Arthur had stayed by Lancelot's side. Balinor had disappeared from the cave saying he needed more herbs, and to catch something more for dinner. Merlin hurried about doing things that involved cooking, tidying and checking on Arthur and Lancelot on a regular basis. He was quite solicitous in giving water and had brought a bowl of apples and berries for Arthur to eat.
He had managed to accept it graciously but he felt a little fractious. Merlin seemed to understand that Arthur's concern was Lancelot, for the time being. And in the end Merlin had retreated, so had the animals. Arthur hadn't dared move until the wolf had gone from the cave entrance. When he did venture out while Lancelot was sleeping deeply there was only Balinor sat outside, watching as the sun set down over the trees. Arthur almost went to him but Merlin wandered into the scene and squatted down, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his forearms together.
"Are you angry with me?" he asked Balinor.
"No, of course not, child. Why would you think that?" the Dragon Lord asked. He reached out an arm to wrap it around Merlin's waist and the boy swivelled on his heels to drop on his rump next to his father.
"You're angry."
"Not at you son," Balinor said gently, his arm taking anchorage against Merlin's back and Merlin shuffled closer. "They shouldn't have come."
"Lancelot was hurt. You made him better."
"I know but, oh Merlin, I'm so sorry," Balinor said, turning to kiss Merlin on the forehead. "It's more than that."
"But you're not angry?" Merlin asked.
"No, I'm not angry," Balinor said gently. Merlin snuggled against him, tucking his head down on his father's shoulder.
"Good, I don't want you to be angry with me," Merlin said.
Balinor chuckled and rubbed Merlin's far shoulder. Merlin snuggled tighter to him.
"I don't think that will ever happen, Merlin."
Merlin huffed happily. "I love you, father."
"I love you too. Come on, we need to feed our guests."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Arthur got his chance after he had eaten a well cooked, if rather thin, stew. Lancelot had roused long enough to have a few mouthfuls, which Merlin had helped him with. Arthur had eyed Balinor carefully, and the man was just as wary as he looked back. Merlin trotted off to wash the bowls and tidy up, Cyan following him while Thor pecked at his food and hopped about the cave. Balinor was watching Merlin as he worked outside, Cyan trying to get him to play again when Balinor sensed Arthur moving to stand next to him.
"How did you end up with a wolf, and a crow?" Arthur asked.
"Merlin found them, and wanted to keep them."
"Your son?" Arthur asked, looking at the youth in question. Balinor felt his heart tense. The last thing he wanted to do was deny Merlin's parentage, but Balinor had to consider the idea of Arthur knowing about a potential dragon lord, and one who could be very easily manipulated. Plus with Merlin's other talents, he did not need a Pendragon taking too much interest in his mentally underdeveloped son. So he lied.
"No, not in blood. Merlin never knew his father, and his mother died when the raiders kidnapped him from his village when he was a child. He spent years being abused by them, until he suddenly decided to run away, and I found him. He doesn't seem to see anything usual with taking damaged strays in. I think he just likes the idea of having someone. It seems to make him feel better."
Arthur looked appalled at the story, turning to look at Merlin with genuine sympathy. Balinor watched the expressions moving over Arthur's face as he considered what Merlin had been through. It was not a pleasant story.
"That rather contradicts what the innkeeper said about you."
"Oh?" Balinor asked, looking at Arthur with his steady gaze. Balinor noted it made Arthur look uncomfortable.
"He said you hated everyone and everything."
Perhaps he had, when he had first gone into hiding, it was a true fact. But time had moved on from then, and brought him Merlin. Even if he hadn't been his true son, Balinor doubted that he would have rejected Merlin. He hadn't known at the beginning what had stumbled into his cave, and had caused the odd tightness in his mind and body, pulling Merlin to him.
"Nobody in the village knows Merlin is here. The raiders and slavers are still moving in the area, picking up men. I have the feeling that if they realise he's here, they'll come looking for him. I don't think he deserves to suffer that any more."
Arthur looked at Balinor carefully, picking up the underlying threat in the words. He didn't want anyone knowing Merlin was here. Gwaine was the only other person who had encountered Merlin here, and Balinor had trusted him to never reveal it to anyone but Gaius. Looking at Arthur he wondered if Gwaine had made it to Camelot to tell him. There was no way he could ever really know. However, he didn't think that Gwaine would let him down. It was an odd thing to think since he had only known Gwaine a couple of days.
"No," Arthur said.
"So why has the Prince of Camelot turned up on my door?"
"You know what caused Lancelot's wound," Arthur challenged.
"A dragon's claw. He was brave getting close to it."
"He had no choice, the thing's loose and destroying Camelot."
Arthur stepped back a little as Balinor turned. There was something so dark in his eyes, like storm clouds brewing deep inside his soul.
"How did such a thing occur?"
The prince shook his head. "Someone unleashed it, somehow; and now it's destroying the town, and the citadel. Innocent people are dying."
"That happens when tyrants have their way," Balinor said. "I do not understand what you expect me to do."
"You're a Dragon Lord. You're the only Dragon Lord. Only you can stop him, we can't fight him. We've spent two nights trying!"
"He's the only dragon, I'm the only Dragon Lord," Balinor said calmly. "You know the reason for that."
"But you seriously can't let this happen. He's destroying everything that Camelot is."
"Yes, if you understand what Camelot represents to him, then I imagine he is."
"He will destroy the kingdom."
"They rise and fall, Kilgharrah has lived to see that many a time."
"Kil… what?" Arthur asked, suddenly baffled. Balinor looked at him almost pityingly.
"Kilgharrah, it is the great dragon's name, you do not even know that simple fact."
"It's just a beast."
"If that is how you see him, and how you have treated him for the last two decades, then no wonder he is behaving as he is. He is acting the way Camelot has made him."
"What does that mean?" Arthur demanded.
"He is the last dragon, the great dragon. You see him as nothing more than a mindless creature. He had seen the whole of known history pass; your lifetime is nothing more than a blink of an eye to him. The Dragon Lords were given their titles not because they were from noble families but because of their association with the dragons, a race considered noble."
Arthur blinked. "He is nothing more than a mindless killer."
"I very much doubt he is mindless, if he wishes to pay back the betrayal that ensnared him then so be it."
"Betrayal? What betrayal?"
"I suppose that is a story Uther does not wish to tell, like so many others," Balinor said, smiling without humour. The comment made Arthur frown, his eyes darkening with anger. Balinor had no time for what the young prince did or didn't know, but he knew his own part in the tale.
"Uther came to me, saying he wanted to make peace with the dragon, that he was wrong to have hunted them. Twenty years ago I was willing to trust him, believing him in what he said. He asked me to call the dragon to the cavern, where he could talk to it.
"Little did I know, it was nothing more than a trap. He imprisoned the dragon, using a chain forged with magic," Balinor spat that little fact out. Arthur blinked in surprise. "I was taken prisoner, to be executed for the use of magic. I was the last Dragon Lord, he had slaughtered the others, not for what we chose to do, but for our simple birthright, a gift passed down from father to son."
A gift which would pass to Merlin, eventually, Balinor didn't doubt that. His son was so powerful, but innocent and trusting at the same time. There was no doubt in Balinor's mind that Merlin carried the gift of the Dragon Lords within him. Not that Balinor would ever let anyone know that.
"You escaped," Arthur said.
"I was rescued, of a fashion, and I took refuge in this kingdom, Cenred's kingdom, although his father ruled then. I thought I was safe, until Uther learned of my location, and sent the knights of Camelot to hunt me down."
"But you were not within Camelot's boarders?" Arthur asked.
"Your father does not concern himself with things like that, just getting his own way. I left the village, rather than see them persecuted. I couldn't risk anyone else. Uther drove me to solitude. He thinks magic is evil, a corruptive force, but it is no more evil than your sword," Balinor announced. "It is, like all power, controlled by it's user. If you want to see the evil influence of power, then look to your father. It will do no harm for his reign to end."
Arthur gaped. "Innocent people are dying."
Balinor blinked. The boy was frighteningly idealistic, and clearly had no comprehension of his father's actions. He was, in his own way, almost as dangerously innocent as Merlin was.
"Around Uther innocent people always die."
Balinor watched Arthur wince. The boy somehow knew the truth of that fact. He was old enough now; he could form his own opinion. Balinor's had been formed long ago.
"I swore I would never return to Camelot, and I would never face the dragon again. I betrayed him as much as Uther betrayed us both. Even when I did as Uther asked, I somehow didn't believe him. I shouldn't have trusted him then, I will not trust you now."
Arthur's face fell, but anger was brewing in his eyes. "How can you do that? I promise you, you can leave Camelot safely, once the dragon is recaptured."
The instant he spoke Arthur knew he had said the wrong thing. Balinor glowered at him darkly.
"You haven't heard a word I have said," Balinor reprimanded him, in an oddly gentle tone. "You may stay until your friend is well enough to travel."
That was Balinor's last word on the matter, Arthur presumed, as he walked away, calling to Merlin who ran after him, picking up a collecting basket and heading off into the forest. Arthur gritted his teeth, holding back the urge to threaten the man, telling him he would come back with a contingent of Camelot's soldiers. But it would do no good, they would never get through Cenred's territory. Even if they did, Balinor could be gone. Arthur guessed it was likely he would now leave, not wanting to risk Uther knowing where he was, especially with his vulnerable charge to consider.
Arthur let them go, Merlin turning to look back at him in concern, while Cyan danced around him, trying to get his attention. Eventually another call from Balinor sent Merlin on his way, and Arthur turned as there was shuffling behind him. Lancelot stepped out into the light, looking pale but far better than he had yesterday.
"How are you feeling?"
"Very well Sire," Lancelot said, sounding surprised by the fact. He reached up to press the bandage that now covered his shoulder.
"Are you fit to travel?" Arthur asked. Lancelot's face brightened.
"He's going to come with us?"
"No, we're returning alone," Arthur said. Lancelot looked stunned.
"But didn't you tell him."
"Of course I did, Lancelot!" Arthur snapped. "I tried but…"
Lancelot frowned as Arthur paused, realising something had passed between the two men, something deeper than the simple request they had come with. Lancelot had also learnt some information from Gaius, and had a suspicion of what that might be. Lancelot knew when to leave the issue alone.
"I'm fit to travel, My Lord," he said instead.
"We'll pack up now," Arthur said. "And wait for them to return before we leave. Maybe we can try again."
"Perhaps we could stay longer; maybe Merlin could help change his mind."
Arthur had the same thought, so Balinor probably had as well. They would be another night away from Camelot even if they started travelling now, any further delay seemed like a waste of time to Arthur. The prince shook his head.
"It's not a risk we can take, we'll have to just fight the beast ourselves."
"The least he can do is tell us the most effective way to kill it," Lancelot murmured before he turned and went to pack their belongings.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Balinor had, but it hadn't shocked him into coming with them, as Arthur hoped it might. As they trudged off down the path Arthur thought that Balinor didn't believe that they could get close enough to strike a killing blow.
"What are you doing?" he snapped as Lancelot turned to wave.
"Waving at Merlin." He followed Arthur as the prince stormed off. "It's not his fault, he doesn't understand what's going on."
Arthur frowned as he carried on through the forest.
"Neither do I," he murmured.
