THE DUNGEON'S – CAMELOT
Merlin sat against the wall of his cell, knees pulled up to his chest, arms resting on them.
The sound of light footsteps on the stone made him look up.
His eyes widened when he saw Gwen walking towards him, holding a small plate of food.
Merlin scrambled onto his knees.
She strode towards the cell just as a stuttering large guard appeared.
"My lady…"
"Open this cell."
"My lady!" The guard spluttered, "He is a sorcerer, the king has him locked up because he is dangerous…"
"It was an order, not a request." Gwen snapped firmly.
Her eyes flashed at the guard and he swallowed, stammering and muttering.
He struggled with his keys in the lock before he opened Merlin's cell door.
Merlin did not move for fear of hindering the situation.
He sunk to sit back against the wall again, knees up towards his chest, hands clasped.
Gwen nodded curtly to the guard who bowed theatrically.
She looked at the guard firmly and muttered, "If Merlin was really a warlock who was dangerous why has he not tried to escape?"
She swept past the guard who locked the door behind her/
Gwen kept firm eye contact with him until he stepped back away from the cell and stood by the wall out of ear shot.
She sighed and sunk to her knees before Merlin, setting the small plate of food beside him.
"Sorry, this is all I could get…" She apologised.
Merlin smiled, "Thank you Gwen…"
She shrugged slightly and set her hands in her lap, one palm moving slightly too absentmindedly touch her belly.
Now she was kneeling the fabric stretched slightly around her tiny belly under her breasts, it was harder to see when she was standing.
"Arthur will come around." She said quietly.
Merlin swallowed thickly, "Yeh."
She reached to touch his knee in a soft caress, and the clink of his shackles on thr floor brought them to her attention, "I could have them removed…"
Merlin chuckled at her sadly, before his eyes flashed and the shackles fell away.
Gwen blinked, but a slow smile touched her lips and she laughed almost silently at herself, "How foolish of me… it will take some getting used to?"
Merlin swallowed again and picked at the cheese, "That necklace I have you… it protects you from magical attacks… not from human ones, unfortunately…"
Her hand flittered to touch the stone around her neck and she smiled sadly, "You have always looked after me as a friend, I have known that despite your magic…"
"Do you really think Arthur will understand?"
His question saw Gwen sigh heavily and look down at her hands in her lap, "In time… I am sure…"
Merlin sighed too, "Yeh… I guess you are right."
A silence fell over them.
Gwen shifted on her knees, her eyes flitting around the cell and remembering her few brief stays in the 'room', always falsely accused…
"It is cold down here… do you need anything?" She asked him.
Merlin shook his head sadly, "Bringing a sorcerer food is kind but understandable… moving hi to warmer quarters, with a bed, may be something else entirely."
With that said he pushed the empty plate back towards her, "Thank you."
She smiled and held it in her hands.
"You have always looked after me… and for Arthur… and for this baby in time… he will remember that, I am sure…" She said quietly.
Merlin nodded once, "The life within you… I can sense it you know…"
Her eyes looked up at him, "Really?"
He nodded and he sat upright away from the wall, leaning towards her.
His hand, without control, reached out towards her.
He stopped himself and stared at her, "May I?"
She nodded and looked down at herself as he rested his large hand gently on her tiny rounded belly.
Although there was no movement, for the child was too small still, Merlin felt warmth on his palm.
"What does it feel like?" She whispered, staring at him.
A tiny smile touched his lips.
"Nothing is more magical Gwen."
Gwen wanted more than anything for Arthur to share this moment with her and Merlin, and the thought of her husband, hurting and angry, made her sniff and wipe at her eyes.
The heavy footsteps over the stone outside the cells made Merlin pull away.
The guard walked up to the door.
"My lady." He stated as politely as he could.
She sighed and smiled at Merlin, before she pushed herself upright and walked to the door the guard opened.
Merlin watched her go.
The further she walked away the more purposeful she got.
THE FOREST OF ESITIA – MORGANA'S HOVEL
"Aithusa!" She screamed at the dragon, as it railed against its chains.
It had growing twisted and harsh in its cries.
Morgana glared at it and struck her hand out, without a spell, but making the dragon think that she would cast one.
It gave a terrible hoarse roar of fright and pulled and strained.
"You are loyal to me!" Morgana screamed at it, "You are chained for your own good!"
She cared for the dragon but was terrified of it leaving her…
She would not be alone again.
Yet Morgana understood nothing of the dragon lords or the true loyalty each dragon owed to those people above all others…
She did not understand why Aithusa could resent her for her persecution in her desperation for her loyalty.
The dragon strained harder against its chains and Morgana took a step back as the fire erupted from its throat and the rock it was chained too splintered and cracked.
Morgana lifted her hand to shield her body in rage form the fire, yet only lowered her shield when it disappeared, which she found was too late.
The dragon gave a roar of hatred for her and flew high, shaking and dragging the chain which was still attached to its leg.
Morgana dove out of the way and screamed in fury as the dragon swooped low over her before high into the sky.
Morgana sneered in fury when she saw that it headed for Camelot.
THE ROYAL CHAMBERS
The fire blazed in the fire place.
Arthur sat facing it in a hard backed wooden chair, staring and distant, his jaw locked.
Gwen padded across the room softly, her skirts swirling around her with her movement, her hands folded just in front of her tiny belly.
She walked slowly to him.
"Arthur…" She murmured.
He looked up at her with a start.
"I…" His voice failed him, his eyes guarded, "I…"
"I know…" She soothed and hushed him, sinking to sit in his lap.
One of her arms wrapped around his shoulders, on the back of his neck, the other over his one hand on her belly, where it had reached around her back to hold her too him with a gentle sigh.
His other hand stroked her knee through her dress.
Where she sat in his lap she was slightly higher than him, but he kept her gaze with a soft sigh.
"I know what you are thinking." She whispered.
He sighed shortly.
"It doesn't surprise me."
When he volunteered no more information or words she watched him carefully, running her hand over his cheek, having moved it from her belly to his face.
"You are thinking about Merlin…" She whispered.
Arthur stiffened yet said nothing.
She kissed his temple softly.
"He is still your friend…" She murmured against his cheek.
Arthur once again was silent.
She sighed and kissed the corner of his mouth.
Arthur's heart and head ached with confusion.
The person, this almighty sorcerer… was Merlin.
He did not know if he could stand seeing Merlin any more…
How could he be Merlin…
Gwen sensed his mood change and swallowed.
"You need to talk to him Arthur."
Her words hung in the air for a moment before Arthur gently lifted her from his lap and stood, walking across the room and towards the tower.
"I have nothing to say to him."
THE DUNGEONS
Tanya approached the bars silently, crouching in front of them the slide a tray through the bars.
He forgot completely that Gwen had brought him food.
Merlin watched her carefully, "Tanya?"
"I thought you might be hungry."
Her small reply as she slid the tray towards him made him stiffen.
As she reached to hand him a mug of water he caught her wrist.
She gasped and tried to pull it away, but their eyes locked and she swallowed.
He stared at her, "Friends?"
She was silent for a moment.
Her hand slipped from his grip, "But everything remains in its box."
Merlin straightened but nodded once.
She swallowed and stood, brushing her skirt of dirt.
"Thank you." He glanced up at her through the bars and set it down, tearing at the bread and sinking to sit facing the bars.
She watched him softly and sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before looking at him.
Merlin swallowed thickly and looked at Melwes who was cowering in the corner of his cell, never taking his eyes off of Merlin.
"He is scared to death of me…" Merlin muttered to her, his eyes flashing over his shoulder, "Watch…"
He made the straw on the floor lift up with a flash of his eyes and smack Merlin in the face.
The old ignorant lord fairly screamed in fright and Merlin chuckled without humour, eating more bread and turning back to Tanya.
She sighed and shook her head, "Merlin…"
Her eyes focused on the thick leather bracelet she wore which covered her druid symbol.
His did the same as he chewed.
He looked up at her and she looked down.
She shifted, "I should go…"
"Tanya…"
Merlin watched as she turned and swept away towards the stairs up to the main castle.
The air around them was shattered by a piercing screech that made the back of Merlin's neck crawl.
"What was that?" Tanya cried.
They stood upright and the hoarse roar came again, followed by shouting and screaming.
The warning bell started to toll.
Merlin stared at the ceiling.
A dragon.
Aithusa.