Then…

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It was the second night and Merlin was on the move again. And Bran followed him again. Merlin lit up the torch when he arrived in the forest edge. Some distance away from them, the rocks rose to the heavens. Merlin put his torch on the ground and to Bran it seemed like the halo expanded, lighting up the clearing.

Something big moved in the darkness.

"You came." Merlin sounded happy.

"Of course I came. And she wanted to see you too." The voice was rough and playful.

Something small and white dashed out of the darkness and Merlin fell onto the ground. Bran was stunned at first, then he heard Merlin laugh with joy and stumbled up again. There was something in his shoulder.

"Miss you." The voice was quiet and more like a snake hissing.

"Oh, you can finally speak aloud Aithusa." Merlin was surprised.

"She is slowly learning." The big shadow moved forward in the torch's halo. Bran dropped to the ground in terror. It was a dragon. And big one. He heard that Arthur was killed the last one, but there was two of them right in front of his eyes. Then Bran realized. Arthur. Of course. And Merlin was Arthur's manservant, always riding beside him. And Merlin was the son of Balinor the Dragonlord.

"You know, soon you'll be too big to ride on my shoulders." Merlin laughed and pet the small dragon's head.

"So, Merlin. Why you have called us here?" The big dragon asked.

"You know the wyverns are there, in the castle." Merlin started.

"Yes."

"Can you take care of them? I don't want to kill, or let the others kill them."

The dragon looked at him and Bran was sure that it was smiling.

"Of course. I'm pleased to see that you are concerned about their survival."

"I don't know why but, you and Aithusa are the last ones. And wyverns. They are so close to be dragons. Or so I say but…"

"I understand. I myself don't think highly of them but, I understand. Maybe you are right somehow. I can command them to leave." The dragon agreed.

"Not far away, just so they are out of sight by tomorrow." Merlin specified. "I have some other things too… What is it Kilgharrah?" Merlin asked when the dragon raised its head higher. Bran was suddenly very aware of the fact that he was exposed. The dragon looked directly at the place where Bran lay hidden. Merlin turned and sighed.

"Come here. I want to hear what you have to say."

Bran stumbled out of the scrubs. He couldn't help it, but he was terrified.

"Bran?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… But I noticed you had left camp and I followed and…" Bran couldn't tear his gaze away from the small white dragon who sniffed the air front of him.

"So this is the great Bran Fendigaidd. " The dragon watched the prince and sounded pleased. "I'm glad to know that your family line is well and good."

Merlin gave a questioning glance, then he looked at Bran. "Bran. This is The Great Dragon, Kilgharrah. And this little fellow is Aithusa."

"Nice… to meet... you." Bran stammered. The big beast just stared at him.

"So Bran. What you are going to do?" Merlin asked, he looked worried.

"Oh, no, why I should say anything about this? No, I'm not… Ah, I... I heard last night. About who you really are." Bran tried to explain.

"Did you?" Merlin sounded resigned.

"Yes. You are the heir of the Fisher King."

It surprised him when the dragon started to laugh.

"Shut up Kilgharrah." Merlin snapped. "Why didn't you tell me? I'm sure that you knew this."

"Of course I knew. So, now you know. The time is near Merlin. We'll speak later, but I think that we must go now. Aithusa."

"Goodbye." The small dragon hissed and jumped lightly into the air. Kilgharrah followed the young one and soon they were just shadows under the stars. Merlin looked longingly after them. "Sometimes I wish that I could fly too."

"You have been up there?" Bran was shocked. He couldn't imagine himself so high.

"Yes."

They watched the dragons disappear.

"He didn't seem as… scary in the end." Bran stated.

"Oh, but he is, so don't ever mess with him." Merlin shook his head.

"I don't think that I will ever see him again." Bran laughed poorly. Merlin turned to watch him, and gave an odd look.

"No, I think you two may someday meet again." Then he picked up the torch and they returned to camp.

()

The next day they arrived at the castle.

"Here again." Gwaine grinned and looked up at the castle. "I have to say that I didn't miss this place at all."

Bran scanned his eyes over to Merlin who looked gloomy.

"I don't see wyverns." Bran whispered.

Merlin nodded and looked to him. "So, shall we go now?"

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Now…

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When Gaius entered the room, Merlin was laying on the floor, trying to catch his breath. The silver streaks were now almost completely covering his face. His long nails sank into the stone floor like to butter.

"Merlin, my boy. Calm down. You can do this. Just breathe. Please, breathe." Gaius begged. Merlin's eyes were open, his iris now fully silver. Then he stopped breathing and slumped, limp.

At first Gaius thought that it was the end. "Merlin…" His hand shook when he tried to touch the boy's cold face. Suddenly, Merlin's eyes opened and he took a deep breath. And slowly his chest had begun to rise and fall steadily.

Gaius cried.

He sat there on the floor and cried.

He didn't know what to do anymore.

He was too old to watch his ward die before him.

Watching in horror as the young life slowly flowed away.

Merlin was transforming into something. He didn't know why or what, but whatever it was, it was killing him slowly.