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One of the waiters who had enough of watching the brutal scene occurring, rushed 前锋, 期待 with a tray and whacked it as hard he could at Joe, who is choking Arthur.
“Arghhh!!” Joe screams and lands to his side, clutching his head.
Another waiter rushes towards Karl and breaks a bottle on his head. Karl releases Gwen, staggers due to the impact of the break and she uses the opportunity to hurry towards Arthur, helping him up. Arthur coughs as blood seeps out freely from his nose.
“Arthur… Arthur?” Gwen calls in terrified voice. Arthur keeps coughing and grabs his throat. Gwen peels his hand and inspects his throat. It has red marks all around it, the finger marks of the man who choked him. But Arthur is still coughing and has rolled to his side now, clutching his throat. “Arthur …?” Gwen is scared. Suddenly someone grabs Gwen again and it’s Karl. He has knocked the waiter and rushed to grab Gwen from behind.
“Arghhhh… Let me go… let me go, Arthur help me,” Gwen shouts as Karl drags her away. The other waiter comes to help but gets held 由 Joe instead. Arthur rolls back and tries to reach out at Gwen but it’s too late as Karl grips Gwen as tightly he can.
“Guinevere,” Arthur manages to call but his throat hurts courtesy of the choke a short time ago. But he still manages to pick himself up and crawls to where he suspects Gwen is being held up. The waiter who whacked and helped Arthur 分钟 以前 lands on the 表 and crashes down. Joe comes 前锋, 期待 towards Arthur, his hand digging deep into his jacket. Gwen watches in horror as Arthur is still trying to get to his feet. Joe smiles at Gwen and flashes out a 刀 from inside his jacket.
“Watch him die 你 bitch!” he says and nears Arthur. Gwen’s 心 skips a beat.
‘God… please help him!’ she prays silently. Joe nears Arthur and grabs a handful of Arthur’s blond locks.
“Arthur look out!” she shouts, warning Arthur and it helps. As Joe swings his knife, trying to stab Arthur, Arthur ducks to his left and the blade instead just slashes his arm. But Joe hasn’t 给 up; instead he punches Arthur in his stomach and pushes him back. Arthur crashes against the chair and falls clutching his arm.
“Arthur!!” Gwen shouts. Karl laughs behind her.
“There’s nothing 更多 你 can do for him, sweetheart,” Karl says, licking Gwen’s earlobe. And that was a very bad 移动 indeed. Gwen’s 心 now rages in anger. Watching Arthur suffering and herself a victim of these unfortunate events makes her 苦 and she is done with playing a damsel in distress. She uses all her force and steps onto Karl’s feet, the heels of her two inch high heeled shoes plunging into his own sneakers and she hears Karl’s scream behind her. He releases her and using that opportunity, she grabs the plate beside her and whacks it on his face. Then she grabs another plate and whacks it on his head. Blood trickles down Karl’s forehead.
“Hey!!” Joe shouts and heads towards her but she is ready for him. Grabbing the vase on the table, she flings at him and it lands perfectly on his face. The shards pierce his skin and he grabs his face in pain, screaming as blood spurts out from the tear on his face. The 刀 he held a while 以前 drops on the floor. Someone grabs her shoulder and spins her around. As she turns, Karl slaps her hard and she falls down beside Arthur, clutching her face.
“Guinevere?” she hears Arthur calling her but her face hurts and she finds it difficult to 移动 her mouth.
Karl spits out his blood and walks towards her. Reaching down he grabs her curls but someone pounces on him, crashing down alongside him. Karl tries to get up but Arthur holds him down as tightly he can, circling his hands around Karl’s shoulder. Gwen crawls to a safety and cups her hurting cheek.
“Guinevere… get out of here!” Arthur warns.
Gwen looks around and notices Joe is finally finding his feet and would be on her anytime. Arthur can’t hold Karl for long; that man is far too strong for Arthur. She has to find a way to get both of them out. She’s not leaving without him. She looks for anything that might come in handy in case Joe attacks her.
Another couple of waiters comes 前锋, 期待 and helps Arthur to hold Karl tightly. They too pounce on him down, pining him on the floor.
“Let me go!!” Karl shouts as 更多 weight bears him to the floor. “Joe!!” he calls.
Joe, his face now washed red with blood is a raging bull. He wipes his blood, pull out a shard sticking on his chin and starts towards Gwen, his eyes sharp on her. Gwen looks around in panic. She spots the 刀 Joe held a while ago, lying near a table. She looks back at the approaching Joe. He too has spotted the knife. Their eyes meet. As she crawls to the knife, Joe rushes to it as well. But both Gwen and Joe stops short when they hear a gun shot, blaring in the Diner’s. Gwen stops and covers her ears while Joe, sensing he and Karl are now within the clutches of the police, tries to run but they get rounded up. Three police officers rush at Karl and pins him down while the waiters help Arthur up his feet. Another policeman walks up to Gwen and helps her to her feet. Another two cuff Joe and pin him on the table, face down.
“Are 你 all right?” a policeman asks, helping her. Gwen finds her hand trembling and she hides it 由 clasping it tightly. She nods. The policeman nods back and turns quickly at both men, now pinned against the table, face down. “We may need your 报道 on them, please don’t go away,” the policeman says, turning back towards Gwen.
“Sure, thank 你 for coming to our aid, if 你 don’t mind I’ll like to check on my friend,” she says and rushes towards Arthur as the officer steps away. She thanks the waiters and takes him into her arms, embracing him tightly. After a minute, she releases him.
“Guinevere?” Arthur calls, his voice startled as he searches for her. She takes his hand and brings it to cup her face, 接吻 it in relief.
“I’m here Arthur, I’m here,” she says as tears rolls down her face. She is surprised she didn’t cry when they were being attacked but now, after being saved 由 the police, fresh tears seem to be rolling down her cheek freely. She didn’t know why she is crying, is it because they’ve been hurt 或者 is it because she is relieved all this is over and saved 或者 is it because she is sad that Arthur has suffered so much for her. She feels it could be the last.
“Are 你 all right? I heard gun shots, is everything all right? Who’s here?” he asks, as he strokes off her tears.
“I am… I am, don’t worry the police are here and they’ve taken them into custody.” she tells him as she watches both the ruffians being cuffed and taken away 由 the police. The owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 talks with the police and approaches Gwen and Arthur.
“You’re hurt, Arthur… that slash, it seems pretty bad” she inspects his arms and the 斯莱什 across it. Blood drenches his tee and as she touches the wound lightly, she notices him flinching.
“I’m all right, it’s just a slash, nothing deep,” he lies to her. Gwen knows he is lying but she says nothing about it.
“I’m sorry, Arthur…” she says and 更多 tears escape her eyes.
“Hey, it’s not your fault, love… don’t blame yourself. I’m fine, thanks to you. If 你 didn’t warn me I could have been dead 由 now… but it’s over and 你 can pat yourself on the back for saving me.” Arthur tries to joke. “What matters now is that 你 are safe, Guinevere, and I was waiting for that news all afternoon. I don’t care about my injuries, as long as you’re all right,” he says. Gwen’s 心 sinks hearing those words. She just wants to pull him close and 吻乐队(Kiss) him but she couldn’t find the courage to do so. She remains still and sniffs.
Arthur wipes Gwen’s tears and pulls her closer to him, his arms circling her protectively. She closes her eyes and feels the warmth of his embrace, feeling 安全 in his arms. Her trembling body is now slowly relaxing as he strokes her back. She doesn’t want the moment to stop; she doesn’t want the time to pass. She wishes everything would stop and allows them to savour the moment. But their wishes don’t come to pass as the owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 clear his throat. Gwen pulls away from Arthur and smiles nervously at the owner. Beside her Arthur looks grim.
“Are 你 both all right?” he asks cautiously, looking guilty for what has happened.
“I am fine but Arthur here needs to be taken to the hospital. We are good, thanks to your 《勇敢传说》 staff,” Gwen says.
“We shouldn’t have allowed something like this to happen… I am very sorry,” the man apologises.
“Sorry?” Arthur cuts Gwen before she can reply.
“Arthur…”
“Is this all 你 can offer? Sorry, the word sounds way to simple mister! Do 你 know what happened? We could have 迷失 our lives a while 以前 and all 你 can offer is your petty sorry? I’m afraid that is not enough!” Arthur snaps bitterly.
“Sir, if there’s anything I can do in return…”
“There’s nothing 你 can do actually!! Nothing… what if we had been killed?”
“Arthur, he’s not at fault here… what could he do if they decided to…”
“Shut up, Guinevere!” Arthur snaps at her and his behavior stuns her. He seems determined in blaming the owner for what has happened and now he is shouting at her. He is not the person she came to know. He is a lot different now. And he reminds her of his… father.
“Look… we were supposed to be having a good time and all that changed because 你 allowed some thrash talking ruffians into your diners and look what they’ve done!! 你 are supposed to be preventing your customers from being hurt, and now, like it 或者 not, 你 caused it. This is not what a manager like 你 should be doing…”
“We tried to chase them away…”
“Excuses, excuses, excuses!!! When something like this happens, it’s always easy to come up with excuses and get away with it. I don’t want excuses, mister. I am expecting something 更多 concrete!”
“I can compensate for the damages caused…”
“Do I look like I need money from you? Who do 你 think I am, some roadside beggar? I am Arthur Pendragon. Does my father’s name ring any bells to you?” Arthur struts proudly. Gwen didn’t like his tone 或者 the way he uses his power to intimidate the poor man. Something is terribly wrong with Arthur. He is 表演 very strangely indeed.
The owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 gapes at the mention of the name and he immediately bows at Arthur. “Oh my God!!! 你 are Uther’s son? I am so sorry… I didn’t know…I, oh god!!”
“I can get this place closed and sealed for good, I have the power in my hands to do it, understand? One mention of this incident to my father and you’ll have to go back doing what 你 did before 你 owned this diner. 你 wouldn’t want this, do you?”
“Of course not sir, please don’t do anything like this. I just bought this place a 月 back and it took me my whole fortune to rebuild this place after the accident and I don’t want anything to happen any more. I don’t have the strength 或者 the money to reconstruct this place should anything else happens” the man explains. Arthur’s face changes after listening to him. Gwen’s 心 skips a beat when she hears the man’s explanation.
‘Crap!’ she thinks. ‘Please don’t say anything, please …’ she thinks to herself and silently prays the man will not reveal what happened.
“Accident, what accident?” Arthur asks his voice croaky. The man wipes his forehead.
“Arthur, we need to get 你 to the hospital…” Gwen tries to divert the topic but he shrugs her off. But Gwen is still persistent. “Arthur?”
“Not now, Guinevere!” he snaps at her. Gwen sighs and keeps quiet.
“What accident?” Arthur 问题 again. “Come on!” he urges when the owner takes a long time to answer. The owner looks back at Gwen and then at Arthur. Gwen prays to herself.
“A 月 back, there was an accident here where a man drove his car against the 墙 and killed a pedestrian. It was a terrible accident I heard. I know the pedestrian was killed on the spot but I have no idea what happened to the driver. Right after the accident, another man died 由 choking to death on a bone and one of the staff here was killed in a hit and run accident just outside the diner. These were seen as bad signs 由 the customers and business started slowing down. The 前一个 owner was hit with massive losses and it cost him his family as his wife left him and his son eloped, leaving with him with nothing but just this diner. He didn’t want to own this place anymore because he saw it as a bad omen, too, and sold it to me at a discount. I used my entire fortune to reconstruct this place, fix certain areas, including the 墙 out front, and replace it with a fountain. Business started picking up after the reconstruction and I managed to recoup half of what I invested and I really do not want anymore troubles… if your father intervenes I will definitely lose everything, sir, including my investment. I understand your father is a very powerful man here, but please have some courtesy sir, I aplogise for what happened and I didn’t know about this incident until I walked in. I called the police and asked my staff to help 你 both. I have put myself in danger because when those two come out from the prison, they’ll come looking for me. Yet I took the risk and saved your lives. At least for that, could 你 please spare me? I promise I’ll look into the security and tighten it. But please sir, do not bring your father into this,” the man pleads; clasping his hands together like in a prayer and bows his head.
Gwen sighs in relief and feels sorry for the owner. Looks like he is a new owner of the Diner, so that means he doesn’t know it was her father who was killed right here at his place. She had been so worried if he was the original owner because he would definitely speak 更多 about the accident; thankfully he is not and kept his information to a limited edition. That means her secret is still 安全 with her. But she feels very sorry for him. It isn’t his fault at all yet he shoulders the blame instead. And Arthur is adamant in making the man pay for the hurt they’ve been through. Gwen wishes she can do 更多 for the man but unfortunately she can’t. Arthur has just shouted at her, asking her to keep quiet and she isn’t wishing for any 更多 rude remarks from him. But she isn’t done with him either. She wants to get him alone and enquire the manner he’s been behaving with everyone, including herself. He definitely could learn some manners. But she will wait until Arthur is done with the owner before expressing her thoughts. Just because Arthur embarrassed her a while 以前 doesn’t mean she has to put up with it.
But Arthur isn’t listening to any of the owner’s words. He was in a world of his own. Is this the place he crashed and 迷失 his sight? It can’t be… but the man, he says something about the wall. He knows he crashed onto a 墙 but could it be the same wall? He thinks. “The accident… what do 你 know about it?” he asks the owner.
The owner squares his shoulder and shakes his head. “Nothing much except that the crash outside damaged the 墙 entirely. And the pedestrian was killed. But I heard it was gruesome. The car ran over the poor man, killing him on the spot!” the owner explains.
Gwen turns away and wishes she could run away from the place. Listening to the gory details of her father’s death was torturous indeed. Something is upsetting Arthur about the accident and she just wish he won’t suspect anything. But the topic will have to end. She cannot tolerate it any longer.
Arthur’s hands trembles and he feels dizzy. This isn’t happening to him. If what this man says is right, then he is standing in the place he wants nothing to do with. He is actually standing in the midst of his pain, his sin and his agony. He came back to the place his disastrous life started. ‘I’m here? Back in the place I almost died? Why has Guinevere brought me here?’ he asks himself. When he crashed a 月 back, he didn’t know the name of the place 或者 where he had landed. But he remembers the 墙 pretty well. How could he forget? It was the last thing he actually saw before collapsing and losing his sight. And from what the man tells him, it looks like both walls are the same. Arthur’s 心 beats faster now.
He has been trying to forget the place as its memories are 苦 enough to torture and torment his soul. But now, he came back to the very place he intends on forgetting, thanks to Guinevere. Why did she bring him here? There are plenty of other places they could’ve gone to, yet she chose here! Arthur winces at his stupidity. How would she know for pity’s sake! How is she to know he has a history in this place? 或者 that he killed an innocent man on that night? She didn’t know any of that and she brought him here on her good nature, to have a good meal together. This isn’t her fault. No, it’s not. It’s his and his alone. Arthur sighs deeply. He recalls back the gruesome 图片 of the man he ran onto before flinging his car against the wall. The memory, still vivid in his mind is his reminder. A reminder of his sin, to remind him of his mistake. He will never be able to forget that image, even after death claims him.
But there’s another image playing vaguely in the corner of his mind, one he hasn’t told anyone and isn’t sure if it’s real 或者 the figment of his imagination. The night he drove his car towards the wall, he thought he saw the image of a woman in front of him. But he was drunk and when he closed and opened his eyes, he saw a man instead and ran over him. Though he still remembers the first image, he isn’t sure if that woman was real. He remembers asking Merlin about it and his friend dismissed it saying it could have been the work of the alcohol Arthur consumed and Arthur himself dismissed it as his imagination. But what’s real is a man had died and he caused it. And now he finds out he caused 更多 damages than the life he took away. A good man 迷失 his business and his family and now another is on the verge of losing it for the 秒 time. Arthur’s anger at the owner evaporates and replaced with anger with himself; for everything he has caused directly and indirectly. What’s past is past and there’s no point in dwelling in the matter any longer. Arthur wants to leave the place as soon as possible, but not before he deals with the matter at hand. This incident, despite hurting both him and Guinevere, isn’t anyone’s fault. Arthur knew it isn’t the owner’s as well but he was very angry, and for a minute, he stepped into Uther Pendragon’s shoes and became his father. He was insistent on blaming the owner and almost succeeded if the man hadn’t fished out the information’s about the accident. That was the turning point for both men. It saved the owner from Arthur’s ruthlessness and Arthur from becoming his father. And he is ashamed for behaving appallingly. He knows he owes both the owner and Guinevere an apology but he also wants to get the bloody hell out of this Diner. Too much misery surrounds this place and it’s suffocating him. He needs fresh air.
“Sir please…”
Arthur jerks from his deep thoughts as the owner grabs his hand and sighs.
“Please do not inform your father,” he pleads again. Gwen crosses her hands and waits. She has been noticing the changes in Arthur ever since the owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 mentioned about the accident. She didn’t want to suggest anything. She’d rather wait and watch.
“I won’t… I promise,” Arthur says shortly, much to Gwen’s surprise. The man didn’t suspect anything and his face beams with happiness.
“Thank you, sir… I will do anything 你 want. What is it 你 require for your loss?”
“Nothing… just tighten the security and that will do,” Arthur finishes crisply. Now the man seems to be hit with suspicion. His smile fades and he looks at Gwen and then back at Arthur.
“But sir… I thought…”
“Just tighten it, will you!!” Arthur hisses and the man gets the picture. “Do it before I change my mind,” Arthur says again, his face sour. The man tosses a quick questioning look at Gwen. She nods back, asking him to follow Arthur’s instruction. The owner nods back.
“I will… thank you. Do 你 need a lift to the hospital?” he offers generously.
Before Guinevere can answer, Arthur cuts her first. “NO!!” he snaps. Gwen looks at the man apologetically and he nods sadly and walks away, ushering his staffs to get back to their work. The policeman who’s been watching and listening to the conversation nears them, taking out his notebook and pen. Gwen wishes the police hadn’t interfered because she seriously wanted to slap Arthur for his behaviour. Fortunately for Arthur, he was saved 由 the police.
“Miss?”
“Gwen”
“Miss Gwen. I need to take some details from 你 and him regarding the matter. Can 你 spare me a minute?” the policeman asks, looking at both of them. Arthur is walking off and quickly Gwen rushes after him and helps him to a chair.
“Is it necessary?” she asks, helping Arthur sit down.
“If 你 want to see them both behind bars for a long time, yes, it’s important”
“Can 你 wait until I take Arthur to the hospital?”
“I can get 你 both there,” the officer offers and Gwen thinks that’s a good idea. They need to give a full 报道 to the police regarding what has happened and they will need the doctor’s 报道 to support theirs so let the police take them instead.
“Sure,” Gwen says shortly.
“Thank you… 你 sure 你 won’t need a lift back home?” the officer closes his book and slid his pen back into his pocket. They were seated near the dressing room where Arthur is being looked at 由 the doctor.
“No officer, thank you. A friend is picking us up and we will wait for him,” Gwen says.
“Very well, then… I’ll update 你 with the progress as soon as I get the information,” the officer informs and shakes Gwen’s hand before leaving. Gwen sighs and waits for Arthur outside the dressing room. Leaning against the wall, she looks at her trembling hands. Though they weren’t as bad as they were a while ago, the trembling still hasn’t stopped. The same goes with her body; she is still shaking inside. She has never been through anything like this before. It not only rattled her, but her confidence as well. She wonders how Arthur is coping. He must be terrified like her though he hardly showed it. And the sudden rage with the owner of the diner, though it was out of character for him to blow himself out of proposition, Gwen knows he was actually scared inside and he tried to mask his horror with his anger. That way he will not be seemed vulnerable though in reality, he is. He must be feeling guilty for not being able to defend himself during the incident and had to depend on others to save himself. And it must’ve driven him mad, which explains why he was shouting and blaming the owner. Gwen feels sorry for him. A while 以前 she was angry with his outburst but throughout the drive here to the hospital, Arthur was very quiet and it gave her the opportunity to rethink her assessment of him. She tries to put herself in his shoes and feel like he does and she understands his rage. Anyone in his place would do exactly the same. When someone is vulnerable and unable to help in any kind of situation, they will often use anger to mask their weakness. Arthur did exactly that. But there was another issue plaguing her mind throughout the drive here. Arthur’s sudden change of attitude after realising he was in the same 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 at which her father was killed. He was threatening to use his authority to 密封 the place for good, channeling his father’s characteristics but the moment he found out about his accident, he mellowed. No longer his father’s son, he was still harsh but he wasn’t threatening any more. Gwen wonders what could have prompted for the change in attitude and why? Maybe it has everything to do with her father’s death. She knows he still feels guilty about it and isn’t surprised if he chose to mellow down because of that. If it is, she’s relieved. That poor man was being accused for no reason and if Arthur had carried on, Gwen swears she would have slapped Arthur herself.
The door to the dressing room swings open and she manages to steal a peek inside and notices Arthur being treated 由 the doctor. Gwen sighs and leans back against the wall. Her cheek hurts and she knows it has swelled. She cups her cheeks and softly massages it. She wonders what could have happened if the man had stabbed Arthur instead of slashing. ‘No!’ Gwen covers her ears and shakes her head. She couldn’t 熊 to think of the possibility of losing Arthur. Her 心 beats rapidly as she tries to shake the thought away. ‘No, no … go away’ she thinks again. Someone touches her shoulder. She removes her hands and looks up. Merlin was standing beside her. All of her sudden, she starts to sob and fresh tears rolls down her eyes. She gets up and hugs Merlin, tightly.
“Gwen? What happened? Is everything all right? Where’s Arthur? You’re shivering Gwen!” Merlin asks as he strokes her back, comforting her. Gwen sobs uncontrollably now. Every emotion which she kept tightly secured within her chest is being unleashed now and she didn’t want to stop crying. She didn’t care if anyone saw her. She wanted to cry her 心 out.
“Gwen?” Merlin calls again. She releases him and still sobs.
“Hey, is everything all right? You’re trembling, do 你 want to sit down?” he asks, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
“Sorry… “
“No, no, sweetheart… don’t be sorry. There’s nothing to be sorry for. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s being dressed inside. He got slashed in the arm.”
“So I heard… let’s sit down shall we? You’re shaking. Come on,” Merlin says and they sit down, Merlin clasping her hands tightly.
“Want to tell me about it?”
“It was horrible, Merlin. We were having lunch and all of a sudden these two men enter and starts to cause trouble at our table. When Arthur starts to argue, they started beating him. Choking him, strangling him… God, it was horrible. And they were roughing up on me as well… doing all sort of stuff… it was,” she couldn’t carry on and Merlin pulls her close and hugs her warmly.
“Shhhh, it’s all right. 你 don’t have to tell me more. It’s all right, 你 and Arthur are 安全 and that is all that matters,” Merlin assures.
Gwen pulls back and he wipes her tears off her cheek. “Think of it as a nightmare, Gwen, and it’ll be gone after few days,” he advises.
“They had a knife, Merlin, and they wanted to stab Arthur… but fortunately they just ended up slashing his arm. Imagine if they had…”
“It must have been so hard for 你 both, especially you, Gwen… it’s cruel but it’ll soon pass like a nightmare. 你 must be brave, Gwen, at least for Arthur. He must’ve been very worried for 你 and if you’re sacred it’ll affect him too.”
“I know… I’ll try, Merlin,” Gwen promises.
“That’s the spirit,” Merlin says with a smile. Then he notice the finger marks on her cheek. “Your cheek Gwen? It’s all swelled up”
“I know… one of them slapped me.”
“Oh my God! I am so sorry 你 and Arthur had to go through all this… I wish I was around. Don’t 你 want the doctor to have a look at your marks? It looks pretty bad, Gwen.”
“No, I am fine, Merlin. It’ll go away after a few days,” Gwen assures and Merlin nods at her, agreeing.
“Did 你 know Arthur behaved rather nastily with the owner of the diner?” Gwen says, wiping her eyes with the back of her palm.
“What did he do?”
“He was his father’s son, Merlin”
“Don’t follow 你 there, Gwen.”
“He blamed the owner for what happened and threatened to close the place, using his father’s name and power to intimidate the poor man. He was ruthless and inconsiderate, just like his father. And he even snapped at me!”
“He was terrified, Gwen, and Arthur becomes aggressive when he is protective over someone.”
“So I thought. I know he was scared, but there was no need to be cruel with that man.”
“That is Arthur’s other personality. Bet 你 didn’t expect it!”
“No, and I am very surprised 由 his behaviour. But I try to put myself in his place and what he did didn’t seem wrong to me except, he didn’t have to become his father to bring out his other self.”
“Agree, but I think he didn’t expect it either. It can be just that moment sometimes, yeah… where we do things unexpectedly, 你 know,” Merlin tells her.
“Hmmm… I don’t like it when he turns nasty like he did. He loses his good nature.”
“Agree… I tried advising him before and he wouldn’t listen. Perhaps 你 can try your way. He may want to listen to you, Gwen.”
“What makes 你 say that?”
“Because he happens to have a very good understanding with you. And he values your ideas and advices,” Merlin explains.
“You can’t be sure of that, Merlin. From the way he snapped at me today, he does have his moments with me.”
“Nah, I don’t think he meant it. Trust me, Gwen; he really values your words.”
“Fine, I’ll try but if he doesn’t listen, 你 can’t blame me.”
“Deal,” Merlin says with a smile. “Feeling better now?”
“Yes, thank 你 Merlin.”
“Pleasure’s all mine; what’s taking him so long?” Merlin asks looking at the room where Arthur is being treated.
“I don’t know,” Gwen says and looks at her watch. After a while she looks up at Merlin. “Merlin?” she calls. Merlin looks back at her, arching his brow.
“I’m sorry,” she says shortly, her face sad.
“Why?”
“If I hadn’t taken him to that place, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. This is all my fault. I am sorry.”
“Nonsense, Gwen. This is no one’s fault. No one expected it, 你 know.” Merlin assures. “This was supposed to happen and it did. But it has passed so let’s not talk about this all right?”
“Thanks.”
“Do 你 want coffee? I think I’m going to get one since Arthur is going to take longer than I expected.”
“No thanks.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a jiffy… when Arthur comes out, tell him to wait for me, yeah?”
“Sure,” Gwen 回复 as Merlin hurries to the cafeteria to get himself a hot cup of coffee.
Arthur keeps quiet as Merlin opens the door and allows Gwen to guide him into his apartment. His arm hurts as does his buttock. The doctor gave him an injection to cure the wound faster and Arthur wish the doctor had injected his arm instead. It’s bad enough his entire body hurts after getting beaten up, now he’s going to have problem sitting down. Arthur curses his bad luck and walks slowly beside Guinevere. He hasn’t spoken a word to her after leaving the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 and she hasn’t attempted in striking any conversation with him either. He didn’t blame her. She is shaken as he is, then what else can he expect her to do? Though he didn’t see what happened, he heard enough to assume her confrontations with those rascals were nasty. It must have been 更多 than that, though she didn’t say anything to him. She never will, he’s sure of that, but he also knows she’s terribly hurt 由 what happened. Arthur sighs deeply and winces when his arms hurts as he tries to 移动 it. Gwen slows down.
“Are 你 all right?” she asks, her first words to him.
“Yes,” he keeps it short. Gwen leads him to the sofa and helps him sit down. Merlin walks past them to the kitchen.
Arthur doesn’t know why he doesn’t want to speak to Guinevere. He isn’t angry with her but himself. He is 苦 he couldn’t save her life, couldn’t help her out when she needed him. He is supposed to be the one saving her, yet it was she who did it for him. He is ashamed to be in her presence, let alone strike any conversation. She almost sacrificed her life for him, and yet he couldn’t do anything in return. Not even a single fight! He was defenseless against those men and it hurts to think how vulnerable he has been. She must’ve known his weakness 由 now. What will she think of him? Will she consider being his friend after learning of his vulnerability? Will she even want to visit him after this incident? Arthur didn’t want any of these 问题 answered because he knows either way he will be hurt. He doesn’t have the strength to withstand the pain and it’s best he doesn’t know what she thinks right now. That’s why he chose to keep mum all the way back. Now, he just hopes she’ll leave so he will be deprived of the pain for a day.
“Can I get 你 anything?” she asks him, quashing his hopes. He makes a face and shakes his head. Merlin nears them and hands her a packet of ice.
“What’s this for?” she asks, clutching the ice.
“For your cheek… it’s all swelled up, Gwen. The ice will reduce the swelling,” Merlin advices. Gwen takes the ice packet and brings it near her cheek, pressing it against the swell.
Arthur looks startled. “What’s wrong, Guinevere? What happened to your face?” he asks, sitting up straight, his hands searching for her.
Gwen takes his hand and sits down beside him. “Nothing’s wrong, Arthur. My cheek’s swelled up because one of the guys slapped me…”
“Slapped you!!”
“It’s just a little swelling, Arthur. I am all right,” Gwen assures him as he still looks startled. Merlin scratches his elbow and loosens his tie.
“Can I… feel it?” Arthur asks cautiously. Merlin throws the tie on the 表 and rolls his sleeve.
“Here…” Gwen takes his right hand, brings to her face and cups it gently. As his skin touches hers, she winces as it is still painful, but she makes sure he didn’t hear her wincing. Arthur strokes her cheek gently and feels the swell. She hears him gasp.
“I… I’m so sorry Guinevere,” he says sadly.
“Why? This is not your fault?”
“If only… if only I could have helped…” Guinevere covers his mouth and silences him.
“You did enough to save me today, Arthur, and 你 should be proud of yourself. 你 did all 你 can…”
“But it wasn’t enough!!” he peels her hand off angrily and turns away. He is feeling hurt inside. He didn’t realise she was beaten up as well. He was trying to protect her back at the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 and took most of the beating himself so that she’d be 安全 but he failed. She still got hurt.
“Gwen’s right, Arthur. What could 你 do? They were thrashing 你 as well”
“If only I could see Merlin… if only, I…” Arthur slams the side of the sofa angrily.
“Arthur!! What are 你 doing? Your arm!” Merlin rushes to his side and crouches 由 the side of the sofa, examining Arthur’s wound but Arthur snatches it away, still reeling in anger.
“Arthur, what are 你 doing?” Guinevere asks, stunned 由 Arthur’s behaviour. She tries to touch him but he flinches from her touch as well.
‘What the…!’ Merlin is getting irritated and calls his friend again, “Arthur…” “Guinevere… please leave,” Arthur puts it shortly.
“What’s wrong, Arthur?” she asks, looking at Merlin, her face puzzled. Merlin shakes his head as he, too, didn’t know why Arthur is behaving like this.
“Just go, Guinevere. Leave me alone.”
“No! I won’t until 你 tell why 你 are behaving like a jerk!” now she is getting pissed off 由 his behaviour.
“Please, try to understand me…”
“If you’re feeling guilty because of what happened, let me freshen 你 up, mister. Those two assholes were a joke. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, all right? They messed us up, yes but they paid the price as well. 你 tried all 你 can to save me, Arthur, and 你 did. 你 took most of the beatings because 你 were protecting me, isn’t that proof enough 你 did your best? And look at me, Arthur; I am fine. Thanks to you, I am saved. Please don’t take it so hard on yourself.”
“She’s right, Arthur. I spoke to the doctor and he mentioned 你 sustained some pretty bad injuries. If your motive was to save Gwen, then 你 can be proud of yourself,” Merlin chips in.
“NO!!” Arthur shouts and gets up. Merlin gets to his feet and tries to help Arthur but the latter pulls away, snatching his hands away from Merlin.
“No!!! No matter what 你 both say, I… I didn’t do anything! I almost let them get you, Guinevere, and you, 你 actually saved me, not the other way around. If 你 didn’t warn me about the knife, I would have been dead 由 now. I was useless… I was blind and bloody useless,” he walks straight without aid and knocks himself against the coffee table, falling down beside it.
“Arthur!!” both Gwen and Merlin rushes to him.
“No, don’t help me!” he says before they can help him up.
“Arthur, please…” Gwen pleads but he stops her with his outstretched hand.
“No, please leave me alone, Guinevere. Just leave!” he says again, this time quite harshly. Gwen looks at Merlin, distraught. Merlin doesn’t know what to do either. He has never seen Arthur behaving erratically like this and he doesn’t know how to comfort Gwen.
“What is it, Arthur?” Gwen finally asks; her hands on her hips.
“What’s what?”
“What is bothering you?”
“Nothing…”
“Bullshit!”
“What do 你 want, Guinevere, I thought I asked you…” Arthur tries to change the subject.
“To leave, yes. I will, Arthur, but not before 你 answer me?”
“There’s nothing for me to answer.”
“Yes there is, and 你 know it! I want to know just one bloody question! Answer me and I’ll leave 你 alone!”
“Just go, Guinevere” Arthur tells her sadly and waves his hand. His knee hurts from the knock he sustained earlier 由 the 表 but his 心 hurts more. He just wishes Gwen would listen to him, just this once.
“Why are 你 shouldering the guilt yourself, Arthur?” she asks him. Beside her Merlin stands with his hands firmly crossed across his chest.
“Nothing, just…”
“Listen!” she kneels in front of him, grabs his hand and tilts his face to her. “Something is troubling 你 and I can sense that since we left the Diner. 你 changed your attitude the moment the man mentioned about the accident. And after that, 你 kept quiet, all the way to the hospital and all the way here. What happened, Arthur? Did the accident have something to do with your change of behaviour now? Why aren’t 你 telling us, we are your 老友记 and we mean only to help you… please. Don’t do this… tell us, tell us what is bothering you.”
“Nothing,” he pulls his face and bows his head. He hears Gwen sighing. Gwen looks up at Merlin, her face turning red with anger.
“For God’s sake, Arthur, just spit it out will you?” Gwen shouts at him. Merlin circles Arthur and quickly puts his assuring hand on her shoulder, calming her. Gwen sighs and pats his back.
“Arthur?” Merlin calls softly. “Please,” he pleads.
Arthur doesn’t want to hurt his friends, especially Guinevere, but his 心 is aching too. Why can’t anyone see that? They want the answer but can they handle his answer? His mind is in a jumble. He couldn’t bring himself to think in peace. Guinevere is right, something is troubling him but it isn’t just the attack 或者 the accident he was involved earlier. There’s something else, something which is connected to both these incidents. Something involving his conscience. But how will he explain it to them without hurting them. Will they understand?
“Please Arthur, tell me,” Gwen pleads, her voice softening. She reaches over and touches his hand.
“I wish I could see, Guinevere! I wish I had my sight back… that’s all!” Arthur snaps and pulls his hand from her touch, startling Gwen. “I want to see!!!” he repeats again.
Arthur’s sudden rant stuns both Gwen and Merlin. They have not seen him like this nether did they expected it now. Though Merlin is still taken back 由 Arthur’s outburst, Gwen has softened and closes on him, kneeling 由 his side. She clips his chin and forces him to turn her way.
“Is that it?” she asks, looking at him. “That’s all been bothering you?”
“Do 你 have any idea what’s going through my mind right now?” Arthur can’t believe Guinevere can cast his feelings aside so lightly. Can’t she understand how he is feeling?
“Arthur, we told 你 before this is your choice…” she starts.
“Yes, and now I regret it!!” he snaps back at her. Gwen sighs and exchange looks with Merlin. She could use Merlin’s help now.
“What are 你 saying, Arthur?” Merlin asks, taking a step closer.
“I wish… I never drove the car and crashed it, never ran over that man… never became blind, never disagreed with my father… I wish I never 说 and did all those things I did before… I wish my life didn’t turn out this way!”
“You can still correct it, Arthur, the ball is in your court. The decision is still yours,” Merlin says.
“How can I Merlin? How… I’ll be dishonoring my promise I made for that man!”
“But he’s dead, Arthur, and he wouldn’t know anything!” Merlin says. Gwen clenches her cheek. She didn’t need to listen to any of this.
“I can’t… my conscience wouldn’t allow it.”
“I can’t help 你 if 你 can’t decide, Arthur!” Merlin 答案 wryly.
“I… don’t know Merlin!!” Arthur pounds the floor with his fist. “I… I don’t know. I am so angry at everything right now. Myself, my disability… that man!”
“That man?” Gwen asks quickly. ‘Why is her father being involved into this matter?’ she thinks fast. She didn’t like the way Arthur’s dragging her father into his troubles.
“Yes, him… if only he didn’t come across me…”
“You would have died!” her voice rises. Merlin turns to look at her.
“At least I wouldn’t have ended up blind!” Arthur argues.
“That was your fault, Arthur, not his… as far as I remember, 你 got drunk and rammed on that man, not the other way round! 你 could have ended up on a slab in the morgue if that man didn’t come across 你 and the wall, risking his life in return and 你 blame him for your own stupidity?” her harsh words got Merlin all wide eyed.
“Gwen?” Merlin calls her but she shakes her head.
“Not now, Merlin!” she stops Merlin and continues to glare at Arthur “Are 你 blaming him Arthur?” she asks straightforwardly at him.
“Yes, yes I am… I wish he didn’t come in between me and that wall. I should have been dead; at least I am deprived of this madness!! I don’t have to go through this torment!! Do 你 have any idea how torturous life is living like this Guinevere? I can’t go through this anymore, I really can’t!”
“Then don’t!! 你 can have your operation, who’s stopping you?” she snaps back.
“I made a promise!”
“To hell with the promise, Arthur… like Merlin said, that man is dead and no one will know if 你 kept that promise 或者 not! 你 don’t have to sacrifice for him because no matter what 你 do, he isn’t going to return back to his family. Don’t blame his death for your chance of to cure yourself!”
“No!! It’s not what I promised myself!! That man had a family and I killed him… I should punish myself!”
“There are other alternatives,” Gwen replies.
“But this is the only valid punishment for me,” Arthur argues back.
“Then why are 你 complaining?” Gwen snaps back. Her voice was getting croaky because she tends to get emotional when she is angry.
“Because I am useless to anyone, Guinevere, don’t 你 see it? I am not good for anything 或者 anyone and 你 know how it makes me feel? I feel as if I am burden!” he says and Gwen can feel his sadness. She is angry he is blaming her father for his troubles but she also feels sad for his misery.
“Like I said, it’s your choice Arthur… is that why 你 are angry?” she asks him.
“Yes!”
“Because 你 think you’re a burden?”
“I am… there’s no doubt about that”
“I think that’s bullshit! No one except 你 thinks you’re a burden, Arthur! If that’s how shallow your mind is, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Gwen scolds him.
“Try putting yourself in my shoes, Guinevere, and you’ll know how I feel!”
“Look, I don’t need to put myself in your position to know your feelings Arthur. We all do and we want to help 你 but it’s 你 who’s keeping us at arm’s length. Actually, I don’t understand why are 你 behaving like this right now. 你 had been fine when we walked out of this place this afternoon. 你 were full of confidence and determined in making yourself heard, but now, where’s that confidence? 你 are not the same Arthur I know. What happened to you? Don’t tell me those two men broke your confidence? You’re never one who’ll lose your will to fight.”
“Maybe now I do!”
“Guys… come on, cool it out shall we?” Merlin tries to intercept.
“This is stupid, Arthur; I can’t believe you’re behaving like a child!” Gwen ignores Merlin and scolds Arthur.
“You don’t know anything about me, Guinevere!”
“Oh yes I do, Arthur! I think you’re a man with some seriously complex inner issues! 你 have good 老友记 around 你 but 你 don’t want them to help you. 你 choose the easiest way to beat your troubles, 由 drinking and trying to commit suicide! 你 think those two solutions will ease your troubles, no! Looks at what 你 turned yourself into? This condition, this unfortunate condition 你 put upon yourself was at your own expense so stop blaming anyone except yourself for becoming blind! 你 always mention your father is your worst enemy but no: 你 are your own worst enemy and 你 don’t know it!”
Merlin didn’t know what to say 或者 do. He keeps his silence and looks at the two bickering souls in front of him. He silently applauds Gwen for her bravery. Her every word is spot on and if only Arthur listens.
“Are 你 suggesting that I am blinded 由 my own doing?” Arthur clenches his teeth.
“Yes!! 你 became blind because 你 didn’t know how to solve your problem. 你 took a detour and see where it landed you. Your father was offering 你 a way out of the mess 你 created and 你 didn’t want to accept it because of your arrogance! Not because of your conscience! 你 will be indebted to your father if 你 accept his help and that’s the last thing 你 want, so 你 created a story about your conscience and got away with it!”
“That’s preposterous!”
“Really? Then why are 你 blaming the man 你 killed for your disability? Why are 你 feeling insecure about your blindness?” she asks him.
“Because I had to blame someone!! That’s why!!” Arthur shouts back.
“Then blame yourself!” Gwen shouts at him. “You are what 你 are because of yourself! Not anyone else’s doing but your own. Be man enough to accept your decision and carry on with your life, Arthur. I think 你 really need help… 你 can’t make your decisions because 你 are clueless about yourself. If 你 can’t understand your own life, how do 你 expect others to understand? It took Merlin and me almost ten 分钟 to get 你 to open up to us, how are 你 going to confide in others when you’re burdened 由 insecurity, Arthur? 你 have to shed that insecureness first, than tackle your life one 由 one. We are here and we can help you. 你 need to trust, Arthur, and it has to start with you!”
“You make it sound so easy, don’t you? Of course 你 wouldn’t know my situation because 你 haven’t 迷失 anything. It’s always easy advising, Guinevere, but try being me and lose something 或者 someone in your life first. Then you’ll know what I mean!” Arthur says rudely. Gwen’s jaw drops.
“What did 你 say?” she asks.
“Gwen…” Merlin can sense something is definitely going to explode. He tries to pull Gwen away but she brushes his hands away.
“I haven’t 迷失 anyone? 你 think I’m giving 你 free cheap 建议 because I haven’t 迷失 anyone?” she repeats his question.
“Gwen, please… “Merlin tries to reason with her but she isn’t in the mood to listen to him right now.
“I haven’t 迷失 anyone, 你 say, Arthur? 你 really think you’re the only person in the world who’s suffering right now? 你 think you’re the only one who 迷失 something dear to you? No, let me correct that, Arthur Pendragon. I 迷失 someone, too, and he was my precious gem. He was my world and he was taken away from me!!! So I know about losses, too, and that’s why I’m trying to help 你 if you’ll stop being such a thick headed fool!”
“Who you’re calling a fool?”
“You!”
“Yes, you’re right… I am fool. That’s why I can’t even kill myself! Someone else took that opportunity instead!”
“Stop talking about that man like that, Arthur!!” Gwen screams at him. Her scream stuns Arthur. Merlin sighs and sits down on the sofa. This is going to take longer than he expects.
“What’s with 你 and that man, anyway?” Arthur asks, arching his brow in frustration.
“Respect the dead… that’s all I am asking of you”
“Why? Does he mean anything to you?”
“Nothing… look! I have to go!” Gwen gets up and prepares to leave.
“Not before 你 answer my 问题 Guinevere!”
“I don’t have to answer anything to you, Arthur. This is your problem so stop dragging others in.”
“Like that dead man?”
“Stop talking about him, understand!” she points at him.
“I won’t until 你 tell me why does he interest you?” Arthur asks.
“You don’t know anything about him so don’t assume 你 do!”
“So now 你 know him?” he teases. Merlin shakes his head.
“Drop it Arthur…”
“Do 你 know him?”
“No.”
“Then why are 你 supporting him?”
“Because I think you’re stupid to blame your faults on him… that’s why”
“He’s stupid too… if he didn’t run across my car, he could be living too,”
“He didn’t run across your car Arthur, he was saving a life and risked his in return! Understand? And 你 know whose life he was saving? Mine!! Yes, my life. I was standing in the same path your car was heading and he pushed me aside only for 你 to run over him, killing him! And 你 know why he saved my life? Because he is my father!! Yes, Arthur Pendragon, the man 你 killed was my father!” Gwen tells Arthur and stands, glaring at him.
One of the waiters who had enough of watching the brutal scene occurring, rushed 前锋, 期待 with a tray and whacked it as hard he could at Joe, who is choking Arthur.
“Arghhh!!” Joe screams and lands to his side, clutching his head.
Another waiter rushes towards Karl and breaks a bottle on his head. Karl releases Gwen, staggers due to the impact of the break and she uses the opportunity to hurry towards Arthur, helping him up. Arthur coughs as blood seeps out freely from his nose.
“Arthur… Arthur?” Gwen calls in terrified voice. Arthur keeps coughing and grabs his throat. Gwen peels his hand and inspects his throat. It has red marks all around it, the finger marks of the man who choked him. But Arthur is still coughing and has rolled to his side now, clutching his throat. “Arthur …?” Gwen is scared. Suddenly someone grabs Gwen again and it’s Karl. He has knocked the waiter and rushed to grab Gwen from behind.
“Arghhhh… Let me go… let me go, Arthur help me,” Gwen shouts as Karl drags her away. The other waiter comes to help but gets held 由 Joe instead. Arthur rolls back and tries to reach out at Gwen but it’s too late as Karl grips Gwen as tightly he can.
“Guinevere,” Arthur manages to call but his throat hurts courtesy of the choke a short time ago. But he still manages to pick himself up and crawls to where he suspects Gwen is being held up. The waiter who whacked and helped Arthur 分钟 以前 lands on the 表 and crashes down. Joe comes 前锋, 期待 towards Arthur, his hand digging deep into his jacket. Gwen watches in horror as Arthur is still trying to get to his feet. Joe smiles at Gwen and flashes out a 刀 from inside his jacket.
“Watch him die 你 bitch!” he says and nears Arthur. Gwen’s 心 skips a beat.
‘God… please help him!’ she prays silently. Joe nears Arthur and grabs a handful of Arthur’s blond locks.
“Arthur look out!” she shouts, warning Arthur and it helps. As Joe swings his knife, trying to stab Arthur, Arthur ducks to his left and the blade instead just slashes his arm. But Joe hasn’t 给 up; instead he punches Arthur in his stomach and pushes him back. Arthur crashes against the chair and falls clutching his arm.
“Arthur!!” Gwen shouts. Karl laughs behind her.
“There’s nothing 更多 你 can do for him, sweetheart,” Karl says, licking Gwen’s earlobe. And that was a very bad 移动 indeed. Gwen’s 心 now rages in anger. Watching Arthur suffering and herself a victim of these unfortunate events makes her 苦 and she is done with playing a damsel in distress. She uses all her force and steps onto Karl’s feet, the heels of her two inch high heeled shoes plunging into his own sneakers and she hears Karl’s scream behind her. He releases her and using that opportunity, she grabs the plate beside her and whacks it on his face. Then she grabs another plate and whacks it on his head. Blood trickles down Karl’s forehead.
“Hey!!” Joe shouts and heads towards her but she is ready for him. Grabbing the vase on the table, she flings at him and it lands perfectly on his face. The shards pierce his skin and he grabs his face in pain, screaming as blood spurts out from the tear on his face. The 刀 he held a while 以前 drops on the floor. Someone grabs her shoulder and spins her around. As she turns, Karl slaps her hard and she falls down beside Arthur, clutching her face.
“Guinevere?” she hears Arthur calling her but her face hurts and she finds it difficult to 移动 her mouth.
Karl spits out his blood and walks towards her. Reaching down he grabs her curls but someone pounces on him, crashing down alongside him. Karl tries to get up but Arthur holds him down as tightly he can, circling his hands around Karl’s shoulder. Gwen crawls to a safety and cups her hurting cheek.
“Guinevere… get out of here!” Arthur warns.
Gwen looks around and notices Joe is finally finding his feet and would be on her anytime. Arthur can’t hold Karl for long; that man is far too strong for Arthur. She has to find a way to get both of them out. She’s not leaving without him. She looks for anything that might come in handy in case Joe attacks her.
Another couple of waiters comes 前锋, 期待 and helps Arthur to hold Karl tightly. They too pounce on him down, pining him on the floor.
“Let me go!!” Karl shouts as 更多 weight bears him to the floor. “Joe!!” he calls.
Joe, his face now washed red with blood is a raging bull. He wipes his blood, pull out a shard sticking on his chin and starts towards Gwen, his eyes sharp on her. Gwen looks around in panic. She spots the 刀 Joe held a while ago, lying near a table. She looks back at the approaching Joe. He too has spotted the knife. Their eyes meet. As she crawls to the knife, Joe rushes to it as well. But both Gwen and Joe stops short when they hear a gun shot, blaring in the Diner’s. Gwen stops and covers her ears while Joe, sensing he and Karl are now within the clutches of the police, tries to run but they get rounded up. Three police officers rush at Karl and pins him down while the waiters help Arthur up his feet. Another policeman walks up to Gwen and helps her to her feet. Another two cuff Joe and pin him on the table, face down.
“Are 你 all right?” a policeman asks, helping her. Gwen finds her hand trembling and she hides it 由 clasping it tightly. She nods. The policeman nods back and turns quickly at both men, now pinned against the table, face down. “We may need your 报道 on them, please don’t go away,” the policeman says, turning back towards Gwen.
“Sure, thank 你 for coming to our aid, if 你 don’t mind I’ll like to check on my friend,” she says and rushes towards Arthur as the officer steps away. She thanks the waiters and takes him into her arms, embracing him tightly. After a minute, she releases him.
“Guinevere?” Arthur calls, his voice startled as he searches for her. She takes his hand and brings it to cup her face, 接吻 it in relief.
“I’m here Arthur, I’m here,” she says as tears rolls down her face. She is surprised she didn’t cry when they were being attacked but now, after being saved 由 the police, fresh tears seem to be rolling down her cheek freely. She didn’t know why she is crying, is it because they’ve been hurt 或者 is it because she is relieved all this is over and saved 或者 is it because she is sad that Arthur has suffered so much for her. She feels it could be the last.
“Are 你 all right? I heard gun shots, is everything all right? Who’s here?” he asks, as he strokes off her tears.
“I am… I am, don’t worry the police are here and they’ve taken them into custody.” she tells him as she watches both the ruffians being cuffed and taken away 由 the police. The owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 talks with the police and approaches Gwen and Arthur.
“You’re hurt, Arthur… that slash, it seems pretty bad” she inspects his arms and the 斯莱什 across it. Blood drenches his tee and as she touches the wound lightly, she notices him flinching.
“I’m all right, it’s just a slash, nothing deep,” he lies to her. Gwen knows he is lying but she says nothing about it.
“I’m sorry, Arthur…” she says and 更多 tears escape her eyes.
“Hey, it’s not your fault, love… don’t blame yourself. I’m fine, thanks to you. If 你 didn’t warn me I could have been dead 由 now… but it’s over and 你 can pat yourself on the back for saving me.” Arthur tries to joke. “What matters now is that 你 are safe, Guinevere, and I was waiting for that news all afternoon. I don’t care about my injuries, as long as you’re all right,” he says. Gwen’s 心 sinks hearing those words. She just wants to pull him close and 吻乐队(Kiss) him but she couldn’t find the courage to do so. She remains still and sniffs.
Arthur wipes Gwen’s tears and pulls her closer to him, his arms circling her protectively. She closes her eyes and feels the warmth of his embrace, feeling 安全 in his arms. Her trembling body is now slowly relaxing as he strokes her back. She doesn’t want the moment to stop; she doesn’t want the time to pass. She wishes everything would stop and allows them to savour the moment. But their wishes don’t come to pass as the owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 clear his throat. Gwen pulls away from Arthur and smiles nervously at the owner. Beside her Arthur looks grim.
“Are 你 both all right?” he asks cautiously, looking guilty for what has happened.
“I am fine but Arthur here needs to be taken to the hospital. We are good, thanks to your 《勇敢传说》 staff,” Gwen says.
“We shouldn’t have allowed something like this to happen… I am very sorry,” the man apologises.
“Sorry?” Arthur cuts Gwen before she can reply.
“Arthur…”
“Is this all 你 can offer? Sorry, the word sounds way to simple mister! Do 你 know what happened? We could have 迷失 our lives a while 以前 and all 你 can offer is your petty sorry? I’m afraid that is not enough!” Arthur snaps bitterly.
“Sir, if there’s anything I can do in return…”
“There’s nothing 你 can do actually!! Nothing… what if we had been killed?”
“Arthur, he’s not at fault here… what could he do if they decided to…”
“Shut up, Guinevere!” Arthur snaps at her and his behavior stuns her. He seems determined in blaming the owner for what has happened and now he is shouting at her. He is not the person she came to know. He is a lot different now. And he reminds her of his… father.
“Look… we were supposed to be having a good time and all that changed because 你 allowed some thrash talking ruffians into your diners and look what they’ve done!! 你 are supposed to be preventing your customers from being hurt, and now, like it 或者 not, 你 caused it. This is not what a manager like 你 should be doing…”
“We tried to chase them away…”
“Excuses, excuses, excuses!!! When something like this happens, it’s always easy to come up with excuses and get away with it. I don’t want excuses, mister. I am expecting something 更多 concrete!”
“I can compensate for the damages caused…”
“Do I look like I need money from you? Who do 你 think I am, some roadside beggar? I am Arthur Pendragon. Does my father’s name ring any bells to you?” Arthur struts proudly. Gwen didn’t like his tone 或者 the way he uses his power to intimidate the poor man. Something is terribly wrong with Arthur. He is 表演 very strangely indeed.
The owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 gapes at the mention of the name and he immediately bows at Arthur. “Oh my God!!! 你 are Uther’s son? I am so sorry… I didn’t know…I, oh god!!”
“I can get this place closed and sealed for good, I have the power in my hands to do it, understand? One mention of this incident to my father and you’ll have to go back doing what 你 did before 你 owned this diner. 你 wouldn’t want this, do you?”
“Of course not sir, please don’t do anything like this. I just bought this place a 月 back and it took me my whole fortune to rebuild this place after the accident and I don’t want anything to happen any more. I don’t have the strength 或者 the money to reconstruct this place should anything else happens” the man explains. Arthur’s face changes after listening to him. Gwen’s 心 skips a beat when she hears the man’s explanation.
‘Crap!’ she thinks. ‘Please don’t say anything, please …’ she thinks to herself and silently prays the man will not reveal what happened.
“Accident, what accident?” Arthur asks his voice croaky. The man wipes his forehead.
“Arthur, we need to get 你 to the hospital…” Gwen tries to divert the topic but he shrugs her off. But Gwen is still persistent. “Arthur?”
“Not now, Guinevere!” he snaps at her. Gwen sighs and keeps quiet.
“What accident?” Arthur 问题 again. “Come on!” he urges when the owner takes a long time to answer. The owner looks back at Gwen and then at Arthur. Gwen prays to herself.
“A 月 back, there was an accident here where a man drove his car against the 墙 and killed a pedestrian. It was a terrible accident I heard. I know the pedestrian was killed on the spot but I have no idea what happened to the driver. Right after the accident, another man died 由 choking to death on a bone and one of the staff here was killed in a hit and run accident just outside the diner. These were seen as bad signs 由 the customers and business started slowing down. The 前一个 owner was hit with massive losses and it cost him his family as his wife left him and his son eloped, leaving with him with nothing but just this diner. He didn’t want to own this place anymore because he saw it as a bad omen, too, and sold it to me at a discount. I used my entire fortune to reconstruct this place, fix certain areas, including the 墙 out front, and replace it with a fountain. Business started picking up after the reconstruction and I managed to recoup half of what I invested and I really do not want anymore troubles… if your father intervenes I will definitely lose everything, sir, including my investment. I understand your father is a very powerful man here, but please have some courtesy sir, I aplogise for what happened and I didn’t know about this incident until I walked in. I called the police and asked my staff to help 你 both. I have put myself in danger because when those two come out from the prison, they’ll come looking for me. Yet I took the risk and saved your lives. At least for that, could 你 please spare me? I promise I’ll look into the security and tighten it. But please sir, do not bring your father into this,” the man pleads; clasping his hands together like in a prayer and bows his head.
Gwen sighs in relief and feels sorry for the owner. Looks like he is a new owner of the Diner, so that means he doesn’t know it was her father who was killed right here at his place. She had been so worried if he was the original owner because he would definitely speak 更多 about the accident; thankfully he is not and kept his information to a limited edition. That means her secret is still 安全 with her. But she feels very sorry for him. It isn’t his fault at all yet he shoulders the blame instead. And Arthur is adamant in making the man pay for the hurt they’ve been through. Gwen wishes she can do 更多 for the man but unfortunately she can’t. Arthur has just shouted at her, asking her to keep quiet and she isn’t wishing for any 更多 rude remarks from him. But she isn’t done with him either. She wants to get him alone and enquire the manner he’s been behaving with everyone, including herself. He definitely could learn some manners. But she will wait until Arthur is done with the owner before expressing her thoughts. Just because Arthur embarrassed her a while 以前 doesn’t mean she has to put up with it.
But Arthur isn’t listening to any of the owner’s words. He was in a world of his own. Is this the place he crashed and 迷失 his sight? It can’t be… but the man, he says something about the wall. He knows he crashed onto a 墙 but could it be the same wall? He thinks. “The accident… what do 你 know about it?” he asks the owner.
The owner squares his shoulder and shakes his head. “Nothing much except that the crash outside damaged the 墙 entirely. And the pedestrian was killed. But I heard it was gruesome. The car ran over the poor man, killing him on the spot!” the owner explains.
Gwen turns away and wishes she could run away from the place. Listening to the gory details of her father’s death was torturous indeed. Something is upsetting Arthur about the accident and she just wish he won’t suspect anything. But the topic will have to end. She cannot tolerate it any longer.
Arthur’s hands trembles and he feels dizzy. This isn’t happening to him. If what this man says is right, then he is standing in the place he wants nothing to do with. He is actually standing in the midst of his pain, his sin and his agony. He came back to the place his disastrous life started. ‘I’m here? Back in the place I almost died? Why has Guinevere brought me here?’ he asks himself. When he crashed a 月 back, he didn’t know the name of the place 或者 where he had landed. But he remembers the 墙 pretty well. How could he forget? It was the last thing he actually saw before collapsing and losing his sight. And from what the man tells him, it looks like both walls are the same. Arthur’s 心 beats faster now.
He has been trying to forget the place as its memories are 苦 enough to torture and torment his soul. But now, he came back to the very place he intends on forgetting, thanks to Guinevere. Why did she bring him here? There are plenty of other places they could’ve gone to, yet she chose here! Arthur winces at his stupidity. How would she know for pity’s sake! How is she to know he has a history in this place? 或者 that he killed an innocent man on that night? She didn’t know any of that and she brought him here on her good nature, to have a good meal together. This isn’t her fault. No, it’s not. It’s his and his alone. Arthur sighs deeply. He recalls back the gruesome 图片 of the man he ran onto before flinging his car against the wall. The memory, still vivid in his mind is his reminder. A reminder of his sin, to remind him of his mistake. He will never be able to forget that image, even after death claims him.
But there’s another image playing vaguely in the corner of his mind, one he hasn’t told anyone and isn’t sure if it’s real 或者 the figment of his imagination. The night he drove his car towards the wall, he thought he saw the image of a woman in front of him. But he was drunk and when he closed and opened his eyes, he saw a man instead and ran over him. Though he still remembers the first image, he isn’t sure if that woman was real. He remembers asking Merlin about it and his friend dismissed it saying it could have been the work of the alcohol Arthur consumed and Arthur himself dismissed it as his imagination. But what’s real is a man had died and he caused it. And now he finds out he caused 更多 damages than the life he took away. A good man 迷失 his business and his family and now another is on the verge of losing it for the 秒 time. Arthur’s anger at the owner evaporates and replaced with anger with himself; for everything he has caused directly and indirectly. What’s past is past and there’s no point in dwelling in the matter any longer. Arthur wants to leave the place as soon as possible, but not before he deals with the matter at hand. This incident, despite hurting both him and Guinevere, isn’t anyone’s fault. Arthur knew it isn’t the owner’s as well but he was very angry, and for a minute, he stepped into Uther Pendragon’s shoes and became his father. He was insistent on blaming the owner and almost succeeded if the man hadn’t fished out the information’s about the accident. That was the turning point for both men. It saved the owner from Arthur’s ruthlessness and Arthur from becoming his father. And he is ashamed for behaving appallingly. He knows he owes both the owner and Guinevere an apology but he also wants to get the bloody hell out of this Diner. Too much misery surrounds this place and it’s suffocating him. He needs fresh air.
“Sir please…”
Arthur jerks from his deep thoughts as the owner grabs his hand and sighs.
“Please do not inform your father,” he pleads again. Gwen crosses her hands and waits. She has been noticing the changes in Arthur ever since the owner of the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 mentioned about the accident. She didn’t want to suggest anything. She’d rather wait and watch.
“I won’t… I promise,” Arthur says shortly, much to Gwen’s surprise. The man didn’t suspect anything and his face beams with happiness.
“Thank you, sir… I will do anything 你 want. What is it 你 require for your loss?”
“Nothing… just tighten the security and that will do,” Arthur finishes crisply. Now the man seems to be hit with suspicion. His smile fades and he looks at Gwen and then back at Arthur.
“But sir… I thought…”
“Just tighten it, will you!!” Arthur hisses and the man gets the picture. “Do it before I change my mind,” Arthur says again, his face sour. The man tosses a quick questioning look at Gwen. She nods back, asking him to follow Arthur’s instruction. The owner nods back.
“I will… thank you. Do 你 need a lift to the hospital?” he offers generously.
Before Guinevere can answer, Arthur cuts her first. “NO!!” he snaps. Gwen looks at the man apologetically and he nods sadly and walks away, ushering his staffs to get back to their work. The policeman who’s been watching and listening to the conversation nears them, taking out his notebook and pen. Gwen wishes the police hadn’t interfered because she seriously wanted to slap Arthur for his behaviour. Fortunately for Arthur, he was saved 由 the police.
“Miss?”
“Gwen”
“Miss Gwen. I need to take some details from 你 and him regarding the matter. Can 你 spare me a minute?” the policeman asks, looking at both of them. Arthur is walking off and quickly Gwen rushes after him and helps him to a chair.
“Is it necessary?” she asks, helping Arthur sit down.
“If 你 want to see them both behind bars for a long time, yes, it’s important”
“Can 你 wait until I take Arthur to the hospital?”
“I can get 你 both there,” the officer offers and Gwen thinks that’s a good idea. They need to give a full 报道 to the police regarding what has happened and they will need the doctor’s 报道 to support theirs so let the police take them instead.
“Sure,” Gwen says shortly.
“Thank you… 你 sure 你 won’t need a lift back home?” the officer closes his book and slid his pen back into his pocket. They were seated near the dressing room where Arthur is being looked at 由 the doctor.
“No officer, thank you. A friend is picking us up and we will wait for him,” Gwen says.
“Very well, then… I’ll update 你 with the progress as soon as I get the information,” the officer informs and shakes Gwen’s hand before leaving. Gwen sighs and waits for Arthur outside the dressing room. Leaning against the wall, she looks at her trembling hands. Though they weren’t as bad as they were a while ago, the trembling still hasn’t stopped. The same goes with her body; she is still shaking inside. She has never been through anything like this before. It not only rattled her, but her confidence as well. She wonders how Arthur is coping. He must be terrified like her though he hardly showed it. And the sudden rage with the owner of the diner, though it was out of character for him to blow himself out of proposition, Gwen knows he was actually scared inside and he tried to mask his horror with his anger. That way he will not be seemed vulnerable though in reality, he is. He must be feeling guilty for not being able to defend himself during the incident and had to depend on others to save himself. And it must’ve driven him mad, which explains why he was shouting and blaming the owner. Gwen feels sorry for him. A while 以前 she was angry with his outburst but throughout the drive here to the hospital, Arthur was very quiet and it gave her the opportunity to rethink her assessment of him. She tries to put herself in his shoes and feel like he does and she understands his rage. Anyone in his place would do exactly the same. When someone is vulnerable and unable to help in any kind of situation, they will often use anger to mask their weakness. Arthur did exactly that. But there was another issue plaguing her mind throughout the drive here. Arthur’s sudden change of attitude after realising he was in the same 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 at which her father was killed. He was threatening to use his authority to 密封 the place for good, channeling his father’s characteristics but the moment he found out about his accident, he mellowed. No longer his father’s son, he was still harsh but he wasn’t threatening any more. Gwen wonders what could have prompted for the change in attitude and why? Maybe it has everything to do with her father’s death. She knows he still feels guilty about it and isn’t surprised if he chose to mellow down because of that. If it is, she’s relieved. That poor man was being accused for no reason and if Arthur had carried on, Gwen swears she would have slapped Arthur herself.
The door to the dressing room swings open and she manages to steal a peek inside and notices Arthur being treated 由 the doctor. Gwen sighs and leans back against the wall. Her cheek hurts and she knows it has swelled. She cups her cheeks and softly massages it. She wonders what could have happened if the man had stabbed Arthur instead of slashing. ‘No!’ Gwen covers her ears and shakes her head. She couldn’t 熊 to think of the possibility of losing Arthur. Her 心 beats rapidly as she tries to shake the thought away. ‘No, no … go away’ she thinks again. Someone touches her shoulder. She removes her hands and looks up. Merlin was standing beside her. All of her sudden, she starts to sob and fresh tears rolls down her eyes. She gets up and hugs Merlin, tightly.
“Gwen? What happened? Is everything all right? Where’s Arthur? You’re shivering Gwen!” Merlin asks as he strokes her back, comforting her. Gwen sobs uncontrollably now. Every emotion which she kept tightly secured within her chest is being unleashed now and she didn’t want to stop crying. She didn’t care if anyone saw her. She wanted to cry her 心 out.
“Gwen?” Merlin calls again. She releases him and still sobs.
“Hey, is everything all right? You’re trembling, do 你 want to sit down?” he asks, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
“Sorry… “
“No, no, sweetheart… don’t be sorry. There’s nothing to be sorry for. How’s Arthur?”
“He’s being dressed inside. He got slashed in the arm.”
“So I heard… let’s sit down shall we? You’re shaking. Come on,” Merlin says and they sit down, Merlin clasping her hands tightly.
“Want to tell me about it?”
“It was horrible, Merlin. We were having lunch and all of a sudden these two men enter and starts to cause trouble at our table. When Arthur starts to argue, they started beating him. Choking him, strangling him… God, it was horrible. And they were roughing up on me as well… doing all sort of stuff… it was,” she couldn’t carry on and Merlin pulls her close and hugs her warmly.
“Shhhh, it’s all right. 你 don’t have to tell me more. It’s all right, 你 and Arthur are 安全 and that is all that matters,” Merlin assures.
Gwen pulls back and he wipes her tears off her cheek. “Think of it as a nightmare, Gwen, and it’ll be gone after few days,” he advises.
“They had a knife, Merlin, and they wanted to stab Arthur… but fortunately they just ended up slashing his arm. Imagine if they had…”
“It must have been so hard for 你 both, especially you, Gwen… it’s cruel but it’ll soon pass like a nightmare. 你 must be brave, Gwen, at least for Arthur. He must’ve been very worried for 你 and if you’re sacred it’ll affect him too.”
“I know… I’ll try, Merlin,” Gwen promises.
“That’s the spirit,” Merlin says with a smile. Then he notice the finger marks on her cheek. “Your cheek Gwen? It’s all swelled up”
“I know… one of them slapped me.”
“Oh my God! I am so sorry 你 and Arthur had to go through all this… I wish I was around. Don’t 你 want the doctor to have a look at your marks? It looks pretty bad, Gwen.”
“No, I am fine, Merlin. It’ll go away after a few days,” Gwen assures and Merlin nods at her, agreeing.
“Did 你 know Arthur behaved rather nastily with the owner of the diner?” Gwen says, wiping her eyes with the back of her palm.
“What did he do?”
“He was his father’s son, Merlin”
“Don’t follow 你 there, Gwen.”
“He blamed the owner for what happened and threatened to close the place, using his father’s name and power to intimidate the poor man. He was ruthless and inconsiderate, just like his father. And he even snapped at me!”
“He was terrified, Gwen, and Arthur becomes aggressive when he is protective over someone.”
“So I thought. I know he was scared, but there was no need to be cruel with that man.”
“That is Arthur’s other personality. Bet 你 didn’t expect it!”
“No, and I am very surprised 由 his behaviour. But I try to put myself in his place and what he did didn’t seem wrong to me except, he didn’t have to become his father to bring out his other self.”
“Agree, but I think he didn’t expect it either. It can be just that moment sometimes, yeah… where we do things unexpectedly, 你 know,” Merlin tells her.
“Hmmm… I don’t like it when he turns nasty like he did. He loses his good nature.”
“Agree… I tried advising him before and he wouldn’t listen. Perhaps 你 can try your way. He may want to listen to you, Gwen.”
“What makes 你 say that?”
“Because he happens to have a very good understanding with you. And he values your ideas and advices,” Merlin explains.
“You can’t be sure of that, Merlin. From the way he snapped at me today, he does have his moments with me.”
“Nah, I don’t think he meant it. Trust me, Gwen; he really values your words.”
“Fine, I’ll try but if he doesn’t listen, 你 can’t blame me.”
“Deal,” Merlin says with a smile. “Feeling better now?”
“Yes, thank 你 Merlin.”
“Pleasure’s all mine; what’s taking him so long?” Merlin asks looking at the room where Arthur is being treated.
“I don’t know,” Gwen says and looks at her watch. After a while she looks up at Merlin. “Merlin?” she calls. Merlin looks back at her, arching his brow.
“I’m sorry,” she says shortly, her face sad.
“Why?”
“If I hadn’t taken him to that place, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. This is all my fault. I am sorry.”
“Nonsense, Gwen. This is no one’s fault. No one expected it, 你 know.” Merlin assures. “This was supposed to happen and it did. But it has passed so let’s not talk about this all right?”
“Thanks.”
“Do 你 want coffee? I think I’m going to get one since Arthur is going to take longer than I expected.”
“No thanks.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a jiffy… when Arthur comes out, tell him to wait for me, yeah?”
“Sure,” Gwen 回复 as Merlin hurries to the cafeteria to get himself a hot cup of coffee.
Arthur keeps quiet as Merlin opens the door and allows Gwen to guide him into his apartment. His arm hurts as does his buttock. The doctor gave him an injection to cure the wound faster and Arthur wish the doctor had injected his arm instead. It’s bad enough his entire body hurts after getting beaten up, now he’s going to have problem sitting down. Arthur curses his bad luck and walks slowly beside Guinevere. He hasn’t spoken a word to her after leaving the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 and she hasn’t attempted in striking any conversation with him either. He didn’t blame her. She is shaken as he is, then what else can he expect her to do? Though he didn’t see what happened, he heard enough to assume her confrontations with those rascals were nasty. It must have been 更多 than that, though she didn’t say anything to him. She never will, he’s sure of that, but he also knows she’s terribly hurt 由 what happened. Arthur sighs deeply and winces when his arms hurts as he tries to 移动 it. Gwen slows down.
“Are 你 all right?” she asks, her first words to him.
“Yes,” he keeps it short. Gwen leads him to the sofa and helps him sit down. Merlin walks past them to the kitchen.
Arthur doesn’t know why he doesn’t want to speak to Guinevere. He isn’t angry with her but himself. He is 苦 he couldn’t save her life, couldn’t help her out when she needed him. He is supposed to be the one saving her, yet it was she who did it for him. He is ashamed to be in her presence, let alone strike any conversation. She almost sacrificed her life for him, and yet he couldn’t do anything in return. Not even a single fight! He was defenseless against those men and it hurts to think how vulnerable he has been. She must’ve known his weakness 由 now. What will she think of him? Will she consider being his friend after learning of his vulnerability? Will she even want to visit him after this incident? Arthur didn’t want any of these 问题 answered because he knows either way he will be hurt. He doesn’t have the strength to withstand the pain and it’s best he doesn’t know what she thinks right now. That’s why he chose to keep mum all the way back. Now, he just hopes she’ll leave so he will be deprived of the pain for a day.
“Can I get 你 anything?” she asks him, quashing his hopes. He makes a face and shakes his head. Merlin nears them and hands her a packet of ice.
“What’s this for?” she asks, clutching the ice.
“For your cheek… it’s all swelled up, Gwen. The ice will reduce the swelling,” Merlin advices. Gwen takes the ice packet and brings it near her cheek, pressing it against the swell.
Arthur looks startled. “What’s wrong, Guinevere? What happened to your face?” he asks, sitting up straight, his hands searching for her.
Gwen takes his hand and sits down beside him. “Nothing’s wrong, Arthur. My cheek’s swelled up because one of the guys slapped me…”
“Slapped you!!”
“It’s just a little swelling, Arthur. I am all right,” Gwen assures him as he still looks startled. Merlin scratches his elbow and loosens his tie.
“Can I… feel it?” Arthur asks cautiously. Merlin throws the tie on the 表 and rolls his sleeve.
“Here…” Gwen takes his right hand, brings to her face and cups it gently. As his skin touches hers, she winces as it is still painful, but she makes sure he didn’t hear her wincing. Arthur strokes her cheek gently and feels the swell. She hears him gasp.
“I… I’m so sorry Guinevere,” he says sadly.
“Why? This is not your fault?”
“If only… if only I could have helped…” Guinevere covers his mouth and silences him.
“You did enough to save me today, Arthur, and 你 should be proud of yourself. 你 did all 你 can…”
“But it wasn’t enough!!” he peels her hand off angrily and turns away. He is feeling hurt inside. He didn’t realise she was beaten up as well. He was trying to protect her back at the 餐车, 晚餐, 小餐馆 and took most of the beating himself so that she’d be 安全 but he failed. She still got hurt.
“Gwen’s right, Arthur. What could 你 do? They were thrashing 你 as well”
“If only I could see Merlin… if only, I…” Arthur slams the side of the sofa angrily.
“Arthur!! What are 你 doing? Your arm!” Merlin rushes to his side and crouches 由 the side of the sofa, examining Arthur’s wound but Arthur snatches it away, still reeling in anger.
“Arthur, what are 你 doing?” Guinevere asks, stunned 由 Arthur’s behaviour. She tries to touch him but he flinches from her touch as well.
‘What the…!’ Merlin is getting irritated and calls his friend again, “Arthur…” “Guinevere… please leave,” Arthur puts it shortly.
“What’s wrong, Arthur?” she asks, looking at Merlin, her face puzzled. Merlin shakes his head as he, too, didn’t know why Arthur is behaving like this.
“Just go, Guinevere. Leave me alone.”
“No! I won’t until 你 tell why 你 are behaving like a jerk!” now she is getting pissed off 由 his behaviour.
“Please, try to understand me…”
“If you’re feeling guilty because of what happened, let me freshen 你 up, mister. Those two assholes were a joke. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, all right? They messed us up, yes but they paid the price as well. 你 tried all 你 can to save me, Arthur, and 你 did. 你 took most of the beatings because 你 were protecting me, isn’t that proof enough 你 did your best? And look at me, Arthur; I am fine. Thanks to you, I am saved. Please don’t take it so hard on yourself.”
“She’s right, Arthur. I spoke to the doctor and he mentioned 你 sustained some pretty bad injuries. If your motive was to save Gwen, then 你 can be proud of yourself,” Merlin chips in.
“NO!!” Arthur shouts and gets up. Merlin gets to his feet and tries to help Arthur but the latter pulls away, snatching his hands away from Merlin.
“No!!! No matter what 你 both say, I… I didn’t do anything! I almost let them get you, Guinevere, and you, 你 actually saved me, not the other way around. If 你 didn’t warn me about the knife, I would have been dead 由 now. I was useless… I was blind and bloody useless,” he walks straight without aid and knocks himself against the coffee table, falling down beside it.
“Arthur!!” both Gwen and Merlin rushes to him.
“No, don’t help me!” he says before they can help him up.
“Arthur, please…” Gwen pleads but he stops her with his outstretched hand.
“No, please leave me alone, Guinevere. Just leave!” he says again, this time quite harshly. Gwen looks at Merlin, distraught. Merlin doesn’t know what to do either. He has never seen Arthur behaving erratically like this and he doesn’t know how to comfort Gwen.
“What is it, Arthur?” Gwen finally asks; her hands on her hips.
“What’s what?”
“What is bothering you?”
“Nothing…”
“Bullshit!”
“What do 你 want, Guinevere, I thought I asked you…” Arthur tries to change the subject.
“To leave, yes. I will, Arthur, but not before 你 answer me?”
“There’s nothing for me to answer.”
“Yes there is, and 你 know it! I want to know just one bloody question! Answer me and I’ll leave 你 alone!”
“Just go, Guinevere” Arthur tells her sadly and waves his hand. His knee hurts from the knock he sustained earlier 由 the 表 but his 心 hurts more. He just wishes Gwen would listen to him, just this once.
“Why are 你 shouldering the guilt yourself, Arthur?” she asks him. Beside her Merlin stands with his hands firmly crossed across his chest.
“Nothing, just…”
“Listen!” she kneels in front of him, grabs his hand and tilts his face to her. “Something is troubling 你 and I can sense that since we left the Diner. 你 changed your attitude the moment the man mentioned about the accident. And after that, 你 kept quiet, all the way to the hospital and all the way here. What happened, Arthur? Did the accident have something to do with your change of behaviour now? Why aren’t 你 telling us, we are your 老友记 and we mean only to help you… please. Don’t do this… tell us, tell us what is bothering you.”
“Nothing,” he pulls his face and bows his head. He hears Gwen sighing. Gwen looks up at Merlin, her face turning red with anger.
“For God’s sake, Arthur, just spit it out will you?” Gwen shouts at him. Merlin circles Arthur and quickly puts his assuring hand on her shoulder, calming her. Gwen sighs and pats his back.
“Arthur?” Merlin calls softly. “Please,” he pleads.
Arthur doesn’t want to hurt his friends, especially Guinevere, but his 心 is aching too. Why can’t anyone see that? They want the answer but can they handle his answer? His mind is in a jumble. He couldn’t bring himself to think in peace. Guinevere is right, something is troubling him but it isn’t just the attack 或者 the accident he was involved earlier. There’s something else, something which is connected to both these incidents. Something involving his conscience. But how will he explain it to them without hurting them. Will they understand?
“Please Arthur, tell me,” Gwen pleads, her voice softening. She reaches over and touches his hand.
“I wish I could see, Guinevere! I wish I had my sight back… that’s all!” Arthur snaps and pulls his hand from her touch, startling Gwen. “I want to see!!!” he repeats again.
Arthur’s sudden rant stuns both Gwen and Merlin. They have not seen him like this nether did they expected it now. Though Merlin is still taken back 由 Arthur’s outburst, Gwen has softened and closes on him, kneeling 由 his side. She clips his chin and forces him to turn her way.
“Is that it?” she asks, looking at him. “That’s all been bothering you?”
“Do 你 have any idea what’s going through my mind right now?” Arthur can’t believe Guinevere can cast his feelings aside so lightly. Can’t she understand how he is feeling?
“Arthur, we told 你 before this is your choice…” she starts.
“Yes, and now I regret it!!” he snaps back at her. Gwen sighs and exchange looks with Merlin. She could use Merlin’s help now.
“What are 你 saying, Arthur?” Merlin asks, taking a step closer.
“I wish… I never drove the car and crashed it, never ran over that man… never became blind, never disagreed with my father… I wish I never 说 and did all those things I did before… I wish my life didn’t turn out this way!”
“You can still correct it, Arthur, the ball is in your court. The decision is still yours,” Merlin says.
“How can I Merlin? How… I’ll be dishonoring my promise I made for that man!”
“But he’s dead, Arthur, and he wouldn’t know anything!” Merlin says. Gwen clenches her cheek. She didn’t need to listen to any of this.
“I can’t… my conscience wouldn’t allow it.”
“I can’t help 你 if 你 can’t decide, Arthur!” Merlin 答案 wryly.
“I… don’t know Merlin!!” Arthur pounds the floor with his fist. “I… I don’t know. I am so angry at everything right now. Myself, my disability… that man!”
“That man?” Gwen asks quickly. ‘Why is her father being involved into this matter?’ she thinks fast. She didn’t like the way Arthur’s dragging her father into his troubles.
“Yes, him… if only he didn’t come across me…”
“You would have died!” her voice rises. Merlin turns to look at her.
“At least I wouldn’t have ended up blind!” Arthur argues.
“That was your fault, Arthur, not his… as far as I remember, 你 got drunk and rammed on that man, not the other way round! 你 could have ended up on a slab in the morgue if that man didn’t come across 你 and the wall, risking his life in return and 你 blame him for your own stupidity?” her harsh words got Merlin all wide eyed.
“Gwen?” Merlin calls her but she shakes her head.
“Not now, Merlin!” she stops Merlin and continues to glare at Arthur “Are 你 blaming him Arthur?” she asks straightforwardly at him.
“Yes, yes I am… I wish he didn’t come in between me and that wall. I should have been dead; at least I am deprived of this madness!! I don’t have to go through this torment!! Do 你 have any idea how torturous life is living like this Guinevere? I can’t go through this anymore, I really can’t!”
“Then don’t!! 你 can have your operation, who’s stopping you?” she snaps back.
“I made a promise!”
“To hell with the promise, Arthur… like Merlin said, that man is dead and no one will know if 你 kept that promise 或者 not! 你 don’t have to sacrifice for him because no matter what 你 do, he isn’t going to return back to his family. Don’t blame his death for your chance of to cure yourself!”
“No!! It’s not what I promised myself!! That man had a family and I killed him… I should punish myself!”
“There are other alternatives,” Gwen replies.
“But this is the only valid punishment for me,” Arthur argues back.
“Then why are 你 complaining?” Gwen snaps back. Her voice was getting croaky because she tends to get emotional when she is angry.
“Because I am useless to anyone, Guinevere, don’t 你 see it? I am not good for anything 或者 anyone and 你 know how it makes me feel? I feel as if I am burden!” he says and Gwen can feel his sadness. She is angry he is blaming her father for his troubles but she also feels sad for his misery.
“Like I said, it’s your choice Arthur… is that why 你 are angry?” she asks him.
“Yes!”
“Because 你 think you’re a burden?”
“I am… there’s no doubt about that”
“I think that’s bullshit! No one except 你 thinks you’re a burden, Arthur! If that’s how shallow your mind is, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Gwen scolds him.
“Try putting yourself in my shoes, Guinevere, and you’ll know how I feel!”
“Look, I don’t need to put myself in your position to know your feelings Arthur. We all do and we want to help 你 but it’s 你 who’s keeping us at arm’s length. Actually, I don’t understand why are 你 behaving like this right now. 你 had been fine when we walked out of this place this afternoon. 你 were full of confidence and determined in making yourself heard, but now, where’s that confidence? 你 are not the same Arthur I know. What happened to you? Don’t tell me those two men broke your confidence? You’re never one who’ll lose your will to fight.”
“Maybe now I do!”
“Guys… come on, cool it out shall we?” Merlin tries to intercept.
“This is stupid, Arthur; I can’t believe you’re behaving like a child!” Gwen ignores Merlin and scolds Arthur.
“You don’t know anything about me, Guinevere!”
“Oh yes I do, Arthur! I think you’re a man with some seriously complex inner issues! 你 have good 老友记 around 你 but 你 don’t want them to help you. 你 choose the easiest way to beat your troubles, 由 drinking and trying to commit suicide! 你 think those two solutions will ease your troubles, no! Looks at what 你 turned yourself into? This condition, this unfortunate condition 你 put upon yourself was at your own expense so stop blaming anyone except yourself for becoming blind! 你 always mention your father is your worst enemy but no: 你 are your own worst enemy and 你 don’t know it!”
Merlin didn’t know what to say 或者 do. He keeps his silence and looks at the two bickering souls in front of him. He silently applauds Gwen for her bravery. Her every word is spot on and if only Arthur listens.
“Are 你 suggesting that I am blinded 由 my own doing?” Arthur clenches his teeth.
“Yes!! 你 became blind because 你 didn’t know how to solve your problem. 你 took a detour and see where it landed you. Your father was offering 你 a way out of the mess 你 created and 你 didn’t want to accept it because of your arrogance! Not because of your conscience! 你 will be indebted to your father if 你 accept his help and that’s the last thing 你 want, so 你 created a story about your conscience and got away with it!”
“That’s preposterous!”
“Really? Then why are 你 blaming the man 你 killed for your disability? Why are 你 feeling insecure about your blindness?” she asks him.
“Because I had to blame someone!! That’s why!!” Arthur shouts back.
“Then blame yourself!” Gwen shouts at him. “You are what 你 are because of yourself! Not anyone else’s doing but your own. Be man enough to accept your decision and carry on with your life, Arthur. I think 你 really need help… 你 can’t make your decisions because 你 are clueless about yourself. If 你 can’t understand your own life, how do 你 expect others to understand? It took Merlin and me almost ten 分钟 to get 你 to open up to us, how are 你 going to confide in others when you’re burdened 由 insecurity, Arthur? 你 have to shed that insecureness first, than tackle your life one 由 one. We are here and we can help you. 你 need to trust, Arthur, and it has to start with you!”
“You make it sound so easy, don’t you? Of course 你 wouldn’t know my situation because 你 haven’t 迷失 anything. It’s always easy advising, Guinevere, but try being me and lose something 或者 someone in your life first. Then you’ll know what I mean!” Arthur says rudely. Gwen’s jaw drops.
“What did 你 say?” she asks.
“Gwen…” Merlin can sense something is definitely going to explode. He tries to pull Gwen away but she brushes his hands away.
“I haven’t 迷失 anyone? 你 think I’m giving 你 free cheap 建议 because I haven’t 迷失 anyone?” she repeats his question.
“Gwen, please… “Merlin tries to reason with her but she isn’t in the mood to listen to him right now.
“I haven’t 迷失 anyone, 你 say, Arthur? 你 really think you’re the only person in the world who’s suffering right now? 你 think you’re the only one who 迷失 something dear to you? No, let me correct that, Arthur Pendragon. I 迷失 someone, too, and he was my precious gem. He was my world and he was taken away from me!!! So I know about losses, too, and that’s why I’m trying to help 你 if you’ll stop being such a thick headed fool!”
“Who you’re calling a fool?”
“You!”
“Yes, you’re right… I am fool. That’s why I can’t even kill myself! Someone else took that opportunity instead!”
“Stop talking about that man like that, Arthur!!” Gwen screams at him. Her scream stuns Arthur. Merlin sighs and sits down on the sofa. This is going to take longer than he expects.
“What’s with 你 and that man, anyway?” Arthur asks, arching his brow in frustration.
“Respect the dead… that’s all I am asking of you”
“Why? Does he mean anything to you?”
“Nothing… look! I have to go!” Gwen gets up and prepares to leave.
“Not before 你 answer my 问题 Guinevere!”
“I don’t have to answer anything to you, Arthur. This is your problem so stop dragging others in.”
“Like that dead man?”
“Stop talking about him, understand!” she points at him.
“I won’t until 你 tell me why does he interest you?” Arthur asks.
“You don’t know anything about him so don’t assume 你 do!”
“So now 你 know him?” he teases. Merlin shakes his head.
“Drop it Arthur…”
“Do 你 know him?”
“No.”
“Then why are 你 supporting him?”
“Because I think you’re stupid to blame your faults on him… that’s why”
“He’s stupid too… if he didn’t run across my car, he could be living too,”
“He didn’t run across your car Arthur, he was saving a life and risked his in return! Understand? And 你 know whose life he was saving? Mine!! Yes, my life. I was standing in the same path your car was heading and he pushed me aside only for 你 to run over him, killing him! And 你 know why he saved my life? Because he is my father!! Yes, Arthur Pendragon, the man 你 killed was my father!” Gwen tells Arthur and stands, glaring at him.