Chapter 22

Arthur was happy to see Merlin looking a lot calmer when he returned to the kitchen. He was looking at Killi affectionately as he stroked and ticked his fur while humming along to the song. Arthur rubbed his eyes and squatted next to the seat. Merlin took the headphones off, "Is she gone?"

"She's gone. I'm not going to let her in here, Merls, not ever. You know that?"

Merlin nodded.

"Good. Do you want some pudding? The great news is that now there's even more for us!"

"Can we have it next door?"

"If you want. Would you like some water as well?"

"Yes please."

Once they were settled on the sofa in the living room eating their pudding, Merlin said, "I'm sorry it didn't end well."

"It was Catrina's fault," Arthur said, "I'm glad I'm building my relationship with my father back up."

Merlin smiled, "I'm glad too."

"Right. Shall we put a film on?"

"You choose."

Arthur stood and put his bowl down. Almost immediately, Killi started licking the left overs with his tail wagging happily.

"We'll have to take the Christmas decorations down tomorrow," Arthur said as he turned the tv on.

"But they took so long to put up!"

"I know. But it's not like you'll be doing anything to help."

"I can put everything in the boxes if you hand it to me."

Arthur sat back down beside him, nearly squashing Killi in the process.

By the time Gwen and Lancelot got back, they were both exhausted and falling asleep. Arthur had been trying to outlast Merlin so he could carry him upstairs without him knowing or getting scared. But Arthur was just as tired and probably couldn't have lifted Merlin's finger.

They smiled at Gwen and Lance when they came in, "How was your night?" Arthur asked them.

"It was lovely, thank you," Gwen bent down to stroke Killi who had run across to greet them.

"Where did you go?"

"The new French restaurant in town," Lancelot told them, "It's really nice. We appreciate you paying, Arthur."

"I hope you didn't spend too much," Arthur joked.

"How did it go with your father?"

"Really well, actually. Mostly."

"Mostly?" Gwen scooped Killi into her arms so she could hold him to stroke him instead of bending down.

"Catrina showed up," Arthur said, "Caused a scene, upset Merlin and left."

Gwen looked at Merlin who was rubbing his eyes tiredly as he tried to stay awake for the conversation but it was clear he wasn't paying much attention.

"Is he alright?"

"He is now. We dealt with her."

"Well we're all exhausted. So why don't we go upstairs and we can talk about it in the morning," Lancelot suggested.

At the word 'upstairs' Merlin sat up abruptly and looked terrified. Lancelot winced and mouthed an apology to Arthur.

"Sorry, Merlin," Lancelot said, "I meant Gwen and I, don't worry."

He looked back to Arthur and said quietly, "Text me when he's out. I'll come down and get him."

"I'll take him," Arthur offered quietly.

"Don't be stupid, you'd drop him before you'd even picked him up," he raised his voice, "Good night Merlin. See you tomorrow."

Arthur forced himself to stay awake until he was sure Merlin was asleep. Then, he fished his phone out his pocket, fired a quick text to Lancelot and waited for him to come down. While Lancelot was figuring the best way to pick Merlin up so that he had a good hold of him but if he did wake up half way up the stairs, he wouldn't panic, Arthur took Killi through to his bed in the kitchen, made sure he had some water and shut the door.

The next morning, Arthur woke to his phone buzzing beside him. He groaned and looked around. Merlin was sitting up, reading a book. Arthur forced himself up and kissed Merlin.

"Your phone's rung about five times," Merlin told him.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You looked tired. And also really cute."

Arthur rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone, surprised to see it was his father, "Dad? Is everything alright?"

"Arthur, thank goodness. Are you alright?" Uther sounded terrified.

"Me? I'm fine, why? What's going on?"

"No one's hurt, Arthur, I don't want you to worry."

"Dad. What is it?"

"Catrina and I got into a bit of an argument last night when we got home. She was angry that I had gone to see you. And then, the police called, told me I didn't have to pretend anymore and that they wanted to speak to Catrina."

"She knows they're investigating her," Arthur gasped and grabbed Merlin's hand when he heard him whimper.

"I don't know how she did it, but she set fire to Morgana's flat and- Arthur she left a bomb in our house."

"What?" Arthur yelled.

"Arthur," Gwen burst into the room frantically, "There are police at the door. They say we need to leave so they can check the house for bombs."

"You need to get out to be safe, Arthur," Uther said down the phone, "Don't take anything, just get Merlin and go. I'll explain more when you're far away from that house."

Merlin looked completely terrified as Arthur put his phone on speaker, shoved it in his pocket and ran around the bed to him. "Gwen, get Killi and get out. Do as the police say, don't wait for us, we'll be right behind you."

"What's going on, Arthur?" she asked.

"Not now, Gwen, please just do as I say."

Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur and allowed him to lift him off the bed and grab a blanket to cover him with so he'd feel safer. "Put you head on my shoulder, close your eyes and don't look until I tell you to," Arthur told Merlin, his shirt already wet from tears, "It'll be alright."

Once they were at the bottom of the stairs, Arthur told Merlin he could look and took him outside. The police ushered them to one of their cars were Gwen and Lancelot were waiting. Only once they were in the car, driving away with Killi on Merlin's lap, did Arthur get his phone out again, "Dad?"

"Arthur."

"Everyone's out. The whole street. Tell me what happened again so everyone can hear."

"Catrina and I had an argument," Uther repeated, "She found out the police were investigating her, became angry and went insane. She set fire to Morgana and Leon's flat."

"Are they alright?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, they're here with me. They weren't in when the fire started by some miracle. Anyway I woke up this morning, Catrina was nowhere to be found but there was a device on the table in the kitchen. I don't know if she wanted me to see it or didn't bother hiding it because she thought I wouldn't wake up in time to find it. I got out, called the police, and the bomb squad managed to deactivate it. When I checked my phone and heard what happened to Morgana, I thought she might have tried something with you as well. The girls and their husbands have all been arrested as a precaution. It turns out Mordred studied chemistry at university so they linked him to the bomb. Catrina's still missing."

"Where are you now?" Arthur asked.

"Our house," Gwen answered for him, "I got a call from Morgana this morning and told her to go there. I was coming to tell you when the police arrived."

From the front of the car, the policeman driving said, "We're taking you there as well. We'll take your statements and do as much as we can."

Arthur was glad. He didn't think Merlin would quite be able to handle going to the police station. Especially in his pyjamas.

"Gwaine, Percival and Elyan are all on their way over too," Lancelot said, "They can provide statements for the Camelot fire."

"Dad, I'll hang up now," Arthur said, "We'll see you soon."

"Take care."

Arthur put his phone away and took one of Merlin's hands in both of his. Merlin's other hand was stroking Killi as he stared at the puppy, determined not to think about what was happening. He rested his head on Arthur shoulder the passenger starting talking on her walkie talkie and then announced, "They found a device at the house."

Merlin clasped his hands over his ears.

"Where?" Gwen asked quietly.

"Strapped to one of the walls outside in the back garden."

Arthur sighed, "At least we know whoever did it couldn't get in."

"It doesn't make much difference when they had a bomb," Lancelot pointed out.

"It's deactivated," the police continued, "They'll finish the checks of the house and you'll probably be allowed back tonight."

Arthur kissed Merlin's hair and held him tightly, rocking him gently. There were three or four police cars outside Gwen's house when they arrived and Arthur lifted Merlin out. Gwen and Lancelot had run straight inside to see Morgana and Leon, taking Killi with them. Arthur put Merlin down on the sofa in the room where everyone was and then greeted his sister, "Are you alright?"

She nodded, but looked very stressed and gripped Arthur a bit too hard as they hugged, "It was terrifying."

"Morgana's just upset because her wedding dress was in there," Leon joked, "Now she's got to buy a new one. And she only has five months!"

Morgana glared at his attempt to lighten the mood and then sat beside Merlin while Arthur went to talk to his father, "Good morning, squid."

"Morning," Merlin tried to smile at her, "Are you ok?"

"I'll be fine," she told him, "And you?"

Merlin nodded.

"Because you've got Arthur to look after you, right? You're lucky, I wish my boyfriend was big and strong as yours."

"You just compared your future husband to your brother," Merlin laughed.

"Ew," Morgana giggled, "Forget I said anything."

A policeman came in, "Is there anything you need from your houses? Someone's coming over to speak to you all so they can bring something if it's important," he looked at Uther and Arthur.

"One of the wheelchairs would be great but not vital," Arthur said, "There's one at the bottom of the stairs against the wall. And, in the master bedroom on one of the tables, there's a plushie toy squid."

"Anything for the dog?"

"I have food and toys here from last time we looked after him," Gwen said.

"Ok and the other house?"

"It's alright," Uther said, "I don't need anything."

Morgana returned to chatting to Merlin to help take his mind off things until Gwaine, Percival and Elyan arrived.

"I never thought I'd be put in a police car again," Gwaine said as he greeted everyone, "I was scared I'd done something wrong."

"Again?" Lancelot questioned, "You've been in a police car before?"

"I used to be an alcoholic," Gwaine reminded him.

"Used to be?" Merlin teased.

"That was uncalled for," Gwaine laughed as he bent down to hug Merlin, "You alright?"

"He was until you showed up," Morgana said.

"I'm hurt," he picked Killi up to stop the puppy trying to climb up his leg, "At least someone's glad to see me."

They all squashed into chairs around the room. Gwen and Lancelot's house wasn't that big and their living room was not designed to hold ten people, several policemen and a dog. Eventually, Arthur, Gwaine and Morgana settled on the sofa with Merlin on Arthur's lap and Leon perched on the arm beside his girlfriend while Lancelot and Gwen were squished on one armchair, Uther took the other and Elyan and Percival sat on the floor.

"We've decided due to the complexity of the case that it would be best to speak to you all together," the chief inspector said, "But if any of you feel you need to talk to us separately, let us know. Right, Mr Pendragon," he looked at Uther, "Last year a fire started in one of your local hotel branches called Essetir due to a suspected gas leak while building works were going on."

"That's right."

"And the building company was new to your business."

"No, I'd employed them two or three times before then. Catrina recommended them to me."

"And the few times before that fire, there had been no incidents?"

"None."

"So after that first fire, what made you hire them again?"

"The fire was put down to being accidental and I was told it couldn't have been prevented. Catrina convinced me to hire them again. Now I think about it, she was very pushy."

"And you weren't aware that her daughters were married to some of the builders."

"No."

"Were any of you?"

There was a collective shaking of heads and a general murmur of 'no' and 'not at the time'.

"So then, the fire at Camelot," the inspector moved on, "Were Mordred and Cenred on site?"

"I remember seeing them," Morgana said, "When the building was evacuated."

"And what were they doing?"

"They were on the phone, I think."

"Both of them?"

"I can't remember."

"Is there CCTV available?"

"Not from us," Arthur said, "It was destroyed. Some of the shops across the road might."

"We'll look into it," the inspector said, "And you say there was an incident at a third branch quite recently?"

"Nemeth, yes. A lit cigarette was left on the carpet there. I'm afraid the only evidence we have is that Cenred was staying there at the time. The security camera in that hall was broken."

"It still can be investigated as attempted arson. Right, we'll move on to the most recent events. What happened yesterday evening? Catrina was at your house?"

"She came looking for my father," Arthur confirmed, "He'd come to update us on the case and to tell us it was being investigated."

"And so you were found there?" the inspector turned to look at Uther.

"Pretty much. I managed to think of something to tell her but she was furious that I'd lied to her. When the police called to talk to her, it only made her angrier."

"So presuming she wasn't caught, with you, your son and your daughter dead, she'd inherit your business."

"Exactly. I believe she'd think I'd sleep until the bomb went off so I wouldn't report her missing and she could make up story about being at the shop or out for a walk as an alibi."

"And because we're a successful business, she could frame any rival chain while playing the devastated widow," Arthur added.

"When you met her did you know about the hotel chain she used to own?" the inspector asked Uther.

"I knew she used to be in the business but I didn't know her full history."

"And she didn't tell you?"

"Not until very recently."

"Ok. That's all for now. There'll be some more in depth questioning probably individually later. Is there anything else anyone would like to say now? No? Excellent, thank you all."

"Will you tell us when she's been found?" Merlin blurted out.

The inspector looked at him sympathetically, "Of course. I would recommend staying elsewhere until she is taken into custody just for your safety."

"It's not like we can go home," Leon mumbled.

The inspector nodded to them all, stood, and left saying they were free to go and that the police would be in touch soon.

"Do you want me to call your mum?" Arthur asked Merlin.

He shook his head, "She'll worry. Leave it until Catrina's been found."

"If you say so. Where do you want to stay tonight?"

"Home," Merlin laughed dryly.

"You know we can't."

"Anyone who wants is welcome to stay here," Gwen offered to the whole room, "We don't have loads of beds, but if you don't mind sleeping on the sofa, you can."

"What do you think, Merls? Shall we stay with Gwen?"

"One night?"

"One night," Arthur agreed, "Then we can go home."

"Stairs?"

"I'm sorry, Merlin, we don't have any rooms downstairs," Gwen said.

"And you are not sleeping on the sofa," Arthur added, "We managed to get up last night."

"I was asleep! You didn't tell me! I didn't know!"

"Well, we'll have to do the same thing tonight, then, won't we?"

"You're insane if you think I'm falling asleep any time soon after this morning."

"We've got all day to wear you out then."

"Alternatively," Gwaine offered, "I could just hit you on the head with a heavy book."

Arthur looked murderous.

"We'll figure it out later," Gwen decided, "Who wants some breakfast?"

After they'd got dressed, mostly in clothes borrowed from Gwen or Lance and Arthur had convinced Merlin it was safe to go out, they headed to a nearby café for breakfast. Merlin was in his wheelchair covered in his blanket from home and clutching the squid which the police had brought over for him without question. In his other hand, he held Killi's lead, and the puppy was more than happy to trot along side them as they walked.

By the time they reached the café and had been served, they had almost forgotten about the morning's chaotic events. Even Uther was chatting to everyone happily and they would reply with no hostility. They spent the rest of the day walking around the local area together to keep their minds busy and to avoid being crammed into Gwen's house.

"I've been thinking," Uther said to his son as they walked together, a little way away from everyone else, "About you wanting to start your own business."

"And?"

"I want to help you. Just with the process. I've been through it and I know it's difficult. I only want to give advice."

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"And I'll be making changes to my branches so they're ready."

"Ready?"

"To hand over to you. Once you've got started."

"No," Arthur said, "They're your hotels. Besides, we want all our sites to be somewhere in the country or the forest. Merlin and I decided that early on."

"Nevertheless, I will still be making changes."

"In what way?"

"You care for Merlin in a way I've never seen you care for any other. You make each other happy and it makes me glad that he's managed to do that where I failed. I should never have cared that he was poorer than you or less able because happiness is happiness no matter who provides it. I haven't provided happiness but you and Merlin have taught me that I need to."

Arthur looked up at where Lancelot was pushing Merlin as they talked and laughed with Gwaine.

"For a man to be able to smile as much as Merlin does after what he's been through," Uther followed his son's gaze, "It's certainly taught me a few things."

"He's taught me a few things as well," Arthur admitted, "Without him, I don't think I would have forgiven you, dad. I'm so glad I did."

"When I dined with you last night, I saw how perfect you are together," Uther said, "And now I can't imagine you with any other."

"So what are these mysterious changes you speak of?"

"Higher wages for the staff, lower prices for the guests and certainly fewer renovations," he laughed, "And every branch will be made more accessible for the less abled."

"Why did you want me to take over?" Arthur was beaming with pride.

"Because I didn't run my business well. You would do a better job."

"You're wrong. I would do a different job. And you're learning, father. That's important."

"I always thought I would spend my life teaching you."

"You did."