Chapter 24 [Cwyneth Peaks, Mercia]
[A/N: For those folks wanting more Merthian, it's coming. Just setting up the other parts of the cast first. Also since the three characters communicate telepathically, there are a lot of italics in this chapter.]
High above the Mercian countryside, a curtain of fog obscured the craggy peaks. A chill wind stabbed through the air. Freezing sleet and rain spat upon the Spartan granite. Not a bird or insect dared to navigate that mess.
But to one who did press through as with the chief resident therein, it seemed to reflect their mood entirely…..
Aithusa persevered in bits and starts through the deplorable conditions. She closed her eyes and bore straight ahead. When a sudden gale blew her back, she ground her fangs and resisted Natura's onslaught. Her small deformed wings beat as fast as they could. Despite her scales, she shivered from the stygian chill. Anger burned inside of herself. Mourning weighed her heart down….
Lament for her only friend in this life, Morgana Pendragon, the one who'd cared and loved her against all odds….
Scorn for the dragon lord who'd hatched and subsequently abandoned her, Merlin, Emrys or whatever he called himself these days….
Question for the pull that drew her east across lands and over mountains. The tug that pulled her through the hellish conditions. What is this?
It is the natural connection, Dear One, the goddess advised. It is the connection between those of your kind and to me.
She quirked an eyebrow at the disembodied female voice. Who are you, Lady? I see nothing.
I am in the wind and the stone around you. I am the connections. I am the triple goddess. Much as Life resists it, you must bear through this mess. One who surrendered needs you. He must not die, the deity noted. Look forward.
The small dragon cracked her scaly eyelids slightly. The canary orbs flashed emerald against the irritating elements.
Against one of the peaks in the distance, an orange light blinked through the pea soup conditions.
Aithusa recoiled from a wave of pain and forlornness crashing against herself. What is that? Who? It isn't the dragon lord. That one's back the other way!
No. You're not ready to serve him yet. There is one however you need to reacquaint yourself with first. Follow the light. There you will find your answer. Help him and help yourself, the goddess clarified before going silent.
Him? Does she mean Kilgarrah? He wasn't much help before! Aithusa rolled her eyes. She really didn't want to speak with the Great Dragon either. Still, she sensed that she couldn't resist the connection even if she wanted to. Besides if he was could offer shelter, she'd deal with the riddles for the storm's duration. And so she pressed on…
[Kilgarrah's Cave—Five Miles Ahead]
Even as the storm raged outside, a fire blazed in the cave's corner. Warmth eked its way about the granite expanse. Bits of steam flitted through the air in momentary bursts before the chill extinguished them again. Occasionally a burst of flame would renew the pyre….
…the effort put forth by the cave's chief resident….
Kilgarrah rasped and coughed. His exhausted wings lay limply down his back. Numbness had claimed his limbs and body. He understood that his life had all but run its course. Now he waited for Death's arrival. If only I had more time. He raised a weak eye to the cave's entrance and the raging maelstrom beyond. The world is in turmoil. Nature vents her frustration. The humans build toward another struggle. Despite what I told him, Merlin suffers within his self-doubt.
Merlin….
The Great Dragon managed a half-eye roll. He raised his head slightly and breathed a weak fiery burst renewing the flames to his left. He slumped back to the stone; the effort exhausting him. If only he would listen! He is so willful! So he killed the witch? If he had done so earlier, we would not have had the chaos. Over and over again, he defied the Order. Now he drowns in the situation. He sighed knowing full well Merlin's current state of affairs. Now he will have to face the storm without Arthur. Even as this Princess cares for him, can she understand her own role? I have nothing left to give.
You have more than you know, Great Dragon. The triple goddess appeared in a flash in front of him. Greetings, Kilgarrah.
He strained to raise his head and offer a respectful nod. Milady, are you here for me? It is the end of my time.
No, Kilgarrah. The world still has need. Emrys requires your guidance still. He and his mate will need you, she corrected him. He must hold the staff and scepter together. With the passing of the Once and Future King, this will be so.
Forgive me. I told Merlin not to be so heavy hearted. Despite everything, Albion has come to pass, he pointed out.
Perhaps. You are correct that the spark is there. Still it falls on wet kindling. It smolders but will soon go out. Emrys' tears and guilt smothers the groundwork. Mithian of Nemeth does her best as you know to reassure him. Still a coalition must be built to resist the coming storm, she pointed out.
Another storm? Morgana Pendragon is dead, Great Mother.
She shook her head. The mortals lust for what isn't theirs. Meleagant of Cawdor dons the red armor once more. He leads his armies south at this juncture. As broken as Albion is, Kilgarrah, it cannot withstand the assault. Fissures in the body must heal. Wounds must be forgiven. The camps must unify as one. It will not be the Pendragon banner. Rather the obsidian eagle on its emerald field will rise as a phoenix. Led by the co-rulers, it will prevail against the tide. Emrys and Mithian of Nemeth will bring the coalition together. I am already sending the elements their way.
I am dying…
The goddess countered, I can extend your life. There is another who needs your guidance before you depart this realm. She is almost here.
She? He raised his eyebrow trying to ponder her point.
The other of your kind. The white dragon, she revealed.
On cue, Aithusa zipped out of the storm and skidded across the granite floor. She nearly hit Kilgarrah and the far wall before managing to slow down. Warmth finally! She shivered trying to push the chill through her scales and into the air itself. She squinted at Kilgarrah clearly picking up on his pain. Why are you so sad? We have more to do!
Kilgarrah coughed sarcastically. Ah the enthusiasm and naivety of youth. You are at the beginning of life. I near the end. You have yet to experience the fullness of this world.
The fullness? Thanks to you and that no account dragon lord, I've felt pain! All right? You all hated Morgana but she at least LOVED ME. All Emrys does is drive me away. He hates me! Aithusa presumed.
He does not hate you. I do not hate you. You do not want to learn. Nor does Emrys for that matter. Now neither of you have a choice, he disagreed. Britannia is in chaos thanks to the rift between the Old and New Worlds. I have counselled Merlin about this. Much like you, he thinks of the immediate situation and his friends before Destiny and Obligation.
You'd bind yourself to some stupid prophecy! The younger dragon narrowed her eyes even further. You pushed Emrys into a blind hate of my friend, Morgana, and Mordred! All this talk of some stupid human, a walled city and some bloody nation state. Kilgarrah, it's just a dream! THAT'S IT!
The long term IS important. Kilgarrah's eyes flared green at the white dragon. We cannot just react to things. We cannot prejudge those around us. He snorted sarcastically. The Witch USED you, Aithusa. I warned you it could happen. You did not listen. In the end, Merlin…Emrys…had to treat you like an enemy because you acted like a spoiled child.
Spoiled child? MERLIN IS THE TRAITOR! He's turning against us. You don't care? Aithusa accused. She turned and renewed the pyre with her fiery breath. The humans' loyalties change. Things come and go. You stew on those stogy things and hold us back! I….
ENOUGH! The goddess appeared in a flash of light. She frowned with displeasure at the bickering dragons. Listen to yourselves! Each blames the other. Many have played a role in the current state of affairs. Kilgarrah, you have counselled Emrys on the matters of the world around you both. While a great deal of that has had merit, you have allowed your own agenda to influence the meat of that advice. You are so caught up in preventing the prophecy that you ended up causing it. Perhaps if you had counselled Morgana Pendragon in concert with Emrys, we could have gained a valuable ally? I might have not lost two High Priestesses to this struggle. Certainly the Wisdom of Age would have shown you this. Aithusa, despite your points, your lack of experience shows as well. You have much to learn of assessing human behavior. You must also learn when to involve yourself and when to leave things alone. Consider what happened at Camlann. Both of you played a role in that. Overcome your adversity toward each other. Share points of view and experience. Still, Aithusa, Kilgarrah has experience that you do not have. Listen to him. Her eyes glowed. I bring this about for the greater good.
Kilgarrah quivered as if he'd stuck his tail in a giant light socket. His limbs lightened. His numbness vanished. Slowly he stood and flapped his wings. Lady, what?
I have extended your life by 500 years, Kilgarrah. You still have much to teach others and to learn as well from them, the goddess insisted. Albion will need your voice. Her eyes glistened again. As for you, Aithusa….
The white dragon glowed. She shook violently. What are you doing? IT HURTS!
The pain is temporary. You are transforming, the goddess explained.
Aithusa grew in both height and length. Her bent leg straightened. Her wings extended to their proper full length. She flexed her front legs. I don't hurt anymore! You have healed me? Thank you, Lady.
It is a small price for your service, Young One. I have aged you a century and brought you here. From you both will come the renewal of your kind. Both of you must offer your voice to the humans. Much as Emrys will command you, he will need your advice as well, the goddess informed her.
If he will listen to us, Kilgarrah grumbled.
The situation is demanding that he does so, Kilgarrah. Already the last vestige wanes in Nemeth. Soon Emrys and Mithian will rule that land. In the coming time, he will call for you. Be there for him and for Aithusa as well. You both represent a side of the coin. Balance yourselves for the Greater Good, my Children, the goddess clarified.
Aithusa ground her teeth. While she still didn't trust him, she knew it wasn't a request but rather a command. I shall do what I can to prevent greater catastrophe, Milady.
As shall I, Kilgarrah concurred.
Then you ensure the future for a great many things. The dragons will continue from you both. You will both play a role in the coming order. Albion will develop further and stabilize. It will not do so as previously thought is all. Know that things have progressed as needed. I have taken what is offered and guided it so that we might all benefit. Such as it is. Such as it will be. Learn well and be ready, the goddess advised before disappearing once more.
Aithusa considered the older dragon. She understood her marching orders so to speak. Still she recalled their last encounter when he ordered her around and wasn't willing to listen. I guess we need to listen to each other.
We should. I can still teach you a lot. I am willing to hear you as well, he conceded.
That's a start. Thank you, she concurred as they broke into a discussion of dragon-related things….