It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.

~ James Cash Penney

Chapter 21: The Dragon King

One week after Merlin had been born, Balinor had called for a meeting in the courtyard for everyone to attend as he had an important announcement to make.

"As all of you know," he started. "We had come to the Perilous Lands to get away from both Uther and Cenred's claws. At first, it seemed like a good place to hide but perhaps it can be more than that, a lot more. The Fisher King had left me dominion of these lands. He left his kingdom for me and all the people who wanted to live here to be free from those who wouldn't allow us to live free outside these plains. With the birth of my son, it is testament that we can do more than hide here. We can start families and lives here." He looked to where his wife was holding their new child as he slept in her arms. "The land is healing and its beauty is slowly returning so we can build upon it. We can build us a new kingdom up from the ruins of the Fisher King's." He looked at everyone as they started to mumble amongst themselves. "I know it seems like an impossible feat but try to remember that all kingdoms had to start at some point. All those cities and lands out there weren't just conjured out of nowhere. There is no spell that makes one appear out of nowhere. They all had to begin somewhere until they ended up where they are now."

"There have never been truer words," Kilgharrah roared out as he slowly descended from above to face them all. "I have seen civilizations both rise and fall and they always start out at a moment like this. With people such as yourselves given an opportunity to make something out of nothing if they have the courage and determination to do so. It seems as if Balinor is both brave and determined enough to try for both his family's sake and your sakes. How about all of you? Are you willing to stand with him to build as well as you were to stand by him in his decision to take you here?"

"I stood with you from the beginning my friend," said Richard. "I'll stand by you now as well. Were it not for you, none of us would even have had a chance to even be here in this wonder. How many out there could claim that they hear the counsel of a dragon? Or that they bid farewell to a centuries old king of a magical land. Or that the Perilous Lands can even be called their new home. We would not know any of that without you. If building a new kingdom is the new marvel you wish to deliver then I want to share in that gift and feat as well!"

The people that came from Ealdor all started to cheer and scream in full agreement with Richard's words. Simmons had said that Balinor arriving in their village had been a curse but they know now that it wasn't; it was a blessing in disguise. They may have lost their old home but now they have a new one that could actually become even better than their old one. They were now free from Cenred's lack of concern and were living under Balinor and his dragon's protection and they would do all in their power to keep them safe.

Abel rose to speak. "Your people have always had the Druids' deepest admiration and respect Balinor. With Emrys' arrival and with such a call for a new land in sight, you personally have our loyalty and hopes for the future. We all would be happy to be at your side in any way we can be for you and for all the people who share in your dream."

The druids amongst them all bowed their heads in agreement with Abel's declaration. It started with sparing a good man more pain from a tyrant's wrath when Abel and three others had gone to Ealdor to warn them of Uther's march. However, over time the Druids seemed to have fully integrated with all these people as if they had been made to. Almost like they were meant to become as one. With Emrys now before them in now Lady Hunith's arms, perhaps destiny had decreed for it to be so and they would see their destinies out to the end.

"Thank you," Balinor said with bright eyes full of a dozen mixed emotions racing through them at once. "All of you, thank you. One of the vital, if not the vital step to any kingdom is its people. We need to go out there and find those of both magic and mundane that share in our desire for peace and hope for the future and bring them here to share in it with us. I will personally go and seek them out, how many or little they may be."

Richard, Abel, and a good dozen others all rushed to volunteer to go with him and help.

"There is something else," said Gina as she held her and Richard's son William in her arms. "We'll need a name for this place. The Perilous Lands don't exactly send out the message that we want for people to think of when they think of us."

She was right. Balinor had to come up with a name that was fitting for what they wanted to build. What name or word could say all they wanted to say about that? What did they want in the end? They wanted to build family. They wanted good friendship with their fellow man. They wanted good lives ahead of them. They wanted…peace. "Frith," he said.

"Frith?" asked Richard.

"It means Peace in the old tongue."

"Then it's perfect," announced Hunith. "Wouldn't you all agree?"

Once again Kilgharrah saw the beginning of a new kingdom and he had high hopes for this one. The birth of the Kingdom of Frith and its dragonlord. No, it's Dragon King Balinor Ambrosius. It's Dragon Queen Hunith and their son Dragon Prince Merlin Emrys Ambrosius. All of these people and soon more will stand by their new king to build a new home and land better than the ones they left behind. He knew it would not be an easy feat but humans have been known to surprise him before with their passions to accomplish what others would say was impossible. He would give them all his faith and hope as the last dragon to protect them to see that they do so.

They all had a lot of work ahead of them.

The castle was fully restored and everyone felt a sense of great accomplishment to see that the new king had a place to reign in the former Perilous Lands. Balinor was learning to accept the new formalities that came with being the new king of Frith and Hunith was accepting her place as its queen. She was spending her time divided between taking care of their baby boy Merlin to sewing up a new banner for themselves. She was adamant about it.

"What kind of castle doesn't have a banner?" she had said when Balinor saw her at it. "If we're all are going to truly start a land of our own that land is going to need a banner for its people to look to. We have the land, castle, name and soon the people; all that's missing is the symbol for it all."

Balinor could see that her mind was made up and tried to get a better look at the bundle she had folded away from him. All he could make out was that it was blue. "Can I see what you've got so far?"

She moved it farther away. "It's a surprise. You'll only see it when it's finished."

He smiled at her mischievously. "A little peek?"

She put her hand up to his face to stop his advance. "No," she giggled. "And I'm hiding it until I'm ready to show you."

"Can I at least make a suggestion?"

Hunith shook her head. "No."

Just then Merlin giggled from his basket bed nearby.

Balinor smiled as he shook his head in his boy's direction. "Thanks for the support son," he said through his wife's own laughs.

Over two weeks after that day did Hunith approach Balinor as he was writing up some notes with a bundle that was wrapped up in a thin rope tied like a bow.

"Brought you something," she said holding it up.

He put the quill down as he stood up and started to pull and untie the rope like an eager little child. He got the rope off and then slowly unfolded the woven banner. He had it completely unfolded when he took a step back to get a good look at it. It depicted the Aquarian Star pattern with a golden dragon in front of a sea blue background. He looked over at her where she was standing looking a little nervous and was rubbing her fingers together in anticipation.

"Well?" she asked a little eagerly.

Balinor examined it for a few more moments before he looked over at his waiting wife. "It's amazing," he gasped out.

"You like it?"

"I love it."

Hunith smiled brightly at him. "You do? Really?"

"Yes. I'm glad you made me wait. It was worth it." He ran his hand over the banner's crest that Hunith wove in. "What inspired this?"

"Well, the dragon I thought was obvious."

"Of course," Balinor agreed.

"As for the star pattern, it was in the throne room and Abel told me that the Aquarian Star was a symbol of magic and power so I thought that a magical land should have a magical mark on its banner. As for the blue…it's always been my favorite color. Blue means peace and tranquility and that's the kind of place we want to build for everyone and is what the new name of our land is so-."

She was babbling a bit but Hunith didn't say anymore because she was cut off. Balinor went up to her and silenced her with a hug. "It's all perfect. Everyone will love it."

"Are you sure?"

Balinor took the banner and held it up in front of Merlin's basket crib. "Son? What do you think?" Merlin stared at the banner and made a squealing sound as he opened his toothless mouth. "See? He likes it," he said as he folded it.

Hunith giggled to herself as she shook her head a little. "You Ambrosius boys sure know how to make women smile."

"It's another gift of ours, right Merlin?"

The baby in the crib clapped his hands together.

Balinor and Hunith presented the new banner to the others and soon enough that banner was flying off the pole on the tallest tower of the Frith castle. Whenever Balinor and his friends went out to bring in new people to live in Frith all of their eyes flew to the banner and gave them a sense of home and the newest people to come felt a sense of relief. It was as if Hunith's banner carried its own brand of magic within it.

It was about seven months after Merlin was born that Hunith was feeling familiar feelings in her stomach and also that her cycle was late and then lacking. She went to Gina about what she was feeling and she got really excited for her friend. She suggested that Hunith march straight to Balinor and tell him the good news. She did just that and found Balinor surveying the land the start building some houses for the future people sure to come into their land with Richard, Abel and a few others. She called him over to speak to him privately and everyone around there nearly leapt out of skin when Balinor let out a great shout and lifted Hunith off her feet and started spinning her in place.

Over another year and Camelot castle had seen a new child's birth as well. The birth of the new Lady Morgana. Gorlois was happy to have another pretty daughter. His first daughter Morgause seemed to take very well with Morgana. She liked to wave colored handkerchiefs in front of the baby to get laughs out of her. Even Arthur seemed to like the new child to be seen in the castle. Everyone in Camelot felt that Morgana would grow to be a lovely and beautiful woman. The only ones in Camelot that weren't overly excited. Vivienne was happy to have another daughter though she was less than ecstatic about the fact that her father wasn't her husband. She hoped that no one discovered that and hoped that Nimueh, the only other one who knew the truth, would fall before she could do damage with that knowledge. She was wrong about Nimueh being the only one to know. Uther also knew. The timing of Morgana's birth didn't make sense. Vivienne was passing it off as a quick birth but Uther knew that Morgana's father couldn't be Gorlois. He knew that Vivienne knew that as well but it seemed that she believed that he didn't know. He decided that, for her benefit, he would play along with that and not reveal that he knew. Things had only grown more tense and awkward between them already and he didn't want any potential disputes over this to come up between them as well.

The war between Camelot and her allies and Essetir and her allies was still going strong. Unfortunately, the strength was being chipped at little by little behind their own lines. While strength was clearly with Camelot, sorcery was with Essetir. What good were arrows when shields blocked them before contact? What good were steel swords when they faced against blasts of fire and lightning? What good were ten soldiers when they could be quelled by one sorcerer? Uther would not budge in calling for any sort of magical aid for him and in his allies but they were all starting to suffer for it. It was predicted that if things didn't change soon and that the war was dragged out then the destruction and suffering would be great. There were a few allies of Uther's that were starting to consider pulling away to avoid such loss. Uther knew that if they did he would indeed lose the war and his kingdom to Cenred and Nimueh. He was already facing requests that he call for an end to the war and negotiate with Cenred and he would not falter to them. If he did that then he would appear weak to both his allies and enemies. However, if something didn't change soon then everything could be destroyed over time. Again, he cursed Balinor and the Great Dragon. If they hadn't escaped then he would surely not be in this situation right now.

His opportunity to change the course of the war came with a proposal from Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was pouring through the updates of the royal records and he came across news that King Rodor of Nemeth's wife had given birth to new princess named Mithian. He proposed that he might receive significant aid if he were to negotiate an alliance sealed by an arranged marriage between Camelot's child prince and Nemeth's newest princess. Nemeth was a kingdom that included some of the off shore isles outside the mainland of the Five Kingdoms that's reach was quite rich. King Rodor had a great army and had no calls of friendship with Cenred or any of his allies. The added forces and support from his and his allies would be what he needed to win. It seemed like a good and plausible solution. Nemeth and Camelot had been in a land dispute for a while now but with an alliance as strong as marriage it would end it with the most minimal of problems.

He requested a formal meeting with Rodor to discuss the matter of an alliance. Rodor was actually quite receptive of the idea. He thought that Arthur would be a fine match for his daughter. He agreed to lend his support as well but he made a condition that Uther was resistant against. Rodor had asked that with the promise of his new force behind Uther that he sue for peace with Cenred and his allies and end the war. He had no interest in fighting a war for any reason but threatening the safety of own kingdom. Uther tried to argue that with magic permitted in their land that the danger was already there but Rodor had no personal qualms with magic at all and didn't seek to have any when there wasn't.

Magic was the unofficial reason behind this war even if it wasn't said out loud between any of Uther's allies and Rodor didn't want to add his people in the sights of irate sorcerers looking for blood over that issue. A kingdom's laws were their own and he wouldn't go war with others over different opinions over that sort of issue. Uther was considering this a waste of time but Gaius convinced him that they were left with very little choice. If Camelot didn't make this alliance now then they could fall within a few more years and Uther as well as Arthur could be left without a kingdom or worse. Many of his knights including Lord Gorlois were also adamant about Uther agreeing to this because they knew they couldn't carry on like this for too much longer especially with the possibility of Camelot's allies pulling away.

Uther saw that he truly had very little choice. They made the draft for their alliance and agreed that Arthur and Mithian will marry after Mithian was twenty one.

Nimueh was absolutely livid. The war was coming to an end before her vengeance could be exacted on Uther. She couldn't believe that Uther was slithering out of this war like he was. She cursed the politics that were behind this new truce. Since he wouldn't have need of her anymore, Cenred had asked her to 'honorably step down' so not to temper the truce that his allies desperately wanted now with Uther's new alliance. Though he did say that she was welcome to stay in his kingdom and even offered her a small estate for her service which she did accept though she was still bitter about everything. Even most of the sorcerers she had managed to rally behind Cenred lost their taste for battle against him now that they were guaranteed safety as long as they were not in Uther or his allies' land.

With the new alliance with King Rodor of Nemeth Uther could potentially overwhelm Cenred and his allies even with magic at their side so the truce had been called to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Nimueh knew that Uther never would've agreed to that if he indeed have the manpower for victory so it must've been a condition of the alliance to call for the truce, she knew it. It brought her a small sense of satisfaction that he had the power to do something he desperately wanted to do but couldn't do so. Uther would not be able to extend his attempts of ridding magic outside his land but he would not be made to answer for what he had done before the war or will continue to do in his own lands. His purge would continue though he would exercise it within his reach. It would not be easy to strike against him without the aid of Cenred or his forces if they had no stake in it. She would have to be regretfully very patient. It might take time, maybe years, but she won't falter in her quest for revenge. She would look for opportunity and then she would snatch it as viciously as she could. After all, there was still vital pieces within Camelot's own walls that she could exploit if need be.

Rumors spread about a young village boy, around the age of 12, who was able to make the air around him blow as hard and strong as he wanted. They say that he stopped a scared horse from trampling him by making a gust of wind that blew it down on its side and stopped it. Uther immediately sent one of his knights to see to that boy's capture and execution. The boy and his family fled when they came to call but they didn't get too far before they had been caught. Before the boy could be executed the sword in the knight's hand grew hot and he dropped it as a small group of men ran from the brush of the trees and engaged them. Some engaged the soldiers with their own weapons while the rest used magic to knock away and knock out the other men. The knight tried to run at one of them with a knife when his cape wrapped around him as tight as a snake and bound his legs in place. With the surprise and magic behind their assault, they quickly gained victory and forced the men from Camelot to retreat. The knight was left behind to their mercy.

Their leader identified himself as Dragon King Balinor and he said that he was sparing him so he could go tell his king that the purge he was waging was no longer a one sided affair. He also punished the knight by taking his sword hand with his great sword. When the knight retreated off in disgrace Balinor told the boy that if he wanted then he could come with him to Frith, his domain, where he would be safe to live his life in peace. He didn't want to leave without his family and Balinor assured him that they were welcome as well if they wanted to come. His family didn't spend much time deciding before they agreed.

The incident was told throughout the kingdom soon enough. The words that were amplified and repeated over and over were Frith, and the Dragon King.

End of Chapter 21

A/N: I struggled with names for the new kingdom and looked for words that had strong meaning and terms meaning peace, safety and protection and found Frith in an old English dictionary site and thought it was perfect. As for the flag, I'm uploading a link for it in my profile as a visual aid to roughly how I picture it so take a look if it'll help. Not only that but the last dragonlord is now the Dragon King and he has his own Dragon Queen and Dragon Prince with another child now on the way. As for the Pendragon family it looks like there are future family matters ahead of them with a binding arranged marriage for Arthur, Morgana being born with everyone thinking she is Gorlois' daughter when she is Uther's and Uther feeling for Vivienne though she has made it clear that she is with Gorlois. The last chapter to come is the Epilogue which will glimpse the coming years until it stops around the time of the twenty year anniversary of the Great Purge start though the times are different from how they had been before.