Thank you for all the support for this story! It really means a lot, and I actually have some more confidence in my writing now (meaning I don't think it's that terrible anymore).
So yeah! Please reid and review. Constructive criticism is welcome.
Side note: Aaaahhhhh! Criminal Minds is ending tomorrow! :(
Balinor reaches for that part of him, deep within, that connects him to the dragons of the world, that made him kin with them ('Them being a certain one that was currently terrorizing Camelot. Thanks a lot, Uther!). He remembers how it had felt before he had inherited his powers, the subtle emptiness there, that was suddenly filled with great strength at his father's death. And so he grasps onto that connection and pulls, letting out an almost primal scream to call the Great Dragon towards them, to a clearing in the forests surrounding Camelot.
The moment is soon over, and no, he does not miss the way Arthur and Merlin stare at him in shock and awe (nor how the latter seems to have jumped back about five feet).
"What the hell was that?" the prince asks.
"It was a dragon's call. Kilgharrah should be coming in at any moment."
"Kilgha...the dragon has a name?!"
Balinor decides to ignore that as a familiar large figure comes swooping into the clearing. Golden eyes, the color of magic, stare at the threesome with great knowledge and wisdom.
"Young dragonlord, you have summoned me. I did not think I would see you again."
Balinor sighs in regret. "While it-"
"The dragon can talk!" Balinor turns to glare at Arthur, who is, as usual, oblivious to it. "Merlin, do you not see this? It can talk!"
Merlin looks like he is suffocating himself trying not to laugh. On the other hand, the Great Dragon is not amused. "Well yes, young prince. How else can the beings of the world communicate with one another?" Balinor feels that Kilgharrah would've rolled his eyes, had he had the ability to do so.
Arthur splutters, and is, for once, speechless.
"As I was saying, it has been a long time, Kilgharrah, and I wish to express my regret over your imprisonment."
"It has long been forgiven, young dragonlord. The only one to blame is that tyrant, Uther," Kilgharrah says with much heat, shifting his gaze towards Arthur once again, who very much does not appreciate being scrutinized in this way by an intimidating dragon. "Your father has not been kind to the likes of magic."
"Magic has done much evil to my family, to the kingdom. But," he glances at Merlin, "I have learned that it isn't all evil, and that it can be used for good."
"I see," Kilgharrah says, impressed in just the slightest. "I never thought this day would come, when a Pendragon would come to accept magic."
"Well," Arthur says with a smile, "a certain clotpole here managed to convince me that my views were utterly wrong."
"That's my word," Merlin grumbles, but with no malice for there is a hint of a smile blooming on his face.
"But that does not excuse the sins of Uther Pendragon." All of their faces fall, and Balinor thinks the sudden change would've been hilarious had they not been in such a grievous situation.
"But Kilgharrah!" Merlin exclaims. "The people have done nothing to deserve this. Their lives should not be destroyed because of the actions of one person."
"And might I remind you that that person happens to be the king? He slaughtered the rest of my kind all because of the actions of one. Are these two situations not similar?"
"You promised," Merlin protests, with all the heat of a child being withheld from a favorite toy.
"Unfortunately for you, promises do not have much power over me. That is why you now have a dragonlord in your midst."
"Yes," Balinor simply says. "If you refuse to stop attacking Camelot, killing innocents, then I will have no choice but to kill you."
The dragon seems resigned to his death. "Before you do that, I must thank you, young warlock, for freeing me, and letting me out of that wretched cavern for my last few days." Kigharrah watches the prince, seeming to gauge his reaction.
"That was you?! You were the one who freed the Great Dragon and let him terrorize Camelot?" Arthur asks incredulously.
"He promised," Merlin repeats, glaring at the dragon with all the heat of a kitten. One with fuzzy black fur, as soft as expensive fabric and as dark as the night, and long whiskers that framed its face, along with a long, but thin tail to finish the look. Balinor could just see it.
Arthur simply sighs, and Balinor thinks that he's just gone through so many discoveries in the last few days that nothing will surprise him anymore. (He wonders if the revelation that Merlin is his son would make him react at all.) "So," Arthur says, looking at him and pulling out his sword in the process, "are we going to kill this dragon or not?"
He is just about to cast some spell when Merlin jumps in between them and the dragon, waving his hands frantically and looking ridiculous in every way. "You can't kill him!"
"Merlin, he attacked Camelot. Half the lower town's on fire. What else are we supposed to do?" Arthur asks.
"You...you can command him, right? Tell him to just...go away? Never come back and attack Camelot again? Or any kingdom, really?" And damn it, if his son had just a little bit more innocence in him, Balinor was sure he would burst. They had all immediately went towards violence as the answer, while Merlin had wanted to do anything to avoid that.
Balinor was sure that that innocence would have major consequences in the future (already did, considering he let Kilgharrah free because of a promise). But for now, he let it go, because he wasn't sure how long it'd last, with Merlin's destiny and all. He always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
And so he listens to Merlin, some pride swelling in his chest at the fact that his son had thought of the most logical, the best, solution to this whole mess. He commands the dragon to do just as Merlin had said, and Kilgharrah bows his head in gratitude.
Apparently, Arthur still hasn't caught up, because he is still in a fighting stance, sword in hand, staring at them as though they have grown more heads. "But...are you out of your minds?! I always knew you were an idiot, Merlin, but really? Oh, actually, you did release the dragon, so I really can't expect much from you."
"What's wrong with not killing him?" Merlin asks with a frown.
"What's wrong is that my father wants it dead."
"Well...I wan't exactly aware of that," Merlin says, a wide, mischievous smile growing on his face.
"Yes," Balinor catches on, "he never explicitly stated that we should slay the dragon. He simply said that we needed to stop him from attacking Camelot." He catches Merlin's eyes, and they both stupidly grin. Balinor figures they look pretty alike and all, what with the identical smiles and stuck-out ears, along with the black manes of messy hair.
To his credit, Arthur doesn't notice any similarities and simply sheaths his sword, massaging his brow with a hand. "I am not going to be the one telling my father about this. You two are going to be the death of me. Especially you, Merlin. What are you laughing about?"
Merlin just giggles and starts to run away as Arthur begins to chase him. Despite his armor, the prince easily catches up to the gangly boy and tackles him. They end up sprawled on the ground as Arthur grabs him around the neck and roughly rubs his head with his knuckles.
Balinor shakes his head at the sight of them acting like young children. He turns to see Kilgharrah's gaze on the scene, happier than he had ever seen him (if that was even possible for a dragon).
"You know, Balinor. I always thought I felt a deep connection with Merlin. I figured it was because of his great magic, but now I wonder..." He cocks his head to the side, scrutinizing Merlin in a new light as he tries to escape Arthur's grasp.
Balinor simply hums, for what more can be said? He has a son, and his love for Merlin is unquantifiable.
Needless to say, Uther isn't very happy when they get back.
But Kilgharrah has stopped attacking Camelot, Arthur has accepted magic and accepted Merlin, and Balinor has a son who has the kindest heart.
All is not well yet, but for now, those are the only things that matter.