My Son, Merlin

Chapter 4: A Silent Wish

Balinor continued to gaze down at his extremities. His physical form continued to unravel, as the magic, albeit temporary, flowed away from him. The myriad crystals adorning the rough stone walls of the sacred Cave chimed as the borrowed magic was absorbed into their very cores. The Dragonlord saw his reflection almost disappear completely from the mirror-like surface of the crystal cluster nearest to him. All of the senses that were his, sight, sound, smell and taste vanished as his body fell apart. Only his innate magic, encapsulated within his living spirit, anchored him to the Crystal Cave. Just as the Cave was the very beginning and cradle of magic, so would this place be a final, unwanted cradle for his soul.

He would exist as a bodiless entity. Awake, his mind and thoughts aware. Only one being would know he was unwillingly tethered here – his son, Merlin. As the last sensations filtered through to his mind, as his form erased itself utterly a wish birthed itself within his thoughts.

He wanted to witness the birth of Albion. He wanted to play a part in the rise of a new age of magic. One where the gifted and ungifted dwelled in peace alongside one another.

One last image flared within his mind, perhaps a vision granted to him by the ancient powers within the caverns. Arthur Pendragon, now King of Camelot, surrounded by Saxon warriors, exhaustion showed on his weary features. Yet still the young King managed to summon the strength to battle on. Knights, garbed in the colours of Camelot's Knighthood fought beside their King.

Balinor then knew, despite the fact a Pendragon had ultimately ruined his life, if he had a physical body and wasn't tied here, there was one he would fight for. Fate is peculiar sometimes. Not everything is at first what it appears to be. The youthful King wasn't like his butcher of a father. Only now, as the Veil began to part for him, could the Dragonlord see the true self of Arthur Pendragon, the one his son had seen for years. Once again the silent wish flared, bringing with it a longing to walk amongst the living once more.

A/N: sorry for the length of the chapter. I'm currently job hunting and can only upload in short segments of 100, 500 or 1000 words. Hope you don't mind! Plus I've had to go hunting for a new computer. The one I used for writing decided to meet with a rather unfortunate accident. I can blame the cat for that one! Review if you wish.