On the fifth day of his imprisonment his stomach started growling. Echoing off the cave walls he was thankful that merpeople didn't have to eat all that often, a week between meals was nothing. It had been almost more than that by now and an unpleasant thought occurred to him.

"How often do they feed you?" The dragon came down from where he was stretching his wings and lay on his perch.

"Weekly, sometimes they wait longer. The prince has been busy with his quest of late so there probably won't be much." Merlin's stomach growled again.

He couldn't help but ask "Quest? What kind of quest?"

"The lady Guinevere has lost her brother. The witch and Arthur have decided to retrieve him, against Uther's wishes," The dragon had a smug look on his face at the mention of defying Uther. Merlin was gathering that he wasn't a very nice man. "You needn't worry for the prince young warlock. Already I can smell them coming back into Camelot."

"I wasn't worried," He muttered slipping into the water.

Footsteps were sounding above, different from the slow gait that Gaius walked with. Hiding in the shadows he watched as a man came in holding a torch. Two more were behind him and pulling a cart of meats. They didn't carry the cart down to the dragon, instead they tipped it over the side and almost ran back out of the cave. Merlin stopped himself from going to the meats. Despite being hungry the dragon was most likely hungrier. Not to mention he was much bigger than Merlin.

The dragon tucked into his meal with vigour as Merlin scented the three guards that had walked in. He wondered if they were going back to the court or whether they stood guard outside the dragon's cave.

When Gaius came that night he posed the question to him. Apparently there wasn't a need for a guard outside of the dragons cave because no one really came down here. Disappointed Merlin asked about food for himself instead.

"Yes, I was worried about this," Gaius muttered storing his herbs back in his satchel "What exactly does your kind eat?" Merlin pointedly looked at him "Apart from..." he couldn't say 'humans.'

"Ordinary meat is fine. A nice buck if you can find one," Gaius' eyebrows disappeared.

"A whole one?"

"Of course," Merlin frowned. It seemed that a whole buck was too much to ask for. He didn't know what kind of animals lived in Camelot though.

"It seems they're a creature of appetite," Kilgarragh commented.

Gaius huffed "I'll do my best," He promised and told Merlin the regular message to stay out of the water while his salve was on.

The next night he came with a pig on a leash. Leading it down the steps he seemed to look almost sorry for the creature before he let it loose. Merlin soon had it in the water and gone in a pool of red. Gaius was chatting with the dragon when he sat on the bank again. His back to the water he seemed to be trying to ignore what Merlin had been doing behind him.

"I think it's getting better," Merlin commented bringing Gaius' attention back on him.

Gaius knelt down and touched tentatively at the scales around his scabby wound "Hmm, a week and you should be able to leave. I suppose that's another pig I'll be bringing down?"

"Couldn't make it something bigger?" Seeing the horror-struck look on Gaius' face he amended "Or just another pig. That one was quite tasty." He shared a look with the dragon 'humans.' The silence lengthened and Merlin searched for a safe topic "Is Arthur back yet?"

"He arrived last night with the Lady Morgana, Gwen and her brother," Merlin nodded.

"I think the young Warlock's searching for more information than that," Kilgarragh prompted.

Gaius scowled up at the dragon. Ever since learning Merlin was the same one Arthur knew he had been even more evasive on the topic. "There was a spot of trouble but other than that their journey was successful. Uther is both angry and proud of Arthur's achievement."

"That's nice," Merlin smiled "I mean about him being proud and home safe. Not the other one," He corrected quickly.

Gaius sighed and rose "I'll check on you in two days," Merlin nodded and let him go.

"He wants to keep the two of you apart," the dragon elaborated. "No doubt he will be telling Arthur the first chance he gets."

"About what?" The dragon looked pointedly at his tail "Oh. Is that a problem?"

The dragon shook his head slightly as if to get rid of a cobweb. "Camelot isn't safe for our kind Merlin. Uther has waged war on anything with magic for as long as Arthur has been breathing. For him to discover your true nature means that you'll be hunted much like the rest of our kind."

Merlin looked up at him "You're not dead."

"No, but I am here to act as a symbol. The last of my kind, my being here shows that no one is immune to the powers of man. Big or small, mighty or timid, no one is safe."

"That's awful," He had just thought Arthur was wary about the fact mermaids ate people. He didn't think it had anything to do with a war against magic.

"Indeed."

Merlin shuffled around to the back of where the dragon was sitting. There lay his chain mounted to the rock as thick and impenetrable as a chain could be to hold a dragon.

"How do I get this off?" Merlin experimentally tugged at the chain.

"You can't. Not yet at least. Only something with great power could slice through these chains," The dragon nudged him back over to his front and away from the chain.

"Like what? A spell?" Eager to help Merlin ran through anything he could that related to magic. "I don't know any."

"Not a spell young Warlock. Something even stronger than that. I think a bond between steel and magic may be the only thing that will work," The dragon hinted. He did this a lot, giving advice but making you work for it.

"Steel? Like a sword," He thought of Arthur's and then of Lancelot's. He wondered if there were any spare at the bottom of his lake.

"Precisely. But one that has been bathed in dragon fire," Merlin frowned thoughtfully. He couldn't ask Gaius for a sword and he wasn't well enough to search the lake yet.

"I can't free you now. Will you wait until I can?" The dragon sank low to meet him.

Eyes boring in and searching through the truth of Merlin's words he nodded "I'd be happy to."

They returned back to their past times in the dragon's cave. The two days before Gaius came back Merlin repaid the dragon some advice and gave him flying pointers. A half hour sulk later and he was teaching Merlin small spells to use on the water and small rocks in the cave. He hadn't known that magic could be so controlled. It was a revelation to learn the words for things in the Old tongue and call them to action. The dragon seemed pleased with this as well. Every spell Merlin managed to get right had him grinning as only a dragon could.

Gaius returned before dusk on the second day. Bag laden with herbs he looked harried and rushed through most of Merlin's check up. A blast of trumpets echoed into the cave and had Gaius looking cautiously up at the entrance.

"Something wrong?" Merlin queried.

Gaius returned to looking over his wound "Nothing."

"Gaius," The dragon reprimanded "The boy has a right to know whether he's in danger."

Gaius scoffed "He's not," The pressure on his tail said otherwise.

"If there's nothing wrong then you can tell me about it can't you?" Merlin asked innocently. Gaius looked back up at the entrance and shook his head. "Fine," Merlin huffed and dipped his head in the water. It was an odd angle but still soothing.

The old man was putting his things away again when he stopped. Looking fearful for a moment he turned to Merlin and tapped him to get out for a moment. "I need you to promise me that you won't make much noise in the coming days."

"Noise?"

"Singing," Gaius clarified "It echoes in this cave and can be heard in the corridor. Arthur has stopped himself many times and gone searching in the castle, thinking you lived here."

Merlin wasn't quite satisfied with Gaius' explanation. There was something else at work here "What else is happening?"

The dragon had came down from his little flight around the cave with a thoughtful expression on his face "I smell a troll," He commented.

Gaius whipped around to face him "Are you certain?"

The dragon sniffed the air "Quite. Something else too. What has Uther been doing up there?"

"Gaius?" Merlin demanded.

Sighing he complied "The Lady Katrina has came to visit."

"That doesn't seem too bad," Merlin offered as the dragon started chortling.

"Oh do go on," He laughed.

Scowling at the dragon Gaius continued "I thought it odd that she hadn't taken her medicine and had Gwen go look for her. She found something but it wasn't the Lady Katrina."

Merlin was confused. So someone was impersonating the Lady Katrina. Why did that have the dragon in such a state? "So can't you just tell the king and he'll have her removed?"

"The king's the one insisting she stay," The dragon wheezed. "Their scents have mingled most potently."

"Ew!" Merlin cringed. He had seen a troll come by the lake once, they were quite disgusting creatures. The one that he saw had fought with them over the carcass of a dead man. Winning it had then rolled around with glee in his guts.

"Indeed," Gaius sighed. "Hopefully I can find some remedy for Uther's blindness before it's too late. So will you do it?"

Merlin nodded "No singing," He promised.

Gaius made to get up but the dragon stopped him with "A word? Merlin here has been practising his magic for little else to do. I know quite a few spells but it's nothing compared to something he can memorise, perhaps read for himself..." he trailed. Gaius looked torn and left.

"Something I can read?" The dragon didn't answer and took to the top of the cave again. "Fine, ignore me."

Strangely Gaius was back within the hour. Carrying something wrapped in cloth he placed it in front of Merlin and made his leave again. Calling the dragon back over Merlin pointed to the package Gaius left him.

"It's for you," The dragon amended.

Curious, Merlin unwrapped the parcel and a book dropped out. Pages were sticking from the sides where no more room was available and when he opened it words upon words of the old religion stared back at him. It was unfortunate that he couldn't read.

Sharing his dismay the dragon offered to teach him and thus began their lessons. With little light, save for the fires Kilgarragh made, it was hard to make out the individual words. The dragon was a patient teacher and helped him through it, pointing out each letter and how it formed a word. Being the language of the old religion it was easier to speak it than to read it but he made sure he knew what the spell looked like wrote out before, with the dragon's permission, performing it.

Time flew with a new distraction to entertain him. Merlin would often ask the dragon for spells that could do this or that which came into his head and the dragon would tell him to look in the book to see if it was there. By the third day since Gaius had left Merlin stopped asking the dragon and went straight for the book.

He had lit a blue orb under the water when footsteps sounded on the fourth day. He proudly sprang out with the orb intact to show Gaius what he had made. The old man was shocked and looked to and from Merlin to the dragon.

"He's a fast learner," The dragon commented. Today he had decided that the cave walls were a fun place to sit.

"I can do so many of them. I didn't even know there were that many spells," Merlin crowed pointing out the ones he could do in the book.

"That's nice," Gaius told him and faced the dragon "I need your help," The dragon cocked his head and flew down in front of Gaius. "The situation with the troll has worsened. Uther has been enslaved by her magic and not even the revelation of her true form can break the enchantment."

He let the dragon laugh out his joy for five minutes before demanding an answer. Troll magic was strong, according to him, and the only way to break it was to help Uther find some humanity. In this case grief overcame love so Uther must shed some remorse for the enchantment to break.

Gaius didn't look too pleased with this answer "I know it'll be near impossible but it's the only chance you have," Kilgarragh advised "After all, I doubt you want the troll to stay Queen."

Gaius left in a strop, he didn't even check on Merlin's tail. Sinking back into the water he challenged the dragon to a race along the cave to pass the time. He had been growing stronger this past week. Strong enough that his tail wouldn't start hurting unless he was swimming for a considerable length of time. Merlin guessed that he was almost free to leave.

Gaius came back the next night with two pigs. Feeling his mouth water and teeth sharpen he waited eagerly until Gaius had released the first pig. The second he walked over to the other side of the bank and gave to Kilgarragh. Merlin saw the slight shock in the dragons face before he went under and couldn't help but feel pleased that Gaius appreciated the dragon's help.

When Gaius looked at his tail he was happy to hear that he was indeed well enough to leave Camelot. Gaius told him to stay one more night and leave the next day. He looked like he was going to say more but didn't. Instead he bade Merlin goodbye and left him in the care of the dragon.

The next day dawned and Merlin was torn between leaving and staying. "If it were me I'd be out there by now," The dragon drawled.

Merlin took another look at the golden creature "I'll come back for you," He promised.

"I know you will," The dragon pawed the magic book closer to himself. Catching Merlin's face he said "It'll be better if I hold on to it."

Nodding Merlin dived and made his way to the small tunnel and into the dark watery chamber beyond. Getting out of Camelot gave him as many bruises as when he went in. Soon enough he could see his lake stretching out for miles in front of him. Speeding up despite the pain in his tail Merlin breathed in the waters of home with glee.

The others were shocked to see him back. Gone for so long they had thought him dead and when his mother came to him he was feeling more than a little guilty. Waiting until they were back in their home he told her everything that had happened. From his adventure into Camelot, to meeting the dragon and Gaius and back again.

"You had me worried," She swatted and had him help her string lyres the rest of the night as punishment.

Two weeks later and his tail was back to normal. He lounged, sped and flipped to his hearts content along the lake. It was only when one of the mermaid's went to the top of the lake hunting that he remembered his promise to the dragon.

Eagerly joining the hunt he waited below the boat as the mermaid done her thing. But when a familiar warning drawl reached his ears he yanked the maid under and hissed her away. He hadn't thought about Arthur coming back to the lake while he was gone. It was a wonder that he was still alive.

Waiting five minutes he emerged himself and came face to face with Arthur, Morgana and Arthur's sword. Eyeing it he decided that it would serve his purpose well.

"Merlin!" Arthur drew his sword back and clapped him on the shoulder "I was beginning to think you had a life."

"Ha ha," Merlin sneered. "What brings you today then?"

Morgana looked like she had been crying "I was wondering if you would sing in court for us. Father's been asking for you specially," Arthur looked proud as he relayed the news.

"No, that vile man has," Morgana amended and turned away as Arthur shot her a look.

"What vile man?" Arthur couldn't have gotten into more trouble already. He had just gotten rid of a step- troll.

Morgana was more than happy to fill Arthur's hesitant silence "Someone reported the work of magic to Uther. One story too far and now he has this witchfinder at the castle. He has Gaius in chains and ready to hang."

"Gaius!" Arthur looked up in curiosity "Will he be alright? Surely your father won't hang his physician."

"With Aredian around it looks like he might," Morgana sniffed.

Arthur didn't seem to share her sorrow just then instead he latched onto something else "You know Gaius?"

Realising he couldn't take back his mistake he said "Maybe." Arthur smirked "You already knew that though," He tried.

"True," Arthur conceded "I had a feeling you knew someone at court. How else would you have been in the castle. Speaking of the castle, what do you say to a live performance?"

"Pass."

Arthur's face dropped "But it's in front of the king. This is one of the greatest honours someone of your standing could hope for," he went on.

"Insulting and still a pass," Morgana looked more smug every time Merlin turned Arthur down.

"Merlin!" Arthur drawled.

"No," He insisted "I'm not going to sing in front of the king. With things the way they are it seems to dangerous."

Arthur scoffed "Honestly. You're not going to be arrested if you sing for us Merlin."

"I could be," Merlin scowled "So I'm not going."

Arthur looked to Morgana for help "Uther's just going to have to want," She told him and pushed him aside to talk with Merlin about Gaius situation. She told him how odd all of the events were. How he found so many witnesses to sorcery so fast and how they admitted it so easily. Merlin suggested it was all staged somehow and told her to go investigate his chambers if she felt the same.

With Arthur pouting they made their leave soon after. Merlin thinking quickly about the sword Arthur had caught up with them "I tell you what, if you bring your father here I'll be more than happy to sing from afar. Take him to the shore, make a day out of it," He suggested.

Arthur thought about it and grunted "I'll ask him."

"Wait!" They had tried to row away again "I'll do it, if you give me your sword," He bargained.

Arthur glanced down at the sword he was holding "My sword? What do you want a sword for?"

Merlin looked around the lake "I'm in a mermaid infested lake, what else could I need it for."

"What about your bargain with them?" Arthur wasn't buying his excuse.

"You saw that mermaid when you came here, they're getting hungrier with the lack of men coming by. A bargain isn't something that's going to hold when their stomachs rumble one time too many," Merlin pretended to look genuinely fearful for his life.

Arthur fingered the hilt "I suppose that's true," He looked back at Merlin "You do know how to wield a sword don't you?" He clarified and Merlin nodded. Arthur handed it over reluctantly. "You know the simple solution for avoiding mermaids would be to not swim in their lake," Arthur called as he rowed him and Morgana back to shore.

Merlin didn't really care about his snide comment. He had a sword. Now all he needed was to get back into Camelot and free the dragon.

He decided against going into the city just yet. With the witchfinder and the news that Uther wanted to hear him sing there was a good chance that Aredian was waiting for Merlin to make his way back into the castle. One wrong move and he would be just as bad off as Gaius. He decided to wait until Arthur told him it was safe.

For another week Merlin lounged about the lake but this time he was forming a plan. He needed to get in and out of Camelot with a dragon. How exactly was he to do that? He wondered if there was a way to shield the blue orb he could form so that it only cast light under the water but remained invisible to those who looked from above. He wished he had his book with him.

He didn't hear about the life in Camelot until Morgana came rowing onto the lake with another woman in tow. They were alone, no guards or knights to protect them. No Arthur either. He looked below to see how the merfolk were taking the women's arrival. Three of them had already scented them.

Thinking quickly Merlin propelled the boat to the other end of the lake with his magic. The women shrieked and held on. At the shore they shakily got out and cast the boat scared looks. Merlin swam over to where the boat was floating out and grabbed the rope, holding it out to them he asked.

"Lose something?" Morgana was still in shock but the girl took the rope off him and dragged the boat more securely into the shallows. "What brings you out here?"

Morgana steadied herself and turned to Merlin "We were hoping you could help us."

Frowning he clarified "Me?"

Morgana nodded "Arthur's been put under some enchantment. A woman named Vivian is staying at the castle."

Merlin nodded starting to see where Morgana was going with this "He really doesn't have much luck with women does he?" Morgana and her friend laughed.

"So will you help us?" Merlin shrugged.

"I don't really know what's wrong yet," The girl was checking the boat out warily as Morgana lifted her skirts and came closer to him.

"One minute Arthur hates her like the rest of us and now he's trying to win her hand in a fight to the death. Gaius says that he's under a spell, like the one Uther was under but less powerful," She explained. Mind control and certain death. This definitely looked familiar.

"So how do you break this spell?" Merlin asked "And how am I supposed to help?"

"Gaius says he needs to see something he loves. And, well, he loves your singing. I thought it would be enough if you came and sang for him." Merlin cringed, he knew he would have to say no to her. "The only other option is to have Gwen kiss him," She pointed behind her where her friend coloured and spluttered in slight protest.

Merlin couldn't help them "I'm sorry," He told her "I wish I could."

She steeled herself "Merlin this is Arthur's life. What could be more important than the life of your prince?"

Thinking quickly he invented "My mother," Morgana frowned so Merlin elaborated on his lie "She's taken ill. I came here for one last swim before I went to see her." The hardness that had encased Morgana's face softened.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Merlin accepted her condolences. She turned to Gwen "It looks like we'll have to go to the other plan after all." Gwen didn't look too upset at that.

Merlin accompanied them across the lake since they didn't trust the boat not to speed off on its own. As Merlin went home that night he felt bad for some reason that he couldn't help Arthur. Despite that he had learnt something that made up for it. Camelot was free of the witchfinder. He was able to go back into the city.

His mother didn't see his cause that way. As soon as he said where he was going she refused to let him out. Three days later and it took great skill and a lot of bravery to finally sneak off from the nursery she was running. Even then he was bitten by a small mermaid as he left.

Through pebbles and rivers he climbed the slopes of Camelot's waters until at nightfall he was in the dark passage that led to the three tunnels. He had to still and put his little blue orb out as he heard footsteps above him. Finally free he journeyed into the small tunnel to the left that led out into the dragons cave.

Racing over to the golden creature he climbed onto the bank and called out for the dragon. Kilgarragh ignored him. Favouring sleep than freedom it took seven attempts before he stirred.

Even then the eyes that regarded him were blurry with sleep "Young Warlock," He yawned "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."

"Of course not. It just took some time for me to get a sword," He held it out for the dragon.

Another yawn and the dragon hummed his approval of the weapon "Hold it still now," Merlin looked warily at the dragon as he took a deep breath and breathed fire onto it. When Kilgarragh was done the sword was bathed in a golden hue. Lighter and balanced perfectly Merlin couldn't believe the difference.

"Right, let's get you out of here," Merlin declared and set off to the back of the dragon. It took some doing, with Merlin not being able to stand up, but finally he had the chain close enough to cut.

One slice was all that needed for the metal to slice perfectly down the middle. Merlin marvelled at the sword and dove back the quick way to the front of the dragon. Merlin had expected gratitude when he eventually freed the dragon. Instead Kilgarragh was curled up in a deep sleep again.

Merlin tried to wake him again to no avail. Taking his spell book instead he tried every one he could make out on the dragon to wake him up. Nothing. Figuring magic was at work since he himself had started to feel drowsy he set off down the tunnel and into the passage where he had met Mordred.

Knowing he needed to find out what was going on he set his voice on the castle. A summoning song that would have anyone awake crawling over to him. Weary though he became he persisted until Morgana and Arthur stood before him in a dreamy state. Not ceasing he turned his voice softer and incorporated his questions into his song.

"Everyone's asleep," Morgana told him gazing nowhere. "We can't wake them up."

"It's an attack on the castle," Arthur continued "Morgause has raised the dead to help her claim Camelot," Merlin was taken aback. Necromancy was a forbidden art even among his own people. He sent them away with the message to do everything they could to undo the spell.

His eyes were drooping as he made his way back into the dragon's lair. Feeling himself falling asleep Merlin drifted to the water bed and closed his eyes.

A wall sized rock woke him. It warred its way into the water with immeasurable strength and had Merlin darting away and to the bank in the blink of an eye. The dragon was gone and a roar deafened the structure of Camelot.

Another piece of the cave broke apart and tried to kill Merlin so he grabbed his little magic book and put it on the furthest step he could reach before trying to find his way out of Camelot.

He made it out of the city walls to see the spires that had glowed pearly white when he first saw them were charred black and smoking. Kilgarragh clawed his way across the castle in his fit of vengeance and though it was Merlin's fault he knew there was nothing to be done. No one could stop a dragon and he wasn't going to risk his lake boiling to try. It was cowardly but Merlin retreated and hid with his mother while Camelot fought for their lives.

Two weeks and Merlin had accepted that Arthur was probably dead. He was lying in the sun on the lake when he smelt a human nearing. Rearing onto his front he watched as a man clambered into a boat he pulled along. Long hair hung in his face as he reached for the oars and started rowing across.

Calling a "Mine," To the others he slunk along the water and listened to the man humming his way across the lake. Reaching the back he gave it a swift tug to stop and went to the side "That's a nice song," He commented.

The man looked round in shock but relaxed as most people did when they saw Merlin "Bit early to be down here isn't it?" the man smiled.

"I could ask you the same," Merlin shot back humming the song himself now.

"I'm on my way to the tavern if you must know," He informed "Don't suppose you care to join me. Swimming does build up an appetite."

"Hmm, true," Merlin agreed. Leaning forward he added "So do other things," the innuendo clear in his voice. All the while he hummed lowly in his throat.

The man was enthralled enough to remain coherent as he leaned forward too "And what might those things be?" He invited.

Merlin softly traced his jaw before settling it on the side of his face. Pulling the man forwards while seeming to lean in he hummed their way closer to the water. Almost over the edge the man's face was captivated by-

"Merlin!" He paused and broke the spell on the man. Strangely he didn't move away when Merlin turned to see a blonde on the shore.

"Damn," He muttered hoping he could get the man to come back again and laid a kiss on him that was eagerly reciprocated. Pulling away Merlin sank into the lake and told the man "You'd best be on your way, the lake's a dangerous place," And swam towards the shore where Arthur was scowling. "I thought you were dead."

"I survived," Arthur growled looking over at the man "Who's your friend?"

Merlin looked back "Don't know," he shrugged. Arthur looked appalled.

"You just kiss anyone that comes past then?" He demanded.

Merlin shrugged again and the boat neared where Merlin was treading. The man winked as he disembarked before he went off jauntily into the forest. Arthur watched him leave with death in his eyes.

"So how was the dragon?" He retrieved Arthur's wandering attention.

The blonde had a haunted look come over him "I had to fetch a dragonlord in the end. Father was..." Arthur sighed and sat on the bank "He's facing a tough decision. With the dragon gone the dragonlord has saved us all. But he has magic which goes against everything my father believes in. If he lets the dragonlord live then it's breaking his oath to the people but if he doesn't..." Uther was in quite a predicament.

"What do you think should happen?" Merlin asked. For some reason it was interesting to hear what Arthur thought about all of this.

The blonde looked thoughtful "I think father should let him live. Exile him but not kill him. Let him live a normal life elsewhere," Merlin was surprised. With all the bad things he had heard from the dragon he figured that Arthur was just as bad as Uther when it came to magic.

"That's very wise of you. Not to mention generous, from what you say it seems like he deserves his freedom," Arthur sighed heavily and nodded.

He got up and into the little boat that the man had abandoned. Rowing out a little he braced his arms on the side and beckoned Merlin closer. "It's easier to speak with you nearer," Arthur told him so Merlin pulled himself up to the side. "I could have sworn I heard you in the castle when Morgause was attacking," he muttered.

Merlin arched an eyebrow. Usually when he used his singing for purposes like that people had no memory afterwards. "Really?"

Arthur nodded "Where exactly do you live? I've just realised I've never asked you."

"Around," Merlin smirked when Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Do you live in Camelot?" Arthur tried. Merlin's smirk grew as Arthur grew more annoyed with the lack of answers "Fine, be mysterious."

"I intend to," Merlin teased.

"I have a favour to ask you," He told Merlin suddenly. Attentive he nodded and made a motion for Arthur to continue "When Camelot was attacked Morgause took Morgana. We haven't seen her since. Father's had search patrols out but still he can't find anything. I was wondering, if you hear or see anything concerning her will you tell me?"

Merlin said he would wondering vaguely what happened after he went to sleep. Arthur left shortly after asking his favour. He had apparently stole off from his patrol group to come see Merlin and was eager to return before they noticed he was missing.

He didn't see Morgana in the three days it took Arthur to come back to the lake. Merlin had been making rope out of the reeds in his hiding spot when he saw the familiar golden head of Arthur come to the water. He wasn't alone, an array of knights were behind him as well as a man on a horse. Dismounting, the man signalled and the knights brought forward a man in-between them.

Merlin couldn't make out any features from where he was hiding so he sunk deeper and started swimming over slowly. The man was wearing fine clothes and was neatly trimmed. Still there was something weather hardened about his looks that suggested a hard life. The man from the horse thrust something into the prisoner's hands and bade his knights to move back.

The thing that the prisoner was holding turned out to be a lute. One which was cracked and had little use left in it. The man seemed to know this yet still he strummed a few notes. Feelings sorry for him Merlin dived quickly back to his home and stole a lyre from his mother. She tried to get it back but didn't dare follow Merlin when he broke the surface.

He swam cautiously over to the bank and threw the lute at the prisoner. It hit his arm, startled he dropped his lute and looked over the lake. Merlin went back underwater to face his mother's wrath.

"He needed it," Merlin defended immediately.

His mother was scowling and Merlin knew he was in trouble for sure now. She was about to tell him his punishment when the prisoner started singing with the lyre Merlin gave him. Cringing at the tune and tone of the man he barely noticed when his punishment didn't come. His mother had gone still and like in a trance herself she peeked above the water.

Back down, immediately, she ordered Merlin home and swam off. Curious he disobeyed her and went back to his hiding place at the other end of the lake. He could just make out the prisoner and the knights behind him. His mother was also in view, tail lashing at the water, she was edging closer to the prisoner on the bank.

The singing stopped when he saw her and Merlin had a frightening thought that they had come to hunt the merfolk. A look behind at Arthur and the horse man had the knights backing off and the prisoner walking forward to greet his mother. He hissed under his breath when the man got too close and even more so when he knelt in the water to reach her. His mother didn't seem to mind all that much. In fact she was leaning into him. They were speaking lowly and the man kept touching his mother's face. Until he wasn't, instead he was following Hunith's arm towards where Merlin was hiding.

Merlin felt the eyes from across the lake, he was no longer hidden by reeds and plants from this man. Somehow the man could see him and Merlin could feel the tension roll through the man. His mother brought his attention back with some kindly words and there they talked until the man from the horse came forward.

The knights led the prisoner out of the water and back on dry land. His mother dived quickly beneath the water as the man got back on his horse. They were leading the prisoner back into the fold of guards when Merlin felt his eyes on him again.

"Look after her," A voice warned. He knew it was the man speaking "And in three days time call Kilgarragh. He'll tell you everything."

Confused, Merlin dived down to meet his mother back in their home. "Mother?" He called.

She was sitting with the lyre he was playing floating in front. "Merlin don't wander off today," She told him. It was more of a request but he took it as a command and stayed with her.

The man was called Balinor, his father. The king had decided it was much too dangerous to keep him alive and sentenced him to death. There was no magic that Balinor knew which could save him this time. Too long on the run had left him tired of living. So he accepted his fate with a disposed nature and begged for his last request to visit Hunith in the lake. Uther had said yes only when Balinor had promised that the mermaids wouldn't try and harm them.

He felt cold when she had finished telling him this. For the next couple of weeks he stayed with his mother under the lake. Teaching the young ones about music and seduction instead of lazing about with the others. He didn't think he would have liked to have been left alone those weeks and was glad when his mother didn't call him out on his hanging about.

He didn't end up calling the dragon until the second week after his father had left forever. Choosing the spot near the other shore he yelled for Kilgarragh up to the sky and then he wasn't. Instead he was still calling but not how he would. The language was foreign yet familiar to him. Like something he knew off by heart but needed a key to unlock it before he could take that first step.

The dragon landed gracefully with his wings curled up and bowing low. "I was wondering when you might call on me."

"Balinor told me to," He said not knowing how this meeting was supposed to go.

The dragon just nodded "Rightly so too. It's a pity that he had to suffer at the hands of Uther. If there was one thing that I regret it is that," He seemed sorry too. Merlin knew he couldn't hold the death of someone he barely knew to this creature. The hurt he had suffered justified at least some of what he had done. "I suppose you know of your lineage. Balinor said he would enlighten you when he saw you," The dragon went on.

"He knew about me?" Merlin had thought he was ignorant of Merlin's existence until his mother told him.

"I told him," The dragon confessed "It seemed vital that I did before he bade me to go." Merlin felt slightly better having been told this. It probably would have made him start questioning where the man had been all these years if he did know about Merlin. "I had thought he would get here before Uther lay his hands on him. Alas," The dragon looked out to the lake in misery. Turning back to Merlin he went on to explain about the line of the dragonlord. How Merlin had the tongue, the only one left in their country, to speak to the dragons. "Use your powers wisely young Warlock," He warned and took flight.

He wondered about his powers for a long while after that. It seemed odd that someone like him should be granted all these magnificent gifts and not have an underlying use for them. He thought often of the magic book back in Camelot. Wondering whether it had survived the attack and if he could go and get it safely. Something told him that the way he went in last time was sealed up. The damage the dragon did to the cave was too disastrous to attempt getting in.

Five months passed at the lake. Arthur hadn't came since he led his father to his goodbyes and Merlin actually breathed easier when he realised Arthur wasn't coming that month. It meant he could laze on the shore with the other mermaids, dipping their tails in the shallows and gossiping about the latest hairstyle. This month it was plaited and curled. Merlin was forced to endure a tutorial taking him through every twist and pull of the girls hair since he refused to give in and dive back into the deep.

One of the girls had asked Merlin to give it a try since he was just lazing there when they all smelt it. Humans, two of them, and near by. Sniffing the air they worked out the sweet smell of perfume and oils meaning they were women.

Dragging themselves back into the lake they sank down until they saw a blonde burst from the bushes. Hair long and flowing she was brandishing a sword and towing a girl on her back. They were on the opposite end that Arthur usually visited so it took Merlin some time to realise the woman on the blonde's back was Morgana. She looked intact but asleep and Merlin turned to the others and told them to wait below. It looked like they weren't getting on the lake any time soon since the blonde had started a fire and set Morgana down.

Merlin checked on them in the coming hours from afar. Only when night had really fallen did he start getting closer to them. Morgana was awake when the moon shone directly on the lake. She didn't look like she was being kept prisoner. In fact, Merlin dared a little closer, she was welcoming the blonde's attempts at friendship.

The woman could only be Morgause. Arthur had said she had took Morgana and there was no one else that sprung to mind as to who it could be.

When Morgause finally lay down to sleep Merlin waited an hour before calling Morgana quietly over. She looked surprised but not unfriendly as she noticed who was calling her from the lake. One glance around and she was picking up her skirt to come closer to him.

"It's a bit late for a swim isn't it?" was her opening line. People were searching for her, Arthur was searching, and she was talking to him like nothing was wrong.

"I like the dark," He decided to play this carefully. Edging slightly closer he shot his winning smile towards her "Interesting things always happen after dark."

"Do they now?" Curiosity piqued she was lowering her guard.

Nodding "Oh yes. It obscures truth and blurs lines that would never be crossed during light. Tell me, what line are you crossing tonight Morgana?"

She looked hesitantly back at Morgause, guessing what Merlin was asking "It's not what you think. She's a friend and she's helping me."

Playing innocent he looked over at the sleeping woman "What? Oh her. No, I meant why have you come to the lake."

"Isn't it obvious, we've come to cross," So Morgause was keeping her into Camelot's territory. What was her plan?

"Are you sure that's all," He batted his eyelashes "You didn't come to see me then?"

She laughed, the sound ringing out over the lake. Merlin saw Morgause sit up and look towards where Morgana was standing. Merlin sank out of sight as she splashed in the water and hauled Morgana from it's silky clutches.

"Come away sister! The lake is home to dangerous creatures. You could have been killed," The reprimand was loud in the silence of the lake.

"I'm alright Morgause. I wouldn't have been hurt," much, Merlin thought thinking towards the ambush waiting deep in the water.

"How naive you are..." the rest of the lecture was drowned out as they retreated further onto land.

It turned out that they weren't venturing out onto the lake. Him and the other mermaids watched as they skirted around the lake to the other side on the land. It took longer, a whole day longer, yet still they didn't venture or dip a toe into the merfolk's waters.

Merlin swam anxiously for days after they left. Finally he had something to report to Arthur. Three months afterwards with still no sign, Merlin decided that Arthur had lost his status as acquaintance and was once again a future victim.

A call out of "Merlin!" a week later had Merlin glaring at the surface of the water. He was going to make Arthur wait, just like he had Merlin. "I know you're here! Where else would yo be," Arthur told the lake.

Still Merlin didn't move. He listened as the prince paced restlessly on the shore before taking up the boat and rowing onto the lake itself. Only when he saw one of his comrades race up towards the boat did he reveal himself.

Glaring at him Merlin greeted Arthur and told him "Morgana came here three months ago with a blonde woman."

Arthur frowned, shook his head and waved away Merlin's report "That's alright, she's back at Camelot now. We found her wandering the woods. She's been home for ages."

Merlin whacked the boat with his tail making Arthur jump. Three months Merlin has had to carry this useless information around. The anger must have shown on his face since Arthur looked a little guilty next time he met Merlin's eyes. "How's Camelot?" Merlin near growled, changing the subject was bound to make him more pleasurable to talk to.

"Busy," It was Arthur's turn to scowl. He didn't elaborate further and went on to talk about the rebuilding of the castle and the punishment of Balinor. "I told Father my views. He said they showed weakness and had him killed despite what he did for us. I hope that dragon doesn't come back," He mentioned staring worriedly into the air. He told of Morgana's rehabilitation into Camelot's life and even talked about his training with the knights. It was odd hearing about the way humans fought. "That man you kissed on the lake, his name's Gwaine. Thought you might like to know that," Arthur informed watching Merlin carefully.

"Alright," He shrugged vaguely remembering his escaped meal.

"He's been banished," Arthur went on, still watching Merlin "He also spends way too much of his time in the tavern."

Again Merlin shrugged and wondered what Arthur wanted out of him. "Is that my sword?" Merlin hauled himself further onto the boat to see that, yes, it was his sword.

Arthur cut off from what he was saying about Gwaine having no sense of personal boundaries to look at what Merlin was reaching for. "I found it under the castle," Arthur told him a suspicious look crossing his face "Yours is it?"

"If you let me look at it I'll tell you," Merlin reached for the sword which Arthur handed over.

"I found it in the cave where the dragon lived. It had been used to cut the bonds that bound it," Arthur was watching him turn over the sword with it's golden glint. Definitely his "There was also a book of magic next to it," Merlin realised his mistake. "Odd now that I think about it. I heard you in the castle and the next thing that happens is the dragon is loose. You wouldn't have had anything to do with it would you Merlin?"

The look Arthur gave him promised no forgiveness "It's not my sword," He eventually concluded and handed the weapon back "Mine had engravings on it. Different to this one," He lied. Arthur took it back with narrowed eyes. Changing the subject again Merlin latched onto Arthur's arrival at the lake "What did you want to talk about then?"

"What makes you think I wanted to talk about something?" He still wasn't letting up his glare.

"Aside from the fact you called for me, you haven't been to the lake in ten months. Why now?" There was a reason, Merlin judged since Arthur cast his eyes low and rubbed his neck awkwardly.

There was silence for a while as Arthur battled with his line of questioning further into the dragon's escape or telling Merlin about his problem. He settled it by telling Merlin that "My father's having me marry."

"Again?" he wondered how this one would try and kill him.

Arthur scoffed "I had that coming," He leaned on the boat looking down "She's a princess who would give Camelot not only a future Queen but a relationship with a neighbouring kingdom."

"But?"

Arthur looked up "I just thought that I would eventually marry for love. Somewhere I imagined that I would find the ideal woman who I would love unconditionally and have my father approve of as well. For this to be thrust upon me with little choice in the matter it seems..."

"What's she like?" Merlin tried. Surely marrying a princess couldn't be that bad. Then again Morgana had mentioned Vivian being a nightmare and she too was a princess.

Arthur barked a laugh "Clumsy. Everything she touches she breaks. She's unkempt and very unladylike. She made Morgana blush," Arthur insisted like this was a major achievement. "The only thing we have in common is riding."

"Can you imagine a future with her?" Arthur made a face.

"I can but I'm not happy in it," He confessed and leaned back on the boat. "Father's insisting that I try and I have. I will but I know that no matter what I do our future can't change from the course it's already in."

"Can't you tell your father that?" Even as he said it he remembered the man on the horse. That must have been Uther. He was the one that had sentenced an innocent man to die. Who killed hundreds of people for his own goals, not caring what others thought of him. There was no reason why his blood should be treated any differently.

"I have. He says marriage is more a treaty than about love. He doesn't care about my happiness despite the fact he married my mother for the same reasons he's damning me," The bitterness was strong in Arthur's voice as he spoke about his father now.

"I'm sure you'll grow to love her," Merlin comforted. Arthur just looked sullen at the news.

"That's what everyone else says," He sighed "Thing is I don't want to learn to love her. I want to already love her. I want to see her and feel... you know?" Merlin shrugged. He'd never really thought about what love was like. Arthur could see that his meaning wasn't getting through and sank, deflated onto the wood of the boat "Don't suppose you're in a singing mood are you? I could use a good song," Merlin rolled his eyes at the pathetic tone Arthur had taken but gave in nevertheless.

He watched as Arthur's eyes shut and his body relaxed into the melody. Lines that had grew out of worry were softening back into his youthful face and Merlin couldn't help but revel in the power he had over him right now. It happened every time he used his singing on others, the idea that he could do what he liked to them was empowering.

With one roll of the boat he could have Arthur down at the bottom of the lake and the man would go to his doom none the wiser. All he would know was that he had an urge to follow Merlin anywhere. He shifted his tone into a jaunty song he'd heard some people sing across the lake. A smile lifted Arthur's mouth so Merlin guessed he knew the tune.

Ending on a high note he teased "This is where you applause and say how great I am."

Arthur smirked, opening his eyes he shot back "I don't clap for commoners."

Merlin pretended to be hurt. Rolling his eyes he lifted himself back onto the boat again and asked "So what do you do for exceptionally talented commoners like myself if not applause. For that's what I am and you didn't even deny it."

"True," Arthur mused "Well, I suppose I could..." The rest of the sentence was gone as Arthur leaned in and led him in a kiss.