Thank you to all the reviewers, followers, and et cetera. Here's the final chapter for all you wonderful people!

I do not own Merlin or Loki :(

Uther had agreed to send out a group of knights, a little less than ten, led by Arthur, to hunt the beast.

Merlin had told Loki to stay there. He gave him a book to read to keep him out of trouble for a little while longer.

He helped Arthur get into his chain mail and the rest of his armor. Merlin stepped back when he had finished. "Very good, are you ready to leave?" Arthur asked. They locked eyes. "You bet." Arthur smiled, set his arm around the servant's shoulder as he led the way out to the square where all the knights that were going had started to gather.

Arthur met up with Leon and talked a little while Merlin got the horses ready.

When everyone was ready, Merlin followed Arthur as he rode to the front of the group. "All right, listen up!" Arthur called to get the knight's attention. "What we're looking for is something that looks like a giant lizard, it's black, so keep your eyes peeled. When it's spotted, you need to cover your mouth, its breath is toxic. Ride out!" Arthur nudged his horse and the rest trailed after him.

In the forest, Merlin caught up with Arthur at the front of the pack. "Where are headed off to, sire?" "I thought you would know, you did read a book." Arthur kept looking ahead. "Yes. It said that they live in caves. Do you know of any caves nearby?" "Yes, I can think of a few. Thank you for your help, Merlin." "Of course, will I be able to do anything at all today?" Merlin grinned. "I thought you said there were no hard feelings." Arthur looked sideways at his friend. Merlin ignored that.

They all rode silently in the quiet forest. The horses were the only ones making any noise at all. Their hooves were thumping on the forest floor. Everyone's breath was billowing in the cold, crisp air.

The cave was drawing steadily nearer. Merlin could sense it. Arthur would come up to a cave, and Merlin would shake his head. He knew which one housed the beast; all of these were too small.

Finally, they arrived at the right one. Merlin nodded slowly when Arthur looked at him. Arthur motioned for everyone to dismount and draw their swords. Merlin tied his scarf over his mouth and nose. Remembering, the knights drew out pieces of cloth and did the same.

Arthur motioned for half the knights to follow and the rest to stay out in case if it escaped. How they understood all of that with just hand motions beat Merlin. Arthur led the way, Leon at his side, Merlin just behind, the rest of the group in the rear.

Three of the knights held torches as well as swords. Everyone was edgy. They all jumped exceedingly high when Merlin sneezed. Arthur turned around to glare at him. "Sorry." He whispered.

"Sire!" Leon muttered urgently. Someone handed him a torch as Arthur crouched down to see what Leon was pointing at. Scales. Some of the scales that Merlin had previously singed off. He gulped. "This is the place alright." Arthur quietly announced as he stood back up.

They continued slowly. Merlin thought he saw something in the corner of his eye. "Arthur…" Merlin started. Arthur looked up at his name, but he himself saw something out of the corner of his eye, and then fixed his attention on that.

On a silent cue, the knights gathered in formation, the prince at the front, Merlin in the middle. Geez, Arthur. Doubtful, eh? I can take care of myself.

All swords were drawn to begin with, but now they were all brandished at anything that moved or made a noise. Everyone who didn't before, tied something around their mouth.

Finally, they saw what they came to see. Tired of hiding, the creature lumbered out. It flicked its tongue out at all the new scents. One of them was familiar, but since it couldn't see, it couldn't pick out the one he had previously encountered.

Arthur yelled and the knights attacked, swords out. They filed by Merlin, who, since there were a lot of people here, was defenseless.

The knights circled around it and swung and did all they could, but the scales were so tough, the swords just bounced off its hide. The monster was getting annoyed, it thrashed out with long claws and a jagged tail. It lunged with pointed teeth.

Merlin was a few yards away, and was feeling useless. Since everyone was occupied, no one noticed his eyes glow.

He turned Arthur's blade hot. Hot enough to cut through the scales. The creature screeched in pain. It reared up to attack. It swiped out with a clawed foot. It caught Arthur on the chest and he was flung across the cave, slamming into the rock right to the side of Merlin.

Merlin made Leon's sword hot as he attacked to defend Arthur.

Then he turned his attention to the prince. "Arthur!" He gently shook his shoulders. His head lolled to one side as Merlin set him back down.

Leon sliced the shoulder and the sword embedded deep into its skin. He wrenched it out of the creature with a jerked movement. All the movement and stress was causing it to shed a few of its scales, making it possible for the rest of the knights to get a few hits in.

Merlin knelt down by Arthur. He lifted his head a few inches above the ground and cradled it gently. "Arthur." Nothing. Making sure no one was looking, Merlin muttered a spell and Arthur's eyes flew open. He leapt up, nearly pushing Merlin out of the way, brandishing his cooled sword. He stayed standing, and completely still. He looked around with wide eyes and let out a large breath, which made the cloth over his mouth flutter.

Arthur saw the creature, and bounded off without a word. Merlin rolled his eyes as the prince rushed into the fight.

It took only a few more minutes to defeat the monster. It lay at Arthur's feet, who delivered the fatal blow.

"Lets go." He led the knights out of the cave, Merlin right beside him. The handful of knights outside the cave approached the prince. "The beast is no longer a threat." The knights breathed a sigh of relief and filed in behind Arthur as he walked over to the horses.

There was an uneventful trip home. The knights made conversation with each other, they have previously taken off the cloth from their mouths, seeing that there was no danger anymore. Merlin repositioned his scarf to go back around his neck as he rode.

Once back home, Merlin took his and Arthur's horses back to the stables. He hurried back to his room when he had finished.

Gaius was waiting for him by the door. "I'm so glad you're alright." He said and pulled him into an embrace. "Of course I'm alright! When am I ever not alright?" Merlin smiled and pulled away.

"Here, you must be hungry." Gaius extended a bowl and a spoon. "Starving." He answered and wolfed down the food. Gaius grinned when he took the cleaned bowl away. "Good night, Merlin. I'm proud of you." Merlin lifted his eyes to Gaius'. "Thanks." He went back to his room for the night.

Loki was asleep on the bed when Merlin got in the room. The book he had given him was sitting open on his chest. He quietly closed the door as he entered. "Loki." He gently shook the boy. His eyes opened and met Merlin's. "What?" "Its dead." "Did you kill it?" "No, I helped Arthur do it." "Why is that not surprising?" Loki grumbled as he sat up. Merlin cuffed him on the head. "Ow! What was that for?" Loki rubbed his head and scowled at Merlin. "No need for sarcasm. I was doing my job." "Sorry then."

"Scoot over, that's my bed." Merlin gestured with his head to the corner. Loki got up and went over with a huff.

Loki was asleep within minutes. Merlin fell asleep just as quickly.

The next morning, Merlin awoke to Loki's face inches from his own. As he opened his mouth to yell, Loki put a pillow over him so he wouldn't make any noise. Merlin ripped the pillow away. "What was that for?" Merlin whispered. "I need to tell you goodbye." "Goodbye? You're leaving?" "Yes. I've been gone for long enough."

Merlin sat up and eyed him cautiously. Loki extended his arm to him. "Until next time, Emrys." Merlin scowled as he grasped the offered arm. "You to. Travel safe."

Loki took a few steps back. "Thank you for everything." He smiled one last time, and then vanished.

Merlin gave a little laugh and looked over to his window. The sky was still dark.

He got up and snuck out and into the tunnel.

The dragon was asleep on the rock. Merlin awkwardly stood there holding the torch, not sure about what to do.

The light on his eyelids must have woken him. The great dragon opened his golden eyes. "Ah, what a pleasure to see you alive." He said. "Loki has gone back to Asgard. Arthur is fine, the kingdom is fine. See? Everything is fine." Merlin smiled. The dragon contemplated the thought. "We will see, young warlock. We will see."

The End

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