Author's note: Hello again everyone. I'm sorry I kept you all waiting for more than a month. A lot of things happened while I was away. First, was I hit a little road block for this story. I just couldn't get in the mood to work on it and I had a lot of motivation for other stories. I know that's no excuse, so I apologize. Second, I was on vacation in Spain and that took up a lot time. It was super fun, but tiring. Third, my depression and anxiety went up and I just couldn't work on anything. I tried, but it was really bad this time. I okay now, I had people there to help me, but I needed to take care of myself before I went and did any work.

The last thing, and this really set me off on a rampage, was that my computer received a Cryptowall 3.0 virus. All my documents for this story, other stories, games, and schoolwork files were held for ransom. I had to go get my laptop clean and that took over two weeks. All my work was gone and I was extremely upset. I still am, but what can I do about it now, right? So, I'll be updating a lot more now since school is beginning to wrap up. I'll be graduating soon, so yaay!

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Pairings: ArthurxMerlin, LancelotxGuinevere, MorganaxLeon, WillxFreya, UtherxIgraine (implied), BalinorxHunith (implied)

Chapter Summary: Merlin discovers another thing about his destiny and Arthur laments about having to marry Vivian.

(Merlin's p.o.v)

"Arthur! Arthur, you can't be serious! Arthur!"

Merlin stormed after Arthur, trying to keep up with the Prince's long, angry strides. So far Arthur was doing an amazing job at ignoring him, but through the Prince's anger, he could feel frustration. He couldn't tell exactly who the frustration was directed to, but it was there.

"Arthur! Wait!"

Arthur threw open the doors to his chamber, pacing around towards his desk with silent fury. Merlin stared after him, disbelief written on his face. "Arthur," he tried again. "Did Uther force you to do this?"

"No." Arthur's response was.

"Well finally," he muttered to himself, crossing his arms over his plain shirt. Arthur grumbled something under his breath, not meeting his eyes. Sighing, he continued to confront the prince. "You told me earlier that you didn't like Vivian. Now you decide to marry her? What's up with that?"

"It's none of your business, Merlin," Arthur practically sneered, narrowing his eyes at him with his hands on his hips. "Just leave it be."

"I will most certainly not," he glared back at him, Arthur's eyes widening slightly. "If she's going to living here with you, then I have a right to know. You can't hide anything from me, so stop trying to. Did Uther put you up to this or not?"

Arthur stared at him for another minute before removing his hands from his hips in defeat. "Fine, yes, Father told me I needed to marry her."

He wanted to say something along the lines of go figure, but the look on the prince's face advised him against it. "But you don't always listen to Uther, so why now? I mean, I guess he could force you to marry her, but you'd still rebel against it. Why didn't you?"

"Because if I don't marry Vivian, he said he'll marry Morgana off to the next official he sees!"

Ice cold dread struck him, and suddenly, he felt sick. "What?" he gasped. "He can't do that, can he? Why would he want to?"

"Because he's the King and he can do what he wants! Resorting to black mail is cheap, but…" Arthur trailed off, looking more miserable than before. "Morgana would be unhappy in the marriage and I would be the reason why. I could never forgive myself for hurting her that way."

He gazed at the prince, completely speechless. He was a little shocked at how Arthur was willing to give away his own happiness just so someone close to him could be happy. "I don't know what to say," he responded, now feeling sympathy. "I guess all I can say is that it's very grown up of you to make a decision like that."

Arthur just rolled his eyes. "Thank you for those wise words of wisdom, Merlin."

"You're welcome."

He thought he almost saw a smile crack on Arthur's lips, but the prince just shook his head. "You can go back to Gaius, Merlin. I need time alone."

He slowly walked towards the door, feeling awkward and uneasy. "Okay. Well, goodnight."

"Just leave, Merlin."

"Sweet dreams."

"Merlin!"

"She makes me want to vomit."

Merlin smiled a little, watching as Morgana glared daggers at the princess who had nothing better to do than flirt with the prince. Or rather, her soon-to-be fiancé. Gwen only sighed, Lancelot raising his eyes towards the ceiling at her comment. Currently Vivian was clutching Arthur's arm, pawing at it like a dog wanting attention.

"I don't see what's so bad about her," Gwaine commented, shivering a little as Morgana turned her glare towards him. "What?"

"Morgana, he doesn't really know about her," Leon reminded her gently. "He's still new here after all."

"Leon is right," Gwen agreed, assorting some objects in her basket. "You'll just have to watch how she acts, Gwaine."

"Sounds like fun," Gwaine let out a smirk. "But I doubt she's that bad. I'm surprised Princess over there is putting up with her."

Merlin only frowned at that, something inside him nagging irritably. Every time he saw Vivian and Arthur, a piercing of anger and something he couldn't describe spiked within him. He didn't know if she was aware of her annoyance of him, but if she was, her flirting only rose tenfold. She was always on Arthur, touching him constantly and acting like a teenage girl. Well, she was a teenage girl, but that was beside the point. The point was, he didn't like her touching him.

"She's not good enough for him," he grumbled to himself, glaring at her and Arthur's retreating forms. "Arthur deserves so much better. She's not even worthy of being a princess. She certainly doesn't act like one."

"What are you brooding about, Merlin?" he jumped at Leon's question, watching the man's gray eyes raise in question at his reaction. "Merlin?"

"It's nothing!" he replied, realizing that he had done it too quickly, everyone's eyes on him now. "Don't look at me like that!"

"Jealous that Vivian is going to be living with Princess for the rest of his days?" Gwaine smirked.

"Gwaine," Lancelot started, caution lacing his voice. "Be careful of what you're saying!"

Merlin narrowed his eyes at his new friend, not ignoring the fact that Gwen and Morgana glanced at each other knowingly. "What are you implying, Gwaine?"

Gwaine grinned like a child, looking completely like he had a secret. "Oh nothing," he began in a sing-song tone. "Besides the fact that you're jealous of Arthur having to give Vivian attention!"

"I am not!"

"I have to agree," Morgana quipped, Gwen nodding her head in agreement. "You do look pretty jealous; sulking over there like a scorned lover."

"I'm not jealous," he scoffed, brushing their comments off easily. When their gazes didn't change, his voice became firmer. "I'm not jealous."

There was silence for a few minutes, before Lancelot broke the silence. "You look pretty jealous to me."

Leon nodded enthusiastically. "Pretty jealous."

He scoffed again, grabbing the basket of Arthur's armor. He turned to his friends, the armor piling up so that it was almost impossible to see his face. "I am not jealous," he said, again for the umpteenth time. "I just don't want to be stuck serving that troll and I definitely don't want her having kids with him."

"Oh, don't put that image in my head," Morgana turned green, holding Leon's arm for support. "The thought of her having monster children makes me sick."

Gwen only giggled. "Well maybe they wouldn't be so bad. I mean, they would be Arthur's children too."

"Gwen, that doesn't make it any better."

He gave a small smile, bidding them farewell as he headed back to the armory. The walk there was silent, the spring wind rustling the few leaves that remained on the ground and the bell placed in the bell tower. The day wasn't sunny; rather it was partially clouded, but he didn't mind. The peace and quiet cleared his mind, the words of his friends ringing in his ears.

"I'm not jealous," he grumbled. "Why would I be jealous? He doesn't love her; he never will, right? I mean, it's not like that could change."

"Do you always talk to yourself?"

He jumped, magic instantly reacting and knocking down the owner of the voice. Instantly, he recognized Arthur's groan of pain. He whirled around, sputtering out an apology as he set the basket of armor down to help the prince up. "Arthur, I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"Other than the fact you almost made me hit my head on the axe nearby, just peachy," Arthur hissed sarcastically. "Why didn't you watch where you were going, you Dollop-head?"

"Hey, that's my word!" he protested, helping the prince up. "And I didn't expect to see you in here. I thought you were with Vivian."

"Don't remind me," Arthur groaned, looking completely miserable. "She won't shut up about her damn rabbit, Sir…Fluff or whatever the damn thing is named."

"I believe it was Sir Fluffers," he grinned as Arthur cast him the meanest glare he could muster. "Surely she can't be that bad." That part was obviously a lie, but Arthur didn't need to know that.

"She's horrible! She's incredibly rude, self-centered, and acts like a silly girl most of the time!"

"That's because she is a girl."

Arthur just jabbed a finger on his chest. "Not the point," he seethed before continuing his tangent. "And just at lunch today she talks about having at least ten children! We're not even married yet and all she talks about is having my children! I'm nowhere near ready to be a father!"

He couldn't help the sympathetic smile spread out across his face. "Just tell her your feelings," he replied, watching as Arthur began to massage his temples. "Maybe she'll realize you're not ready and then perhaps she'll realize she isn't ready either."

"Doubt it," Arthur grumbled, pacing around, grabbing the nearest sword he could and started to do intricate movements. "Every time I try to speak she interrupts me. It's like I'm just supposed to stand there and let her talk for me. What am I, a baby?"

"She's probably used to getting what she wants all the time. She's practically a child, you know. I don't even think she's eighteen yet."

"She's sixteen," Arthur grumbled. "And she thinks she's in love. What would she know about love?"

Merlin shook his head. "Who knows; maybe she does. Love is a mysterious force, after all."

"Please," Arthur rolled his eyes. "What would you know about love?"

Silence filled the space between them, Merlin busy staring at the objects in his hands while Arthur pursed his lips, obviously regretting what he just said. Merlin just bit his lip, trying to hold back a rude response. "You're right," he agreed. "What would I know about love? It's not like I've ever loved anyone. Oh no, Druids don't love."

"Damnit Merlin, that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean then?" he glared at the hunter, meeting the bright blue eyes of the prince. "Do you honestly think I don't know what love is? Do you even know what love is?"

"Of course I do!" Arthur shot back. "I have feelings for someone, but I can't be with them because I'm marrying someone I don't love!"

"Who do you love? Who?"

"Just forget it," Arthur brushed him off, shouldering past him in an angry manner. "I'll see you later; I have to go find Vivian. We're looking over the wedding attire with the tailor."

Without another word, the prince left, leaving him standing in the middle of the armory feeling very annoyed and slightly angry. "Damn prat," he muttered, putting the armor back in its proper place. "Why do I even bother with him sometimes?"

He didn't sleep that well last night. While the daytime had been nice, towards the evening it had become unbearably hot. The mid-May sun beat down on the castle walls harshly, causing a fine layer of sweat to form on a majority of courtiers. It had reduced Merlin to sleeping without a shirt on, and though he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he was thinking of removing his trousers to.

He lay in bed, the sound of the wind gently gusting through the night. Homesickness pierced him as he thought of his mother; probably waiting for the son that would most likely never return home. Arthur wasn't so bad to be around; he'd changed in a small way. He'd made new friends and they treated him like an equal. Uther would never change, but he didn't see much of the King anymore.

"Merlin…"

He immediately shot up in bed, eyes widening at the sound of the voice. He'd been hearing it for a while now, though he'd been trying to ignore it for the most part. Yet, it called to him so strongly.

"Merlin…"

"Oh to hell with it," he grumbled, grabbing his shirt and pulling it on over his head. He tiptoed past Gaius' room, the old man snoring loudly. The doors creaked silently as he opened them, careful not to wake him. He followed the voice as it grew louder, his feet for some reason knowing where to go.

He went through the dungeons, past a few of the sleeping guards and beyond a door that was not guarded heavily for some reason. He pulled it, walking down a long passage of stairs till he arrived deep in the catacombs underground. "I'm here!" he called out, holding the torch in his hand higher. "What do you want? Why do you keep calling me?"

"Well it's about time you showed up. I was beginning to think you'd never come, young Warlock."

A flapping sound echoed towards him and he took three steps back, eyes widening as a golden-brown dragon appeared before him. His jaw dropped, trying to find words. "You…you're a dragon!"

"Yes, I am a dragon, young Warlock."

"You're a dragon!"

"I believe we've established this already."

He shook his head, wondering whether to feel excited or scared. "I can't believe this," he began, a smile growing on his face. "I was told dragons were wiped out ages ago and yet I'm talking to one right now!"

"I am the last of my kind," the dragon replied, its calm eyes staring into his own. "I am Kilghraah, the last of the dragons. And you are Emrys."

Merlin nodded, remembering that tiny detail Gaius had told him months ago. "I guess. So, are you the one who's been calling me?"

"Yes, young Warlock. We have all been waiting for you for a very long time. You are destined to bring back magic to Camelot and rid it of Uther's hate."

He was tempted to roll his eyes at that, but decided it would be unwise to do so in the presence of a dragon. It could still kill him, couldn't it? "So I've been told, but how I am supposed to do that? And I'm supposed to make sure Arthur gets the throne just to have him carry out the order? How am I supposed to do this on my own?"

"You will not be alone," Kilgharaah continued, now perched up high on a bolder. "You have allies all around you: The Witch, the Maiden, and the Knights. And Arthur, your other half. With them on your side, magic will return. You have a great destiny ahead of you, Merlin."

"But Uther would never let Arthur take the throne if he knew that he would allow magic to return!"

The dragon roared at the mention of the king's name, slamming its talons on the rock beneath it; the chain rubbing its neck in a painful way. "The reign of Uther is coming to an end. And soon."

"What?"

"The King is dying. He may not know it yet, but he is slowly and surely withering away."

"Well, that's good, I think," he didn't really know how to process that. Sure the King was a monster, but he was still Arthur's father and he knew that Uther loved Arthur more than anything. "But he's to marry Vivian."

"That won't work," Kilgharaah said gravely. "He is not destined to marry her."

"Why?"

"Because he is destined to marry you."

His jaw dropped again, feeling as if someone had punched him in the stomach. "What? Me? Arthur can't marry me! He doesn't even love me!"

Kilgharaah only gazed at him in amusement. "You do not know a whole lot. At least, not yet," his wings spread open, as if he were prepared to take flight. "There are many secrets in this castle, young Warlock. And it's high time some of them were brought into light. Whether you want it or not, your destiny will always lie with Arthur. His lineage will bring great things into this world."

"But I can't give Arthur children!"

The dragon only laughed, the sound gravely and a little unpleasant to the ears. "As I said before, Merlin, there are many secrets in the Pendragon family that you don't know about."

Okay, so as I mentioned before, Morgana will not be evil in this story. I know the dragon speaks negatively of her in the show, but in my story, she will be an ally in getting Merlin and Arthur together. I'm getting there guys, so don't worry! I just didn't want to rush tings.