Arthur glared out at the smoking remains of Camelot.

"This isn't your fault," Merlin whispered.

"Yes, it is."

The warlock grabbed his shoulder and gently turned him. "No, it isn't. The dragon used us and Morgause forced your hand. And if it wasn't for me, you'd never have met the dragon. We both made that promise back with Sigan. If you have to blame anyone, blame me."

Arthur pulled free and turned back to the window. "I was the one who wielded the sword that cut the dragon's chains, the one who swore on his honor to free him immediately after defeating the Knights of Medhir. I am the one who wrought this destruction on Camelot."

"Are you sure about this, Arthur?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Merlin shook his head. "My magic is useless."

"Then we have no choice."

"I've never even heard of a dragonlord."

"Neither have I. See if you can get some information from Gaius. We need to know as much as we can if we're to convince this Balinor to help us."

Merlin nodded. "How's your shoulder?"

"It's fine."

"Gwen said -"

"Gaius saw to it. It's fine. Go, do your job."

Merlin eyed Arthur, but left him to pack.

When he reached the Physician's Chambers, Gaius was pacing. Merlin sent him a curious look as he passed to his room. "Are you okay?"

Gaius hummed and waved him on.

He quickly gathered his spare clothes and a bedroll and packed them into his bag. He came out to see Gaius still pacing. As he gathered some herbs and bandages to bring for emergencies, he asked, "Who were the dragonlords?" He looked up when he didn't get an answer. "Gaius?"

His uncle finally stopped pacing. "There were once men who could talk to the dragons, tame them."

"What happened to them?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant and turning back to the herbs.

"Uther believed that the art of the dragonlord was too close to magic. So he had them all rounded up and slaughtered."

"But one survived. How did you know?"

"I helped him escape."

Merlin looked up at him, shocked. "Gaius?"

The physician stared back with a frown. He came over to the table, leaning against the other side. "Merlin, you've never heard the name Balinor?"

"No," he answered truthfully. Why would he?

"Your mother never mentioned him?"

Merlin blinked and set down the herbs in his hands. "My mother?"

"She took him in."

"She stood up against Uther?" he said, amazed. His mother? The woman who had spent his life panicking over even the smallest use of magic? Had housed a man on the run from Uther?

"Yes."

"She was brave," he said for lack of anything else to say.

"Yes. When Uther discovered where Balinor was, he sent knights to Ealdor to hunt him down. He was forced to flee."

"Why didn't my mother tell me any of this?"

"Merlin," Gaius said, coming to his side. "I promised her I would never speak of these things."

"Of what?"

"I've always treated you as my son, but that is not what you are. The man you are going to look for… is… your father."

Merlin had been smiling at the first part, but it fled as Gaius continued. "My father?"

"Yes."

Merlin shook his head. "He was a dragonlord? Why did no one ever tell me?" he shouted, backing away.

"I wanted to. Your mother feared it would be too dangerous."

"I had a right to know!" he yelled, grabbing the last of the herbs.

"She wanted to protect you."

"No. I had a right to know." He shoved the supplies into his bag and stormed out.

His father… and they'd never said a word!

"Merlin?"

And now, he was going to meet him! After all this time! And he was only just now finding out!

"Merlin." Gwen grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. "Are okay?"

"Fine."

"Are you -"

"I need to go get the horses and Arthur ready."

"Bu-"

Merlin pulled away from her and ran down the hall. He stopped in the kitchen to quickly grab some travel food then rushed off to the stables, ignoring anyone who tried to stop him.

He got Llamrei saddled up and was finishing up Hengroen when Gaius walked up behind him.

"You got everything you need?"

Merlin ducked his head at the timid voice. "I'm sorry." He wasn't angry, really, just… just… "I didn't mean to…"

"I know that."

"Come on, Merlin," Arthur called and Merlin came around the stallion to see he was dressed for travel.

"You're ready?

"No thanks to you," he said, though Merlin could see him looking him over and turned away quickly.

He climbed up into the saddle as Arthur got on Llamrei and Gaius set his hand on his leg.

He watched Arthur ride off then whispered, "Merlin, whatever happens, you must not let Arthur know who this man is. Uther would view the son of a dragonlord with the deepest suspicion."

Not for the first time, he considered telling Gaius everything. If Gaius had risked helping his father - THE DRAGONLORD! Gaius had known his father! - and had been keeping his heritage secret all this time - even from him! - then surely he would keep his secret, right?

But Gaius had made it seem like dragonlords and sorcerers were separate things, and Gaius had always seemed close to Uther, loyal to him. Maybe a dragonlord was worth it, but a sorcerer wasn't?

Merlin gave his uncle a nod and followed after his prince.

Arthur looked back at Merlin and rolled his eyes. "What is wrong with you today?"

"What?" he asked, rolling over to look at the prince.

"It pains me to admit it, but I do enjoy your surly retorts. In fact, it's probably your only redeemable feature."

"Thanks."

"Guinevere said you were in a mood with her too. Said I needed to make sure you were okay." Arthur carefully laid back on the bed, doing his best to ignore the pain from his injury. "So what is it?"

Merlin stared at the ceiling for a moment before blurting out, "The Dragonlord is my father."

"What?" Arthur nearly jerked upright, but a sharp pain kept him down.

The warlock nodded.

"How? What do you mean? How could he be your father? I thought you said you didn't know your father."

"I don't. Gaius just told me."

"How would Gaius know?"

"Apparently he smuggled him out of Camelot with my mother's help."

"Gaius…" Arthur shook his head. "I'm too tired for this conversation." He placed his uninjured arm over his eyes. "So what abilities does a Dragonlord have, exactly?"

"Controlling dragons, I guess. Gaius didn't go into detail.

"If your father is a Dragonlord, can you learn to be one as well?"

"I don't know. Gaius didn't say."

"Did Gaius tell you anything?"

"Not really. I might have stormed out right after he told me he was my father. I was angry that he and Mother had kept it a secret."

"It seems both our mother's like their secrets," Arthur sighed. "Especially where magic and our births are involved."

Merlin flinched. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"Go to sleep, Merlin."

"Goodnight, Arthur."

"… Goodnight."

Arthur yawned as he sat up, stretching his back out. "Merlin."

When he didn't receive a response, he looked around for his magical servant.

He was shocked to realize he was sitting in a cave, nestled within a pile of furs. There were supplies scattered about, including the remains of a cookfire. "Merlin?" he called again as he stood up. He stretched again then headed out of the cave.

Smiling, he spotted Merlin sitting on a rock. "I feel great! What the hell did you do to me?"

"It was all down to Balinor."

Arthur followed his gaze to see a man standing by a river. "So we found him, then? Thank heaven for that. Have you spoken to him?"

"Unfortunately. He won't help."

"What?"

"He doesn't care. People are dying and he doesn't -" Merlin ducked his head.

Arthur frowned and glanced at the man. "Did you tell him? About you?"

"No."

"Why?"

Merlin's shoulders scrunched up and his fists clenched. "What would that say if he only helps because of me? If that even changes his mind. Maybe he'll just tell me to stay here or go to Mother. Or maybe he won't care at all."

Arthur scowled. "I'm going to talk to him."

"Arthur, please, don't tell him."

He wanted to. He wanted to shove Merlin in the man's face to make him see how he was hurting his son. It wasn't his place though. Merlin didn't interfere with Arthur's relationship with his father, it was only right that he do the same for Merlin.

He nodded and marched up to the man.

"I don't know what it is to have a son."

"Or I a father."

The two stared at each other until a branch snapped and they turned to see Arthur patrolling past.

"You must be wary of Uther," Balinor said, watching the prince.

"I know."

Merlin was setting up the firewood when Arthur returned from his patrol. "All clear?"

"For now."

He hummed. "I… I told him."

Arthur sat down on a log next to him. "How'd he take it?"

"Good, I think. He seemed happy." Merlin looked up at him with a big smile and he snorted.

"So you were being a girl about it for nothing."

"You're such a prat."

"Oh yeah?" Arthur hooked his arm around Merlin's neck and dragged him in to dig his knuckles into the top of his head.

"Ow! Come on! Let go!"

A throat cleared and Arthur looked up to see Balinor glaring down at him.

Suddenly it occurred to the prince that the boy he had in a headlock was the son of a man with unknown power, a grudge against his family, and no way of knowing that this was all just horseplay and Arthur would never actually hurt Merlin, that he thought of Merlin as the closest thing he had to a best friend.

If not more.

Arthur froze and Merlin took the chance to escape, laughing. "Clotpole."

He shot the boy a look out of reflex. "Idiot."

He looked back up and relaxed at seeing the Dragonlord's scowl had fallen to bemused glancing between the two. Balinor set the branches he was carrying down next to the logs and moved to the firewood Merlin had set up.

"Oh, I'll take care of that," Merlin said, raising his hand.

Arthur realized what Merlin was about to do a second too late. "Mer-"

"Bæl on bryne."

Fire engulfed the wood, making Balinor jump back and turn back to them.

"Merlin!"

Rubbing the back of his head where Arthur had smacked him, the warlock pouted. "What was that for?"

"Don't just do that out in the open!"

"We're the only ones around! You said so yourself!"

"Yes, except for -" Arthur waved his hand towards Balinor.

"What?" Merlin glanced briefly at the man before increasing his pout. "He's not going to tell anyone. Even if he wasn't my father, why would he? Uther wants him dead too."

"What part of the less people who know, the better don't you understand?"

"The part where he's my father."

"You buffoon!"

"Clotpole."

"Dunderhead."

"Turnip-Head."

Arthur turned away from the warlock with a growl, which brought Balinor into his field of view.

The Dragonlord was watching him with a wary gaze, one hand on his sword. His own gaze narrowed and his hand matched the man's.

Merlin, unaware of the two's staredown, huffed and stood up. "Now if you're done, I'm going to make us something to eat."

The two stared at each other in silence until Merlin had reached the horses.

"He has magic, and you are aware of it," Balinor stated.

"Have been since he came to Camelot."

"And your father lets him live?"

"He doesn't know, despite Merlin's best attempts. I've been looking after his neck."

Balinor crossed his arms, but didn't look any less ready to attack and Arthur had dealt with enough mages to know the man didn't need a sword to fight. "You would shelter him against your father's laws?"

"Merlin has done much for me, most of it at my request." Arthur looked over to the boy, who was digging through their bags. "If it weren't for my father's laws, I'd have made him a knight. Since I can't, I merely do what I can to protect him. I owe him too much to turn him over to the pyre."

"He's your friend?" the Dragonlord asked, incredulous.

"Likely the closest thing to one I can have as a prince," Arthur downplayed.

Balinor snorted. "Your father thought well of Nimueh and Gaius and look where they are now. Nimueh hunted and Gaius banned from his magic."

"Merlin isn't Nimueh."

"And what do you know about Nimueh?"

"I know she wasn't as innocent as she claimed, even if she wasn't as guilty as my father does."

Balinor hummed, but said nothing else as Merlin returned.

"Why did you never return?" Merlin asked, watching his father carve at some wood.

"I thought her life would be better without me."

"Why?"

"Uther wanted me dead. If he'd found me, he'd have killed me, and your mother. I wanted her to be safe," Balinor said, staring into the fire. "I tried to move past her, even thought of trying to take down Uther after a few years. I didn't trust Lewdwn, Cenred's father, but I reached out to some of his more trustworthy lords and ladies. Stayed with one for a short time, but then we realized I couldn't give her what she wanted, no matter how hard I tried."

"What was that?" Merlin asked, leaning closer.

"My heart," Balinor sighed, turning back to him with a sad smile. "I just couldn't get past your mother, so we went our separate ways."

"You could've come back. We'd have gone with you."

"What kind of life would you have had here?"

"We'd have been… happy."

Arthur watched as Balinor stroked the flames of their campfire. He glanced over at the still sleeping Merlin then leaned forwards. "So, what powers does a Dragonlord possess?"

Balinor ignored him.

"Will Merlin be one when he's older?" Arthur asked.

There was silence.

"Is the lord part just referring to controlling dragons or do you actually have a noble title?" he continued, annoyance beginning to color his tone.

"The Dragonlords are not noble by power alone," Balinor said and Arthur perked up. "My family was, though. My ancestor, Aurelianus Ambrosius, claimed lordship after serving your own. By birthright, I would be the family's head and as such a lord."

Arthur's eyes widened. "I've never heard of the Ambrosius family."

"I'm not surprised. I'm sure your father destroyed all records of my family just as he did for all other noble families that had magic at their heart."

"I'm sorry," Arthur said, ducking his head as a familiar wave of guilt and anger tried to fill him.

So many lives and legacies lost because of his parents' selfishness.

Balinor watched him for a moment before nodding. "It is not on you and it is not you who should apologize." He didn't give the prince a chance to respond, moving over to set something in front of Merlin before settling back down on his furs to rest a while longer.

"AAAAAAH!"

Arthur cursed then struck down the last of Cenred's men. "Merlin!" he shouted, running up to where he'd left the warlock and his father.

He froze as he saw Merlin kneeling over the Dragonlord, whispering healing spell after healing spell. "No."

Merlin didn't acknowledge him, continuing to try to save his father's life.

Balinor, on the other hand, looked up at him. "Do right by my son, Pendragon."

Arthur knelt next to them. "I will, but without you, Camelot is doomed."

He raised a shaky hand and set it on the back of his son's neck, staring up at the boy. "The title isn't completely false. Like a noble's power, the power of the Dragonlord passes from father to son at the father's death." He dropped his hand and turned back to Arthur. "Your father knows this. He must not learn of our connection."

"I swear on my honor, I will do whatever I can to keep my father from learning what Merlin can do. No matter what, he will not face the pyre or any other form of execution."

"I'll hold you to it," he said before he closed his eyes and his head fell back.

Arthur bowed his head and set his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Merlin."

He yanked his arm away and kept incanting.

"Merlin, he's gone."

He shook his head.

The prince pulled him away from his father, turning him so they faced each other. "He's gone."

"No, I can still save him."

"No, Merlin, you can't."

"H-he's my father."

Arthur hesitated, then pulled Merlin into a hug. "I know."

"We've only just met."

"I know."

Arthur let the boy cry into his shoulder awhile before pulling back. "I'm sorry, but we can't stay here, Merlin," he said softly.

He nodded, scrubbing his face.

Arthur stood then helped Merlin to his feet. "We need to get back to Camelot, but I'll give you time to give him his rites."

"Thank you, Sire."