Chapter 2

Arthur, Gwen, their respective families, Leon, and Merlin had ordered pizza following the move. "So Gwen, what are you studying in college?" Ygraine asked.

"I'm pre-med, actually. I have one year left."

"Why, that's wonderful. Where do you want to go for med school?"

"I'd like to go to Cornell, actually. My aunt went there. She's a neurosurgeon."

"Annie, you're brilliant," Elyan said, using Gwen's current name out of habit. "You'll get there."

She smiled. "Thank you."

It was hard to believe, Gwen thought, that they were all together doing something relatively normal. Gwen's parents and Arthur's parents had not really known each other in the Camelot days, and there was a reason why Gwen had specifically requested Merlin not to cast the memory spell on her parents. One of his blacksmithing clients back in the day had been a sorcerer, unbeknownst to Gwen's father at the time. However, Uther had found out and arrested Tom for treason. Morgana had given him the key to escape from the prison cell, but the guards had killed him. So while Uther had technically not killed Gwen's father, there was bound to be bad blood between them if he remembered.

Her mother had died young in the Camelot years. She'd been a midwife and had contracted an illness from one of her patients, and that illness had led to what would now be called a bacterial infection. In those days, magic was the only thing that would cure it. Since magic had been outlawed, being severely ill for many people was essentially a death sentence. Now, of course, there was a treatment for it. Gwen was thankful that her parents were back.

An egg surrounded by lava sat precariously inside a volcano on a shelf of black rock. A crack appeared in the egg, followed by another crack. There was a moment of stillness except for the rumbles from the volcano. Then the egg exploded into fire and light. Golden wings spread out as the creature inside the egg stood on the rock. It looked around. As a plume of fire burst forth from the volcano, the phoenix hatchling rose into the ashen sky.

In Russia, a woman who appeared no older than 25 with long black hair and green eyes smiled as the ruby amulet around her neck glowed. She wore a black dress. She'd had that amulet for nearly two thousand years, and it had never failed. It alerted her, you see, whenever a phoenix was born. She was ancient, true, but she was hardly as ugly as the stories foretold. She could change her appearance at will, but she was a dragon. Her power was legendary.

She picked up a cell phone from her pocket and dialed the London number.

"Yes?" answered the man with a Japanese accent.

"It's time," she replied.

"Good," he replied.

Meanwhile, Kilgharrah was serving drinks to tourists when his cell phone beeped. He placed the drinks on the table, nodded pleasantly, and then headed to his office, where he answered the cell phone.

"It has happened," said a female voice on the other line. There was no need for explanation. Both knew what "it" was.

"I understand," said Kilgharrah. "I will tell him."

"Good. Be sure he understands the importance of this event and does not underestimate it."

"Yes," said Kilgharrah, and hung up the phone. Then he immediately dialed Merlin.

"Hello?" came the voice. In the background, the dragon could hear Arthur and Gwen chatting away.

"Ah, Merlin. There has been, shall we say, an event."

Merlin paused. The dragon could almost hear him thinking. "What sort of an event?"

"The sort that ordinary folks should not find out about on the telly," replied the dragon.

"Ah. We should not speak further on the phone," said Merlin.

"Agreed. Come here as soon as you can."

"I will," replied Merlin. He hung up the phone and glanced around at his friends, who were still eating pizza. "Sorry, everyone, but I have to go back home."

"Why the rush?" Gwen asked.

"Tricky situation, I think. Can't give out details right now. I'll be back, but I have to go to the Dragon's Roost."

Gwen nodded. "Be careful."

"As always," Merlin said, and then he vanished in a flash of green light.

The warlock appeared outside the Dragon's Roost. Tourists gaped at him. A few brought their phones up to take pictures, but Merlin shook his head and went inside. The place was packed, as was becoming the norm. Tourists from all around the world came here simply because this was Merlin's town, the current home of magic, or so the news media claimed. But the news media was wrong. Magic didn't exist in one location, it was everywhere. People just failed to see it because they didn't recognize it for what it was.

Merlin cast an "ignore me" spell and slowly worked his way through the crowd of visitors until he got to Kilgharrah's office.

"Come in," said the familiar voice on the inside.

Kilgharrah looked quite ordinary as a human. He had long gray hair, a mustache, and green eyes. He favored the colors green and brown in his clothing. Few knew that he was a dragon masquerading in human form.

"Hello, Merlin," said the dragon.

The warlock nodded and sat down. "Hello, Kilgharrah. What is it?"

"You are aware of the existence of other magical creatures, yes?"

"Yes. But what..."

"A phoenix has hatched," the dragon explained. "This is not a common occurrence. I have information that leads me to believe this will be used not for good, but for ill purposes."

Merlin gaped. "A phoenix."

"Yes," Kilgharrah replied. "You would think this bodes well, but it does not. There are those who wish to harness the magical power of the phoenix for evil."

"Who?"

"Others of my kind," the dragon responded. "There are those who do not agree with the draconic council."'

Merlin blinked. "Of course there must be politics with dragons, as there are with humans..."

"I am not speaking of mere politics, Merlin. I am speaking of those who wish to do the rest of my race harm. They are foolish and do not recognize the need to hide from humans."

"Oh?"

"You do realize that we must hide from humans. They do not know yet that there are those who can control us, but that could be revealed at some point. There are two children with the ability to control dragons, Merlin. Children who could be abducted and tortured and used in some scheme. I will not see that happen. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Do what you can to ensure the phoenix does not fall into the wrong hands. For if it does, then I fear that Earth is doomed."

"I will," said Merlin. "I swear."

Kilgharrah nodded. "Good."