"I hope you're not going to bow down to him?" Came a familiar the voice from the door.

Arthur looked up to see Gwaine walk in. "If you heard him then you know I have no choice I can't let Lance and Merlin suffer. He means what he said" came the broken reply.

"Oh I heard him alright but so did my phone, now I don't know about you but I think blackmail is an offence" Gwaine grinned. "I knew the voice as I came round the corner and you didn't sound happy so I thought I'd hang about and listen in, good job I did. You can't let him beat you like that."

Arthur looked up slightly hopeful but then he had a thought "You were a far distance away did it record?"

"It's have a listen" as Gwaine replayed it the recording it was faint but most was just about recordable. "Now I recon if we put that on a computer you could get it clearer and if not your dear old man needn't know that"

"You'd help me?" Arthur asked

"Yeh, well it seems my little angle had got her eyes on you and I want her to be happy, I also don't like what that creep is trying to pull. I can see why you kept away from him." Gwaine said "Not to mention that no one gets to threaten Merlin and Lance when I'm around."

"As I see it we have two ways of doing this we can give the tape to Leon and he can do the legal thing, but then if your dad has people in his pocket that might not work … or we could do it my way" Gwaine grinned.

"And what is your way? I don't want to do anything illegal." Arthur said.

"Well then it's a pity it's my tape then isn't it. Leave it with me I have an idea. I'll let you know once I've spoken to someone. Now have you got any grapes?"

Gwaine stayed and chatted for awhile before leaving. Still refusing to be drawn on what he was up to. Gwaine realised that Arthur would probably be unhappy with what he had planned but then it was his father. Gwaine however had no such problems and neither did Percy when he talked to him later. They decided that as Arthur was going to be in hospital of a while and so has a perfect alibi they would out their plan in action. Both men felt they had a grievance against Uther Pendragon, what's more from what they heard so did Gaius.

Gwaine and Percy went to speak to Gaius the next Day and found the old man more than willing to help them. They had a common cause … Merlin and her happiness. Once they had made their plan they set about putting it into motion. Gaius had at first been shocked by what he heard then thinking of what he knew about Uther Pendragon from his own experience it made sense. He agreed to help the men as he knew how much his granddaughter felt for Arthur and the pair deserved happiness. He had no doubt that they both felt a lot for each other.

So two days later Gaius went with Gwaine and Percy to wait for Uther to leave work. As the business man approached his car Gaius walked towards him: "Mr Pendragon might I Have a word with you?"

Uther turned round and looked at Gaius in surprise "Gaius, what …. Yes I suppose so but it better be quick I have things to do"

Uther stood and waited as if expecting Gaius to speak right away. "There is a café round the corner could we go and sit down, my legs aren't what they used to be." Gaius asked "It won't take long I promise."

Uther was curious so followed Gaius and after getting to the café they sat in the corner table away from everyone else. Gaius asked for a pot of tea before they sat down. Once it arrived Gaius poured out a drink then looked at Uther.

"It's been a long time, I was surprised to see you the other day at my grandsons. Your son is a good man, very like his mother." Gaius looked at Uther "But you haven't changed, just as hard as ever."

"What is it you want Gaius? I haven't time for your useless drivel." Uther said impatiently. He looked around the establishment wasn't up to his normal standards.

"A very good friend of mine wanted you to listen to something he overheard the other day." With that Gwaine stood up from where he had been sitting across the café. Uther looked at him with something akin to hatred.

"What's he doing here?" looking at Gwaine he continued "You are lucky I didn't take out a private prosecution on you and your friend"

Gwaine raised his eyebrows and took his phone out of his pocket. He slowly pressed the switch as he got closer "I thought you might like to listen to this. It's a bit quiet but you can hear it all"

As the recording began to play Uther looked at Gwaine "You were listening!"

"I was visiting and heard you dulcet tones and thought Arthur might need some company" Gwaine switched off the recording "As I said poor quality but I've had it cleaned up and everything can be heard clearly. Now I could take it to the police, threats and all, but then you have friends, or I could let the papers have it, someone out of area…. Or you could just leave my friends alone"

"Are you blackmailing me? You fool I could have you ruined, you and your friends!" Uther was furious. He went to grab the phone from Gwaine as a hand came round and grabbed his wrist.

"Not nice are you" came Percy's voice "Just sit down and listen to us"

"The boys are right Uther, you should listen to us. Now one of Lance friends is a very good solicitor we could give the tape to him, he knows Barristers in London, even if you did get off the hook mud sticks. And Percy's brother works for a tabloid newspaper, just think about it, after all I could add what you did to me when my son died. It wouldn't make you look very good would it? I understand you are hoping to get a knighthood, you would have to say goodbye to that." Gaius looked at Uther "Or you could just leave us all alone, including Arthur. He is a good boy to good for you to ruin."

Gwaine looked at Uther hatred in his gaze "You are a slimy worm, you think you are better than everyone else well let me tell you something that girl you want to ruin is better than you will ever be. You dare threaten her happiness, you shouldn't have done that, me and Percy here we love her like a sister and Gaius is as good as family. When Arthur turned up he was scared and alone, we wondered why he couldn't go to you for help but it's obvious you are the most selfish person I have ever met."

Percy moved so Uther could see him clearly then he spoke "You want to be left alone then you leave us and ours alone and that includes Arthur. I have given my brother a copy of the tape and Gaius has written down what happened to him. Any problems for any of us and he could make a good story of it."

Gaius looked At Uther "I should have fought you years ago but I was too busy with my family, I wonder how many people's lives you've ruined since? You are going to end up a sad and lonely old man. I have a wonderful pair of grandchildren. Merlin is a good and clever girl yet all you see is her difficulties not how she is overcoming them. She has more good friends than you'll ever have for all your contacts and favours. Now go and see you son, tell him you have changed you mind, that he can do what he wishes with his life and you'll keep you name out the papers."

Gaius stood up "I blame myself for what you've become if I had fought you perhaps you wouldn't have become so twisted with power. We were friends once so I'll give you this advice don't threaten your children love then instead it pays dividends." With that he walked out.

Gwaine bent down and put his face in Uther's "Make sure Arthur knows he can have his own life, I hope never to see you again, but if I do it will be to soon ….understand" he turned to his friend "Come on Perc there's a bad smell in here"

Percy looked at the shaken man "I pity you, for all your wealth, it's nothing without people who love you" then he followed Gwaine from the cafe.