a/n 2: Yaaayy This chapter has been betaed. Ta Kripkeisgod

A/N: Wow. You all enjoyed the previous chapter. And your love motivated me to write. YAAAAAAY

Well, it's official. I've written a reveal fic. People kept voting for it, and seeing as every idea I had to not make it one turned out stupid, you guys won. Go celebrate!

I'm not sure about this chapter, especially the last bits. I rewrote them about 6 times but it all turned out the same. Once again it is unbetaed.

Any way this is all I have to say. Apart from Thank you to all who have reviewed, alerted, faviourited or just plain read this fic.

And here it is the chapter!

Chapter 12

"Merlin?!"

Ambrousius cursed extensively in head, a pattern repeated from their last meetings. The dragon knew he should be making excuses, how the knights were seeing things or alternatively lying about how a sorcerer had turned him into a dragon, intending to use him as a weapon, only to escape before the enslavement spell was placed.

But looking at the faces of his friends, dawning realisation shining brightly, and Ambrousius knew the time had come. He couldn't lie his way out of this one, not if he didn't want it to backfire terribly in his face later.

With a sigh and a nod, Ambrousius locked eyes with his king.

"Yes sire."

All of Arthur's hopes were dashed at those two words. He had hoped he was seeing things, that dollophead wasn't as remote as he was thought, that Merlin was just being clever when he convinced Arthur that he made the insult up. But he couldn't trick himself when the creature himself admitted it.

The silence, which had stretched well into the realm of uncomfortable, was broken by the hysterical laughter of the well travelled Gwaine. All eyes, human and reptile, turned the giggling man, who had sheathed his sword to grasp at his ribs.

He man was allowed to laugh until Percival, curious to what had set off the rouge, wacked him around the head to gain his attention. Gwaine yelped as he pitched forward, catching himself mid stumble to glare at the giant.

"What was that for?!"

Eylan raised a brow. "I don't know, what was your spontaneous fit of mirth about?"

Gwaine snorted. "Sorry it's just I was reminded of an old legend I heard in a tavern. Although I would have never pinned Merlin as being involved but if it's true, it answers a lot of questions about Merlin's behaviour before his disappearance."

At Arthur's 'carry on' look, the man starched the back of his head. "Basically before the purge, every 500 years, Dragonlords would be turned into dragons so they wouldn't forget their origins."

The king snorted. "That's ridiculous. It's more believable that someone turned him into this then the idiot being a Dragonlord. Isn't that right Merlin?"

The guilt on the scaly face disproved this. Ambrousius eyes were turned away and his whole posture screamed shame, signs that were well known from the human Merlin.

"You're a Dragonlord." The fact was delivered in a quiet accusing voice, which worried the magical reptile. "You're a Dragonlord. Why didn't you tell me?"

Ambrousius locked eyes with his friend. "I'm sorry Arthur. I wanted to but it was never the right time. I was scared."

The blonde man was still tense. "That doesn't explain everything. When the great dragon attacked, why didn't you say anything? Lives could have been saved if you said something. We wouldn't have had to go after Balinor!"

Ambrousius flinched at the name. "Arthur, the Dragonlord ability is inherited from father to son, but only upon the death of the predecessor, sort of like the kingship of a land. Balinor." The dragon paused as tears welled up, "Balinor was my father."

Silence once again reigned. The knights were saddened for the servant, whilst Arthur was stricken with guilt at his words that day the man had died.

Gwaine, worried about his friend, stepped forward. "Arthur. Can you blame him? Camelot is not the friendliness to people with magic. He didn't have a choice in his parents. It's not like he's a sorcerer. Right, Merlin?"

The look of guilt deepened. "I'm sorry Arthur."

Arthur wanted to laugh, wanted to demand proof, but the words caught in this throat. Merlin was a joker, but he would never fool about something as serious as this.

Rage filled the King. "Leave." He raised his sword, ignoring Gwaine's protest. The rest of the knight's followed his lead with various degrees of reluctance.

Ambrousius was stricken. "Arthur, please."

"NO!" That roar made it difficult to tell exactly who the dragon was. "Just shut up and leave. If I ever see you in Camelot again, as a human, dragon or even a dog, I will sentence you to death. And stay away from the villages and I won't have to hunt you down. Now go!" With that, the blonde swiped at his ex-friend. "Leave!"

The black reptile turned tail and flew off, eyes glistening with tears.

Ambrousius flew hard away from his friends, eyes shiny.

Emotions rolled through him. He was scared Arthur would come and hunt him down, that Gaius would be in danger for hiding him.

He was angry, angry at himself, for not being careful, for admitting the truth. At Arthur for not proving him wrong, for being too much like his father. At fate for placing this on this shoulders.

He was saddened at the lost of his old life. He was under no illusions that he would be able to return to how it was before his transformation, and deep inside he was mourning.

But strangely he was accepting of what had happened. His secret was eventually going to be revealed, and if Arthur couldn't accept what he was then that if the King's problem.

However this was his worse nightmare, all his hopes and dreams dashed with the rejection. It was hard to see his friend look at him with hatred.

Ambrousius was so lost in thought he didn't notice the form of his mentor approach him. When Kilgharrah spoke, he was so surprised he stopped flapping and fell a couple of feet before catching himself.

"What's the matter young one?"

Ambrousius shook himself before heading down to land, the Great Dragon following. Once he touched down, the transformed man curled into a ball, his head tucked under a charcoal wing.

Kilgharrah was unsure what to do. He wasn't the most comforting of creatures. A distant memory of his fledge-hood flittered through his mind, of the dams comforting him and the other hatchlings.

Awkwardly, the gold dragon settled next to his friend. He curled his tail around the smaller and settled a wing over him, cocooning the upset dragon. Cringing internally, Kilgharrah started to sing in draconic, a song his mother sang to him many years ago.

Ambrousius froze. He wasn't? He was! The big, fierce, confusing golden Great Dragon was singing, and quite terribly too. Even though he was still upset, Ambrousius started to giggle. This was so bizarre.

Kilgharrah was conflicted. On the one hand he was insulted that he was being laughed at but on the other he was happy that Ambrousius had cheered up. Deciding to ignore the laughter, the gold one asked what had made the black one so upset.

The younger dragon sobered. Quietly he began to explain what had happened with Arthur and the knights.

"I was just hoping that he'd accept me. Instead he hates me." He finished

Kilgharrah stared at the Dragonlord. "Young One, you and Arthur are two sides of the same coin. He cannot truly hate that which makes him whole. I have told you this already my friend."

Ambrousius saw red. He tore away from his mentor, turned and snarled. "What does that even mean? All you ever do is speak in riddles. You're no help to anyone."

With this, the upset creature lunged forward, teeth bared. Kilgharrah dodged with a snarl and turned to face the irrational fledgling.

The two titans squared off. Kilgharrah only hoped that his opponent forgot his ability to command dragons, as without it, Ambrousius was severely disadvantaged.

The two reptiles leapt, claws out stretched and jaws snapping. They both grabbed the other's neck, locking the other in place as they struggled to force the other to the ground.

Eventually Kilgharrah gained the upper hand, and with a heave managed to tear Ambrousius off him and pin the fledgling onto the ground. The darker dragon struggled until a growl from Kilgharrah caused him to freeze. The golden one replaced his jaw with a paw and glared down at his pupil.

"Are you done?"

Ambrousius looked up sheepishly. He nodded and climbed to his feet, looking away from his mentor. "Sorry." He mumbled.

The Great Dragon nodded, "Come on, let's go back to the lair."

The two dragons flew off toward the mountains.

They rode back in silence until the walls of Camelot came into view. When the gates came into focus, Arthur slowed his horse before stopping suddenly.

His brothers in arms paused and turned towards him. "We speak of this to no one, not Gaius, not Gwen, not anyone. As far as anyone needs to know is the Dragon is gone, we injured it and it flew off."

They all nodded although Gwaine didn't look happy. "But what about Mer..."

"WE DON'T SPEAK OF IT AGAIN." The King shouted. "As for Merlin, he's dead."

Gwaine was taken back but he scowled and nodded. He urged his steed forward, and the others followed as they rode home.

The dark woman paced in front of the army she had ... 'borrowed' from a petty king. It was so easy to manipulate men, they were all greedy of weak, false promises of land and gold and a simple bat of the eyelashes and they were eating out of her hand. And once they were in, threats and displays of powers kept them there.

The evil one banished those thoughts as she stalked in front of the warriors. Each man bore her mark, the crimson tree stood proud on tabards and shields. She grinned in glee, an insane light in her eyes as she imagined the down fall of the usurpers.

There was no way that her enemies could win. Before they had triumphed due to the luck of that idiotic servant, the boys annoying ability to discover her plans and spoil them. But now that Merlin was gone, nothing can stop her gaining her rightful inheritance.

Morgana spread her hands and addressed the crowd. "At dawn, we march to Camelot."

Yes, nothing could go wrong.

A/N: So there you go. And now, before I go and curl up into a ball of pain because of his headache and cold, a random fact (I learn weird stuff when I'm ill).

Ketchup has a speed limit of 0.028mph

And tune in next time for the next exciting chapter of Inheritance, where Arthur is still a prat, Merlin is still a dragon and magic stuff happens. (Insert credits here)