There was a car backed in, in the driveway that Merlin didn't recognize when they got to the Pendragon's house, but he ignored it figuring it might be Leon's or even Uther's, as he does like to show off with newer things, he was a little bitch like that, but regardless Merlin didn't care all too much about it. As soon as they got inside the house, Merlin was whisked away from Morgana and Leon, upstairs to his mother's room, this room he hadn't been in much, maybe once or twice even when he used to live there. He didn't like it much, it had dark, wood paneling on the walls and a golden, four poster bed with rich, cherry wood nightstands on either side of it. It just screamed Uther Pendragon and Merlin hated the room even more for that. Hunith was in the closet, rooting through boxes in the very back and Merlin just stood there. He wasn't saying anything and he didn't plan to, she was mumbling to herself. Finally, after a long time she emerged from the closet, a thick yellow envelope in her hand. Merlin didn't think it had always been that yellow, it must have been dank in that box it was shoved in. She handed it to him and Merlin took it, looking at his name on it, his name was in swooping letters, he didn't remember this being what his father's handwriting looked like, but to be truthful, he couldn't remember what his father's handwriting looked like at all. That was kind of a sad thought, he remembered his father of course, but he had died so long ago at this point that Merlin had forgotten his mannerisms or the way in which he spoke. Merlin knew he had been a gentle man but what else did Merlin remember? Not that much, maybe Merlin didn't spend too much time remembering him anymore either, he just didn't and he didn't know why. Now he felt guilty for that, and he felt strange about the letter in his hands, it felt like he was being haunted all of a sudden and he hated that even more. It was like his father was trying to reach him from beyond the grave and he didn't want that, he didn't need that, what could he possibly say to Merlin that would have any relevance to his life now? To always be a good person? How? His father couldn't possibly understand who he was raised by, the Hunith he knew was bad, but not Pendragon bad, would Merlin's father be appalled by this information? Merlin wouldn't know because that wouldn't be in the letter. Merlin didn't want to open this letter and it be some generic advice that didn't matter anyway, what good would that do? He would rather just not open the letter at all.
"Open it," Hunith said then, a little pushy, as if she had been waiting this whole time for Merlin to open it. Maybe she had, but she was going to be disappointed then. She should have opened it before and read it herself, that would have been a very Hunith Pendragon thing to do. It was her loss, Merlin thought then, she never liked his father anyway and only used him so she didn't deserve to know what it says.
"No," he retorted then and turned around, heading for the door. "I don't want to read it."
"Why?" she sounded confused, he couldn't understand two things. One; why she cared. Two; Why anyone would want to be haunted in letter form by their dead father? No thank you, Merlin thought again. "You have to open it, Merlin!" she said then and she sounded a bit like she was pleading now. "It is what your father wanted!"
"And why do you care?" he retorted, looking back as he got to the door. "You didn't then, so don't now."
He walked out of the room and he could hear her calling his name as he did this, but no he had had enough today, he was going home now. Damn Leon for not allowing him to drive, he was fine really. Other people couldn't handle their drink but he had lived with Gwaine for so long Merlin had just adapted to being a good drunk, better than Gwaine even, who had given it up. He got downstairs, still clutching the letter in his hand and fishing in his jean pocket for his phone, he needed to call Gwaine so he could go get their car, and he supposed he would just Uber home, it was easier that way. He ignored his mother calling after him, he didn't care and he had been so distracted trying to get down the stairs and his phone out of his trousers that he had ignored the commotion in the hall before he had reached the foyer, but it was empty now as he stood in it, pressing buttons on his home screen. He yanked open the front door as he pressed on Gwaine's name in his 'Favorites', he slammed the door behind him for good measure and he stood on the porch as the phone began to ring. He noticed the black SUV he didn't recognize before, it's back door on the passenger's side was open, but he didn't question it as Gwaine finally answered.
"Hello...?" said Gwaine, and Merlin sighed irritated, he heard the black SUV's backdoor shut and he still ignored this.
"...oh my god," he said, and right as he said this the person who was messing around in the black SUV walked around the front of the car, Merlin's heart stopped, just literally stopped for maybe an entire thirty seconds. Rather than blond his hair was dark now, but he was unmistakable. Merlin didn't just see him, they both saw each other. It was horrible. It felt as if someone had just shot Merlin, every part of him was burning, except for his spine, it felt like ice was running down his spine or maybe his spine was the ice. They're eyes met for the briefest of seconds, definitely less than two, and Merlin knew Gwaine was saying something on the phone, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything back, he was absolutely frozen still. Arthur didn't say anything, thank God, he just got into the SUV and started it, then drove off in a way that seemed dangerously fast. The relief Merlin felt for this was probably life saving at this point. But it might not be enough to truly keep Merlin alive, maybe he should write a letter to someone real quick.
"HELLO?!" Yelled Gwaine then. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON? ARE YOU BEING MURDERED?"
"I wish..." Merlin finally said, just as the front door was pulled open and Morgana came out quickly. "I'll call you back in a second." He hung up right as Gwaine was saying something, but he would call back and explain in a minute. Morgana looked behind him, at the car being obviously gone. She growled.
"That little fucking asshole," she said. "God, I want to just-" She made a choking motion with her hands and then she paused and looked at Merlin. "Are you okay?
she asked then quickly. "Did he say anything?"
"No..." Merlin answered kind of slowly, and then added, "And no..."
"Of course he didn't, the pu-"
"I don't want him to," Merlin said this now, rather quickly. "I don't ever want to speak to him again. That one I'm not joking on. I can ignore Uther, but him...-"
"You all are literally children and I can't deal with it," said Morgana then, putting a hand on her forehead and rubbing it. "I shouldn't have to deal with this...I thought we were all adults now..."
This annoyed Merlin a little bit, but she didn't seem to care and then she turned around and walked back inside, she left the door open though, apparently expecting him to follow her inside. He did not. He just wanted to go home and this...this place was not it.
(A/N: Yes I am updating again, and yes I know it's only been a few days, but my thought is I have it, so I might as well share it. A quick note is the letter from his father is gonna be not mentioned for a bit, and I know I built it up in the last chapter, only to not have Merlin read it, but he will when it is the most impactful to the story.)