Chapter One: The Dragon's Visitor
In a Land of Magic and a Time of Myth …
No wait, that wasn't right.
In a Time of Magic and a Land of Myth …
No, still not right.
In a Land of Myth and a Time of Magic …
That was better. Age was really creeping up on Kilgharrah and it was beginning to show in that old enemy of wrinkles and creaky bones – the hindrance of memory problems. Not that it mattered too much at this moment in time, however; the Young Warlock had fulfilled his destiny so magnificently that the Great Dragon had a tough time hiding just how pleased he was. Admittedly, there had been some concern over the fate of the Once and Future King when Kilgarrah had found them at Avalon, the king looking as though he were on his last legs, so pale and weak was he; but they had managed to submerge him into the lake just in time and Arthur had survived. It had been two weeks since this epic occurrence; the witch was finally dead and the Land of Albion could at last be united, as had been foretold by the prophecy all those years ago. Those years of toil and bloodshed had finally brought about the peace that so many had desperately fought and died for; it was the end of the war between sorcery and normal men, where the wizard could shake hands with the soldier and neither would feel resentment or hatred for the other; the destruction of the deep-rooted abhorrence for magic that Uther Pendragon (Kilgharrah's wide nostrils flared at the thought of that name) had instigated could finally begin. At last, the Land of Albion could be united in all its glory and, as for Kilgharrah, he could settle down, sleep and look forward to the final slumber that had been whispering his name ever so softly as of late.
However, it was not to be quite so simple as that.
It was the breathing that caught his attention first. There was only one type of creature that breathed in that specific way and it could only be another of his kind. And as there was only one other dragon that existed, there was just one name that Kilgharrah could speak aloud to greet his visitor.
"Aithusa," he said, turning slowly towards the entrance of his cave, the stars twinkling brightly in the night sky.
The white dragon showed herself just then. Despite the small dragon having been in league with the evil witch, Kilgharrah could not help the stab of pity and sorrow that shot through him at the sight of his new companion. The Light of the Sun had been mistreated so horrifically at the hands of the cruellest of men that her growth had been stunted, her heart blackened and her soul weakened. The soul of the dragon was the most important aspect of the creature's being; what Aithusa had been through made one shudder at the very thought and it was for this reason that Kilgharrah felt only compassion in his heart at the sight of her. This dishevelled, broken beast was a far cry from the beautiful, bright baby dragon that Merlin had rescued all that time ago. But it was not just sorrow and sympathy Kilgharrah felt; there was guilt also. She had been his ward, he had been her guardian. She had betrayed him and he had failed to protect her. Many times, he thought to himself that it was their last encounter that had drove her to Morgana. When he had found out she had saved the witch, his anger had been colossal … He had not thought he would see her again before death came for him … yet here she was.
"Why are you here, Aithusa?" he said, finally meeting her eyes.
Of course, she could not speak. The men that had tortured her had rendered her speechless. She limped into the cave … she had a permanent limp from where the men had repeatedly smashed her legs with metal poles. She moved right up to Kilgharrah and stared at him with her large, sad eyes.
Kilgharrah met her gaze; his heart was heavy.
"You betrayed me, Aithusa. Betrayed your own destiny. But she is gone. The witch is dead. What will you do now?"
At this, the white dragon crouched, lowered her head and moaned loudly. Though she could not speak, the Great Dragon was still able to sense her emotions.
"You have forgotten … it was Merlin who rescued you and gave you your name. How could you expect me to approve of your actions when you saved the witch? You knew she was Merlin's greatest enemy. Now look what has become of you … A destiny of such twists and turns, Aithusa … Another example of how beauty can turn to ugliness, how light can turn to darkness, of how our destinies truly lie in our own hands. But you and your mistress failed. Arthur lives with Merlin by his side. How ironic that the world the witch wanted so badly should come to pass at the will of her enemies. Her hatred and anger consumed her. I am only sorry that you too fell victim to it."
Aithusa moaned again, louder this time. The Great Dragon dropped his gaze.
"Yes … I think about it all the time. Your betrayal. And my failure as your guardian. You must know I am not long for this world, Aithusa. What is it you ask of me?"
The white dragon shuffled nearer and laid herself at the feet of Kilgharrah. Her eyes shone with tears as she looked into his eyes. Inside, beneath his tough dragon exterior, his heart cried.
"Yes … it is time that Merlin knew who your mother was and the connection you had before you were hatched. I will take you to him … and perhaps I too can atone for the sin I committed when I failed to keep you safe."
At this, the Great Dragon nuzzled the white dragon and led her outside the cave towards the great Court of Camelot where it appeared Aithusa was finally going to fulfil the destiny that had been written for her, one that vanquished the darkness that had tainted her and instead brought with it a beauty and light, the same light that had filled her heart with such love and purity on the day she was hatched.
In Camelot itself, a king was on a mission.
"Merlin! Where the hell is Merlin? MEEEERRRRRLIIIINNN!"
"Is something wrong, Sire?" came the amiable voice of Gaius, looking up as the king came bursting into the physician's room, his face flustered and panicky.
"Yes, Gaius, something is very wrong. Merlin is nowhere to be found and the Knights Ceremony is in three hours. There are clothes that need washing, boots that need cleaning and a tunic that needs mending. I am correct in thinking, I believe, that Merlin will have no problem doing this in the space of an hour as he has magic." His face relaxed and softened at this moment.
"You know, Gaius, I still can't believe it sometimes … Merlin a sorcerer. And such a great one at that … When I remember this, it's hard to believe he still wishes to continue being my servant."
Gaius smiled.
"Merlin would have it no other way, Sire. He lives to serve you, as he has from the day you met."
"Well, he absolutely refused to live as a courtier; said he enjoys cleaning my boots, would you believe it, Gaius? Eventually, I relented. I'll never be able to express my gratitude towards him. He's been as great a friend could possibly be and a true warrior at that. I know I have said it many times before, but I owe him my life."
"We all do, Your Majesty."
"Indeed. Thank you, Gaius. When you see Merlin, tell him to do my boots, will you?"
He turned to walk away before stopping in his tracks.
"And say 'please' when you ask him. I will see you later on at the ceremony."
"I shall, Sire. See you later."