Disclaimer: IDOM

Okay... so here's chapter 3. This one's pretty big. Sorry again for taking so long, between school and my cold all I've been doing is coming home and sleeping. But I finally got to write this! Yes! Anyway, I hope you like it. We get the ceremony and then a twist at the end (I couldn't help myself!)...^^

Allons-y! (also...CAN'T wait for Doctor Who to start)


Chapter 2: Glimpses of the Future


Today you are you

That is truer than true

There is no one alive

That is youer than you.

-Dr. Seuss

Merlin's deep blue cloak billowed out impressively behind him as he fled down the final staircase, his white staff gripped tightly in his right hand. Surprisingly, Arthur and Guinevere were waiting for him at the bottom of the steps, the door to the courtyard closed for privacy. Both of them wore crowns, and though they were much simpler than those from their coronation, they still professed the King and Queen's' royal standing.

"Finally!" Arthur exclaimed before letting out a falsely irritated breath of air.

Merlin scowled and furrowed his black eyebrows in response. "I'm not that late."

"Introducing Aithusa to Camelot-it wouldn't have hurt to be a little early, Merlin."

"But I'm not late!"

Arthur rolled his ocean-blue eyes and folded his muscular arms across his chest, a nervous smile playing along his lips. "Can we just go? Every citizen of Camelot must be out there!"

Merlin raised his raven eyebrows in surprise and carefully took a step backwards on the step so he was level with the large window. Sure enough, people of all sorts could be seen crowding up to the magical barriers they'd erected especially for this event. Men, women, children, even little ones on the shoulders of their fathers could be seen, not to mention the throngs of people behind them.

"Wow," he muttered, mystified.

Gwen smiled sympathetically at him. She knew he'd be nervous to do this in front of so many people, and by the way he was clenching and unclenching his hand on his staff, it was starting to show through. Especially since Merlin had never been one for crowds due to the fact that he'd been having to hide in the shadows his whole life. Gwen's heart clenched a little and she took a step towards him with an encouraging smirk on her beautiful face, hiding her sympathy. "Come on Merlin."

Merlin looked at her, blue on brown and took courage from the sparkle of love in her chocolate eyes. He breathed a deep, calming breath and jumped back down the stairs smiling. The nervousness was eventually pushed back as excitement took its place in Merlin's stormy blue eyes. He was ready. His friends were at his side after all, where they always would be.

With a snap of his fingers and a laugh from behind him at the movement, the white double doors to the courtyard swung open regally, exposing all three of them at the same time. Arthur and Guinevere smiled at Merlin before starting to walk hand in hand onto the main walkway and down the stairs. Merlin hesitated a second and let them take the lead, staying slightly behind them as a mark of respect for his King and Queen.

Merlin grinned at both the Knights and Gaius -who were lining the railway at the edge of the steps to his right- and received the same smiles, if not more nervous, from them before he faced forwards again. He had to remind himself that Leon, Elyan, and Percival had yet to see a dragon since only himself, Arthur. Gwen, Gwaine, and Gaius ever went to talk to Aithusa and Kilgharrah when they planned this reveal. Merlin smirked in amusement, holding back a chuckle in effort to remain presentable.

Arthur stopped at about the middle of the staircase, acknowledging the Knights and Gaius with a small nod. His golden hair reflected the sunlight and his crown glinted as he let his gaze sweep briefly over the crowd, butterflies stirring in his stomach as he did so. How would they react? Would they panic?

He swallowed and glanced sideways towards his wife. Gwen gave him an encouraging smile and he looked behind him, where Merlin would always be even if he himself protested that he should be at his side.

The idiot, Arthur thought fondly. He looked into Merlin's kaleidoscope eyes and saw their mutual friendship and hope portrayed there. Ready? Arthur hoped his eyes displayed the message since he still hadn't gotten the hang of Merlin's two-way telepathy quite yet. In turn, Merlin gave him a small nod, understanding without words Arthur's message whilst an amused smile played across his features.

Arthur returned it with a small smirk of his own and turned to let his voice carry across the courtyards, swearing that Merlin was using magic to help amplify it as the crowd slowly quieted their whisperings.

"Citizens of Camelot," he began, "Thank you for gathering here today. As the Court Sorcerer Merlin Emrys calls the dragon, I ask you to please not panic. Aithusa is Camelot's ally, and I can personally guarantee you that he will not harm any of you."

The crowd remained silent and Arthur could almost feel the anticipation coursing through the crowd. Curiosity peeked through their eyes as their faces all showed a slight nervousness and yet excitement through their features and posture.

Arthur glanced over his shoulder and nodded at Merlin. Merlin smirked and took a few more steps down as his staff clicked on the stairs. He walked until he was in front of his King and Queen, on the last step with his midnight cloak splayed out behind him. Resisting the urge to look behind him for encouragement, he took a deep breath through his nose and let his magic fill him. He felt it flowing through his veins and he looked for that ancient connection he shared with the dragons. Feeling that certain warmth, he let his head fall back as he shouted at the sky, "O drakon, Aithusa, e mala soi ftengometh tesd'hup anankes! Erkheo!"

He felt Aithusa's presence in the back of his mind, giving him a slight push that confirmed that he'd heard him and was on his way. He turned to Arthur, who only met his eyes briefly as Merlin nodded, telling him Aithusa was coming. Arthur tiled his head forward in acceptance before setting his sky colored eyes curiously on the crowd before him.

Merlin furrowed his eyebrows and followed his line of sight before looked out into the throng of people. He swallowed nervously at what he saw; every citizen present, staring right at him. Their eyes were wide, though Merlin thought not out of fear as much as surprise. As he realized why, he was slightly surprised himself.

In the last two weeks since magic had been free, various people had seen him do magic, but he hadn't ever really used spells, only quick, instinctive magic for a few menial tasks. And besides that, Merlin knew none of them had ever heard a Dragonlord call before. Maybe, maybe a few of the other ones from before the Purge, but then they still hadn't heard it in over twenty-seven years.

He didn't have much more time to ponder over it as a large shape blotted out the sun's yellow light, casting a wild shadow in the middle of the courtyard. The crowd shuffled uneasily as Aithusa circled from up high, letting the people see him before he actually landed. Whispers and shouts erupted from the crowd, 'ooh's' and 'ahh's' being thrown in here and there by people of all ages as they pointed at the sky. Just as they narrowed their eyes against the bright sun to get a better look, the dragon began its graceful descent.

Aithusa's ivory wings beat downwards as he finally slowed himself into a soft landing, sending plumes of dust into the air and sending a tempest of wind in all directions, ruffling clothes and upsetting hair. People shouted in surprise and displeasure and waved their hands in front of their squinted eyes in attempt to clear the dust. Claws like porcelain touched ground and took the young dragons weight as he finally folded his thin wings against his lithe body.

The people quieted as the dust and dirt finally started to settle, and eerie silence filling the crowd as they gaped at Aithusa. He was now a little larger than one of Camelot's finest horse and with the sun glinting off his alabaster scales he looked absolutely breathtaking. Some of the smaller children squealed with delight and Merlin cracked a smile as a few butterflies settled in his stomach. He didn't even need to see Aithusa's slightly twitching tail to tell that the young dragon himself was nervous too.

As the dust completely settled, everyone watched as Aithusa uncharacteristically bowed his head in subservience and respect. Merlin still didn't like Aithusa bowing to him, but they'd decided it would be good for the crowd to see him, a mighty dragon, bow in subservience to his King, Queen, and Dragonlord.

"My Lords," he said, adding "My Lady," for Gwen's sake.

If the crowd had been surprised by his appearance, Merlin thought they were even more surprised by his voice. It was deep like a valley, lightly reverberating like an echo, and yet as soft as the first snowfall of winter. His voice, though still holding that hatchling like enthusiasm for the world, had a surprisingly wizened tone underlining it. Merlin was pleased that, if anything, this unlikely combination seemed to settle the crowd a bit.

The mass of people were still staring at Aithusa curiously as he slowly raised his large head to meet his Dragonlords gaze. Stormy blue met piercing grey and Merlin gave him a small proud smile and an approving nod. He could sense Aithusa's relief through their connection and Merlin tried not to smile wider.

Good job, Merlin praised, projecting his own thoughts at the young dragon. Aithusa smirked before schooling his expression to one of seriousness as Arthur started speaking.

"Aithusa," he started. His voice carried easily, used to having to project his voice over a large audience, regardless of Merlin's help. "You have been called here today to publicly pledge your fealty to your Dragonlord, Merlin Emrys, myself, King Arthur Pendragon, and my wife, Queen Guinevere Pendragon. Do you acknowledge and accept these reasons?"

Aithusa tilted his head. "I do, my lord."

With his mask showing complete seriousness and yet with butterflies in his stomach, Arthur turned to Merlin, cueing him to perform the ceremony. He was the Dragonlord after all.

Merlin smirked and turned back to Aithusa, his features now blank and emotionless knowing no one would call him out on the light dancing in his eyes. "Aithusa, do you hereby swear fealty to myself, your King, and your Queen, promising to only use your gifts to help, not hinder, to build, and not to tear down?"

"I do."

"In your service, do you promise to protect Camelot and her citizens as much as you can, even if it means your life?"

"I do."

"And does your guardian, the Great Dragon Kilgharrah, swear his own fealty through you in this ceremony?"

"He does. And though he isn't able to attend this ceremony, he understands, and would give his life for this kingdom in your service my lord, as would I."

Now Merlin smiled outwardly, proudly, and though small, it seemed to infect those around him; Arthur, Gwen, Gaius, the Knights, even some of those gathered behind the barriers were nodding approvingly.

After a moment, Arthur's purposeful voice rang across the clearing once more. "From this day forth, the dragons Aithusa and his guardian Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon, are named allies of Camelot, not to be met with hostility as the customs have been of late, but with friendship and peace, beginning a new era for men and dragons."

Gaius was the first to start clapping, then the Knights, shortly followed by Arthur, Gwen, and Merlin. Soon enough, and surprisingly quickly, the crowd joined in until thunderous clapping filled the air, reminding Merlin of his own public declaration of fealty.

Aithusa smiled, relief and joy abounding in his lithe body, realizing that this was, once again, a turning point. The threads of destiny were weaving tighter, coming closer together, and this was just one more step towards Albion. Towards peace throughout the land. Towards the time of The Once and Future King and Emrys.

Aithusa looked towards Merlin, seeing the same joy reflected in his Dragonlords kaleidoscope blue eyes. Merlin too knew what this meant and in Arthur's own words it was the 'beginning of a new era.' First the release, the freeing of magic and now dragons being reintroduced into the land, who knew what would happen next?

Then the young dragon smiled before narrowing his eyes mischievously like he used to when he was only a hatchling playing tricks on his amused guardian. Merlin furrowed his eyebrows in wonderment and his clapping slowed before Aithusa painted a picture in his mind, explaining his plan. Merlin smiled widely just as Aithusa tilted his head back and let loose a wild jet of flames.

The crowd, stunned, suddenly stopped clapping and gasped in surprise while Merlin's eyes burned a molten gold. He lifted his right hand after switching his staff to his left and took control of the bright flames. By quietly whispering a few choice words, the glowing ball of reds, yellows, and tangerine's transformed into a dragon itself; a head sprouting from the top and large wings unfurling themselves from its small form as the rest of its long body turned into an elongated tail.

The fire dragon danced in the high in the air before Merlin swept his hands toward the ground, making it dive towards the courtyard and then suddenly jerk up before it collided with the dirtied white stone, flames tickling the ground and making the crowd giggle.

Merlin said few more words in the Old Religion and soon the spirited dragon was leaving behind colorful soap-like bubbles in its wake, the afternoon sun making them sparkle like oil as they bobbed in the air.

Merlin flicked his wrist once more and the dragon swept right over the throng of people, making them squeal and duck instinctively as it beat its fiery wings and its lengthened tail swished back and forth behind it.

As soon as the dragon passed them, however, the crowd stood, their eyes locked and laughing as the fire creature swept through another portion of the crowd. Enthusiastic children poked at the colorful spheres, making them explode into glinting, golden sparkles before the specs fell to the ground. Children laughed with unabashed glee as parents chuckled acceptingly.

Then Merlin had the dragon circle Aithusa a few times, leaving oily bubbles surrounding him. Knowingly, the young dragon smirked before spraying a gentle flame on the orbs around him, making them pop in a much grander illusion as the golden specs filled the whole courtyard.

Finally, Merlin controlled the dragon and made him fly straight upwards with its tail slapping the air viciously. It slowly dissipated as ever more golden glitter fell to the Earth, now completely covering the courtyard in a thin blanket.

In a grand finale, with his black hair glinting in the sun against his ecstatic smile and shimmering dreamy blue eyes, Merlin said a spell and threw both of his arms in the air as well as his staff. Obediently, the golden specs suddenly flew into the air, gathering in one center point high above the center of the courtyard.

Merlin's eyes sparkled gold one more time and the glitter suddenly spread out to take the shape of a bowing dragon, Camelot's famous insignia. It shone in the sunlight, golden against the beautiful clear blue sky. The crowd cheered and clapped, laughing as they smiled. Aithusa blew fire over it once more and then the sparkling display was covered in a dazzling flame. The fire flared high in the air before it burned the glitter into nothing, eliminating the grand display and even though it was over, no one's smiled dropped, nor did the clapping or laughing cease.

Merlin smiled widely, taking in everyone's joy before Merlin felt a familiar presence in the corner of his mind. Knowingly, he concentrated on it and completed the telepathic connection he held with Aithusa.

How was that? The young dragon asked, smiling.

Merlin grinned wider if possible. Perfect, Aithusa!

They laughed for a few more moments, drinking in the clapping and the whistles from the crowd before Aithusa said that he should probably be going. Merlin, thinking of how surprisingly protective of Aithusa Kilgharrah was, agreed. They said their farewells in their heads, promising to see each other again shortly before Aithusa spread his alabaster wings, making the crowd clap louder, and took to the sky, wings down-beating as he gained altitude. Aithusa smiled and circled the nearby battlements before flying swiftly off into the distance, soon becoming just a speck of white against the light blue sky.

Merlin released the magical barriers with a flash of his eyes and soon enthusiastic children quickly scrambled from their mothers sides to pounce on any lingering bubbles or glitter, making them pop and release more glitter which they threw into the air until it coated each other's hair. Soon the crowd itself was dissipating, everyone either going home or going back to their afternoon jobs.

Merlin laughed and felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned on his heel and saw Arthur smiling down at him from a step above, laughter and amusement, as well as approval and brotherly affection shinning in his ocean-blue eyes.

Arthur squeezed his shoulder. "Well done, old friend."

Guinevere, standing beside Arthur on his left, quickly agreed. "That was absolutely breathtaking, Merlin."

Merlin grinned like an idiot. "Thanks. We thought you might like it."

Arthur's brow furrowed. "We?"

"Well, it was Aithusa's idea, I just provided the magic."

Arthur scoffed and pulled Merlin's head under his arm, grinding his fist into Merlin's hair while Gwen gently chastised him from the sidelines. Merlin eventually wriggled out, a well-meaning scowl on his face as he rubbed his aggravated scalp and complained. "You prat!"

"Idiot!"

Now Guinevere rolled her own chocolate eyes and looked at the two fondly. They were brothers in all but blood, sibling rivalry included.

"Don't you two ever get along?" A new voice said.

Gwaine sauntered up to the trio, the rest of the knights and Gaius behind him. The long haired knight slung his arm around Merlin's shoulder playfully as Merlin tapped Arthur's head with his staff.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that, you clotpole!"

Arthur scoffed and rubbed his own head. "Fine! How about a truce?"

"Fine!"

"And a trip to the tavern?"

"Gwaine!"

Merlin laughed and smiled with enthusiasm. "Sorry, Gwaine, me and Arthur were going to go through more of the vaults."

Arthur smirked. A few days ago, Gaius had come up with the brilliant idea of going through the vaults, seeing what things they could possibly use and what things really were too dangerous and should be left in the vaults. They hadn't gotten very far yet, being too busy planning for all the royal visitors they were having and then with the introduction of Aithusa, but they were determined to go further into the vaults today; it was only late afternoon anyway.

Gwaine rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll take the knights to the tavern and still put it on the princess's tab!"

Arthur rolled his blue eyes, a fond light in them. "Not too big of a tab mind you."

"Yes! Gaius, Gwen, you coming?"

"No, Gwaine, not this time," Gaius chuckled. "I need to re-stock my supply."

"And I'll be helping after I make final preparations for Princess Mithian's visit coming up," Guinevere added.

"Suit yourself," Gwaine smiled. He pulled his arm off of Merlin's thin shoulders and jumped down the final step before he started lazily walking towards the Rising Sun.

"Leon, you're in charge," Arthur added.

Gwaine groaned and turned around. "You really are a prat you know that?"

Arthur grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

Gwaine threw his arms up in exasperation before continuing his walk to the tavern, Leon, Percival, and Elyan following him. "See you guys later!"

Merlin smiled with amusement before calling, "Bye," after him. He then turned back around and faced Arthur with an excited bounce in his stance. "Vaults?"

Arthur's eyes glinted with brotherly love at Merlin's enthusiasm. "Sure."

"Well, have fun," Gaius commented. He and Gwen quickly pulled him into an affectionate hug, still filled with the excitement from the ceremony, before they both left for the Court Physicians chambers.

"Wait! Gaius!" Merlin called. He quickly jumped to them as they reached the stone statues at the top of the steps. "Can you take my staff to my room?"

Gaius smirked as he took the white spiraled rod. "What about your cloak?"

Merlin looked genuinely confused. "What? No, I'm still wearing that!"

His guardian laughed with knowing amusement before he and the Queen disappeared into the castle. Merlin turned back towards Arthur and hopped childishly down the stairs to where the King was standing.

"You really love that cloak, don't you?" he asked sarcastically.

Merlin scoffed and rolled his stormy blue eyes. "Maybe… Come on, let's go already."

He turned and started walking towards the door behind the stairs, the alternate entrance to the vaults. Arthur, rolling his own eyes and with a smile on his face, followed his friend, his own cloak billowing out impressively behind him. They took a few more stairs downwards, a few more turns and soon Arthur was sticking the key into the vault door, excusing the guards, and then locking the door behind both of them. He stuck his torch in one of the empty holders on the wall as his hair flashed gold.

"Let's go further in the back," Merlin suggested excitingly. The only sign that Arthur was following him was his amused laugh echoing around the room.

His cloak billowed out around him as he turned another corner. He didn't hear Arthur anymore and guessed that he must have found something interesting to stare at… again. He was about to roll his eyes at nothing when he felt a slight pulling in the back of his mind. His throat closed up and his nostrils flared in recognition. Warily, he turned to the side, seeing exactly what he knew he would. The Crystal of Neatid.

He'd forgotten all about it. He should have remembered that it was down here! The few other times he'd been down here, they hadn't nearly come this far. He hadn't felt anything... And feeling that pull in the back of his mind now…

No. He couldn't. His mind replayed what happened last time. But… he also felt that need that he'd felt when he'd been with Taliesin. The last time he's felt it, he didn't know what it meant; now he could identify it. The crystal was trying to tell him something. It wanted him to look. But... he shouldn't. He thought about calling Arthur... but no... but... should he?

Merlin cautiously stepped forward, feeling the Crystal's presence becoming his foremost thought. Should he really do this? He could feel himself start to shiver as his nostrils flared once more and he took another step closer towards the red-pillowed podium where it sat. A pit of anxiousness settled in his stomach as he finally hovered over the crystal.

Almost immediately images started bombarding his mind…

A whirlwind, grey and steady, spiraling upwards.

Doors to the Throne room opening, revealing Arthur and Gwen sitting in their thrones, and the knights and Gaius on the sidelines looking shocked… different?

A flash of him and Kilgharrah standing in their normal meeting place: the field outside Camelot.

"Merlin?"

A glimpse of a familiar face, aged, but still young. A Druid. Mordred.

A despairing feeling coursed through him and he saw himself weeping over someone, clutching a broken and bleeding body to his chest as tears streamed down his face in earnest.

He saw himself once more, lying unconscious on is bed, a calming presence in the room.

"Merlin?"

Something changed; the images were coming faster now, growing in strength and speed as if the crystal knew how much time they had left and wanted him to see it all. Merlin's eyes widened on impulse as his nostrils flared.

The battlements.

A council meeting.

Princess Mithian.

Morgana.

"Merlin!"

A blood red, smoke filled sky.

Weeping.

"Merlin!"

The roaring of dragons.

Despair.

Death.

The images were very suddenly brought to a stop as a white cloth was suddenly brought over the crystal. The visions fled from Merlin's mind as fast as he'd seen them and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut against a wave of nausea. He instinctively tried to recall some of the images but found he could only recall a few even though he still held the overwhelming feelings that had been intertwined in the images.

He stumbled backwards a few steps before Merlin felt strong hands gripping his biceps, pulling him forwards in a tight embrace and stopping him from falling backwards. He could feel himself shivering, could feel how short his breath was and the dampness of his cheeks. But what had caused it he couldn't remember; the link had been broken too abruptly.

"Merlin, what happened?" The voice was tense and sincerely concerned, slowly changing to a more soothing tone as circles were rubbed into his back through his cloak. "Merlin, you're alright, I promise. It's over."

His body shook and his eyes clenched shut as he tried to focus on his breathing, having the same stunning effect as the last time he'd looked into crystals in the Crystal Cave. But last time he'd been alone. Now he had a friend.

"A-Arthur," his voice cracked as he let out a shaky breath. He opened his eyes and found himself kneeling on the floor -when had that happened?- gazing into Arthur's cloaked shoulder.

Arthur slowly pulled him back, holding his shoulders as they looked into each other's faces. Merlin was met with steady calm features and concerned, worried eyes. Arthur was met with film covered, wild eyes and a confused face.

"Merlin..." Arthur tried. Was it like this the other times he'd looked into the crystals? Did this always happen? Was it supposed to happen? Arthur didn't know, he hadn't been there the other times but at least he was here now. "What happened?"

"I...," his voice broke as he tried to gather his thoughts, tried to reign in the overwhelming emotions that came from half-remembered visions. "I-I... I don't know... It just kind of... c-called me... I can't explain it..."

"Called you?"

"Yes... it was like... it was like it wanted to show me something... I couldn't resist it..."

"It's ok... it's over now." Arthur really didn't want to do this but he had to know, for both their sakes. For something to rile Merlin up like this had to be important. "What did you see?"

Merlin shook his head vigorously. "I don't know...," he wasn't completely lying. "There was so much, Arthur... I-..."

Arthur pulled him closer once more, mentally berating himself. He could only imagine what Merlin had seen. He should have been faster! "I'm so sorry, this is my fault. I should have remembered."

Merlin stayed silent and worked on his breathing. It wasn't Arthur's fault. He knew it, but he also knew there was no way he'd convince his King otherwise. He closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath, letting it out shakily before pulling back and opening his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Arthur asked without thinking.

Merlin swallowed and nodded, rubbing the bridge of his nose and at the lingering water in his cerulean eyes. "Yeah... I'm fine."

Arthur squeezed his shoulders, easily seeing through Merlin's weakest lie. "No you're not and don't say you are. What'd you see, Merlin?"

Merlin shook his head again; not exactly meeting Arthur's piercing blue eyes. "I... don't know... The connection was broken too abruptly... I can't remember it all... I... I don't want to talk about it... not yet... Alright?"

Arthur tried to look Merlin in the eye, but the other man wouldn't look at him. He sighed, "Alright... but, Merlin, promise me that you'll tell me eventually... You don't have to do this alone."

He got a, if not reluctant, nod from Merlin and some of the anxiousness in Arthur's own stomach settled. Smiling to lighten the mood, Arthur let his hands fall from Merlin's shoulders before he helped a shaky friend to his feet. He jerked his thumb behind him to the stand with the covered crystal. "Isn't there some spell or something to make it stop... doing whatever it does?"

Merlin scoffed and rolled his blue eyes in light amusement. "I don't know."

Arthur's eyes hardened a little, a more serious note taking place in them. "I'm going to talk to Gaius about that. Seriously, if that happens every time you look into that thing, Merlin."

Merlin's own eyes softened a bit in brotherly affection. "Thanks, Arthur... I'm just glad you were here."

Arthur clapped Merlin on the shoulder. "Me too."

He turned around, using his whole body to cover the short podium where the crystal rested and folded the thick cloth completely around it. He shoved it in the drawstring bag beside it and then tied it to his belt. Finally, Arthur turned around and saw Merlin staring sideways at the floor, his eyes glazed over in deep thought. Arthur knew exactly what he was thinking about. Oh Merlin...

"Coming?"

Merlin flinched in surprise and flicked his head over to Arthur, eyes glinting in recognition. "Hm? Um, no, I think I'll stay... It might be better..."

Arthur eyebrows scrunched in confusion before he thought it out. He was taking the Crystal of Neatid to Gaius... so he can examine it... in the open... completely uncovered. Right.

He nodded in understanding. "And Gaius won't be affected by it?

Merlin shook his head and chuckled. "No, his magic isn't strong enough. As far as we know I'm the only one affected by it."

Arthur winced, a motion that wasn't overseen by Merlin though he didn't call him out on it.

"I'll be back."

Merlin nodded and turned sideways, gazing at something on the shelf behind him. "Alrighty then," he grinned.

Arthur rolled his sky-blue eyes at Merlin's attempt to shrug it off before smirking and turning around, taking his leave. "And for heaven's sake Merlin, be careful."

He could hear Merlin laughing softly as he turned the corner, disappearing in the maze before Merlin heard the squeak of the vault door and the resounding click of the lock.

Curiously, Merlin jogged to the corner and peeked around it, his cerulean eyes hardening with hazy determination as the torchlight glinted off his onyx colored hair. Confirming that Arthur was really gone, his midnight blue cloak swished around him and dragged on the floor as he went further back into the vaults, following the heavy presence of strong magic pulling him forwards.


Arthur reached the Court Physician's chambers without incident, and pushed open the light door. He wasn't overly surprised to see his wife sitting on one of the benches with paperwork stacked in front of her, she often liked to keep Gaius company. Gaius himself was perched over a mortar and pestle, grinding who knows what into a fine, purplish powder as he looked at a list of ingredients behind the large bowl.

The clicking of the door shutting seemed to awaken them both as they looked up from their work with curious eyebrows and they're eyes focused on their visitor. Gwen was the first to see the underlining concern behind Arthur's eyes.

"Arthur? What's wrong?"

Gaius picked up on it too and tilted his head. "Are you alright?"

Arthur nodded, blinking tiredly. "Yes, I'm alright... It's Merlin."

Guinevere took a worrying step towards her husband. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"He says he is... but," Arthur reached into his jacket pocket and brought out the leather drawstring bag. He unlaced it and slid the Crystal of Neatid from its white cover. "He had a run-in with this..."

Gaius and Guinevere pulled in a sharp breath and Gaius took the crystal in his hands, examining its surface. "What? What happened?" He asked sharply.

Arthur stumbled for an answer and hastily came up with the only answer he could. "I-I don't know. I left him alone for a second and when I found him he was staring into it... I threw the cloth over it when I couldn't get his attention and the connection was broken I guess."

Gaius looked at Arthur's sincere face before nodding. "Yes that would have happened..."

Gwen looked pensive. "...And how was Merlin."

Arthur's eyes softened at the memory. "Well... he was a bit shaken up by it all..." He left out when Merlin started crying from images no one else could see as a personal favor to him. He knew his friend wouldn't want them worrying anymore than they already would be. "But he seemed fine when I left."

"He's still in the vaults?" Guinevere asked surprised.

Arthur nodded. "Like I said, he seemed fine..."

"Arthur," Gaius interrupted, "we both know how well trained Merlin is at hiding his pain, both physical and emotional."

Arthur flinched, a flash of fear passing over his eyes as he nodded guiltily. "Do... I mean... Do you know what he could have seen?"

Gaius sighed and set the crystal on the table behind him. "I dread to think what Merlin might have seen. Crystals can show the past, present... future, like with the other times. And they're also very treacherous. I'm afraid Merlin could have seen anything, sire."

Arthur let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. So no luck there.

"Has Merlin said anything?"

"No, Gwen... He said he didn't want to talk about it yet..."

"That's only normal," Gaius commented, "he was no doubt overwhelmed by the visions."

Arthur nodded. "I actually came here to see if there was possibly a way to stop these visions from happening..."

Gaius looked thoughtful for a moment before his hand rose to his head and his eyes shut suddenly.

Arthur and Gwen were both at his side in and instant. "What's wrong?"

Gaius, still holding his head as he fought off the dizzy spell, shook his head. "I don't know..."

Suddenly, the very castle shook on its foundation. Bottles rattled around the room, some vibrating themselves off the table to shatter loudly against the wooden floor and the pain in Gaius head sharpened in unison.

Gwen clutched Arthur's arm as he grabbed Gaius, keeping him from falling. "What's going on?"

No one answered; no one knew... And suddenly it stopped... And suddenly Gaius knew.

"Merlin!"

It wasn't a normal headache he'd felt. It was a warning. A warning that something was happening to magic... to the most important figure in the history of magic... to Emrys... to Merlin.

Arthur, completely on high alert, grabbed the old man's shoulders in both an effort to steady him and get his attention and was succeeded when wild grey-blue eyes met his own bright blue eyes. "What about Merlin?"

Gaius looked shaken and his voice shook as he shouted, "Go! Something's happened! Go, Arthur!"

Arthur, with one last look at a worried Gwen, fled the scene, leaving his wife to assist Gaius to the patient's bed. He left the door open behind him and fled down the corridor, cloak whipping out behind him, not even touching the floor in his speed. He bounded down a flight of stairs, sending already frightened servants skittering towards the wall but Arthur didn't care. All he could think about was Merlin. Faster!

He finally reached the courtyard and hurtled down those steps, almost tripping until he reached the bottom. Out of the corner of his eye, his mind registered overturned carts, dumped crops and people helping each other up but nothing stayed and his feet only gained speed.

"Arthur, what in the world was that?" Gwaine shouted, holding a tankard of ale in his hand.

Later on, Arthur would wonder how he was able to sneak it out and what he was doing out of the tavern in the first place but his mind was too focused. He barely slowed as he passed the roguish knight, one word making his lips part, "Merlin."

And immediately completely sober Gwaine dropped, yes spilled the rest of his mead on the white stones of the courtyard as his own feet picked up speed. He flew after his King, mind racing possibilities. Merlin. Earthquake. Arthur. Merlin. Danger.

They finally reached the vaults after what seemed like forever and Arthur's hand fumbled for his keys. He cursed himself for locking the door at all and missed the lock several times as his hand shook before the key was finally inserted into the lock. He shoved the door open, leaving the key and rushed further into the room. He could hear Gwaine's footfalls behind him and he suddenly stopped at the shelf he'd last seen Merlin picking at.

Where...?

His hunting skills instinctively came into play and he looked for any sign that would tell them where Merlin was. A footprint here. A swoosh of a cloak there.

"This way!"

They took only a few more turns before the tracks stopped beside a pushed aside bookshelf. Arthur grabbed the back and pushed it open a little more. A hidden room? Merlin...

He could hardly see anything and backtracked for a torch. Arthur ran back to find that Gwaine had pushed it open even further and was squinting his eyes against the dust that flew out of the room.

"Come on," Arthur stated as he passed Gwaine. Taking no heed for his own safety, Arthur entered the room, squinting his own eyes as dirt swirled around the room. The torchlight wavered but didn't go out and Arthur walked, more cautiously, further into the room. He couldn't tell how large it was because of the dust-storm but guessed it wasn't overly large.

His foot caught on something and Arthur kneeled to look at it, feeling Gwaine's knees rub against his back as the knight peered over his shoulder.

Arthur's eyes skimmed the piece of fabric, immediately recognizing it. Deep blue in the torchlight, immaculately clean despite the dust thanks to a variety of spells, and specialized merlin brooches around the neck. Merlin's cloak.

Arthur's pulse instantaneously spiked as he clutched the fabric in his hands, Gwaine and his own shouting mixing together and echoing across the room.

"Merlin!"

They screamed until their throats were raw from yelling and tears were coming down their faces in deep desperation.

But there was no reply... No answering laugh to mock them playfully for their tears... No witty retort and dancing stormy blue eyes... Not even a steady hand and a comforting voice telling them everything was alright... Nothing.

Because there was no one to reply to them.

Because he was gone.

Merlin was gone.


Diiiiiddddd you like it? Love it? :D First, I couldn't figure out how to end it because it was only five pages and then decided to just go into the main plot line already. *cheers* :D I also hope you liked the descriptions of the fire-dragon and stuff. Sorry if it wasn't clear enough, and I hoped the details helped. And the angst? Hmm? the bromance? Hmmmmm?

Oh, one more thing, I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be up because of school and homework, but I've gotten into a pretty good habit of writing it down on paper in study hall and then typing it when I get home (the school's computer's are way too slow). Next we go back to Merlin's view of what happened... And then we get into the prologue, I think...*hint, hint*