Arthur had a busy couple of weeks and was hardly about, he knew he has a duty to the country but he was missing his brother. Most mornings he got to say hello, that's if he managed to sleep at home and he tried to spend at least an hour with Merlin most nights. Arthur was spending several hours a day at his office at Buckingham Palace. He was worried about Merlin but had no choice. He did manage to talk to Merlin's old childhood friend Mordred, who had promised to visit Merlin. The strain was beginning to tell, he had ascended the throne at a younger age than he had hoped for, as well as dealing with all the repercussions of his Fathers demise. Arthur was also the first Monarch for several generations who was not married. He had his sister for support, but knew it would have been easier if he had already found that special person in his life.
The plans were also underway for the Coronation and that also increased Arthur's work. One of things Arthur was keen on was, that somehow, Merlin could attend. He would need to be protected and in a sheltered position as it was unlikely he could cope with the large crowds. But it was under full consideration. Merlin was to be seen by the tailors who make the ceremonial robes for his to be made, they would also measure him up for his day to day clothing now his weight was more stable. Arthur had already had to undergo a great many fittings. Arthur hoped Merlin would cope with the fittings and had stressed he would need time and patience.
Morgana was much better off and was spending quality time with Merlin. Even though she did have an increase in her duties as well as more charity work. Her profile was seen as the second royal as Arthur had no wife. Morgana knew this would only get worse as time went on. They couldn't continue to have as much free time, things had to get back to normal. But while she could Morgana made the most of it.
Merlin's therapy was progressing although everyone agreed it would be a long job. What did happen, purely as a side effect, was that Gwen started to date Lance, Morgana's close protection officer. Morgana did as Arthur had asked and the two spent time looking round the castle. It had been raining quite a bit so it also allowed Aithusa to get some extra exercise, although Merlin still took his dog for walks in the garden. The next plan was to take Merlin to Buckingham Palace in preparation of the family moving back during the working week, spending only the weekends at Windsor. It would make both Arthur and Morgana's life easier as they got back to a normal routine.
One morning when Merlin was seeing Gwen the prince was showing her some of his drawings. All either pen and ink or pencil. In among the many of his dog were several of the family as well as the close protection officers, Morris, Mithian and Gwen. As she looked through she found two that interested her. All the drawing were very well done, he clearly had a natural talent. But the two she asked Merlin about were of a different type. One was a piece of paper completely black. The other showed the moment when he was rescued.
"Merlin what is this picture" she pointed at the black one. Merlin looked worried.
Gwen reassured him and eventually he told her it was his punishment for drawing wrong things. It seemed Merlin loved drawing and as long as he was copying things from books, making things up it was alright, but if he was caught drawing the people who had been looking after him he was punished. The lights would be switched off for long periods. When he was asked how long he said "Sometimes three meals sometimes lots longer."
As he hadn't had any means of knowing the time he always spoke of time periods in meals. In fact it was only since his rescue he was learning to tell the time. Once he had been given a radio he had some concept of time. But this had been removed if the lights were switched off. The second one clearly showed the police going into the room, guns drawn. Merlin clearly had a very good eye for detail even in stressful situations, considering he had had a seizure just after that moment.
After quietly discussing his drawing Merlin told Gwen it helped him cope if he drew things that upset him. This was discussed with Mithian as well. Then one day Merlin admitted to Mithian that he had hidden some of his drawings. He wouldn't tell her where, as he didn't want to get put in the dark.
"Merlin would you tell your brother or sister?" she asked. Merlin shook his head. He also wouldn't tell Gwen then Mithian had an idea "Would you tell Gwaine?" Merlin looked at her his eyes wide and clearly afraid but to her surprise he slowly nodded. At that point she asked Gwaine to come in.
"Gwaine Merlin has hidden some drawing he did and he is frightened if tells us where he will be put in the dark. He says he will tell you. He's very good at drawing look at this one" she showed Gwaine the picture of his release. Gwaine caught on immediately as to how important this was. "I'll leave you to have a chat"
Gwaine turned to Merlin "That's good Merlin, will you tell me where the others are, and let me see them?" Gwaine had crouched down so he was level with Merlin. Merlin looked at him clearly very scared. Gwaine put his hand on Merlin's knee
"Merlin I promised you I won't let anyone hurt you and that included doing things to you don't like." He paused. "You can tell me by myself if you like, but if they are important I will need to show someone else." Gwaine was not going to break Merlin's trust by lying to him.
Merlin slowly shook his head clearly undecided.
"Will you draw it for me?" Gwaine asked thinking that might be the best way.
Merlin took a piece of paper and started to draw but before he gave it to Gwaine he looked at him very seriously.
Gwaine waited for Merlin and eventually he said "I was bad, not supposed to draw them….please don't put me in dark"
Gwaine looked at the young man who was fast becoming like a younger brother to him. Not professional, but hard not to. "You weren't bad Merlin and no one will put you in the dark or tell you off I promise"
Merlin handed Gwaine the drawing. "I folded up my pictures and hid them when the lights went out"
Gwaine looked at the picture and smiled "That was clever Merlin, now I'm going to get someone to get them so I can look at them." Gwaine ruffled Merlin's hair "You are a brave man, mind you I think your brother might tell me off if he could see your hair Sir"
"No, you're my friend" Merlin said "Please don't call me Sir"
"I won't unless other people are about, remember you are a Prince. But you are my friend to" Gwaine smiled.
When Mithian returned Gwaine left taking the drawing with him. As soon as he was in the hall he rang Scotland Yard and within an hour a forensic team had arrived as had Elyan and Commissioner Bayard.
"Good work Green, I suppose you want to go down for the retrieval?"
"If I can Sir"
"That's why Smith is here, I'll wait outside in the corridor when you go in the cellar."
The men went down to the cellar, Gwaine and the forensic team putting on full protective clothing. The walked up to the bed now stripped of the bedding, which had been taken away for examination weeks before. Gwaine looked at the picture "I recon it's the back leg"
They moved to the bottom of the bed and expert looked at the leg. "Just looks like a solder, he twisted the very top anticlockwise and it unscrewed once of they could see paper inside. Getting out a plastic bag and tweezers he started to remove them. After the forensic expert had taken out the first folded up square.
Bayard said from his view point "Open that one so we are sure what we have"
Very carefully making sure not to let it touch anything the paper was unfolded. One it was one of Merlin's drawings. It was clearly Agravaine and he was exposing himself to a kneeling person on the floor. Around the picture were words that appeared to be what Agravaine had said from their explicit content.
"Bag it and get the rest out, then check the other legs. It looks like the Prince has given us the final piece we needed" Bayard shock his head. Poor man his Father and Uncle.
Gwaine left the men to their work and joined the commissioner "I think that's the only leg, the Prince said the rest were stuck, you know he is scared he will be made to stay in the dark as punishment."
"I have spoken to the doctors they don't think he will ever completely recover from this, and the more we find the more I think they're right." Bayard said
"It's ingrained in him Sir, he prefers his own company give him a book or paper and he will sit and amuse himself, but people scare him, even his family" Gwaine admitted.
"I'll be candid with your Green, I was asked if your placement was permanent but his therapists, they think you're good for the Prince. Do you want it to be?"
Gwaine smiled "Yes I do, he's a special person, I can't explain it but there's something about him"
"I will speak to the King, I know you are less than formal with the Prince, but I understand why, it may be that the Prince will need extra protection due to his condition. I'm told he is more confident with you around, well you and the dog!" Bayard grinned "After taking advice I feel that your post will evolve to an even closer than normal Protection Officer, more like a friend and he has a further officer as well. If that's agreeable I will speak to the King."
"It is Sir, and I think you're right, he is very vulnerable. It makes him more of a target."