Aithusa

'In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name: Merlin,' Kilgarrah announced.

In a Druid occupied cave a young man climbs down a rope. He opens the case with a knife and steals the key. He connects it to his third of the key. He turns around and finds the druids all awake. He runs into the woods, but is pursued by the druids. He stops at a valley's ledge and the druids catch him. Realising he is cornered he pulls a dagger on a male druid.

Gaius breathed.

'What is it?' asked Arthur.

'Who is it?' asked Merlin.

'Julius Borden,' murmured Gaius. 'He was my pupil, once.'

Iselidur holds out a hand, 'it is not worth anyone's life.'

'What is it?' asked Merlin.

Gaius frowned, 'the Key of Ashkanar. Borden always was obsessed with it.'

'Is it dangerous?' asked Merlin.

'In the wrong hands,' Emrys said grimly.

'And Borden is definitely the wrong hands,' Gaius said grimly.

'Isn't it?' Borden said angrily gripping the knife tighter. 'It's cost me twenty years of mine.'

'It is of no use,' Iselidur said calmly. 'You will never find the third part of the Triskellian.'

'Ah, but you're wrong,' Borden said causing the druid to narrow his eyes. 'I already know where that bit is.'

'Of course, he does,' snorted Gwaine. 'Why wouldn't he.'

Borden shoves his captive at the druids and into Iseldiur's arms. Borden then jumps off the cliff, saving himself by plunging his dagger into the ground on the other side of the gap. Iseldiur watches him run off.

The next day in a wooden forest Borden rides to Camelot atop of a brown horse. Camelot comes into view causing the sorcerer to smirk in a self-satisfied manner.

'Its in Camelot,' Arthur said grimly. 'Of course, it is. Where else would it be?'

The next night in the court physician's chambers Gaius is working late stooped over his desk when there is a harsh rap on the door. In Merlin's chambers, the young wakes to the rapping. Gaius answers the door where he sees a rain drenched Borden standing at the door.

'Hello, Gaius,' Borden speaks to an unimpressed Gaius. 'Surely you remember me?'

'Only too well,' Gaius said unhappily as Merlin gets out of bed. 'Why are you here?' Gaius asks as Merlin makes his way towards his bedroom door to eavesdrop.

'Please, I could do with drying myself by your fire,' Borden said and Gaius reluctantly steps aside.

'You have a nerve coming back here,' Gaius says as Borden walks in. 'You left me in a lot of trouble.'

'Yeah. Yeah, sorry about that,' Borden says as Gaius closes the door. 'What can I say? Execution...didn't really appeal to me.'

'Or anyone,' Merlin said quietly fear and pain glistening in his eyes.

Borden turned around, 'don't pretend you supported Uther.'

'Of course not,' Gaius said. 'But nor did I approve of Borden's actions.'

'What did he do other than have magic?' asked Arthur.

Gaius sighed, 'he was arrested for magic. In particular using love spells to enchant Lord Bernard's wife to gain access to his coffers. Needless to say it left me to answer a lot of unanswerable questions.'

'I'm surprised you accepted me so readily after that,' Merlin murmured.

Gaius smiled, 'you were completely different. You did not seek to use your tremendous powers for yourself. I had to protect you from your own good nature because you just wanted to save people.'

'Tell me why you are here,' Gaius said dispassionately.

From the crack in his bedroom's doors Merlin watches as Borden pulls out the golden triskellian key. Gaius approaches the object looking grave and looks like he is about to start inspecting it. But his former pupil stops that.

'Save your eyesight, Gaius. It's the Triskellian of Ashkanar,' Borden says.

'You are sure?' Gaius asks grabbing the Triskellian with both hands.

'I'm certain,' Borden said.

'Let me see,' Gaius takes the Triskellian out of Borden's hands and over to his desk where he examines the writing on it with a magnifying glass. 'It's in a druid tongue. The bind runes are in threes. That's rare.'

'Oh, I can save you the trouble. They guide the bearer to the tomb of Ashkanar,' Borden reveals as Merlin watches and Gaius turns around looking unhappy.

'Whose Ashkanar?' asked Merlin.

'A renowned knight in the first century,' Emrys replied with a scowl sounding like he wanted to call him something much less kind. 'He decided to be the brave, heroic knight and slay a dragon. He had somehow managed to acquire a dragon-forged blade which by luck more than anything he succeeded in doing so. After which he raided the dragon's cave which turned out to be a nesting mother. He found an egg and decided to keep it as a trophy. My ancestors found out and tried to find and free the dragon egg so he and his court sorcerer hid the egg to keep it from those who would be able to awaken the orphaned dragon.'

'The whereabouts of Ashkanar's tomb has long been lost,' Gaius agreed.

'Until now,' Arthur said grimly.

'Yes. We both know the legend. We both know what he hid there,' Borden said looking towards the door as though aware that Merlin was watching through the cracks.

'Did he know I was there?' asked Merlin.

'Doubt it,' Emrys said dryly. 'He was wanted for magic and in Camelot. Its not surprising he was paranoid.'

Gaius nodded in agreement, 'quite.'

'A dragon's egg. And you have come to steal it,' Gaius said grave and accusing.

'I wouldn't say "steal",' Borden said but refused to look Gaius in the eyes.

'Oh, yeah, what else would you call it?' snorted Emrys.

'You're forgetting one thing, you're missing a part of the Triskellian,' Gaius said passing the Triskellion back to Borden.

'I have a feeling that your supposed to be his inside man,' Merlin said dryly.

'After the way he betrayed Gaius I do not see that happening any time soon,' Arthur snorted.

'Indeed,' agreed Gaius.

'Oh, no. I know where that bit is,' revealed Borden.

'Where?' demanded Gaius.

'Where do you think?' Gwaine demanded. 'Camelot seems to be the hotspot of magical activity.'

Borden looked down as Merlin watched, 'In the vaults...' Borden said gently. '…Beneath your feet.'

'In Camelot?' Gaius breathed.

'You didn't honestly think it was a coincidence Borden had turned up?' asked Gwaine doubtfully.

'Where it has lain safe and secure for the last four hundred years,' Borden said.

'And you want me to help you to get it,' Gaius understand.

'We could bring this noble creature back to life,' Borden said passionately as he turned the triskelion over in his hands.

'Mmmh,' hummed Arthur. 'If that's all then why were the Druids so against him getting it.'

'Because the only reason Borden cares about the dragon is what the dragon can give him.'

Gaius looks sceptically at his former apprentice, 'I want no part of your plan.'

'You don't want to release the last living dragon?' Borden demanded.

'Why not?' asked Arthur.

'In these times?' asked Gaius. 'Where every kingdom will be traying to slay them and every malcontent will be trying to enslave it.'

'The old ways should be left to die,' Gaius declared.

'You don't really mean that?' Merlin asked quietly.

Gaius sighed, 'magic has to adapt and modernise. All things must to stay alive.'

'But that doesn't mean we have to lose our culture!' Merlin argued.

'Merlin's right,' Arthur agreed. 'Progress is all well and good but-'

'It was not progress nor was it going backwards,' Emrys said. 'It was just different; much less powerful and far more equal.'

'Well, that's not what you taught me!' Borden said desperately.

'It's what I feel now. I believe in the king that Arthur will become and the future he will build,' Gaius said stubbornly.

'Think about it,' Borden implored.

'I've given you my answer. Now I think you should leave Camelot. Sooner rather than later. Arthur may not be his father, but is no friend of the old ways,' Gaius opens the door for Borden to leave.

'Because nobody gave me reason or the chance to be a friend of the old ways,' Arthur said sharply.

The three spellcasters looked away from him.

'You're right,' Merlin said softly.

Emrys nodded tiredly, 'I've had many a century to think over my mistakes, my many, many mistakes. But they all boil down to three events due to fear and distrust. Not trusting Mordred, not supporting Morgana when she needed it and more anything not trusting you with the truth.'

'You'll find me in the tavern in the lower town. Take your time. Gaius, I know I caused you trouble before, but I'm a changed man. Believe me,' Borden leaves.

Merlin emerges from his room, 'who was that?'

'You really have to stop eavesdropping like that,' Gaius said dryly.

'Oh, doesn't matter,' Gaius said.

'You do know that doesn't work on me,' Merlin said.

'Gaius,' Merlin said sharply.

Gaius sighed, 'he was a pupil. His name is Julius Borden.'

'Why won't you help him?' Merlin asked getting a hard stare in return. 'This is our one chance of saving the dragons. Of Helping Kilgharrah preserve his kind.'

Merlin nodded in agreement, 'if there's even a chance we have to take it.'

'Borden is not a man to be trusted,' Gaius said simply then looking down at his work.

'You don't think the Triskellian is real?' asked Merlin.

'They wouldn't have split it into three parts if it wasn't,' Merlin said stubbornly.

'That's not the problem is it, Gaius?' Arthur said seriously.

'No, it's not,' Emrys agreed grimly.

'That I have no doubt,' Gaius said.

'Then what?' Merlin demanded.

'His motives, Merlin. Even as a young man he was prone to dishonesty. Who knows what path he is on now,' Gaius said looking away.

'You want the egg to remain lost forever,' Merlin said angrily.

'Is that true?' asked Merlin.

Emrys sighed, 'no it is not but it was reckless to bring a young dragon in to the world as it was. We should have taken the Triskellion Borden already had from him and waited until the world was more stable. And then found it so the dragon could live a free life. I – we – were too young, reckless and desperate to see that. It took me decades to learn when to act and when not to act. I should have told Arthur the truth. I should not have got involved with Borden. You all must do better to try and correct the mistakes that have been made.'

'I don't want it to get into Borden's hands!' Gaius shouts shocking Merlin. '3The tomb of Ashkenar has lain untouched for more than four hundred years. It is my belief it should remain that way. Now let's get some sleep. We've got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow,' Gaius turns and moves back to go to his bed.

Merlin lays open eyed in his bed looking conflicted about what he has just learnt. He steps out of his bed checking that Gaius is definitely asleep. Then runs to get his jacket and leaves with a quick look at Gaius. Merlin runs through the forest. Kilgarrah is present.

Leon frowned, 'you know Merlin I really don't like your relationship with the Great Dragon. I know he was grievously wronged by Camelot but whenever you listen to him things always go wrong.'

'Dragons don't think like humans,' Emrys said carefully. 'They do not look at time literally. Thus, cannot tell the difference between present and possible futures. But knowing the future changes the present which leads to the future. That is why acting on visions and prophecies is so dangerous. It is better to let the future come before deciding a course of action.'

'I never dared dream of such a moment, Merlin,' Kilgarrah said.

'He sounds … excited …' Arthur said.

'He doesn't want to be alone anymore,' Merlin said passionately. 'Is that so wrong?'

'Of course not,' Emrys said. 'But being alone for so long can cause you to become rash when you realise there is a chance not to be anymore.'

'Is this why you did this?' asked Leon gesturing to the room around them.

'Oh, about fifteen hundred years,' Emrys replied flippantly but his eyes were full of age and wisdom.

Merlin chuckles happily.

'Until now, I believed the egg would never be found,' Kilgarrah said gravely.

'So, it's definitely real then,' Gwen murmured,

'Indeed,' Emrys murmured.

'As if there was any doubt of that,' Merlin said. 'If something can go wrong in Camelot – it will!

'That I would be the last of my kind,' Kilgarrah said gravely.

'He doesn't seem like the monster who tried to kill us all – just lonely,' Gwen said softly.

'If this experience has shown us anything the world is far more grey than we would like to believe,' Arthur said.

Emrys sighed, 'heroism and villainy is a matter of perspective.'

'So the legend is true?' Merlin looked like he couldn't stop grinning.

'This is a chance in a thousand, Merlin,' Kilgarrah said gravely. 'You must retrieve the egg.'

'Like there was ever any doubt,' grinned Gwaine. 'Merlin wouldn't know a peaceful life if it cartwheeled over the grand table in the banquet hall wearing the Lady Morgana's best robes and bells.'

'In fairness that doesn't sound very peaceful,' Merlin said.

'I know,' Merlin said sounding resigned.

'Then what is the matter?' Kilgarrah asked.

Merlin huffed out a breath of air, 'Gaius has forbidden it.'

'So you are capable of listening,' Gaius said pretending to sound shocked.

'Merlin!' shouted Kilgarrah.

'Oh, someone's angry,' chortled Gwaine.

'You are a dragonlord! It is a gift passed down from your father. He gave up everything in his life to save me,' hissed the Dragon. 'What do you think he would say? The egg harbours the last of my kind. I beg you, Merlin. In your father's name, promise me that you will do everything in your power to rescue it.'

'I forgot how good Kilgarrah was with emotional manipulation?' Emrys said quietly.

'Your father gave up his life for you,' Hunith said softly. 'He wouldn't want you to risk your life no matter what.'

Merlin and Emrys blinked together, 'I didn't think of it like that.'

'Thousands of years and you're still the same person,' Arthur laughed.

'You have my promise,' Merlin said solemnly.

'Well we all knew that was going to happen,' Gaius said shaking his head. 'Because someone can't leave things be.'

The next day Merlin walks through the lower town to the Rising Sun tavern. Merlin enters Borden's room. There's a lump on the bed in the shape of a body, but Borden jumps out from behind the door and pins Merlin against the wall with a dagger at his throat.

'What do you want?' demanded Borden angrily.

'Because that's clearly someone you want to work with,' Arthur muttered.

'I work for you despite the fact that you tried to beat me with a mace the first time I met you,' Merlin pointed out.

'To help you,' Merlin said quickly raising his hands in surrender.

'Who are you?' Borden demanded.

'A friend of Gaius. I heard what you told him. I want to see a dragon's egg. I want to come with you,' Merlin said quickly.

'Did he send you?' Borden asked.

'The opposite really,' Arthur muttered.

'Because you've never done the exact opposite of what you've been told to do,' Merlin said sarcastically.

'No,' Merlin said.

'No?' Borden repeats and lets Merlin go and opens the door. 'Then get out.'

'Please, I know everything about dragons. I've read everything...' Merlin said as he is pushed out.

'Well at least you didn't tell him you were a Dragon Lord,' Gaius said with sigh.

'I needed him, but I didn't trust him,' Emrys explained. 'Of course, he felt the same.'

'So, you were both planning on betraying one another,' Gwaine nodded. 'I've had that before – it never ends well.'

'Not interested. Go away,' Borden grabs Merlin's shirt and shoves him out.

'All right, but you won't get into the vaults without me,' Merlin insisted.

'Don't tell him you have magic,' Gaius said.

Borden scoffs, 'and how's a boy like you gonna help?'

'Because I'm the personal servant of King Arthur,' Merlin said simply.

'Merlin!' Arthur said aggravated.

'Well I had to prove myself necessary to Borden without revealing any of my secrets,' Emrys said simply.

'By betraying me?' demanded Arthur.

Emrys sighed, 'its always hard when my beliefs and plans end up coming directly in opposition to yours ... but sometime it can't be helped.

That night Merlin sneaks into Arthur's chambers and tries to steal the vault keys while Arthur sleeps. Arthur stirs as Merlin jangles the keys to the king's right. Merlin looks seeing Arthur blink himself awake.

'What on earth are you doing?' Arthur asks sleepily.

'You are not much of a thief, mate,' Gwaine said.

'You say that like it's a bad thing,' Merlin said jokingly.

'It is when you have a habit of thieving from your boss,' Gwaine said.

Merlin shrugged, 'I've never been caught yet!'

'Only because the princess is oblivious,' Gwaine said.

'Hey,' complained Arthur.

'Looking for woodworm,' Merlin pretends to look for woodworm.

Everyone burst out laughing.

'Merlin, you are the worst liar in the world,' Arthur said. 'How did I never see it?'

'Because you trust me,' Merlin said simply.

'And your own bias,' added Emrys. 'You think of sorcerer's to be cold, cruel and evil. I was clumsy, talkative and annoying not what you expected a sorcerer to be like.'

'Before breakfast?' Arthur asked tired, incredulous and convinced that his manservant had gone mad.

'I must have thought you had gone mad – madder,' Arthur said.

'Probably,' agreed Emrys.

'That is when the worms are most active,' Merlin said tapping on the wood.

'Get out,' Arthur ordered still looking disbelieving at his manservant.

'I seem to be getting a lot of that tonight,' Merlin said.

'Well don't steal,' Arthur said simply.

Merlin starts to leave and sees the keys on Arthur's belt on the trousers from the day before, 'these need washing.'

'So, do these,' Arthur throws some clothes at Merlin which land on his head and shoulders much to the warlock's annoyanced. 'Oh, and Merlin, before you go, I need that belt, Arthur said tiredly.

Arthur rolls back over onto his side seemingly falling asleep straight away. Frustrated, Merlin pulls the belt with the keys on it out of the pile of clothes. He places it on the table.

'Even half asleep I can still foil the most powerful sorcerer ever to live burglary attempt,' Arthur said smugly.

Merlin glared, 'oh shut up.'

'You can't talk to me like this, I'm your regent!'

Merlin grinned, 'well I can't let your ego get too big!'

The next day Arthur, Aggravaine and a few councillors are in the council chambers. Merlin stands to the back watching the scene. There are scrolls on the table that the nobles are pouring over.

'We need to strengthen all our outlying defences as Odin's raid only goes to prove. But it is the northern borders that are particularly vulnerable,' Agravaine is saying as Merlin stares at the keys hanging off Arthur's belt.

'There's always been so, and the reason's obvious. If you look at the terrain here-,' Arthur is saying as Merlin's eyes glow and Arthur's trousers drop.

Everyone apart from an annoyed looking Arthur burst out laughing.

'MERLIN!' Arthur yelled.

'Allow me to help you, sire,' Merlin said rushing to pull up Arthur's trousers.

'MERLIN!' Arthur yelled again.

'No,' Arthur said quickly. No! Merlin!' Arthur shouts.

'Your Majesty,' Merlin said.

'Merlin!' Arthur yells again as Merlin pulls them down.

'And that's only going to add to the rumours,' Gwen said amused.

'Rumours?' asked Arthur.

Merlin blushed, 'it doesn't matter.'

'Majesty!' Merlin said again.

'Of course, the only time you treat me with the proper request is when your pulling my trousers down to steal my keys,' Arthur said sharply.

'Get off me!' shouted Arthur.

'I'm trying to help you, sire!' Merlin shouted back.

'Helping yourself to the vault keys,' Gwen said amused.

They both get up from the struggle with Arthur looking angry and embarrassed. Arthur pulls up his own trousers up. Merlin has the key which he hides behind his back.

'Did the guards not notice anything?' demanded Arthur angrily.

Merlin snorted, 'the guards are useless.'

'And you take advantage of that,' Gwen shook her head.

'There we go. Will there be anything else, sire?' Merlin asked bowing slightly.

'No!' Arthur shouts.

Arthur's eyes and face are full of rage and embarrassment. Merlin nods and bow slightly. Then he backs out of the room with the key behind his back. Arthur returns to his meeting where Agravaine and the councillor are looking on with various degrees of amusement and scandalous expressions.

Arthur his clears throat, 'so, the terrain here...'

'That never happened!' ordered Arthur. 'You will forget all about it. And Merlin – both of you – don't ever think about doing anything like that ever again.'

'Yes, sire,' Merlin said smirking slightly.

In the tunnels that night Merlin runs through the palace tunnels with a torch in his hands. Borden is pacing outside a locked side door which opens revealing Merlin. Merlin looks both ways making sure there is nobody seeing him as he lets Borden into the palace.

'I'm beginning to like you, Merlin,' Borden says.

'Well you should,' Arthur said sharply, 'considering he's committing treason for your plans.'

Borden enters the passageway and the two men run down the stairs toward the vaults. At a turning Merlin stops part.

'This is as far as I go,' Merlin said revealing the key. 'And this key opens the last gate. But you have to get past the guards.'

Borden takes the key, 'that won't be a problem,' Borden said pulling out a knife.

'Please tell me no one got killed!?' demanded Arthur.

'Not that I can recall,' frowned Emrys.

Borden runs off leaving Merlin leaning against the wall looking nervous. Borden hides behind a wall just out of the guards' line of sight. He throws a coin which clatters which the guards come to investigate. Borden uses this opportunity of knock out the guards.

'Thank God,' breathed Arthur. 'If anyone had died it would be on you I hope you know that.'

'I know,' Emrys said heavily.

Borden unlocks the old, rusted and noisy gate to the vaults. Then he enters the vaults where he begins to search starting with a trinket box. Borden find the third piece of the Triskellian in a chest. He chuckles in relief as he gazes at the Triskellian in awe. He takes the other two pieces out of his bag and combines the three pieces into a completed Triskellian. Borden returns to where Merlin is waiting. They hear some guards.

'To the right,' a guard says.

'Follow me,' Merlin whispers.

They exit the tunnels where they are forced to hide by the door to the outer wall as they hear the chatter of guards. The guards are completing their night-time patrol of the palace unaware of the crime taking place right below them. The two young men breathe a sigh of relief as the guards pass.

'Thanks,' Borden smiles.

'Anytime,' Merlin promised.

'That's not a promise you want to make,' Gaius said gravely.

Borden hands Merlin the key back. Merlin pulls the door closed and locks it.

'Tell me, Merlin, would you say you're a good liar?' Borden asks giving Merlin a look.

'He's going to betray you Merlin,' Lancelot said gravely.

'Obviously,' Merlin rolled his eyes.

'Yeah, if I need to be,' Merlin replied.

'No, you're not,' snorted Gwen. 'Goodness knows how you manage to hide your magic for this long.'

'Camelot's anti-magic bias,' Emrys said.

'Huh?' Arthur asked.

Emrys sighed, 'when you think of a sorcerer you think of someone evil and power hungry with an agenda. Not someone like younger me – loyal and foolish – so you think I'm quirky rather than magical.'

Borden knocks him out and tosses the key at him, 'you going to need to be.'

Merlin wakes outside the castle the next day where Borden had left him. His legs hanging out of the wall doorway. He starts to get up and the key drops to the floor. Merlin realises what happened, stands up and locks the door.

Merlin tries to put back the vault key in Arthur's chambers the next day, but he knocks a goblet onto Arthur's bed. Merlin scrambles over Arthur, stops the cup mid-air with magic, sighs in relief, and grabs it. Arthur wakes and sits up in bed, startled.

'You're a useless thief, mate,' Gwaine said.

Merlin blushed, 'yet nobody's ever caught me, so it doesn't say much about you.'

'Merlin? What are you doing?' Arthur asks.

'Shh!' Merlin said.

Merlin puts a finger to his lips. Merlin uses the goblet as an amplifier to listen to the headboard as he taps it.

'I'm listening for woodworm,' Merlin said.

'Merlin,' Gaius sighed. 'Listening to woodworm.'

'Please tell me I didn't buy that!' Arthur sighed.

'I'm getting slightly concerned about you,' Arthur said as the warning bells ring. 'The hell is that?'

'And of course, I bought it,' Arthur muttered.

'You trusted me,' Emrys said regretfully.

That night they were in the vault's inspecting the damage to the lock.

'The lock hasn't been damaged, which would suggest whoever it was had a key,' Agravaine said.

'Or has magic,' Gwaine said.

Merlin shook his head, 'no the vaults are covered with wards preventing magic being used to break into it.'

'Of course, my father uses magic to fight magic,' Arthur said bitterly.

'No, this comes from Sigan,' Merlin said. 'He built Camelot, after all.'

'Strange,' Gaius said.

'Of all these treasures, this is all they were interested in. What was in here?' asked Arthur.

'I believe, sire, one third of a Triskellian, a type of key. A key that, according to legend, opens the ancient tomb of Ashkanar,' Gaius said.

'I remember my father talk of such a tomb. It contained a dragon's egg,' Arthur said.

'It has been said,' Gaius agreed.

'You don't believe it to be true?' asked Arthur.

'Well, it is possible, sire. The wealth and wisdom of Ashkanar are without equal,' Gaius admitted.

'Is the egg still there?' asked Agravaine.

'I can't be certain. But, to my knowledge, no one has disturbed the tomb for more than four hundred years,' Gaius said.

'If anyone tried without the Triskellian they would find themselves killed by the protections on the tomb,' Emrys said. 'Even with the Triskellian …' Emrys trailed off.

'But with this Triskellian, someone could?' Arthur asked.

'Sire, a dragon's egg can live for a thousand years. Even today, it could still hatch, and another dragon would be born into this world,' Agravaine said.

'So, all my father's work to rid the world of these monsters would be undone,' Arthur said.

'They're not monsters,' Merlin said angrily. 'They're people who were betrayed and murdered!'

Emrys meanwhile snorted, 'only in the south of Bri-Albion. The dragons were alive and thriving north of the mountains of Rheged and in Gaul and Germania. In … when the ban on magic was repealed a few dragons began to return to the lands in particular places with treaties on where not to hunt.'

'That must be our fear,' Agravaine said.

'Then we have no choice. We must hunt down this intruder, destroy the egg,' Arthur said.

In the physician's chambers Gaius and Merlin are discussing the day's events.

'How could you be so stupid!? What were you thinking!?' Gaius was ranting.

'I am a dragon lord. It is my sacred duty to protect the last of the dragons,' Merlin said.

Emrys sighed sadly but didn't say anything.

'The tomb could've remained closed for another four hundred years and the egg would've been completely safe! Now Arthur's riding out intent on destroying it!' Gaius said.

'We have to hope that Borden gets there first,' Merlin said.

Gaius scoffs, 'you trust Borden? You really think he's going to release that dragon?' Gaius scoffs. 'I fear to think what he intends for the poor creature. Why couldn't you leave things alone!?'

In the main square outside the king's palace the knights are preparing to ride.

'Hurry up, Merlin!' Arthur orders.

The knights ride out. Merlin mounts and joins them.

They ride through the countryside.

'Same hoof tracks. We must be closing on him,' Arthur said.

'Look,' Merlin points to a pillar of smoke. 'He made camp. Ya!' he urges his horse on and they ride off.

That evening they find Borden's camp Arthur checks the campfire ashes.]

'It's still warm,' Arthur said.

'He can't have more than a few hours' lead on us,' Elyan said.

'We need to keep moving,' Arthur declared.

Later, Arthur dismounts and checks the hillside.

'Deer tracks,' Arthur frowns.

'We lost him?' Leon asked.

'But we know where he's going why can't we just go to the tomb and head him off?' asked Merlin.

'Nobody knew where the tomb was,' explained Emrys. 'I never found out how exactly Borden discovered it. But it meant we were forced to track him rather than go to the tomb.'

'It's getting too dark to see. We have to find somewhere to hole up for the night,' Arthur said.

'But we're so close to him,' Merlin complained.

'Unless you can see in the dark, Merlin, there's not much else we can do,' Arthur said.

'I can,' Merlin said brightly.

'Yeah well we can't,' Arthur said.

'A light charm will solve that and is basic magic,' Merlin said.

That night Merlin serves supper to the knights.

'Whoa. I'm famished,' Leon complains as Merlin gives him more. 'Thank you.'

'Ah, I'm hungry as a horse,' Gwaine complains.

'Can't you even serve yourself,' Gwen scowled. 'Honestly, I don't know how Merlin puts up with you without cursing you all.'

'Sometimes it's very tempting,' Merlin smiled.

Merlin serves Gwaine some extra and then crouches down to pour some in his own plate.

'As a point, Merlin, have you fed them?' Arthur asked.

'You can feed your own horses, Arthur Pendragon,' Gwen lectures.

Arthur grimaced, 'it's his job.'

'You can let him eat first,' Gwen argued.

'What?' Merlin asked.

'The horses,' Arthur said.

'Well—' Merlin began.

'Come on, there must be starving,' Arthur said.

'I am sure so was I,' Merlin muttered. 'Wasn't I Emrys?'

Emrys shrugged sighing, 'it was a long time ago … age dulls all memories.'

'But—' Merlin tried to protest.

'On your toes,' Arthur orders.

Merlin feeds the horses. He senses something, but sees no one.

'Mm. That was lovely, Merlin. Thanks.' Gwaine hands Merlin his empty plate. The others do likewise.]

'Er, I loved it,' Percival agrees.

'Me, too,' Leon said.

'If you're gonna wash those, wash this, too,' Arthur hands Merlin the cooking pot.

'Thanks,' Merlin said.

'Hang on, there's still a bit left,' Arthur scoops it up with the ladle and eats the last of the stew. Arthur nods and points to the pot, 'mm. Mm. '

'Good, was it?' Merlin says tersely.

Gwen eyes burning furiously, 'you didn't let him eat! Arthur Pendragon, how could you be so cruel?'

'Little bit salty, though,' Arthur pats Merlin on the arm and walks off. Merlin sulks away to do the dishes.

Leon chuckles, 'Merlin.'

Merlin turns around and Leon pulls out Merlin's plate.

'That's not funny,' Gwen said eyes fiery. 'Elyan, Gwaine, Percival, Lancelot you should know better! As for Arthur and Leon it is easy for you as you've never had to fear not having enough food to last. To tease someone who does not have that liberty is cruel!'

Arthur looked down, 'I'm sorry.'

'It's not me you should be apologising to,' Gwen said sharply.

Arthur nodded, 'I am sorry, Merlin.'

Merlin shrugged, 'it's fine.'

'There's another plate here,' Leon said.

The knights laugh and Merlin can't help but join them.

Gwen sighed, 'you're too forgiving sometimes, Merlin.'

Hunith nodded, 'you have a good heart.'

Later that night the knights and Merlin are all asleep. Merlin startles awake when he hears a whisper in his mind.

'Emrys. Emrys.' Iseldir sounds out telepathically.

'That's the Druid Leader, right,' Elyan said.

Merlin nods, 'he must be warning me about Borden.'

Merlin stands up as Iseldir's voice continues to ring out in his mind. Merlin follows the sound of the voice through the woods.

'Where are you?' Merlin calls back.

'Emrys,' Iseldir calls.

Merlin finds the druids in the woods. Iseldir lowers his hood.

'Do not be afraid. We know your quest,' Iseldir says.

'How?' Merlin asks surprised.

'The man you seek also stole from us. He passed through these woods not three hours before you,' Iseldir explains.

'They're just helping you to no benefit for them,' frowned Arthur.

'I think more would help you if you gave them the chance,' Lancelot said quietly. 'The laws mean that those who do not use magic for evil are forced to hide out of fear even when they could help.'

'Which way did he go?' asked Merlin.

'To the east. But you must be wary, Emrys. The legends tell a tale that only the druids know,' warned Iseldir.

'What do they say?' asked Merlin.

'Ashkanar was a wise man. He knew one day men would come seeking to disturb his rest. The Triskellian is not just a key. It is also a trap,' warned Iseldir.

'What kind of trap?' demanded Arthur.

'What do you mean? What kind of trap?' demanded Merlin.

'I do not know. But the legends are very clear, you must beware, Emrys,' Iseldir warned.

Merlin looks uncomfortably at the circle of druids and starts to head back to camp.

'Emrys,' Iseldir says.

Merlin stops.

'There is one other thing the legends say. Only when the way ahead seems impossible will you have found it,' Iseldir says.

'What is it with magic users and riddles!' Arthur grumbled.

'Tell me about it,' agreed Merlin.

Merlin leaves.

The next day the knights sneak through the woods, swords drawn. They enter Borden's camp only to find it abandoned.

'He must've left in the night,' Arthur said.

'No horse tracks,' Gwaine said.

'Covering them is a basic magic spell,' Merlin said. 'Even a weak hedge wizard like Borden would be able to manage it.'

'He's covered them,' Leon said.

'We had him. We were so close,' Merlin walks off purposefully.

'Where are you going? We don't even know which way he went,' Arthur pointed out.

'He's heading east,' Merlin said.

'How do you know that?' asked Arthur.

Merlin shrugged, 'how am I supposed to know.'

'I wasn't talking to you,' Arthur said rolling his eyes. 'Or not you you – the other you.'

Emrys shrugged, 'the closer to the tomb the stronger the power I could feel there.'

'How do you know that?' asked Arthur.

Merlin tries to think on his feet, 'because I can sense it.'

Gwen groaned, 'how come we haven't caught on – half the time you tell us the truth, the other half of the time you say you were looking for woodlouse.'

Gaius shrugged, 'honestly that's something I ask myself daily. For someone with such a life-threatening secret Merlin is terrible at keeping them.'

Hunith sighed, 'there's a reason I didn't let him out to play with the other children. I couldn't trust him with anyone else.'

'Sense is not a word I associate with you, Merlin,' Arthur said.

'Hey,' Merlin said.

Elyan finds some horse dung, 'hang on! He's right.'

'He can't be,' Arthur said.

'Well done, Merlin,' Leon said.

'You ever heard of the word "sorry"?' asked Merlin.

'No, is that another word you made up?' asked Arthur.

A few hours later the Knights and Merlin are approaching the mouth of a cave.

'It's a dead end. That's it. Let's go back,' Arthur declares.

The knights turn back but Merlin continues looking towards the cave.

'What about the cave?' Merlin asked.

'We're wasting our time,' Arthur said.

'Arthur,' Percival says suddenly. 'Arthur.'

Percival points down at a muddy footprint by the water. They enter the cave and draw their swords. They keep going deeper.

'Merlin, this is ridiculous. Where's he heading?' asked Arthur.

'There's light ahead,' Merlin said.

They come to a waterfall. Arthur sheathes his sword and puts his hand through it and crosses to the other side. They continue on the other side.

'No wonder no one's ever found it,' Gwaine said.

They walk down a hill towards a giant tower.

They walk down a large trench path towards the tower and Percival gets shot in the leg with an arrow.

'Take cover!' Arthur shouts.

They press their backs into the trench walls. An arrow lands between Arthur's feet. Borden loads another arrow. Percival groans in pain.

'You all right?' Arthur asks.

'He's just been shot, what do you think?' Merlin snapped slightly.

'Yeah,' Percival said wincing slightly.

'See he's fine,' Arthur said.

'You and I have a very different idea of fine,' muttered Merlin.

An arrow flies next to Percival's head.

'Where's he firing from?' Arthur shouted and turns to Leon. 'I'll draw fire, get him to safety.'

'Of course, you will, you have no survival instincts,' Merlin sighed.

'Neither do you, my dear boy,' Hunith rebutted gently.

'Thank you,' Arthur said triumphantly.

Arthur nods to Percival. Borden shoots at Arthur as he dodges to the other side and Leon helps Percival to his feet so he can take cover against the wall. Merlin sees Borden move on the ridge.

'Arthur,' Merlin whisprtd.

Merlin directs Arthur's line of vision. Arthur peeks out for a moment, then motions a plan to the knights. Arthur sprints to the other side of the trench and Merlin magicks the crossbow out of Borden's hands and smashes it against a tree. Borden runs off. Arthur reaches Borden's former position.

'What happened? Where's he gone?' asks Arthur.

'Perhaps he ran out of bolts,' Merlin suggests.

Gwen snorted, 'or out of crossbow.'

Arthur sneaks through the woods and the others follow, Percival limps along. Merlin dashes past Arthur.

'Careful!' Arthur warns.

Merlin stops and slides and Arthur pulls him back.

'Who knows what he's left lying in wait for us,' Arthur warned.

'Thank you for looking out for Merlin,' Hunith smiled.

'Well someone has to,' Arthur said.

'We can go around that,' Merlin said.

'No,' Arthur grabs Merlin to stop him. 'He knows we're coming.'

'That's a risk we have to take!' Merlin said.

'You were really determined to get the egg,' Arthur said.

'After my failure to save your father, to convince you that magic could be a good, I needed to save that egg,' Emrys said with a sigh. 'Also, all my instincts as a Dragon Lord were burning in me.'

'We'll make camp, continue at dawn,' Arthur said.

At camp the knights relax while Merlin cooks dinner. Merlin steps away from the pot for a moment Borden shoots something into it with a slingshot. Merlin checks to see that the knights are busy, then tries to serve himself first. Arthur comes over and grabs the plate just as he's about to take a bite.

'Merlin, can you get some more firewood?' Arthur asks.

'Well, I was just going to try the soup—' Merlin says as he eats it.

'Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. This is good. Guys, you got to try this,' Arthur said.

The knights head over with their plates and serve themselves. Merlin comes back from collecting firewood to find them all passed out.

'All right, don't tell me...it was too salty,' Merlin said.

'I forgot how salty I was,' murmured Emrys.

'Huh?' asked Arthur.

'Modern colloquialisms,' Emrys shrugged.

Merlin gets closer and sees they're fast asleep. Gwaine is snoring. Merlin drops the wood loudly, but no one stirs. He crouches down to the soup bowl.

'Well, if you think I'm doing the washing...' Merlin mutters.

'What do you think I employ you for?' asked Arthur.

'Making sure you don't get killed,' Merlin quipped.

Arthur frowned, 'mmmh.'

Merlin finds the poultice that Borden shot into the soup and sniffs it. He hears Arthur start having trouble breathing. Merlin rushes over to check on him. The rest begin to suffocate as well. Merlin places a hand on Arthur's chest.

Merlin whispers, 'Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare!'

Arthur takes a full breath and returns to normal. Merlin rushes to Leon next.

'I finally got a hang of healing,' Merlin said triumphantly.

'I spent the winter practicing,' Emrys admitted. 'Didn't want something like Uther to happen again.'

Arthur sighed, 'it wasn't your fault. It was Morgana's and Agravaine's and mine for trusting the wrong person … again!'

'It wasn't your fault either,' Gwen said gently. 'You trusted your family, of course you did, it's on them that they are completely untrustworthy.'

Merlin whispers, Ic þe þurhhæle þin licsare!'

The next day Merlin scrambles through the forest in pursuit of Borden. He stops at the tower and sees Borden climbing into it. Merlin follows.

'Did you just leave us?' asked Arthur.

Emrys shrugged, 'you were going to be fine and I left protections on the camp so bandits wouldn't be able to find you. But you being out of the way meant I was able to pursue Borden without being hampered by need of secrecy.'

That night Borden arrives at the entrance of the Tomb of Ashkanar. The keyhole is on the wall. Merlin approaches. Borden puts the key in the hole and turns the lock. Merlin turns the corner and finds him.]

'No!' Merlin shouts.

The door opens and Borden looks back at Merlin before entering. As he does, smoke pours into his face from the mouths of gargoyles. Borden coughs and sinks to the ground and the smoke floods down towards Merlin. Merlin covers his face with his jacket and holds up a hand.

'Þrosm tohweorfe!' Merlin incants.

Merlin's eyes glow and the smoke dissipates. Merlin crouches down by the unconscious Borden, picks up the torch, and continues on. Merlin walks up some steps to a great hall. He smiles as he sees the dragon egg, shaped like a teardrop, on a sunlit pedestal. He approaches and puts down the torch. He touches the dragon egg.

'It's beautiful,' Merlin whispers.

Emrys smiled, 'dragon eggs always are.'

'Give it to me,' Borden says as walks up the steps.

Merlin angry, 'it's not yours to take.'

'You give it to me and I will grant you a half-share, Merlin,' Borden promises.

Arthur snorts, 'after everything he's not going to believe that even if he was interested in coin.'

'No, it must go free,' Merlin insisted.

'Don't be a fool! Think of the power it could bring us! The lands we can rule over, the riches,' Borden said.

'I'm not interested in that,' Merlin said.

'If I ever was, I would not need Borden's help to do so,' Emrys said darkly.

'With this dragon at our command, we will live like kings. We will have the freedom and power to do as we wish!' Borden said.

'Merlin already has a full-grown dragon to command if he wanted that,' snorted Arthur. 'Luckily for us Merlin isn't interested in power and domination.'

'Dragons cannot be used like that! They must be left unshackled, free to roam the earth,' Merlin argued.

'But this is your chance, Merlin. Your chance to escape your meaningless life, your worthless existence!' Borden argued.

'Self-worth does not come from power and dominion over others,' Emrys said quietly.

'It's not my life pitiable, it's yours. Wasted...for nothing,' Merlin declared.

Borden grabs the torch and threatens Merlin with it, 'I pieced together the Triskellian. I found the path that led us here! The dragon belongs to me! Now, hand it over!'

'Dragons belong to no man not even dragon lords,' Merlin said harshly.

'No,' Merlin said.

Borden swings the torch at Merlin, 'you are not gonna stop me, boy!'

'You clearly have no idea who you're dealing with,' snorted Arthur.

'No, he didn't,' Emrys said gravely.

'Dragon's are magical creatures! They belong to no man!' Merlin said as he falls to the ground. 'They are for the benefit of all!'

Emrys shook his head, 'they are a benefit for themselves.'

Borden scoffs, 'what do you know? Huh!? You are but a serving boy!'

'I am the last dragonlord,' Merlin said darkly.

Borden's face falls.

'He looked scared,' murmured Gwen.

Gaius sighed, 'Dragonlords were highly regarded for their powers. Borden is a weak magician he knows that he would not be able to counteract a Dragonlords powers.'

'And I am warning you...leave this egg alone,' Merlin said voice dark.

Borden glances at the egg, then tries to strike Merlin with the torch. Merlin throws Borden backwards, knocking him unconscious. Merlin gets up and takes the egg and the tower begins to collapse.

'So that's what they meant by trap,' murmured Merlin.

Merlin runs out, dodging falling rock. He reaches his satchel in the woods and puts the dragon egg in it. The knights run up to him.

'What the hell happened?' Arthur demanded.

'The tomb is a trap. He set it off. He never got out,' Merlin said.

'And it had nothing to do with you blasting him with magic,' Arthur said.

'What about the egg?' Arthur asked.

Merlin shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders, 'it would've perished with him.'

'And so, we had no idea it had survived,' Arthur said.

'You would never have stopped looked for him,' Emrys said.

'Are you sure? We need to be certain,' Arthur said.

'Nothing's going to survive under all that,' Leon said.

'Unless its already been taken from the tomb,' muttered Merlin.

The tower completely collapses. Merlin glances down at the bag at his feet.

A few nights later Merlin is back in the Camelot where he and Merlin and Gaius eat supper in the physician's chambers.

'Shame about the egg,' Gaius said.

'Yes,' Merlin said.

'You weren't able to save it?' asked Gaius.

Merlin shakes his head, 'no.'

Gaius regards Merlin for a long moment and Merlin keeps himself busy. Merlin looks up and Gaius tilts his head in question. Merlin starts to grin and Gaius joins in. They start to chuckle. Merlin gets up quickly and fetches the egg.

'All the jewels, all the treasures, Gaius, they don't compare,' Merlin pulls it out carefully and hands it to Gaius.

'And it was nearly lost because of you,' Gaius says.

'Way to ruin the moment, Gaius,' Arthur says.

'But he is right,' Emrys sighed sadly.

'I'm sorry, Gaius. I was too quick to act,' Merlin says quietly.

'You have to think things through. Ashkanar did exactly that. He had the foresight to conceal this for more than four hundred years. And now it's down to you, Merlin,' Gaius hands the egg back to Merlin. 'For you to decide what you intend to do with it.'

'I thought about that. I'm going to make sure it goes back to where it belongs,' Merlin said.

In the forest clearing Merlin carries the egg through the forest and places it on a tree stump. Kilgharrah flies in and looks happily down at the dragon egg.

'Do you really think Kilgharrah is parenting material?' asked Gwen quietly.

'Is it still alive?' asked Merlin.

'It can live for more than a thousand years,' Kilgarrah replied.

Merlin smiles, 'so, you are no longer the last of your kind.'

'But you said that there were other dragons up north,' Merlin said.

Emrys snorted, 'since when has Kilgarrah ever been honest. Plus, I don't think Kilgarrah has strayed far from us since being freed. We didn't discover more until … until we explored the world later.'

Kilgarrah chuckles, 'it would seem not.'

'When will it hatch?' asked Merlin.

'Young dragons were called into the world by the dragonlords. Only they had the power to summon them from the egg. As the last dragonlord, this solemn duty falls to you, Merlin,' Kilgarrah said.

'How does that even work?' demanded Merlin said. 'Does that mean my ancestors created the dragons?'

Emrys shook his head, 'no in other places in the world Dragon Kings are those that can call an egg into existence and control their people. Like with Dragonlords the title is passed to their eldest childe when the sire dies. But the Isles of Albion the last Dragon King existed many thousands of years ago. He fell in love with a human and with powerful transformative magic he became human. Together they had thirteen children but due to their half-human nature the eldest could not inherit the title of Dragon King, so it was divided amongst the thirteen children these were the first Dragonlords.'

'How do I summon it?' asked Merlin.

'You must give the dragon a name,' Kilgarrah said.

'That's it?' asked Arthur.

'Names have power,' Merlin said gravely.

Merlin thinks for a moment and sighs when he decides. He closes his eyes and Kilgharrah watches him.

'Aithusa,' Merlin hisses in Dragontongue.

The egg cracks and out pops the cutest little baby dragon you've ever seen.

'That's really cute,' cooed Gwen.

'A white dragon is, indeed, a rare thing...and fitting. For in the dragon tongue, you named him after the light of the sun. No dragon birth is without meaning,' Kilgarrah said.

Merlin smiles and cries as he watches the dragon continue to break its way out of its shell.

'Are you crying?' asked Arthur. 'You really are a girl.'

'There hasn't been a dragon hatched in at least twenty years,' Gaius said. 'It was a momentous occasion.'

'And any newly hatched dragons were the first to be killed,' Emrys said with a sigh. 'Before their scales harden at about hundred years they are as vulnerable to knife attacks as any. Its why their parents are so protective of them.'

'Sometimes the meaning is hard to see, but this time I believe it is clear. The white dragon bodes well for Albion, for you and Arthur, and for the land that you will build together.' Kilgarrah said.

'Well that's good,' Gwen said.

'Signs can be misleading,' Emrys said grimly.

I hope everyone is safe and well.