Merlin soon pulled away unable to cope with being so close to the other two, he knew who they were, but it was all so strange. He wondered if he was dreaming, He could vaguely remember that when he was first put in the room he had had lots of dreams and used to wake up crying. He didn't want this to be a dream. He looked at Arthur and Morgana as he wiped his face with his hands sniffing back the emotion.
Arthur and Morgana felt Merlin stiffen and push away and they let him, instinctively knowing he needed the space. None of them knew what to say, they had so much to talk about but at the same time nothing.
Arthur spoke first "Merlin, do you know that father had died?" he spat the word father out, it felt so wrong to be calling that man father after what he had done.
Still whispering Merlin spoke "Cenred told me, he said …. He said I would die in that room, no one would pay for my food" Merlin started shaking. That was the first real insight anyone had of what Merlin had gone through.
Morgana took hold of Merlin's hand and was surprised as he jerked back. "Sorry Merlin I didn't mean to surprise you"
"Not … don't touch" Merlin looked scared, as he saw his sisters face fall he put his hand closer "can do, not used to it"
Arthur looked at his brother "Merlin were you alone all the time?"
"Most of time, better" Merlin looked at Arthur "Sorry….not used to ….talking..to people much…..tired sleep now" with that Merlin lay down and curled up in a ball.
His two visitors looked at each other and then at Merlin "Sleep Merlin we'll be back, just ask if you want us" Arthur's voice broke as he spoke. He took his sister's arm as they left the room. As soon as they were outside the doctors approached them and took them into the next room where a police man was also waiting.
"It went well, did the prince say anything."
"Yes he told us that a person called Cenred told him the king was dead and that he would be left to die was no one would pay for his food" Arthur paused "He jumped when the Princess touched him, he said he wasn't used to being touched. I asked if he was used to being alone." Arthur swallowed before continuing "He said most of time,.. then he said better, I don't know if he meant it was better when he was or better now. Then he said he was tired and not used to talking and curl up and went to sleep" Arthur took a couple of deep breaths then looked at his sister before looking back at the doctor and policeman "I suppose you need to know what he says when he talks to us"
Dr Nemeth looked at Arthur with sympathy "I'm sorry, but he's said more to you than is and we need to know what he has gone through, both to help him and for the police."
The policeman looked at the King "Your Majesty Cenred is one of the men we have under arrest. Your brother has just tied him to the case. That is very helpful"
Morgana looked at the Doctor "When can we take him home?"
"I have spoken to everyone concerned including the police as long as you are happy for police to be present and for a continuous presence of a medical team he can go back with you as soon as everything has been set up for him. He will need careful monitoring and if he cannot cope we may have to readmit him. As I said to you before physically he is in quite a good condition, nor perfect but manageable. It's his mental state that is the concern. You will need to restrict the number of different people he sees so he doesn't get scared and make sure he has lots of support, but also time alone, that's what he is used to." Dr Nemeth hesitated then continued "If I might be as bold as to make a suggestion Sir"
Arthur looked at the doctor in surprise "Any suggestions would be most welcome"
"My daughter Mithian psychiatrist and a good one, it might help if she could see where your brother was kept, as well as where his rooms will be, to see what can be done to make the transition easier for him. She has already spoken to the police who are happy for the room to be viewed."
"Of course, I have to go back to Windsor now she is welcome to come with me. Morgana wants to stay here. Unfortunately I cannot as I have matters of state to deal with, but I will return if you need me. The Princess can contact me at any time." Arthur was reluctant to leave his brother but if they were to get him home he had much to sort out as well as matters pertaining to him being King.
So it was arranged that Morgana would stay at the hospital until Merlin was discharged. She went back to his room so she would be there when he woke. The idea was to make sure he had a familiar face with him. As he had talked to her she would record any further conversations in the hopes of collecting evidence, but she was told not to press him for information, as yet.
Arthur and Mithian left the hospital in with a heavy police escort driving out through a mass of press. It was clear there were also security ramifications that made taking Merlin to Windsor the best course of action. There had been several attempts to enter the hospital already, at Windsor the security was much stronger.
The first thing Arthur and Mithian did was make their way down to the cellar. There was a police presence to stop anyone entering the area. Windsor might be secure but there was over five hundred staff working there and the whole episode had got everyone talking. Arthur shivered as he made his way down the stone stairs, imagining his father taking his small son down them to lock him away. He forced his mind back to the present as he entered the room for the first time.
What he saw shocked him even more than he thought it would have been bigger. The walls were of exposed stone and what hadn't registered before was there were no windows, no natural light whatsoever. The furniture was good but basic. The carpet worn and had clearly never been replaced. He walked round and noticed the shower room and the small kitchen off to one side. Mithian walked with him as the security waited at the door.
Everything had been photographed and recorded so they were allowed to touch. It was clear that the fingerprint people had also been at work. Arthur walked up to the bed, which was against one wall. On it he found the teddy bear and dragon where someone had placed them. Arthur remembered the dragon, it had been his, but Merlin had loved it so when he was in hospital after the shooting Arthur had given it to his brother. The teddy was the one his mother had given Merlin for his first birthday. They were both clearly well-loved and rather dirty.
"Can I get these cleaned up and taken to Merlin?" he asked the policeman in charge of the room.
"I have been told you may have anything you need removed Your Majesty, the items that are needed have already been removed." He handed Arthur a list "So you know what is at Scotland Yard Sir"
Arthur glanced down the list and saw it was mostly paper work of some sort all itemised. There was a note at the bottom to say photocopies would be returned of anything that the police needed to keep. It was quite clear that nothing would be hidden from Arthur.
After spending some time in the room Mithian made several suggestions and Arthur asked the police to arrange the removal as the footmen were not allowed in the area. Going back up the stairs Arthur was silent, trying to come to terms with what he had seen. They walked towards the suite that Merlin was to have. It was his old rooms, they had been redecorated over the years, his father had had them used as a guest suite.
Back at the hospital Morgana sat by her brother's bed, she had always had a strong affinity with Merlin when they were young, she had been closer to Merlin than Arthur, perhaps because they were complete siblings and not half sidling like Arthur, or perhaps because Arthur had always been Uther's favourite, not that that had made Arthur's life easier it hadn't. Uther had expected more of his eldest son. Now looking at Merlin sleeping she felt that connection still. She still couldn't believe that all the years they had thought him dead he had been in the same building. All she wanted to do was touch Merlin to make sure he was real.
She had bought a book in with her to read but it was still untouched, several times the doctors or nurses had come in and checked on her brother. They had even kept her supplied with coffee. At one time as Merlin was sleeping it was clear he was dreaming and it hadn't seemed to be a nice one so she had called for a nurse, but hey had told her to let him sleep through it. His mind had a lot of new things to cope with. Maybe he was using his dreams to do just that. It was strange that even in his dreams he hardly made a noise as he cried out.
When Merlin did wake up the first thing he saw was his sister. He lay there looking at her as she was staring into space, then Morgana realised he was awake and leaned closer "Are you feeling better now?"
Merlin nodded and tentatively moved his hand towards hers. She gently took his fingers in hers and they left them there barely touching. Morgana thought it best to leave it to Merlin if he wanted more. Then a nurse came in quietly and spoke to Morgana "The Prince will be discharged later, the King is aware"
At that Merlin shot up and looked around in panic, Morgana spoke calmly "Merlin listen to me Arthur is now King, it's not Uther, Uther is dead"
The nurse looked stricken "I'm so sorry"
Morgana felt like slapping her but realised it wasn't her fault she hadn't even noticed that Merlin had woken. Merlin gradually calmed down as Morgana spoke to him, he even let her run her fingers through his hair to comfort him, just like she had when he found out their mother had died. At lease he seemed to be accepting her. The background dose of diazepam was at least stopping him going into fits. Once he was settled he pulled away wanting to reduce their touch once more. She wished he could be more comfortable with touch.