Chapter 18
Two months later
"What the fuck?!"
There were a lot of things, Arthur had been expecting when he picked up the morning newspaper to read during breakfast, and Merlin's sleeping face was not one of them. The words "PENDRAGON HEIR VISITS LOCAL SLEEPING BEAUTY" was written in bold letters and the article looked at least a foot and a half long. The edge of the paper crumpled in his hands in hanger.
"Arthur, language!" said Hunith from the stove.
It had been two months since the accident and nearly seven seeks of Arthur living with Hunith. The thought of going back to his empty apartment terrified him that he would get a call that Merlin was dead so he started staying at Hunith's in Merlin's room. Plus it gave her someone to look after and not panicking over Merlin. She saw Arthur as a second son and mothered him as any mother would.
Arthur graduated the month before and started working at Morgana's publishing house as a junior editor. Arthur had as Morgana to not go easy on him, which made her give him an evil look and said, "What are big sisters for?" She certainly wasn't playing favorites with him. She had him working with the hardest clients and most days, he felt like hitting her for all the workload he got, but the upside was that he would have enough time in the evenings to write at least a few pages of his story.
"What has got you in a tiff?" asked Hunith, walking over to place a plate of sunny side eggs, sausage and hash browns in front of him. When she saw a picture of her son on the front page, she gasped. "How did they…?"
"I have no idea, but I'm suing the hospital for invasion of privacy!" said Arthur.
He continued to read the article. It mentioned Arthur, "who refused to answer any questions", which made Arthur angry since he had never gotten a call from the reporter at all, and an interview with his father. Uther stated that, "Arthur was demonstrating the generosity of the Pendragon family and was visiting each victim of the bus crash." Arthur had to laugh. Even in public, Uther refused to admit his son was gay. It then stated that Arthur and Uther had recently been estranged for unknown reasons. It seemed Uther hadn't publically disowned Arthur, probably waiting for Arthur snap out of his sexuality, marry a nice, beautiful, rich girl, settle down and make more heirs.
All Arthur had to say on that was, not going to happen.
The article gave a brief background on Merlin and Arthur wanted to know even more on how they knew so much about him. He was about to rip the paper up when his phone started ringing.
"What?!" he said without looking at the caller id.
"Wow, I guess you saw the article," said Morgana.
"Yes, and I want to know who to sue."
"I would start with Uther. He's the one who made the announcement."
Arthur paused.
"What announcement?" he asked.
"What article are you reading?" asked Morgana.
"The one on Merlin in the London Times. Which one are you reading?"
"Look at the engagement announcements."
Arthur turned the pages and looked at the wedding engagement section. The large picture of him and Sophia in the front made him seething angry.
"What the fuck?!"
"Arthur, language!" said Hunith.
FATHER ANNOUNCES SON'S ENGAGEMENT!
Arthur scanned the article. It read that Uther announced Arthur's engagement to Sophia Deveraux due to Arthur's pre-wedding jitters and that the wedding would take place in two months. Sophia was interviewed and said she was happy to marry the man she loved and would spend the rest of his life with him.
"So what are you going to do?" she asked.
"Get your PR people to set up a conference at one," said Arthur. "We're going to straighten some things out. Then get your fancy assed lawyer boyfriend…"
"Fiancée. Leon proposed last night!" She said the last part with a squeal and Arthur smiled happily for his sister.
"Congratulations. We'll celebrate later, but right now…"
"Right. Continue."
"Get everyone here within an hour, got it?"
"Got it."
Arthur hung up and glared at the article.
XXXXXX
Arthur glared at the men and woman standing outside of Morgana's small publishing house. Only five stories high, Morgana had started the business as soon as she graduated from college two years ahead of Arthur. She works with romance/erotic based books and didn't discriminate on authors or characters. Arthur had read quite a few manuscripts leaning toward his side of a fence. She even worked with graphic novelists, mostly for Arthur's benefit. That was the department Arthur currently worked part time in and took a few home to continue reading.
"Piranhas, all of them," he said.
"Well, what did you expect?" said Lancelot. "The great Arthur Pendragon makes an announcement just hours after the morning edition of the paper coming out announcing his engagement to the 'lovely' Sophia Deveraux? It's the scoop everyone one's going to want."
"You're right," said Arthur. "How's law school coming?"
"All right," said Lancelot. "Got offers from several universities and firms. I'm still making a decision."
"I thought you said Oxford."
"It's best to keep one's options open."
Arthur nodded. Since graduated, the friends veered off to pursue their careers but still kept in touch. Lancelot went into law school, since he was pre-law already, Percival was already the owner of a building he was going to convert into a gym, Elyan was going to take over his father's metalwork warehouse and Gwaine had been drafted by Manchester. The season hadn't started yet and training wouldn't start for a month so he was spending it as much as he could with his friends.
Gwen got into an internship at a major fashion studio. It was small but she was currently loving her job and spent weekends at the hospital with Merlin during visiting hours. Will was currently trying to get into MIT and was working on a major robotics project as an audition.
Unfortunately, the rest of his friends were too busy with their other projects to come but they sent their support and Leon was off doing what Arthur had asked him to.
"Ready?" asked Morgana walking into the office.
"Like a hole in the head," said Arthur. "Let's get this over with."
They walked out of the office, took the stairs down and went out front of the publishing house to the mass outside. They immediately swarmed in front of Arthur as soon as he stood in front of the podium Morgana had one of her assistants set up.
"Hello and thank you for coming," he said. "As you may have heard, a couple of announcements have been made about me. First off, I would like to say that I have not given permission for any part of my personal life to be posted. The newspaper blatantly disregarded my privacy and of those I care about. Actions that I will take action against.
"The first order of business I wish to clear up is my supposed engagement to Ms. Sophia Deveraux. Let me get one thing clear. I am not engaged or in any sort of relationship with Ms. Deveraux. I have ended relations with her over a month ago. My father's 'announcement' was his impatience for me to find a trophy wife and settle down. I have no plans to marry anyone at this point.
"This brings me to my second order business. My visits to the ICU were of a personal nature. The person or persons that revealed my visits are now under investigation.
"My last order of business is I'm gay."
As everyone had expected there were questions. A lot of them. Arthur held up a hand and every reporter fell silent.
"I've known I was gay since I was fifteen years old. It's a subject my father refuses to acknowledge and because of that, I'm constantly dating woman to please him. I won't do it anymore. I'm proud of who I am and have no reason to deny what I am. Thank you."
He turned and left. He ignored the barrage of questions the reporters threw at him and followed Lancelot through the first floor of Morgana's publishing company.
"Come on, let's go out the back," said Lancelot.
That's what they did. They went out the back way and took Lancelot's Benz to the hospital. It was Arthur's day off and everyone knew he spent the entire day with Merlin. Walking through the halls, he didn't go to Merlin's room right away. Instead, he went to the head of the hospital and stood outside the office, waiting to be admitted.
"Mr. Pendragon, the director will see you now," said the secretary.
Finally, thought Arthur as he walked in. the hospital director, whose name was Jones going by the gold laminated name plate on the desk, stood up and looked at him with anxious eyes.
"Mr. Pendragon, I am sincerely sorry for any inconvenience…" he started before Arthur cut him off.
"Of course it inconveniences me," he said. "I want to know who leaked the information about me and Merlin and I want them dealt with or I will sue this hospital. We were promised absolute privacy. Where the hell was that?!"
"Mr. Pendragon, I assure you everyone with access to Mr. Emrys's room is being thoroughly investigated…"
"They better be. I'm paying for the best care for Merlin. If any harm comes to him or Hunith, I will hold you personally accountable."
"I assure you, Mr. Pendragon, that we are doing everything possible," said Jones.
"Good," said Arthur. "Be sure to give all your findings to my friend, Mr. du Loc."
Arthur left. One thing he learned from his father was to never let anyone stall his time. It always seemed that everyone wanted to garner the attention of a Pendragon. He had learned to quickly to get to the point of every conversation so he wouldn't have to stay longer than he needed to. He didn't want to be in the hospital director's office. He wanted to be by Merlin's side.
Walking into Merlin's room, nothing had changed since Arthur had visited the day before. Arthur had made a note to buy new flowers soon, white roses this time, before sitting on the spare chair set by the nurses next to the bed. Get well cards and photos of friends and of Hunith were set on every available surface. Books, waiting to be read, were placed on the stand next to the bed.
Usually when Arthur visited, he would read on of Merlin's books or play a movie on the portable DVD player, anything to jump-start Merlin's brain. So far, nothing helps, but Arthur wasn't going to stop until Merlin woke up.
Picking up Merlin's hand, he gently squeezed it. He straightened Merlin's unruly black hair, growing from the shave the doctors gave him to stitch the head wound the accident gave him.
"Come back to me, Merlin," he said. "Please, come back."
XXXXXX
"Merlin, don't forget the snacks," said Hunith as she set up the table. Merlin came in with a bowl of chips and salsa.
"Got them," he said smiling. Hunith smacked him over the head. "Ow! Mum!"
"The veggie plate," said Hunith pointing back into the kitchen. Merlin mumbled a complaint as he went back into the kitchen and a rumbling laugh came from the living room.
"That boy would forget his own head if it wasn't attached," said Balinor walking up to his wife.
"He gets it from you," said Hunith smacking her husband in the chest. The door bell sounded. "They're here."
"I got it!" said Merlin running from the kitchen to quickly set the veggie plate on the table before running to the front door. "Hey, guys!"
"Hey, Merlin," said Gwen handing over a casserole before walking in. Lancelot and will walked in after her. "Are we the first to arrive?"
"Yeah, but the others should be here soon."
"Congratulations, Merlin," said Lancelot holding out a hand and Merlin shook it. "Always knew you could do it."
"Thanks, Lancelot," said Merlin. "Come on, we've got snacks."
Merlin led them to the living room and for a few minutes the spoke of unimportant subjects until the doorbell rang again.
"Hey, guys!" he said letting Gwaine, Percival and Elyan in. Leon and Morgana were right behind them.
"Hey, Mer, congrats!" said Gwaine handing Merlin a case of beer. Merlin gave it a curious frown.
"Gwaine, I said snacks, not getting us pissed," he said.
"We're celebrating! That means getting drunk."
They walked in, Percival giving Merlin a potato salad in apology and Morgana gave him a bowl of mixed candy.
"You're going to need your sugar," she said.
Merlin shook his head at his friends' antics and closed the door.
"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…"
"Who said that?" asked Merlin looking around.
"Said what?" asked Elyan, the closest to him, grabbing a paper plate and filling it with food.
Merlin continued to look around the room. The voice was so familiar, it was too far away to place yet it sounded like it was said like it was right beside him.
"Nothing," he said smiling. "Must have been hearing things."
"Is everyone here?" asked Hunith, walking in with a large bowl of chips and salsa.
"No," said Morgana taking a chip and dipping it in the salsa. "One more left."
She took a bite.
"He said he'd be late," said Gwaine popping open a beer. "Work kept him."
"I hope he'll come soon," said Gwen. "Wouldn't want him to miss it."
"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm nine hundred and three years old and I'm the man who's gonna save your lives and all six billion of the people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
"No."
"In that case, allons-y!"
A different voice, but again familiar, spoke next to his ear. It wasn't spoken by any of his friends since they were all talking about something completely different.
"Please come back, baby. Everyone misses you. I miss you. I lost your father. I can't lose you too."
That was his mother's voice, but she was talking to Gwen about the newest fashion line. His father was talking to Gwaine and Elyan about the latest game. Lost? Who was lost?
"So," said Lancelot, standing up. "We're here to celebrate Merlin's dream coming true. To his first single!"
"To Merlin!" said the group, saluting him. He saluted back and they took a drink.
"According to the schedule," said Percival looking at the television guide. "The video should start in a couple of minutes."
"I can't believe Merlin's song won best single!" said Gwen. "This is so exciting!"
"It's about to start," said Gwaine impatiently looking at his watch. "Where is he?"
"Everyone's worried you'll never wake up, Merlin. Even Arthur's close to losing it. He blames himself, you know. He thinks he's the one who caused this."
It was Gwen's voice this time, a little louder, but again, Gwen was Gwaine on taking so many snacks before the party actually started.
What was wrong with Arthur? Why would he be 'losing it' and caused what?
A sudden wave of pain shot through him, and he heard the sounds of metal crunching metal. The room spun and he stumbled to the floor. He held his stomach in pain as nausea settled in his stomach and he almost threw up. He looked over at his friends and parents to see them still talking amongst themselves, not noticing Merlin in pain on the floor.
Why did they ignore him? Did they not notice that he was in pain?
He didn't have time to wonder more on it as there was a knock at the door and Hunith hurried to answer it.
"Merlin, guess who it is," said Hunith in a teasing tone as Arthur walked next to her.
"Arthur, you made it," said Merlin going up to his boyfriend.
"I said I would," said Arthur kissing Merlin on the cheek. "I always said your dream would come true."
"There is no such thing as a happy ending in this world!"
"Of course there is if you're willing to fight for it!"
Merlin held his head as another strange voice echoed in his head. Everyone was gathered around the television, waiting for Merlin's song to be played live at the music awards. Why were they ignoring him in obvious pain? Did they not care for him?
"If you give up, all your dreams…everything...just ends there!"
A dream? Was all this a dream? Looking around at his friends, his parents, he was unsure, but something told him that it was. Everything about it was all wrong. Nothing felt right, not even when Arthur kissed him. It should have felt right, but it didn't.
"Come back to me, Merlin. Please, come back."
That voice, Arthur's voice in his head, felt right. Walking away from his family's merriment, he walked to the front door and opened it.
TBC