CHAPTER 27 : A SUBTLE PALATE

Merlin's family and Arthur had supper, the plan was that Arthur and he would return to Nonsuch on Monday and on the same day, Hunith and Gaius would be picked up by Tom and driven home. Sunday they would with Hunith and Gaius go to Mass at the local Catholic church, The English Martyrs in nearby Millbrook.

Merlin had felt very relaxed at Minton, he loved the parkland and the peace. The staff were almost invisible and the house ran smoothly not unlike a five-star hotel.

"You'll be sorry to leave, won't you?" Arthur said as they got ready for bed.

"Well, I never aspired to living in a manor house but this experience has made me realise that it certainly has its perks. Are you happy here though? I know it must be difficult," Merlin said pulling back the covers, plumping up his pillow and lying back against the headboard.

Arthur joined him and they lay there talking. "The strange thing is that without my father's presence, the house is not an unhappy place. Sure, there are memories around every corner but with you, I seem to be able to ignore them but I'm not ready to live here on my own yet. Just think, this summer we could have a huge party, something my father would never condone even when I was at university. The nice thing about a large house is that everyone could stay over and drink as much as they wanted."

"Well, let me know ahead of time as I could think of nothing worse that being holed up with your football chums if they were all three sheets to the wind."

Arthur laughed, "I can assure you, Merlin, you would be perfectly safe with them. They'd know better than to hit on you. I could make you a sign that says, 'Permanently Possessed by your Host', that should stop any problems."

Merlin smiled, the idea of being possessed by Arthur seemed rather enticing. They had just sort of slipped into the relationship and being together seemed right. Maybe one day they would discuss it but at the moment, Merlin certainly could see himself with no one but the man who was actually at his side.

He rolled toward Arthur and put his arms around him, Arthur rested his head on Merlin's chest and said, "Maybe my father didn't understand us but I'm sure my mother would have just like yours does." Merlin bent his head down and kissed the top of Arthur's head. He then got a little carried away and continued kissing him until he reached his ear and then nibbled the shell and suggestively kept flicking his tongue in his ear hole.

Arthur moaned and snuggled closer saying, "You're asking for it, Merlin, and one day, I promise that I will be ready, willing and able."

"Sounds like the partners of a law office!" Merlin whispered.

"Oh no! I assure you they are not stodgy octogenarians. Ready will ask the question, willing will be the response which you have to make under no pressure and able will be my condition."

Merlin pulled back and said seriously, "Arthur, when you are the able one, I will always be willing."

Arthur kissed him saying, "I'll hold you to that, My Love!" He continued a little sadly, "As the saying goes, 'My spirit is indeed willing but my flesh is weak'!"

Merlin smiled. He wanted to give himself to Arthur; he knew he would have to wait. He'd thought about it and knew it would be all right. He trusted Arthur and although he might feel a little worried, he knew that he wouldn't force him. Arthur would be kind and gentle. He also realised that if Arthur didn't think he was ready for that next step he would wait until he was. He chuckled to himself as an interesting thought entered his head.

Arthur said, "No fair, come on, Merlin, you have to share if it's that funny."

"I've been thinking Arthur, could I also be ready, willing and able one day. Ready would be my question, you would have the chance to be willing and I'm sure I'd be able with a little help."

Merlin thought Arthur was going to die laughing as he shook his head and wiped his eyes saying, "What did I ever do to deserve you? Yes, Love, whenever you feel ready, I will be willing!"

Merlin felt as if his heart was going to explode. He was in love with a wonderful man; someone who had taken a space in his life which until recently he hadn't acknowledged as he didn't understand its emptiness. Arthur completed Merlin who now knew he was home.

-0-0-

Merlin ran his hand up, Arthur's back. It seemed so immature but he loved simply touching him. It gave him a tactile pleasure; not only did his body feel good to his hand but also visually he received pleasure. His boyfriend was attractive. He lay idly tracing his muscles.

Arthur smiled. He loved the feel of Merlin's hands on his body. At first he had been so timid, only occasionally brushing the back of his hand up his face and into his hair. Now however, his hands could be more demanding and many an exchange of affection had been shared in public with Merlin's hands surreptitiously touching him.

Arthur knew that Merlin's feelings for him were without constraint. Merlin's love for him was all consuming and Arthur felt wonderful in knowing that for them, love was a two way street. Whatever he was willing to give was affectionately accepted and returned freely.

Merlin smiled to himself as in the hospital he had often dreamt of standing beside Arthur, running his hands over his chest and finally putting his arms around his waist and pulling him to him. Then, he hadn't known how wonderfully Arthur's body and his would fit together. He remembered the first time he had seen him in pool and then the day he had stood in the sunlight and been bathed in a golden glow. If it wasn't for the fact the Louis XIV had usurped the title he would have thought of him as the Sun King. Arthur was all sunshine and he on the other hand was moonlight…and they literally went hand in hand.

He whispered into Arthur's neck, "I love you so much, it almost hurts…" Arthur murmured in his sleep but the word was obviously Merlin. He wondered if his mother's love for his father had been as intense and if Arthur's father for that short period of time when he had both a living son and wife had felt for his son the love which he knew his mother had for him. Maybe it was different with fathers but he hoped that Uther had for the few minutes felt positively about Arthur.

His eyes became heavy and he drifted off to sleep.

-0-0-

With Hunith and Gaius on their way home, Arthur and Merlin prepared to leave for Nonsuch. Hodge offered to drive them and Arthur accepted. They arrived back mid-afternoon and went straight to their suite where Arthur received a schedule for the upcoming week.

"No peace for the wicked," he said as he unpacked.

"But just think, you could be out of here in ten days if the doctors approve. At least here, you are on the premises and not sitting in a car in London traffic waiting to get to your appointments. Hopefully, you get a good report as you kept up your swimming and walking."

Merlin left to put his backpack in the closet and Arthur thought, 'He's right having the facilities on your doorstep makes it a lot easier to get the work done. Maybe I shouldn't be in such a hurry to get back to town.'

A voice interrupted him saying, "Will we eat up here tonight? If so I can check on the menu and order us something interesting."

"None of your 'but let's try this' choices. I would like something light. I'm sure I've put on weight."

"Well if you have, I'm sure it's muscle." Merlin thought Arthur looked great, he's picked up a bit of sun and was one of those lucky people who just bronzed. He wondered if in the summer, his hair would also lighten. He couldn't remember as last summer Arthur was just someone who was in the office and he rarely had anything to do with him.

Someone had forgotten to put the weekly menu in the folder on the their desk so Merlin went downstairs and Arthur asking him at the same time to pick up any post at the office. While Merlin was out he took advantage of phoning Dr. Alistair's office and leaving a message requesting an appointment for midweek. He looked at himself in the mirror nodding at himself, 'Hopefully, all results will be positive!'

"The receptionist gave me these," Merlin said, walking in and dumping a handful of envelopes on the desk.

Arthur glanced through them, he knew a few would be Minutes of various office meetings which his secretary arranged to have forwarded to him. Although he wasn't yet ready to return to work, he needed to keep abreast of things. There was a package of sympathy cards which Tom had forwarded and he sat on the bed to go through them.

He did no more than scan them but Merlin read every word and then made a list of the senders' names on Arthur's Ipad.

"Some of these cards are quite touching, especially the ones from your father's old classmates. They should all be invited to the memorial service." Some of them had made an impression and Merlin decided that he would never send a sympathy card without writing something personal. They were the ones which really stood out, it would be so easy just to sign it and post it but to take the time to write something special was important.

"Merlin, go onto my e-mail and see if there are any posts there and take those names also."

"But don't you want to read them?"

"Not really! Flag anything that you think I should respond to and I'll get around to it later."

Merlin was going to say something but he decided that Arthur had his reasons and he'd just go along with them.

Supper arrived and thankfully Arthur found it to his liking. He glanced at Merlin's plate saying, "What in heaven's name are you eating, Merlin?"

"Well, I went to the kitchen and the chef suggested that I try the lamb sweetbreads roasted with bacon and onion sauce." Merlin put a miniscule slice on his fork and leaning across the table said, "Try it!"

Arthur leaned over and had a good look, not seeing anything resembling a lamb chop he shook his head saying, "No!"

"Arthur, stop being a baby, just take a little bit off my fork." Arthur clenched his jaw and turned his head away.

"Well, if you won't try it you might just be missing something which you later regret."

"Merlin, not likely! Do you even know where they come from?"

"Yes, the kitchen!"

"…and before that?"

"The butchers…?" said Merlin hesitatingly. Arthur waved his hand at him to back up. Merlin then added, "…a farm?" Arthur continued to make a circle with his hand and Merlin added, "Lambs…?"

Arthur put his finger in his throat and pretended to vomit before asking, "But where…in the lamb?"

"If you're thinking, what I think you're thinking you're wrong. The chef assured me they are not testicles but the pancreas. Anyway, it tastes very good, creamy, tender and moist. You sure I can't tempt you?"

Arthur after realising his mistake took a miniscule bite of the morsel Merlin offered him. He wouldn't say that he was bowled over by the taste but it certainly wasn't gross as he also got the residual flavour of bacon and onion. He grinned at Merlin saying, "I hope you can trust the chef's knowledge of edible meats."

"Arthur, I saw you eat sausages in a pub. Who knows what went into them?"

Finishing their meal and as it was still light, they put on jackets and went for a walk. Merlin wanted to check on his Mini. "Maybe, we could go out for a drive tomorrow after your therapy. Seems there's a petting zoo at one of the local farms, I'd like that."

Arthur leant over to him saying, "Merlin, if you want to pet someone you can always pet me." He grinned as he saw a blush creeping up Merlin's cheeks.

They did three circuits on the track and made it back to their room. Arthur was scheduled for some strength tests in the morning and he was looking forward to improving his scores. He'd felt wonderful for the last week and even though he remembered feeling tired on the London streets, he'd had no trouble since then. He decided that maybe it was the cement as on grass and synthetic walking tracks he had no problems.

Merlin was cuddled into his side so he said, "Are you happy to be back here?"

"I think I preferred your room in Minton."

"Our room, Merlin..." He got up and gave Merlin his hand to pull him off the sofa. "Come on, it's time for bed."

"Let me help you get ready?"

"I'm quite capable, you know."

"Yes, Arthur but it would be fun..."

"But only if you let me help you afterwards…!"

-0-0-

A storm arose over night and Merlin opened his eyes to the blinding lightning. There were distant rumbles of thunder but Arthur slept through them. Merlin counted the time between the flashes and the thunder and knew that the storm was getting closer. He rather enjoyed storms when he was safely tucked into bed.

The closer the storm got the more anxious Arthur seemed to get. He mumbled and fisted the sheets in his hands. Merlin was sure that he could make out the word Father.

An eight year old Arthur knowing that the storm will overtake him before he gets home runs as fast a he can. The wind picks up and he is being buffeted. He tries to see through the driving rain and he makes out the bulk of Minton ahead. He races up the drive and finally gets to the steps. As he raises his hand to knock on the door, it swings open. A hand grabs him and for a second he thinks he's going to be pulled in out of the rain and wind…but he isn't.

A voice, his Father's says, "Disobedient boys, need to be punished!" and he pushes him back into the storm. "I told you to get back before it rained and you disobeyed me. Stay out there!"

The door closes and seconds later a flash of lightning followed by an ear-shattering crack of thunder shakes the ground and one of the large firs in the paddock cracks and falls with a branch muffling thud. Sure that his Father would now open the door, Arthur waits but nothing happens. He is shivering not only from the rain and the cold but from the fear that the next lightning strike will be closer.

As the bad weather intensifies, he wanders the perimeter of the house trying to find an open door or casement window, but he realises the staff have closed everything because of the impending storm. He is making his way down towards the servants' entrance when a door opens and Hodge yells, "Master Arthur, you'll get your death of cold out there. Get in here quickly."

Arthur allows himself to be dragged inside and wrapped in kitchen towels. Mr. Maxwell the butler tells Hodge to get some bath towels as he takes off Arthur's jacket and shoes and carries him into the kitchen. He hands him over to the cook saying, "I told Mr. Pendragon that Arthur was coming up the drive and he said that he'd open the door and let him in. Why didn't Arthur go to the front door, it would have offered some cover?"

Arthur feels warmer, his socks are off and he sits in front of the kitchen fire. He listens to the conversations but can't bring himself to tell anyone that his Father had opened the door but then shut it in his face. Hodge returns and he is undressed and then wrapped in a big bath towel. The cook hands him a cup of sugary tea but his hands are shaking so hard that he can't hold it. Hodge kneels beside him and holds the cup to his lips.

Another peal of thunder shook Nonsuch and Arthur cried out, "Father, no! Let me in, please…"

Merlin snaked his arms around him, pulling him closer so that his head is lying on his chest. Arthur was shivering and half sobbing, "Please don't! I didn't mean to be bad…don't close the door, let me in!"

The words were heart-breaking causing Merlin to believe that it was an actual experience from Arthur's childhood not an episode from a movie which he was remembering. He said softly, "Arthur, it's all right. I have you. You're safe. The storm will soon pass and it will become quiet again."

Arthur began to relax, once the lightning had stopped he said, "Merlin?"

"Yes, it's me…I'm here Arthur!"

"I'm sorry, you must be wondering what kind of a nut case you have got involved with. I'm sorry, it usually is not that bad and usually I'm by myself."

"What happened?"

Arthur told Merlin about the storm and the consequences for being late. He mentioned young Hodge finding him and warming up in the kitchen. " I was too scared to tell them my side of the story in case I got further into trouble… My father was not the easiest man to live with, Merlin."

Merlin could feel his blood boiling. What kind of a person would leave an eight year old out in a bad storm? Arthur could have wandered off, fallen and not have been found until the following day. It brought forcefully to Merlin that not all people should have children. There were too many parents who blithely produced offspring for which they had no interest and in many cases certainly no love. It annoyed him to think that just because someone can make a baby they feel that they should…

He thought of his Mother's little border terrier and how the breeder had been most insistent that they realised the responsibility they were taking on in welcoming a dog into their home and how she told them that if they ever lost interest in the dog, she'd take it back without asking any questions. He realised that that women cared for and worried more about her puppies than many parents did their kids.

If Arthur's mother had survived, it might have been different. He had no respect for Uther just an underlying anger that the man had not realised how precious his child was. He realised that Gawaine as young as he had been had had the right idea when he had asked his parents to adopt his little friend Arthur.

The storm was well passed. Arthur had fallen asleep and Merlin leant into him kissing his lips telling him that as a little boy he had been very brave and that he would be there for him during every future storm…or a least he'd try his darnedest to be.