THE COURTYARD
"On me!"
Arthur bellowed as he led his men down the stairs and into the courtyard as the white wizened dragon swooped down.
It bared its teeth and growled balefully, breathing fire and setting the air alight.
It caught on some of the banners and mossy flowers that grew over some of the stone balconies, and made smoke rise into the air.
All around the household staff were screaming and racing away, deeper into the castle.
Gwen appeared at the window to her chambers, pushing it open and staring down at the courtyard as he husband led his men in a V formation, swiping his sword at the beast.
THE DUNGEONS
"Tanya go!" Merlin pushed her away from the door, "Go and see that Gwen and Arthur are alright…"
She stared at him for a long moment before turning and racing away, holding her skirts and up the stairs into the main castle.
Merlin cast one look at a quivering Melwes, before spinning on his heel and racing to push himself up by the wall.
He stared through the grate of a window in the wall at the chaos outside and he flexed his jaw, his voice low.
"Aithusa…"
THE COURTYARD
The dragon roared balefully and rose higher into the air, as Arthur and his men swung their swords at it.
They watched as Aithusa flew high against the afternoon turning to evening sky, and swooped down lowly through the main gates, knocking over the screaming guards, and snatching and biting at those in the lower town.
The fire from Aithusa's mouth caught on buildings and her great talons tore away the roofs of buildings, dropping them and splintering other homes into rubble.
People screamed while the warning bell continued to toll.
The dragon rose higher into the air and screamed and roared away from the citadel.
The lower town started to burn and crumble in places.
Arthur turned with his men as the dragon swooped low over them, and they raced back into the castle.
"Hold…" Arthur said as they watched the people hide and the lower town empty of people.
The dragon still circled.
They peered out from the large doors at the tops of the stairs.
Aithusa let out a roar and swooped low towards them.
"Shut the doors now!" Arthur bellowed.
"Now!" Leon echoed.
The guards scrambled to slam the doors just as the dragon screamed and swooped at them, thrusting its claws out.
Its talons slammed through the wood jut as the doors closed and Arthur and the men leapt out of the way, holding their swords up as with a deafening crash and scream, Aithusa ripped the heavy wooden door straight from its hinges.
Men stared to cry out and scream in shock as the dragon flew backwards, kicked the split door from its feet and then land on the stone steps, stalking and roaring up.
Arthur sung his sword at it and it reared up onto its back legs and opened its mouth.
"Sire!"
Leon grabbed the back of his arm and towed the king out of the way as Aithusa slammed back down on all fours, head in the door, and breathed fire up and down the corridor.
It caught onto some of the tapestries and hangings which lines the walls, and lit the shoulders of some people.
Men screamed and burned and Arthur and Leon attempted to grab them, only to see the same men fall to the feet of Aithusa, who stood on them heavily, roared once more, before lifting to scream back up into the sky.
GAIUS'S CHAMBERS
"Tanya, what is happening?" Gaius demanded as the young serving girl skidded to a stop in his chambers.
"It is the dragon Aithusa…" She hurried to explain, breathless as she was from running to speak to him, "Aithusa is here… torching the people and the lower town…"
There was silence from the old physician for a moment and Gaius stared hard at her.
"Then you must release Merlin from the dungeons… for he is the only one who can soothe Aithusa."
Tanya nodded once and turned to rush to the door but stopped herself half out of it.
"Gaius?" She turned back to the old physician looking at her expectantly.
"Gaius, is it true?" She asked, "All that I remember from druid legends as a child… is it true that Merlin truly is the greatest sorcerer ever, that he can talk to dragons…?"
Gaius gave a small grave smile, arching one eyebrow at her as though it told her everything she needed to know.
He answered her question with a question.
"And is it true all that your father once said to Merlin, that you were born a druid but you lost your powers in an attack by a creature, and that your father, or the man who became your father… ran away with you, and stopped using his magic so you could have a normal life?"
He stared at her evenly.
"The answer is the same."
Tanya nodded once with a small timid smile in her eyes and turned, racing from the room to free Merlin.
He was there only hope.
THE DOCHRAID'S LAIR
"Argh!" Morgana gave a shout of rage as she stormed into the dank residence of the wizened creature.
The rasping sneer came deep from within in the creatures throat, although it glared out of the hollow eyes.
Morgana's voice was furious and deranged, as bedraggled and empty of everything bar bitterness as she was.
"The dragon is out of control, I need a way to kill a dragon…" She flew and spun on the Dochraid for answers.
The creature's voice was rough but sure.
"You cannot, your magic is petty by comparison, and dragons are as old as the earth and time themselves… you need a dragon lord, to tame it…"
"If it is torching Camelot perhaps I should just let it…" Morgana snapped and turned away, her hands clasping at thin air as though she was desperately seeking something to squeeze the life from.
"And how do you not know that Aithusa will not come for you too?"
The Dochraid's croaking voice made the high priestess turn on her in embarrassed rage.
"I cared for that Dragon…"
"You repressed it as a pet in your bitter loneliness… trained it until it became bitter, twisted and small…"
"Then where can I find a dragon lord?" Morgana demanded, striding towards the old hagged creature, "Tell me…"
The Dochraid's sneer cracked her face.
"There is only one, and he is known to you."
The silence hung in the air for a moment and Morgana straightened.
"Emrys."
CAMELOT CORRIDORS
"I want every man armed on the battlements, shield walls, and windows boarded up… it cannot be allowed in the castle…"
Gwen followed the sound of her husband's booming voice as she pushed her way through the people running around in fright and trying to focus on the kings will.
Guards moved out of her way as she rushed past.
She caught sight of him pointing to Leon to go one way with some men, Percival the other…
"Arthur!"
He turned at her voice and his face immediately darkened.
"You need to go back to our chamber and bolt the door, it is not safe here." He stated.
"I cannot sit by and do nothing. I will help with the wounded…" She stated as she watched two guards hurriedly carry a burnt man towards Gaius's chambers.
Arthur flexed his jaw, seeing the distress in her eyes which stemmed from her compassion for others.
"Very well. But you rest as best you can." He stated, "I mean it… you do not leave Gaius's chambers… and if he tells you to rest you go straight to bed."
She scowled at him and he kissed her cheek.
"I love you."
She sighed and nodded once.
"Elyan." Her husband straightened and called her brother over, "Take Guinevere down to Gaius's chambers…"
Her eyes widened, "I do not need an escort."
"I am not listening to you." Arthur touched her swollen belly gently, in an absentminded gesture as her brother nodded and put a hand on her back.
Arthur watched as Elyan made to lead her away.
Gwen reached for his hand even as she turned.
Arthur squeezed it and kissed it once.
"Be safe…" She whispered.
He nodded and dropped her hand, watching as she walked away with her brother.
He sighed.
Arthur forced himself not to think about the one person who was always there when things went wrong; who he thought was useless…
Arthur knew now that he was far from useless…
But how then could he still be Merlin?
THE DUNGEONS
Merlin gritted his teeth and spun to face the barred door on his cell.
"Incendia!" He hissed and thrust his arms out towards it, palms forward, as though he was pushing someone from behind.
Some erupted from the lock and the door snapped in its lock, swinging open and forwards.
He turned his eyes down on his shackles and without as much as a word, the locks on those broke and with a clatter, the bonds fell to the floor.
He immediately rubbed at his wrists and strode from the cell, not casting one glance back to the quivering Melwes.
"Merlin!"
The voice made him look up as Tanya came hurtling towards him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came to let you out; I should have known you would already do it…" She muttered, holding herself away from him.
Merlin grinned at her words and reached to hug her tightly.
She swallowed and stepped back, sweeping her hair away from her face.
His face fell.
The distance between them felt huge.
"Go…" She said and gestured to the stairs, "You need to save the day…"
He nodded and took one stride towards the way out of the cell, before he turned back to her.
He grabbed at her wrist and pulled her too him, and in a moment of impulse he kissed her.
He kissed her.
He
Merlin kissed her soundly, thanking her for her friendship and companionship, before he stared deep into her eyes.
His voice was rough.
"You may have pushed me away…" He murmured, "But I won't give up what I feel for you."
She gasped and watched as he turned and raced up into the castle.