So it's been forever but as this story is two years old today (!) I had to post something on it.
Summery: A confrontation between two players who know the truth of what happened all those years ago. Who will come out the victor? And does the perfect revenge always have to end in violence? Take place in an indeterminate time after Aithusa hatches but assumes Uther didn't die/have an irreversible mental breakdown.
Found
"The rumors are vague at best sire but more than half of them insist the creature is a dragon."
"Absurd. The great dragon was killed by Prince Arthur many years ago. You know this."
The knight inclined his head. "I do my lord. However the dragon the villagers are reporting is far smaller than the great dragon was. They believe it to be a juvenile, perhaps even an infant."
"Such a thing is impossible surely. Gaius was not the dragon race already on the verge of extinction when I rid Camelot of the creatures? There couldn't possibly be any more."
"I shouldn't like to say Sire. Even when their numbers were great, the dragons were by necessity a very secretive race. It is possible that a single egg may have been hidden somewhere far beyond the reach of those who would harm it."
"But how could it have hatched? You know as well as I that only the dragonlords could call dragons from their eggs."
"The last dragonlord is dead," Arthur spoke up. "I witnessed it myself."
Gaius shook his head. "I have no explanation."
"Father, why are we even debating this. Let me go with some knights. If there's no dragon, we can put these rumors to rest. And if there is, it will be dealt with."
"How could you be so foolish!"
"How was I supposed to know it was Aithusa?! Rumors of so called magical creatures come in every other week. They inevitably turn out to be a prank, or a large bird, or at most a wyvern. Aithusa was nowhere near Camelot last time I checked on him. He's been told to stay away and Kilgharrah's been ordered to look after him. Letting the baby run amok and then ambushing Arthur patrol only to demand Uther meet with him directly was never part of the deal!"
Gaius let out a tired sigh. He shouldn't be blaming Merlin for this. Kilgharrah had suffered a great deal, as they all had. He'd been denied complete vengeance on Camelot when Merlin had set him free and had spent the last three years exiled from the land. Manipulating a situation to draw Uther out to him was not a surprising act for a powerful being with a rather short temper.
"What was Arthur's reaction to finding out the Great Dragon still lives? If he thinks you lied to him..."
Merlin shook his head. "I was as genuinely slack jawed as the others when Kilgharrah showed up. I protested that I'd seen him take a fatal hit and he acted like his usual arrogant self. Attempted to take a swipe at me." He added with a scowl. "I'll have to think up some unpleasant consequences for that, but it got Arthur protective and protective Arthur forgets to be angry Arthur. If anything he's just taking Kilgharrah's survival as proof that I know nothing whatsoever about dragons. And I know him well enough to know he's upset because Uther is. He doesn't blame me for this."
"Does he want you to ride out with them?"
"Haven't got that far yet. He's still trying to convince Uther not to go at all."
Gaius agreed with that idea but knew it would be hopeless. The king had been issued a personal challenge, he wasn't about to reject it. Even if it meant risking his still fragile health.
"You'd best find out just what the dragon has planned before they get to him."
Merlin nodded. "I'll call him tonight, order him to act like the intelligent, reasoning creature I know he can be and not the savage beast Arthur saw last time. This might not be a bad thing Gaius."
"It might, it might not. Unfortunately I don't think we have much choice but to simply wait and find out."
"You're late." Were the first words out of Kilgharrah's mouth when the riders from Camelot marched into the clearing he occupied. "You were supposed to have arrived over an hour ago."
Many of the mounted soldiers had to pause in their astonished gaping to control their terrified horses. Kilgharrah paid them no mind, continuing to glare at the pale king in front of him.
"My, my, how many years has it been Uther? I see they have not been kind to you. Too many years spent alone. Of course you never were a judge of worthy companions. One Lady the Troll springs to mind." Laughter was plainly evident in his voice. "How fares she?"
"That vile creature was disposed of years ago."
"A pity. You two were so compatible."
"Enough of this nonsense," a greatly daring Arthur interrupted. "We came to you as requested, you will fulfill your end of the bargain as well."
"And what bargain was that young king?"
"The infant dragon destroying Camelot!"
"If a few burnt roofs are what you call destruction, you have led far too sheltered a life. In any case, concern yourself with the hatchling no more, you are quite safe from him. As he is safe from you, although you do carry some blame for his current sulking."
"Because we put a stop to it's reign of destruction?"
"Did you not hear a word I just said? He's suffering from the lack of a suitable playmate, nothing more. I'd forgotten how much energy the young have. As joyous as new life can be, it can be rather exhausting when one is experiencing it unrelieved by aid from others." The beast let out a sigh sounding very much like an overworked mother.
"But be assured," Kilgharrah continued, "I have lectured the young one quite thoroughly about the human tendency to make all their possessions remarkably flammable, and that it is beyond them to appreciate dragon instincts. He won't trouble you again. At least I think not, again my knowledge of these matters is limited."
"And your knowledge on how such a creature came into existence?" Uther questioned. "I imagine that is quite extensive."
"The hatchling is not of my bloodling if that is what you are implying. I could no more easily name his sire and eggbearer than you could. The only assurance I can offer is that through its birth the world reminds us that life finds a way to continue, magic finds a way to thrive. And will do so no matter what those like you may attempt."
"And you?" the king insisted
"Me?"
"My son was informed you received a mortal wound."
"Mmmm," Kilgharrah eyed the prince thoughtfully. "I suppose to the untrained eye that is how it would have appeared. As you can see I am now in perfect health. But I thank you for your concern, young king."
Arthur bristled. "I am not king!"
"Oh yes that would rather require getting rid of this one," the dragon gestured his snout toward Uther. "A pity. Still I've waited this long…" He grew quiet, waiting for their next objection with all the patience only an ancient being can have.
Arthur was equally silent, at a loss as to what to make of the creature in front of him. "If you weren't dying, why did you leave?" He finally asked.
The dragon cocked his head. "Perhaps I saw something worth waiting for."
Leaving the prince to chew over that Kilgharrah turned to the king who by now was quite put out at being ignored this long. "I saw something in you too Uther, once upon a time. So did Balinor. That's why he came when you called, why he chose to trust in you despite the fact you slaughtered all of our kin. And how did you repay him?"
"You can't blame us for Cenred's men killing him." Arthur jumped in.
If dragons had eyebrows this one would have raised one at him. As it was it - he? - still managed to look decidedly unimpressed. "I do not speak of the events of a mere two years ago, Arthur Pendragon. Have you never wondered just how it was that your father was able to imprison me in the first place?"
"Enough!" Uther finally spoke. "I will not have you filling his head with more of your filthy lies."
"No you want to reserve that honor all for yourself. The lies for the purpose of the destruction of dragon kind, the slaughter of human children too young to learn the magic you say they were corrupted by, the slaughter of those who had no choice what ran in their veins." He paused and then said with a convection that brooked no argument. "Lies that dishonor the woman who called me friend."
He turned his attention back to Arthur.
"How much do you know of your mother, young prince? How much has this one failed to tell of her? Of the sense of justice that would leave her outraged over his actions, of the judgement she would pass over him for no other reason the criminalizing the very power that gave him his son. The judgement that I have every right to pass right now.
"It would be so easy. Just as easy as when I faced off with your knights. You didn't corner me in that clearing, I let you come. You walked right into my trap, same as you did tonight." Lowering his head to the ground the dragon released a growl from the depths of its throat, prompting the already terrified horses to pull loose of their riders control and bolt into the forest.
Those knights not knocked flat on their backs from their fleeing mounts were soon making friends with the ground courtesy of the barest flick of the dragon's tail.
That left father and son alone against the powerful jaws the dragon freely displayed as he advanced on them, step by agonizingly slow step until their backs were to the edge of the clearing. He then rose up to his full height and peered down at them. Both men were brandishing their swords but the odds they'd be effective were laughable and all present knew it. Neither of them dropped their guard as long minutes passed.
At last the dragon lowered his head bringing his razor sharp teeth parallel with Uther's face. "Consider this a warning. Not very long ago I was taught the value of mercy. And so I teach it to you tonight. Learn well, for it is a one time offering. You will see me again, on the day you die. How you choose to act in relation to my kin will determine how much time passes before that day arrives."
"And then he just flew away." Arthur sat back in his chair, draining the last of the strong wine Merlin had poured for him upon the sight of the prince's bulging eyes and trembling fingers. The warmth briefly soothed his parched throat eased a bit of tension from his limbs.
"How are the knights?" Merlin asked.
"Headaches and bruises, but nothing they won't recover from."
A pause. "And your father?"
Arthur let out a groan somewhere between mournful and frustrated. "Locked himself in his room and hasn't spoken to anyone. I know come tomorrow he'll be trying to act like none of this ever happened but...I need for it to have happened. My mother...I know you said Morgause was lying when she talked about my birth, and I see why she would want too, but what reason would the dragon have to lie? What if my father really did use magic? What should I do? How can I face all those people-" he broke off, burying his face in his hands.
"I don't know. But if after everything the dragon has suffered he didn't feel he had the authority to kill your father do you really think you should?
Arthur sighed and looked up at him. "Nothing is simple, is it?"
Merlin shook his head, secretly proud. He'd allowed this for Kilgharrah's sake but he was pleased Arthur was treating it as more than just the ravings of a mad creature. If he could keep up the proof that the issue of magic is not as black and white as his father would have him believe, then the prince would continue to think things through and at least argue for clemency for a magic user who did no true harm. With that thought he finished putting away the armor he'd been cleaning and pulled a blanket from the spare linen chest.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Best I don't leave you alone tonight don't you think?" the servant answered, gesturing toward the door to the antechamber.
Arthur scowled slightly but eventually nodded in both agreement and thanks. Merlin replied in kind before disappearing from sight.
The old dragon's lips pulled back in a smile as he watched the scene unfold from the pool in front of him. It may not be the revenge he'd originally wished to accomplish but perhaps it would be enough. Arthur was now aware that the balance of the world was far more complicated than he thought and Uther would have a much more difficult time ensuring that balance remained in his favor.
But, most importantly, Kilgharrah felt a much recovered sense of self worth after being imprisoned and exiled for so long.
A loud squawk shattered the peaceful moment. Groaning internally the elder dragon raised his head to see a roly poly white hatchling come waddling into the room, the legs of an unlucky frog dangling from his jaws.
"Spit that out. You've already eaten more than enough today."
Aithusa blinked then tipped his head back, swallowing his catch with a sloppy smile. He let out a chortle at his guardian's exasperated expression, flashing his newly erupted second set of canines, before lowering himself into a hunter's crouch. With fixated eyes he sprang forward with an enthusiastic roar (squeak) only to collide head first with the crystalline wall of the cave. Undeterred he leapt around again and again determined to get the advantage over the "other" small dragon he spotted staring back at him.
If only, Kigharrah mused, he could find a way to convince Merlin he was far too old to be involved in the daily care of an infant dragon.
Tell me if you get the reference in the last scene! Hint: It's from another show with an adorable baby creature!
For those of you waiting for updates on my other story, I promise I'm working on it but life is currently throwing me one crappy curve ball after another so I'm having trouble focusing on writing. More chapters will come though I promise, they just might be slow.
