AUTHORS NOTE!
SO yes, I have uploaded three chapters because I know I am a terrible TERRIBLE person... I have had loads of technical problems with my laptop and then lost my memory stick but now EVERYTHING IS OKAY! we are off school now so I have plenty of time to write. I am working on the "Dynasty" and "Brenna" episodes at the moment, for those of you who wanted more of the knights (Percival in particular) and Gwen and Arthur's children (obv the first one hasn't been born yet, but you know... there is magic and stuff... so no spoilers there ;))))
SO PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! Updates will be coming as fast as I can write now. :D
THE COURTYARD
Racing from the castle into the courtyard, Arthur and his men swung their sword at the dragon, whose fire burned and scorched at them through their armour.
Their skin was dirty from the smoke in the air from burning parts of the castle, and sweat stained the soot there, trailing it with lines forged by the heat they were facing.
Arthur flexed his hand around his sword and swung hard at the dragon.
Aithusa felt nothing, only roared in rage and swooped down at the king.
Merlin skidded out onto the top steps as people screamed and dove around.
"Aithusa!" He bellowed.
The dragon glanced at him, bared its teeth but said nothing.
It did not obey the warning in his voice.
Arthur glanced at his manservant to see Merlin, with no armour or weapon, race down through the burning wreckage directly at the dragon.
"Merlin!" Arthur bellowed.
He did not want to feel worry for the man who had lied to him so long…
But he still looked like Merlin at least.
"Merlin!"
The young warlock raced forwards, pushing past Mordred who was armed and dressed in chainmail.
Mordred straightened, for he had always known who Merlin was.
He had known that he was Emrys, even before Merlin had…
"Aithusa!" Merlin shouted at the dragon.
The young gnarled dragon bared its teeth and roared, turning its head on the young warlock away from Arthur.
The flap of its wings made Arthur stagger back, but he watched as Merlin stood defiant, as the dragon flapped its wings and stomped in front of him.
Merlin seemed to glare at the floor for a second, before slowly he raised his head and a deep bellow erupted from deep in his chest.
"OH Aithusa, somreyhi hus ar lalacessh….!"
His voice shattered the air around them all and Aithusa blinked, making a low choking noise and dropping to stand on all fours facing the young warlock.
Merlin stood there, staring as the dragon shifted and bowed its head, low to the ground, a small rumbling in its chest.
Everyone saw Merlin, standing there, for who he truly was.
Aithusa seemed to whimper and limp slightly, and it was only then that Merlin saw the chain around one of her feet.
It had cut into her already withered flesh, which was made so from her being, kept in such possessive conditions by Morgana for over three years.
Merlin swallowed and took a step towards the dragon.
"Merlin." Arthur said quietly, finding his voice more full of wonder than fear.
Merlin ignored him.
That part at least, was completely the Merlin that Arthur knew and considered a friend.
The king glanced when something in his chest stirred, and subconsciously he must have felt her presence, for he could see his wife appear at the top of the stairs that led down into the courtyard.
Gaius stood at her side, his arm=s folded, his eyes trained on Merlin, a small and guarded yet proud smile on his face.
Arthur saw his wife staring at Merlin and the dragon as everyone else did, her eyes full of wonder, and Arthur found his head turning back to Merlin and Aithusa.
Merlin approached the dragon slowly, one hand out as a sign of peace.
His dragon lord voice still rumbled in his chest, yet now the words he spoke were understood by all who could hear him.
"Easy…" he murmured, "easy."
Tanya appeared in the stone archways of the open sided corridors across the other side of the courtyard from Arthur, and she watched, leaning on one pillar, as Merlin gently crouched down before the dragon, his hand still raised.
His voice dropped to a low murmur.
"Freenday…"
With a flash of amber eyes the shackle on the dragons leg fell away, revealing blistered bone and flesh.
Arthur and everyone straightened, and some of the knights took a step back.
The king stared on.
Merlin swallowed and sniffed at seeing the creature, simply a tool of Morganas evil, just as Mordred had been…
But Mordred had been able to escape.
Merlin doubted he could not escape his destiny any more than he could…
Merlin couldn't, or wouldn't trust him…
He concentrated on the dragon.
He hovered his hand over the dragon's foot and with low murmurings and whispers, the skin healed and the dragon purred a growl, settling its foot back on the floor and flapping tis wings.
Merlin felt his heart burst with a dragon lord's devotion and he straightened to stand up, the dragon still bowed before him, staring up with wide and confused eyes.
Morgana had shown Aithusa love, yet it had turned to bitter possession… she was a weapon rather than a companion…
Merlin would not see her go back to that.
He slowly reached out, and much to Arthur and everyone else's shock, but not surprise in some cases, he rested his hand gently on the top of the creatures head.
"I will help you find a voice Aithusa…" Merlin promised with rough emotion In his voice.
The dragon shifted and purred.
Merlin swallowed.
"I am sorry for what Morgana has done to you…" His voice cracked before he drew in a breath and straightened, dropping his hands to his sides, "Go, find Killgarrah… he will know I sent you…"
The small white dragon turned its head to the side, not seeming to understand what Merlin meant.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
Merlin stepped towards the creature, "It is alright… he was chained once too, he will understand…"
The dragon let out a bleating noise and shrunk back away from Merlin, it's eyes insistent.
Merlin froze, "but she chained you up…"
Morgana.
Arthur flexed his hand around his sword.
The dragon made the same urgent noise.
It sounded almost desperate.
Merlin swallowed and shook his head, lifting his hand to touch the beasts skull again, "I want to help you…"
With a croaking strain Aithusa flapped her wings hard in warning.
Merlin froze, "why do you owe her loyalty and not me?"
"warqk."
The whining sound from Aithusa throat as her eyes widened made tears fill Merlin's vision.
The dragon grew still.
Merlin swallowed.
"Oh…" His whisper filled the burning courtyard, "You are both lonely."
The dragon shifted before nudging him with its great head, before it lifted its wings and flew high into the air.
The crowd in the courtyard watched with mouths slightly open as the creature croaked a thak you at Merlin, in the dragon tongue, and turned and flew through the air towards the setting sun, through the smoke of the damage that she left behind.
Merlin stared after her and let out a long breath.
Slowly, someone started to clap.
He turned to see Mordred put his sword on the floor and straighten, pounding his hands together.
Then, even more slowly, others set their weapons down, or lowered their hands from where they had been raised in fright and shock, and started to clap too.
Soon everyone around the citadel, stood on the ramparts, in the courtyard, on the stairs, looking out of windows, clapped.
They applauded him.
Merlin turned in a circle, tears in his eyes, as they applauded him for his magic, for having the power to send the dragon away.
Gwen was beaming, as was Tanya, and Gaius was smiling a small and proud smile…
Merlin turned in a full circle, before his eyes landed back on the king who was straight and stern.
Arthur did not clap.
He flexed his jaw against the confusion he felt and turned.
He pushed through the crowd and stormed back into the castle.
Merlin's shoulders dropped when he saw him go.
Gwen sighed and turned, walking back into the castle and after her husband.
He needed to talk to her, she would convince him it was true.