CHAPTER 5 : DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Arthur and Merlin picked up a take-away and then drove to the condo, as Laurence was in he joined them for the meal. No one had much to say, Laurence picked up on it and didn't push his luck.
Merlin ate his meal and asked if Arthur would mind if he turned in as he was tired. Arthur nodded saying, "Did you have enough to eat?"
"Yes it's just that it's been a difficult day. I think I will never again be excited to receive a surprise gift." He made an effort to smile but it never reached his eyes. "See you both tomorrow, goodnight."
Arthur nodded. "Well, you go on, I'm going to watch a little TV. I'll be along later."
Merlin got up and walked along the hallway and stopped before he reached the bed room. He turned and walked back to the kitchen, Arthur was at the sink washing the cutlery, they had used.
He walked behind him and slipped his arms around him, Arthur put down the dish towel and turned around to face him. "Thank you for understanding how I felt today, I'm sorry for being so silly." He kissed him gently and turned to leave the room nodding at Laurence on the sofa as he passed him.
Arthur sat down on the other sofa and they watched the end of the news. Finally, Laurence could contain his curiosity no longer and said quietly, "What was that all about?"
Giving him a summary of the time since he went to get Merlin, he handed him his phone and Arthur watched as Laurence's face turned from amusement to shock as he scrolled through the photos. "That's his school scarf and the boxers Gawaine gave him as a joke. So what was in the ziplock bag?"
"From the label on the baggie and the body outside his door last term, we figure it was cat's genitals but there were also two eyes. As you can see, the note warns Merlin that the same might happen to him. I thought he managed pretty well, however it obviously took more out of him than I realised." Arthur sighed before continuing, "Anyway, the packet is now with the Porters and I also sent photos to Claudio. I intend to speak to Angus. I'm fed up with this whole thing and the effect it is having on Merlin. He gets on the phone and fakes happiness telling his mother that everything is going well and once he hangs up, he looks so lost and tired."
Laurence suggested, "He's stronger than he looks…" Arthur just shook his head. The two of them remained seated half watching the football replays which came on after the news.
Arthur suddenly stood up and said, "I'm turning in, see you tomorrow!"
"Hope Merlin feels better, Goodnight!"
Arthur made his way to his room but Merlin seemed dead to the world. Arthur got undressed in the en-suite so as not to disturb him and slipped quietly into bed beside him.
Merlin was miles away in a not too happy place.
-0-0-
He's in woods which he knows well, running flat out yet he knows the hunter is gaining on him. He's had close encounters before but never so intense. If he could only reach the craggy areas he could outdistance him. It's as if it is predestined that this is to be the end. He feels the burn in his chest as exhaustion takes over and he accepts that he will never run free again.
He feels in sharp sting in his chest. He crumples to the ground, too exhausted even to mentally check that his body still functions. He feels his legs spasming after such an intensive workout. It is becoming dark, there is no sense of light or sound. He knows he is conscious and tries to get up but only manages to get into a kneeling position. He opens his mouth to scream but doesn't recognise the sounds which he makes.
He knows that he is not alone, he imagines that there is someone watching his feeble efforts. He feels his neck being forced back and a cool pressure on it…at that moment he hears Arthur laugh and then his body starts to shut down…
"Good shot, Sire, a magnificent stag if he'd been able to get any higher he might have left us behind."
The king turns to hand off his bow and says, "Where's Merlin? Never around when I need him." Leon steps forward and takes it handing it off to a lesser knight.
Gawaine who had finished the stag off, wipes his knife on its hide and stands up shaking his head saying, "Shame really, he didn't have a chance did he? He has no eyes…!"
Arthur feels as if the dagger pierced his heart. He walks away saying, "Leave the kill here, let the animals of the forest benefit from it, I no longer have interest in it."
Th stag's last conscious thought is, "Arthur don't leave me alone, no now…"
-0-0-
Merlin suddenly bolted upright in bed, scaring the life out of Arthur who had finally managed to fall asleep.
He said sadly as if it were already a fait accompli, "Arthur don't leave me alone, no now…!"
Arthur held him calmly in his arms until he stopped thrashing around, then curled him into his chest as they lay back down, he whispered, "Merlin, I will never leave you alone!"
He never knew if Merlin heard him as he realised that he was still asleep. He smiled, 'How lucky to be able to fall asleep after a nightmare!' He would have been awake for hours going over in his mind what awful things he had dreamed and then he smiled as he thought, 'Well, maybe not if I were curled up in the arms of someone who truly loved me.'
Merlin woke first and vaguely recalled what he had dreamt. He realised that he was curled into Arthur with his head under his chin. He could feel Arthur's breath ruffling his fringe. He smiled he could stay like this forever; held in the arms of someone you passionately loved and whom you knew loved you back. A smile formed on his lips.
When Arthur finally stirred, Merlin said, "Arthur, show me that I am someone loveable…"
-0-0-
When they finally walked into the kitchen, Laurence pointed at the clock and said, "Well, you were not too eager to get up, were you?"
Then laughed as Arthur said, "Nice one, Laurence!"
"As a matter of fact, we had a few things to sort out," Merlin said, giving Arthur a peck on the cheek as he passed him to get the eggs. "Is it really that time?" He grinned at Laurence and said cheekily, "How times flies, when you're having fun!"
"The two of you make me sick," Laurence said with a grin thinking how different Melin seemed this morning.
-0-0-
Mid-afternoon, Arthur told Merlin that he was going over to the Quilley's to talk to Angus about the parcel. "Do you want to go with me or prefer to stay here?" Merlin hesitated. "Toby will be there and as he found the parcel first, I think it would be good for him to know you're all right. He's going to feel guilty for having given it to you."
"But he's not! I would have done the same thing for one of my neighbours. However if they invite us for supper, I'll say we've got other plans."
"Have we?" Arthur said with his eye brows raised.
"You never know, we might have..." Merlin said huskily walking toward Arthur who smiled at him but he bypassed him leaving him looking surprised, so he laughed and said over his shoulder, "I said that we might..."
Arthur was pleased that Merlin seemed in a good spirits, so different from last night when he had been downright worried about him. He had so much on his plate academically that he didn't need the added stress of malicious tricks being played against him.
During Michaelmas, Arthur was sure that given a couple of weeks everything would settle down, however it hadn't. Now it was Trinity and the group of people being inconvenienced was getting larger.
Merlin circled around him and slipped onto his lap facing him, he placed his hands on Arthur's chest to hold him back as he was trying to kiss him.
"Arthur, listen! If it weren't for you, I would have considered going home before now. I am holding on because you are with me. I pretend that I am you, strong, determined and forceful. People listen to and look up to you. Sometimes, it surprises me that you still want to be friends, by now I think, that I would have given up on me. I am like an annoying burden you have landed yourself with and if you feel that you want…to leave me I understand."
"Stop it, Merlin!" He said taking away Merlin's hands from his chest so he could hold them in his. He kissed his fingers saying, "I can't see my life without you..."
"Are you sure?"
Arthur smiled as he said, "I'm sure...and I can't see you without an Oxford degree either. We will see this through together. I have not yet considered going to the media as it would not be my favourite course of action because I have too much respect for the college, but with one police report and another from the fire services, enumerable intramural reports, unless they get off their collective duffs and do something, I might consider it."
-0-0-
Merlin could tell that Angus was annoyed that yet anther episode of this one sided game had taken place. He turned to his son and said, "So…who gave it to you?"
"No one! It was sitting outside Merlin's door with his name but he wasn't there, so, as other students kept offering me food, I figured that it was something someone no longer could use because they were going home, so instead of leaving it there I brought it into my room planning to give it to Merlin on the Monday." He glanced at Merlin as he said, "It slipped my mind and when Gord was helping me pack up for the term break, it landed up in one of my boxes and I forgot about it until yesterday." He looked at his father, "I gave it to Merlin and he put it on the floor in his room as we were going to the library."
Merlin nodded as certainly the last part was true.
"I am going to send the photos to Dr. Norbert. Arthur, you said that it went to the Porters on Friday so we will see how soon it takes for him to receive the report on his desk."
Merlin said, "He never will as it will probably be sidetracked with all the others…there must be a substantial collection by now."
"Possible," said Angus "but he will have my e-mail with the photos and will be expecting to get something in the way of a report or the actual parcel. If he starts asking questions as to who is diverting his college mail, who ever it is might decide that the game is up. Did you consider notifying Claudio?"
"Done! I sent him the photos and mentioned that Merlin would like to see him on Monday."
Merlin said, "More of the same…"
"No, Merlin we know that the reports have been filed and we know that they have not been delivered within a regular length of time so it should be easy for Dr. Norbert's staff to check. Also I would think it might be an offence to withhold a police report or a fire services report. I can promise you that Norbert will look into it, he didn't get his position by pussy-footing around! Now, can you and Arthur stay for supper?"
Merlin glanced at Arthur, hesitated and said, "If you are sure we are not causing extra work for everyone."
Toby came back immediately with, "No! Just extra work for me…helping to do the dishes."
His father laughed.
-0-0-
After the intensity of the discussion, the meal was relaxing. Arthur did his best to keep Toby and Merlin entertained by retelling some of his stories from Rugby. The two friends laughed and Angus nodded at Arthur glad to see them acting as nineteen year olds again.
They didn't mention the parcel again that night.
On the way back to the condo, Arthur said, "I didn't think that we were planing to stay for supper, not that I minded as we had a good time."
"Well, Toby seemed so upset that I thought we should stay. I'm sorry if you had others plans."
"Merlin, you drive me crazy, you were the one with plans, well at least, I thought you were."
"I did and it's not too late, you can have a soak while...I watch." Arthur looked at him shaking his head, so Merlin continued, "How about while...I take twenty odd minutes to check over the essay I need for Spraklin on Monday?"
"Dr Spraklin to you!"
"Right, Dr Spraklin on Monday!"
"Sounds better! You work, I'll shower and then watch TV you can join me when you're ready."
It wasn't exactly what Merlin had had in mind as Arthur's tub was a double width, jetted version and a lot of fun. He liked the huge shower but found the tub more luxurious. He smiled to himself remembering Arthur once saying, 'I'll never forgive myself if one of us drowns...' To which he had laughingly replied, 'Well, take care of me then!'
He forced his mind back to the present, he really needed the time to review so settled down. As he finished his work, he checked on Arthur and he was fast asleep on one of the sofas. He smiled got a glass of water and sat watching him. Finally, he snorted and woke himself up. He stretched then opened his eyes. He was settling down again when Merlin cleared his throat.
"Merlin, if you have your essay finished, join me watching the news."
"You've been asleep for the last hour, the TV is turned off and I have been contemplating how handsome my boyfriend is, even when he is snoring!"
"I'll have you know, I don't snore!"
They heard the front door open and Laurence walked in, "Evening folks!"
"Laurence, does Arthur snore?"
"Are you trying to get me thrown out of here? Of course he does!" He quickly ducked as a small pillow went flying over his head.
-0-0-
Sunday was great, a beautiful spring day, after Mass they gave their regrets for not joining the others for coffee and then Arthur whisked Merlin into the country. He had an ulterior motive as he wanted to get him away from Oxford, if only for a few hours. It had worked well when he had taken Toby and him to Cirencester so this time, he decided to give it another try.
Arthur had thought seriously about the day trip, it had to be within easy reach and somewhere Merlin wouldn't expect. Therefore, he decided upon Bournemouth, just eighty minutes away, sandy beaches, the Channel, sea breezes and Merlin with his camera. He made early supper reservations at The Ebb and Flow, one of the restaurants with an unrestricted sea view.
...and told Merlin, they were going on a day trip.
"Is this another magical mystery tour? If I can guess our destination by the road signs is there a reward?"
"I didn't hear that, Merlin, as you have a one tracked mind but yes, there might be a nice meal or an outstanding view. Alternately, I might blindfold you and then it would be a real surprise."
"But I'd probably be carsick."
"Why?"
"I don't know people say things like that and then normal people solicitously ask after their welfare."
"Are we feeling a little neglected?"
"I might be as you would be enjoying all the great views and I would be staring into darkness."
"Knowing you, you would find a way of peeking!"
"You know me so well, are you sure we haven't met in a parallel universe?"
"...and you think I would have forgotten you?"
"Probably not as I am rather unforgettable!"
"Self praise is no recommendation and if you don't get into the car soon, we'll reach our destination and have to turn around and come back!"
Merlin grinned at him and said, "With no reward?"
"Exactly!"
-0-0-
Merlin quite happily watched the scenery and guessed incorrectly when Arthur asked where he thought they were going, that it would possibly be Portsmouth. He didn't have the heart to say Bournemouth which he felt sure was to be their final destination as that would have spoilt it for Arthur.
He loved surprises and he knew from growing up with his Mum and Gaius that they didn't have to be expensive things, a Sunday afternoon at the seaside would be very enjoyable. It was a perfect day for photographs, no glaring sun and a breeze which might do wonderful things with the clouds and the waves. The beach stretched along the coast literally for miles.
The meal was very relaxed and the other diners were elderly couples so they were able to talk in peace. There was no loud music and if you walked out to the terrace outside the dining room which was a patio during the warmer months, you could hear the incoming waves and the cries of the gulls.
Arthur marvelled how time at the seaside had rejuvenated Merlin. He was happy and talkative just like the Merlin he had known prior to the Oxford incidents. He's said at one point, "You know if I weren't at Oxford I would have chosen a seaside college, maybe Aberystwyth. I bet you could sit in lectures and hear the sea."
"Leaving me all alone in Oxford?"
"Of course not, you'd come too!"
"Good because I thought that for a moment you had forgotten me," Arthur said with a smile.
"No matter what happens to us, there will always be a part of my heart which had a big 'P' on it."
"For Pendragon?"
"No, silly, for People I have met in my life," he called over his shoulder as he ran away from him down the deserted beach.
Arthur chased him but Merlin had run close to the promenade and he lost sight of him. He's slowed down when he head a voice say, "Hey, Stranger, looking for me?" He came to a halt and between two stone supports there was an alcove with a bench and a litter bin. He made his way to him and Merlin scooted over and patted the bench beside him saying, "Arthur, I have a brilliant idea!"
"Oh, no you don't, I am sure that it is against all municipal laws. That's all I need a summons to appear in magistrates court for cruising."
"Yes, however the police now have a softly-softly approach…I read." Merlin then started to shed his clothes, folding them neatly and handing them to Arthur, saying, "I'm going for a swim!"
"No you're not!" he said catching Merlin's wrist. "It's too cold and anyway you have no towel."
Merlin pulled away, "I'll stand in the wind to dry and then go home commando style."
For a flash, Arthur wondered if maybe some of the crazy hare-brained ideas from Liverpool were not solely Gawaine's. Merlin had removed his trainers and was undoing his jeans.
"Merlin, listen to me, if anything happened to you I would not be able to face Hunith or Gaius or even myself. Please stay dressed!"
"It's just that I thought that if I were soaking wet, and Constable Plod came along, I could explain that I'd been swimming and you were helping me get dressed as I was chilled to the bone and then, he would have said, 'Carry on, Men!'
Arthur had to smile saying, "Wishful thinking, Merlin!"
However, there was to be no swimming, just a little kissing and cuddling and then they made their way back to Oxford. Arthur was still laughing at some of the things that had happened on their day at the seaside, as he handed him over to Drake, he'd grinned at Merlin and said in a stage whisper, "Drake, he's all yours!"