The cavern was close to silent, save for the steady drip of the ethereal-looking water at its fonds; the chain did not clank, and Merlin's footsteps did not resound. He could not see the dragon, and feared to disturb him. For a moment, he stood in awe of the great cave, which was far bigger than should have fitted down here, and which absolutely dwarfed him; then, just as he was about to cough, or call out, a great downdraught buffeted him, and he heard the leathery beating of wings.

Then, before him, there appeared the dragon: and Merlin bowed, partly in reverence, partly in fear, but mostly because the draught had nearly toppled him.

'So! you are returned already,' said the dragon with a hint of amusement.

'I need your advice,' said Merlin without preamble. 'There is a man using magic to kill people, and Camelot is in danger, and Arthur is in danger, actually, and you said I must protect Arthur. But this is all too much for me to sort out. What must I do?'

He knew as soon as the dragon's eye looked straight down at him that he would not receive a straight answer: but nevertheless he listened intently, and waited as the creature considered him with that rather judgemental glance.

'Will you let Arthur remain oblivious?'

Merlin wasn't sure what oblivious meant, and so did not reply.

'Sometimes, when things do not go as planned, one must take things into one's own hands.'

'I have taken things into my own hands,' Merlin protested: 'and I don't know what to do next.'

'Solutions are usually more obvious than they seem, young warlock. You must show Arthur what threatens him, or he will remain unknowing.'

Merlin furrowed his brow. He didn't much like the answer, and felt even more confused than before. But the dragon was smiling down at him, apparently unaware that he hadn't made the slightest crumb of sense, and Merlin didn't want to bewilder himself further by asking more questions.

'Will you ever answer my questions properly?' he asked, frankly.

The dragon just smiled wider, and, in a single bound, rose up and out of sight. The clanking echoed and faded; the wing-beats dissipated into the cold clear air; and Merlin stood for a moment, swaying, wondering once again if he would think of it all as a dream, later, when he was trying to go over what little advice he had been given.

But the dragon was not coming back, and, though he called him half-heartedly, there was no response from the high depths of the cavern. So Merlin strengthened his resolve, turned on his heel, and decided that taking matters into his own hands might have to be the order of the day.

He found Prince Arthur just outside his royal chambers, about to enter, dressed in an elaborate little suit of chainmail and wielding a blunted sword. Perhaps he had been at sword-drill; perhaps he had just been dreaming of competing in the tournament. But Merlin did not want to have to knock, and so called out for him to wait a moment, somewhat insolently, but it got the other boy's attention.

'Oh! it's you addressing me like that. I might have guessed.'

'I have to talk to you,' Merlin persisted.

'I don't talk to peasants: you know that. Anyway, I'm busy.'

'But you're in danger! You must listen to me.'

Prince Arthur could not deny being intrigued, though he hid it in a look of resigned disdain, and said:

'Just a couple of minutes then, and you had better be telling the truth.'

He swung Merlin into the room, but did not close the door; then he stared at the boy, and after a moment said: 'What is it?'

'It's about Valiant,' said Merlin: 'the knight from the Western Isles. He's using magic in the tournament, I saw him.'

'That's a dangerous accusation,' Arthur said at once, looking more concerned than angry. Then, his curiosity overtaking him: 'What did he do? What did you see?'

Quickly Merlin explained about the shield, and the snakes, and the death of the man in Gaius's quarters. He did not know why he had been the only person to see it: perhaps because of his height; or perhaps there were others in Camelot too afraid to come forward. Gaius knew, but he did not seem to have told anyone, and Merlin did not want anyone else to die, and he was scared that Valiant's intentions might be more nefarious than they seemed at present –

'I didn't know who else to tell,' Merlin finished, putting on his most panicked expression. 'I couldn't go to the King – he wouldn't believe me – if Gaius told him, maybe – or you –'

To Merlin's surprise, Arthur did not dismiss his story: indeed, he looked intrigued, and somewhat worried. 'If this is true –'

'It is true,' Merlin insisted. 'And it's worth finding out if it is, surely?'

'Most likely it is,' said Arthur, pensive. 'I'll talk to my father. You had better be right about what you saw.'

'Thank you,' cried Merlin.

'Now, go. I have things to do,' said Arthur in an official tone that hinted he probably didn't really. Then, studying the boy for a moment: 'There's something about you, Merlin...'

'What?'

'I can't quite put my finger on it.'

Merlin shrugged, smiling vaguely; then he thanked the prince once more and headed back up home.