Krysia rode into the town just as the gates were closing and the Great Dragon unleashed a torrent of flame. She almost spoke to it, shouted at it, but someone was crying out her name. She startled, and in the glow of the flame she saw Geraint hurrying toward her, eyes wide.

"You weren't due back yet," he said, practically pulling her down from Ember, who was distressed by the flame.

"I saw the dragon coming this way," she said. As another flame came down, Geraint pulled her tight to his chest as if using his back to shield her from the heat. It was certainly hot, and she was shaking against Geraint's chest.

"What can I do?" she said as the dragon went for the citadel.

"Get inside," Geraint said.

"I have to see Ember to the stables and—"

"Now, Krysia!" Geraint said. "That's an order. I'll see to Ember. If I let you die, he'd kill me."

She didn't have a chance to ask whom he meant, because Geraint was already leading Ember away, and another knight was ushering her and others inside. She did as Geraint ordered and hurried inside, and little did she know, this beginning of the onslaught was just the first of days of the impending attack.

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Gwaine heard story after story from travelers who had seen the onslaught in Camelot and gone in the other direction. Krysia's comment that the dragon was heading south and therefore she had to go weighed heavy on his mind, and he had half a mind of going after her.

"You'd be fried," Tara said.

She wasn't wrong, but it didn't ease Gwaine's mind in any way. The very night she left, he couldn't sleep at all, laying awake, afraid that if he closed his eyes, the dreams would turn to nightmares.

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Krysia worked with Gwen under Gaius's consideration seeing to the many victims of burns and falling items. She and Merlin hadn't had a chance to discuss what had happened, or why the dragon had come for them despite Arthur being in Camelot. She lit the candles as the room grew darker, and she heard Gwen expressing her concerns to Gaius.

"I don't think the people can suffer a third night of this," Gwen said.

"We must trust in Arthur," Gaius said.

"I do," Gwen said. "But even he has little chance."

Krysia looked over her shoulder at Gaius, who was staring right at her. She thought of the concern on Gwaine's face as she rode away, toward the dragon. She couldn't help thinking that they were, indeed, doomed.

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Uther paused by the hospital to see how the people were fairing. It was busy, but not the busiest it had been since the deluge began. It might almost be called calm.

Krysia was lighting candles, and he watched her stretch to light a high candle. A strand of her hair fell loose from the rest, falling to caress the nape of her neck. For a moment, he was transported to Carneath, to his youth, to Lord Inthorn's deathbed. He shivered.

He had to know. Perhaps it wasn't the right time, but if Camelot were to fall to this dragon…he needed to know.

He went to the library, where Geoffrey was putting the most important books in metal crates for safety. Many chronicles were pulled from their shelves, scrolls and tomes alike. Uther paused, then cleared his throat.

Geoffrey startled, then said, "Sire, was there something you required?"

"It is…not as urgent as this work," Uther said. "But I…did wish for you to research a family line for me."

"Which line, sire?"

Uther regretted raising the point for a moment. There was no way to turn back without Geoffrey knowing precisely what he was looking for, and Geoffrey and Gaius were close friends. Surely they would discuss…

"No one is to know," Uther said. "And as I said, it is a matter of far less urgency than this. But I wish for you to memorize the line of House Elmere. When we have a better moment, I wish to discuss it with you."

The expression Geoffrey gave him was distasteful. Was that pity? Concern? Fear? Uther felt it far too close to pity, but there was no dignity in mentioning it. Geoffrey would do the work, and when Uther was ready to face the question, if he ever was, he would have his answers.

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Leon stood among the knights on the battlements, staring up at the incoming dragon. He'd stared down death several times over the course of the siege from this beast, but he had nothing left but to do it again and again until they were all destroyed. What advantage could they have?

"Flame up!" Arthur called out.

The archers lit their arrows and aimed. Leon could feel the heat, radiant and yet he knew so cool compared with the flame of the beast.

"Stay strong! For tonight is not your night to die, I will make sure of that!" Arthur cried. "Hold firm! Hold! Hold! Now!"

The arrows were released, and Leon could see how useless it was. The flame unleashed on the battlements, and Leon ducked, closing his eyes, preparing to die.

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Krysia helped people onto beds as the hospital became a field hospital once more, filled with injured and burned victims, not enough beds and not enough bandages and not enough water.

"We've no clean water left," Gwen said.

"We don't have any way of getting more when it's like this," Krysia said.

As if she hadn't heard Krysia, Gwen hurried out the door, and Krysia and Gaius exchanged an alarmed look.

"Gwen! Don't!" Gaius said after her.

But she continued to go as though none of them had spoken.

"Should I go after her?" Krysia said, distressed.

"I'm not losing you all in one day," Gaius said sharply. "Gather the unused dressings."

Gwen came back with a little bit of water and Arthur, who needed treatment. Krysia watched Gwen lovingly treat Arthur's shoulder, and Gaius also noticed.

"They're sweet," Krysia said, seeing Arthur press Gwen's hand to his chest. She thought of Gwaine, of his breath on her neck. She wondered what he'd thought as she rode away.

Merlin hurried in looking distressed.

"Are you hurt?" Gaius said.

"There's nothing I can do," Merlin said, urgent and clearly afraid.

"Dragons aren't monsters," Gaius whispered. "They're creatures of wonder and magic. You must realize that they're immune to your powers."

Krysia wondered what her options were, knowing something needed to be done, and also knowing it would either be her or Merlin who had to do it.

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After three nights of nerves, Tara must have been deeply concerned, because she set a tea down in front of Gwaine as soon as he sat at the bar for his breakfast, and she said, "You should go straight back to bed."

"Can't sleep," he said.

Tara said, "You're no good to us if you can't get some rest. Now, if you have to lay in that bed until exhaustion takes you, you need to do that."

Gwaine took a few gulps of tea to avoid having to tell her why he couldn't do that. If he closed his eyes, he might see Krysia burned to death in a pile of rubble or something equally horrible.

"If you're going to be like this," Tara said, "you ought to ask that girl to marry you next time you see her."

Gwaine tipped back the tea and downed the rest in one, smiling a little at the ceiling at the suggestion. The idea of having Krysia as his wife was always in the back of his mind, but facing it directly?

"Maybe I will," he said.

He returned to his room, unable to shake himself from that strange spaced between dreams and nightmares, staring at the ceiling still too afraid to sleep.

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Krysia stood behind the king as he listened to knights and advisors give their reports of damages, casualties, and other concerns.

"The dead number 49 men, 27 women, and a further 18 women and children are unaccounted for," Arthur said. "Most of last night's fires are now out. The castle walls, in particular the western section, are near to collapse, I could go on."

"Do we have any further idea on how the beast escaped?" Uther asked Leon.

Krysia swallowed, nervous, as Leon said, "I regret to say, Sire, we don't."

"There must be some way to rid ourselves of this aberration," Uther said. "Gaius?"

Gaius stared at Krysia for a long moment before she said, "Are there no dragonlords, sire?"

Uther startled, and she thought perhaps she'd said entirely the wrong thing, but then he said softly, "That's not an option."

"Sire," Gaius said, "what if…there was, indeed, one last dragonlord left."

"That's not possible," Uther said, frowning.

"But if there was."

"Is there or isn't there?" Krysia said.

Gaius hesitated, then said, "It may just be rumor."

"Go on," Uther said.

"I'm not exactly sure," Gaius said, "but I think his name is Balinor."

"Balinor?" Uther said, as though the name was recognized.

"Where would he be found?" Krysia said. "If he existed."

"He was last seen in Cenred's kingdom," Gaius said, "in the border town of Engerd, but that was many years ago."

"If this man still exists," Arthur said, "then it is our duty to find him."

Uther shook his head and said, "Our treaty with Cenred no longer holds. We are at war. If they discovered you beyond our border, they would kill you."

"I will go alone," Arthur said.

"That might make it worse," Krysia said.

Arthur shook his head and said, "That way I will not be detected."

"No, Arthur," Uther said firmly. "It is too dangerous."

"More dangerous than staying here? I'll not stand by and watch my men die when I have the chance to save them."

"I have given you my orders."

"Sire," Krysia said, "perhaps—"

Uther raised a hand and said, almost coldly, "I'm not talking to you as a father; I'm talking to you as a king."

"I will ride immediately," Arthur said.

"My concern is for you," Uther said.

"Mine is for Camelot," Arthur whispered. "I will send word when I've found him. Prepare the horses," he added to Merlin.

Merlin bowed to the king, followed Arthur out. Krysia stood still, and it wasn't until she realized that Leon was watching her that she requested from the king to be allowed to attend her other duties.

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Krysia watched Merlin pack, and Gaius paced behind them, very disturbed about something.

"Gaius," Krysia said, "what did Uther mean about the dragonlords?"

Gaius hesitated, pausing his pacing, and then he said, "There were once men," Gaius said softly for Merlin's benefit, "who could talk to the dragons, tame them."

"And what happened to them?" Merlin said.

"Uther believed that the art of the dragonlord was too close to magic," Gaius said. "So he had them all rounded up and slaughtered."

Krysia shivered.

"But one survived," Merlin said. "How did you know?"

"You snuck him out, didn't you?" Krysia whispered.

Gaius hummed, then hesitated.

"Gaius," Merlin said, confused.

"Merlin, you've never heard the name Balinor?" Gaius said.

"No."

"Your mother never mentioned him?"

"Hunith?" Krysia said, feeling like she was intruding on something now.

"She took him in," Gaius said.

Merlin startled and said, "She stood up against Uther?"

"Yes."

"She was brave."

"Sounds like it," Krysia whispered. "Uther must have sent knights after him. He seemed to recognize the name as well."

"Why didn't my mother tell me any of this?" Merlin said.

"Merlin," Gaius whispered, "I promised her I would never speak of these things."

"Of what?"

"I've always treated you as my son," Gaius said, "but that is not what you are. The man you are going to look for is your father."

Krysia sat on the bench, watching the two men stare at each other. She could picture her own father, telling her how much he loved her as he rode away from her in the cool, damp forest.

"Father," she whispered, feeling a tightness in her throat.

"Yes," Gaius said.

"He was a dragonlord?" Merlin said. "Why did no one ever tell me?"

"I wanted to," Gaius said. "Your mother feared it would be too dangerous."

"I had a right to know!" Merlin said.

"They were protecting you, Merlin," Krysia said. "They were shielding—"

"No," Merlin said, almost angry. "I had a right to know."

She didn't even disagree with him. She just sat in her silence, feeling empty.

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The courtyard was filled with rubble smoking or burning low. There were guards and knights everywhere overseeing the repair efforts, searching for missing persons. Krysia stood with Merlin as Gaius approached. She held Arthur's horse while Merlin prepared his own.

"You've got everything you need?" Gaius said.

Merlin nodded, then said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"I know that," Gaius said.

"Sire," Krysia said, alerting them to Arthur's approach.

"Come on, Merlin," Arthur said.

"You're ready?" Merlin said, startled.

"No thanks to you." Arthur cringed as he mounted his horse.

"You okay?" Merlin said.

"I can bind it again before you go, sire," Krysia said.

"It's just a scratch," Arthur said.

As he started to ride, Gaius said to Merlin, "Merlin, whatever happens, you must not let Arthur know who this man is. Uther would view the son of a dragonlord with the deepest suspicion."

Krysia and Merlin shared a look that said plainly that they shared something more than the secret of magic now. He was, perhaps, the only person who could understand truly the fine line she walked with Uther every day. She wished, for his sake, that he didn't understand.

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Krysia worked that evening in the king's chambers, turning down the bed and starting the fire. She could hear the beating of wings outside, could hear Leon's voice crying out to the other knights in Arthur's absence.

"Hold! Hold! Hold! Now!"

She could hear the roar of the fire, and she shuddered as Uther watched. If she hadn't heard the dragon's wings retreating, she wouldn't know how things had gone.

"I should see if Gaius needs me," Krysia said.

"He is alright," Uther said, still staring down at the city.

Krysia, genuinely confused, said, "Sire?"

He turned to her slowly and said, "Sir Leon. He is well. He stood again after the beast flew off."

"I am glad of that," she said, hoping he didn't hear her confusion. "The prince will return soon, sire. Another day, perhaps two."

"Yes," Uther said, staring at her. "Yes. How did you know of the dragonlords, Krysia?"

Her heart caught in her throat, and she said, "I read about them, sire. Gaius has a great many books."

He hummed, but he had a faraway quality about the way he was looking at her, and she worried he was recalling something. Instead, he told her she should go see about Gaius.

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Krysia was pouring more wine for Uther when a guard rushed in to say that Arthur had returned. Krysia steadied herself, and when Gaius stood, she wondered what he would tell Balinor, how they would greet each other without Gaius's loyalty being called into question. Would this put her in danger as well? If Gaius was found out for saving one, surely it would raise suspicion that he had saved others.

Knights gathered, including Leon, and Arthur came in with Merlin. Instead of conquering heroes with a stranger in tow, however, they were only two, and Merlin looked like he was about to cry.

"I'm sorry, father," Arthur said. "I failed you. The last dragonlord is dead."

Gaius lowered his head, and Krysia looked at Leon, who was looking very intently toward the king.

"There are many years where I might've wished for that news," Uther whispered.

Arthur rallied, standing straighter.

"All is not lost, father," he said. "We have to fight the monster ourselves. So let us ride out and fight on our own terms: on open ground, on horseback, where we can maneuver better."

"There is no point," Uther said.

"Then we all die here," Krysia said softly. Uther looked at her, not speaking, as if waiting for her to say more. She realized the whole room was looking to her, and she stood a little straighter. "If we do nothing, then we die here. If the knights ride out, they die in the field. At least it will give the people hope, let us die on our feet."

Uther continued to stare at her for a long moment before turning back to his son and saying, "You have my blessing."

"I need a dozen knights!" Arthur said. He stepped forward, turning to the men around him. "Those who do not wish to fight can do so without stain on their character. For those brave enough to volunteer should know, the chances of returning are slim."

Still looking forward, not looking at Arthur at all, but staring Krysia in the eye, Leon stepped forward. Her throat tightened. Other knights began to form a circle around Arthur, but she felt small, trying to remind herself of her own words. If he died here or died in the field, what difference did it make?

The difference, she supposed, was that she wouldn't be there to try to save him, or to hold his hand. If they died in Camelot, at least neither would be alone.

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In Gaius's chambers, Merlin was crying, so Krysia didn't disturb him. She had always felt that grief was deeply personal, and instead she tried to tidy up Gaius's chambers, but her hands were shaking too strong.

Gaius entered, and he passed by Krysia, going straight to Merlin.

"Merlin, what happened?" he said gently.

"I couldn't save him," Merlin said through his tears.

Krysia exhaled and said, "It isn't always on your shoulders, Merlin. You aren't responsible for the lives of everyone you meet, no matter how much they matter to you."

Merlin sat up and said, "He said the dragonlord's gift is passed from father to son."

"That is true," Gaius said.

"When I faced the Great Dragon, my magic was useless."

"Your father wasn't dead," Gaius said. "It's only then you can inherit his powers."

Krysia turned and said, "You really think Merlin is a dragonlord now?"

Gaius hummed and said, "Only time will tell."

Merlin went out to assist Arthur, and before Krysia could make her excuses, Gaius whispered, "You cannot follow them."

She stood still, trying to come up with a good reason to go.

"It isn't fair," Gaius whispered, "and it isn't always sensible, but Merlin will always be able to go places you cannot, just as you will have access to places he does not. If Merlin manages to harness the power of a dragonlord, Leon and Arthur and the others will be quite safe."

"And if he doesn't?" she whispered.

Gaius didn't speak for a long moment, so long she wondered if he'd left without saying so, but when she turned to see him frowning at her, he said, "It is as you so eloquently put it, then. At least if they die in the fields, they give the people a little more hope."

"Better to die standing up," she said, feeling the prickling at the corners of her eyes.

"Yes," Gaius said.

She could tell he was worried, but he said no more.

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Leon tried to put on his armor, but nothing seemed to fit right. He had done these same actions thousands of times, yet here he was, stumbling and fumbling over the simplest of actions.

"You should tell her," Geraint's voice said from somewhere behind him.

"What?" Leon said, tugging at a buckle.

Geraint took Leon's hand and stopped it, taking the buckle and assisting him with the armor. Leon didn't think he'd ever seen his friend so serious, not even in the heat of battle.

"You should tell Krysia that you love her before you go," Geraint said, "because I don't think you're going to have another chance."

"I will not burden her with my goodbyes," Leon whispered. "As she said, the point is to leave hope, not to ride out to suicide."

Geraint's lips twitched and he said, "Sometimes, she's astonishing, isn't she?"

A moment of fear ran through Leon as he guessed where his friend might be going with that thought.

"She is always astonishing," Leon said, forcing a smile.

Geraint shook his head and handed Leon his helmet.

"The way the king looked at her today… She would make quite a queen, wouldn't she? The confidence, the wisdom—"

"Indeed," Leon said quickly. "She is a marvel. However, you will not convince me to change my mind and burden her."

"Unburden yourself," Geraint said. "Love is not all about the one person."

"Mine is," Leon said firmly. "If I carry my love to my grave and she is happy, that is equally favorable to whatever outcome you imagine. Take care that if she dies, she is not alone, Geraint."

Geraint nodded and said he would stay close to her. The two men clasped each other's arms, and Leon left to ride out.

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It was dark in the clearing. Leon was beginning to wonder whether Geraint hadn't been right after all, if he shouldn't have at least mentioned how much he valued her before he left, even if he didn't mention love.

Then the dragon arrived. Arthur called out to them to hold firm, and Leon tried his best not to show his fear, for the benefit of the younger knights. The dragon swooped down at them.

"Hold!" Arthur called out. "Hold! Hold! Now!"

Leon joined the formation, circling the dragon. Leon barely had a moment to see the tail approaching before he was struck, and he knew no more.

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The dragon did not come that night, and Krysia was making the king's bed when she heard the king sigh.

She looked up, startled, and let out her own sigh when she saw him smile.

"The prince?" she said.

"Yes, he is returned," Uther said.

"May I…" She hesitated as Uther turned to look at her. "May I go and see if Gaius needs me? Surely there will be injuries to treat."

He nodded, slow and thoughtful, and she thanked him, hurrying out without a second thought. She had never gone so quickly to the courtyard. When she saw that Arthur and Merlin were alone, she hesitated, but she hurried forward. She had to know.

"You were victorious?" Krysia said, smiling as Arthur walked away talking to Gwen.

"Yes," Merlin said. "Leon is overseeing the burial of those who fell."

Her shoulders relaxed, and she hadn't even realized she'd tensed them. She pulled Merlin into a hug, and he startled, but he hugged her back. The nightmare, it seemed, was over.

A/N:

To Like-a-Slasher-Film:

Yeah, it's supposed to hurt. Why write fanfiction if you can't cause people pain? I gave a few tiny morsels of Gwaine. A few more chapters until his big TV debut! I'm giddy with excitement about it.

-C