In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower


Chapter 12: Set and Off Course

Cenred took the scale from Abel and turned it over in his hands. He held it close to the light of a nearby torch and even tried to bend it. Then he handed it over to a more distinguished man.

"Is it really what I think it is Roman?"

The old man took out some bifocals and brought it closer. It was a few moments before he nodded. "This scale is indeed genuine sire. I've seen a few of them before in my travels." He held it closer to a torch. "It's golden, just like the dragon that attacked Camelot. It had to have come from it."

Cenred grinned with a greedy glint shining in his eyes. "And it and the dragonlord are within my land. I must meet them and claim them for myself before Uther gets to them."

"What are your orders sire?" asked one of his men.

"This is quite a fruitful situation. Not only do we have a chance to possess a great power in our midst but there is also a means to make it do whatever I wish. We must find this Balinor and bring him to our side."

"How my king?"

"Through the usual channels," he simply said to his advisor. "I'm sure the offer of wealth, land and revenge against Camelot will prove enticing enough." He then went to a nearby table and picked up an ornament knife. "If not, there is also the old fashion way."

"But what of Uther sire?" asked another of them. "He already has an army amassing for Ealdor with the intention of destroying them. If we move in and deny his efforts then he could simply just charge right through and try to take them anyway. We don't have the time to amass enough men to keep them from pushing further into our land if he resorted to force."

"Yes," he mumbled. "But, it would do no good if he didn't know where to look. You," he said turning to point at Richard.

"Sire?" he said rising at attention.

"You are part of the Southern Battalion, am I right?"

"Yes sire," he bowed his head. "I am. You wish for me to send a message to mobilize them?" He tried not to sound to eager as to err Cenred's suspicions. So far, the plan was going well. Now he just needed for Cenred to order that the Southern battalion man along the boundaries of Ealdor to seal his plan.

"Mobilize? No," he chuckled like Richard had said a joke. "I want you to send a message for them to abandon the fort and head to safety further within the kingdom. Before that, however, I will have them journey to Ealdor and retrieve the Dragonlord Balinor and have him escorted to Denbar where I will be waiting. Uther will destroy that village and turn up empty handed and not only will we have the dragon pair but also probable cause to declare war and draw in plausible support from Uther's other enemies."

This wasn't the plan. "Ah...of course, sire." Richard said not letting any emotion loose. Cenred wrote a letter on a parchment before placing his seal on it and handing it over to him. Richard took it bowing again and went to look to Abel. Richard caught Abel's eye and gave him a near non-existant nod.

"Sire?" Abel understood the signal and put out his right hand. "This was valuable information and wasn't very easy to bring forth to you."

This made the king smirk. "Very well." Cenred snapped his fingers at a knight who pulled out a pouch and threw it at Abel who caught it. "For your troubles," he said.

Abel felt around the pouch to feel coins inside and could hear them jingle from within. "Thank you sire."

"I'll escort him out sire," Richard insisted. "Then I'll be off as fast as I can."

Richard and Abel were outside the castle walls before Abel spoke again. "That wasn't part of the plan, was it?"

"No," Richard growled.

The plan was that Cenred would bring troops to Ealdor to help protect them from being butchered. Cenred himself would undoubtedly go to gain Balinor and Kilgharrah's alliance with an escort as well. Then, one of the druids would pose as Balinor to Cenred before taking to the sky on Kilgharrah with Balinor on the ground, out of sight and out of mind, to give the commands to maintain the illusion. With the southern branch of Essetir's army as well as Cenred and the dragon in the air Uther would see it futile to continue and his plans ruined. Then Kilgharrah would escape and Cenred would be left pursuing an imposter with Balinor allowed to safely stay in Ealdor with his identity spared. Kilgharrah's position in the caves would still be safe as well as Cenred didn't know that he was dwelling there so he could return when things were settled. Now that plan was up in smoke. Cenred was planning to sacrifice Ealdor anyway to ensure a just cause for war. Simply trespassing on his kingdom would've granted him that but he didn't care for one village's safety. Richard had been a fool to hope for that.

"We have to get back and quickly."


"I can't believe you actually encouraged this…madness Kilgharrah! You should've tried to talk Richard out of it. We have enough weight on our shoulders and we shouldn't shift it to whomever is conveniently in our sights."

Balinor had just heard the entirety of the situation from Richard's plan to where he and the young Abel now were. Needless to say was that he was beyond irate at his gargantuan friend.

"Balinor, I believe that it Richard and everyone in Ealdor is inconveniently in Uther's sight already. Richard's plan will put Uther inconveniently in Cenred's. It is conceivable that future events will take us all out of the course that Uther's unchallenged purge has in store for us."

"Yes, it is between us. Remember what I said back in Camelot Kilgharrah, about keeping Uther's grudge and fate between us. The last thing I want is to bring villages let alone whole kingdoms of people into this."

"Balinor, I don't think you understand that this is bigger than you and Uther. You are the one he wants most right now and after he gets you he would simply find someone else to target. Perhaps," he silently huffed. "Your child with Hunith would be next."

Balinor shot his head up instantly. What did Kilgharrah know? "What? What are you talking about?" he tried to deter away.

"I know Balinor," he said simply. "I know that Hunith is carrying your child."

Balinor was about to keep denying it. So far it was only the two of them, perhaps even Gina, who knew and he wanted to keep it that way but the way his friend was looking at him; he knew as well.

"How?" he asked.

"Last night…your thoughts." he explained. "They were so loud within your own mind that they were nearly deafening and I was able to hear them Balinor. All of them, centered around Hunith and your child."

Balinor felt himself slag down. He suddenly had no energy to even stand up straight. Kilgharrah saying it out loud, that he was having a child, it seemed to etch it in stone.

"I can't have a child now Kilgharrah. These times aren't ideal for starting a family if you're a dragonlord."

"And that is the problem Balinor. The times. You keep assuming that all of this is between you and Uther but it isn't and it never was. This all began before you and he even crossed paths. It is between all of us and Uther. Uther has executed his own people in his kingdom's name simply for crossing paths with magic even if they don't possess the slightest bit themselves. A knight for choosing his people rather than his war. Now he is targeting a village of people for our presence here and this isn't even his domain risking a great war to be broken out. These times are not ideal for anyone."

"Perhaps I should confront Uther then. I could give myself up and make sure that no one else has to be brought into this. Bring this to him and spare everyone in and out of his kingdom from his wrath."

"Face Uther when he has an army of men with salted iron weapons and artillery behind him? He would only kill you Balinor before you could have him in your sights. Besides, even if you did give yourself up and confront him face to face, he wouldn't stop now. He would only kill you and continue with his single minded pursuit of all things magic that he could get to. Fleeing out of the borders of his land has reminded him that magic isn't just in his kingdom but beyond it. His lust for revenge won't be satisfied with purging magic in his lands alone but in all of them. It will only be a matter of time before he sets his sights on magical communities in the kingdoms of his allies and his enemies. This will create more victims and more suffering to not only them but to his own people as well. Entire families much like your impending one will be caught up in this."

Balinor suddenly saw faceless men, women and children on their knees looking in terror at Uther before he mercilessly put them to a sword. He envisioned Richard, Gina, Hunith getting cleaved by blades and even saw a bundle in a Camelot soldier's arms being dropped into a river. Balinor started to sob. "I don't know what to do any more," he moaned. "I honestly don't know Kilgharrah."

"Balinor, do you love Hunith?"

"Of course!" he spat out instantly.

"Do you want to be a father?"

He was silent a bit longer for that one. The thought of a child or children playing with him like he had done with his own father came into his mind. "I do," he answered.

"Then perhaps we should follow Richard's plan. He loves his wife and wishes to be a father too. He doesn't have magic but he recognizes that Uther can not have his way with him or with any other innocent people because the man has a boundless grudge."

"But this will start a war which will have thousands of people die," he argued.

"Balinor, do you remember what you told me when you wanted to try for peace with Uther? You said that the people shouldn't be made to suffer for Uther's mistakes. You wanted to be better than him. You are right but Uther must still be made to suffer for his own mistakes. If he doesn't then he will only believe that he can do as he pleases to everyone else without consequence. Either way, people will suffer. That is the unfortunate cycle of tyranny. Suffering if nothing is done but suffering if something is done. However, the suffering has a chance to end with the tyrant's end whereas it could only linger and grow stronger with his prolonged presence."

"So, you're saying that we have to choose the lesser of two evils then? Creating a war will cause suffering but help in stopping the suffering that could be prevented if there wasn't one."

Kilgharrah actually looked sad at how Balinor seemed to be so small at that moment. "It might appear so Balinor. Uther is getting more stronger and fearsome every season. It will only be a matter of time before he turns his sights on magic in the kingdoms of his allies and his enemies. He will go through his purge thinking that the consequences will be his enemies to bear alone. He must be shown that his actions have consequences for him to bear as well."

"I suppose so," he grunted. "But using the situation like this, it will make me no better than Uther."

"Wrong," he roared. "It doesn't make you anything like Uther. You didn't seek this out or start it. You are just the result of what Uther has pushed us all towards. Don't forget, he chose to start his purge and chose to bring war with his actions. He could've learned to not toy with forces beyond his understanding and control but he chose to act like a god and doesn't want to face the realities of his choice. You chose to strive for peace. You chose to try and leave the hate behind and build a new life for yourself instead. That has made people like Gaius, the Druids, Richard and even Hunith believe in you and try to help you of their own free will. You are far better than Uther could ever dream to be Balinor and I will not tolerate you or anyone else declaring it differently."

The passion of Kilgharrah's testimony...Balinor felt his insides burn with a roaring fire. It wasn't scalding hot but comforting like a blaze in a cold winter's night. Suddenly, Balinor didn't feel like kneeling in the ground like a defeated man. He wanted to stand proud and tall. The sword at his belt, Excalibur hit against his knee as he got back up. He took it out and held it out in front of him. "We may not desire war but that doesn't mean we aren't at war. It seems we must fight even if we rather do anything but." His firm face was reflected back at him in the blade's shining flat side. "I have this sword capable of great feats. Perhaps it was made to do more than free you Kilgharrah from Uther's grasp. Perhaps I can use it to free us all from Uther as well. I just hope I can."

"I believe you can Balinor. For a moment, I just saw one of the Dragonlords of old. Ones that drew in and inspires scores of people to achieve great feats. Uther did not do himself any favors making himself an enemy of you. Remember, you won't be alone. You have people like the Druids and Richard who care for you and I believe that will support you…and myself as well."

"Well, let's just hope one of the feats I can do is raise a family."

"I'm sure you will do that as well. You have my help for that as well."

"Thank you old friend. My child will have quite the honorable uncle to look up to, literally."

The two of them burst out laughing. The hardest that the two of them have had in what feels like forever.


Uther was in the throne room with a few assembled knights, all of them in full armor, readying themselves to ride out. The army was ready and prepared and all the weapons had gone through their paces and were deemed battle ready. The eager king was just waiting a few more stragglers.

"How long would it be before we reach our target?" he asked to his officers.

"Sire," said Sir Peter. "If we left within the hour we would arrive by noon in three days time."

"Excellent. This has been put off long enough. Finally, with all these months of waiting and worrying we can finally have Balinor and that creature of his as nothing more than a dark memory by this day next week."

The knights all bowed and lightly hit their breastplates with pride.

"Sire," Gaius said as he stepped into the room with a small box. "This box contains enough of my medicine for your wound for the next ten days."

"Thank you Gaius," he gave him a small smile before he had his servant take it and pack it with his horse. "Where is Gorlois?"

"He is doing a final inspection of the men and awaiting you sire," answered Sir Lehman.

"Then let us be off. Sir Tate," he said as they started to walk off. "You know what you are to do, correct?"

Tate nodded. "Yes sire," he said.

"Good, and keep it subtle. I need you to ensure that Gorlois and his officers don't see you carry out this duty. We don't have any time for me to debate the issue."

Tate swallowed down his discomfort. "Of course." Tate had been given the task of making sure that the villagers of Ealdor didn't escape and spread word of what was going to happen. Tate didn't like that Uther gave him this task but his king gave him an order and he had to carry it out. He just kept repeating 'For the good of the kingdom. For the good of the kingdom' over and over again in his head whenever that uncomfortable feeling came around which was quite often.

The courtyard was filled with Uther's knights waiting at their horses for their king. Gorlois was just riding in when Uther came out through the doors and went over to him.

"The men are prepared and ready to move out now."

"Thank you Gorlois," he said offering the man a friendly hug. "Again, Camelot thanks you for your assistance."

"All in the service of protecting the kingdom and its people," he answered as he eased out of the hug.

Uther and the others got on their horses and after Uther gave a few words to motivate the men they were ready to ride out and direct the army. Yet before they could, a young handmaiden came out of the front doors of the castle, frantic.

"My lord!" she screeched running to Gorlois.

"What is the meaning of this?" Uther roared at the woman.

"Forgive me sire," she gasped out. "But it's an emergency. It's the Lady Vivienne!"

Gorlois leaped off his saddle and went to the girl. "My wife? What's happened?"

"She's entered labor."

"What? Now?" At the woman's nod, Gorlois looked frantically from the castle to Uther back and forth. "Sire,"

"Say no more," Uther cut him off. "Go and stay with your wife."

"But…what about my duty to the kingdom?"

"Your place with us is important but you only are around for the birth of your first child once. Believe me, you don't want to miss this. Be there for Vivienne and your child. They need you as well." Uther didn't want sweet Vivienne to have to suffer and feel alone at this time. Also, this might be an opportunity in disguise. It could do more to aid their efforts in Essetir than hinder them with his absence. Less energy in concealing the full truth from Gorlois and have more spent in disposing of the village and the dragon. "We can handle everything well enough even short of you. Stay," he said. "That was a request but I can make it an official order if you prefer."

Gorlois smiled breathlessly. "Thank you Uther."

He then ran into the castle with the handmaiden at his heels. Uther pulled on his horse's reins to signal it to begin moving.

"Let's move out!" he ordered. "That dragon and dragonlord won't slay themselves!"


End of Chapter 12

A/N: The gloves are coming off now. Balinor has chosen to not leave Hunith, Merlin and Ealdor this time. The next chapter will have Balinor face down the people of Ealdor when the reality of what is happening makes itself known to them and they will be faced with a choice.