One Prison is much like another - part 41b
Author: archaeologist_d
Title: One Prison is much like another - part 41b
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Merlin, Kilgharrah
Summary: Dragons are a handful, whether they be days old or centuries. Arthur wasn’t having any of it.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1000
Camelot Drabble Prompt #622: soft touch
Author’s notes: Arthur is regent in all but name. AU and all.
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A few nights later, Lamporos and Augo trying their wings in night flight and Lailaps undercutting their play with a bit of dive-bombing and nipping at unguarded tails, it wasn’t until they returned, chittering in excitement, that Merlin realised that they’d spotted movement in the forests to the east. Toward Camelot.
Their skills at speech were still rudimentary, even with Merlin’s encouragement, but Augo was good at using his claws to draw in the dust. In a few short strokes, Merlin could see a map before him and stick figures positioned.
“Men,” Lamporos murmured, his voice a little worried. He was probably remembering the last time when Arthur had attacked them and still unhappy about it.
Merlin reached over, stroking the skin near Lamporos’s ear, trying to soothe him. But he needed more information. “A lot of men? More than the flock of crows you hunted last week?”
“Men, men, men,” Lamporos repeated. “More.”
There had been probably a hundred crows then. The dragonets had had a great time hunting them, catching only a few, although their skills were improving in leaps and bounds.
But more than a hundred men meant troops and movement and Morgana trying at long last to steal the throne from Arthur.
“Did you see a white dragon, too? Flying near the men?” Merlin asked, worry and guilt in his voice. He’d warned them to keep away from Aithusa, that dragon’s loyalty to Morgana an ever-present threat.
Augo nodded, “Aithusa. Sad.”
It just about killed him to keep the dragons apart. They were kin after all and Merlin had already failed in so many ways. But it was just too dangerous..
“Yes, little one. I am sad, too.” Merlin bumped his head against Argo’s. “I hope he can join us when things get better.”
If they get better. If Arthur can get his head out of his arse. If Morgana could see that hate only destroys. If Merlin could somehow make them both see reason.
If, if, if.
But for now, he had to warn Arthur. Before it was too late.
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With the parchment Gaius had used, the magic still clinging to it, Merlin erased Gaius’s missive and sent back information on the troop masses and where they might go next. Worried that Arthur might read it, too, Merlin was hesitant to mention Aithusa, but in the end, that was just as important as the rest.
Knowing that Kilgharrah’s wouldn’t be happy, still, he talked to them all, babies and the petulant lizard. “I have warned Gaius as I promised but I am worried it will not not be enough against Morgana and her forces.” Taking a moment, not looking at Kilgharrah but off into the distance, Merlin said, “I would like to get closer to Camelot just in case. If Morgana makes her move and uses Aithusa in the attack, I am not sure we could get there in time to prevent it.”
“You go if you are so worried. Pendragon and his blood-soaked kingdom need to accept magic back before I will help them. And even then, your Arthur might turn on you when all is said and done.” Kilgharrah sneered at him, rolling his eyes a little.
Merlin had had enough. “Make up your bloody mind. Either Arthur is the greatest threat of us all or else he’s the best hope for Albion’s future.”
“He is both. He is neither.” Kilgharrah looked at his claws, humming off key as if the whole conversation was of little import.
“And that makes everything so much clearer.” Sarcasm heavy, Merlin wasn’t having any of it.
“If he chooses you and magic, then yes, Albion will be born. If he does not, then threat is an insignificant word to use. It would be so much worse. Morgana will succeed but her hatred will consume everything and everyone, even herself.” As Merlin stared at him, Kilgharrah said, “Arthur’s heart will either beat for justice or turn to stone.”
Merlin nodded, then, knowing that it does all come down to Arthur. But if there was anything he could do to tip the balance, he would do it.
Turning to the little ones, Merlin said, “Stay here with Kilgharrah. He will protect you.” When Chara let out a little meep of protest, he reached over and patted the baby’s-- not so much a baby anymore. They were all growing up so fast--cheek. “It will be alright. I can run faster than most and I have you to come back to. I will return, I promise.”
With that, he reached down and shoved his satchel over his shoulder, then turned to go. “Keep them safe, Kilgharrah.” And with that, he began to climb down the cliff, leaving them all behind.