A/N: Sorry for the delay.

Chapter 48

A Broken Beauty

Cedric found the white dragon relatively easy. She was caged at the back at Morganas camp and emitting soft whines and growls. She was left here as a back up plan in case Morgana failed to take Camelot in the first wave. The poor dragon was withered and her bones were deformed. Her white scales were dull and graying where they should be bright and brilliant as a diamond in the sunlight. What ever happened to this magnificent creature was written all over her. Maybe if he got her to his home she could be healed.

Cedric didn't waste any time. He whispered a single word and the lock popped open. The thick chains fell to the bottom of the cage with a clang before they slid off the edge and into the dirt. Cedric glanced behind him but when no one appeared he opened the cage door and slowly entered with hands raised.

Athusia lifter her head to see who disturbed her. She cocked her head to the side. Her human eyes assessed him, deciding whether or not he was an enemy that needed to be roasted. There was a long tense moment where Cedric was overwhelmed with the realization of how stupid this was for him to do. This was a tortured creature and he was a stranger- Cedric felt an awful lot like dinner suddenly.

Cedric swallowed and did as his father tought him. He started to speak in the old language of the dragons. It was a beautiful language akin to the elves, but more guttural. Like there was an underlining growl to each word. It did not carry any weight as a Dragon Lord's words would but it was a way to establish trust.

Athusia calmed and laid back down. He was no threat. He took advantage of her momentary trust and gently reached out and grabbed hold of one of her talons and transported them to the dragons keep. He didn't wast time. He flashed from one white marble hall to another in search of his parents. Athusia froze up, unsure of what was happening. She tried to tug her large talon from his hand. She wanted free. Cedric held on tighter. He used his own dragons' strength to keep hold. Two more flashes and he finally found his parents out in the outside gardens with the other two dragon eggs. A gold one and green one that glistened in the sun like jewels.

"Mother. Father." Cedric called. He let go of Athusia and stepped towards his parents, but Athusia whirled around on him. She crouched down and growled. "Whoa," He raised his hands in surrender.

"Maybe, you should let me deal with this one." Cedric grimaced at his fathers laughing voice come from behind him. His mothers tinkling laugh accented the familiar sound.

Athusia growled louder. Cedric nodded. "Yeah," He looked at his father with narrowed eyes. "You deal with her."

Cedric disappeared back into the halls of his home. His shoes echoed off the smooth floors and leaped back at him from the marble walls. A marble castle was noisy place to live, but it was fire proof, and that is what was important. He had not been home in near a year. It felt good to be home.

Cedric... a light feathery voice invaded his mind. Cedric... he froze. The voice was faint but but unmistakable. His blood ran cold. Omari.

Omari? Cedric asked, reaching out to her. Panic started to build when there was no answer. Omari!? Without another word he disappeared and went back to the battle to find his twin.

o0o

Percival paced back and forth in front of a dying Omari. Her half lidded eyes followed his every move. She could feel his frustration. The helplessness and anger that he suppressed. She wanted to sooth him like she would calm an agitated stallion.

Omari blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. Her eyelids fluttering several times before they refused to reopen. Her heart beat erratically in her chest. She felt hot, like there was fire under her skin. Her breath came in slow shallow pulls. Her body felt like it dipped down into the cold earth and jumped back to the surface. Her mind swirled and jiggled nauseatingly inside her head.

Percival didn't know what to do. He didn't want to lose her. She was breed of woman that he had never encountered before. A treasure he couldn't afford to lose. He could fight but he lacked the power to heal. He needed magic. He was useless!

"Is she dead?" A deep voice asked from behind him.

Percival whirled around sword up ready to take off their head. But the man disappeared from the spot he was standing only to reaper at Omari's side. Percival paused and watched the man warily.

The man knelt down and checked her wounds. He felt for a pulse. He sighed and visibly relaxed. "She still lives."

Percival let go of the breath he hadn't known he was holding. "You must be Cedric." Percival declared uncomfortably.

Cedric glanced up at him through the wet hair that fell over his forehead. His hypnotic hazel green eyes enticed Percival to look longer than was probably socially acceptable. They were identical to Omari's. Deceiving. The only difference was the contempt that shone from Cedrics eyes. As if he could put the blame of Omari's misfortune upon Percival.

"And you must be the stallion." Cedric grunted with short lived humor. Now that he knew she lived he felt a knot in his heart relax just he slightest.

"Excuse me?" Percival asked. He didn't know if he should be offended, embarrassed, or just uncomfortable that his lovers brother referred to him by Omari's nickname for him.

Cedric winked at him. Percival felt his cheeks heat. Yeah, definitely uncomfortable. And a shit tone of embarrassment.

"Cedric?" An angry voice demanded behind them. Percival stood up and spun around to confront the new arrival. Cedric stood up slower and more cautious. He glowered at the man.

"Theron." Cedric growled. "What are you doing here?"

"Its a war. Where else would I be?" Theron smiled. "The question is, Dragon Born, what are you doing here? Does your vow not prevent you to partake in such splendor?"

"And yet, I am here and ready to fight." Cedric growled deep in his throat.

Percival looked from one man tot he other. When Cedric growled a low animistic sound that sent chills up Percival spine he purposely averted his eyes back to Theron. What was that? And what the hell was a Dragon Born? Percival wondered.

"So I see. You've been out of the fight for some time. You sure you're up to it?"

"I could still beat you,"

Theron smiled wider. "I'm sure you could." He said indulgently. Finally Theron let his eyes travel to the woman laying at their feet. He came forward and ignored the way that Cedric watched him and the way his companion griped the hilt of his sword. He leaned down and hovered a hand over her chest.

"Omari, open your eyes. Give me the magic you have stored." Therons deep voice rumbled.

Slowly she opened her eyes. They roamed around like marbles before they landed on Percival. She gave a wobbly smile, but it faded when her eyes landed on Theron. Her heart gave a painful lurch. She had not seen him in years, she had begun tot think he was dead.

"Cousin." She greeted. "Where ya been?" She slurred. Her tongue felt swollen and her vision felt like it was getting smaller, narrowing to pinpoints.

"Give me the magic Omari."

"What? No." Omari frowned and shook her head. "Emrys needs it."

"Emrys needs something you cannot give, Dragon Born. Now, give me the magic."

They stared at each other for a long while before Omari gave in. She pulled the amulet she used to store the magic she tool from the sorcerers she killed and handed it over to Theron.

He took it and assessed the Jewel. She had managed to fill the amulet to near bursting. He placed the amulet over Omari's wound and covered it with his hand. He spoke softly in the ancient language. His eyes glowed gold and a soft radiant light engulfed Omari.

Omari's chest felt heavy and her head swam. Her breath hallowed and her heart slowed. The pause between beats became longer. She faded in and out unable to keep track of any one thing. Until the fire started. At first it was just on the surface. It licked at her wound before it traveled deeper into her body. Liquid heat filled her veins. With each pump of her heart the heat became hotter and hotter. Her back arched off the cold ground and she bit down on her lip to keep her screams inside but even as her teeth broke the skin the magic in her veins healed it over; it healed and replenished all it touched. Just when she thought she couldn't handle any more heat it stopped.

Her back slammed back to the ground, boneless. She had never felt so tired and yet so full of life than at that moment. She felt something ancient unfurled deep inside her like wings coming out of a cocoon. A rising euphoria spread over her. Her back arched again and she screamed. The dragon in her raised its head and roared.

Percival watched Theron heal Omari in a stat of awe. He was not from Camelot so he did not hold the same prejudice over magic that most in the kingdom did. So when Theron began to chant he was enraptured with the beauty of it. When the light faded and Omari settled Percival let out a breath of relief. But it was short lived. she suddenly arched her back again and screamed. For a moment here was slight out line of what looked like the spirit of a silver dragon encasing her. The dragon roared over her scream and caused the earth around them to rumble.

Cedric was not surprised when Theron healed Omari. He was glad he did. He just did not like the results. The spirit inside her came to life and when it roared it called tot he dragon buried deep within him. He had shackled the beast and locked him away and yet the call of his sister caused him to bellow from the depths of the prison Cedric built. He rattled his chains and rammed at the walls so hard that he fractured the prison. Cedric wouldn't be able to hide from him, Cedric was him. The dragon in him answered Omari's call and broke free.

Percival knelt down to comfort Omari and help her sit up. He ignored Theron as he stood up and walked over to Cedric.

Theron laughed. "Feels good to be whole again, doesn't it." His deep voice rumbled next to Cedric.

Theron knew what he was doing but he didn't know how The dragon borns' were going to handle it. They need to be one with their dragon if they are going to survive. He looked down at the amulet. There was still more than a dozen or more sorcerers magic stored inside.

Theron pulled off the lavender amethyst from around his neck that held Mordreds' soul and placed it next to Omaris' amulet in the center on his palm. He closed his hand around it and chanted one single word that resonated such power that it made the hair on his arms stand on end. The two small objects glowed a brilliant silver-lavender and melded together to make one. Theron felt life stir inside it. Mordred finally had enough energy to wake up. Just in time, Theron thought. If Emerys had Mordreds' amulet then maybe this will turn the tide.