Hello! I am sorry it has been so long, I got caught up in the end of high school and the start of college, but now its my second semester, and I can get back to this story! Updates will likely be somewhat infrequent, so pleas bear with me! Please review and enjoy! Feel free to leave any comments, or questions, your support means a lot to me!

*disclaimer* I don't own the rights to this

Learning

Several weeks had passed, and Merlin found the Aithusa was progressing rapidly. She had initially been extremely skittish of Merlin, and had breathed fire at him on several occasions, giving him some minor burns when his shielding spells had been too slow. All the same, she had since grown a bit less wary, and began to greet Merlin eagerly, wagging her tail as a puppy might. She also grew larger on a steady diet, growing rapidly from the size of a man to the size of a small horse. Merlin guessed that she had been severely malnourished over the past several years. The steady diet of meat and apples, which she was indeed quite fond of, began to put some muscle on her though to Merlin's dismay, she still showed no signs of speech.

Aithusa was not the only one showing signs of improvement. Merlin too was regaining his health. Though he still appeared to bear a great weight, he now walked with purpose, and even began to smile slightly. Still, to Gaius it was obvious that Merlin was still barely able to cope. Yes he smiled, but would he ever smile his big, goofy grin that couldn't help but pull a smile in return?

One day a carnival came to Camelot. The kingdom was beginning to move past her mourning for her fallen king, and as such the Queen had declared a great celebration. There would be games, brightly colored tents, performers of every sort and even, it was rumored, a magic show.

"Are you going to go?" Gaius asked the morning the carnival began. "It would be good for you to go out and enjoy yourself."

"No," the young warlock answered flatly. "I don't have the heart for it. I think I am going to take Aithusa to the lake instead."

"But Merlin, you always used to look forward to these sorts of festivities!" Gaius exclaimed.

"Yes, well a lot has changed since then," he answered with a wry smile. "I won't be missed, and besides, the lake helps me think."

"Very well," Gaius sighed. "I won't force you. Here," he said, and handed Merlin an apple pie, still warm from the oven. "A special treat for our favorite girl."

"Thanks Gaius." Merlin took the pie and headed out, leaving Gaius to watch him go fondly, but with remorse. He sat down slowly, feeling his age. He was not long for this world, he feared, but he hadn't the heart to tell Merlin. What would the young man do without him?

Merlin and Aithusa arrived at the Lake of Avalon, pie long since devoured, around midday. The air was warm, and the sun shone over the late, reflecting off it like a glass mirror. The calmness and serenity of the atmosphere soothed both Dragon and Dragonlord as they lounged on the shore, Merlin leaning against Aithusa's side. She had snaked her head around so that it rested on the ground beside Merlin, who scratched her head absently.

"There is a big carnival in the lower town and citadel today," he told the dragon. She hummed contentedly, drawing a thin smile to his lips. "Everyone will be there. Children, knights, shopkeepers, even Gwen. They were setting up a huge tent, red and gold striped, and big enough to fit your old master, Kilgarah." Aithusa whines a bit at the mention of her mentor. Merlin stroked her cheek soothingly,saying "I know. I miss him too. I wish that you could see it."

Aithusa arched her neck and shifted so that Merlin's hand slipped from her head and looked at him head on with her ice blue eyes. They reminded Merlin of Arthur's eyes, he thought with a pang. She made a few low rasping sounds in her throat, determination in her eye.

"Aithusa? What is it?"

"Ssss… sseee it. Ssssee carrrrni… nivaaal?" she rasped out. Merlin stared at the dragon in shock.

"Did...did you just say 'see carnival'?" he asked, a grin growing on his face.

"Yehsssss." Aithusa answered, nodding her head.

"You can talk? You can really, actually talk! All this time I thought maybe you couldnt!" A huge, goofy grin spread across Merlin's face, and he laughed, a real, full, happy laugh, his first since Arthur's death. "Oh Aithusa, that's brilliant!" Suddenly, he had a thought, and uttering an enchantment, Merlin waved his hand over the lake. The still waters rippled, and then cleared, revealing a scene of the marketplace. A juggler stood in the middle of a ring of people. He threw one blazing torch and then another into the air. Aithusa gasped in delight.

"Fire! fire, fire!" she exclaimed happily.

"Yes, you can make fire too," he told the excited dragon. Merlin's head was abuzz at the idea of all that could come from Aithusa's new found speech, and for a moment, he forgot to be sad. Instead , he smiled, and together they settled back to watch the show.