CHAPTER 24 : AN UNEXPECTED RECOGNITION

Monday of the last regular week for the general students came quickly. The AC's had a full day of tutorials and the essays which would be due were piling up.

In the afternoon, their second tutorial was with Morris. He asked Merlin to stay behind for a few minutes and told him that his resubmitted essay was excellent and he would be keeping it in his records as an example of what he was capable. He said, "At our tutorial, later in the week, we'll compare the two essays." Merlin just wanted a chance to share that news with Arthur as he knew he had been a bit worried about it as well.

Merlin phoned Arthur once his last tutorial of the day was over. His call went to message but he had no sooner put his phone down than it rang.

It was Arthur, "I just arrived in the parking garage didn't expect to hear from you this early. Is everything OK?"

"Yes, I had Morris this afternoon and he was very satisfied with my essay. Certainly a nicer conversation than we had last Friday. It was worth all the work and the time. Only bad thing was that my time with you was limited and now we won't see each other until next Friday. I missed spending the whole weekend with you."

"Merlin, the finishing line is in sight and then we can spend as much time as we want together, within reason that is as I still have obligations to the business. We should make some plans for the holidays over the weekend. As to not seeing you until Friday, how about I reserve a table at My Gran's for lunch on Wednesday and you might just happen to drop by at the same time. I'm right in thinking that you have a long lunch break that day. Bring Toby if you want…"

"Sounds good but I'm sad to say that Toby will be unable to make it as on Wednesday, he has another lunch date?"

"Does he?"

"No! "Merlin laughed, "But I would really like to have you to myself for even an hour if it is just means staring at you from afar, well at least from across a table."

"We could hold hands…"

"…and touch knees. We could even…," Merlin laughed but then said, "No, not such a good idea, as we wouldn't want to offend Nonna would we?"

Arthur laughed as Nonna ran the place even if technically it belonged to her grandson Geraldo. She'd once told Arthur in his presence, "This place should have been called 'Ristorante della Nonna Maria', not what Gerry has called it as it isn't respectful."

Gerry would just smile and lifting up his two hands say, "Nonna ti amo!" and give her a big hug and a kiss. She was everyone's favourite.

So it was decided. Merlin would meet up with Arthur on Wednesday at lunch to forgo their usual Thursday supper which they were skipping for the next couple of weeks.

-0-0-

When Arthur had mentioned hearing from Merlin and their Wednesday lunch plan, Laurence had laughed and said, "Does Merlin ever have any say in these decisions or are they a fait accompli before you even ask him out?"

"Of course he does, if he doesn't like the location he can always say so and we can go somewhere else.''

"Yes, but do you? Just asking, not being nosey or anything, but he's not a kid. He's a man with his own preferences and I wonder if he ever gets a chance to make them known. I don't mean that he isn't happy with you." He turned from the counter where he'd be making tea saying, "Do you want one?" Arthur nodded and got up to get a mug.

Laurence continued, "It's just that you can be rather bossy," he lifted his eyebrows at Arthur who had the decency to shrug his shoulders, "…and maybe you're forgetting that he is a person in his own right. Not that I'm doubting that he loves you because he obviously does and I'm not trying to cause trouble but remember the old saying something about, if you love something let it go and if it loves you, it will make its way back to you."

That made Arthur think and he realised that Merlin hadn't suggested anything restaurant-wise for the longest time and he was now worried that maybe he was being too domineering but he'd never accused him of that. "You think I should take a step back?" he asked.

Laurence looked horrified, "I never meant to say that, I meant that you should make him an equal partner in all things, whether important or as trivial as choosing where you'll have supper."

Arthur sat watching his tea cool, 'Did he commandeer every free moment which Merlin had, if so, he'd never complained.' He decided to do something about it. He wasn't sure what it was but it would have Merlin consciously making more decisions in their life and even in his choice of the time he spent with him. He knew Merlin better than anyone and he felt quite sure that given the choice Merlin would choose to be with him.

He smiled as Laurence left saying that he hoped that he wasn't offended by what he'd said.

Arthur said, "No offence taken and I might even take a few of your pointers to heart, Mr Knells!"

Alone in the condo, he took his tea through to his office and thought of what Laurence had said. He smiled to himself as he knew that on occasion Merlin was quite capable of making his needs known given the opportunity. Not that he would ever be enlightening Laurence about those moments which were just between him and the man he loved.

Next time he spoke to Merlin he intended to check that he was agreeable to meeting at My Gran's or had he somewhere else he might prefer to go.

-0-0-

Merlin settled down for an afternoon and evening of serious research and work. Toby and he paced each other and got all the work done which they had planned.

By ten, he was ready to turn in and once he was in bed he phoned Arthur, "Hi, it's me just checking in."

"Did you get everything done that you had planned?"

"Yes and a little more. It seems to go well when we work as a team just as Tina and Beth do. Anything interesting to report?"

Arthur laughed, "Sorry nothing earth shaking to report. It's beginning to wind down in lectures and finally reports are being completed. If everything goes according to plan, by next Thursday, I'll be looking forward to a hopefully, well deserved break."

"And poor me, I'll be working hard as usual to keep my head above water!"

"Merlin, when have you ever had to keep your head above water academically?"

There was a pause before Merlin said, "Not sure...maybe when I was a cub and learning to swim in the summer at Archbishop Beck Sports Centre. I didn't come to it naturally as I had the tendency to swim underwater not on top of it." He laughed, "Drove the instructors crazy."

Arthur also laughed, he liked hearing about Merlin's days as a kid, so he decided to share one of his experiences, "One day at school during our senior swim team training, we were doing laps and the coach was called away and had said, 'Continue laps, until I come back!' There were no prefects around and we were all tired of the monotony and as I got to the end of my lane, I pulled myself out of the water and hightailed it down the other end of the pool. "Number one rule broken, 'Thou shalt not run near a pool'. I reached the end and did a perfect cannonball, second rule 'Thou shalt not play games during swim training'. The spray was great and when I finally surfaced to what I had expected to be cheers from the rest of the team, there was deadly silence.

"I noticed people looking beyond me and I turned, there completely drenched was the swim coach. There was not a rule that stated 'Thou shalt not soak the coach' but there might as well have been as I was not on the list for the next inter-house meet and the only reason I stayed on the team was, I'm sure because my father the previous year had paid for a two lap counter-current pool to be built in the sports' facility.

Merlin laughed, "I would have paid to see that. Did your classmates say anything afterwards?"

"Yes, the team captain told me privately that if someday cannonballing became an Olympic event, he'd put my name forward as a participant. Arthur finally said, "Listen if we keep talking, you're not going to be in any shape for your first tutorial. By the way, on Wednesday, is My Gran's all right, I just sort of told you but never checked if that was where you wanted to eat."

"Wherever thou goest and all that…yes, they make great Italian griddle sandwiches."

Arthur felt vindicated that Merlin was quite happy with his choice of restaurant. He said, "Next time, you get to choose the restaurant. Talk to you tomorrow. 'Night, Love!"

-0-0-

Arthur was still trying to get information about Baxter. The Discipline Committee would only tell him that the matter was on their books and it was progressing slowly but steadily. He didn't contact the police but did get information from security that everything they had was currently in the hands of the police.

During the week, he had a visit with Angus who could give him no further information. He agreed with Arthur that it would be preferable to have the whole thing settled before the start of next years classes. "However, I don't think, it's going to happen." He held up a glass and a whiskey bottle and Arthur nodded as Angus continued, "It takes a long time when dealing with colleges…privacy matters and the like. They will get there in the end but not soon enough for the likes of you and me.

"I think the fact that Baxter is gone presupposes that they feel there is enough proof that he was guilty but they still have to have the discussions and the committee meetings. What the police will make of the whole thing is another matter. The charge could go either way as common assault or actual bodily harm. I don't think it will be seen as grievous bodily harm but that will be up to the judge and lawyers."

"Do you think the fact that he had Merlin confined will play into that dicussion? Could that be classified as a GBH charge?"

"I honestly don't know only time will tell. By the way, Arthur, what does Merlin think about the delay?"

"We haven't discussed it as he seems happy to have it behind him and rarely mentions it. He's resilient and I think he'd rather get on with his life. Whether he worries about it when he's by himself I don't know, but he doesn't in front of me as he seldom seems to be mulling over in his mind something that serious. He's certainly more relaxed now that Baxter is no longer around. Did you hear about Barkley's apology?" Angus hadn't and Arthur was able to tell him everything.

"How did Merlin deal with that?"

"Surprisingly well, he seemed to accept the mess Barkley had found himself in and was much more understanding than I would have been."

"Does Toby know?"

"Not unless Merlin has told him which he might have but somehow, I doubt it. It's been a rotten year for them especially Beth and Merlin said she never gets involved in any of the discussions and just seems to close her mind to what they are saying. I'd like to have ten minutes in a closed room with whomever her attacker was. That sounds awful, I know but it's nothing compared to what I'd like to do to Baxter. If Merlin hadn't been as strong mentally as he is, Baxter's behaviour could have caused him real problems and failing his year would have only been one of them."

They sat talking and Mrs Quilley came in and offered them tea and Arthur said, that he really should be getting back to his place as Merlin would be phoning soon and he disapproved of his talking to him while he was on blue tooth in the car as he felt that it was dangerous.

Mrs Quilley smiled, "That's what I say to Angus and even Gord. Keep your eyes are on the road and your mind on the traffic. If it's important, they'll phone back later on. Of course, I still remember my mother talking of the time when not every house had a phone and the local call box on the corner was a busy place with people making and waiting for calls. The boys laugh at me but it was so, wasn't it, Dear?"

Angus nodded, "In some aspects those were the good old days. No interruption at home from an irate boss or a person trying to sell you something you most certainly do not need or even want."

As Arthur drove home, he decided that he much preferred how it was now. If he wanted to talk to Merlin he could just phone him, if it were convenient for him to answer he would, if not he'd get back to him when it was. He was looking forward to seeing him in person tomorrow but intended to phone later on to find out how his day had gone. He really just wanted to hear his voice; he smiled to himself thinking that he was a very easily satisfied boyfriend.

-0-0-

When he met Arthur after his last tutorial on Friday, Merlin came with a letter which he wanted to show Arthur. He had received a surprise notification that his photo had been awarded one of three Honourable Mentions in the College Wide Camera Club contest.

He had showed the letter when it had arrived to Toby and they had a good laugh with Toby saying, "You should tell Arthur, bet he's never received an honourable mention for something he didn't submit!"

"I didn't even enter the competition. Someone has obviously made a mistake."

On Friday at lunch, some chap came over to the table and said, "Merlin Emrys?" Toby pointed at him and the others listened in.

"Graham Smith, Magdalen Camera Club, we're inviting people to consider joining us next year. We were impressed with your submission to College Wide and decided to speak to you."

Merlin said, "Could I speak to you for a second," he looked around, "somewhere more private?" The chap nodded. Merlin stood as did Toby almost immediately, Merlin turned and smiled at his friend then turned to Graham and laughingly said, "Toby here, he's my agent."

Graham didn't seem troubled and they walked into corridor and sat on one of the large window sills. Merlin said, "Before we start, could you clear up something?" Graham nodded. "I have a few questions. How do you enter the College wide competition."

Graham grinned looking surprised but realising that Merlin was serious. He said, "You notify them of your interest in competing and they send the necessary information to you," he laughed, "but you must know all of this."

Toby suddenly said, "Which photo was it?"

Graham seemed surprised but looking at Merlin could see that the question seemed valid.

"It was a child with a toy plane on a spiral staircase. Why?" Merlin seemed to be flustered by this so Graham continued, "You submitted it and must have gone to the exhibit to have seen the other entrants." Seeing the confused look on Merlin's face, he added, "Didn't you go to see the exhibit?"

Merlin shook his head, "l didn't submit any photo for the contest!"

"So you were not the photographer?"

"Possibly...if it is the photo I think it is. However I didn't submit it!"

Toby interrupted, "Merlin, check your phone, you must have it somewhere."

"No, I used my camera, it would be on one of my Liverpool disks."

Graham was interested, he loved a mystery, he asked, "Could you sketch the shot?"

Merlin took the sheet offered and replicated the photo.

"That's it! "Graham said happily, "Congratulations, it's a great shot!"

Toby looked at Merlin who seemed shocked.

Merlin finally gathered his wits together before saying, "I'm sorry about this mess but could you not tell anyone just yet that I didn't submit it." He stopped and brushed his hair off his forehead and continued, "There was a theft in my room during Michaelmas. The rather excessive damage done then is still under investigation by the college." He glanced at Toby for support and said, "That photo was one of the objects stolen during the break in. I have not seen it since."

"My room was also trashed," Toby added.

"I will say nothing further about any of this. I will see that when the times comes to return the exhibits that I personally collect and return yours to you. Not often do the awards go to non-members but your submission or non-submission as the case might be," he said smiling, "was very well received by the adjudicating committee. Graham added with a smile, "Would you consider joining our group next year?"

Merlin grinned and said, "I'd love to!"

-0-0-

Arthur listened to the whole story and looked at Merlin his eyes were not as confident as they had been when he had first come into the condo.

Arthur put on the kettle as Merlin who was sittings on the sofa said, "You know who was behind this, don't you?" Arthur nodded but said nothing. "Well, at least I'll get my original back but what would make him decide to submit the photo using my name? It's just strange. I feel as if he's been in my room again even though I know this went missing in Michaelmas. Toby and the others thought it was funny and only Toby knows that I told Graham." He suddenly looked a little brighter and smiled softly, "But, it was really a good photo wasn't it? I took it with Gawaine one day when we'd gone to the Albert Docks. Gaius said it was lovely and well worth a prize. Little did he know!"

"You'll be able to tell him when you next see him. Did you get anything as a prize?"

"I don't know probably just a certificate but the recognition is most important."

They sat comfortably together; Merlin miles away thinking of home and Arthur thinking about how Baxter was still involved in Merlin's life and would probably be even after all the charges were settled. He thanked God that he's been around this year, Merlin might have been able to cope but he himself would have been climbing the walls if he hadn't been able to know that Merlin was actually coping and not just brushing it off on the phone as a minor inconvenience while inside he was being tortured by indecision and regret that he was living in a residence which was not secure. He slipped his arm over Merlin's shoulders and pulled him closer.

Merlin said, "Only three weeks to go and then a well-deserved break. I wonder how our group fared in the prelims. At least with our two extra weeks, we'll have a general idea of how we managed. I can't believe it's almost the end."

"No regrets!"

"Never any regrets as long as you are around," he said snuggling into Arthur.

Arthur laughed and said, "I meant...academically!"

"No, no regrets there either, it was challenging and really informative. I almost feel as though I would like to make university my lifetime occupation. Maybe even ending up as Dean one day," he started laughing and Arthur pulled him in for a kiss.

"And...you'll be back next year?"

Merlin ignored such trivialities saying, "First thing first…I missed you!" and kissed him.