A/N: As close as I could manage to a happy Lancelot story for a certain someone. I'll probably write up at least one of the sad ideas I had whilst producing this one, but that's for later ;)
Lancelot was outside Camelot within one day of receiving Merlin's letter. The brief note had revealed little about why he was being called, but the handwriting had not been the warlock's and that moved him to haste.
He sent the messenger bird back with confirmation of his arrival and waited in the designated meeting spot until dark fell, trying not to think about what may be wrong.
The moon was nearing its apex when a far-off rustling alerted the warrior to another's presence. Lancelot gripped his sword but did not draw, relaxing when Gaius appeared between the trees.
"Gaius," he greeted, "what's happened? Where is Merlin?"
The old physician had to stop and catch his breath, setting down the covered wooden bird's cage he'd been carrying.
"I'm right here, Lancelot," came a miserable but familiar voice from inside the fabric.
"What-" whisking aside the cover, he was confronted with what he could only assume was a baby dragon. "Merlin?"
"Yes," came the pathetic reply, the little black creature dipping its snout to look up at him with soulful blue and gold eyes.
"How did this happen?"
"We're not sure," Gaius interrupted, preventing Merlin from making a list of complaints that boiled down to the same sentiment.
The diminutive dragon huffed, the resultant ball of flame destroying one wall of his flimsy conveyance.
"I just woke up like this four days ago. I tried to call Kilgharrah, but it seems a dragon cannot also be a dragonlord." His tone turned sour at the end and it was clear he was pouting, having crawled from the cage to nest in what remained of the fabric hood.
"What can I do to help?" Lancelot inquired, sitting next to Merlin so they were closer to being on the same eye level.
"I need to meet with Kilgharrah. I know where he is, but..."
"What?"
"I... don't know how to fly."
Lancelot looked at the embarrassed dragon, keeping his amused smile as small as he could.
"It would take me forever to walk there like this- and who knows what would happen if anyone saw me."
"I'd be honored to travel with you, Merlin," the future knight bowed, offering his arm for the servant to climb onto.
The dragon eyed it dubiously, looking between the man's simple cotton shirt and his own sharp talons.
"Here," Lancelot picked him up like a small child and settled him carefully on one shoulder. "Alright?"
Dragon-Merlin nodded, rubbing the side of his friend's face like a cat.
"Thank you for doing this."
"You know I'd do anything for you, Merlin."
"If we're done here," Gaius interrupted the heartfelt moment, "I'm going to get some rest. I'll need it to deal with Arthur while you're gone." The elder shook his head in displeasure.
"Even if he believes I've sent you after that rare text he's still going to be bothering me about it every day."
"And you had better not say anything about a tavern, Gaius." The dragon said, unsympathetic.
"Just make sure you hurry back," was the physician's noncommittal reply before turning to leave.
Lancelot chuckled softly at the exchange as Merlin sighed heavily.
"Well, you heard him- better make this quick."