"You lied to me!" Balinor exclaimed.
"I did what had to be done to preserve our kind." Kilgharrah said. "Since no one was doing it."
"Wait, what is going on?" Arthur asked.
"I don't have a son." Balinor said. "Tell him boy." Merlin said.
Merlin looked at Balinor and Kilgharrah. "I never met my father. My mother never talks about him. She did say that he left… to keep us safe." Merlin said.
"Your mother's name, boy!" Balinor yelled.
"Hunith… I grew up in-"
"Ealdor." Balinor finished and looked at him for a long time, taking him in. Merlin felt a wave of emotion. His father was the last dragon lord? Then Balinor looked away from Merlin, eyes widening with realisation as he set his eyes on Arthur. "You! You defiled my son!" Balinor exclaimed and blasted Arthur back with magic.
"Stop it! Balinor!" Merlin exclaimed. Arthur took out his sword. "Arthur! Don't!"
"What is happening now?" Leon asked, taking his sword out nonetheless, standing with Arthur. What ensued was a battle of magic and brute force.
Merlin placed his face in his hands as his father battled his husband alongside Leon.
"Why me?" Merlin whined wincing with concern when both parties landed blows. Morgana and Gwen came to hold Merlin in reassurance.
"Is this what happens at all handfastings?" Mordred asked, looking excited.
Gwen looked at the men fighting with a thoughtful expression. "Well… sometimes."
"Brilliant!" Mordred said and Morgana smiled with pity as she petted Mordred's hair.
Arthur brought down a potentially harmful blow. Merlin allowed his eyes to glow and Arthur's sword drooped with the new added weight. Balinor took his chance and raised his hand to blast Arthur, but Merlin raised his hand and stopped the other's magic from blasting out. It was a struggle and Merlin felt his hold slipping.
"This is ridiculous!" Merlin exclaimed and stormed forward. "Enough! Stop it!" Merlin yelled, hand still up, eyes still burning.
"I will not stop! This marriage is annulled! I'm cancelling it!" Balinor yelled.
"You cannot. They've been bound by dragon fire." Kilgharrah added.
"You shut up! This is all your fault for lying to me!" Balinor yelled at the dragon.
Merlin released the hold as both men stumbled away from each other slightly. "You really didn't know about me?" Merlin asked softly. Balinor paused and lowered his hands, which led Arthur and Leon to lower their own swords with hesitation.
"No… I… Uther hunted me down to Ealdor, even though it was beyond his borders. I had no choice but to leave to keep your mother safe." Balinor said. Merlin nodded, looking at him intently, taking a deep breath. He had a father. "Tell me… did she ever marry?" Balinor asked.
"No." Merlin said softly. "It was just us until I moved to Camelot." Merlin said.
"Why Camelot, boy? Uther and his son…" He sent a glare Arthur's way. "… would have sent you straight to the pyre."
"I kept my magic secret! And… my powers were getting harder to hide in Ealdor. Mother said Gaius could help me." Merlin said.
"Gaius? He's still in Camelot?" Balinor asked and Merlin nodded. "He's a good man." He said.
"He is…" Merlin said softly and looked up at Kilgharrah. "Will you two tell me, what on earth happened? Why am I a dragon lord?"
"The magic of dragons already ran through your veins. When Kilgharrah's magic bound both of you as one, it brought your powers forth early. Usually, a dragon lord's power passes from father to son when the father dies." Balinor explained.
"But there's still something you're not telling me." Merlin said. He could sense it. They were being careful what to say, to avoid saying too much, which meant there was more to be said.
"Binding you with dragon fire blesses your children to be all born as dragon lords by their own right. Every time a new dragon lord is born, a new dragon egg is hatched." Kilgharrah added.
"Children? I can't have children!" Merlin yelled.
"There are ways for you both to have children of your own together." Balinor added. "Dragon magic means that there will be no request on lives for sacrifices."
Merlin didn't know how to process all of this. How could they possibly have children together? It was the main reason for Merlin to be worried about his and Arthur's relationship. After all, Arthur needed to have children to inherit the kingdom after him.
"I thought we agreed this would be mentioned at a later date." Kilgharrah rumbled softly at Balinor who glared at the dragon.
"How could you allow me to do this? My son married to a Pendragon!"
"Hang on!" Arthur exclaimed offended.
"Everyone just… shut up." Merlin said. "Lets all take a breath. My magic is under control and the binding worked perfectly. We will soon be returning to Camelot after this stretched out hunting trip and Uther will be none the wiser." Merlin said.
"Merlin…" Arthur said.
"Since things are finally going according to plan, can we all just… relax." Merlin said.
Arthur put the sword away and nodded. "Merlin's right. We should make peace." Arthur said, stretching his arm out to Arthur. Balinor didn't even give him a second glance as he turned away and made his way back to the cavern.
Morgana, Gwen and Mordred began to head back. Leon glanced at both of them and chuckled.
"I guess you both got lucky with the in-laws. My Lords." He added with a slight bow and following the others back.
"At least someone's having fun." Merlin said. Arthur looked at him and reached for his hand.
"Are you sure you feel better?" Arthur asked. Merlin nodded, feeling warm at the concern in Arthur's voice.
"I am, husband." Merlin said and watched in wonder as colour rose to Arthur's cheeks. He laughed. "You're blushing."
Arthur looked affronted. "No I'm not." He said, walking ahead, probably to hide the blush from Merlin.
"Oh yes, you're definitely blushing." Merlin said.
"Merlin…"
"Shut up?"
Arthur sent him a fake smile. "Precisely."
Merlin looked back to see Kilgharrah looking mighty pleased with himself and rolled his eyes at the dragon.
Merlin hid his smile poorly on purpose as he followed Arthur closely. When they made it back to the cave, Balinor was busy glaring daggers at Arthur while he carved on a block of wood that had no shape currently.
Arthur took the hint and soon enough he moved to sit as far away from Balinor as possible.
But Merlin… Merlin didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say to his father now that he'd met him. He came closer hesitantly and sat down in front of him, by the fire.
"What are you making?" Merlin asked softly, trying to sound casual.
Balinor looked at him for a long time before continuing with the block. "It is an amulet I'd never thought I'd carve." He said.
"I can't believe I've finally met you." Merlin said softly. Balinor looked at him for a long time.
"I don't know what it's like to have a son."
"Nor I a father." Merlin said, smiling at the man, who was hesitant to return one. He did offer a faint twitch of the lips before returning to his carving.
Merlin glanced at the others and found them all chatting as Gwen gave out a breakfast. It reminded Merlin that none of them had even taken the time to eat before the handfasting ceremony. As if sensing his gaze, Arthur glanced up and their eyes met. Merlin gathered bravery from the nod Arthur sent his way and turned to look at Balinor.
"I'm sorry… if I've disappointed you." Merlin said.
Balinor released a small chuckle, looking up at him. "Disappointed me? No boy… to know that Emrys himself is my son… is a great honour indeed." Balinor returned to the carving. "An honour I am undeserving of."
"I'm not just Emrys…" Merlin said softly. "I for one feel very honoured to be son of the last dragon lord. You saved my life."
"That poison wouldn't have killed you." Balinor said. "There's no poison in this world that can."
Merlin frowned, confused. "What do you… mean?"
Balinor looked at him with pity, almost, before looking over to Arthur. "Do you truly love that boy?" He asked.
Merlin's face flared up at having his father ask that directly. "I was born to serve him."
"Is that what you think? Perhaps it should be he that kneels to you." Balinor said. Merlin shook his head, the thought sounding preposterous.
"Arthur will be the greatest king to rule these lands. He'll bring Albion to a new age." Merlin said. "This is the way things ought to be." He looked at Arthur and smiled warmly as he laughed along with Morgana. "And I do love him. I think I always have, in one way or another." Merlin said looking back to Balinor. "He makes me whole."
"You have your mother's smile." Balinor said. Merlin felt a wave of emotion strike him.
"Do you… still think of her?" He asked.
"Every single day." Balinor said gently.
"Why didn't you ever come back?" Merlin asked.
"I didn't want to put her in any danger. Having me around would only have put her at risk. I thought… if I never returned… at least she would be free to find a life with someone else." He said.
"Would you come back now?" Merlin asked softly.
"…I think it's only right." Balinor said and smiled at him with something akin to pride and Merlin felt warm. He was happy.
But their meeting could not last. By evening they were ready to return to Camelot. They all mounted on Kilgharrah, much to the dragon's annoyance, and flew to Camelot. They were returned to a clearing nearby under the night sky.
"There are scouts looking for you, Arthur Pendragon. You should be wise to have a good explanation prepared when you return to your father." Kilgharrah said, looking to the east where he'd spotted a group of knights while they'd been in the air.
"I will, thank you." Arthur said.
"No, thank you, Arthur, for freeing me." Kilgharrah said.
Merlin came to Balinor, who remained by Kilgharrah. "Where will you go now?" He asked.
"I'll visit Ealdor. I think… Hunith and I must speak." Balinor said and handed him the figurine he'd been carving. A small dragon. Merlin looked at it in wonder, considering the man had only had a few hours to do it.
He came closer and made some motions with his hands, coming to trace his thumb over Merlin's forehead, speaking a blessing of the old religion. "I grant a father's blessing on you. Child of mine. My son of name Merlin. Keep safe, keep strong."
Merlin's eyes brightened with tears. "Is that…?"
"The amulet, is a gift for the new-born child. A father's blessing to name him and claim him as his. It's a little late… but the power is still there in the words. Believe me Merlin, I would have claimed you as my own the instant I'd known about you." He said.
Merlin couldn't hold back anymore and hugged Balinor tightly, trying to blink the tears away but they came all the same. Balinor didn't disappoint with his hug and wrapped him tight in his arms, a comforting hand on his head.
"I'm so proud to call you my son, Merlin. You're a strong, kind and resilient young man. Be careful around Uther."
"I will… Thank you, father." Merlin said. Merlin wished he could have had more time with his father, but they had to part ways. Even if it was night, they were in Camelot. They couldn't risk anyone seeing the dragon flying free.
Balinor and Kilgharrah flew off into the night and Merlin watched them go. Arthur came and took his hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked gently.
"I'm… happy." Merlin said, looking at Arthur. Arthur reached up and wiped away the cold tears form Merlin's face and leaned in to kiss him. "Hey… how did you free the dragon?" Merlin asked.
"…I used magic."
Merlin's eyes widened, opening his mouth and shutting it up again. There was no way that was true. Arthur Pendragon used magic?
"No you didn't." Merlin chuckled.
"Uh, I'll have you know, I was quite good at it too." Arthur said.
"Arthur… did you really?" Merlin whispered, unable to contain the shock.
"In all honesty, it seems you… passed some of your magic to me… it was enough to break the chains." Arthur said.
Merlin still stared at him. "…how was it?"
"…Surprisingly… average. Nothing evil about it." Arthur said and Merlin smiled at that. He was about to lean in and kiss him, but the sound of approaching horses made Merlin pull back.
The group of knights arrived promptly once they realised they'd finally found the prince and lady.
"Prince Arthur, Lady Morgana. His majesty the king was concerned about your hunting trip." One said.
"Indeed we have some troubling news for my father. We must return as soon as we can." Arthur said, acting as normal as always. There were no spare horses, so three of the knights dismounted to surrender the horses to them. They went in pairs. Morgana with Gwen, Mordred with Leon and Merlin with Arthur. They were escorted by the remaining knights and arrived at the castle deep in the night.