When Leon got home later that day Merlin told him what he had told Balinor, then asked "Can you tell him the rest? About the accident…please."
"I think that's your place Merlin. He doesn't have to know it all at once after all." Leon told him. "So he's coming to Sunday dinner? That means you'll have to get up earlier than normal then." Leon teased.
As it turned out that conversation wouldn't ever need to take place, when
Merlin got to work on Friday his peace and emotions were shattered once
more. Gwaine had picked him up, much to his surprise. Then they worked with
the team until ten o'clock when Gwaine stood up.
"Come on boys I hear there's Dorset Apple cake in the canteen today. Let's get
there before anyone else so we can grab some."
Elyan laughed "How do you always know when there Apple cake, do you pay
them to tell you?"
"Caught out, come on boys, we'll be there when the door opens, the treat is
on me" Gwaine laughed "We deserve a treat."
They arrived at the canteen just as the door opened so were some of the first
in. They queued up for their coffee and cake. They were soon followed in by
several others. "Go and get a table Merlin I'll get yours" Elyan told Merlin.
He found an empty table and sat at it, in the middle of the table was a piece of
paper, thinking it was one of the many adverts that found their way to the
canteen he picked it up to read. As he started to read it his face went white,
but he found he couldn't stop. By the time the others reached him he was
sitting stunned unable to speak. When Gwaine saw his face and got no answer
he saw the paper in Merlin's hand and took it. Reading it quickly he swore
then spoke to Elyan.
"Get the other pieces of paper quickly, don't let anyone else read it and if
anyone has tell them to keep it to themselves and get their names" His tone
of voice was such the dark skinned man did as he was asked without
questioning it.
Gwaine spoke to Merlin "Alright mate, you with me?" he asked. Not getting
any reply he started to move the chair to the door of the manager's office.
"Go and tell the manager I'm using his office" he told Elyan as he arrived back
at the table with the papers clasped in his hand. "Then get Arthur down here."
Eylan did as he was asked, he got to the papers quickly and only two other
people had read it, warning them he collected the rest. Then he spoke to the
manager before he grabbed the phone hanging on the wall and asked to be
put through o Arthur.
"Mr Pendragon, It's Eylan Smith, Gwaine has asked that you come to the
canteen please, a situation has occurred and he needs you here".
Arthur obviously picked up something from Elyan's tone as he didn't argue. As
soon as he put the phone down he headed straight for the canteen. When
Arthur arrived he headed straight to Elyan "What's happened?" he asked
looking round for Gwaine.
"Gwaine is in the manager's office with Merlin, before you go in I think you
should see this Sir" he handed Arthur one of the pieces of paper. "They were
on the tables when we arrived. Merlin read it."
Arthur took the paper and read the typed poem:
'The Eunuch'
A lorry went down a hill,
It couldn't stop and the world went still.
A boy was in the way
Oh dear what could they say,
A mangled body was removed,
But what a mess they rescued,
He lost a leg and more beside,
Not only had he lost his hide,
But now your sister's is safe with him.
He can't engage in any sin.
How sad, the sod lost all his tackle!
So he can no longer be a rascal,
He has no balls! He has no cock!
He must have woken up to one hell of a shock!
He is now a Eunuch,
And cannot fuck,
Poor Merlin Emrys.
Arthur was livid he read the paper by the time he finished it he was red with anger. "Do we know if anyone else saw it?" He demanded.
"Two people I have their manes and told them not to speak about it. I don't know if the canteen staff had seen it. Luckily we were here early or more would have read it."
Arthur went to the office and looked at Gwaine and Merlin. Gwaine was still trying to get a reaction from Merlin, but hadn't been successful. "I think he's in shock Arthur, Have you seen it?"
"Yes, and when I find out who did it their life won't be worth living. Stay with him Gwaine, I will phone Leon and let my father know." Before Arthur left the room he bent down next to Merlin. "Merlin its Arthur, look at me please, or just say something." There was no reaction. Arthur looked at Gwaine before leaving the office.
He went to the next office and shutting the door rang his father and briefly told him what had happened, Uther said he was on his way with Balinor. Then Arthur rang Leon and filled him in, Leon immediately said he was on his way.
By the time Arthur was back out in the canteen and about to go into see Merlin his father and Balinor arrived. "What exactly happened?" Balinor demanded. Arthur took the two men to one side and showed them the paper "This was on every table in the canteen. Merlin found it and read it. Luckily they were among the first here. We think only two other people read it."
Uther turned round and looked round the canteen it was clear he was losing his temper Arthur grabbed his arm "Dad we have the lid on it, no one else realises what's happened we need to keep it that way, for Merlin's sake. The two people who did read it have been told to keep quiet."
Uther turned round and looked at Balinor who was looking very shocked "Where is he?" he asked.
"In the manager's office, he hasn't said anything, I think he's in shock. I've called Leon he's on his way."
Balinor opened the office door and walked in, Arthur followed while Uther headed towards the Canteen staff to see if they knew where the papers had come from. Balinor looked at Merlin and bent down in front of his son. Arthur grabbed Gwaine's arm and motioned him to move away.
Gwaine looked savage "I'm staying put, he needs people near him who he knows."
Arthur looked at Gwaine and was about to reply to his friend when Balinor spoke. "Thank you Gwaine, this is to stay in this room until Merlin says otherwise, but I found out not long ago that Merlin is my son. So I think I qualify to be with him."
Gwaine's jaw dropped, he hadn't seen that coming.
Balinor took his son's hand and with his other hand gently turned Merlin's face to his. "Son, I sorry, Leon is on his way." He drew Merlin into a hug, as he did he felt Merlin shudder and take a deep breath.
Then very quietly almost so quiet that Balinor didn't hear him Merlin said:
"Now you know, I couldn't tell you, ashamed."
Balinor hugged his son even harder "Son why? You have no need to be ashamed, you are a wonderful person."
With that there was a knock on the door and Leon put his head round before he came in. He looked at the scene in front of him and then moved closer. Balinor looked up and on seeing Leon spoke gently to Merlin "Leon's here" Merlin moved away from Balinor and turning to Leon held out his arms. The rest of the men left the room.
After half an hour Leon came out asked Gwaine to go in to sit with his son, and sat down with Arthur and Balinor who were waiting at one of the tables. "Why, why did someone do that to him?"Arthur looked round then suggested they go into one of the offices. As soon as they sat down Balinor was the first to speak.
"It's true then?" Balinor whispered "I knew he wasn't telling me everything."
Leon looked at Balinor "He couldn't tell you, he was scared. When I got home he asked me to tell you on Sunday." He looked at Arthur and pointed at the papers in the other man's hand. "This trash sort of tells the truth. The accident he had didn't just take his leg. He got dragged under the lorry and trapped between the back wheels. The wheels were still going round. He lost his leg above knee and had severe muscle and flesh loss from his abdomen, back and hip. He also had his scrotum ruptured and degloved. His testis had to be removed, they saved part of one, which allows testosterone production, but he's sterile. His penis was badly damaged. They rebuilt that after a fashion, but he has no sexual function. Can you imagine that for a teenage boy? I know he told you about the boys at school, well the nickname they gave him was Eunuch, it was after that that he tried to kill himself." Tears were rolling down Leon's face "He doesn't deserve this, I want to know who found out and how, also why they would make this public." He paused "That was the nickname the boys gave him at school after they attacked him." Leon said. "Can you understand how that effected a fifteen year old? He coped with the loss of his leg better than the loss of… Once he got that bit older it hit him what he'd lost. When I found him almost bled out on his mother grave, it was the worst day of my life."
Arthur looked up he was shocked by what Leon had told him, it was the first he knew of Merlin's suicide attempt. "I think it may have been as revenge for reporting the fraud. There's no other reason. As it happens we think only two people read the sheets and neither will speak about it. Dad has made sure of that. The police are involved. I'm sorry Leon I wouldn't have had this happened for the world. Merlin is a great guy."
Leon stood up to go back to Merlin "I'll take him home"
"Do you want him to rest for a bit first? You can have the use of my office, there a sofa there he could lie down on." Balinor suggested.
"I don't think that will be a good idea, I think he needs to go home, you have to understand Merlin sees his injuries as shameful, he thinks he's not worth anything. Whatever I and the psychologists say to him he still thinks that he's a nobody, who only a very few will ever love and accept. This hasn't helped that. I'll ring his psychologist, he hasn't needed to see her for years but I think I had better, I don't want him doing anything stupid." Leon started to walk away his shoulders slumped.
Balinor put his hand on Leon's shoulder stopping him. "This changes nothing I want Merlin to know that! I am proud of him and already love him, please let visit him later and tell him that. I owe you so much Leon, for being there for him. Know this I will never try to come between you. You're a good man."
Leon turned round and looked at Balinor he was clearly thinking "Thank you, You can visit tomorrow but if he wants you to leave you do so."
"Tell him that we all think the world of him and if he needs anything you must let us know." Arthur said "I will visit whenever he wants me to."
"Thank you Arthur" Leon walked back into the office and came out with Merlin and Gwaine. "I'll take Merlin home and leave the chair at the door."
"I'll come and collect it Leon" Gwaine told him.
Arthur and Balinor said goodbye and let the others leave. Merlin looking a picture of misery.
Uther meanwhile had spoken to the canteen staff, no one admitted to reading the paper, they had been too busy setting up for the day. They all said the paper had been there when they opened up and had assumed it was one of the many advertising brochures that seemed to appear from time to time. Uther had spoken to the members of staff that had read the poem and they had promised not to repeat any of the contents. Uther made sure they knew the consequences if they did.
Then he went up to the office and called the police, he wanted this investigated. For a start he wanted to know who had placed the papers and also where they had got such private information from. That afternoon was spent with Arthur looking at the security tapes from the foyer to see if anyone unknown had entered the building. By that evening they had identified three people they personally didn't know. They eliminated two as couriers that had delivered papers from clients. The other a woman with long blond hair they couldn't identify so they turned her picture over to the police. The police suggested that they circulate the picture among the staff in case there was a reason she was in the building.
The answer came on monday when Cenred's old secretary recognised the woman as Cenred's sister and Valiant's wife. They had the person and the motive. All they now needed to know was how she had got hold of such private and confidential information. The police were informed immediately.