The next day school couldn't have been any more different for the four friends.
Although they could sense that the troublesome trio hadn't forgotten the incident in the canteen, none of the four friends could put a finger on why they were giving them the silent treatment.
The four friends were sat in their English class not listening to Mr Gaius talk at them; instead they kept gazing at Morgause and Freya who were sat two desks away from them. To their surprise they both had their heads down and for once they weren't trying to stir trouble which made the four friends get suspicious as well as worried.
"Why aren't they at least giving us evil grins"? Gwen whispered to the other three friends.
"Maybe they are still embarrassed about what happened in the canteen yesterday" Merlin suggested.
"Yeah but they wouldn't be silent about it" Morgana stated.
"Morgana's right" Arthur began before continuing, "If I trust my instincts I would say that they are planning something" Arthur said carefully.
They all took one last look at Morgause and Freya before they had also got on with their work.
As the day went on the trio's silence along with the distance they kept from the four friends had started to freak out Morgana and Arthur in particular.
For Arthur it had almost been strange not to hear bad jokes or rumors about his blindness. However he also felt a tingle of happiness in his spine, as it was the first proper time he wasn't forced to listen to the vile and sickening words of the ignorant people who didn't understand what it was like to be blind.
Morgana's take on it was that the trio may have found it in their hearts of stone to realise that their spiteful words didn't affect Arthur. Also Morgana couldn't help but notice that now there was no reason to fight or defend herself, it almost felt as if she could let go of all her anger and frustration that he been built up throughout the years and just let it deflate like a balloon.
On the other hand there were somethings that Morgana would never be able to let go of, the flash backs kept replaying in her memory as if they were a curse which would be with her till the end of time.
At lunch time the trio were nowhere to be seen, Merlin, Morgana and Gwen just assumed that they were too mortified to show up after yesterday's shenanigans. However Arthur couldn't help but think that they were plotting some sort of plan which involved a certain level of cruelty and violence. The most terrifying thought was that he suspected that their 'plan' would be aimed at him and him alone.
Arthur knew that bottling all his suspicions in wouldn't help him, but he was certain that no good would come if he did tell his friends about his suspicions just in case Morgana decided to confront them about it. After all he may be wrong although his gut instincts say otherwise.
All Arthur could do was to wait and see what happened even if it pained him to think about the near future.
Meanwhile the troublesome trio had retreated to the girls toilets to discuss their plan.
"So" Catrina began.
"What"? Morgause asked flatly.
"The silent treatment seems to working so far, don't you agree girls" Catrina asked, her voice slightly patronising.
"Just get to the point Catrina" Morgause said angrily while all Freya did was listen to the two girls, not wanting to get involved herself.
"Well now we have got them thinking that we have stopped the bullying, I think it's time we show those twits who rules this school" Catrina said in the same tone.
"Look Catrina can't we just go back to insulting them, I mean this plan does seem a bit extreme" Freya said in a small voice, Morgause gave her a small nod in agreement.
Catrina stalked up to both of the girls, "Are you questioning my plan" she spat.
Freya shook her head while Morgause did nothing.
Catrina stepped closer to Morgause, her eyes looking straight into Morgauses. She then whispered spitefully, "Are you a leader or a Lily liver"?
Morgause stared at Catrina for a single second before saying loudly, "I am a born leader, I'll show you"! She whisked her bag from the sink and was about to leave before Catrina grabbed her arm firm enough to make Morgause cry out.
"Our plan starts tomorrow" she then added in a vile whisper, "You had better show up or I may not be responsible for my actions".
Catrina then barged past Morgause then out of the toilets, her wicked plan coming into shape inside her head.
The next day Catrina was waiting for Morgause and Freya just outside the girl's toilets with one of her evil grins spreading across her face.
When she saw Freya walk across the corridor she walked quickly up to Freya and grabbed hold of her demanding where Morgause was.
Freya started to shake when responding to her, "I... I d... don't know, I'm sorry" she stammered as if Catrina was about to punch her in the face.
Catrina had ordered Freya to stand with her so she wouldn't look like a fool. Around five minutes later Morgause had appeared with a look of pure anxiety.
"What took you so long" Catrina snapped.
"Sorry" Morgause mumbled.
"Anyway" Catrina hissed before adding "Right here is how it's going to work, Freya you distract Morgana and Gwen, I'll distract Merlin and Morgause has the joy with Arthur".
Catrina let out another evil grin before shouting, "Well get on with it then"! As well as making shooing motions with her hands.
During the time the troublesome trio spent discussing their plan, the four friends were at their normal meeting place, all of them apart from Arthur were chatting about all kinds of different topics.
Arthur's suspicions had grown worse overnight, his instincts were practically screaming at him that something horrendous was going to happen. The most distressing part of his suspicions was that if he was correct the consequences would be severe.
"Are you alright Arthur"? Morgana asked gently which snapped him out of his traffic jam of thoughts.
"Yeah sorry just daydreaming "Arthur lied.
"What about, any girls"? Merlin said mockingly while nudging his arm.
"No" Arthur chuckled slightly before his worries had taken him over again.
Meanwhile the troublesome trio had taken their plan into action; Freya began the plan by telling the caretaker Mr Percival that someone was doing graffiti on the bike sheds. He rushed off to the 'incident' without noticing that Freya had taken his keys from him.
Freya then fumbled for the keys to the girls toilets so that she could do her part of the job.
But before she could do her job, she had to find Catrina so she could give her the keys to the caretakers store room.
When the bell rang, signalling for break time, Freya rushed over to Catrina who was putting on more makeup in the girls toilets.
Her evil grin spread across her face when she saw that Freya had got the keys. Catrina yanked off the key to the caretakers store room. Before racing off to do her part she whispered to Freya "remember lock them in, no matter what it takes".
Lunchtime couldn't have come any slower for the trio. They were the first ones to leave their lesson's, in a hurry to get their plan over and done with as quickly as possible.
Freya's job couldn't have been easier for her, Morgana and Gwen were already in the girl's toilet, laughing about stuff girls do.
"They won't be laughing for much longer" Freya mouthed before getting the keys and locking them in.
The sound of the door being locked didn't go unheard. Morgana walked slowly up to the door and tried to pull it open, when that didn't work Gwen suggested to try and push the door. Morgana and Gwen were soon disappointed as well as frustrated when the door still didn't budge.
"What's happening" Gwen asked, her voice shaking a little.
"Were locked in"! Morgana cried.
Morgana paced around the girls toilets for two minutes straight before it occurred to her if Merlin was with Arthur.
While Morgana and Gwen were locked in the toilets, Merlin was coming out of the men's toilets when he was stopped by a harsh grip on his arm. He spun himself around to see that the person who had grabbed his arm was Catrina.
"What do you want" Merlin snapped.
"If that's the way you're going to talk to me, I won't tell you about Arthur" Catrina replied in mock sweetness.
"Wait, what about Arthur"? Merlin asked cautiously.
"He's managed to lock himself in the caretakers store cupboard "Catrina lied.
Merlin looked visibly shaken, "Alright, take me to him" Merlin ordered as he followed Catrina.
When Catrina had lead him to the store cupboard, she had told him that the caretaker had left the keys in the door.
Without hesitation Merlin barged towards the door and opened it. Suddenly he felt himself being pushed in forcefully as well as hearing the door slam and get locked. It was at that moment when Merlin could kick himself as he out of all people should know Catrina's record for being the biggest scumbag and compulsive liar.
As Catrina walked off, flipping her hair she thought to herself, too easy, it was just like taking candy from a baby.
Since Morgana and Gwen had been locked in the girl's toilets, they were both worrying about Arthur and Merlin when a thought occurred to Morgana.
"Do you have Merlin's mobile"? Morgana asked, her mouth wobbling slightly.
"Why, yes" Gwen said as she handed Morgana her phone.
Morgana took the phone off Gwen and speed dialed Merlin's number, praying to herself that Merlin would answer.
In the store cupboard, Merlin was startled to hear his phone ring; he was more than relieved to find that the person calling was Gwen.
"Merlin"! Morgana exclaimed as soon as he picked up the call.
"Are you with Gwen"? Merlin asked now worried sick about Arthur.
"Yes" Morgana replied.
"Merlin"? Gwen asked which Merlin could hear in the background. Gwen then carried on speaking, "Are you with Arthur"?
"I would be" Merlin began, "If I wasn't locked in the storeroom" Merlin finished off his sentence in shame.
"What, no you can't be"! Morgana shouted into the phone.
"Why" Merlin asked now frightened of Morgana's answer.
"Because we are locked in the girl's toilets"! Both of the girls exclaimed.
"That means... Arthur's on his own"! Merlin yelled before adding, "Catrina locked me in here, it's been the trio's plan to get us out of the way so they can have Arthur by himself"! Merlin continued to shout.
"Shit" Morgana cursed with a lot of force under her breath.
"We need to find a way to escape and fast" Merlin said a bit more quietly.
With that they ended the call that very moment and focused on finding a way out.
However during the time they had spent on the phone Catrina and Freya had met near the Math's corridor.
"How did it go"? Freya asked.
"Went as smooth as silk, he's so gullible its painful" Catrina then laughed, sounding just like a witch.
Freya stayed silent.
"Now we text Morgause to finish Arthur off" Catrina said in her own vile tone of voice.
Freya then began to breath heavily, a mental list of what could potentially happen was so long that it almost disturbed her thoughts and nerves.
Catrina then took out her phone to text Morgause which made Freya panic even more.
Walking down the English corridor Morgause saw Arthur standing there looking like a lost puppy.
A twinge had suddenly made its way up to her chest; it pained her to see Arthur look so confused about the real world. She was supposed to hate this boy but in truth he was in many ways a lot stronger than her which was one of the many reasons why she picked on him.
It had suddenly occurred to her that Arthur didn't even deserve a quarter of the bullshit that Morgause admitted she had started; now she couldn't do anything to change the past to make it right. If she went through with this loathsome plan she would only have herself to blame, after all it was her own fault for being so repulsive against the Pendragons.
Taking a deep breath she walked closer to Arthur but not too close as she didn't want him to know that it was her. Sometimes Morgause wished that she was someone else as most people did.
In the meantime Merlin had been desperately searching through the caretaker's things to find something which could help get him out of the store room as quick as possible. To his surprise he found a box full of twisted paperclips, at that moment he was glad that he knew how to pick a lock so easily.
Fiddling with the paper clip in the lock Merlin had been unsuccessful for the first three minutes. He was about to move on to a different method of escaping when he heard the door unlock. He was about to rush out when a hand stopped him.
"What are you doing in there"! The caretaker shouted loud enough for the students who were standing near the headmaster's office to hear.
"I was locked in; please let me go it's an emergency"! Merlin retorted. He barged past the caretaker while snatching his keys. He ignored the caretaker's shout of "Oi I've already had them taken from me once today"!
Merlin ran like the wind towards the girls toilets, pushing past the Que of girls who were desperate for the loo.
The two girls heard keys get jangled and twisted through the lock and were relieved to find it was Merlin.
The two girls rushed out while Merlin yelled, "We need to find Arthur"!
They all raced across different corridors, more than desperate to find where Arthur was.
As Freya watched Catrina frantically type on her phone, Freya was getting nervous ticks in her hands.
"There" Catrina announced before adding, "come on off to see the show go on".
Both girls walked quickly to the English department, Catrina beaming from ear to ear at the thought of Arthur getting his just desserts.
Although Morgause knew that Freya and Catrina were on their way, she still couldn't bring herself to do the evil that Catrina had wanted.
She put her hands a millimeter near Arthur's shoulder but by now her hands were trembling, her guilty conscience yelling at her not to do this.
Morgause took a deep breath, her hands were as still as statues as if they had a life on their own and refused to move.
What Morgause didn't notice was that Catrina and Freya were now watching and waiting for Morgause to finish off the job. When Catrina had started to get impatient she decided to keep it in as if she had a surprise up her sleeve.
In the distance Morgana Merlin and Gwen were rushing towards the English block where they saw a hint of Arthur and ran towards him.
Unknown to them Catrina had seen them, she crept up to Morgause and without a second for Morgause to turn around Catrina shoved Morgause therefore making her knock into Arthur with a scream causing Arthur to tumble down the stairs violently until his head was smacked onto the tiled floor.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE"! Morgana shrieked as she bolted down the stairs three at a time.
"I- I" Morgause stammered, tears brimming in her eyes while giving Catrina a betrayed slash vile look.
"YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR"! Merlin and Gwen yelled at the top of their lungs.
Mr Agravaine came dashing towards where Arthur was lying and checked for a pulse rate before shouting, "who did this"!
"MORGAUSE"! Morgana shrieked clearly getting near hysterical.
Everyone turned their burning glares at Morgause who had tears running down her cheeks and shaking violently.
"He's still alive" Agravaine stated before adding, "He needs to go to hospital, this instant".
"I'll go with him" Morgana said as she tried to calm herself down without much success.
Mr Agravaine then called for an ambulance, while they were waiting Morgana patted Merlin on the shoulder, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Merlin" she stammered, "I need you to tell... my father" she finished, her voice getting higher.
"I will" Merlin soothed.
"Tell him I've gone with Arthur" Morgana shouted as the ambulance arrived.
Five minutes after the ambulance had left, Merlin rushed off secretly to the Pendragons house.
Merlin was slightly shaking as well as nervous to what Uther's reaction was going to be. Merlin knocked exactly three times before he finally managed to get an answer from him.
The door was only opened a tiny fraction, "What are you doing here, school doesn't finish for another two hours yet"? Uther said rather panicked.
"Uther I was told by Morgana to tell you that Arthur has been involved in an accident and Morgana has gone to the hospital with him" Merlin said in a whisper but loud enough for Uther to hear.
"You ... you've hurt him"! Uther accused.
"I haven't Uther I swear I didn't, it was this girl called Morgause and-"Merlin was cut off by Uther's shouting.
"You have hurt my son; you have failed him and betrayed me"! Uther yelled before adding in a growl, "don't darken my door again" then slamming the door in Merlin's face.
Uther's words had repeated themselves over and over again in his head for the rest of the school day and evening. Uther was right about what he had said; he should have spotted their plan sooner. If he did things would have turned out differently, now all Merlin could do was sit alone and hope that things will get better.