Morgana allowed herself to be dragged out of the hall. The humiliation of being tied to and manhandled by Merlin was worth it, knowing what was going to happen in Camelot. Soon they would be begging her to take the throne.
"Where are we going?" Morgana asked.
"Shut up!" Merlin said. He walked quickly, dragging her along behind him.
They went into the woods and Merlin started running, calling out in a language that Morgana had never heard before. When they reached a clearing, the great dragon waited for them.
Morgana looked at him curiously and without fear, sure that he would be her ally. After all, creatures of magic stuck together.
"Why would you call me into the presence of this witch, Merlin?" the dragon asked.
"She plans something horrible for Camelot. I need to get there to stop it, but I don't know how, without releasing her from the spell which keeps her magic bound," Merlin said.
"Then kill her," the dragon said.
Morgana gasped. It was not as though Merlin had not suggested he do it before, but it was different to hear such a thing from the dragon—it cut her deep, like it had when Alator had chosen to ally himself with Merlin instead of her. Why would a creature of magic side with Merlin, and hence Arthur?
"Arthur wants to kill her as an official act, for treason, not for possessing magic. He thinks defeating her will be a powerful symbol, and once she's dead people might feel less afraid of magic," Merlin said.
"Your political maneuverings hold little interest for me, Warlock. Tell me what you wish me to do, or kill her and do it yourself. I will not help you find a way to allow the witch to defeat you once again," the dragon said.
"Could you—go to Camelot, and keep an eye on it? Could you come back and tell me what is happening there?" Merlin asked.
The dragon chuckled. "I am too large to be a spy, friend."
"How can you be friends with a man who allies himself against magic?" Morgana demanded.
"I have no choice, Merlin is a dragonlord. But I like to think I can influence Merlin's decisions when it counts," the dragon said.
Merlin was a dragonlord? Morgana was momentarily stunned by this piece of information and what the dragon said in reply escaped her. How could she fight against a dragonlord, who could turn her dragon around with a word? Aithusa was doomed unless she told Merlin everything.
She hadn't meant to force her only true friend into a trap.
"I'll tell you everything!" she said. "I'll stop the attack."
Merlin looked at her. "What attack?"
"Do you know of a white dragon?" she said.
"Aithusa?" Merlin asked.
"He was supposed to attack Camelot until I asked him to stop, as Queen," she said. "The idea was that the people of Camelot would be worn down by the attack and then eventually would have no choice but to ask for my help-which I wouldn't give until I was made Queen."
"And if Arthur ever tried to take back the throne-" Merlin began.
"-the dragon would attack again," Morgana finished.
"Why are you telling me this? Now you'll be going to Camelot with no plan—as a prisoner—knowing it will mean your own death," Merlin said.
"You used to know me better than this," Morgana said. "Do you really think I'd let a friend go to his death when I could stop it? Whether Aithusa attacks Camelot or not, I'm dead. This way at least Aithusa survives. I miscalculated. I didn't know you were a dragonlord. I didn't know you were allies with the great dragon. I didn't even know he was still alive."
"You always underestimate Merlin. It's because you have such an overinflated sense of your own worth, I think," the dragon said.
"How have I wronged you?" Morgana asked, exasperated by his attitude. "I have never done anything but sympathize with your plight. If I had known how I would have freed you when you were held captive below Camelot."
"I never would have asked you to free me, because I could not stomach being in debt to someone like you," the dragon said.
"I don't understand you," she said faintly.
"You would if you were a better seer," he said.
Merlin called Aithusa. In a surprisingly short time, he settled into the clearing. Even though he had seemed so big and frightening before, when she had thought he was the last, she could tell now, seeing him beside the great dragon, that he was only an adolescent. He was very dear to her. She walked up to him with Merlin trailing close behind, and he put his snout into her hand in a sign of affection.
"Aithusa, the plan is off. We will not attack Camelot at all," she said.
"But you must be queen," Aithusa said.
"Aithusa! You must never attack Camelot," Merlin said in a tone of command.
"Merlin? Do you serve my lady, too?" Aithusa said, seeing Merlin behind her, apparently for the first time. Perhaps he hadn't known exactly why he was compelled to fly to this particular clearing, or perhaps he had thought that the great dragon had called him.
"I do not. In fact, I command you to stop serving Morgana," Merlin said.
"What? How can this be?" Aithusa asked.
Morgana sighed, knowing she couldn't explain it because she wondered the same thing. The great dragon spoke. "Morgana is an evil witch. Even if you never attack Camelot, she will use you to hurt other people without thought, and eventually you will die because her enemies will find a way to fight you."
"My lady is not evil," Aithusa said.
Morgana smiled at his faith. She didn't think she was evil, either. "It's not important why we are enemies. You cannot resist the commands of a dragonlord. There is no way for us to win."
"I will not attack," Aithusa said. "But why are you bound to Merlin?" he asked.
"Morgana is his prisoner," the great dragon said.
"Will they kill you, Morgana?" Aithusa asked.
Morgana felt tears in her eyes, nodding, realizing that she really was defeated now. She would be executed, as soon as they reached Camelot. She really had to start fighting against Merlin. She hadn't been, before, because she had thought, once they realized she was the only one who could call off the dragon, they would be at her mercy. Now she realized that allowing Merlin to have the upper hand over her should never have been a part of any plan. She was ridiculously lucky he hadn't killed her already.
She had to get away somehow. How could she get away?
She followed Merlin back in a daze. Her plan was ruined again. By Merlin. Again.
If she couldn't find a way to beat him, maybe she could find a way to take him with her.
"Morgana?" Merlin asked as they walked.
Morgana heard footsteps and looked back, noticing for the first time that there were two knights following them. She had been so preoccupied with keeping her footing before…she wondered which knights were witnessing her defeat…she hoped it wasn't Gwaine.
"Yes Merlin," she replied finally.
"It won't be fire. I promise you that. I won't let Arthur kill you that way," Merlin said.
"Why?" Morgana asked, strangely touched.
"I saw you, when the witchfinder was investigating us. I know how you fear the flames. I know you've only done what you had to do—what you were born to do. I promise you I won't let you burn, even if I have to kill you myself to prevent it," he said.
"Thank you," Morgana said. "I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't believe you."
"I will," Merlin said. "But I mean every word."
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews and support. Big thanks go out to Jane Mays for help with some technical aspects of dragons and dragonlords I didn't understand and for her knowledge of the series. This was a quick re-write so sorry for any typos or mistakes.