"The Right" (Rose)
Our morning begins "cheerily" as Arthur informs us of the number of the dead: forty-nine men and twenty-seven women and eighteen women and children not found. I shake my head in disgust as an elderly man with an absurdly long beard jots this down. "Most of last's nights fires are now out. The castle walls, in particular the Western section, are near to collapse. I could go on," he notifies.
"Do we have any further idea on how the beast escaped?" the King inquires.
"I regret to say, Sire," Sir Leon, a loyal Knight, updates, "We don't."
I bring my eyes to the floor, feeling so incredibly sorry for all of this. I can only begin to grasp what Merlin must be experiencing.
"There must be some way to rid us of this aberration," Uther persists. He searches the faces of those in the room, and I quickly glimpse at him and back to the ground. "Gaius?" he prompts.
He considers his solution carefully, taking a deep breath. "We need a Dragonlord, Sire."
My heart jumps in my chest and my orbs must've grown two sizes, for I think they may fall out of my head. I peep at Uther to see his reaction. "You know very well that is not an option," he turns to the window once more.
"Sire, what if," Gaius carries on, "there was indeed one last Dragonlord, left?"
Apparently, the King's answer didn't mean what I originally thought.
"That's not possible," he mumbles in response.
"But if there was?" persists Gaius.
King Uther stares him down and proceeds towards him from across the room. "What are you saying?"
"It may just be rumor," Gaius averts his gaze.
"Go on," urges Uther.
"I'm not exactly sure, but I think his name is Balinor."
A funny sensation overcomes me when Gaius speaks the alleged name of the Dragonlord. Something within me finds it either familiar or significant ... Perhaps, both.
"Balinor," Uther repeats.
"Where does he live?" queries Prince Arthur.
"He was last seen in Cenred's kingdom, in the border town of Engerd," Gaius reports, "But that was many years ago."
"If this man still exists, then it is our duty to find him," Arthur declares.
"Our treaty with Cenred no longer holds. We are at war," the King argues, "If they discovered you beyond our border, they would kill you."
"I will go alone," Arthur decides, and I almost speak out against him, "That way I'll not be detected."
"No, Arthur, it's too dangerous," Uther disagrees straightaway.
"More dangerous than staying here?" Arthur raises a good point. "I will not stand by and watch my men die when I have the chance to save them."
"I have given you my orders," he remains unmoved.
"Do not make this a test of wills, Father," Arthur contends respectfully.
"I'm not talking to you as a father, I'm talking to you as a King!"
Arthur nods, mouth clamped shut, and then speaks lowly, "I will ride immediately."
"My concern is for you," Uther spins around to face him.
"Mine is for Camelot," Arthur states his case with finality. "I will send word when I've found him." His father glares at him, wide-eyed from shock, I'm certain. "Prepare the horses," he tells Merlin. Merlin swiftly bows and follows his orders. I will not let this opportunity slip from my fingers.
Instead of assisting Merlin, I trail the Prince. "Arthur," I call out, "I'm coming with you."
"Absolutely not," he doesn't even flinch.
"That wasn't a request," I am unshaken.
"Rose," he stops and places his hands on my shoulders, "This is a mission that will be fraught with doom, even for me. It's bad enough I have to bring Merlin. I will not risk your life."
"It is not your life to risk," I remain resilient. "You need me. You both do. I can provide proper care if one of you gets hurt- and let's face it, it'll probably happen. I know my way in the woods, better than anyone you'll come across, and I can fight."
He sighs.
"I am coming with or without your permission. I will travel alone if need be. All I'm asking for is the chance to prove my worth and for the right to fight for what I hold dear. Surely you would not deny me that."
"If something were to happen to you, I'd never forgive myself," he says with all sincerity.
I place my hands over his, "If something happens to me, you will not be responsible- especially since I won't take no for an answer."
He laughs softly, "Why is it that I am at a loss for words, feeling completely irrational, and actually considering letting you have your way?"
"Because you know I'm telling you the truth," I look him right in the eyes. "I will make you a promise: grant me this chance, and I will show you what I'm made of. If I hinder you in any way, am of no help, or die, I will never ask this of you again."
"And if you are an asset?"
"Remember it for next time."
"You swear to me on this?" he reiterates.
"You have my word," I say confidently.
He slides his palms down to my upper arm, gripping me lightly, huffing out a breath. "I cannot believe I am going to say this," he caves to my pledge, "But ... Alright. You may come."
I clasp my arms around him. "Thank you, Arthur."
He squeezes me back, "Please, be careful and do. As. I. Say."
"I won't let you down," I scuttle off to tell Merlin the news.
"Shock" (Merlin)
I am unassisted for a short time. As she appears in the stables, I can't help but wonder where Rose has been. She usually isn't too far behind. "Need any help?" she inquires with a smile.
"It certainly wouldn't pain me," I chuckle.
"Merlin," she articulates to claim my attention.
"Yes?" I turn my gaze to her so she knows I'm listening.
"Am I an effective aid? Or do I just get in the way?" she seeks honesty.
"I wouldn't ever come to you for anything if I didn't think you were," I state.
"You mean I don't just shove my advice down your throat all the time?" she laughs a little, but I can see that she is genuinely concerned.
I smile as reassuringly as I know how, "You never have. You're always willing, and you get the job done, no matter what the task."
"I'm glad you feel that way," she grins.
"Why the sudden questioning of your work ethic?"
"I wanted to double check, because," her smile widens, "Arthur's agreed to let me come with you!"
My jaw drops in response, "How did you get him to do that?!"
"I might have told him I was coming regardless of his admittance," she stares everywhere but at me, displaying her "guilt".
I laugh hysterically, "Only you could talk someone so stubborn into such a thing!"
She blushes, "I didn't exactly get my way so freely. I had to make Arthur a promise."
"What could you have possibly promised Arthur that would grant him enough satisfaction to allow you to endanger yourself?" I ask, bewildered.
"I swore to him that if I held you both back and got into trouble or caused any, I would never ask him for another like opportunity."
"Uh-oh," I suck air in through my teeth, "You are never getting another chance, because, and this was proof, you ARE trouble," I tease.
"I know," she smirks, "But I'm good at it."
I laugh, "I can't argue that."
We make a few more passing comments in jest as we ready the steeds. When we've finished, we trample off to secure our personal provisions for the trip. I am wrapping up some food rations for us when I settle on asking, "Who were the Dragonlords?"
He gives me no answer, which is quite unlike him. "Gaius?" I beckon.
He turns around, now opposite of me, with a morose expression, "There were once men who could talk to the dragons, tame them."
"What happened to them?" I further inquire, as I always do.
"Uther believed that the art of the Dragonlord was too close to magic, so he had them all rounded up and slaughtered," he explains dimly as Rose seizes up. It sounds similar to what happened to her kind ... I can only imagine how awful that must've been. I look to my bag, shaking my head.
"But one survived," I bring up.
"And you knew," Rose mentions with a hint in her voice.
Another question wallops me, "How did you know?"
"I helped him escape," he admits.
"Gaius," I feign shock, and then snicker.
He more or less casually saunters over to the table I'm positioned in front of. "Merlin," he addresses me quizzically, "You've never heard the name Balinor?"
I pause in thought for a split second, "No," I shake my head for emphasis.
"Your mother never mentioned him?" he examines me for recognition.
"My mother?" I repeat in question, not sure of where this is leading.
"She took him in," he walks closer to me.
"She stood up against Uther?" I lean a little back in surprise.
"Yes," he confirms.
"She was brave," I compliment.
"Yes … When Uther discovered where Balinor was, he sent knights to Ealdor to hunt him down," recalls Gaius. "He was forced to flee."
"Why didn't my mother tell me any of this?" I am utterly staggered.
"Merlin," he begins in a serious tone, "I promised her I would never speak of these things."
"Of what?" I press.
"I've always treated you as my son," he continues, "but that is not what you are." Rose clasps a hand over her mouth, driving me deeper into confusion. "The man you are going to look for ... is .. your father."
I feel my body give way to trembling, and I am so stunned, I cannot form sounds into words for a minute. "Merlin?" Rose is trying to confer with my feelings.
"My father?" I step back, eyes brimming with tears.
"Yes," Gaius whispers.
She stutters over a few breaths, "T-that's wonderful, isn't it?"
I try to process the information. "He was a Dragonlord?" The physician stares at the ground in shame. I move my head from side to side, "Why did no one ever tell me!?"
"I wanted to," he spurts, "Your mother feared it'd be too dangerous."
"I had a right to know," I protest.
"She wanted to protect you," he mutters feebly.
"No," I waggle my head, voice airy and weak, "I had a right to know." I glare at him with disappointment and resort to the other room.