Aine came to stand next to her son as he watched Merlin play in the early morning light, drawing pictures in the dirt, scuffing them out and starting again. "Morning Mum."

"Good morning Bran", she greeted him quietly.

"I'm glad you were there last night. Thank you mum. It was special. Beautiful, as though the world itself came to life. You were there, I don't know about you, but I've never felt anything like it, not even at the binding of other Dragonlords. Tell me mother, was last night for us? Or for someone else?" His eyes never left his son, drinking in every moment with him, and still his desire for answers clear.

"Would it change things to know the answer? Bran, before you ask any questions about Merlin, be sure you want to know the answers." Her serious expression and somber voice did nothing to reassure the father in him.

"You know something Mum, something important."

Her eyes flickered guiltily to the side, "What I know love, is that half an answer of a possibility is more dangerous than not knowing. If I give you something I have seen and it's self fulfilling, or if there are missing things that matter? I won't do that to you or him. Is is not enough to be born to a destiny? Yes, I know a few things, dangerous on their own, please Bal, don't make me lie to you."

His lips pressed thin Balinor nodded tightly. "Alright. I won't ask, for now. Whatever you do, Mum, don't hurt him."

"So like your Father, Bal. Never. May I speak to him just now or do you want to watch a little longer, only I think your new wife might appreciate a few minutes with you while he can be supervised."

Balinor sighed quietly, "Then go to him. Just remember that there are many ways to hurt someone."

Didn't she just know it. The most likely outcome by far had been for Balinor to protect Merlin and Hunith by staying away forever. She had seen that and only vaguely sensed the other branches of a path. It compounded her view that visions of Merlin should not be shared.

As she stepped towards the child, Balinor turned and retreated to the house where Hunith was blushing at earthy comments from Kenneth's wife.

Aine stooped to actually look at what Merlin was drawing with such focus and almost froze.

"Those are beautiful dear, where did you see them."
Merlin looked up and grinned, still on a high from the night's events. "I made 'em up. From my 'magination, see."

His grandmother hummed, an agreement, the flowing lines were definitely not something that would just arise in someone's imagination, well, at least if one was not Emrys.

She switched to mental communication and Merlin didn't miss a beat, "You were brilliant last night Merlin, I was so proud of you!"

His grin widened, "Thanks! It was so pretty."

"Yeah? What did the princess look like, I missed her because I was concentrating on your parents and remembering the words."
"Like herself. The moon princess, all shining and white, except her hair, it was dark like the sky. She didn't have flowers in it like mum did."
"Wow, I wish I had seen that. Does she have a name? The moon princess?"

"Yes. I don't think I am meant to tell anyone, Mum wouldn't like it, like with the tree people. Especially when anyone asks questions." He cocked his head, "Maybe she'll come back to tell you if you ask."

Aine frowned. "Ask who, dear?"

"The moon, silly."

Only years of practice prevented her from allowing her surprise to show at his casual reference, she had no doubt about whom he was speaking.

"I might do that, but I think she is a very busy Lady, of course weddings are very special occasions. Did you see anyone else I should thank for helping?"

Merlin shrugged. "Nope, but I think her friend was there, to help. They were nice, and the water people and tree people were too. The tree man made me a special thing to wear, like mum but less girly", he grimaced at the thought of wearing flowers in his hair. Will would still have laughed at the woven leaves, but he felt proud of being given a special gift, and it made him fit, "Almost like a leaf crown."

A bittersweet feeling rose in her chest, "Exactly like that. It suited you. All brave looking, and very like your father, I wouldn't have thought to ask you to match him that way."

Merlin giggled, "It was fun, Mum doesn't like us not wearing proper things most nights, it was right though, I think, Balinor is right, we match. I saw his pic- his tattoo. It was bigger than I thought it would be, and a different colour from the other."

"Yes. That is because his soul is a brother to the dragons, the fire inside shows through. It's like being part of a family, but some of them are reeeeally big, and you don't invite them to dinner."
"Would they eat us?"

Aine was startled into laughing, "Goodness no, they just wouldn't fit in the house or around a table, and might put humans off their food."
"People are strange." Merlin frowned. Why would a dragon visit stop someone eating?

"Yes they are. Now, do you want to explain these drawings to me, because it looks like a story to me."

Merlin nodded sagely. "Yes. This one is the story of the good wolf", and it was, but Merlin had innocently used runes, not the common tongue, and stylised his wolves to look not like common images, but like sacred ones that should not be displayed openly now. His lost child was protected not only by a she-wolf, but by runes, and his wolf brothers arranged to show balance.

Merlin shouldn't have known that, couldn't have learned it. The druidess was now faced with the problem of teaching him appropriate use, while also being careful not to drain something from Merlin's life that brought him joy. He couldn't do this in front of anyone but them. She sighed, forgetting that he was listening and saw his smile drop away. "What did I do wrong?"

Shaking her head Aine tucked stray hair behind his ear, "Nothing lad, why do you think that you did something wrong?"

He looked down, "That's the sigh Mum has when I do something Wrong, Dangerous. It's the same sigh."
Aine closed her eyes, keeping her breathing even, "You haven't done anything wrong dear, only surprised me, I sigh when I realise I got a part of a plan wrong and have to fix it. Sometimes grown ups sigh when they worry, or that they've forgotten something important. Show me the rest, then we are going to check on the grown ups. They are slow today, but they've all earned a rest.

"Balinor, get your arse out here now."

Slamming up his defences wasn't fast enough to prevent his embarrassment leaking through, "Really mum? This is...extremely inconvenient… timing."

Grumbling about young love and cringing she responded. "Fine, finish, don't dither, Then get your arse out here. She withdrew and threw up an impenetrable wall knowing he'd sense her giving him absolute privacy. There were some things she absolutely did not want to know about her son's life.

"When you imagine these things, what does your magic feel, Merlin?"

He paused and thought for a minute, "Calm, and buzzing at the same time. Harder to keep inside, but happier too. Why?"
Aine nodded, "I see. Well that makes sense. Merlin, your magic is harder to keep in like this because some of them are ancient or designed for holding a spell. You have been very strong, and very clever to keep them separate, not many people are so good at controlling what their magic does as to not let it flow. I am very impressed Merlin. Your pictures are very beautiful. Perhaps the next time if you are outside you could do only the animals or people to be safe? If it spoils drawing for you, we'll just do drawing inside whatever shelter we are in, ok? So that you can keep making the beautiful things. Before you do more of the 'imagination' pictures like these ones," She pointed to the runes, "I think that your father or I need to sit and explain the meanings of them to you, just like mum did with letters, because they are just like that. Then you can use them and know that nothing will accidentally happen you don't mean to. I trust you Merlin. I trust your magic. So we are going to make sure it gives you fewer surprises you don't expect. Have you shown these drawings to your mum before?"

Merlin scuffed his toes against the ground. "Some. Some of them I'm not allowed to draw anymore, but not these ones."

"Hmm, I'll ask her to let you show me them once, this is a language that your mum doesn't know well. Not like old Latin, or Gallic, or even any of the saecson words. Even the cleverest person needs a teacher for something like this. Have you always known these pictures?"

He shrugged, "I think so. Sometimes they are in my dreams. Other times I just make them up. It's fun. You should try it, like drawing a feeling."

Aine could feel the joy and the freedom that flowed from him, it was impossible to scold, and the child had no idea what he was doing. "The marks are called Runes dear. I am glad it's fun, but I'm not going to try and make new ones in case I accidentally made a dangerous one. I think I might just stick to the animals." She winked at him.

"If I promise not to draw the rum-Runes, will you join in?" He reached down and handed her a stick of her own.

"Absolutely. We'll leave them until Balinor has seen, then we'll return the dust to its place."

Balinor was still visibly dishevelled, but Aine limited her reaction to a raised eyebrow, she was quite sure that despite the poor timing, Hunith would have greater respect for Balinor if he put their son first when he was called for, literally or otherwise.

He found them kneeling together in the dirt, drawing a new story.

He did try, grunting an acknowledgement to his mother, ignoring her amusement.

"Well hello to you too. I want you to look at the story with wolves. Apparently this is from his 'imagination'. I trust you understand why I needed you to see this and cannot let it remain visible long?"
"You didn't teach him?"

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I didn't teach him. I'm not trying to put the child in more danger. Apparently some are from dreams and others he just makes up." Checking Merlin was still absorbed in his drawing, Aine turned to her son and allowed the fear to show through, "We need to teach him the meaning, before something accidental happens, and forget teaching him any minor spells. Balinor, you need to teach Merlin the principles first, how magic flows and works in the world. Soon. His magic is raw. Pure. Wild. I didn't escort or defend them only from Uther's bloodthirst, both sides will have reason to seek the boy, I hadn't even realised exactly how...rare...a young warlock he was, and we are not going to let them rob him of a childhood, but no one deserves to live in fear of themselves either. If anyone caught it..."

Balinor frowned, distracted enough not to notice the lie but easily following her train of thought. "It certainly looks like some language lessons are rather urgently needed. And he has managed to keep these free of actual magic?"
"Apparently so."
"Interesting. Thanks Mum. He's got a good hand."

"That he does. Unusual given his other difficulties with coordination."

"That's better though, and improving, unsurprising when he isn't fighting against his soul."

"True."

Apparently satisfied with his latest masterpiece Merlin stood up, rubbing grubby hands on his tunic. "Hello. Missus Aine wants me to show you the pictures that aren't pictures. She says their ru-they're something people shouldn't see, but you're allowed, and also like letters 'cause they mean something." He looked puzzled. "I didn't know they meant things that weren't feelings."

Balinor watched Merlin carefully, and took the little hand that was proffered, smaller than it should be he thought, still thoroughly dirt coated, and horrors lurking beneath his nails.

"She's right, I'm good at languages, and this is one I learned as a child, they are one of the things that scare people who don't understand the meaning."

"Couldn't we just teach them so it's not scary?" From the mouths of babes, thought the Dragonlord.

"That's a good idea, but sometimes people don't want to learn, or they maybe met someone who used the language who hurt them, and thought everyone who does likes to hurt others."

Merlin scowled, "But lots of people hurt others, like the red knights, and the raiders, or the men from the inn after bad mead. Not everyone who wears red or has a horse likes to hurt though." He didn't sound entirely convinced though.

"Yes Merlin, there are plenty of people who will hurt, for different reasons, from lots of different groups, and it's never because of one thing they have in common that can be seen. Every group has some people though who protect instead. It's why we must be careful. Families are supposed to look after each other."

Merlin chewed on his thumb, unconcerned about dirt, "You are my family now? You married Mum, so that makes you my family?"

Balinor sank down beside the boy and clasped his other hand, "Yes Merlin it does, but there is a bit more than that. Remember last night, and how your magic matches mine? I was your family before I married your mum, you are my son, your mother and I made you together, and some of your magic is dragonlord magic because I am a dragonlord. That is all a bit complicated, but it's why you find absorbing knowledge and feelings quite easy. When you're older there is a secret language you'll learn, but let's start with this one. These are wolves, right?"

"Yes, these two are brothers, you can't see but one is light and one dark." He pointed to another, "This one is visiting from North, like last night, and the owl over there is watching. I haven't decided why yet. There is the mother wolf. She keeps them safe, so they can play and argue, but not get hurt."
Balinor grunted acknowledgment of the explanation as he studied it for himself. Gods, what he wouldn't do for an actual priestess or unbiased elder right now. How the flying fuck was he supposed to explain this to his new wife? Not that he had to today, but there would come a time. When he was sure he'd memorised it, Balinor turned to Merlin and smiled. "You're a good artist son, do you draw a lot?"

He shook his head, "Not when anyone is watching."

"You did in front of me and Aine today."
Merlin giggled, "You don't count."

Balinor tried to look serious, and failed, warmth radiating through his chest. "I see. Well, I would like to see some when we are not staying in the village, but I can remember the symbols in this one and I'll explain them later, it's a lovely drawing, but I need to rub it out now. Would you like to learn some other kinds of art? I never did much drawing, but I can show you how to carve wood if you like."

"Yes please! If… you don't think I'm bad luck? I'm...they don't let me stay when they make anything important. I don't want to spoil your things." The matter of fact way that Merlin stated he was bad luck, warned someone, made Balinor feel sick and furious. Hunith's capacity for forgiveness was indeed immense.

"Listen to me, you are not bad luck Merlin, ever. You are not cursed, or unnatural, or a bad omen, or misfortune. Sometimes we make mistakes and things are broken or we need a better piece of wood, or bone, or to pay closer attention. That's never because of anything you have done, alright. If I pick an unsuited bit of wood, that is my choice, and a lesson for the next time. Now, are you ready?"

Merlin sucked in a breath and squeezed his eyes shut, "Ready."
Balinor reached out to sweep away the evidence, and the dirt seemed to rearrange itself in a completely different way. Mentally cursing, he tried to move his hand a different direction to compensate, but it made no difference, the mud and dust appeared to have a mind of its own. "As quickly as it had begun it settled, and for all Aine could tell, there had been no disturbance. Balinor was annoyed though "Merlin, that was reckless, it wasn't needed. What were you doing?" His voice was rough, as it usually was when he was concerned, and Merlin's confusion obvious, "Missus Aine said to sort the dust the way it was before."

His grandmother groaned, "Oh sweetie, I didn't mean it so precisely. I'll try to be clearer next time. When we tidy or rub something out we don't usually mean to return every speck to the exact place it used to be. It's often better to leave it looking slightly disturbed, unless you are trying to avoid being tracked." Merlin accepted the response but didn't answer.

Remaining quiet, as did Balinor, for very different reasons, it was not a simple matter to keep track of where components were before, really it was like a focused rewinding of time. He wondered that his mother appeared to have either not noticed, or be carefully ignoring that, as she stroked his hair.

"Don't tell mum? Please. I don't want her to worry on a Special Day."

Usually Balinor would disagree with hiding something from her, in this case though he had to agree with Merlin's sentiment. "Alright. I won't tell her about the dusting, if you promise me not to do it again, magic isn't for tidying your room or rubbing out pictures young man. Just think next time, does it need magic. If you use it for everything, then the muscles on your body won't get the use they need to stay healthy. Magic and muscles have much in common, and if you exercise each one it will become stronger and more able to do as you want it to. If you want to learn to balance, it needs practice, yes? Or light a fire without lighting anything else. Magic and muscles have a similarity, so it's important than we don't neglect one, there are plenty of places now where we can't be seen using magic, so learning to do things by hand-or foot- is needed."

Merlin pushed his hair back out of his eyes, "I promise. By hand, not magic. Keep the magic secret Mum says."

There was an aching sadness in Balinor as he rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "Yes Merlin, keep the magic secret, but you will have help, you are not alone. Not anymore."

"Alone is okay. I don't mind being alone. Feeling lonely is not nice though. Mum was lonely lots until you came back. She doesn't notice as many alive things."

"Probably not, and that's alright."

Aine noticed an increase of activity and cleared her throat, "Bran, I would like to discuss our plans later, Isildir will be arriving after noon, which is too late for anyone to depart, but I think you would benefit from seeing each other."

"Understood. I will talk to Hunith, Devin and Kara have not surfaced yet, and I am loathe to disturb them given it's the first opportunity they've had to rest and process things in a safe place. Neither would wish to have any distress witnessed."

The old woman didn't disagree but hoped the pair had been able to make an exception with one another. They could heal, if they allowed someone in. Aine had found that the depths to which someone could sink in fear, hate, or anger, was directly proportional to how much they cared about or loved what was lost in the first place. Hunith had been Balinor's anchor, the rock that stopped him from drowning in grief and hatred. Her own was sheer strength of will to make sure that the truth was known and to live, as her family had commanded, until Merlin, after that she had begun to live again, rather than merely survive.

Both of the youths had loved deeply before, and that had to go somewhere, either the hole left would fill with darkness and turn them into a shell of their former selves, as Nimue had chosen, or they found someone, something good to fill the emptiness and give the care to.

"I think that you need to seek advice at the place we spoke of Bran, there are still sources of wisdom to be found there."

"You may be right at that, though I still find them unsettling."

"More unsettling than Taliesin? Or crystals? Or mad priestesses? Or you perhaps could seek Avalon and the Seelie court. I hear Queen Mabh will be glad to entertain men like you soon." Aine replied scathingly.

Balinor rolled his eyes, "Obviously not mother, but I would usually have spoken to- but no, they're all gone now. You're right, Gedref is safest."

"Go on, you have much to discuss with your wife, she's making bread with Riona while Kenneth has gone to check his traps, enjoying doing something normal again. Do you remember how to live this way?"

"Mother, I forgot how to live at all. If this is the life she needs I'll find a way to make it work."
She reached up to him, laying a hand against his cheek. "I know you will, and you will find a way to explain Merlin to her. Trust your instincts love, they are in your heart for a reason."

Merlin watched the exchange patiently, it wasn't unusual for adults to have conversations that weren't for 'waggly ears', that meant him and Will apparently, which was frustrating because they had tried for days after being told that, and neither could get their ears to move even a little bit. When he had sulkily informed Mum of this she had only laughed. Merlin thought he could probably make them move with magic, but that wouldn't have been a good reason for it, and he might accidentally vanish them. Then mum would know what he'd been doing and be cross. It wasn't worth it. She didn't usually skelp him, not like a lot of parents, but for that she would.

'Keep the magic secret' was very important.

Maybe it would be easier if Balinor and Missus Aine let him would teach him to not make mistakes or explode, and mum let him stretch it to balance. Or maybe it was not allowed at all in villages? He should check. They would know. He didn't want to bother Mum. She was singing, but not one of her sad songs, or even one of the songs that felt unfinished, a calm and happy one. He had a bad feeling that asking about magic-rules would stop the happy-song.

This time the conversation for grown ups was easier not to overhear though, and the heavy blanket over his mind helped to remind him not to reach, and where the edge of his mind was, so he didn't accidentally wander. When the words weren't out-loud, it was easier. He understood why they would use that way to talk about things that were 'private', or secret. So he waited patiently for them to stop staring at each other and the mental block from his father to soften. Huh. That was a puzzle, "Balinor? Now that you are my family, what am I meant to call you?" Balinor turned on the spot and crouched to be on Merlin's level. "You call me whatever you want to. The feelings inside you that tell you what is right before you can know or understand why are called instincts. I will answer to whatever you think is the right name. There are lots of different words that mean the same thing, and I will always hear your meaning. There is no wrong word."
Merlin bit his bottom lip nervously, grasping Aine's hand, "Not father, you're not like Will's was to me. Do I have to decide now?"

Balinor stroked his son's unruly hair back and bit back his sigh, "No, of course not, and you can try out different ones to see what fits right. There's no rush at all, I don't plan on leaving, even if you just use my name forever, because you know what? It's a gift just to hear your voice."

Merlin smiled shyly, Mum had always said that feelings were for everyone, but Ealdor had never seemed to agree, it seemed that Balinor did.

"The white princess said something like that." His voice was quiet, and he didn't catch the questioning look his father threw towards Aine, who avoided any eye contact, and suddenly found himself far more sympathetic to her ignoring what were in fact significant feats of magic, and seemed to come to Merlin like breathing.

"She sounds like a wise princess then. Was that the first time you met her?"

Merlin shrugged, relaxing now that he was sure there was no rush, important things should be thought through. "It's the first time she spoke to me, but I was always careful to use manners before, and call her My Lady properly, like Mum says the fancy people do. Have to shush though," Merlin demonstrated, bringing his finger to his lips, "Never tell if the others pretend to not see someone. Makes them angry, and then mum is sad."

Balinor forced his body to obey his mind, keeping the functions normal, breathing, colour, control.

"Sometimes there are things only meant for one person to see, not everyone. Sometimes if we are lonely a person might want to remind you of not being alone, or they can give messages. When I speak to you like this, no one else can hear. Some creatures do the same, only they can make themselves be seen only by certain people. Most of them don't mean any harm, but maybe if you have visitors again you could tell me or Aine. We will never be angry with you, or sad. Aine sometimes sees things only for her too, in a different way. She will understand."

Merlin's lip trembled, and he bit down on it hard, never with people there. "You really don't mind?"

"No son, never. I will never be angry with you for someone else's actions, or for speaking to me. That wouldn't make much sense would it?"

Merlin shook his head. "No...but not all people do."

"Well then, when we don't make sense, just ask." Balinor stated calmly, as though it was so simple. Unconvinced but willing to try Merlin muttered what sounded like a 'yes'.

"I still need to talk to Hunith, but I haven't forgotten about practising with you Merlin, for stopping people getting into your head if you don't invite them. If we do it in the evening it might work best, because it's tiring at first, and then no one will notice you being sleepy."

Merlin perked up at that, not many grown ups were good-interested in him. The moon princess said he would protect Merlin though, and he could trust her, couldn't he? That was something he couldn't check with Mum. He'd just have to work it out on his own.

When he looked around the dragonlord had left them and gone inside.

"Well Merlin, you've been doing so well not falling over, that I was wondering if you've ever played hopscotch? No? It's very simple, all we need is a stick and a stone. I'll draw the grid. What do you know about numbers?"
Aine had his full attention now, he liked games. "I'm a good counter. Mum lets me help count what we gather, but I forget after twenty sometimes."

"Wonderful. Do you know how to draw them?"

Merlin's face twisted, "Some, sometimes they go wrong."

"That's ok, it's a part of learning, you can do this," She winked at him, "You find us the stone, I'll just draw it out of the way, otherwise the adults will have a much harder time getting in and out of the house."

Merlin frowned, "Why?"

Aine grinned at him, "Because they are all out of practice in hopping and jumping, and hopscotch is all about hopping and jumping. I haven't played it in a long time."

It would keep them out of the way of his parents long enough. It was a matter of minutes to finish showing him how.

"Aine?"

"Yes Merlin?"

"Are you my family too now?" He looked up to her, open.

"Would you like me to be?" She deflected.

Merlin thought for a moment, "Yes. If that doesn't change you."

"Well then Merlin, if you will have me, I will be your family."

They could work out the rest later.

"It's your turn. Just throw the stone, and you hop where there is one square and jump where there is two. Do you want a demonstration?" Merlin nodded. It was the sort of game he'd always been excluded from, but Aine didn't tease him, just showed him, and came back to stand next to him, handing him the stone confidently. Not expecting him to do it wrong.

Seeing his conflicted expression she leaned down to whisper, "Nothing is going to break, and if it does, we'll just fix it. It's only a game love. You've all the time in the world."

Hunith could hear distinctive giggles coming from behind the house shortly after. The dough set aside to rise she found herself taking a turn at the butterchurn.

Balinor came to stand behind her, placing a butterfly kiss to the side of her neck, "We need to talk love, before the others get here. Apparently they are expected not long after noon."

"How can you know that?"
He grimaced, "My mother."

"Ah. Do I want to know?"

Balinor sniggered at her tone, Hunith hadn't been impressed at their earlier disturbance, though Balinor now had to admit she had done the right thing. "Probably not. I don't. Though I can guarantee there's nothing off between her and Isildur. She has rules, strict ones. She is his Elder. It would be...unseemly."

"She's still a beautiful woman."

Balinor dropped his eyes too quickly, and he saw the question in Hunith's eyes. He sighed. "She's from an Old family. Daughters aren't dragonlords, but some of the traits are alike. She can't behave as something she is not. We mate for life, and hers is gone. It's a cruel fate, and very few would choose not to pursue vengeance. I believe you and Merlin are the reason she did not at least try to take down Uther. I know my mother. If she resolved to do that, she'd have several fail safes, no accomplices, clean. Nothing messy that needed preparation in the citadel. It was her who taught me strategy, and observing an enemy. There's a chance that she could find someone else, in theory, an ancient record said it's possible, but no one I've ever known knew of a case."

"There's somewhere we need to go love. For advice. Merlin is- well he's rather special, and I need to speak to someone about which order to do things in. When Mum called me out earlier it was because of something he didn't realise was happening, and he needs some teaching on the basics of how to prevent it accidentally happening in future and help his awareness. I want to avoid scaring him, and need some answers from a more experienced teacher. Like when learning a language there are different levels of fluency and elements are added as one advances, magic has governing rules and Merlin- well, he's bending some of them without realising. You heard her mention a place called Gedref before, and that's where I want to go. It's on joining of ley lines, there is a castle that you can't find by looking, and a man I wish to speak to, Anhora. He is different, he's not like the kind of priestess or sorcerer you might have met before, he is a Guardian. There are many Worlds, and in each there a Guardians. They help to keep balance, and prevent collapse or contamination. Certain Magical creatures have their own Guardians. Anhora and I are very different, but we hold similar responsibilities, I am considered the Keeper of Dragons, their Guardian. He is the Keeper of the Unicorns. Unlike the dragonlords though the position and ability is not inherited through bloodline but by skill and long training, and the Keepers live a very long time. Anhora has been the Keeper of the unicorns since long before the time of my great grandfather. He is neutral, he cannot hold the position if he is compromised or involves himself in the affairs of little kings. To be a true Guardian of a gateway, or between realms, one must remain apart. There is only One who can walk between worlds freely, they will exist in balance with the world, or so the legend says.

It means that we can be certain of his silence, and his loyalties. If Anhora remains guardian then he has no human allegiance, and his soul is bound to that task. He has access to books that no longer exist elsewhere which I must consult, and anyone else with access to such knowledge would be eager to rob Merlin of a childhood. You are right, he needs that, I've seen too many kids break under unfair pressure, either openly, or self destructively. We are not going to let it happen to him."

"Really? You think this...this castle, or Gedref, wherever that is, is not putting him under pressure?! Because it doesn't sound like somewhere he won't be trapped."

Balinor gripped her shoulders lightly and looked into her, "I think it will be less pressure than him accidentally killing someone or stopping time, or not recognising something malevolent, being tricked into tearing a veil. I am counting on him being distracted enough by the unicorns and beach with you that he doesn't notice me researching the best way to help him survive the chaos and pain. Magically he is ahead of where any child ought to be, but his emotions and instincts are of a child, and without guidance it makes him dangerous to himself, and to others in ways that would break him. Merlin is our son, and he fears himself a monster. He is not, and I do not want him to grow up with that constant fear in the background. So as you teach him your herblore and sewing, I will teach him awareness and about the flow of magic in this world. Please. Let me help."

Hunith's features remained guarded but he could feel the defensiveness leaving her as some of his desperation leaked through in his 'voice'. "Let me think about it this afternoon love, I'll tell you my decision tonight."

Balinor relaxed his hands and slumped, accepting the half-answer, he finally had her back, had both of them, but he knew that they had many moments like this ahead of them, Hunith had been forced into making every single decision for herself and Merlin, and had more than enough reason to be extremely cautious. "Remember Hunith, you can listen in when you wish to. Ask me for answers, challenge me, but please don't think I would harm you. Aine thinks he's having a magical growth spurt and it should become more predictable again, but he'll need the tools to keep it that way. Most are simple, like the centering himself and calming panic. Others, not so much."
"So it's temporary?" She sounded so hopeful that Balinor hated having to correct her.

"No. The lack of control, and manifesting of unfamiliar innate talents is temporary if he is offered helping strategies." Actually he also wanted to see if Anhora knew of a way to limit or suppress Seeing in a child, lest that become apparent later.

"I see. Magic growth spurts?"

Balinor rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "I forgot about those. It's- think of it as the magical equivalent of teenage boys growing an inch a week, and breaking everything because they've no idea where their arms end anymore. I think I repressed it from sheer embarrassment. Oh gods, the number of things I set on fire by sneezing. It's amazing my mother didn't just stop replacing things. I love that she had faith in me mastering it one day though. Eventually."

"So if the others are arriving soon what is she intending to do?"

"Visit her cousin I think, she can't stay long enough to be noticed, but he recently had a daughter, and Mum's got it into her head that they'll somehow break the girl by only giving her pretty things."
Well the woman wasn't wrong, if one sifted through her son's fond frustration.

"Do they live close by?"

Balinor winced, "Well you could say that, she tends not to visit often, never liked the ceremonies as they got pretentious and she was asked not to call men at Court obnoxious or sleazy. Uncle Rodor was always rather indulgent though, I think he liked not having to be the one to say it openly first. Anyway, he would definitely 'not find' Mother in any search for her, or any companions, but she fears Uther could have spies or an ambassador near the family, so even if she was willing to admit we three live, which she isn't, the risk is much too high.

Plus Merlin would hate it. Actual noble life is intolerably boring for active lads like him, even ones without magic."

"Court. Uncle Rodor. Explain, fast." Waves of fury and anxiety alternated with her tangible agreement and approval of Aine's lack of pandering to entitled brats.

"I was raised mostly in the forests, but keeping the peace in the family, and in preparation for some of my duties some time at court was necessary, when I was young Mother kept it primarily seasonal. Rodor was not yet King, and was more of a brother to Mum than a cousin. We have little kin left, and she expects Uther to eventually remember certain Ties. I believe...I think she wants to have a last visit and keep her distance in hope. Much like I- well, everyone deserves to say goodbye properly. She knows the land, and can travel fast, it won't take her long. We could wait for her here, or leave at the same time and meet at Gedref. Um...the links to the High nobles also mean that technically if anyone dared try claim Gedref openly, it would be my Birthright they challenged. For generations though the Dragonlords have recognised the land as belonging to no one, it is Hers alone, and we are nourished by it, the land has been given over as a refuge, and as such it is heavily defended and fortified by Magic and Nature. The Dragonlords never cared for conquest after the fall of Daobeth, it was declared amongst ourselves that we hold no land, and govern ourselves. What we claim as our own love, is the air. The land is teeming with life, beautiful yes, but crowded, confined. The sky to one who is a brother to dragons is freedom, it goes on so far. Did I ever tell you about the Northern lights? They can be chased but never caught, it's as though Danu Herself decided to paint the very air. The clouds up there are so much further away than you expect, and when a man reaches out to touch them they are not soft like wool, but slip between the fingers, like fast flowing water."

He let the tears fall, knowing he would never return there. Even if Kilgarrah was freed he would not desire to fly together, and Balinor would never force it from him.

"So bringing us to the castle is- it's not just any castle Bal, is it?"

"Not really, no."

Hunith blew out steadily, "It's Your castle."

"Well as far as the records and archivists are concerned that would be the case, but I've really…. I mean I've not been there in years love, it's not me who lives there. It can't be mine if I don't live there, so, Anhora's."

Hunith regarded him sternly. "So what you were asking is not quite about taking us to a strange man you claim is a virgin-pure Guardian, but whether I'll come home with you."

She arched a brow, making the relationship to Gaius apparent. "I thought it was more important to explain, not to would have been deceitful."

"Oh, and forgetting to mention the refuge was yours-"

"Not mine, Hers",

"-or that you were homesick for what remains, and the castle which is only technically yours wasn't?"
"It seemed less important that whether you thought it was safe for Merlin." He said simply.

Hunith looped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly, "Oh you daft man, Yes, we'll go with you. For now. Then we can make a proper plan, for more than a day ahead."

She paused, "So when you said you could have chosen anyone you really could have, couldn't you."
Sensing his confusion she smiled against his neck, "But I didn't, they weren't you."

He could feel her rolling her eyes, "Sap. I love you too. Next time though, begin at the beginning." Balinor huffed, muffled by her hair and relaxed, simply enjoying having her warm, and alive, in his arms again.