Well, this chapter really is too short, I apologize, but the first reason being that it was hurried because I didn't want to loose my idea, and the second that I didn't want to end it any later as there will be one more chapter and I needed to keep my starting point for that one haha. Some things happen in here that had come to me awhile ago while floating around various websites and such and I really wanted to incorporate it into a story, but couldn't quite get everything hammer out, until the idea of Cadogan came up. So, here it finally is, and I hope you all like it, even if it is a little-..unusual in the way it's presented I guess. Enjoy.

Chapter 5 – Mythical Name

"So, Arthur Castus, you have defeated me."

They once again stood in the darkness, only Arthur and Cadogan, nothing else. All the weight, the pain, was gone. "Am I..dead?" Arthur asked, more to himself than the dragon, looking down at his arm.

Cadogan shook his head, "No, no you are not. You have won. You truly are the great warrior of legends." The dragon bowed his head in respect, "I admit defeat."

"It was not my doing…I could not have won of my own power, it was God who gave me strength. Even when I-..I thought it was the end."

"Then your God must have more plans for you," Cadogan replied, "And he has blessed you this day." There was a pause, the dragon sighed. "Others shall know of your victory, Arthur Castus."

Arthur watched silently as the dragon came closer. He held something in his claw that appeared to be so small that it seemed as though Cadogan could not hold it in his large hand, but he did. Slowly, he reached forward and placed it over Arthur's head. The Roman took hold of the small coin like object on the strand of leather around his neck. It was silver and engraved on one side was the image of a dragon.

"In honour of it," Cadogan continued, "I name you Artorius Castus Pendragon. You shall be remembered as man and myth."

Bowing his head in humble thanks, Arthur then looked up at Cadogan. "And what of my knight?" he asked, "You will spare his life since I have won?"

"No, Pendragon, you will spare him. Your love will save him," the dragon replied, starting to fade, "I will say no more."

"Wait!" Arthur cried, trying to run after him, but Cadogan disappeared and he was alone.

Hadrian knickered softly from the edge of the clearing. The dragon had stopped moving, he was dead. But Arthur still laid next to him, his face pale, his eyes closed. Slowly Hadrian plodded over, his nose near the ground. He nudged Arthur's hand, hoping to get a response. There was none. The horse gently nudged his face instead. Nothing.

But somehow he knew that his master wasn't dead. Hadrian had always shown a spark of intelligence in his eyes, perhaps the reason why Arthur chose him to begin with. He stood by his master's side, waiting for him to wake up so that they could go home. This place made him nervous, with good reason being that there was a dead dragon there.

Arthur's breathing was shallow, his chest hurt. He tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. And he was cold, despite having just fought a tiring battle with Cadogan. It was the poison…he wouldn't make it back, he couldn't save Lancelot.

Above him was one of Cadogan's arms, various cuts on his hand from when Arthur had been able to reach him. Black blood slowly oozed out, running down the long claw to the tip where it dripped off. A large droplet of the thick liquid landed on Arthur's arm. It burned through the bandage over his wound and sizzled as it met the flesh.

Arthur was suddenly in agony; he squeezed his eyes shut, grabbing his arm and screaming in pain, which echoed through the woods. But when it was over, he slowly opened his eyes, lifting his left hand off of his arm and blinked, surprised not to see any of his blood, or Cadogan's for that matter. Another thought stuck him; when just a moment ago he didn't have the strength to open his eyes, yet now he was sitting up. Arthur looked at his arm. A scar was all that was left.

Jumping to his feet, Arthur found Hadrian near by and quickly pulled out a water skin from his saddlebag, he wouldn't need it anymore. After dumping the water out, the Roman climbed the dead dragon, holding the skin under one of Cadogan's claws and letting his blood drip down inside. It took sometime, but when it was nearly half full, he climbed down again.

Hadrian snorted. "Yes, we're going home," Arthur said softly, his voice a bit hoarse. Swinging up onto Hadrian's back, his sword at his side and the skin with dragon's blood slung over his shoulder, Arthur patted the horse on his neck, "Now, Hadrian, as fast as your legs can take you." Setting his ears back, Hadrian whinnied and took off through the forest, leaving behind the body of the dead dragon.

The forest came and went by in a blur, all detail was smudged by Hadrian's speed. He felt the great urgency to get home, even if he didn't know the exact reason. Arthur's mind was occupied the long ride back. He prayed he wasn't too late, Lancelot didn't deserve this. He knew he couldn't ask Hadrian for more, the horse would collapse before they made it to the fort. Time seemed against them.

They flew by the place where the shadows had come at them. There was nothing there, no trace that there had ever been any danger. It was all like a dream, things were muddled. In his mind Arthur knew he would never find out what had attacked them there, but in his heart, he already knew. Nightmare was the proper term for it. For this is what nightmares are made of.

On the horizon, the fort grew before them as the forest disappeared in their wake. It grew as they came closer until Hadrian ran through the gate and then slowed down as Arthur navigated the crowds, shouting to let him pass.