This is a little bit of a bridge chapter to take the story on to the next bit. But there is a lot of cuteness within it.
He still felt angry with his father. Over supper he could hardly even look at him. Assessing the information, as he jotted it down in his journal, he could hardly blame his father. He hadn't known what Igraine had done, he couldn't change it, Uther was just left with the consequences. Arthur could understand why Uther had reacted as he had; he couldn't help equating it with all the times he had acted vengefully towards Morgana for whatever slight Arthur thought she had inflicted on him.
On a bigger scale he could see what had happened. He was dealing with the awesome fact that he had killed his mother. Not that anyone blamed him for that, Arthur himself couldn't find a way to do that. Igraine had walked into the situation willingly, had chosen to become pregnant by a means that demanded a sacrifice. Arthur remembered, years ago, Hunith telling him that Igraine had died with him in her arms, as if that was the most important thing to know about what happened. Had she perhaps suspected that one day Uther would tell him the truth and felt that knowledge such as that would ease the process.
He didn't know. Unless he could summon his mother from the dead and ask her he couldn't know a damn thing. He felt angry but couldn't quite work out who to be angry at. To try and work that out he scribbled in his journal, hoping that the rambling sentences would form into something a little more cohesive. He paused as he felt something ripple against the back of his mind and he turned from his frantic writing to see Merlin lingering in the doorway his arm wrapped around Teddylot, and Merlin held the toy in front of him like a shield. His face peered around the bright purple shoulder. Arthur smiled.
"Hello, what are you doing?"
Merlin shifted his feet.
"Why would I be cross with you?" Arthur asked and then after a pause said. "OK, but I'm not cross at you. Come here."
As Arthur held out his arms Merlin trotted across the room to step into them. Arthur hugged Merlin and Teddylot tightly. Merlin slowly relaxed his grip on the toy to latch onto Arthur. He gave a giggle as Arthur ruffled his hair and then squeezed him tightly.
"Aaahhh, Merlin cuddles," Gwaine announced following up with a click as he took their picture.
"What do you want?" Arthur asked.
"Do I get one?"
Arthur glowered at him.
"I don't want one from you, I want a Merlin cuddle."
Merlin turned his head to look at Gwaine. He had relaxed in Arthur's arms, thankful that the blond man was not angry at him. Merlin saw what went on around him and knew that Uther had worked out what was going on between himself and Arthur. What had worried Merlin more than anything was that Arthur would go away, if he knew he was doing something with magic, but he had remained, a steady level presence that wasn't angry with Merlin for grabbing hold of him, latching onto something so desperately in the hope of understanding the world around him.
Merlin stared up at Gwaine, who had latched a set of puppy dog eyes onto him.
"Go on," Gwaine drawled. "Just one."
Merlin eased out of Arthur's grip to trot over to Gwaine, who beamed brightly at him. Arthur watched as Gwaine knelt down to get onto Merlin's level and he wrapped the little boy and teddy bear in a huge hug, leaning back to lift Merlin off the floor. Merlin gave a squeak as Gwaine brushed his cheek against Merlin's, tickling him with his beard.
Gwaine laughed. "Maybe I should steal you from Arthur."
Merlin squeaked again and wriggled in his arms. Gwaine gave a low chuckle and let Merlin go. He smiled down at the little boy.
"I don't think that would work would it."
Merlin shook his head vigorously, although Arthur could see that he was smiling, happy to be around Gwaine, another person who felt quite content with Merlin the way he was. Gwaine was someone who could be trusted like that, he never tended to make a fuss about anything, the only thing that caused him tension was his mother, and there were many, most of them probably unproductive, ways that Gwaine dealt with that. Merlin remained utterly non-judgmental, which was what Gwaine needed. Gwaine was like that himself, he took things on face value. Arthur watched Gwaine smile as Merlin turned and trotted back over to Arthur.
"I still might try though," he warned Arthur before getting up and sauntering off. Arthur gathered Merlin onto his lap again.
"Not a chance," Arthur informed the doorway.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Merlin! Merlin!"
Will careered across the garden towards his now designated new best friend. Freya ran on his heels, carrying a large fluffy cat toy under her arm. Their mother watched them charge off, smiling slightly self-consciously at the adults occupying the patio.
"Lemonade?" Hunith asked politely.
"Thank you," she replied, glancing over at her children.
"Thank you for coming a little early, it will help Merlin settle," Uther added.
"I'm sure he'll be fine with the others. Will has become quite a fan of Merlin's. So has Freya."
They were now busy comparing cuddly toys, while Will hurled the inflatable dice for the snakes and ladders game to Gwaine, who bopped it back to the little boy. Uther had found that Gwaine was brilliant on these days, when the local children could come and play in the large garden on the Pendragon estate, and use the swimming pool, and the parents got to chat and rest.
Gwaine started getting the trio organised to play a game, Will bopped him with the dice again and Freya batted her brother with her cat toy, Merlin giggled.
"Hello!" announced a cheery voice as Elena appeared through the patio door and stubbed her toe, stumbling a little. She rebalanced and waved her hand at the girl behind her.
"I brought Mithian!" she announced unnecessarily, as Mithian was quite obviously there. "Because I really shouldn't be in the pool, and she's competed nationally, therefore she is far more useful than me."
"Hello girls. Morgana is still upstairs and we only have the three children at the moment," Uther said.
"And Gwaine," Elena added watching him with wide eyes. Uther smirked as Elena's eyes followed Gwaine's every move as the three children ran round him. Mithian looked at Gwaine, then assessed Elena with a knowing smirk.
"Shut up!" Elena said to her. "Let's find Morgana."
Uther smirked slightly as he watched them leave and several other parents arrived with their children in tow. Gwaine gathered up the children, and Arthur, and set them off. Merlin smiled brightly throughout the whole thing and Will stuck to him like glue, with Freya determinedly in tow.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Uther hung up his mobile and Arthur knew the look on his face. Before his father spoke to him Arthur knew he was about to leave.
"I have to go," Uther said. Arthur snorted. "A case has some up, some youth, he was caught in the middle of a burglary. I think he is the one the police have been chasing, he has magic, and I suspect he spent some time at the Blessed Care Home. One of the older residents."
"And you want to speak to him?" Arthur said.
"I have asked for all of the legal aid cases that include any use of magic to be referred to me. If the times are correct, it was just before Merlin was born."
Arthur went cold. "Are you seriously thinking what I think you are thinking?"
"There have been no reference of Merlin's parents outside of the home. Considering the level of instinctive power he has, it is not inconceivable to consider..."
"His conception was instigated there," Arthur finished for him. Uther grimaced.
"Whether it was engineered or merely two children seeking solace with each other is irrelevant, it may help unlock the key to Merlin's talent. Not that I think it should be exploited, you know me better than that Arthur."
Arthur changed the expression on his face, as it was clearly not flattering.
"I take your point. Do you want me to come with you?"
Arthur was studying to be like his father, although most of the time he never felt good enough. Uther encouraged him, praised him and did all the right fatherly things, but still, he was so good at what he did, almost as if he didn't need to think about it. Arthur struggled to remember all the right things and couldn't always get it straight in his mind.
"No, you stay here with Merlin. You won't be allowed access anyway, most of the information is confidential." Uther reached out to put his hand on Arthur's shoulder. When Arthur looked apprehensive, or a little lost, he looked so like Igraine it was almost painful for Uther to see. Not that he ever wanted Arthur to know that.
"I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"Okay," Arthur nodded. He felt something collide with his legs and Merlin's arms wrapped around him. As Arthur looked down Merlin beamed up at him, he looked sweaty and rumpled and happy. Arthur put a hand on the thick dark hair and looked back up at his father. "I'll manage things here."
Uther smiled at him. "I won't be long."