During the late morning Earl Gaius Emrys arrived, to support his niece and nephew. He had never been very welcome in Uther's day once he became aware of how his sister Hunith had been treated, but he had always managed to keep in contact and see the children at least twice a year. Arthur was in a meeting when he arrived but Morgana was overjoyed to see him. "I will take you to meet Merlin soon but he is with his physiatrist this morning"

"It was such a shock, how is the dear boy?" the older man asked. He had been ten years older than his sister and had had grey hair for as long as Morgana could remember, but he was kind and gentle man and the children had loved him dearly.

"Oh Uncle it's so sad I have so much to tell you before you met him." Morgana told him what she knew and Gaius became more dismayed as he listened.

"Your father was a strange man, I always thought, but this is worse than anything I imagined. How are you and your brother coping" he asked gently.

"It's hard but poor Arthur also has to deal with all the meetings as well as his new role. He's having to arguing against a State Funeral of all things. Well I won't go no matter what"

"Nor will I my dear, nor any sensible person, that's if they are told the truth." Gaius admitted "There is always the possibility they will want to make light of it, for the stability of the country of course"

"They can't" Morgana was scandalised "I won't let them"

"It might even be better for Merlin my dear, he's the one that will have to face it all" Gaius was trying to be practical "Keep an open mind."

Gaius wanted to see Arthur before he went to Merlin so went to rest of a time, as he was staying at the castle. Before he got back from his rooms Arthur asked Morgana to come to his office. As she entered she immediately noticed a police inspector and what she assumed to be a plain clothes police woman. The stood as she entered the inspector bowing and the woman curtsying.

Arthur looked at his sister "Thank you for coming Morgana, this is Inspector Dimottt and Detective Inspector Clark they have come to update me on the investigation and I thought you would like to be involved"

Once all the introductions were over Morgana sat down.

The Detective spoke first "Your Majesty and Royal Highness, one of the things we can do now is give you some of the Princes books back, some have unfortunately had to be kept for evidence. His collection of Birthday and Christmas cards had all been kept, but we can provide photocopies of those.

The Inspector spoke next

"The good news is we have found the female we were looking for, that leaves just one suspect at large. What I am about to divulge is and needs to remain confidential at this stage. Some of it will be told to the Psychiatrist as it will be of use to your brother's care."

"We understand, we want to help in any way we can and fully acknowledge the confidentiality issues" Arthur told her.

The Inspector continued "The Commissioner has asked that you be kept fully informed. The woman involved was Catrina Trigor, who was found in her home this morning, she had committed suicide but left a letter, which fills in some of the gaps, here is a copy"

Arthur read the letter:

'To whomever finds me: I am a long term friend of Agravaine De Bois, and later became the Kings mistress on the death of his second wife. It was about that time that A found the hidden passageway and room, the passageway was useful for my night time visits to U. We also had small dinner parties at the house and it was during one of these events that the plan of the M's imprisonment first arose, U was very distraught about M's epilepsy feeling it reflected badly on the family. The practice in the past of locking away such people was mentioned, but we laughed it off as being impossible in this day and age. But after a few drinks the idea seemed more doable, although in jest at this point. Nothing happened for some time until the US Presidents visit when M had a seizer. The topic was then raised again. U in his rage said it was a disgrace. From then on plans rapidly became real. U loved his son and didn't want to see him dead. A had some friends, and they ran electric and water to the cellar from the house, so the castle staff wouldn't find out. U decided to keep M in the cellar for a few years, then foster him off once time had passed. A, myself and the men agreed to care for M and U would visit. A knew a Doctor, E, who had agreed to provide care, he had some sort of debt problem. We all felt it would also be kinder to M than continuous public scrutiny. The date was chosen by U as he wanted to leave Ar & M with fond memories. From then the plans seemed to take on a life of their own. A purchased the furnishings, and the men took it all down the tunnel. The plan was put in action. The night M 'died' A and E. dined with U. E drugged M and U carried M down to the room and left him me. They reported that M had had a fit and died. E certified the death. I have no idea how they got away with that! The next problem was keeping the M quiet, U feared M would be heard in his chambers. For the first few days M was drugged, we tried gaging him and one of the men threatened to cut his tongue out, it took 3 weeks. Any trouble after that and we took away all M's toys. We took it in turns being with him, some of us played with M others made M stay in bed.

I made sure M was fed and taught to read, write and do his sums, U was keen that he be educated. This went on until M was ten, M was clever and after that was self-taught having veracious appetite for books. I wasn't going to be his slave forever. For the first two years M had someone in the room with him all the time, M even did the cooking me. Then the novelty worn off and we realised M couldn't be fostered as M was sure to tell. M saw U least once a month and was made to bow and call him Your Majesty, that couldn't be kept quiet. We had to continue with what we were doing or kill M. U wouldn't hear of that and was prepared to pay for M's care. M was still fitting but was receiving medication, E gave vitamins as M saw no sunlight. M was left on his own most of the time. When M sixteen U gave M his first radio, M loved it. M was well cared for and we all liked him. U loved M he truly felt it was best for M to stay away from public gaze. I know I will be reviled for what we did and with no U I have decide to end it all.

Please tell Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana that their father acted how he thought best, and loved their brother, no matter how it might seem now. Once started down the road we couldn't stop. C Trigor

Arthur handed the letter to Morgana "The fact that this person thought my father loved Merlin changes nothing, they ruined my brothers childhood, stole it from him, and he from us and practically tortured Merlin. I will never forgive my father for what he did."

By the time Morgana had finished she was pale and shaken she looked up as she finished reading "That settles it I refuse to go to the funeral and I sincerely hope there is a hell, and he rots in it for perpetuity"

The Detective Inspector looked at the couple with sympathy. "I am very sorry Sir, Ma'am, I can't imagine how you are feeling this case is the worse of its type I have ever dealt with. We have collected a vast amount of evidence in a short time and have only one man to arrest. Dr Muirden's home is being searched as we speak. As of yet only one man has admitted what he has been involved in. The man at the scene when the Prince was arrested claims he had only been there that morning. But we will get convictions but it is early days, only just over forty eight hours.

Arthur had his elbows resting on his desk eyes closed and his hands resting either side of his nose his chin resting on his thumbs as he struggled to accept what had happened in such a short time. Morgana was sat in an armchair doing her best to stay strong for her brother, but clearly struggling in the end she got up and left the room and ran back to her own suite. Even now the pressure their father had placed on them to present the Pendragon image was making both of them try to hide their feelings.

The two police stood up "Sir we will leave you for now if you need anything please let us know, do you need us to find someone for you?" the detective thinking if it was anyone but the King she would give them a hug of comfort. "We are truly sorry Sir." They stood there unsure what to do next.

Arthur lifted his head "Thank you, I'll be fine, can you ask the protection officer to come in as you leave." His voice was dead and the sounded lost. The exited and asked Percy to go in. "Percy could you do me a favour, only I can't face my private secretary at the moment"

"Of course Sir" Percy looked at Arthur concern on his face. He wondered how long it would be before Arthur cracked.

"Can you contact the Earl of Camelot for me and ask him if he could come to the castle?" Arthur voice was shaky and he handed the protection officer his mobile.

"Of course Sir" Percy knew that Leon Knight, the Earl of Camelot was Arthur's best friend and was glad that he was at last seeking support. He knew they had spoken briefly on the phone but the King needed someone near. "Sir are you aware that Earl Emrys is in the castle?"

Arthur looked up, relief in his eyes "No I didn't thank you, could you send a footman to ask my Uncle if he could come here? I'm sorry I know it's not your job, but it's hard to face people at the moment"

Percy was flattered that the King had asked "Sir it's no problem, I'm only standing here and with the heightened security and half the British army outside I think I can do that with a clear conscience."

Percy sent a footman first then rang the Earl of Camelot. The phone rang three times before it was answered.

"Arthur, how are you all" came the concerned voice.

"My Lord this is Percy Strong, his Majesties protection officer, the King has asked me to phone you and ask if you could kindly come to Windsor"

"Oh…hello Percy, yes of course tell him I'll drive straight down should be there in a couple of hours. Do you think I will be required to stay?" Leon asked, surprised and worried that Arthur hadn't called himself.

"I believe that would be appreciated Sir, his Majesty I'm sure would be grateful. I will inform the gate Sir as there is increase security" Percy informed the Earl.

"Thank you, be there as soon as I can" Leon had put the phone down.

The Earl of Camelot was worried when he put the phone down, he had phoned both Arthur and Morgana several times in the past three days, first to ask how Uther was then once he had died and the public announcement to find out how Arthur, Morgana and Merlin were. Each time he had had a brief chat, Arthur insisting all was ok. Leon had offered to visit but Arthur insisted he was busy and perhaps in a few days, it must be bad if he allowed his protection officer to call. Leon knew Percy and had a great deal of respect for him and knew that Arthur trusted him.

Leon went and found his sister and one of Morgana's best friends "Morgause I am off to Windsor, Arthur has requested I go, do you want to come to support Morgana I think their having a hard time of it."

Morgause looked up "Yes I'd love to, I was getting worried she hasn't been answering her phone, when are you going?"

"You have half an hour to pack" Leon told his sister

"You have to be joking! I can't be ready that quickly" came the reply

"We'll in that case you will have to follow on" he brother told her

"I'll be there don't you dare go without me" Leon heard his sister go upstairs and knew he'd have an ear ache all the way to London.