Thank you to darin2dream, Jack Thorn, minervah, WAT2DO, and boundenid for putting my story on Alert. Thank you to boundenid, BlackRoseRed92, DammitimmaD, RecklessSadhu for putting my story on your favorites list. Thank you to for putting my story on Alert. Topaz Skye, thank you for the amazing reviewing. Thank you EvilCabbagezPwn for the great review. I love dragoon too. I couldn't resist putting him in :) Thomson, thank you for the great review! Blackwingcrow I'm so happy you're enjoying this fic so far. Thank you for the awesome compliment. BigTimeGleekBTR, thank you for the lovely comments. Thank you Heather2910 for the lovely review. Galaya, thank you so much :D. Alcock became a much larger character than I expected. Starts with a D, thank you for the advice. I'll try to be more careful. Noreallyidontcare, I like Alcock too. I tried to make him flawed but with a very good heart. Thank you, for the fantastic review :) Owl Watcher, thank you for the amazing review! I'm so happy that I can get someone to have that kind of reaction to my story. It made my day.

Walking into the castle at the dead of night, Merlin held his nose. There was a horrid stench that filled the citadel's halls.

Alcock apologized, " I am sorry about the smell. I'm afraid the castle has always been like this."

"Oh Gods! What is it?" he chocked on the reached air, "It smells like dead flesh."

The court sorcerer had a look of shame written on his ancient features. That when Merlin realized what it was.

" The dragons are still down below, aren't they?"

"A dragon's body is a miraculous thing." Alcock said sadly, " One can not burn it because its scales resist fire and it takes a very long time for the bodies to decay. They were too large to remove from the cavern. We didn't realize what the consequences would be of just leaving them buried down below"

It made Merlin sick to think about those two noble creatures rotting underneath their feet. He recalled the beautiful white dragon sprawled on the floor drenched in blood. He could remember the red dragon's heavenly voice that had sounded so lost.

" I must go to sleep." Merlin wished to no longer think about the dragons, "It's going to be a long day tomorrow. Arthur will probably want me to ride all the way back to Camelot to muck out his stables."

Stealthily, Merlin made his way up the stairs and to his temp. He had been just hopping to go straight to sleep.

However Arthur was up and waiting for him when he opened the door.

"Where have you been?" Arthur smirked.

"Uhh," Merlin closed the door, " what are you doing in my room?"

"Answer the question."

" I was helping the army." Merlin replied nonchalantly.

"Really?" He raised his eyebrow, "Because I went down there and I couldn't find you anywhere."

"Perhaps we kept missing each other." Merlin shrugged.

"Or...you're lying to me. Now tell me, where were you?"

The poor manservant was flustered. He couldn't think. His mind was hazy and his tongue was tied.

"The tavern!" Merlin said the first thing that came to his brain.

He was really going to kill Gaius for implanting that thought into his head.

Arthur sighed, " Merlin, you can't keep going to the tavern so often. It's not healthy."

"Are you concerned?"

"No," he was in denial, "however, we are going to have a busy day tomorrow and I can't have you suffering from a hangover."

" I didn't drink that much." Merlin closed his eyes and began touching his nose, "See."

Arthur was still not pleased. In fact, he did look concern. The seriousness took Merlin by surprise.

"Merlin, I've been realizing that you've been going to the tavern much more often than you use to. I want to know if there's something going on in your life that you feel you can't handle. Some reason you feel like you need to drown yourself in drink?"

He laughed at the absurdity of this situation, " I'm fine!"

"Merlin," Arthur hated how his friend wasn't taking this seriously, " you can tell me anything, you know."

In that moment it didn't feel like he was talking to his master the King of Camelot. It just felt like Merlin and Arthur, two good friends. Not knowing what came over him Merlin confessed something.

" I guess I am feeling a bit guilty."

Arthur didn't understand, "Guilty about what?"

Remembering, Merlin gave a half truth, " When your father was dying, you asked me if I'd use magic to save him. I said yes and now your father's dead."

What he didn't say was how awful he felt about being used as an instrument in his death. How he had spent all those years keeping him safe for Arthur's sake only to kill him. How painful it was knowing that he was responsible for hardening Arthur's heart.

This surprised the King. It never occurred to him that Merlin was feeling guilty about that moment. He had never blamed Merlin for a single second and he still didn't. The thought was ridiculous to him.

Arthur didn't like to see Merlin in this much pain, "Merlin, you did nothing wrong. The only one who was at fault was me. It was my decision."

"But I persuaded you." Merlin frowned.

"My father..." Arthur thought back to Gaius' words, " He was dying anyway. I should have realized you can't cheat death. The circus performer was the one who killed him. You are not to blame."

Arthur inadvertently had said something that filled Merlin with great hope. Before Arthur always said it was the sorcerer who killed his father, but for once he blamed the performer. Perhaps things were beginning to change.

"Now promise me," Arthur clasped Merlin's right shoulder, "you won't try to solve you issues in taverns again."

"I promise." Merlin gave a ridiculous smile.

"Good." Arthur was relieved, "Now let us get some sleep."

Arthur left, giving Merlin a pat on the back. They both tried to go to sleep in their respective beds, but they were distracted by the sound of soft singing in the distance. The voices belong to the soldiers. There voices harmonized beautifully to a haunting song.

" We arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Radiance of moon,

(Deep peace of the stars to you)

Speed of lightning,"

Some sang in hope. Others sang in fear. Both Merlin and Arthur knew the song and quietly whispered along.

"Swiftness of wind,

(Deep peace of the air to you.)

Firmness of rock,

(Deep peace of the earth to you.)

Depth of sea,

(Deep peace of the wave to you.)

Light ... of the Sun...

Deep peace of the infinite peace to us."

Soon, both fell into a deep sleep.

The song is a combination of some Gaelic prayers. They've also been changed up a bit to be made into a song.

So this was a short chapter, but the next will be longer. It's getting close to the end of the story.

Reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.