It had been a long time since Merlin had slept in his old room in Gaius's chambers. He'd been sparing with Sir Leon and gotten distracted with thoughts of his latest letter to Elena and tripped, banging his head on a shield. Gaius insisted he stay the night due to the concussion, just to be safe. Merlin didn't mind.
Though his sleep addled brain voice began to invade.
"Hello Gaius, surely you remember me."
"Only too well." Came Gaius's voice
Slowly Merlin stood, being careful not to move his head too suddenly, he could just see Gaius and another man through a crack in the old door.
"You have nerve coming back here." Gaius said darkly to the man, who Merlin just noticed was soaking wet, "You left me in a lot of trouble."
"Yeah, yeah sorry about that." The man replied, "What can I say? Execution, really didn't appeal to me."
"Don't pretend you support Uther." The man growled, Merlin felt a rise of anger at the insult.
"Tell me why you're here." Gaius ordered.
The strange man held out something half wrapped in a cloth, Merlin couldn't tell what it was, only that it shone and was made of gold. Gaius seemed very surprised to see it.
"Save your eyesight Gaius," The man heeded, "It's the Triskelion of Ashkanar."
"You're sure?" Gaius questioned
"I'm certain."
"Let me see"
The physician took the item and examined it with his looking glass.
"It's in the druid tongue, the runes are in threes that's rare." Gaius noted
"I can save you the trouble, they guide the barer to the tomb of Ashkanar." The stranger explained, "We both know the legend, what he hid there..."
"A dragon's egg."
Merlin's heart soared. If that were true perhaps Kilgharrah was not the last of his kind! The idea of meeting another dragon made the dragonlords heart skip a beat, he had to find this egg. If it existed.
"And, you've come to steal it." Gaius sighed, Merlin's heart skipped another beat.
"Well-"
"You're missing a part of it anyway." Gaius continued.
"Oh I know where it is." The man grinned, "In the vaults, below your feet."
"And you want me to help you?"
"We could bring the nobel creature back to life!"
"I want no part in this!"
Merlin watched, confused as the men fought. Why wouldn't Gaius help the dragons? The men argued for some time until the man left, telling Gaius to find him at the inn should he need. The door was barely closed when Merlin revealed himself.
"Who was that?" He asked
"Nobody-"
"Gaius..."
"He was a pupil of mine." Gaius admitted, "His name is Julius Borden."
"Why wont you help him?" Merlin asked, "This is our one chance of saving the dragons!"
"Borden is not a man to be trusted." Gaius said with finality
"You don't believe the triskelion is real?" The prince questioned
"Of that I have no doubt." Gaius rebutted
"Then what?"
"His motives sire." Gaius continued, "Even as a young man he was prone to dishonesty, who knows what path he is on now."
"You want the egg to remain lost?"
"I don't want it in Borden's hands!" Gaius exclaimed.
It was times like this that made Merlin feel distant from the old man. He knew Gaius loved him and he in return loved Gaius, but he was too safe. He wasn't willing to take necessary risks.
"The tomb of Ashkanar has remained un touched for over four hundred years!" Gaius continued, "It is my belief that it should stay that way!"
"But-"
"Sire, you should be resting anyway. The last thing you want is a headache."
...
"I never dared to dream of such a thing Merlin." Kilgharrah said awed.
The prince had snuck out of the physicians chambers as soon as the old man had fallen asleep, he simply had to tell somebody who understood.
"So the legend is true? There is an egg?" Merlin asked
"This a chance in a thousand Merlin! The legend is true, you must retrieve the egg."
...
Merlin wandered down the streets in the early morning, making sure to keep his face covered with his cloak. The last thing he wanted was to make a scene. Slipping past the inn keeper of The Rising Sun was easy enough, now he just had to find Borden's room. According to the script kept by the desk he should of been in the third room. The prince creaked open the room and saw a shape on the bed, he must of been asleep. He was about to wake the man when he felt something throw him against the now closed door and the icy coldness of metal against his throat.
"What do you want?" Sneered Borden
"I want to help you get the dragon egg." Merlin answered nervously, "I'm a friend of Gaius."
"Did he send you?" Borden asked
"No but I know everything about dragons!" Merlin insisted
"Get out." The older man grumbled releasing the prince
"But-"
"Get. Out"
"I can help you get the third piece of the Triskellion!" Merlin insisted desperately
"How can a boy like you help me?" Bored questioned. Merlin held himself a little higher.
"Because I'm Prince Merlin and my brother has the key to the vaults."
...
Arthur was just finished dressing when he heard the doors to his chambers slam open, he didn't need to look out from behind the screen to know who it was. Only one person would rush in here like that.
"Merlin what-"
"Arthur!" Merlin beamed, "I need the keys to the vaults!"
"Why?" Arthur asked
"Because the third part of the Triskellion in down there!" Merlin rolled his eyes as if it should be obvious.
"Oh yes how could I possibly not know that?" Arthur answered sarcastically.
"Arthur, there is a dragon egg!" Merlin was practically dancing over his room with excitement as he explained what was going on.
"Please, I need the keys so I can get the third part of the Triskellion!" Merlin pleaded, "I'll go with Borden in secret, just say I've gone to improve my hunting skills or something, that way nobody will know about the egg."
Arthur ruffled Merlin's hair teasingly.
"Alright, who am I to deny a dragonlord about anything to do with the beasts?" He laughed throwing the key to his brother, "Just be careful!"
"Thank you Arthur!"
I found this chapter really difficult to write because I didn't want to repeat every line of dialogue cause that would be boring for those who have seen the show. Plus things will play out very differently with Arthur knowing about Merlin's magic and the fact that he is a prince.