A good hour later when Percy left the office with Merlin he had spotted Arthur at his desk. Merlin had spoken to the blonde before he and Merlin went home together. Percy wasn't convinced that Arthur was at all sorry for what he had done in the past, he was a good judge of character and something about the blonde didn't sit right with him. He decided to speak to Gwaine as soon as he could.
Merlin and Percy where in love, the two men had found in each other their balance. Merlin for the first time felt truly happy and was enjoying life. OK it would have been better if Percy wasn't always traveling and away for several days at a trot but at least at the moment they were managing to see each other for at least one evening a week if not more. Percy found in Merlin a caring and gentle man who at the same time was independent and self-reliant. It had been during their third week together that Merlin had told Percy about his earlier life, and now having met the man Percy had no doubt that Merlin wasn't even telling the whole story. Gwaine had already warned his friend but hearing it from Merlin had made Percy so angry. He couldn't believe that anyone could be so cruel to Merlin, he had wanted to beat Arthur to a pulp but Merlin had told him the other man had changed and it was all in the past and to leave it there.
Christmas was fast approaching and Percy was planning to ask Merlin to marry him during the holidays. He had got the ring and just needed the right time. He was nervous, in Merlin he had found a soul mate and hoped Merlin felt the same. But he realised that they were from different worlds, and although Percy's career was going places he wasn't as successful as Merlin. As Merlin shut down Dragon Enterprises for a fortnight over the Christmas break to give everyone the chance to be with their families Percy was planning on taking Merlin away to celebrate. He had already spoken to Hunith who was going to arrange to be with Gaius and Gwaine's family, but she agreed to keep it quiet so it would be a surprise.
Arthur meanwhile had, a few weekends previously, moved out of his sister's house and was renting a cottage in Ealdor. It was on the out shirts of the village and very close to work. So much so that he walked in most days. He still went to his sisters most Sundays for lunch and it was on one such occasion when Morgana asked Arthur what was wrong, she had noticed he was getting moody.
Arthur looked at his sister before replying "I've fallen in love" he admitted
"Oh that's great when am I going to meet him?" Morgana was pleased she wanted to see her brother happy.
"You already have, the trouble is he's going out with someone else" Arthur admitted "I don't know what to do about it. The man he's with isn't good enough for him, we have far more in common"
Morgana looked at her brother in surprise "And so, win him off his other guy. Come on Arthur don't give up you're a Pendragon we get what we want remember. Who is it?"
Arthur thought for a moment before answering his sister, they were alone as Leon had gone to speak to a friend on the phone. "It's Merlin Emrys" he admitted "The guy he's dating is that actor he met at the barbeque. But he could do better than that! Even on a professional level we'd work. Merlin is the brains and really knows his stuff but with my business knowledge I could make that company fly." Arthur said passionately "He's so damn good looking, as soon as I found out he was gay I wanted him, hell I wanted him before that but thought he was straight"
"Arthur to be honest I think you're on a loser with your history, you need to forget it" Morgana felt sorry for her brother he clearly had it bad.
"We've gone past that Morgs, I know with that guy out the way we'd be together. I just know it" Arthur protested
"Well if you really think that way then you'll have to try to push this actor guy out of the picture won't you. If there's anything I can do let me know. After all I know all Uther's contacts" Morgana was typical Pendragon and was willing to do anything to win. Her brother was very special to her he was all she really had, her relationship with her father was purely business, their personal relationship had always been strained. She wanted to see her brother happy.
Arthur spent his evenings doing as many on line searches as he could on Percy, trying to find anything he could use against him. It seemed he was the third son of ordinary parents with nothing remarkable about any of them. He couldn't seem to drag up any dirt he could use. But he wasn't willing to give up that easily. Then he had an idea that might just work he started to make some phone calls.
With the ring in his pocket Percy found he couldn't wait and it wasn't long when during a date Percy got down on one knee, as they finished their meal "Merlin I know we haven't known each other long but you are my soul mate and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honour of marrying me?"
Merlin couldn't believe it, he loved Percy and couldn't think of anyone better to spend his life with "Oh Yes! Percy I would love to marry you" he flung himself into his boyfriend's arms.
When they got back and told Hunith she was overjoyed and immediately rang everyone one she could think of. Gwaine rang as soon as he heard and demanded to be best man. It was midnight before they all went to bed. Percy spent the night with Merlin and the couple couldn't be happier and spent the night making love and talking.
On the Monday the office was agog about the news and all but one was delighted to hear the news. Gwen cried and hugged Merlin, she had been told the day before but had kept it secret so Merlin could announce the news. His ring was looked at by everyone and not much work was done that day.
Arthur was devastated he had to act quickly if he was to stop Merlin. Arthur knew deep in his heart that he was supposed to be the one marrying Merlin, and he wouldn't let the other man make such an awful mistake, he was going to bring his plans forward. Arthur continued to work hard both at work and on his other plans. He had gained several new contracts for the company and was rapidly making a name for himself. Even Gwen and Lance were warming to him. It was a few days before the works Christmas do when Merlin received a visitor to the office. Just after she left Arthur turned up with some paperwork for Merlin.
"Merlin I've brought those contracts for you to sign" As Arthur stopped speaking he noticed that Merlin was looking shocked and upset, he was holding some papers in his hand. "Are you alright?" he asked his boss.
Merlin looked up at Arthur it looked like he was almost in tears "I have to go" he muttered and got up and left the office clutching the paperwork in his hand.
Arthur watched him go a satisfied smirk on his face, he hated to hurt Merlin but knew it was for the best. He followed Merlin out of the office and saw Lance come round the corner "I think Merlin might have had some bad news I went to give him the contracts to sign and he looked shocked. When I spoke to him he rushed out the office"
Lance looked at Arthur "Which way did he go?" he asked
"Towards the stairs, shall we go after him?" Arthur sounded concerned.
"I'll go, can you answer the phone if it rings please" Lance said as he ran towards the stairs not waiting for a reply. "Ring Gwen and get her to follow me."
Lance ran down the stairs and found his boss leaning on his car. He looked absolutely distraught "Wants the matter Merlin?"
Merlin looked at Lance and didn't say a word but he took his engagement ring off and threw it across the car park. Then a tear fell down his cheek "It was all lies Lance, all lies"
Lance looked at Merlin unsure what to do or say as Gwen came towards them in time to see the ring fly towards her, Gwen bent and picked it up and rushed to Merlin's side. Hearing what her friend said to Lance she waved Lance away and stood in front of Merlin and grabbed his hands.
"What's happened Merlin?" Merlin gave her the papers in his hand as he spoke.
"I had a visitor she said she was Percy's girlfriend, she was six months pregnant, She found one of my messages on his phone" he looked up at Gwen "Why…why did he do this to me…I thought he loved me."
Gwen glanced at the papers, they were photocopies of photos of a woman and Percy as well as several other documents that seemed to back up the woman's story. Gwen got her car keys out of her pocket "Come on Merlin I'm taking you home, then we will sort this out"
Merlin followed her blindly he was too shocked and upset to do more. Neither of them noticed Arthur watching out of his office window a look of satisfaction on his face. Part one of his plan was underway. All he had to do now was wait before going to the next stage. Merlin would thank him one day, he knew he would.
Gwen got Merlin home and sat down with a cup of hot sweet tea before she started to ask what happened.
"I told you a woman arrived and asked to see me, she said it was important and private. I asked to come up to my office. She said her name was Sophia Tirmor and that she had been living with Percy for the past year she said she had found one of my messages on Percy's phone"
"But Merlin he's gay!" Gwen protested "there must be some other explanation she was lying"
"She said he was bi, Gwen she was six months pregnant, she said he had moved out because he didn't want children but had still been keeping in touch. She gave me those pictures and a copy of the lease they had on the flat they shared, she even had the results of a DNA test she'd had done. " Merlin crumpled into a heap and sobbed "I'm such a fool"
"Merlin think this through Gwaine introduced you, he wouldn't have done that if the man was already attached" Gwen protested "You need to talk to him, give him chance to explain"
"No Gwen, it's over….I can't …I can't see him I LOVE HIM! …..I just can't it would hurt me to much" Merlin sobbed
"Then I'm going to!" Gwen insisted "This has to be sorted, you can't just accept some random girl's word for it, and these photocopies are very rough they could be forged. He's a film star Merlin they attract all sorts of strange people. At least let me speak to Gwaine" Gwen insisted
Merlin got up and walked to his room and shut himself in, Gwen wanted to follow him but decided to let him be and contact Gwaine. So she went back to the living room and dialled Gwaine's number it was answered by a member of the film crew. Gwen left a message to ask Gwaine to phone her urgently and told the message taker that Gwaine would be very upset if the message wasn't passed to him as it concerned his cousin.
Gwaine rang back within ten minutes demanding to know what was up. Gwen explained what had happened,
"That's a load of balls, Percy has been set up I was working with him six months ago and there was no girl on the scene, in fact there hasn't' been a girl for years since Perc came out, and before that they were beards. Give me Merl" Gwaine insisted swearing as he did so.
Gwen went to Merlin's room and knocked on the door and called to Merlin, she could hear him sobbing so she opened the door "Merlin please speak to Gwaine" she handed the phone to the distressed man and left the room. Some twenty minutes later Merlin came out and handed Gwen her phone
"Gwaine wants to talk to you"
Merlin went back into his room. Gwen took the phone "Well Gwaine, will you tell me what's going on?"
"I will be there later this evening I'm only filming in London, I will contact Percy and let him know what's going on. Look after Merlin for me Gwen. He's been set up I swear, there is no way I'd have introduced then. Percy is a friend, almost a brother. I've contacted Aunty Hunith, she's on her way home. I'll kill the bastard who did this. Merlin doesn't need this he's too good to have this pain."
"But what I can't work out is why, why would anyone do this?" Gwen asked him
"I don't know Gwen, this industry is full of creeps and people out for what they can get but as far as I know Percy hasn't told anyone, he wanted to protect Merlin from the press, I can only think it got out from your end." Gwaine surmised.
"Well Merlin didn't keep it a secret I've never seen him so happy" Gwen explained "Gwaine we've got to sort this and soon, if Percy is guilty I'll never forgive him."
"I'll do more than that, but Gwen he's innocent I know it. He loves Merlin, bloody hell he's been besotted with him from the first. I've never seen him so happy, whoever planned this is clever but there is no way Percy knocked anyone up, even drunk!" Gwaine paused "Look I've got to go, see you later"
Hunith arrived half an hour later from her shopping trip to Camelot she immediately went to see Merlin then came out and sat with Gwen. "He's resting Gwen. I understand Gwaine is coming back with Percy. I hope that boy hasn't deceived Merlin. I liked him he was good for Merlin, they were so good together. Can I see the paperwork?" Hunith held out her hand. She may have phrased it as a question but Gwen knew she had no choice. Hunith was fiercely protective of her son and it would be a brave person to cross her.
Hunith got out her glasses and moved to the window for better light. After several moments she looked at Gwen "These photos are strange, I think they've been made up. As for the letters and results they may not be genuine. It will be interesting to see what Percy has to say."
A bit later Hunith went to check on Merlin and came back to say he was asleep. "It's strange how Merlin can be so strong when it comes to his company but so …" she paused "I was going to say weak emotionally but that's not true"
"I know what you mean Hunith, he will fight for anyone else but I think he feels …. He's not worth any ones love. He always seems surprised when people like him. It's been so long since he's let anyone get as close as Percy has, in fact I think he never has. He told me that they were soul mates" Gwen looked at Hunith. "Do you want any help? If Gwaine and Percy are coming I should think they will be hungry."
"Don't you want to be getting home to your man?" Hunith asked
"Lance will come here if I'm not back before he finishes work, that's ok isn't it?"
"Of course it is, you're both very good friends, but it might be best if Merlin gets to see Percy with as few others about as possible, he does have his pride and I should think that's taken a battering already. I know you mean well Gwen and I will let you know what happens but…"
Gwen smiled at Hunith "You're right as soon as Lance gets here I'll go. I think you'd better have this" She took Merlin's engagement ring from her pocket. "Merlin threw it across the car park." She explained.
Hunith took it and looked at it "Well it's not damaged, you know I really don't think Percy is guilty" she said no more. But she had seen the inscription on in inner surface of the ring. It was obviously private but she couldn't help but think someone who had engraved 'my soul mate, my love, my everything' would be a deceiver.
