Chapter 24

1 years later

Mordred was a patient man. He spent years building enough money and meeting the right associates in the city to one day overthrow the Pendragons from their lofty throne and take over their business and fortune. He created every back up to every scenario he could think of, even the so called "threat" Arthur made to him a year and a half ago. He built back up his connections slowly and started over. He was lucky to have enough emergency cash to last him a while, so all he had to do was pack up and move to a new location to start over.

His patience snapped though when he looked in the society page and saw that Uther had died of a degenerating disease and left everything to Arthur, but Arthur sold his father's company for millions, only keeping the Camelot hotel and restaurant, and gave all the money away to various charities. And, apparently, Arthur had a lot to celebrate for. He had recently published his first book, which was predicted to be a best seller, and announced his engagement to Merlin Emrys.

Mordred crumpled the newspaper in fury. Engaged to Merlin Emrys! The music loving geek was a tool, nothing more. Mordred had only sucked up to Merlin two years ago so that he could get closer to Arthur after finding out that both men had some of the same classes, but the raven haired man proved stubborn and wouldn't take to Mordred's charms. The man was as clueless as a fish.

Since Arthur was such a prominent character in the society pages, news of him were quick and easy. After graduating college, Arthur had started work in his sister's newly established publishing house before publishing his first book in the same publishing house. Six months ago he bought a house and moved in with his boyfriend, now fiancé, Merlin Emrys, a no name song writer he was seen visiting while in a coma.

All of Mordred's hard work on keeping them apart and easily con his way to getting the Pendragon fortune had gone down the drain because of Emrys, and he'll make them pay.

XXXXXX

"Hurry up, Merlin, or I'll start the movie without you," Arthur called up the stairs in a teasing tone as his lover came down, his cane quietly tapping the carpet.

"Hey, hasn't anyone told you not to tease the cripple," said Merlin smiling at Arthur as he joined his lover.

"I thought you liked it when I teased you," said Arthur with a suggesting smile. Merlin elbowed him lightly in the side before going over to the couch. Arthur watched him with a proud, loving smile.

A lot had happened in the year since they became a couple. Gwen and Lancelot got married, with Merlin as the "maid-of-honor" and Arthur as the best man. No one laughed at the arrangement, but they did when Merlin "caught" the bouquet by it landing on his lap. Merlin said he wouldn't be surprised if Gwen planned it that way. Apparently, Gwen had very good aim going by Merlin being a practice pitcher for her short softball career.

Arthur proposed not long after. Merlin moved in soon after and was now planning their wedding next year.

That night, they were watching a new movie Arthur had bought earlier that day and were enjoying every minute. Beer, popcorn and chips were set on the coffee table for snacks while Merlin curled up against Arthur as they watched. The date was sadly interrupted by the phone ringing.

"I got it," said Merlin getting his cane and walked to the phone. "Hello? ...Yes, this is Merlin Emrys. … What? No, I did not. … Yes, thank you. I'll come right away."

He hung up and Arthur walked up to him.

"Merlin, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Someone tried to use my credit card," said Merlin in shock. "The police have him at the station right now. They want me to identify him."

"Are you sure that's a good idea," asked Arthur, concerned.

"Yeah," said Merlin smiling at him encouragingly. "Besides, I want to meet the guy who had the guts to use my name."

"I'm going with you."

Merlin smiled at him. "Of course."

Both men got into the car and drove to the police station to meet the detective as soon as Merlin gave him name to the officer on duty.

"Mr. Emrys, I'm Detective O'Conner," said the detective holding his hand to Merlin, who gave it a firm shake.

"Please, call me Merlin," said Merlin. "And this is my partner, Arthur."

"Mr. Pendragon, of course," said O'Connor shaking Arthur's hand. "I've read about your works through the society pages. My wife loves your book."

"First of many, I hope," said Arthur. "Merlin inspires me, every day."

He grunted when Merlin elbowed him in the side, the other man blushing. Arthur laughed and wrapped an arm around him. O'Connor smiled at the display.

"It's a good thing," he said. "Family should inspire. My does every day."

"Thank you, detective," said Arthur.

"The suspect is this way," said O'Connor and lead them to the interrogation room. They looked through the double sided window to see the man on the other side.

"That's Mordred," said Merlin in surprise.

Arthur's hand clenched in a fist. He had spent a year and a half without any worry from Mordred. He should have known the man couldn't leave well enough alone.

"So you know him?" asked O'Connor.

"Unfortunately," murmured Arthur.

Merlin nodded. "We used to work together a couple years ago. Why would he steal from me?"

"This young man has racked up quite a list over the years," said O'Connor looking through a file. "Racketeering, identity theft, just to name a few. He has three bank accounts with hundreds of thousands of pounds and the stuff they found on his computer is very…" He clears his throat. "…compromising."

"Why me?" asked Merlin. "Why did he target me?"

"Have you slighted him in any way?"

Merlin shook his head. "Not that I remember. He always flirted with me, but I put him down every time, and when he went out with Arthur…"

"Well, whatever the reason," said O'Connor, "he can't hurt you anymore. The evidence against him is solid. He's looking at five to seven years."

"Can I speak with him?" asked Merlin. "Alone?"

"No," said Arthur immediately. He didn't want Merlin anywhere near that man again. Merlin turned to him serious.

"Arthur love, I'm not helpless."

"I don't want you near him," said Arthur.

"I'm in a station full of police. He'd be dumb to try anything."

"Then I'll be in there with you."

"No. Alone." Arthur was shocked to see how serious Merlin was. The only time he had seen Merlin this serious was their fight before the accident. Reluctantly, he nodded and Merlin turned back to the detective. "Privately, no microphones or anything?"

O'Connor nodded. "I can give you five minutes."

"I only need two," said Merlin and walked in.

XXXXXX

Mordred's knee jittered with frustration. How did he get so careless?! Over twenty years of computer hacking, and he got taken down for buying a new car!

The door opened and Mordred expected to see that rat-ass detective who arrested him, but instead it was Merlin, limping in on his cane. Mordred was surprised to see Merlin but kept it well hidden as he sneered at the man.

"Well, well, surprised to see you here, Emrys," he said. "Come to have the last word, I bet. Something along the lines of 'I knew you were a bad guy from the beginning,' or maybe 'I wish it didn't have to end this way.' Am I close?"

"Thank you."

Mordred's shock was now plan on his face. "Excuse me?"

"Thank you. If it wasn't for you, Arthur and I wouldn't have gotten together."

Mordred's face became red with anger.

"I didn't do any of it to get you and Arthur together! I did it to dismantle the Pendragon name. You're nothing but a tool to be used. You know it, I know it and even Arthur knows it. Nothing will change that."

"I don't believe that. Nothing you can say will change it."

"That's what you came in here for? To thank me?"

Merlin shook his head.

"No, not just that. I just wanted to tell you something."

"And what is that?" asked Mordred with a sneer. As if Merlin had anything self-important to say.

Merlin leaned close to Mordred and spoke in a low voice.

"I know," he said, smirking.

"Know what?" asked Mordred confused.

"I was going to frame you for crimes you did commit, but you did a spectacular job of condemning yourself on your own."

"What do you know," demanded Mordred through grit teeth. Merlin looked at him with a devil's glare.

"Everything," he said.

Mordred looked at Merlin in shock. He had followed everything about Merlin after the accident, and all reports say that he never recovered his memories, so how did he know?

"How?" he asked. "How do you know?"

Merlin ignored the questioned and continued talking.

"I heard what Arthur did to get you away from us, but as much as I trust him, I don't trust you. You hurt Arthur, and you nearly ruined me. I am going to press charges, and you'll be in jail for two to three years, depending on your good behavior. When you get out, I expect you to stay away from me, Arthur, our friends and family. Your crimes will seem like child's play compared to my anger. If you don't, I will bury you. This is a warning. Don't go any further."

Merlin stood, picked up his cane, and walked toward the door.

"You think you can scare me, Emrys?" yelled Mordred as Merlin walked out. "You don't scare me. You think you know everything, but you don't. You don't know anything!"

The only answer Merlin gave was the closing of the door.

XXXXXX

"Are you okay?" asked Arthur as Merlin walked back to join him.

"I'm fine," said Merlin with a reassuring smile. "Just had a chat."

Through the entire time Merlin had been in there with Mordred, he was honestly a little smug about the consequences of Mordred's actions. He was only human after all, but he didn't say anything, because he knew it would get on Mordred's nerves more if Merlin acted as if he was grateful toward Mordred for bringing him and Arthur together. When Merlin started plotting his own payback toward Mordred, he planned to use the evidence already against him, but the man made a mistake and got arrested. Guess that old saying is true, karma bites.

Merlin knew he should have said something, but the look on Arthur's face every time the accident came up made him back off. He didn't want to cause his fiancé any more pain, so if keeping his mouth shut meant keeping Arthur happy, Merlin would never say another word again.

"Ready to go home?" asked Arthur.

Merlin nodded and allowed Arthur to lead him out of the police station.

Merlin once asked his mom why she never remarried and she said, "Every little girl wants to find their Prince Charming. The one man that made them feel like a princess and sweep them off their feet. But any girl could find a prince. It's even rarer to find a king. The boy that'll change them from princesses to queens. I found my king, and I wouldn't change our time together for anything."

After hearing his mother's words, Merlin couldn't agree more than at that moment. Kings were hard and rare to find. Each one was a ruby in a pile of diamonds. And like every king, they needed a knight to protect them.

TBC

One last chapter until the end of this story. Stay tuned!