The next morning Morgana looked through some of the other papers and decided there and then not to show Merlin some of them. Parts of their mother's dairies were harrowing to read. Morgana had only touched on them but it was clear that her parents' marriage was not a good one, that much she already knew but to see it down in her mother's words was not nice. It seemed Hunith had lived for her children and that was the only reason she stayed. It seemed that Uther had threatened to make sure she didn't see then if she left him. Morgana believed reading the little she had that theirs had been an abusive relationship. Thinking about it she wondered why Uther hadn't destroyed the dairies, the only reason she could come up with was because he didn't know about then, as they were written in note books and not immediately recognisable as such.
Morgana mourned her mother all over again as she sat there. But she knew the box would have to be looked through, she owned her mother that. The box looked as if the contents of her mother's desk had just been thrown into it in a hurry prior to being sealed and put away. Morgana wondered whether her father had done it himself as no care had been taken. She had only heard about the pictures when she asked a household staff member about a room suitable for Merlin to use for painting, and had been told her mother used to paint and it had all developed from there. That was the problem with living in such an old and huge property. Morgana decided that she would ask her brother about a proper cataloguing of the contents of all the Royal Palaces and not just the rooms commonly used. Her mother's things had been in one of the upper rooms that was used for storage and not normally gone into. As Morgana had several meetings that day she put the book. She put the books away and closed the box before going to see her brother before her engagements started.
The next couple of days were busy for Morgana as she was the senior Royal available. With Arthur out of the country she needed to deal with several issues normal left to him. She also reviewed her charity commitments, Morgana was the Patron to several Charities and had decided to add a couple more. After finding her brother she had decided to help some close to his cause. Arthur had already added the largest UK Epilepsy Charity and the Charity that had provided Merlin's dog. Morgana had been contacted by a small charity that helped victims of Child abduction (PACT) and although not exactly connected it touched her heart. Another one she had decided to help was one that offered support to children needing to offset Childhood Isolation. She hadn't realised until Merlin had been rescued, and returned to them. Just how much isolation could affect development. Even now it surprised her just what problems Merlin had. Mithian had recently spent time with Morgana explaining some of the issues Merlin would face, with relationships and self-esteem and even getting to know the world around him. Even the simplest of things still surprised Merlin or common things he didn't understand.
One recent thing that had surprised Morgana until she thought about it was Merlin's reaction to the concept of drama programmes, she had been amazed when she found out that Merlin believed everything he watched on TV was 'real' It had taken her some time to explain fiction to him after he had got distressed over a programme he had been watching. That had been hard as Merlin had already been devastated when watching the news and seeing how some people lived in developing countries. He had a very childlike vision of how it could all be sorted out and of his brothers 'powers' as King.
Morgana was informed by the lawyers that Merlin would have to give evidence in person at the court case. He would be able to use a video link but it would be live and he would be subject to cross examination. With Cenred and Valliant claiming all innocence saying they were handymen and didn't realise who Merlin was and that he was being held in the room and Agravaine claiming Merlin was a consenting adult they had no choice.
"I'm sorry Ma'am but all I have managed to obtain is that some of the case will be held behind closed doors. As the Prince was a child he would have normally been given anonymity, but due to who he is that just won't be practical. So instead the more graphic content of the case will not be in the public domain." Kilgarrah the prosecutor told Morgana.
"That hardly seems fair on my brother, you do realise he has issues of his development and will find this very disturbing. Are you sure there is no way round this?" Morgana demanded
"No Ma'am I sorry, justice needs to be seen to be done" Kilgarrah told her "Unfortunately the King can't just pass sentence, nice that that would be. They all have very good lawyers, your Uncle in particular, forty percent of the case is based on the Princes testimony and his believability as a witness."
"But they won't get off!"
"It is hard to see how Ma'am but it is a court of law with a jury"
Morgana told her brother later on the phone. To say he was displeased would be an understatement but as there was nothing they could do, they would just have to support Merlin as much as they could. "Tell Gwaine I want him with Merlin at the court." Arthur said "I will be back soon and we can discuss it and my trip to Canada is only just over a week. The case starts once I'm back properly." Arthur spoke to Merlin telling him about what they were doing before hanging up.
Later Morgana asked Merlin "Look Merlin Arthur will be back on Sunday evening but I have to go out again on Friday, would you like to come? You haven't got to I will be away all day as it's down in Cornwall. I am travelling by train and you haven't been on one yet, then it's a car journey"
Merlin looked at his sister as always getting nervous at the thought of going out "What you going to see?" he asked edgily.
"It's a new part of something called the Eden Project. They have plants for all over the world there. Some come from Australia so I thought you might be interested" Morgan said hoping to tempt him.
"Will there be lots of people?"
"Yes there will, but Gwaine and Elyan will keep them from getting to close" Morgana reassured her brother.
Arthur was enjoying the tour but it was packed so he didn't get much time to himself. Once more he wished that the Britannia was still in service. That way he would have had the same bed every night not to mention his own quarters. He was surprised just how much he was missing his family. Before Merlin had come back to them he and Morgana hadn't been that close, but Merlin had given them something in common and Arthur relished the new closeness. The fact that his father was no longer their pressurising him in every aspect of his life was also good. He sometimes felt guilty about the lack of grieving he was doing for his father, but that guilt dissipated, when he thought of Merlin and all he had gone through because of his father's actions.
As soon as Arthur had spoken to his family he had flown to New Zealand for the last few days of his tour. That evening he was at Wellington at a banquet in his honour with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. He had given his speech and had just sat down when he was approached by Percy telling him he was needed ungently on the phone by the Prime Minister of the UK. Arthur apologised and went out with Percy and the Prime Minister of New Zealand followed.
Concerned and worried what would cause the PM to phone at such a time Arthur had picked up the phone and listened he sat down as if pole axed. His face drained of colour and he looked shocked. He looked up at Percy but continued listening. Then he silently handed the phone to the New Zealand PM. Taking a deep breath and steeling himself to say the words he spoke to his protection Officer "There has been an attack on Morgana and Merlin, Merlin has been injured and so has Gwaine and another officer. They were shot as they got out the car at Buckingham Palace. They should have been safe there of all places"
Arthur started to shake, he was so far away and helpless. There was nothing he could do. Percy looked at the King in surprise "How bad and who Sir"
"Gwaine used his body to shield Merlin, a bullet went through his shoulder and into Merlin. They are both ok. The other officer was shot in the arm. They have the assailant, he was killed" Arthur stood and paced before punching the wall "Shit why do I have to be so far away!"
Back in the UK Merlin agreed reluctantly to go with Morgana, he did like the idea of going on a train. But Morgana needed to go to Buckingham Place the day before so Merlin went with her so he could take Aithusa out in the much larger gardens there. Their car made its way there with the normal escort of Lance, Gwaine in the car with them. They also had the normal police escort cars. As always the protection officers kept an eye out as they travelled. Once they arrived in London and were headed down the Mall and in through the gates and round the back entrance where the royals disembarked out of sight of the public. The car doors were opened and Morgana got out one side and Merlin the other. As Merlin got out of the car Gwaine saw something totally unexpected, but something he had seen in the past in the army. There was a green dot from a rifle site over Merlin's heart.
Gwaine shouted "Attack Marksman Royals down" and he pushed Merlin to the ground making sure to protect the back of Princes head with his hand as they fell then he covered him with his body. Gwaine was only just in time as he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as they fell. As they hit the ground another bullet hit the place were Merlin had been a second before and further shots were fired. Morgana was pushed to the floor and covered by Lance as the other protection officers formed a human shield. Gwaine shouted 'Royals down marksman!' The area was soon swarming with army as the guards rushed to the area. Merlin was crushed under the muscular body of his protection officer, but he to felt a searing pain in his shoulder. Using a human shield Gwaine was helped off of Merlin, as he was helped away Merlin saw blood over Gwaine's shoulder and for the first time since his release he screamed out.
"Gwaine!" Elyan and another protection officer started to move Merlin away, he was covered in blood and had a shocked look on his face.
"Sir you must come with us, we will look after Gwaine" Elyan and another officer moved Merlin into cover the human shield still in place. Morgana was also being moved to safety by Lance and a second Protection Officer. It was then that she saw the blood on her brother and forced her way to his side.
By now they were inside and away from the windows, Elyan quickly checked over Merlin to find he had a flesh wound. Merlin was staring over at where Gwaine and another injured officer had been taken.
Morgana although shocked herself tried to comfort her brother "Shit! Oh god where is Aithusa?" Morgana prayed the dog hadn't been harmed "The Prince's dog is she safe? How many people have been hurt?"
"The dog is safe Ma'am, as far as I know the Prince and two protection officers have been hurt. Please Ma'am come with me we need to get you all safe" Morgana was ushered deeper into the Palace. Where she found her brother being sat on a chair, he was covered in blood, some his and some Gwaine's, he looked pale and in shock.
Outside a full search was in place and the Palace was in shutdown, there were police and army everywhere. It wasn't long before four ambulances were being let in through the gates along with several more police cars. The Paramedics entered the building with a couple of trauma doctors. One went straight to Merlin and checked his wound. The Prince was soon on a trolley had being loaded into an ambulance, Morgana by his side totally shocked by what had happened but surprisingly calm. Gwaine and the other protection officer were being seen to and it wasn't long before they ambulance were on their way with a heavy police escort. The other ambulance were on standby as the perpetrator was hunted down.
It was soon established that the shot had been fired from within the Palace, there was no other overlooking areas. The Palace was swarming with armed police and the household cavalry as an evacuation of staff and full search was underway. Shots were heard as the perpetrator was found caught. To the dismay of the security it was found that the gunman had got in via the tunnel that was supposedly sealed when Merlin was found.
Arthur was approached by an official and taken into a separate room. There was then an official announcement at the same time as the news broke on UK television. The Prime Minister of New Zealand went back to the banquet and made the announcement:
"Ladies and Gentleman. The King has been called away, there have been gunshots fired at Her Royal Highness Princess Morgana and His Royal Highness Prince Merlin in London, news suggests that the Prince had received a gunshot wound, but is not badly hurt and the Princess is unharmed. The King is obviously in contact and our thoughts are with him at this time. He will not be returning this evening. King Arthur asks that we please continue in his absence"
Arthur was taken to his rooms and immediately switched on the television, knowing that there would be news of the attack. His instinct was to arrange an immediate flight back, But the Prime Minister has suggested he remain as there was so little of the tour left. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he did have a duty and so much effort had been put into the tour and so many people were waiting to see him that he realised he had no choice. If either of his siblings had been badly hurt he would have gone back, but with a twenty seven hour flight between them he would stay an extra day and a half, but would cut out what he could to get home earlier and insist on flying back the minute he had finished and not stay the night and fly in the morning as planned.
Arthur turned to Percy. "Are you alright? I know you are friends with Gwaine, from all accounts the bullet went straight through and didn't do too much damage. He was the one who spotted the attack, he saved Merlin's life"
"Thank you Sir, he's a good man, I'm glad he will be ok, do we know who the other officer was?" Percy knew it was their job to be a human shield and he would be prepared to do the same but he was glad Gwaine hadn't paid with his life. Not for nothing were the close protection officers known as the bullet catchers.
"It was Ian Andrews, he will be alright from what the PM told me" Arthur said. Arthur ran his hands through his hair. "How much more has Merlin got to suffer? Hasn't enough happened to him. This is the second assassination attempt on him, when he was four, then his imprisonment, then that bastard Mordred and that accident and now this. He just doesn't deserve this."
In the UK the news was all over the radio and television, it was confirmed that shots had been fired at the Royal family and that they were not seriously hurt, and that two police officers had also been shot, the rest was speculation. With suggestions of terrorism seeming to be the main one. There was an emergency press conference at Buckingham Palace within the hour and Morgana appeared to reassure the public. She looked shaken but determined "My brother has sustained an injury, but it is not considered serious and I am unhurt thanks to the superb work of our protection team and the police and soldiers at the Palace. I can say no more at the moment because this is clearly an active investigation. The King has been informed in New Zealand and will be keep updated."
The police reassured everyone that the incident appeared to be an isolated one but they should not approach any suspicious persons but to contact a hotline with any information. But until the perpetrators were captured there would be increased security in the capital.
Arthur watched his sister on the news and could see how shaken she was, he wanted to be there for her so much. He wanted to phone her but knew she would phone him as soon as she could so waited. After all he had no idea what was happening and didn't want to risk disturbing her when she was in the middle of something important.
Merlin had been put in his hospital room as soon as the doctors had treated his wound. The bullet had been lodged just under his skin and was easily removed. Elyan was sat at his side with two armed police officers outside the door. He was joined by Morgana as soon as she was free. Merlin was staring at the ceiling, he hadn't spoken or moved since his shout when he saw Gwaine. The doctors said he was in shock and had given him a sedative as well as pain killers. She was amazed he hadn't had a seizure with the stress he was under. The Princess went to her brother's side. And stroked her hand through his hair. "Gwaine is in theatre, they are treating his shoulder, and he will be alright Merlin"
She looked at Elyan "They will let us know as soon as he is out"
"Thank you Ma'am" Elyan was relieved to hear news of Gwaine they had been friends for many years.
Morgana sat down and got out her phone and dialled her brothers secure number. It only rang one before she heard her brother's voice. "Gana are you alright?"
"I'm fine Arthur, shaken but fine. Merlin has had his injury cleaned and dressed. He is in bed beside me, he is in shock and hasn't spoken since it happened, I thought it might help if he heard your voice." She paused "I'll put the phone on speaker and by his ear."