Warrick smiled and walked up to Merlin. "Merlin, you haven't changed a bit!"

"I suppose, but I can't say the same for you. Look how you've grown! You're almost as tall as me now." He turned to Ileana who had come up next to Warrick, "And Ileana, I hope you haven't gotten yourself in too much trouble since I left."

"Of course not." She said affronted.

"Does that mean that breaking Lord Darwyn's wrist doesn't count as trouble?" Merlin looked at Warrick with wide eyes, and turned back to Ileana.

"Did you really?"

"Well he was snooping around the castle. It's not my fault he snuck up on me. He should of known not to do that to any woman, none the less a knight. He had it coming"

Merlin laughed. "It's good to see you again. Both of you. But where is Raymond?"

Warrick and Ileana's mouths snapped shut. It was now that Merlin noticed the silent knights looking on and bowing their heads where they had been training. He lost his smile quickly. "No. No he can't be. He isn't."

"I'm sorry brother, but it's true. Unwin killed him. I'm sorry." Both brothers were holding back tears.

Merlin took a deep breath and looked to the sky, before looking back down and releasing. He placed a hand over his mouth as tears began to stream down his face. Warrick hugged him as he too began to cry. They stayed like that for a while, grieving together and crying on each other's shoulders as the knights bowed their heads in respect behind them.

BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK

Merlin was sitting near the fire with Warrick looking up to the night sky. "So I'm king now huh?" Warrick looked over at his older brother.

"Yeah Merlin, you are." Merlin shook his head.

"I'm not meant to be king. I have a destiny now. Someone I have to protect."

"You have to Merlin. You're the predecessor to the thrown now that Raymond is gone. There isn't a way out of it like last time."

"I know. You do realize though that as soon as you are ready to be king I'm handing the thrown over to you right?"

Warrick looked over at Merlin. "That's what you want Merlin, and I wouldn't mind either, but what about the kingdom? So many changes in the ruler, it is one thing to be a regent, but you are a rightful heir to the throne. A move like that…it would cause chaos."

"I suppose your right. But I can't ignore destiny. I can't run away from it. Believe me I tried, and all it brought me was grief, and a lost love."

"You mentioned this destiny of yours before, what is it that holds your loyalty?"

"Warrick, you remember father's stories of the dragons, how they could see the future?"

"How could I forget? He said their prophecies always came true."

"I met a dragon. Kilgharrah. He's still alive."

"What?! How father would love to hear that. Tell me about him. Please."

"Well I had been hearing something calling my name and followed it down to a cave under the castle…"

Flashback:

I walked into the cave and looked around. I could see a chain going up to the ceiling. I knew there was someone or something down here. "Where are you?!" I shouted. I could hear the flaps of wings as it came down to land on the outcropping in front of me.

"I am here. How small you are for such a great destiny." It said in a booming voice. And somewhere deep inside me I knew this was a dragon, and I could almost hear my father's voice saying Kilgharrah.

"Y-you're a dragon. Kilgharrah. My father mentioned … Wait. What destiny?" I stuttered before realizing exactly what he had said.

"Your gift was giving to you for a reason, and not just your dragonlord powers." I had always wondered about that. None of my brothers had possessed magic and here I was. Born with it.

"So there is a reason?"

"The Once and Future King will unite the lands of Albion in a time of peace." Kilgharrah stated.

"And restore magic to the land. I know the prophecy."

"He will face many threats from friend and foe alike." I still didn't see where he was going with this, but I decided to play along.

"So a man will be born to protect him. The most powerful warlock that has ever and will ever exist. Emrys. I don't see the point of this. I've already heard it."

"Together they will be unstoppable. Two sides of the same coin. Do you know who the Once and Future King is?"

"No. Why? Are you saying you know who he is?"

"Arthur is the Once and Future King. And without you he will never succeed. Without you there will be no Albion. "

I blanched. "No. No, you've got this wrong." There was no way Arthur was the Once and Future King. And wait is he saying that I'm Emrys? The Emrys? Surely I'm not that powerful?

"None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin, and none of us can escape it."

"No. No way. No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot."

"Perhaps it is your destiny to change that." I watched as he flew off. I didn't even have the thought to call him back. I knew I wouldn't get anything else from him, unless I used my powers. But that wouldn't have been right.