Deviner Captive

Destiny

...

How could he have not known this was here all his life? The prince was fascinated by the fact he'd been living on top of all this. Lifting his torch to see better. A stone column not to far away caught his eye because something reflected the light back at him. When he looked closer he could see a giant shackle with a chain.

The dragon. This is where his father had kept the great dragon imprisoned all those years. It was gone now. Set loses by someone who'd managed to get by the guards. That somebody was most likely Merlin. He forgot that the warlock had already confessed to the crime.

A deep chuckle had started to reverberate off the cave walls.

"Who's there? Reveal your self!" Arthur commanded while moving his torch to try and see the dark corners of the cavern where the person must be hiding since they were not on the outcrop with him.

Flapping wings could be heard. His mouth dropped open when the great dragon appeared before him. His last interaction with dragon had not gone so well. It had attacked Camelot and his sword had been no match against it.

"How did you get back in here?" Arthur questioned in surprise not expecting an answer back.

"There is of course an opening. How else do you think I got put in here the first time?" Kilgharrah spoke petulantly in his booming voice.

It was in the same tone of voice of the one that had called him here. He thought the ability to talk to dragons was a dragon lord power but it must not be included since he could understand just fine. He felt stupid that he hadn't at least suspected the dragon. It contacted him exactly how Merlin described.

"I meant, why'd you come back? Aren't you afraid of being chained up again." Arthur inquired curiously to break the ice.

"Only a dragon lord could command me to do that. Do you seriously think that you puny humans could physically force me too?" The great dragon indicated he had no reason to be worried.

Arthur hadn't been called puny by anyone since he had his growth spurt when he was twelve. It was definitely true that he had nothing on the dragon's girth or height. He couldn't even imagine how many men it would take to perform the task to capture it. Twenty knights had been no use against it.

"Why'd you call me here?" Arthur questioned. It didn't bode well if the great dragon was asking for his help. What could he actually do?

"I already told you. I need to know why the young warlock is away from Camelot. Protecting another kingdoms walls using his magic." Kilgharrah starred the prince down.

"What do you mean protecting?" Arthur shuffled his feet his feet in nervousness as he questioned the large beast. He didn't like the sound of that.

"When I sensed the warlocks presence so far away from Camelot, away from your presence. I tried to communicate with the dragon lord but it was blocked for some reason. When I arrived at where he was being held the guards attacked on sight and I was easily winning the fight, before a large barrier covered the whole area of the castle. It processed the magical signature of Merlin. Why would he use a magical shield that would exhaust him to stop me when all he needed to do was ask?" Kilgharrah questioned.

"A king came for talks of a peace treaty, he managed to see Merlin performing magic one evening. He made my father think he was very angry for his disrespect towards his family, convinced him he would declare war on Camelot if he weren't given one thing, which turned out to be Merlin. After my father signed him over the Dyfred king put some metal collar around his neck that said could control Merlin's powers." Arthur explained. He kept forgetting the fact that Merlin was a dragon lord and the connection they shared.

"This is very bad. Not only has someone taken the young warlock prisoner but has complete control of his powers to do what he wishes." Kilgharrah fretted.

"Merlin can't be that powerful. He's an idiot so I don't think he'd have the knowledge to do that much harm." Arthur denied the prospect.

"You underestimate him. It has been prophesied that some day he will become the most powerful sorcerer to ever live. He may not have the knowledge yet but he does have the power. The king is the one using his destructive knowledge anyways." Kilgharrah spoke.

"You expect me that the most powerful sorcerer ever is washing my dirty socks. Why would he disguise himself as my manservant." Arthur questioned in disbelief.

"It is his destiny to protect you. The position of servant allows him to always be around when you're in danger." Kilgharrah explained.

"Who told him that?" Arthur asked confused. Why would someone so powerful listen to what anyone told him to do?

"Me…" Kilgharrah admitted, stopping for a dramatic pause. "You're one side of the same coin. You complete each other." The dragon said. Thinking back on years earlier.

"That line sound's very rehearsed." Arthur gave the creature a suspicious look.

"I spoke the same words to the young warlock not long after he came to Camelot." Kilgharrah smirked. Thinking of the young warlocks original reaction of how if anyone wanted to kill the prat they could go right ahead.

"There's no such thing as destiny. We make our own choices and mistakes." Arthur claimed.

"He didn't believe me the first time I told him either because it was right after the first time you met, you didn't make a good first impression. After he saved you though he accepted that it was his duty to make sure you lived to become king." Kilgharrah told the prince.

"So he only did all that because it was his duty?" Arthur felt offended. He'd considered Merlin his best friend before all this because he was so loyal to him. He thought he'd earned it because of his character and not his station like everyone else.

"That is how it started out but over time he started to do it because he felt like it was the right thing to do." Kilgharrah observed how the prince continence didn't change much. "Because he wanted to. Destiny is what makes certain beings drawn to each other."

"You've got the information you wanted. Now can I go?" Arthur asked. Feeling uncomfortable in the great dragon's presence and all it was telling him.

"Prince-ling, you must think of a rescue plan before anything bad can happen." Kilgharrah rested the warlock's rescue on the prince's shoulders. If their destiny was to be put back on track and the trust between them regained again it had to be Arthur who made the choice to retrieve the warlock so he could take his rightful place beside him.

"Why would I do that? He's been lying to me for years and he broke the law" Arthur asked surprised to be asked to do such. "What do you expect me to do if you can't do anything?"

"You will think of something. It won't take long before you miss his presence." Kilgharrah spoke before taking flight. "Call me when you figure that out. I will be near by." The wind he made caused the prince's clothes to flap around his body and his torch to blow in one direction.

Arthur growled in frustration with the beast and in a fit of rage he threw his torch after the dragon. Missing by a large distance. Kilgharrah's laugh echoed through the dark cavern since the only light source had been snuffed out when it landed in a sand pit at the bottom.

The prince had to feel his way back to the tunnel entrance and then follow the wall with his hands. He surprisingly didn't run into any of the knights on the way back to his chambers. When he arrived there all he wanted to do was fall asleep like he was supposed to be doing in the first place.

But when he opened the door he was greeted by. "Hello Arthur."

Arthur sighed in dread of what was to come.

He'd been avoiding being alone with his girlfriend for weeks. He was hoping that distance would make the heart grow fonder but it just proved his feelings had faded only to be replaced by something brighter, it had been snuffed out in an instant but it had still been there and he couldn't forget. It had slowly started to rekindle though already without the object of his affection even being present.

"Gwen, I'm really not in the mood to talk right now. Can we do it later?" Arthur asked with an exhausted tone.

"You mean tomorrow or days from now, weeks, years? I've noticed you've been avoiding me like the plague." Gwen frowned at her boyfriend. They hadn't acted in anyway to that title in month's it seemed in her mind. She knew it had been a long time coming and told Lancelot her suspicions.

Arthur winced. He knew he couldn't avoid this conversation forever but he was hoping he wouldn't ever have to have it. He knew she'd make a great queen who'd care about the people but his feeling had just run off elsewhere. It was best just to get it over with now. "Alright I give." Arthur took a seat at the other end of the table furthest away from her.

They eyed each other, waiting for the other to break the silence first. It wasn't a voice but a knock at the door that finally did.

"Come in!" Arthur called to allow entrance into his chambers. He had never been so glad to see Merlin's replacement because George brought food. It was that which made him realize that he hadn't eaten anything all day and the sun was already starting to set. His stomach let off a growl that he was sure the other two present could hear.

When the manservant placed the meal on the table Arthur reached greedily for a chicken leg only to have his hand slapped away. "That is my dinner." Gwen claimed with a scowl as she slid the plate closer to her person.

"But I'm starving." Arthur whined.

"My lord, if I knew you were here I would have brought you your meal but I was informed you were out and to just serve the lady. I can retrieve another plate from the kitchen if you would like?" George asked trying to be the dutiful manservant to his master.

"That will not be required. You may leave." Gwen commanded as she daintily cut the meat off the bone.

The movement of the knife moving back and forth through the meat was hypnotizing to the prince, by the time he looked away the Merlin imposture was gone. "Hey." Arthur said when he realized the women had commanded the servant to leave and not return. Was she punishing his bad behavior by withholding food?

"Hush. You agreed to talk with me." Gwen reprimanded him.

Arthur frowned in annoyance when he realized she had pushed the plate of food to the side. She wasn't even going to eat it, just keeping it away from him in some sadistic pleasure to torture him.

"For months we haven't been happy together." Gwen gave him a searching look. "I didn't want to be know as the servant who was given the chance to date a prince and didn't find it to be enough but I think it's time to end things."

Arthur had to collect himself before he responded. He knew that it was coming but it still hurt all the same. "If that's how you feel I won't force you to stay with me in that way. I hope that we'll still be able to interact on friendly terms. I'm not going to kick you out of court for doing what was a long time coming. If you didn't break up with me, once I stopped avoiding you, it would be me ending things."

Gwen felt a large weight fall off her chest. Finally breaking up with Arthur and having him accept it made the situation so much easier on her emotionally but she wanted to be completely up front with him. "I hope we can still be friends too. Before I move on I want your blessing. There's someone else I'm interested in and they return my feelings, don't jump to any conclusion of me cheating on you, I told them we couldn't do anything until I broke up with you but It's been hard to get you alone the past two days."

"Who's the lucky man?" Arthur already had suspicion of who it was and didn't think he was likely to be wrong. He was glad that Gwen had found someone as noble to take his place and make her happy where he could not.

"Lancelot." Gwen admitted with a blush.

"I'm happy for you two and I give you my blessing." Arthur gave her a shy smile to show her that he really meant what he said. If anyone was going to be with Gwen instead of him he was glad it was one of his close friends. He knew there was a spark between the two that tat he never processed while with the girl.

"It isn't me you care for anymore but someone else too." Gwen gave the prince a sly look. " It's plain as day how you feel about them if anyone had observed you interact as much as me."

"Whom are you referring to?" Arthur didn't think that anyone else had noticed his attraction to his manservant. He was pretty sure that Merlin himself was oblivious to it. Did anyone else know? He shuddered at the thought of his father's reaction if it was to work it's way back to him.

"Merlin." Gwen said the name like he was an idiot for not realizing whom she was referring to. Which he wasn't because it was the only name he was thinking of.

"Merlin! I'm not in love with Merlin." Arthur didn't know why he was denying his feelings now. It seemed his relationship was over with Gwen whither it was true or not. He admitted that he had cared for his manservant more than any master ever should but he wasn't sure if it was to the point of loving. If he once was, did his betrayal set his heart straight? He still felt a yearning though.

"You're in what's called denial. Think on it and you'll realize I'm right." Gwen rebutted. " I want you to be happy and move on like I'm about to do. Knowing your personal interactions with others all these years, I think Merlin's the only one who could do that for you just like Lancelot is the only one for me."

"I think that ship has sailed. He's not even here anymore." Arthur said sullenly, not finding a purpose of denying her accusation anymore.

"As long as he's still alive it's not too late. All you have to do is go retrieve him if you want." Gwen glared at the prince.

First the dragon and now Gwen was encouraging him to rescue a known warlock, even if it was Merlin. "It not that simple. Even if I did go storm the enemies castle and rescue my damsel in distress, how do I know he'll even want a relationship with me?"

"If you're not willing to risk the possibility of him not returning your feelings then you don't love him as much as I thought. You don't deserve him then. I'll leave you to your thoughts." Gwen pushed his favorite chair back from the edge of the table making the legs scrape against the stone floor loudly. She slid the plate of food in front of him while she passed. The fabric of her dress made swishing noised as she walked across the room to the door.

Arthur sagged in the chair once the door clicked shut behind her leaving him alone with his thoughts, just as she wanted him. The sun was just disappearing behind the horizon so the room was almost completely dark since no candles had been lit since George had been dismissed for the night.

He looked down at the plate in front of him and snorted. Gwen had been thoughtful enough to cut his meat into bite-sized pieces. Probably left as a peace offering since she knew he hated the tediousness of it and just wanted to eat quickly as possible. The conversation had turned him stomach off food though.

He fell asleep still in his day clothes for a third night in a row, too tired to bother to get undressed. Drifting off to thoughts of raven hair and a red neckerchief.

...TBC