As Merlin and Freya made their exit from Leon's, Arthur was numb. Merlin's words shook him a lot more than he would ever let on. Something about the skinny, dark haired man raising his little sister was unsettling. Merlin was only a few years older than Freya, how much of a childhood had he really had. He could never imagine raising Morgana. Before he could think more on the matter, Uther entered the bar, and much to Arthur's surprise, stopped Merlin. When Merlin looked up, he saw something that couldn't be true. Merlin's extremely defined cheekbones were almost nonexistent, with his cheeks rounder. But most untrue were his eyes. Their beautiful blue had been replaced with a dull brown. The unfamiliar man met Uther's grasp and spoke a few words before Uther turned back to his children. Arthur met the glare the man, now normal Merlin, sent him.
"Arthur," Uther shook his son's hand. "Morgana," he shook hers as well. "Sorry I'm late, shall we get a table now?" Morgana stood from the bar stool.
"Yes of course father, you two get a table, excuse me I must use the ladies room." Morgana exited the bar gracefully, and only Arthur noticed she went nowhere near the ladies room. Uther led the way to the host, who in turn, led the two men to a lavish booth near the back of the restaurant.
"How have you been Arthur?" Uther was curt, but not kind. Arthur's well-being was more of a formality than anything.
"Very well and yourself."
"Perfectly content. Although work is becoming harder in the embassy each day. Have you still not grown out of the notion that you are gay?"
"No father I have not, and it is not something you grow out of." Arthur answered exasperatedly. Uther's mouth twisted into a grimace, but Morgana chose to make her appearance at that moment. Uther didn't know her that well, but Arthur could see something was troubling her. Uther smiled warmly and gestured for her to sit own. She took the empty seat next to Arthur, somewhat crowding his personal space, but Arthur dared not move. The look on her face told him this dinner needed to end soon. "Father and I were just discussing how long it will take for me to grow out of being gay." He gave her a nice easy open.
"Father, there is no way for someone to grow out of that. It's not going to happen and he should have come out long ago." She then turned to Arthur. "And I might have met someone who you might be interested in." She sent him her best smile and Arthur internally cringed, he knew exactly who she was talking about.
"Oh really?" Uther snarled from across the table. "Please tell us about this man. Whose family does he come from?"
"He's tall, very good looking. Intelligent. I met him in drawing. I believe you would enjoy his company very much," Morgana purred. Arthur blushed a brilliant scarlet.
"That's it, Arthur you must grow up now, this foolish game is over." Uther stood from his chair. "Until you see fit to find better company in your life, I think it would be much better if you no longer join us for dinner. Morgana." Uther stood from the table and put out his arm, as if she would take it.
"No way am I leaving Arthur. Father your quarrel is not just with Arthur but me as well. You must learn to accept your children, no matter what they turn out to be." Morgana stood, but only to take Uther's seat across from Arthur. "So Arthur, what are you getting?" Uther's glare could have killed. He stalked from Leon's without another word.
"Holy crap, guys what did you just do?" a voice said next to the table. They looked up to find the owner, Leon.
"Well Leon, Morgana just put Uther in his place." Arthur smiled at his sister.
"Nice going Morgana!" At Leon's words, Morgana blushed a deep scarlet.
"Okay, as a celebratory thing, dinner and drinks on me. Oh and I'm assigning the newest waiter to your table so be nice." Leon sent another charming smile Morgana's way and departed.
"So, Leon huh?" Arthur asked sternly, hiding his smiled behind his menu. There was no way Morgana could have blushed more than she already was, but she managed it. "So what did you find when you went outside." Arthur put down his menu and Morgana followed suit.
"I went to find them. You saw it too right? That wasn't Merlin." Arthur nodded and she continued. "Well I did find them. They were around the side of the building and Freya was sobbing in Merlin's arms. I only heard a snippet, but what they said was odd. Freya asked if that was him, and Merlin told her it was the one and only dreaded Uther Pendragon." Arthur was quiet for a while, mulling over what she had said.
"Well you will just have to find out." Arthur said looking back at his menu.
"You mean we correct? I'm not stupid Arthur Pendragon, I know when someone is getting under your skin, in a good way." Arthur's skin turned a nice pink. "He may piss you off, but you know you want to get to know him better, especially after he stood up to you."
"Morgana, what happened to you? In one day you are shy, and talk to no one, except me, and now you are outspoken, have an opinion, and completely adore this boy!"
"I don't know, there is just something about him, I can't put my finger on it." Morgana tilted her head thoughtfully. "Where is out waiter?"
"Right here my lady," a deep gravelly voice said. Morgana jumped and turned to look into the man's round, cheerful face. His hair was long and straggly, a brown that matched his warm laughter filled eyes. "I'm Gwaine, can I start you off with any drinks tonight?"
"Yes Gwaine," Morgana batted her eyelashes at him. Arthur was shell shocked one more. What is it with this Merlin? Morgana was flirting with someone she has never met, and Arthur couldn't deny Merlin looked very, very nice in his suit. Gwaine turned to Arthur.
"Oh I'll have just a scotch, nothing to eat." Gwaine nodded and took their menus.
"You still owe me for the coffee." Morgana smiled sweetly.
"I'll buy you dinner," Arthur sighed.
"I already expected that."
"Okay what do you want?"
"Be nice to Merlin. He could obviously use more than one friend, and you two just might push each other to the perfect point." Morgana smiled. She was doing a lot more of that. Gwaine appeared with their drinks, and Morgana's beautiful seafood fettuccini. Arthur had to admit, Leon produced the best food around, even if he would never tell Leon that. When Morgana was finished, Arthur tried to pay, but Leon swooped in at the last second and took the check away.
"Leon!" Arthur grumbled.
"Oh no! This is a joyous occasion, now go find that boy Morgana was talking about and take him to dinner." Leon and Morgana both smiled maliciously.
"You two shouldn't be sticking your nose in places they shouldn't be! And besides, that would never happen."
"Oh please, denial will do you no good brother dear. I saw your face when he almost ran into me. And when you pissed him off."
"Arthur we have known you your entire life. As your best friend, I know when you're full of it." Leon shrugged with a smile. "This weekend we will all go out, Morgana invite your friend, and we will all meet at the pub. See you guys then." Leon departed with another smile Morgana's way.
"I hate you both." Arthur grumbled, more to himself than Morgana.
"Come on, I need you to walk me home." Morgana glided through the restaurant with grace. Arthur followed behind. Leon waved from the bar. Damn, he thought. They were beautiful siblings. Arthur and Morgana sauntered through the campus slowly. It was about ten, so there were still a few students out and about, but what caught them completely by surprise is when they saw Merlin sprint across their path. He was laughing hysterically and soon Freya followed, also laughing. Merlin turned and threw something at Freya, which she dodged. Merlin's smile was that same goofy expression he had worn that morning at orientation.
"Is that all you got Merl?" Freya called after him.
"Like you could do any better Frey!" Merlin yelled back as he kept running. Soon they were out of sight.
"They are absolutely adorable." Morgana whispered.
"Yes, if your definition of adorable is 'completely mental,'" Arthur whispered back. Morgana slapped his arm and rolled her eyes, but there was still a smile on her face. Well maybe this year is exactly what she always needed, Arthur thought to himself.
