"How were you supposed to know? And I could never hate you. A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole."

"I should have told him," Gaius said gravely.

Arthur's head whipped around. "You knew?"

"And I was too much of a coward to say anything. Your father threatened me and kept a close eye on me. I sent out knights every day to search for you, but alas, they never came back with anything. Finally I was desperate so I set the dragon free…"

"You did what?" Arthur asked.

"Kilgharrah? He was here? You let him go?"

Just brilliant, of course Merlin was on first name terms with the great dragon.

Gaius took a deep breath. "I needed to find Merlin before he gave birth so I used magic to free the Great Dragon. He knew how to find him and I'm assuming he got there just in time. Then Kilgharrah brought you back to Camelot, where you are now."

Merlin pouted. "How am I supposed to save Arthur now? That dragon was like a walking library."

"Are you complaining, Merlin, that he saved your life?" Gaius gave him the eyebrow.

Merlin gulped. "On second thought, I'm fine with it."

"I'm glad Merlin's alive and all but what am I supposed to do with an escaped dragon?"

Gaius looked sheepish. "I didn't plan this out very far, sire."

"It's easy, I'll just ask him not to raze the city."

Arthur stared at him in disbelief. "Oh yes," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Excuse me mister dragon, sir, please try not to destroy and kill everyone in your vicinity or get revenge for being imprisoned for the last few decades."

"That's the spirit," Merlin replied cheerfully.

Arthur just groaned and shook his head. But he was smiling inside, he had missed Merlin and his cheekiness.

But Gaius looked thoughtful. "You are the son of a dragonlord, what you say does hold some sway over him."

Merlin perked up with interest. "My father? You knew him?"

"I thought all the dragonlords were dead." Arthur said slowly.

Merlin looked crushed.

"Actually, all but one. Balinor escaped with my help. He stopped in Ealdor while on the run from Uther. I don't think he knew about you, Merlin."

"So he was hunted by Uther too." Merlin patted his belly. "Hear that, baby? It runs in the family."

"Baby? What an original name. Come on, you can do better than that." Arthur teased.

Merlin gave him a dirty look. "I started out with Arthur Jr. but it got really confusing between the two of you."

Arthur felt pleased. "You thought about me?"

Merlin looked at him incredulously. "Of course I thought about you. I missed you, prat."

Arthur gave him a gentler smile. "I missed you too."


The next few days, Merlin was bound to his bed. He spent his waking moments questioning Gaius about his father and about what had transpired in the past half year. Arthur tried to visit him as often as he could.

They eventually got around to the topic of magic. It took a full two days for Merlin to finish telling him about all the ways he had saved Arthur's life in the past. Arthur was flabbergasted. Merlin, the giant girl, the greatest idiot to ever live, had saved Arthur more times than he could count.