August 2000

Pendragon Household

"Come on Gwaine! you need to eat your breakfast we have a lot to do today, your Mum, Dad and Merlin are due back later and I know you want to come to collect them from the airport." Ygraine Pendragon called out to the eight year old who had been staying with her family while the rest of his family had been away. Gwaine Emrys was best friends with her son Arthur and had asked if he could stay with him rather than fly off with the rest of his family while his father went on a business trip.

A very outgoing boy Gwaine had made friends with Arthur when they had started school, and together with Leon Knight they had soon become almost joined at the hip. The boys often stayed at each other's houses during the holidays. Gwaine and Arthur came running into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

Gwaine looked up at the lady he called Aunt Ygraine "Is Mordred coming as well?"

Ygraine smiled "Of course he is I'm not about to leave a one year old on his own am I"

Hunith Emrys had reluctantly left her baby with the Pendragon's as she thought the journey would be too much for such a small child. The deal Australia had been very important to Balinor and the CEO of the company that wanted to buy there product had requested he take his wife and children but in the end they only took their middle son Merlin. At four he had wanted to go, he was a real mummy's boy and didn't like to be parted from her. As he was starting school in September Balinor had agreed. That way at least one of his children would be with him to mollify the business man.

"Can't we leave him with Morgana?" Gwaine said "He will only cry in the car"

"No we can't! Morgana is only six! Anyway she is coming as well" Ygraine explained.

Arthur looked at his mother "Does she have to, she spoils our fun"

"Yes she does Arthur now stop being mean to your sister."

A man entered the kitchen and looked at Arthur and tussled his blonde hair "She thinks you're a pest as well Son" He looked around "Talking of Morgana, where is she?"

"She's already had her breakfast and is sitting with Mordred for me" Ygraine explained.

"Come on boys eat up then you can go and play on your computer for a while before we leave." The people who worked for Uther Pendragon would have been amazed at the fond smile he was giving the two boys. At his company he was known as a harsh business man, but here it was different, he was with his family that meant the world to him. He and Balinor ran a business together and were as close as brothers, and he considered his partners children as members of his extended family.

The two men had started a computer software company together years before and it was flourishing Uther was a very shape and astute man who realised that his friend could help grow his business in ways he couldn't. Balinor Emrys was also Earl of Essetir, and therefore his title opened up areas that might have otherwise been harder to break into. Not that that was Balinor's only contribution to the business. Uther was the ideas man, and the computer geek, but Balinor was an expert negotiator and numbers man. Uther knew his brusque manner wasn't ideal when dealing with people but that Balinor could charm the birds from trees when he wanted to, be could also be tough when needed. Luckily their two wives were also the best of friends.

Uther heard the phone ring and went into his office, he came back white as a sheet, and his wife by now was alone in the kitchen. She looked at Uther "What's the matter love?"

"Sit down" he told his wife when she was sat he sat next to her "That was the office, there has been a plane crash, I rang Heathrow and it was Balinor's plane, it crashed in India, the rescue services have arrived at the site and there are no reports of survivors. What the hell I'm I to say to Gwaine?"

"Oh my god!" Ygraine looked at her husband "Are they sure, where they on the plane, perhaps they missed it" she was as shocked as he was.

He shook his head "They boarded, the search team is still looking, the plane went down in a remote area in the mountains, but they have flown helicopters in."

"They might still be alive" Ygraine told her husband. "When will they know?"

"They have my number we just have to wait"

"Then let the children play for now, we weren't due to leave for an hour." Ygraine paused her voice breaking "if they are….." she couldn't say the worlds "The boys have no one except for their Grandfather Gaius, can we take them in?"

"Do you need to ask? They're family anyway." Uther pulled himself together "We must be strong Ygraine, we don't know for sure yet."

It was an hour later when Uther's phone rang he went into the office Ygraine with him. After getting the news they sat holding each other. No survivors had been found, it was assumed all had perished many burning up with the plane. Uther pulled himself away from his wife. "I'll bring Gwaine in here, then tell Arthur and Morgana."

"Uther tell them together Gwaine will need Arthur" she paused "I assume from what you said the police will tell Gaius"

"Yes, then send him here in a taxi, not something I could tell him over the phone, he will need someone with him. Hunith was his only child." Uther swallowed before standing up "Where shall we do this?"

"I think we go up to the boys they are in Arthur's bedroom and then Gwaine can go to bed if he wants. Come on let's get it over with. Mordred is asleep I think Morgana might be with the boys"

The two went up the stairs to break the news to the eight year old that both his parents and one of his brothers were dead.