why, hello there! this is gonna be my first long story on fanfiction, so please read and tell me what you think! :P
disclaimer: i dont own merlin, but i do own this story :D
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This was it. The moment the Great Dragon had warned him about all those years ago. So much had changed for the better since then, and Merlin found it hard to accept that the warning would become true. But it did. Destiny always led the way. Now, Merlin, Arthur and Camelot were face to face with war. The war against all evil; Mordred, Morgana and any others that dare defy the King and his Court Sorcerer. This was the war to determine the future of Albion. This was the war Arthur was predicted to die.
Merlin thought back to when he first met Mordred. So small and innocent. He didn't believe the power he held at the time. He was blinded by the disguise of a cowering boy and took pity on him. He ignored the dragon and got Mordred away from harm. It was funny how now, when he was older and wiser, he realized how if he just followed the Dragons advice, none of this would be happening. Morgana would be dead as well as Mordred. They wouldn't be unable to join forces and raise an army of evil and hate. But they were alive. They had built an army. And Mordred had the power to kill Arthur, just as the prophecy predicted.
Merlin hung his head at his foolishness. He still hadn't told Arthur that the war was his fault. His weakness at a young age prevented him from dousing the fire early. Now it had spread and grown huge, hungry and deadly. He doubted Arthur would even let him take the blame even if he did tell him. Arthur told the Court that no one was to blame. All the events over the past years have led up to the war, there was no stopping it. It was destiny.
Merlin had grown to hate that word. Destiny was portrayed in a positive light to most, something that guided you and led you to happiness in the long journey of life. Merlin saw it as the opposite. It didn't guide; it forced. It doesn't care for your own will. It has its own agenda and if you didn't like it, tough. You had it and you better follow it. If you didn't, there would be consequences. Many times Merlin had sought the privacy of his own room, and allowed himself to break under the pressure of his destiny. He would cry a few tears, break a few pots and beg to no one in particular to leave him be; he didn't want this destiny. It was too much. Then he would pick himself up, dry his tears, fix the pots with a wave of his hand, and walk out the room like nothing had happened. He couldn't let anyone see his weakness. Firstly, it was embarrassing and he was sure he would get teased for it, and secondly, someone might use it against him.
"Merlin."
Merlin snapped out of his thoughts. Arthur was in his doorway, looking grave and serious. Even though Arthur knew of Merlin's magic and accepted it many years ago, only recently did his Court Sorcerer tell him that he was the last Dragonlord. Arthur remembered when the warlock told him, he didn't know how to react. He was angry that Merlin didn't tell him that dragons followed his will and were technically his kin. But then he remembered how Balinor died in his arms. Merlin had only just met his father and had him snatched away only a day later. It was cruel and unfair. He listened as Merlin told him that the Great Dragon, Kilgharrah, was like a mentor to Merlin, and how he was still alive and Merlin sent him away while Arthur was unconscious. Arthur wasn't surprised that Merlin had something to do with the dragons escape and defeat. He had grown used to Merlin being the secret to success whenever the situation looked grave over the years. At first, it wounded his pride a little bit. He wasn't as great as he thought he was, and would most likely be dead if Merlin wasn't constantly saving his backside. Yes, he would admit, that he had to go away and lick the wounds of his shattered ego after hearing Merlin's stories. But after he got over that, he was grateful. So much so, that he allowed Merlin to become Court Sorcerer as soon as he legalized magic in the kingdom of Camelot.
Merlin sighed. "Are you sure that you want to do this Arthur?" Merlin asked
"All I know is that we have a Dragonlord on our side, and I'd be damned if we didn't use him. Come on." Arthur responded with a grin playing on his lips.
"No, I know that!" Merlin rolled his eyes, "It's just…Are you sure you want to come? I know he won't hurt you or the knights, but I'm not sure if Kilgharrah will enjoy the audience."
"I don't care if he doesn't enjoy it!" Gwaine popped up behind Arthur, "I'm going to see our little Merlin call a Big Bad Dragon!" His grin was infectious, and even Merlin found that he was smiling, despite the situation.
"Ok, fine! But please, I beg you; don't call him a Big Bad Dragon. Dragons are proud creatures and are easily offended." He winced at the multiple memories of Kilgharrah scolding him for not respecting the dragon race.
"Come. I'm sure the knights are all eager to see you charm this dragon." Arthur grinned a silly lopsided smile. Merlin groaned. Maybe bringing the knights would be a bad idea.
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They reached the clearing that Merlin often used to call the dragon around midnight. The knights flanked Merlin and Arthur, watching out for any dangers that might interrupt their peculiar meeting. The general excitement that they had in Camelot had dissolved some, and in its place was apprehension and caution. What if what Merlin said was true? What would happen if their presence angered the dragon? Would Merlin be able to control it long enough? Then other question came to mind, like how did someone control a dragon? Merlin was not the burliest man about. He was lanky and pale. Quite a contrast to the dragon, which was large, powerful and, in all honesty, terrifying. As the knights walked cautiously through the clearing Merlin bounded into the centre, looking completely at ease. They wondered how many times Merlin had done this; snuck out at night and came to the clearing to seek guidance from the dragon. Merlin turned and smile to his friends. He was secretly excited at being given the chance to show off in front of them. It was a rare treat. Arthur and the knights stuck to the edge of the clearing, wondering how much space the dragon and Merlin will need. Arthur's eyes met Merlin's and he nodded once. Even though he was aware that the last time he met this dragon, he stabbed it with a lance. What if the dragon remembered? Would it hold a grudge? He was more terrified than any of the other knights in the clearing, but Camelot needed all the help it could get. As he said to Merlin earlier, he wouldn't let a Dragonlord go to waste.
Merlin gave the knights a toothy smile. He could see that they were nervous, but he knew that they didn't need to be. Kilgharrah wouldn't hurt them. He was actually looking forward to having his friends meet his kin. He wouldn't have to keep them separate anymore. Eager to get the meeting started, he turned his head to the sky, and searched his soul for the voice that he and the dragons shared. The voice suddenly forced its way upwards, through his throat and out of his mouth.
The knights were staring at Merlin in awe. The voice Merlin was using was not his own, as this one echoed through the air, shattering the silence of the night and boomed its way through the atmosphere. The language itself was powerful, demanding and matched the bellowing voice that Merlin had acquired from nowhere. The silence that followed Merlin's outburst was deafening and a shocking contrast. Merlin turned to see the knights still staring at him, slack jawed.
"What?" Merlin asked innocently, looking confused. He wasn't expecting to get this reaction until the dragon came.
"What the hell was that?" Arthur demanded, "What did you do?"
Merlin shrugged, "Kilgharrah and I share the voice of the dragon. When dragons hear it being used by a dragonlord, they must obey."
"Where did you learn the language?" Elyan asked. It seemed that Merlin spoke it fluently, like it was his mother tongue.
"I didn't," Merlin winked, "it was in me all along. It's part of me, like my magic."
There was a stunned beat of silence. "One never ceases to amaze me, Merlin." Arthur murmured.
Before anyone could reply, an earth shattering roar ripped through them, sending chills down their spines and making the hairs on the backs of their necks stand to attention.
Merlin smiled up at the sky. The silhouette of a giant, majestic beast was visible in the moons glow. Its wings opened to show its true mammoth size. It then surged forward to meet the group of stunned men in the clearing.
"He's here." Merlin stated, grinning all the while.
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phew! well, that be the first chapter ;) I'll update as soon as I can
thanks for the read! pleeeaaasse review!
dante the badger xx