CHAPTER 9 : ARTHUR COMES CLEAN

On Friday, a subdued group of Baxter's friends were at lunch, they made no eye contact with anyone and left the Dining Hall in silence.

"That's a change for the better!" Toby said as they finished their meal. "Wonder where their leader is? Do you think someone complained about him and he's been arrested and will now rot in jail?" Richard knowing about yesterday's disruption, glanced over at Merlin and said nothing.

Tina laughed, "Well, one good thing, he's not anyone that I am going to miss over the summer!" Beth was not with them having a late tutorial, "Did you know that I've been invited to Beth's this summer? I'll be going to Hong Kong but on the way back spending ten days in Germany then we'll spend a week in Paris with Joanie."

Until they finally reached their tutor Roddy's room, Toby and Tina went on about the beautiful mountains in Germany. "If they offer to take you to see Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, jump at the opportunity. It's spectacular, a fairytale castle built by Ludwig II. The whole story is fascinating…sad but fascinating. Merlin, if you ever get to Germany it's a couple of hours outside Munich. You and your camera would have a marvellous time. Look up photos on line and it's even more beautiful in real life."

For a second, Merlin's mind returned cruelly to the present and the fact that his camera was now in the hands of college administration. He confidentially expected to get it back and maybe if Arthur asked him to go with him on holidays, he might suggest Bavaria.

Merlin smiled to himself. Well, he'd been through France to Belgium and on a school trip to Switzerland and if everything went according to plan, next Christmas he'd be spending time with Gawaine and Laurence, Toby and Gord and of course Arthur in his chalet in Tasch. '...And skiing too,' he thought, 'that was if there was any snow...'

He could see the castle in his mind's eye and now he wanted to see it for real. They could fly London to Munich, maybe he could take Arthur as a belated twenty-first birthday present. Suddenly even in the face of recent events there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.

-0-0-

When Arthur saw Merlin on Friday afternoon, he was still a little subdued. He did however mention that he had his camera back as he'd picked it from Claudio after his last tutorial.

He'd received a call from a Professor Caruthers on the Disciplinary Council asking permission for the college to copy and use the photos, and as which ever photos were on it that interested them were not his personal pictures, he verbally agreed. He was notified that he could pick up his camera from Claudio after he had signed a release form for the photos as well as a statement that the camera had been in his room and a receipt acknowledging that his camera had been returned without the incriminating photos.

Arthur had asked if the photos had been removed and Merlin confessed, "I believe so but just in case, Arthur, I'd prefer not to see them so you can check the camera, my last photos would be what I had taken at the jousting and...maybe one of the deer in the mist early Thursday morning."

"I can't see them leaving them there as if they want to use them against him, they wouldn't want them to somehow end up on the internet before he had been up before the Council. Anyway, we don't even know what was on them. I have a feeling that until he is called up on the carpet, Baxter is going to be keeping a very low profile."

"Well, as long as he keeps away from me, my friends…and my room, I'll be happy." He handed Arthur his camera, "Do it now before we forget."

Arthur took the camera and checked the photos, hoping not to see what was already ingrained on his mind. There was nothing so he said, "Wow, Merlin!" Merlin's face fell before Arthur added laughing, "Nice deer!"

"That was mean, my heart almost stopped beating."

"I think we need to introduce you to the darker side of life. There's a channel on the TV which..."

Merlin put his hand over his ears and said, "Stop it, Arthur!"

Arthur walked over and put the camera on the bed, "Merlin, I was kidding! Your camera is as good as new and we're out of here."

Later, Merlin confessed that if he had seen the photos and had recognised his room as the background, he'd have found it hard to stay there. "It was the lowest form of invasion of private property," he told Arthur.

Arthur nodded and hoped that the photos never resurfaced especially as he felt that there might have been one in which Merlin's photo of himself, his father and the donkey played a significant role. He knew he shouldn't have put it back where it belonged but he'd done it for Merlin's sake.

-0-0-

Merlin had some work to do on Saturday, so while he worked on his essay, Arthur went out with Laurence. Supposedly, to have a drink with some friends but that was for Merlin's benefit. Arthur wanted to bring Laurence up to date on what had happened on Thursday. They drove to an area frequented by runners and sat on a bench drinking coffee being careful not to draw too much attention to themselves.

Arthur said, "I couldn't tell you last night as Merlin stayed over." He then explained what had happened after he had returned to the residence with Merlin before supper the previous day.

"Luckily, I delivered him to his floor and that's when the trouble started." Arthur then went through the events leaving Laurence shocked and annoyed.

"Why does the college let this continue? Surely, they have enough proof that Baxter is stalking and for want of a better word, bullying the younger students."

"They've been given many opportunities," Arthur said, "however, nothing is ever done. The council seems interested but all charges peter out and we're back to the annoying games again. Should the photos Baxter took prove his guilt, I think the committee might be willing to seriously do something about it."

"Hung, drawn and quartered, doesn't seem out of line for me!" Laurence said. "I've know Merlin for years and he doesn't deserve to have to put up with this shit. After all, it's not as if this is the first time Baxter's had to be disciplined. You would think that knowing what happened last time that he would be worried about breaking even the most insignificant recommendation or rule. Maybe there's a policy regarding repeat offenders."

Arthur nodded and remained quiet, the two of them watched as runners returned to the parking area. Taking a deep breath, Arthur said, "I have a confession to make, as I feel that I am maybe the catalyst as Baxter called me 'Spawn of the Devil'."

Laurence decided to allow Arthur to speak without interruption to get whatever was worrying him off his chest.

"I know that his father is in finance and I was searching for something the last time I was in London and his family name jumped out at me. Nothing unusual in that, as my father has many dealings with financial institutions and private companies, some to his benefit and others not. I checked further into it and found out that our PenD and The Waynflete Group had dealings, off-shore investments or something like that, maybe eight years ago, even before I came to Oxford. My father did well financially on the deal; however not so the Waynflete-Carter's as their dealings with PenD within three years resulted in bankruptcy.

"I never approached my father about it. However, his accountant when I mentioned the company name gave me the impression that things had not gone smoothly with them. I asked what Waynflete Senior was like and all he said was that he was not someone you would want to make an acquaintance of and added with a shake of his head, 'Someone you might want to cross over the street away from when you saw him approaching.' He'd then added, 'This, Mr. Arthur, is in strictest confidence."

Even though Laurence had decided not to interrupt he found himself adding, "So there is no love lost between PenD and Waynflete."

"Probably not," Arthur said before continuing, "I believe that his son knew of the business dealings so when he realised I was in his year, he sought revenge. Unable to get satisfaction because he saw I was not afraid to stand up to him, he turned on other people instead including Kevin. I feel guilty for what happened but at the time I knew nothing of Baxter or his family ties."

"Then you were away for three years and when you returned, he latched on that you and Merlin were more than just friends and he transferred his attention to him, blaming you for his eighteen months suspension. Arthur, someone has to stop him before he does something really stupid that might result in serious injuries."

"You don't think that I've not thought about that! It is driving me out of my mind. Merlin has wanted to go to Oxford for years and worked hard to get here. It has to be his choice to stay; he is his own person. Now, I know it is my responsibility to tell him what I learned about my father's interaction with Baxter's father's company and the resulting bad history. Heaven help me as he might accuse me of withholding information that resulted in this continued mess."

"I can see that he'll be upset but he trusts you and will finally see that you had his best interests at heart; however have you thought of coming clean with Angus as well, to see what he thinks of your going to the committee with the information?"

"If I get the chance, I'll speak to him on Sunday as Toby and Merlin are going to a lecture at noon." He looked at his watch, "We'd better get back as I'd like to be there before Merlin has finished his studying. By the way, where were you imbibing with friends this afternoon, should it come up?" he added with a laugh.

"Falstaff's?"

"Right!" Arthur said.

-0-0-

In the middle of an early brunch after church on Sunday, Arthur made up his mind to tell Merlin as he had no desire for him to get it second hand. The decision of 'the what' had been made, now he had to come up with 'the where, when and how'.

Angus had said that he could see Arthur that Sunday afternoon while Toby and Merlin were at the guest lecture. He decided that first he would tell Angus and then if he felt it advisable talk to Melin. Deep down he knew that he intended to tell Merlin regardless of what Angus said as it was a burden on his shoulders getting heavier and heavier. It was a combination of guilt that his father's business practices had turned Baxter against him but much more importantly, the added guilt that it had been transferred to Merlin because he was his friend.

Mrs Quilley left the two of them alone in her husband's office. Arthur said that she was welcome to stay but she insisted that she had other things to do.

Arthur told Angus everything from returning to get Merlin's bank card and hearing someone in his room to seeing Baxter disappearing down the stairs with two security guards.

"Where was my son, while this was going on?" Angus wanted to know.

"He'd already left to come here for supper. Drake asked me to go into the room to check it because of the mess I had found when the room had been trashed during Michaelmas. I did leaving him with Merlin. I noticed the camera and convinced Merlin to hand it in to the powers-that-be. He did so with reservations as he was worried that he might not get it back. It was returned to him late Friday afternoon but not before he signed away his right to any photos which he had not taken."

"Surely this will light a fire under them to at least kick him out of residence."

"Angus, I want to tell you something in confidence."Arthur then told him what he had recently learned about his and Baxter's fathers' business dealing years ago and the outcome.

Angus immediately said, "Has he ever challenged you about it?"

"No, not in words but there were a couple of occasions in freshman year when he was in my face. I put an end to that and he backed off to find other prey. Then I went off to Bruxelles and didn't see him until I returned in September. He must have seen me with Merlin and decided to get to me through him. I was ignorant of the business ties to my father's corporation until this past term break. My father knows nothing about my first year problems or anything about my relationship with Merlin which I would like to keep under wraps until I deem the time is right for me to introduce Merlin to him."

He smiled apolitically and Angus nodded, "That to me makes sense."

Arthur felt quite comfortable talking to Angus and added, "I've always had boyfriends and girlfriends and my father has never said anything as I always attended business functions with a woman and I often think that he just thought I'd grow out of it. It will however, be different when I attend receptions with Merlin."

"Don't worry, maybe your father once he meets Merlin will feel that you have made a good choice especially if he sees that the two of you are happy."

"Until he realises that he will be having no grandchildren and there will be no family to take over the company."

"Face that situation when you come to it. I for one, think that Merlin is a lovely young man and I'm happy that you two found each other."

"What does Mrs Quilley think?"

"She clued in before me and told me one evening when the two of you left that it was lovely seeing two people in love. She's on your side, Arthur!"

-0-0-

Midweek Arthur had not yet told Merlin so he decided that Thursday evening might be a good idea and then changed his mind because should Merlin be upset he still had to face college on Friday. No, he would tell him Friday evening and he would still have Saturday and Sunday to get his head around it.

As often happened in Arthur's life something else came up and his plan went out the window.

Late Friday afternoon, he was called before Dr. Malloy a member of the disciplinary committee. He had time to text Merlin that he would see him later in the condo. He wasn't looking forward to being questioned but he was saved from that ordeal by being asked to sit down and carefully read an account of what had happened and if it was a true account of what he had witnessed to sign it. There was an additional sheet referring to the camera and Arthur wrote that when he entered the room the camera was not where it usually was on the shelf and its lens cap had been removed. He signed it.

He was surprised that mention was made of Baxter's calling him 'Spawn of the Devil' and his spitting. No mention was made of Arthur laying his hands on Baxter until he was hauled off. It just stated that Mr. Pendragon who came into the room as a friend of Mr Emrys had been upset.

He then had to read and sign a statement that he had been present when Merlin had willingly left his camera in a Porters' Lodge so it could be forwarded to Security. Dr Malloy took the papers, thanked him and told him he could go but that at a later date he might be called again.

-0-0-

Saturday after supper, Arthur decided that the time had come. He needed to speak up so that Merlin would know that he wasn't the reason for all these troubles.

Arthur sat him down on the sofa, he tried to smile but Merlin picked up on his nervousness. "Merlin, I found out something in London and I realise I should have told you at the beginning of this term."

Merlin's heart was racing, what had he done that made Arthur so uneasy. Arthur sensing that he was upset, tried to smile. "Merlin, I'm not cross with you," he said, wondering how annoyed he would be when he learned the truth.

He held both of his hands in his and said, "Listen, carefully!" He then told him everything he knew about his father and Baxter's.

"So, he carried this over for three years even when you and he weren't here. I don't exactly understand."

Arthur nodded, "He was after me in my freshman year but I didn't know why. I figured he was just one of those obnoxious people that you sometimes bump into and you try to stay away from as they irritate you but if you are forced stay in close proximity you seem to almost feed off each other like a cat and a dog"

"No love lost there," Merlin added.

"Exactly, then I was away for three years. He must have been surprised when he returned and I wasn't here but he obviously never forgot the business deal and was only too willing to get his revenge through you. I wasn't in residence as I had the condo, so he must have noticed me when I dropped you off or picked you up at the college.

"Did the family lose all their money? Is that why he is trying to get back at you?"

"They lost some money but they would never have been considered poor. They rebuilt another company and according to the current market reports they are doing well."

Merlin seemed to take it calmly but Arthur was sure that he was trying hard to stay calm and his mind must have been exploding with questions.

"Angus said..."

"You told Angus before me?"

Merlin sounded upset and hurt and Arthur remembered that he had also told Laurence. "I had too. I needed to run it by someone who might have an idea on how to deal with this. He said to tell you and then talk to the discipline committee. I just want this whole mess to be over and done with. I signed a statement regarding Thursday's episode for a Dr Malloy but haven't told anyone else about this financial situation. Do you think they will take it into account?"

Merlin shook his head so Arthur repeated the question.

"Why do you need to know what I think?" Merlin said, "You seem t have taken care of it all yourself up to now."

"Merlin, don't be like this, I feel awful about what happened but I never did anything to purposely hurt you…if I had put two and two together during my first year, I might have recommended that we went our separate ways when we were in Oxford. It would have broken my heart but it would have saved you from all this anguish."

"That was why he called you, 'spawn of the devil', he was referring to Uther!" He seemed more in control of himself then said, "Arthur, you should have told them, it might have some bearing on the case, and I won't look like a fool who is always getting picked on."

"No one thinks of you like that!"

"Maybe if you asked security, maintenance or the Porters they might have a different view. It is embarrassing the number of times they are called to my staircase and usually, it's me or my room in the centre of things…again."

"No one is blaming you…"

"Right and each call makes them respond, 'Oh, no! Not him again!' The Quilley's must regret that Toby is a friend and what about Beth?"

Arthur slipped his arms around Merlin he had never before seen how upset he was about the goings-on and how he actually blamed himself.