A/N Rest in Peace John Hurt; John Hurt did the voice and facial movements (with CGI enhancements) for the Great Dragon Kilgarrah from BBC Merlin.

Chapter 18: New Beginnings

NRC 527 August

Malkira crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at the pouting Pendragon.

"Grow up Arthur."

"He lied to me…" Arthur growled.

"Why because of something he had no choice in the matter? Much like myself… WE WERE BORN WITH MAGIC ARTHUR!" Malkira roared. Arthur flinched back slightly at the woman's very Draconic roar before rallying.

"He could have told me… not at first, but later, when Morgana was beginning to cause trouble."

"Maybe he was afraid of your reaction, maybe he didn't want to come between you and your father," Malkira suggested.

"My father… after everything I have mixed feelings about him," Arthur sighed. "I will go apologize to Merlin, thank you Lady Manaweaver."

"Arthur we're friends are we not?" Arthur nodded "then call me Malkira."

"All right Malkira, I'll go talk to Merlin."

Malkira watched Arthur walk off with a slight smile, she knew Arthur meant well, and it had only been a few months since he had let go of his prejudices towards magic and those who used it. As such Arthur was avoiding Merlin because he was still trying to get used to his friend having magic, (not that he would admit out loud that Merlin was his friend. Malkira then walked off to deal with the paperwork she had to deal with as Crown Princess.

Three days later

The populace and refugees of Camelot easily slotted into jobs that suited them, beyond the lifestyles simple peasants of old; and working professions such as tanners, blacksmiths, alchemists and scribes among others.

The Camelot army found the ideas of the repeating crossbows a very favorable device, especially when attacking or defending fortified positions. Their integration was slower due to the increased usage of ranged weapons but slowly they were being added into the mainstream armies working alongside some Elves and half-Elves that recently joined Draconia's armed forces.

Over the two decades Draconia had existed, they added a powerful navy with vessels of all sizes from frigates to battleships. Draconia had built up 6 fleets, and had several other independent task forces patrolling their waters and escorting trade ships. There were rumbling from Allania in the north as refugees fled the increasingly despotic rule of Duke Raster.

Over the many years that passed since the treaty of non-agression between Allania and Draconia, and forming the Neutral zone. News slowly tricked south that King Kadimonos had died, of what none could truly say; some spoke of plots and assassinations others spoke of illness, but the truth was not known beyond a select few and they weren't talking.

While it had been hushed up as much as possible Kadimonos' child had passed away at the tender age of 4 due to pneumonia. As Raster was a powerful northern noble, he campaigned hard for the crown among the nobles and was handed the regency of Allania not even 3 years ago with the stipulation that if no heir appeared in 10 years he would be crowned.

Raster was a greedy man and with his rule secured, he increased the taxes on the Allania populace fourfold. Four times already Raster had sent tax collectors south of the border to try and steal some wealth of Draconia and all were repulsed with ease. Raster primarily used mercenaries and not actual Allanian forces in hopes that if they failed, Draconia's armed forces would have eliminated the mercenary groups thinking them simple bandits. Despite his greedy, Raster was no fool; he clearly remembered how Draconia had humbled and humiliated Allania with only 8000 troops at the time of the original short lived war of NRC 512.

Xapferey had ordered the mercenaries to be captured and prosecuted, though had confessed in exchange for lesser sentences. In response to the mercenary raids, Xapferey had sent several strongly worded letters to Raster warning him that Xapferey would consider the buffer treaty broken by these acts of war.

Using the communication disks, the Dragon King contacted his allies for their thoughts on the matter.

"These raids are troubling if these recordings you have is accurate… It seems Raster or one of his lords is trying to provoke a war with you," Fahn mused as he rubbed his beard.

"Not surprising, considering the heavy defeat we dealt them in 512... but our population is both much larger and our military far far larger."

"That I can imagine, your population boomed twice was is?"

"Yes, according to national censuses the average amount of children a family has is 4, there are a few families with two children and a handful with one… but more is common. Between immigration and a rising birth rate we've amassed a large nation… and that was before the second generation started families… there were a surprising amount of half-Elves hiding or wandering the lands."

"Not too surprising, the Elves were far more active in the lands long ago; during Kastull's reign and well before that," Fahn added.

"Makes sense… but the reason why I called was Allania. I've heard rumblings of a civil war between against Raster's loyalists. The fact of the matter is the man's greed is starting to override his common sense; he's trying to tax my people… using authority and rates that have no legal applications whatsoever. I've lost patience with Raster and I've warned him several times already."

"You want our approval if you do declare war? Well Flaim will stand alongside you if you require it."

"Thank you my friend… I want to state for the record that if any of my forces commit war crimes in accordance with rules of war of my people, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. While our ways may seem more brutal, we also have very strict rules on warfare as a result."

"Very well then, we will watch Marmo in case Beld decides to attempt conquest once more while your army is busy in the north."

"I will still make sure my southern borders are secure, but I thank you for your assistance."

The abrupt and slightly awkward silence lasted for a moment before the three said farewell and closed the call. The disguised Dragon then walked to the balcony to think and consider his next moves.

That same time

City of New Vancouver

Training yards

Malkira watched as Arthur trained with his knights to keep up with their sword skills regardless of the new doctrines they were learning. Despite the changes to everything how Camelot's armed forces acted in the past, they were acclimatizing quickly.

Despite his occasional arrogance, Malkira admitted that Arthur was a master with a sword considering he had disarmed two of his skilled knights in less than 6 seconds while blindfolded (1).

"Let's change weapons," Arthur said.

"How about you try me Arthur," the Half-Dragon suggested, her smirk revealing her sharp teeth. Arthur nodded despite spikes of nerves at facing Malkira, he had heard stories of how strong she was and it was a little frightening. The woman in front of him could bend steel bars with a modicum of effort and despite only catching glimpses of her skills he could tell that this duel would be one of the hardest he would ever have.

Malkira charged forward and checked her forward movement by extending her wings; then she clashed her blade against Arthur's, the force of the blow rattled his arm slightly. Arthur winced and stepped back for a moment before coming against her in a skilled offensive.

Malkira twisted and shifted, blocking, parrying and twisting away from Arthur's attacks with Elvin grace. She was faster than Arthur as he knew, so his hope was to keep her off balance enough to prevent a counterattack. While Arthur had slight experience on Malkira, it was not enough to prevent her hybrid abilities from compensating and giving her a severe advantage.

Malkira charged forwards now, her blade flashing everywhere as Arthur twisted, trying to evade or parry her strikes again and again. The next strike forced Arthur to grasp his sword with both hands; the follow-up strike jarred both arms and the third tore the weapon from his grasp. Malkira then lowered her blade and stepped back.

"Nicely done Arthur."

"You were holding back weren't you?" Arthur asked with a wry look on his face.

"Yes I was, don't feel bad… it's simple biology, the weakest half-Dragon will always stronger than the strongest human. First generation half-Dragons are about eight times stronger than a human. (2)"

"Plus your Elf blood as well, I was not surprised you would win."

"It helps, also made growing up a pain, as my strength would outstrip my control."

"Ah, I can see how that would be a problem," Arthur said with a sympathetic mild grimace. The two moved off to a bench to continue talking while Arthur watched the various men practice their fighting formations.

Medical ward

Capital city of New Vancouver

Gaius, once the Court physician of Camelot, and now one of the many physicians of Draconia sat in a corner of the medical ward by a window. His right eye was covered by one of the newer MIRN II HUD and was busy scrolling through several papers on medical procedures he had wished he had known and had the tools to complete in Camelot. Joyous laughter caught his ears and he turned to look out the window and smiled wistfully as he saw Merlin on the back of the Great Dragon Kilgarrah clad in the robes of a newly graduated sorcerer; while a much smaller white Dragon named Aithusa was following as best she could while chirping her pleasure.

It wasn't Camelot, but it was now home, a home of freedom; free from suspicion, a home where rights were guaranteed by law and if trampled unjustly, then remedies were available for the wronged party within reason. Of course it was very different for Gaius, in some cases the changes were jarring for the old man; as the social class disparity was not as evident as it was in Camelot, as if someone falsely accused another of a crime there were legal options for the injured party. Nobility was no longer a shield; back in Camelot, if a noble committed a crime and a commoner accused them unless it was an accusation of magic, the charge would be brushed off and the commoner would receive a minor or major punishment. Not so in Draconia.

It was a new life, and Gaius was ready to live it alongside Merlin and all the old and new people.

That same time

Malkira's chambers

The blond half-Dragon muttered to herself in annoyance. She face-palmed and drank another shot of brandy, being replicated, it was artificial alcohol (synthehol). She threw herself to her feet and snarled as she paced frantically.

'How? WHY? I know I like him… but he's mortal… I guess this is how mom felt when she fell for dad when she first thought he was mortal. Maybe 60-70 years then that's it… He goes…" Malkira snorted quietly. 'I mean I more than like him, and Merlin is right he can be such a prat. Immortality is a curse; everyone I know will die, Slayn and Lelia, Ghim, Parn, Wood, Slayn's daughter Neese. Everyone around me but my family will die. Why do I… There might still be a chance… I need to talk to Kilgarrah and maybe Merlin,' Malkira thought to herself frantically. Finishing her drink, she put the glass back in the replicator, which she then closed, now looking like part of the wall. She opened the window and hopped onto the ledge and threw herself out of the room into the open air to free-fall for a moment before she caught herself with her wings and flew off.

Pumping her wings to gain altitude, Malkira headed towards the cave that Kilgarrah occupied as his home. Landing a moment later and striding inside, a bass rumbling voice greeted her entrance to the cave.

"And what brings my young kin to my cave?" The Great Dragon asked as Malkira's eyes easily picked out his large form in the darker part of the cave.

"Kilgarrah my kin, I need some advice, this is not something I can talk to my parents about right now, but I need help from someone who shares our lifespan."

The Great Dragon folded his paws in front of him.

"Then what do you need Malkira?"

"There is someone I have feelings for, from your lands but because of my lifespan I am trying to suppress those feelings, and I was hoping there was a way to…"

"Have him live as long as we do," Kilgarrah finished. "But it is not the young Warlock, no… perhaps the young Pendragon?" Malkira's cheeks turned darker gold as she flushed at how easily she was caught out.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"I didn't, you confirmed it, but I suspected. Not all things are as they seem young one," Kilgarrah said enigmatically before he took off into the air.

"Wha?" Malkira stuttered before she glared at the retreating form of the Great Dragon. "Merlin you were right, he is annoyingly cryptic. "Overgrown lizard," she muttered disparagingly under her breath before she flew home.

A/N Ok, that's 18, it would be longer but this felt like a good ending point, sorry about taking so long but RL can drain all your time and energy.

1) See BBC Merlin clip - look for Merlin - little revenge to see what I mean

2) Considering from Star Trek, a Vulcan which doesn't look too much different from a human, are both faster and 3 times stronger than a human. So something like a half-Dragon being 8 times stronger shouldn't be too much of a stretch right?