A/N: So hello. It has been a while. I will say that this fic is not abandoned but updates are not going to be regular or consistant


Chapter 2


"… right out to here." Taking one hand of the reins, Camelot's crudest knight gestured out in front of his chest, before making a cupping gesture "They were really nice as well. But she wasn't no ordinary tavern winch, she had class."

Sir Elyan, the long-suffering bother of the queen, turned to look at the chatter box riding by his side. "How much did you drink. There is no way anyone with class would consort with you"

The rest of the convoy of knights snickered as Gwaine scowled at the former blacksmith. "Yeah, yeah laugh it up. At least I can appreciate the fine taste of good beer and fine women"

The patrol continued to laugh and banter as they travelled through the woods. Eventually the tone turned sombre as Percival brought up recent matters.

"Do you think the trial is over yet?" The gentle giant was the only round table knight at the incident and, whilst he would not willingly admit this out loud, what he saw shook him to the core.

"I can't imagine it would take very long." Leon spoke "He did it in full view of all the lower town. His guilt was only made more obvious for trying to run. His highness won't have much to think on."

"Aye it was lucky Merlin thought us how to avoid being take out by that push thingy" Gwaine grinned "Glad you were able to subdue him Percy. Poor Lilith deserves justice, she was a nice girl."

They all dipped their head in respect for said young girl.

"It is people like that who make it hard to trust sorcerers." Leon foolishly broke the silence. At his words the companions turned to scowl at the veteran knight.

Of the group informally known as the round table knights, separate to the knights of the round table who formed from them, Sirs Leon and Elyan found it hardest to accept that magic. Elyan had to many personal experiences with dark magic to be instantly comfortable with it, and blamed it for contributing for his father's death, something he regretted he wasn't in the kingdom for.

Sir Leon had been a mere child when the purge began and grew up on stories about the evilness of magic and thus, like many of the younger generation of Camelot, was brain washed into believing these tails. This combined with attacks upon his home by said sorcerers had firmly solidified his belief and the belief of many native Camelotians.

Gaius was the one who managed to calm the two knights' fears, even more than the efforts of Merlin, who was both younger and more prone to flasher, and fight based magics then the old healer. His demonstrations of soothing hurts and healing wounds, especially those that would of killed or retired a knight before this, settled fears more than the summoning spells that Merlin used to try and show the gentle nature of magic (that would of worked, for who would of feared blue butterflies, if Gwaine hadn't seen the usefulness of that ability and gushed about sorcerers summoning weapons to him if they are disarmed, which lead to a bit of an argument when Leon pointed out the enemy doing the same)

Realising that his friends may believe he was reverting to his old ways, Leon was quick to defend himself. "I know that it the nature of the man and not the magic that makes monsters, but you know as well as I that many in the kingdom are still in fear due to decades of unrest between the two peoples. Monsters like this Smith fellow only serve to make the gap wider."

None of the knights could argue with this logic, and even if they could, a loud reptilian screech of pain and fear echoed throughout the forest, followed by the sound of something large crashing through the trees. The knights quickly calmed their horses, thanking the various gods for the fact that they insisted that they got the animals used to dragons via Merlin's various transformations, preventing the beasts from throwing them and bolting.

Once the prancing of their frightened mounts ceased, the men dismounted and secured the horses before drawing their swords. Cautiously they made their way towards the source of the crash, a low keening guiding their way.

When asked later, none of the knights could describe the scene they came across, only their feelings of fear and disbelief. But in that moment, only one thought crossed the warrior's minds.

Get Merlin


Frowning in confusion, Gaius gently laid his unconscious patient's arm down before turning towards the royals waiting impatiently by the door.

"I have no explanation sire." Behind him Merlin growled, skin shifting growing scales in patches, only for them to fade before the cycle repeated itself. "You said he just collapsed. There was no sign of anything being wrong before that?"

Arthur frowned in concerned, his mind going back to his chambers.

When Merlin suddenly stopped talking mid argument, the king was ready to gloat, thinking he had won this round. Just as he was about to start, the words stuck in his throat as his dearest friend started to shake before falling to the ground, body twisting in rapid transformation to his draconic form and back over and over.

He was aware of his wife screaming for the guards, ordering them to get Gaius as he dropped to his knees beside the convulsing form, unsure if he should restrain it or not.

Eventually (seconds, minutes, hours? Arthur couldn't tell) Merlin stopped fitting and the transformations slowed but didn't cease. He barely looked up at the surprised gasp of the royal physician, and it was only at his request that the king stood, taking the unconscious body of his friend in his arms to take it the Gaius' chambers to the echoes of a distance roar.

'No. They were bickering but it wasn't any worse than before." His wife's voice brought him back to the present. He frowned and stepped further into the room speaking quietly to the old man. "Do you have any theories or ideas? Could it possibly be related to his Dragonlord heritage?"

"It is possible sire. Only the Dragons and their kin know all the secrets of their kind." Turning back to the Warlock, Gaius ran a gentle finger over a patch of scales, guiltily marvelling over the transition from scale to skin. "This would indicate strongly towards that theory sire, but only Kilgharrah may have the answers."

Arthur was afraid of that. They may have buried the axe, and both agreed to mutually forget, if not forgive, the past, but neither the king nor dragon could say they liked one another. Arthur thought the old lizard was manipulative bad influence over Merlin whilst Kilgharrah believed that the royals didn't treat Merlin with the respect and admiration he felt his kin rightly deserved. It was only for their love (even though both deny it is asked) for the warlock that made the two interact and coexist, instead of fight.

Resigning himself to having to deal with the cryptic reptile, Arthur brought up an obvious point. "And how do we find him. Our only reliable way of contacting the dragon is currently taking a nap."

Before Gaius could suggest anything, the door to the chambers banged open, revealing the form of a dishevelled Gwaine.

His eyes swept the room, acknowledging the 3 standing figures, but was unable to see the prone figure, his line of site blocked by the eldest male.

"Sire, we have a problem" Normally Arthur would be suspicious of what this knight would class as a problem. But his appearance, alongside the fact that he was addressed by his proper title, instead of some inane nickname Gwaine loved to give to others that made Arthurs heart start to pound. "Where is Merlin."

The king frowned, unsure if he wanted to admit that Merlin had taken ill. On the one hand, if he did, then Gwaine would worry and fuss, and the chances of finding out why he burst into the room would become a trial. But on the other hand, if he was asking for the sorcerer straight away, it was a problem only Emrys could solve, for as much as the rogue joked that the only reason the kingdom was standing was because of the Warlock, he was also in love with adventure, and would ensure that he had the king and his knights on board before bring it up with the ex-servant, as it was a well-known fact now that said servant would sneak of on his own is the group did not bully him into taking them along.

He choice was made for him by the love of his life. "Gwaine, what's wrong"

The armoured figured frowned. "It's the great dragon. We found him collapsed in the woods"

"What has happened to my brother?"


A/N: So chapter 2. I have had this written since last year. However my personal promise is to write more of the next chapter before posting the completed one.

Life has been manic since I posted chapter 1. I am now an apprentice and my particular job role is a lot more important in the running of the department I am in than I originally expected (and I am still working retail at the weekend) so I have not even been thinking about this fic existing never mind posting to it.

However we have had a very busy 5 months (my progress tutor is a bit annoyed as I have not completed any of my assignment work because I haven't been given study time due to the craziness). This is over now (fingers crossed) and I came across this sitting on my computer completed and thought why not post something I have actually finished writing.

As for chapter 3, it is no where near ready (I broke my promise whoops). I have also changed a couple of my ideas so need to look at my plan to see how to make them, work

Now I will leave you with the joke.

It is not wise to insult a Christmas tree. They never Fir-get