The dragon that corners him in the caverns in the hillside says it is Arthur's destiny to help Merlin. Arthur scoffs at it. It's his second day in Camelot and already he's regretting choosing this place over Mercia. "I'm just a peasant boy from Ealdor. He's a Druid warlock-prince. I think he can take care of himself!"
The dragon huffs a cloud of smoke at him. "Just because he has magic doesn't mean he has no use for a strong sword arm at his side."
"And once again you're wrong!" Arthur cries. "Swords are weapons for nobles. Like I said, I'm a peasant. You have the wrong man."
"So it hasn't been you practicing with a blade in the holly grove three hills over?"
Damn. Arthur hadn't thought anybody was watching him, much less a dragon.
The dragon lets the silence sink in for a moment – and then lunges towards Arthur with a roar. Two claws forelegs carve deep gouges into the rock on either side of Arthur, and he braces himself for the sharp cut of teeth into his flesh, heart racing.
The dragon, however, stops short, bared teeth inches away from Arthur. He can see the saliva wetting them, thinks he could count the individual taste buds on the creature's tongue if given enough time. Arthur remains tensed the whole time the dragon's mouth hovers on either side of his torso, buffeting Arthur with hot humid exhalations. If it decides to bite there is nothing that can save Arthur. His sword is three hills over, buried under a loose layer of dirt and leaf debris.
Eventually the dragon pulls its neck back and turns so one great eye is level with Arthur. "Hardly even flinched," the dragon says.
Arthur wets dry lips with difficulty. "Didn't seem like much point," he says.
The dragon sits back on its haunches with something like a smug expression on its reptilian face. "It takes more than magic to be a hero, young warrior. Merlin will need your bravery in the days to come, and a strong sword watching his back. Even warlocks are not all-seeing."
Arthur is probably going to regret this – but hadn't he come to Camelot looking for a challenge? "Alright," he says. "What must I do?"
