Arthur Pendragon was not happy. His father had summoned him home that weekend, demanding he arrive on Friday afternoon. It was on the afternoon before an evening that Arthur had planned as a boy's night out; himself, Lancelot, Leon and Gwaine. And he also had plans to meet up with his girlfriend Sophia. She hadn't taken the news well. Although she had been meant to be on a girls night out they all would end up at the same club. So he was guaranteed to get laid at the end of the night. Then his father had literally ordered him to come home and the plans had gone up in the air. An order that Arthur didn't dare refuse.

Being guys, Lancelot, Leon and Gwaine hadn't cared. They could still go out and then inform Arthur of all he had missed out on. Sophia had, in contrast, pulled the mother of all strops. For heaven's sake, Arthur mused to himself as he indicated to take the turning off the motorway, it wasn't as if they had planned a huge romantic date. They were both doing their own thing, which made Arthur wonder why they had decided to meet up. Was that his idea or hers? Or did she just nag about things for the sake of it. No doubt at some point she would have complained about the whole meeting up in the club plan, if it had occurred.

And this all happened because of this stupid kid that his father had taken in. Like Morgana he had been ordered not to comment to the press. He couldn't bloody comment, he hadn't ever laid eyes on this Merlin. Although he didn't say that when he was eventually accosted by a reporter. Instead he had taken a leaf out of Morgana's book. All he had said was.

"Sorry, but my father ordered me not to comment, soooo, no comment."

Arthur had shrugged helplessly, laying all the blame on his father, which was fine, he hated talking to the press anyway. He couldn't get away from them, his father was well known, so Arthur had never been able to escape the attention. Especially since they liked catching him out doing something stupid. He was only twenty years old, like everyone else his age he wanted to be going out and getting drunk.

It might have been easier if Arthur had gone to do his business course at the university his father had preferred. But he hadn't, he had found one that didn't know the Pendragon's so well, and also allowed him to manage a part time photography course. He didn't mind the business degree, one day he would inherit his father's business. Half of it anyway, the other half was Morgana's, as had been stated when her father and Uther had gone into partnership together. But Arthur guessed that his father had a good few years in him yet, and would continue to run the business for as long as he could. Arthur knew he would have to work with his father but reckoned he could get some time to do his own thing before that happened. And he liked the photography, he could take pictures and manage a huge corporation at the same time.

He just wished he could have arrived tomorrow, or set off straight from the night out, although for that he would have had to stay sober. It was only a boy's night out, there would probably be another one soon enough. He took a corner to turn onto the A-road that would take him home. What irked him, he guessed, was his father's order. One that was to be obeyed, and he'd get no end of that when he started in the business. Arthur glanced at the clock, it had just turned five o'clock and at least he'd get a taster of Hunith's cooking tonight. That was certainly worth going home for.

Twenty minutes later he reached his destination, turning towards the large gate. He pressed the remote he kept tucked away in the glove compartment to open the gate and he eased the car onto the large gravel drive and towards the garages.

On entering the house, his overnight bag in one hand, and photography equipment in the other, he felt quite surprised when no one but Kilgharrah the cat came to greet him, and the old tom didn't even look that impressed. The tortoiseshell cat ambled into the hallway, sat down in a patch of sunlight, stared at him for a moment and then hefted himself up to go into the kitchen.

"Hello!" Arthur yelled, getting no response in return. He dumped his stuff to one side, close to the bottom of the stairs and followed Kilgharrah into the kitchen. It looked as the airy, bright room always did, the light yellow and melon coloured walls almost glowing as the late sun streamed through the windows. And oddly, Arthur noted with a curious frown, Morgana's teddy bear sat at the head of the table in the chair usually taken by Uther. Kilgharrah had paused to look at the item, rising up to place his front paws on the seat and bat at the toy experimentally.

"I wouldn't," Arthur warned him gently pushing the cat down. It looked up at him and then ambled to the corner where his food bowl had always lived. Arthur wondered if he should move the teddy to a safer location. He picked it up and then not really finding anywhere suitable he tucked it under his arm.

Looking out of the window realised that everyone had been taking advantage of the late spring sunshine. All of them lounged on the patio, their eyes on the dark-haired boy studiously pushing a toy jeep across the slabs. Heading to the far end of the kitchen Arthur went through the open French doors.

"Ah, there you are; did you get traffic?"

"No, the tutorial overran a little. Nice to see you as well," Arthur said to his father.

"Hello dear," Hunith said getting up to hug him. "Do you want some lemonade?"

Arthur would have much preferred a beer. But his father would no doubt give him a look of disapproval if he said that. Maybe later, Arthur decided and grinned.

"Love some," Arthur said. Hunith went into the kitchen to get his drink and Arthur looked around, turning to encounter a pair of wide blue eyes looking up at him. Merlin had stopped pushing the jeep, complete with action toy, to regard him warily.

"And what are you doing with that?" Morgana asked, removing her sunglasses so she could glare at him.

"Valiantly rescuing him from Kilgharrah," Arthur informed her handing the teddy over. "What's he doing out of your room anyway? He's usually kept under lock and key, like a princess in a tower."

"Merlin's borrowing him," Morgana said, retrieving the bear from Arthur's grip. "Since you saw fit to burn all of yours at the stake, mine is the only one in the house."

Arthur groaned inwardly. "I'm never going to be allowed to forget that."

"Certainly not!" Morgana grinned. She shifted her legs and slowly stood up, stretching out. "I'll put him upstairs for now, Merlin. We can fetch him later."

Merlin's blue eyes moved to her, and he nodded, very solemnly. Getting up from his crouching position he almost followed Morgana until Uther interrupted.

"Merlin, come here."

The little boy hesitated staring through the door before obediently wandering over to Uther. He looked shy, and a little uncertain, but the flickers of fear had gone. Uther realised it was probably dawning on Merlin that in this home no one was going to hurt him. It also occurred to Uther that they were perhaps treating Merlin as if he was more of a baby than he was, but in many ways he seemed so young. Uther sat up straighter and looped an arm loosely around Merlin's waist, also using it to turn him towards Arthur. Merlin looked up at him again, both hands holding the jeep, cradling it carefully, as if it was precious. Arthur had never treated it as such when it had been his.

"This is Arthur, my son. He's not always here, just sometimes, until he finishes university." Uther spoke gently, and Merlin tilted his head to glance in Uther's direction, listening intently. As Uther turned to look back up at Arthur Merlin's gaze turned in the same direction. "Arthur, this is Merlin."

"Hello Merlin," Arthur said, aware that Merlin wouldn't answer him. His father had already told him that Merlin's hadn't spoken a single word. "You like my Action Man then?"

Merlin glanced at the toy and then looked up again, his expression changing as he gave a sudden bright grin and he held up the toy. Arthur couldn't help but smile back as he decided Merlin had an incredibly sweet smile. It made Arthur itch to get his camera and take some shots.

"Go on," Uther said, releasing his light hold on Merlin. "You go and play then."

Merlin stepped away and then crouched to put the toy back on the floor, pushing it and crawling along.

"I took your stuff upstairs," Morgana announced as she strolled back out again.

"You didn't touch my camera stuff!" Arthur snapped at her.

"I was careful!" Morgana snarled back.

Merlin paused driving to look up at the squabbling, which was the moment Uther intended to intervene, until Hunith stepped over the threshold and tripped, dropping the lemonade, which threatened to fly everywhere. All of them jumped as halfway to the ground the glass stopped. A few droplets of liquid dripped to the floor, but the majority of it, threatening to hit Morgana stayed in mid-air. They all looked at it for a moment and then slowly turned to Merlin, whose eyes still glowed with gold. He lowered himself even further in his crouched position, almost like an animal submitting to a more dominant beast. Arthur turned and reached to put his hand under the glass, and then he inclined his head in Morgana's direction.

"Unless you want to wear it, you'd better move," Arthur warned her. Morgana stepped back and Arthur's hand touched the glass, catching it as it suddenly dropped. He managed to tilt it to prevent most of the liquid being lost but a few large droplets splattered onto the patio.

"Oh," Hunith announced in surprise. Arthur put the glass down on the nearby patio table. Merlin stared up at them all, biting down on his lip, the gold in his eyes fading away.

"Wow," said Arthur.

"That might happen," Uther confessed. "Not being an expert myself, I asked Gaius, who is."

"And?" Arthur asked stepping closer to Merlin, who looked up nervously.

"Apparently Merlin can perform spontaneously, almost as a reflex. What we need to perhaps do his help him apply some control. It's not so much an issue here, but you know what other people can be like."

Arthur smirked at his father's tone. Uther Pendragon did not have a particular fondness for 'people'. And Arthur had to agree with him, particularly on the reaction to things like magic. Glancing down at Merlin he wondered what the people in the home had done to him, to make him do such things, or what use they had for them. Looking at the expression on Merlin's face it didn't bear thinking about.

Uther got up and crossing the patio crouched down close to Merlin reaching out to ruffle his hair.

"Don't look so worried, no one is going to be cross, okay. We just need to make sure you're careful. Do you feel tired or anything?"

Merlin's head moved from side to side, and some of the apprehension faded away from his face, but it didn't completely disappear. Uther put a hand on his head, Merlin ducked a little, but his eyes rolled up to look at Uther, almost waiting to see what might happen.

"Because of his physical state, he's undernourished and a little weak any acts of magic might leave him tired, even something small. We just need to keep an eye on him, and we have some glucose drinks if it's extreme."

"Define extreme," Arthur ordered.

Uther's hand moved down to the nape of Merlin's neck then to his far shoulder to hug him again lightly. Merlin visibly relaxed and inclined over to lean on Uther, which caused him to tighten his grip.

"Groggy, lacking co-ordination, all he usually needs is to be left to rest. But if the symptoms are severe the energy boost will help. It will only be for a few months, until his physical health is improved."

"Why do that to him?" Arthur asked.

"The more drained he is, the more his magic increases to help him survive."

Morgana, watching Merlin, saw his lower lip wobble, eyes widening and she realised the poor little boy understood everything being said. She sidled around Arthur and said, in an excessively bright voice.

"Come on Merlin, let's go and get teddy and you can show Arthur your room!"

Merlin looked up, and then he nodded solemnly, Morgana gave Arthur a less than gentle dig in his ribs. He managed to control the yelp of pain and held out his hand to Merlin, thinking that at the same time he could get his camera equipment.

"Come on then Merlin."

Merlin put his hand in Arthur's and obediently trailed after him up to the bedroom.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Gwaine had sent a random text, badly spelt, proving he was already drunk. At least Arthur had managed to procure a beer but he wasn't exactly going to get roaring drunk around his father. Arthur had put the phone aside and as they sat down to a film he fiddled with his camera and laptop. Uther gave him disapproving looks as he worked but said nothing, although his face softened as Arthur turned the screen to show Uther a picture he had taken of Merlin, crouched on the floor of the bedroom, pushing the train with a slight smile on his face, teddy under his arm and the late sun lighting his hair.

"Make a copy of that for me," Uther said.

After that Arthur wasn't glared at so much. He had also taken some random pictures over the last few weeks on his phone, so it was still on after he had downloaded them, left on the nearby table. As it rang, the time almost ten o'clock, all of them watching a second film, Arthur picked it up, almost automatically, frowning as he saw Gwaine's name on the screen. He answered it.

"Gwaine, not now!"

"Actually, I'm Leon. I left my phone at home."

"Oh?"

"I thought you had better hear this from a horse's mouth, rather than a bitch's."

Arthur lifted his laptop with his other hand and carefully put it down on the table, standing up at the same time. When Leon, usually the most placid person in the world, started insulting people the matter was serious. Arthur waved a hand at the group to tell them to keep watching and he skulked out into the hall.

"What?" Arthur asked.

"Er... we've spotted Sophia in the club, with her tongue down Cenred's throat."

Leon spoke quickly, as if that might lessen the blow of what he was saying, like pulling a plaster off in one rip. Arthur tensed, feeling his face flush.

"Okay," he said, wondering what his reaction was meant to be.

"Gwaine and Lancelot have gone over to get some photographic evidence. Lancelot's phone has a better camera than Gwaine's. I wasn't sure you'd pick up to be honest."

"Not after the stupid text he sent me, you were lucky I had it on. Those two had better be careful, Cenred's not the wisest person to wind up."

"That's why Gwaine went with Lancelot, he can hold his own. As long as Loncelot has long enough to get the photos sent to you he isn't worried, they'll just go and hide behind the bouncers."

"Well... thanks... for telling me and... well..." Arthur wasn't sure what the hell he was meant to be saying. It seemed logical enough to thank your best mates for exposing your girlfriend's misdemeanours. By the silence Leon didn't seem to know what to say either.

"Er... I'd better go and make sure those two haven't got themselves killed."

"Yeah, I'll see you Sunday night."

Arthur rang off. Leon wouldn't be insulted by the lack of congeniality at the end of the conversation. None of them really bothered with goodbyes when they hung up on each other. Arthur stood and stared down at his phone for a moment, almost willing the text to come, even if he didn't want to see the picture. In the end, after a minute he turned his phone off. If Lancelot managed to send it, he could look at it in the morning.

It wasn't so much the fact that she had done it. They were not exactly an epitome of Romeo and Juliet, but it lay more in the fact that she had done it in public, knowing that his friends would be there. That other people would see her. Arthur huffed, and dumped his phone on one of the tables in the hall which held a vase containing some of Balinor's carefully grown roses. He left it there and tried to forget about it as he went back into the room and flopped into the large armchair, reaching to take a heavy swig of beer, draining the bottle.

"Does anybody want anything while I go?" Arthur said, not caring if his father gave him a disapproving glare. When Uther did it bounced off Arthur easily.

"Are you all right honey?" Hunith asked. Arthur heaved himself back up out of his seat.

"It can wait until the morning," Arthur announced, not wanting to ruin the evening. He went out to the kitchen. Kilgharrah, curled up in his basket, raised his head, blinked and then put his head down. Arthur retrieved a beer from the fridge and flipped the top off. As he turned he tensed, rearing back as he realised Merlin had followed him, Morgana's teddy in his arms.

"Do you want something Merlin?" Arthur asked.

He found out the answer was no as Merlin came forward and leant against Arthur, wrapping one arm around him and the other pressed the teddy against him. Arthur blinked in surprise, but put his arm around Merlin's slim shoulders with his free hand. Merlin clung harder, hugging Arthur hard, pressing his cheek against Arthur's hip. Merlin had somehow sensed his upset, and seemed to want to offer some comfort. Arthur wondered how he knew, was that part of his magic, or was he, as a child, sensitive to such things. Or maybe just he had to be aware of the people around him, to find out what they might to do him. Arthur ruffled Merlin's hair and gently freed himself, reaching down to take Merlin's hand.

"Come on, you'll miss the film," Arthur said, heading back with Merlin. As they returned Merlin released Arthur's hand and instead of sitting back on the floor, in the sea of cushions he and Morgana had created, Merlin went to Arthur's chair clambering into it and shuffling up to make space. With a smile Arthur slid in next to him and put an arm around Merlin and the little boy cuddled into him, drawing the teddy bear into the circle.

The horrible feeling of humiliation died in Arthur. He'd have to face it when he went back to university but for now he let it go and let Merlin settle next to him.

He drank the rest of his beer and for once didn't get disapproved of.