CHAPTER 31
'There will always be help if you are willing to ask'
Merlin was running in a vast forest, he didn't know how he had gotten there. Neither does he know where he was going but he knew he was meant to go somewhere; he could feel the impulse within him compelling him to go further so he ran. The trees were so close to one another it was almost impossible for Merlin to see far beyond with roots sprinting out of the earth getting in his way, however, he did not stop and not once did he trip.
He was sure he was getting nearer, but to what, he did not know. He just kept running in the never ending forest. The silence was almost defying in his ears, he couldn't hear his labored breath or his footsteps, but that wasn't important. He stopped for a brief moment, wondering which way was the fastest way to get out of the woods. He needed help, but even while being lost Merlin was eerily calm. Help. He could always ask for help. He instinctively turned; he didn't know what was he expecting or rather who he was expecting to see, but it was then that he realized he was alone.
He didn't feel lonely, but it struck him as odd.
Alone. He was… alone?
Confused he began running again. That's when he heard a voice calling him from all places at once; he could clearly hear the echo falling from the sky above him and from the earth beneath him. It was like voice belonged to all places and none at the same time.
And then he heard it inside his head.
"Merlin…"
Merlin blinked and managed to stop just in time to avoid falling down a cliff. He stood there, gazing down at it for a moment. The white emptiness. No. This wasn't the place and yet it felt familiar. He heard a soft rustle behind him and he sharply turned towards the woods. He couldn't see anything but he could hear a childish voice ringing, laughing.
"Emrys…"
Merlin tried to reply, but even though he was moving his mouth not a sound came out. He heard the laugh again and this time Merlin saw a blur of green on his right. The sorcerer turned again. Who was there? He wanted to ask. With mortification, he took a step in the direction of the woods and blinked when he found himself at the edge of a clearing. And not just any clearing;his clearing.
He narrowed his eyes, feeling oddly calm and yet something was nagging him in the back of his head, something was off… but he couldn't put his finger into it. The sky was colored a dark gray and the trees a dull green by the edge of the field, but what caught his attention was the golden vase that sat at the center.
Merlin walked a few steps towards it, and soon instead of being yards away he had it in his hands. Standing just in the middle of the field Merlin turned around slowly. The vase firmly grasped. He could feel it vibrating in his hands.
He took a sharp breath. This was the place.
And as he stared at the vase he realized he knew this object too. His hands going over the cold material. And even in the midst of this strange in-between he was, he knew he was meant to solve this. He didn't know what was wrong with it, and yet he felt like it was his job to fix it.
"Merlin…!" The sky thundered above him.
The sorcerer ignored the voice and instead closed his eyes. The sky, as is feeling his audacity, thundered in anger. He felt the vase in his hands vibrating as he tried his magic. His magic….
He opened his eyes and glared at the vase. It was eerily and somewhat strange the way the vase shined like it was making fun of him, mocking him. Daring him to solve it. A loud thunder shook the earth beneath his feet at the same time that the same childish laugh ringed around the vast field.
"Emrys…"
Merlin silently gasped, almost dropping the shiny object.
He knew this field, and this vase, and he knew exactly what he had to do.
"Merlin!"
And he knew that voice.
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Merlin snapped his eyes open, sitting up so abruptly his vision darkened for a moment. A hand went to his chest to steady his having breathing, shaking slightly. Confused, he looked around with jerky movements, blinking the blurriness away. He wasn't in the woods, he was inside his house. His mother was asleep in her bed, thick sheets covering her from the chilly air. Beside him, a few steps away, was Arthur, lying on his back with a funny look on his face as he snored softly.
Merlin pushed his legs closer to his chest, still feeling out of breath, shaking from the cold or the shock he did not know. The fire was burning low and with a swift motion of eyes and magic, the fire burned merrily again. Merlin stared at the fire for a long time in a daze.
What on earth had that been about?
A thunder shook the house, startling Merlin, who stupidly looked at the ceiling. It wasn't raining yet but apparently a storm was on its way. He closed his eyes as he rubbed his face. Had it been just a dream? He stared at his hands, almost expecting to find the vase there. Then he heard that rumble inside his mind. Calling for him.
No, it definitely hadn't been just a dream.
Merlin sat up straighter as he shook his head, torn between being amused or annoyed. It had been so long since the last time he had been called like that, he had almost forgotten how it felt, almost being the key word because being magically beckoned was one of those things you never really forget.
Kilgharrah was calling him.
Merlin…
He heard the echo of the voice in his head and Merlin blinked confusedly. Kilgharrah was here? Another soft thunder was heard in the distance. Had somehow his dream become a mix between a dream and Kilgharrah's calling? To some extent it had felt like a dream, but it had felt eerily real, like a premonition, and he knew of those, he has had them before andyet it wasn't like a premonition either.
Ignoring Killgharrah's call he hugged his knees closer to his chest. Focus. This needs to mean something, isn't it? The dream had been about the vase, which was not surprising in the slightest, all his thoughts seemed to stray there eventually, and he had dreamt of the vase before but not like this. He felt like he had found the key, the solution to all his problems and yet he was sure he had missed something. He had thought about if for days now. There was something obvious about the vase. It had happened in his dream. He had felt it when he held it. Something foreign and yet obvious. Familiar.
But what?!
Usually, he dreamt of how to solve things, sometimes even see predictions of the near future, but this had not been that. He could only remember being there with the vase… and the mocking feeling that he must know something by now.
Merlin felt like kicking something. Feeling the same despair he had felt earlier in the day.
Unconsciously, Merlin looked to the side. Trying to blink away his exhaustion and shock, just to find the reason of his problems staring back at him. The vase was there. So close Merlin only needed to reach a hand to touch it. The vase seemed to shine and gloat in the same way as in his dream. Merlin narrowed his eyes. Gold and shiny. Like his magic…and something else. He remembered the forest, the cliff. Merlin shivered unconsciously. A laugh, he heard a child laugh. Emrys.
He had heard the dragon's voice in his head but also… Emrys?
Almost as in—
Another thunder was heard, partially covering Merlin's loud gasp.
Gold.
Kilgharrah. Emrys.
And the vase.
And—
"Oh, gods," Merlin said softly as he stared at the golden vase for one more moment in shock. He took the vase with a swift movement, getting to his feet with unsteady movements before running to the door, almost tripping over his discarded sheets on the floor. Not even bothering to take his coat with him he left the hut and ran into the woods.
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Merlin could say that he was friends with the great dragon. After all, they were both creatures of magic, and in through good and bad the dragon had always been there to help him—if Merlin begged enough or if the dragon found the situation amusing—and even though they still had their differences they somehow managed to work together, all for the greater good at least; for Albion, and Arthur, and magic.
This time, though, Merlin was two seconds away from murdering him.
The second Merlin arrived at the clearing— the sky beginning to break into peaks of light blue, indicating that dawn was soon to arrive—the sorcerer had wasted no time on calling him. Voice deep and eyes gold, and unlike other times where Merlin had to wait sometimes hours for his appearance, now that time was reduced to just a few minutes.
The dragon was already in the area and somehow, after the shocking dream he had, he had come to understand how his magic, Kilgharrah, and the vase were linked together. Kilgharrah being near Ealdor was definitely not a coincidence.
The dragon probably came here to make fun of him, to laugh at his face for his naivety.
It had been so simple and yet so complex Merlin didn't know if he wanted to laugh or just scream in frustration. Merlin moaned in annoyance as he shot the vase a glare, which was resting on top of apparently the only rock on the field that had managed to survive after Merlin's outburst from the day before. Merlin tried to calm himself as he paced around the rock, muttering under his breath as he went.
Sooner rather than later, when the sun was beginning to shine on the horizon; he heard the peculiar and distinctive beating of wings that signaled the dragon's arrival. Impatiently Merlin turned on his spot to look at the sky above him, the vague figure of the dragon making its way to him. The black blur in the sky grew bigger and bigger until, finally, the great dragon was circling the clearing, descending with great, heavy movements in the middle of it, pulverizing the already damaged rocks in his landing with a sickening crunch.
The dragon shook his wings tiredly, and even though Merlin was no expert in dragons, he could bet the remaining of his birthday cake that the beast looked tired. Good, Merlin thought, that made two of them. The dragon silently accommodated himself comfortably against the grass.
"I'm glad to see you in one piece, young warlock," The dragon said as he assessed the warlock with a stare. Merlin remained quiet, waiting for it. "You wished to see me?" The dragon's voice vibrated softly around the field, in that ominous way of him, sounding as old as time itself.
Merlin narrowed his eyes at the dragon but said nothing. The dragon let his chin fall in his front paws, looking at the sorcerer with hidden amusement, the last time he had seen the sorcerer had been when Merlin had proclaimed his trip to Ealdor to figure the vase and teach Arthur, the young prince, magic. Although he didn't want to admit it, even the great dragon was curious about how that had gone.
The dragon huffed through his nose, softly blowing Merlin's hair out of his face, but the sorcerer was quiet, silently staring at him—and if the dragon was not mistaken (which he never was) the sorcerer looked to be angry with him— unlike humans, the dragon found the silent treatment incredibly amusing. After all, Merlin was not a human (at least from his point of view) who could properly look angry or threatening in the least. The beast chuckled softly after a few minutes, finding the whole situation diverting.
"Young warlock, I have many powers, but reading minds is certainly not one of them," The dragon almost wickedly smiled. "I assume you beckoned me here for a purpose."
Merlin snapped like the dragon knew he would. The sorcerer haphazardly threw his arms in the air as he babbled. The dragon was expecting a tired outburst, but he had not expected the harsh words that followed.
"Oh, alright, let's pretend we don't know why you are here!" Merlin said airily. The dragon blinked as a vibrating sound cursed his body, "Don't laugh at me—I know it's not a coincidence that, oh! For all places on earth for the great dragon to be, you, suddenly, decided to spend this fine morning flying near Ealdor!"
The dragon at this narrowed his eyes, his amusement dying quickly.
"Merlin—"
"You finally had enough fun? Uh? Is that it? That's why you are here? I can't believe you, I asked you, I asked you what this vase was and you didn't tell me?" Merlin indignantly took the vase from the rock it was resting and practically shoved it in front of the dragon, the dragon blinked down at the little shining thing. He could feel the magic radiating again but before he could say anything the sorcererdared to interrupt him. Kilgharrah huffed. No one yells at a dragon. Well, expect this warlock. "You knew how important this was! The king's life depends on this." Merlin stressed, and as he saw the dragon open his mouth Merlin interjected, "Arthur depended on this! I had started to believe this was impossible. I was so frustrated I even—I destroyed the field!"
For the first time, the dragon looked around. He assessed the field, the fallen trees, the shattered earth and the pulverized stones. Had Merlin done that? He was mildly surprised, however, his anger resurfaced when Merlin shoved the vase to the floor and glared up at the dragon. "And now you come here to mock me, don't you? Because of course, you would—you…big… enormous… beast! Of all creatures on this planet, I never thought you would turn your back on me!"
Kilgharrah opened his mouth and closed it audibly, showing his sharp teeth at the warlock, tired of his one-sided discussion. Merlin jerkily moved back and finally went silent. He enjoyed mocking the warlock; he had to accept that fact, the young man was incredibly naive and impatient when he wanted to be. However, this time he felt insulted. He had come here to aid Merlin. To think that Merlin, the last dragon lord, was accusing him of something so grave made him furious.
"I flew all night to get here, warlock, and I came here for one reason and one reason alone, to help you." The dragon said sharply, "On your request."
"My request?"
"I felt your magic conveying to me hours ago, Emrys," Kilgharrah almost roared indignantly, "I was in the Rodien Mountains, north from here, when I felt your call in the middle of the night. You needed help, and so I flew here. I arrived early in the morning and waited for you. When I received no indications I called you. It was until a few moments ago, when you finally summoned me with magic words, that I knew you were really unharmed," The dragon raised his head a few yards in the air in anger, eyes narrowed, he hated to explain himself.
"Magic is a living thing, Emrys, I have told you this countless times. I do not possess the knowledge as to why your magic called for me, apparently, without your consent. But what I do not understand is why you, stupid boy, think can be angry with me. I do not know what happened in my absence, but I'm warning you to think again who you are calling a traitor, Emrys. We are kin, not enemies. Unless you want us to."
Merlin blinked several times, still angry but he calmed himself enough to process what he had been told. He blinked, staring at his hands in wonder. Kilgharrah had come to Ealdor to help him? To aid him, he had said. Had he ever been in danger these past days?
"My magic? My magic called you? It's that even possible?" Although, thinking back to the times his magic had gone to help Arthur he figured it was entirely possible. The dragon huffed annoyed through his nose. Merlin took a seat in the grass, feeling drained of energy. He had scared Arthur yesterday and now he had snapped at his dragon. He sighed in resignation. Lately, his emotions were getting the best of him.
"I'm sorry," Merlin blurted looking at the dragon with a quiet stare as he fiddled with the grass between his hands, "I…. it's been a long week, I suppose."
Kilgharrah lowered his face to the ground again but did not comment, still angry with the sorcerer. Merlin was quiet for a long time before he finally gave up, he smiled shyly to the dragon, awkwardly patting the dragon's paws. "I'm sorry, Kilgharrah, it's just… It's been a tough week."
The dragon hummed moving his eye to look at the sorcerer. Merlin took his silence as an apology accepted statement.
"So, you flew all night, uh?" Merlin grinned after a moment. "You were worried that I had gotten myself into trouble?"
The dragon narrowed his eyes. "Don't push the situation, Merlin."
Merlin faltered. Probably it was for the better. "Right, so… what did you feel? Why did my magic call for you then? Could it had been a mistake?"
"I think it would be wise for you to explain what has happened these past few weeks, Merlin," The dragon finally deigned himself to talk, "Magic is the wisest power on earth, there must be a reason."
Merlin grew serious again, clearly recalling his outburst from yesterday. He bit his lip in remorse.
"Yesterday… I— I think I overdid it. I strained my magic and my body in a way I have never done before. I was irritated, frustrated because I couldn't understand the vase. Arthur started getting suspicious about it, and with us having to go back to Camelot in a few more days I… I don't know… I lost it. I felt…." He looked up, not meeting the dragon's eyes. "Anyway, after my magical outburst I fell asleep the moment I reached my house. That's when I had… this dream. That was how I knew you were near. I could hear you in my mind, calling for me. It was strange, it was like a mix of things that had already happened and places I have already been, and yet they all felt eerily unknown to me. "
"A premonition, perhaps?"
"I didn't see anything concerning the future… just… things."
"It was a combination of things I suppose, your own body and mental exhaustion, leaving your magic to roam more freely than usual. Then your dream, which I guess was what triggered your magic to call for me, to aid you. Magic sometimes does not discern reality from dreams, and believe it or not, is not unusual." The dragon shared, "In ancient times when dragons and Dragon Lords inhabited this earth, it was normal for the dragon and his rider to be in sync with one another. If the rider was unconscious or in danger, the dragon would be alerted. That's why I came."
Kilgharrah will never say it, he would rather die in the middle of an ocean and have his wings cut first, but after Merlin became his rider it was impossible to not feel connected with the sorcerer to some level. So when he had felt the impulse, the dragon had been in all honestly quite preoccupied, after all, those impulses had been almost foreign to him. It had been so long since he has had a rider that he had almost forgotten how it felt. To reach that level of unconsciousness with the dragon only talked about how exhausted the sorcerer had been.
Merlin hummed softly, his eyes shining a bit with unshed tears and Kilgharrah fought the impulse of pushing himself off the floor and into the sky. Dragons were not emotional creatures but he knew better than most that the sorcerer was an emotional human. Kilgharrah huffed and lowered his head, wanting to reach and touch the sorcerer with his muzzle, but he stopped himself; he was not about to stop so low. He was the epitome of calmness as he stared at the miserable looks of his dragon lord.
Finally, he spoke, "Tell me about this dream of yours Merlin, and maybe together we can solve the mystery of this vase that has brought you, apparently, so many problems."
"I didn't call you here for help to figure out the vase," Merlin said and the first true smile of the day showed impishly on his face. He proudly grinned. "I already figured it out!"
"I'm impressed, Merlin." The dragon said patronizingly.
"I kind of had a revelation during the dream. But to actually be able to fix it I will need your help."
Kilgharrah hummed staring at the vase with narrowed eyes. "If it's within my power to do so, I will help."
"I thought you didn't care," Merlin said instead, "You don't care about Uther, you told me that."
Kilgharrah huffed annoyed, "I do not care about the king in the slightest, Merlin, but I guess I ought to help anyway, that is why you brought the young prince with you, didn't you?"
Merlin blinked once, twice. Processing his words and then almost hurt this neck as he rounded on the dragon, "What?"
In silence, the dragon looked to the left side of the clearing. Merlin could not see anything from his spot but he didn't doubt the dragon's words. After a long shocked pause, he was on his feet, running to the edge of the field. There, crouching against a tree was the prince, one hand resting on the base of the tree for support while the other was shakily holding his sword paler than Merlin had ever seen him. His blue eyes were glued to the form of the dragon, who was comfortably watching from afar.
This was definitely not the way Merlin had imagined Arthur and Kilgharrah meeting for the first time.
The sorcerer looked at his friend before he shifted his stare to his dragon. He felt the impulse again, the impulse of protecting Arthur by hiding information. He felt like knocking Arthur unconscious, drag him away from there and pretend it had been a dream. And yet hadn't they promised? Wasn't this all part of their destiny? After all, Merlin had finally figured the vase. Arthur deserved to now first hand. He had promised.
Merlin had shared his secret, Arthur had shared his past. They both had shared their pains and had fought enemies together. So maybe it was time they started to share allies. Arthur had gifted Merlin with his knights, his castle, his father, so Merlin could maybe gift Kilgharrah. If Arthur wanted magic to return, both Arthur and the dragon needed to be on even ground. Like ancient times.
He just wondered if it would be wise at the moment. Arthur looked like he was about to blackout. And he could only imagine what seeing a dragon for the first time felt like. Well, not the first, he thought drily. After all, the sorcerer remembers well, last time his friend and his dragon had seen each other they had wanted to kill one another.
Finally, Merlin lowered his hand and touched Arthur's shoulder with a resignation. Arthur jerkily turned his eyes to him, relaxing for a moment before he got tense again.
Arthur opened his mouth but nothing came out, he just silently turned his head from Merlin to the dragon several times, his mouth doing strange sounds as he tried and failed to say something. Strangely enough, Merlin understood quite clearly.
"Relax, Arthur… breath. Alright? It's just Kilgharrah."
In the list of wrong things to say to Arthur, that had to be the number one.
"Just… just…" Arthur's entire body shook with suppressed anger as he recovered his voice. Merlin winced, this was not going to be good, Arthur's sword cut through the air "OH, IM SORRY, FORGIVE ME MY RUDENESS, YOU MONUMENTAL IDIOT. IT'S JUST A DRAGON, YOUR PET—!"
"Oh gods, do not let Kilgharrah hear you say that, he would kill you."
Arthur faded even more, he could probably lie down in snow and Merlin wouldn't be able to find him.
"—AN ANIMAL THAT IS MEANT TO BE EXCTINT. EXCTINT AS IN DEAD, GONE,LIFELESS!" Arthur pointed to the animal with his sword, just in case Merlin wasn't aware that a dragon was lazily laying in the middle of the field.
"I had already told you he was alive, remember? Helped to build your sword?"
"—AND HE ATTACKED CAMELOT, DESTROYED HALF THE CASTLE, MURDERED HALF MY KNIGHTS. HE EVEN TRIED TO KILL ME! ME!" Arthur felt the need to emphasize that it had been him the one he almost died that day. Him. The prince of Camelot.
"In his defense, you wanted to kill him too—"
"MERLIN!" Arthur roared, ready to snap again when a strange sound made him freeze mid-sentence, his eyes sharply turning to the field again, feeling the air almost vibrate around him. It was a rusty, old sound. Arthur lowered his sword when he realized that the dragon was… oh gods, the dragon was laughing?
For all that was holy, the dragon was laughing. Arthur's hands went slack and his sword silently fell to the floor, not that he cared anymore. Merlin smiled impishly, massaging his neck in nervousness not knowing exactly how to proceed. Kilgharrah beat him at it though, talking louder so his metallic, raspy voice could reach the boys
"It's alright, young prince, I impose no harm."
Maybe not harm, Merlin thought drily, but surely fear, since Arthur was shaking from head to toes. Merlin bit his lip, trying his best to understand the situation, after all meeting a dragon must be terrifying, Kilgharrah was a creature that could kill you without a second though just by stepping over you. He could literally burn you to the ground before you realized what had happened.
And then Arthur spoke, if his voice was an octave higher than usual Merlin wisely didn't say anything.
"HE—HE SPEAKS!" He said tugging at Merlin's shirt as he openly stared at the dragon, like if this was something entirely new and he wanted Merlin to notice.
That was as far as Merlin's kindness could go. Merlin laughed.
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It took several minutes of convincing for Arthur to finally relax enough—giving himself several encourage speeches— and walk to the dragon. Arthur, who always walked ahead of everybody and everyone, wisely walked two steps behind the sorcerer. Merlin didn't have in him to tease him, he was honestly concerned about how this would go. Arthur stopped several times to take a look at the dragon—who was getting bigger with each step, he realized— then he would shake his head and continue walking after Merlin.
Finally, when they were at a safe distance Merlin shot the dragon a look. The beast could try and be nice for once, right? After all, this was the future king Kilgharrah has been so keen on protecting for years.
Every breath and move from the dragon put Arthur on the edge but he remained stoically in his place. Merlin said that he had power over the beast, but really, seeing his lanky friend beside such an animal made Arthur think twice about that. Then he stared at the golden scales of the dragon and Arthur felt incredibly vulnerable. He was staring at a bloody dragon for pity's sake! If his father knew he was talking to a dragon he thought was dead he would hang him.
"Arthur, this is Kilgharrah, the great dragon." Merlin announced, breaking the tense silence, "Kilgharrah, the one and future king; Arthur. Widely known as the Prat."
Kilgharrah nodded and Arthur took involuntary a step back, the prince realizing this got rigid and hastily returned to his spot. Merlin blinked unfazed, even in the midst of a terrifying situation Arthur was downright stubborn.
Even the dragon found that impressive, although incredibly amusing. Arthur was as stubborn as Merlin in many ways. Taking advantage of this he decided he could have a bit of fun. After his long trip and exhausting night he thought he deserved it.
"It's a pleasure to finally coincide again, young prince," Kilgharrah said in his best voice as his eyes twinkled, "Although, I can't say that for the first time we met."
Arthur visibly tensed but said nothing, Merlin waited for a moment for him to speak but when Arthur's blue eyes were fixed on the face of the great dragon—Merlin was sure the dragon was showing his teeth now just for show—he intervened.
"Kilgharrah, please, "Merlin said as he patted the dragon's paw and Arthur fought the impulse to reach for Merlin and run. "He's my friend, the future king, the one who is supposed to bring magic to this land, a man you forced me, against my will, to take care of, a prince that—"
"It's alright, Merlin," The dragon said dryly, knowing fully well that when the sorcerer babbled there were very few things on earth that could stop him, "I understand."
The dragon turned to the prince and Arthur stood straighter, his eyes narrowed and arms crossed over his chest. The dragon sighed, assessing the price for a moment. He noticed the prince's black died air and the dragon inwardly snorted. He could bet his wings it had been Merlin's idea. The sorcerer was standing somewhere in the middle of Arthur and the dragon as Arthur stood out of range. Smart, Kilgharrah thought, even if Merlin complained twice every morning about his incompetence the prince of Camelot was a wise man.
Arthur did not only fear him but respected him. He had left his sword at the edge of the field. A sword could do him no harm, but Kilgharrah took the act for what it was; a sign of peace. The dragon was sure the only reason the prince had not bolted yet was for the sorcerer himself. The dragon hummed and Arthur gulped at the sound. Impressive. Merlin complained daily about Arthur's unwillingness to help, and obnoxious attitude, before and after knowing of his magic, but the dragon wondered if Merlin even understood the effort that this meeting was requiring from the prince.
Kilgharrah watched Merlin then, who seemed anxious but in a happy way, his magic was bubbly, almost fizzing. The dragon could feel it. The dragon lowered his head again, observing both humans with attentive eyes. This was the first time the dragon got to meet Arthur and Merlin on even ground. No more secrets between them.
Truly, they had changed since the last time he had seen each of them. He was proud of them.
Not that he would ever tell them.
So he did the best next thing.
"I understand your fright, young prince, it's wise for you to fear something that you cannot defeat." Arthur was having trouble breathing but he nodded. "You left your sword at the edge of the field against your better judgment, so I take this offer of peace for what it is. In the past we didn't understand each other, not that I wanted to. But years have passed since that day in Camelot. I won't apologize for what I did, but I can promise you, that as long as you keep fighting along with Emrys" At this the dragon eyed Merlin for a moment, Merlin had a huge grin on his face and Kilgharrah almost rolled his eyes, "I will never be a threat to you."
Arthur blinked at the words; it took him two false starts before he could find his voice, as steady as he could manage.
"I do not apologize either, about what I tried to do in Camelot."
Merlin wanted to smack him.
Of course the prat would say something like that! Didn't he see that this was basically the agreeable Kilgharrah wasever going to be?! And he was saying he did not regret trying to kill him!? Merlin took a step towards Arthur, unsure if he wanted to protect him against the dragon's rage or smack him, whatever happened first, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard the distinctive sound of Kilgharrah's laugh.
Wait what.
"I did not expect any less from you," The dragon surprisingly said, "You were protecting your people, your castle, your city.That is something I understand. I would have done the same for my own family."
Merlin watched as Arthur's shoulders decayed a little, his whole attention on the dragon, and his blue eyes shaded with remorse.
"I'm sorry about your family." Arthur said sincerely, Merlin could almost feel the pain in his voice, even if it was coated with tension and anxiousness "I know what losing your family means, and what my father did to yours is unforgivable. I cannot apologize in his favor, nor will I do so, since it would be meaningless. And no words can convey the consolation that I would want to give. But, I assure you, I carry this burden in my mind and soul, as I have committed it myself."
The dragon blinked speechless. No one. Not even Merlin had ever apologized for the massacre of his family. And to have Arthur, of all people —an infant when this happened— to do so, humbled the dragon. "I cannot promise you that my father will get his rightful punishment for such a horrendous act either, but I can promise you, that as long as I live, acts like those will never, ever happen again, to magic people, creatures or otherwise." At this Arthur glanced at Merlin. "That I can promise."
The field was silent for a long time, where Arthur and the dragon assessed each other. The only thing linking them together being Merlin, who was unaware of how important he was on this meeting just by being there.
Finally, Kilgharrah nodded. Arthur nodded back.
"Very well, Arthur," Kilgharrah said trying the name of the prince for the first time in front of him, Arthur blinked, not knowing if this was good or not, "I'll hold you to your promise."
Arthur nodded jerkily. He had just made peace with a Dragon. This definitely was a first. Merlin, very unlike him, raised his hands above his head. This had gone better than expected.
"Is this a dream? Maybe I'm still dreaming. I can't believe you didn't try to kill each other in the process. This is a day to remember. People will write songs about this! When we write the history book of how Albion came to life—because we need to write a book about this, Arthur— this needs to have a whole chapter. Can you think about it? Future children will learn about magic by books! I could write down all my adventures—Kilgharrah! Everyone will know your name!"
"Merlin, relax, we can't even figure a vase and you want to write a book?" Arthur scoffed with a light smile on his face. He was still aware of the dragon, but Kilgharrah had lowered his face to his crossed paws, amusingly watching Merlin babble beside him, so he thought it was safe for him to continue, "Besides, who would want to read a book about you?"
Merlin glared at the prince, "Shut up, you read all my magic books in one afternoon, so I guess you would!"
Arthur was flustered, "It wasn't about you-you!"
"It was about magic so theoretically it was about me."
"You think so highly of yourself, idiot"
"I learned from you, prat."
Both friends stopped their bickering when the dragon laughed whole heartedly for the second time that day. Arthur took a step back at seeing his teeth though, the dragon had said he was not going to eat or kill him, but better safe than sorry.
"You truly are two sides of the same coin."
Arthur grunted a bit annoyed, so this is where the stupid phrase had come from.
This chapter originally involved Merlin's big reveal about the vase but I wanted to update since it's been way too long so I cut it short. I'm working on the next part as you read this! Hopefully, my muse will come to me quickly to finish this.
Tell me how it went, I do not like it as much as I would've but I enjoyed it. Kilgharrah (Whose names I added to the dictionary because of the 100 times I wrote it I never managed to write it even once right) was a bit OOC I guess because I have been reading Eragon and I'm a number one fan on HTTYD and honestly, how can Merlin and Kilgharrah not be connected to some extent? I like to think the dragon was a nice creature before his family got killed, he just grew bitter after being imprisoned.
ANYWAY! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! And please do share if you know what will happen next.
Time left in Ealdor: None.