Leon promised to find out if they could view the CITV footage, and after lunch Arthur went to visit Merlin, Morgana decided to tag along. She had only visited her bother in law twice since his accident and both times Merlin was out of it. Morgana and Leon had felt that Merlin had enough to cope with, without meeting even more people he couldn't remember. But Arthur had said that he felt it might be nice for Merlin to know he had friends, albeit ones he couldn't remember. Gwaine had been bugging him to visit but he wanted to leave the gregarious man for a bit longer, he knew Gwaine would flirt and didn't think he could cope with that until he was surer of Merlin's feelings. After all the last thing he wanted was for Merlin to fall for Gwaine's charms.
Merlin was awake when they arrived but still looking very tired; Hunith and Gaius were already there and decided to go to get a coffee so not to crowd Merlin. Merlin looked at Morgana a wary expression on his face. Arthur introduced his sister "Merlin this is Morgana, my sister, she was desperate to come and see you and I thought you could cope with a new face."
Morgana stepped forwards and smiling she kissed Merlin's cheek "It's good to see you again Merlin, you gave us all an awful fright, I know your can't remember me but I hope we can soon be friends once again."
Merlin held out his good hand to shake "Hello Morgana" Then Merlin looked at Morgana and then Arthur "She doesn't look like your sister"
Morgana laughed "No he's not as good looking as me, we have the same father but a different mother. Uther was a naughty boy! When my mother died I went to live with Arthur and Uther so we've been together since I was eight." Morgana explained. "Oh this is going to be so good I get to embarrass you all over again Arthur, I can tell Merlin all your secrets a second time."
"That's not fair!" Arthur grinned "Morgana has become very good friends with your mother so I don't stand a chance." Arthur walked closer to Merlin and kissed him chastely on the cheek "If she gets to kiss you so do I"
Merlin took a good look at Arthur "I like that red shirt on you" he said blushing as he did so.
"It was always your favourite" Arthur confirmed. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better, but still very tired."
Morgana looked at the man in the bed with sympathy "You would be, that's twice you've been in intensive care and you've been very ill for over three weeks now" she sat beside him and held his fingers from where they stuck out from the end of his cast. "I know it must be very difficult for you Merlin, but you have lots of people out there praying for you, you've made lots of friends since you met Arthur. We will gradually visit but we didn't want to overwhelm you. From my point of view I'm so glad to see you again, I'd say you were my favourite brother in law but since you are the only one that wouldn't mean much!" she laughed.
Merlin smiled at her "Thank you, it seems so strange not knowing anyone…I want my memories back" Merlin looked very downcast "I hate this!"
Arthur gently put his arm on Merlin's shoulder "We all wish it to Merlin, but it might never happen, we just need to help you build new ones"
Merlin shuddered as he tried and failed to keep his negative emotions hidden, his shoulders slumped and he lifted his good hand up to cover his face. He was embarrassed to be breaking down in front of what to him was a stranger. Arthur sat on the bed and pulled Merlin close into his chest. "Let it out love"
Merlin found himself leaning into Arthur's chest, he was too upset to care at the moment all he needed was those arms around him. Morgana looked at the couple before leaving them together; she would wait outside until Merlin had composed himself once more. Arthur looked down at Merlin; he had so longed to have the other man in his arms but not like this. He didn't know what to do, looking down at the top of Merlin's head his chest tightened as he looked at the long scar and the half shaved head. It was the first time he'd looked at the wound closely and he was horrified. He dreaded to think about the other scars that littered the young man's body. Merlin head was half covered in stubble and half still had its normal growth. Arthur couldn't really believe that Merlin had survived his injuries, then the meningitis, and he needed to try to make Merlin realise just how lucky he had been. Arthur also decided to ask Merlin later if he wanted it all to be the same length, it might be less noticeable.
Gradually Merlin got control of himself once more and pulled away from Arthur. He looked up and immediately apologised "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me" he looked at Arthur's chest "Oh! I've made a mess of your nice shirt"
"Don't worry Merlin it will wash, as to the rest I'm here whenever you need me, the doctors said you would probably be more emotional after the infection, it's perfectly normal. And who else would you hug other than your husband after all." Arthur smiled at Merlin "I'm here for you Merlin I always will be."
Merlin looked around "I seem to have driven your sister off."
"I expect she's just outside I'll get her in a minute if she doesn't come back" Arthur called out for his sister and Morgana put her head round the door before coming back in.
"Are you OK Merlin?"
Merlin nodded "Sorry" he muttered feeling very embarrassed.
"No problem" with that Morgana started to talk to Merlin as if his outburst hadn't happened. It was the best thing for Merlin and he was soon responding to her questions. About half an hour later Hunith and Gaius returned and neither mentioned Merlin's tear streaked face. Merlin coped well with seeing Morgana, he felt it was easier than with Arthur, but then he assumed it would be after all theirs was a different relationship. From that visit Morgana and Leon intended to call in at least a couple of times a week to visit.
Leon did manage to arrange a viewing of the tape for himself, Morgana and Arthur. They went to the police station the next day. Although the police only showed them the approach and contact making sure that the view of Merlin flying into the traffic and him being hit wasn't shown. They all agreed that it could be Morgause but that as there was no features showing they couldn't say for sure. The police took their comments on board and agreed to interview Morgause. After all the control of a multi million pound company was a motive. They agreed to keep their source confidential for now but said if anything came of it then it would need to be disclosed.
While Arthur was watching the CITV footage Merlin had some less than welcome visitors, he was on his own but that was deliberate. The visitors waited until Hunith and Gaius left and went in knowing that Arthur wouldn't be there for at least an hour.
The nurse asked the visitors who they were looking for. "Merlin Pendragon we're his husbands Uncle and Aunt, Mr and Mrs De Bois" Agravaine said in his smoothest voice.
The nurse went to Merlin and asked if he was up to visitors, and he agreed he was. So the nurse let them in. Morgause walked up to the bed smiling widely "Hello Merlin I'm Morgause and this is Agravaine, Arthur's aunt and uncle, sorry we haven't been in before but Arthur has kept us informed, how are you feeling today?"
The couple had decided that they needed to start things rolling as they had heard whispers that the young man was recovering, and they wanted to make sure they planted some seeds whilst Merlin was still less than one hundred percent. So they had planned well. After spending about half an hour with Merlin they left well before anyone else arrived, happy with what they had achieved. Yes Arthur would know they had visited but he would be too busy sorting out the flak to bother them, this afternoon they planned to go to America for a few weeks until things sorted themselves out.
When Arthur arrived on the ward he was spotted by the same nurse. "Hello Mr Pendragon, You've just missed your Aunt and Uncle they left about half an hour ago."
Arthur looked at her in horror before running into Merlin's room, the nurse following closely behind. As Arthur went in he could see Merlin was sat with tears running down his face. Merlin looked up and he glared at Arthur before shouting "Get out!" there was real venom in his voice. "Just get out and don't come back!"
Arthur took a step towards Merlin "Merlin my love I don't know what they said to you, but you must listen to me"
"I won't, now get out I never want to see you again" Merlin looked at the nurse "Get him out of here please."
Arthur realising that there would be no speaking to Merlin in his present mood and not wanting to antagonise his husband further he walked out. Once out of the room he turned to the nurse "Who let them in? They had no business seeing him."
"I'm sorry I did, they introduced themselves as your Aunt and Uncle and I asked Merlin if he wanted to see them" the nurse explained, turning to one of the other nurses she asked them to check on Merlin and stay with him. Then she turned round to Arthur "Come into the office Sir and we can speak in private."
Arthur followed her but the first thing he asked was the Hunith be called back in urgently. Arthur rang her and told her what had happened Merlin's mother promised to come straight in. The Arthur turned to the nurse "They had no business visiting Merlin, they are spiteful and malicious people, and god knows what they said to him. If our marriage fails they get control of a multi million pound company they are desperate for our marriage to fail! Not only that but I think it was Morgause who pushed Merlin into the traffic" he turned to the nurse in shock "Please don't repeat that last bit, the police haven't interviewed them yet. We only began to suspect her very recently."
"I'm so sorry Sir, I think I need to get a doctor down to see your husband, and you will need to speak to them. Are the police aware of your thoughts?" the nurse asked getting her mind round what she was being told.
"Yes I was speaking to them just before I came here; they are going to speak to her." Arthur replied.
"In that case I think you had best ring them as they told me the reason they were visiting today was because they were just off abroad." Arthur grabbed the phone. "It's a nine for an outside line" the nurse said "I'll be back shortly."
Hunith arrived just after the doctor; it was Ms Annis, who went straight to Merlin once she had spoken to the nurse. Hunith also went straight into the room it was over an hour before Ms Annis came out; in the meantime a nurse had been called in with some medication. Ms Annis asked to speak to Arthur privately and took him into an empty room.
"Hello Arthur sorry I was so long, Merlin was very distressed. Now I understand from the nurse that you believe the visitors this afternoon may have had something to do with Merlin's accident." She saw his face "Oh I realise you let that out by accident and don't worry it won't go farther. Whatever the right or wrong of that isn't my concern but Merlin is." She paused "He is very distressed as I'm sure you can imagine, his mother helped calm him and I also prescribed him a sedative. It seems your Aunt and Uncle told Merlin that you didn't love him, that you married him to save your company they were convincing enough for him to believe them." She held up her hand.
"Don't say anything Arthur, I read the papers and there was enough fuss when the terms of the will came out. Regardless of the truth of the matter, and it's none of my business, I know you love him dearly now and that's all that matters to me. Merlin was falling in love with you; his mother told him that he loved you before the accident. I don't want to know anything else. Your task will be to convince him of that. He was already low in mood and emotional, the accident and subsequent meningitis infection on top of the stress of his memory loss was already taking its toll on him. Nothing can be gained from you seeing him now, go home and try to rest. I'm sure Hunith will be in touch. I will make sure Merlin only gets authorised visitors from now, a bit late I know. When you come back tomorrow please don't go in to see him until I know you're here, this is going to be a difficult time for you both. Personally I hope you make it, Merlin needs your support and I think you'll be good together." Ms Annis looked at Arthur kindly.