All the Ships Are Left to Rust (2/6)
Title: All the Ships Are Left to Rust (2/6)
Pairings/characters: Arthur/Merlin, Lance/Gwen, Mordred/Kara and slight Gwaine/Morgana
Rating: R
Word Count: 36,689
Warnings: Minor Character death, blood, violence, mental illness
Summary: (Dinotopia AU) The morning had started off innocently enough, then the warning bells start chiming and suddenly Uther’s mortally wounded, Morgana’s missing, and Arthur (read: Merlin) has the survival of the entire island on his shoulders.
A desperate attempt to save Uther's life finds Arthur and Merlin braving the Great Desert for a sorcerer who brings to light a hidden war on magic and when the two return home, it's to discover that the attack on Uther and Morgana's kidnapping were only the tip of the iceberg: there's a force that wants to reunite the tiny island with the outside world but that in itself may lead to the island's downfall.
---
[ 1] - [ 2] - [ 3] - [ 4] - [ 5] - [ 6]
---
The next morning dawned dark and misty and Arthur tore out into the courtyard with a single purpose in mind before the sun had even burnt through the mist. They had a small caravan prepared, a Centrosaurus named Dinadan, who would carry Arthur and Merlin as well as some of their supplies, and a Parasaurolophus named Palomides who was to carry Lancelot and the majority of their supplies. In the courtyard only Dinadan, Palomides and Lancelot waited for him and Arthur turned to glare towards the physician’s windows, which were visible about fifty feet away from them. Arthur double-checked that everything was secured and had just informed an amused Dinadan that yes, it seems that Merlin still hadn’t quite figured out what dawn meant when the man himself slipped out of the castle doors, headed towards them. Lancelot elbowed Arthur sharply and Arthur bit his lip to silence himself. Merlin’s eyes were on the ground and they could both tell he was upset from where they were but neither spoke. Merlin didn’t look at either of them as they prepared to leave and only gave curt, one word answers when spoken to. The two dinosaurs remained silent, both had been working for the King long enough to know that a silent Merlin was never a good thing. However they chalked it up to the fact that the boy must be under incredible pressure, they all were and who knew what kind of danger they were riding into.
Their journey was to be a long one, it was to take about a week and a half to make it to the edge of the Great Desert and they’d have to skirt around the outskirts of the Rain Basin as well as the Forbidden Mountains to reach it. From there, all they had to go on was that this Balinor should be somewhere in the Southwestern part of the desert.
---
The week and a half passed uneventfully but with a growing tension in the group. Merlin remained quiet, and Arthur became increasingly frustrated with Merlin leaving Lancelot trying to keep the peace between the two of them. Dinadan was set on getting everyone’s mind off of the seriousness of their quest by serenading them with whatever song came to mind, which in turn aggravated Palomides to the point where he threatened the centrosaurus with bodily harm at least once every several hours. But despite this, their trip was uneventfully-a blessing because Arthur was convinced they were going to be jumped at any moment.
Unfortunately, about three hours after they were surrounded by the sand dunes of the desert, their luck decided to turn around. Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot were standing in the shade Palomides cast trying to figure out if they had veered off course or not when the parasaurolophus suddenly started drooping forward. Merlin put a hand on his side, “Are you alright?” He called, but he didn’t get a response.
“Could it be the heat?” Dinadan asked, moving closer to Palomides so that he could lean on him, which he did. Merlin looked up at him but he could see his strength almost visibly slipping away.
“Palomides?” He called, but he only sagged further and a moment later he collapsed, causing Merlin, Arthur and Lancelot to scramble out of the way. Merlin instantly ran up to him, feeling his skin and examining him. “Palomides? Can you hear me?”
Arthur glanced to both Lancelot and Dinadan as Merlin hovered frantically next to Palomides. “Lance, get him some water.” His friend only needed to be told twice before he was rushing over to Dinadan and pulling a canteen out of one of the satchels. Arthur moved over next to Dinadan as Lancelot ran next to Merlin.
“If this is serious and we need to get him to help as quickly as possible, you’d be able to get him out of here, right?” Arthur asked, not taking his eyes off of his friends. Merlin looked confused and glanced around suspiciously as Lancelot helped Palomides drink.
“Of course but I don’t like leaving you alone out here.”
“I’ll be fine and besides-this is too important.”
“Dinotopia cannot lose both its King and Prince.” Dinadan said softly and Arthur stood up straighter, as if his posture would help him survive the desert heat.
“Arthur?” Merlin called out, “I don’t think it’s the heat doing this to him. I think it might be magic.”
Arthur instantly felt exposed and looked around him but saw nothing except sand in all directions. “Magic? How can you be sure?”
“His eyes-they’re grey instead of green. His temperature isn’t higher than normal.”
Arthur and Dinadan moved closer to them and looked at his eyes, they were a light grey and Arthur placed a hand on Palomides. “Merlin, do you know what could have caused this?”
“I-“ he began to protest but Arthur sighed and looked to him, “Look I know you and Gaius have scrolls on hidden away somewhere in the castle, despite everything and I know you and so I know that you’ve read all of them by now. What do you know about this?”
Merlin stumbled over his words for a moment longer. Arthur sighed and glanced to Lancelot who had stared at him when Arthur had said he knew about the scrolls and hadn’t really stopped. It wasn’t all that unexpected, Merlin was horrid at keeping things secret. When Arthur turned his gaze back to Merlin, he felt his heart stop.
Merlin’s eyes were gold.
But when he blinked they were back to their blue again. Arthur didn’t take his eyes off of Merlin’s for several long moments and in the end had to conclude that it had just been the light that made they appear yellow for a split second.
“Merlin, what do you think happened?”
“I think-I think this spell was placed on him a while ago and it’s like it was timed and it just affected him now. It took his strength. He needs to get out of here.”
“No-I-“ Palomides protested but Arthur already turned to Dinadan.
“Get him out of here. Lancelot, you go with them. Merlin and I will go ahead. If we’re not back by the day after tomorrow send a scouting party after us.”
“Arthur-“ Lancelot protested but Arthur shook his head and started pulling his and Merlin’s things off of Palomides’ back.
“We’ll be fine. Just go.”
“How do you expect him to-“ Merlin began sharply but Dinadan was already helping him back onto his feet with Palomides having to be practically draped over his back.
“We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like this.”
“None of us do but we don’t have another choice.”
Lancelot came over to Arthur and Merlin and put his hands on their shoulders. “Stay safe and don’t push forward unless you’re sure of the direction you’re headed. You have the map, right?”
“I brought two.” Merlin piped up, “Just in case.”
“Having a clumsy manservant sometimes has its benefits.” Arthur joked but Lance didn’t smile. He just regarded both of them with a serious expression and then turned and started following after the two dinosaurs. Arthur put his hands over his face and sighed, feeling the heat of the sun again. He watched the others go. It was just the two of them now, but he wasn’t all that worried. He trusted Merlin so completely that warning bells should be going off. He could hear his father warning him-trust no one but your family. And now recently those words had turned into trust no one but me Arthur. You cannot trust anyone but me. But-Merlin had proved his stupid (blatantly horrifying) loyalty on a near weekly basis. Together they’d be fine.
However the great desert wasn’t going to make it easy on them. A little over three hours later Arthur could feel his shoulders burning in the bright sunlight even though he still wore his shirt.
Merlin squinted in the bright sunlight, “I think I see something.”
“Let’s hope it’s not another mirage, Merlin.”
Merlin shot a glare at him and muttered something that sounded like, “You were the one to turn towards it.”
As the two neared, however, the green of the oasis became clearer and clearer until both men were rushing for it.
As they reached the greenery, Arthur could hardly believe they had actually found an oasis. In the back of his mind he felt certain that they were going to have to wait it out and pray scouts would find them. A sorcerer in the desert was almost too good to be true, it was like a fairy tale, a bedtime story. Next to him, Merlin kept glancing around as if he expected the sorcerer to jump out and attack them any second.
A quick look around the area showed that there appeared to be no sign of anyone in the immediate area. However, what there was a pond and Arthur dropped to his knees and cupped a handful of water, bringing it to his cracked lips and drinking deeply. He allowed his eyes to shut for the briefest of moments as the cool liquid slid down his throat.
In that moment, there was a shuffle of feet and Merlin gasped. Arthur’s eyes shot open, cursing the heat for getting to him. How could he have been so stupid? A drink of water could have waited-he should have searched the area for the sorcerer first-
When Arthur turned around, a man had a hold of Merlin with a knife pressed to his throat. Arthur pulled himself upright, straightened his shoulders and looked the man in the eye. They were the same shade blue as Merlin’s but he quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind. Merlin was in danger, now wasn’t the time to be thinking about his eyes. He was starting to become worse than Lancelot. When he spoke, he kept his voice calm and even. “We mean you no harm. We’re looking for a man named Balinor. We believe he might be able to help us.”
The man didn’t lower the knife and by now Merlin looked like he might-heavens forbid-cry. “And who might you be?”
“My name’s Arthur Pendragon.”
“What’s a Pendragon doing looking for me?” He had known this man was Balinor-who else could he have been-but he still stumbled over his thoughts. Balinor, who had the same eyes as Merlin, who held him in a tight grip, knife to his throat.
But he had the man’s attention and Arthur could see the grip around the knife was loose.
“My father is ill and we believe you’re the only one who can help us.”
“And why should I do that?” the man asked roughly.
“We can offer you a full pardon.” Balinor laughed darkly and said nothing. “Please.” Arthur began and then stopped when the man lowered his knife.
“You two could have been killed coming out here. Do you know how foolish you are?”
“Yes-we’ve come all this way and-“
“Enough. Come with me. I can at least get you something to eat and you’ll have to spend the night here.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and started walking away though the greenery. Arthur and Merlin glanced to each other in confusion; he hadn’t said yes but he hadn’t said no either.
“Don’t let your guard down.” Was all Arthur said before the two headed after him, shoulder to shoulder.
---
Balinor managed to avoid giving them an answer until the next morning, when Merlin had finished packing up their things. Arthur had no intention to leave until they had Balinor with them but that didn’t stop his manservant from ruthlessly manhandling their bedrolls away.
With a glance to Merlin, who was standing over top of their things with an uncertain air, Arthur set his sights on the man sitting in front of the embers of a fire. “Will you come?”
Balinor studied Arthur for a long moment as if he was trying to weight how much like his father he was. He made sure to stand up straight, chin up, daring him to tell him he was unworthy of his help. Balinor turned his gaze to Merlin without changing his expression. With Balinor’s eyes off of him, Arthur let himself deflate a bit, which went unnoticed by the other two. Merlin was begging Balinor with his eyes, but his chin was lifted and Arthur thought he must have looked just like Merlin-minus the watery eyes. Merlin looked like he had something to prove to the man but what could he possibly have to prove to this stranger? He must be reading him wrong or just projecting himself onto the other man. Despite being friends for years, there were still moments where Merlin was a complete and total mystery to him. His hands clenched and unclenched at his side but he didn’t otherwise fidget.
To his general amazement, Arthur saw the moment Balinor made up his mind. The only man shook his head and smiled. Merlin sighed and relaxed his stance before meeting Balinor’s eyes again and nodding solemnly. Balinor turned back to Arthur. “We should hurry. Your father sounds like he doesn’t have much time.”
Traveling through the desert was quicker with Balinor. He knew how to tell where they were going from the sun and didn’t let the changing sand dunes throw him off. Merlin and Balinor hung back together but he pretended he didn’t notice. He wasn’t an idiot; he realized that they stopped talking when he was too close. They wanted to keep something from him. He wanted to do nothing more than to grab Merlin, shake him, and force him to spill what was such a big secret but he trusted him. Trusted him like he probably shouldn’t. And anyway, he figured he had a good enough idea of what they were talking about. He knew he wasn’t a reliable source of information about his father. It was one of the reasons he had brought Merlin along. He knew he would do anything for his father and he needed Merlin to keep him on track. Make sure he didn’t fly off the handle. Arthur knew his own limitations, not that he would ever admit to them out loud.
---
By the time they could see town on the horizon, the sun was already starting to set, taking the unbearable heat of the day with it.
“I can’t wait to actually sleep in a bed again.” Merlin sighed and Balinor chuckled next to him. Arthur, however, ignored him completely. There was a figure racing towards them from town.
“What’s that girl doing?” Merlin asked, suddenly right at Arthur’s side.
“Something’s happened.” Balinor added.
“Sire-your men were recalled to the capitol this morning.” The redheaded girl said as soon as she caught up with them.
“What do you mean they went back to Waterfall City? Is-“
The young woman who had come racing into the desert to meet them ran a hand through her hair again. “Sire, a message came that said they were needed in the city urgently and-“
“Did they leave a message for us?”
“Just to hurry.”
“Shit.” Arthur turned away from the girl and looked to Merlin who appeared to already be planning the quickest route back home. He turned back to the woman, “Thank you. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about but we have to go right away.”
“But you must be exhausted-you just came from the desert and…” he voice trailed off at the look Arthur was giving her and so she amended her statement to, “Let me give you some food at least.”
“Thank you.” Arthur smiled and Merlin stepped up next to him, speaking quietly at once.
“What do you think it is?”
“I don’t want to think. I just want to get back as quickly as possible.”
Three caravans, four carts (Arthur miraculously didn’t complain) and two full days of walking later found the three of them on the edge of the Rainy Basin.
“If we cut though, it’ll save us half a day.”
“We don’t have any offerings. We barely have enough food for us as it is and Merlin is too bony.”
Merlin rolled his eyes and turned, making the decision for them. He stalked into the woods towards the basin. Balinor chuckled, “There we go then.”
Arthur sighed and placed a hand on the sword at his side as he followed.
---
The branches rustled and both Balinor and Arthur shot to their feet. Arthur grabbed the two swords and tossed one to Merlin who looked more terrified of the blade coming towards him than the ambush that was almost upon them. Arthur turned away before Merlin caught it. He could tell by the way he was reaching and the blade’s trajectory that it was going to drop to the ground with Merlin scrambling to pick it up and he didn’t need to waste any more time on such a sorry sight. Merlin had been watching training for close to twelve years now, how he had picked nothing up was a wonder.
What emerged from the woods wasn’t a carnivore but two protoceratops, a kentrosaurus, and an einiosaurus. Arthur started to relax but then he caught onto their stance and the way they were sizing them up. Balinor pushed him aside as one of the protroceratops came charging at him. There was a flash of silver and blood and Arthur saw the beast crumple to the ground. Merlin was by now scrambling next to them, but the next second Arthur lost sight of him as the einiosaurus attacked. The fight in reality couldn’t have lasted much longer than a few minutes at most but it tore at Arthur. After he lost sight of Merlin, the other man had simply vanished. He heard him shout every once in a while but he was lost to Arthur, always hidden behind something as he glanced to the sound of his voice.
He pulled the blade from the chest of the einiosaurus, shuddering at the pointless waste of life and then he turned, searching for Merlin. He heart plummeted at the sight on the other side of the clearing where he had last seen Merlin and Balinor. They were both on the ground, Merlin half on top of Balinor. He could see his hand clutching the man’s arm. Balinor has been hurt. Balinor was Uther’s only hope. The only thing Arthur could see in that moment was him losing his father.
Racing over, his feet the only sound in the clearing, he could tell there wasn’t any hope by the way Merlin’s shoulder shook, the way he was hunched over. A wave of helplessness washed over him and he kicked at a branch on the ground. He didn’t miss the way Merlin flinched, how his breath hitched. He was too soft-hearted, he always was. Arthur stormed off, not going far but unable to stay there. He ended up pacing back and forth in the woods before returning to the clearing and sitting well away from all the bodies. He put his head in his hands and breathed while paying attention to the sounds around him. They had to have attracted attention. He strained for the faintest sound that trouble was coming.
After a few minutes all he heard were light footsteps walking towards him, stopping directly in front of him. He looked up only when he knew he had his expression in check. Merlin looked like shit, his eyes were red, his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked younger than Arthur had ever seen him. Arthur sighed, “We should get back. There’s no use wasting time out here.”
“We have to bury him first.”
Arthur couldn’t bear to look up to see his grief-stricken face. “Merlin. Carnivores are going to be swarming this spot any minute. It’s a miracle they’re not here already. We have to get out of here.”
“No. I have to bury him. I won’t let him-“ his breath hitched and Arthur grabbed his arm.
“Do you want to die for a stranger?”
“He was my father.” Merlin spoke softly, heatedly and Arthur let go of him and took a step away, trying to process the information. He looked down to the pale face of Balinor and then to Merlin who wiped at his eyes, trying to get a hold of himself. This is why his father had confused Merlin for Balinor-why he didn’t realize this himself was beyond him. Arthur looked at Merlin’s eyes for a heartbeat before he turned from him. Rubbing his hand over his own eyes, he sighed heavily. They had come here to try to save his father and all that came of it was Merlin losing his own.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice because, of course Merlin would try to keep something like this hidden. Of course he would make up some reason why he couldn’t just say oh by the way, I know who Uther’s shouting for; it’s my father.
“I didn’t know. Not until Gaius told me right before we left.”
Arthur searched Merlin’s face for a minute trying to understand how this had all gotten so out of hand. He walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders. “I’m sorry this happened.”
Merlin couldn’t meet his eyes. “Me too.”
“Come on. We have to be quick.”
---
“He saved your life, you know.”
“What?” Arthur asked, piling the last of the rocks onto the grave.
“Gaius said it as well; he carried you and Morgana to safety.”
Arthur ran a hand through his hair, “I had completely forgotten.”
“I didn’t even think of it until just now.” Merlin blinked away tears as the first growl sounded. It was far off but the ground beneath them shook slightly. He met Arthur’s eyes and the two headed off, both glancing back at the makeshift grave once before it vanished from sight.
---
“What did he tell you?” Arthur found himself asking as the two followed the direction of the shadows east.
Merlin looked up, almost guiltily and Arthur was immediately on edge. That faded away when he reminded himself that Merlin almost always looked guilty over something. He would start to think it was his default expression if it wasn’t also true that Merlin had always done something stupid.
“What do you mean?”
“I know you two were talking, did he say anything about how to save my father?”
They had been walking for thirty minutes by now, in completely silent woods. There was no rumble of the ground or growls in the air. Most of the carnivores would be behind them now. Arthur made a point not to think about that. He was Prince and it was his job to protect the people. Yet he had been forced to just leave them there. Leave Balinor in his shallow grave.
“No.”
“Then what did you talk about?”
Merlin opened his mouth and then shut it. He took a breath before speaking, “What Camelot was like. He told me why he left. How he met my mother. He spoke of you, when you were small. My father spent more time with you than he did with me.”
There was a very long silence and Arthur swore silently to himself because of course that’s what they’d talk about. “I’m sorry.”
Merlin just shrugged, “But now I know that you were a terror even before I met you so I don’t know why everyone always said I was a bad influence on you.” There was a tiny, tiny smile on his face and Arthur felt his heart swell in a way that made him sigh exasperatedly.
“Merlin.”
---
When they arrived back in Camelot, Merlin dated off towards Gaius’ chambers. Arthur had half a mind to go after him but what could he say that he hadn’t already? It was his fault his father had died. Balinor had only been trying to help him. Sighing, he made his way up into the castle, dreading the reason Lancelot and the others left so quickly.
He made his way into the castle alone but before he reached his father’s rooms, Merlin caught up with him again. Neither said anything, although Arthur sorely wanted to tell Merlin to go back to his chambers. He ought to take the afternoon off but he also knew his friend wouldn’t be able to sit there not knowing what was going on. Some days Arthur thought the only reason Merlin never quit was because as the Prince’s manservant he got all the news first and most of the time he got it firsthand.
Someone was shouting down the hall and Arthur glanced to Merlin only to see his own fear echoed back at him. The two took off down the hall, there was a commotion at the door to his father’s chambers. The guard stationed at his door turned to them as they approached, “We’ve set for Gaius-but I fear-“ Arthur wrapped his fingers around Merlin’s wrist and probably would have dragged him to his father’s beside if the younger man hadn’t continued to run alongside him into the room. Merlin reached out to feel for the King’s pulse. Arthur tightened his hold around Merlin’s bony wrist. Gasping quietly, Merlin pulled his hand away from Uther before pressing his fingers to his neck again, pressing harder, his eyes wide, his lips pressed tightly together in concentration. Arthur couldn’t look away. He could tell just by looking that Merlin wasn’t finding what he was searching for. Orders rose in his throat but he couldn’t find his voice.
Gaius burst through the door a second later. If he was surprised to see the two men, he didn’t show it. He and Merlin quietly conversed as Arthur tried to school his expression into something less panicked.
His efforts went out the window when Gaius took a step away from the bed, “Uther’s dead.”
The only thing he could hear was a white noise. A cold chill went through his body and all he could think of was when Lancelot arrived on the island. The boy cried at the death of his father and it had been then, and only then, that Arthur realized his own mother was dead. She had always been absent but…dead. He had never associated that word to his mother.
The sun rose on the death of Balinor and here it was setting on the death of Uther. Less than twenty four hours and…something had to be going on. There had to be a reason behind this. It couldn’t be a coincidence.
Without looking to either Gaius or Merlin, Arthur spun around and marched to the doorway, intent on finding out exactly who had been in his father’s chambers while he had been away.
---
There was a soft knock on his door and Arthur cleared his throat before calling out with as much authority as he could muster, “Enter.” He was scrambling to his feet a moment later as Gwen hurried into the room, Leon pausing at the doorway only to shut the door behind him. Gwen threw herself into Arthur’s arms and held him tightly. Arthur caught Leon’s eye over her shoulder. “We turned around as soon as we heard.” And-right. Gwen and Leon were supposed to be on their way back home. Gwen’s brother was finished with his Skybax training. Arthur hadn’t even realized he had missed the ceremony this year.
Gwen pulled away and searched his eyes, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Guinevere you shouldn’t have come back, your family’s expecting you.”
“Elyan can do without me for a few days longer. You’re my friend, Arthur. Neither of us are going to leave you now. What do you need help with?”
“Guinevere, Leon, honestly-everything’s under control. I appreciate your concern but you shouldn’t put your visit home off.”
Gwen frowned at him before turning away. For on wild moment Arthur thought she was actually going to listen to him but then she asked, “Where’s Merlin?” in a clipped, decided voice.
“I…actually don’t know. I haven’t seen him in a few hours now.”
Gwen nodded and slipped out the door again. “Arthur.” Leon began as soon as the door clicked shut again after her. “I’m sorry about your father.”
“Thank you.” Arthur turned to look out the window.
“Sire, if I could be frank with you for a moment.”
“Always, Leon, you know I value your opinion.”
“You don’t have to be the same king your father was. He was a great king and the land will miss him but I always believed that you will make a far greater king. You don’t have to do this alone. There are many who feel the same as I. You’re not officially crowned yet but there are many who are already loyal to you.”
When Arthur turned, it was to see the door closing behind him.
---
Merlin’s eyes met Gaius’, “Did I do the right thing?”
Gaius sighed and Merlin had the sudden realization that the physician had probably had the same conversation with his father. It made Gaius all that more dear to him.
“Merlin…”
“I just-the thing is…I don’t understand why he couldn’t have taken us with him. We could have been a family.”
“An oasis is no place to raise a child.”
“But-“
Gaius smiled and sat next to him. “He did what was best for you. Your mother’s now a healer back home and you’re following in her footsteps. That never would have been possible if you were in hiding with him. I know how much you wish things were different. I know I do. I would give anything if it meant you got to be raised by your father. Balinor would have adored you. But you mustn’t dwell on what cannot be. Your father did what was best for you and your mother.”
Merlin let his eyes shut and he ran his hands over his face as he took several deep breaths in. Then he opened them and gave Gaius a small smile. “You know…you’ve always been like a father to me.”
The elderly Troodon’s smile was broad. “And you’re like the son I never had. You make me so proud every single day, Merlin.”
“Well, maybe not every day. Remember when-“
“Don’t say another word. We were having a perfectly lovely moment. You don’t need to bring up the time you almost destroyed the library.”
“Arthur threw Morgana’s doll into the courtyard! Morgana chased us in there and Lance was the one that grabbed hold of my pant leg!”
“So you still say. Let’s just get something to eat, alright?”
---
Uther was buried the following day. Arthur stood in the middle of the square, looking out at the crowd gathered around them. These people looked to him now. He was inheriting a land on the cusp of war, the likes of which the people had never seen. The citizens of Dinotopia weren’t even aware of the war raging just out of sight. He intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. He looked to Leon, to Lancelot, to Gaius and Gwen. Agravaine, the only family he had left. Elyan, the newest addition to his guard. He felt Merlin standing beside him. He wasn’t alone. He would be King, but he wasn’t alone. Not like his father.
Arthur turned his gaze back to the funeral pyre and couldn’t help thinking about the small makeshift grave in the Basin. Would that be their fate too? Would they become their fathers? Would his death be mourned by the people? Would Merlin’s victories and sacrifices go unnoticed? Would he have an unmarked grave in some unpopulated corner of the island? Arthur would not be his father. He would not shun his friends. He would do what he father could not and protect the ones he cared about. There was no alternative. He would stop this madness.
“The King is dead. Long Live the King.”
( part three)
Pairings/characters: Arthur/Merlin, Lance/Gwen, Mordred/Kara and slight Gwaine/Morgana
Rating: R
Word Count: 36,689
Warnings: Minor Character death, blood, violence, mental illness
Summary: (Dinotopia AU) The morning had started off innocently enough, then the warning bells start chiming and suddenly Uther’s mortally wounded, Morgana’s missing, and Arthur (read: Merlin) has the survival of the entire island on his shoulders.
A desperate attempt to save Uther's life finds Arthur and Merlin braving the Great Desert for a sorcerer who brings to light a hidden war on magic and when the two return home, it's to discover that the attack on Uther and Morgana's kidnapping were only the tip of the iceberg: there's a force that wants to reunite the tiny island with the outside world but that in itself may lead to the island's downfall.
---
[ 1] - [ 2] - [ 3] - [ 4] - [ 5] - [ 6]
---
The next morning dawned dark and misty and Arthur tore out into the courtyard with a single purpose in mind before the sun had even burnt through the mist. They had a small caravan prepared, a Centrosaurus named Dinadan, who would carry Arthur and Merlin as well as some of their supplies, and a Parasaurolophus named Palomides who was to carry Lancelot and the majority of their supplies. In the courtyard only Dinadan, Palomides and Lancelot waited for him and Arthur turned to glare towards the physician’s windows, which were visible about fifty feet away from them. Arthur double-checked that everything was secured and had just informed an amused Dinadan that yes, it seems that Merlin still hadn’t quite figured out what dawn meant when the man himself slipped out of the castle doors, headed towards them. Lancelot elbowed Arthur sharply and Arthur bit his lip to silence himself. Merlin’s eyes were on the ground and they could both tell he was upset from where they were but neither spoke. Merlin didn’t look at either of them as they prepared to leave and only gave curt, one word answers when spoken to. The two dinosaurs remained silent, both had been working for the King long enough to know that a silent Merlin was never a good thing. However they chalked it up to the fact that the boy must be under incredible pressure, they all were and who knew what kind of danger they were riding into.
Their journey was to be a long one, it was to take about a week and a half to make it to the edge of the Great Desert and they’d have to skirt around the outskirts of the Rain Basin as well as the Forbidden Mountains to reach it. From there, all they had to go on was that this Balinor should be somewhere in the Southwestern part of the desert.
---
The week and a half passed uneventfully but with a growing tension in the group. Merlin remained quiet, and Arthur became increasingly frustrated with Merlin leaving Lancelot trying to keep the peace between the two of them. Dinadan was set on getting everyone’s mind off of the seriousness of their quest by serenading them with whatever song came to mind, which in turn aggravated Palomides to the point where he threatened the centrosaurus with bodily harm at least once every several hours. But despite this, their trip was uneventfully-a blessing because Arthur was convinced they were going to be jumped at any moment.
Unfortunately, about three hours after they were surrounded by the sand dunes of the desert, their luck decided to turn around. Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot were standing in the shade Palomides cast trying to figure out if they had veered off course or not when the parasaurolophus suddenly started drooping forward. Merlin put a hand on his side, “Are you alright?” He called, but he didn’t get a response.
“Could it be the heat?” Dinadan asked, moving closer to Palomides so that he could lean on him, which he did. Merlin looked up at him but he could see his strength almost visibly slipping away.
“Palomides?” He called, but he only sagged further and a moment later he collapsed, causing Merlin, Arthur and Lancelot to scramble out of the way. Merlin instantly ran up to him, feeling his skin and examining him. “Palomides? Can you hear me?”
Arthur glanced to both Lancelot and Dinadan as Merlin hovered frantically next to Palomides. “Lance, get him some water.” His friend only needed to be told twice before he was rushing over to Dinadan and pulling a canteen out of one of the satchels. Arthur moved over next to Dinadan as Lancelot ran next to Merlin.
“If this is serious and we need to get him to help as quickly as possible, you’d be able to get him out of here, right?” Arthur asked, not taking his eyes off of his friends. Merlin looked confused and glanced around suspiciously as Lancelot helped Palomides drink.
“Of course but I don’t like leaving you alone out here.”
“I’ll be fine and besides-this is too important.”
“Dinotopia cannot lose both its King and Prince.” Dinadan said softly and Arthur stood up straighter, as if his posture would help him survive the desert heat.
“Arthur?” Merlin called out, “I don’t think it’s the heat doing this to him. I think it might be magic.”
Arthur instantly felt exposed and looked around him but saw nothing except sand in all directions. “Magic? How can you be sure?”
“His eyes-they’re grey instead of green. His temperature isn’t higher than normal.”
Arthur and Dinadan moved closer to them and looked at his eyes, they were a light grey and Arthur placed a hand on Palomides. “Merlin, do you know what could have caused this?”
“I-“ he began to protest but Arthur sighed and looked to him, “Look I know you and Gaius have scrolls on hidden away somewhere in the castle, despite everything and I know you and so I know that you’ve read all of them by now. What do you know about this?”
Merlin stumbled over his words for a moment longer. Arthur sighed and glanced to Lancelot who had stared at him when Arthur had said he knew about the scrolls and hadn’t really stopped. It wasn’t all that unexpected, Merlin was horrid at keeping things secret. When Arthur turned his gaze back to Merlin, he felt his heart stop.
Merlin’s eyes were gold.
But when he blinked they were back to their blue again. Arthur didn’t take his eyes off of Merlin’s for several long moments and in the end had to conclude that it had just been the light that made they appear yellow for a split second.
“Merlin, what do you think happened?”
“I think-I think this spell was placed on him a while ago and it’s like it was timed and it just affected him now. It took his strength. He needs to get out of here.”
“No-I-“ Palomides protested but Arthur already turned to Dinadan.
“Get him out of here. Lancelot, you go with them. Merlin and I will go ahead. If we’re not back by the day after tomorrow send a scouting party after us.”
“Arthur-“ Lancelot protested but Arthur shook his head and started pulling his and Merlin’s things off of Palomides’ back.
“We’ll be fine. Just go.”
“How do you expect him to-“ Merlin began sharply but Dinadan was already helping him back onto his feet with Palomides having to be practically draped over his back.
“We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like this.”
“None of us do but we don’t have another choice.”
Lancelot came over to Arthur and Merlin and put his hands on their shoulders. “Stay safe and don’t push forward unless you’re sure of the direction you’re headed. You have the map, right?”
“I brought two.” Merlin piped up, “Just in case.”
“Having a clumsy manservant sometimes has its benefits.” Arthur joked but Lance didn’t smile. He just regarded both of them with a serious expression and then turned and started following after the two dinosaurs. Arthur put his hands over his face and sighed, feeling the heat of the sun again. He watched the others go. It was just the two of them now, but he wasn’t all that worried. He trusted Merlin so completely that warning bells should be going off. He could hear his father warning him-trust no one but your family. And now recently those words had turned into trust no one but me Arthur. You cannot trust anyone but me. But-Merlin had proved his stupid (blatantly horrifying) loyalty on a near weekly basis. Together they’d be fine.
However the great desert wasn’t going to make it easy on them. A little over three hours later Arthur could feel his shoulders burning in the bright sunlight even though he still wore his shirt.
Merlin squinted in the bright sunlight, “I think I see something.”
“Let’s hope it’s not another mirage, Merlin.”
Merlin shot a glare at him and muttered something that sounded like, “You were the one to turn towards it.”
As the two neared, however, the green of the oasis became clearer and clearer until both men were rushing for it.
As they reached the greenery, Arthur could hardly believe they had actually found an oasis. In the back of his mind he felt certain that they were going to have to wait it out and pray scouts would find them. A sorcerer in the desert was almost too good to be true, it was like a fairy tale, a bedtime story. Next to him, Merlin kept glancing around as if he expected the sorcerer to jump out and attack them any second.
A quick look around the area showed that there appeared to be no sign of anyone in the immediate area. However, what there was a pond and Arthur dropped to his knees and cupped a handful of water, bringing it to his cracked lips and drinking deeply. He allowed his eyes to shut for the briefest of moments as the cool liquid slid down his throat.
In that moment, there was a shuffle of feet and Merlin gasped. Arthur’s eyes shot open, cursing the heat for getting to him. How could he have been so stupid? A drink of water could have waited-he should have searched the area for the sorcerer first-
When Arthur turned around, a man had a hold of Merlin with a knife pressed to his throat. Arthur pulled himself upright, straightened his shoulders and looked the man in the eye. They were the same shade blue as Merlin’s but he quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind. Merlin was in danger, now wasn’t the time to be thinking about his eyes. He was starting to become worse than Lancelot. When he spoke, he kept his voice calm and even. “We mean you no harm. We’re looking for a man named Balinor. We believe he might be able to help us.”
The man didn’t lower the knife and by now Merlin looked like he might-heavens forbid-cry. “And who might you be?”
“My name’s Arthur Pendragon.”
“What’s a Pendragon doing looking for me?” He had known this man was Balinor-who else could he have been-but he still stumbled over his thoughts. Balinor, who had the same eyes as Merlin, who held him in a tight grip, knife to his throat.
But he had the man’s attention and Arthur could see the grip around the knife was loose.
“My father is ill and we believe you’re the only one who can help us.”
“And why should I do that?” the man asked roughly.
“We can offer you a full pardon.” Balinor laughed darkly and said nothing. “Please.” Arthur began and then stopped when the man lowered his knife.
“You two could have been killed coming out here. Do you know how foolish you are?”
“Yes-we’ve come all this way and-“
“Enough. Come with me. I can at least get you something to eat and you’ll have to spend the night here.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and started walking away though the greenery. Arthur and Merlin glanced to each other in confusion; he hadn’t said yes but he hadn’t said no either.
“Don’t let your guard down.” Was all Arthur said before the two headed after him, shoulder to shoulder.
---
Balinor managed to avoid giving them an answer until the next morning, when Merlin had finished packing up their things. Arthur had no intention to leave until they had Balinor with them but that didn’t stop his manservant from ruthlessly manhandling their bedrolls away.
With a glance to Merlin, who was standing over top of their things with an uncertain air, Arthur set his sights on the man sitting in front of the embers of a fire. “Will you come?”
Balinor studied Arthur for a long moment as if he was trying to weight how much like his father he was. He made sure to stand up straight, chin up, daring him to tell him he was unworthy of his help. Balinor turned his gaze to Merlin without changing his expression. With Balinor’s eyes off of him, Arthur let himself deflate a bit, which went unnoticed by the other two. Merlin was begging Balinor with his eyes, but his chin was lifted and Arthur thought he must have looked just like Merlin-minus the watery eyes. Merlin looked like he had something to prove to the man but what could he possibly have to prove to this stranger? He must be reading him wrong or just projecting himself onto the other man. Despite being friends for years, there were still moments where Merlin was a complete and total mystery to him. His hands clenched and unclenched at his side but he didn’t otherwise fidget.
To his general amazement, Arthur saw the moment Balinor made up his mind. The only man shook his head and smiled. Merlin sighed and relaxed his stance before meeting Balinor’s eyes again and nodding solemnly. Balinor turned back to Arthur. “We should hurry. Your father sounds like he doesn’t have much time.”
Traveling through the desert was quicker with Balinor. He knew how to tell where they were going from the sun and didn’t let the changing sand dunes throw him off. Merlin and Balinor hung back together but he pretended he didn’t notice. He wasn’t an idiot; he realized that they stopped talking when he was too close. They wanted to keep something from him. He wanted to do nothing more than to grab Merlin, shake him, and force him to spill what was such a big secret but he trusted him. Trusted him like he probably shouldn’t. And anyway, he figured he had a good enough idea of what they were talking about. He knew he wasn’t a reliable source of information about his father. It was one of the reasons he had brought Merlin along. He knew he would do anything for his father and he needed Merlin to keep him on track. Make sure he didn’t fly off the handle. Arthur knew his own limitations, not that he would ever admit to them out loud.
---
By the time they could see town on the horizon, the sun was already starting to set, taking the unbearable heat of the day with it.
“I can’t wait to actually sleep in a bed again.” Merlin sighed and Balinor chuckled next to him. Arthur, however, ignored him completely. There was a figure racing towards them from town.
“What’s that girl doing?” Merlin asked, suddenly right at Arthur’s side.
“Something’s happened.” Balinor added.
“Sire-your men were recalled to the capitol this morning.” The redheaded girl said as soon as she caught up with them.
“What do you mean they went back to Waterfall City? Is-“
The young woman who had come racing into the desert to meet them ran a hand through her hair again. “Sire, a message came that said they were needed in the city urgently and-“
“Did they leave a message for us?”
“Just to hurry.”
“Shit.” Arthur turned away from the girl and looked to Merlin who appeared to already be planning the quickest route back home. He turned back to the woman, “Thank you. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about but we have to go right away.”
“But you must be exhausted-you just came from the desert and…” he voice trailed off at the look Arthur was giving her and so she amended her statement to, “Let me give you some food at least.”
“Thank you.” Arthur smiled and Merlin stepped up next to him, speaking quietly at once.
“What do you think it is?”
“I don’t want to think. I just want to get back as quickly as possible.”
Three caravans, four carts (Arthur miraculously didn’t complain) and two full days of walking later found the three of them on the edge of the Rainy Basin.
“If we cut though, it’ll save us half a day.”
“We don’t have any offerings. We barely have enough food for us as it is and Merlin is too bony.”
Merlin rolled his eyes and turned, making the decision for them. He stalked into the woods towards the basin. Balinor chuckled, “There we go then.”
Arthur sighed and placed a hand on the sword at his side as he followed.
---
The branches rustled and both Balinor and Arthur shot to their feet. Arthur grabbed the two swords and tossed one to Merlin who looked more terrified of the blade coming towards him than the ambush that was almost upon them. Arthur turned away before Merlin caught it. He could tell by the way he was reaching and the blade’s trajectory that it was going to drop to the ground with Merlin scrambling to pick it up and he didn’t need to waste any more time on such a sorry sight. Merlin had been watching training for close to twelve years now, how he had picked nothing up was a wonder.
What emerged from the woods wasn’t a carnivore but two protoceratops, a kentrosaurus, and an einiosaurus. Arthur started to relax but then he caught onto their stance and the way they were sizing them up. Balinor pushed him aside as one of the protroceratops came charging at him. There was a flash of silver and blood and Arthur saw the beast crumple to the ground. Merlin was by now scrambling next to them, but the next second Arthur lost sight of him as the einiosaurus attacked. The fight in reality couldn’t have lasted much longer than a few minutes at most but it tore at Arthur. After he lost sight of Merlin, the other man had simply vanished. He heard him shout every once in a while but he was lost to Arthur, always hidden behind something as he glanced to the sound of his voice.
He pulled the blade from the chest of the einiosaurus, shuddering at the pointless waste of life and then he turned, searching for Merlin. He heart plummeted at the sight on the other side of the clearing where he had last seen Merlin and Balinor. They were both on the ground, Merlin half on top of Balinor. He could see his hand clutching the man’s arm. Balinor has been hurt. Balinor was Uther’s only hope. The only thing Arthur could see in that moment was him losing his father.
Racing over, his feet the only sound in the clearing, he could tell there wasn’t any hope by the way Merlin’s shoulder shook, the way he was hunched over. A wave of helplessness washed over him and he kicked at a branch on the ground. He didn’t miss the way Merlin flinched, how his breath hitched. He was too soft-hearted, he always was. Arthur stormed off, not going far but unable to stay there. He ended up pacing back and forth in the woods before returning to the clearing and sitting well away from all the bodies. He put his head in his hands and breathed while paying attention to the sounds around him. They had to have attracted attention. He strained for the faintest sound that trouble was coming.
After a few minutes all he heard were light footsteps walking towards him, stopping directly in front of him. He looked up only when he knew he had his expression in check. Merlin looked like shit, his eyes were red, his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked younger than Arthur had ever seen him. Arthur sighed, “We should get back. There’s no use wasting time out here.”
“We have to bury him first.”
Arthur couldn’t bear to look up to see his grief-stricken face. “Merlin. Carnivores are going to be swarming this spot any minute. It’s a miracle they’re not here already. We have to get out of here.”
“No. I have to bury him. I won’t let him-“ his breath hitched and Arthur grabbed his arm.
“Do you want to die for a stranger?”
“He was my father.” Merlin spoke softly, heatedly and Arthur let go of him and took a step away, trying to process the information. He looked down to the pale face of Balinor and then to Merlin who wiped at his eyes, trying to get a hold of himself. This is why his father had confused Merlin for Balinor-why he didn’t realize this himself was beyond him. Arthur looked at Merlin’s eyes for a heartbeat before he turned from him. Rubbing his hand over his own eyes, he sighed heavily. They had come here to try to save his father and all that came of it was Merlin losing his own.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice because, of course Merlin would try to keep something like this hidden. Of course he would make up some reason why he couldn’t just say oh by the way, I know who Uther’s shouting for; it’s my father.
“I didn’t know. Not until Gaius told me right before we left.”
Arthur searched Merlin’s face for a minute trying to understand how this had all gotten so out of hand. He walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders. “I’m sorry this happened.”
Merlin couldn’t meet his eyes. “Me too.”
“Come on. We have to be quick.”
---
“He saved your life, you know.”
“What?” Arthur asked, piling the last of the rocks onto the grave.
“Gaius said it as well; he carried you and Morgana to safety.”
Arthur ran a hand through his hair, “I had completely forgotten.”
“I didn’t even think of it until just now.” Merlin blinked away tears as the first growl sounded. It was far off but the ground beneath them shook slightly. He met Arthur’s eyes and the two headed off, both glancing back at the makeshift grave once before it vanished from sight.
---
“What did he tell you?” Arthur found himself asking as the two followed the direction of the shadows east.
Merlin looked up, almost guiltily and Arthur was immediately on edge. That faded away when he reminded himself that Merlin almost always looked guilty over something. He would start to think it was his default expression if it wasn’t also true that Merlin had always done something stupid.
“What do you mean?”
“I know you two were talking, did he say anything about how to save my father?”
They had been walking for thirty minutes by now, in completely silent woods. There was no rumble of the ground or growls in the air. Most of the carnivores would be behind them now. Arthur made a point not to think about that. He was Prince and it was his job to protect the people. Yet he had been forced to just leave them there. Leave Balinor in his shallow grave.
“No.”
“Then what did you talk about?”
Merlin opened his mouth and then shut it. He took a breath before speaking, “What Camelot was like. He told me why he left. How he met my mother. He spoke of you, when you were small. My father spent more time with you than he did with me.”
There was a very long silence and Arthur swore silently to himself because of course that’s what they’d talk about. “I’m sorry.”
Merlin just shrugged, “But now I know that you were a terror even before I met you so I don’t know why everyone always said I was a bad influence on you.” There was a tiny, tiny smile on his face and Arthur felt his heart swell in a way that made him sigh exasperatedly.
“Merlin.”
---
When they arrived back in Camelot, Merlin dated off towards Gaius’ chambers. Arthur had half a mind to go after him but what could he say that he hadn’t already? It was his fault his father had died. Balinor had only been trying to help him. Sighing, he made his way up into the castle, dreading the reason Lancelot and the others left so quickly.
He made his way into the castle alone but before he reached his father’s rooms, Merlin caught up with him again. Neither said anything, although Arthur sorely wanted to tell Merlin to go back to his chambers. He ought to take the afternoon off but he also knew his friend wouldn’t be able to sit there not knowing what was going on. Some days Arthur thought the only reason Merlin never quit was because as the Prince’s manservant he got all the news first and most of the time he got it firsthand.
Someone was shouting down the hall and Arthur glanced to Merlin only to see his own fear echoed back at him. The two took off down the hall, there was a commotion at the door to his father’s chambers. The guard stationed at his door turned to them as they approached, “We’ve set for Gaius-but I fear-“ Arthur wrapped his fingers around Merlin’s wrist and probably would have dragged him to his father’s beside if the younger man hadn’t continued to run alongside him into the room. Merlin reached out to feel for the King’s pulse. Arthur tightened his hold around Merlin’s bony wrist. Gasping quietly, Merlin pulled his hand away from Uther before pressing his fingers to his neck again, pressing harder, his eyes wide, his lips pressed tightly together in concentration. Arthur couldn’t look away. He could tell just by looking that Merlin wasn’t finding what he was searching for. Orders rose in his throat but he couldn’t find his voice.
Gaius burst through the door a second later. If he was surprised to see the two men, he didn’t show it. He and Merlin quietly conversed as Arthur tried to school his expression into something less panicked.
His efforts went out the window when Gaius took a step away from the bed, “Uther’s dead.”
The only thing he could hear was a white noise. A cold chill went through his body and all he could think of was when Lancelot arrived on the island. The boy cried at the death of his father and it had been then, and only then, that Arthur realized his own mother was dead. She had always been absent but…dead. He had never associated that word to his mother.
The sun rose on the death of Balinor and here it was setting on the death of Uther. Less than twenty four hours and…something had to be going on. There had to be a reason behind this. It couldn’t be a coincidence.
Without looking to either Gaius or Merlin, Arthur spun around and marched to the doorway, intent on finding out exactly who had been in his father’s chambers while he had been away.
---
There was a soft knock on his door and Arthur cleared his throat before calling out with as much authority as he could muster, “Enter.” He was scrambling to his feet a moment later as Gwen hurried into the room, Leon pausing at the doorway only to shut the door behind him. Gwen threw herself into Arthur’s arms and held him tightly. Arthur caught Leon’s eye over her shoulder. “We turned around as soon as we heard.” And-right. Gwen and Leon were supposed to be on their way back home. Gwen’s brother was finished with his Skybax training. Arthur hadn’t even realized he had missed the ceremony this year.
Gwen pulled away and searched his eyes, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Guinevere you shouldn’t have come back, your family’s expecting you.”
“Elyan can do without me for a few days longer. You’re my friend, Arthur. Neither of us are going to leave you now. What do you need help with?”
“Guinevere, Leon, honestly-everything’s under control. I appreciate your concern but you shouldn’t put your visit home off.”
Gwen frowned at him before turning away. For on wild moment Arthur thought she was actually going to listen to him but then she asked, “Where’s Merlin?” in a clipped, decided voice.
“I…actually don’t know. I haven’t seen him in a few hours now.”
Gwen nodded and slipped out the door again. “Arthur.” Leon began as soon as the door clicked shut again after her. “I’m sorry about your father.”
“Thank you.” Arthur turned to look out the window.
“Sire, if I could be frank with you for a moment.”
“Always, Leon, you know I value your opinion.”
“You don’t have to be the same king your father was. He was a great king and the land will miss him but I always believed that you will make a far greater king. You don’t have to do this alone. There are many who feel the same as I. You’re not officially crowned yet but there are many who are already loyal to you.”
When Arthur turned, it was to see the door closing behind him.
---
Merlin’s eyes met Gaius’, “Did I do the right thing?”
Gaius sighed and Merlin had the sudden realization that the physician had probably had the same conversation with his father. It made Gaius all that more dear to him.
“Merlin…”
“I just-the thing is…I don’t understand why he couldn’t have taken us with him. We could have been a family.”
“An oasis is no place to raise a child.”
“But-“
Gaius smiled and sat next to him. “He did what was best for you. Your mother’s now a healer back home and you’re following in her footsteps. That never would have been possible if you were in hiding with him. I know how much you wish things were different. I know I do. I would give anything if it meant you got to be raised by your father. Balinor would have adored you. But you mustn’t dwell on what cannot be. Your father did what was best for you and your mother.”
Merlin let his eyes shut and he ran his hands over his face as he took several deep breaths in. Then he opened them and gave Gaius a small smile. “You know…you’ve always been like a father to me.”
The elderly Troodon’s smile was broad. “And you’re like the son I never had. You make me so proud every single day, Merlin.”
“Well, maybe not every day. Remember when-“
“Don’t say another word. We were having a perfectly lovely moment. You don’t need to bring up the time you almost destroyed the library.”
“Arthur threw Morgana’s doll into the courtyard! Morgana chased us in there and Lance was the one that grabbed hold of my pant leg!”
“So you still say. Let’s just get something to eat, alright?”
---
Uther was buried the following day. Arthur stood in the middle of the square, looking out at the crowd gathered around them. These people looked to him now. He was inheriting a land on the cusp of war, the likes of which the people had never seen. The citizens of Dinotopia weren’t even aware of the war raging just out of sight. He intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. He looked to Leon, to Lancelot, to Gaius and Gwen. Agravaine, the only family he had left. Elyan, the newest addition to his guard. He felt Merlin standing beside him. He wasn’t alone. He would be King, but he wasn’t alone. Not like his father.
Arthur turned his gaze back to the funeral pyre and couldn’t help thinking about the small makeshift grave in the Basin. Would that be their fate too? Would they become their fathers? Would his death be mourned by the people? Would Merlin’s victories and sacrifices go unnoticed? Would he have an unmarked grave in some unpopulated corner of the island? Arthur would not be his father. He would not shun his friends. He would do what he father could not and protect the ones he cared about. There was no alternative. He would stop this madness.
“The King is dead. Long Live the King.”
( part three)