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    Inside the train, Gwen stands 의해 the door looking dejected. Her 심장 is aching and she doesn’t even know how to contain the pain. It creeps, leaving her dizzy. ‘Did I say all those things? Did I really say that?’ she thinks, trying to recall what has happened. Everything seems like a dream, but the pain she feels in her 심장 is real. She drops her bag, clutches her 심장 and slumps to the ground. Tears are rolling down, wetting her neck and her 셔츠 but she doesn’t care about it anymore. Her breathing is coming in rapidly as she tries to restrain her tears but the pain in her 심장 increases as she remembers each and every word she told Arthur. ‘I broke his heart… I broke him,’ she thinks as she slams her head against the 벽 of the coach. ‘I’m sorry, Arthur… I’m so sorry,’ she thinks again and slams her head again and again until she felt slightly dizzy.
    But the tears keep flowing down her cheek. Her lips tremble as she buries her face in her hands and cries her 심장 out. She knows Arthur will never forgive her, but she didn’t have a choice. She wouldn’t have done it if she wasn’t forced, she would never hurt him even in her dreams, but now, not only has she broken his 심장 but she has shattered his strength as well. She fears for him. Will he be all right? Will he revert back to his old prattish self 또는 will the rejection make him stronger? Gwen doesn’t know and she will never be able to find out from anyone… perhaps maybe from Merlin. One day.
    Gwen looks up, her eyes swollen and painful. Merlin is the only one who’ll believe her. He is the only one suspicious of her behavior and he could be her only hope to find out about Arthur. But how will she do it? How can she ask Merlin without anyone else finding out? 더 많이 tears flow from her already swollen eyes and Gwen’s 심장 aches like it is being ripped into shreds. She wishes none of this happened.
    Why did she have to say all this to Arthur? Why did she have to face his wrath when their happiness was just a week away? Why is life so unfair to her? What did she do to deserve such a punishment? Where did she fail? 질문 after 질문 floods her brain until she feels sick to her stomach. Something rings; her phone. Gwen sniffs and picks up her phone, her eyes reddening further when she spots Uther’s name on it. She wants to throw the phone away but she knows she must tell him what happened. She clicks on the phone and brings it to her ears.
“You didn’t call me! What happened?” Uther barks on the phone.
“It’s done… like 당신 wanted!”
“You were supposed to inform me the moment 당신 were done with him… not me calling 당신 to find out!”
Gwen feels her 심장 ache. Her brain snaps in anger and she closes her eyes, to calm herself. “It’s done. He is on the way to meet you,”
“Meet me… now, what have 당신 done?”
“I didn’t do anything. I told him 당신 paid me to act and he probably wants clarification from you. I told him to ask you.”
“What! Are 당신 stupid, Gwen? I told 당신 to leave me out of this and now look what you’ve done! Arthur’s going to think I’m part of this and will hate me again. I told 당신 to make this look as if 당신 are doing this…”
“What the hell was I supposed to do?” Gwen shouts on the phone, silencing Uther on the other side. “Do 당신 think Arthur’s stupid? Do 당신 think your son will fall for any cock and 황소, 불 story that comes out from my mouth? No, he will not. Arthur’s smarter than that. He will find out no matter how long it takes and I have to make it look as if it was all planned up and I had to use your name to cement the lies!! If 당신 don’t want to be part of it then 당신 shouldn’t have been involved in the first place!!” she adds, snapping angrily on the phone.
“How dare you…”
“Look, Uther. The moment 당신 told me to leave your son and offered me money to do so, 당신 로스트 any respect I might have had for you. Big time… understand? Now 당신 and I are bound 의해 nothing… I can snap, shout and even bark at 당신 like I please. So don’t tell me that I should watch my mouth because I won’t. And listen here, old man… 당신 have a wonderful son. Take care of him… because if I hear that Arthur’s suffering because of you, I will come for you. Get it?”
Uther laughs on the other side of the line, irking Gwen. “So… 당신 still care for him?”
“I 사랑 Arthur and I will always 사랑 him. 당신 can buy him from me, Uther, but 당신 can never buy my 사랑 away. Till I die… till the last breath leaves my soul, I will 사랑 him. As he will of me.”
“After what you’ve done to him, I doubt that!”
“Don’t speak 또는 assume things 당신 don’t know 또는 understand, Uther. 사랑 is not just a feeling we feel for one another. It’s our 심장 beat. It will be with us till we die, no matter what happens along the way. It will always be with us, reminding us. Arthur and I might have gone our separate ways but he will always 사랑 me, I know that. He can marry anyone he likes 또는 is told to, but I will always be his first true 사랑 and I can be proud of that. This is one thing 당신 can never buy, Uther Pendragon. No wealth in your empire can afford this… 당신 think you’ve won. No, I won. I have been the winner all the while.”
“I can crush you, Gwen… remember that!”
“Isn’t that what 당신 do best, Uther? Look… I haven’t got the time to talk to you, nor am I in the mood to deal with your arrogance. I have done what 당신 wanted me to, so… be a man and act like a father. I have given your son back to you, take care of him. At least for once, be the man your wife wanted 당신 to be!! Goodbye, Uther. This will be our last conversation, so… go to hell!!” with that Gwen shuts the phone and throws it outside. She leans against the 벽 and heaves a huge sad sigh. Merlin had been right all the time. He has warned her not to trust Uther and she had completely ignored his advice. She fell for the trap, and in the end; she’s paying the heavier price. If only she had listened to Merlin. Gwen closes her eyes and recalls the unfortunate 일 she spent in Uther’s office.


Flashback to couple of weeks earlier …
    
Gwen is waiting for Uther in his office. She is delighted that the transfer is finally sanctioned after being halted due to some invalid information. Thankfully Reagan had asked Uther to interfere and now her biggest worry is solved. She thought of calling him to thank him but the help he has just offered requires better than a phone call and she decides to pay him a visit. As she looks around, the door opens and Uther walks in. Gwen stands up immediately.
    “No, no… Gwen. Sit down please,” Uther says and circles the table, pulls out the chair and sits down.
    Gwen sits down and smiles. “I came 의해 to say thank 당신 for your help a while ago. They said 당신 helped to sanction the transfer. Without your interference, they would have rejected the transfer. So… thank you.”
    “Come on Gwen … we are family, are we not?” Uther smiles. “Do 당신 want anything to drink?”
    “No, I should be getting back. I left work in a hurry and Gaius must be worried about me,” Gwen says and gets up.
    “No I think 당신 should be 더 많이 worried about what I have to say now than your work, sweetheart. Sit down.” Uther says, flatly, tapping his fingers against his 표, 테이블 lightly.
    Gwen feels the air around them changes slightly and sits down, looking at Uther sharply.
    Uther smiles and leans back against his chair. “So, how much do 당신 need to let my son go?”
    “What?” Gwen didn’t understand the 질문 또는 why did Uther’s voice change suddenly.
    “I think I was very precise with my question, Gwen. I can write 당신 a cheque now … a blank cheque. 당신 just have to fill in the numbers.”
    “Are 당신 trying to buy me?”
    “I need my son back in my life but without you. We are Pendragons and we don’t tolerate people of your class in our home. I want 당신 to leave my son and head back to the shack 당신 came from. How much do 당신 need for that?”
    Gwen laughs. “I think 당신 are really sick and desperate. 당신 will go to any length to get Arthur back to you, wouldn’t you?”
    “Any length, whatever necessary.”
    “And I feel sad for 당신 because the answer is no. Thank 당신 for the offer, but the answer is a big no, with a capital N and O! 당신 can never buy my 사랑 for him away… have a nice 일 Mr. Uther,” Gwen gets up and prepares to leave but Uther’s laugh stops her short.
    “I thought 당신 might say this and which is why I came prepared with plan B. I tried to be nice, Gwen, but 당신 wouldn’t have it, so I have to shift back being nasty once again. 당신 really think your friend has the money already?”
    “What do 당신 mean?”
    “Call Morgana and ask if she has received the money? Go on… call her,”
    Gwen pulls out her phone and dials Morgana’s number. She brings the phone to her ears and waits, her 심장 beating fast. Her eyes fixed upon him. ‘If he’s lying …’
    “Hello?”
    “Hello, Morgana?”
    “Gwen… God, thank goodness 당신 called.” Morgana sounds nervous. And it isn’t good news for Gwen.
    “Morgana, did 당신 check your account? Has the money been transferred?”
    “No, I checked it twice after 당신 called saying the money has been transferred but it’s not there. So I thought I might as well wait since some accounts take hours, but it’s been three hours already and the account is still empty, Gwen! I am scared… I really need the money, Gwen, please!”
    “Are 당신 sure Morgana, have 당신 tried again?”
    “Don’t waste your friend’s time, Gwen,” Uther says and Gwen tosses him a look of disgust.
    “Morgana, I’ll call 당신 back.” She ends the conversation. “All right, is this all your doing?” she points at him, feeling disgust.
    “Don’t get angry, Gwen, I told 당신 I tried nicely but 당신 cooperate, so sometimes one has to play dirty to get things rolling. And I specialize in that. Now, your friend didn’t receive the money, did she?”
    “No!”
    “And I can help there… but one condition. 당신 must exchange Arthur for the money. Deal?”
    ‘What the …’ Gwen thinks. “Forget it!”
    “Fine, we’ll sacrifice your friend’s life for Arthur then. Good bye!” Uther picks up his phone.
    “Wait… what are 당신 doing? Who are 당신 calling?”
    “That’s none of your business, Gwen. 당신 can marry Arthur, 당신 made your decisions clear on that, so… let me just say that the money no longer needs to be transferred.”
    “Don’t!! I need the money!”
    “Then hand Arthur back to me!”
    “I can’t… I 사랑 him!”
    “Love 또는 life, Gwen, the ball’s in your court. 당신 save a life through Arthur, think about it that way.”
    Gwen feels like her 심장 is being ripped out. What the hell in going on with Uther? He had been so nice to her weeks 이전 and now he’s behaving like a total arse. “Why are 당신 doing this to me? I 사랑 your son and I can adjust in your family,” Gwen pleads.
    “It’s not the subject of 당신 adjusting well in mine, Gwen, it’s about dignity, status and class. I can’t have a lower class daughter-in-law, Gwen… imagine all the 질문 I would need to answer, the humiliation I would have to face… the status of the Pendragons would be tarnished 의해 your presence. I can’t have that. 당신 can never fit in Gwen, never. Trust me; it will hurt 당신 and me and above all Arthur. So to save 당신 from all that pain, I’m asking 당신 nicely to let Arthur go from your life. There are plenty of men out there who’ll fit in your life well… just let Arthur go. That’s all I need.”
    ‘Let Arthur go!’ the words replays in her mind like a record player. She can’t imagine a life without Arthur and now his father is demanding one in exchange for her friend’s life. How will she do it? How will she deal with it? “This isn’t fair… using my friend to blackmail me isn’t fair, Mr. Uther!”
    “Life isn’t always fair, dear. Now, I haven’t much time… so, what do 당신 say? Arthur 또는 the life of your friend? If 당신 choose Arthur, you’ll be tormented 의해 the guilt of ending a life. 당신 wouldn’t want that, would you?” Uther asks, looking straight at Gwen.
    Gwen doesn’t know how to answer him. She knows Morgana needs the money urgently but to lose Arthur in order to help her friend is killing her silently. Gwen knows she can never live without Arthur but if she chooses him, Morgeuse will be dead and Morgana will be devastated. And it would be her fault. Morgana trusted her… how can Gwen disappoint her now? And what would she tell Morgana? Gwen shakes her head.
    “So, it’s Arthur then I suppose?” misinterpreting Gwen’s head shake as a sign.
    “Don’t torture me, please!” Gwen shouts, covering her head with her hands. Tears roll down her cheek. The prospect of losing Arthur is looming large and she knows she doesn’t have all 일 to make her choice. It’s a case of a life against her love. Sacrificing Arthur in order to save a life would mean she’d be free of that guilt, but at the end, she’ll lose Arthur. She’ll be alone, hurt and miserable. She’ll be burdened instead 의해 the guilt of losing Arthur and lying to him. She doesn’t know how to decide. This is madness. This is torment. She pounds her fist against her head, silencing the throb that starts to penetrate through her skull.
    “Arthur then!” Uther picks up the phone but Gwen rushes over and stops him, holding the phone tightly. Her eyes are bloodshot and she looks at Uther in fear.
    “No, please… I’ll… I’ll give up…” the name takes a long time to appear. “Arthur!” she finally says.
    Uther smiles and puts down the phone. He fishes out his hand phone and calls a number. Bringing the phone to his ears, he smiles at Gwen. But Gwen looks at him in disgust. “Reagan? It’s all done. 당신 can carry on with the transfer,” he instructs. Gwen’s eyes widen hearing the name.
    ‘Reagan?’ she thinks. ‘Is he part of the plan?’ she thinks again. Her 심장 hurts and she closes her eyes to shut out the pain. This is all a dream and she will soon wake up from it. Someone snaps their finger in front of her. She opens her eyes and notices Uther looking at her, smiling.
    “It’s all done, Gwen. Your friend should have the money 의해 now. If 당신 don’t believe me, 당신 can call her up and find out.”
    Gwen’s fingers tremble as she searches for Morgana’s number and clicks it. The line is immediately picked up 의해 her friend. “Morgana?”
    “Gwen?”
    “The money is transferred, Morgana… 당신 should be able to use it.”
    “Are 당신 all right, Gwen? 당신 sound sick.”
    “I’m fine…” Gwen lies, wiping away her tears. “Just check if you’ve received your money.”
    “Really? Wait, let me check it…”
    “Call me when 당신 have,” Gwen says and ends the call. She feels sick and 쓴, 쓰라린 in her heart. She no longer feels like living; after all what would her life means if Arthur is not part of it. Her head throbs and her knees wobble like jelly, threatening to collapse. She clutches to the edge of the 표, 테이블 to keep herself from falling.
    “Shall I ask someone to drive 당신 home?”
    “I’m fine! I don’t want anything from you!” she snaps at him and feels 더 많이 tears flooding her eyes. She wishes to go 집 but her feet won’t budge. It looks like she’s glued to the floor for good.
    “Come on, Gwen. There’s no need to get angry with me… this is for your own good,”
    “There’s no good for me 또는 Arthur in this… only you.”
    “Now, that’s not true. Arthur will get a better life, lead a 더 많이 respectable life with someone of his own status and your friend will have her sister back. And what 더 많이 can 당신 ask?”
    “What about me? I have to endure this agony for the rest of my life!”
    “Now… do 당신 think I’ll let go off 당신 without a reward?”
    Gwen turns around, clearly confused.
    Uther smiles and points at the table, where a suitcase filled with money lay open, revealing all the bills inside. “This is for 당신 Gwen. A reward for your sacrifice. Take this and lead a better life.”
    “I told 당신 already that 당신 can never buy me!”
    “No, I guessed I couldn’t, but… this is just a reward. After all, 당신 sacrificed your 사랑 and that requires remarkable compensation,” Uther says.
    “You’ve already done that for Morgana…”
    “That’s for Arthur… this is for you. I just want to make sure 당신 benefit from this as well… I hate to think of 당신 being left out,” Uther explains. “And I also want to make sure 당신 don’t hold on to your sacrifice to get back to me… 당신 know, when 당신 get desperate. Knowing you… I might as well be prepared,”
    Gwen laughs bitterly. “You don’t have to worry, Uther Pendragon. When I promise, I hold on to my promise. When I say I will let Arthur go, I will do just that. But I don’t need your pathetic money for me… like I said, 당신 can never buy me 또는 my love, and I don’t need 당신 having something to lord over me. Goodbye!” Gwen barks and strides towards the door.
    “Are 당신 sure about this?” Uther calls from behind. “This money can keep 당신 happy forever, Gwen. 당신 wouldn’t have to work at all.” He snickers.
    “You can take your money and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine,” Gwen snaps coldly, then picks up a vase from the 표, 테이블 beside the door and heaves it at Uther. He dodges it, the sneer still on his face.
    “Whatever 당신 say.”
    And with that Gwen left the office, tears still flowing down her cheek. As she passes through the huge sliding door, her phone rings. It was Morgana.
    “Gwen… thank 당신 so much, the money is the in the bank. I can get it to Morgause… thank 당신 so much. I 사랑 you.”
    “Glad to have helped, Morgana. See 당신 later.” And Gwen slumps down 의해 the side of the lamp post, clutching her stomach, crying her 심장 out.


    Arthur pounds the back of the 좌석 with his fist, angrily as the car swerves in to the huge yard that leads to the exclusive manor of the Pendragons. Gwaine clenches his cheek, listening to his friend’s cries while Merlin sits slumped in sadness. Behind him, Arthur is still kicking and pounding the 좌석 with his feet and hands, lashing out his anger. His 심장 is shattered, hurt and extremely broken beyond words. He feels empty inside. He no longer feels for him 또는 anyone. All he does feel is the sense of emptiness, lingering in him.
    “Damn 당신 Guinevere!” Arthur slams the 좌석 beside and buries his head on the seat.
    “Arthur… calm yourself,” Gwaine advices as he quickly glances back.
    “How can I, Gwaine… how can I? She killed me with her words… and yet, I still 사랑 her!”
    “Get over it, Arthur… 당신 heard her! She never loved you!”
    “We don’t know that for sure, Gwaine,” Merlin says from beside him.
    “Didn’t 당신 hear everything, Merlin? Didn’t 당신 hear the words she laid on Arthur?”
    “I heard her, Gwaine, but I know she loves him,” Merlin replies sadly but still not looking at Gwaine. “I am worried about her. Something is suspicious.”
    “Yeah… well, 당신 should be worried about Arthur, because she just broke his heart!”
    “Gwaine… come on!” Merlin turns to look at Gwaine. “Give her a break, too. We don’t know what her side of the story really is… and there’s no point in jumping to conclusions.”
    “Merlin! Look… if 당신 want to go ahead and believe she is hiding something, 의해 all means do it, but I will not because Arthur’s my friend and I will not betray him like she did… and 당신 shouldn’t either!”
    “I’m not betraying Arthur.”
    “Then don’t!” Gwaine snaps at Merlin angrily forcing Merlin to coil back into his sadness. Gwaine concentrates on the road and in 분 brings the car to a halt in front of the huge doorway. Gwaine pulls his handbrake and glances at Merlin before turning around to meet Arthur. “We are here Arthur,” he says.
    Without a word, Arthur pushes the door open with a bang and steps out. He doesn’t even bother to close the door and climbs up the steps and enters. Gwaine sighs and steps out but Merlin doesn’t do the same.
    “Aren’t 당신 coming?”
    “No… 당신 go ahead,” Merlin 답변 and Gwaine doesn’t press. Today’s events are far too bizarre to be described and if Merlin wants to have his moment alone, so be it. Gwaine closes the door behind him and enters the manor.


    “Father?” Arthur calls loudly, entering the main hall. “Father!! Dad!!!” he calls again. But no one seems to be around, not even Geoffrey. Arthur searches for his father in all the rooms he knows his father might be in, including Uther’s study, but the old man isn’t there either. Arthur is angry. He kicks the chair in the study as hard as possible and walks out to the window. As he nears it, he spots his father, standing 의해 the fountain. Arthur pounds the window pane and rushes out. As he hurries out he passes Geoffrey but he doesn’t stop 의해 to greet the old butler.
    Uther is looking at a dying plant when he hears footsteps behind him. He knows to whom they belong, but he keeps looking at the plant.
    “Father?” Arthur calls the moment he comes to stand behind his father.
    Uther turns around slowly, his face pale and weary. He might be entering his late fifties but never looked that part until now, with all the guilt and burden placed on his shoulders, Uther suddenly looks his age. “Arthur?”
    “You didn’t come to see me in the hospital.”
    “I know… I’m sorry,”
    “Are 당신 also sorry for what 당신 have done to me?”
    “Arthur…” Uther steps closer with his arms extended but Arthur steps back, his eyes red in anger. He shakes his head.
    “I am sorry… I didn’t mean for it to happen like this…” Uther says sadly.
    “So, 당신 know. That was fast!” Arthur teases bitterly.
    “I knew what would happen, but not what happened,” Uther replies.
    “Is that why you’ve been a mere shadow in the hospital? Is that why 당신 didn’t come to see me today?”
    “Look, Arthur… I didn’t know it would turn out this badly for you.”
“But it did, Father. It did… and what are 당신 going to do now? Buy 더 많이 people to settle the trouble you’ve caused 또는 are 당신 going break 더 많이 hearts like 당신 did mine?”
    “Stop it, Arthur… I didn’t want it to end like this but I had no choice. She was threatening to put 당신 behind bars, and…”
    “You should have let her, Dad!! I killed a man, an innocent man, and I deserve to be tried! That would have been fair, man for man, life for a life!”
    “But 당신 are my son, Arthur!! And I will not let my son be put behind bars while I am still alive! I will do all I can to see 당신 are free and I did just that. Unfortunately she used 당신 for her own interests and I hardly see how that’s my fault. I am just as stunned 의해 what she caused as 당신 are, Arthur. I was willing to accept her into our family!”
    “I really want to believe what 당신 tell me, Father, but…” Arthur pounds his chest. “Why am I feeling different about this? Why am I finding it hard to believe all this…”
    “This is the truth, Arthur. And I know it will be hard for 당신 to believe me, after all I haven’t been very convincing to you, either. But the ball’s in your court, Arthur. It’s up to 당신 to believe me 또는 not. I am not denying I played a part in your misery but I meant well. I wanted to make sure 당신 were 안전한, 안전 and chose the only way I know how, through money. I didn’t know what type of a person she had been before, but I was willing to take her in if indeed she had been in 사랑 with you. Unfortunately, she wasn’t…”
    “How will she live, Father? 당신 gave her money for that, too… didn’t you?”
    “Arthur, that’s rubbish!”
    “You challenged her to make me agree to the operation, didn’t you? And she played her cards well… so did you? Both of you… makes me sick!”
    “Arthur, I did that but I didn’t ask her to play with your feelings and neither did I know you’ll fall in 사랑 with her. That surprised me at first, but I thought she probably changed herself and decided to persuade 당신 willingly. But then she came 의해 my office last week to ensure I gave the money as promised. I know none of this will make any sense to you, but I don’t care Arthur. My conscience is clean and I owe no one any explanations. If 당신 still want answers, why don’t 당신 do the investigation yourself? Find out if she came 의해 the office and met me? Ask the managing director if she asked for the money to be transferred 또는 if such a sum was actually transferred? And ask Gaius if she did leave her work to meet me last week? I am not making this whole situation up Arthur, I don’t have to. But this is the truth and it’s up to 당신 to believe it.”
    “I… I don’t even know what to believe anymore, Father… 또는 who should I believe. Those I love, those I trust, always ends up hurting my heart… so why should I even care what 당신 say?” Arthur leans against the pillar and sighs, sadly.
    Uther walks towards his son and reaches out to grab his shoulders. “I am not proud of what I did, Arthur, and I know you, too… it’s never easy shouldering the guilt of taking a life and it will haunt 당신 for life. And the same goes for me but, I did what I must because 당신 are my son. 당신 will not understand this, Arthur, but… one 일 when 당신 have a son of your own, 당신 will. Until then, if it makes it any better, let me shoulder the guilt.” Uther walks past his son. Arthur remains quiet.
    “What are 당신 doing, Arthur?” Gwaine stops Uther and looks directly at Arthur. The latter turns around.
    “It’s all right Gwaine…” Uther starts. But Gwaine silences the elder Pendragon with a nod.
    “Are 당신 still pining away after her? Haven’t 당신 learned anything from what happened a while ago?” Gwaine reminds. “She left 당신 Arthur!! And she did it coldly!”
    “Gwaine…”
    “I’m sorry, but I have to say this, and it will hurt 당신 as well, Uther. I don’t trust 당신 and never did but I trust Gwen when she said 당신 offered her money, because that what’s 당신 are good at. But what I didn’t expect from her is the way she treated Arthur. That was completely shocking and it left 쓴, 쓰라린 taste to my mouth. I trusted and respected her, but now… that respect has turned into ashes. I heard all the things she said and each word was like a knife, piercing into our hearts. I felt the pain and I meant nothing to her, but… imagine how Arthur would have felt. And then I know where have I mistakenly placed my trust,” Gwaine explains. “But that doesn’t mean I trust you…” he adds quickly, looking Uther. “There’s still some way to go before we achieve that… but I am with 당신 on this." Gwaine says and walks towards Arthur. “What your Father did was selfish, but no one knew Gwen would turn her back on you. We underestimated her, Arthur. Your 사랑 for her blinded your judgment and I understand it pains everyone, especially you, but… 당신 have to let her go.”
    “I can’t, Gwaine… I see her everywhere!”
    “It takes time, Arthur… no one said it will be easy. But 당신 have to let her go…”
    “Why, Gwaine!” Arthur snaps, pushing Gwaine’s hand from his shoulder.
    “Because she is the past, Arthur!! This…” Gwaine points at Uther. “This man here is your future now!” Gwaine says, equally angry at Arthur for still behaving like a helpless child. “This man did all this because he loves 당신 and I know there’s no ethics in his actions but what about Gwen’s? She loved only your money. But this man used his money to save 당신 because 당신 are his son. A father will go any length to save their son and yours did the same. It hurts, yes, but 당신 are saved, Arthur. Think about that… Gwen’s history now, she no longer exists in your life. 당신 have a bright new future ahead of 당신 so it’s time 당신 paid attention to that!”
    “Gwaine… let him be, son. He will never believe me no matter who advises him. And I am used to this 의해 now. I am just relieved he has his eyesight back… and thank 당신 for speaking on my behalf,” Uther says softly, looking sadly at Arthur who still keeps quiet.
    “What are 당신 doing, Arthur?” Gwaine hisses, shaking Arthur’s arm.
    For Arthur everything seems blurring. He can’t think clearly. He understands what Gwaine is telling him but he cannot look beyond what he understands. He wants to believe his father and though one half of his 심장 is with his father, the other half is still lacking trust. And now Gwaine is confusing him further 의해 taking sides with his old man. ‘Where’s Merlin?’ Arthur thinks. He values his friend’s 조언 and now he needs it 더 많이 than ever. But there’s no sight of his friend. Gwaine is probably reacting because he is hurt 의해 Gwen’s actions today, but Merlin had been on Gwen’s side all the way. ‘Does he knows something I don’t know?’ Arthur thinks. His 심장 is heavy. He wants to believe his father yet something is nagging in the back of his head, like a warning bell. What could that be? And now, Gwaine wants him to reconcile with his father. ‘Who should I trust?’ Arthur thinks. ‘Gwen… my father?’ Arthur thinks and closes his eyes. His head throbs. The events of today have been stressing and it’s no good for his eyes.
    “Arthur?” Uther’s hand on his shoulder alerts him. Arthur stiffens.
    “I am sorry, Son,” Uther says, tears welling in his eyes.
    And Arthur’s 심장 softens. His own tears, the ones he’d been keeping in check all this while rolls down his cheek. He pulls his father close and hugs him. “I’m sorry, Father… I am sorry.”
    “No, 당신 have nothing to be sorry for.”
    “I have everything to be sorry for, Father. I still feel this whole situation is bizarre but I promise 당신 this…” Arthur pulls himself away from his father. “I will try to be the son 당신 want. I give 당신 my word.”
    “Thank 당신 Arthur… thank you,” Uther says and hugs his son back.