Chapter 13
"Okay," said Gwaine. "We have to think of another way to get Arthur and Merlin together."
The group of friends were gathered at Gwaine's and Percival's house to plan the next stage to get Merlin and Arthur together. The football game was considered to be a mild success. Arthur had brought Merlin to the game, but the raven spent the entire time on the sidelines with Gwen cheering their friends on. The game was against a friendly rival team and whenever one of their friends one of their friends scored a goal, both would break out We Will Rock You, which would put a smile on the team's faces.
The only downside to the game was when a rival player purposely kicked a ball into Gwaine's head, who was goalie, yelling "Take this, faggot!" the usual passive Percival went berserk and it took all their friends and Gwaine to keep him from tearing the player's head off. The captain of the rival team benched the player and Arthur bench Gwaine to recover and made Elyan goalie. With one less player on each team, both teams worked twice as hard to win the game.
Merlin and Gwen cheered when Arthur kicked the winning goal and both teams celebrated with a drink at Albion Bar. Kilgharrah gave them a round on the house as Merlin, Will and Gwen sung on stage.
The only improvement was that through the performance, Arthur kept his eyes on Merlin but so far both stayed on amicable terms.
"I didn't think it was so bad," said Leon.
"We need something better," said Gwaine. "We need to do something that would get them alone together."
"Then stuff them in a closet," said Lancelot.
"How about something that isn't extreme," said Percival.
"Something like an amusement park?"
All men turned to the new voice and saw Morgana standing in the door way, leaning casually against the frame. She smirked at them in amusement as their stared at her in surprise.
"Really, did you think you could set my brother up with his one true love and I wouldn't find out?" she said. She looked accusingly at her boyfriend. "Really, Leon?"
"How did you…?" asked Leon.
"Please, who do you think did Merlin's hair the night of the banquet?" she said. "Who do you think helped Arthur pick out his outfit when he was freaking out over what to wear? I knew from the start."
"Why didn't you say anything," asked Leon wrapping an arm around his girlfriend.
"And miss you lot stumbling around each other?" she asked smirking. "Not in my life."
"What's this about an amusement park?" asked Lancelot.
"A fair is set up outside of the city for the weekend," said Morgana. "Games, rides, jugglers, the works. We take Arthur and Merlin there, and separate so they can spend time alone together."
"Do you think that'll work," asked Elyan.
"Better than your matchmaker plans. Really? A football game? It's a step for them to get close, but if you're trying to get them together than you need to up your game."
"Well, then," said Percival, "where do we start?"
XXXXXX
"You want me to what?" asked Arthur.
"Pick up Merlin," said Gwaine.
"What for?"
"There's an amusement fair for the weekend. We're going to it."
"An amusement fair?" asked Arthur with a laugh. "What are we, five?"
"It'll be fun!"
Arthur groaned and grabbed his car keys, cell phone and wallet.
"Fine, what's his address?"
Gwaine gave him and address and Arthur wrote it down to program into his GPS. Walking through the house he headed toward the front door.
"Where are you going?"
Arthur turned to find his father walking out of a drawing room and glaring at him.
"Just going out with friends," said Arthur.
"I don't like those 'friends' of yours, especially those queers. You shouldn't be associating with them."
Arthur forced himself not to which when his father said the word 'queer'. He wished more than anything he could tell his father that he was guy as well but knew the end result of that conversation.
"They're my friends, dad. Who they love doesn't matter to me."
Opening the door, he walked out and headed toward his car, ignoring his father's shouts along the way. Programing Merlin's address into his GPS, he backed out of the drive and headed down the road.
The buildings passed Arthur by. Rich houses passed to middle class to rundown. Some looked like a person fixed it up, but some looked so rundown they barely looked livable. Arthur looked at the houses in surprise as he neared Merlin's house. Merlin lived here? He had heard from Gwaine that Merlin was low on money, but he didn't think it was this bad.
He came to a semi-respectable house with few pots of flowers growing on the porch. The house was painted a pale yellow and the porch an antique white. Pulling to the curb, he parked and stopped the car. Walking up to the house he knocked on the door. It was opened by a motherly woman with dark hair and eyes. Her face was slightly pale and Arthur wondered if she was ill.
"Hello?" she said. "Can I help you?"
"Hi, Mrs. Emrys," said Arthur politely. "I'm Arthur. I came to pick up Merlin."
Hunith smiled at him invitingly. Arthur was reminded of Wizard's words on hoe mothers were like sunshine, and Hunith certainly showed it.
"Of course, dear," she said. "He said he was going out today. Please come in. Merlin's up is his room."
"Thank you." Arthur walked in and looked at Hunith curiously. "I'm sorry for speaking like this, but Merlin doesn't look a thing like you."
Hunith laughed.
"Yes, I'm afraid Merlin got his father's looks," she said. "Talent as well."
Arthur looked around the house curiously. It was a modest house, but homely. There was a large bookcase against one wall filled with books. Each were well worn and showed signs of being read multiple times.
"It seems he's got something from you," he said.
Hunith smiled.
"Yes, both of us love books. Sometimes we can't read them fast enough. I was a literature teacher before…"
"Before what?" asked Arthur after a small pause. Hunith just shook her head and laughed.
"Oh, it's nothing. All in the past now."
Sensing that he was coming upon murky waters, Arthur decided to change the course of the conversation.
"How did you meet Merlin's father?"
Hunith walked over to a picture of a young man placed on the bookshelf. He looked like an older version of Merlin.
"Balinor was a guitarist from a small band," said Hunith. "I was just a girl in the crowd, but for some reason Balinor paid attention to me. We dated for a year and then we got married. He had to quit to support the both of us and worked in construction. A scaffolding broke and he fell five stories. He didn't make it to when the ambulance arrived. A month later, I found out I was pregnant with Merlin."
"That's awful," said Arthur. "I know how it feels to be raised by a single parent. My mother died giving birth to me. I never knew her."
Hunith put a hand on his arm comfortingly.
"I'm so sorry, dear," she said.
"Thank you, ma'am," said Arthur with a smile. "I'll just go get Merlin now."
"Of course, dear. Just follow the music."
Arthur smiled a polite farewell to her and walked up to Merlin's room. As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he figured out what Hunith had meant. Music came from a room in bits and pieces. The door was slightly open and he heard Merlin's soft voice come through.
"Heart…sweet heart…"
A cord slipped and Merlin hissed in annoyance.
"Damn it," he said.
"Merlin?" called Arthur through the door. Merlin looked up to see Arthur looking through his door way.
"Oh, hi, Arthur," he said setting his guitar on a stand. "Gwaine said he was sending someone to pick me up."
"And that would be me," said Arthur as Merlin stood and grabbed his phone and wallet. "Let's go."
Arthur followed Merlin downstairs and watched as Merlin said goodbye to his mother.
"Bye, mum," he said kissing her on the cheek.
"Have fun, love," said Hunith. She looked over Merlin's shoulder toward Arthur and smiled. "He's handsome."
"Mum," said Merlin in embarrassment.
Arthur smiled at the exchange. He knew through Gwaine that Hunith had accepted Merlin's sexuality. He was glad that some parents were so understanding and gladly accepted their children for who they were.
"Okay," said Merlin pulling away, still embarrassed. "Let's go."
They walked out of the house toward Arthur's Mercedes. They got in and Arthur started the car. They drove in silence for several minutes before Arthur spoke again.
"That was good," he said. "That song you were writing."
"It's crap," said Merlin.
"No, it's not." Arthur couldn't believe Merlin was shooting down his own work. "It sounded good, before the hiccup."
"Thanks," said Merlin, still a little in disbelief. "It's just a jumble of words right now. I don't have a real motion." He sighs. "It needs a clicker."
Arthur laughed.
"Clicker?" he asked.
"It's what I call the line or verse that catches the listener. I don't have one yet."
"Well, what have you got so far?"
"Total? One line."
Arthur looked at Merlin in surprise.
"Really? One line?" he asked.
"Yes," said Merlin with an embarrassed laugh.
"Let me hear it."
Merlin was even more surprised.
"Now?" he asked.
"No time like the present."
"Fine, but don't laugh."
"I swear, I won't laugh."
Merlin looked skeptical, but took a deep breath and sung.
"You wanna give up cause it's dark
We're really not that far apart"
Arthur listened in amazement. He knew Merlin was a good singer, but next to him without instrument, it was magical.
Merlin saw the look on Arthur's face and groaned.
"It's bad. I knew it," he said.
"No, Merlin, it's good. Even with a little you can do a lot." Merlin still looked skeptical. "My grandmother used to tell me something my mum said before she died. She said that the heart was like a compass. If you ever feel lost, it would lead you the way home."
Merlin smiled.
"That's sweet," he said.
Arthur felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of Merlin's smile and turned back to the road.
"Thanks," he said.
They drove for several more minutes talking about anything that came to mind. It wasn't long until they came to the amusement park and met the other by the gates.
"Hey, guys," said Gwaine waving them over.
"What should we do first?" asked Merlin.
"Rides!" said Morgana excitedly and pulled Leon after her toward the rides.
An hour later they rode the Plunge and Morgana even dragged them through a haunted house. Soon they were waiting in line for the Twister. Merlin took one look at all the twists and turns and he felt his stomach get nauseous.
"Merlin, are you okay," asked Arthur, noticing the other man's queasy look.
"Yes, I-I'm fine," he said, a little too quickly in his ears.
"Merlin doesn't like roller-coasters," said Gwen. "They make him throw up."
"Gwen!" said Merlin in shock and embarrassment.
"Oh, Merlin, I didn't know," said Morgana. "We can find another ride if you…"
"No, it's all right," said Merlin. He pointed to a nearby bench. "I'll just wait over there."
He walked over and sat down. A few seconds later, Arthur joined him. Merlin looked at him in surprise.
"Arthur, what about the ride?" he asked. Arthur shrugged.
"I don't like roller-coasters much either. How about we check out some of the games?"
"I did warn you about my hand/eye coordination."
"We'll find you something."
Arthur held his hand out to Merlin to help him up. Merlin looked in surprise at the hand and then at the man the hand was connected to. Not since the banquet had Merlin held Arthur's hand. Hesitantly, Merlin slipped his hand into Arthur's and let the blonde help him up.
They walked through the park, looking for games that looked interesting. Arthur tried the ring toss and popping balloons and won a couple small gifts for the girls. They started talking again and somehow the subject of Merlin's interview came up. When he spoke of the money Helen offered, Arthur looked at him in surprise.
"Why didn't you take the offer?" he asked.
"Well, it's a big decision," said Merlin. "I can't just jump into it. What if it becomes the worst mistake of my life?"
"I know Helen Mora," said Arthur. "She's a fair person. She doesn't believe in swindling a person."
"I still need to think it over a bit more."
Arthur looked at him understandingly and they continued to walk some more. Soon they came to the game where they knocked the bottles down and Arthur paid for a round. He handed one to Merlin.
"Oh, no," said Merlin. "I'm more likely to hit the guy than the pins."
"I'll help you." He handed Merlin the ball and showed him how to hold it. Merlin felt his heart beat faster in his chest and wouldn't be surprised if his cheeks were tomato red. "It's all in the wrist. Snap it as you let go of the ball."
"Okay," said Merlin softly turning to the game.
With Arthur's help, Merlin threw the ball, but it veered off to the left. Taking the second ball, he hit the base and knocked the table down. Unfortunately it didn't count so Merlin tried again with the last ball. Taking a deep breathe, he aimed and threw the ball at the next stand. The ball connected with the bottom left pin, knocking it down, and the top pin fell on the bottom right and all three fell down.
"Oh my God," said Merlin.
Arthur picked him up and twirled him around.
"Merlin, you did it!" he said.
Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur on instinct and laughed. Arthur let him down and they both looked at each other. Merlin felt like his heart was beating out of his chest. Arthur started to lean toward him and his heart beat faster.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made them jump apart and they turned to see the man holding a dragon plushy.
"Your prize," he said.
"Thanks," said Merlin taking the plushy, embarrassed.
They walked back toward the rides to meet up with their friends. Merlin could still remember the look in Arthur's eyes as Arthur held him.
TBC