Madelyn felt empty as she saddled her horse, she didn't bother trying to convince Balinor as she knew Arthur was. The emptiness felt like a cool wind on a hot summer day, it helped with all the pain, sadness and loss and Madelyn kept a tight grip onto the void of feelings that filled her.

"Merlin!" Hearing Arthur's upset call made Madelyn flinch back to reality, and as she saw the face of the approaching prince she knew he had been fruitless in their last attempt to convince the last Dragonlord to save Camelot. As her brother also appeared with a crestfallen face Madelyn shook her head and sighing she mounted her horse, all this for nothing. Soon they were all spurring their horses, galloping back towards Camelot with the silence still around them.

Madelyn didn't know what to think. As they had stopped for the night Madelyn had went to gather firewood and now all of a sudden there he was, the man she once called father. As she had entered the camp she almost dropped all the collected firewood, Balinor sitting by their fire and sharing the cooked food. She had in shock and silence simply put down the wood, sat down and ate and then went to sleep.

Merlin couldn't tell what was going on in Maddy's mind, but he wouldn't and couldn't blame her for acting as she did, himself had been just as confused about what to feel when Balinor arrived. As Arthur also had been taken by sleep it was now only him and Balinor awake by the fire, the crackling of the fire the only noice of the night. Just as Merlin was about to talk the whimper that he had come to be too familiar with was heard and Merlin hurried to his sister side. As he took a hold of her hand she gripped it tightly as a flash of pain was seen on her face.

"Nightmares." The sound of Balinor's deep voice made Merlin nod and the tears was close as he whispered back.

"Y-yes. But mostly just... memories." Stroking his sister's forehead Merlin wished there was something he could do, seeing her in such pain made him feel powerless, as if his magic had flown away. As a strange hand appeared moving closer to Madelyn's head Merlin acted on instinct and grabbed the wrist, but quickly he realised that the hand belonged to Balinor.

"I can help her sleeping peace." Balinor's voice sounded strangely soft and kind as Merlin looked at him and Merlin smiled grateful. "If you'll let me." Merlin, realising he still held the man's hand let go quickly and watched. Balinor gently put his hand on Madelyn's head and whispered what Merlin could only guess was some magic words or spell and as soon as the words was said Madelyn relaxed and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next day felt alot brighter was the first thing Madelyn felt as she woke, it was as if clouds had covered the sun for a long time and now they had gone away. Slightly smiling Madelyn had even spoken a few words to Balinor as they continued their travel back. The night had not been filled with dark and sad memories, instead she had dreamed of wonderful times with her brother and mother.

Merlin smiled as he noticed how she had retained some of the colour of her cheeks and the circles under her eyes seemed alot less appearing.

As they stopped for food Madelyn had by habit walked to find firewood and soon Merlin found himself walking closer to Balinor, also collecting wood and Merlin knew he had to somehow tell Balinor the truth.

"The wood's too wet."

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find a way to make it light. " hearing Balinor say that, Merlin looked up. He knew what Balinor was hinting on, magic.

"When you healed Arthur, I heard you mumble some words. " Merlin wanted to see if Balinor trusted him.

"An ancient prayer." Balinor's answer was short yet not cold.

"And... when you helped my sister last night? " Merlin tried to not sound too interested but failed.

"Also a prayer but I... it's also used as a lollaby." Merlin saw Balinor smile to himself.

"I thought I might've been more than that."

"The Old Religion can teach us many things. " Merlin's interest peaked as he heard Balinor's response, would he finally get answers on why he had magic?

"The Old Religion. Is that something you were taught? " Merlin knew his question came as too eager but this was his chance.

"It's not something you can learn. Either it's a part of you or it isn't. My father knew that, and his father before him." Balinor's answer startled Merlin slightly but his curiosity took over and his mouth asked before he could think.

"Were they also dragonlords? " The question made Balinor straighten up and Merlin saw he had gone a tiny bit too far.

"We'll need some kindling." Balinor avoided the question but Merlin knew he had to tell Balinor the truth, now or never.

"You mentioned... you spoke of Ealdor. You took refuge with a woman." Merlin stood up now, his heart beating furiously.

"That was a long time ago."

"I grew up there." Merlin's hurried answer made Balinor turn his focus back onto the boy beside him.

"Ealdor? "

"Yes. I know the woman." Merlin had no idea his heart could beat this fast, it was as if it would burst out of his chest.

"Hunith? She's still alive?" Merlin knew this was it.

"Yes. She's my mother." Merlin was so hoping that Balinor would connect the rest for himself.

"Then she married. That's good." The crestfallen face of the man made Merlin want to scream as Balinor turned to walk away.

"She never married." Merlin's words made Balinor turn back towards the young man. "I'm your son."

"I don't know what it is to have a son." The words were spoken after a long moment of silence, a moment with seemed like hours for Merlin.

"Or I a father." Merlin smiled, unsure yet so happy he had spoken, tears filling up his eyes. But a snap broke the moment and Merlin saw Arthur nearby. "You must not tell Arthur. " Balinor nodded smiling aswell, he knew the danger the boy would be in. Walking closer Balinor could see the likeness, he saw Hunith in the boy's face and...

"Your sister... She's..." Balinor's shocked face of realisation made Merlin smile wider and he nodded.

"Your daughter, Madelyn."

Madelyn hummed slightly as she held a few sticks in her arms. A feeling of beeing watched made her stop and turn around, there stood Balinor and Merlin side by side and it struck Madelyn how much alike they looked. Turning her gaze from her brother's face towards Balinor she saw something in his eyes, something familiar...

"Fy mach i. Calon bach." The words made Madelyn drop the wood in her arms as tears quickly filled eyes. Those words that she only heard from her...

"Baba." Balinor smiled wide as he slowly and dazed walked closer, remembering his daughter's nickname for him.

Madelyn felt the tears and the cry return, all the stress and dread, the pain and loss but also the joy of reuniting with her father made the dams break and she let a tear fall before she ran into her father's arms. Smiling Merlin left the two alone, his sister comforted by their father.

The evening had been strange, three in the company hiding this huge secret from the prince. Luckily Arthur wasn't the best observer and he didn't ask questions when he saw that Madelyn had cried. When the prince finally had fallen asleep was when Balinor and his children sat closer around the fire. Merlin sat across from Balinor with the fire between them, Madelyn watched smiling as Balinor carved a piece of wood. Madelyn had felt no anger since Balinor had known the truth, she wasn't a person who kept grudges.

"Why did you never return?" Merlin's question was not something Madelyn was prepare for, yet she knew she wanted to know aswell.

"I thought her life, and yours would be better without me. " Balinor's eyes fell upon his daughter and she smiled back understanding.

"Why?" Merlin's words made Balinor look at the raven haired boy.

"Uther wanted me dead. If he'd found me, he'd have killed me, your mother and your sister. I wanted them to be safe."

"We could've come with you." Madelyn smiled slightly, she knew Merlin didn't mean it in an accusing way.

"What kind of life would you have had here?"

"We would've been ... happy." Madelyn smiled gently as she watched her brother smile towards their father. "When we've finished in Camelot, I - We will take you to Ealdor." Madelyn looked towards her father, she saw the pain flash slightly across his face before he smiled and shook his head.

"She won't recognise me." The words made Madelyn laugh slightly.

"You can't blame her, I hardly did." Madelyn smiled towards Balinor, she had known him as a man with a clean chin and neatly kept hair. Balinor chuckled slightly before looking between his children.

"I see her in you."

"Yeah?" Merlin's eyes lit up again at the praise.

"You have her kindness, both of you."

"How did you become a dragonlord?" Madelyn just smiled at her brother, she knew he always had more questions coming.

"You don't choose to become a dragonlord. It's not something you're taught. It's a sacred gift. For thousand of years it's been handed down from father to son. " His words made Madelyn smile even wider, she didn't mind not being the one to inherit such power, she knew Merlin was the one with powers and it had never bothered her. "And that is what you must now become, Merlin."

"I would like that." Madelyn smiled as her brother smiled wider and wider.

"And like all dragonlords, you won't know for sure that you have that power until you face your first Dragon. You should get some sleep. We've a big day ahead of us. " with that Balinor stood up, smiling towards his children and walked away from the fire. "Sleep well, Calon. Goodnight, son." Madelyn had never seen Merlin smile so wide as in that moment. She saw him trying to cope with those words and how he struggled through the smiling to respond.

"Sleep well, father." Proud of her brother Madelyn walked up to her brother, kissed his forehead and went to sleep aswell.

A big hand covering her mouth made Madelyn wake up and she almost screamed until she heard her father's voice.

"We're under attack." Madelyn quickly looked over to see Arthur wake up Merlin.

"Cendred's men." Those words made Madelyn's heart clench, she had forgot about that threat. Standing up she was moved behind her father and all four stood in silence, listening and waiting. A hand gripping her own made her turn towards her father, his smile comforting her slightly.

"You'll be fine." His words had barley left him as Cendred's men attacked.

A yelling man appeared, initiating the attack. He was quickly met by Arthur's sword and as others appeared Madelyn realised both hers and Balinor's swords were out of the reach for the moment. Thankfully Merlin helped and he threw them the swords. As they fought Madelyn was aware the three men tried to keep the men away from Madelyn and she was grateful, sure she knew how to defend herself but she was not at all as confident with a sword as the others might be. And she was not as strong.

It all went by so fast, one second she was fighting an attacker, next she knew she was on her back almost and she saw Merlin had lost his sword aswell. Arthur came in and saved Madelyn from the one almost killing her and as Madelyn returned her eyes towards her brother her heart stopped. Merlin was on the ground, in his arms was Balinor.

"No..." her voice was nothing but a whispers Madelyn stumbled towards them. Falling onto her knees beside Balinor she didn't care about the tears that fell down her cheeks, all she could see was the man that layed down and wasn't moving. She gripped his hand, which was cold in hers. She tried to find contact with his eyes but they were empty, he was gone.

For what felt like hours Madelyn sat there, shocked. What sounded like someone crying pulled her back and she saw Merlin beside her, his tears falling just as hers and she took a hold of his hand. Merlin needed her and so Madelyn quickly suppressed her own pain and tears, she could mourn later.

"No!" Arthur's screamed as he realised that Balinor, Camelot's last hope was dead. It made Madelyn and Merlin realise they could not show how sad they were and so Madelyn and Merlin simultaneously stood up and looked at the prince as he spoke. "Camelot is doomed."

Being back in Camelot was nothing like Madelyn had imagined. Arriving, seeing people's hopeful faces as they watched prince rode through the rumbles made Madelyn feel powerless, useless. They had failed Camelot. After they had arrived Merlin and Arthur hurried to tell the king but Madelyn slowly walked up the stairs to Gaius chambers. Her legs moved on their own while her mind drifter away, thinking of the old times with her father, the past few days and also what could have been if her father would still be alive. The door to Gaius was pushed open by her own hand and yet she couldn't tell, for minutes she stood in the middle of the room starring into nothing.

A knock startled her and Madelyn turned around, standing in the doorway was Gwen and the young women didn't waste a second but met in a tight hug.

"Thank God you're back and okay. You had be so worried, I can't loose you too." Gwen's words struck Madelyn, she had almost forgot all about Morgana being gone.

"I'm here, Gwen." Madelyn closed her eyes hugging her friend tighter. After a long hug Gwen pulled away and studied her friend, dirt and grime covering the older sister of Merlin.

"Thank you for coming back. I'll help you pack up." Gwen reached for Madelyns bag but as she held it up something fell to the floor. Madelyn bent down and picked up what looked like a carved dragon. Smiling she stroked it before leaving it on the table, Merlin needed it more than she did.

Standing beside Gaius Madelyn watched as all the knights led by Arthur rode out of Camelot to face the Great Dragon, her brother riding beside the prince. As Gaius turned to walk back inside Madelyn held her eyes upon the back of the last rider as they all rode out of sight, this was it, the last Dragonlord riding out to face his destiny.

"Are you coming, Madelyn? " Gaius voice made her turn around and smile.

"Yes. " One last time she turned towards where they all had rode away. Smiling she turned back walked back with Gaius.

"You seem... happy." Gaius sounded like he both was stating the truth bit also asking.

"Yes, I am. I know they'll make it, Merlin will succeed. And despite everything... I still had a moment to meet my father again." Madelyn smiled her usual kind and gentle smile and Gaius smiled back. This journey may have caused alot of sorrow for the children of Hunith and Balinor, but they had both come back stronger. Yes, they would be fine.

Not edited.

"Fy mach i. Calon bach - my little one. Little heart. I hope. It's very difficult with Welsh, especially since I know nothing of it, please right me if I'm wrong.