The King smiled at his sister "I know he has come on well, but you are my successor, you will have to be married at Westminster Abbey. Don't you think that is asking bit much of Merlin?" Morgana's face dropped so he added "Look why don't you have a back-up just in case? After all it is at least six months away"

Morgana smiled at her brother "You are right, but I want him to be part of it and he did manage to swear his oath of fealty at your coronation. I'm sure he will be able to hand over the ring. If we need to get someone else to do the speech we will."

Leon spoke up "What I am worried about is telling him, I don't mean to be rude but I'm not sure Merlin will understand after all he has so little knowledge and no one around him is married"

"Your right, but he has been trying to catch up with the world at large, he spends ages reading and watching documentaries. He even uses a computer sparingly. Merlin fully realises that he his ignorant of the world around him. Obviously you haven't been subject to any of his questions." He smiled at his future brother in law "I for one am glad for Gwaine he got the sex education talk done."

Leon paled "I hadn't even thought of that! It must be hard for him"

"Merlin has a very curious mind and he was already reading most of the time before his rescue, it's just that his reading material was shall we say… restricted to old books he was given and the full set of the encyclopaedia Britannica from the 1950's" he hesitated "So perhaps not as frank as Merlin needed for today's world. But don't underestimate him." Arthur smiled once more "Shall we tell him now and in private, that way he can ask questions without being embarrassed?

So Merlin was summoned to the room and Morgana told him that she was going to marry Leon and be his wife. "But that doesn't mean I love you any less Merlin" she stressed

Merlin looked at them both and then smiled "I thought there was something going on, I asked Gwaine if you were having an affair but he laughed and said you were too much of a lady"

Morgana went red and then she spluttered "He's right of course, what do you know about affairs?"

"Oh there has been a lot in the papers about some politician lately so I sort of know what they mean" Merlin said frankly "But I didn't think Leon was married"

"No I am not! But I will be in the summer. Merlin your sister will then be moving to my estate to live but we will still see you and you can stay with us sometimes as well" Leon wanted Merlin to understand the ramifications.

"Oh" Merlin looked thoughtful "But can I phone you or talk on skype?" he sounded saddened by the thought of Morgana not being there.

Morgana hugged him "Of course you can Merlin, I love you very much, you must believe that"

"Will you have babies then?"

It was Leon's time to splutter "Eventually I hope Merlin but not straight away"

Merlin grinned at Arthur "That means we will be Uncles!"

"It does Merlin, it does. Now shall we let these to tell the other's. But don't mention it to anyone else just yet, Morgana and Leon will tell the press after the New Year."

The news was greeted with joy by everyone privy to the secret. Leon was well liked and it was felt the family deserved some happiness after the previous events. The rest of the stay in Sandringham was spent getting Merlin used to his bike, once he was Gwaine and Elyan moaned as one of them went with him will the other drove the land rover. Although both Arthur, Morgana and Leon also went out with him. Aithusa would run with them but Merlin was careful not to make her run to long without stopping and sniffing. It was with some disappointment that they all headed back to London. Arthur and Morgana were glad they had succeeded in creating a new way of spending Christmas that met their wishes and not followed Uther's traditions.

On New Year's Day a press conference was held and the engagement was announced. It was met with the expected press excitement. Morgana and Leon went back to London for a few days then went to Leon's estate to see his relatives before returning for the last week at Sandringham. Morgause had left straight after Boxing Day and was making arrangements to move into one of the estate houses so when her brother married the newlyweds would have the main house to themselves.

Freya had returned to Sandringham after as Morgause left, and it was clear to most that it wouldn't be long before her and Gwaine decided to marry. The pair were clearly in love. But in the end Gwen and Lancelot beat them to announcing their engagement. But they would not be marrying until the autumn. Merlin was overjoyed that everyone was so happy, but then kept asking Arthur when he was going to find someone.

"Merlin! It doesn't happen like that!" he ruffled his younger brother's hair. "I had hoped to have found someone before I became King, but it didn't happen. One day perhaps, but if not then I won't be heartbroken"

"But you have to provide an heir" Merlin said to him.

"No I don't Merlin, Morgana is next in line, if I don't marry then either her or her children will become the next monarch" he stopped then continued "It would have been you but I asked for the law to be changed, as Morgana is the next eldest and it was unfair that just because she is a woman that she came after you. I didn't mean to take it away from you, but I didn't think it was something that was fair to ask of either of you"

Merlin looked horrified "No I wouldn't, I couldn't have"

"I know Merlin, that's why it was changed, it wasn't because I wanted to hurt you in anyway, but it isn't an easy thing and I didn't want you to have that pressure in your life" he was worried that Merlin wouldn't understand or that he might resent what had happened.

Merlin looked at his brother "I know and you are right, I couldn't do what you do. I would much rather be away from all those people. They scare me" he admitted.

Arthur was pleased to have got the topic out of the way and they all settled back into their normal routine Arthur called a meeting with Mithian and Gwen. He wanted to discuss Merlin's progress and future. Merlin had recently gone on another small and discrete visit to a children's ward at a hospital and it had gone well. But the King did not want to push Merlin to hard. His seizures were getting less, about two per month, and so far he hadn't had one on his public visits but Arthur would like to see them reduce further.

Arthur smiled at the pair when they arrived at his office, and he gestured for them to take a seat. "I asked you to come today because I want to discuss Merlin's progress and where we go from now, so we can best plan for his future"

Mithian looked serious as she replied. "Sir Prince Merlin's situation is complex and not easy to treat but I think we have come to a consensus" she looked at Gwen who nodded "We have discussed this at length and with other experts and I don't think you will like what we have to say but it does need to be addressed" she paused as if to gather her thoughts once more. "We all agree on the prognosis for the Prince. His long term recovery will continue, for years, he will make slight improvements. But his mental development has been severely affected and no one sees a time when he will be able to live an independent life. I'm sorry"

Arthur bowed his head before looking up once more "I expected that, but it is still hard to accept. He is an intelligent man and I hoped…."

"You are right he is very intelligent in many ways and without what happened to him I'm sure he would have had a totally different life. But he did had we can't change that. You have worked wonders with him, he has developed a level of trust in those close to him that I feared, at first, that he would do. But his long term prognosis is agreed by all of the experts involved. We believe his developmental age will remain as it is now, we estimate it to be at about twelve to thirteen. Although in some areas it is nearer to eight. He will always need supervision and support. As for Merlin's Royal duties I can only suggest you continue as you are and keep his visits small and relaxed, so his stress levels are controlled."

Arthur looked shocked "I thought he would have been assessed as older"

"In some ways he is, but we are looking at an average, the abuse he suffered will always have a long term effect on him, it was sustained and involved those he should have been able to trust. His social isolation was severe. I was amazed at how quickly he adapted to open spaces, I had expected agoraphobia but it is almost the opposite, which is a good thing. But he does show signs of Anthropophobia, fear of strangers, and of being touched by them. I don't think he will get over that. But in the long term I think you need to look at his support network, with the Princess getting married and your duties he needs people around him that he trusts completely. I would also suggest that the moving to and from Windsor and Buckingham Palace every week is unsettling for him. Have you though of him having his own smaller establishment? Somewhere close but where he could settle with a smaller amount of staff?"

Arthur clearly didn't like that idea "No I had not! I want him here with me, he needs to know he is wanted and not 'put away'" he said "I will not have Merlin think we don't want him."

"I wasn't suggesting that at all, just for him to have somewhere with less people about that he doesn't know. I agree he needs to feel loved and wanted more than anything" Mithian said "Perhaps you could think about what I have suggested"

Gwen decided to put her thoughts forward. "Perhaps if Merlin were to stay at Windsor during the week. At least here it is slightly less of an office and he sees more of the same people. The Royal apartments are further away from the rest of the staff." She suggested.

Arthur looked at the specialists and frowned "Merlin always has the same few people looking after him, no matter where he is, he has developed very good relationships with his footmen, security and Freya. Living together means we can share breakfast and evening meals most days. No I'm sorry I don't agree with you at all on this. I see no reason for what you are suggesting. Even the security will be better here than if he were to have his own home. And if you say he has a low metal age, then you wouldn't suggest a child have their own establishment." Arthur knew he was beginning to rant but he felt he had cause.

Mithian decided to drop that idea and give the King time to think it through. "Going back to his long term prognosis: I do think the major progress has already been made and any further improvements will be small and over a long period. I do agree he has managed to develop many coping skills and his recent opening up to Gwaine defiantly helped him accept that he is not to blame for what happened to him. Lord Agravaine's attempt to upset his emotional state backfired, and instead we did see significant improvements afterwards. We will continue to see the Prince as and when he needs it and I will continue with his anti-depressants for the foreseeable future."

Arthur accepted the change of subject with good grace "The Princess's future husband wants the Prince to be his best man at the wedding, do you think he will cope?"

"I'm sure he will he may need someone to do the speech, but as that part of the wedding will be a more private affair it will depend on who and how many are present. Ask him, it may give him something to work towards." Mithian was clearly trying to be conciliatory.

After the specialists had left Arthur sat and went through in his mind all they had said and still couldn't see the need to move Merlin. But he was wise enough to know he might be to close to the situation so he sent a footman to get Gwaine. The close protection officer could always be relied upon to have Merlin's best interests at heart. Once Gwaine had arrived the King told him what Mithian had suggested and asked for Gwaine's opinion.

The brunette sat and thought then said "The Prince loved Sandringham, it was less formal and out of the city, but I suspect he wouldn't want to move away from you Sir. He is already upset about the Princess and working out ways of seeing her. I can see what the doctor is saying but I believe the advantages of staying near you outweigh the disadvantages." Gwaine paused "Can I be totally candid Sir?"

"That's why I asked your opinion Gwaine"

"I do see what the doctor was suggesting, when Merlin moves between Windsor and Buckingham Palace it is difficult for him, unlike yourself he doesn't have work to keep him busy, and he doesn't always have the things he want in the right place at the right time. It does cause him stress, he is like a child in that respect. The Prince likes his own company so it's not the issue it could be. It is difficult as the grounds are larger at Buckingham Palace and he does love open spaces. But I know he prefers to be at Windsor, I think he feels safer there. Would it be possible for him to stay at Windsor and have an area of the grounds for his own, so to speak? Where he could do what he wanted and develop other hobbies, He spends hours talking to the gardeners it might be therapeutic for him to work with his hands in some way. He loves his studio for painting but again it might be nice if it was part of his apartment's, rather than away from them."

Arthur looked thoughtful "I will consider what you have said Gwaine. I want the best for Merlin and intend that's what he has, regardless of my personal feelings." Gwaine left and went back to his post as Arthur thought through all he had heard. He would also ask Morgan her opinion but he was already getting a few ideas of his own and they did not include Merlin having his own establishment away from him.