When Friday evening came the two men flew to the UK for their engagement party, Merlin had visited his mother that afternoon and promised to visit again on the Monday, as he was only staying in London for the party. Although Morgana had only had a few days she had arranged everything with her normal impeccable taste. Even down to having a new suit ready for Merlin, this time it was an Armani, the party was at the Dorchester and well over a hundred people had been invited. Merlin was very nervous they would be the centre of attention and he wasn't looking forward to it at all, he hated all the deceit and wondered if he would have agreed, if he had realised just how public it would all be.
They were the first to arrive and welcomed all the guests together. Merlin knew he wouldn't remember the names of most of them. He already knew some, Gwaine, Lancelot and the group he had met before in London, but there were many he had no idea about. Some were obviously business colleagues of Arthur's. Arthur had asked him if he wanted to invite anyone so Gaius was there. It was such a pity they couldn't have waited until his mother was better. Merlin missed his mother, he felt silly for doing so, but she wasn't just his mum she was his best friend.
Once everyone was seated Arthur stood up "Welcome everyone and thank you for coming at such short notice, as you all know the press were on to us quickly and it seemed silly to delay. I realise this may have come as a surprise to many of you, I was after all resistant to long term relationships for many years. Contrary to press reports I have not hurried this because of the conditions in my father's will. I am putting this to rest once and for all, I hope, I would not marry just to satisfy another man's wishes. I was lucky, very lucky to find a man that I want to spend the rest of my life with, it just happened when I wasn't expecting it. He is a gentle, sweet, loving and loyal man who anyone would be honoured to have as a life partner." Arthur looked down to Merlin with such a devoted expression on his face that for a second Merlin forgot this was all a charade. "Merlin Emrys is a very smart man, he did after all win a scholarship to Harvard, and being a smart man has accepted my proposal of marriage and I fully intend for us to spend the rest of our lives together."
Morgana stood up "As Arthur's sister I despaired of ever finding anyone who would put up with Arthur, Merlin is all I could have wished for and more for a future brother in law. In a short time he has captured Arthur's heart and that of all of our friends. Can we please raise a toast to Arthur and Merlin" once the toast had been taken Morgana spoke once more "One other special surprise for Merlin. His mother is in hospital in New York and couldn't be with us today so by video link…"
A screen came down at the back of the room and there was Hunith. She smiled out from her hospital bed "Hello my two boys. Congratulations on getting engaged, I'm sorry I couldn't be with you, but I intend to be there for your wedding. I was over the moon when Arthur asked me if I would be happy for him to marry my son, even after such a short time of knowing him. Boys, anyone can see you're meant for each other. Enjoy your evening my thoughts are with you."
Arthur looked across at Merlin to see a tear running down his face; he took Merlin's hand and squeezed it. Merlin looked at him and Arthur could see the shame in his face. Merlin was so ashamed of lying to his mother; Arthur so wanted to tell him she was aware but remembered his promise not to. All he could do was try and take Merlin's mind of it. It was nice of Morgana to arrange the video but at the same time he could kick her.
Then to Arthur's surprise Merlin stood up and spoke "As Arthur said thank you for all coming, I don't know most of you yet, but I'm sure I will get to. Thank you to Arthur for doing me the honour of asking me to marry him and thank you also to his sister Morgana for arranging all this, as well as the link from my mother." He sat down bright red. Arthur leant across and kissed Merlin.
As the evening progressed and the meal finished they all went through to another room to talk and dance. Arthur and Merlin of course were expected to dance the slow numbers together, and once again Merlin was clasped tightly against Arthur as the older man snuggled into his neck. When not dancing they were moving around the room talking to guests. Eventually they found themselves with Agravaine and Morgause, Merlin moved nearer to Arthur as Agravaine spoke.
"Congratulations" Agravaine said in a very insincere tone.
Arthur smiled at him. "Thank you" Merlin didn't trust himself to speak.
Morgause was more amicable "You make a good looking couple"
Arthur smiled once more but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, it's thanks to you that we got engaged so quickly, we realised just how much we meant to each other once the news broke." He paused "Not that it matters that much we would have got there anyway."
Arthur walked away taking Merlin with him. The party went on until the early hours when finally the two men escaped back to Arthur's London home. Merlin was thoroughly confused by the time they got back. All evening Arthur had been considerate and often passionate, yet once again as soon as they were on their own he went back to his very businesslike persona. Merlin found it so difficult; it was like knowing to separate people. He just didn't know how the blonde did it. At times Arthur was kind and thoughtful then sometimes it was like everything was too much trouble. Merlin understood the affectionate displays in public, even though at times they seems excessive to him. But why did Arthur have to be so distant the rest of the time. Merlin had hoped they could have been friends, it would have made living together that much easier. But he remembered one of his uncle Gaius's favourite sayings 'he had made his bed and now he must lie in it.'
The next morning Arthur didn't need to go to work and spent the morning reading the papers and lounging around totally ignoring Merlin. So much so that they even got separate meals. In the evening Merlin packed and went to bed early ready for the flight back. He woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat having had another nightmare, only this time he was holding Arthurs body and not Will's. Unable to get back to sleep he went out into the kitchen and made himself a milky drink and curled up on the sofa. He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew was Arthur waking him.
"What are you doing out here?" he demanded.
"I had a dream and couldn't sleep. I made a hot drink and must have dozed off." Merlin explained.
"Well next time take your drink into your room." Arthur told him scowling, he couldn't believe that Merlin would fall asleep on a sofa when he had a perfectly good bed. "I hope your all packed we need to get going soon or you'll miss your plane"
"I can catch the tube, you needn't take me" Merlin said feeling uncomfortable once again.
"No, I don't think so. It wouldn't look right; we need to keep the story up. Go and have a shower" Arthur went into the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea "Do you want one?" he barked.
"If it's not too much trouble" Merlin muttered as he went to his room. He came out a little while later carrying his suitcase with him. Merlin picked up the tea and drank it down. "Ready when you are, I will eat on the plane."
Arthur picked up his briefcase and walked down to the car and drove Merlin to the airport they hardly spoke a word. Once there Arthur jumped out of the car and got Merlin's bags from the boot and then walked with Merlin to the checking in point. There he made a big show of seeing Merlin off and kissed and hugged him asking him to phone as soon as he landed. To anyone watching they appeared to be a couple deep in the throes of a new relationship, and couldn't get enough of each other. As Merlin was called through to the departure area Arthur hugged him once more and whispered in his ear so only he could here. "I will be in a meeting when you land so just text, I don't need to speak to you." Merlin nodded and walked away. The wetness in his eyes due to Arthur's dismissal but to anyone else it looked like he was sorry to go. He didn't look back and didn't see Arthur's face drop as he went out of sight, even if he had have done he would have put it down to good acting.
Arthur was feeling awful, he hated being short with Merlin but was frightened that if he showed concern Merlin would back away from the deal. Arthur himself was confused by his feelings. As he had told Hunith he wasn't sure what he really thought anymore, but what he did know was he would keep to the deal he made with Merlin. The other man clearly had issues still affecting him from his previous relationship. He had admitted he hadn't dated since. Arthur didn't want to make thing harder for Merlin, better to keep things on a business footing, but that didn't mean he couldn't get some comfort when they were in public. Arthur found he craved those moments more and more. He was well and truly caught in a trap of his own making. He had promised it would be a non consummated relationship and he was man enough to keep to that promise. Merlin would be safe with him and the best way he could deal with that was to maintain a distance between them. He left the airport with a heavy heart.
Merlin at least managed to sleep on the plane and this time it was dreamless. Once back in New York he found a taxi waiting to take him to the hotel. As promised Merlin had kept the same hotel room and was told at the reception that Arthur had arranged for all his meals to be included, so all he needed to do was let them know what he wanted. As he unpacked Merlin remembered he hadn't sent the text so pulled out his phone and decided to be brief, he sent one word to the blonde 'here' then rang his mother and spent some time talking to her, saying he would visit later in the day. As he unpacked his case there was a knock on the door and he was handed an envelope. Inside was a bank card and a note. Arthur had set up a bank account for Merlin and an allowance would be paid in each week. He was amazed at the amount but decided then and there he wouldn't touch any of it. He was going out and finding a job. There was no way he was just going to sit around waiting for Arthur's calls and occasional visits.
Merlin went out and started looking he went round several couriers and even applied for a pizza delivery service but had no luck, jobs were in short supply. He then visited his mother and told her about the party and thanked her for her video link. "That was Morgana's idea; she seems a sweet girl, very efficient I should think." Hunith told him.
As Merlin was leaving the hospital he saw a notice, they were looking for relief porters. He went straight to personnel and filled in a form. They seemed very interested due to him having started at medical school. Once he explained his reasons for leaving and they had checked his reference, they rang him back and within the week he had his first shift. He worked with another porter until he learnt the ropes, then he was on his own. He was picking up quite a few shifts although he didn't know when as they would call him in when he was needed. The worst part was the constantly changing from day to night shifts.
He has several calls from Arthur over the next couple of weeks and spoke briefly to him each time or replied by text if he was working, although he didn't mention the job. After all he was a free man. The feeling of independence helped him, as did the almost constant exhaustion from the shift changes. He was so tired he wasn't having too many nightmares. He wasn't eating much as the constant lies to his mother were wearing on his conscience. He got back to the hotel most days and just fell straight into bed.
Back in London Arthur was concerned, his calls to Merlin were very short and he got the feeling that Merlin wasn't being honest to him. When he checked to account he had set up for Merlin he found none of the money had been withdrawn, also when paying the hotel account he found Merlin wasn't having hardly any meals there. After nearly three weeks of this he decided that he would pay a surprise visit to Merlin. He had planned on going anyway, but he flew out without informing Merlin he was paying a visit. Arthur landed in New York in the early hours one morning and made his way straight to the hotel; collecting a key he went up to the room to find it empty. Looking at his watch it was three o'clock in the morning. Arthur went to bed deciding he had some investigating to do in the morning.
When Arthur woke up he had a shower and went down to get a paper and some breakfast, he then went back up to their room and unlocked the door to find Merlin in one of the beds fast asleep. He frowned and went to wake the other man up; looking at him he was surprised to see how tired he looked. Arthur shook Merlin's shoulder.
"Wake up" he demanded his voice sharp.
Merlin opened his eyes and looked up at the figure standing over him. In a sleepy voice he spoke "A..rthur what you doing here" Merlin sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"Because I was worried, where the hell were you last night?! I got here in the early hours, so where were you?" Arthur was practically shouting.
Merlin looked at Arthur "I was working you prat, I finished at eight and I'm back again at five this afternoon, so if you don't mind I'm going back to sleep." Merlin pulled the duvet over his head.
Arthur ripped the duvet back of and grabbed Merlin's shoulder and sat him up "Working! Why! Where! You have no need to work." He was clearly savage.
"At the hospital I'm a relief porter! I'm not your kept man, we're not married yet!" Merlin shouted back "I'm not going to sit here all day just waiting for you to turn up."
Arthur let the other man go and sat down on the other bed. He looked at Merlin and sighed "I didn't want you to have to work, it would give you time to support your mother, you could have done anything you wanted. I was trying to help you."
"Well perhaps you should have asked me! I've always worked; even when I was at Harvard I had a part time job. Arthur you don't have to keep me!" Merlin's voice had quietened but he was clearly still angry. "Now like I said I have another shift this afternoon, it's only a twilight, so I'll be back before ten we can talk then." Merlin grabbed the duvet once more and covered himself before adding "If you're going to be here I would appreciate it if you kept it quiet and the blinds closed."
Arthur was stunned, why did Merlin think he had to take such a menial job and such hours? He had completely misread the whole situation, it was obvious that Merlin was a hard worker; to expect him to just sit around was clearly the wrong thing for him to have done. But what else could he do. Arthur picked up his jacket and left Merlin to his sleep, tonight they would have to have a long talk. Arthur decided to go to visit Hunith; perhaps she would have an idea. As clearly it wasn't good enough for Merlin to be doing what he was.
Hunith was surprised to see Arthur when the blond walked into her room. He looked puzzled and a bit disgruntled. Merlin wasn't with him so she wondered if they had had a row.
"Hello Arthur" she smiled "Merlin tells me the party went off well."
"It did" he paused "You are looking better" he told her
"Yes, having the treatment at the optimum times is helping no end, I have you to thank for that." She smiled at him.
Arthur looked at Hunith and asked her "Did you know Merlin has got a job as a porter?"
"I did he was lucky to get it there is such a shortage of work at the moment. I think the fancy that he'd been doing his course helped." Hunith was clearly proud of her son "It's such a pity he can't find something better. But he tells me it's good for him as he deals with patients a lot and it will help him in the future."
"But he doesn't need to work; I've arranged an allowance for him!" Arthur snapped.
"Oh dear, you don't know Merlin that well do you? He won't accept your charity Arthur. Your deal was for my treatment he won't take a cent of you for himself until after you're married and even then it will be the bare minimum. He's a proud man. He's also a hard worker and won't want to sit around doing nothing." Hunith explained. "And it won't be any good you shouting at him, you'll need to be more subtle than that."
"But he looks exhausted! Hunith I want to help him! What can I do?" Arthur pleaded
"Well if that's what you really want I have an idea, but you're going to have to do this right." Hunith said.