The rest of the first week at their new school had passed. With the help and support of Merlin and Gwen it hadn't been so bad, especially if they compared this first week to all the others they had been through. There had been a few comments, mostly from Morgause about Arthur's blindness but it was nothing that was remotely going to cause offense to him.
"Doesn't anything that Morgause has said to you so far even slightly offend you"? Gwen asked curiously after the next couple of days they were at the school.
"It's nothing I've not heard before" was Arthur's reasonable reply.
"Doesn't it bother you even a little bit"? Merlin added.
"Merlin, people like Morgause who prowl around the school looking for the next prey to terrorise love nothing more than when the victim shows offense or any emotion, so I don't" Arthur said unaware that his eyes were spot on at Merlin.
Merlin's brain seemed to take a while to absorb what Arthur had just said, admiring his strong will and lack of weakness that not many people had the ability or strength to hide.
But nothing had prepared them for any of the events that were about to happen the following week.
It had started out as an ordinary Monday morning. Everyone in the school was chatting about what they did for the weekend, whereas Morgana and Arthur were searching for Merlin and Gwen as the Pendragons would be spending their first two lessons apart.
"Merlin"! Morgana called when she finally saw his face.
"Hey "he replied looking at both Morgana and Arthur, Gwen soon followed and gave Morgana a quick hug as they had spent a few lessons together and were already behaving like best friends.
Unknown to the others Arthur had picked up a sense of Morgause as he heard her voice gossiping about boys in the school just around the corner. Arthur then warned the rest of them that Morgause was coming by clearing his throat.
They all noticed and Gwen gently tapped his shoulder to ask what the matter was and his answer was "Morgause is coming". They all looked to their left and saw that Arthur was correct.
"How did you know it was her, she's all the way on the other side of the corridor"? Merlin asked, amazed at how good Arthur's hearing was.
"You see as I'm blind, my other senses naturally become more alert to me" Arthur replied.
Before Merlin could say another word Morgause was slowly approaching them along with her two friends, Arthur recognised that there were two other people with her. One was Freya who had made one or two comments about him here and there along with another voice who he wasn't familiar with.
As the three girls walked past Morgause jeered "Hey, where's your guide dog"! The person who Arthur didn't know added "Morgause are you blind, his guides dog goes by the name of Morgana". All three girls exploded into laughter before walking off sniggering amongst themselves.
Morgana was gritting her teeth and her eyes went dark to match her mood.
"Who was that with Morgause and Freya"? Arthur asked with slight irritation in his voice.
"That was the one and only vile Catrina" Gwen replied hoarsely.
Merlin turned to look at Gwen as if he knew something that neither he nor Gwen would share.
They were all saved by the bell as it rang to declare lesson time, they all dragged themselves to their lesson, Arthur and Merlin had their arms linked as they walked to the PE department.
Luckily for Arthur it was an all-boys PE group so he wouldn't have to put up with the three girls he now called 'the troublesome trio'.
However Morgana couldn't have been put in a more unlucky PE group. Not only were the troublesome trio in her group, the sport they were playing involved being in pairs and since Morgana knew no one in her group the teacher soon forced her to partner up with Freya.
Morgana had tried to reason with her teacher but her teacher who revealed herself to be addressed as Mrs Vivian, wasn't having any excuses.
Refusing to work with Freya Morgana sat herself down on the rusty bench and scowled at the three girls. Before Morgana could even register what had happened, Freya with encouragement from Morgause threw the ball that hit the very top of the bench which was clearly aimed at Morgana. Morgana grabbed the ball viciously and lobbed it at Morgause; unfortunately Morgause ducked from the ball and it smacked Mrs Vivian right in the face, making her nose bleed.
"Who dares to throw something at me"! She roared.
"It was Morgana miss, I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen "Freya said in an innocent little girl voice.
"Is this true"! Mrs Vivian demanded.
Morgana was about to speak when Morgause interrupted her sharply, "She was aiming it straight at my face, she could of killed me with that" she said while pointing at the ball.
"Pendragon this is your first and final warning!" Mrs Vivian yelled so that the whole class knew about Morganas telling off.
Once Mrs Vivian's back was turned Morgause whispered just enough for Morgana to hear. "You know I wonder what would happen if that ball was to get thrown at her brother, accidentally of course". Before Morgause could even laugh Morgana charged to her, grabbed and ripped at the collar of her shirt like a wild animal.
"Miss, miss "! Catrina shouted and Mrs Vivian raced to the fight while the rest of the students were chanting fight! Fight! Fight!
"Stop that Pendragon!" Mrs Vivian yelled while pulling Morgana off Morgause.
"What's the meaning of this"? Mrs Vivian shouted.
"She started the whole thing"! Morgana shouted back.
"She's telling lies miss" Freya butted in, "Morgana just charged at Morgause like a bull just because she was upset about getting told off" Catrina added.
She's always picking on me"! Morgause cried as well as letting out a fake cry. Freya and Catrina both pretended to be comforting by hugging Morgause.
"Right I've had enough of this, Pendragon detention!" Mrs Vivian bellowed.
"But miss" Morgana whined.
"Get out"! Mrs Vivian ordered.
As Morgana walked away she saw the three girls all have sly smiles crawling on their lips, their pure white inline teeth that Morgana was desperate to knock out.
"That will teach her" Morgause sneered when Morgana was out of sight.
When lunch time had come around Morgana went with Gwen to meet up with Merlin and Arthur.
After Morgana had made it clear to Arthur that she was there she grabbed Merlin's arm and whispered, "Merlin could you possibly take Arthur home for me today"?
"Why"? Merlin whispered back.
"Because I have been put in detention" Morgana replied before telling Gwen and Arthur what had happened.
"You had a fight with Morgause"! Gwen exclaimed as soon as Morgana had told her and Arthur.
"Shh" Morgana whispered, not wanting the rest of the school to find out.
"What happened" Merlin and Arthur asked at the same time.
"Morgause practically threatened to throw a ball at my brother, that's what happened"! Morgana snapped which made Arthur flinch at the sudden raised voice.
"Sorry Arthur" Morgana whispered gently as well as rubbing his shoulder.
Having noticed that there was only ten minutes of lunch time left, they all went to the canteen and not expecting what was about to happen.
At first they were all alarmed when the saw the troublesome trio sat on the very back table but as they didn't seem to have noticed them they decided to keep themselves silent. They sat at the front table near the door so it was easier for Arthur, especially if the trio were to cause more trouble.
Arthur announced that he was going to get some water, Morgana offered to get it for him but Arthur wasn't one to like being fussed over. He went over to the water jug with his cane and managed to pick up a cup without knocking the pile over. However the actual water part was a tricky task, all of a sudden Arthur felt something brush against him which caused him to jump and spill the large amount of water all over the person behind him.
Morgana, Merlin and Gwen all rushed over to Arthur when they heard screaming from the person he had accidentally splashed. Arthur was even more mortified when he recognised that voice of the person which just happened to be Catrina's.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" Arthur stammered clearly getting distressed by the situation.
"You idiot, its everywhere"! Catrina bellowed.
"He said he was sorry" Merlin said defending Arthur.
"He will be" Morgause snarled as she and Freya ran up to Catrina with paper towels to dry herself off with.
With that the trio walked off, in the distance only Arthur heard Catrina's muffled "that blind brat is going to wish he had never been born". Gwen was a hundred percent correct about Catrina being vile.
With his cane Arthur quickly stormed off and began punching a row of lockers until Morgana stopped him.
"Arthur calm down"! She said, trying to get the stern looks off her and Arthur.
"Why should I, I can't even get water without tossing it and making a fool of myself"! Arthur shouted.
Morgana then grabbed Arthur and pulled him into a hug while Arthur was trying to calm down and stop shaking.
"It was an accident Arthur anyone could see that" Gwen reassured him.
"Anyway it was only Catrina so it wasn't like you splashed anyone important" Merlin added.
That made a tiny but definite smile appear on Arthur's face along with a chuckle from Gwen and Morgana.
Now it was certain that Arthur was calm again Morgana had told him that Merlin was going to take him home after school which Merlin and Arthur were fine with.
When it was home time, Morgana quickly ran up to Merlin to give him their address. Merlin linked arms with Arthur and followed the directions that Morgana had given him.
It took a while but eventually Merlin had found Arthur's house and walked him right up to the door step as Morgana had instructed.
"Should I leave you now" Merlin asked.
"No, my father will think I've walked on my own and he would be worried sick" Arthur replied, tightening his grip on Merlin.
"Ok" was all Merlin said.
Arthur went forward and knocked on the door with three exact knocks, Merlin could hear the door being slowly unlocked and a minute later a much older man looked at Arthur then squinted at Merlin.
"Where's Morgana"? He questioned.
"She's in detention" Arthur replied.
"And who's this"? The man asked looking at Merlin then behind him as if someone else was to creep up on them.
"This is Merlin, the boy I was telling you about over the weekend". If Merlin was honest with himself, he was secretly flattered that Arthur had told who he assumed was his father about their friendship.
Then I guess you had better come in too" the man said sternly.
Arthur went in first, taking his time to mind the step, Merlin then followed along with the older man saying "Shut the door quickly".
Merlin did as he was told with a slight confusion as to why he was so worried about a door not being shut so quickly.
"I've heard good things about you Merlin" The older man said as Merlin walked through the corridor.
"Um, thank you" Merlin tried without getting nervous.
"I'm Uther Pendragon , Arthur and Morgana's father" Uther introduced as well as holding out his hand which Merlin shook.
Uther pointed at a chair for Merlin to sit down on, Merlin looked around the house and noticed that they didn't have many belongings in the living room, but he strongly suspected that they either traveled light or haven't really began unpacking yet.
"I must thank you for helping my son get used to yet another new school" Uther said genuinely.
"You don't need to thank me, your son is an interesting person" Merlin stated.
Uther smiled before saying "My son has never had many real friends at school".
The sudden revelation made Merlin wonder what exactly happened in their previous schools.
Merlin was about to tell Uther that he would leave them to it when Morgana came through the door and saw Merlin sitting on her chair.
"Merlin, I didn't expect to see you here" Morgana said, slightly surprised that Merlin would stay with Arthur until she had got home.
"Your father invited me in" Merlin replied.
"Call me Uther and you deserve a bit of praise for being a good friend to my son".
"Yeah that's right Merlin" Morgana added with the first smile that Merlin had seen on her.
"Thank you, but I should go now" Merlin said kindly, not wanting to hold them up any longer.
Out of the blue there was a crash and a loud shout coming from the kitchen, they all raced there to find a smashed mug, dripping with tea all over the floor.
"I was trying to make tea for our guest as I usually can" Arthur said apologetically.
"Merlin was about to leave " Morgana pointed out while Merlin got a few paper towels to wipe up the mess. It was at that moment when he realised that it wasn't people's insults that frustrated Arthur, it was the fact that he found straight forward tasks like that difficult.
After helping clean up the spilt tea and the smashed mug, Merlin said goodbye to the Pendragons and said that he would meet them near the headmaster's office tomorrow as that was now their normal meeting spot.
As Merlin walked home he was desperate to know what had happened to make Arthur that determined to do things himself. He also wanted to know what had happened at their other schools to make Uther be that proud to see Arthur have a true friend.
All Merlin wanted to do was to be that true friend as whatever had happened in the past has effected all the Pendragons and Merlin certainly can't afford to make a mistake. If he does make that mistake the consequences could be fatal.
For the whole evening the only thing that was on his mind was the Pendragons.