Chapter 17

Gwaine must have broken every speed limit there was getting to the hospital as fast as he could, and Elyan in his pickup wasn't far behind. It had taken several bribes and several threats of law suit to find out which hospital Merlin had been taken to. When they found out, Gwaine and Arthur went to his two-seater Porsche and the rest piled into Elyan pick up.

Through the whole ride, Arthur felt like a cold hand had taken hold of his heart and squeezed it. He knew that he cared about Merlin, but now he felt it deeper than that. He felt it when he thought Merlin had betrayed him, that crushing feeling that was like being caught under a rock slide. He felt it again when he saw Merlin being dragged out of the totaled bus.

He didn't notice the tear until it fell on his hand.

"Arthur?' asked Gwaine turning to look at him while they stopped at a stop light.

"This is my fault," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"If I just listened to him. If I hadn't blown in his face…"

"Listen to me, Arthur. Mordred's the one responsible. He used everything to get to you and push you away from Merlin to meet his own ends, whatever they are. He's the only one responsible. Not you, not Merlin, him."

Arthur nodded, his mind still on Merlin. The view from the television as hazy, and they had blurred out a lot of details, so he didn't know what condition Merlin was in. Merlin couldn't die from something like this. He had too much to live for. His music, Gwen and Will, his mother…

"Hunith," he said in realization. "Someone has to call Hunith."

"Lancelot's on that," said Gwaine. "And Percy's calling Gwen and Will. All you need to worry about it getting there."

Arthur nodded again. His mind was on auto pilot now. All he could think about was Merlin. Merlin's laugh, his smile, his enthusiasm for books and music. All he could do was pray that Merlin doesn't die.

Finally, after felt like hours of driving, Gwaine pulled into a parking spot near the emergency entrance. Gwaine dragged Arthur inside as the pickup pulled up next to it. They walked up to the receptionist at the desk.

"The bus crash victims, where are they?" asked Gwaine.

"All victims of the bus crash on in the OR," said the nurse in a slightly bored tone. "Name and relation of victim?"

"The person's name is Merlin Emrys and we're friends of his," said Gwaine.

The receptionist type on the computer and looked at the monitor.

"Merlin Emrys is still in surgery," she said. "That's all I can say if you're not family. Does he have family?"

"His mother's on her way," said Elyan.

"I suggest you wait until the surgery's over. It'll take a while. The waiting room is that way."

She pointed to a room and the group had no choice but to sit down and wait. The friends knew they had no other choice but to wait for Hunith to arrive so they would get information on Merlin. Arthur's hangover started, and couple with his anxiety it gave him a massive headache. He feared more than anything of a doctor walking in and announcing that Merlin didn't make it. The thought of it made him sick to his stomach.

Before he could say anything, he felt strong arms grab him and haul him off the seat and steered him toward another room. It only registered as a men's room before he lost all the whiskey he consumed into the toilet bowl. He threw up till all he could taste was bile and his stomach cramped. When he finally finished, he saw that it had been Lancelot that held him as he puked and Percival was handing him a wet towel.

"Thanks," he said, wiping his mouth.

"That's what you get for drinking angry," said Lancelot. "Come on."

Lancelot helped him up and over to the sink, where Arthur washed his mouth out and washed his face and hands. Percival gave him a stick of gum, most likely a stash from Gwaine who had the biggest sweet tooth in the gang, and he went back to the waiting room. He sat down and put his head in his hands to cease his pounding headache and to keep his queasy stomach from not puking again.

The subtle aroma of coffee filled his nose and he looked up to see a paper cup full of the heavenly brown liquid and a hand hold two pills that looked like painkillers. He looked up to see Hunith standing over him with a sad smile.

"Hunith," he said standing up. The tears that had threatened to fall for half an hour finally fell. "I am so sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't…"

"Oh, my dear boy," said Hunith, setting the coffee and pills down and wrapping him in a hug. "Lancelot told me everything. I don't blame you. I blame the man responsible for all the heartache you and my son are going through. He hurt you both so much. I'm just glad the truth is out."

"Merlin will never forgive me," said Arthur, burying his face into Hunith's shoulder.

"Oh, Arthur." Hunith pulled back and looked up at him straight in his eye. "If you believe that, then you don't know Merlin."

She hugged him again and Arthur let himself be wrapped up in the warmth and love of a mother's embrace. Merlin was right. It was like sunshine.

They sat together and Arthur took the painkillers Hunith gave him and drank the coffee. He even ate a Danish Elyan gave him an hour later to fill his empty stomach. It was four hours later when a doctor finally walked up to them. Arthur had been half asleep on his chair, using his jacket as in improvised pillow. Gwaine had fallen asleep with his head on Percival's lap while his boyfriend looked through something on his phone and Lancelot and Elyan were talking to Gwen and Will who had arrived with Hunith.

"Merlin Emrys?"

Hunith stood up quickly. Everyone stood with her.

"That's us," she said. "I'm his mother."

"Mrs. Emrys, I'm Doctor Grey," he said. "You're son has severe injuries to almost every part of his body. A portion of the bus roof collapsed onto his back, snapping his spine. Both his legs and his right arm broke and I'm afraid his heart stopped twice on the table."

Hunith gasped and Gwen hugged her close.

"We were able to revive him each time," said Doctor Grey, "but the one we're most worried about is the cranial trauma."

"What cranial trauma," asked Gwaine, worried.

"Merlin suffered a severe blow to the head when the truck crashed into the bus," said Grey. 'There is massive swelling to his brain and it put him into a coma. We don't know when or if he'll come out of it."

"He will," said Hunith confidently. "I know he will."

"He will need intense around the clock care. That won't come cheap."

Hunith's eyes teared up. She didn't have the money to care for Merlin.

"I'll pay." Everyone turned to Arthur who had a sad but determined face. "Anything he needs, I'll pay for. He gets the best care, understood."

"Understood, Mister…"

"Pendragon," said Arthur. The doctor gave a start to the name. "Arthur Pendragon."

"Of course, Mr. Pendragon. I'll get started on the paper work. I will have some forms for you to sign."

"Understood," said Arthur.

"Arthur, you don't have to…" started Hunith but Arthur shook his head.

"I want to. It's the least I could do."

"Can we see him?" asked Gwen.

"Family members only," said Grey. "The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours are critical to recovery."

"I want Arthur to see him first," said Hunith.

"Hunith," said Arthur.

"I insist."

He saw the look on Hunith's face and knew he wouldn't be able to fight her against it. He nodded.

"Right this way," said Grey.

Arthur followed after Grey, walking through halls that smelled of bleach and antiseptic. He led Arthur to a door that looked like any other hospital door but Arthur's heart quickened at the thought of the person behind it.

"Five minutes," he said before opening the door.

The man on the bed almost looked nothing like the man he had seen hours ago. His arm was bandaged and one of his casted legs was propped up. Monitors were connected to his head and chest and a tube was inserted in his mouth. Arthur couldn't believe this was the man that just a few days before, laughed and made love to him. How could Arthur have been so stupid?

"I'll leave you alone," said Grey.

"Thank you, doctor," said Arthur. Grey nodded and left as Arthur walked in. he looked down at the man before him. "I am so sorry, Merlin. I should have listened. I should have…"

A sob choked in his throat. Taking Merlin's uninjured hand, he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on it.

"Mordred will pay, Merlin. I swear."

He spent the five minutes holding Merlin's hand, taking as much of his friends presence into himself as he could before he was forced to leave.

"It's time to go," said Grey five minutes later.

"Get better Merlin," said Arthur.

Placing a kiss on Merlin's forehead, he left.

XXXXXX

Arthur sat in the diner that he had met Mordred the previous day. Despite the pleasant weather, the man's mood was gloomy. Not even the pleasant atmosphere of the diner lifted his mood. He hardly slept the night before. Visions of Merlin before and after the accident plagued his mind. He doubted he was going to get a restful night's sleep soon.

"Refill?"

Arthur looked up at the waitress holding a pot of coffee.

"Yes, thank you," he said.

She filled the cup and left as the door to the diner opened. Mordred looked around the diner before spotting Arthur. With a smile, he walked over and sat opposite the blonde.

"Arthur, what's wrong?" he asked. "Why did you ask me to meet you?"

"Have you heard about Merlin?" asked Arthur.

"Yes, it's awful, but they say karma's a bitch. Maybe Merlin bit more than he could chew."

"A man is fighting for his life, and you're being blasé about it?" It took everything Arthur had not to lunge across the table and strangle the man in front of him.

"It's what he deserved. I always knew he was trouble. He was probably just after your money."

Arthur scoffed a laugh. "Funny. I could say the same about you."

"What?" asked Mordred confused.

Arthur lifted a hand and snapped his fingers. Immediately, everyone left the diner.

"Arthur, w-what's going on?" he asked.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out?" asked Arthur.

"What do you mean, Arthur," asked Mordred, trying to play innocent. In the past, Arthur would have fallen for it, but he knew the truth now.

"The video. You almost had me fooled. But I've got other sources of information, like how you don't even take classes at Avalon, or that you're not even Wizard."

Mordred gave a start and got up to leave quickly, but two strong hands kept him from moving.

"Hello, Mordred," said Lancelot.

"Fancy meeting you here," said Gwaine.

"Arthur…"

"Don't you even..." Arthur's gaze turned from business like to serious. "You played me. You made me believe you were Wizard when you knew it was Merlin the whole time. You made me doubt Merlin's friendship. Were you working with Sophia as well? Did you get Merlin fired?"

"It's best to give him an honest answer," said Percival with an edge. "He has not been having a good few days."

"Yes," said Mordred. The grip on his shoulders tightened. "Hey, watch it, meatheads."

A hand grabbed the back of his neck.

"Unless it's to answer a question, don't say a word," said Lancelot.

"Why?" asked Arthur.

Mordred turned to look at him with pure hatred.

"Dylan Druid," he said.

Arthur frowned. The name wasn't familiar to him at all. It probably had something to do with his father.

"Doesn't ring a bell," he said.

"Of course it doesn't," said Mordred angrily. "All of you Pendragons are the same. Never thinking about the little people. You take people's dreams and throw them aside like they're nothing."

"I have never heard of Dylan Druid and until a month ago, I never even met you."

"Yes you have!" yelled Mordred. "Fifteen years ago. At a business function. Your father and mine met to merge companies. My father's was small but it was growing, until your father went out of contract and shut the company down after buying over half the shares."

"Dylan Druid was your father?" said Arthur in shock.

"Yes! I had to use my mother's name just to get a job! After my father's company went under, thanks to your father, my father had to find work at a measly computer company and my mother left us because my father couldn't keep her in the lifestyle she was used to. She remarried and forgot all about her failure of a husband and son. My dad drank until his liver failed eight years ago and he died. I swore I would get back at the Pendragons. It's all your fault!"

"Are you done?" asked Arthur with a blasé tone. Mordred looked at him in shock. Arthur could understand Mordred's anger. When Arthur was a child, Uther was buying out shares in various rival companies, but there had been too many to remember. If Dylan Druid had been one of them, than he truly felt sorry for Mordred. "I'm sorry my father stole your father's company from him, but that was no reason to involve Merlin into it. If you have a problem with me or my family, you should have come to me and told me about it, not go behind my back and manipulate me into giving you whatever you want." Arthur's gaze turned serious and Mordred stared in shock and fear at the fierceness in his eyes. "Because you have involved Merlin, I will now tell you this. If you so much as come within a hundred feet of me or Merlin or any member of my family, I will rain upon you ever piece of influence my name has and you better pray to never see the light of day again."

"And if I don't?" asked Mordred with a sneer.

"Then I think my good friends at the tax department will want to know how you could afford that nice car you own on a waiter's salary. And let's not forget Senator Ashley's wife. She's a lawyer for the justice department, and while she would hate her husband for sleeping with you, she hates prostitution more."

"How did you…?"

"Videos, Mordred," said Gwaine with a grin. "You're not the only one who can hack into someone's computer."

"You-you-you…"

"We've thoroughly deleted every copy of every video you've made," said Arthur. "We've made six copies and hide them in six different locations that only each of us know about. If you don't follow my instructions, they will be given to the police and you'll be arrested for prostitution, black mail and possible ten other indictments."

"You wouldn't dare!" said Mordred, afraid and mortified.

"Try anything and find out."

Mordred's entire body was shaking. Those videos were his ticket to getting his revenge on the Pendragons and head straight to the top. Without them, he had nothing.

"You have ten seconds to leave before my friends find a new punching bag," said Arthur lifting his coffee to take a sip.

"Ten, nine eight, seven…" said Gwaine, making it sound like a rocket launch. Knowing that Arthur was serious, Mordred got up and left the café. As soon as he left, a middle aged woman walked out from the kitchen and stood at the table.

"You done, kid," she asked.

"Yes," said Arthur and smiles at her gratefully. "Thanks for letting us use your diner, Kaleigh."

"Hell, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have this place, so I figured it's half yours anyway. If you want to use it to shake down some dick-licking punk, go right ahead."

Arthur smiled at Kaleigh's words. The woman had a way with them. With her help, and a couple hundred passed around to customers and the waiting staff, he easily got the diner to himself at the required moment.

"I better go," he said standing up.

"Give everyone my best, and free pies next time you come in," said Kaleigh.

"You make the best pies," said Gwaine.

With final goodbyes, they lift the diner and got into their cars.

"Take me home," said Arthur to Elyan as he got into the pickup with him and Lancelot. They drove for thirty minutes until they pulled up in front of a building and Arthur got out.

"We'll come back with some lunch," said Lancelot. "I know you haven't eaten since yesterday."

"Too knotted up to eat," said Arthur.

"Well, you're going to. See you in thirty."

Elyan drove away and Arthur walked up to the building. The people looked at him with a mix of curiosity and pity. He didn't stop until he came to one room and looked at the two occupants inside.

"Any change?" he asked.

"No," said Hunith, shaking her head and turned to her sleeping son. "The doctors say he should be waking up, but he's not."

Arthur walked in and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You should go home and rest," he said. "I'll stand watch."

"Thank you. I brought the book he was reading, but I couldn't find it in myself to open it. It would be like…"

Like he wasn't coming back. Arthur knew the possibility lingered in the back of everyone's mind.

Hunith stood and smiled at him.

"You're a good boy, Arthur," she said as she kissed his cheek and walked out.

Arthur wished he was. A good boy wouldn't have caused his friend to go into a coma. Sitting on the chair provided by the hospital, Arthur picked up the book on the table next to the bed and looked at the title. Howl's Moving Castle. Merlin always did know a good book. Opening the book, he ignored the bookmark and started at the beginning.

"In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite the misfortune to be born the eldest of three…"

TBC

-Howl's Moving Castle is written by Diana Wynne Jones. Loved the book and the movie by Hayao Miyazaki.