Gwen was still having major problems accepting Arthur; she could understand what Lance was saying, but felt she needed to protect Merlin. What would a man like Arthur Pendragon with all his wealth and status want with a man in a wheelchair with nothing to his name it didn't make sense. She had spoken to Percy who also said she should leave Merlin to make his own mind up. Yet every time she saw Arthur she found her hackles rising. All she could remember was Hunith asking her to care for her friend. What would Hunith have made of the blond man? After much thought she decided she had no choice but to wait and see.

Merlin was led in bed getting bored he hated hospitals; he had spent too long in them over the years, first with his mum, and then his accident. Now he was back again. He tried hard to keep himself busy but he didn't even have anyone to talk to. Why is it they seemed to think he wanted a single room? Was it for him or to keep him away from the other patients? He asked the nurses and they said it was so he could have privacy with his catheterisation but the beds all had curtains. Mind you it was nice when Arthur came so it wasn't all bad.

The other thing to occupy his mind was the relationship between Gwen and Arthur. What was wrong there? They didn't seem to get on but he didn't know why. He knew Gwen didn't trust Arthur but she didn't know him like he did. He just wished they could become friends. He hated conflict. He was looking forward to seeing Morgana and Gwaine later as well, but hoped they didn't stay to long he wanted the time with Arthur.

The man occupying so much of Merlin's thoughts was sorting through his life and trying to do the best thing, There was no way he could work with his father but he hated the thought of leaving Pendragon's. It would be so much easier if Uther would retire. He was in his late fifties but showed no signs of giving up. It appeared he wasn't the only one thinking along those lines.

The phone rang in Arthur's office it was his Uncle Gaius. Not a real uncle but a lifelong friend of his fathers. Both he and Morgana had spent many a summer with Gaius and his wife Alice after Arthur's mother had died. Gaius asked Arthur if he would be kind enough to come to dinner with them that evening. Arthur declined saying he was to visit his boyfriend in hospital. So the next Saturday was arranged. Gaius asked Arthur not to tell his father as he wished to discuss something privately. Arthur was curious.

Unknown to anyone other than Uther there was one other partner in the business. Gaius was his Uther's doctor and old friend. Gaius had helped Uther out with some money years before and had received shares in the company as a result. He had never interfered in any way with the company so was very much a silent partner but he had also been hearing rumours of the family rift. So he started to make some discreet enquiries. As far as he knew only Uther knew of his share in Pendragons.

Gaius had had dinner with Uther the night before and had listened to his friend rant about his family and Uther had let his prejudices show. Gaius felt that Uther was being very unfair to his family. Over the years he had watched Uther change and become an embittered man. At the same time he had watched Arthur career with interest and had seen him grow and develop. He knew that Arthur was more of a driving force than Uther appreciated. When Uther had said that Arthur was flexing his muscles Gaius decided to investigate further. After all he wasn't getting any younger and selfishly didn't want his savings in the form of Pendragon shares to suffer.

Saturday soon came round and Arthur visited Merlin during the afternoon and explained he had couldn't come that evening but that Morgana was planning to visit. Between them they decided that Merlin would ask Percy to visit in the hopes of getting the two people back together. Arthur arranged to visit the next day.

That evening Arthur left to visit Gaius and Alice going by taxi as always. He made a point of seeing them every few months and he liked the couple. They had been like real family to him and he had lots of fond memories of spending time with them as a child. Arriving he gave Alice a large bouquet of flowers and Gaius a bottle of fine whiskey before settling down for a meal. Alice was a fine cook and as always Arthur enjoyed himself. After a few glasses of whiskey Arthur started to relax.

"So Arthur you mentioned a boyfriend?" Gaius asked "Has your father accepted him." Gaius was well aware of Uther's views and wondered if that was the cause of the family rift.

"No he hasn't, what's worse from his view point is that Merlin is also in a wheelchair after a spinal injury." Arthur was bitter.

"Ah, that wouldn't go down well, how did you meet?"

They spent the next hour talking about Merlin and it was soon clear to both Gaius and Alice that Arthur was in love. Arthur explained some of the problems they had had and Uther's role in Merlin's admission. He didn't mention Cenred as that was personal to Merlin.

"I'm afraid I'm going to leave Pendragon's, father doesn't know yet but I can't put up with it anymore. I just need to decide whether to work for another company or force father, and sell my shares to set up by myself. The trouble with that is there is a chance Pendragon's won't manage to continue with that level of loss. I don't want to force its closure." Arthur was in a real quandary.

"That would be a shame, it's good of you to think that way, and your father isn't an easy man." Gaius said.

"I know, but he is my father and that should count for something. That's why I've stayed so long." Arthur was clearly torn.

Gaius and Alice looked at one another and Alice nodded.

"There is another way you know." Gaius said to the younger man.

"I'm willing to listen to any ideas. I've been trying to think of a way but getting nowhere"

"Now you must have quite a few shares now, what thirty percent?" Gaius said.

"Yes and Morgana has six percent, she's willing to go along with whatever I do."

"Well I, we have the answer, your father won't be happy but he's brought this on himself and it would safe guard Pendragon's. You don't know this but years ago I helped you father out when my parents died; I invested money in Pendragon's. It was to be a loan but your father gave me shares instead. Now we want to retire and we need the income from those shares to help us be comfortable. And in the future want to sell them. We have sixteen percent shares in Pendragon's. Now that makes all our shares fifty two percent. If I back you and I'm happy to do so, that will give you control of the company."