The Last Dragonlord
Screaming, so much screaming could be heard coming from the lower town. Tales of old spoke of the wisdom and nobility of the dragons but this tile would qualify for one of Uther's nightmare-bringing bedtime stories. The guards were evacuating the lower city with its wooden buildings. Whenever balls of fire from the dragon's breath would collide with the earth, it could be felt throughout the city and it was that which had awoken the warlock. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw from the citadel battlements. The lower town was burning, people were screaming and the dragon did not relent. Merlin's destiny had always spoken of protecting Arthur, the people of Camelot had not been spoken of. They had always been at risk, the people, as had happened with Cornelius Sigan, only now they would be up against the creature that had aided and guided him through his greatest trials. The fear that was plaguing his mind was the destiny he had broken, that all bets were off and that the fate of the people had become a ragdoll to the whims of the dragon. His thoughts wandered to Gwen and Freya, the Once and Future Queen and the former druid girl who sought a new beginning.
Then the warlock caught sight of the dragon and spoke his mind.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! You're killing innocent people!" It was Merlin's intent to make Kilgharrah see reason but there was none to be found.
"This is YOUR doing. Of YOU and the WITCH!" Kilgharrah roared as he turned towards the sorcerer and breathed fire once more.
Merlin took cover from the flames whilst the dragon flew above the clouds. From the corner of his eye Merlin could see soldiers readying their crossbows, waiting for the beast to return. Then the dragon swooped down again and as the soldiers fired their bolts, Merlin casted the spell that let Lancelot slay the Griffin but none of it seemed to affect the dragon.
"Do not imagine that your petty magic can harm me!" The beast continued to taunt him and more fire scorched the white stone of the citadel. Merlin saw Gwen enter the courtyard and both heard Arthur scream her name. The dragon had begun his descent once more and dead set on the maidservant. Arthur was making a run for the woman to try and get her to safety. Merlin could see that they would be engulfed by the flames if he stood idly by. Whispers of the Old Religion shot the King forward in time for him to rescue his beloved in the least gracefull of fashions, bashing into her.
The dragon soared high once more, unaware of what had transpired. The King and his future Queen were safe for the moment and as the dragon went beyond the clouds for longer than was usual, it seemed they would have a momentary peace.
The throne room was absolutely packed. With so many wounded, the physician's chambers and all the guest bedrooms were completely full. The overflow laid in the throne room, usually with friends and family surrounding them. Arthur sat where he belonged, on the throne with Morgana on his left side and Agravaine on his right. In the past, Morgana always sat on the right side of the King but with Agravaine as the King's right hand, Arthur thought symbolism important. The trials for the Once and Future King had begun not too long ago. With Aredian's betrayel, the innocence of the druid girl and the conflict with the Lady Luna of Gedref, Morgana could almost see the wrinkles of age being chiseled into the King's face. Arthur put his hands on either side of his face as the Knights reported on casualties and strategic vantage points in the city.
One thing remained consistent on all accounts, the dragon remained unharmed by swords, spears and arrows. From what Arthur could gather from his father's 'Purge Journals' was that dragons had a natural armor that was highly resistent against both magical and physical abuse. With the dragon gone for the moment, Arthur commanded the Knights to help the people in the lower town whilst the peace would last. As the doors closed behind the red Camelot capes, Gaius stepped forward.
"We need a dragonlord, Sire." Arthur cringed inwardly. They too had been described in the Purge Journals, included in their description were the means he had used to manipulate them.
"Gaius, what exactly is a dragonlord?" Morgana asked.
"The dragonlords were men who could talk with the dragons, tame them, command them. There was a kinship between them, one Uther thought too close to magic. He manipulated them and in the end had them all rounded up and slaughtered." The old physician was not fond of the memory. The deed was kept a secret, even from Gaius had he not disobeyed the former King. He had been ordered to stay in camp but these were Gaius' younger years and he had the same sense for adventure that Merlin had now. Now he wished he had followed the King's command because it could only be called one thing, a slaughter.
"But?" Morgana inquired, for why else would he bring it up?
"One of them survived and fled to Essetir." This news took both Agravaine and Arthur's full attention.
"You said they were kin to the dragons, does this not make them sorcerers or kin to magic in some way?" Agravaine asked sharply.
The physician did not like the direction this conversation was going but it was a fair question nonetheless. "In a way, it does."
Arthur sighed or rather grunted. "Magic isn't an option, Gaius, you know the law forbids it. Why are you bringing it up?"
"Because it may be the only way to stop him." Gaius adamantly urged him to listen.
"Only way? Then how did my father slay them during the purge?"
"Different times, Sire. Your father had the luxury, the necessity, of being able to pick the place where they would fight. Camelot is unsuitable for the methods he used."
"I need to think on this, Gaius, you'll have an answer in an hour." With those words Arthur rose from the throne with Agravaine and Morgana following suit.
They went to the King's study, one of the few rooms without victims, where they could speak without prying eyes that could cause trouble.
"Dragonlord." Arthur cursed. So far it had been the best plan, the only plan, that ensured some safety. "If I agree to this, publicly agree to this, others may see this as weakness. Breaking my fathers laws and may even be seen as betrayal."
Gaius' suggestion was a strong one and would have been superb if Uther hadn't banned magic and executed all other dragonlords. He was torn to say the least.
Contrary to both Arthur and Morgana, Agravaine, in his role as advisor, had actually read those laws. "Sire, you could use the very same laws instead. Our allies uphold the same law and are obligated to aid you in times of need."
Arthur huffed, it wasn't an immediate solution but it could be the beginning of one. "We'll need all the help we can get."
Morgana did not think the wisest course of action though she was a bit biased when it came to the ban on magic. But that wasn't the sole reason she opposed this plan. "Only it's the wrong choice." She said casually.
"How so?" Arthur asked.
"Have you looked outside recently? Camelot is burning, armies may march but the city will be lost long before they arrive." Morgana estimated it would take at least a week before reinforcement would arrive.
Both the King and his uncle looked down nervously since she just trampled over all their faulty plans.
"The dragonlord Gaius spoke of is our only option." Morgana insisted.
"My father didn't ban magic just for me to bring a dragonlord to Camelot. The other Kingdoms will be outraged. "
"Cenred will go to war with us and it may even seem justified." Agravaine added.
"Then don't give the order and just do it." Morgana stated. She had always been bold, bold enough to damn the consequences. It was an idea to be considered. The dragonlord, if willing, would solve their dragon issue and if no orders were given, the other kingdoms would assume he came on his own accord. Put like that it did seem perfect but there were still a lot of risks. First and foremost, being discovered in Essetir, it would be seen as an act of war and war it would surely bring. Secondly, the dragonlord might not be willing or, even worse, fight them. Lastly, the King of Camelot being seen with a dragonlord would arouse suspicions and tensions would rise.
A burnt down Camelot, on the other hand, was much more important.
"We'll make for Essetir once the sun is down, let the night cover our departure." The King's words were not unwise save for a single assumption.
"You can't." Morgana argued.
"Will you make up your mind?" Arthur began to bickering when Agravaine cut in.
"Sire, she means YOU can't. The people would surely notice their King's absence."
Arthur sighed. He wished being King didn't mean so much sitting on his ass, missing out on all the action and adventure. "I assume you have a plan?"
"I'll go." She stated plainly.
"You and how many men?" Arthur inquired but not sarcastic, surprisingly.
"Just me and Merlin." It would come as a surprise to the warlock but knowing who he was, it shouldn't be. She did hope, however, that it would be a pleasant one.
Arthur visible needed to process the information. "Sorry? You and Merlin?"
She knew Arthur well enough to have foreseen it and had a logical answer he could not deny. "You need those men, every knight, every soldier. You'll need Gaius and Gwen to take care of the wounded."
"And no one will notice you're missing?" Agravaine argued, or rather tried to.
"I'll be the scared Lady of Camelot who locked herself in her room." She said with a cheeky smile.
"Still, Merlin?" Arthur couldn't get over the fact that she had actually asked for his manservant to come along.
"He knows more about magic than any of us. Knight Valiant, the banshee, he's capable of more than you give him credit for." Morgana had never spoken this highly of the physician's apprentice but it was truth, even truer beneath the lies.
Arthur shook his head from left and right and up and down, trying to make up his mind. "Fine."
The decision had been made but still it was one that worried Gaius. He talked it over with his ward just after supper and was glad that the opportunity was there, that the dragon was yet to return.
"The man you seek, his name is Balinor." Gaius began to speak of the subject.
"Balinor." Merlin repeated. "And he was last seen in Engerd, right?"
"Years ago, yes. He might not be there but the people may know where he is now." Gaius replied and the warlock nodded before showing a slight smile.
"If Camelot wasn't burning, I might've thought about visiting mother." Merlin thought out loud and Gaius felt uneasy with the silence that followed. Did the boy know or was the thought unrelated?
"Has your mother ever mentioned Balinor?" Gaius asked.
"No, she hasn't. Should she?"
"When he fled to Essetir, she took him in until they were on to him again. She's never spoken of him?"
"No." Merlin replied softly with his mind elsewhere. "She's never spoken of him?" Echoed through his mind and became something rather frightening. "She's never spoken of whom?" His mother had spoken of a lot of people. Gaius, Uther, the Druids, and there was no reason not to. At one point Merlin had thought about learning from the druids but his mother had talked him out of it. A few months and incidents later, he was off to Camelot. Magic had never been a reason not to speak of anyone, so why did she not speak of Balinor? The only other person she never spoke of was...
"No." Merlin repeated firmly. It wasn't denial but disbelief that made him say it. Things started to make sense. Balinor was a dragonlord, kin to magic, and Merlin had magic. His mother did not want him to learn magic from the peaceful druids because Balinor might've been moving amongst them.
"Did he and my mother..." Merlin trailed off, it was too much to ask of him to say it out loud.
"I believe they did. Which would make him your father."
"How long have you known this?"
"I promised your mother I would never speak of it."
"I had a right to know!"
"Your mother feared it would be too dangerous."
"Too dangerous?" Merlin laughed nervously with tears running down his cheeks. "Ooh, because finding a missing person is more dangerous than vanquish an ancient sorcerer." He taunted Gaius, refering to Cornelius Sigan.
"I did what was best for you. You could've forsaken your and Arthur's destiny, I couldn't just let you run off now, could I?"
"Best for me? I've you had taken ONE LOUSY WEEK OUT OF YOUR LIFE, I COULD'VE GROWN UP WITH A FATHER!"
The words stung Gaius but he did not believe he had made the wrong decision. Balinor wasn't one to stay in one place for very long. The man would have moved on from time to time and Engerd was a long shot at any information at all. Merlin, however, was not done talking.
"Do you know the worst part of it? My mother's life was miserable because he wasn't there. To hear people call your mother a whore behind her back? And I couldn't do anything about it because I had to keep my magic hidden." That's what drove the warlock to tears, the impotence, the needless struggle. When other kids would bully him, he didn't retaliate even though he could so very easily. He restrained himself because he wasn't allowed to.
Gaius had hidden things from him. He knew about his father, about Morgana's dreams and magic, and he didn't want to him to reveal his magic to her. If he had done things Gaius' way, everything would have gone to ruin.
"I am sick of your secrets, Gaius. Anything else I should know?" This, in turn, offended Gaius.
"Don't speak as if you don't have secrets of your own." And that angered Merlin
"My secrets don't harm anyone. Aredian died at the hands of a monster, a curse that plagued an innocent girl, the girl you know as Freya. I lifted the curse. Now tell me I was wrong to do so, tell me she should have died!"
That was not the point of their conversation, this was Merlin wanting to hear he was better at making decisions than Gaius. The old physician saw no right answer. If she should have died, Merlin's would've been lost to the Siren. But her life had still come at the cost of others, the Bastet that had hunted during the night had made victims of its own.
There was no right answer and Gaius simply left the warlock alone in the hope that silence would bring him reason.
The rough leather of the animal's reigns in his hands brought the warlock to attention. They stood in the courtyard. Arthur, Gwen and Freya were there to see them off. The knights were busy along with Agravaine, who was coördinating them, and Gaius was busy tending to the wounded. In his mind, Merlin worried about Kilgharrah. The dragon was still out there and he blamed Morgana and him for everything... and nothing. 'Destiny' was broken but nothing exceptionally horrible had happened. Camelot was still Camelot and Albion was faring well so far. Whatever the dragon's motive, if he saw them leave there would be hell to pay.
Despite being cocky, couragous and a complete prat at times, Arthur couldn't help himself. "Stay safe."
"Don't get emotional on me, Arthur." Morgana playfully bantered.
"I'm not." The King quickly replied. "I was talking to Merlin. I pity every man that travels with you."
"I doubt traveling with me is as hazardous for him as traveling with you."
"Just bring him back in one piece." The King ended on a serious note.
They went out the gates and reached the forest without any intervention from the dragon. The night and stars had provided the much needed cover for their escape from Camelot but the journey ahead was not without peril either. This night had fullfilled its purpose and Merlin and Morgana made camp without fire.
Morgana had tied the horses to a tree and sat down on a patch of grass.
"Merlin?" She asked as he took the bedroll from his horse. "There's something I have to get off my chest."
It occured to Merlin that although they were alone, she apparently felt that this could not be shared openly and without question. He brought his bedroll before her feet and rolled it out before sitting down on it. She was being vulnerable and not the I-love-you kind of vulnerable but the nightmare-from-hell vulnerable. The one that made him worry for her the most.
She took a deep breath, trying to decide what to expect as a response. Angry, disappointed, betrayed or even disgust. The last of them was unlikely, she'd never really seen that emotion in him, but the other three were quite possible.
With closed eyes she spoke. "I'm the one who released the dragon."
"I know." He nodded. It seemed like he understood but that was all he said. He did not relate to her, not out loud, and she had definitely expected more of a reply than just two words. Did he disapprove?
After a moment, she continued. "You... know?"
"You're the only other person who could've done it. But why?" He definitely disapproved or at the very least questioned her decision, as if she really had a say in it. Thankfully he asked for clarification, he wanted to understand.
"When you were under the Siren's spell, I didn't know who else to turn to. He made me promise that I would free him."
"Didn't need to be the same day." Merlin had refrained from argueing though she had been foolish to release the dragon without discussing it with him first.
"I know, but that night it was like he got inside my head." She said and the warlock nodded once more. He knew the dragon could do that, it is what led to their first encounter. With all of his knowledge, the dragon could have played many tricks to get her to do it.
"It's not your fault." Merlin said. "He's not a noble dragon from legend but selfish and stubborn."
"You don't blame me?" Morgana sought affirmation for forgiveness .
She had been fooled by the dragon just like had had been. The memory of Nimueh and the Cup of Life were still clear in his head. To save Arthur's life, a price would have to be paid. Understandably, the price was not a small one. The sacrifice was initially his mother. Merlin wasn't sure whether it was intentional or if Nimueh's lack of an offering victimized his mother. Not that it mattered anymore. What stuck with him was what Kilgharrah had said, how he saw her as someone with little importance. All he cared about was Camelot and destiny. The price to be paid could have been someone else. Gaius bargained with Nimueh for it, Merlin then sacrificed the witch instead. Kilgharrah, however, had not spoken one word of the matter. No riddle, no clue, the dragon had left his mother to die. Merlin had promised that Kilgharrah would never see the light of day. Was that why he had Morgana do it instead? If that was what drove Kilgharrah to do it, it was his fault instead, he should be the one saying sorry.
"No, I don't. I've been in a similar position."
She didn't ask what happened but he did tell her to stay away from him. He hadn't given a reason why but there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he was thinking about it right now.
"Did something happen between you and Gaius? I noticed he didn't come to see you off." Morgana asked.
The warlock shook his head. "No, I'm just a bit disappointed he wasn't there."
The layers of emotions prevented her from seeing through the lie but maybe she didn't want to see it. They shared the bedroll under the pretense of being able to leave faster the next morning.
"Does this remind you of anything?" Morgana asked.
"You've lost me." Merlin said confused.
With a menacing grin she whispered "Then let me remind you." She began kissing his neck like she had done before. The last time she had been so frisky was in the centaur encampment. He refused then, slightly in vain, because they weren't alone. But that wasn't on his mind, this time there was too little reason to hold back.
The warlock eagerly put his lips on hers and he was on top. Their love and agony had made Morgana yearn for him more than ever before. Nearly having lost him had changed her view on things and she now felt a certain neediness. Her hands roamed as they had done before, this time more on instinct than anything else. She pushed back his jacket and he complied by taking it off. Then he fumbled with the straps on her armour and she gladly took it off for him. Then she pulled his shirt over his head and he stopped.
Undoing his shirt had required them to break their kisses and reminded them of the reality of things. Were they to make love in the forest whilst Camelot would burn to ash?
"We shouldn't be doing this." Merlin spoke out of breath as he recovered the discarded clothing.
"I know." Morgana admitted it was wrong but that didn't mean she'd give up. When Merlin laid down besides her again, his back towards her to prevent temptation, she began spooning him again. Not wanting to repeat the pattern of kissing his neck, she instead wrapped an arm around him which only just slipped beneath his shirt. Oddly enough she had never noticed how pronounced those muscles of his were, never even seen them before, he had been keeping out on her. Merlin's hand came on top of hers but rather than pulling it away, he held it there and his thumb made small, soft circles instead. It was a different kind of intimacy but still a step closer to what she wanted to do.
Merlin was putting it off, hiding behind 'doing things proper'. He had told her that more or less because the truth felt so very petty. He was scared. Morgana knew exactly how to push his buttons and he had absolutely no idea what he was doing. He thought she liked his touch, hoped she did, but going beyond making out... there wasn't that much beyond making out. Even in his wildest dreams they had never gone this far. His greatest fantasy was the one in which she softly kissed his cheek and whispered perverted things in his ear before cheekily biting his earlobe, that's when he'd wake up and he never dare dream further. For now they would be alright but he wouldn't be able to put it off forever. Every time they slept in the same bed, or even something remotely similar, it was not only a trial to fight his desired but also a step closer to giving in.
The witch and the warlock arrived at Engerd early the next morning. Morgana wore commoner's clothing but it didn't keep her from being eyed at... by other men. Although none of them had even the slightest chance with her, it still stung him. Merlin went to the local watering hole, he didn't want to look at the villagers gawking at her. He asked about Balinor but none knew of whom he spoke. There were only rumours to be heard about beasts roaming the nearby forest of Merendra. Such was the life of common folk, gossiping was one of the few enjoyable ways of passing the time. Whether it was about the neighbours or the royal family did not really matter as long as it contained murder or passion, preferably both.
Where Merlin sought knowledge of the drunk and weary, Morgana took a different approach. Those who worked, lived by the day, they forgot what did not matter to them. Children, however, loved all things magical and like her younger self, they would always remember. It was not Balinor that they remembered, that name they had never heard before, but they recalled that a dragonlord roamed the forest several years before the rumoured 'beasts' arrived.
There was no discussion about searching the forest, only whether or not to bring the horses and in the end they decided not to. The forest of Merendra was no vile place but history had made its mark. The dry riverbed, dead trees and fallen branches told short story of conflict between clans. The clans themselves were struck down years ago but much like the trees of Merendra, fallen branches remained. Camelot had no more clans but the King of Essetir let those in his lands rise and fall with the tide, as long as they did not come close to the capital. The forest's battle wounds were from long ago and with birds making their nests, nature seemed to be tending the scars.
"You don't think the beasts exist?" Morgana asked.
"The villagers didn't seem all that frightened."
Then a voice interrupted their seemingly private conversation. "You two are either very brave or very stupid to wander in these woods and I'm leaning towards the latter."
A man was standing behind the shrubbery on the slope of a small hill. He had gone unnoticed because of the long, dark coat he wore and long, rough hair coloured like the bark of trees. His beard would have made him look dangerous but the angle of his thick eyebrows made him seem sad instead.
"Because of these 'hungry beasts' of Merendra? They bother Engerd less than the wolves do." Morgana stated and, as if by magic, there was a low, hollow roar that could be heard throughout the forest.
For a moment there was fear in their hearts and the bearded man continued. "You'd best follow me if you want to avoid the beasts of Merendra."
This stranger, whoever he was, was most likely the next step in their search for the dragonlord. The travelers from Camelot followed the bearded man to higher ground, a small cliff. There, the stranger knelt and looked down. Merlin and Morgana followed by example but did keep a distance between them in case the man got any funny ideas.
Soldiers, men of Essetir roamed the forest of Merendra.
"Those are the beasts of Merendra." The beaded man spoke softly and was interrupted by the horn blowing of the soldiers below. They had blown it before and for no reason, they hadn't been spotted. This didn't keep the stranger from moving again and Merlin and Morgana followed. They went to a cave, a shelter of sorts, in which he had apparently made his home. A makeshift bed, a fireplace and an old worn chest.
"You can stay here until nightfall but then you must leave." He sounded like one of Camelot's guards.
Morgana could be very diplomatic if she wanted to but she found this stranger to be far to mysterious than she liked. "Is it you they are looking for?"
"Like I said, you leave at nightfall." He was a bit angry now and Merlin put his hand on Morgana's upper arm, urging her to let it be for the moment. There was a fire in her eyes he had seen before, when men with power failed to act.
"We're eating rabbit tonight. Don't 'help', all you'll do is attract the soldiers." The stranger said as he left the cave.
Morgana turned to Merlin and she looked a bit angry.
"Why did you stop me?" She was a bit cross with him for that.
"Stop antagonizing him. If it is him then we shouldn't make him our enemy."
"All I wanted was his name." She said innocently. Merlin just shook his head. She was doing it again, the equivalent of his bantering with Arthur. Her emotions seemed to be capable of jumping from one extreme to another. At the start of their journey she 'jumped' from guilt-ridden to frisky and now from angry to trying to be funny.
He took her hand and gently pulled her towards the fire. "Come, there's something I need to tell you." She raised an eyebrow, probably already sensing his distress.
Sitting down, Merlin confessed. "Gaius and I had a falling out."
"What about?"
"Balinor and some other things but it started with Balinor." He said. The story began exactly as it had happened, with the idea of visiting Ealdor. When he got to the point of shouting at Gaius that he could've grown up with a father, he stopped.
She understood why he hadn't let her antagonize him further but she didn't know what to think of his fight with Gaius.
"You want to get to know him." It wasn't a question but he nodded anyway. He wanted to find his father so badly but if this man was him, he didn't know what to think of it. Merlin kept staring at their hands. They had begun holding hands at some point and, for once, it was him that felt safer because of it.
The stranger, presumably Balinor, was back. His heavy step had could be heard echoing through the cave.
Morgana couldn't help herself "Ah, our mysterious host has returned."
Balinor silently sat down opposite of her and began skinning one of the rabbits. Merlin followed his example, eerily enough in silence as well. Their gracious host grabbed a bucket and passed it over to Morgana.
"Fill that up, will you." Balinor grumbled. Morgana stood up and did as she was told but not without a sigh of contempt.
Merlin and Balinor were now more or less alone in the cave.
"Where are you from?" Balinor asked.
"North."
"What village?"
"Ealdor."
Balinor visibly smiled and continued. "Does that scaly toad Skor still manage the mill?"
Merlin remembered of whom he spoke, he was as fond of the man as Balinor was, but the memory did not make him smile.
"A group of bandits led by a man named Kanen killed him." Merlin explained. It was one man that couldn't be saved, he had died before Hunith had even arrived in Camelot.
"I'm sorry to hear that. How are things now?"
"His daughter Arathea took over." She had only been a child when Balinor was last there and he became painfully aware of all the years that passed by. The sloshing of water could be heard and Morgana put the bucket of water besides the dragonlord. One question was burning on Balinor's lips.
"What about Hunith? Does she still live there?"
"Yes, she's... she's alright." Once more he couldn't bring himself to utter the words and set things into motion. How difficult could it be to tell him that she was his mother?
"Good, good. Pass me that rabbit, will you?" He told Morgana what to do again. She handed him the little critter and he continued.
"What's your story?" He asked her.
"Same." She said and Merlin almost choked, that was her worst lie ever and Balinor saw right through it.
"Liar." He said. "I can tell by the way you held that rabbit that you're not used to getting your hands dirty."
"Give me a sword and I'll skin you alive." She defied him.
"Stop it." Merlin cut in. "She doesn't want to share, just like you."
Merlin didn't like where this was going, his girlfriend bickering with his father - supposed father. That was the question left unanswered, one he would ask now.
"She asked you a question first, one you never answered. Are those soldiers looking for you?"
"They're hunting a rumour. If the hunted rumour suddenly haunts another forest, it's probably not a rumour. If it persists, it'll become folklore and will be left alone." Merlin had to fight rolling his eyes. Not only was this man a dragonlord, he had the same style of riddles as the bloody dragon.
"So you're Balinor, the dragonlord?" Morgana asked and his face contorted.
"Who are you?" He sounded threatening now.
"Travelers." Morgana replied casually.
"There are rumours of a dragonlord but you know my name." That confirmed their suspicions but his hostility was far from desirable. "Are you from Camelot?" Balinor spoke almost laughed whilst he said it and continued to taunt them. "Has that dragon finally escaped his bonds?"
"Yes." Merlin admitted.
Balinor chuckled "I would've liked to seen Uther's face, were he still in Albion."
Morgana almost gave it a chuckle, she too would like to see that. The man would surely lose his mind at the very sight of it.
"Does that make you Lady Morgana?" It seemed Balinor was no fool.
"Yes." Morgana confirmed his suspicions believing more lies would only harden him against them. Balinor moved closer to her and whether it was curiosity or defiance did not matter to Merlin, he went and stood between them.
"She's not like Uther. She's different, she's defended magic for years." He said and Morgana had put on an innocent face. She was quite the performer and now not even Merlin couldn't tell whether or not it was an act.
"Morgana Le Fay." Balinor spoke to himself.
"Pendragon." Morgana corrected.
"Typical." Balinor scoffed.
"What?"
"To put his name on his ward and let the sands of time wash away the name of a decent family." Balinor was honest but there wasn't much beyond that. "I respect you and your family but I will not aid Camelot. That dragon wants vengeance for what Uther has done to his kind."
Once more there was a rage inside of her, spurred by his unwillingness to help them. "He's killing innocent people! Women and children." Morgana shouted angrily.
"Which is exactly how Uther persecuted us dragonlords! He'd find and hurt your wife or child and use them just to get to you. He killed thousands for the death of one, at least the dragon's vengeance is justified."
"You want everyone in Camelot to die?" Merlin asked.
"I had a life in Ealdor, I was beyond Uther's realm and he continued to hunt me like an animal. I never wronged him or the people of Camelot yet because of him I had to abandon what I had built, to run and leave behind the woman that took my heart. I am the last of my kind just like Kilgharrah, he's lost everything just like I have. All that remains is what you see, a man being hunted for the crime of existing at all. I'll be damned if I help him."
Merlin clenched his fists and spoke. "Then how about your son? What if he lived there? Would you be 'damned' if you helped him?"
Balinor frowned at the notion of a son. He wasn't sure if the boy was trying to get him to sympathize or if he knew something more.
The warlock finally found the strength to put what was in his heart into words."Hunith is my mother. She never found another man. I'm your son."
Balinor was shocked. His eyes wandered the cave as if looking for an answer. Then they found and were fixed on the green eyes of Morgana Pendragon, that's how he saw her at that moment, he wasn't sure if she'd keep his parentage a secret.
"Not a soul." She said with a small, reassuring smile brightening her gentle features.
The dragonlord's eyes wandered back to the boy.
"A son." He could barely get a word out as tears began to fall, tears of joy.
What followed was a slow and awkward hug between father and son. Letting go and sitting down around the fire, there were so many things they wanted to ask or share and Merlin got there first.
His voice was clear but the tears had remained on his cheeks "Will you help us?"
"It is no longer Uther's kingdom, perhaps I should no longer see it as such." Balinor noticed he was being mysterious again and nodded in affirmation.
Merlin looked at his feet for a moment for there was another question, one not as pressing but closer to his heart.
"Why did you never come back to Ealdor?" He asked.
Balinor sighed, he never though he'd have to answer that question, least of all to a son, his son. He had his reasons though. "I thought it would be safer, for her. Uther could still hunt me. Or if she had moved on, there would be no place for me."
Merlin gave it a soft smile. "We should visit her once all this is over."
"I doubt she'll recognize me."
It struck Morgana as odd that Merlin, cheery, happy, wonderful Merlin, had a father who was his complete opposite.
Merlin, however, wondered about his father's adventures. "What did you do while you were away?"
"Travel. I've crossed the lands of the Fisher King, seen the Dwarven Stone and visited the Shardel."
"I'd like to hear those stories some day."
Balinor smiled to himself and was reminded of the state of things. "We should rest, there's a long day ahead of us."
Morgana was awoken by someone tapping on her shoulder. It was Balinor and he motioned for her to stay quiet and follow him, alone. At the entrance of the cave he put his back against the wall and turned to the Lady of Camelot.
"How did you meet my son?" He asked and already Morgana knew where this was going. He would be thrilled to hear about his son's job. This first question did, however, make her feel like he was her father in law.
"He saved Arthur's life and Uther made him his manservant. We kept bumping into each other after that."
"My son is a manservant?" Balinor asked incredulous and Morgana could barely contain her amusement.
"Most of Arthur's man servants barely lasted a week, Merlin's held the job for over a year now."
"Doesn't sound like much of a King."
"Still, when Merlin went back to Ealdor to protect them from bandits, Arthur joined him."
"He helped protect Ealdor?"
"I've seen him do it. Not everyone liked Arthur but he rallied them against Tauren. Arthur doesn't have many friends, Merlin is one of the few he genuinely likes."
Balinor was silent for a moment and just when she thought he was out of questions, he continued.
"I understand that you are looking for me but why travel with my son?" Obviously she couldn't tell the truth, that she and Merlin had magic and were together, but there was a truth not so far away.
"He may look ordinary but he's done more for Camelot than most knights ever will." That was praising him a bit high but it was how she saw him.
"You're comparing him to a Knight?" To Merlin's father it seemed a bit surreal but so was the fact that he was traveling with Lady Morgana.
Morgana described the warlock's importance as best she could. "He's Camelot's watchful guardian, Arthur's conscience, Gaius' hope, Gwen's inspiration, Freya's guidance and my... tranquility."
"That's why you were holding hands?" She was taken aback by his answer, she thought they had been alone.
"Yes. I was being... stubborn and he stopped me. He said I was 'antagonizing' you and I said he was too soft. Then he told me why."
"He trusts you."
"I'd never betray him."
Balinor's curiosity had been sated and he began walking deeper into the cave once more.
"Goodnight, Morgana."
"Goodnight."
They group left the cave early in the morning. First, Merlin and Morgana went back to Engerd to get the horses and once outside the village, he took Merlin's. Morgana took the manservant on horseback. They made haste to get back to Camelot but it was night when the city was finally in sight. In the dark, it was difficult to see the dragon but it's fiery breath was clear as day. The dragonlord took lead and moved through the forest until they reached a large clearing.
"Tie up the horses or we'll have to walk to Camelot." Balinor said as he dismounted and walked to the center.
When the dragonlord next spoke, his voice was low and seemed to echo through the air. The words were foreign to the witch and warlock although the latter recognized some of the words.
The dragon approached them from Camelot and did not seem all too eager to land, only it had no choice.
"Balinor." The beast greeted its dragonlord.
"Kilgharrah. " He replied coldly while Merlin and Morgana stood a few feet behind the dragonlord.
The dragon let out a low growl and spoke. "I am the last of my kind. Whatever wrongs I have done, do not make me responsible for the death of my noble breed."
Merlin's jaw dropped, how dare the dragon hide behind the near-extinction of his kind. "Noble breed? You're a disgrace to your own race!" The warlock shouted.
"It is true. I sought a vengeance that was not mine and for that I am truly sorry."
The dragon's reply was not to the satisfaction of the warlock. "Vengeance? ON WHOM?! Uther has left the whole of Albion and you're murdering innocent people of Camelot, the very same which YOU told me to protect."
Kilgharrah, the great dragon, was nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum. And he kept doing just that.
"But if you had listened and the witch-"
"Stop it!" Merlin interrupted him. "If I had listened to you, my mother would've died."
Merlin's accusation sparked an anger within Balinor that he could barely contain.
"What?"
"It would've been for the greater-"
"Bullocks!" Balinor followed his son's example. "I command you to leave these lands and let Arthur's Kingdom be for the rest of your life."
The dragon frowned, if he could so such a thing, and flapped its wings without another word, not voiced in the world nor in their minds.
AN:
If it feels a bit rushed, it's because it is. I want to get past this thing and find myself some freedom. I've also changed text-editor to OpenOffice but it doesn't have a UK dictionary by default, very annoying.