Ahem, hem, hem,
Hello?
Right, I am really sorry to have disappeared for so long! I have been hit with this huge wave of utter laziness for which I am very sorry. And I received reviews (and an e-mail from my Beta) that made me feel so guilty!
I hope that this chapter will help you forgive me a bit!
Again, sorry, sorry, sorry, and thank you for still being there! I so appreciate that!
Enjoy!
Chapter 42:
Waking up began with regaining his sense of hearing. The cracking of a fire, the metallic sound of sword being sharpened and the deep breathes of a dragon next to him. All were familiar and calming. He felt wonderfully content, even if he couldn't quite remember where he was at the moment.
Gradually, he became aware of other things, the smell of burning wood and dampness, the feeling of something quite heavy and warm draped over his chest. It felt almost too warm and confining. He wished he could push it away but couldn't quite find the energy to do so. He still felt strangely disconnected from his body.
Time passed as he drifted, neither awake nor asleep but after a while he heard a voice in his head.
"Merlin?" It called.
He knew that he knew the voice, but he just couldn't quite place it at the moment.
"Please, Merlin, wake up…."
He could feel the desperation in the voice and it sent a jerk through him, bringing his memories flying back. He fought harder to make his way back to consciousness and managed to open his eyes.
He was immediately assaulted by bright light that hurt his eyes. He let out a groan.
"Merlin!" A voice cried out nearby, making him wince as his head gave another painful throb.
"Gwaine, not so loud." He ground out, shocked to hear that his voice was so scratchy.
He cautiously reopened his eyes and saw that he had been moved from the courtyard where he last remembered being.
Aithusa entered his line of sight and he was shocked to see the dragon's eyes were misty.
"Hey…" He greeted her, slowly reaching out to pet her.
It seemed to make her even more emotional as she let her head fall against his neck and Merlin thought he could feel her crying.
"Aithusa, what…"
"I was so worried!" She answered. "You wouldn't wake up, thought you were dead!"
Merlin was even more confused. He had never seen the young dragon like this.
"I… I don't understand."
"You were unconscious for almost a week Merlin." Gwaine finally explained.
"Oh…" That would explain why he felt so weak and drowsy. "Oh… I'm sorry Aithusa. I didn't mean to worry you like that…"
He felt the dragon shake his head.
"Idiot."
"Okay, I deserve that one." He conceded.
He let her hug him for some time but soon felt antsy to move after being in the same position so long.
The dragon gingerly took two steps back and Gwaine helped him sit up.
"Here, I'm sure you're hungry." The knight said, thrusting a plate of fruit and dried meat at him.
"Yeah, thank you Gwaine."
He began eating, only then noticing that he was definitely starving and in no time the plate was scraped clean.
The knight shook his head and gave him a second helping that Merlin ate much slower.
"I admit you had me worried too."
Merlin guessed by the way the knight kept watching him that the sentence was an understatement.
"Sorry…"
Silence fell for a moment more as the warlock finished his meal. But once finished, he could no longer ignore the question that had been in the back of his mind.
"So… Did it work? Did anyone come?"
Gwaine and Aithusa exchanged a glance. Merlin's heartbeat picked up in excitement.
"What?"
"I think we better show you." Gwaine said after a moment of silence.
He helped the warlock up, keeping his arm around his waist as Merlin swayed unsteadily on his feet.
"This way."
He slowly led Merlin across the corridor until they reached a closed door. There Gwaine stopped, knocked twice and opened it, stepping aside to let his friend enter first.
The warlock felt suddenly anxious and slowly entered the room. Only to stop short as he saw how crowded it was.
He could see at least twenty people there of various ages.
He could only gape at them, speechless.
He hadn't expected there to be so many human dragons.
It made all the pain and exhaustion more than worth it.
Gradually, each person stood up.
"Emrys. It's good to see you finally awake!" One old lady said coming forward to shake his hand.
And with that many other came to congratulate him, thank him or just touch him.
Merlin felt overwhelmed as he mechanically answered questions and met human dragon after human dragon.
He didn't know how long it took but after a while he let Gwaine guide him further inside the room to sit down, Aithusa coming to rest protectively next to him.
"When are you going to give us out form back?" A middle aged woman asked.
"I…."
"He just woke up! He needs to get his strength back first!" Gwaine interrupted him, looking angry.
The dragonlord felt Aithusa growl in agreement.
"Gwaine, Aithusa, please." Merlin said in an effort to diffuse the mounting tension. "I understand you all must be impatient but he is right. I still need a bit of rest before I can change you back. I guess by tomorrow or maybe the day after I'll be well enough."
"Of course, my lord, take all the time you need and excuse Idela for her impatience." The first woman who greeted him answered with a small bow.
"Please call me Merlin."
"And I am Alenora."
The woman bowed a second time. The warlock thought he quite liked her.
"Well, now that you have all seen Merlin is actually going to be alright I think we better take him back to our chamber so he can rest some more." Gwaine said.
"Of course." Alenora stepped back respectfully and Merlin accepted the knight's help to stand up, weakness still clutching at him.
Aithusa also stayed close by as the two friend exited the crowed room and back to their inside camp. Gwaine helped Merlin settle on his bedroll as the dragon came to rest once more against him. The dragonlord realised that he would have to get used her being so clingy as he could still feel her overprotectiveness through their bond.
"Why the animosity Gwaine?" He asked once they had all settled.
The knight let out a deep sigh.
"Some of these dragons are… I don't trust them."
"They kept doubting you and your power." Aithusa added, also looking angry.
Merlin couldn't help but laugh at his two friends.
"Really? That's all? They are doubting me?"
Both human and dragon stared astonished.
"If you recall, people always doubt my powers when they first meet me. I stopped being bothered by that a long time ago."
Gwaine shook his head with a small smile but Aithusa still looked rebellious.
"But you're Emrys." She said.
"Yes and? I still look like a scrawny peasant. It's okay, Aithusa, really. Don't be mad at them for this. They are your kin."
She still looked like she wanted to protest but Merlin knew she would accept his explanation.
A comfortable silence fell in the room as Merlin dozed, happy at the knowledge that he had succeeded in finding other dragons. Kilgharrah and Aithusa were no longer the last of their kin.
He wondered what Uther would have thought of that.
"Arthur!" He cried out, eyes shooting open. Gwaine jumped, the waterskin he had been drinking from falling to the ground.
"Bloody hell mate!"
"Did you contact Arthur?"
"And how was I supposed to do that?" The knight asked dumbfounded.
"He is going to kill me." Merlin carried on frantically. "He really is going to kill me. We weren't supposed to be gone this long!"
"Calm down Merlin. I'm sure it's not that bad."
The warlock lifted an eyebrow.
"Okay. Right. He's probably already preparing half the army to come after us. How can we contact him?"
Merlin thought about it before his eyes fell on the dragon at his side.
"Aithusa. How do you feel about a fly?"
The dragon sat up, looking conflicted.
"I promise I'll wait for you before giving them their form back. And this way you could even bring Kilgharrah back with you."
The dragon still looked hesitating but finally nodded.
"Right. You'll better go then."
Aithusa looked at him for a long time before stepping closer in what looked like a hug, Merlin answered by petting her, squeezing her neck.
"Come on off you go."
"Don't worry little one, I'll take care of him." Gwaine said with a wink.
Aithusa went to him too, rubbed herself against his leg and then left, leaving the two friends alone.
So... Did this satisfy you? I hope so!
And now, I will take my french self for 1 week formation in Britain! Hope it will be good!