CHAPTER 26 : SATISFACTION IS A JOB WELL DONE
The week just flew by, it was wonderful having the residence almost to themselves. The Dining Hall was three-quarters empty and everyone even their tutors seemed relaxed and happy.
During their first extended week, Dr Ellis did come to talk to them, thanking them for the effort they had put into the fledgling programme. She told them that they had surpassed her expectations and the committee had agreed to opening it up to six freshman students next year. "I know some of you have reservations about residing in Magdalen itself but we have decided that we will continue this practice and keep the block of AC's together. I have only heard good things about your behaviour this year and you deserve to be proud of yourselves as I realise that at times, it wasn't easy. Once the discipline council has finished with its findings, each one of you will be notified of the results. This however, might not happen until next year.
"I'm also happy to say the area of the residence which you occupied this year will be again available to our AC students. I hope that you have a productive holiday and will be ready to apply yourselves to the programme in September next year."
She shook each of their hands and left. They sat looking at each other and suddenly Merlin said, "Bags my old room!"
Beth said, "Tina and I want our adjoining ones. Don't we Tina?"
Tina nodded and said, "Toby?"
"Did Dr Ellis say that even as sophomores we have to stay in residence? Usually, you can stay wherever you want after your first year."
"You don't want to stay with us?" Merlin asked.
Toby grinned, "Of course I do, however my mother is really going to be disappointed as she is already making lists of my favourite meals as menus for next term."
The others smiled sadly realising that Mrs Quilley's desire to have Toby at home was in some part to do with Luca's absence.
-0-0-
Merlin kept Arthur up to date with what was going on. He had gone to London by train early Wednesday and expected to be back late Friday. He suggested that Merlin stay in the condo on Friday night as he expected to be arriving at midnight from Paddington.
"I'll wait up for you," Merlin had said then joked, "unless I'm really tired and then you will have to wake me when you come in."
"Looking forward to that…" Arthur said, before adding, "One day I intend to try the Arriva-Chiltern trains which leave Marleybone instead of Paddington. We should do it when we have nothing else to do, just go in and turn around and come back."
"Arthur, you usually have some wonderful ideas, however could I at least expect a chai latte in London?"
"You my friend are too predictable, my aim this summer will be to spice up your life."
Merlin laughed saying, "Bring it on, Arthur, see you Friday. Good night!"
Smiling to himself, Merlin returned to his books. He felt himself so lucky to have found Arthur, who had the same interests and got on famously with him. The only spanner in the works was his father but Arthur seemed to think that time would take care of that mess. He hoped it would as if not, he'd only be a part of Arthur's life as long as they were away from London and the Pendragon Conglomerates. Merlin felt certain that Arthur would never dump him just because his parent disapproved. Times had changed, many of Uther's associates must have kids in same-sex relationships. Nevertheless, he would never force Arthur to chose between him or his father, blood was thicker than water and he willingly acknowledged that.
He let his mind take off and he wondered what he would have done should his Mum and Gaius have disapproved of Arthur. He knew but he just let his mind explore the alternatives, nothing fitted and he allowed his heart to take over. His mum had had a very hard life and had given everything for him and if she wasn't going to be happy having Arthur in their lives, then he couldn't be either. Maybe it was a moot point as she and Gaius loved Arthur and he realised that if deep down Arthur felt that way about his father, maybe he shouldn't be so certain that he wouldn't be dumped should Uther vehemently disapprove.
He closed his books and got ready for bed. He didn't fall asleep immediately but was soon was swept away into disjointed dreams of trains, London and of all people Uther.
-0-0-
Friday came along and Merlin had supper at the Quilley's knowing that Arthur wouldn't be in much before midnight. Merlin let himself into the empty condo and put his bag in the hall. He turned on the lights and tried to make the place welcoming. He watched TV but kept his eye on the time.
Fifteen minutes before midnight, he put on his jacket, took his camera, keys and phone and set out for the station. He walked quickly staying away from kerbs as he remembered ending up in hospital, the last time he had tried to walk back to Arthur's from the station.
Suddenly, doing this didn't seem as clever as when he first thought about it. He had wanted to surprise Arthur and still thought it was a good idea but he was less confident than when he had left the condo. He could see the station and carefully crossed the remaining access lanes, breathing a sigh of relief as the doors opened to greet him.
He was five minutes early so he got a bottle of water and sat on a bench closest to the platform where Arthur's train would be arriving.
He checked the arrival board and the train must have already been on the outskirts of Oxford. He stood and walked to the barrier. He had his camera and took a photos of the train as it came around the bend and into the station and another as the engine came toward him. As stupid as it sounded, having a camera in his hands and having to focus on something, seemed to slow his racing heart.
He stood waiting and then saw Arthur walking towards him, he waved and once he was within ten feet he walked toward him and wrapped his arms around him.
"Missed me that much!" Arthur said to his obviously emotional friend. He held him at arm's length and added, "What are you doing here?"
"I really did miss you and decided to be a welcoming party of one."
Arthur looked at him and could see that he was upset. He said nothing just held him before adding, "I'm tired, the trip seemed to take forever. Let's take a taxi, I don't feel like walking, do you?"
Merlin said, "Not really." He felt Arthur take his hand and squeezed it not letting it go. In ten minutes, they were outside the condo, they'd got all the green lights and Merlin was just happy to be back.
As they took the lift, Merlin said, "I really wanted to surprise you. I thought I'd put it behind me but when I reached the area where I'd been pushed it was as though someone was there waiting, yet I could see that I was completely alone!" Merlin said glancing at the floor, "Not the greatest welcome home surprise..."
"But, it was a lovely surprise, I couldn't believe that you had waited up for me, let alone come to the station." Arthur opened their door and putting down his bag to allow both of his arms to be free, he closed the door with his heel as he wrapped his arms around Merlin.
"I've been spoiled having you just across town, London was lonely without you."
Merlin kissed him chastely and said with a smile, "I intend to rectify that later, so how was business?"
"Pretty good. My father was actually pleasant to deal with and we had no Battle Royals. I told Leon how much you liked Peggy's painting of Crosby Beach and I knew that he was pleased. You'll like him. Someday, when we're in town, I'll invite them out for a meal, so you can meet them. I wish I had my own place in town as then you could be there with me."
Arthur could see that Merlin was beginning to settle into his own self. Whatever he'd gone though on the street seemed to have passed and left no visible signs.
"But your Mulberry Square house is huge, maybe you could talk your father into allowing you to have a self-contained flat on the third floor. You could renovate the servants' staircases to give you private access."
"In this a spur of the moment idea or have you been planning it for some time?"
"No I just thought that it's a lovely house and if you moved out then your father might decide it's too big for him all by himself and put it on the market."
"Or…" said Arthur getting into it, "He could convert it into three flats with planning permission that is and rent them out to professors and the like from the London universities. They're always looking for places to stay."
"Or sell it to foreign nationals who need an address in the UK...or maybe donate it to one of the local universities as a college, Pendragon College, world renowned institute for people with money not necessarily brains."
"Where did that come from?"
"Don't know but I thought it was sort of funny."
"It is, however you my dear friend would never be eligible!" Arthur said.
"Because I have no money…?" Merlin asked.
"No silly, because you have too many brains!" Merlin laughed at him and Arthur continued, "Are you ready for bed?"
"With you…anytime!"
They finally fell asleep, Merlin happy to have Arthur back in Oxford and Arthur glad that Merlin once again seemed to be his old self. Before he drifted off, he wondered if Merlin might benefit talking to someone about what he had gone through this year with Baxter or if he would insist that he was quite capable of dealing with it himself.
Merlin's sleep was troubled punctuated by what had happened during the day and what Arthur and he had been discussing.
-0-0-
Since the end of Trinity, he's been living at Arthur's place in London where he lives with Uther. Pierce and Sheila are in on it but not Uther. Merlin marvels that the two of them have never met. Uther has had dinner parties never realising that on the third floor as quiet as a mouse, his son's secret lover is, for want of a better word a squatter.
Merlin laughs as even Arthur seems surprised that they have managed to get away with it. Merlin comes and goes at will but never through the front door, he has keys to the door into the house from the mews and is very quiet as he accesses Arthur's rooms via the servants' staircases.
Arthur works nearly every day on Canary Wharf giving Merlin ample time to get to know and love London. Weekends, they take off for wonderful places in the UK. They even spend time at a condo which Laurence owns in Oxford.
Arthur tells Merlin that Uther has remarked that his social life seems to be non-existent and Arthur explains that most of his friends are scattered as they have gone home from Oxford for the holidays. He laughs when he tells Merlin what his father has said. 'If he only knew,' he says stretching out against Merlin in bed.
Merlin goes on the Thames Barrier Cruise. Arthur and he were supposed to be going together but his father invites Arthur to lunch with an executive who has three unmarried daughters and Arthur cannot get out of it and has no choice but to attend. He encourages Merlin to go by himself. Merlin sighs, sometimes living in Uther's home is difficult.
Upon his return to Mulberry Square, he reaches Arthur's room and gets undressed. It's hot and humid outside. The room is cool as Arthur's father had the building air-conditioned after one muggy summer.
He laughs to himself, if only Uther knew that he was living there. He would probably insist on charging him room and board. He hears Arthur on the stairs and decides to sprawl provocatively on the bed. That would give Arthur a laugh after his busy day. He faces away from the door and waits.
He hears the door open and Arthur walks in but instead of a loving hand on his back, and a kiss between his shoulder blades he feels a sharp punch to his lower back and a muttered oath. He springs around and he's facing a rather annoyed Uther.
"How did you get in here? Get out!"
Merlin thinks quickly, he has to defuse the situation as fast as he can.
He goes to grab his clothes but manages to grab only a pair of briefs, Uther grabs his wrist trying to stop him. He wriggles away reaching the door before Uther and races down the corridor, making for the servants' staircase but then deciding that that might give Uther too much information, he skids to a halt and then bolts down the main stairs.
He hits the last flight flat out pushing past a bewildered Arthur and grins managing to say, "See you later!" before Uther's bellows are heard from the second floor.
Merlin races for the front door and bursts out onto the peaceful residential square pulling on a pair of black undershorts and heads for the closest cross street intending to back track to the mews which is hopefully unlocked and hide there until Arthur finds him.
He can't find the mews and realises he is near the station in Oxford.
He is conscious of arms impeding his flight and he tries to escape them…
-0-0-
…until he came to realising they were Arthur's and he was in the condo.
"What in heaven's name was that about? You were frantic; it was as though the devil himself was after you."
Merlin whose heart was beginning to return to normal, was able to gasp, "He was!" as he breathlessly recounted parts of his dream to Arthur.
Then and there, Arthur decided that they should have a contingency plan if they ever decided to stay together in any location where Uther was also staying. He didn't even want to imagine what would happen should Uther walk in and find them together.
Then he saw the funny side of it. He told Merlin and the two of them started giggling like a couple of teenagers.
-0-0-
The weather did not really cooperate on Merlin's last weekend as a student. Saturday was a lie-in-bed till noon day. However Merlin didn't like having breakfast in bed and by eleven he was hungry. He offered to cook a basic breakfast and if Arthur wanted his in bed that was fine.
Arthur begrudgingly slid onto the stool next to him at the counter. He'd made reservations for supper at The Folly but by the look of the weather there would be no sitting on the patio.
Merlin was not perturbed by the weather. He was happy, Arthur was with him and they were essentially free to do what they wanted. He suddenly said, "Arthur, if you cancel the reservation for supper this evening and rebook it as lunch tomorrow, we could go to the seaside!"
Arthur just looked at him alarmed, "Are you all right? It'll be awful, windy, wet and cold."
"Yes, but I could get some photos of the stormy sea and we'll be properly dressed and hopefully, the sands will be empty, making the pictures even more interesting." He looked a little guilty and then added, "You won't have to drive. There's a train at noon and if you hurry we can make it."
"If that's what you want, all right! However, I'll drive so we are not limited to one particular beach and we can have a meal on the way back." How far is it?"
"Around ninety odd miles."
"And how many is odd?"
"Four…" said Merlin as he raced back to their room to get ready."
Twenty minutes later they were organised, Merlin had his camera and Arthur said, "The things I do for you!"
"I'll reciprocate!" Merlin assured him reaching for him.
Arthur looked at him and grinned as he reminded him of a kid who is going to the seaside on his holidays. "Are you sure you need all this camera stuff? You look as if you packed for an overnighter."
Actually, considering he had not wanted to go and only went to keep Merlin happy, Arthur enjoyed himself. The drive down was easy and the beaches were deserted but they had a beauty to them. Merlin didn't need entertaining as he was in his element.
Around six they started back and north of Southampton, as Merlin told Toby the following day, "Some moron barrelled through on a roundabout taking out three cars and Arthur's Land Rover was one of them. You don't often see Arthur angry but I almost felt sorry for the stupid teenager, no driving license, no insurance and a stolen car. The other cars had not fared as well as Arthur's which although damaged was still drivable."
"I felt awful as it was all my fault as I had harped about going to the seaside. Anyway, Arthur checked us into a very nice hotel and made arrangements for the car to be brought back here on a flat bed as he didn't want someone touching it who might make matters worse. He soon settled down and we had a lovely meal and came back by train this morning."
"He in no way blamed me for the accident but said that if I had been hurt he would have made life unbearable for the little punk. This as the kid was being carted off in an ambulance with what looked like a broken nose and a suspected broken leg."
"Well, shows he still loves you!" Toby said with a big grin.
"He says the next time he drives me on a flight of fancy as he called it, he will rent an armoured car just in case."
-0-0-
The last week as freshers just flew by. Thursday was officially their last day but they were able to stay in residence over the weekend if needed. The packing routine was now easy. Their rooms would be rented over the summer but knowing that they would be back on the same floor made things easier.
The Quilley's had kindly offered space at their home for the extra things which Tina and Beth were happy to have in storage until next year. Most of Merlin's stuff was already at Arthur's.
"Here's your Prince in Shining Armour!" Beth said as she saw Arthur coming up the stairs.
"You think so…?" Merlin said.
"I know so!" Beth said giving her fellow student a big hug.
Arthur said smiling as he came over, "Hey, cut it out you two, he's my boyfriend!"
"Possessive are we?" Beth said laughing
Arthur hugged her and said, "Exceptionally so Fraulein Weber! Are we all ready my AC's end of year dinner, which I hope will become an annual event? Reservations are for six o'clock.
-0-0-
Merlin lay on the sofa. Arthur had treated his friends regally but tomorrow they would be scattering, Beth to Germany, Tina to Hong Kong, and Toby to his grandparents also in Germany.
He felt someone watching him and glanced over at Arthur who was fixing himself a drink. He walked over and sat beside Merlin, "Here's to you for completing a rather difficult year and coming through it with flying colours. Have I told you how proud I am of you?"
"I believe you did mention it recently…"
"Are you satisfied with the plans we have for the summer?"
Merlin smiled and leant over to kiss him. "They are perfect." He really felt they were as they were based on the fact that Arthur and he would be together …
-0-0-
He knew he was going to be busy as there was a trip for later in August to Bruxelles with his Mum and Gaius to see the renowned Flower Carpet in the Grand-Place. They'd be staying at Ixelles. While the adults Knells went to Australia, Arthur had invited Laurence, Gawaine, Kieran and Gareth to join Merlin and him at Cadogan for ten days.
Before returning to Magdalen, Arthur and he hoped to be able to spend some time alone at Llanrhydian hopefully devoid of snow. Gawaine had hinted that he'd be happy to join them and Arthur had laughed at him and said, "Not as happy as I would be if you didn't!"
Gawaine hadn't taken any offence, turning to Merlin he'd said with a big smile, "Your boyfriend isn't very hospitable is he?"
Merlin slipped his arm around Arthur's waist and smiled at him before grinning at Gawaine, saying, "One of the drawbacks of having a more mature partner!"
"You make me sound in my dotage," Arthur said.
Merlin grinned, "You will be one day and all of this will just be a memory!"
"A much cherished one, I hope!" Arthur said giving Merlin a peck on the cheek.
THE END