The next few weeks were busy for everyone: Morgana had started her new job after a large farewell party thrown by her former colleagues and Arthur had handed everything over, happy in the knowledge that Morgana would look after her new boss as well as he had. Arthur himself, had worked out with Balinor and Merlin exactly what his new duties were to be and had moved into his new office. It seemed strange to the blonde to be back giving the orders but he had changed,his attitude was much more similar to Merlin's; the arrogance he had displayed in the past now almost gone. Although, he didn't suffer fools gladly and was fiercely protective of Merlin and anyone who came into contact with the V.P's assistant soon realized that. The only one that seemed to infuriate Arthur was his secretary, a young girl called Sophia, who he believed must have been sleeping with her old boss. There was no way she would have gotten such glowing references otherwise. Sophia had already made it clear she wanted to sleep with the blonde but was getting nowhere.
Merlin had come back to work and was working well with Arthur and his new P.A. He was able to spend more time doing what he really loved and less on the daily grind of paperwork. He also found that he loved working with Arthur in their new roles. He had always known the blonde was good, but now he could see him in his natural environment as a leader. Merlin found that he was getting very fond of the other man and they were spending more of their private lives together as well. They continued to meet up in the group but sometimes also went places without the others.
Morgana watched the two of them with increasing interest but it was Hunith, at one of the Sunday lunches, who raised the issue first. Hunith was clearing away the plates after one of the extended family get-together's which they seemed to be having more frequently, when she asked Morgana to help her bring in the after-dinner coffees as Freya had gone out for the day. As she poured the coffee she looked at Morgana with a small smile and asked,
"They look good together, don't you think?"
Morgana's head swivelled round in shock, she had thought she was the only one to have noticed. "You've noticed?"
"It would be hard not to, not that anyone else seems to have done though. How long do you think it will take them to realise?"
Morgana chuckled, "If it's left to my brother then forever; he is the most emotionally constipated man I know. I don't think he has even realised he is attracted to men. Even if he had thought it himself when Uther was alive, Arthur would never have admitted it, Uther would never have accepted it."
Hunith was saddened but not surprised. "I don't know about that, maybe he is just attracted to my Merlin. I know my son hasn't given himself time to go out with anyone. Although, he admitted to us he thought he was gay several years ago. It was Freya who made him face facts; he had posters of boy bands up in his room and not women."
Morgana let out a laugh, "Men!"
"Come on, let's get the coffee in or they will be wondering where we are," Hunith said as she picked up a tray.
From then on, Morgana decided to make it her mission to get the two men together. She really liked her new boss and also wanted her brother happy. But it was to take longer than she thought, as both men remained unaware of the women's thoughts about their feelings for each other. Her chance came when Merlin asked her to arrange a week's trip to Europe, it was to be a business trip to negotiate a couple of new export deals.
Merlin looked apologetic as he explained, "Normally, I would ask you to come, but I know Arthur has experience in the field and I don't, so, father suggested that we both go. I can't afford for both of you to be out of the office. I hope you don't mind, it will be business all the way so I doubt we will get time to see anything."
Morgana smiled, already thinking of ways to throw the two men together. "Of course not, I have already been over most of Europe. You tell me where and I will book everything."
"I need to speak to Arthur first but one of you will be coming so, Berlin first for four days then Paris for three, Gwen can tell you the hotels and flights we use. It's for two weeks time on the 20th." With that she went to find Arthur.
The blonde was only too pleased to agree to go, as long as it didn't put his sister out. Merlin assured him that she wasn't worried and added that he wanted Arthur to go. "To be honest, I need you there, I haven't done this sort of thing before and you have. It will be good experience I know but a bit daunting"
Arthur shook his head, "When will you understand that you are perfectly capable." He gave the raven-haired man a rueful grin, "I'll go this time but next time you fly solo."