I am so sorry! This took me so much longer than expected! After the first chapter, my inspriation just vanished and I left it so long! I will warn you now, since I'm going to college soon, I will have a hellova lot to do, so updates on this will be pretty infrequent :( I'm so sorry, but I promise you this; I will finish it...just slowly
Disclaimer: dont own Merlin, but my story :P
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Night was always a pleasure to the elderly dragon. He relished in the feeling of wind under his wings as he flew freely around the landscape, the darkness shrouding him from sight. Of course, it didn't really matter if he was spotted now days anyway. Merlin had informed him of his reveal and in doing that, informed the king of Kilgharrah living at large. If he were spotted by man, nought would be done against him.
The voice of the dragon tongue echoed though his mind. Kilgharrah smiled. The young warlock wishes to speak with him.
Unable to resist kin, he took off to the east, to his usual meeting spot with the warlock, though, there wasn't a smile on the beasts lips. No, it wont just be a family gathering. Not at a time like this.
War's muggy stench was not far off in the future. Kilgharrah sensed it and he was sure even man did too. He always knew the war would come. It was written in destiny's tapestry from the dawn of time, so really he was not too aghast, but took no pleasure in the knowledge of war. It was a pointless, bloody loss of life.
As he grew closer, he sensed that Merlin was not alone. No...there were others too.
Arthur and the knights.
Unable to stop the sly grin sliding onto his face, Kilgharrah swooped down to the clearing with a little more force than necessary, expanding his wings to their full length. He didn't want to intimidate them, no, not at all! ...Well, maybe just a little. He didn't want them trying anything that would hinder one of his rare meetings with the warlock. He would never admit it, but he enjoyed Merlin's company.
He them bellowed a loud roar, just for good measure.
As Kilgharrah landed, Merlin raised an eyebrow in amusement, but said nothing. He smiled in welcome to the beast.
"Its been far too long Merlin," Kilgharrah greeted. Merlin's smile grew wider. Kilgharrah looked over to the knights who seemed to be pressed together in a tight cluster. Maybe the roar was a bit much... "I see you are not alone."
Merlin tilted his head to the side, suddenly looking worried. "You don't mind do you? I wouldn't have brought them, but the matter at hand-"
"The matter at hand is not a pleasant one." Kilgharrah finished. "The times are grave, and this is not a family reunion. I understand Merlin. It's war."
The knights were stunned. The dragon was talking. Actually talking. And what more, it seemed more capable of holding up a civilised conversation than Gwaine! Speaking of the devil, Gwaine took a bold step forward, "You know of the war?"
The dragon chuckled. "Sir Gwaine, I most probably know more of the war than you do."
Slightly put out by the beast knowing his name, the knight frowned. Before he could say anything, Arthur interrupted. "What do you mean by that? You know more?"
"The War of Albion has been destined since the birth of time itself, as it was you becoming king, Merlin containing the gift of magic and your paths crossing. I know you blame yourself for the impending blood shed Arthur, but you must not fret. It was just meant to be."
No one was particularly surprised at the revelation of Arthur blaming himself. Ever since he became king, he took responsibility for nearly all faults in the kingdom. The rest he blamed on Merlin.
"We want to know if we can trust on you to support us." Merlin spoke out, making eye contact with the dragon.
"I have always supported you young war-"
"You know that's not what I meant," Merlin interrupted frowning slightly, "We want to know if you will fight with us."
There was an eerie pause in the clearing. The knights were half shocked at Merlin's slight lashing out at the dragon. It seemed like a death wish form where they were standing. Was Merlin trying to anger the beast?
The tense atmosphere was broken by a large, tried sigh. Kilgharrah looked down at Merlin, debating. "Merlin, you put me in a difficult position. Aithusa has changed loyalty..."
Merlin suspected that fact for sometime, as he never saw the white dragon around Kilgharrah, but to have his suspicions confirmed was like a punch in the stomach. Aithusa...the dragon he hatched, he named, the little blue eyed beast...betrayed him? Is that even allowed? For a dragon to turn on the dragonlord was unheard of.
Merlin was aware of the knight looking at his heartbroken expression curiously. He didn't want to tell them that he hatched the egg that they tried so hard to destroy. Not only did he create this war, he's supplying the opposing side with fire-power! He felt sick. He felt cursed. Tried as he might, he would always do wrong and put loved ones worse off than when they started. If they knew, they would hate him. He was a traitor.
That thought reminded him of the matter at hand. Aithusa.
"No...that can't be possible...right?" There was a horrible lump in his chest making it difficult to talk. Betrayal was always hard to swallow.
"Aithusa is a free dragon. She can do as she wishes. She fights for the side she wants to."
"A dragon against a dragonlord?" Leon asked, voicing all of the knights thoughts, "Surely she is forbidden to do so."
"I haven't seen or sensed her in a long time. Her reasons for doing so are unknown. But you see why I am reluctant to fight. She and I are the last of our kind. I don't want to face kin Merlin."
At this Merlin snapped.
"And you think I do? You expect me to go up to the dragon I named and kill it? I view that dragon as my own and now I don't just have to put up with her betrayal, I have to hurt her too? No. I refuse to raise a hand against her. Even if she tries to kill me. I will open my arms and welcome it!"
Merlin's outburst was followed by crippling silence. Even the night itself seemed too stunned to create the rustle of leaves or the sound of insects. Kilgharrah was deliberating. To kill kin was monstrous. But Merlin was also kin. A close friend. Almost like a student to him. Merlin surprised everyone by speaking again, this time softer, understanding.
"I'm not asking you to kill her. I will speak to her in dragon tongue when I see her, but if she doesn't listen, I just want you to hold her off, distract her, not kill her. Please."
Kilgharrah and Merlin locked eyes for a minute. The knights stood silently at the edge of the clearing. Their feet had been rooted to the spot. They did not want to interrupt the moment of silent communication between dragon and dragonlord. They had managed to put the pieces together form the exchange they had just heard. Merlin hatched the egg that they had tried to destroy all those years ago. He saw that dragon as his child. He had, after all, named her. They couldn't be angry with him. Instead, they felt pity. Merlin has been betrayed by kin. That is going to be a wound that will sting for a long time to come.
Kilgharrah sighed. "How many men do you have?" He directed the question at the king.
Arthur blinked. "About twenty-five thousand."
"And how many of them are sorcerers?"
this time Merlin answered, "I'd say five thousand."
Kilgharrah looked back at the warlock. "You trained them yourself?"
Merlin's lips twitched, "Yes."
Kilgharrah paused, "Then you may have a chance. I will be at your side young warlock, but I wont battle kin unless necessary."
The knights cheered and thanked the beast profoundly while Merlin just smiled.
"Oh this is wonderful!"
"Those moody, pale faced windbags wont know what hit 'em!"
"How can we lose now?"
The dragon's eyes trained on the king. He inwardly frowned and looked to Merlin.
"I wish to have a word in private young warlock."
Merlin looked to the others and nodded. "I'll meet you back at the castle." He smiled.
As the knights made their way out of the clearing, Arthur gave the beast a pointed look. He knew it was pointless and a little stupid, he knew the beast wasn't going to upset Merlin, but he did it anyway. He was curious to what they would discuss, but just decided that he would ambush Merlin when he got back. He would make him tell him. With a smirk, he left.
The dragon waited until his acute sense of hearing determined the knights were far away enough not to hear until he spoke.
"Arthur doesn't know." He stated simply.
Merlin knew what he meant. He grimaced and shook his head. "It wouldn't help right now. Besides, there is a chance he wont die. He can still kill Mordred...Right?" He looked at the dragon desperately.
Kilgharrah looked down at the man in front of him. Even thought he called him a young warlock, it wasn't the case. The years have aged him slightly. Still lanky, though maybe a little bit more muscular than his teenage years. His once smooth face now had dark stubble dusted along the lower half. Wrinkles were just beginning to develop from smiling and frowning. His hair was longer but still black as night. No, this was a man standing in front of him. Not a boy. He would tell him straight.
"There are two destiny's intertwined. Someone has to die in this war Merlin. Either Arthur or Mordred. The two people create two paths. Depending on the outcome of the battle, a path will be chosen. When it is chosen there is no turning back. Destiny will alter for the better or for the worse."
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since I have no army training or army knowledge, I'm not too sure how many men to have :S
please review! it gives me so much confidence :)
dante the badger
