Later that day they sat and watched the news together to watch Merlin's appearance. Over half the news was around the subject, as it was the first time Merlin had been seen properly. Even though it was a semi private visit with only selected people there. Merlin was reasonably pleased except for the fact that he hadn't finished his speech himself. He also wasn't very happy to actually look at himself on screen. Mordred sat in the background smiling, although the close ups cut him out he was seen clearly on several occasions, and the commentary had mention he was there and that he had been a childhood friend of the Prince. His aim had been achieved.

The next day he spent time with Merlin, and Merlin had shown him the drawings he had done of Aithusa and his brother and sister. As Mordred was looking through them he spotted several of the ones Merlin had done of his release from the cellar, in the desk draw, and although he had asked to see them Merlin had shook his head and closed the draw without taking them out. Mordred had already made his excuses to be gone by the evening, but made plans to visit again the next weekend.

On the Sunday when they were all out in the garden Arthur observed something which really bought home to him just what Merlin had missed all these years. They were sitting on one of the benches letting the dogs run and play when a robin came close peeking at the ground. Merlin noticed and touching his brother's arm pointed to the small bird.

"Look it that birds pretty feathers" he was grinning in wonder. "Is that a robin?"

Arthur was amazed that something he took so for granted hadn't been seen by Merlin previously, normally with the dogs running around Merlin probably not been that close before "Yes it is" he replied then he turned to Elyan "As Gwaine is here would you mind asking someone to get my binoculars and bring them done please" then he turned to Merlin. "I hadn't thought that you wouldn't have seen birds before" If fact until that moment he hadn't truly appreciated just what Merlin had missed out on.

"Oh I have in pictures but I didn't know how tiny they were" Merlin's eyes were still full of wonder. "It's like the trees I knew they were big but not that big and also the smells of everything"

Elyan was soon back with the binoculars and gave them to Arthur "Look Merlin you can use these to see the birds further away" he showed his brother how to use then and then Merlin sat looking through and commenting on what he saw.

"You keep them Merlin, then when you come down you can use them, or even look out your windows with them" Arthur told his brother. He felt it was like seeing things for the first time out of his brother's eyes. All the things he had missed.

Arthur decided there and them to try and give Merlin as many new experiences as he could. The first thing Arthur did on the Monday morning was arrange two special treats for him. He knew Merlin wasn't ready for a full on public viewing so contacted London Zoo and the Sea life aquarium asked if Merlin could have a private visit out of hours. This was readily agreed. So one evening they all set out for the Zoo. The Zoo had been shut early to give them extra time and Arthur and Morgana couldn't believe just how excited Merlin was as he went round. He would have stayed all night if he could have. So they promised to take him again, but during visiting hours for an official visit. Arthur had paid for the staff to remain and Merlin spoke to the keepers as they went round. He left with books and DVD's and the biggest smile his siblings had seen since Aithusa's arrival in his life.

A few days later they had a private evening visit to the Aquarium where Merlin feed the sharks and sent ages with his nose against the glass in wonder. He was shown the back rooms and was totally hooked. He decided he wanted to learn to swim so he could go in the water.

These outings prompted Morgana to look into other things Merlin could do, and before long she had a long list and was trying to organise other events. In fact Arthur and Gwen discussed the benefits of using the visits to get Merlin used to larger numbers of people. They both felt he would be so interested in what he was seeing that he could cope.

As it happened Morgana, as Commander in Chief, had a visit planned to a military garrison in Wiltshire a fortnight later so they added on a visit to a Hawk Conservancy Trust. So it was decided to make this a trial run, if it went well then it made the possibility of the Coronation that much more achievable. The plan was for Merlin to stay away from the Military part of the day, watching from a secluded area so he could see what happened without actually being seen. Easy enough to do on a military base. Then they would drive on the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Morgana was the only official visitor as far as the public were concerned, that way if Merlin wanted to pull out he could. Also that way they hoped it wouldn't turn into a media circus.

Arthur and Morgana sat and discussed it with Merlin explaining what would happen and he agreed he would try. He was clearly nervous, but he wanted to please his brother and sister so agreed. They had done so much for him he wanted to do what they wanted. He knew how much Arthur wanted him to go to the coronation and that he needed to get used to people.

He saw Mordred again that week end and told him all about the visits then he asked Mordred what he had done in the previous week. Mordred told him about his studies, he was about to finish his degree, and said he had been out to a couple of parties during the week. Mordred found it hard to believe just how much he had to explain to Merlin about the outside world. "You should come out with me sometime, we could hit the clubs"

Merlin looked at his friend "I don't think I would like it, I don't like lots of people" he whispered.

"But you have to try I will ask your brother" he insisted. He was surprised at Arthur's reaction

"That just isn't suitable Mordred, Merlin can't cope with those sort of situations and anyway he couldn't go to the clubs you frequent, his epilepsy would be triggered with the strobes. I know you want to help but we need to think of something else." Arthur was pleased that Mordred had offered, and wondered how much he should tell the young man of Merlin's life. But he decided with the police investigation he would have to continue to be vague.

Mordred himself wasn't sure how many more weekends he was willing to give up just hanging around Windsor, he had his own life to lead. But at the same time he was already benefiting from the kudos of being known as the 'Hidden Prince's' friend, the press had given Merlin the nick name almost as soon has news of his imprisonment had been revealed. Mordred rather liked the attention it was getting him as well as the fact that his father had increased his allowance as a result.