Ilusión
Whole Camelot was celebrating the return of its king. For days music had been echoing all around the realm and the celebrations never stopped. Gwen was sitting near to him, a huge smile on her face while he was holding her hand, love written in his eyes. Only Merlin was missing and nobody could tell him where his friend was.
In the middle of the night, a traveler entered the gates of the city. He was tired and his clothes were torn, but he demanded to speak with the king.
"His kingdom is in danger. Magic." was whole he could bubbled, but it was enough to get the attention of the suveran.
"I beg pardon, Your Grace. I've come in the name of my king, Bolin, the nephew of king Sarrum. My lord had lost his throne because of magic. His beloved daughter proved to be an evil sorceress "
But he wasn't allowed to speak more as voices cried that all sorcerer were evil. The king calmed the voices and gestured to the man to go on.
"She helped a powerful sorcerer escape from the chains my lord kept him. We hardly got out alive. Now, they ruled Armata, forcing people to accept magic. My lord knows how hard had you fought against your sister and the wrongs she had done to Camelot and begs for you help. Please, it's up to you to put an end to Armata's pain."
"Who is this man?" the king asked firmly.
"They knew him as the Silver Dragon."
Aithusa watched her master and friend toss in his sleep. He had hardly slept peacefully for longer he could remember. Where was the cheerful boy who'd called her from her egg?
The little dragon shook him so he would wake up. It was all she could do. Merlin opened his eyes and offered her a tired smile. His friend would leave tomorrow and he couldn't help feeling sad. He hated to be alone.
"I'm alright." Merlin assured her as he noticed her sad glance. "You're going to see Morgana. I miss her, Aithusa, but it's better this way. Keep her safe, little dragon!"
The Dragon Lord started to pass nervously around the room. "It's just a nightmare, Aithusa! Do not worry." He opened the window and let the cold air entered his lunges. It helped him calm down.
"You speak of a man who seems indistructival. How are we going to defeat him?" Arthur addressed to the man near to him. Yet, Bolin's face betrayed no sign of worry not even when the great king of Camelot had displayed his fears.
"No one is untouchable. Everybody has a weakness and it happens I know two of his weaknesses. Come, I want you to meet someone."
When Arthur entered the king's tent he hadn't been prepared to find a woman there. At first he didn't figured out who she was except that she was a prisoner. But in the instant the king met her green eyes, he felt his blood freeze in his veins. Bolin watched him and smiled, then he directed his glance towards the witch as he spoke.
"Hello, Morgana! I've brought your brother. I guess it's been a while since you had the chance to talk. I bet he wants it, too." It was sarcasm in his voice. "We're going to conquer Armata, after all and you" he fixed her with his glance "you'd be his undoing."
He opened his eyes and took some deep breaths. It always ended with bloodshed and pain and he was unable to protect Armata, to protect the people he had got so fond of in just a month. Betrayed by his only friend, Eira, drained of his magic and surrounded by thousands of soldiers he was forced to fight a lost war, forced to watch Arthur in the eye and see how little his friend cared for him.
And the choice. He was unable to hurt his friend, but at the same time he couldn't stand by and watch his people being killed and the city being burnt to the ground. That hurt him the most. And that's why he always lost the war.
He shouldn't have hesitated, but his feelings were too strong. If only he could have stopped caring. Kilgharrah had been right, his feeling had always stood in his way.
Merlin couldn't run aaway because he had people to protect, yet he couldn't fight because he had to kill too many of his friends. And Bolin was nowhere to find.
Merlin couldn't hold back the tears as he remembered the ending. He'd tried everything to protect Morgana, yet he failed. He'd been her doom. The warlock saw her die under his eyes. They'd promised to spare her if he surrendered, but they were all liars and… he felt he couldn't breath. Aithusa let her head on his chest.
"I can't let it happen." The warlock muttered while holding the little dragon in his arms. "It's...I have too…." He sank his face in her silver fur and stood like that for what seemed like hours.
A knock in the door woke him up from his little moment of peace. Before Merlin answered, Nimueh had stormed in the room. Yet she couldn't say a word as he faced her with his marble indifference, his face emotionless and cold and his eyes two blue demonical flames while his posture was firm and royal.
"What do you want, Nimueh?"
"Nothing. I just came to see you and…"
"You saw me. Now, you can go."
"So cold."
"You better put something warmer on you." The Dragon Lord mocked her.
"No, you're cold..cold like ice. I couldn't sleep and I came to see if you need a little help with those papers." And she sat down and started to look into the papers on his office.
"I don't need your help. I handle it pretty well without you. Just go to sleep."
"I've hardly seen you these days. You're always busy and…"
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"No, I do not have anything better to do." She cried annoyed by his coldness. "We're surrounded by kingdoms which are not really friendly when it comes about magic. You have created enough enemies this month among the lords of Armata."
"Those lords are liars and lazy fools. They care for nothing, but for themselves and their fat belly and they think they're above the law. Those lords are thieves and profiteers. I don't need such people around me." His voice was quiet calm, but cut like a dagger.
"Do what you want, but be careful. You're walking on a broken string."
"So, let me walk."
"This is not about you, Silver Dragon." She threw at him and the witch got out, slamming the door after her. Aithusa watched her amazed.
"She's right." Merlin revealed when he was sure Nimueh was unable to hear him. "That's exactly what I fear the most, their betrayal. But I'm not going to accept such a behaviour. And Bolin. I need to put an end to it." And the warlock grabbed his sword firmly and rushed to the door.
"Your dream, doesn't it?" Aithusa stopped him. "Haven't you learned that trying to change the future you actually cause it to happen?"
"Not if he's dead."
"There will rise another Bolin. You won't prevent anything. You're clever than that, my lord." She used to address him like that only when she disagreed with him and she was totally against his decision.
"I need some fresh air, Aithusa."
