Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin series.
Chapter 4 Aithusa
In the middle of the night, Merlin is woken up to someone talking to Gaius. He questions Gaius when the man leaves.
"What was that about?" Merlin asks.
"His name is Borden," Gaius tells him.
"You won't help him save this dragon eye?" Merlin asks.
Gaius gives him a sad look. He knows Merlin feelings being the last Dragonlord.
"He can't be trusted," Gaius replies, trying to make Merlin see sense.
"So this egg is to remain lost forever," Merlin says.
Gaius shakes his head.
"I don't want it to get into Borden's hands is all," he tells him.
Merlin turns and heads back to his room. He gets ready and goes out to tell Kilgharrah, who tells him to retrieve the egg.
xxx
The next morning, Merlin goes to the tavern where Borden is staying. It takes a while, but Merlin is able to get Borden to trust him to help get the egg. Later that night, Merlin goes into Arthur's room, trying to get the keys to the vault. There is a piece that Borden needs from there before getting the egg.
"What on earth are you doing?" Arthur asks.
Merlin stops and tries to think on his feet.
"Looking for woodworm," he replies.
"You are a horrible liar," Arthur tells him. Before he knows it, Merlin is being pulled into the bed. "Come here."
"Not right now," Merlin says with a laugh.
Merlin gives Arthur a quick kiss before getting out of the bed and leaving, keys still not in his possession. He finally goes to the extreme by magically making Arthur's trousers drop during a council meeting. This time, he is successful.
xxx
Merlin begins to feel guilty the next day. Usually he is fine with the little tricks he plays on Arthur, but it is serious this time. And he knows that when the warning bells ring.
"This Triskelion was a key, correct," Arthur asks as they survey the vault.
"Yes, Sire" Gaius tells him. "To the tomb of Ashkanar which contained a dragon's egg."
"Then we have no choice but to hunt down this intruder and destroy the egg," Arthur replies.
Merlin can take no more and walks out. Gaius follows him, knowing what he has done.
"What did you think would happen, Merlin?" he asks.
"I thought…" he begins to say.
"You weren't thinking," Gaius replies.
He walks away.
xxx
Arthur, Merlin, and some Knights ride out soon after to capture Borden and destroy the egg.
"You're quiet," Arthur tells Merlin as they sit down to rest the horses.
"Sorry," Merlin apologies.
"What is it?" Arthur asks.
Merlin looks around. He knows where they are and the bad memories it holds for him.
"I remember this place. This is where I last saw my father," he tells Arthur.
"You never talk about it," Arthur replies.
Merlin almost smiles. Of course he cannot talk about it. How could he ever explain that the Dragonlord they were going to bring back to Camelot was he father?
"Well, there's not much to say. I just wonder sometimes if he was proud of me," Merlin says.
Arthur smiles and is tempted to take Merlin's hand.
"Don't start measuring yourself against a man who is dead," he tells him. "You'll never win."
"I know," Merlin says.
xxx
Borden drugs the soup that everyone except Merlin eats the next night. After Merlin cures them, he goes after Borden. Merlin is mesmerized when he first sees the egg. He walks over to it and touches it.
"Give it to me," Borden tells him.
"It's not yours to take. It must go free," Merlin replies.
"We will have the freedom and power to do as we wish," Borden says.
Merlin shakes his head in disagreement.
"Dragons can't be used like that. They belong to no man," he tells him.
"What would you know?" Borden asks.
"I am the last Dragonlord," Merlin replies.
Merlin knocks Borden unconscious. He grabs the egg and gets out before the tomb collapses.