Hello everyone!
Yes, a chapter, and on time!
Reason is I'll be leaving for my usual vacation later and I wanted to leave you with a chapter as I am not quite sure when I'll be able to post next!
Also, I cannot post today without a special Happy Birthday to Harry Potter as we're celebrating the 20 years of the publication of the first book today and without it I wouldn't be sitting there today, writing to you. So a very big thank you to J.K. Rowling!
And also thank you to all of you still reading and my Beta for her hard work!
And, with that, Enjoy!
Chapter 44:
Gwaine observed Merlin as he interacted with the human-dragons, keeping a loose hold on his sword.
Not that he truly thought the warlock was in any danger or that he couldn't defend himself. He was just being caution. He couldn't help the fact that he didn't trust some of these dragons.
And it had nothing to do with the fact that they were dragons. Admittedly he was pretty scared of KIlgharrah when the old dragon got angry, but he had nothing against the beasts in general, just the undercurrent of distrust he could feel from some of them now. And he knew that Merlin – bless his kind soul – was completely oblivious to it.
So he stood off to one side, observing, ready.
He was proud at how Merlin was acting, standing tall and proud despite the lingering tiredness that could be seen in the lines of his face.
He was speaking with authority but kindness, easily displaying his power as a Dragonlord without imposing his views.
He listened to every story and did his best to reassure the human dragons that he was really Emrys, that he was going to give them their wings back and that they had nothing to fear anymore.
Gwaine thought that his friend could definitely do just as well as Arthur in Court if he chose to. It made him wonder how the warlock could have ever put up with the constant demeaning he had been subjected to, first as servant then as court advisor and now from some of the dragons that he was supposed to command.
Gwaine knew only too well the whispers that ran through Camelot about Merlin's unexpected rise to advisor: the whisperings that the king had only done it to buy his silence on their supposed extra-conjugal activities. It had made the knight's blood boil a thousand times over and he couldn't begin to understand how Merlin was able to take it all so calmly.
Those feelings returned now as the dragons doubted his friend's power even if it was clear that only a man of immense talent and power could have achieved the miracle of calling all them all there. In fact, when the questions returned to when Merlin would give them their form back, Gwaine really did snap and it was only Alenora's calm diplomacy and a sharp order from Merlin that kept him from running one of the ringleaders, Idela, through with his sword.
And if he was a bit abrupt when cutting the meeting short, well, he didn't care. He forced himself to walk slowly out of the room, mindful of his friend using him as a crutch even when he felt more like storming out.
He led Merlin back to the room that they were using as camp and settled him on his bedroll, sitting himself in front of his friend.
"Why the animosity Gwaine?"
The knight sighed, it was a bit much to expect that Merlin wouldn't notice anything at all.
"Some of these dragons are… I don't trust them."
"They kept doubting you and your power." Aithusa piped in from where she was sitting close to Merlin's side.
The warlock blinked at them for a few seconds before bursting out laughing.
"Really?" He asked, once his amusement had settled a bit. "That's all? They are doubting me?"
Gwaine just stared back uncomprehendingly.
"If you recall, people always doubt my powers when they first meet me. I stopped being bothered by that a long time ago." The warlock carried on, making the knight smile in defeat.
He should have expected that one.
"But you're Emrys." Aithusa protested, outraged.
"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."
Gwaine watched the dragon mull over this, still looking ready to protest before settling back down. It made him smile how protective the beast was of her dragonlord.
With their conversation clearly over, exhaustion seemed to catch up on Merlin as his eyes shut slowly and his breathing deepened. The knight decided to let his friend rest until dinner and set out to finish his wood carving.
Merlin jerked up, crying out for his King barely an hour later surprising Gwaine into dropping his water skin thereby dousing himself.
He was unable to stop the curse that fell from his lips.
"Did you contact Arthur?" The warlock asked frantically.
Gwaine stared, using a nearby cloth to dry himself.
"And how was I supposed to do that?"
Merlin looked horrified at the answer.
"He is going to kill me. He really is going to kill me. We weren't supposed to be gone this long!"
Gwaine almost laughed at his friend's panic.
"Calm down Merlin. I'm sure it's not that bad." Merlin only lifted an eyebrow at him, making the knight think again. "Okay. Right. He's probably already preparing half the army to come after us. How can we contact him?"
Silence fell as both men tried to find a solution to their problem. Merlin turned towards the dragon at his side.
"Aithusa. How do you feel about a fly?"
Gwaine could see that the dragon wanted to refuse, unwilling to let Merlin out of her sight after so much worry. It seemed like Merlin understood it too because he quickly added:
"I promise I'll wait for you before giving them their form back. And this way you could even bring Kilgharrah back with you."
Still Aithusa hesitated, glancing at him. He nodded encouragingly, confirming he would keep a close eye on their mutual friend and she nodded back to Merlin.
"Right. You'll better go then."
And even then Aithusa didn't move, watching Merlin for a long time before stepping closer to the warlock. Merlin smiled softly and petted her, hugging her reassuringly for a moment.
"Come on, off you go." He encouraged upon releasing her.
"Don't worry little one, I'll take care of him." Gwaine added.
She came to him then, rubbed herself against his leg and left without another word.
"You know, she didn't leave your side except to welcome the dragons while you were asleep." The knight said.
Merlin nodded, staying silent for a long time.
"I think I kind of felt her presence." He finally whispered. "It helped a lot."
Gwaine nodded.
"I'm really sorry for putting you both through this." The warlock added sincerely, making Gwaine snort.
"As if I had been expecting anything else from you Merlin." He answered, purposefully pronouncing his friend's name with Arthur's favorite intonation.
"Oh god, stop it, you sound far too much like Arthur!" The warlock laughed.
"Well, it's to get you used to it. Now, do you fancy some food since you're awake?"
"I think I could do food yes."
And with that Gwaine began dishing out the fruits and nuts he had kept from the previous day so they could share and shuffled closer to his friend.
"Thanks Gwaine."
The knight hummed in answer.
"Anytime. Now eat. Arthur will be mad enough at me for not bringing you back home on time, no need to add how scrawny you are to the his list of complaints."
The comment made Merlin laugh and Gwaine thought that he would have missed that laugh if anything had happened to his friend.
Unsurprisingly, Aithusa came back only a couple hours after leaving, just as the sun was beginning to set. Gwaine and Merlin had been at their tenth game of dice when Merlin sat up straighter, eyes turning vague.
"Merlin?" Gwaine asked, suddenly worried of some unexpected side-effect of his previous magical exhaustion.
He was reaching out for his friend when the warlock shook his head like someone waking up.
"Aithusa and Kilgharrah are back." He said in explanation and a few seconds later a white blur came barreling in the room.
"Hey there!" Merlin greeted as Aithusa stopped before him with a bow before turning to Gwaine to repeat the motion.
"I brought Kilgharrah."
"I know. How were things in Camelot?"
"Fine. Fine. I saw the King he said to tell you stables are waiting because you made the Queen worry."
Gwaine burst out laughing so hard his sides hurt as Merlin followed suite more reasonably.
"Yeah. The Queen worried." Gwaine said when he managed to get his breathe back. "I'll bet a month without going to the Tavern that he was the one making Gwen crazy with his worrying!"
Merlin smiled at this.
"Probably. Thankfully, she knows how to handle him."
"That she does."
"Well, I suppose the good thing is that he hadn't already sent half the army after us." Gwaine remarked.
Merlin hummed in answer, petting Aithusa as she settled between the two friends.
"Now. I don't know about you but I think I could do with dinner and an early night."
"Good idea. We have a long day tomorrow."
Gwaine looked at the still tired looking dragonlord.
"You're sure you want to give them their form back tomorrow? Wouldn't it be best to wait a bit longer?" He asked.
Merlin shook his head.
"I think they have waited enough. And don't worry, it won't require much magic."
The knight nodded but he couldn't help and think that he just didn't believe any "don't worry" that came out of Merlin's mouth anymore.
So, did you like it? Was it good?