Ch. 9~ Kilgarah

Merlin let the torch and descended, once again, into the black pit that was the dragon's lair. Something was very wrong with Tia, and he intended to find out. Not to say that he didn't like her. It's just that no prince he'd ever heard of would carry an underling to their room (quite a lavish one at that), and stay in there until well into the night. On top of that, there was something odd about the woman herself.

Breaking out into the cavern, Merlin yelled into the darkness, "Where are you?"

A loud, heavy flapping met his ears as the Great Dragon landed on his rock. "Here, young Warlock. Who would have known you would return so soon?"

"You did. You knew that I'd be back so soon?"

"You did. You knew that I'd be back, and I'd b willing to bet you also knew the reason I'd be here. Tia, the Court Entertainer…maybe you know her?" Merlin was suddenly assaulted with the sight of Arthur leaning over a weak, sweating Tia, pushing a lock of hair gently away from her face. He had such a look on his face, so tender and loving. It made him wonder what was really going on between them.

"You mean Lady Celestia. Indeed, I know her, quite well, actually. She is rather popular around the castle. Not to mention amongst us magic beings."

"What do you mean? Oh, never-mind. Look, something's wrong with her. I don't know what, but Arthur does and he won't tell me anything. He keeps insisting that she's fine, but…I know she's not. Please, if something made her sick, especially if it's magic, I could help her!"

"And why would you be so willing to help someone you've only just met?" Kilgarah asked.

Merlin was quiet for a moment, taking his time answering. "She saved my life, sort of anyway. If she hadn't stopped him, Arthur would have killed me that day we fought. She says that they're not together, but…something…I don't know. The way they act around each other just screams that there's something going on between them. And she wouldn't let me carry her to her room last night, but asked him to do it instead."

"But why should you care? Why is it so important that she cares about the prince, hm? What should it matter to you, who she cares about and why she does? Perhaps you care for her…"

Silence echoed Kilgarah's words back to Merlin's mind. Did he care about Tia? Is that why it bothered him? Was that what drove him to look through the grate next to her door and see Arthur sitting on her bed? Maybe he did, but how could he compare to Prince Arthur Pendragon? He was nothing but a measly servant boy from Ealdor.

"You are conflicted, my young warlock."

Stating the obvious much. "Yes…but, I don't know why. All I do know it that I want to help her. She has been very kind to me in the short time I've known her, and I don't want her to suffer because of magic."

"That poor girl has suffered far more than you could ever imagine, young warlock, both at the hands of magic and men. The Lady Celestia's journey has not been an easy one. That which she feared the most in her youth is wrapped so tightly within her that it must be released. Be warned, young warlock, all is not as t appears."

"What does that even mean? Every time I ask you something, all you do is give me more riddles!"

Kilgarah ignored Merlin as he spread his wings in takeoff. Remember the witching hour, Merlin."