Arthur showed his mother upstairs and gave her a cup of tea then they headed down to the Studio area. All the Studio team were waiting when the group got there. "Mother my I introduce you to the team that make the pieces you like so much" he then went on to introduce them individually. Getting to Merlin last. "And this is the man in charge down here, Merlin Emrys"
Merlin bowed his head slightly "Hello Lady Pendragon, Sir Pendragon"
Arthur's mother grinned as she shook his hand "Please call me Ygraine, I must say I am impressed with your work I have a reasonable collection at home, both the older pieces and the present one you all make."
Behind her husband snorted "Stuffs all over the house." He could be heard muttering.
"Take no notice of my husband, if it doesn't make money for him he isn't happy" Ygraine told the team.
"Well it will make me money I'm sure" Arthur grinned at his mother. "You have another present mother" he looked at Merlin "If you would be kind enough to present it to Lady Pendragon and explain"
Merlin went and collected the charger and placed it down on the table and allowed Arthurs mother to unwrap it. After he exclaimed in delight Merlin added "We each had a part to play in the making of this piece. Although your son had a great seal of input in the planning stage. It is the only piece we have all worked on together"
Arthur smiled, clearly happy that his mother appeared to love the piece "What Merlin means is he showed me the drawings"
Merlin turned the charger over to show the writing on the back "We all signed it and Gwen did the calligraphy."
"This is wonderful, I have never seen such a beautiful piece thank you" Ygraine pulled her husband closer to look. He glanced down but was clearly not impressed.
Uther looked at Gwaine "While my wife is here I will take a tour of the business end"
Arthur smiled at his manager "What a good idea, I'll leave that to you shall I Gwaine?" Gwaine went off with Uther both men clearly not happy.
Ygraine talked to the team then Merlin showed her some of their others pieces including their plans for the future. It was clear to Arthur that Merlin was not his normal self so he pulled Gwen to one side "How are you?" he asked
"I'm doing fine just sore and stiff, thank you for the support you have given me" Gwen smiled
"Thanks alright just let Gwaine know if you need anything, lifts to the hospital for example."
Gwen blushed "Oh Lance has already offered thank you"
That surprised Arthur but he didn't show it, he would speak to Lance later. "Good as long as we can help." He hesitated before continuing "Is Merlin alright? He seems not his normal self"
Gwen looked at her friend and thought for a moment before speaking "Normally I would suggest you ask him, but in the circumstances" she paused "Today is the third anniversary of his mother's death, that's why he had this week as annual leave. He withdraws a bit, he was very close to his mother" Gwen explained.
Arthur was shocked he had no idea "Why didn't he say, I wouldn't have expected him to come in the idiot"
Gwen looked indignant "He is not an idiot! He is a kind and helpful man, to good sometimes"
Arthur had the good grace to look embarrassed "I realise he is Gwen, I didn't mean to be insulting. I'll let him go as soon as I can"
True to his work he walked up to his mother and Merlin "Mother I believe Merlin has things to do, He came in on a day off, so shall we let him go one of the others can continue"
"Off course, thank you so much Merlin it has been a pleasure to meet you and I hope to meet you again" Ygraine was genuinely pleased to meet everyone, the trip had made her day.
"Thank you Lady Pendragon" Merlin looked at Arthur "Thank you Sir"
"No thank you Merlin, I will see you after your break"
Merlin walked off and Arthur noticed the slouch in his shoulders so turning to Gwen he asked "Do you need to go after him?"
"No Sir, he just needs space, he knows where we are"
Ygraine looked puzzled, so Arthur whispered in her ear and told her why Merlin had left. Ygraine looked after the potter with sympathy in her eyes. Uther was back with Gwaine clearly not happy. "How long will you be?" he snapped.
"You go back Father, I will bring mother back later if you like." Arthur said graciously, having picked up on Gwaine's vibes.
Ygraine smiled at her husband "Don't worry Dear, Arthur will have me back in time to go out this evening, but I would like to stay longer if that's alright with you?"
That leaf Uther with no choice but to agree. So he looked at his son "I will talk with you tomorrow about this" with that he left.
Gwaine let out a sigh of relief then say Ygraine looking at him with a small grin on her face "Was Uther grilling you Gwaine?"
"That he was, I told him he wasn't on the board so it was confidential, but he wasn't happy" Gwaine admitted.
Arthur threw back his head and laughed "If you had told him you would have had me to deal with"
Gwaine looked at Ygraine "How do you cope with the two of them?" he was serious. He liked Arthur and was friends with him but in some ways he was like his father.
"She doesn't, she rules us" Arthur told his friend.
They finished the tour and then Gwaine told Elyan to take his sister home. "You can all finish at four today and have a good holiday."
Ygraine spent some time looking around and bought a couple more pieces, then Gwaine looked at Ygraine "We can put your charger up in the office and the shopping, I booked a table for lunch"
Arthur's mother turned to her son "Son you were that sure I'd stay were you?"
"Yes, just as I was sure father wouldn't, come on and we can tell you all our plans for the place" Arthur led his mother away. "Gwaine has found this nice place along the front that doesn't get to busy"
The two men and Ygraine went out to the Jag and drove a short distance u the road before parking up. Getting out of the car Ygraine walked to the sea wall and gazed out at the sea. "I wish your father liked the sea, it would be nice to come and stay down here sometimes."
Arthur smiled at his mother "I think the same thing, I might get a small place down here once everything has settled down a bit, and you will always be welcome Mum"
Ygraine looked at her son speculatively "Have you found someone?"
"Do I need to have done just to want to escape city life sometimes?" he said evasively.
Ygraine looked at Gwaine "Spill the beans"
"I know nothing, and you can't force me to tell you what I don't know" Gwaine grinned. "I haven't seen him even looking at anyone. As far as I know he hasn't had time."
"Were as you have, don't think I haven't noticed you looking at Elena, then there's Lance and Gwen, what is it around here?" Arthur protested.
"Well none of you boys are getting any younger" Ygraine said smiling. She was fond of all of her son's friends and looked on them all as her own.
"Lance and Gwen? When did that happen?" Gwaine asked "I knew Percy had his eye on Freya but Lance!"
Arthur rolled his eyes "I beginning to regret buying the pottery now"
Ygraine looked up the beach and frowned "Is that Merlin Emrys?"
Both men looked up the beech and saw Merlin and another man near the sea wall. The second man appeared to be crowding Merlin against the wall. The sea breeze was coming their way and bringing angry voices with it.
"I told you go away Will, we're over you had your chance" Merlin sounded stressed and unhappy
"Don't be daft, you know you love me" the other man said as he pushed Merlin into the wall. He was more muscular than Merlin and had a clear advantage.
Gwaine growled "I saw a picture of him in Merlin's house, there's bad history there I think. They were best mates then from what I gather from one of the girls at work it became more, then that Will character dumped Merlin just after his mum died" Gwaine went to go down towards the pair.
"Leave it to me Gwaine" Arthur said as he pushed past and walked down the beach.
Gwaine went to follow but Ygraine put her hand on his arm. "Leave it Gwaine. Let Arthur handle it" Gwaine looked at Arthur's mother then did as she asked.
Merlin had been looking out to sea thinking of his mother, he was stood at her favourite place after her garden. He had been to the grave earlier and was now visiting his mum's special places. Merlin had been lost in his thoughts when Will had suddenly appeared before him. He stood there just looking at Merlin "I thought I'd find you here when you weren't at the grave"
Merlin heart missed a beat as he looked at the man with whom he had spent so much of his life "What do you want Will?"
"I came to find you, I'm back, look I'm sorry for what I did to you, but I couldn't cope with your grief love, you were driving me away" Will's voice cut through Merlin's mind like butter.
"I had lost my mum Will, I needed you" Merlin said tears coming to his eyes. "I thought you knew that"
"and I needed you, not the man you were. I couldn't cope"
Merlin stared at his old lover hardly believing what he was saying "Nor could I! You knew how close we were. Hel she was like a mother to you….. Go away Will it's too late" the emotion in Merlin's voice was raw.
Will looked at him, he knew Merlin still loved him, and he wanted to come back. The trip around the world had been fun but he knew it wasn't long term. He was ready to settle down now and he wanted Merlin back.
"Merl don't be like that, I said I'm sorry" he moved forward and crowded Merlin against the wall. He was sure once he had kissed Merlin he would be forgiven. He had never met anyone who had such a capacity for forgiveness. He had had his fun now he wanted Merlin back.
"I told you go away Will, we're over you had your chance" Merlin pushed Will's chest, he knew what the other man was doing but couldn't cope with it.
"Don't be daft, you know you love me" the other man said as he pushed Merlin into the wall. His more muscular frame giving Merlin no chance to stop him. Merlin tried to get away. He had been hurt too much. There was no way Will was going to walk back into his life. He would never trust him again. As Will's hand grabbed Merlin's neck to pull him into a kiss. A voice cut between them. It was hard and firm with more than a hint of danger in it.
"Get your hands off Merlin!"
Will looked round to see Arthur behind him. He saw a good looking man in a smart suit although he looked like he might more than match him in the muscular build department. But Will refused to take the hint. "Bugger off, Merlin is my boyfriend"
There was a snort of derision before Arthur repeated "Get your hands away from Merlin" as he spoke Arthur pulled Will away from Merlin. Then the blonde moved to Merlin's side. Making sure his face was not in view of Will he winked at the raven haired man "Are you all right darling?"
Merlin was clearly shocked, the emotions of the day and now seeing Will had left him dazed. Arthur faced Will "I realise who you are now but it's been a long time since you where anything to Merlin, so clear off and don't bother him again, or you will deal with me" Arthur's voice was cold and very controlled.
"And who the hell are you!" Will demanded
"Arthur Pendragon, and I am Merlin's partner now, you had a wonderful man, but now he is with me, and I will treat him far better than you ever did" Arthur smirked and put his arms round Merlin,. He could feel the other man shaking "Come on darling, I know you wanted to be alone to think, but come with us now please. We can come back out later together if you want. My Mother is waiting for us"
Gwaine and Ygraine had walked slowly towards them and were close enough for them to hear what Arthur had said. Gwaine stepped closer "Do you need a hand Arthur?"
Arthur looked at Will "No that's fine Will is leaving and not coming back, aren't you Will?"
Will glared at Arthur then looked at Merlin "Merl, you don't mean this! Leave this ponce and come back to me, we were happy together"
Merlin looked at Will as if seeing him for the first time "Yes we were, but I wasn't good enough for you. Good bye Will, please don't come back"
"You can't do this! Remember what we had together" Will was incensed, he really hadn't expected any problems. His friends had told him Merlin was still alone.
Merlin looked at Will "Yes it was, so good you couldn't wait to leave"
"Come back to me. I know you still love me. We can soon rebuild what we had"
Arthur looked at Will as if he were a slug under his boot. "Is that all you have to say! You claim to love Merlin, yet you left him not the other way around." He turned to Merlin "Come on let's leave this scum" Arthur pulled Merlin away. Arthur knew Merlin was in no state to deal with his ex-boyfriend now.
As Arthur pulled Merlin away Gwaine stepped forward. "Merlin has a lot of friends now, keep away from him if you know what's good for you." Will realise he was outnumbered and that the brunette was spoiling for a fight.
Will was surprised when the lady also spoke "You clearly have a problem young man, don't try my son's patience, and don't think you can win" She turned to Gwaine "Come on dear this is supposed to be my birthday treat."
Will stood there after the rest had left, he wasn't sure how that had gone so wrong. He knew he had a temper, but he had no doubt that Merlin would have taken him back, after all they had grown up together. Before returning he had contacted one of his old friends and had been told Merlin hadn't found anyone else. He regretted leaving Merlin when he did, but he had been telling the truth he couldn't cope with Merlin's grief. He was young and wanted fun. As soon as he had seen Merlin again he had just wanted to get him back to the house and hug him and take up where they had left off. If it hadn't been for the woman he would have thought the 'boyfriend' was a set up.