Then Merlin heard that the trial had been set for three months' time, in Germany. He told the others, the thought of attending the trial was turning him into a mess once more. When Gwaine visited Merlin they had a talk alone about it.

"I can't do it Gwaine, I can't face it" The raven haired man was clearly distraught.

"You have to Merl, You need justice and make sure it never happens to anyone else. The bitch needs to go to prison, you're a strong man you can do it and we'll all be there for you." Gwaine hugged his cousin "It will give you same closure mate and let you get back to rebuilding your life"

"You'll come?" Merlin asked "But what if your filming?"

"You come first Merl, you and Hunith are family, I'll be there" Gwaine meant every word he said.

The thought of the trail put Merlin's relationship with Percy back a step as the nightmares returned. Merlin was not sure he could give evidence but knew if he was to get the justice he wanted he would have to. But at the end of the day nothing would change what had happened to him. But after speaking to Gwaine Merlin realized that he wanted to make sure than Morgana didn't continue to ruin people's lives. Then he got word that he was going to be able to give evidence on camera and not have to sit in court. Percy would be needed in court but he had no worries about that.

The weekend away was shelved. The nightmares meant that having Percy in bed with him was causing Merlin to panic when he woke up so they decided to try separate rooms once more. But that just meant that when Merlin woke up he was alone and had no one to calm him down. So they compromised and slept in twin beds but in the same room. At least then Percy to calm Merlin when he woke up. The whole situation was very hard on the men and Hunith who was suffering seeing her son loosing weight once more just when he had begun to turn his life around. In the end she too turned to Gwaine for support

"Gwaine I don't know what to do. Percy is so good but he won't want to put up with this forever and then where will Merlin be" she sobbed down the phone.

"Hunith Percy will stick around I know he will. It's hard on them both but they are better together than apart. Once the trail is over then they can begin to put it behind them. Look Why don't you go and stay in Ireland for a bit and let them have time together. You need the break" Gwaine told his Aunt. "If you make plans to go next week I'm in the UK and can be on the end of a phone for them. Merlin will need you when the trial starts"

"I couldn't leave him now" Merlin's mother exclaimed.

"If you don't you're going to be in no fit state to help anyone. Now please don't be stubborn about this. Look I'm ringing dad and arranging it so get packed." Gwaine put the phone down. He was getting seriously worried about his aunt. He knew she had high blood pressure and she needed a break. He picked up the phone and rang his father then he rang Percy.

To Hunith's surprise both Merlin and Percy were all for her going away so outnumbered she relented and went, but only for a week. Gwaine booked the flights for her and arranged for a taxi to the airport. In a funny way it helped them all. Hunith had the chance to relax and Merlin or Percy rang her every day to reassure her and with no one in the house at the weekend and evenings it allowed Percy and Merlin to talk without anyone else there. They had a couple of arguments that they wouldn't have otherwise had and they proved cathartic. Without the risk of Hunith overhearing them they were brutally honest with each other and ended up cuddling and making up. They also felt freer to explore their relationship and finally managed to make love.

Merlin couldn't cope with Percy above him but as long as he felt in control he felt safer and it broke the barrier that the experience had placed between them. It made them both happier as a result. What was even better that the day Hunith came home they had the call to say that Morgana had changed her plea to guilty. It seemed her lawyer had convinced her she had no chance of winning and would get a lighter sentence if she did. So neither of the men would be needed to go to court.

A weight of both of their shoulders and the shadow was lifted some more from their lives. It would be a long time if ever that Merlin was fully recovered but he could now build his life once more. A week after they got the news Percy went out and purchased a new ring. The old one had too many bad memories attached to it. Booking a table in Merlin's favorite restaurant he proposed once more and Merlin accepted.

Once the news came through that Morgana was now in prison serving her sentence. The two men decided to marry without fuss and with just their closest friends and relatives present they married six weeks later. With Gwaine as Percy's best man and Lance as Merlin's they took the plunge. Hunith was so happy, but she insisted on moving out of the house. So Merlin bought her a small bungalow in the village so he still had her close. They didn't have a honeymoon away as Merlin didn't want to stay in a hotel, but instead spent a week together at home.

Merlin's nightmares dwindled until they became a rare occurrence. He still couldn't cope if Percy leaned above him as they made love but it made them get very inventive and spiced up their love lives. They both knew that although Merlin was recovering and rebuilding his life the rape like the bullying he had suffered as a child would always be part of him. But with Percy's help he was gradually putting it behind him.

Eighteen months later Arthur was released from the psychiatric hospital to the care of his uncle and when Gwen received a letter asking her to give a reference for a job for Arthur she reluctantly did so. The firm knew of his mental history and he was to be supervised, they knew that it would only apply to what work he could do and not a character reference. Gwen was very clear in just what she was supplying and did that and no more. After much debate she decided to tell Merlin, she felt to uncomfortable going behind his back. She told him when he was with Percy, and wasn't surprised to find he was in favor. Arthur's lawyer had contacted him six months prior to that to say that Arthur had asked him to apologize for his actions, and that he would not approach Merlin within fifty miles so there was no chance of them ever seeing each other. Merlin couldn't find it in himself to forgive Arthur even though he knew it was mostly his sister's fault. Too much had happened.

Merlin now trusted Percy completely and now felt safer when the bigger man was around, even if he was far more nervous of people then he had been before. His childhood and the rape had made him far more cautious around people and he relied on Percy as a safety barrier between him and the public. But together they built the company up and kept the strong ethos Merlin had started. His experiences had taught him the importance of a happy and safe work place and treating people well. Percy made sure that for the rest of their lives Merlin never felt threatened by anyone and was affectionately nicknamed the 'guard dog' at work. Although Percy was a gentle giant he would never allow Merlin to feel threatened in any way and made that very clear.

The end