This day, Merlin decided, was not his day at all. The last thing they were supposed to learn in human biology was reproduction and male and female anatomy and Merlin hadn't looked forward to this. While he had read the book, he was still uncomfortable with the subject and he knew that the class would go crazy. So for obvious reasons he hadn't looked forward to this lesson but their teacher seemed to enjoy making his life a misery and added sex education to the mix.
Merlin was horrified when their (female) teacher told them that the girls would stay in their regular class room with her and boy's PE teacher would get the boys to another class room. The girls were giggling and the boys were making snide remarks on the subject. Merlin rolled his eyes and the only thing that made him feel a bit better was Arthur who made it clear that he felt the same. At least Merlin wasn't suffering alone. Gwen waved at him looking sympathetic and odly calm herself. How unnatural was that?!
Merlin followed the rest of the boys of his class and wondered if anyone would notice if he just ran. Probably yes, so he was stuck. It didn't ease his mind at all that it would be Lance giving the lesson. Of course it was better than for example Geofrey, but Merlin knew Lance too well for this to be anything else than uncomfortable. The fact that he woud have to see him trough all summer wasn't helping at all.
The class room they used was an old english class room. It was a bit narrow and full of bookshelves. Merlin sat where he could which was a bit left from the centre two desk away from Arthur who was sitting by the window. It seemed that everyone wanted to sit in the back. Lance told them that he was well aware that this topic might be a bit uncomfortable but he assured them it was important and asked them to pay attention. 'No hope there...' Merlin thought drily.
Soon the class was mentally divided into two groups. To those who looked bored and were quiet (and probably uncomfortable as hell) and to those who found everything on the subject hilarious or perverted or both and made stupid comments (probably to hide that they were uncomfortable as hell) and laughed at almost everything they or Lance said.
They briefly went trough female and male anatomy and at some point Merlin let his forehead fall to his desk. He wanted to be shallowed by his desk and disappear…
But when Lance started to talk about sexuality and how it was different to everyone, things really got personal for Merlin. "There are many types of sexuality and everyone finds their own sexuality on their own way and time." Lance put up a new slide and Merlin heard snickering from behind him. He glanced at the slide and there was a picture where it said 'sexuality' on the top and there was a diagram of 'male features' on the x axel and 'female features' on the y axel. "Everyone falls to some area of this space. For example someone could find male traits or features slightly attractive but much more so the female traits-" "Like boobs!" someone from Merlins right commented and Merlin groaned to his table. This was torture. He had known that there were others like him already and he had known his class mates would laugh and point and scorn if they knew Merlin was one of them, but he really didn't need to see exactly what and how they would say and do if Merlin ever let his secret slip.
Some of the idiots laughed and Lance sighed but continued. "People also wary how important physical closeness it to them. For example if the closeness was very important to this person, they would be here..." Lance shover the right top corner area with his finger "and if not so much, they would be here." and he moved his finger to left bottom corner. "This doesn't mean that these people aren't able to love. It just means that their sexuality is that way. They don't find much interest in sex or physical closeness." "And so if you are in the bottom left, you are like supper gay?" again, some idiot commented. Merlin felt his face heat up and he remained resting his forehead on the cool surface of his desk. In fact he felt like banging his head onto it. He wished he could cover his ears and hum so he wouldn't hear anything.
Lance sighed again. It seemed he was getting tired of this as well. "No. It just means that in the case of this person begin a man he probably fancies men over women or women with masculine traits and value physical contact as a way to express their love." Many laughed at that and Merlin started to feel pity for Lance who had done his best to teach them about different people and different ways of learning trough the time he had been with them all while taking them all as individuals and encouraging them to find their own feet. Merlin thought that he never wanted to be a teacher.
"Moving from that, I want you all to understand that everyone finds their sexuality when they are ready for it. It might be very early or as late as when you are over 20 or even much, much later, but no-one should feel pressured to have sex until they are truly ready." Lances tone was suddenly very serious and even the idiots were a bit quiet now. Merlin found himself actually a bit interested on the subject. He trusted Lance and his words rang as truth in Merlin's ears. And for the first time ever he felt a bit like that maybe Lance would understand, maybe he wouldn't be one of those who would hurt him if he knew...
"Even if I'm quite sure some of you have already experimented on this kind of stuff, I want you to remember that there is no shame if you feel that you want to wait. And that if your partner ever says no, you will have to respect that and remember it doesn't mean the same thing as love." Merlin was truly interested now. He raised his head from the desk and listened.
"And as you are underaged or even after you are not, also remember that you always, always have the right to tell what you want, or don't want to do with your body." Merlin could hear nome snickers from behind him, but he didn't care anymore. "If someone makes you have sex or touches you without you wanting them to, it's considered as a sexual assault or rape."
Some of the idiots found this incredibly funny and looked at each others trying to find a support for the next joke. One of them raised his hand and Lance gave him the change to ask a question "How can a man be raped? Cause if the chick was ugly or something I wouldn't be able to get it up…" The idiot section started to laugh loudly and Lance looked like he suffered as much as Merlin. He was really trying to get a message across and these idiots were ruining it. Merlin wanted to see their face if he asked them 'what if it was a man banging your behinds' but of course he couldn't.
But more importantly, what Lance was telling, Merlin found himself from it. 'Rape…' that was it. He had been raped… somehow the word made him feel like his eyes had been opened. Of cource... how come he had never thought of it like that? He knew what rape meant, or at least he had thought that he had known, but he had never connected that it was exactly what had happened to him. Rape was something that happened in dark aleyways and parks, not in your own bedroom...
But that was excatly what had happened to him and what the word made Merlins see, was that he wasn't at fault… He wanted to hear what Lance had to say so he listened very carefully. He didn't want to miss anything with all this noise.
"Male body is constructed so that a man can actually get erection even if the situation is unwanted. Physical stimulus or extreme emotions like fear or anger can cause an erection."
Merlin's world changed in seconds.
Hearing that from an adult who he trusted meant the world to him. He heard the idiots get all the fuel they needed and laughter and comments were all over the place but Merlin didn't even hear them. His mind was miles away. He had never liked Uthers touch. He had been scared. He had been touched and he hadn't enjoyed it. He wasn't wanting it. He wasn't that sick. He had been raped…
But that was when he clearly didn't fall into the two categories of idiots or bored and someone noticed this. "Ha! Merlin, you sure look interested, what happened? Did you get boner for some fat chick?" The comment was supposed to be funny and judging from the tone of the one who had said it, he didn't mean any harm, just some fun. But Merlin couldn't take it that way. He turned his head to the source of the sound and saw that one of the Arthurs team mates who had nice hair. He was also loud and not very considerate of others. Merlin had liked him just fine until this.
"Or did you get in trouble with your girlfriend? Couldn't you get it up for her?" Many laughed at the nice-hair's comment and the class room was more of a zoo now. Lance tried to get the group to calm down but he seemed uneasy and had no effect on them.
Merlin knew why. His supposed 'girlfriend' was Gwen. He was about to turn back to his table and shame his eyes out when Arthur rose to stand and spoke directly to his team mate.
"Jordan, shut up! Don't speak of the things you have no idea of." Jordan became very quiet and he turned his eyes down, but one of the idiots who wasn't in the team picked up from there. "And what's your bone here Pendragon, you have it hard for Merlin? Oh well, he's so tiny that maybe he could fall to the 'female traits' category!" some laughed. Jordan seemed uncomfortable now but Merlin didn't care. Arthur seemed like he was going to blow up and Merlin couldn't take it anymore.
He rose up so fast that the chair almost fell and made a screeching sound against the floor. He took his bag and walked straight out of the door. He heard Lance call his name and he knew he would be in trouble later but he could't care less right now.
Merlin walked straight to the library, the only place where no teacher would question him being in the middle of a class. From a moments whim he walked straight to the librarian and asked for some sex-ed books. He could write an essay to Lance and hope he would let him off the hook for leaving like that. He was sure the librarian, a middle aged woman, would laugh at him but she just took him to the section which Merlin was thankful for.
He started to skim through the two books he had taken from the shelf and took out one notebook and a pencil. He tried not to think too much of what had happened in the class room. He was used to burying his thoughts to studying but now he found it hard. He was most uncomfortable of the part where Arthur had stood up for him. Of course he was moved by that, but he didn't like the fact that Arthur had made himself a target. And the comment of him having a thing for Merlin hit too close a home.
Merlin scribbled down some basic information but finally he found something more on the subject he had been graving to know more. 'Penis is controlled by sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This means that one cannot control erection or ejaculation by will. Men can have an erection or even ejaculate not just when the situation is wanted, but when they find the situation scary or unwanted. There are even reports of children who still shouldn't be able to have an erection to have one when facing an extreme violence...' Merlin didn't write this down but he memorised every word. This was the same thing Lance had been talking about. One could get an erection from being scared or just touched the right way.
Merlin let a breath out. He wasn't a pervert… He was just someone who preferred men over women and there were others like him. The only thing that he couldn't deny was that he still loved his step-brother and every ounce of worry that was lifted from his other worries seemed to pile on that fact. He might not like his step-father raping him but he still wanted his step-brother. He wished he had known this all earlier. If he had, maybe ha could have stopped it all before it even begun. Now it was too late. Uther had already done everything and he had those pictures… Even if Merlin would tell now it would just seem like he had enjoyed it. He remembered the laughs in the class room. It would be the same. Just worse. There was no way he was ever going to tell anyone anything.
The bell was just about to ring so Merlin gathered his stuff and returned the books where they belonged. He left the library with his quite comprehensive essay on the subject he might add himself. He headed to the class room and he saw some of his class mates on the way. Some seemed uneasy but Merlin didn't pay any attention to them. He walked to now empty class room with only Lance gathering his things. Merlin was glad that he hadn't met Arthur on the way.
Lance looked up from what he had been doing and seemed relieved to see Merlin. "Merlin…" He started while Merlin ripped the pages from his notebook he had written the essay. "Here." He said and gave the pages to now confused Lance. He looked at it and his eyes widened slightly. "I hope this will make up for the part I missed." Merlin said a bit annoyed but still worried Lance would call Uther who would probably make him suffer for he had stormed out of the class.
"Oh, Merlin. Of course this will. I'm sorry for letting the situation get so out of hand." Merlin hadn't waited this so he just stared at Lance. "I should have told them off earlier, I hope you didn't get hurt… It seemed that Edmud wasn't aware that you and Arthur are brothers and he was really sorry and what comes to Jordan… I think he learned his lesson." Merlin tired to smile at that but it was kind of hard. It didn't change the fact that he had made people think he and Arthur had something going on. They had been kissing and stuff and that could never been known. That someone was guessing scared the life out of Merlin.
Lance put his hand on Merlins shoulder "I understand these kind of topics are hard on your age, but understand that they were talking without a real understanding of it either. Hopefully they learned about this and you don't have to mind any of what they said." Merlin didn't seem too convinced and Lances hand, while it wasn't uncomfortable it still made Merlin too focused on the contact. His head was spinning with the new imformation and he was feeling so many things at once that he felt it hard to consentrate on where he was at the moment.
"If there is anything you want to talk about ever, remember that you can talk to me or the school nurse. We are here for you." Lance looked Merlin straight in the eye and Merlin found it hard to look away. He knew Lance meant well, but he felt that Lance just didn't know what he was talking about either. He still nodded and thanked Lance before leaving.
Lance followed Merlin with his eyes. He had noticed Merlins distress and identified it better than anyone in the class. He wondered if Merlin was homosexual. That would make sense. Gwen had talked about Merlin a lot and to Lance it had always sounded like Merlin was either a saint or very uninterested in girls. He could be just uninterested in general, but right now Lance somehow felt that maybe being gay fit a lot better.
He thought about how Arthur had told him how his father wouldn't allow Merlin to meet his friends and he wondered if it had something to do with this. The old man aside, Merlin could meet up with someone else like him, possibly even with a boyfriend. That would also explain why Arthur had seemed so unwilling to talk it out with their parents and why Merlin had seemed so happy to leave the school. Lance knew how some parents could be and Uther Pendragon fell perfectly to the category of a homophobic father.
Lance hoped that he could be someone Merlin could talk to if he needed someone to listen. He would certainly tell him that everything was alright and that he was perfectly normal and a nice guy and deserved happiness what ever his adoptive father did say or think. But he couldn't force anything from Merlin. He would have to wait that he came to talk himself.
After Merlin left the class room he automatically headed for lunch. His mind was buzzing of all the new thoughts that had surfaced. Only when he saw Arthur sit at the same table as Gwen he realised where he actually was. He was about to turn around when Arthur noticed him and waved him over. No change to escape now…
Merlin got some food and headed to their table as slowly as he could. Gwen looked at him looking sorry and Arthur just seemed uneasy. "Merlin, are you ok?" Gwen asked and Merlin nodded at her. "Yeah… what is a day if nobody laughs at you anyway…" He tried to joke about it. Arthur opened his mouth to cheer him up "You should have seen Lance after you left! I have never seem him so angry before! That idiot Edmud didn't know what hit him!" Merlin was a bit surprised to hear this. Lance had seemed so calm when he talked with him just after the class.
Merlin was about to comment when someone put their hand on his shoulder. He almost swallowed his tongue and Arthur looked annoyed. "Hey, mate, I'm sorry about what I said in the class… that was stupid of me. I didn't really mean it." Merlin turned around to see Nice hair- Jordan from the football team. He must have looked weird because Jordan let go of his shoulder "I didn't know that you weren't…" He trailed of glancing at Gwen and Merlin prayed every God he could think of that Gwen would never ask what that was about. "Anyway, I didn't think that someone would continue from that and I really don't think badly of you, you are a great guy…"
Merlin still didn't say anything and Jordan seemed to grow more uncomfortable every second. It probably didn't help that Arthur was burning holes at him with his gaze "I just wanted to say sorry and well, see you at the practice…" He turned to leave and Merlin finally found his voice. "It's alright. See you in summer." Jordan grinned at him and hit him on his back "You are the man Merlin. Later!" He said much more cheerful and Merlin tried to look like his back didn't hurt. Arthur still glared daggers at Jordan's direction and Merlin had to gather all of his forgiveness and patience to tell Arthur to forget it, that it was alright.
The rest of the day some random guys from his class were apologising to him for laughing or for doing nothing and Merlin was starting to wonder what kind of speech Lance had given them… He was ok, though. He wasn't angry at anyone anymore. He had a lot to think and when it was time to climb to Uther's car he was about to blow up. He was clad he had that one beer hidden in his closet behind his clothes. He could drink it when the night came.
Uther asked him about his school day and Merlin told him something vague that could have happened any day while Uther made his hand wander to his thigh. Merlin thought of Lance's words how he had the right to tell Uther to stop but he did nothing. He felt that he couldn't anymore. It was too late now and he would just make his life worse. Uther opened his fly and Merlin felt him repulsive. Rape. Uther had raped him. He had told Merlin how dirty and what a whore he was but what did it make himself? Raper… Merlin shuddered at that. He wished he had the courage to say that out loud.
He hoped there would be a day that he would never have to see Uther again nor hear anything about him. Maybe when he was an adult he could move somewhere far away and not talk to anybody who even knew Uther. But that would include Arthur… He again cursed himself for falling in love with Arthur. He had made everything so complicated with that. Because at this point he was ready to give up everything. His friends, his mother... but not Arthur... and then there was Gaius. And Gwaine. Merlin squeezed his eyes shut. he wasn't ready to give up everything. Not even now.
Uther had been rubbing him through his boxers and he was getting hard. Merlin looked at Uther's hand moving up and down his now hard penis and he tried to think it wasn't his fault. 'I don't like this, my body is just reacting on it's own…' He wasn't as convinced as he had been in the library and he felt a strong self loath but it was somehow a bit easier now that he knew he could at least defend himself with that. To himself, if not to anybody else. He wasn't alone anymore, there were others who had gone through this. Even if they were just statistics in a library book.
With Hunith more home and the exams coming, Uther didn't come to Merlin's room nearly as often as usually. Merlin took advantage of this and he spent a lot of time in Arthur's room studying and Uther allowed that. Merlin guessed that Uther wanted him to concentrate on his studies. So his grades were still more important than making his life a living hell.
Also when Uther did come to his room, he mostly made Merlin suck him off while he was telling him how useless and stupid he was and how he expected him to do well in school. Merlin threw up every time but at least it didn't hurt as badly as when Uther went inside him. What he hated the most was when Uther came into his mouth. Some times Uther made him swallow and that made Merlin feel sick for couple of days. It didn't matter that he knew he had vomited everything out. He still felt the taste and a burning inside of him. The days after that he always refused to kiss Arthur and he found himself often trying to breath to another direction in fear that his breath still stank like Uther's load.
Merlin had drank the beer days ago and he wished he could have a stash of alcohol hidden in his room. When he had sat in his closet one day ha had remembered the place between his and Arthurs closets doors. He arranged the boxes in front of his side door so he could open the door easily but it would still seem like it wasn't used. He decided to ask Gwaine to sell him some extra when he had the first change.
Arthur was now officially buried alive with work and Merlin did everything he could to cheer him up and help him with his school work. When the final test was over (chemistry) Arthur literally lifted Merlin from the ground and hugged him so strongly it almost resembled wrestling more that an actual hug (which made Merlin glad because they were at school) and that night they watched a movie and ate chocolate cookies and finally played some scrabble Merlin winning by far. Arthur belittled the game but was clearly grumpy that Merlin had won. Merlin just grinned at him and told him that even he had to be good at something… Arthur cheered up at that and started to list everything he would wipe floors with Merlin. Merlin added being a prat to the list which caused Arthur to throw a hand full of letters to his direction. It was surprisingly hard to get few of them out from under the couch.
Before Merlin went to sleep, Arthur took Merlin's head in between his hands gently and kissed him softly on the lips. "Thank you, Merlin." He whispered to Merlin ear while embraced him gently. Merlin hugged him back and mumbled something about Arthur not surviving without him around which made Arthur smile to his neck. Merlin reluctantly pulled away from Arthur. Arthur looked a bit disappointed at too and Merlin couldn't help himself. He kissed Arthurs cheek softly before telling him good night and turning to leave.
Uther came to his room that night and made Merlin sit on his lap naked while touching him all over. In the end Merlin didn't come and Uther pumped him so long his thing started to sting. Uther told Merlin to kiss him and when Merlin voiced his objection out loud for the first time with a shaky "No", Uther squeezed him painfully for that "I told you to kiss me. I don't like to ask twice." But Merlin had promised. And to this he still could say no.
"I won't." Uther pushed him to the floor harshly and when Merlin fell, he kicked his side painfully. Merlin coughed and Uther just left him there not even looking back. Still Merlin felt a little bit victorious. He still had a voice and he could say no.
The next day his side was purple and it hurt when he moved but it was still worth it.
The summer vacation finally came and Merlin got the best grades on everything but PE and art. He would have been worried about music if he or his teacher cared. He had been present and sang with the rest of them so he got full marks. Arthur had done almost as well as Merlin. The only subject he was better than Merlin was PE. He had gotten full marks, of course. Uther had been pleased to their grades and Hunith had been proud of them both. They went to celebrate to a fancy restaurant and for once Uther had talked to them truly pleased and left Merlin alone.
Hunith had gotten the trainee job from a nearby hospital and she would be doing evening shift for three evenings a week, from one to nine. Her friend Susan had also gotten the job, but they wouldn't be seeing eachothers much because Susan worked morning shift, she had three children at home. Merlin was happy for his mother and also for himself because she wouldn't be away at nights. They also had time to catch up and talk about this and that. Merlin was uncomfortable when Hunith asked him if he had anyone special he wanted to spend time during summer and Merlin had to lie there was no-one like that. But that was easily done. When Hunith started to speak to him about his weight he was in a real trouble. Hunith had learned a lot of nutrition in school and while she admitted that Merlin did seem to eat enough protein she was worried of him being too thin.
"I just think that maybe you should start eating meat, or at least fish, until you have finished your growing period…" Merlin didn't know what to do. Yes, he could just tell her 'ok' and start eating meat, but that was something he could control in this household and he wasn't too keen on letting that go. "Mother, I'm alright, there are many vegetarians nowadays and I have just been growing so fast that I cannot possibly keep up." That was partially true. Merlin had grown at least 5 centimetres in the last year and he would need to go buy new clothes soon again and his mother knew that. Hunith still didn't seem too convinced and she asked how much Merlin weighed.
Merlin was getting defensive on the subject and with that, a bit angry. In the end Merlin lied he didn't know and promised to think about adding some fish to his diet. His mother seemed to be satisfied of what she got but not entirely happy. Merlin missed the days they could speak about everything without difficulties. Now Merlin felt like there was nothing he could say to her without a lie.
It was sunday and Merlin was supposed to go to help with the football practices tomorrow so he wanted to get to sleep early. His mother left to have a 'girls night out' with some of her class mates and Merlin was nervous. He didn't dare to shower yet and he was feeling restless. He also had nothing to study. He had read the book Gaius had loaned to him ages ago and he had finished it the second time yesterday. He tapped his foot to the floor and looked out from his window without really seeing anything. Arthur came to tell him good night and told him to get enough sleep before kissing him lightly to his cheek. Merlin didn't want him to leave but he really couldn't be anything like good company right now and Arthur soon left to sleep himself.
It wasn't even an hour before Uther opened his door and locked it behind him. Merlin didn't move from his table and Uther walked to stand next to him. "I was very pleased with your results at school." This was new, so it made Merlin scared.
"I hope you will work hard for Arthur's team tomorrow." Hearing Arthur name made Merlin feel nauseous while Uther's hands wandered to open his trousers and pull his shirt up. He pulled Merlin to stand and turned him so he was facing the window. Merlin was confused for a second but then he realised where this was going "N-" his protest was cut short when Uther pushed his face against the wooden surface of his desk. There were no papers or books anymore, only hard cold wood.
Uther pushed his pants down to reveal his ass and Merlin heard now very familiar snapping sound of lube being opened. He felt Uther's slick fingers enter him. He was tight and every movement hurt. 'rape…' the word echoed in his mind and he whimpered slightly. Uther soon removed his fingers Merlin wanting to protest that he wasn't ready but Uther took a hold of his neck silencing Merlin effectively. Merlin saw white dots in his vision when Uther pushed inside of him. "I expect you to be useful for my son in the practices, I will not be happy if you even think of slacking off."
Merlin felt pain and disgust like never before. It was like Uther had hit him with mentioning Arthur and that was mostly what he could think of. His side was still bruised and every movement against the table made it hurt. Merlin closed his eyes. He didn't want to think that he was doing this on his desk. He tried to imagine it was a floor or anything else. His legs hurt from the stretch and Uther was going in faster and faster. Merlin was about to yell from pain when Uther suddenly pulled his upper body up and came with a small groan. Merlin was now almost standing and his eyes open he saw the view from his window. Every sound died in his throat. They were in front of a window. Anyone could see him like this.
He heard Uther's phone camera go and he felt tears run down his face. Uther let him go and Merlin fell to the table and then dropped to the ground, happy to be behind his desk now. He heard Uther chip his fly and he bend towards Merlin. "Do not disappoint me." he whispered into Merlin's ear. After that he left.
Merlin threw up that night. He showered in a way too hot shower and when he finally climbed to his couch he felt feverish and cold. He didn't really sleep much and when morning came he wasn't even near the condition he could be of use to anyone. Still he dragged himself of his couch and took his gym bag. He ate his breakfast and left with Arthur. He had been sure he would kneel over or fall asleep at any given change but surprisingly when he saw their neighbourhood disappear from sight he started to feel better. He was getting out of the house. Two times a week for the whole summer. After that he wasn't so tired at all.
A/N Hi! Ok, now we are really getting to the core of this all. Everything that Lance told in sex-ed was true and if any of you feel like knowing more, I can recomend you to find either some webpages about child abuse or sexuality. For example 1in6 and male survivors have the same informaton and more about abused males and if you are interested about sexuality in general, some pages about asexuality explain a lot about the difference of sex and love. There are multible charts avaible but the one I described is kind of most basic. I'm so glad to get this bit of information to Merlin. Finaly!
The teacher in me really wants to start to lecture, but I'm trying my best to ignore it. If you feel that there is something in need of explaining, just leave me a comment or PM me and I will give you an answer the best way I can.
I again thank you, my dear reviewers! What would I do without you? I thought that maybe I should somehow expres my gratitude, so I made up a rule for myself: if I get more reviews than to the previous chapters (which is at the moment 9), I will update right away. So 10 reviews and I'll upload the next chapter right away ;) If not, I'll just keep updating every 3rd day as usual :) To get you motivated, the next chapter is named 'Tired of lying'.
Have a great week!
Angel Dove1 Yep, Arthur is getting more in tune with Merlin even though they are not being honest with each others. They would both benefit of talking to basicaly anyone, but the most of cource to their friends or the people they feel they can trust. You are right, Arthur is still trying to balance in between Merlin and his father. You really made a good analysis of what is happening right now and while doing so, you have been compasionate, that is so great :)
MillaMaxwell12 Oh please don't cry! The things are honestly going to get better and Uther will not go unpunished in the end, I promise! You are right, Gaius would be able to help both of them. Actually most of the adults and friends Merlin has in his life could help him and Arthur really just need someone to talk to. Elyan for example would listen and Gwen too. Gaius would still be the best choise because he is older and has more life experience, but it's not an easy conversation to start... At that age especially.
Skypeoplephoenix732 Well, Uther is meant to rile people up, so I guess that I have succeeded in that then :) When we have no idea of what he is thinking at all, it's kind of hard to forgive him even a little bit... But to be fair his character in the tv-show was so flat that it could have been used as a copy paper... Yep, Lance will get more active role soon and Gwaine and Gaius both have important roles so they are here to stay :) I had totaly forgotten the episode with the 'magic' 'strenght' and 'courage'. Arthur was so tense in that one (too)! 'Oh the keeper of the bridge said we need courage, magic and strenght. I'm the courage, Gwaine is the strnght and ... Well, whatever, let's go Merlin!' :D
Guest (mesran123?) Yes, I feel the same, it was really not a very good decision to help Arthur lie about Merlin's whereabouts, but well, Lance is young and he has kind of used everything he have been able to make up to get a little bit help for Merlin while not knowing what the problem is and he really thinks Arthur more as a friend than a pupil. (which is not necesirely a good thing, teachers are supposed to be authorities...for reason), but this time the results were alright. Merlin is going to see his friends and Lance is going to see him during the summer. Let's see how that will turn out... ;) I'm still not sure what you would do with Uther in only five minutes... Maybe you aussies have some sort of super speed torture method (I hope it doesn't involve gangaroos... those are mean, I have heard.) or maybe it's the mother in you that would strike. Mothers can be scary... I totaly like the aussie things :) I love how languages have dialects and the on Australia has is a very unique one. You really have an interesting history of language!