Just a brief warning, my friend told me she cried after reading this. Now I don't know if there were real tears. But I'm just throwing that out there! Please enjoy the newest chapter!
"She's your daughter!" Arthur removed his grip from Merlin's wheelchair and held them in front of him. "How dare you place a hand on her?!" His vision grew blurry as he felt the tears run down his cheeks. When did he start crying? Arthur took a step forward towards the stranger in front of him. He couldn't even think of this man as his father anymore.
"Arthur, please lower your voice. I taught you better than to cause a scene in public." Uther reached over and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Let's-"
"No." Arthur ripped his body away from Uther. "Stay the fuck away from me. Away from me, Morgana, and Merlin." Taking a step back, he tried to slow down his breathing. "Leave."
"Son, You're being ridiculous." Uther rolled his eyes. "Can't you behave like an adult for once?" He shrugged off his suit coat and draped it over his arm.
"Ridiculous? Me? I never knew you could be funny." Arthur chuckled to himself. "You were someone I looked up to. But if I knew that you would injure your own daughter-"
"She's not my daughter. She's a mistake. And I don't want to call you one either."Uther lowered his shoulders in surrender and moved closer.
Arthur shoved his father back with all the energy he could muster. "Call me a mistake. I don't fucking care. It was my mistake calling you my father in the first place." He felt his chest tightening and forced a deep breath out, trying to calm any nerves. He turned around and took hold of Merlin's wheelchair again. "Let's go."
Uther barely caught his balance and stopped himself from yelling after his son. He refused to be seen in public making a fool of himself. Standing up with the little pride he had left, Uther marched out the front door, lifting his phone to his ear.
Merlin didn't know how to react to Arthur's blowup. He had never seen his boyfriend so furious before. Being almost afraid to say anything, Merlin sat quietly and let Arthur push him to the elevator. He kept his head down, taking deep breaths. Not only was Uther dangerous. But maybe Arthur was as well.
"I'm sorry, Merlin. You shouldn't have seen that. You should have never had to." Arthur whispered once they were alone in the elevator, letting it bring them up to Morgana's floor.
Merlin only nodded and clasped his hands together, finding something to do with them. Once the doors slid open in front of him, he found himself being hurried down to the end of the corridor. Arthur was almost sprinting. Merlin gripped onto the armrests of the chair.
The light wooden door was all that separated them from Arthur's sister. A light blue spotted curtain blocked the windows as the light peeked around the corners. Arthur opened the door and pushed Merlin in, letting the entrance close slowly behind them.
Merlin gasped, taking in a sharp breath. The woman who always looked so put together and beautiful, laid weak under the cotton sheets. No makeup, making her look paler than usual. The dark bruises stood out on her neck. He looked up at Arthur and saw the tear stains on his cheeks and jaw. "Go, Arthur." Merlin whispered.
Arthur removed his grip from the wheelchair and gave Merlin a grateful smile. He sunk into the chair placed at Morgana's bedside. He looked over his sister's face, drained of all color. She wasn't her glowing self. No matter how many times they argued, Arthur wouldn't forget his love for her. Of course he would never admit that aloud. Morgana turned in her sleep, facing her brother. Arthur watched the small frown taking the place of where her normal smirk sat. He only felt the rage in his blood for his father.
Merlin used the little strength in his arms to roll himself to the corner of the room. Letting his boyfriend have space, letting him think and breath, to take everything in. But he also took this time to think for himself. How he was truly scared of Arthur the moment he got angry. He looked like a force that wasn't able to be stopped. What if it was Merlin on the other side?
Arthur pulled his chair closer to the bed and lifted Morgana's hand into his own. It felt so limp and lifeless. He moved his fingertips to her wrist, feeling the faint heartbeat, letting it give him hope she was going to be okay.
Merlin closed his eyes and took a break. Not only was this hard on him, he knew the strain Arthur must be feeling just as much. He was making it hard for everyone plus himself. Maybe Arthur would do better if they took a break. Maybe if space was given, both of them could heal and figure things out. Merlin could go stay at Gwaine's until things cooled down and they decided to pick things back up again.
Morgana started to stir and blinked her eyes open, surprised to see her two favorite boys in the room with her. "Hello, boys. How kind of you to join me." She smirked and lifted herself up to a seated position.
Arthur stood to help her, moving a pillow to support her lower back. "Morgs, take it easy."
"I'm alright, brother. Calm down." She smiled. "Such a worrier." The frown fell when she looked over at Merlin. "Merlin, darling. What happened?"
Merlin blushed and rolled himself to the other side of the bed. "Me and my two left feet."
Morgana laughed. "Arthur, you're supposed to protect him."
Arthur blushed and looked at the floor. He knew he made mistakes, not protecting Merlin was the biggest one. "I know. And you. And I wasn't there." He scowled as he thought of the man responsible.
"Arthur, don't blame yourself on this." She gestured to her neck. "This, this isn't your fault. And that look on your face tells me you know whose it is." She smiled. "All that matters is that you're here now. Both of you." She look at the two boys, noticing Merlin's frown.
Merlin looked at Arthur as he slowly started to relax. For the first time in a long time. He went to look at Morgana and saw her staring into his eyes. Like she knew what he was thinking. Throwing his gaze back down at his lap, he took a deep breath.
"Arthur, do you mind getting me a coffee? I haven't had my daily cup." Morgana flashed her puppy dog eyes.
Arthur muttered to himself about how he needed twelve and moved over to leave the room. He closed the door behind him as he looked for the closest machine.
"Alright, Merlin. What's making you have that horrible frown on that beautiful face of yours?"
Merlin should have expected this from her. It was like she had magical powers to read everyone's minds. No matter what he was thinking, good or bad, she was there knowing just what it was.
"I was just thinking. Nothing to worry about. What about you? How are you feeling?" Merlin pushed for a subject change. Anything. The last thing he wanted was to tell his boyfriend's sister that he wanted to take a break.
Morgana glared at him, watching Merlin sink back into the wheelchair trying to get further away. "Merlin. Please don't lie to me. Here I am thinking we're friends."
"We are friends!" Merlin shouted. He twisted his fingers together. "I jus-"
"You want to give Arthur a break. Don't you?" Morgana frowned and rested her hand on his.
"That obvious?" Merlin mirrored her frown and let a tear drop. "I don't want to leave him. I love him so much. I don't think my heart could handle being away. Not being able to hold and kiss him. I'd feel so lost. But I feel I'm also giving him pain and stress. That if I was away, his life would be easier."
"Oh Merlin." Morgana batted away the tears that threatened to fall. "I know you love him. I haven't seen a love stronger. Do what you think is right. Arthur will understand."
"What will I understand?" Arthur stood in the doorway with three cups balanced in his arms, burning slightly. He felt he walked into a conversation he wasn't welcome in.
"Arthur. I can't do this." Merlin confessed.
Arthur felt the cups fall from his arms and crash on the floor. The hot liquid splashing all up his pant legs. But he already felt numb all over.
Please Review and let me know what you think! It would mean the world to me! I love reading each and every one!
