The two weeks it took the king to completely get his memory back, had passed slowly. Arthur could train again, with the promise that he would take it easy and that he would allow Merlin to look after the wounds after each session.
Morgana and Arthur had also taken to rebuild their friendship. For the most part was it going well.
If it was only the truth. Everyone who looked into the prince's life did not find fault, they did not see the hours where he laid sobbing his eyes out after nightmares, trying to piece his own believes back together. Everyone saw the fake confidence the prince was projecting, except Merlin.
Merlin saw how Arthur was slowly losing more and more off himself. He saw how the tiredness was making him slow in training, how he did not talk and make jokes. Merlin saw the masks the prince donned each day and how it was slowly killing him.
It all came to an edge on one faithful morning when Uther knocked on Arthur's chamber door. Arthur barley said enter when the king came into the room. The effect was immediately. Arthur stood up and backed away from his father.
Uther stopped to move closer when he saw the terror in his son eyes. He knows no matter what he said, there is nothing he would ever be able to do, to make right what he did. Uther winched from the tongue lashing he got from Gaius three days ago, about going to see his son. Gaius made it clear that he was choosing the cowardly why now. Uther winched when he saw his son grabbing Merlin's arm, as if he is scared to be left alone in the room with him.
When that thought hit him, he realised it is true, his son is scared to be alone with him. Merlin quickly whispered something into Arthur's ear, since he let the vice like grip go. His eyes where darting trough the room.
"Can I talk with you please Arthur?" Uther made sure to keep his voice low, he wanted to make this right, but he realised now that it would be far from easy. Arthur did not speak up, he knows he should properly answer, but his voice felt stuck. Merlin was still standing next to him which he was incredibly grateful for. Not that there really was a why for Merlin to leave since Arthur was still holding his arm.
A tight nod was the only answer Uther got. "Can we talk alone?" Uther realised that would not be able to happen with how Arthur had paled. He almost sank to the floor if it was not for Merlin quickly grabbing him to keep him upright. "On second thought, that properly will not be for the best." Uther cast a glance to Merlin who was still holding Arthur up as he struggled to get his breathing under control.
Uther could only watch as Merlin guided Arthur to a chair, helping him to sit down. Merlin stood a little bit back, but it would be easy for Arthur to keep him in eyesight. Uther went to sit down across from Arthur.
The silence that was holding them captive was suddenly broken when Uther said: "I am really sorry for hurting you Artur. I know that no matter what I say or do would make you believe me, but I truly am sorry." Uther made sure to keep direct eye contact with Arthur.
He saw as Arthur swallowed hard, as his hand made fisted. He knows that the next words out of Arthur's mouth would more than likely hurt him, but he also knows his son needs it to heal.
"Y-You are sorry? You were not sorry when you ordered me to be whipped, you did not listen when he begged you the second and third time not to do it, since the wounds were barley even closing from the first time. You just ordered him to continue and he did not have a choice. You where there while I was whipped, and you must have heard how I begged him to stop. Promising I would try better." Arthur pressed his fist against his mouth, his body was a bundle of nervous energy. He fears what his father is going to do, with this outburst.
Uther got up, he pulled the chair closer to Arthur, when he sat again, his hand hovered over Arthur's knee. "I am not going to try and excuse myself Arthur. I know what I did hurt you. So, let it out." Uther tried and kept his voice soft and even.
"Why?" That is all Arthur could try, he wanted to know why his father could not work trough the anger of the enchantment. Arthur knows his father was not truly to blame but the magic that was holding him captive. But if he cared for his only son, why did he not try and fight it.
Uther was silent for a long time, Arthur started to think he would not get an answer. Uther winched inwardly when he realised the true answer would hurt Arthur as well. "Because I thought it would help to beat obedience into you, that you should have known your place. And I realised now how wrong that was." Uther had decided that the truth would be the only way to start to bring healing to the family.
"Get out!" Arthur's voice was furious. While he screamed that had he pushed himself up from the table. His knuckles were white as he tried to control his anger. "Just get out." This time his voice was a lot lower. The tiredness in his voice and broken look in his eyes made Uther worried a little bit.
He left the room without saying anything else. He knows that there is still a long time that would need to pass, but hopefully for now this would be a rocky start.