One Prison is much like another - part 30A
Author: 
archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 30A
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah, Arthur
Summary: Dragons are a handful, whether they be days old or centuries.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 471
Camelot Drabble Prompt #604: coach
Author’s notes: Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
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Surprisingly, Kilgharrah actually listened to Merlin and didn’t try to use his huge golden eyes to scare the king into an early grave again. There was still singing but Merlin could deal with that, maybe handwave about wind and open doors making weird sounds or someone using the chamber pot.
Arthur was still being a pillock, though. There were inventories from the castle stores and bandits to chase, and if Merlin wasn’t there to cater to Arthur’s every need-never mind his own, then there was hell to pay.
But things began to look up.
The dragonets were flying better every day, listening to Merlin more, eating their weight in fish and fowl, and even cuddling a bit when Merlin came down to take care of them.
His favourite time was story telling. He’d regal the babies with tales of him and Will having adventures and how old Man Simmons yelled about them climbing on his roof and sliding down into the pigpen and letting Bessy out.
He even showed them how to take leaves and turn them into little sailboats and they had races, using their wings to create a breeze and sending them across the surface of one of the little ponds in the cave. Of course, that only worked until Bremon got the bright idea of breathing on them instead. The resulting fire was pretty spectacular, sort of like a battle siege with leaf boats bright torches but the other dragonets were not having it, chittering at Bremon for ruining their fun.
Thankfully, that turned into a teaching moment, with Kilgharrah coaching them in how to direct the flames and how to keep from burping out fireballs. Which led to a game of Merlin juggling branches and having the babies try to light the ends on fire. Merlin got a few burns but mostly everyone was laughing by the end, even that great bloody lizard.
It was going all so well, the babies turning into little toddlers, growing more independent and stronger every day. Merlin still wasn’t getting enough sleep and Arthur’s frowns were growing more frequent but life was good. Merlin was doing what he was born to do and it was going just as he’d planned.
Even Gaius helped out, bringing little treats and looking to make sure each of Merlin’s charges were growing well and properly. As a side-benefit, the dragonets got used to a second human so that they weren’t as afraid as Kilgharrah would have liked.
And yes, Merlin knew that Kilgharrah was telling them about bad men and how only those of dragonkind were worthy of their love and attention. But with Merlin and Gaius countering him, Merlin hoped that the younglings were getting a fair balance, certainly enough to deal with the world beyond the cave when they finally left it.
archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 30A
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah, Arthur
Summary: Dragons are a handful, whether they be days old or centuries.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 471
Camelot Drabble Prompt #604: coach
Author’s notes: Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
--------
Surprisingly, Kilgharrah actually listened to Merlin and didn’t try to use his huge golden eyes to scare the king into an early grave again. There was still singing but Merlin could deal with that, maybe handwave about wind and open doors making weird sounds or someone using the chamber pot.
Arthur was still being a pillock, though. There were inventories from the castle stores and bandits to chase, and if Merlin wasn’t there to cater to Arthur’s every need-never mind his own, then there was hell to pay.
But things began to look up.
The dragonets were flying better every day, listening to Merlin more, eating their weight in fish and fowl, and even cuddling a bit when Merlin came down to take care of them.
His favourite time was story telling. He’d regal the babies with tales of him and Will having adventures and how old Man Simmons yelled about them climbing on his roof and sliding down into the pigpen and letting Bessy out.
He even showed them how to take leaves and turn them into little sailboats and they had races, using their wings to create a breeze and sending them across the surface of one of the little ponds in the cave. Of course, that only worked until Bremon got the bright idea of breathing on them instead. The resulting fire was pretty spectacular, sort of like a battle siege with leaf boats bright torches but the other dragonets were not having it, chittering at Bremon for ruining their fun.
Thankfully, that turned into a teaching moment, with Kilgharrah coaching them in how to direct the flames and how to keep from burping out fireballs. Which led to a game of Merlin juggling branches and having the babies try to light the ends on fire. Merlin got a few burns but mostly everyone was laughing by the end, even that great bloody lizard.
It was going all so well, the babies turning into little toddlers, growing more independent and stronger every day. Merlin still wasn’t getting enough sleep and Arthur’s frowns were growing more frequent but life was good. Merlin was doing what he was born to do and it was going just as he’d planned.
Even Gaius helped out, bringing little treats and looking to make sure each of Merlin’s charges were growing well and properly. As a side-benefit, the dragonets got used to a second human so that they weren’t as afraid as Kilgharrah would have liked.
And yes, Merlin knew that Kilgharrah was telling them about bad men and how only those of dragonkind were worthy of their love and attention. But with Merlin and Gaius countering him, Merlin hoped that the younglings were getting a fair balance, certainly enough to deal with the world beyond the cave when they finally left it.