Home is where the heart is
Chap 3
When Arthur and Gwen arrived at Gaius' chambers they were met with a touching sight. Balinor was gently rubbing circles on Merlin's comatose hand as though trying to wake him up. Arthur was starting too get very suspicious about the relationship between the two. Gwen was a little less suspicious as she had only momentarily met Balinor but still had her doubts about his closeness with Merlin. Arthur walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about him Balinor; he's gotten through worse than this." He consoled. Balinor didn't even appear to acknowledge that he had heard Arthur. So he continued "But...well we wanted to speak to you privately." Balinor slowly turned to him. So did Gwen, she didn't really know what he wanted. Balinor bowed his head.
"Your going to take me to your father so he can sentence me to whatever he sees fit." Arthur paused then gasped.
"No!" he cried. Balinor had helped them he wasn't about to let him die that easily. "We just want to talk about something else." Balinor looked at him confused. "It's about your relationship with Merlin." Balinor gave a silent sigh then stood up.
"Where do you see private?" he asked still trying to get used to being in the castle. Arthur paused.
"Well I would have said my chambers except, my father would be convinced that you were trying to get to you. Well that and there will be guards and knights all the way along that corridor." Then Gwen piped up.
"What about my home, it's in the lower town and not the first place Uther is likely to look." Arthur nodded his confirmation and led Balinor away. Balinor caught a quick glance at Merlin not wanting to leave him alone. Gaius then reappeared from Merlin's room.
"I will take care of him for you, he'll be fine." Balinor nodded his thanks.
"Thank you Gaius." Again this puzzled Arthur and Gwen, wondering why he was so protective of Merlin and that they barely knew each other.
MERLIN BALINOR MERLIN BALINOR MERLIN BALINOR MERLIN BALINOR
Later in Gwen's home Arthur and Gwen sat down facing Balinor in one of the few seats in the small cottage. Arthur Began.
"Now Balinor you get the overall reason as to why we need to talk to you. Right?" he asked. Balinor nodded slightly but Arthur and Gwen could see some hesitance in his answer.
"You want to ask about the closeness between me and Merlin, right?" he confirmed Arthur nodded. Balinor sighed; he knew it would come out eventually. "Please." He begged "If I tell you this I'm asking you to swear it will not repeat this to anyone, especially anyone." Arthur and Gwen both nodded but Gwen had a little hesitance in her answer also, as she did not want to risk execution another time. Arthur spoke up.
"What, will it get Merlin in trouble?" Balinor nodded.
"But not just Merlin, both his Mother and possibly Gaius will be at risk if Uther knew." Arthur gasped.
"How do you know Hunith?" he asked, curious as to whether this had anything to do with their problem. Balinor sighed and began from the beginning.
"You see before the great purge I was a free man, able to roam free in either Camelot's or Cendred's borders without fear for my life. I came across a village in Cendred's kingdom once. The name of the village. Ealdor. And I met a woman there. This was when I met Hunith.
(FLASHBACK) (PRESENT SPEAKING) (Present thinking)
Balinor searched the quiet village looking for somewhere to rest his head. He came across a group of women, planting seeds in the fields. Balinor realised that these women were preparing for winter and it would be rude to intrude into their lives when they were at risk.
"Are you alright." He heard a woman's voice behind him. He turned round and was greeted with the most beautiful blue eyes and pale face he'd ever seen. And her voice was so beautiful. She continued to speak. "Are you new here, I don't think I've seen you around the village before." She observed. Balinor bowed his head sheepishly. Silently cursing himself for blushing at the woman speaking again.
"Err...yes... I mean no... I'm... I'm a traveller; I'm just passing through the villages." He stuttered as he spoke. The woman giggled and held her hand out.
"I'm Hunith, just in case you were wondering." She said with a smile. Balinor took the hand and graciously kissed it gently.
"Balinor." He replied. Now Hunith blushed as his affection. "You don't suppose there is anywhere I can stay around here, I was planning on going onto Camelot in a few days but I haven't rested in a good while." Hunith smiled and took his hand.
"There's plenty of room at my home, I normally have room for those who have lost their homes over the bad season." Balinor quickly shook his head.
"Oh no I couldn't intrude, especially with the winter coming; I couldn't bear it if you died over the starvation period." He begged but Hunith just laughed.
"I live alone so the starvation period doesn't often affect me and it's also nice to now that you have so little faith in my survival skills." She giggled, as did Balinor. She grabbed his hand once more and let him too the little cottage that was her home. Balinor had only one thought in his head. "I think I'm in love."
"Wait hold on a second!" Arthur gasped. "Are you telling us you were in love with Merlin's mother?" Balinor stifled a laugh at the look at the faces of the two. Gwen two was in shock.
"But how come Merlin's never mentioned you, and neither did Hunith when we went to Ealdor?" Gwen asked. Balinor bowed his head.
"This is where it starts to change." He said with sorrow
Balinor didn't stay for just a few days he happened to stay for a whole week. He told Hunith about him being a dragon lord and how he has travelled so many worlds. And Hunith described her life in the village. It wasn't much conversation but it was enough to entertain them both. Then the time came for Balinor to leave. He knew that he couldn't stay In Ealdor when there was so much out there. But he felt like he couldn't part with Hunith. But she calmed them both. She would come and visit often as her brother worked as a physician there on the condition that when he finds the time that he comes and visits. He agreed and they parted but not before sharing a kiss. They could hear a few comments in the background from the other villagers but ignored them. Then Balinor left for Camelot.
Upon his arrival he was greeted by the guards and he saw King Uther and Queen Igraine stood on the balcony. He could see a bump forming on the queen stomach and assumed she must be with Child. His first stop was to seek out Hunith's brother Gaius. He was quickly directed to the court physicians chambers were he quickly acquainted himself with him. And got used to his quick fiery temper.
"So how long do you intend to stay in Camelot then?" Gaius' voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Oh maybe about 2 or 3 months. It's one of the few places I haven't been forced to use my powers for another person's gain. How wrong he was. Throughout this time, Hunith continued to visit, in which Gaius left them for a moment each time she arrived, which in time Gaius also got to spend time with his little sister. By the end of the 2 or 3months Balinor packed his things. Hunith and Gaius watched on in sadness.
"You will return to us won't you Balinor?" Hunith asked with sadness in her voice. Balinor walked over to her and gathered her in his arms.
"I'll do everything possible, but being a traveller I am so used to travelling the other roads, not normally staying in one place." He felt her nod into his chest. He watched Gaius from the distance as he slowly released Hunith. "It has been a pleasure to be with you my friend" he thanked. Gaius nodded his head in welcome. Balinor then left.
A month passed and Prince Arthur was born to King Uther and Queen Igraine. However there was a price for the successful birth and it was the life of the lovely Queen. The king's grief overtook him and he severely blamed magic instantly. He burned and murdered anyone with even a hint of magic. Fortunately for Hunith, Gaius was gratefully spared because of his closeness to the King. Unfortunately he was seen as a traitor in the eyes of all those who had loved one's burned. This carried on for many years. 3 years after the death of Igraine, Uther called for all the dragon lords and the dragons. One by one he wiped them out, forcing the lords to call for their dragons and then force them to be killed, where the Dragon lord were later executed. Gaius feared each time a dragon lord was brought in, constantly worrying if Balinor would be found. Every so often he would receive a letter of Hunith; she too was questioning his whereabouts. Finally, Uther corned all the dragon lords and dragons. Leaving Balinor and his dragon, Kilgarrah, left. Gaius watched as he was brought to his knees in front of the king.
"I wish for you to call forth your dragon into Camelot, as I wish to receive information that the dragon may know." The king lied. He had used this on all the dragonlords and it had worked. Unfortunately, Balinor also had no idea what Uther's real intentions were, as he just assumed it was just magic he was after. He called Kilgarrah to him and commanded that he follow Uther's instructions. Which the dragon did. However instead of leading him to an area where he would be killed, Uther led the dragon into an underground cavern, claiming it a private place to talk. While the dragon was distracted. Guards and knights attached a heavy lead chain onto its leg. When the dragon finally realised he was a prisoner, Uther had already left. And during this time, Uther's men had apprehended Balinor and placed him in the dungeons. Balinor sat there cold and alone.
"So how did you escape, the dungeons can only be opened from the outside, believe me I've tried several times to escape from the inside." Arthur commented. Balinor bowed his head.
"This is another reason why No one can know, especially this part, as Gaius' life will be at risk." Arthur and Gwen looked at each other slowly realising what Balinor meant.
"Balinor." A voice whispered in the darkness. Balinor looked up and saw Gaius standing at the cell bars. He walked over to him sadly. "Balinor I'm so sorry at all that has happened." Gaius apologised, but Balinor held his hand up.
"It's alright my friend." Balinor said sadly "I should have known being a dragonlord would cease to be everything people always wanted." Gaius shook his head sadly.
"Balinor." He got his attention again "I've seen to many die, I've watched children beg for their parents from the flames, but I'm not about to let near enough family down." He vowed. Balinor looked at him and smiled. Gaius considered him family. But what was he going to do to help him. Gaius continued speaking. "I drugged the guards outside, but we don't have long, your going to leave Camelot and head to Ealdor as fast as you can. I have already written a letter which I want you to give to Hunith upon your arrival." Balinor felt giddy at the thought of seeing his love again after so many years, would she even remember him. But Balinor nodded as Gaius proceeded to unlock the cage and the chains separating the two.
"Now come along" Gaius chastised Balinor followed in quick suit. Gaius led him to a dark entrance. They followed a long dark tunnel until Balinor felt the air get cooler. He suddenly realised they were outside once more and that I was nearing sunset. Gaius handed Balinor the letter to give to his sister, and offered a quick message of good luck with a fast embrace before Balinor went on his way.
"So if you were in Ealdor, how did you end up in a cave in the middle of a forest?" Asked Gwen innocently. Balinor smirked inside.
"Because Uther would do anything to gain control over magic, even venture into Cendred's Kingdom, and possibly begin a war.
Balinor stayed with Hunith for a few months, thankful that he was remembered by her. She stayed to Gaius letter, looking after Balinor, and doing everything to avoid talking about Dragon's other dragonlords or Camelot, as not to make him feel nervous or afraid. Towards the end of their time together, Hunith woke up after a terrifying nightmare and Balinor offered to sleep with her the rest of the night.
"Well let's just say." Balinor said blushing "That night was one of the first and we began making a hobby of it. And one thing led to another and we eventually began...well..." Here he caught Arthur and Gwen with mouths wide open. "Well... you get the picture." They still had wide open mouths. This was finally it. If they didn't get it before this was sure to show them their answers.
"I always wondered if Gaius ever forgave me for impregnating his little sister." He said with a hint of laughter. Gwen got the wrong idea.
"I didn't know Merlin had an older sibling." She commented. Balinor smacked his palm to his forehead.
"Merlin's an only child." He reminded the two.
"Oh" they both said. Then realised what Balinor was saying. "OH MY GOD!" They both yelled. "YOU'RE HIS FATHER!" Balinor winced slightly at their shocked voices but nodded. If there wasn't a rest on the back of Gwen's chair she would have fallen onto the floor as she collapsed there and then in her chair.
"Oh great." Balinor moaned