Author's note: So... I didn't think I would be doing any one-shots for this story, but I had a few suggestions and ideas that just wouldn't go away, so here I am! I plan on doing a couple of short little one-shots, but I'm not sure how many it will end up being, so I'm marking this story complete, even though I still plan on updating from time to time. (Also, if you have any ideas you think you'd like to see here, let me know! I'm always happy to consider them.)

(P.S. This is a continuation of my previous story, The Brother's Pendragon. You could read this without reading the other, but it would definitely make more sense to go back and read that one first. Also, this will contain spoilers for my other story. You've been warned!)

...

It had been three weeks since Arthur Pendragon's coronation. Three busy, but blissfully peaceful, weeks. Yes, he had been a bit overwhelmed by officially taking on the title of king, but seeing as he had already been king in all but name before his father's passing, it wasn't too much of a shock. Besides, he had a very capable group of friends and family to support him.

He'd known, of course, that this peace would be too good to last. It always was. He just hadn't expected it to end so soon.

"Please, Arthur?" His brother Merlin, the one who was interrupting his peace, was currently attempting to harass him into accepting one of his ridiculous ideas over dinner. And, to his horror, he was making the most ridiculous cow eyes Arthur had ever seen, and was practically fluttering his eyelashes like a girl. It was positively horrific.

"No, Merlin." Arthur replied firmly with an exasperated sigh, taking a sip of his wine to calm himself.

"But wouldn't it be best to do it early and-"

"No, absolutely not." Arthur interrupted before he was able to start into another one of his long-winded speeches. "The kingdom is already having to adjust to the repeal of the ban on magic. They do not need another surprise thrown their way so soon."

"But it's not like they'll even know!" Merlin whined, leaning forward and staring at him intently. "I'll keep them away from Camelot, and we don't have to tell anyone about them until we're ready, and-"

"Merlin. I'm most certain that you won't be able to hide a noticeable influx in the previously extinct dragon population."

"Watch me!" Merlin huffed in annoyance, throwing his hands up in the air. "I'm the most powerful warlock to ever live! I'm Emrys and a dragonlord! I can do anything I please!" He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms petulantly across his chest.

"Think about the dragons," Arthur added calmly. "What if they fly too close to a village, and someone hurts them? What would you do then?"

"But they won't be near a village! I'll leave them with the druids. They'll be happy to take them, I know they will! And besides, it's not like there are hundreds of dragon eggs out there that I'm going to hatch all at once. Kilgarrah said there is most likely only a handful left, supposing we can find any more at all.

"Yes, and we all know how forthcoming and truthful that beast is," Arthur added in a mumble, causing Merlin to send him a half-hearted glare.

"Please? I've been waiting patiently for a long time for you to become king. And now you are king, and things are looking up, and I want to help Kilgharrah. He's old and lonely. Wouldn't you want a friend if you were the last of your kind? Wouldn't you be lonely too, and want someone to look out for you?"

"Are you trying to guilt me into feeling bad for the dragon?" Arthur asked incredulously.

"Maybe. Is it working?" Merlin said with a smirk.

"Absolutely not. It's a no, and that's final."

...

Of course, Merlin was never able to take no for an answer. Arthur knew that to be true. But, somehow, he still managed to be surprised when Merlin disappeared a few days later, only to return the next day coated in dirt and beaming ear to ear, holding a dragon egg closely to his chest.

He had dragged Arthur out to see that wretched Kilgharrah and hatched the egg, giving the little white dragon the name Aithusa. The dragon said something about it being a good omen, and Merlin, of course, had cried like a girl. He'd insinuated that Arthur's eyes were misty too, but that was completely false. It was simply the sun, reflecting in his eye.

Then, like the idiot he was, Merlin had smuggled the baby dragon into the castle, just to make sure she was safe until she was grown enough to join Kilgharrah in the wild. Thankfully, he wasn't actually as abysmal at being a dragonlord as he was being a manservant, and Aithusa was fairly well behaved.

Still, it was a horrible idea, and Arthur hadn't forgiven him.

Although, snuggled up with the baby dragon curled around his shoulders and purring contentedly, he supposed it wasn't all that bad, even if Merlin wouldn't stop laughing every time he looked at the two of them.