One Prison is much like another - part 33A
Author: 
archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 33A
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: Dragons are a handful, whether they be days old or centuries. Arthur wasn’t having any of it.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 592
Camelot Drabble Prompt #609: Valuable
Author’s notes: Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
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For a long time, Merlin just stood there, alone in the well of the stairs leading up to the dungeons and beyond. Arthur had already disappeared, to do what, Merlin didn’t know. But he had learned a valuable lesson just now. Arthur wouldn’t stop, not after being attacked. There was too much history of dragons and destruction and this would only cement his anger about it. Hell, they still hadn’t repaired one of the secondary walls of the keep after Kilgharrah’s attack and Merlin knew it would just make Arthur more furious once he saw it again.
This was a disaster.
The dragonets, Chara in the lead, started circling around him, then he landed on Merlin’s shoulder and began to cheep at him, anxiety in the golden eyes and the way Chara butted his head against Merlin’s cheek.
The others settled down around him on the ledges and some of the larger rocks, watching Merlin with an uneasy look. They must have realised that Merlin hadn’t been exactly forthcoming about how dangerous men were, but he couldn’t let them get hurt, not when it was his fault.
Hoping they would understand, Merlin said, “There will be men down here soon. They might try and hurt you and I know I should have done something more, maybe used my magic to get Arthur to forget this all ever happened but it’s too late now. Knowing him, he’ll send down his men to kill you.” He let out a little half-choked sob. “I’m so sorry. I failed you. Failed you as a dragonlord. Failed you as someone who should have protected you.”
Chara nudged him, almost as if to comfort him, babbling a soft “papa.”
That just made Merlin want to cry that much harder. Stroking Chara’s head, Merlin said, “It’s too light right now. They might spot you flying away but after dark, it should be clear enough to move to the White Mountains. They won’t find you there.”
Bremon let out a questioning trill, and the others picked it up, a chorus of worry that made Merlin’s heart break.
But he had to be strong for them. “I’ll come back tonight. Not this way,” he said, nodding towards the stairs. “The other entrance. And we’ll leave and find you a new cave, a better one. A safer one.”
Chara’s tail tight against Merlin’s throat, Merlin said, “I won’t let you down again.” He gave a little shuddering breath, then tilted his head toward the far reaches of the cave. “But I will need you to hide until then. As far away from these stairs as you can. Past the eel pool and where the river runs under those glittering rocks. Into cervices that no man can climb to.”
His nose throbbing, his eyesight wavering as the tears he’d been holding back started to spill out, he tried to give them a little smile. “Just stay hidden. No matter what they try to do, they won’t be able to hurt you if they can’t find you. And I’ll come back tonight. I promise.”
Pointing the way, Merlin commanded, “Ithai!”
Watching them fly away, reluctance and worry in their wings and the golden eyes glancing back, hearing their soft regret of ‘papa’ and ‘Merlin’ as they left, the hardest thing Merlin had ever had to do was not to go with them, at least not yet.
But it was a good thing, too.
Because a moment later, there was a clang of armour coming down the stairs and torches and Leon leading the way.
archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 33A
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin
Summary: Dragons are a handful, whether they be days old or centuries. Arthur wasn’t having any of it.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 592
Camelot Drabble Prompt #609: Valuable
Author’s notes: Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
------------------
For a long time, Merlin just stood there, alone in the well of the stairs leading up to the dungeons and beyond. Arthur had already disappeared, to do what, Merlin didn’t know. But he had learned a valuable lesson just now. Arthur wouldn’t stop, not after being attacked. There was too much history of dragons and destruction and this would only cement his anger about it. Hell, they still hadn’t repaired one of the secondary walls of the keep after Kilgharrah’s attack and Merlin knew it would just make Arthur more furious once he saw it again.
This was a disaster.
The dragonets, Chara in the lead, started circling around him, then he landed on Merlin’s shoulder and began to cheep at him, anxiety in the golden eyes and the way Chara butted his head against Merlin’s cheek.
The others settled down around him on the ledges and some of the larger rocks, watching Merlin with an uneasy look. They must have realised that Merlin hadn’t been exactly forthcoming about how dangerous men were, but he couldn’t let them get hurt, not when it was his fault.
Hoping they would understand, Merlin said, “There will be men down here soon. They might try and hurt you and I know I should have done something more, maybe used my magic to get Arthur to forget this all ever happened but it’s too late now. Knowing him, he’ll send down his men to kill you.” He let out a little half-choked sob. “I’m so sorry. I failed you. Failed you as a dragonlord. Failed you as someone who should have protected you.”
Chara nudged him, almost as if to comfort him, babbling a soft “papa.”
That just made Merlin want to cry that much harder. Stroking Chara’s head, Merlin said, “It’s too light right now. They might spot you flying away but after dark, it should be clear enough to move to the White Mountains. They won’t find you there.”
Bremon let out a questioning trill, and the others picked it up, a chorus of worry that made Merlin’s heart break.
But he had to be strong for them. “I’ll come back tonight. Not this way,” he said, nodding towards the stairs. “The other entrance. And we’ll leave and find you a new cave, a better one. A safer one.”
Chara’s tail tight against Merlin’s throat, Merlin said, “I won’t let you down again.” He gave a little shuddering breath, then tilted his head toward the far reaches of the cave. “But I will need you to hide until then. As far away from these stairs as you can. Past the eel pool and where the river runs under those glittering rocks. Into cervices that no man can climb to.”
His nose throbbing, his eyesight wavering as the tears he’d been holding back started to spill out, he tried to give them a little smile. “Just stay hidden. No matter what they try to do, they won’t be able to hurt you if they can’t find you. And I’ll come back tonight. I promise.”
Pointing the way, Merlin commanded, “Ithai!”
Watching them fly away, reluctance and worry in their wings and the golden eyes glancing back, hearing their soft regret of ‘papa’ and ‘Merlin’ as they left, the hardest thing Merlin had ever had to do was not to go with them, at least not yet.
But it was a good thing, too.
Because a moment later, there was a clang of armour coming down the stairs and torches and Leon leading the way.