A feminine voice, croaky from age and lack of use eased him from his slumber. "Raijin…"

The castle was silent as he walked through it, searching for the source of the voice. Torchlight flickered on the walls at regular intervals but as he followed the voice lower into the castle the torches became less frequent and soon he was walking in near pitch darkness. Reaching what appeared to be the lowest level of the castle, he came upon the dungeons, their stairwell being guarded by four guards, two at the top and two at the bottom. These four presented no problem and with a pass of his hand, they began to nod off to sleep. The voice which had fallen silent at Raijin's approach to the dungeons now chuckled, a low rumbled and a slow intake of breath.

"Excellent…" It purred and Raijin glanced about just in case it could see him and was there. "Excellent… Come along, Raijin."

Swallowing thickly, Raijin crept down the stairs, passed the sleeping guards and their card game, and to a thick wooden door, behind from which the voice seemed to be calling. The door had no keyhole but the handle didn't want to move, locked in some way that an ordinary person would never be able to open. It made Raijin want to open it even less. Lord alone knew what could be behind it that was so important or so dangerous that magic was needed to keep the door locked. Nevertheless, he passed his hand over the spot where the keyhole ought to be and heard a dull grinding, like old gears, followed by a soft click.

When he tried the handle this time it worked perfectly and the door opened outwards on silent hinges. He was faced with a set of stairs that descended into the gloom, a layer of mist gathering on the steps and a sudden coldness swept over him along with the voice, louder now. "Raijin…"

Now, his mother had always told him that if ever he felt scared, all he needed to do was to light a little candle and it would chase the darkness away, because only the frightening things lived in the dark. So Raijin stole a lit torch from its sconce and poked it into the stairwell.

It illuminated very little, only that the stairs appeared to be crumbling and that the walls of the stairwell were rough, as though they had been cut straight out of the rock itself. There had been nothing done to make this place aesthetically pleasing at it worried him more. The rest of the castle was constructed of stones, cut to just the right size and shape and decorated in trappings, tapestries and the like. Some of the grander rooms he was sure would be lined with wood and perhaps even a lick of paint or something else fancy. Even the dungeons he was currently standing in were in better nick than the stairwell and their stonemasonry was very precise. The stairs were foreboding.

"Raijin… Come along, Raijin…" The voice called again and he thought, as he heard it, that a rush of air from the stairwell ruffled his hair and the flame of his torch flickered. It was slightly warmer than the air that had come at him before and struck him alarmingly as breath.

Steeling himself with another thick swallow, he took the first few steps into the stairwell and into the gloom. As he descended carefully, the mist around his ankles got thicker, swirling around his legs and eventually, as he reaching the bottom of the stairs, it was so thick that he could hardly see his feet. He stopped at the bottom and attempted to have his eyes adjust a bit better to the dark to see what he was dealing with.

When they did he was met with a sight he had never in all his days thought he would see. He was standing in a ginormous cavern, gloomy and cold and dark. His torchlight illuminated great pillars of rock stretching from the ceiling of the cavern and down into the gloom. The faint sound of running water met his ears and he began to shiver in the cold. Beside him was an empty wall-sconce and he set the torch down in it before turning around to face the big empty space, rubbing his arms for warmth.

"Hello?" He called out, looking around. Suddenly a great black shape loomed at him from out of the darkness and a gust of wind nearly blew out his torch. Raijin stumbled backwards away from the thing and tripped, landing on his bottom beneath a massive set of jaws.

"Raijin, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The set of jaws spoke and Raijin could do little more than simple gulp and nod his agreement. Yes, a pleasure indeed… "I am known as Kadowaki by my kind, though it has been nearly a hundred years since a human has spoken my name."

Good, names. Raijin nodded again, unable to speak for fear of what was now quite clearly a dragon. He made a cursory glance around them in case there were any more dragons around waiting to introduce themselves or squash him flat.

"No," Kadowaki spoke, answering his thoughts, "There are no other dragons in this cage. I am the last of my kind."

Clearing his throat Raijin managed a whisper, "That sounds terrible, ya know."

"Terrible, yes, but intolerable? No. I consider myself a scholar and most other dragons considered themselves predators." Kadowaki shook her head, "They are not such a loss after all."

Fuujin sat alone in the moonlight, on the roof of her quarters. She was reading the letter from Raijin's mother and had a great deal to think about. The letter detailed that Raijin was in possession of magic and had been since he was born. A few examples of flying dishes and locked doors were given and a request was made that Fuujin should aid Raijin in controlling his magic and using it for good. Raijin's mother had apparently done all she could to instil in her boy the idea that his magic be used solely for good and never for evil, but that was the extent of what she could teach him, having no knowledge of the actual practise of magic herself.

Fuujin rubbed at her remaining eye as she contemplated the implications of the letter. Magic users were outlaws in Camelot and to harbour one meant treason and the punishment; death. Fuujin owed Raijin's mother no great favours and by her own standard would hesitate to even call them friends. Fuujin had been passing through Ealdor years and years ago and had fallen gravely ill. Raijin's mother took care of her and in return Fuujin had cured an epidemic of potato rot that would have left the village starving. The debt was repaid and Fuujin was on her way.

If Fuujin decided to help Raijin and have him with her and educate him on the proper ways of magic, it was going to take a lot of hard work and was going to mean a heavy weight on her back. She was crown protector after all and for her to commit treason… Her head would be rolling on the floor before she even had time to contemplate a plea of defence. As far as she could tell this Raijin fellow already wasn't too bright and given half a chance would probably spill the beans about his magic-gift to all and sundry.

Quite the dilemma. She looked over the letter again. It mentioned no date at which she was supposed to return Raijin home. Did that mean he would be living with her forever? Perhaps she could foist him off on someone else? Was there anyone else? Would that make her a traitor to him if she let him get caught? Certainly there was a hefty price on the heads of any magic-users in the kingdom and if anyone else knew of his magic they would probably hand him straight over to the guards even if only for the money. She heaved a sigh and curled up for a nap. She could decide what to do in the morning, after all, how much trouble could he get into in one night?

"So let me get this right…" Raijin puzzled, cross-legged on the floor before the Dragon. "King Kramer killed your kind because he hates magic-users. Magic is outlawed in Camelot and is a capital offense. You're holed up in here as an example to magic-users everywhere. And I'm the key to the future of the land?"

"Yes."

"But that doesn't make any sense, ya know!" He whined, "And this is dangerous! I don't want to be beheaded, ya know!"

"Then you must hide your magic well, young warlock." Kadowaki said, clearing her throat a little. As they had talked it had become smoother the more she used it, as though their conversation was knocking some of the rust off. "Your destiny will make sense in time."

"But what do you mean 'destiny'? I'm just a peasant from Ealdor, ya know. My destiny is to be a pig-farmer, entertaining the swine with petty magic-tricks! I can't do anything worth a 'destiny', ya know!"

"Then you will learn," Kadowaki said, not seeming at all phased by the apparent uselessness of the man before her. "Despite what you may think, there is a prophecy which was written in ages long since passed, in the beginning of my lifetime, that you would eventually come and the land would be united. All the pieces of the puzzle are here at last."

Raijin scratched at his head. "I don't understand, ya know. How could my existence be foretold that long ago?"

"Does that matter? You have magic, your power is great but your knowledge is lacking. You are the man who will become the legend. The prophecy."

"But what does the prophecy say then?" He asked, "What am I supposed to do, ya know?"

"Protect the future king." Was the simple answer. "Keep him alive at all costs. Your usefulness will become more the more you practise."

"But you just said-"

"I know what I said, young warlock. Don't interrupt me."

"Sorry."

"It is his destiny to unite the Land into the fabled Albion and it is your destiny to help him. The prophecy tells of a great warlock guiding the King to unite the lands. You are that warlock. The woman, Fuujin, will teach you to control your magic." When Raijin looked sceptical about that, Kadowaki held up a claw to stay any protest. "She is wise beyond her years so do not doubt her."

Sighing in what seemed like acceptance, Raijin posed one last question. "How do you know that I'm the Warlock, ya know?"

"It's in your heart. I can hear it."

Water fetching. All he'd done all day was fetching water. After his long journey and the late night, the last thing he wanted to be doing was manual labour, but Fuujin had woken him up at the crack of dawn with a yoke in her hands and ordered him to fetch "WATER" while she went off and did 'something'. He'd asked her how much water she wanted – assuming it was just going to be a couple of buckets – and had been told to effectively fill the room. He'd made at least ten trips to the well and back already and he hadn't even had breakfast yet. Looks like he had eaten too much of the loaf yesterday after all.

He grumbled and groaned as he trekked back towards the well at the bottom of the hill, two empty buckets strung across his yoke. As he rounded the wall of the courtyard the sight of a group of laughing men caught his attention and he stopped to watch them for a while. They were standing around joking for a little while, then the ringleader apparently had a wonderful idea of how he could show off and beckoned for the attending servant to pick up one of the targets normally reserved for archery practice. To Raijin's horror and the men's apparent delight, the ringleader then proceeded to throw knives at the poor servant, who was instructed to run about and attempt to avoid them.

Never being one for cruelty towards others, Raijin approached with the intentions of stopping this little display of power. He addressed them as though they were little children. "Come on, that's enough now, ya know."

All eyes turned to him and more than a couple of sneers appeared on faces. The ringleader however merely looked perplexed at having been addressed such.

"I beg your pardon," He asked, the next throwing knife held limply in his fingers and dangling at his side. "What did you say?"

"I said that's enough now, ya know." Raijin repeated, feeling a little of his confidence wailing. "You've had your fun, it's time to stop now, ya know."

"Who are you?" The ringleader asked, sounding incredulous.

"I'm Raijin, ya know. From Ealdor."

The ringleader let out a short bark of laughter and the men behind him began to laugh as well. "So you're a peasant!" He crowed, "From Ealdor!" He turned around to grin momentarily at the laughing men, their mirth egging him on.

Raijin simply stood there, feeling more and more awkward as the moments went by. A large crowd was beginning to gather and he was beginning to wonder just what he had gotten himself in for. It was obvious that this guy was a noble of some description, the quality of his clothing looked far above that of any ordinary person.

"And I suppose you think you're going to stop me?" He asked, flashing all his pearly whites in a wolfish grin. "Raijin."

Raijin considered. He was a big guy, bigger than this prat and could probably take him on. He wasn't entirely unversed in the ways of weaponry, living on a farm in a remote village open to attacks from bandits certainly had its educational perks, but at the minute it wasn't him who was holding the knife. His best weapon right now had to be the yoke and his two empty buckets. Not a good match. But then he'd started this, it was only right to teach the prat a lesson, right? And if he won it might teach a few people to treat him with a bit more respect. He was a great and powerful warlock involved in a prophecy after all!

"Yes, I will."

There came a few 'ooo's and chuckles from the men and some muttering from the crowd of people gathered to watch. The ringleader smirked and without any warning loosed his throwing knife. It buried into the bottom of a bucket as Raijin swung the yoke around to fend it off.

The ringleader's eyebrow rose and he gave an appreciative nod before turning to one of the men and saying, "Give me your sword."

The weapon was handed over without any resistance and Raijin wondered just what kind of a noble this guy was to be able to command others so easily. He seemed to be above reproach as he advanced with the sword loose at his side and a grin on his face. The first sword strike was easily blocked over his head with the yoke because the sword was blunt – apparently only intended for practice – but the fist to his guts wasn't and all the air was knocked out of him.

The yoke fell to the ground with a clatter and Raijin fell to his knees, both arms wrapped around his stomach. The sudden urge to vomit was nearly over-powering and he clamped his lips shut just in case, face going white as he struggled with the urge.

The classy pair of boots – which was now all Raijin could see of the noble – paced about in front of him, the tip of the practice sword swinging in and out of view.

"I thought you said you would stop me, Raijin." An arrogant tone, a winner's gloat floating above his head. "That doesn't appear to have happened, now does it?"

Raijin shook his head. No it didn't. But if he had been able to use magic, he wouldn't be the one clutching his middle and struggling with an empty stomach, it would be this prat and all his laughing little friends.

"I don't suppose you're going to try that again anytime soon, are you?" The boots bent and a pair of knees appeared in his line of sight as well, crouching down as a gloved hand grabbed hold of his chin and roughly raised his head. Raijin stared into the eyes of his tormentor, but refused to shake his head. He would try it again and the next time, he would be wise to the punch in the guts tactic and would avoid it. Next time he would definitely win and there would be nothing left for this little prat to crow about. Beaten by a peasant, from Ealdor, wouldn't that put a little smudge on his incorrigible pride.

An elegant eyebrow rose at the defiance and the gloved hand slipped from beneath his chin, letting his head fall again. "Although you did fairly well, blocked two out of three. Not bad for a peasant, especially one from Ealdor."

"SIRE."

With great effort, Raijin raised his head at the voice and was relieved to see Fuujin standing beside them, a few heads shorter than the prat and a salute held stiffly in position. Good lord, who was this prat?

"Fuujin," The prat nodded to her and indicated to Raijin with a flick of the sword. "Has this got anything to do with you?"

Fuujin spared a glance – a distinctly unimpressed one – at Raijin, then nodded to the prat. "APOLOGIES. WARD."

The other eyebrow met the first one and the prat shot him a similar glance. "You should keep a better control on him, not let him run rampant through the streets and spoil my day."

Fuujin nodded, then indicated with her hand for Raijin to get up off the floor. He did so with a struggle and his mouth still clamped shut. "APOLOGISE." She commanded and he ground out an apology from between clenched teeth.

The prat nodded and promptly turned away, leaving Raijin under the gaze of Fuujin and the crowd as it dispersed. Raijin immediately began with his excuse. "He was mistreating that servant, ya know! I was only trying to help the guy out, ya know! And he's a prat!"

Fuujin shook her head, effectively silencing any further excuses and pointed to the yoke and buckets. He picked them up wordlessly and followed Fuujin as she led the way to the well and then back up to her quarters. The room was not filled with buckets of water as she'd hoped, but was instead only half full, starting in the far corner and making a semi-circular shape with a path in it for Raijin to reach his backroom. She rolled her eyes at his uncompleted work and signalled for him to put the buckets and yoke down on the floor. He did so with obvious relief, then turned to look at her with a clear 'what next?' written on her face.

She moved around the table and sat in the furthest chair, gesturing for him to sit in the chair opposite. Once he was comfortably seated she produced his mother's letter and slid it across the table, rightly guessing that he hadn't yet read it. He skimmed it quickly then set it down on the table in front of them silently.

The expression on his face said that he was surprised by the letter's contents and more than a little daunted at the prospects. Silence reigned for more than a few minutes as Fuujin gave the information time to sink in, but at long last, Raijin licked his lips, looked up at her and whispered, "I met the Dragon yesterday…"

A/N: I imagine there are a few theories on character placements popping up and if this reads a lot like the first episode of Merlin, that's because I'm taking the plot straight off the back of the show. It'll change as we get further in because the decisions the characters will make will vary - obviously - from those made my the characters in the show, so this is bound to follow a different path.

I hope this doesn't anger anyone, but if it does, I don't really mind because this is only a story and if I play God, I make the rules. That's the way it's going to go from now on, so you're just going to have to sit back and enjoy MY reality.

Please review and tell me what you think.

-Lapin