Many thanks to my loyal reviewers – it's not just a confidence boost, it tells me if what I'm writing is going right or too much off the track :D xxx
Gaius stood on a short ladder and examined the books which lay on the high shelf, a layer of dust covering each of them. He plucked a green leather-bound volume and used his sleeve to wipe the dust off its cover to reveal the inscription and etching.
It simply read The Great Dragon and embossed upon underneath in gold was a picture of Kilgarrah, wings spread as if in flight. The book had been written a long time ago, chronicling the life and events of the fantastic creature and it had been passed into his safe-keeping by the Dragonlord, Balinor, whom Gaius had helped to escape from Uther's persecution.
The physician climbed down the ladder and seated himself next to a bright candle and flicked open the book. He skimmed page after page until, running an index finger along the words, he paused and read the whole page slowly and carefully, continuing for the next few pages before, at last, setting the book down.
Alesta and Eirlys. He knew he'd heard those names before and now he knew why. He hadn't fully believed in their existence but now his doubts had been swept away. If he could find them, he might get the answers to questions he wanted to ask but how to find her?
The ancient voice hung in the air even after the words had been spoken.
"I never thought I would meet you again, you had declared yourself the king's man."
Head hung low, whether in shame or to gather his thoughts, only Gaius knew but when he spoke his voice was steady. "That is true but I come to ask for your assistance, all the same."
"And what is it you require?" Kilgarrah's voice gave no clues as to his thoughts.
"I wish to know where I might find the seeress Alesta."
"What do you wish from her?"
"To have knowledge of the future, a particular future."
Kilgarrah's voice became a hiss, "And why should I help you? You betrayed dragonkind, you betrayed the dragonlords and you betrayed magic itself. You deserve no help!"
"I did not know what Uther had planned. I believed he would be reasonable, that he would hold true to his word." Gaius's voice was filled with regret. "I did not know."
The Great Dragon snorted in derision. "I did not know," he copied, "that is always the defence of the stupid. I will not betray the confidence of friends, though others might," he added mockingly.
"I cannot change the past, Kilgarrah, but I might be able to help the future. Please, the future of Camelot may well depend on it." When he saw no reaction, he added, "the future of Merlin may well depend on it."
Kilgarrah lowered his neck so that he was virtually eye-to-eye with the physician. "I know Merlin's destiny, your tricks will not work."
"Then tell me, what will become of him if Arthur and Guinevere are never to be united? Will he thrive or will his talents come to nothing?"
There was no reply so Gaius pressed on. "You are Kilgarrah and it is said that you, too, can foretell what is to come. If you can provide me with an answer then I have no need to find Alesta."
As wise and all-knowing as the dragon was, he had no answer for Gaius as he could only see for certain one particular path. Had he been asked about anyone but Merlin, the dragon would simply have flown back up to the heights of the cavern and refused to have any further dealings with his visitor. However, it was not just anybody – it was Merlin and his future was bound up with everyone including Kilgarrah himself.
"Very well," the scaled head bent down and eyes locked on the physician's, he telepathically transferred the knowledge required. When it was done, the dragon rose high in the air with his parting words, "Do not betray her."
Eirlys idly twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "So, was that it? We have nothing more to do?"
Alesta looked incredulously at her. "Was that it? We nearly got ourselves killed battling a centuries-old witch and you regained your proper form and I got this," she tugged at the newly acquired streak of white hair, "and you ask 'Was that it?'"
The sisters were in the study of Alesta's keep, having returned there to recover from their encounter with Nimueh.
The red-haired woman stuck her tongue out and folded her arms. "Oh, you know what I meant."
The seeress nodded slowly and sighed. "Yes, I suppose so – for the time being anyway. Events must unfold as they will." She crossed over to a sideboard and poured herself a drink of honey wine. "I was thinking of taking a trip away somewhere, perhaps cross the sea and spent some time in some other lands for a while. Care to join me?"
Eirlys grinned enthusiastically. "That sounds like a fine plan and I'm always ready for an adventure. When do we go?"
"Whenever we like, the keep will always be where it is needed and it will take but a moment to travel to where we like."
"Could we not just travel the boring way, on a ship with sails and everything? For once we can pretend that we're normal."
"We are normal, just a bit longer-lived than most." She saw the raised eyebrow and conceded, "Alright, perhaps more than just a bit." The eyebrow stayed lifted. "And with some magical powers."
"Like you said, then. Normal." Eirlys laughed but was interrupted but a stern look on Alesta's face, the elder sister was staring into the middle-distance, a look of concentration in her eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"A summons," she replied, "but not from anyone I know."
"Perhaps a trick by Nimueh?"
"No, I recognise the mark of her magic, this is different and there are only two in this world who know how to call me - you and Kilgarrah - and I know both your signals. It asks me to return to Camelot to meet the caller."
Eirlys looked worried. "It might still be a trick," she maintained.
"Perhaps, but I cannot ignore it, I cannot allow someone to use the summons without knowing who they are."
"Then I'm coming with you. And don't think to stop me, you might be in danger and may well need my help. Let us go now, then. The sooner this is done, the sooner we can get going."
They appeared in a small forest clearing and awaited Alesta's summoner.
"Why do they always want to use a forest clearing?" sighed Eirlys. "It's so clichéd, like a dark cave or by some mysterious pool. Why can't they go for a nice cosy tavern somewhere with good food and ale?"
The raven-haired woman shrugged. "Don't know, maybe it's just not the right atmosphere for it. Besides, it probably wouldn't look very good if I suddenly materialised next to somebody's beef stew, now would it?" She looked around, at first not noticing the quiet presence of Gaius. "Do we know each other?" her head tilted enquiringly when she did.
"No, I don't believe so. But I have heard of you." Gaius replied. "I am Gaius…"
"Court physician, mentor to Merlin, advisor to the king and one-time magician." Alesta finished his sentence. "You are correct, we do not know each other but we have heard of each other."
He inclined his head in acknowledgement. "I thank you for coming to meet me." He read the question in her eyes and answered it with a single word. "Kilgarrah."
"I see, you must be important if he told you how." She studied him, curious as to how he could have swayed the Great Dragon who had sworn never to reveal the method of summoning her to anyone.
"Not I," disagreed Gaius, "but Merlin. The boy is of importance to him, he believes their destinies are somehow entwined. I asked you to come here because I must know what lies ahead for Merlin. Does his future rely on those of Arthur and Guinevere's?"
Under the stares of both women, the physician experienced a prickling sensation all over and felt as though his skin was being peeled back to reveal the spirit and soul that lay beneath, to discover if he was worthy of being told. Although the looks were not unfriendly as such, when they finally ended, he felt as though he had been stripped bare and all of his secrets made known – which they were.
Alesta and Eirlys shared a last look.
"You may as well make it quick, it's a long journey. We sail with the morning tide and I haven't finished packing yet." The younger woman puffed a breath of air out of the corner of her mouth to blow away a stray strand of hair.
"Very well. I shall, as my sister says, make it quick. Yes, Merlin's future is linked to Kilgarrah's and also to Arthur's. Should the prince become king and rule with Guinevere at his side, Merlin will be great, perhaps the greatest magician that ever lived. He will guide the return of magic to Camelot and reassure its people of its benefits."
"And if Guinevere is not queen?"
"Then Merlin will not be quite so great. He will live but magic will not be so welcome here. He will leave Camelot and his travels will keep him from Camelot," intoned Alesta gravely.
"And all because Arthur will not take Guinevere as queen?" Gaius couldn't quite believe it.
"Indeed. For all that Arthur is the more tolerant of the Pendragons, his father's prejudices are also his to some extent. After all, he has had them drummed into his brain all his life and his principles and duty require that he obeys his father's will – in most things. It is Guinevere who will help to open Arthur's mind and let him see how, if you'll pardon the pun, magical magic can be if put to the right purposes. It is she who will pave the way for Merlin to use his powers to their full effect."
"Where are we going now?" grumbled Alesta. "You're the one who said we shouldn't delay."
"Please, humour me. Just one last visit before we go." Eirlys walked swiftly through the two-tiered city and found the people she was looking for.
0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0
"Lady Alesta?" Arthur's brain remembered the name of the tall, dignified woman who was Gran-gran's niece. "What are you doing here?" She was the last person he expected to see again. Beside him, Merlin looked at her in wondrous fascination. He could sense there was something different, something other-worldly about her. of course, Arthur had filled him in on what had occurred when she had last visited but it was something else to actually see her in person.
"Gran-gran asked us to come to see how you were, to make sure that you were keeping well," interrupted Eirlys.
It was the first time that Arthur paid much attention to the other woman and he kicked himself for not having done so sooner. He was struck by the sight of the beautiful, copper-haired woman whose green eyes sparkled with humour and mischief.
Alesta barely kept from rolling her eyes as she told him. "My sister, Lady Eirlys."
"I'm charmed to meet you." He took her hand and lifted it to his lips in a courtly kiss. "I see that beauty runs deep in the family." As attractive as Alesta was, she had an air of aloofness about her that kept him from trying his luck with her in the same way as he was with Eirlys now.
"Thank you, our grandmother and her sister were quite the beauties in their time," she smiled warmly and ignored the mock-retching sounds that Alesta was making in her head.
Merlin, in the meantime, had gotten past his awe of the ladies and now regarded his master with mild disbelief at his actions. Arthur had just been told of his connection to Gwen and here he was trying to win over another woman! Fortunately, the Lady Eirlys did not appear to take up the unspoken offer by Arthur. Instead, both women stayed for a brief time to assure them that Gran-gran was well and apologised for not being able to visit herself then bade their farewells, pleading an early start in the morning.
Eirlys giggled all the way back to the keep. "Oooh, just imagine!. Mind you, if not for Gran-gran, I might have considered it."
"Eewww, Lys! You're old enough to be his grandmother at least twice over!" Her sister pulled a disgusted expression.
"Yes," she grinned, "what fun!"
"Yuck, enough of that," berated Alesta. "Go finish your packing like you said, we've a long journey ahead."