I am terribly sorry about the wait on this one, family events got somewhat in the way in the last week.
Chapter 41: The Cave
Everyone had walked back inside, Harry had followed Arthur back to the teachers table, Ron and Hermione following at his heels. "What happened?" Lupin asked Arthur.
The King seated himself, frowning at the table in front of him. "I don't know, but it's just like Merlin to run off without thinking."
Snape shook his head. "There must be a reason, with the Dark Lord so close and the shielding spell failing we don't have time for him to run off."
Arthur stabbed his dinner violently with his fork. "He had better have a good explanation."
When Harry came down to the Great Hall the next morning he had been hoping that Merlin would be back, but when Arthur arrived he was alone. The King sat apart from everyone else, when Snape and Lupin went over and spoke with him, he must have answered them shortly and sent them away.
Once he had eaten Arthur approached Harry. "Come on, you have more training to do."
Ron laughed as Harry groaned and dragged himself to his feet.
Just what he wanted to do, more swinging a heavy sword around.
As has followed Arthur out onto the vast lawns Harry looked up at the cloudy sky. One day…they only had one more day of safety left. Tomorrow morning Merlin's spell would fade and the war would begin.
Gripping the sword hilt firmly and pointing the tip towards a nonchalant Arthur, Harry gritted his teeth. Tomorrow the fate of their world would be decided, and Harry would have to be ready.
Duck
Merlin threw himself at the floor on the lip of the precipice. There was a roar, and flame so hot it scorched the hair off the back of Merlin's neck surged through the air, Merlin covered his eyes from the blinding light. The Death Eaters began to scream, then underneath the sounds of the roaring fire came the sharp pops of apparition.
The fire subsided and Merlin raised his head. The stones behind him burned white hot, filling the huge cavern with a peculiar half light. Merlin got slowly to his feet and stared at the massive golden dragon who was shifting his bulk around. Under the cool golden gaze of the Great Dragon Kilgharrah, Merlin felt small.
It has been a long time Merlin. In my dreams I often feared that you would never awaken me. The Great Dragon's eyes softened as he bared a few teeth in a draconic smile.
Merlin gave his friend a lop-sided grin. "It was you who told me that Arthur would never truly die, that he would rise again." His heart was still pounding from his frantic dash, but just standing in Kilgharrah's presence made him feel better. Things would be alright now.
Indeed I did and as I stand here, I must assume that such an event has finally taken place.
"Yes, but I don't have time to explain here, will you come?"
I promised you aid young warlock and aid you shall have. Kilgharrah stretched his wings and shifted his weight, leaning his shoulder against the rock face so Merlin could simply leap aboard the scaled mountain.
Once seated Merlin surrounded himself with warm air, they would have to fly fast to return to Hogwarts in time. They had less than a day before his protective spell broke and based on Voldemort's attempts here there was a good chance he would challenge the spell early and shatter it.
Merlin had faced a hundred powerful sorcerers, but there was something about Voldemort's that was truly frightening. He would not allow his friends to face that fear without him.
As Kilgharrah turned within the cave, shifting his massive wings, Merlin suddenly realised the small problem they had. The cave entrance had been a lot bigger when the dragon had hidden himself here. It was rather a lot too small now.
Apparently the Great Dragon didn't think of this as a problem because he began to walk towards the entrance. Merlin grimaced and then the stones simply melted away from them. As the huge golden creature strode towards freedom Merlin relaxed, many of the worries which had plagued him were beginning to fade.
Kilgharrah's wings spread and with a whirl of wind they were airbourne. For a long while they didn't speak, Merlin laid down on the dragon's neck as best he could. Breaking the sleeping spell on his friend had taken a lot out of him, but sitting there with the steady beat of Kilgharrah's wings and heart around him, Merlin could feel his strength returning.
As they took the skies back to Hogwarts Kilgharrah began to question Merlin.
Harry dropped the tip of the his practice sword to rest on the ground and gasped for breath. Arthur swung his own sword around his wrist and levelled the point towards Harry's chest. "And I thought Merlin was bad at this." The King said eyes narrowing.
Harry rubbed his shoulder, it felt as though it was on fire. "It's heavy." He said.
Arthur snorted, but before he could make any further comment someone in the crowd screamed. Everyone turned and looked up. A gleaming speck in the sky was slowly growing into another dragon. Harry's jaw dropped, even from this distance Harry could see that this dragon was bigger than the one that Merlin had left on and it scales shone a brilliant gold.
"That's impossible." Arthur whispered. "It's dead."
"What?" Harry asked, looking over at the King.
Arthur had a tight grip on his sword. "That looks like the Great Dragon, but I killed that beast years ago."
The dragon swooped closer and Harry noticed something as people started to scream. Students ran for the castle, while adults streamed out of it, wands at the ready.
"Wait, is that Merlin?" Harry yelled. As the dragon banked and dropped to the ground Harry was proven right. Seated behind the dragon's head holding firmly to the spines which protruded from its skull was their wayward friend. Merlin slid from his seat to land on the ground. Straightening with a slight misstep Merlin made his way over to them. The dragon shifted around so that it could see everything going on around it. Most of the inhabitants of the castle were edging out to see the massive creature which had landed on their lawn. Harry looked up and up into the face of the dragon. It's eyes were golden like the rest of it, but Harry could see intelligence in those eyes. This was nothing like the animal he had faced during the Triwizard tournament.
"Merlin what the..." Arthur spluttered, he had rapidly exchanged the dulled practice sword for the shinning blade Excalibur. Even with his surprise at Merlin's mode of transportation the sword tip didn't waver from the dragon's chest.
Greetings Arthur Pendragon. Everyone's jaws hit the floor as Merlin grinned up at the dragon. The dragon tilted its head, its attention completely focused on the poleaxed Arthur. It has been many years since our encounter on the fields at Camelot.
"I killed you." Arthur insisted, though he looked over at a very smug Merlin in confusion.
No. It was Merlin who turned aside my wrath, the young warlock's powers were great even then.
Everyone looked over at Merlin who was grinning like an idiot. "I'm a DragonLord." Harry frowned in confusion, but Merlin didn't elaborate.
"What?" Arthur snapped, clearly this meant more to him than to anyone else. Merlin gave him a peculiar sort of look which, given the King grimacing and turning his attention back to the dragon meant that Merlin would explain later.
Merlin looked up as well and then glanced over the gathering around them. "This is Kilgharrah, last of the true dragons."
"There are still dragons out there." Charlie pointed out, lowering his wand slowly.
They are my descendant's wizard, but they are not of the Old Religion. They were not called into life by the naming of a DragonLord. They are no more than animals, shadows of the might they may once have wielded. Kilgharrah sighed, a sound like a hurricane brewing, and shifted his wings against his body. I am, and shall ever be the last of my kind.
Merlin looked around at them all. "I'm sorry I had to leave, but Voldemort was trying to kill Kilgharrah. I had to stop him."
Snape examined the dragon critically. "Are you willing to fight with us?"
The reptilian head tilted and the dragon considered this a few moments before answering. "I am old, but I will do what I can to aid my King." The golden eyes turned to Arthur who covered his look of surprise with a frosty glare.
Snape looked over at Merlin. "Your spell won't last much longer, tomorrow we fight."
"And we will need every ally we can get." Lupin added, pocketing his wand and bowing to the dragon.
Kilgharrah bowed his huge head in return.
Moody slammed his staff down into the ground with a thump. "Then enough practicing, we've only got half a day left, we need a plan."
Harry, Merlin and Arthur exchanged looks. Then Harry turned to Hermione and Ron, "Are you ready."
His friends nodded and stepped up beside him. Harry turned to everyone and took a deep breath. "Let's go."
I really dislike clunky transition chapters.