Chapter 1

.:Arthur:.

Arthur awoke to the sound of the warning bells.

And for the first few moments of waking, he was grateful for the sound. The sharp clanging of metal against metal instantly pierced through the images of his dreams and left little time to dwell on the feeling of hurt and betrayal.

But then the reality of the sound came crashing down on him. They would be sounding for a reason. The instant that thought flitted across his mind, worry overcame the relief.

Flinging the covers off of his body, he shuddered against the cold air that hit the naked parts of his body.

"What do you think it could be?"

Genevieve's soft voice made him realise, he was not the only one to be awoken by the noise. "I'm sure it's nothing. You should go back to sleep" he replied automatically. Gwen just gave him a stubborn look as she began to toss on one of her older less fine dresses that she just couldn't seem to part with no matter what Arthur said to her.

Seeing no reason to argue with his wife, he never won, Arthur turned away, throwing on a red tunic that had been helpfully laid across a clothes horse the night before.

"Would you even know where your clothes are kept?"

"What did you say?"

Gwen gave him a confused look, her brow wrinkling slightly in the middle. "What? Arthur, I didn't say anything"

"I'm sure I heard something just now" Arthur persisted, looking around the room as if hoping someone would appear out of nowhere and give him the answer. Gwen's frown turned from confused to worried.

"Arthur…" she started but was interrupted by a sudden pounding on the door.

"Sire!"

Shaking the matter from his mind, Arthur renewed his attention to the situation that had awoken him. "Enter!"

Immediately the doors banged opened revealing a harried looking Leon.

"Sire. There's been an attack"

Arthur sprang forward, hands closing over his belt and sword, again helpfully laid out for him to have within easy reach, and took off after Leon.

"What happened?" he questioned the knight as they walked briskly down the labyrinth of corridors, anxiety pooling in his stomach.

"We're not sure yet, Sire. They appeared about half an hour ago and before I had left, no-one had been able to get any information out of them."

"They?"

"Village people, we believe from one of the towns located just below the slopes of the White mountains"

Arthur felt his jaw clench. A village attacked so close. Was it just another rampaging creature, or could it be something more sinister.

His mind ran wild with the ideas of what it could possibly be. Another Griffin, or just bandits, or perhaps sorcery. It could be any one of them. The only way to know, would be to get a witness to come forward and actually tell them.

"How many?" he asked. His first concern would be their welfare. Making sure they were treated of any wounds and had sheltered until they could sort out the problem. "Has Gaius been informed?" he added at the thought of treatment crossed his mind.

"Around forty My Lord" Leon answered promptly. "I sent Gwaine to get Gaius before I left to inform you"

Arthur nodded approvingly. "Good work."

The wide oak doors opened automatically by the guards as Arthur approached them letting the predawn light spill into the castle entryway.

Arthur hesitated briefly when he met the scene. Men, women and children alike were huddled together in a rough circle. Some had dirt and blood streaked upon their flesh, but almost all had tears running down their cheeks and dripping onto the cold stones. Arthur's heart clenched at the sight.

He was their King. He was supposed to stop this kind of thing from happening. And he had failed them.

Gaius ran between them, medicine bag bumping against his hip at his hurried movement. But he hardly seemed the notice as he went from one person to the other, assessing and handing out remedies as appropriate. By the speed he was going, it seemed there was only superficial wounds and nothing too serious.

Something very cold and heavy landed in his stomach at the sight.

Gritting his teeth, he once again turned to Leon. "Gather all the council and any willing and able to give an account of what happened in the council chambers in half an hour." he rattled off before heading towards the physician.

"Gaius!" he called out making the older man look up from his work briefly.

"Sire"

"What's the verdict?" Arthur couldn't help the worry seep into his voice.

Gaius gave the finishing touches to bandaging a young man's arm before turning to him. "Nothing serious Sire. It seems they were lucky in their escape."

Arthur felt a large weight disappear from his shoulders at the news. "Well at least we can be thankful for that" he said. "Have any of them talked?"

Gaius shook his head. "No, most are still in shock. Some of the men seemed to be recovering now though"

"Can you give Leon a hand in picking which ones more likely to recover sooner. We're meeting in half an hour"

"Of course Sire"

"Thank-you" Arthur said, patting the physician on the shoulder in gratitude. The weight in his stomach grew heavier at the gesture. Trying hard to ignore it he turned back to head inside.

"Please tell us what you saw"

Arthur stood in front of a thin lanky man, his hand upon the other's shoulder. The man trembled slightly underneath the scrutiny of so many people, many of them nobles. "Its alright. No-one is going to harm or judge you" Arthur said kindly.

The man's gaze lingered once more on the surrounding court till they finally rested upon his. The man looked scared stiff but something seemed to steel within him in that moment. Lifting his chin up a bit further he began to speak.

"I was sleeping, your Highness." The man stopped, eyes once again flickering nervously to everyone in the room as though they would punish him for such an act.

"Go on" Arthur pressed, trying to keep his voice patient and calm.

"I…I awoke when I heard a terrible sound." Now the man closed his eyes, the memory almost painful for him. "It was unlike anything I've heard before. Like death taken wing" he shuddered.

"I ran outside, my sister had married recently and lived in a house across the other side of the village. I wanted to make sure she was alright."

Arthur nodded, encouraging.

"By the time I got out, the village was already in flames. It was chaos, people running everywhere, all the livestock were loose."

"Did you see what did it?"

Mutely the man nodded, fear filling his eyes. "Yes your Highness" he gulped. "It was a dragon, a white dragon"

Arthur's whole world seemed to collapse at the man's words. A dragon? In his mind's eye, the walls of Camelot burned as a great Dragon breathed fire on them from above. His people's screams echoing his ears.

"Thank-you for telling us. You have been very brave" Shaking his mind from the thoughts he forced himself to think of nothing else but the here and the now. "You may go and rest now, and know, if you need anything, just ask"

The man nodded gratefully before being escorted away by a couple of guards.

Arthur straightened himself, already feeling a headache coming on.

The space behind him felt empty leaving him feeling too open and unprotected.

"Well" he addressed the court. "It looks like Morgana has finally decided to reveal herself once more."

Several faces grew more apprehensive at the sound of Morgana's name.

But there was something else niggling at Arthur's brain, something that didn't seem to add up. The dragon attack had clearly been made by Morgana, yet…

"Gaius" he suddenly questioned. "How many did you say were killed in the attack?"

Gaius looked confused for a second before his face cleared, like he had had a sudden revelation. "None Sire" he answered.

"That doesn't seem like Morgana's style" Leon interjected, a frown upon his face.

"Maybe it's not Morgana at all then?" Gwaine spoke up, failing to keep the hope out of his voice.

"If I may speak Sire?" Gaius asked.

Arthur turned his gaze on the physician. "Go on"

"I do still think it is Morgana Sire. However I think this just be a warning."

"A warning?"

"Yes" Gaius nodded. "An attack so near Camelot, yet where no one was killed would be a show of power to Morgana."

Arthur let the idea take hold. Many of the court were nodding in agreement.

"She would think it shows that she is the one calling the shots. That she can dictate which village is burnt and who dies. Whenever, wherever."

Arthur had to agree with the ageing man. It made sense. "I believe you may be right Gaius" Though it pained him to admit it. To think Morgana had that much power, she was able to control a dragon.

"Leon, I want you to double the border patrol and send a squadron to the village to assess the damage"

"Sire" Leon bowed and left along with the rest of knights.

"Gaius, help Genevieve with the survivors. I want to make sure they have all they need while they are here"

Arthur turned away, his back to the doors. The emptiness surrounding him had now built to almost suffocating levels. Dimly he heard the door closed shut as the rest of the court filed out.

As soon as he thought he was alone, he sagged, leaning both hands against the throne to take his weight.

"It's not enough"

"I know" he answered, frame sagging a bit more.

"Sire?"

Startled he whipped around, seeing that Gaius still hadn't left.

"Sorry Gaius, I thought you had left" he said trying to save face.

"I see" Gaius said, a worried frown appearing on his face.

Deciding to ignore it, Arthur plastered a firm look on his face. "Was there something else Gaius?"

"I was just wondering if you knew where Merlin was? I haven't seen him this morning, nor is there any evidence that he returned from his duties last night."

Arthur's stomach plummeted. He hadn't expected people o be asking after him so soon, but now thinking about it, of course Gaius would be worried about his ward as soon as he noticed Merlin hadn't returned home. In the rush of the events of the morning he hadn't given much thought to what he would say.

Briefly his mind flickered back to the events of last evening.

Merlin's familiar, trustworthy blue eyes glowing brightly gold in the dim chamber light. Light that had suddenly flared up as his servant's lies finally came to truth.

"I think he said something about meeting Gwaine for a drink" he finally choked out. He hardly convinced himself, let alone Gaius, but he didn't know what else to say. He couldn't admit it, not yet. He needed more time. "I'm sure he'll turn up" he attempted a smile.

"Yes Sire"

.:Merlin:.

Merlin sat down heavily. The cold bare rock sent chills shooting up his spine. But he was just too tired to care.

His night-time flight from Camelot had ended up with him walking further North than he had ever been before. Now he was past Camelot's borders, and in what had been dubbed "The perilous lands"

So far it just looked like a lot of desert to the young warlock.

Anger still fuelled him, every time he had been frustrated or had to bottle up his emotions to save his own head from being parted with his body, was now being unleashed.

Muttering a few choice words, flames sprung up in the middle of the rock. He didn't need wood or any other materials to fuel it. The flickering yellow light was quite happily feeding from his magic. It felt good to let go, knowing that he could be himself and that he didn't have to worry about getting found out.

Why hadn't he done this sooner, he thought. Leaning back, he rested his head against his own arms and looked up at the sky. It was a clear night, with a thousand and one stars blinking back happily at him and he couldn't help the smile that grew upon his lips.

No worries.

No responsibilities.

Just freedom.

His good mood wasn't to last as his stomach gave a grumble of annoyance at being ignored for most of the days.

"Alright, alright" he said getting back up and reaching for his pack. He had only packed the essentials, not wanting to disturb Gaius, but he had remembered to include some dried meat.

Taking a strip the thought that he would have to actually have to hunt something soon, entered his mind.

Okay well, maybe he had some responsibilities.

A rush of wind suddenly whipped up around him. Startled, Merlin looked around for the source.

Kilgarrah landed a few feet away from him, yellow eyes flashing in anger. Merlin's own anger soon raised to challenge the beast.

"Just what do you think you are doing?!"

If Merlin's anger wasn't so high, he might have been surprised by the great dragon's forthrightness. But he was too worked up to take notice.

"I am doing whatever I like!" he fired back, only just resisting the urge to add the dragon lord's power behind his words. Even so, the Dragon looked taken aback, eyes widening slightly.

"And what of Albion. Does that not matter anymore. Of the sorcerers still hiding and running for their lives while they wait for you to bring magic back to the world."

For an instant, Merlin felt a twinge of guilt. Faces flickering before his eyes, of druids and dead sorcerers that needn't have died. Then he realised it wasn't his fault. It was the prat of a King's fault.

"I tried! He didn't want to know, he didn't even give me a chance to explain. I stand by what I first said to you. You must have got the wrong Arthur. Because this one, is just a prat."

"Too soon, young warlock. He wasn't ready"

"Yeah well I was. My whole life I lived in fear and 5 years I lived in hope. Took everything, in hope that one day it would all change. But it's never going to happen. Albion will never happen!"

Merlin was just letting loose now, every pent up thought, every suppressed emotion he was now flinging at the dragon. The dragon had taught him to hope. Gave him the barest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Only to be brought crashing back down again.

Kilgarrah looked down at him sadly, a great sigh leaving his lips. "A half cannot hate what makes it whole" he repeated before taking off again.

Merlin stared at the shrinking silhouette until it disappeared entirely. "You're wrong" he spat out before slumping to the ground once more. It was a while before sleep claimed him however.

TBC…

A/N - Wow, thanks to all who reviewed, faved and alerted this story. For a late night idea I didn't think it would get such a response. A big thank you to you all.

Credit - I will be using the map created by this wonderful person if you want to reference where the characters are at different times. It can be found on the archive of our own website with this at the end of it of the website - works/1037453/chapters/2069264

Hope you enjoyed the update. I won't be updating every day like this usually but at the minute my muse has been taken hostage by this fic and so the words are just flowing.

Just a little note, I was re watching Disney's new film Frozen last night and I just couldn't help but notice how Elsa's story kind of relates to Merlin's. Sadly no talking snowman will appear in this fic though.

Again thanks.

Harlisan,