Thank you for your patience. I hope you are still here, waiting for the next chapter.

Hi, dear reader (as I don't know your name I will address you like that). Thanks for your nice review. Things will get more and more complicated as you can see. The next chapter will be about Morgana. You probably wonder what happened with her.

Youth and age

"Hello, young man." Merlin heard a firm feminine voice. For a moment, the warlock thought he'd forgotten to change his appearance, but Sarrum wasn't definitely someone to be addressed like that.

He was returning from the crypts with the magic sword in his possession. He still hadn't made up his mind if he should go to the dragons or wait and go tomorrow.

"Your Highness," Merlin answered her greeting as he noticed it was the queen who'd addressed him. The queen approached Merlin and handed him her hand. Merlin took it and, without any hesitation, he planted a kiss on the soft ivory skin. "May I serve Your Highness in any way?" He continued.

"I would like to have a little talk...if that's not interfering with your plans." She was still dressed in her daily outfit despite the late hour.

"Of course. It's an honor for me to be close to such a lovely presence." The queen smiled at his compliments, but it was clear she hadn't been impressed.

"Who are you?" The queen started as she closed the door behind her. There wasn't much furniture, but the chambers looked as imposing as the queen herself. Everything, from the bedsheets to the curtains was white inside.

"Do not lie." Her voice brought him back to reality. The queen was also dressed in white. "I'm not an idiot. You've sent that letter, haven't you? Well, here I am. Ready to talk. Why did you ask me to postpone my journey?"

"Yes, it was me, but I didn't expect to meet you so soon. What did it give me away?"

The queen was already sitting at her pinewood table while he kept watching her from the middle of the room.

"I know men like Sarrum. You're none of them. I've been queen for more than half a century. I've learned some things from my position."

"I think it's fair to know who you are talking with." He said as he faced her. Merlin took down his magic charm from his neck and soon he recovered his young appearance.

"So young… What do you know about Balinor and about Drakar? What you possibly could know and I don't?"

"He was my father." The queen watched him indifferently. Though, her fingers brushed the wings of a wooden dragon that stood next to the pile of papers on her table.

"Right...and?" Merlin was shocked. He was standing there, in the middle of the room, unable to find the words to continue. "Take a seat, please."

"I'm sorry, but…" he started, "do you really don't care. I expected...right...I guess I was wrong. Maybe it's just me, being brought up in a small village by a mother who loved and caressed me even when I was naughty...even if my magic, had it to be discovered, would have meant our sentence to death."

"Why didn't he return to Drakar?" She continued, ignoring his words. "Did he ever speak about the kingdom?" She looked him in the eye, but her hand was still on the little dragon.

"I don't know. He left my mother when Uther sent his soldiers to catch him. She didn't know she was pregnant at the time. I met him a day before his death. We didn't have much time to talk. Arthur was around so I had to hide my feelings. I had to pretend his death didn't affect me much...even if."

"So, you are my grandchild, after all." She laughed as she guessed his confusion. "Am I wrong to assume you were successful in controlling your emotions? So, you are like me."

"Well, I have some experience. Spending all your life trying to seem ordinary when you know you're stronger than most men you know...it has taught me a lot. You didn't know, did you?"

"What about?"

"About Eugene's father. He told my father you wouldn't allow him in the town because he lost the Great Dragon."

"Of course he did."

"You're not surprised."

"He was greedy and envious of his brother. He couldn't have lost such an opportunity. He's Mavi" she pointed towards the wooden dragon. " Your grandfather had hacked it when your father was born. The real dragon, I mean. The little dragon was Balinor's favorite. He made this toy after Mavi died. Uther commanded the dragon to be killed."

Merlin looked sadly at the dragon. " Kigharrah was the only dragon I've known. Then I got Aithusa. Yet I've heard there are others left. Eugene keeps them chained in the mountains."

"Eugene? Really! He's a complete idiot."

"Well, his father captured them, but … you shouldn't underestimate Eugene. He has managed to find my mother and eventually discover me. He's definitely not an idiot."

"So, that's why you disguise yourself as Sarrum. What about the real Sarrum?"

"Kilgharrah will take care of him. ...I can't understand, though… how does it make you saw beyond my appearance while…"

"I knew nothing about what was happening in Drakar?"

"Yeah"

"When I came here I was only 16. A scared, innocent girl. My husband treated me well. Better than most husbands would have, especially that, as a king, he had a lot of things to look upon. Though, I wasn't meant to rule or get involved in the country's affairs. My role was to be charming and give birth to healthy sons and daughters. So, I wasn't supposed to study or to take part in the royal meetings. When he died, I was 36. Still charming and young. I knew everything about being courteous and organizing parties. I knew every noble from the country and even many from the foreign countries, but our discussions were mostly pleasantries. So, I did my best to learn everything I couldn't in 20 years, but Balinor left too soon and I was once again sent back to do what women were supposed to do."

"But he was your son. Not a Dragon Lord and, I supposed, not your favorite, but still your son. He couldn't have treated you like that...you were the queen, after all." Merlin uttered in shock. "I don't think women should be forbidden to get involved in the country's affairs. Gwen is one of the best advisers king Arthur has. And I know a lot of women who can fight as well."

"It wasn't only Roganakh. The nobles also thought I shouldn't get involved and let the men do their job. So, very few rumors reached me. Some I couldn't grasp their importance. I allowed Roganakh to rule because I couldn't risk a revolt from the council. I have very few people loyal to me, Merlin. However, the council has agreed that Eugen is not fit for ruling and so, I managed to postpone his coronation. We hoped, as we found Balinor had survived Uther's attacks, we hoped the news of his death was a lie as well. "

"No, he died in my arms. I wish I could tell you there is hope, but...I miss him. I wished I had more time with him."

"We hoped that, at least, he has a son to carry his name."

"So, will they support me?" Merlin said hopefully.

"It depends on your legacy. Who is your mother? Any royalty? Noblewoman?"

"None of them..she is...was…"

"Powerful sorceress? High Priestess?"

"No...she was just a peasant. She had no magic, but she was wise and brave and she taught me everything I know and.."

"I'm afraid the council won't be very happy. Right now, I don't know who they will prefer."

"I think I spent too much time with Uther and his stupid rules to be surprised they will think like that. However, I'm surprised you aren't against me or are you? Aren't you bothered that my mother was just a peasant?"

"You are brighter than most of my councilmen and braver than most of the knights. Will I be wrong to expect you to be also strong?"

'My magic is strong. I haven't had the chance to read many spellbooks by now, but I'll make sure my stay here won't be a waste of time."

"Then why should I bother who your mother was? I hope Eugen has nothing to do with her death. She died, didn't she?"

"Yes, she was killed...by Eugene. So, much you might love him, do not ask me to be merciful because I can't."

"You have a plan." She said as she put her glass on the table and looked him in the eyes.

"I need you to help me gain the council on my side. I'm willing to use any means. My scope is to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed and revolts."

"I might know some useful details about them. Be careful, though. They will fight back and they are dangerous."

"I'm dangerous, too." He stated and the queen was sure she was in front of a true Flamoria.