Spoilers up to season 4, episode 2 ("The Darkest Hour: Part 2"). If you have not watched that far, go back and do so before coming back to this story. Please!

Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin." How sad. *Author walks away to cy into their pillow*

As soon as the flapping of the dragon's wings had faded, silence returned.

Lancelot broke the quiet, clearing his throat. "So… a dragon?"

Merlin nodded, still staring up at the sky.

"You can summon dragons."

"Only Kilgharrah," Merlin replied, tearing his eyes away from the stars. "All others are dead, as far as I know."

Lancelot blinked. "And you're friends… with a dragon?"

Merlin shrugged. "I suppose so."

Lancelot could only stare after the young warlock as he walked off, back in the direction of the cabin they had just evacuated.

He had known that Merlin possessed magic for quite some time, even been able to see him use it. But the small tricks- like creating fire- were nothing compared to summoning mammoth beasts like the dragon.

Following after the young man, Lancelot considered whether or not Merlin knew just how special he was. Arthur and most others thought the boy to be a coward and a fool, yet here he was, ready to risk his life in order to let Arthur live, and casting spells effortlessly. It was more than Lancelot could have ever imagined—before he'd met the warlock, that is.

Once they reached their home for the night, they stacked some of the wood they had gathered from the woods before dusk into the fire pit. Merlin raised a hand over it, chanted a few words, and fire appeared. He proceeded to light the candles around the room, as well. When he was done, the young man turned to find Lancelot staring at him in awe. "What?" he asked.

"You have no idea just how amazing you are."

Merlin blushed at the compliment. "Um… I guess?"

Lancelot shook his head, taking a few steps closer. He clapped his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "I'm serious, Merlin. You are more powerful, more special than you could ever imagine."

They resumed the same positions they had been in previously, before the Dorocha had attacked.

Merlin quickly fell asleep, tired from the excitement.

But Lancelot remained awake, listening to the small snuffles and hums that his sleeping companion made.

He could not stop thinking about Merlin. Merlin casting spells, saving Arthur, saving Lancelot. Merlin saving Camelot.

Merlin was, indeed, a hero.

And he had a great future ahead of him.

Lancelot would help make sure of it.

~The End~

A/N: So, this turned out more serious than I had anticipated. But this episode made me want to cry, so I guess that might have made it more serious. Either way, I hope you enjoyed. Maybe reading this story even gave you some of the relief from the feels of the episode that writing it did for me. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!