Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters or dialogue. They belong to the BBC.
Prologue
Let me tell you- life is rarely easy. Every day you struggle to find food, or to care for those close to you, or to make the right decision. Perhaps that's what life is: not always getting it right. I can think of a couple of mistakes I've made; a couple of things I could have done better. But what if it's the universe that's making the mistake? What if suddenly you can feel everything you've ever known slipping through your fingers? I never used to believe in destiny. Now I'm starting to wish it would just leave me alone.
Merlin stared through the trees. The wind was gentle and the sun fell through the leaves casting a dappled pattern on the forest floor. With a gentle smile, he waved a hand at the small fire that was smouldering at his feet.
"Dracon, beride tha heofinan."
His eyes lit up gold for a second and the smoke billowed before forming into a majestic dragon. The dragon roared and flapped his wings a few times before dissolving back into the air.
"Very good."
Merlin didn't have to turn to see who had spoken.
"Thank you, father, but I have a lot to learn."
Balinor sat down on the rock next to his son. "Indeed you do," he agreed. He paused for a moment before continuing. "The Druids are passing through this part of the forest. Perhaps it would be beneficial to your education to pay them a visit."
Merlin laughed. "What can they possibly teach me that you can't?"
Balinor smiled gently. "The Druids are a powerful people. There is much that can be learned from them."
"Alright," Merlin conceded, "I'll go see them once mother returns from Ealdor."
Balinor shook his head. "The Druids will not stay long; if you wait too long you might miss them."
Merlin cocked an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked jokingly.
"Well how often do I get the chance to have the cave to myself?" Balinor replied with a chuckle. "I should jump at the chance to enjoy all the finest that the Cenrid's kingdom has to offer in dank, lonely caves without my beloved family breathing down my neck."
Merlin grinned. "Well, seeing as you're so eager to get rid of me..."
"Go enjoy yourself," Balinor ordered. "I'll be fine here by myself in this deserted forest."
"I'll see you this evening," Merlin laughed as he headed off.
"That way," Balinor called, pointing in the other direction.
"I knew that," said Merlin, hurriedly changing his course.
"Take your time," Balinor called to his son's retreating figure. He added to himself, "I wouldn't wan't you to be around when she shows up.
The moon was starting to rise in the sky when Balinor heard the trees stir. It was the only sign that she was here.
"Good evening, Dragon Lord." Her voice was cold, reflecting perfectly her frozen heart.
"Nimueh," Balinor acknowledged.
"It's been too long," said Nimueh, slowly circling the small camp.
Balinor was silent. He closed his eyes, the action seeming to reflect his weariness. In actuality the gesture was designed to hide the flash of gold that was the only outwards sign of the spell had just activated. He didn't want any interruptions.
"And what a life you have led," she continued. Balinor's eyes flicked back to her face. "How is it that you are able to continue your happy, ignorant existence knowing that it was you who led Uther to my sisters?" She spat out the King's name like it was some sort of disease.
"I had no part in the raid on the Isle of the Blessed," Balinor stated calmly.
"Was it not the Dragon Lords who betrayed us?" Nimueh hissed. "The dragons and their masters are a damned race and have been ever since they led Uther to our sanctuary."
"You killed his wife," Balinor said angrily. "Uther had good reason to act as he did."
"He knew what would happen!" Nimueh yelled. "It's the way of the universe; a life for a life!" She cut herself short, seeming to consider something. "A life for a life..." she muttered.
Balinor didn't like the direction this conversation was taking.
Nimueh's smile was enough to make his blood run cold. "Yes. You took my family from me, now I'll take yours."
Balinor felt his heart drop through his stomach.
"There's your wife," she mused, "but she would be easy prey. It hardly seems worth the effort." Her smile grew. "You have a son too, don't you?"
"Don't you dare lay a finger on him-"
"Just think; the last of the Dragon Lords. Fine quarry if I do say so myself... But before I think about him, I have you to worry about." She smiled evilly. "I want him to be as I am; alone and on the run."
"Merlin will never be alone," Balinor declared confidently. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a flicker in the air. His spell was working. It also told him that he had an audience. Praying that he was correct as to the nature of his onlooker, Balinor continued.
"Merlin will never be alone," he repeated. "There will always be help for him if he knows where to look. With me gone, he would go to Camelot and seek out Kilgharrah."
"Another Dragon Lord?" Nimueh demanded. "Impossible! Uther wiped them out! Besides, it does not matter. The dragons are extinct and without them the Dragon Lords are nothing more than an bunch of outdated, overrated sorcerers."
Balinor merely shrugged. He glanced at the shimmer between the trees. It was still there.
"You have been foolish, Dragon Lord," said Nimueh patronizingly. "Whatever hope Merlin had of finding this man, it ended here. As shall you. Svelt, Balinor."
Balinor crumpled to the ground. He couldn't feel the pain, he couldn't feel anything.The last thing he saw before his eyes drifted closed was the flicker in the air. It was more frantic than ever.
Despite his predicament, Balinor smiled. Go on, Merlin, he encouraged silently, you know what to do. You have a great destiny ahead of you. I have seen enough of you to know that you will make me proud.
Merlin pounded helplessly against the magical barrier as he watched the light fade from his father's eyes. The barrier faded and Merlin fell to his knees. His father wouldn't have let the spell go like that; his father was dead.
Silent tears welled up in his eyes. The woman in the red dress stood triumphantly over his father's body for a moment before muttering a spell. Her eyes glowed gold for a moment before she vanished into the air.
Merlin rushed forward, both needing and dreading the confirmation of his fears.
Balinor lay limp on the ground, eyes sightless, chest still. Making no attempt to conceal his sorrow, Merlin wept openly as he gently closed his father's eyes.
He stood slowly, resolution shining in his eyes; he would go to Camelot; find Kilgharrah; do what he had to do. And maybe, just maybe he would find out why.
