Quick thank you's I should have made in the last chapter to PadrePedro and N16 for their string of reviews on my stories that helped motivate me to keep writing through a slump. Also a heartfelt thank you to Mersan123 for alerting me to the fact another user had word for word copied the first chapter of this story and posted it as their own. I reported them and it's been dealt with but the administration asked me to spread the word so if by any chance you see someone copying someone else's work (and I mean truly copying, not just a similar idea - that's practically unavoidable in fanfiction) please inform the original author so they can deal with it. I might never have known if Mersan hadn't messaged me and I am eternally grateful. Artists have a right to their work even if they're not making money off of it and it is very painful to see someone else get praise for something you've put your heart into. I'm stubborn and I have support from my family but something like this could push a person to quit writing all together. Just a thought, now on with what you actually came here for!
Summary: Showing courage is difficult. But positive results, large or small, more than make it worth it.
Half the round table were on their feet in an instant.
"Is Aithusa alright?"
"What's he talking about?"
"Did this bum hurt him?"
"Are you alright Merlin? You look exhausted."
"ENOUGH!"
The room fell into eerie silence.
Settling back in his chair Arthur steepled his fingers together. Merlin was staking a lot on this, it was time for him to act every bit the king he knew he could be. "Sir Lucian you are accusing a man of treasonous activity. Since that man is, as you freely acknowledge, a trusted member of my council and therefore your equal, the matter is at this moment your word against his. What do you have to present in the way of proof to show me your accusation is justified?"
"My lord we all saw it! He was standing below the rock where the beast lay, calling to it in the cursed magic tongue-"
"Dragon tongue," Merlin interrupted, sounding offended. "The language of magic sounds completely different. You've been a knight over fifteen years, surely you've heard it enough to know that."
"Merlin," Arthur sighed, deliberately ignoring the barely smothered laughs from certain quarters. "You've seen enough of these proceedings to know one person speaks at a time. We'll hear your testimony momentarily. Continue Sir Lucian."
"Naturally we observed the situation carefully and before long the dragon bared its teeth-"
"He yawned."
"Do you want to muck the stables for a month?" Could you at least try to take this seriously? He added with his eyes. Merlin rolled his. It's joke or panic Dollophead, and need I remind you you told me to just be myself if this sort of thing ever happened? Resisting another sigh Arthur took the silent rebuke and decided to simply ignore any further interjections. He waved his knight on.
"When the dragon bared its teeth I decided the threat had been proven and moved in to subdue the traitor. At that point he began shouting even louder and we barely got him restrained and away before the beast attacked us. I present the bruises to Sirs Robert and Kendrick as well as my own burnt cape as evidence of our struggle."
Arthur rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I fear that what you consider evidence could be easily countered Sir Lucian. It is rare that knights return from patrol without at least one member having received bruises. As far as your cape is concerned I shouldn't like to think of my men as careless but accidents happen. And there are few ways to tell burns caused by a dragon's fire apart from burns caused by a campfire."
He held up a hand to forestall any response. "Before we hear my servant's defense, I will need a corroboration of your claims." The king turned the other knights who'd trickled in behind the two. "You all witnessed this exchange. Do you agree that the account as set forth by Sir Lucian has been put forth fairly and accurately." The others shuffled a bit but no one volunteered an answer. "Sir Robert, answer me."
The young man swallowed hard at the sudden attention. "Not exactly Sire," he answered quietly.
"I see. I remind you all it is your sworn duty to speak the truth to your king. What differences do you have to report?"
"If I may Sire?" Another knight stepped forward, one who, excepting his greater height and the lighter shade of brown to his eyes, looked so much like his late brother-in-law that Arthur still did a double take on occasion upon catching sight of him.
"You may Sir Isaac."
"Merlin himself presented no threat to us physical or verbal. The bruises of my comrades are the result of a sparring session they conducted two afternoons previous. And Merlin's interaction with the dragon was completely non-threatening as well. To begin with his voice was soft and it appeared, to myself at least though I could not understand the words, that he was trying to soothe the creature to sleep. I mentioned this fact but Sir Lucian was determined there was a conspiracy going on. He insisted we rush your servant. Merlin tried to resolve the confrontation peacefully and he did not resist when we took him into custody. He did raise his voice at one point, but the best I can determine it was for the purpose of coming to our aid. The dragon breathed fire only once, catching the hem of Sir Lucian's cape.
"So it did attack!" Lord Osbert shouted, earning several glares in his direction.
"My years of fighting experience tell me it was acting to defend itself from a perceived threat, as any being with a sense of self-preservation would," Sir Isaac corrected coldly. "It was behaving in an entirely peaceful manner when the actions of certain parties...disturbed it. Him rather." He glanced at Merlin who nodded in confirmation. "Merlin spoke to him in the dragon language and he backed down. He never followed us once the entire way back although I'm surprised his cries weren't audible even from here."
Arthur's heart clinched at the pain in Merlin's eyes. He was grateful when the knight turned to his servant, curiosity and admiration present on his face. "I don't know what you did to earn the loyalty of that little one but I think he'd burn the world to keep you safe."
"As I would for him," was the quiet but deadly serious answer.
All eyes now turned to their king who took his time in replying, watching the reaction of every person in the room as they absorbed the confession.
"Merlin is your statement close enough to Sir Isaac's to let his stand for yours?"
"It is Sire."
"So your patrol's behavior was enough to agitate a creature who by your own testimony was in a state of near sleep and therefore doing nothing to cause trouble when you happened upon him and his lord?" This last was directed to Sir Lucian, who seemed to finally be catching on to the fact he was not in control of the situation.
"Yes Sire."
"And it was your actions towards his lord that prompted the dragon to exhibit protective behavior. Tell me, what degree of threatening environment did you create that Merlin was forced to exercise his authority in order to prevent the men you were entrusted with from being harmed?"
"I may have been a bit...overzealous in my admonishment of him."
Merlin snorted and Arthur withheld a smile.
"A little more specificity please. What was the nature of this admonishment?" He allowed a moment's silence then prompted, "Sir Isacc tell the court your colleagues' words."
"With all due respect Sire, may I summarize instead?" The knight's mouth quirked in an embarrassed half smile. "Some of the exact words would earn me a trip to my family's cow-house if you understand what I mean?"
This time Merlin laughed outright. "I know the feeling."
Arthur shook his head "I refuse to believe your mother ever beat you."
"She didn't have to beat me, have you seen her looks? Makes Gaius' out to be a kitten."
Half the knights shuddered. "No disrespect intended but I genuinely hope I never see that." Sir Isaac commented, earning a grin from the warlock.
"Your Highness, threat or not what right does this servant have to be consorting with a dragon!"
Now or never. Merlin's subtle nod was all the permission the king needed. Lifting his chin he pinned the opposing councilman with a resolute stare. "It is his right as the sole human being in Albion who has been entrusted with the care of the entire dragon race. And you should thank whatever divinity you serve that he hasn't held that appointment over your head long before now."
"You're thinking I tell the council I'm a dragonlord."
"That is a solution." The king acknowledged. "It doesn't have to be the only one."
"It would be another piece to ensuring the people of Camelot know magic isn't something that can be prevented." Gwen commented. "You had no choice in the dragonlord power coming to you. And you've done nothing but protect us all since you did."
Merlin blew out a breath trying to calm the rippling in his stomach. "I just- No you're right. It's only a matter of time before Aithusa's found, it's best everyone knows he's under my protection."
"And that you both are under mine."
"I agree," was Gaius' answer when his opinion was asked. "The only problem, well the most pressing problem, is the lack of good regard Dragonlords are held in by Camelot's law."
Arthur nodded. "I'd like for you to look into that Gaius. Speak with Geoffrey, tell him you came across a rumor of another Dragonlord's existence and before you approach me with it you want to have all the facts in place. Several people know of Aithusa showing up in Morgana's company at Camlann. Having a Dragonlord and therefore a magical ally would be a boon, one that this kingdom, if you don't count Merlin, has been sorely lacking.
Gaius bowed his head in acknowledgement. "I will find everything I can." His mentor sent Merlin a smile that he did not feel like returning. "What is it my boy?"
"How are we going to tell them? The council I mean? I can't just blab it out-"
"And no one is going to make you." Arthur interrupted, a soothing note to his voice that Merlin couldn't decide whether to be grateful for or insulted by. "We'll have a better idea of how to tell them when we have all our information. Until then let's talk about how we'll handle the subject if it's found out before we get the chance to reveal it."
The present scenario wasn't going exactly as predicted but it could be worse. Merlin had rather hoped that any patrol discovering Aithusa would have contained at least one of the men who already knew of his existence. He had to at least give Arthur credit for anticipating the issues that would crop up if one of Merlin's least favorites discovered the truth. Not that he'd tell him of course, no need to give the man a swelled head. And Aithusa's cries of fear would not be something easily forgotten.
"The council had no say in this appointment!" The shout brought the dragonlord's thoughts back to the moment.
"I'm glad we agree on something." Arthur retorted calmly.
You're enjoying this far too much.
"But I - I meant-"
"Are you implying your king needs permission to act in the best interest of his people?" Merlin interjected.
"A beast such as yours is no part of this kingdom!"
"Isn't it?"
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"No it is you who don't know," Geoffrey spoke up. "And you have less excuse. Merlin is too young to have a living record of his heritage. To him Camelot's true relations with the Dragonlords" - It was all Merlin could do not to flinch at the title being put out for all to hear - "and their brethren are a long buried history. It was not the same for you. You lived during the time they were welcome here. When the skies above the city were filled with the beat of wings. And you have enough knowledge of the law to know Uther never officially banned either of them from Camelot. He couldn't have, not if he was going to successfully trick Balinor into believing his offer of peace was sincere." The old historian's voice took on a tinge of sadness and disgust that mirrored Merlin's heart.
Arthur took over the conversation. "As I have said before, my desire for peace is sincere. It can not be attained by persecuting others for abilities they inherited."
"Inherited?"
"That's right." Now or never. Merlin forced his voice to remain low and firm. "My connection with the dragons wasn't forged by magic or happenstance but by my father's nature. He was a Dragonlord and upon his death that power passed to me. I did not ask for it and I can not give it up. Nor do I want to. You all remember the destruction the Great Dragon wrought upon Camelot. Had I been in possession of my power then, his rampage would have ended as soon as it had begun."
"How do we know this beast won't try to murder us all, same as the last one?"
"Did not Sir Lucian kindly acknowledge that Aithusa was in Morgana's company once upon a time? If anyone were inclined to use such an attack it would have been her. We know she was able to breach these walls herself, at least once. How much easier would it be to send the dragon to decimate Camelot's defenses? Or simply pass right above them. Has such an attack occurred?"
He stared down the councilmen until the man finally shook his head. "The only facts you need to concern yourself with are these: Aithusa's loyalty is to me, mine is to my king. However it is also a fact that Aithusa's life is bound to mine. I hatched him, it is my duty to see to his well being and the well being of any who may come after him. I will protect them all as I would my own child. And if any one of you thinks of bringing them harm…" He allowed his eyes to flicker gold for the briefest moment. "Don't." Make of that what you will. "Sire I'm afraid that report might just have to wait another day. I'm going to remind my kin that neither one of us have anything to fear, least of all the knights of Camelot."
Arthur gave him a nod of dismissal. "Give him my regards. We will reconvene tomorrow at noon."
"I'll accompany you out of the castle if I may?" Sir Issac asked. "I wish to hear more about Aithusin."
"Aithusa," Merlin corrected kindly. "What do you want to know?"
"Well for a start how old is he because he's obviously intelligent but…" The chatter continued the entire walk into the courtyard, Merlin barely answering one question before another was posed. It was the best sound he'd heard in weeks.
Yay for Sir Isaac! Do y'all like me adding other knights? I'm trying to not bring in too many OC's but I don't like just using the same four (well the show did but…) Plus it's a good way of showing multiple reactions to the whole situation.