With Morgana's part of the plan in place, now all was left was for Arthur to reunite with Merlin, and for anyone not to find out. Only one of the two objectives were achieved though.
Arthur took the alley and followed the route as he had mapped out to Morgana, and was now crunching his feet through the fields, doubling up his usual pace just in case Vivian or Uther had already noticed, and had called a search party. Panting and shivering, he cursed himself for not bringing a jacket or wearing a thermal top. Although the days were warm, the temperature at night soon dropped, and now the atmosphere was cool and crisp. In the distance, a figure could be seen running in his direction. The bloke had dark hair with a green jacket on, dark t-shirt and almost too-big jeans on with trainers. As the figure magnified itself, Arthur knew the figure off hand.
"Arthur honey, what's wrong?" Merlin panted, as he joined Arthur and swept him into a hug, Arthur's quivers soon growing sparse as the warmth of Merlin engulfed Arthur.
"I'll tell you when we get back. I thought you said you'd be waiting in the second field?"
"Yes, well it sounded like an emergency, so I came as close as I could to you." Merlin took Arthur's hand in his own and finished the distance together. "Merlin, I'm bloody petrified. Do you think we can cross the field a little quicker?"
"Arthur calm down! Everything is going to fine. We're almost there." Arthur stopped, the quivers beginning to pick up again, breathing becoming more rapid. Merlin took note of the goosebumps dotted across Arthur's prominent flesh, and stripped of his jacket. "Jesus Arthur! You're freezing. Here, might be a little small but it'll do."
Arthur took the jacket in hand, Merlin rounding him to dress Arthur. Feeling a little warmer, the pair re-joined hands and continued on, the sun forcing the last few rays out, dusk approaching in the west.
Entering the house, Arthur dropped his overnight bag onto the sofa and was directed to the dining table, propped down onto a chair from the force of Merlin's hands on his shoulders, where Merlin soon re-appeared from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand for Arthur, giving him time to calm down. Arthur heard the buzzing of his phone going off from his bag, where Merlin recognised the ring-tone. Something was unquestionably wrong with Arthur; Merlin had never seen a man so pale, other than himself, and Athur pigment from his face had almost reached Merlin's shade, so this was no prank.
Hearing the tone, Arthur almost threw himself out of the chair and across the table, head in his hands."Oh god, oh god! They've found me?"
"Shh, Arthur, it's okay."
"Can you check my phone for me?"
"Of course." Merlin approached the bag, fumbling through it to find the solid electronic. Feeling the cool, smooth edges of the gadget, Merlin went to check the message, only to find it locked. "Arthur, you numbskull, it's password protected."
"Give it here." Arthur fumbled with the gadget, arms barely remaining still for the blond to key in the passcode. Arthur eventually succeeded though, and handed the phone over to Merlin. "Why does everyone have a stupid gadget Arthur? I'm suprised I barely know how to work this thing."
"Have you located the message?"
"Okay, yeah, hang on. Some of us can't afford the latest iPhone. In fact some of us can't afford any type of smartphone, whatever they mean anyway." Merlin face then quirked up, locating the source. "Ha! Got it! Arthur, you can calm down, it's Morgana."
Arthur's head flicked up, the blond strands flopping over, giving Arthur a rather impressive hairdo. "What does she report?"
"That everything is in place and none of your douchebag homies know anything."
Arthur relaxed into the dining chair, asking Merlin to pass the phone over, which he obliged. Hunith soon came downstairs and noticed the two lads had arrived. Hunith approached them before heading into the kitchen, holding onto objects to support her aching joints.
"I do apologise Arthur, but we don't have a guest room, and due to the short notice I haven't been able to set up a camp bed, so you'll be sharing with Merlin. Is that okay?"
Arthur's face soon lit up light a brand new bulb. "It's perfectly fine," Arthur blushed, thinking of things he could possibly get up to with a lover later on.
If Hunith could play the role of mother on one, she could certainly do on two. "Have you had any dinner?"
"To be honest Hunith, I'm parched. I've been out all day with a blonde bombshell who falls head over heels for me in a creepy way, had an argument with my dad because he's an arrogant twit and can't let me map out my own life, so no, I've not had the chance."
Hunith stretched over, and ruffled Arthur's hair, as if he were her own and a child. "Not to worry my child. I'll fix you something up then since we've already had tea. If I'd of known sooner then I'd of saved you some of the food."
"No Hunith, it's fine. You and Merlin have already done enough, which I thank you of. I'll be fine."
"Nonsence. A nice bowl of soup and a cup of cocoa will do one's some good. Merlin, can you show Arthur up to base camp?"
"Of course."
"Hunith, you're a saint! And one day, you'll be greatly rewarded."
Arthur knew Merlin's room off by hand now, first witnessing the average-sized cubby hole when Merlin got injured at scouts and Arthur carried him up. Over the months that he'd known Merlin, he did really take notice of the house. Literally, if you asked Arthur Pendragon to sketch out the basics of Merlin's house from the inner interior within the course of five minutes, he could give you a vivid tour from visualisation, small images in his mind re-calling the steps that one could singnify once they shut the main door. For example, how when you enter, there is no hallway, but you enter with a small outer-part before entering the front room. There's not much to the front room, but little aspects represent the family in great detail. The sofa is pushed against the front window, with small ornaments on the windowsill. The television is angled to the side, where the stairs attach the two floors. A family portrait stands on the mantelpiece against an Edwardian-style clock, a rectangular-mosaque mirror hanging above, containing different coloured fragments of tiles around the perimeter. The image contains Merlin as a teenager, Hunith and what seems to be his father. Arthur of course knows nothing about Merlin's father, maybe he has passed on, or their bad connection within the family? The kitchen and dining area combine behind the front room, with a small archway in between. The dining room contains a frame containing a patchwork of a basket with fruit in with the dining table, seating four people. Behind the kitchen door led to the laundry room, which contained a door to the garden, which was average in size, which was mainly a vegetable patch with your average shed and greenhouse.
Upstairs contained two bedrooms, one being Merlin's and other Hunith's, and the other room being the bathroom. Arthur knew Merlin's wealth was much of a difference to his own, but that didn't stop them from loving one another. As one always said, money can't buy happiness.
Fishing through the bag in Merlin's room, Merlin swivelled Arthur around, and ensconced him on the bed, which thankfully was fit for two. Planted on the bed, Merlin kneeled himself between Arthur's legs, leant in and breathed into Arthur's ear. "Tell me," following with settling a kiss over the shell and delicately grazing the lobe with his teeth, Arthur arching his head, fluttering his eyes shut.
The good thing about Merlin was he was an outsanding listener, and endorsed pain when another one close to his heart did. Merlin rested his elbows across Arthur's thighs, and titled his head to directly make eye contact, sending a signal which suggested 'I understand and I'm here for you, through thick and thin.' Arthur accepted Merlin's request, prepared to recall the scenario.
"Okay. Dad arrived home earlier today with a girl in the back of the car. Her name is Vivian and she's 18. She's the daughter of one of dad's business partners, where they have arranged for us to be married. I'm not sure when the proposal takes place, but I hope not to see it though myself. I'm not marrying her Merlin, I'm with you and that I want to remain intact. Although she's a pretty lady, I'm not attracted to her. We went shopping earlier, the two of us, and she kept following me around like a lost child. We hadn't even known each other an hour. I tried to co-operate with her. I'll go where she wants if she comes with me. However the shopping turned out to be one-sided, and forced to hold my hand wherever we went. She's rude and toffee-nosed, and expects the riches out of us. I'm not sure if anyone we know spotted the gestures between Vivian and myself earlier today, so I might get a few disturbing texts or e-mails tomorrow. I then asked dad what the commotion was over, where he mentioned that we were to be married. I don't see it as any advantage to myself, but only for his gain. The discussion between father and I went to a blow. That's when I phoned you."
"Does she know that you're with someone, or even Uther?"
"When we were arguing, I mentioned to dad that what makes him think I can marry someone I don't love. I implied that how does he know that I'm not already dating someone. He replied with that I'd bring her home. Why does everyone suspect it's going to be a woman? I returned the answer with what makes him think it's a girl. He said don't be absurd Arthur. I want to tell him, but he'll disown me. Morgana knows the same thing, so she's kept her's a secret as well."
"You'll find the right time. I'm proud of you Arthur."
"Proud? I've made an ass of myself and you're proud of it?"
"Yes. I'm proud because you'll stand up for what you believe in. I'm proud that through situations like this, you know that you love someone and won't go behind their back. You're truthful to yourself and won't let someone get the better of you, even if it becomes too much to handle. I'm priveleged to be your boyfriend."
Arthur's eyes became watery, Arthur trying to hold back the tears. Arthur, nine times out of ten, was an iron bar and never cried, so being this vunerable was something new. From what one could recall, Arthur has only cried when he lost his mother, that, Merlin never knew of, Arthur never brought it up. Arthur felt embarrassed over how he ran away from a situation like this, to find comfort, and not tell his dad straight, well not the entire truth anyway. Merlin raised himself to gain height and wrapped his arms around Arthur, drawing him closer, but not too close to make him fall off the bed. Arthur murmured against his neck, "I love you Merlin and I can't change or help that."
Merlin tilted Arthur's face so that they were staring straight at the other. Merlin could see Arthur's vunerability, how he was trying to bottle down the emotions, and leaned forward to kiss him. Merlin then motioned to Arthur, brushing his thumb to remove some of the spilt tears streaming down his face. "It's okay, you can let it out." Doing so, Arthur whimpered against Merlin, twitching as he let the flood gates open.
"Arthur! Soup is ready!" Hunith called from the stairs, hearing the faint whimpers. Poor man. She felt for Arthur, being in an unfortunate position where family and love collided with one another, and how in this day and age, there are still folk out there who can't accept human nature for what it is. Arthur was choking out the last few sobs, when Arthur broke off from Merlin. "I can't go down there like this! I'll look like a right idiot!"
"No you won't. We all have our moments, and I'll be with you, so it's okay." Arthur rose from the bed and pulled Merlin up with him, clasping Merlin's hand in his, and both went downstairs.
The soup was home-made vegetable, which with it came two thick slices of bread, a decent amount of butter slabbed onto them, and a cup of cocoa. Merlin's cup stood next to Arthur's, as the three sat at the table. Hunith carried the tissue box over to table, handing it over to Arthur, noticing the red-eyes. Arthur lifted the spoon from the bowl, swalling down the first spoonful of soup. "I want to thank you Hunith, for everything."
"You're welcome."
Arthur dug in to the soup, accidentally catching some on his chin. "This soup is bloody gorgeous!"
"I'm glad you're fond of it. I know what to make every time you pay us a visit."
"I also want to thank you Arthur. Ever since you pair met, Merlin has never been happier. He's found a special place in his heart for you." Arthur turned to Merlin, who was blushing from his mother's words about Arthur, and okay, he never knew whether his mother knew of their 'relationship', but nonetheless, Arthur beamed and planted a soft kiss to Merlin's cheek. "Hmm, Arthur, you've got a little soup on your chin."
"Whoops."
Knowing Hunith knew of the situation between the pair, Merlin wasn't afraid to be himself, and leaned in to wipe the splodge of soup from Arthur's chin. "Hmm, Merlin. What happened to..." Hunith remained perfectly calm from the gesture, watching the pair ogle each other. "Wait, Merlin," Arthur turned to Hunith, who was still twinkling. "Do you know about us?"
"I came out," Merlin glanced to Arthur. "I told mum that I'd found love, and that love was you."
Arthur then glanced back over to Hunith. "And you're okay with that?"
"Of course I am Arthur. You love each other, and I'm proud that my son has fallen in love with some one he deserves and loves him back. What I'm not as proud of is that time is ticking and I have work in the morning, so I'll leave you to lock up Merlin." That Arthur smiled at, and let the spoon clatter in the dish as he raised from the chair to hug Hunith. Any appreciation or support was what Arthur needed right now, and he saw Hunith as almost like a second mum, as his mother was irreplaceable. Merlin of course, as per usual, joined in with the hugging, and hugged his mother, as he could easily hug Arthur many a times afterward.
"Goodnight." Both mentioned as Hunith took to the stairs.
Arthur finished off his soup, Merlin joining him in eating the bread, and washed up before heading upstairs themselves. Merlin was first in the bathroom of the two, where he changed out of his day clothes into a night-shirt. Through changing, Merlin took the time to view himself in the mirror. Merlin was covered in scars, and wondered what if Arthur actually saw the real Merlin, what would he do? Arthur could never see this! Although he loved Arthur, Merlin couldn't understand what Arthur loved about him. Merlin quickly brushed his teeth and placed his night-shirt on, covering himself up.
The lads switched places, Merlin sorting out the bed and slithered in once the main light was switched off, and the lamp switched on, waiting for Arthur to finish. When Arthur re-amerged, he was shirtless and just in boxers. Resting his head against a pillow, Merlin immediately raised his head and eye-balled at Arthur's physique in detail. Arthur had a darker pigmentation than Merlin, which was plainly obvious, leaving Merlin looking as if he were constantly ill. His dark mop of hair made no improvement to the pastiness. Arthur was broad and toned, whereas Merlin noticed that he was bony and gangly, thus the complete opposite. Merlin traced back to his self-consciousness, which kept asking the question 'In what world would a greco god want to share something with a sprawly peasant?'
Arthur glanced at Merlin, noticing the darkened eyes and head spinning full with lust, as Arthur crossed the distance, crawling up the bed to connect with Merlin. "How come your shirtless?" Really Merlin, Arthur, you might as well name him Atlas or Zeus, comes crawling up to you like a feline and you ask a really dumbfound question! Arthur of course answered logically anyway.
"Forgot to bring a t-shirt with me. Mind you, it gives me an excuse to snuggle into you if I'm cold, like we did back at Glastonbury." Arthur dipped down and kissed Merlin, Merlin immediately responding - as Arthur was just plainly too much to bring to his senses - raising an arm and sliding it across Arthur's chest down to his hip, slowing to where the peaked nipple stood, and then round and up his back, up into his hair. Arthur tried to rid Merlin of his shirt, only for Merlin to break contact, pulling the shirt back down. "I... I always sleep with my shirt on. It's cold as well, so it'll provide us with extra warmth." Which was a ridicuous excuse. Instead, Arthur just shrugged and slipped his hand under Merlin's shirt, and felt every inch of his bony structure, trying not overstep the mark by raising the shirt up. Arthur knew Merlin was hiding something, and Arthur wasn't going to provoke or prod on, and leave Merlin to out himself when one was ready. Merlin pulled the duvet back so Arthur could slip under, both connecting themselves together, and falling asleep.
Meanwhile back at the Pendragon's, it was the middle of the night when Vivian decided to be sneaky. She wondered what Arthur was like whilst sleeping, and what would happen if he found her in his bed either at some point during the night, or the morning after. Tiptoeing out of her room and into Arthur's, she pulled back the covers and slipped in, which strangely, no warmth could be found as she fumbled to find the body. It was pitch black in Arthur's room, so Vivian couldn't actually see where Arthur was. What happened though was that she rolled across the entirety of the mattress and fell out the other side. No Arthur.
"What the?" Was the blonde barbie doll dreaming? Pulling herself up, she pinched herself to prove the sense of reality from fantasy and went in search for the Pendragon prince. Her first plot hole was the bathroom. Still no sign. She checked the entire house before realising that Arthur had done a runner. But all his things were here, minus a toothbrush and comb, as well as his favourite trainers. So why would he do a runner? Was Morgana lying earlier about Arthur's retreat to sleeping? Knocking on Uther's door, she stepped in and woke Uther and Catrina, and told them the news.
"He's what?"
"He's gone! I've searched the entire house. I can't find his keys or mobile. There's one toothbrush missing and his comb."
"He must of left after we all went to bed."
"But I never heard any footsteps."
"That's what you get for my son, he's trained in many things, and knows how to be light on his feet."
"Catrina, wake Morgana up!" Catrina went to Morgana's room, and told her the news. Morgana's plan hadn't intially worked. Damn that blondie! Morgana knew if she sent a text, neither would hear it, or were probably too busy to hault whatever they were up to, so she would have to wait until all were searching or something. Morgana followed Catrina onto the landing, where Uther and Vivian were cooking up a plan. "Morgana, where would Arthur most likely go?"
"A friend's probably, but it'd be useless phoning this time of night. It'd be better in the morning."
"Proposterous! He'd probably be with Leon or Lance, or hold on, what about Merlin? They've been pretty friendly lately."
"Can't see it being Merlin, they haven't known each other that long." Uther insisted they'd check anyway. Catrina offered to drive using her car, and Uther demanded Morgana to stay put, Vivian attending with the other two, but would go to each of the patrol members first, followed by college friends. After they had left, Morgana quickly grabbed her phone, Arthur's set of keys from the jewellery box and ran downstairs to collect Uther's car keys, adding her own trainers to the list. Although Morgana never had her own car, Morgana could drive, but wasn't old enough to take her test, likewise with Arthur. If breaking the law would save her brother's life, then Morgana would seek it.
Morgana headed in the direction of Merlin's, hoping she'd get there before her dad. Taking the short-route around, Morgana parked in front of the house. Banging on the door, Hunith ran downstairs to answer it.
"Morgana! It's three in the bloody morning! Are you insane?"
"Hunith, you need to get Arthur up. Dad's found out and they're on the way, him, Catrina - which is dad's new bird, and Vivian."
"How did you get here."
"I took dad's car. They're in Catrina's."
"Of course, come in!"
Arthur and Merlin, who were fast asleep, both heard the commotion, Arthur growing scared of the thought that it was his dad. Uther was kind and calm before his mother's passing, but the death of her caused him to grow cold and dark, and also violent. Arthur knew from past experiences that Uther would have his own way, whether one liked it or not, even if he provoked to violence.
"Oh my god it's dad! Merlin, you have got to hide me!"
"Shh, it's going to be okay." Merlin ushered Arthur back down into the pillows, when Hunith opened Merlin's door. "Arthur, it's your sister. They know you're here. You need to go now!"
Merlin helped Arthur collect his things, running downstairs to place them in the car, Morgana heading for the drivers seat.
"Morgana? What the hell! You haven't even got a licence!"
"If it's called saving your arse then it's worth it, and I can drive." Merlin quickly kissed Arthur as they departed, both staying downstairs just in case.
Morgana drove the pair the way she came back to Camelot, parking the car to find the driveway empty, a wave of relief rolling over them. Morgana collected Arthur's things as he rushed in the house and up to his room, sinking into the pillows, with Morgana placing Arthur's things into the closet, the trainers by the bed, and Arthur's keys on the night table. Morgana placed the car keys back in their orginial position. Morgana then waited downstairs in the front room, hoping that the second plan would triumph.
A good hour later, the remainder of the party arrived, Uther almost turning a shade of maroon, growing angrier as he slammed open the door. "I'm going to kill that kid when he gets back! He knows what's to happen!"
Morgana could do little to stick up for him, but would use that little that she could do to help. That's when Uther took things out on Morgana. "You've had something to do with this haven't you? You and Arthur had planned this earlier after the disagreement. You cover for Arthur whilst he runs off! TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" Morgana had been backed into the wall near the bookcase, Vivian hiding behind Catrina, as Catrina tried to release Uther off Morgana, where he shoved Catrina off, before slapping Morgana directly across the face, Morgana resulting a bloodied nose, and an imprint of a hand-mark across her pale face.
"Arthur won't marry Vivian because he's seeing someone!"
"Liar! He broke up with Sophia, and he hasn't brought another woman home."
"Maybe he wants to protect his partner from us! And I tell you something now dad, don't even think of setting me up with someone!"
"I can't. You're with Gwaine."
"I broke up with Gwaine ages ago. I'm seeing someone else now."
"Then why haven't you brought him home?"
"Because I don't want you to ram them into a wall the first glimpse you get seeing us snogging!"
Arthur came downstairs, knowing he couldn't hold things up for much longer. Arthur pushed the door open and plonked down on the sofa, too arsed to care. Catrina gripped onto Uther to prevent any further violence. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
"Out."
"WHERE?"
"At a friends because I needed to calm down."
"And have you?"
"I was calm for a while. I knew you'd have a go at Morgana, so I came back. Morgana has nothing to do with this, it's just me. Look at the bloody state of her! You should be locked up for domestic violence! And I'm still not marrying Vivian."
"YOU WILL."
Uther turned out of the room and back to the bedroom, smashing some of the glass frames in the door at the force he slammed the door shut. The next door neighbours will probably report them to the police or neighbourhood watch for the noise at bleak hours. Catrina and Vivian soon followed. Arthur immediately went to Morgana, who'se nose was bleeding. Arthur treated Morgana of her injuries from Uther, and collected the shards of broken glass with the dustpan and brush, and both went to bed.