I decided that there ought to be more fanfiction about Balinor. I just finished Season 2 of Merlin and I was so sad when Balinor died, even though I knew he would. He seemed like a character I would have liked a lot.

This prologue was fun to write, creating foreshadowing and back-story for the Merlin series.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters. If I did, I would write an episode with a character that David Tennant could play. I think he'd make a great villain for an episode.

"I told you, Nimueh! The creation of a life is forbidden by the law of the Dragonlords!" Balinor stood in the middle of the Isle of the Blessed, staring daggers at the witch. She stared back defiantly.

"What is that now, the law of the Dragonlords? You are the last now. Do you really claim to still have this authority over those of the Old Religion?" She challenged, jaw jutted forward.

"This authority was passed down through generations of Dragon Lords since the beginning of time," Balinor growled. "The role of my kind is to make sure that order is maintained. You have disrupted this order, Nimueh. In granting King Uther Pendragon a son, the Old Religion has punished us by taking his wife."

"How was I supposed to know that Uther would lose his wife and go mad?" Nimueh demanded.

"It does not matter! Life is sacred and not to be meddled with. You have disrupted the balance of the world," Balinor started circling round the stone table the stood in the courtyard of the Isle of the Blessed, eyes locked on Nimueh. "And now the Great Purge of magic has begun. A priestess of the Old Religion should have known better, now we all are to pay the price. Hundreds of magical people have been slaughtered. Dozens of dragons have perished and of the Twelve Lords, I am the last. It will be many years before balance is once again achieved."

"And what of the unbalance that would have been caused if Uther had not produced an heir?" Nimueh challenged. "What would have become of Albion then?"

"Fate would have found a way," Balinor said. "Either to grant Uther a son or it would have found another way of bringing about balance. It was not a choice for you to make."

Nimueh snarled, apparently not convinced.

Suddenly Balinor reared back and let out a roar, eyes flashing gold. "And here is a prophecy of the last Great Dragon!" Balinor cried. "Fate will try to take back the prince it has given and your life will be taken instead. The magic of the Dragonlords will be your downfall because you have disobeyed them and brought about this upheaval against magic."

Nimueh took a step back, eyes wide with fear for a moment. Balinor had not cursed her, he had prophesied. The Last Dragon and the Last Dragonlord were linked and the future was their second sight.

But as quickly as fear had entered her eyes, it left again. She no longer believed in the authority of the Dragonlords.

"We shall see," she sneered. "I am not to blame for the death of our kind. Uther Pendragon is. And for that he shall pay."

Uther Pendragon shall pay.

Balinor closed his eyes and stumbled back slightly at the force in Kilgharrah's voice. Yes indeed, the actions of Nimueh aside, the King was to blame for the death of his kind. And Kilgharrah was not normally forgiving.

Balinor paused for a moment, understanding the hurt that the dragon felt. The deaths of Dragon and Dragonlord alike was brought about by Uther Pendragon, perhaps he should let the great beast do what he desired and enact revenge upon the king.

But then he had a vision of what Kilgharrah was doing. The fair city of Camelot was burning. He could see women and children running and crying in the streets as the men tried to protect them in vain. Red cloaked soldiers ran about, wounded and burned. Inside the castle the wicked king looked out his window and feared for his people. A small blonde child, only just big enough to walk was crying into the shoulder of his nurse for fear.

There was a difference between justice and revenge, Balinor knew. He had to do something. The innocent shouldn't have to suffer because of an arrogant man turned mad by grief.

Yay! Prologue! Future chapters will have meetings with Uther, Gaius helping Balinor, and *drum roll* Balinor meeting Hunith! R&R!

God bless!