Home is where the heart is
Chap 1:
Balinor woke around early sunrise; he looked at his surroundings and momentarily forgot why he was out in the forest. Then he looked at the 2 boys sprawled out on the ground. He smiled at the younger one, this was Merlin. His... son. Balinor still had trouble adjusting to the fact that he'd had a son this long and hadn't even known he'd existed. He spotted the small wooden creature he was making the night before. He smiled and placed it by the sleeping boy's head, just in time for the other boy; Prince Arthur to stir.
"Uurgh." He stretched his arms out and also looked around his surroundings. He noticed Merlin was still asleep but Balinor was wide awake. "Morning Balinor." The dragon lord looked towards the prince and nodded.
"Good morning Sire." He looked towards Merlin and smiled "Is he always a heavy sleeper?" He asked with a hint of humour in his voice. Arthur also looked towards the sleeping servant and laughed.
"Absolutely, he's hell to try and get up for work on a morning." He paused to think "Come to think of it, he's normally quite homesick when we stay over night somewhere, I can't remember him ever sleeping in this long." Balinor just shrugged.
"These woods are some comfort, he maybe feels at home here" Suddenly Arthur stopped and turned towards the bushes.
"What's wrong?" Balinor asked in concern. Arthur silenced him just as Merlin began to stir. Arthur quickly rushed over and covered Merlin's mouth over, making the boy jump in shock.
"Quiet Merlin, there's someone out there." Arthur hushed. Without warning, at least 10 soldiers jumped out of the bushes. Arthur let go of Merlin and rushed for his sword. Merlin and Balinor did the same. The soldiers were definitely Cendred's as they showed the mark of Cendred on their armour. Arthur was able to knock out 2 by himself but it was an unfair fight as it was still 8 against 3. (Technically 2 because Merlin couldn't hold a sword properly.) Balinor also put up a brave fight, knocking out another man by his sword. Then he noticed Merlin drop his sword. Balinor growled "you're not taking him away from me now" He quickly ran over to Merlin and made the knight lose his own sword. Merlin watched with pride but caught sight of another knight coming to the side of Balinor.
"No!" Merlin shouted and his eyes turned a bright gold as an invisible force threw the knight into a tree knocking him unconscious. Balinor looked at him with thanks. Merlin returned it with a cheerful smile. Within moments, the knights were either dead, unconscious or had fled and the three were left alone. Arthur went over to Merlin and patted his shoulder.
"You two aren't bad swordsmen; maybe I should start training you, Merlin." He laughed. Balinor laughed at the look on Merlin's face at the thought of being left with a sword. Arthur rode ahead whilst Merlin talked more with Balinor on their ride home.
"So Merlin, I never asked, how old are you?" The question had been bugging him all day but he kept forgetting to ask it.
"I'm 17." He answered, quietly. Balinor guessed he didn't want Arthur to hear so kept his voice quiet. Balinor laughed.
"Great I've still got a teenager, this should be fun." He joked, but then noticed Merlin wasn't laughing along side him. He put a hand on his shoulder (they're riding on the same horse in case any one is wondering!) "Son what's wrong?" He felt Merlin trembling a little. "Merlin?"
"I...I just can't help but think, we could've had such a great life over the past 17 years if you didn't have to leave, and...And soon, I'll be grown up, and back to living in Camelot maybe somewhere else, and it might be just the same as before." He said sadly. Balinor felt his heart break, had his son been feeling this way since he found out?
"Merlin, I promise, once I stop Kilgarrah and Uther let's me go. We can both go back to Ealdor and we can spend whatever time we have left, together, nothing but us and your mother." Merlin gave a shaky nod and turned round to face his father. Balinor looked sadly at his sad face, he then gently told him to keep his eyes on the road, still holding on to his shoulders, to offer what little comfort he could to the sad child. Within short moments Arthur shouted to the pair.
"We're about 20 minutes away from Camelot; if we hurry we can get their unnoticed by the dragon." Merlin nodded and proceeded to hurry his horse on. As Arthur had said the dragon missed them, as he was somewhere in the upper area at the moment. As soon as they had dismounted guards rushed up to Balinor and drove him towards the king. Merlin took a sharp intake of breath as he felt Balinor's comfort leave his shoulders. He looked to Arthur.
"Where...Where are they taking him?" He asked cautiously. Arthur mentally tried to follow the guard's steps and came to a conclusion.
"They're taking him to my father, come on, he'll want to know I'm back anyway." Merlin followed his master as he was led to the great hall. They just managed to beat Balinor and the knights as they had ran. They suddenly burst into the great hall just in time to see Balinor dragged in by the strong knights. Merlin silently gasped at the horrible treatment his father was getting. Gaius noticed the two boys and stood over next to them, slowly taking Merlin's hand to offer what comfort he could. Merlin shivered as Uther's voice rose at the sight of Balinor.
"So, there were more of you hiding out, how do I know you don't have some more magic foes in your little hiding place." He spat viciously. Balinor growled.
"You, Sire had no right to executed my people like we were monsters, we had done nothing against you yet, you are blinded with evil, I was forced to leave all I had because of you!" he cried, desperately forcing himself not to mention he had a love and a son. Arthur had had enough of their arguing and stepped forward.
"Father, I'm sure there is a more important issue to deal with than your constant bickering." Uther growled once more but admitted defeat and nodded.
"Very well Arthur." He looked sharply at Balinor "Dragon lord, you will help our knights kill this dragon and then you will await judgement upon return." Balinor scowled. Merlin grew cold. Await judgment, he had just assumed that Balinor would be able to leave peacefully, was he at a possibility of getting killed. Gaius felt Merlin tremble and gently squeezed his hand whispering soothing words to him, out of the eyes of the king. "You will wait until the night falls in the dungeons." Merlin looked ready to protest but Gaius beat him to it.
"My Lord, Balinor is destroying the dragon for us, the least we can do is offer him a bit more hospitality." Uther looked outraged
"You expect me to treat him like a guest?" he asked angrily. Gaius quickly shook his head.
"Not at all sire, but I suggest either staying in the servant's quarter's or even my own chambers, if it put's your mind at ease, I will even have a guard posted outside the door." Uther pondered this for a moment then stiffly nodded.
"If you see it appropriate Gaius I will place him with you and your ward. But I warn you Balinor" he pointed a finger at the dragonlord "Any trouble and you will regret it severely." Balinor nodded.
"I assure you my Lord; once this dragon is defeated you shall hear no more from me." The king turned away.
"I sincerely hope not." He muttered under his breath. And he motioned the guards to escort Balinor to Gaius' chambers. Merlin was gently shaking as he walked. When they reached the room the guards left and Merlin sat away from his father and Uncle. Gaius looked sadly at the boy sat down twiddling his thumbs. He whispered in Balinor's ear.
"I think you should talk to him, he was quite scared at the thought of you being killed." Balinor nodded and slowly walked over to his son and put a hand round his shoulders. Merlin slowly looked up and snuggled into his father. Balinor looked at his Son and for the first time, he saw the real fright in his eyes.
"Merlin, you know it will be alright. The dragon will be defeated and we'll get to go home." Merlin mumbled something quietly "what was that son?" he asked. Merlin sighed.
"What if we don't. Uther said that you'll have to take judgement. What's he going to do to you?" he asked quickly, obviously trying to stay calm, Balinor thought. He gently drew Merlin into a soft embrace and rubbed his back.
"It's alright, we'll get through this, I promise." All Merlin did was sniff in reply. Balinor brought him forwards and gently rubbed his cheek, discarding any falling tears that were slowly making their way out of Merlin's eyes. " Shh," he cooed pulling Merlin into his chest again as the boy started to sob. "Shh, it's alright we'll both be fine, Shh" Gaius watched on in sadness at the two. Merlin had sounded so happy at getting to be with his father after so long, and all Uther has done was slowly shatter his dreams. Gaius gently walked over to the table and prepared some broth for the three. By the time had finished, Merlin was done crying and he was just being held by his father because that was what they both needed right now. Comfort from each other
"I brought you some dinner, you'll probably need it for tonight." Balinor nodded and gently pried Merlin away from him still keeping a hold in him, but still enough space for them both to eat. After they had finished Balinor let Merlin rest on his shoulder so he had enough energy for tonight. This left Gaius and him privacy to talk.
"I wanted to thank you Gaius. For everything." Gaius scoffed.
"Nonsense, I couldn't watch Uther treat you like an animal even after you're still fighting the dragon." Balinor chuckled.
"Well, that and everything else. You saved me during the great purge, you've looked after Merlin and..." he sighed " just thank you for being so kind Gaius, I couldn't have asked for anyone better." They both smiled at each other.
"Well the purge, I didn't want any one to die, Uther was blinded by grief, I myself was nearly killed. As for caring for Merlin...well he's my nephew and he is the closest thing to family I could have at the moment." He smiled sadly "he brought joy into my life this boy. I was just a lonely old man, nearing his time before Merlin came. Then...he changed me, made me into someone I would like to be. A boy so young with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I always wonder how he does it." Balinor looked sadly at Merlin.
"Does he cope Gaius, I mean it's been a few years now you've looked after him is he alright here." Gaius paused then slightly shook his head.
"It's so hard for him. He's made miracles happen but he can't take credit for them. He's had to watch those he's loved die around him. It's been more than a couple of times that he's thought of himself as a monster." Gaius recited sadly. Balinor looked in shock at the last statement. He looked down at Merlin's still form and gently pressed a kiss to his head.
"You're not a monster Merlin, and you never will be nor have you ever been." He whispered not caring that Merlin probably wasn't even listening. He looked to the window and saw that sunset was nearing. He looked once more at Merlin then sadly at Gaius.
"Why does he have to fight with them. According to Arthur his sword skills are limited and he's just a boy. What kind of heart does Uther have to send young to a battle to fight His wars?" Gaius shook his head.
"It's because he works as Prince Arthur's manservant, he has to go everywhere that he does. Well except Council meetings." Balinor looked down.
"I understand, it just seem so immoral." All of a sudden a guard knocked on the door Gaius went to answer it while Balinor gently shook Merlin awake. He mumbled softly opening bleary eyes to see his father smiling down on him. "Time to get up, you have to get Prince Arthur ready." Merlin quietly groaned
"Can't the prat get ready himself?" he cheekily asked. Balinor laughed at the nickname.
"I'm sure he could but you don't want to get in trouble to you?" Merlin shook his head. Merlin wanted to share one last hug with his father but the guards standing at the door may have found it a tad suspicious so he just gave his father one of his famous cheeky grins and then left to tend to the prince. Balinor laughed at his son but then turned serious as he was taken away by the guards. Gaius watched them drag him away and sighed. He thought about what would happen to poor Merlin if Balinor was sentenced to death. Would he succumb to depression or something much worse?