One Prison is much like another - part 20
Author: archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 20
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah, Gaius
Summary: At least he got his memory back.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 948
Camelot Drabble Prompt #596: Opportunity
Author’s notes: I know that Aithusa is born in the episode after Uther dies, but I am writing that Uther is still around, although he’s not all that aware of what is going on since Morgana’s betrayal. Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
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.
----------------
It took the rest of the day to gather supplies. Much as Gaius had indicated that Merlin could take rags and such to the cave, his eyebrows said that he was vastly displeased and although Merlin wasn’t going to let that stop him, he really didn’t want to annoy the old man. Gaius might be stuck in the past but Merlin still loved him and knew that he was really trying to keep Merlin from harm.
So he waited until Gaius went on rounds before taking the opportunity to sneak into the cave and arrange the nest in what he thought would be nice for the little ones. Not that he knew much about dragons. Maybe they were like lambs in the spring, hopping around and being all cute and all or puppies with wings getting into mischief but snuggling up to Merlin when he called to them.
Things were looking up, too.
Because Arthur thought Merlin was still injured, it was easy to avoid him. Merlin managed to get scraps of meat, too, and a jug of milk, just in case. As he scurried through the hallways, keeping out of sight, not wanting to get corralled into servanty chores or have Arthur change his mind and make Merlin sit and do mind-numbingly boring paperwork, he did hear about what happened at Candleston castle.
The gossips weren’t exactly quiet about it, muttering about sorcery and how the bandits, bloody as their deaths were, deserved what they got. Plus they kept talking about how Sarc’s castle was haunted and feeling sorry for the guards there.
Not surprisingly, in one of Uther’s more lucid moments, a thing that was becoming increasingly rare since Morgana’s betrayal, he commanded that all that treasure was best kept in the vaults under Camelot’s keep instead of Candleston. A smart move on his part in keeping the booty close and easier to guard.
Thankfully Merlin had got the eggs out in time. Gods above, he didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if Uther had found them first.
From what Merlin could gather, Arthur was going to be sent to oversee the matter, which was a good thing. It would give Merlin time to set the dragonets free and get them settled into their new home.
Although Arthur might try and find him and insist Merlin accompany him. Hence, the sneaking around.
Luckily, it worked. Merlin could hear Arthur yelling for him, some distant bellowing that he ignored, hiding until Arthur rode out with some of the knights. Merlin couldn’t help sneaking a peek at Arthur as he galloped away. Arthur looked thoroughly annoyed, spurring his horse on as if taking out his fury at Merlin’s absence on the poor animal. It didn’t look good. Merlin knew that when Arthur returned, there would be things thrown and yelling and a chore list that would include mucking out half the kingdom’s stables and maybe scrubbing out the cesspit with a toothpick.
But it would be worth it. As long as the prat didn’t get himself in trouble so badly that Merlin would have to go rescue him.
Fingers crossed.
---------------
After dark, Merlin finally finished up, food and bedding at the ready, and as he stood over the nest, looking at the eggs, Kilgharrah just rumbled, “Staring at them will not bring them forth. They await your command, young one.”
Merlin had been eager but now, looking down at the eggs, he was worried. The thing with Aithusa hadn’t worked well. He’d been a terrible dad, letting the dragonet fly away into the world without any oversight. Merlin had been too busy keeping Arthur alive and when he realised that he was failing Aithusa, his kin, it was already too late.
He didn’t want to fail them as well.
Looking up at Kilgharrah, he said, “You have to stay here and help. I can’t do it all on my own.”
The dragon glared down at Merlin, shaking his huge head. “You would have me remain here, in my prison? The memories so unspeakable that I still carry the scars. Are you mad?”
Merlin stood his ground. Lifting his chin, stubborn and immovable, staring up at Kilgharrah, Merlin insisted, “We lost Aithusa through our inaction, yours and mine. I can’t, I won’t call them forth if they are left to their own devices again. To have them so alone that they lose their way. Morgana could seduce them to her, with promises and attention that we failed to give. Can you see her with a cadre of dragons at her call?”
“You are a dragonlord. They must obey you.” Kilgharrah sniffed at that, sounding as if he were the keeper of all knowledge and smarter than Merlin about such things. It was ridiculous. They both knew that things had gone south with Aithusa.
“And yet Aithusa has not returned,” Merlin pointed out, his voice guilt laden. “I can’t risk it.”
For a while, they stood there, glaring at each other, but after a while, Kilgharrah must have seen that Merlin wasn’t going to back down, not about this. “Very well. I will do as you ask. But think carefully. I cannot remain here for days on end, no matter how much you insist.”
Merlin smiled at that. “Well, good news then. Arthur isn’t here right now so I have days off and you can fly in at night and keep them company. And maybe teach them the ways of your kind.”
“And yours, warlock,” Kilgharrah intoned.
“And mine,” Merlin said. “So how about we meet our kin?”
“To new beginnings and the return of dragonkind.” Kilgharrah smiled, then, nodding to Merlin.
It was time.
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 20
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah, Gaius
Summary: At least he got his memory back.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 948
Camelot Drabble Prompt #596: Opportunity
Author’s notes: I know that Aithusa is born in the episode after Uther dies, but I am writing that Uther is still around, although he’s not all that aware of what is going on since Morgana’s betrayal. Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
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.
----------------
It took the rest of the day to gather supplies. Much as Gaius had indicated that Merlin could take rags and such to the cave, his eyebrows said that he was vastly displeased and although Merlin wasn’t going to let that stop him, he really didn’t want to annoy the old man. Gaius might be stuck in the past but Merlin still loved him and knew that he was really trying to keep Merlin from harm.
So he waited until Gaius went on rounds before taking the opportunity to sneak into the cave and arrange the nest in what he thought would be nice for the little ones. Not that he knew much about dragons. Maybe they were like lambs in the spring, hopping around and being all cute and all or puppies with wings getting into mischief but snuggling up to Merlin when he called to them.
Things were looking up, too.
Because Arthur thought Merlin was still injured, it was easy to avoid him. Merlin managed to get scraps of meat, too, and a jug of milk, just in case. As he scurried through the hallways, keeping out of sight, not wanting to get corralled into servanty chores or have Arthur change his mind and make Merlin sit and do mind-numbingly boring paperwork, he did hear about what happened at Candleston castle.
The gossips weren’t exactly quiet about it, muttering about sorcery and how the bandits, bloody as their deaths were, deserved what they got. Plus they kept talking about how Sarc’s castle was haunted and feeling sorry for the guards there.
Not surprisingly, in one of Uther’s more lucid moments, a thing that was becoming increasingly rare since Morgana’s betrayal, he commanded that all that treasure was best kept in the vaults under Camelot’s keep instead of Candleston. A smart move on his part in keeping the booty close and easier to guard.
Thankfully Merlin had got the eggs out in time. Gods above, he didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if Uther had found them first.
From what Merlin could gather, Arthur was going to be sent to oversee the matter, which was a good thing. It would give Merlin time to set the dragonets free and get them settled into their new home.
Although Arthur might try and find him and insist Merlin accompany him. Hence, the sneaking around.
Luckily, it worked. Merlin could hear Arthur yelling for him, some distant bellowing that he ignored, hiding until Arthur rode out with some of the knights. Merlin couldn’t help sneaking a peek at Arthur as he galloped away. Arthur looked thoroughly annoyed, spurring his horse on as if taking out his fury at Merlin’s absence on the poor animal. It didn’t look good. Merlin knew that when Arthur returned, there would be things thrown and yelling and a chore list that would include mucking out half the kingdom’s stables and maybe scrubbing out the cesspit with a toothpick.
But it would be worth it. As long as the prat didn’t get himself in trouble so badly that Merlin would have to go rescue him.
Fingers crossed.
---------------
After dark, Merlin finally finished up, food and bedding at the ready, and as he stood over the nest, looking at the eggs, Kilgharrah just rumbled, “Staring at them will not bring them forth. They await your command, young one.”
Merlin had been eager but now, looking down at the eggs, he was worried. The thing with Aithusa hadn’t worked well. He’d been a terrible dad, letting the dragonet fly away into the world without any oversight. Merlin had been too busy keeping Arthur alive and when he realised that he was failing Aithusa, his kin, it was already too late.
He didn’t want to fail them as well.
Looking up at Kilgharrah, he said, “You have to stay here and help. I can’t do it all on my own.”
The dragon glared down at Merlin, shaking his huge head. “You would have me remain here, in my prison? The memories so unspeakable that I still carry the scars. Are you mad?”
Merlin stood his ground. Lifting his chin, stubborn and immovable, staring up at Kilgharrah, Merlin insisted, “We lost Aithusa through our inaction, yours and mine. I can’t, I won’t call them forth if they are left to their own devices again. To have them so alone that they lose their way. Morgana could seduce them to her, with promises and attention that we failed to give. Can you see her with a cadre of dragons at her call?”
“You are a dragonlord. They must obey you.” Kilgharrah sniffed at that, sounding as if he were the keeper of all knowledge and smarter than Merlin about such things. It was ridiculous. They both knew that things had gone south with Aithusa.
“And yet Aithusa has not returned,” Merlin pointed out, his voice guilt laden. “I can’t risk it.”
For a while, they stood there, glaring at each other, but after a while, Kilgharrah must have seen that Merlin wasn’t going to back down, not about this. “Very well. I will do as you ask. But think carefully. I cannot remain here for days on end, no matter how much you insist.”
Merlin smiled at that. “Well, good news then. Arthur isn’t here right now so I have days off and you can fly in at night and keep them company. And maybe teach them the ways of your kind.”
“And yours, warlock,” Kilgharrah intoned.
“And mine,” Merlin said. “So how about we meet our kin?”
“To new beginnings and the return of dragonkind.” Kilgharrah smiled, then, nodding to Merlin.
It was time.