*Not beta'd, I'll polish it when I get time later*

Aftermaths of the previous chapters while also checking in on the 'other' duo haha

I was very amused writing their parts, because well what else could Arthur do in the modern day?

What is it with Dragons and Destiny?

Shoutouts to Vicky and OechsnerC for their kind words :)


After returning to England at around 2 am, Cynfab landed in front of their cottage. Merlin softly pulled Morgana into his arms as he dropped down and turned back to his grandson.

"Will grandmother be alright father?"

Merlin smiled at his kin while sending him a soothing magical embrace, combining their auras.

"Don't worry Cyn, next you see her she'll be right as reign I assure you."

"...And you father? Will you be alright?"

Merlin paused…he didn't exactly like that Cynfab had to bear witness to his…outburst earlier. Nor did he feel proud that he practically put his hatchling on the spot between him and Morgana…

"I'll be fine my dear boy, everything will be alright."

He never gave a promise to Cynfab.

"Still shouldn't lie…"

"It's to keep him from being concerned."

"Liar."

Merlin ignored the voices and bid Cynfab farewell as his grandson traveled to search for a suitable home now that his other one was a bit too…hot. He gently carried Morgana into their room, magicking her clean and in her nightwear before wrapping her beneath the sheets.

Merlin sighed, rubbing his eyes…what a day.

He went to the restroom to wash his face. This whole holiday was supposed to be something special, and it was…but it was also tainted by the wretched sisters' little games! What's worse is that he nearly lost control…he nearly broke his promise. He has to do better! Be better!

Wiping his face with a towel, Merlin was startled to see his reflection…with golden eyes. Emrys.

"You've taken our eyes off the prize Merlin."

"Get out of here."

"Have you forgotten our responsibility?"

"I said get out."

"You're practically a dog wagging its tail to its master."

"I don't need to hear this shit."

Merlin left downstairs to the kitchen to fetch water, but as he turned from the refrigerator…there stood his reflection again. Was Emrys even real…? Who knew anymore? Who cares?

"Though I suppose it's simply the Pendragon blood in her veins."

"Are you seriously doing this to me now?!"

"Whenever Pendragon's are involved you do typically bend backwards to please them."

"She stopped you from burying people alive in volcanic ash."

"I wasn't talking about Pompeii Merlin…"

"…?"

"Hmph, does 1962 ring any bells?"

"You mean stopping you from starting a nuclear extinction level event?"

"Stopped us from cleansing the world of the filth that crawls on it."

"Stop saying that."

"Hmm? What?"

"Us! There is no us! I never agreed to killing everyone!"

"Of course there's an us Merlin. This was all due to your hate. Your pain. Your need for vengeance…your need to protect. I was brought out in order to protect you Merlin. Don't you see? Anything I do is what you really want deep down inside, and thus we are one...as we've always been."

"No! Shut up! I could never want what you want! I'm not like that!"

"What we want Merlin We must reunify if we are to accomplish it..."

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" Merlin threw a cup at the apparition of himself only for it to disappear, but not before letting out a sigh.

"At some point you need to accept reality, humans are monsters. The world can never be safe so long as they are allowed to exist…"

Finally the voices settled down…for now.

Merlin leaned on the counter and rubbed his forehead. Is this to be the rest of his eternity? His mind and soul, forever torn in two directions?!

The kitchen light turned on as Merlin looked behind him and saw Morgana with a concerned look.

"I heard shouting, are you alright?"

Merlin blinked as he once more made sure that his…thing…was truly not here, so far it seems the coast is clear.

"Y-yeah I just thought that…."

Morgana waited for Merlin to gather his thoughts.

He shouldn't lie…he promised.

Lying is what got him into this mess remember?!

Liars never prosper...

Ha…doesn't he know that well by now?!

Of course he does!

"I-I think, perhaps I should get more of those pills…to avoid having more…episodes"

Not exactly a lie…

Still not a complete truth.

But still not a lie…

Liar!

Stop! Piss off!

Merlin gripped his head, trying to keep himself from lashing out.

Morgana slapped him gently on the cheek, sending clarity to him. A sense of stability in this sea of chaos.

"You saw him again didn't you?"

Of course she knew he lied.

She knew how to read him.

If only she knew that before he poisoned her…

No! Please stop!

You ruin everything you touch…

That's not…!

How many have you killed with your lies…?

I-I don't…!

How many would have survived had you just told the truth…?

I'm sorry…!

How many did you sacrifice Merlin?

I'm sorry...!

How many Merlin?

I'm sorry...

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

"Ssshhhh." Morgana wrapped her arms around Merlin who collapsed to his knees muttering apologies and gently started rocking him. Raking her fingers on his hair she kissed him, willing him to calm down.

Things were starting to look up, and recent events have now exasperated everything. Merlin's condition isn't going away and if she doesn't find a way to heal him quickly, well if the Cuban Missile Crisis and Pompeii weren't enough indications of what could happen than she doesn't know what is.

"Stop apologizing Merlin, we're going to get through this I promise."

"...You're far too forgiving these days."

"You prefer the opposite?"

"Would it worry you if I said I didn't know the answer to that?"

"Kind of…" She thought.

Morgana wiped a few stray tears from Merlin's eyes as she pecked his lips. "I'll call Dr. Crook tomorrow, hopefully we can set an appointment as soon as possible. But for now my love, let's get to bed. It's been a long night for us both."

Merlin at the very least could focus on the pure emotion radiating from Morgana's heart to maintain his grip on reality.

She helped him to his feet and kept him steady while they made their way upstairs. Laying down on their bed in each other's arms is perhaps the most beautiful feeling in the world to Merlin. It's definitely the only way he can sleep peacefully at night at least...


Meanwhile

"Pendragon! Those floors had better be spotless!"

"They are! I mopped them four bloody times already!"

"Watch your fucking mouth less I make you clean the men's room with a brush!"

"Tck…! Yes Mr. Morris…!"

"Now man the register, Holly's shift is over. And for fuck's sake remember your manners to the customers!" Arthur's boss returned to his office and…

Wait…

Boss…?!

Yep.

Ever since Morgana kicked him and Mordred out on their asses…well Mordred could go home whenever he wanted as he still lived with his parents at the time…Arthur on the other hand…?

He had to actually find a job…

Arthur bloody Pendragon had to find a fucking job!

Worse of all it wasn't even a good one! Nothing to do with matters of state, or competing in tournaments, or even police work!

No…he's working in McDonalds…

Mordred having rich parents was able to get them to loan him some money for a modest flat out in the city on the promise that he goes to University within the year to pursue his degree in computer engineering.

Unfortunately for them apparently while Mordred dabbles with computers it's only a hobby. He intends to study electrical and mechanical engineering…whatever that means. But of course…there was room for Arthur in his new flat, on only one condition…

That brat actually had the nerve to make Arthur pay rent!

Has he forgotten that he stayed in his castle for free?!

The most important thing? Arthur Pendragon was NOT going to change his name no matter what Mordred thinks is best. The Pendragon name is a badge of pride, of honor. It symbolizes the strength of Camelot! Why should he care if some people look at him like he's gone mad?!

It still irritated him that Mr. Morris thought he was taking the piss at him when he first introduced himself…

Still the only thing that's been on his mind for months was Merlin…and his sister. First Mordred showed him a video of those two on some kind of beach…where his sister once again scandalously wore scarcely any clothing at all that his father would have had a heart attack!

Then just several weeks ago Mordred showed him a video of what looked like Merlin dancing…which he still can't believe he did…Merlin was never that graceful in Camelot. Had he always been able to dance and that was simply another lie? Or did he learn it while he was dead?

This…Instagram 'vlogging' account thing that Morgana had, presented even more videos of her and Merlin just doing random things that he honestly didn't know what to make of them.

On one clip Morgana would tell people about what make up she likes wearing while another she shows people what she cooks for herself and Merlin for breakfast…still can't believe she cooks. Than in another more recent she was spouting off about pineapple pizza being the best pizza there was…after trying it for himself it pains him to say that he actually agrees with her…

But nothing could have prepared him for what he saw recently…

Merlin…going down on his sister…on a boat…

NO! NO! He's stopping there! He can't puke now! These floors were a pain to clean!

Was this how Merlin felt when he always gave him chores? He hopes not…

Ugh he'll never be able to get those images out of his memory, fuck Mordred for ever introducing him to the internet!

Speaking of that rascal…guess who's the final customer before closing?

"I will never get tired of you in a McDonald's uniform."

"You gonna order something or just be a pest? If it's the latter kindly piss off elsewhere and take that bum you call a mouth with you!"

"PENDRAGON! YOU THINK I CAN'T HEAR YOU?! YOU TREAT THAT GUEST WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE! REMEMBER THE….!"

"Customer is always right, yeah yeah I know!"

"AND WATCH THAT ATTITUDE LESS I HAVE YOU CLEAN MY OFFICE NEXT!"

"You heard your master Arthur, service me." God he wanted to smack that grin off Mordred's face!

"May I take your bloody order…?" Arthur grunted.

"NICER!"

"May I…please…take your order…sir…!" Oh how painful and humiliating this is…!

"Sure, give me a cappuccino, any size I don't care. And a double quarter pounder extra cheese, no pickles and small fries." Mordred gave a suspicious smile

Hmm…what's he up to?

"…Coming right up…"

Mordred coughed. "Coming right up…?" Motioning with his hand for Arthur to keep going.

Arthur will fuck him up he swears.

"Coming right up sir!"

Mordred just started laughing like hell as Arthur stomped to the back to fulfill his order. God if only there were stocks in the 21st century!

Mordred was having the time of his life, to see the once strong King of a moderately strong kingdom actually having to work like the rest of the plebs ha!

"Here, choke on it!" Arthur placed Mordred's order in front of him.

Mordred looked at his meal and the coffee until slowly looking back at Arthur.

"Nah that's alright I already ate."

"…?!" Was this what popping a vein feels like?

Mordred tossed him the money for the order and walked out to wait for him outside…totally worth it hahaha!

"Why that…! Mother…!"

Arthur took a deep breath and tried…oh he tried to look on the bright side…at least he has dinner…

"PENDRAGON I'M OFF! MAKE SURE THE PLACE IS CLEAN AND EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR TOMORROW BEFORE YOU LOCK UP!"

"Yeah boss…sure."

Arthur sighed as he placed the food into a take out bag and dumped the coffee in the sink, making sure everything was in order before shutting off the lights and making sure the place was locked tight before closing the metal gate to cover the windows and entrance.

"You know if you wanted me fed you could have just said so."

He turned back to Mordred who was waiting near the lamp post as people just kept walking passed them either going home from work or leaving home to their nightly activities.

He doesn't think he wants to know…

"It's more fun this way, besides it's not like I did this on a whim. I heard back from Aithusa."

Arthur firmly focused now, removed his stupid work hat and placed it in his sack where the food was and began walking with Mordred over to the bus stop.

Aithusa…the white dragon.

He has mixed feelings about her. She helped Morgana in her attempts to take over Camelot and if not for Merlin sending her away then she would have decimated his army and Morgana would have had an easy path to the throne. Not to mention she forged the sword Mordred used to kill him with.

That's not even bringing up the fact that she can bloody speak…


After Aithusa left Egypt…

"Why are you bringing me here, Mordred? You were the one telling me I needed a place of employment and I can't exactly do that if I'm wasting time wandering the wilderness with you!" Arthur just knew that all he needed to do was demonstrate his skills and he'd be a commanding officer in the army or something. Somewhere worthy of his talents...

"I told you I received a telepathic message last night telling me that we needed to come here."

"And you just trust strange voices in your head?"

"Not always, no."

"Do you even know who this is?"

"Can't say that I do but I have a feeling this is what we've been waiting for."

Arthur grew curious "How do you mean?"

"Perhaps whoever this person is, will tell us our Destiny or at least help us to understand our purpose this time around." Mordred was sure of it, it had to be.

"You truly believe this?"

"I have no magic in this life Arthur, so whoever this person is had to know who I was before messaging me. It's the only thing that makes sense."

"How do you know it's not just Morgana leading us to a trap?"

"I doubt it Arthur, she wouldn't need a trap if she really wanted us dead."

"Of course she doesn't need to. But if she wanted to, she could."

"Oh? Then why wouldn't Merlin be the one to be trapping us?"

"…"

What could Arthur say to that? Merlin did nearly kill them after all…

They stopped at the destination point, an open field in the center of the forest.

"Look what's the worst that can happen?"

"The worst that can happen you dolt, is we get brutally killed! You forget not only are you powerless but Morgana took my sword, you know the one that can go against any magic creature!" Arthur really couldn't believe Mordred was this stupid.

"I'm a bit surprised at you Arthur, I never took you for the type to give up so easily." Mordred knew how to get the response he wanted and it paid off, Arthur straightened his back and crossed his arms.

Though the former King wished he still had his armor…anything to shake the feeling of dread he had.

He wished he had Merlin.

They wait what felt like hours…it was just 1 but of course Arthur was being dramatic.

"Alright that's it I'm done wasting my time on this nonsense! Clearly your mysterious friend isn't showing up!" Arthur began to storm off back to the direction of the flat they shared, if he ran he could probably get there within half the hour.

"Wait! I'm sure they'll be here soon! We can't leave yet, don't you want to know our fate?!"

"We can find it on our own! I'm not waiting in the damn woods all night Mordred! I will not be made a fool of!"

"You really don't need my help for that, you do it entirely well enough on your own Pendragon."

Arthur and Mordred both startled and looked up as they saw a Great White Dragon descending from the sky.

Aithusa landed with a loud thuds and elegantly straightened herself, standing far taller than even the tallest trees in this forest.

"Aithusa…?" Surely not…Mordred remembered the dragon in question was horrifically mutilated and disfigured by Sarrum.

"Indeed Druid, it's been centuries since last you stood before me."

Mordred kneeled in respect to a noble beast, who is no doubt the current Great Dragon of the era.

Arthur…? Well…

"It can talk…?"

He was shitting bricks…

Last time he saw this dragon it was a tiny broken little creature. Still able to cause mass damage but far from the threat the Great Dragon would have been.

Did this mean that the Great Dragon who attacked Camelot also could speak?!

"Arthur…!" Mordred gritted out, the last thing they needed was Arthur's mouth getting them crispy! "Of course she can, Dragons are perhaps the most intelligent species to exist! Both magical and mundane!"

"…Right…"

Dragon or not, he isn't bowing to her. Not after what she did to many of his troops. He'd be spitting in their graves and sacrifices if he did so even for a second…

Aithusa just stared at them with annoyance and mild amusement. "Now I know what mother was talking about…he really does croak like a rooster. Tck...simpleton."

"It is fortunate that you two can at least follow instructions, that'll be good for the times ahead."

"What do you want? Why would you help us? Aren't you Morgana's pet?" Asked a befuddled Arthur.

"…Yeah I'd say ignorance ran in your blood but that would be an insult to mother as well."

Now both boys were confused…mother?

"Ok now I'm the one who needs to ask. Morgana is your mother? How?"

Aithusa sighed they were getting off track, but honestly what was she expecting? Them to remain silent and obey? Hmm of course…

"Look she cared for me and remained with me through a dark period of my life when I was but a mere hatchling, of course she's my mother."

"…Than Merlin's…?"

"My father? As the one who hatched me in the first place then hatched all of my children…yes." Aithusa really couldn't believe this is what was so interesting to them.

Arthur leaned down to whisper to Mordred "I mean if she was hatched by Merlin then…wouldn't that make Merlin the mother?"

"…I mean…maybe? I'm not exactly versed in the ways of the Dragons." Mordred was just as befuddled as Arthur…he just hid it better.

Than Arthur finally processed the last part of Aithusa's statement…children…CHILDREN?!

"Children?!"

The sudden outburst startled Mordred but Aithusa remained unimpressed. "Yes Pendragon. Children. As in more than one."

With a stern glare showing, Arthur was trying to walk the fine line of not getting eaten…but dammit his curiosity kept getting the better of him!

"How?! Was it the Great Dragon?! My father wiped out the dragons! I still don't even know how you exist let alone your…children…!"

Okay now Mordred was sweating…he really should invest in a muzzle…but he wants to know. Morgana never went into a ton of detail on what happened to the repopulation of the Draconian race.

Aithusa's patience was wearing thin, if it weren't for the bigger picture…she'd be eating crispy arrogant…prat as her father used to say.

Seems like so long ago unfortunately.

Exhaling some smoke, she calmed down.

"I will overlook your impudence just this once. Only because you're meant to play a role that could determine the future of the world. All you need to know is that my father Merlin ventured towards the lands in Asia where he encountered my mate Da-Fu, the Great Dragon of the East. Twas Through him I laid the eggs of many of my children. Thus a new race of dragons has been born from the union and ashes of the previous two."

Arthur and Mordred listened carefully. Both having different reactions of course. Mordred was fascinated that Asian Dragons could even breed with Western Dragons.

Arthur? He was terrified that they could breed and that Merlin brought forth all these new fire breathing beasts to the world. Just the Great Dragon alone was enough to bring Camelot to its knees.

With the race now repopulated…?!

Arthur shudders at the thought…

"Enough. I brought you both here to discuss something very important for the sake of all of us. Destiny."

Arthur and Mordred looked shocked and glanced at each other confused…why would she help them?

Could she even help them?

"Aren't you defying Morgana and Merlin doing this?" Mordred really didn't want a repeat of what happened at the cottage…he still felt tingles in his throat when Merlin clutched it…

Arthur gave an assessing look, trying to see if Aithusa is being sincere or toying with them.

The White Dragon didn't really know the answer herself, "That's one perspective I suppose. Mine however is no. I will honor their wishes to abstain from fate if that is their desire." At least I hope that Destiny really doesn't need them as much as we fear… "So, I will do my best to help ensure that while I help you fulfill your Destiny that mother and father will not be dragged into something they did not consent to. I'm not Kilgharrah."

Arthur's brow rose "I'm assuming that's the name of the Great Dragon?"

"Indeed. He and I had a…complicated past."

"I don't blame you…"

Mordred cut in "Aithusa, how exactly will you be able to help? Can you see visions like the Dragons of yesteryear?"

"Unfortunately, unlike Kilgharrah my connection to the visions of a seer have not manifested even after his death centuries ago. I'm as blind as you are." Aithusa looked frustrated mostly due to herself.

Mordred looked sad at the news, whereas Arthur questioned than how Aithusa would be able to help at all?

"However, I can look around and scour the land for anyone left who can better point us in the right direction."

"I thought Morgana said she and Merlin were the only magic users left?" Was that also a lie? Arthur couldn't tell anymore.

"Well…that was true." Aithusa bit her tongue…she said too much.

"Hmm? What do you mean was?" Even Mordred was shocked at this turn of events.

"Look if its important to your Destiny…than you'll find out on your own in due course. For now, wait for my call. Go about your business but prepare yourselves as well. While I have no visions of the future…I do have intuition."

The men listened carefully as Aithusa prepared to fly off.

"We're approaching dangerous times ahead…more dangerous than anything this world both magical and mundane alike has even seen. I do hope that with our combined efforts we can prevent it and save the world from destruction." She than flew off, a gust of wind blowing in a circle.

As Arthur and Mordred saw her fly off into the starry night sky, their hearts grew heavy at her fearful warning.

"What do you think she meant by that?"

"I don't know Arthur; all we can do now is assume and to assume would be counterproductive. For now, let's follow her advice and focus on getting you more up to speed on today."

"Oh? And what exactly did you have in mind?"

"So glad you asked, I took the liberty of finally finding a place that would hire you." The former druid gave an evil smirk…sending shivers down Arthur's spine…he isn't going to like this is he?


Present

"And? What did she find out?"

They got on the bus before moving to the back row, not too many people here. Hopefully no one would hear them.

"Apparently, many of her leads were cold ones. Someone or something is trying to sabotage her efforts. Though there is one place where she found someone promising." Mordred whispered to Arthur who was trying not to drop his food with the reckless way this driver was driving…

"Anyone we know?"

"I mean I don't know her personally, just that my clan once spoke of her after Merlin saved her."

Arthur wondered who this person was, when did Merlin save her? It had to have been long before his death if Mordred still lived with the Druids at the time…

"The Guardian of Avalon, Freya. Lady of the Lake."

"Guardian of Avalon? The lake? The one I came out of?"

Mordred nodded affirmatively, "I had assumed that was the magic lady you told Merlin about when you first returned."

"I don't know exactly; I never saw her face. I simply gained consciousness and scrambled to the top before I drowned. That's when a woman's voice spoke to me in my head, saying that my Destiny was connected somehow to Merlin. She told me which directions to go to in order to find him and well, you know what happened from there." Arthur gripped his fists, remembering Merlin's reaction to seeing him again.

"Hmm. Well, we'll go off to the Lake tomorrow, it's late we'll rest tonight. But we should ready ourselves for what we could potentially learn." Mordred than rested his eyes for the long bus ride home.

Arthur wasn't so confident…if this Freya knew really knew his Destiny than why not say so immediately when he resurrected? What else is going on here? He agreed with Mordred on one thing, tomorrow would be big.

Meanwhile

While all that was going on, Morgana had to wake up with the moon noticeable in the sky and made her way to the bathroom feeling rather off…

She stood by the toilet waiting to puke but nothing happened...yet. Thank goodness for small mercies...oh wait nevermind...

Ugh gross...

She washed her face with warm water and checked her reflection, seeing that she looked like she had better days indeed. Bloodshot eyes, paler than usual skin, a bit of shade combined with bags beneath her eyes. Maybe it was all the stress that the recent conflict provided? So much for the holiday getting rid of it...

Ever since Venice, she's been feeling very feint and light headed. Getting tired so easily, she hopes that whatever illness she received can be treated simply with magic. Though perhaps just to ensure which spell she should use, she should get this checked on by a physician.

If this is what she fears…she doesn't think she can go through it again should it fail…

She'll have to tell Merlin in the morning, they have kept up their promise to each other to always be honest with each other and she isn't going to break it now just because she's afraid of what could happen.

But this is really the last thing they needed right now.


Well yeah...funny enough I had to rewrite some things because I keep getting new ideas to make things more spicy

Aithusa is walking a very fine line between not dishonoring the wishes of Merlin and Morgana but also not daring to disregard Destiny in fear of retaliation.

And come on, Arthur working in some fast food burger place? I couldn't resist hahaha