Uther still turned up occasionally, never letting anyone know beforehand. Each time the bodyguards made him wait before letting him in. On one occasion he arrived when Arthur was in London. Merlin told Percy to let him in, but Percy stayed in the background. He knew that Uther was homophobic and had caused problems for the couple in the past.

"Hello Uther, I'm afraid Arthur is in London so you've had a wasted journey." Merlin was careful to keep his normal humour to himself.

"That's a pity; I was passing and popped in on the off chance as usual." Uther sat down opposite Merlin. He didn't seem put out by Arthur's absence, it almost as if he had been expecting his son not to be there.

"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" It seemed to Merlin that Uther would be there for awhile.

"That would be nice, a tea thank you."

Merlin asked Percy if he would go and ask Gwen if she could make a pot of tea. Percy reluctantly went to the kitchen. Gwen said she would fetch it through when it was ready, letting Percy go back to Merlin. Gwen then went to tell Hunith that Uther was visiting. Hunith was out so Gwen decided that Percy would have to play it by ear and decide what to do.

"I came to see you and not my son." Uther glanced at Percy. "In private if you don't mind."

Merlin looked at Percy and then back at Uther.

"Sorry Percy stays, Arthur wouldn't be at all happy if Percy didn't do his job."

Percy was relieved; he had been trying to work out what to do if Merlin had asked him to leave. He thought of Merlin as a younger brother, and wouldn't have liked going against his wishes and staying if asked to leave.

Uther didn't look pleased. "I don't want to talk family business in front of others." He was trying to intimidate Merlin.

"In that case don't you're welcome to come back when Arthur is here." Merlin wasn't going to give in that easily.

Isolde had been watching Uther from where she was lying in the sun. But sensing all was not well with her master went to Merlin's side and jumped onto his lap all the time keeping her eyes on Uther.

"Well in that case…I wanted to talk to you about your relationship with my son. I know in the past I have been very much against you being together."

Merlin butted in "Could you please speak up. I realise you don't want Percy to hear what you are saying but I am partially deaf and I can't hear you."

Uther was obviously put out by this and started again: "I wanted to talk about your relationship with my son. In the past I have always been against you being together…. but… I can see now that nothing is going to change." It was the first time Merlin had ever heard Uther uncertain about what he was saying. He wondered if Percy being there meant he was changing the wording he had decided upon.

"You're right nothing will change, we love each other." Merlin wondered what was coming next. He saw Percy tense up.

"I want to see my son again, he is my flesh and blood and despite what you may think I do love him."

"I'm sure in your own way you do. But trying to separate us won't help your cause. After all it was the cause of you disowning him." Merlin was nervous he had always been a bit afraid of Uther. Isolde started to lick Merlin's hands. He started to stroke her.

"Look Merlin I didn't come here to have an argument. I am willing to acknowledge you'll remain with my son, if that's what it takes to see more of him. But you have to understand we can never be…..friends. Do you accept this or will you try to stop me visiting my son." Uther was visibly trying to control himself.

"I have never stopped Arthur seeing you, nor would I try to stop you visiting him. As to us being friends I never expected it to happen. Your relationship with Arthur is his decision not mine, it never has been. I have never tried to influence Arthur in any way. Now if that's all you have to say I suggest you leave." Merlin knew if Uther stayed he would get himself worked up and wanted the man gone.

"That's all I ask. Don't mention this visit to Arthur." Uther waited for Merlin to agree.

"He might not, but I will." Percy had heard enough. "Mr Pendragon has asked for you to leave so please come this way and I will see you out."

Uther glared at Percy then looked once more at Merlin. "I will only visit when Arthur is here in future but I'm damned if I'll ask first." with that he left.

As they got to the door Percy spoke once more in a quiet but firm voice "Merlin is like a brother to all of us, if you ever come here again when your son isn't at home you won't be admitted. Goodbye Sir." Uther looked at the gentle giant and realised he meant every word he said. Without saying anymore he got in his car and drove off.

As Percy went back inside he saw Gwen carrying a tray of tea toward the lounge. "Our guest has gone."

"I thought he had, I didn't hurry with the tea, now we can have it." Gwen smiled "How's Merlin?"

"He'll be ok, don't worry I'll speak to the boss later" Percy took the tray from Gwen and they both went in the lounge.

"Are you ok Merlin? I've got your tea" Gwen looked at the pale man. He was stroking the small dog that was sat on Merlin's lap and had her head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad he's gone." Merlin looked at his friends "Don't tell Arthur. I want him to see his father and Arthur will only refuse if he knows."

"Look Merlin, Arthur needs to know." Percy shook his head in despair.

"No he doesn't, nothing happened, except we both know where we stand, just drop it." Merlin took a deep breath. "Now a cup of tea I think."

After they had drank their tea Percy followed Gwen to the kitchen "Now what do we do?" he asked.

"I don't know Percy, Arthur ought to know but if Merlin has asked us not to say anything it makes is difficult."

"Yeh well, I warned Uther off as he left so perhaps we can leave it. But I'll tell the others not to let Uther in if Merlin is on his own."

"Well if you do that you'll have to tell Arthur, you can't tell the others and not him." Gwen pointed out.

"Damn, why do things have to be so awkward."

Percy went back to Merlin and found his problem solved.

"I'll tell Arthur, it will put you in a difficult position if I don't. But I won't tell him everything. Just that Uther wants to see him and wanted me to understand his reasons. After all, that's the truth in a way." Merlin gave a small grin to Percy. "Will that help you?"

"Thanks Merlin, I would have to have said something, you know that. Arthur would want to know."

"I know, it's your job after all." Merlin looked at Isolde and started to play with her.

When Arthur got home Merlin told Arthur that Uther had visited and why, he just altered wording. Arthur wasn't happy but accepted Merlin's word for it. He told Percy to let all the bodyguards know that Uther wasn't to be admitted to the bungalow unless he was there. Percy told him that he had taken the liberty of tell Uther the same thing. Arthur looked at Percy knowing there was more to the story. But he decided to go along with Merlin's version for now.