Arthur hardly slept that night thinking about what had happened to Merlin at Cenred's hands. He wanted to help the damaged man but had no idea how to go about it. Should he tell Merlin that he knew or would that make matters worse? He tried to think how he would feel but could only think he would be so bitter and angry. It certainly explained Merlin's attitude sometimes, he knew that Cenred wouldn't have tolerated it, let alone promoted the young man to his PA. Arthur didn't think he had been promoted just so Cenred could take advantage of him, Merlin was good enough for the job he had been given.

By five o'clock in the morning he decided to get up, he was fed up of tossing and turning. He went out for an early morning run to clear his head. Returning to the house he had a shower and made himself a decent breakfast, instead of the normal bowl of cereal before setting off to the office.

As Arthur drove into the small car park, set aside for top management, he noticed Morgana's sports car was already there. So he decided to talk to her, she was as close mouthed as they came and he knew she wouldn't say anything to anyone else. Despite their bickering the two siblings got on very well and due to their often stained relationship with their father they had learned to trust each other very early in their lives.

Going straight to his sister's office he walked in knowing she would be alone this time of the morning. Morgana's office had the same view as his but was just a fraction smaller. She too had her desk set to make the most of the view. Unlike his office there was a plush leather sofa against the wall facing her desk. Morgana was sat there reading through some files.

"Hello brother dear, to what do I owe this pleasure?" she looked at her brother and immediately noticed the dark bags under his eyes. "You look like you haven't slept a wink, what's the matter?" She was immediately concerned her brother could sleep through anything normally.

Arthur sat down next to his sister. "I went to the evening meeting for Uther yesterday evening and met Cenred he'd been drinking and as usual was running of at the mouth."

"How that man has ever kept his father's company going I'll never know." She clearly had no love for the man in question. "Just his ruthless streak I expect."

"Ruthless, you don't know the half of it." Arthur paused. "He asked me how I was getting on with Merlin."

Morgana sat up straighter beginning to see where this was going "and?"

"I don't know what to do about it, he told me things that disturbed me and…"

"Tell me what he said Arthur then we can work through it together. Merlin seems a nice and hard working man I'm sure it can't be that bad, Cenred's prone to exaggeration even sober." Morgana felt that she wouldn't trust whatever the man said against her judgement.

"Oh no, it's not that and for once I don't think he was telling the whole story. Look I'll tell you everything he said, but please hear me out to the end before you say anything."

Arthur looked down at the floor and started to tell his sister what Cenred had said. By the time he had finished he could tell that his sister had been affected by what she had heard in the same way he had been. He looked up at her.

"That's awful, however is Merlin coping with that." Morgana stood up and started to pace the room. "We can't let him get away with it."

"What can we do, and do I tell Merlin I know? I've been thinking about it all night and don't know what to do for the best. My first thought was to say nothing to him, but then how can I support him if he doesn't realise that I know what happened to him?" Arthur pinched to bridge of his nose and looked back down at the floor.

"I think you have to tell him you know, he's going to guess something up anyway and he's got to be able to trust you. If he finds out later you knew it won't help him. As to what we do about Cenred well we ruin him." She looked at her brother "How I'm not sure yet but if the two of us can't beat Cenred were not the people I think we are."

"Thanks Gana, I've got a couple of hours set aside for paper work this morning I'll talk to Merlin, wish me luck." Arthur still looked far from happy.

"Just go with your heart Arthur and watch the sarcasm for once and you'll be fine."

Arthur went along to his office. Merlin was already working at his computer looking up as Arthur passed he said:

"Good morning. I've put the post on your desk, nothing there that I think needs acting on right away except for an enquiry from Hinerd and Sons that looks like you need to call them."

"Thank you Merlin when you have a few moments bring us both in a coffee will you I won't to talk about something." Arthur tried to sound casual but from the look on his PA's face he had failed.

Within ten minutes Merlin came in the flask and two cups on his lap. He wheeled his way to the desk and poured out the coffee without saying a word. Then he sat and waited for Arthur to speak. Arthur went to the door to make sure it was shut which made Merlin nervous all of a sudden. What had he done?

"Don't look worried Merlin I just wanted to talk to you. I went to a business meeting yesterday evening and something came up that I wanted you to be aware of."

Merlin breathed a bit easier. He didn't think he'd cocked up at all but Arthur had a funny look on his face and Merlin couldn't afford to lose his job.

"I have been worried whether to tell you or not but I prefer to be honest. I was approached just as I was about to leave by Cenred Essetir, drunk as usual at these events. He asked me how we were getting on and then told me what happened between you." Arthur paused not quite sure what to say next.

"So you want to get rid of me then. Is that because I'm gay or because I'm a health and safety risk?" Merlin was angry. He had just settled in and now that man was ruining it all.

"Calm down Merlin, That wasn't what I was saying at all. I don't care if your gay or straight that doesn't affect your work and as to health and safety that hardly comes into it. What I wanted to say if you give me the chance is I think you were treated appallingly and I wanted to know if there is anything I can do to help." Arthur was unhappy how badly this had all gone.

Merlin looked at his boss "Sorry…..I…." With that he started to shake.

"Merlin calm down please, He told me what he did to you and what he said I'm not surprised you ran, and then for that to happen to you…..I don't know what I'd have done in the circumstances." Arthur put his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "If you need to talk anytime I'm here."

That seemed to open up a dam and Merlin started to talk:

"Did he tell you how he tricked me, made me feel good, then used me, he told me afterwards he wanted a virgin so he didn't get any diseases, he laughed at me the next morning when I kissed him. He told me to get on with my work he had only wanted to try me out for the weekend. Said he preferred tits to grab hold of and unless I could grow some to get lost. He made me feel so dirty, so ashamed. I ran out crying like a baby…. I went down the stairs to the ground floor and out through the garage….I couldn't face anyone…..I didn't see the car I feel over and it ran over me….when I woke up I was like this." Merlin had a look of horror on his face and tears started to fall.

Arthur knew he wasn't very good at dealing with emotions and felt out of his depth but knelt down so he was at eye level with the crying man. "Merlin I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bring it all back but I couldn't pretend I didn't know." He handed Merlin his handkerchief out of his jacket pocket.