Author's note: Ok here's chapter 3 I apologize for the jumps but they are necessary to keep the story moving I also feel like I should probably put in a disclaimer - I don't own Merlin or the others they belong to the BBC (believe me I wished I owned them the show would never have ended) Enjoy :)
Duty and Destiny (again)
"This is amazing, you're not alone" exclaimed grinning up at the dragon "How many are there? When will they hatch? Are there any…"
"Merlin one question at a time! First of all there are five eggs, and I do not know there genders" Kilgharrah said quickly foreseeing the question written all over the young warlock's face.
"FIVE! That's incredible, but where did they come from?" Merlin interrupted.
"Well I'll tell you if you'll stop interrupting me the dragon reprimanded Merlin who had the decency to look chastised although his excitement at the prospect of new dragons was still so obvious even Arthur wouldn't have missed it.
The great dragon sighed looking down at young warlock although it was evident he was pleased at Merlin enthusiasm and so indulged him in his questions.
"It appears that sometime before or very early on in the purge my kind anticipated the danger to our kind and prepared for it by hiding several eggs so that they might survive and continue my race" the dragon was clearly proud of his kinds achievements "although it looks as if more should have been taken to the hiding spot" he added as an after thought
Merlin allowed the full impact of this information to sink in before realising just how long he had been speaking with the dragon "Kilgharrah I'm so sorry but I have to get back to the camp before anyone notices I'm gone but please meet me at the usual clearing in 2 days' time" Merlin pleaded.
The dragon had a look somewhere between annoyance and understanding studying Merlin before nodding "I understand my friend but know that if you are late I will fly into Camelot, consequences be dammed and drag you to those eggs myself"
Merlin swallowed heavily the dragon's calm tone betrayed nothing but Merlin had known the dragon long enough to know that this was a promise not a threat.
After arriving back at the camp Merlin nodded to Percival, who had taken over the watch, glad his giant friend was so quite as he knew that any of the others would immediately throw a thousand and one questions at him.
As Merlin lay down to get a few hours' sleep before dawn he gazed up at the stars smiling and fell asleep dreaming of a sky full of dragons.
"Merlin!" the young warlock awoke to a bedroll being thrown at his head, it took him a few moments to remember what had happened last night but when he did he broke out into his biggest lopsided grin ever.
"Morning Arthur, I'll just pack up the camp then shall I" he said cheerily gaining confused looks from the band of knights, after all who wanted to be roused from sleep by having something thrown at their head?
"What's got you in such a happy mood Merlin?"
"I just feel good today I mean we've finally finished hunting and you guys know how much I hate hunting" the lie rolled of Merlin's tongue much more easily than usual but he was too happy to notice and the others seemed to believe this, apart from Lancelot who received a clear 'I'll tell you later look.'
Once the group re-entered the city Merlin immediately rushed off to tell Gaius the good news leaving a bewildered prince and his knights in his wake.
"MERLIN!" Gaius exclaimed as Merlin barged into their quarters. Dropping the salve he'd been preparing for Uthur's old shoulder wound.
"Gaius, you'll never believe it there are more eggs, Kilgharrah's not alone" completely ignoring the shattered salve and his guardians shocked expression as he rattled off the previous night's conversation with the dragon.
When he finally finished speaking he looked up to see Gaius' eyebrows so high Merlin momentarily worried he'd lost them in his hair.
"Well I suppose this means you'll be gone for a day or two, as the last dragon lord this is a momentous occasion?" Gaius finally replied after several minutes of letting this information sink in smiling at his wards excitement and the idea of the majestic dragons roaming the sky once more.
Merlin was ecstatic Gaius was as happy with the news as he was. He had worried Gaius would once again become cautious and disapprove of him leaving before looking pointedly at his guardian.
"Yes and I'm going to tell Arthur you're sending me to find some rare herbs you're in need of so I'll need a few days off this will explain my absence without! You telling him I've gone off to the tavern"
"Very well" Gaius began slightly annoyed "but shouldn't you be getting on with your chores now so Arthur has less to be a 'prat' about as you so elegantly put it" once again raising what Merlin had dubbed the 'Gaius eyebrow'
At this Merlin simply gave the old physician a cheeky smile and ran out of the room pausing only long enough to here Gaius sigh fondly at his young wards antics.
Review to let me know what you thought and a shout out to 'Chilassa' and 'Peaceful dragon rose' for taking the time to review my chapters THANK YOU :)