean eyes stared at Mithian and the boy said nothing, he just continued to look around like a frightened animal looking for a way to escape. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands making Mithian fear for the venflon in his arm. She helped him sit up and offered him a drink of water "Not too much or you'll be sick" she warned him.

At that point Lance walked in. Merlin immediately drew back and bent[SS1] his head down and curled up, clearly even more frightened than he had been with Mithian. "Merlin this is one of the doctors who is making you better, he won't hurt you"

Mithian held him and rubbed her hand down the little boys back feeling every vertebra as she did so. Lanced approached very cautiously and bent down so he was on Merlin's level "Good morning Merlin, I am pleased to see you drinking, keep that up and we can get rid of that thing in your arm. Now would you like something to eat?"

Merlin buried his face in Mithian refusing to look at Lance. "I'll go and get him something. But once he has eaten I need to look at him"

Mithian looked at Lance "It might be better if Gaius does, I mean he is older and I don't suppose any of the people who had him were that age"

"Good point" Lance smiled at Mithian to show he understood. He left and a few moments later Gaius appeared with a mug of broth

"Audrey thought it would be easier in a mug." Gaius smiled at Mithian.

As the woman coaxed Merlin into drinking the broth the boy kept looking over to where Gaius was sat. The older man kept a gentle expression on his face and held a soft toy in his hands where Merlin could see it. They had a few toys for the youngsters and this was one no one had claimed. They had been careful to limit the toys each child had realising more children would be born and need them. The toy was a small plush dragon, about a foot in length and was a golden colour. Merlin's eyes soon became glued to the toy.

"Drink all this up then I expect Grampy Gaius will let you hold the dragon" Mithian told him.

Sure enough the moment Mithian showed Gaius the empty cup Gaius came slowly over hand held out the dragon. "Would you like him, he wants someone to love him, the other children wanted a teddy and not a dragon and he is lonely"

A small hand crept out and gradually got closer to the soft toy. Gaius handed it to him. "Now can I have a look at you? I want to make sure you are getting better."

It took more coaxing but gradually Merlin allowed the older man to check him over, even if all through the process he looked wide eyed and scared stiff. Gaius took the drip down, the second bag had finished and now he was eating and drinking he should be able to cope. Gaius gave Mithian some antibiotic and painkillers to give to Merlin, it was fruit flavoured and he liked it. Once that was done. Gaius smiled at Merlin "You are a good lad, now tell me does anything hurt?"

Merlin looked at Gaius through his fringe. The women had cut his hair when he was asleep to remove the matts and tangles, it was still a bit long but they hadn't wanted to disturb him too much. Merlin shook his head slightly but still didn't make a sound. Gaius tried several more questions but still no verbal response. Gaius frowned but didn't push it. "Why don't we get Mithian to read you some stories then you can fall asleep again if you want to"

Mithian did just that and also tried to get a response from the small boy. Later when he was asleep Mithian asked Gaius "Is there something wrong with him, I mean the damage to his throat?"

Gaius shook his head sadly "We checked when he was asleep, nothing appears to be wrong. I think it may be physiological, either he is too shy or maybe he was punished if he made a noise. He has quite a few injuries consistent with being hit hard, as well as the small burns. I can't see slave traders being patient with children if they cried. Of course he could have been mute before all of this"

Mithian looked ready to cry herself "That's wicked, how could they treat him so?!"

"I am only speculating of course, I suggest that we make him feel safe and loved, maybe then he will start to speak. I would like it if you Morgana and Eira could continue to look after him, limit his exposure to too many people until he is more settled. I know he hasn't been awake for Morgana yet" Gaius asked

"I will and I'm sure the others will agree, but I'll do most of it. He is such a lovely little boy, but so thin and….lost. My heart goes out to him"

Mithian looked down at Merlin, she had already decided she was going to ask Arthur if they could be responsible for the small child. Although Gwen looked after the children in the day while the adults worked, it had been thought best that the children be given as 'normal' a family life as possible, so Gwen and Lance kept Simon the five year old with them for all the nonworking time. Eira and Gwaine had Mandy with them and Richard was with Morgana. Rowena had become like a daughter to Audrey, the teenager loved cooking so she became the kitchen helper. Daegal was learning blacksmithing from Tom.

Over the next few days Merlin became slightly less anxious around people, more so the women, Gaius had manage to get a very small smile when he waggled his eyebrows at Merlin. Yet despite this he had still yet to make a sound. Mithian realised that the young lad would soon be well enough to leave the small infirmary area took Arthur to one side.

Getting Arthur to sit down she decided it was now or never "Arthur I know we haven't been together for long and nothing is normal but I have a favour to ask you" she was clearly nervous and worried, something Arthur picked up on immediately.

Looking at the woman who had come to mean so much to him he took her hands in his larger ones "Mith you know I would do anything for you, please what's the matter?"

Mithian knew this was true, over the past few months she had seen an enormous change in Arthur. He had always been slightly arrogant and had trouble dealing with emotions, but in a strange way their new existence seemed to have brought out the kinder and more tolerant side. Taking a deep breath she asked "Merlin is ready to move on to the next stage, he will still need a lot of support and love and I wondered if we could take him on and make him part of our family, I know he isn't our blood but he has come to mean so much to me"

Arthur exhaled the breath he had been holding and smiled "Is that all? I thought it was something serious. Of course we can! There is something very loveable about the lad, I was draw to him somehow from the beginning. And he has become close to you" he paused "Will he be OK with me? He always draws into himself when I try to speak to him"

"He does that with all the men, except Gaius, but he has to get used to you all. And he is improving" Mithian looked at Arthur "Don't just do this for me, it's a big step and needs dealing with seriously, Merlin needs you to want to do this."

"I know love and I do want to. When I said I thought it was something serious I wasn't belittling what you are asking. But we need to ask Merlin if he is happy first."

The couple made their way to the infirmary area and found Merlin listening to a story with Eira. As they entered Merlin gave a small smile to Mithian and then seeing Arthur behind her froze and stared at the blonde.

"Hello Mithian and Arthur" Eira said cheerfully, She knew what Mithian had gone to ask Arthur.

Morgana had already told Mithian to be honest and open with Arthur and accept his decision "Merlin needs two parent figures if he is going to get better around men, but both of you must be happy with it, so don't push it if he doesn't seem to want it. Arthur has changed a lot we all have. The old Arthur wouldn't have wanted it but I'm not so sure now" had been her advice.

Eira stood up and made a show of being pleased to see Arthur "Hello Arthur it's good to see you" she looked at Merlin who still looked apprehensive "Arthur is like my big brother" she told the small boy.

Merlin cocked his head to one side and looked at Arthur.

Mithian sat down next to Merlin and took his hand. "Merlin you know Grampy Gaius said you were getting better, well you need a proper home. Would you like to live with me and Arthur? You would be with Gwen part of the day when we are busy, but sleep in our area and be with us in the evenings"

Merlin looked from Mithian to Arthur, by now Arthur had crouched down a little way in front of them. Eira smiled "You will like that Merlin, Arthur is fun and very kind, and he will look after you and keep you safe."

Arthur smiled "We can get to know one another better Merlin, and I can teach you how to play football and climb trees"

Recently the men had started a five a side football tournament at Daegal's request. Arthur found he was enjoying it. "What do you say? Will you give it a try?" he held out his hand slowly, grateful he had visited the infirmary at least a couple of times a day so that the lad was at least used to him, even if he was still very hesitant around him. "Gaius said we could go outside to a walk, just a little one, we could go and see if the chickens have laid any eggs. Mithian will come as well"

The infirmary section was to one side of the cave entrance, and had a view of the outside, although a small one. Gaius insisted on the position saying anyone poorly wouldn't want to be in the dark all the time and candles weren't the same as seeing the world. The infirmary benefitted from a small opening to the outside where the men had smashed a hole through the cave wall and fixed one of the van windows in to let natural light enter. The only window in the cave. In case of attack Tom had made a metal shutter that would cover the glass to give full protection.

Merlin looked at the blonde man, he knew the man had been in to see him several times, and that he had found him and his mummy, his mummy had been asleep and he hadn't seen her since. Both the ladies had been kind to him, and they seemed to like the man, but where was his mummy. He wanted to ask but he knew if he did they would hurt him. And he had promised his mummy that he would be quiet unless she said he could speak. He hugged the dragon closer. The Grampy Gaius had given him the dragon and it made him feel safe, he liked Grampy Gaius he was gentle and kind. But Merlin was confused. The men he had been with before had been nasty they had hurt his mummy and made her cry and they had hurt him. He wanted his mummy and didn't know what to do. He so wanted to ask Mithian but he mustn't, his mummy would be cross if he spoke and they would hurt him, and then they would hurt her more. Where was his mummy? He hadn't seen her for so long. Grampy Gaius, Mithian and Morgana had all told him she had gone to sleep and wanted them to look after him. That she was in heaven, but he didn't understand why she would just leave him without saying goodbye. She promised she wouldn't leave him. Merlin started to cry silently as he thought of his mummy, he grabbed Mithian and hid his head in her lap as she held onto him.

[SS1]