The interesting times were not over for Mordred. He was woken in the night but someone calling his name. At first he didn't realise who it was and why it sounded strange but them he realised it was inside his head and it was someone had had never heard before. Instinctively he knew it was. The Aithusa. The small dragon was asking him to go outside and to meet her. Somewhat excited he did just that dressing quickly in trousers and a tunic grabbing his jacket as he went. He also grabbed his dagger, a present from his uncle when he started his training, and put it a slit in his boot wishing at the same time he was allowed to keep his sword in his room and not in the armoury. He went down the back stairs where he was less likely to be seen and soon met the white dragon.

She looked at him and speaking in his mind once more said "I have been asked to take you to see someone"

Mordred got close to the beast "How can I hear you?"

"Your magic is wakening, try hard and you will be able to talk to me in the same way, now hurry get on my back we have to go" Aithusa said impatiently.

"I'm too big I will hurt you" Mordred protested

The dragon seemed to smile in that particular way she had that to him looked more like a sneer. "I am stronger than I look and we are not going far, are you afraid"

That made Mordred move, he was at an age when he wanted to prove his bravery. Carefully straddling Aithusa and holding on round her neck the small beast, still not much bigger than a large dog took off. She quickly made her way to a clearing where she landed. Mordred as amazed to see Kilgarrah the Great Dragon waiting for them. Walking very nervously closer he looked up at the beast that dwarfed him. He had seen Kilgarrah before but only from a distance.

"What a small boy you are for such a large destiny" Kilgarrah said looking at Mordred.

"What do you mean?" Mordred asked

"Your path has been prophesied for many years young Prince and soon you must chose the path it will take. You can follow your mother the witch and turn to dark magic and evil, or you can decide to break your bond with she who bore you and become the protector of the unborn Prince, together you will continue the task his parents will start. But you cannot follow both. What you do in the following weeks will leave its mark on the land for ever. Once your path is set you cannot change it"

Mordred listened to what the dragon said and felt fear in his heart. "Can I not be my mother's son and the Princes protector? I know my parents did a bad thing but I cannot turn against them. I could talk to them, change their minds"

The witch's course is already set, she has set her sight on that which is not hers and has started the course of events that cannot be halted. She has made allies and bonds that have pulled her further into the darkness" Kilgarrah told Mordred his voice had some pity in it although he didn't completely understand humans. "Your magic is waking, look into yourself you like the witch will have the power of sight and you will also in time be a Warlock. Aithusa tells me you have a good heart, listen to it, like Arthur Pendragon you cannot follow your Sire, you, like him, have to see further than that if you are to play your part. Your path will not be easy princeling, do you think you can do as destiny askes"

"You are asking me to betray my parents!" Mordred asked

"It is not I, it is your destiny" Kilgarrah told him "Think about what I have told you, betray your parents or your unborn Prince. Aithusa will take you back, practice speaking without words to her, she will be at your side IF you follow the true path. There are many outcomes and you play a pivotal role in what is to happen, she will guide you as long as you keep pure heart. If you do not she will be your doom and destiny" with that Kilgarrah spread his wings and took off.

Mordred sank to his knees. Shocked at what the dragon had told him. Must he betray his parents? Why couldn't he try to make them see that he didn't want to be King?

Aithusa crept up to him "I am sorry" she told him in his head "I wish I could help you but Kilgarrah is right your mothers mind is set for her there is no going back. Her path started before you were conceived, the day she married her path was chosen, her mind closed to any but her own dreams of power. I sense that in your heart you know that is true"

"I have to try to stop them! I have to!" Mordred felt tears roll down his face, he wiped them away angrily he was too old to cry.

Aithusa rubbed up against him in quiet support. The young Prince looked at Aithusa "I can try can't I?"

"I can't stop you, but if you do your parents will know your doubts and will watch you, I fear for you if they believe you are against them"

Mordred glared at the dragon "My parents wouldn't hurt me! They wouldn't!"

"They will be away for a little longer, you need to do as Kilgarrah said and look into your heart, I know you will do the right thing. Destiny can be a cruel mistress. Come we must return, climb on my back."