A/N: Somehow, this turned into the longest chapter yet, I think. I'm on the fence here too. I have a soft spot for Aithusa, as you'll see soon. Here's hoping you like! :-) Let me know, please, reviews keep me going!


Merlin fidgeted as he followed Arthur and Gwen through the castle corridors. It was only an hour or so until the noon announcement and he was itching to find out exactly what the King intended to say to the masses. He hoped it wasn't anything too embarrassing or … forthcoming.

Breaching the Round Table chamber entryway, Merlin made for his usual position at the midway point of the room somewhere behind Arthur, but he was halted by a firm grasp of his shirtsleeve that nearly tore the well-worn brown fabric.

"Not this time, Merlin," came Arthur's voice from his left side. "You're going to be doing a bit of speaking, and I'll not have it done from across the room. It'll be just like old times at the Castle of the Ancient Kings. Come on." And he steered the younger man to a seat at the table.

Merlin reluctantly allowed himself to be manhandled into the chair, watching with growing anxiety as others trickled into the room as if by unspoken agreement that there was another meeting. Or perhaps there was, since he hadn't been privy to what was discussed before he had awoken and entered Gaius' workroom.

Arthur slipped into his own seat next to Merlin, with Guinevere on his other side. The warlock didn't immediately notice that he was actually seated in the position usually reserved for a First Advisor. It wasn't lost on the others, however, who kept the information and their reactions to it, to themselves.

"I was hoping my announcement would be the most talked about news of the day," Arthur began, "but it appears that the dragon and, by extension Merlin here, will likely trump it. Be that as it may, the announcement will commence as planned."

He turned to Geoffrey of Monmouth, who he had asked to meet with. "I plan to announce this afternoon that the rumors of both Morgana's death and the assistance of a sorceror at Camlann – are indeed true." He gave the old man a moment to digest that news, then he continued. "Because of the obvious repercussions a bounty on that sorceror's head would cause, I've decided to instead use this as an opportunity to try a new route. To take instances of magic on a case-by-case basis."

"Sire! That's … that's a very big step!" Geoffrey said breathlessly, his robes fluttering around him as he gestured wildly with his hands. "It will have the Council of Nobles up in arms. They will be knocking at the throne room doors by a minute after noon!"

Arthur held up a hand. "I know this," he said. "But how else should I reward the assistance that man provided? By a death sentence? Hunt him down? Vow to banish him if he is even seen setting foot in Camelot? What kind of King would that make me, Geoffrey?" He shook his head. "No … I will not reward such loyalty with hatred and mistrust. It's time we took another approach."

He looked directly at Geoffrey. "I am tasking you with seeing to it that such measures are written and ready for me after the announcement. I want everything in order. I'm not lifting the ban on magic. I'm not telling anyone they can go about and practice it, but I am saying that it will no longer be automatically punishable by death."

Geoffrey was sent on his way, for once in his life at a true loss for words. Merlin watched him go, cringing as the doors shut heavily behind him. He counted a mere three seconds before: "Right, now that that's over with, we move on to more pressing matters. Merlin? I want to know every time you've used your talents to save my life since coming to Camelot. And don't leave a thing out."

Merlin swallowed, turning his head to the side and facing Arthur. He blanched when he finally realized he was seated at his friend and King's right hand. Pressing that important tidbit aside, he took a deep breath. "Well you already know the first time I saved your life, sire," he said quietly. "The ball where the sorceress posed as Lady Helen and tried to kill you."

Arthur nodded. "Yes, I know about that time. I want to know when you used magic."

"I did use magic that time."

His response was met with silence.

Then – "what" erupted from at least three different sources. "Wait a minute!" Arthur exclaimed. "You used magic that night? In the ball room. The same ball room filled with countless nobles and citizens of Camelot and my father?"

Merlin gulped and nodded slowly. "Yeh," he said. "But, in my defense, everyone was asleep at the time. So no one saw anything."

Arthur groaned. "Unbelievable. You used magic right under my father's nose."

Gaius couldn't help a chuckle, drawing attention toward him. He sobered when he realized he'd been heard. "Oh, I'm sorry, sire. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Arthur shook his head. "No, Gaius, by all means, explain the chuckle. I can only assume it means this clotpole has done even more ludicrous things than use magic in the same room as my father."

Merlin wanted to disappear. Maybe he could just slide down far enough to hide under the table? He was supposed to be the most powerful sorceror in all of Albion? Why didn't he know a spell to disappear? Maybe he ought to learn that one sooner rather than later now that Arthur and quite a few of the knights knew his secret?

"I'll let Merlin explain, sire," Gaius said.

The younger man turned a fierce glare on Gaius. If the physician didn't know the young warlock as well as he did, he might have been alarmed by the ferocity. But as it were, he knew Merlin would never hurt him. Though right now he was turning an interesting shade of red …

"I … uhm … I thought we were talking about how many times I saved your life, Arthur? Isn't this off-topic? Shouldn't we get on with it? I mean, the list is a bit … long," Merlin said, trying to talk his way out of explaining any of his more Uther-centric and dangerous stunts.

"Oh, no, I want to hear this, Merlin," Arthur said. "Spit it out."

"Fine," Merlin grumbled. "I did use magic in the same room as your father, on more than one occasion. I also used it in the same room as you often enough. And if that wasn't stupidly dangerous enough, when your father fell ill with the same ailment that had affected Morgana back when Edwin Muirduin was in Camelot – and mind you, he was the cause of a it, a sorceror who was trying to kill your father – I used magic on Uther to save his life. So … yeh … call me a little bit crazy!"

Silence fell again at Merlin's outburst. Arthur might have said something if he wasn't too busy staring at the faint gold sparkles in Merlin's eyes. Had he riled up the man so much that magic was leaking or something? It sure looked like specks of the gold Merlin got in his eyes when he cast a spell. Or maybe Arthur was just seeing things?

A torch near the door to the chamber flared brightly and then sputtered out. Arthur was the only one who noticed Merlin's eyes flare with it. So he hadn't been seeing things. Merlin's temper was sorely stretched thin! The King chided himself for not noticing it sooner.

Gaius, sitting to Merlin's right, put a hand on his ward's arm. "Merlin, easy! Perhaps we shouldn't be jesting at a time like this. Everyone's on edge and some of us have been trying to use a little levity to cope with all that's happening."

The young warlock nodded, blowing out a breath. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "It's just … been a long few days. Losing my magic, then gaining it back and … with it some revelations I'm still coming to terms with. And then losing Kilgarrah and telling Arthur about my magic and then coming home and even more people finding out. It's just a lot, a little too fast!"

He ran a hand through his hair. "And Aithusa's not making it any easier. I can feel her confusion and her anger and it's affecting me too." The mention of the dragon reminded Merlin of something. He pushed aside his irritation and focused on Arthur, switching the topic and the focus of the conversation abruptly. "I have to ask you something, sire. About earlier. Why did you say, 'Why me?' outside?"

Arthur frowned. He was hoping Merlin wouldn't ask that in public. But then again, he was making the warlock bare everything in front of the Round Table. Perhaps it was only fair? "When you were conversing with the dragon, I could make out, faintly, some of what was being said."

He said it nonchalantly, but he might as well have shouted it from the rooftops such was the response. "Pardon me, sire, but you said you heard the dragon? That Merlin was conversing with telepathically?" Sir Leon said, leaning forward as if he hadn't heard right.

Arthur nodded slowly. "That is what I said."

Merlin was silent. He had no idea what to make of this. It was unprecedented, at least he thought it was. Obviously, Arthur's new dragon sense was related to having been saved by Kilgarrah, but Merlin had no idea how extensive it might be or what it might mean for the King.

And by the way Arthur was looking at him, it appeared the King was hoping he did have answers. All those times he had wished his friends knew about his magic – now he was wishing they didn't. It had been so much easier.

"I honestly can't say I have any idea what to expect, sire," Merlin said. "I only knew my father for a few days, and there was no opportunity to share Dragonlord knowledge. What I know I've learned from Kilgarrah or just by experience and I'm afraid it's precious little. I expect what you heard must have come from the dragon's life force sustaining you. But what it means … I couldn't say."

He had expected a reaction. Anger? Disappointment? Something. But Arthur really didn't react. He just quietly nodded. Merlin couldn't tell what he was thinking about this new development. Merlin was near his breaking point, so how close was Arthur to his? After all, the man had grown up with tales of evil magic sung at his bedside. Now that he had recently been attacked by it, nearly killed by it, saved by it, surrounded by it – how was he feeling? A silent Arthur was entirely too hard to read today.

Another rather insistent wail from Aithusa had Merlin cringing and Arthur frowning.

"You should probably go," the latter said. "I expect you back in time for the announcement."

Merlin looked at him sidelong. "Please don't tell me you're expecting me to … do anything?"

Arthur grimaced. "No, Merlin, I'm not going to ask that of you. The townsfolk will have heard of your Dragonlord display, however, so I will be addressing that, however briefly. You'll need to at least be there."

This time, Merlin did plant his face into his hands.

As the assembly broke up, Merlin resolved to sit for another moment. Normally he would follow Arthur and help him prepare for the announcement. Find his clothes, help him dress, the usual manservant course of the day.

Today, was different. Arthur had given him two days off. And he had a directive to deal with the dragon. It still felt incredibly odd to not have to lie through his teeth about where he was going to be going in a few minutes.

"Merlin?"

The young warlock had thought everyone had left the room, so when the voice sounded beside him, he jumped and spun to face its owner in surprise. "Gwen! I didn't know you were still here!"

Smiling, the Queen laughed. "I can tell. I didn't mean to startle you. I was just ..." she hesitated now, which was unlike her these days and immediately had Merlin's attention. "I know Arthur won't approve, or maybe he will, I'm not sure of much of anything right now." She trailed off, frowning in thought. In a moment she shook it off and continued. "Merlin, I wish to accompany you to see the dragon."

That was unexpected.

"You what?"

Gwen held her head high, appearing ready to dig in and stand her ground. "I want to come with you," she said. "You mentioned earlier that perhaps this dragon was drawn to Morgana because she was a woman. You, Merlin, are not a woman. Perhaps my presence will make your visit a bit easier." She paused, not sure what the mirth in Merlin's eyes all of a sudden was all about. It passed quickly and she wondered if she'd ever find out what had caused it. Right now, she had an agenda to stick to and she wasn't going to go off on a tangent. "I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me. Please, Merlin."

Merlin was at a loss. "I can handle Aithusa," he said slowly. "I mean, I'd be happy for a little company, I suppose, but Gwen, I don't understand what you wish to accomplish. I don't think there is anything you can do out there, really."

The Queen shook her head, her dark curls fluttering softly around her. "I know. I don't really mean to do anything, Merlin," she said. "I just feel like you've done so much for all of us and you're always alone. I don't want you to be alone anymore. And I also know that while I was under Morgana's thrall, I must have at least met this dragon."

Ah, there it was. Gwen was curious to see if Aithusa remembered anything of her. Merlin had to admit, it was a good idea to see if the young dragon did remember the Queen. Perhaps that connection could ease Aithusa into a sense of security long enough for Merlin to really get a full look at her.

"I guess you can come," he said. "But I think you need to tell Arthur."

Gwen sighed. "I know," she said. "Let me take care of Arthur. I'll meet you at the castle gates in ten minutes. Don't leave without me, Merlin!"

He nodded his agreement and watched Gwen leave.

Today was definitely shaping up to be strange indeed.


Queen and warlock rode silently through the forest, the former dressed in comfortable pants, blouse and cloak and Merlin in his ever-present brown jacket and trousers. They were silent as they closed the distance between the castle and the area Merlin had ordered Aithusa to wait in that morning.

As they drew near, Merlin started to hear the rumbling and grumblings of the agitated young dragon in his head. He slowed the horse and dismounted, drawing a confused gaze from Gwen. In explanation, he said, "Aithusa isn't happy. To bring the horses any further would be unfair to them. They'll be frightened by her."

With a short nod and quick dismount, Gwen was at his side again.

Now walking through the woods, Gwen kept shooting glances sideways at her old friend. He didn't seem any different now that she knew he was a powerful sorceror. He still stumbled, still joked, still smiled that crooked grin. He was still shy and still modest. If he hadn't told Arthur, or if Gaius hadn't given her enough clues to guess his secret, she wondered if anyone would have figured it out.

Her attention was soon diverted to the clearing ahead when a large crash sounded. Gwen watched in surprise as the white dragon, Aithusa as Merlin had named her, smashed her tail into a tree and sent the sapling careening into a nearby cliff face with a splintering roar.

She was angry, all right.

Merlin's eyes narrowed. "Maybe you should stay behind me now," he said, moving to stand fully in front of Gwen as they got closer to the clearing and gained the attention of the thrashing dragon. Aithusa turned in their direction and immediately spewed a blast of fire at them, which Merlin wasted no time in repelling with a quick shield.

Gwen scrunched behind him, but was surprised to feel no heat from the flames as they burst and sputtered against his shield. She unscrunched and stared through them at the dragon. When the beast's eyes met the woman's behind Merlin, the flames abruptly ceased and the dragon cocked her head to the side in confusion.

Gwen?

Merlin looked over his shoulder at the Queen before turning back to Aithusa and speaking aloud. "Yes, this is Gwen. Do you remember her?

Aithusa nodded slowly. Mistress friend.

So the dragon did know of Gwen. But apparently not that Gwen had been under an enchantment. Merlin thought for a moment that could be an advantage, but he immediately dismissed the idea. He wouldn't begin his relationship with Aithusa by lying to her.

"No, Aithusa, Gwen was Morgana's friend many years ago, before she began using magic for evil. When you met Gwen, she was under a dark spell woven by the mandrake and Morgana to control her," Merlin said quietly.

Aithusa, a creature of magic, was familiar with mandrakes. She looked between Merlin and Gwen. Mistres hurt Gwen?

Nodding, Merlin said, "Yes, I imagine it did hurt."

Gwen wasn't entirely sure what Aithusa was saying, but she knew what the topic of conversation was. She tapped Merlin on the shoulder. "Can I talk to her?"

The dragon's head lifted, finding it odd that the woman was asking permission to speak to her. Was she too controlled by this man who had the power to stop her with just his voice? The dragon waited to see what Merlin would say.

"Sure," the warlock responded with a smile. "She can understand you, but I'll have to tell you what she responds. It's not much, usually. For some reason, she's unable to speak. I hope to figure out why and see if that can be remedied. By this age, she should be able to speak as you and I do."

That was news to Aithusa.

Speak?

Merlin turned to the dragon. "Yes, you should be able to speak. I don't know all that my Dragonlord ancestors did of dragons, but I do know that by your age, you should have the ability to speak, Aithusa. Something happened to you, something terrible, and it must be why you can't."

Gwen stepped out from behind Merlin, but not beyond him. "Were you imprisoned with Morgana," she said, looking sadly at the dragon. "By the Sarrum? She told me of the horrors of her time there. Of his cruelty."

The dragon's head ducked low, nearly to the ground, and her eyes spoke of unbearable sorrow. Bad man, was her reply.

Merlin could feel his anger rising. "How could he!?" the Dragonlord seethed. "Dragons shouldn't be caged or chained!" He had to turned aside, such was his upset. He didn't noticed that Aithusa appeared to be frightened, but Gwen did.

"Merlin, calm down, I think she's scared," the Queen said.

The young warlock deflated, slipping to sit on a freshly fallen log that Aithusa must have knocked over in her earlier anger. "I'm sorry, Aithusa," he said, his head in his hands. "Don't be frightened, please, I won't hurt you. I'm not angry at you, I'm angry at the man who hurt you and at myself for not being there to help you."

Why? Came the dragon's response.

Merlin peered up at the dragon, who was slightly closer than before, as Gwen sat beside him. "Because as a Dragonlord, it's my duty to protect you. You're my kin. Aithusa, I hatched you and named you, you're important to me."

The dragon cocked her head to the side again. It hit her then where she had seen this man before – the day she had been born. The few times she had come across him while with Morgana, there had been a vague recollection, but she couldn't place him. Now she knew where it had come from.

"Aithusa, Kilgarrah was able to gift knowledge to me. Are you aware of how to do that? Because you could 'tell' me what happened to you that way, since your speech is severely stunted," Merlin said, looking up and meeting the young dragon's curious gaze.

For a moment, Aithusa didn't respond. Then she reared up and approached more upright than prone as she normally appeared to settle. Drawing in a breath, she blew a light mist of golden light instead of flames into the open air in front of her.

Merlin smiled and nodded in encouragement. "That's it," he said. "Press the knowledge I need to know to help you to the forefront of your mind and I will receive it," he said, standing again. He looked down at Gwen. "Best if you stay right there, just in case something goes wrong."

He was putting a lot of trust in the dragon who this morning would have killed them. But Aithusa appeared to be lost and confused and was latching onto him and Gwen in her need for companionship and love. Ready?

Stepping into the dragon's range, Merlin looked up at the young one. "All right," he said. "Go ahead."

With more care than Gwen thought the dragon capable of earlier, Aithusa repeated her "misting" and this time Merlin let it hit him. It rustled his hair and clothes, but didn't appear to otherwise impact him. It wasn't until he opened his eyes and a flash of pure gold erupted in them that Gwen knew anything had transpired.

He grunted as a flash of images flew before his eyes.

Aithusa had been imprisoned by the Sarrum, kept locked in a cavern that quickly grew too small for her growing body. The small space, which she had shared with Morgana, had stunted her growth and her cries of pain had echoed for miles. If only those miles had reached as far as Camelot … or had made it to Kilgarrah's ears. Merlin reeled as more images came, of years of torment at the Sarrum's hands. Aithusa had spent so long in cramped quarter her wings could barely take her into the air and her body, while still growing, did so painfully.

Amidst the deluge of scenes, he found the reason for her lack of speech.

As the images faded, Merlin stumbled and gripped his head for a moment. It hadn't hurt, per se, but it was disorienting to suddenly see and feel the things that his dragon-kin had gone through. His own body was uninjured, but echoes of discomfort almost touched him.

Gwen rose quickly and rested a steadying hand on his back. "Are you all right?" She asked in concern. "What just happened?"

Merlin held up a quelling hand. "I'm all right, Gwen," he said. "It was a lot of images and feelings. I know what happened to her now. That man should be thrown in his own dungeons and the keys destroyed forever. He doesn't deserve to see the light of day."

If Merlin were this angry at a man, he must have been horrible, Gwen thought to herself, looking on the dragon with new pity. Aithusa looked between Gwen and Merlin, waiting for their next move. She had bared herself to the Dragonlord. What would he do?

Gathering himself, Merlin looked back to Aithusa. "I can restore your ability to speak to you," he said slowly. "But I'm not sure if I'll be able to fully restore your wings or your growth. The cavern prevented your proper development for so long, I'm just not sure if I can reverse it without killing you."

Aithusa and Gwen looked at Merlin in surprise at his surety. "You can fix her voice?" Gwen asked. "How?"

Merlin sighed. "The vocal chords aren't damaged," he said. "They are silenced." He looked at Aithusa. "The Sarrum would punish you for making too much noise. One night, while you slept, Morgana put a spell on you to try to quiet you. Unfortunately, it took away your ability to speak but did nothing to stop your cries. I don't think she knew what she had done. She was trying to help, I think."

Aithusa looked down. Mistress dead.

Merlin swallowed. "Yes, Morgana is dead," he whispered. Looking into the dragon's eyes, he licked his lips. "She wasn't happy, Aithusa. She wouldn't find happiness here, even if she did win. But now, she is in a better, happier place. I have to believe that."

How?

The warlock had been dreading this moment. "I did it," he said quietly. "It was quick."

He prepared himself to repel her wrath and anger. He wasn't prepared for her actual response. Thank you.

Shocked, Merlin stared at Aithusa. And in her eyes, he understood why she had thanked him. She would continue for years to come to suffer from her mistreatment in this world. She couldn't escape it, while she might eventually heal from it. Morgana had had no one. Aithusa had tried to be there for her, but she was a dragon and a broken one. Aithusa was glad her friend was now at peace.

"I'm glad she'll no longer suffer, too," he said quietly. "Now, will you let me help you?"

Aithusa lifted her head and nodded slowly. Merlin smiled, coming forward slowly, taking Gwen's hand within his own until the two of them were alongside Aithusa's head. She was the size of a large wyvern and with her head bowed, they were on even keel. Merlin reached out and gently rested a hand on her head, meeting her too-sad eyes. "I'll lift the spell on your voice first," he said. He pulled Gwen's hand forward, indicating she too could touch the dragon. "Do you feel comfortable with Gwen? She can sit with you while I try to find the counter?"

Aithusa perked at the idea. Like her.

With a smile, Merlin conveyed the response and Gwen's own smile grew. "I like you too, Aithusa," the Queen said. She sat again, this time with the dragon's head perched on the log beside her.

It was an odd site.

The Queen of Camelot stroking a white dragon's head, while the King's manservant prepared to cast healing magic in an attempt to help the dragon speak for the first time in her short, scarred life.


A/N: Hmmm, so I do keep putting off Merlin doing magic in front of the knights and more people. I think it's because I just can't figure what I would be HAPPY with him doing! Would it be too cliche for someone to attack and Merlin save the day? Oie... :-/ Or maybe just some good old beautiful stuff like he did with Percival? I don't knnnnowwwww. -Gwenneth