Freya jumped up and ran to Merlin who still hadn't taken in the words, he had convinced himself he would lose. As Freya hugged him and kissed him he slowly realized what had happened. Freya looked at the judges "Thank you, thank you so much for giving me back my Papa"
Merlin's arms crept round Freya and he squeezed her as Arthur joined the group, tears in his eyes at seeing their happiness. Merlin whispered something to Freya and she walked towards a stunned Mordred and Kara. "Thank you for looking after me when Papa was in hospital." She sounded somewhat unwilling, but neither less, Freya did as her Papa had asked.
Kara looked at the child she had been expecting to take home permanently and something seemed to snap inside of her, as Freya went back to hug Merlin once more Kara stood up and turned to the judges her face full of fury and disbelief "You are wrong, I won't accept this!"
She had always got her own way in the past her parents had made sure of that, even when she had been taken before the NMC she had got of far more lightly than expected, but the one thing she had really wanted had just been taken away from her. Mordred put his arms round his wife and tried to comfort her, he knew how much this had meant to her. But Kara was past comfort, she turned to her parents:
"You promised me you could do this for me!" she glared at her mother "You told me we would win" then turning to her father she looked at him with such disappointment he flinched but what she said next made him go cold "I know you paid to have him beaten I heard you and mum talking…why didn't you kill him? It would have solved everything!"
Kara was clearly having a breakdown before their eyes, she fell into Mordred's arms and sobbed "I failed you, you wanted a child and I failed you"
At the shouting the security came in followed by the police that were always about when court was in session. After speaking to the judge they led Cenred and Morgause away along with Kara and Mordred, who looked horrified at what he had heard, but he still clung to his wife. Arthur had heard what was being, said but Merlin and Freya were too overjoyed and hugging each other to have taken it in. Arthur himself saw red, all that Merlin had suffered was because of Kara's determination to claim Freya, he was torn between staying with Merlin and Freya and going and beating the shit out of Cenred, as he moved forward the security arrived, and Ms Annis stepped in front of Arthur "Don't be a fool, Merlin and Freya are going to need you with them, you can't do that if you are arrested for assault." She hissed.
Arthur took a deep breath and looked at Merlin and Freya, it was then that Merlin looked up to see his brother being led away. "What..?"
Arthur looked at Merlin then at Gaius who was stood routed to the spot with shock. "Gaius could you take Freya and get her a drink, we will be with you shortly" Gaius realising Arthur needed to explain to Merlin he gathered Freya up and took her out of the room, "Your Papa needs to sign some papers lets go and wait for him."
Arthur turned to Merlin "Kara has just said she heard her father and mother talking, it seems he paid someone to assault you, to try and stop you keeping her."
The judge's looked at Merlin with sympathy and the head judge said "I'm so sorry, it seems your brother's wife and in laws took their wish to win beyond reason. Please take Freya home with you and I hope you fully recover. After this is settled I hope to approve your adoption application."
Merlin looked in horror at Arthur unable to believe what he had heard "Did Mordred know?" he whispered.
"Not if his face was anything to go by." Arthur admitted "I'm sure the police will speak to us later, but let's get Freya home before she realises what has happened"
Arthur took Merlin to Freya and then with Gaius they went back to the house, where Morgana was waiting, she shrieked with delight as she saw Freya and hugged her "You are here, that is such good news" then she turned to Arthur and Merlin "You could have rung!" but she saw their faces and knew something awful had happened, "Freya is staying here isn't she?"
"I am Aunty Morgana, I think Papa is tired" she looked at Merlin with concern
"I think he is as well Freya" Arthur told her "I'll help him to bed, you go and check you room and the show Grampa Gaius around"
Freya grabbed Giaus's hand "Come on then I can cuddle papa later"
As they disappeared Arthur turned to Morgana "When it was announced that Merlin had won Kara went mad, she said she had overheard her father telling her mother he had paid to have Merlin beaten, and she also added he should have had Merlin killed!"
"Oh Merlin! I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say" Morgana was as shocked as they had been.
Merlin looked at her "I think I need to lie down, I can't believe it, why? What had I ever done to them?" his shoulders started to shake as the shock set in. Arthur took Merlin up to their bedroom, the stair lift had now been fitted so they soon were back upstairs, and once up he carried Merlin to bed not bothering with the wheelchair. Merlin was still far lighter than he should be.
"Can you ring for a doctor?" he asked his sister
"Better than that Leon was coming soon" Morgana said "I will ring him and get him to come now"
Arthur helped a shaken Merlin into bed the stunned man looked at Arthur "What do I tell Freya?"
"Nothing yet Merlin, wait to see what the police say first, it might just be a huge misunderstanding, just rest, and remember you have Freya back, whatever else has happened is secondary" Arthur hugged Merlin to his chest "I'm sure Mordred knew nothing in any case"
By the time Freya had shown Gaius around Leon had arrived, he went in to see Merlin and told him to take some of his medication and rest. Freya crept in and got into bed with Merlin and cuddled up to him. Both of them were soon asleep. As expected Percy and Tristian arrived at the door early that evening.
Percy spoke first "Mr Pendragon I wandered if we could have a word with yourself and Mr Emrys."
Arthur opened the door wider "Come in Please, You can speak to me but Merlin has taken Medication on advice of his doctor and is sleeping, he has had a traumatic time lately and now this" he paused "Please come thought to the kitchen and I'll make us a drink."
As soon as they were settled Percy spoke "We have questioned all the people concerned except for yourself, Mr Emrys and his grandfather. Hopefully we won't need to question the little girl. Kara Emrys has told us what she heard and when, it was ambiguous but like her we feel it matches the facts. Mr King denies everything at the moment as does his wife. But we have got a search warrant and their house and business premises are being searched. Now if you could tell us in your words what happened today we would be grateful?"
Arthur told them everything then asked "Will you be able to prove it?"
"Unsure as yet, but funnily enough one of Gwaine Green's staff might hold the key. It seems one of his bar staff saw Mr King and a man matching Valliant's description together in a car outside a pub, the day before the assault. It got missed until we went through everything again, we were starting to investigate when we got the phone call from the station about today."
Tristian then asked "How is Mr Emrys?"
Arthur winced "He has had a tough time of it recently, he was scared of losing Freya, he is also getting frustrated at his progress with walking, now this. I don't know, hopefully with Freya here now we will see an improvement" Arthur hesitated "Can you tell me was his brother aware of any of his wife's suspicions?"
"We don't think so, he is very shocked, but has said he will support his wife. From what she says she knew nothing beforehand, just after the event, and even then hadn't been totally sure about what she had heard" Percy told Arthur. "She has always been an indulged child, and has always got what she wanted before, it was the shock of losing that made her breakdown. She has been admitted to a psychiatric unit."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I won't pretend I like the woman but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Look can you leave Merlin until tomorrow?"
"I was going to suggest the same thing" Percy said "If he has seen a doctor we can't interview him if he has taken sedatives. We will try to wrap this up as soon as we can. Then perhaps Mr Emrys can rebuild his life. By the way thank you for the wedding invites we will both come"
"It will be good to see you, I only hope Merlin is up to it" Arthur said.
Gaius walked in at that moment and Percy asked him the same sort of questions before saying to Arthur "We'll leave you to it then and be back in the morning, can you inform Merlin we will be visiting and we would appreciate it if you didn't discuss what happened with him as we would like his version of events."
Merlin slept until six o'clock the next morning, Arthur had carried Freya to her own bed before he himself retired for the night. When Merlin stirred Arthur also woke, he has been sleeping on and off all night keeping an ear out in case Merlin woke up distressed. Arthur got up and went to Merlin's side. "Good morning"
Merlin looked at Arthur he looked dazed "Did it happen or did I dream it?"
Arthur gave Merlin a smile "We have Freya, she's in bed next door"
"And the rest?"
"Yes it happened, look Percy will come and speak to you later, so don't worry for now, he has asked we don't discuss it until after he has been. So come on get you downstairs and we will have a cup of tea and something to eat before you get washed and dressed. You haven't eaten since yesterday lunchtime"
Merlin swung his legs over the side of the bed and with minimal help from Arthur stood and got into his upstairs wheelchair. After transferring to the stair lift then the other wheelchair they were soon sitting drinking tea and eating toast, Merlin refused anything else "I'll have something else with Freya, we haven't had breakfast together for ages" Rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hands Merlin missed a small frame coming into the kitchen but as he removed his hands he found his lap full of Freya "Hello Papa are you feeling better?"
"I am for seeing you my poppet" Merlin smiled "Arthur was trying to get me to eat more toast but I wanted to wait for you, shall we have breakfast together before we have a wash." He looked at Freya "Did you sleep in those clothes?"
"She did, she fell asleep with you and I carried her to bed." Arthur confessed. "I didn't want to wake her so I left her in her dress….. Now what do you both want for breakfast?"
Freya grinned "Boiled eggs and soldiers please."
Merlin laughed, the first real laugh Arthur had heard from him for ages "So what's so funny?" he demanded in mock indignation.
"Uncle Arthur can't cook boiled eggs poppet." Merlin told the small girl.
"I can if you supervise" Arthur said "And the toast for the soldiers is easy"
So for their first morning of their new lives together they all got involved in making breakfast. Freya spread the toast and cut it into 'soldiers' whist Merlin and Arthur did the eggs. As they sat eating Arthur looked at the others "This is nice, I look forward to doing this every morning"
Freya grinned "I'm really here, I woke up and thought I was still dreaming. The people yesterday were very nice, they asked me who I wanted to live with and why, I told them I loved my Papa more than anyone else and Uncle Arthur third best after Grampa Gaius" she paused "I had to like Grampa next Uncle Arthur you don't mind do you?"
Arthur rubbed her head "No I don't mind, I'm honoured I came third. But once you have been here for a while you will like me better than your Papa!"
Freya screwed up her face and shook her head "I will never love anyone more than Papa"
Merlin smiled "You will one day poppet, when you fall in love with a nice boy and get married and then when you have children, I will be way down the list"
"Never! No one is better than you" Freya said firmly
"I agree with that Freya your Papa is my favourite person as well, but I do love you" Arthur said. "We will have a party soon, a week today and we get married"
"And I am best person and will hold the rings" Freya said proudly. Then her face clouded over "Kara said you wouldn't want me to if I lived with her, she said it should be a best man and a best person was silly. I'm glad I'm not going to stay with them"
Merlin looked hurt "Freya even if you had wanted to live with Uncle Mordred and Aunty Kara I would still have wanted you as my best person"
"And a best man is the best friend of the groom, and as you are both of our best friends, you have to be our best person" Arthur said seriously.
Merlin looked at Freya "I'm going to get washed and dressed and so are you. Do you need help?"
Freya looked embarrassed "Yes please just to put the shower on It hasn't got a mark like our old one"
Merlin looked at Arthur "I put a mark on our old shower so Freya knew how far to turn it on and set the temperature so it was never to hot, only she is a big girl now and doesn't like me to see her without her clothes"
"We can do that here as well, but come on and I'll do it today for you" Arthur took Freya's hand and took her upstairs. "You can chose whatever clothes you like. If you need more we will get them. Do you have anything at Uncle Mordred's to collect?"
"No I took my teddy to court with me, I don't care about anything else. Where is my cat? Only Kara wouldn't let me have it, she said it was in the flat."
Arthur opened a cupboard in her room "All your old things from your old flat are in here, you can sort them later, but here is cat" he handed her the cat and Freya hugged it and out it on her bed. Then she hugged Arthur "I do love you Uncle Arthur"
"I know you do, and I love you, but I also understand you love Papa best" Arthur set the shower "Never touch that knob Freya I will get the thermostat set for you later today. If you can't switch the shower off just shout and I will do it. Once Papa is upstairs I will only be next door. Will you need help getting dressed?"
"No don't be silly I am a big girl now."
Arthur left Freya to wash and dress and went down to Merlin and helped him, mainly to take his back splint of and put it back on once he was dry. Merlin was getting more independent each day. Arthur heard Freya shout and went to switch off the shower and then took her through to Merlin so he could brush and dry her long hair.
"I've missed doing this" Merlin said with a smile as he brushed out the tangles and put Freya's hair in bunches. "I like your dress is that a new one?"
"It's one Aunty Morgana brought for me" Freya did a twirl "Do I look pretty?"
"You look beautiful Poppet" As they all headed downstairs Freya talked Arthur into letting her use the stair lift.
"Just this once, but it isn't a fair ground ride. It is important it doesn't get broken or your Papa can't get upstairs"
When Percy and Tristian arrived Arthur took Freya out in the garden. Percy asked Merlin some questions then said "We have released Mrs King on bail this morning we are keeping Cenred King in for another twenty four hours at least, we have found some evidence but I can't tell you more, but it is doubtful he will be out before the trial and if he is then we will ask for a restraining order so he cannot approach you. Your sister in law has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital as she had had a breakdown."
"How's Mordred?" Merlin hated what was happening to his family.
"He is staying with his wife, he asked us to reassure you he knew nothing of this and that his wife knew nothing before the event. He is very upset at what has happened and feels very guilty" Tristian said, knowing if he were in Merlin's shoes he would never talk to his family again.
Merlin however was a very forgiving person, and also didn't doubt that Mordred hadn't known anything. Mordred was clearly deeply in love with his wife and must be being pulled two ways. "Tell him I know and he is still my brother and always will be"
Percy looked at Merlin and felt the young man was someone very special. "I look forward to the wedding, hopefully by then we will have good news for you"
"Having Freya back is enough for now" Merlin said
"You're looking better already" Tristian observed "I hope you are soon walking"
After the police had left Merlin's physio arrived, one thing Arthur had arranged was for Merlin to have as much of his treatment at home as he could, Arthur had a fully fitted out Gym and with the addition of some equipment for Merlin's rehab he spent an hour and a half each day doing his exercises. Freya went in and watched, somehow having her there seemed to motivate Merlin and both the physio and Merlin were pleased with the session. Merlin then sat on the sofa with Freya and the two chatted until Merlin dozed off. Freya ran upstairs and came back with the duvet off her bed, and Arthur found her carefully covering her Papa up. When she saw Arthur she put her finger to her mouth and went shush, and grabbed his hand and led him into the kitchen. Looking far too serious for a girl of her age she asked "Will Papa get better, I mean properly better?"
Arthur looked at the little girl "I don't know Freya, your Papa's back is poorly, but he will get better then he is, once his arms are stronger and he can use sticks to walk with. But he needs our help, your Papa gets tired and finds it hard, and we have to try to help him keep happy and not sad."
"Has Papa been very sad?"
"Yes he has sweetheart he missed you lots and lots, but you are with him now. But its important that we let Papa do as much as he can himself, he hates it when we do everything for him, it makes him feel useless" Arthur was trying to explain without worrying Freya.
"Like me when I feel poorly? I want to do things even if I can't"
"That's right, now don't forget you have to go to school tomorrow but next week is summer holidays so we can have some time together" Arthur told the concerned girl.
"And the wedding! Are you having a honeymoon? Uncle Gwaine told me about a honeymoon"
Arthur rolled his eyes, Gwaine would be the death of him. He wondered just what the man had told her. "Not yet Papa is too tired to go away, but when he is better we are all going to go on holiday to Disneyland"
"But you have to do something!" Freya demanded.
"What do you think we should do? Remember Papa can't walk and gets very tired." Arthur asked
"Why don't you have all his friends come and see him? so he doesn't get sad. You have lots of room" Freya said "Then we can talk to him and take him for walks in the garden. He likes watching films and eating popcorn, he liked that when you used to come to the flat"
"We could, look Aunty Morgana is coming over later, ask her to help you, if she phones people then your Papa won't know. But not to many and not every day. That way it can be your surprise for him"
When Morgana and Leon arrived Leon took Merlin off to check him over, and Freya grabbed Morgana and took her to her bedroom "Aunty Morgana, we need to cheer Papa up. Uncle Arthur says they are not having a honeymoon until Papa is better sooo…. We talked me and Uncle Arthur and decided that it would be good idea to have Papa's friends come to stay after the wedding. So it's a surprise and he doesn't hear us can you ask them. We could watch films and eat popcorn and do all the things Papa likes"
Morgana smiled at Freya "I will speak to Uncle Arthur, but it sounds good, your Papa's friends didn't see a lot of him when he was poorly so it might be nice for him"
"Uncle Arthur says we mustn't make Papa tired"
"Don't worry Freya we will sort something out, now to you, I want to take you shopping again before the wedding so your Papa and Uncle Arthur have said I can collect you after school tomorrow and we can go out. So we need to look at what you have and what you need." They then spent time looking at everything Freya had and what had been left at Mordred's. Morgana soon realised that they had no school uniform. "I will ring your Uncle Mordred and see if I can go and collect it. Do you want anything else from there?"
"My books, but I don't want anything she bought for me!" Freya said with uncharacteristic force and bitterness.
"Freya you mustn't be like that, they looked after you when your Papa was ill after all, and they do love you" Morgana knew Merlin wanted Freya to keep in touch with his other uncle, so she would need to get over what had happened.
Freya looked at Morgana "They think I don't know, but I'm not stupid. I know what happened."
"What are you talking about Freya?" Morgana hoped it wasn't what she feared.
"That Kara's dad hurt Papa and she wanted him dead! I'll never speak to her again and I don't care what anyone says. I hate her!"
Morgana gathered the girl up in her arms "How do you know?"
"I heard her in court, but I knew Papa didn't, so I pretended not to, and then last night Papa was so upset I knew someone had told him. Why do they all think I'm stupid?" Freya asked.
"They don't Freya they just didn't want you upset. The police are looking at it all to see if Kara is right. She is poorly at the moment" Morgana told her, although Merlin and Arthur had told her not to say anything it was academic if Freya already knew.
"Good! Papa has been so poorly and sad because of her and Uncle Mordred. I hate them!" Freya started to cry. "Don't tell Papa I know please"
Morgana cuddled Freya "I must Freya, you and your Papa need each other now more than ever before. But I think you should tell him yourself. You shouldn't keep secrets like this from your Papa. I will come with you if you like but he should know"
"But he will worry" Freya protested.
"Look Freya if it is true your Papa will have to tell you, and think how hard that will be for him. But if you already know he won't have to worry"
Freya twisted her hands together "S'pose so"
"Come on let's do it now" Morgana told her "That way you won't worry about it for to long"
Merlin was upset when Freya told him she had heard everything in the court "You should have told me Freya, we are family and we need to be together"
"You didn't tell me!" Freya immediately replied
"No I didn't so we were both wrong" the pair hugged each other. Morgana then went and spoke to Mordred on the phone about Freya's school things.
"I don't know if you can, the police are there" Mordred told her, he sounded washed out and flat.
"I'm sorry Mordred, I'm sure you knew nothing, we've had our disagreements but I really don't blame you for any of this and I know Merlin doesn't. Are you happy if we ask the police?" For Merlin's sake Morgana was willing to be civil and even say things she didn't mean.
"Go ahead I don't care, I should never have started all this, I've lost everything now. My poor Kara, she's….. she is a broken woman"
"Mordred I'm sure the doctors will help her, and talk to your brother."
Mordred snorted "No, It wouldn't be fair, my brother is so kind and gentle he will forgive me, but I don't forgive myself" with that he cut Morgana off.
Morgana asked Arthur to ring Percy, who agreed to let Morgana go into Mordred and Kara's house with him as witness to collect what Freya needed. So Morgana left and went to collect the school books and uniform. As she checked Freya's school bag she found a photo of Merlin and smiled, Freya had managed to keep Merlin with her throughout, the normally controlled woman found herself moved to tears. Grabbing what she needed Percy documented it and Morgana headed back to her brother's house.
Percy, Tristian and their team where working hard to find the evidence they needed, and struck lucky, in Cenred's office they found a slip of paper with bank account details written on it, which when checked, belonged to Valliant's sister. Further investigations revealed that regular cash payments had been made into the account since Valliant's arrest. The bank cameras for the last payment were checked and showed Cenred in the bank at the time and date money was paid in. This with the statement from the bar worker was enough to hold Cenred and charge him. As soon as he was charged Percy went round to Arthur's. It was the day before the wedding and he wanted to give Merlin and Arthur some good news.
Whist it was good news it did confirm Kara's involvement, all be it after the event. She would be charged with withholding information and could face a prison sentence, Morgause was charged with aiding and abetting. A charge she strenuously denied, saying like her daughter she was unaware until well after the event, and had been horrified but had been torn as she dearly loved her husband. Morgause was shrewd enough to realise that a claim of innocence would get her nowhere, her career in sheds she wanted to save what she could, and if that meant sacrificing her husband so be it.
In the following days Merlin found it difficult to accept the fact that he might never walk properly again because someone's wish to care for a child, it was incomprehensible to him. He realised that it wasn't Kara's fault, but due to her father's wish to give her everything she wanted, regardless of the cost. But the fact that in court she had said her father should have had him killed showed a side to her that hurt him and he found hard to either accept or forgive.
Merlin started to open up to Arthur on the eve of their wedding, Arthur let him talk and then told him "If you let this ruin the rest of your life they have won Merlin, you will get better in time and whatever problems you are left with we will minimise the best we can. Hard as it is you have to move on and make the most of your time with Freya. I will never forgive what they did to you but I won't let them win" He looked at the raven haired man "I know you have already forgiven your brother, I don't know if I ever will, if he had stood up to his wife this would never have happened, but it has. For both yours and Freya's sake let's get on with our lives, tomorrow is our wedding day so make it the day you draw a line under this"
Merlin looked at Arthur "I still can't understand why you still want to marry me, I will keep Freya now and you don't need to burden yourself with me. I will forever be grateful for what you have done for us"
"Are you saying you don't want to marry me now?" Arthur demanded, more hurt than he cared to admit.
"I will marry you Arthur, I just don't feel you are getting anything from it. You are my best friend and without you I wouldn't have made it. You are the most important person in the world to me after Freya" he paused then admitted "I'm not sure I will ever really love anyone, but if I did it would be you." He blushed slightly. "I have thought a lot since all this started and I am genuinely very fond of you"
Arthur smiled at his friend "I will settle for that Merlin, now come on Freya is waiting for us to collect her from school, and she loves me at least"
"She does and I'm not sure she would forgive me if the wedding didn't happen" Merlin half joked.
"Merlin, Freya would forgive her Papa anything and you know it" Arthur told Merlin as the other man transferred to the car from the wheelchair. "Did you know she asked if she could call me 'Pops' after the wedding?"
Merlin was surprised but in a way pleased, it showed to him that at least Freya was happy about the wedding. "No I didn't but if you're happy with it I am. As you know I wouldn't let her call me dad as that was Will, and I never want her to forget him or her mum"
"Right Pops it is then! You know it already feels like I have a daughter, something I suppose I never thought I would have" Arthur confessed.