A/N: First of all I want to thank my followers and reviewers: "You are great!" Your reviews are more than just a motivation. You inspire me and push me to write better and more balanced chapters. For instance the chapter about Morgana (my favorite character) would have been too positive and the following chapters about Merlin would not correctly consider the manipulation of Gaius and the great dragon. Every writer needs reviewers, who give new ideas and make this fic better. This fic is not just my work. It is also yours.

Now about this chapter: At the beginning I planned to write a normal chapter about Merlin. But I realized that it would be too long and it would cost me more than one week to write it. Therefore I decided to split Merlin into two chapters. The first one will be about Merlin the dragonlord and the second one about Merlin/Emrys. I know that there are many interactions between both kinds of Merlin. I will consider this during writing.

cathrine10 & anthi35: It was a big and great surprise to read your chapter. It was so fitting for Leon and describes the typical knights of Camelot. I do especially like the point about the cup of life. Your chapter has 36 clicks up to now, which is really good for a few days. I will keep you informed. Are you sure that you don´t want to write your own stories? I would follow you.

Chapter 10: Merlin the dragonlord – why would Balinor turn over in his grave

Merlin´s thinking during the show is always driven by destiny, prophecies, duties, etc. In his believing his destiny as Emrys is more important than anything else. There might be reasons to question this. But there is one destiny, which is often underestimated or even forgotten. Merlin is a dragonlord – THE LAST DRAGONLORD. I want to discuss his way to handle the related duties and responsibilities in this chapter.

Merlin´s connection with dragons was revealed in the first season, long before he learns about his identity as dragonlord at the end of season 2. At the beginning Kilgharrah tells our hero many things about destiny, great prophecies … Even more he says that Merlin of all people is destined to bring peace, unite Albion etc. Wow what a shock for a boy, who came from a little village just a few hours before.

The crucial question is how does Merlin handle all this? Let´s put us in his position and follow his way. We come from the country into the big powerful city of Camelot and some strange voice starts to talk in our head. Well I would say it´s highly probable that we have lost our mind. But no it´s even more shocking, there is a big scaring dragon under Camelot and he tells us that we are destined to save the world, bring peace, free magic and so on and so on. But hey no problem we are not alone in this. We will do this with the spoiled, arrogant prince, whose father started the entire war and magic hunting thing. This is quite idiotic to believe this. Honestly who of you would bet money on Arthur of all people?

It´s quite heavy, isn´t it? I personally would have doubts about this. And Merlin is he really thinking about these cryptic ramblings of this creepy dragon? Are there at least some tiny doubts? No not at all. Is he brave, self-confident, naive or arrogant? This is a question everyone needs to find an answer for themselves. But it´s a fact that such behavior leaves room for questions. I think it is fair to say that a little bit more modesty and rational thinking would fit Merlin quite well.

Granted, Merlin refuses to follow every `advice´ of the dragon - at least at the beginning of the show. But he did never doubt the main statement of him being destined to be something more important or better. Moreover the few moments were he questions the superior wisdoms of Kilgharrah are very strange. One of my favorite examples is the episode `To Kill the King´ (S01 E12), where the dragon advices him to let Uther die. I do not completely agree with the dragon. But what is about helping Morgana to free Gwen´s father? Wouldn´t this have avoided the entire killing thing? But hey who am I to question our hero? Wait! Do I really question the ultimate Emrys or do I question the all-knowing dragon? Prophecies are so complicated. It´s a wonder that Merlin can actually separate between him making his own decisions and him following the advices of the dragon.

However the rare moments, where Merlin questions the dragon didn´t last for long. Just compare the Merlin at the beginning of season 1 and the Merlin of season 5. It´s really hard, isn´t it? You could almost assume to see two different persons.

But back to the topic, we are discussing Merlin the dragonlord (Merlin/Emrys comes next week). Merlin has abandoned every doubt in his role as savior and Kilgharrah´s wisdom at least since season 2. His unconditional believing in destiny makes him more or less the puppet of the dragon. But the episode `The Witch's Quickening´ (S02 E11) has the potential to change everything. Merlin takes a look into the Crystal of Neahtid and sees a future, where the nice and honorable dragon burns down Camelot. He slumps down totally shocked. But just one episode later he frees the same dragon.

Does anyone understand this? There are two prophecies of potential futures. The first one is an obscure mumbling of a dragon without any kind of prove. The second prophecy bases on something that Merlin has actually seen with his own eyes. I just don´t get it. Merlin was fully aware of Kilgharrah´s hate for Camelot (for good reasons), he knew what will happen. What on earth was he thinking? This action is either completely gaga or pure gambling. But it gets even better after our trustful dragon friend has transformed Camelot into a nice campfire. Kilgharrah tries to kill Arthur, `the Once and Future King´. It was only luck that Merlin was able to stop the dragon by his newly learned powers as dragonlord. At least now some warning bells should ring in Merlin´s head.

The crucial question is what has our hero learned from all this? Has Merlin changed his opinion about the wisdoms, promises and advices of Kilgharrah?

Okay he did not question his former actions that based on the dragon´s advice. But he is no longer following the dragon unconditionally, isn´t he? NO! Merlin is still acting as if nothing has happened. He is always running to Kilgharrah, if there is any problem.

Here is another crucial question about Merlin´s aptitude as dragonlord: What did Merlin learn from his father about the duties of a dragonlord?

We might not know a lot about Balinor. But we know that he was used by Uther to capture the last dragon (Kilgharrah). We do also know that Balinor tried to protect the dragons and was hunted by Uther because of this. I repeat this for clarity. HE TRIED TO PROTECT THE DRAGONS!

Here is my attempt of a list of dragonlord duties (I believe Balinor would agree):

1) Protect and care for the dragons.

2) Don´t use the dragons as weapons or tools. In other words: dragons are no circus lions, which jump through burning rings.

3) Don´t allow the dragons to manipulate you.

And what is Merlin doing? Does he follow the advices and duties of his own father? Is he actually thinking about what Gaius told him about his father and the other dragonlords?

Well, the point about don´t use dragons as weapons is not Merlin´s thing. Just look at the episode `The Sword of the Stone´ (S04 E13), where he used Kilgharrah as flamethrower to burn down an entire army. He is also using the dragon all the time if there is any magical problem. Just too stupid that most of these problems are caused by Merlin himself. A good example for this is when he pushes Morgana down the stairs, because of her supposed attempt to kill Uther (`The Crystal Cave´ (S03 E05)). Just another of these prophecies that Merlin follows blindly. I could say Merlin should have helped both Morgana and Arthur with the magic topic or he should have doubted the vision instead of acting precipitately. But it wouldn´t change anything. It is a fact that Merlin orders Kilgharrah to repair his self-fabricated mess. Just for completeness here are some consequences of Merlin´s action in this specific episode: Morgana learns about her true heritage; she loses her self-control once again and attacks Uther; she and Morgause become obsessed by the throne…

Intermediate result: Merlin uses dragons for his own ends and Merlin allows dragons to use him to their own ends. That makes two of three violations against the rules of his father. That brings us to the most important duty of a dragonlord `protect and care for the dragons´. This is obviously most important in case of dragon babies – appearance Aithusa. I dare to say that every viewer was happy when Aithusa was born – so cute – and her name "Light of the Sun" that had to be a good sign.

Therefore it was a huge shock to see the poor creature at the beginning of season 5. I say it directly and without further delay. I wanted to slap Merlin, when I saw Morgana and Aithusa suffering in the pit. He hatched her, he named her – Merlin is more than just her dragonlord he is her father. What a father would let his baby down (not to mention his destiny)?

What could be so important that he had no time for 3 years? It was definitely not stopping Morgana from attacking Camelot. Well two things could be more important than to look for Aithusa. Merlin was either very busy with polishing Arthur´s armor (George must have a huge influence on Merlin) or he was in the pub with Gwaine. Which of these things was more important than a dragon that is meant to be a hope for Albion? Some fics say that Kilgharrah should have looked for Aithusa during this time. Sorry guys, this excuse does not count at all, especially considering Kilgharrah´s personality. Just imagine Aithusa would have become such a devious lizard. In summary, nobody can tell me that Merlin had no time to look for her between season 4 and 5.

Phew, calm down! Sorry that I talked myself into such a rage. Aithusa is one of my favorite characters in the show.

Let´s go back to the topic about protecting and caring for dragons. Merlin knows that the dragon baby is hurt, crippled and suffering (3 years is still babyhood, considering a lifetime of more than 1000 years). What will Merlin do with this knowledge? He is the almighty Emrys. He must know a healing spell. He could also ask Kilgharrah for help. NO! For the last time, no! Merlin does nothing. He is not even trying to help Aithusa. Merlin is only commanding her with his dragonlord powers at every encounter. After all it´s easier to blame Morgana for Aithusa´s state and so he declares Aithusa the enemy instead of his baby and duty.

I do admit that I had my issues with Merlin at least since the end of season 2. But Aithusa´s suffering was the incidence when he had lost all credit with me. A few episodes later (`The Hollow Queen´ (S05 E08)) we learned the true extend of Aithusa´s suffering from Sarrum himself and it was just sad.

It might be no problem for Merlin to blame Morgana for everything, but the ultimate villain showed 100-times more heart than the perfect hero. Morgana was a true mother.

Maybe it´s a long shot, but I dare to say that Balinor would turn over in his grave, if he knew about his son´s understanding of being a dragonlord. No matter how you look at it, Merlin the dragonlord failed in almost every way possible. We can speculate about the reasons. First of all he was an easy prey for Kilgharrah and Gaius. The naive young boy from Ealdor was no match to this team of a vengeful and manipulative dragon on the one side and Uther´s loyal lapdog on the other side. Therefore it´s fair to say that Merlin was a tool, who blindly adopted the beliefs of his `mentors´. Sure he did not really try to think independently and make his own opinion. But that is a point where he is in good company with Gwen, Arthur, Morgana, etc. All of them passed a point where they stopped thinking.

Nevertheless I cannot bring myself to find any excuse for his behavior concerning Aithusa. That was his own decision and he alone is responsible for this.

NEXT WEEK MERLIN AS EMRYS