A/N: Already the 32 chapter, we're getting far. Never imagined that it would come this far, but I still hope that all of you're enjoying it. Oh and again a sad chapter, but the next one will be a lighter one, I promise. So please enjoy and tell me what you thought of it.

xxx

He could hear Aithusa scream, her dragon voice roaring into the night sky as she mourned for the loss she would soon have. Her eyes set on the night sky as her scales almost lit up in the light of the moon and its stars.

Merlin turned back, running his hands up and down the golden scales as a black, blurry eye stared at him, eyes half closed as his head lay heavily on the ground. He could feel how the heartbeat under his fingers weakened and knew it wouldn't be long, soon it would be time.

The raven opened his mouth, letting the old language of the dragons' roll over his lips. 'My old friend... Is there something I can do to lessen your pain?' He silently spoke as his fingers rubbed the scales on the dragon's snout.

Kilgharrah blinked once. 'No... my time is this world is coming to an end. I will soon join my kin on the other side.' A deep breath left the golden dragon. 'I have lived for thousands of years, seen many powerful men and kingdoms rise and fall, but... but none as great as the one you have created... The coin has succeeded and I... I have served my purpose, I have no regrets.' The last was said as the sound of his voice grew softer and softer.

Merlin nodded slightly as he felt the muscles tense under his fingers and he knew that the dragon was in pain. 'álíhtan þes sáwol ádl.' They were soft words which lightened the pain and he felt the Great Dragon relax under his touch.

'I told you that I didn't need anything.' Kilgharrah breathed as he closed his eyes. '... Thank you.'

'You don't have to thank me, you have done so much for me in return.'

Kilgharrah lifted his eyelids once more, his eyes clear for only a few more seconds before he shut them again, one last time. 'Goodbye.' It was almost a whisper as the Great dragon breathed out deeply, his last breath.

A tear ran over Merlin's cheek. 'Goodbye.' He answered in return, but he knew his old friend wouldn't hear it. The movement under his fingers had stopped, the dragon's large body laying heavily onto the ground, never to move again. Another tear rolled over his face as he leaned forward, his forehead touching the hard scales.

In the corner of his eyes he barely noticed how Aithusa came towards them, slowly brushing her snout against Kilgharrah's as she let out soft whimpers as if she called out for her mentor, even when both already knew there would never be an answer.

He didn't know how long he sat there, maybe just mere minutes, maybe even hours, but he felt how the dragon's body turned cold, the coldness of death. He let his fingers brush once more over the golden scales, trying to remember the touch before he stepped back. 'We have to go.' He whispered to Aithusa as he led her with him.

They couldn't bury him, the Great dragon was too big, and he probably wouldn't want to be locked up in the earth again, not even in death. He looked back once, at the mighty body, knowing that it would be the last time he saw those golden scales, those mighty eyes and he would never hear those riddling words again.

But it was fine, the Great Dragon needed his rest, his eternal rest. Magical words left his lips, shielding the clearing off, this place would forever belong to Kilgharrah.

They left, but as they did it also felt as if it ended a chapter, a chapter in history. There was little magic left in the world, and with Kilgharrah's death it decreased even further, with his death the chapter of earth's magic would be closed. Leaving behind great powers that in the future would be forgotten, creatures that would only exist in fairytales, mighty heroes who would turn into legends, simple bedtime stories.

But it was fine, everything both good and bad should once come to an end. And magic was so clearly both good and bad.