A/N: Here is another chapter. Hope you enjoy. Thank you to Harpfire and weepingelm for your reviews. Your support keeps me motivated. XD

I would love it if you could drop me a review for this chapter, but don't feel obligated to. XD Live long and prosper!

Warning: More angst as usual

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Chapter 4

Merlin watched in horror as the knight charged forwards. He was too weak to stop the man, relying on his horse to keep him upright.

Leon swung his sword towards Aithusa's head. "No!" he cried, his voice cracking. Leon was just in time to stop himself from running the white dragon through, his sword swinging just to the right of her small head.

Leon stumbled back quickly, retreating in case the dragon decided to make a move. "What are you playing at, Merlin?" Leon asked, staring at his friend with worry.

Aithusa approached slowly, cautiously, and Leon raised his weapon. "Put it down," Merlin said. "She doesn't want to harm us. She only wishes to give me a message."

"How do you know that?" Leon asked, but he dropped the weapon.

Merlin took a step forwards, stumbling slightly. Aithusa reached her head out, pressing it under the warlock's fingers and letting him support his weight on her.

Images from Aithusa's eyes flashed through his mind as he felt the cold scales under his fingers. They were one in the same, their minds connecting as the memories threw them back into the past.

They fly through the sky, flapping their wings strongly as they soar through the clouds, enjoying the feeling of the cold winter wind over their white scales.

They sit by Morgana's throne, watching the high priestess. Worry was their companion as they see how ragged their friend had become.

They breathe a blast of fire over a sword, making the air heat up around them.

Fear and regret fill their being as they witness Morgana plot her revenge on The Once and Future King.

They watch in sadness as The Great Dragon lay in the dust, breathing his last few breaths.

"The Once and Future King is dead," The Great Dragon said. Dread fills their veins as they realize what Kilgharrah had said. "You must watch over Emrys, for he will not take the king's death lightly. I need you to give him a message for me."

They remember the Dragon Lord, an image of his kind, young face flashing through their mind.

"Merlin, I speak directly to you. Do not mourn Arthur's death, but rejoice because he will rise again. You must not wallow in your grief for too long, young warlock. I will not forget you, Merlin. Please do not forget me."

They watch The Great Dragon take his last, final breath and feel utterly alone. They are the last of their kind.

The connection broke suddenly, Merlin gasping as his mind snapped back from the dragon's.

"Merlin?" Leon asked, stepping forward quickly. "What was that? Your eyes..."

Merlin stroked his fingers down Aithusa's face, glancing back at Leon. "I am a warlock and the last dragon lord," he said simply, a small feeling of relief washing over him as he let his secret out. He had been hiding who he was for so long...

Leon took a breath as the servant said this, sad that his friend had felt he had to hide who he was. But to his surprise, he felt no shock or anger. Somehow, deep inside of him, Leon knew that Merlin had a reason to keep it secret. "I thought the last dragon lord was dead," he said after a moment of silence.

"No," Merlin said slowly. "Balinor was my father. When he died, he passed the power onto me."

Aithusa pushed her head into the warlocks shaking hand like a cat, feeling Merlin's nervousness as Leon stared at him.

"I understand, Merlin. Thank you..." Leon said after a moment. Merlin let out the breath that he was holding and turned back to Aithusa.

He closed his eyes, reaching out his thoughts and attaching his mind to her's again. This time was different. Instead of pictures, there was a flood of emotions.

Leon watched the exchange, seeing the way the warlock held the dragons face gingerly, tenderly. He felt a rush of power ripple through the air as they connected, not understanding what was going on between them, but understanding that it was something special, something no mortal person could comprehend.

Merlin felt his sadness over Arthur's death well up inside him like blood gushing from an open wound, but Aithusa's mind was there next to him, taking a bit of the sorrow away. She shared in his pain, a single, large tear leaking out of her eye and dripping onto the dirt below.

Merlin trembled as he broke away from her, slumping to his knees. He looked up at Leon, who was watching him worriedly. For the first time since Arthur's death, Merlin let out a weak smile.

"I'm okay... I'm better actually," he said, glancing back at Aithusa. "Thank you..."

Leon stepped forwards, helping Merlin to his feet. "Come on, let's get you back to Camelot..." he said, glancing back at the dragon. Merlin saw the nervousness in the knights eyes.

"Stay here, Aithusa. If you need anything, do the same thing you did today," Merlin said aloud as he mounted his horse.

They rode away, Merlin glancing back one last time at the dragon, loneliness spreading through him once more as they moved farther away from her.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The door to Gaius's chambers swung open, the old physician glancing up from the book he was studying. Leon stepped inside, helping Merlin over to the bed.

"So...?" the physician questioned, raising an eyebrow at the knight and the warlock.

"Aithusa had a message for me," Merlin commented. Gaius nodded, giving Leon a small, worried look.

"Merlin told me," the knight said, smiling reassuringly before stepping out of the room, leaving the physician and the warlock to talk alone.

Merlin lay back against the bed, his body aching. "What did Aithusa say? You told me she couldn't talk," Gaius commented.

Merlin looked up at the man. "She didn't talk... but she showed me images... our minds connected somehow and we shared... feelings," Merlin said, pausing as he tried to put his thoughts into words, unable to describe the connection he had felt.

"Legend says that dragon lords have a deep connection to dragons," Gaius said and then handed the boy a small vial. "Now take your medicine and try to get some sleep."

Merlin complied, closing his heavy lids after he had swallowed the foul tasting concoction, slowly falling into a restless sleep.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The next few days Merlin spent resting in his room, gradually gaining strength. Gaius kept a careful eye on his ward, constantly checking on the man, pleased to see that he was improving. But while Merlin was physically better, Gaius knew that Merlin's mental health was deteriorating.

It had been ten days since Arthur's death when Gaius finally decided that enough was enough.

He stepped inside the warlock's room slowly, carrying a tray of food. "Hello Merlin," he said. "I brought you dinner. It's your favorite."

Merlin shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

Gaius sighed, placing the tray on the beside table and sitting down on the bed next to his ward. "This isn't healthy, Merlin," he said suddenly. "You have to eat something..."

Merlin shook his head, turning over in his bed and facing the other way. "You have hardly left your room... At least come out and go visit with Gwen. I am sure she could get you something from the palace kitchens..."

"I can't," Merlin whispered so quietly Gaius almost missed it.

"You can't or you won't?" Gaius asked harshly, regretting it the moment it left his mouth.

"What's the point?" Merlin replied, shaking his head again and then closing his eyes. "I'm tired," he said.

Gaius stood, making his way to the door and watching the warlock feint sleep. He exited the room, knowing that this could not go on for much longer.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"My lady, I'm sorry to bother you." Gaius stood in front of the queen, his head bowed slightly and his hands clasped in front of him.

Gwen gave him a large smile. "No, it's really no trouble, Gaius. I'm very happy to see you." Gaius studied the queen, noting the bags under her eyes.

"How are you doing?" Gaius asked.

Gwen's smile fell a little when she heard the question. "I'm... working through everything... I don't know how Arthur did it... ruling a country, I mean," Gwen commented. There was a slight pause and then she continued. "But, I have been meaning to ask you. How is Merlin doing? I haven't seen him in a while..."

"That is actually what I am coming to talk to you about, my lady," Gaius commented. "He is not doing well."

Gwen nodded sadly. "It's hit him the hardest of all," she said. "Is there anything I can do for him?"

Gaius was suddenly glad that Camelot had such an understanding queen. "I don't know," he replied after a moment. "He doesn't feel like he has a purpose now. Before, his entire life was dedicated to serving and protecting Arthur... But now..." He trailed off.

"I think I know what to do," Gwen said after a moment.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Later that evening, Merlin was still lying in his bed, staring listlessly at the ceiling. The door to his room swung open, revealing Gwen, who was carrying a fresh tray of food.

"Hello, Merlin," she said, smiling as she walked in the room.

"Gaius told you to come talk to me, didn't he?" Merlin asked bitterly.

Gwen nodded. "He is just worried about you, Merlin. You haven't been eating, barely sleeping... And I am worried too. I haven't seen you in a while..."

Merlin sat up, guilt shooting through him as he saw how worried Gwen was. "I'm sorry..." he commented. "All of this is my fault."

"Merlin," Gwen snapped, making the boy flinch. She held out the tray for him, and to her surprise, he accepted. "None of this is your fault."

Merlin took a nibble of bread, his stomach rolling. He forced himself to swallow it down. The room was silent and then Gwen spoke again.

"I have been meaning to talk to you about something..." She hesitated, studying the warlock's face before continuing. "I know you feel like you have no purpose anymore.. now that Arthur is gone. But Camelot needs you. We all need you... I want you to become the court sorcerer."

Merlin nearly dropped his cup of water when she said this, his hands shaking. "What?" he stammered.

Gwen smiled. "I want you to become the court sorcerer. We need someone to represent magic at the round table and I could think of no one better suited than you."

"I can't," Merlin responded, tears gathering in his eyes. He tried to blink them away, but they still managed to trickle down his face.

"Why?" Gwen asked kindly. "I know that you miss Arthur and I know it hurts, but he wouldn't want you to slip into depression. He would want you to help Camelot and be yourself."

More tears dripped down his face as he remembered Arthurs words to him. I don't want you to change... I want you to always be you.

Merlin took a deep breath, looking Gwen straight in the eyes.

"My magic isn't working."

TBC