Unbeknown to Arthur the police were taking the case very seriously one of the constable who had arranged to Arthur to see the CITV footage had taken the matter further with the support of her line manager and was looking at the footage taken after the push. At the same time another pair of constables had gone and collected a very angry Mr and Mrs De Bois from their home were they had been packing, fully intending to fly out that very afternoon for New York. By the time the couple were sitting in the interview room the tapes had already revealed something interesting.
Agravaine had already phoned his solicitor and they were waiting for him to arrive before the interview started. Once the solicitor was there the couple were read their rights and the interview stated with Morgause. She was asked where she was on the day of the incident and she told them she was at home alone and hadn't been out that day. After several other questions she was shown some stills of the CITV footage, not the one of her on rollerblades but later when she had gone back to the scene. The police asked her if it was her, which she denied. She was then shown a blow up of the picture and from then refused to say anymore on the advice of her solicitor.
It was then Agravaine turn he had been at the office all day he too was shown a still both of the incident itself and the same one Morgause had been shown. He immediately refused to answer more questions. But was visibly shaken by what he had seen. It seemed they might not have been as clever as they thought they were.
Arthur was called later by Leon and told that Morgause and Agravaine were being held for questioning for the attempted murder and accessory respectively. It seemed that Morgause had left herself open when she returned to the scene. She had on the same dark glasses as on the rollerblader and she had removed them for a few minutes whist in fairly close up to the CITV, not only that but the lining could clearly be seen on her reversible jacket. But more damning was the clear view of the ring that she never removed, covered with gloves in the first picture but in full view in the second. If she hadn't returned to the scene there would have been little to go on. When the police did a search of their house the jacket was found in her luggage along with the rollerblades in Agravaine case. It was presumed they were going to get rid of both whilst in New York. Implicating Agravaine was the fact that the blades were a New York Brand and had been purchased in New York by Agravaine using his credit card.
Arthur was pleased but at the same time he was more concerned about what they had told Merlin. Without realising it they had told the sick man the truth and left Arthur in a dilemma, should he admit it or continue as he was. It was Hunith who gave him the answer when she rang later.
"I think you should tell Merlin part truth, when he asks say that you knew about the will and had intended to ask Merlin to marry you, to keep the company, but say your both fell in love before the marriage took place. That after all is the truth. I know you loved him and I know Merlin loved you, he was trying to protect me in the first instance, but he did love you even if you were too stupid to tell each other. I will tell him I knew, which I did of course and he will think you both told me once you realised you were in love." She paused "I know it is still lying to him in a way, but if you tell him the truth it will achieve nothing and hurt you both, my son is too stubborn for his own good sometimes. If he ever remembers I will tell him it was my idea, but I think his memory loss is permanent."
Arthur promised to think about it and let Hunith know before she visited her son the next day. He did and decided to go along with Hunith; he informed Leon and Morgana what was happening. Then after a long morning at work he left for the hospital at about three so he could speak to Ms Annis before seeing Merlin. Ms Annis had a short word with Arthur and advised him not to push Merlin in any way, saying after all he had been through he would be overly emotional and prone to outbursts then she wrote up a sedative in case Merlin became distressed.
Arthur nervously went into the side room to see Merlin, he knew Hunith would be present so would hopefully help keep Merlin calm. Sticking his head round the door he asked if he could go in. Merlin was sat up in bed with his mother sat at his side. "Can I come in?"
Merlin looked at his mother before nodding. He was clearly uneasy with Arthur's presence but at least he was willing for Arthur to come into the room. Hunith was the first to speak "The police were here this morning, asking if Merlin could remember anything"
Arthur frowned "Why? They've been informed by the doctors that Merlin can't remember"
""Just to check Arthur, they had to now that they have charged people for the incident" Hunith told him.
Arthur looked at Merlin "I'm sorry, did they bother you Merlin?"
Merlin looked at him in surprise "A bit but at least now I know what is happening, even if I couldn't help them. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know they would be questioned until after I left here yesterday, we had only mentioned our suspicions just before I visited you. It all happened so fast." Arthur admitted. Then he moved and sat in the chair opposite Hunith and by the side of Merlin. Once he was at eye level with the other man he spoke once more "Merlin I want you to know that I do love you, I have for nearly as long as I've known you. In a way some of what they told you was the truth there is a will that says I must marry and remain married for five years or my uncle gets the company. And yes my original intention was to ask you if you would consider marrying me so I could keep the firm, but I did tell you why. Then we both fell in love, well before we were married. I'm not even sure if I would have gone through with it otherwise. I was going to pay your mums medical expenses as well as pay you a lump sum."
Hunith butted in at this point "I knew all about it son, but you both fell in love it was clear to everyone. By the time you were married I had never seen a couple so suited to one another. I would have refused to let you do it otherwise."
Merlin looked from one to the other "Why didn't you tell me before, why did I have to find out from them?"
"Because you had too much else to cope with, Once you were better we would have sat and told you everything, but you had been so ill, for Christ sake we thought we were going to lose you!" Arthur said heatedly. Then remembering what he had been told by the doctor he backtracked. "Please believe us Merlin, I should have told you I know that now."
"Yes you should have but I see why you didn't. So have they really been arrested?"Merlin's voice went quiet and he looked down picking at the plaster on the other wrist.
"Yes they have" Arthur looked at Merlin and leant over and took Merlin's good hand in his larger ones. "Merlin do you forgive me?"
He received a small nod of the head and Arthur felt a surge of relief run though him. "Thank you darling"
"Well boys I think I'll leave you to talk I must get back and cook Uncle Gaius's supper. I'll see you in the morning Son" she bent and kissed Merlin on the cheek.
"Bye mum" came the reply "and thank you"
Hunith smiled at the two men "Just make up please, you are wasting so much time" with that she walked out smiling to herself.
Over the next few days Merlin and Arthur gradually became closer once more and then one day when Arthur went in to visit he found Merlin sat in a chair by the window. He was in a t shirt and had a blanket wrapped round his legs. "Hi, it's good to see you up, how does it feel?" Arthur asked Merlin after giving his customary kiss on the cheek.
"Good I have been up before but not for long, I've been here for half an hour and can stay up for a hour. Hopefully soon I can stay up." Merlin sounded a lot more optimistic and positive than he had before "I was getting fed up in bed."
"I bet you were, mind you I don't suppose you want to get up early, you always liked your bed in the morning." Arthur grinned at the squawk of protest. "Do you want me to ask about getting your hair cut? The non shaved side is getting long, it might look better all the same length."
Merlin agreed and then the two men sat and chatted before the nurse came in to say Merlin had another visitor and could he come in.
"Who is it?" Arthur asked quickly.
"He said his name was Gwaine" came the reply "Good looking fellow but a bit of a flirt."
Arthur sighed and looked at Merlin "He's a friend of ours, a bit gregarious but a good mate. Do you want to meet him?"
Merlin smiled "Yes I suppose I better get to know people again."
"Just go careful he flirts with anything that moves!" Arthur commented dryly as the nurse showed the brunette in.
"I resent that Princess!" then he looked at Merlin "Hi mate you need that hair sorting out"
Merlin giggled the first time Arthur had heard him do that since before the incident.
"For that I'll buy you a pint later, It's been to long since you've giggled Merlin."
Merlin glared at Arthur "I'm not a girl and that wasn't a 'giggle' Anyway it's you Gwaine called a Princess"
"I know he always has, something to do with my accent I believe" Arthur admitted.
"Well it's been to long Merlin, but it's good to see you out of bed, I was going to sneak you a drink in but Morgana told me you were on to many drugs and she'd kill me with her stilettos if I did." Gwaine grinned. "How are you old mate?"
"I'm getting better I just wish I could remember people, it seems strange people knowing me and I haven't a clue about them" Merlin said wistfully.
"In most cases that's just as well, but you'll soon get to know us all again. A few drinks will sort that out" Gwaine tossed his head.
"No Gwaine! You've nearly got Merlin drunk before you know he is a light weight" Arthur protested then turned to Merlin "You might be best not knowing this one, he'll destroy your liver given the chance"
"Look Merl if you decide you can do better this time round I'm here for you" Gwaine teased.
"Thank you Gwaine but I understand I'm married so I'll have to turn you down!" Merlin grinned enjoying the light weight banter.
Gwaine stayed for an hour before going on his way promising to visit again. After he left Merlin looked at Arthur "I like him, he's fun"
"As long as you don't like him too much, he's a heart breaker you know"
"Are you jealous? Because if you are you don't have any need to be, Gwaine's fun and I should think a good friend, but he's not my type" Merlin assured Arthur.
"Am I, your type I mean?"
"I married you didn't I, that should tell you something and we didn't hang about either." Merlin told Arthur.
"Oh Merlin …. I love you so much, can I kiss you?" he pleaded.
Merlin was about to answer when a voice came for the door "Just do it then because we're coming in" Morgana had arrived and the moment was broken. Arthur leaned back and glared at his sister "How are we supposed to get to know one another again if we don't get time alone!"
"You were never that slow before brother dear." Morgana swept into the room and kissed both Merlin and Arthur on the cheek. She was followed in by Leon who just shrugged his shoulders. "He swept you off your feet first time I don't know why it's taking so long this time after all he knows what he feels this time round. I apologise for my brother Merlin if I were you I'd take control or it will be a mess when it's time for your discharge."
"MORGANA!" Arthur shouted "Go away and leave us alone"
"No I don't think so, now Merlin your mother told me you were sitting out so I've got you some loose clothes to wear, I realise you've lost a bit of weight but I'm sure these will fit. I'll put them in your locker"
Merlin smiled at Morgana, he liked her she was a bit forceful but very kind "Thank you I will pay you for them once I'm out of here."
"Don't worry Arthur will pay won't you?" She handed Arthur the receipt.
Arthur looked at it and drew his wallet out and handed her some cash "Don't worry Merlin she does this sort of thing all the time, she loves shopping especially if it's with someone else's money."
Morgana and Leon stayed until just before the end of visiting when they took pity on Arthur and left. Merlin and Arthur sat together in quiet companionship for a moment then Arthur spoke once more. "Do you think I'm being slow? Only I don't want to rush things"
"No your doing ok realty, I'm sorry Arthur I'm just so confused but I do like you, I like you a lot, it's just difficult the last memories I have is of going off to start medical school and then all this. Just give me time. Please" Merlin sounded so lost that Arthur could do nothing but nod in agreement.
"Of course Merlin, look it's time for me to go, I'll come back tomorrow its Saturday so I can come earlier. Arthur bent to kiss Merlin's cheek and was surprised when Merlin turned his head and at the same time put his arm round Arthur's neck and pulled him closer and drew him into a kiss. Arthur deepened the kiss as he felt Merlin respond. He forced himself not to get carried off in the moment before allowing Merlin to break away.
"I think your sisters right we both needed that" Merlin said silkily. "Sleep well"
"Not after that I won't" Arthur muttered smiling at Merlin as if his face would crack he gave Merlin a hug "You sleep well my love"
As Arthur went home he allowed himself to hope that things would really work out for the best, but he also knew that after that kiss he wouldn't be doing much sleeping.