One Prison is much like another - part 17
Author: archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 17
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah
Summary: Back in Kilgharrah's cave, sometimes remembering is the hardest thing of all.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 810
Camelot Drabble Prompt #593: Hound
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Things only got more complicated once they reached the castle. Or rather flying into the cave, all the while trying to avoid anyone spotting a giant lizard flying through the air and his dragonlord grumbling about it the whole time.
Merlin knew he shouldn’t really grouse so much. After all, Kilgharrah did heal him, did fly him miles and miles closer to the citadel, and deposited him, very nicely, in a spot that would work well as a nest. It was a smooth depression in the stone, close to the stairs up to the dungeons that Merlin could use, and near water. Dim light filtered in, too, through some of the cracks in the rock and the far entrance.
But, in a way, it was haunted. Likely the hollow was Kilgharrah’s old nest, the one he’d been forced to use in his decades of captivity. Merlin could almost feel the sadness there and the fury, the loneliness soaking into the stones. It must have held a lot of memories for Kilgharrah, none of them good.
Unfortunately, it was also the best of a bad situation. Merlin couldn’t be running around, trying to take care of dragonets in a faraway cave, or worse, taking them to his room. No place to hide and Arthur would be a damn prat about it all if he found them there. So cave it was.
As Merlin slid off Kilgharrah’s back, careful of the eggs, the dragon reared up and sent a blast of fire into the stone hollow. The force of it sent Merlin staggering back and Kigharrah’s thunderous howl echoed all around, bouncing off the walls and into the distance.
It seemed to last forever and it was only when Kilgharrah crouched down again, finally spent, did Merlin see the pain in his eyes.
Merlin didn’t know what to say. He’d only seen the dragon when he was manipulating Merlin or chastising him or laughing once about Uther’s bald head, never really grief-stricken. But finally, as the stone hollow cooled and turned glassy and Kilgharrah no longer snarling, Merlin said, “I’m sorry. If I could have found another way, I would have.”
The dragon shook his great head. “The place will always be corrupted. Uther used to come down to boast of his triumph, laughing as I struggled to get free, listing all the ways he’d destroyed our kin. He’d toss in spoiled meat, knowing that I was half-starved in this hellish dungeon, and watch as I struggled to it. Hounding me with stories of what he’d done and what he planned to do. Then go up and kill more of those with magic. I could sometimes hear the screaming or think I could, at least.
Sometimes, I think I went mad in the years between.” He nodded down toward the now cool stone. “Over the years, my flesh turned it smooth and comfortable enough, my fire melting most of the thorny crystals. But at the start, it was not… pleasant.”
Looking down with horror at the hollow in the rock, Merlin said, “I’ll try harder. There must be other caves nearby that would suit instead.”
“The past is past. The future is in those eggs and I will do what I can to help bring about that future.” Kilgharrah turned his golden eyes to Merlin. “If you can keep that prat of yours out of the way, it might just work.”
Merlin grimaced. He’d been away far too long and Arthur would be in a mood for sure. “Ah, speaking of prats, I better get upstairs. I’ll meet you here tonight. I’ll need to get bedding for them and food, unless you could… umm… get some… umm dragony milk?”
Staring at him as if he were the world’s most unsatisfactory idiot, Kilgharrah hissed, “I cannot just conjure up dragon’s milk. I am a he after all.”
Merlin shrugged. “Well, it’s not like I’ve ever met a lady dragon. For all I know, you can change your… umm… things up any time you want, being magical and all.”
“Where do you get such nonsense?” Kilgharrah snapped.
“I read it in a book.” Although now that he said it, it did seem a bit ridiculous and not anything Gaius would approve of. “Never mind. Cow’s milk, it is.”
Kilgharrah just harrumphed. “You are truly a wonder, Merlin.” It didn’t sound like a compliment.
“Yeah, Arthur says that, too, and Gaius, and I think Gwen thinks it but she’s too nice to say.” Merlin let out a little tired sigh, then started for the stairs. “I will meet you here after dinner. I just hope Arthur won’t be a wanker and give me more chores.”
Rolling his eyes, Kilgharrah didn’t say anything else, just watched him leave. It probably was a good thing.
Now, upstairs to the prat and likely the tongue-lashing of Merlin’s life.
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 17
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah
Summary: Back in Kilgharrah's cave, sometimes remembering is the hardest thing of all.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 810
Camelot Drabble Prompt #593: Hound
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
----------------
Things only got more complicated once they reached the castle. Or rather flying into the cave, all the while trying to avoid anyone spotting a giant lizard flying through the air and his dragonlord grumbling about it the whole time.
Merlin knew he shouldn’t really grouse so much. After all, Kilgharrah did heal him, did fly him miles and miles closer to the citadel, and deposited him, very nicely, in a spot that would work well as a nest. It was a smooth depression in the stone, close to the stairs up to the dungeons that Merlin could use, and near water. Dim light filtered in, too, through some of the cracks in the rock and the far entrance.
But, in a way, it was haunted. Likely the hollow was Kilgharrah’s old nest, the one he’d been forced to use in his decades of captivity. Merlin could almost feel the sadness there and the fury, the loneliness soaking into the stones. It must have held a lot of memories for Kilgharrah, none of them good.
Unfortunately, it was also the best of a bad situation. Merlin couldn’t be running around, trying to take care of dragonets in a faraway cave, or worse, taking them to his room. No place to hide and Arthur would be a damn prat about it all if he found them there. So cave it was.
As Merlin slid off Kilgharrah’s back, careful of the eggs, the dragon reared up and sent a blast of fire into the stone hollow. The force of it sent Merlin staggering back and Kigharrah’s thunderous howl echoed all around, bouncing off the walls and into the distance.
It seemed to last forever and it was only when Kilgharrah crouched down again, finally spent, did Merlin see the pain in his eyes.
Merlin didn’t know what to say. He’d only seen the dragon when he was manipulating Merlin or chastising him or laughing once about Uther’s bald head, never really grief-stricken. But finally, as the stone hollow cooled and turned glassy and Kilgharrah no longer snarling, Merlin said, “I’m sorry. If I could have found another way, I would have.”
The dragon shook his great head. “The place will always be corrupted. Uther used to come down to boast of his triumph, laughing as I struggled to get free, listing all the ways he’d destroyed our kin. He’d toss in spoiled meat, knowing that I was half-starved in this hellish dungeon, and watch as I struggled to it. Hounding me with stories of what he’d done and what he planned to do. Then go up and kill more of those with magic. I could sometimes hear the screaming or think I could, at least.
Sometimes, I think I went mad in the years between.” He nodded down toward the now cool stone. “Over the years, my flesh turned it smooth and comfortable enough, my fire melting most of the thorny crystals. But at the start, it was not… pleasant.”
Looking down with horror at the hollow in the rock, Merlin said, “I’ll try harder. There must be other caves nearby that would suit instead.”
“The past is past. The future is in those eggs and I will do what I can to help bring about that future.” Kilgharrah turned his golden eyes to Merlin. “If you can keep that prat of yours out of the way, it might just work.”
Merlin grimaced. He’d been away far too long and Arthur would be in a mood for sure. “Ah, speaking of prats, I better get upstairs. I’ll meet you here tonight. I’ll need to get bedding for them and food, unless you could… umm… get some… umm dragony milk?”
Staring at him as if he were the world’s most unsatisfactory idiot, Kilgharrah hissed, “I cannot just conjure up dragon’s milk. I am a he after all.”
Merlin shrugged. “Well, it’s not like I’ve ever met a lady dragon. For all I know, you can change your… umm… things up any time you want, being magical and all.”
“Where do you get such nonsense?” Kilgharrah snapped.
“I read it in a book.” Although now that he said it, it did seem a bit ridiculous and not anything Gaius would approve of. “Never mind. Cow’s milk, it is.”
Kilgharrah just harrumphed. “You are truly a wonder, Merlin.” It didn’t sound like a compliment.
“Yeah, Arthur says that, too, and Gaius, and I think Gwen thinks it but she’s too nice to say.” Merlin let out a little tired sigh, then started for the stairs. “I will meet you here after dinner. I just hope Arthur won’t be a wanker and give me more chores.”
Rolling his eyes, Kilgharrah didn’t say anything else, just watched him leave. It probably was a good thing.
Now, upstairs to the prat and likely the tongue-lashing of Merlin’s life.