Merlin found Gaius in his apothecary like store room. It was only 5:00 pm, so he still had a half hour before dinner.
"Ah Merlin my boy, I didn't expect to see you until tonight. What can I do for you?"
"Well Gaius I've met some interesting people today. Mostly, nice but interesting. As were some of the things they were saying," Merlin began calmly. Gaius pulled out a large jar of leaves and plucked a handful. He sat down on his work bench and started to finely chop and measure them.
"Oh and who were these people?" Gaius asked, engrossed in his measuring.
"Morgana le Fay and Arthur Pendragon." Gaius's blade froze.
"I see, and what were they saying?"
"Well Arthur, a prat of a man, asked if I was the nephew you had mentioned. And I, not knowing how to reply, didn't." Merlin was slightly less calm now.
"Ah, well that was a good decision to not answer then, not knowing." Gaius flailed for something to say.
"So? Am I that nephew you mentioned?" Merlin's eyes were thin and critical, waiting for the answer. Gaius sighed and set down his knife. His face was sad and worn. Merlin's featured softened at the sight. This man was slowly becoming like a father, possibly something legitimately related.
"Yes, you are my nephew and Freya is my niece." Gaius kept his eyes on his half chopped herbs.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Merlin was now very, very less than calm. As he asked, a few bottles in the shelves behind Gaius exploded. Merlin dove for Gaius and tackled him out of the bench. The glass pieces flew in every direction, many landing where Gaius had been sitting and one particularly sharp piece slicing across Merlin's neck as he tackled Gaius. Merlin and Gaius landed on the ground with a thud.
"My god Merlin! We have to work on that!" Gaius exclaimed, getting to his feet. Merlin was a little slower to rise. The glass cut had been quite deep and blood had already began to flow from the wound. Gaius noticed the amount of blood on the floor and looked at Merlin, who was paler than usual. He jumped into action, scraping the herbs he had been cutting into his hand and shoving them in Merlin's cut. Merlin screamed in pain. The leaves literally began to burn as they touched his blood, cauterizing the wound, painfully.
Across campus, two figures, Kilgharrah and Freya felt the scream and cringed. The scream of pure, unexpected pain. Freya burst into tears as the image of her brother came to her mind. But another heard the mental scream as well, in her lavish flat, as she was slipping on the emerald gown she would wear for dinner.
Freya collapsed on a nearby bench, shaking with tears. A tall blonde ran over to her as he saw her collapse. He went to put his hand on her shoulder when she balked, jumping from the bench and walking backwards away from the man. Freya looked up and down the man's body, there was something so familiar about him.
"Are you okay?" The man asked. His voice. That's when it clicked.
"Yes I'm fine." Tears were still streaming down her face. "Can you tell me where to find Leon's? I'm meeting someone for dinner."
"Yes, I am on my way by there now, I can show you?" He offered slowly. Who knows what this girl would do, he thought to himself.
"I would appreciate that very much." Freya's tears were beginning to stop and she tried to sever the magical connection with Merlin. The blonde moved aside and let Freya fall into step next to him.
"Might I inquire why the lady was crying?" He put forth his most charming self.
"I received a text about my brother, he was hurt." Freya continued to compose herself as they walked.
"I'm very sorry to hear that, will he be alright?"
"Yes he should be, it was not as bad as I originally perceived, and he should still be able to join me for dinner." Freya and Merlin's connection was now at a minimal. She could still tell he was in agony, but she did not feel it herself.
"That's very good," The man steered her toward the only large and posh restaurant on campus. 'Leon's' hung above the entrance in curling red letters. "Well here we are. I hope your brother is able to join you soon," the mad bowed his head curtly and held out his hand. "It was nice to meet you…" He trailed of waiting for an answer.
"Freya," her lips curled into a knowing smile as she reached to take his hand. "It was nice to meet you as well Arthur Pendragon. Thank you for steering me in the right direction." Freya removed her hand from Arthur's and turned toward the restaurant, leaving a stunned Arthur in her wake.
