Over the next few days Merlin's bond with Arthur had become a lot stronger since the day he met his and Morgana's father. His curiosity about their past had also become more increasingly difficult to ignore. He did want to know more, but he somehow couldn't bring himself to ask. After all he did understand why they would want to keep their past private, so all Merlin did was push his curiosity to the deepest corner of his mind.
Although Gwen hadn't been told much about Morgana's and Arthur's past either, she too wondered what had happened in their previous schools. Being the kind girl Gwen is she decided not to bombard Morgana with questions as it would have only made things awkward between the bond that she had worked hard to achieve.
However both Merlin and Gwen had to put all their questions and curiosity behind them as the next comings days were going to be the most challenging that the four friends were going to face.
The following morning three days after meeting Arthur and Morgana's father Merlin walked over to the headmaster's office, which was now their usual meeting place with the Pendragons. He kept glancing at his watch until he saw Morgana guiding Arthur towards Merlin.
As they were chatting about nothing in particular a few people walked past while sniggering and pointing at Morgana.
"What are they laughing at"? Morgana asked suspiciously.
Before Merlin could answer Gwen rushed up to her while shouting her name.
"What's the matter Gwen"? All three of them asked simultaneously.
"Morgana, the troublesome trio have kind of made a nickname for you" Gwen said awkwardly.
"Well what is it" Morgana replied.
However Gwen didn't need to answer her as Morgause and Catrina were walking down the corridor, their vile smiles aimed at the four friends.
"Why hello, whoregana"! They both sneered before running off and giggling to themselves.
Gwen's face went pink while Morgana's went dark with pure anger.
"Oh god" Merlin muttered, ashamed that Morgana seemed to be the only victim of their bullying.
"Is that seriously the best they could come up with" Gwen said, trying to take Morgana's mind off it.
Morgana's fists were clenched as if she was about to lash out and punch something. Arthur could feel the tension rise up in her body and knew it was best to stay away when it happened.
Merlin could then feel Arthur pass himself to him which Merlin took notice off and linked arms with him.
At that exact moment Morgana noticed that Arthur had unlinked arms with her, which made a sharp pain of guilt take over her anger.
"I'm not going to stand here and let those trolls insult me" Morgana said forcefully.
"Neither will we but don't do anything that will end up with you in detention" Gwen warned.
"So what am I supposed to do, let them embarrass me in front of the entire school"? Morgana questioned with a hint of anger in her voice.
"No we fight back" Arthur suggested.
"Fighting's not allowed" Merlin stated.
"I don't mean actual fighting, I mean that whatever they throw at us we throw back" Arthur explained.
Morgana looked impressed with the idea.
"I'm not sure; I mean what if they talk about stuff which is personal"? Gwen questioned nervously.
"Then we will get dirt on them" Morgana replied now sounding determined.
Merlin then considered the idea then decided that maybe it was time that the troublesome trio had a taste of their own medicine.
"Alright" Merlin agreed along with Gwen who also thought that they have had more than their fair share of pleasure from other people's suffering.
"Ok" Gwen agreed. Morgana smile and quickly hugged her before high fiving the two boys.
The bell then rang; Merlin and Arthur went to their class followed by Morgana and Gwen who were in a different class to the boys.
It turned out that the two boys didn't have to wait long for a chance to take their plan into action.
Sitting at the desk opposite Merlin and Arthur were Morgause and Catrina chatting about something that the boys wouldn't be interested in.
Their conversation soon ended when Catrina caught them staring.
"What are you staring at"? Catrina said spitefully.
"Oh nothing, just at your troll faces" Merlin replied while Arthur chuckled.
At this point Morgause had joined in on the banter, "That's rich coming from you, you look like a weasel" Morgause said before she and Catrina burst out laughing.
"Well at least I'm a weasel who can look in the mirror in the morning" Merlin replied, slightly enjoying the banter.
"What for, you'll only crack it" Catrina retorted.
"It's better than shattering the whole mirror" Arthur added before getting evil stares from both the girls.
Once the lesson had ended, the two boys stood up ready to leave until Morgause whispered into Merlin's ear; "Your friend better watch his back, that's if he can" Morgause and Catrina then strutted off into the distance.
Meanwhile in Morgana and Gwen's class, Freya was sat alone and was staring at the two girls for most of the lesson.
When the girls had had enough of her staring Morgana shouted, "What are you staring at"?
Freya gave her a scowl in return before Gwen added, "What is your problem".
Freya's scowl deepened and her stare got colder.
"Aw are you upset coz none of your other troll mates are with you" Morgana said in a hateful tone.
Gwen then added in the same tone, "She needs her mates to stick up and respect her".
At the end of the lesson was when Freya grabbed Gwen's arm and lashed out. Morgana was just in hearing distance so she could hear everything Freya said.
"I think its best your careful with what you say, you don't want your secret to get in the wrong hands do you"? She said viciously.
Gwen shook her head.
"Insult me again and I'll tell everyone your dirty little secret" she snarled before adding in the same vile tone, "See how much respect you get from your thicko friends then".
Freya then swished her hair and flounced off to joining Morgause and Catrina in the corridor.
Tears were stinging at Gwen's eyes which Morgana noticed. She walked over to Gwen and patted her shoulder, Gwen rushed off crying while apologising.
Morgana ran after her, when Gwen had reached the girls toilet she stopped running and hadn't realised that Morgana had followed her.
"I'm so sorry" Gwen said in almost a whisper.
"Gwen, what happened with Freya"? Morgana asked gently.
Gwen sniffed and gulped before saying "I can't tell you".
"You can Gwen, please"! Morgana practically begged.
"You'll hate me" Gwen exclaimed.
"Try me" was Morgana's simple reply.
Gwen coughed and sniffed before answering, "Me an... and Freya were once friends a long time ago".
Morgana looked at Gwen, waiting for more.
"When... when we were friends I told her a secret" Gwen began before getting some toilet paper and blowing her nose.
"What happened"? Morgana asked quietly.
"Freya quickly became friends with Catrina and Morgause who didn't think I was a good enough friend for her".
"What about this secret" Morgana said in the same tone.
Gwen coughed before speaking, "I... I'm" Gwen stood there not finishing her sentence.
"You can tell me "Morgana said more softly.
Gwen let out a shaky sigh, "Morgana, I'm a lesbian" Gwen forced out.
Morgana put her arm around Gwen, pulling her into a hug before saying, "That's nothing to be ashamed of".
"Really "? Gwen asked nervously as if Morgana was about to disband their friendship.
"Gwen I don't care if your straight or not, I'm bisexual myself" Morgana admitted.
"Oh" Gwen said, almost relieved.
"I admit that I used to get bullied for it" Morgana said as well as adding, "between you and me I had a load of fights and it usually ended up in me getting excluded".
Gwen stood there as if she was waiting for more.
"Besides you as well as Merlin are the only friends I have had who haven't turned against me and I know you wouldn't so why should I do that to you"?
"I just didn't expect Freya to either, I mean we were friends" Gwen replied.
"Gwen real friends don't turn against each other, that's what I have learned while hanging out with you and Merlin".
Gwen gave Morgana a warming smile.
Morgana then added, "however if you do come out to everyone then Freya's threat will become empty" Morgana said reassuringly.
"I don't know if I can" Gwen said feebly.
"I don't want Freya to shout it out to everyone, but if you beat her to it then she won't have anything on you therefore there will be no point in her trying to get pleasure out of your pain" Morgana said.
Gwen smiled as she saw that Morgana's plan could work. She then gave Morgana one last hug before they both went to find Arthur and Merlin.
Back near the headmaster's office Merlin and Arthur stood waiting for the two girls to return.
"You don't think Morgana has got herself into another fight"? Merlin asked.
"Wouldn't surprise me if she did" Arthur replied flatly.
Merlin looked at Arthur as if he was hiding something, which only made Merlin's curiosity come back in full power.
Arthur's gaze was locked on the double doors as if he knew that those were the doors that Morgana and Gwen would come out from to see them. All Merlin could do was wait with Arthur.
Arthur then mumbled something that Merlin didn't catch.
"Arthur"? Merlin asked with genuine concern.
Arthur sighed before speaking, "Merlin, Morgana has got herself into so many fights in her school life that fights are now the only thing she expects when she goes to a new school" Arthur admitted.
Merlin just stood there in silence.
"If she gets excluded again then... I don't know how I will cope" Arthur added with a look of sorrow.
"I'm sure she won't" Merlin said trying to be helpful.
Arthur huffed out a laugh, "Merlin over years I have come to realise that the only reasons these fights happen are because of me".
"It's not your fault Arthur, you were born blind you had no control over it" Merlin said in a serious tone.
"I just think that if me and her went to separate schools then maybe the fights will stop" Arthur said before adding quietly, "nothing anyone says or does will change my opinion".
Merlin sighed and was about to reply when he saw Morgana and Gwen, Arthur's face seemed to lighten up as if he received some sort of signal that it was them.
Merlin decided not to tell them about what they had been discussing.
"Where have you been"? Merlin asked.
"Sorry were late, we were just having a girly chat" was Morgana's reply.
The four friends then walked into the canteen, only to be unexpectedly encountered by the troublesome trio.
"Well here are the featherbrained foursome" Catrina spat.
"Did you want something" Morgana replied nastily.
"Yeah, to get out of our way" Freya said spitefully.
When the trio tried to get past Gwen was the one to block their way.
"Move it peasant" Morgause snapped.
"Uh, no way" Gwen argued.
"Gwen I'm warning you" Freya said in fake kindness.
"Go on then, I dare you" Gwen threatened while the other three of Gwen's friends stood there smiling.
"Fine, I warned you" Freya said before adding, "Hey everyone, this girl who calls herself Gwen is a lesbian"! Freya shouted causing everybody in the canteen to stare at the trio and Gwen.
Gwen then decided to stand up for herself, "Yeah I am so what, it's what makes me happy and you can judge all you like but it doesn't bother me and do you know why"? Gwen shouted before continuing, "It's because I couldn't care less about people's opinions or gossiping as true friends would accept their friend's sexuality"!
Gwen's speech had made everyone silent until someone shouted, "well I'm gay and proud".
Then everyone began to smile and cheer at Gwen which made the trio die of embarrassment and hatred of the fact that some people were giving them evil stares which they had felt the pressure from.
Once the cheering had stopped Gwen went up to Freya and whispered, "Looks like your threat came out empty handed".
The trio then flounced off until Morgause said to Arthur, "I wonder how you're going to stand up for yourself".
All of a sudden Arthur stuck his cane out and all three of them tripped and landed near the plate clearing area as well as one of the rubbish bins.
The trio along with Arthur's friends looked shocked over what had just happened. Soon enough Merlin, Morgana and Gwen were all in fits of laughter along with half the canteen.
The trio were stumbling and struggling to get up; when they had finally managed it they stormed off to avoid any further embarrassment.
"How did you know when to do that"? Merlin asked, still in a laughing fit.
"I felt them hovering" Arthur replied while smirking.
When they had finished laughing, Morgana put her arm around Gwen and said, "You really went for it girl".
"I had to, I couldn't let them walk all over me like that anymore" Gwen replied.
It had made Merlin think that if Gwen could sort out her own problems like that then maybe in the vast future the Pendragons could also confront their fears and more importantly their past.
During the four friends time of laughter the troublesome trio had stormed off to the girl's toilets, shooing out any of the other girls so they could have a private talk.
"I am not letting a blind bonehead make a fool out of me"! Morgause roared as she slammed her bag on to one of the sinks.
Catrina walked slowly up to Morgause and said, "Then you must take control, show that brat who's boss".
"How will we do that"? Freya asked suspiciously.
Catrina gave Freya and Morgause a sly look before saying, "Well we need to get Arthur completely on his own without any of his interfering friends on the scene".
"But how, they are practically glued to each other" Morgause asked flatly.
Catrina eyed Morgause in a shifty way, "We need a few distractions to keep them busy".
"What kind of distractions"? Freya and Morgause said simultaneously.
Catrina let out an evil grin, "Cause an argument or fight, but that will be mine and Freya's job" Catrina said spitefully.
"What's mine"? Morgause asked, now slightly freaked out.
"Ah" Catrina said in a creepy tone before answering Morgauses question, "You will come face to face with Arthur alone then show him who's boss".
"What are you thinking Catrina"? Morgause asked, slightly worried.
Catrina smiled a gleeful smile before continuing, "You will have him at a place where you can let's say, finish him off" Catrina said letting out her vile colours.
"Finish him off" Morgause stammered.
"Unless your too scared" Catrina said in a cruel voice, her eyes sensing Morgauses fear.
"Alright, I'll do it" Morgause confirmed and with that the three girls left the toilets to get on with the rest of their day.