Son of a Dragonlord

Will there ever truly be a Last Dragonlord?

Morgana awoke with an all too familiar sensation although this time without the same dread and fear. Morgause's guidance had helped her just as her bracelet had protected her before. Morgana could recall her exact words the previous evening, almost pleading for her help and she could not refuse her. Morgause had started with "my dear sister" and how could her heart not be melted by someone with whom she had such a link. Morgana had not known her mother and her father had been taken away from her when she was but 12. To have a half sister in this world, some family, after always feeling an outsider in Camelot, only there because a guilty promise Uther had made to her father and moreover an outsider because of her magic gift… Had she finally found somewhere she belonged?

Morgause had persuaded her to remove the bracelet that had protected her from her nightmares as Morgause's crystal was incomplete. Deliberately damaged. A vital piece removed in a failed effort to maintain power against the purge driven by Uther's hatred of magic. Despite all efforts and many lives the crystal of Neahtid eventually fell into Uther's hands and an attempt to retrieve it now seemed unlikely. No, the crystal of Neahtid would be well guarded now if it had not been destroyed already. Such a waste. All that was in Morgause's possession was a tool for viewing the present, a snapshot of current happenings, a brief glimpse that had not to date revealed the powerful secret that Camelot must be harboring somewhere…by someone. Morgause needed to know who it was that was protecting Camelot, they had already defeated her in the battle for Arthur's soul. Her crystal could not help her and now she turned to Morgana's seeing power.

She was not convinced by the propaganda of the Great Dragon being slayed by Arthur. Sure, he was a great warrior but her knowledge of dragons far outstripped his and she knew Camelot must be harboring a Dragonlord of some kind or a great sorcerer, indeed a guardian for Arthur at the very least. Where they all the same person? Morgause could understand why they were in hiding with a threat of execution hanging over them should their secret be discovered but what she had no real understanding of was why they were serving Uther and Camelot. It was out of her control and that was dangerous to any future attempts to topple her adversary, the one who separated her from her mother, the one who abandoned her father to die on the battlefield. It was this latter act of treachery that strengthened the bond between Morgana and herself.

"Morgana? I hope your sleep was not too troubled? Please believe me I would not ask you to undergo any distress were it not crucial to our future".

Morgana turned to her sister and gave the best smile she could for the sake of the sister she now loved, her rescuer, her haven in this world. "Worry not my sister, I want to help although I am not sure what I have seen is of use to you". Morgause placed a reassuring hand on her arm, "Hush, there is no need to rush, only when you are ready will we, together, piece together anything you saw".

"I do not want to fail you."

"Worry not", Morgause interrupted. "You could not".

Morgana took a deep breath and relayed the contents of her dream.

Firstly, she saw herself returning to Camelot, being helped from her horse and taken into the arms of Uther. She had shuddered at the thought, the memory of that same act when Arthur had returned her to Camelot from the Druids.

She had seen Arthur standing outside her chambers with a sword in hand.

She had seen herself lying down while a hand had removed a stray lock of her hair from her face.

And finally she had seen a horse carrying a cloaked figure in the night.

That was all. It did not seem to make sense to her and yet Morgause's face had not changed. She spoke simply. 'It seems our path is now clear'. Morgana looked at her in disbelief. 'You got something from so little?'

'Yes Morgana, I have had several ideas of how to move forward however your visions have cleared the doubts. You must return to Camelot.'

'No! I will not leave you! I will not go and live a lie in Camelot !'

'Please, let me finish. You will discover the identity of Arthur's protector, the dragonlord and the protector of Camelot. But fear not, you will return to me. I cannot achieve such a task. I would not make it past the gates let alone into the trust of a the hidden sorcerer whereas you, my sister, would be welcomed I am sure with open arms'

'I am not sure a welcome would await me'.

'Fear not, any doubts they have about you will be forgotten as they each in turn seek salvation. Only you can release them from their guilt for the wrongs they have done you in turn. Only in your forgiveness can they redeem themselves.

'And once I have found the identity of this person?'

'You must bring the secret back to me without revealing it to those in Camelot. In hiding, the guardian of Camelot is limited and restricted in his powers, we should seek for this to continue if the second part of your quest is to have the desired impact.'

'There is more?'

'Yes, although should you only return with the knowledge of who our enemy is, that would be satisfactory however the downfall of Camelot and the ultimate revenge would be ours if we were to acquire the legacy of either the dragonlord'

'His legacy?'

'Yes, I fear I am being too candid. A dragonlord's powers are passed from father to son.'

She paused to see if the penny had dropped. It had. Morgause continued to watch Morgana's expression as she continued.

'A son of a dragonlord under our influence, guidance and protection could ensure that the future of Camelot embraced magic and the practices of the old religion. Your son would not only rule Camelot but would ensure that nobody with magic shall live in fear again'.

Morgause was to reflect that it was the choice of these last words which secured Morgana's cooperation.