For those who ask me to wake Merlin up...Sorry but I always have realistic recovery times for injuries sustained, no instant cures.

...

Once Arthur has eaten his breakfast he quickly phoned his PA to make sure everything was OK before they set off to see Merlin. As Arthur got nearer the hospital he felt his anxiety levels increasing. When they got out of the car Morgana looked at her brother. "Arthur just calm down, Merlin has good people looking after him"

They were only at the bedside for an hour when Arthur was asked to step out as the police wanted to speak to him again. As Arthur walked out he saw the detective he had spoken to before. They were shown into an office so they could speak in private. There was another police officer with Percy and they sat down. After some general pleasantries Percy got down to business "I'm afraid we have no new news for you. It seems to have been a random attack. We can find no motive and Mr Emrys seems to have been well liked in the area. His flat turned up no clues nor has a thorough search of the area. The only problem he seemed to have had was the custody case, but we have checked Mr Emrys's brother and his alibi holds. We will continue to investigate of course. Have you had any further thoughts?"

"Nothing as you say Merlin was very well liked, anyone in the area would know he had nothing. I hardly think Mordred would have done something like that no matter what."

Percy went on "I have spoken to the higher ups and we all think that the reward you offered might bring someone forward. I know you were keen for it to be large but that might well be counterproductive, A huge reward brings out the greed and the police tend to get flooded with bogus information, It has been suggested that something in the region of ten thousand in the first instance and see where that gets us. The other thing I need to ask is whether you had considered whether Merlin was the target. Do you have enemies who might use Mr Emrys to get at you?"

That shocked Arthur, to think that Merlin might suffer because of him. He calmed himself and thought "I don't think so, I mean in business there is always people you don't get on with, but nothing like that."

"We would like to go to your company and ask some questions, just to be sure" Percy said

"Fine, you have complete freedom to see anything you need to. I will phone and tell them to give full cooperation" Arthur said immediately

"Thank you, we would have anyway but it makes life easier if everyone co-operates. I am sorry Arthur that I can't give you better news. I hope that perhaps Mr Emrys can help us when he regains consciousness"

Arthur went back to Merlin's bedside, Morgan left after an hour then Arthur spent the rest of the day going through everyone he knew, trying to think of only one who would hold enough bad feeling against him personally or the company to target Merlin. The thought it could be his fault somehow made him go cold.

Percy had also been to see Mordred again, he had been at work but Kara was there. She was very nervous after what she had heard her parents saying and it showed. "I'm sorry I can't help you at all detective, my husband will be back this afternoon he only went in to get some work done, although he does intend to visit Merlin this afternoon."

Percy smiled "That's alright it was just to tell you both what is happening with the case. Also to let you know that Mr Pendragon has put up a reward for information, that might bring something forward. Has Victim support been in contact?"

"Yes they have thank you, someone is going to come as see Freya, she will need the most help I think" Kara managed to get Percy gone as soon as she could. Freya had gone back to school to try and give her some degree of normality. Kara sat and worried for a time after Percy had left then she decided to phone her mum.

Morgause was at work and was surprised when Kara rang her "What the matter dear?"

"The police have been round again" Kara told her mother "Arthur has put up a reward for information, the police still have no leads"

Morgause paused before replying "I expect the police will visit every few days dear, it's just to keep you informed. How is Freya?" Morgause wondered about the reward but didn't want to sound too interested. She didn't want her daughter to get the wrong idea or worry.

"She's gone to school, I thought it might be better. I am dropping her off and picking her up. I have left her in the same school for now, we need to wait and see what happens with Merlin. The social worker has been round and is happy with her being here but obviously we can't do anything permanent until we know how Merlin will be."

Morgause smiled to herself "From what you tell me I would think she will be staying with you, after all even if Merlin does survive he will be incapable of looking after her for a long time of ever, especially if his back is broken he could be in hospital for a long time"

Kara took a deep breath "I wouldn't want to get her that way Mum, she is so upset poor thing. From what I understand Merlin is really bad" Kara nearly asked her mother but couldn't bring herself to, she really didn't want to know.

"Freya is young she will settle down, you know that, just make the most of your time with her now and she will want to stay with you" Morgause told her daughter "Remember possession is often nine tenths of the law, and you can provide her with a loving and safe home."

Kara hung up wondering if she should have told her mother what she had heard. But then she might be wrong, After all she had only heard half the conversation, surely her parents wouldn't do anything like that she was just being silly.

When they left Mordred's house Percy turned to his partner "What did you make of that? Did she seem rather on edge to you? You know I have a gut feeling we haven't heard all we should have from that lady"

"She did, but then it could just be because they had been trying to get the girl off her brother in law and feels guilty" Tristan had been Percy's partner for several years and trusted his partners gut feelings. "You reckon she knows something more?"

"I don't know, perhaps we should talk to that Social Worker and the school" they went back to the station and made an appointment to speak to Nimueh Lake that afternoon.

Meanwhile an announcement was made about the rewards offered for information and Percy and Tristian as some uniformed police went to Pendragon Pharmaceuticals to begin interview staff there. Later Percy and Tristian left the uniforms to it and made their way to interview Nimueh Lake. Tristan started the questioning by asking for an overview of the case from Nimueh "Just so we have a basic starting point"

Nimueh smiled and lent back in her chair "I have been Freya's case worker since her parent's death. She was five when they were killed along with Hunith the brother's mother. We were intending to put her in care, and looking back it would have been the best thing to do. Both men were in university and Merlin decided he wanted to care for his niece, even though he was only nineteen at the time. I made my report but was overruled and in the end he won through. So he gave up university and found the flat. For the last five years I have been a frequent visitor. It soon became apparent to everyone that the accommodation he had secured was substandard. Freya has asthma and the flat has damp problems." She paused "I did try to help him but at such a young age it was hard to find a landlord willing to rent, Merlin was only able to secure low income home based jobs. As I said the department should never have allowed him to become the poor girl's carer. The flat is a disaster area. Then I was approached by Mordred the older brother. He had secured a very good job and was married to a paediatric nurse, lovely couple. They wanted to give Freya a better home and adopt her. Merlin very selfishly fought the application. You would have thought if he felt anything for her he would have been pleased. With such a selfish attitude I'm only glad he wasn't allowed to adopt her at nineteen"

"Then what happened?" Tristian asked his face neutral.

"Well I have made my report and recommendations, saying that clearly the child's best interests would be to live with the older brother in a stable relationship and good home where her health problems could be best cared for. Then Merlin Emrys suddenly announces that he is engaged to be married to Arthur Pendragon and would be moving. That was being investigated as I felt that it was a sham engagement purely to keep the child and was not in her best interests Then Mr Emrys was attacked and hospitalised. The area he lives in is very rough and has a high crime rate as I'm sure you know" Nimueh stopped and waited.

Percy spoke "The area is a deprived area of the town it's true but the crime rate is not as high as you might imagine. Can you tell me what you based your idea of a sham marriage on?"

"It was clear, Merlin Emrys announced it on the very day I went to make a report, there had been no evidence of either of the men dating, nor of Mr Merlin Emrys homosexuality before. He said he had plans to move as they were getting married in a matter of weeks yet as a guardian he should have informed me of any new people in the child's life and that he was planning on moving, he did neither until that point. I realise now that the men have been friends for some years, Ms Emrys, the mother of both Merlin and Mordred, had been Mr Pendragon senior's housekeeper."

"Do you know of anyone or any reason why Mr Emrys would have been attacked as he was?" Tristian asked.

Nimueh sneered "I don't know other that as I say the area is very rough, perhaps he owed money to someone or perhaps he was attacked because of his homosexuality? Whatever the reason he will clearly be unable to look after Freya for some considerable time and I will suggest that Freya is settled into her new home"

Percy spoke up "Merlin Emrys was marrying a multi-millionaire CEO of a major company, that had been well publicised so that seems likely that if Merlin owned money to anyone they would surely go to see Mr Pendragon rather than risk a sentence for murder or attempted murder."

Nimueh shrugged "I have no idea gentlemen I am not a policeman after all. All I know is that a young child has been offered an eminently suitable home, and that has now been put on hold. Now gentlemen whilst I am appalled at what has happened to Mr Emrys, surely you can see that is not right." Nimueh looked the two men "Off record you must see that even if the 'marriage' was a real love match it is far better that the girl is in a traditional framework"

"None of this interview is 'off record' Ms Lake. A serious crime that has been committed. Freya Emrys is devoted to Merlin. It's not my job to decide but I would have thought she should have the final say. Your comments smack of homophobia and that is not a good view point in your job I would have thought" Percy said to the Social Worker. He stood up "Thank you for your insight"

As they got back in their car Tristian turned to Percy "That woman is a right bitch"

"She is, I'd guess that with her in charge of the case Merlin won't have a chance of winning custody" Percy said thoughtfully "That doesn't seem fair to me"

Tristian grinned but then looked serious "Well who knows, but the poor sods got to live first"

They went to the school and heard nothing but good things about Freya and the support her uncle gave her. The teacher said "I hope you find whoever did such a terrible thing and that Freya goes back to her Papa, they are so close. That man would do anything for her you know. I wish all parents were as good"

Later that evening Percy was having a drink with a friend who worked in the social worker department, and asked him if he knew of a Nimueh Lake." Yes I do, a pity she is in her job, she's a hardnosed bitch who likes to get her own way. She's friends with Morgause King. The pair of them make some of our lives hell, why?"

"Well Lance I had a chat with her today and she said something, then tried to make it off record. But I told her it wasn't. I might be able to help you later, once the investigation I'm on has ended."

"Your case isn't the Emrys one is it? Because if it is I should tell you know Arthur is a good friend of mine and so is Merlin. So it might be best if we didn't talk about it. But, I will say more off the record, and it must be" he paused

"Ok. For you, off the record" Percy grinned

"If Nimueh Lake was as good as she claims to be she would have got Merlin and Freya moved a long time ago. She was unhappy from the start with him looking after Freya due to his age, and tried to stop it. She has been looking for a reason to take her away from him ever since. I hope you get the man who did this, Merlin is a good man, you won't find better"

Percy ordered one more drink before they went their own ways, Lance wanted to get home for when Gwen got back from some friends and Percy had a lot of work the following day, and they started to discuss general subjects like football. They were just finishing up the drinks when a couple of glasses appeared in front of them "On the house gentlemen"

Lance looked up to see Gwaine stood there. "Hello Gwaine what are you doing here?"

"It is one of my pubs" he smirked.

Lance turned to Percy "This is my friend Gwaine Lot, Gwaine this is Percy Strong"

"I know, I have seen him on the telly recently. In fact that's why I'm here" he sat down "I have been going round the pubs asking the staff to keep an ear to the ground to see if they pick up anything about Merlin's attack" Gwaine looked at Percy "People talk when they've had a few"

"I'll be pleased for any help we can get, there is the reward of course" Percy told the brunette

"Arthur and Merlin are friends, stuff the reward" he looked at Percy "Nothing much yet except for a comment from one of the pubs, do you know someone called Valliant, hard bastard about my age?"

"We know of him but nothing concrete he always seems to slip away."Percy said looking interested.

"Well he's been laying low recently word is he's owes money. But for the past few days he's been out every night, with a bird, god knows what she sees in him. Anyway he's spending heavy, one of the bartenders told me he had bruised knuckles. Now I know that means nothing but any scrap of info might help"

"Thank you Gwaine it might help, but don't put yourself at risk snooping he's a nasty bit of work" Percy told Gwaine

"If I knew without a doubt it was him I'd make sure he didn't do it again, I've seen Merlin" Gwaine growled "Merlin is a good friend"

"Then leave it to us, whoever did this will go down for attempted murder, don't end up in court yourself for scum like that" Percy warned him. He handed Gwaine a card "Hear any more and let me know, 24/7 please"