So here we go with the story itself! It will be an AU of the original Merlin tale we all adore. I hope you enjoy it.

I own none of BBC's Merlin's characters.

Uther stood on his balcony and watched the thirteen pyres before him. The roars from beneath the city could still be heard. The Great Dragon was now imprisoned there, never to see the light of day again.

The pyres were arranged in a circle. Twelve creating a prefect circle with one in the middle, the middle one was different. It was a cage made of wood. "Bring them out." Uther ordered. Thirteen servants marched forth each one with a Merlin on their arm. They brought the birds to the center cage and put them inside. Archers took aim at the cage ready to shoot any bird that broke free. Once the birds were secured guards brought out twelve men. They were tired to the twelve pyres creating the circle, each forced to face outward. None of them spoke, just held their heads high.

And Archer next to Uther set fire to the arrow he drew on his bow. Twelve men bearing torches stepped forward ready to light the pyres. Uther raised his arm and brought it down. The archer let loose his arrow, it hit its mark and set the wooden cage aflame. Once it was burning to others tossed their torches onto the pyres of the men.

The man in front of Uther just looked up at him and shook his head. He was the first to start singing, the sound somber. Uther frowned as the others joined him in singing. The birds had noticed their plight and their shrieks broke out into the sky. The fire started to crackle as it ate away at the wood. The smoke drifted up, but the men never coughed, they just continued their somber song, a song belonging to the Dragonlords alone.

Yes, Uther knew it was only one the Dragonlords knew. He had heard Belinor sing it in their youth. His once friend Belinor. The man had been offered a chance to turn away from magic, from his life as a Dragonlord. He refused. More so after Uther chained Kilgharrah below the city. Uther had the man in the dungeons now. A fine set he believed. The last Dragon forever chained, and the last Dragonlord slowly wasting away to nothing. A smirk pulled at his lips. Let the men below sing themselves to their death. Nothing would stop his cleansing of magic.

"I thank you Gauis for all you have done to help me in this." Uther said to the man next to him. Gauis had turned from the burning, unable to focus on the sight. "I know this must be hard for you. You may return to your chambers if you wish. You're continued loyalty to me has earned you a pardon for all your past use of magic. Though do remember any future use of it and you will force my hand."

"I understand sire." Gauis said calmly. "And thank you. I shall check on the young prince before I retire."

"Very well." Uther gave a small wave of his hand turning back to the scene before him. It was soon after Gauis left that a guard came to Uther's side. "You are supposed to be watching the prisoner."

"I know sire…" The man said as if fearful he might be tossed over the railing and into the flames himself. "But… Sire… The prisoner… Belinor… He's escaped."

"ESCAPED?!" Uther shouted rounding on the man who began to quake in his boots. The cage decided to burst at that moment releasing the birds within. They all made an attempt to flee the flames. Uther's attention was back as chaos erupted below. Archers firing as best they could to kill the birds. "SHOOT THEM! LET NONE ESCAPE!" Twelve arrows met their marks. One Merlin flew towards the woods. "Incompetent fools."

His anger turned to the man before him. "You will never guard the dungeons again." He said his voice cold. The singing had died down as the smell of burning flesh started to drift up. He walked into the castle, his strides long and helping him cross much ground shortly. "Send out search parties, find him!" Knights jumped and scrambled to do as they were told. The hunt for Belinor the last Dragonlord began.

Belinor paused in his running leaning against a tree panting. He was regaining his breath. At least he had a head start, he was able to break out shortly after the other Dragonlords were lead up to their death. They all knew that Belinor was going to escape, and while he offered to help them as well they told him to just go himself.

Tears rolled down his face. His brothers burned while he ran away. The roars of the Great Dragon made him almost double back, but the creature's roars had covered the sound of his escape as well. He fell to his knees. "My old friend, my brothers… I'm so sorry." He said holding back the sobs that now shook his body.

A Merlin landed on the ground in front of him. The same one that had escaped the flames just moments before. Belinor looked at the bird and gave it a bitter smile. "I have no food to give you." He said his voice breaking as he spoke. "Yet what does it matter? Uther will rid the land of magic. My Lord's time is drawing to a close…"

'Why do you kneel my dear Dragonlord?' Belinor looked at the bird before him.

"Did you speak to me?" He asked not believing what he thought he heard.

'I did, even if you have no scrap of meat to offer me you should still never kneel.' The Merlin turned his head letting a golden eye gaze at him. 'You must not remain here. The knights will surely be after you.'

"What is the point of running now?" Belinor asked. "Let them find and kill me."

'I have plans for you yet Belinor, and do not let your brother's efforts be in vain.' The bird ruffled his feathers and plucked a feather from his wing. He held it out to Belinor. 'Take this feather. I will guide you to a place you may be safe. Now come.'

Belinor watched as the Merlin took flight and went in a lazy circle waiting for him to stand. 'Come Belinor of the line of the First Dragonlord.' He heard in his head again. 'Rise up my precious Dragonlord. Your time is not yet run out.'

Belinor finally did as he was told. "Guide me then my Lord of Magic." He said taking up his running again. The Merlin flying ahead of him guiding him though the trees and across water, magic was at play in their flight. Belinor knew it, there was no way he would have been able to run this long, days on end, the Merlin lead him to a village. "What is this place?"

'Elador. Come, we are almost there.' The Merlin flew to one of the houses and scratched at the door with his talons. Belinor jogged over and stood in front of the door. It opened and a woman blinked up at him.

"Please, I need shelter." Belinor said his exhaustion catching up with him and he fought to remain standing.

"Get inside quickly." The woman said stepping back and letting him in. She glanced around outside before closing the door and helping him to a bed. "Rest, you must have traveled far and long. There will be food when you wake up."

"Your name please?" Belinor asked grapping her arm lightly.

She smiled at him and he couldn't help but think how pretty she was when she smiled. "Hunith." She answered. "And yours charming stranger?"

A flicker of a smile crossed his face. "Belinor." His hand slipped off her then as sleep claimed his mind.

"Sleep well then Belinor." She said blowing out a candle and moving a mat laid out near the fire.

Days passed by as Hunith nursed Belinor back to health, their affection growing more and more each day. When Belinor had the strength he went to help the other villagers in the fields. None of them could help but like the kind man and be thankful for his aid. Whispers of a marriage soon flew about the small huts. They could all see the affection they had for each other.

Belinor had to smile, yes, he could take Hunith as his wife. Live off the land and never have to see Camelot again. The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Yet his peace was fast approaching its end.

The Merlin appeared again one morning. 'Belinor. I must speak with you.' Belinor stepped out of the hut and gave the bird a piece of meat.

"I thank you for leading me here my Lord." He said with a smile. "Hunith has been nothing but a blessing-" He saw the look on the bird's face, almost as if it pained him to hear the happiness in Belinor's voice. "Whatever is the matter my Lord?"

'Uther will not drop his search for you.' The bird looked off into the distance. 'His men will be here in just a few days. You must leave today.'

"I'll tell Hunith, we can go together-"

'No Belinor.' The bird looked at him again. 'You must not take her with you. Say your good-byes, but you cannot bring her with you.'

"But we were to wed!" Belinor argued. "Surely you will allow me to take my bride with me?"

'Do you truly wish for her to have such a life? Always running, never staying still for long in one place. A Nomad? And if you have children, what then? Would you make a child wake for days on end with no promise of a meal each night?'

Belinor sagged looking to the ground. "Very well." He said turning back to the hut he shared with Hunith. "Will you lead me elsewhere?"

'Not this time, I can just say head deeper into this Kingdom. Go to the deepest forests, find the deepest caves hidden by the elements.'

"I thank you for all your aid."

'Keep the Song.'

"Feed the Merlin." Belinor watched the bird take off before entering the hut. He started packing just as Hunith woke. They argued tears on both sides. Yet they hugged and said their final good-byes. Belinor left with just one final kiss. He ran further into the Kingdom he now lived in.

Just as the bird said, a small group of Camelot's Knight's appeared in Elador. Hunith told them she had not seen the man they were seeking her hand resting over her womb. A older knight saw the action. "I take it the father is in the fields."

"No." Hunith answered. "He died in a battle not too long ago."

"My apologies." The knight said bowing his head. "I hope he died with Honor and you are blessed with a strong child."

"Thank you." The Knights left getting no information on Belinor. Hunith looking down. She had found out just a few days before Belinor left. She didn't tell him about it. A tear ran down her check. "Be safe my love…"

So end of Chapter 1, next chapter coming as soon as it gets written. Please R&R!