The Truth of a Legend
Chapter 2
Remembering,
I thought you'd kill me,
I thought you'd hate me.
But you didn't.
I thought you'd leave me,
I thought you'd abandon me,
But you didn't
You put up with me,
You protected me.
And there are lots of things I want to make up to you.
When you returned.
But you didn't.
.:Merlin:.
Nerves pounded through the young man's body as he stared up at the grand building that stood in front of him, blocking out the early morning sunrise. It was typical of most business buildings in Glasgow, high windows and cold grey steel, yet occasionally, the modern look was interrupted by red sandstone. The only part that gave away the age of the building.
Merlin shifted slightly, tightening his hold on his bag.
Well here goes nothing, he thought as he began to step towards the steps that led inside.
Inside was just as intimidating as the outside. The white tiled floor stretched out before him, empty except for a few plant pots housing fake green shrubs. Around him, early morning workers yawned their way over to the elevators or to the huge white desk that stood, pushed against the wall at the far end of the room.
Merlin's legs shook slightly, his mouth agape as he took it all in. Yet he couldn't help the little buzz of excitement that rushed through him.
He was here, he had done it. Got through Uni and now he could finally begin his life, to put his mark on the world.
"Merlin!"
The shout drew Merlin's attention back to the front desk that seated the receptionists. A brunette man was waving at him, gesturing for him to come over.
"Will" he greeted with a grin when he finally stood in front of the main desk.
"Finally entering the real world I see" Will teased, as he reached over to slap Merlin's arm.
"Well you made it sound so exciting. I couldn't let you have all the fun"
Will gave a huff of laughter, settling back down into his chair.
"Right, well. You're to report to Gaius. He's head of the science department and your immediate boss." Will said while shuffling through some papers on his desk.
"Thanks Will. I appreciate it. For letting me know about the job opening and everything"
Will handed him the papers giving him a lopsided grin. "Don't worry about it mate. My lunch breaks will be a lot less dull if I can pull you away from your lab long enough. I swear if I have to sit through another hour of Sally talking about the latest hair cut some movie star is wearing, I cannot be held responsible for my actions"
Merlin chuckled, glancing sideways to the blonde who sat a little distance away, flicking through the pages of some celeb mag.
"I'll try to make sure I'm free" he said.
"You better" Will glared. "Now off with ya. Can't have you being late on your first day. Knowing you, you'll blame me and I'll end up getting into trouble."
Merlin returned Will's mocking grin, before heading off to the elevators. Will had handed him a map and general notes on where to go thankfully, so when he stepped into the small space with a bunch of drowsy looking suited men he at least had some clue where to go.
The science department was one of APD's biggest incomes and so the whole department was located on three floors. However the labs were located in the basement, safely tucked away where if there was a biohazard, it could be sealed off with most efficiency.
Merlin tried not to look too guilty when he pressed the button for "B" and the men in the lift let out a series of groans. They were probably all going up, to the offices and Merlin was delaying them from getting to their coffee pots.
It was a short tense ride and Merlin thankfully stumbled out of the lift when the doors opened revealing a long white and sterile looking corridor.
The place looked deserted, not a sound making it through the spotless environment. Briefly, Merlin felt a stab of panic seize him. Where was he supposed to go now?
Looking down, he fumbled through the papers and tried to decipher Will's messy scrawl. All it said was to report to Gaius, who would be located in his own office in the basement.
But where in hell was that?"
"Well, Merlin you've only got one way to go. Might as well head that way"
He tried not to think that the fact he was already talking to himself. Setting off down the corridor he glanced at each door plague, hoping they would give him some sort of hint. But all they revealed to him, was "LAB 1" or "DO NOT ENTER"
Trying to quell down his irritation and slight panic, he didn't notice the woman walking quickly towards him until he bumped into her, almost sending the both of them flying.
"Sorry" Merlin said as soon as he righted himself.
"No harm done" the woman replied, brushing long hair aside so she could look up at him properly. "You're new" she stated.
"Is it that obvious" Merlin smirked making the woman blush. "I'm Merlin" he added, sticking out his hand to shake.
"Freya" the brunette answered, taking his hand. "Most people here just call me Frey though."
"Freya, pretty name"
Freya blushed again looking down at her shoes modestly. Merlin stared down at her a moment longer, a smile beginning to tug at his lips, before pulling his mind back together. "Well Freya, I was wondering if you could help me. I seem to be slightly lost. Do you have any idea where I might be able to find Gaius?"
Freya looked slightly ashamed, the red tinting her cheeks that had just died down building again. "Oh of course. I'm sorry. You can find him in his office."
At Merlin's puzzled brow she continued. "Straight ahead and to your left. His name will be on the door"
"Thanks"
"Not a problem. I hope to see you around sometime" she added hopefully.
Merlin smiled. "I hope so too."
The two headed off, in their separate directions yet Merlin had trouble keeping his mind on the task of finding Gaius. There was something about Freya. He had felt so comfortable around her, like he had known her his whole life, yet he was sure he had never met her before. He had had the same reaction when he had met Jen and Will in high school.
Shaking his head, he tried to put the thought out of his mind as he reached the end of the corridor. Relief past through him as the door to his left indicated it belonged to a one, "Dr G, Hope."
Hesitantly, Merlin knocked on the door but there was no answer. Trying again, he listened for any signs of life from within. There was a sigh of irritation and a shuffling of papers but nothing more. Hoping for the best, Merlin nudged the door open a crack and looked inside. The office was the exact opposite of what Merlin had expected. He had expected it to be an extension of the corridor, sterile, clean and bare. The space he walked into however was like a small library. Stacked to the ceiling and covering all available wall space were books of every size and colour. In the middle, stood an ancient looking wooden desk where more books and notes were spilling onto. The only light in the room was given by musty lamps.
All in all, Merlin felt he had suddenly stepped back in time.
"Um, hello" he said. The air seemed to eat up his words before they even left his tongue. "Gaius" he tried again, this time a little louder. A head peered from around one of the larger stacks of books, a confused expression on his face. One that immediately cleared when he caught sight of Merlin.
"Merlin!" The old man exclaimed clapping his hands together in glee.
Again Merlin was hit by a sense of familiarity but this time much stronger. He gasped, hearing Gaius's shout echo in his mind, the same, yet different. It was like an imprint of a memory, his name being shouted by the same person, in anger, in exasperation, a plea.
"Are you alright?"
Merlin slowly began to focus on the reality around him once more. Gaius was standing in front of him, a concerned look in his eye.
"Sorry" he replied immediately. "Just a bit of déjà vu."
Gaius didn't looked convinced however moved away from him and sat back down at his desk.
"Well Merlin, you've been hired to act as my assistant from now on." The man looked gleeful at the fact, a mischievous twinkle erupting his eyes. "You can go far here at APD… if I decide I like you. But we all have to start somewhere." Now his grin widened even more than Merlin thought was possible. "You can start bringing me a cup of tea, and then I believe the genetics department need some help, cleaning out the rat cages"
"Rat cages" Merlin repeated, jaw agape.
"Yes, Merlin. Rat cages."
Oh bloody hell, Merlin thought.
.:Arthur:.
Arthur strode into the building a little after 10 in the morning. It was about an hour's ferry ride from the Isle of Arran to Scotland and then a further half an hour train journey to get to Glasgow central station. So even with his early start, there was just no way he could have gotten to APD's central offices any sooner, especially since George had insisted on him eating something.
Well time to put the plan into action, he thought, brushing a hand through his hair.
"Good morning, could you let Mr Stoker know that I've arrived" he said once he reached the receptionist desk. The blonde looked up, bored eyes turning flirtatious as she took him in.
"And who do I say is arriving? Do you have an appointment?" she asked in a simpering voice. Beside her he heard the other receptionist barely conceal his laugh as a cough. Arthur paid him no mind, leaning forward to engage the blonde instead.
"No, I'm afraid I don't" he said leaning back. "Just tell him it's Arthur. He'll know who it is"
Now the blonde looked slightly panicked. "Sir, I can't let you up without an appointment" she said, voice verging on pleading.
Arthur flashed her, his best smile. "Please just call him" he said before turning away to the elevators. He tried to keep his pace casual, but hurried. He was unsure whether the blonde would call security. She seemed too flustered to do anything, but her male co-worker might be slightly more on the ball. Thankfully luck seemed to be with him as he reached the gold doors and they pinged open revealing a harried looking worker, carrying what looked to be a library worth of books. Gratefully stepping past him and into the small space, he had one last glance of the female receptionist looking back at him, eyes wide and jaw gaping like a goldfish's, her co worker seemed to be trying very hard not to laugh, before the doors closed shut.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Arthur let himself slump back against the glass that made the back wall of the lift. Although he held the largest stake of the company still, technically meaning he still ran it, he hadn't set foot inside the company for a good 200 years, since it had been established. As even he didn't think he could get away with no one noticing that the owner was not getting any older or just not dying. So when he had been sure it was safe for him to do so, he had handed the reins over, with instructions so the current CEO would know it was still him that ran it even if he had to do things from the background.
It was tiring, exhausting in actual fact, yet he couldn't see any other way to do things.
It did leave him free to look as well.
Glancing down to the buttons he had a strange urge to press the button that would take him down to the basement.
He hesitated for a moment longer, finger hovering over the little black "B" before he firmly shock himself and moved his finger up and pressed the button for the top floor.
The top floor consisted of just a secretarial office that lead off into a large meeting room. It was very plain and very boring in his opinion.
Might just have to change that, he thought. Smiling at the secretary who moved as if to stop him he strode towards the frosted glass doors and threw them open wide.
Mr Stoker who was in the middle of a meeting with the board of directors, looked up startled at his entrance. Giving him an easy smile, Arthur made his way around the table, only vaguely hearing the apologetic mumblings of the secretary.
"That's alright Lisa. You may go" Mr Stoker said, grey eyes fixed on his own.
"Mr Stoker, so glad I can finally meet you" he said, holding out his hand to grasp Mr Stoker's.
"Can't say I can return the sentiment" Mr Stoker finally said, eying him wearily as they shook hands. "Who exactly are you?"
Arthur's grin grew. "Why I'm APD" he said watching with a strange sort of triumph as the ageing man's eyes grew wider by a fraction of an inch.
There was the sound of scraping chair legs against a cold floor as one of the directors stood up. "I fail to see how a boy is the largest stakeholder of this company" he said.
Arthur turned to regard the man, taking in his bald head and expanding gut. "Ah Mr Jones" he moved forward to shake the other man's hand but dropped his arm when the director made no move to return the gesture.
"I'm afraid I am exactly who I say I am" Arthur regarded each man in the room, letting his gaze linger on the ones that seemed more nervous. "I've been away dealing with affairs in Brazil. However now I am back and I intend to take a more active part in the running of this company."
Shocked silence followed his brief speech. A silence Arthur took advantage of by pulling out one of the plush office chairs that lined the table and taking a seat. "So where do you want to begin?"
TBC…
A/N - Again a huge thank-you to everyone who alerted and faved this story. I hope you all continue to enjoy.
It took me a little while to figure out how the whole Arthur being alive all this time would work, so in the end I've basically made it that Merlin would have transferred his magic to Arthur although he cant use it except to keep him alive. Think of it like Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who.
But as Merlin is back in the world, the magic is gradually being pulled back to him, hence the pull Arthur feels in the elevator.
Also I've only done a little research into the running of companies, so I hope I haven't screwed anything major up in the wording or got confused with my facts. If so I'm dreadfully sorry.
Oh and the poem is adapted from a poem written by a widow when her husband went off to war and never returned. I heard of it last week and thought it fitted. I'm sure you'll be able to find it online somewhere if you're interested. It's titled "But you didn't"
Think that is all for this chapter.
Please leave a review to let me know what you think.