Chapter Text
Hiccup was pleased with himself. It wasn’t every day he was asked to be the envoy of a king, and a king like Arthur – a man of legend, it seemed. He grinned as Toothless made a showy swoop over the courtyard walls and dropped down next to Kilgharrah and Cloudjumper. Poor Morgause squeaked in alarm but Morgana laughed aloud. Valka had arrived back before him and the King was leaning against the great dragon’s side, something Hiccup thought Kilgharrah was none too pleased about, but as Merlin was right alongside his king, Hiccup guessed he wasn’t being given the option to complain.
Astrid reached him first and he suffered her trademark greeting, a kiss followed by a punch to the arm.
“Ow,” he said, before he caught her around the waist, swinging her into a proper kiss. When he set her down everyone was grinning, and even Uther, standing to the side a little like a spectre at the feast and well out of reach of the great dragon, seemed amused.
“Are they leaving?” Arthur asked.
“They’re packing their camp up and Cenred has already gone. I’ve got teams keeping them in sight the whole way. They’ll drop down from time to time just to make sure they know they’re still being watched.”
“Excellent. Thank you for your help, Hiccup.”
“Any time. It was fun.”
“Sire,” A guard interrupted them. He glanced a little nervously at Uther, who gestured him towards Arthur.
“Edryd, what can I do for you?”
“In all the commotion, we found a man rifling through the vaults.” He gestured and two of his men pulled a slim, dark-haired man forward.
“Julius Borden?” Gaius shouldered his way through the crowd.
“You know this man, Gaius?”
“He was a pupil of mine many years ago – until I realised all his quest for knowledge related to his ability to make money. I don’t know what he might have been looking for but I’ll wager he’s up to no good.”
“Gaius, you wound me.”
The man had a deep, pleasant voice, but there was something in it that Hiccup innately distrusted. Toothless rumbled beside him, ears flat back. Borden sidled further away.
“He had this.” Edryd held out a metal object and Arthur took it with an absent thanks and handed it to Gaius.
Hiccup was surprised at the reaction as Gaius visibly paled. Merlin hurried over.
“Gaius?” There was concern in his voice.
“I’m fine, my boy, don’t fret. This is the key to the Tomb of Ashkanar. It was split into three parts to ensure the safety of what is held in that Tomb. Thank the gods we stopped you, Borden. Had you travelled to the Tomb, it would have been to your death.”
“You underestimate me, Gaius, you always did.”
“No, your ambition and arrogance have always outstripped your intelligence.”
There was a short pause while everyone appreciated how much disdain Gaius could inject into one short reprimand. Borden flushed.
“Only one man has the right to enter the Tomb of Ashkanar. Only one man would be able to survive its trials. Merlin, this belongs to you.”
He held it out for Merlin to take but to Hiccup’s horror, Toothless darted forward and swallowed it.
“Toothless! What are you doing? Give it back.” Toothless wriggled and stared at him, then butted Merlin. Not content with that, he turned a fathomless gaze on the Lady Morgana. When no-one moved, he repeated the motions, and this time pressed a gentle head against Morgana.”
It was Arthur who broke the deadlock, and to Hiccup’s relief he sounded amused rather than angry. “It would appear Toothless has a plan.” Toothless spared him a quick grin and then turned back to Morgana.”
“I do not understand.” They all turned to look at Kilgharrah. “I believe the Tomb of Ashkanar holds hope for the future of my kind, but what do the dragons of the north know of this? And why would he want Morgana to go?”
“I don’t know,” said Merlin, “but I think the only way to find out is to go. Would Toothless carry three of us?”
“Easily.”
“Lady Morgana, if you are willing we can travel to the Tomb of Ashkanar.”
“I would take you there.”
Merlin paused to set a hand to Kilgharrah’s snout. “No, old friend, I need you here. I ask you, I do not command, but I need to know Arthur will be safe. With you here, no-one will dare to attempt to harm him.”
“I can look after myself, you know?”
“I know,” Merlin reached out and took Arthur’s hand, kissing it. “Just humour me, though?”
Arthur sighed, apparently hard put upon although his eyes were twinkling.
“Very well, but return as soon as you are able. And you can wait ten minutes until some supplies can be found for you. Hiccup, are you willing to go with them?”
“Of course,” Hiccup loved adventures and in the background he could see Astrid rolling her eyes. He turned his attention to Arthur, who was looking at Morgana. She in turn had her gaze fixed on Merlin. He looked up and caught her gaze, starting, his cheeks becoming red, but he met her eyes dead on.
“You are safe with me, Morgana. Even if I wanted to harm you, you know Hiccup and Toothless would never allow it.”
Morgana sighed and traded a look with Arthur. “I know it Merlin – I even believe it.”
She turned away before he could react and walked across to her sister. Hiccup watched as Arthur pressed a hand to Merlin’s shoulder.
“What should we do with Borden, Sire?” Edryd had approached Arthur.
Arthur looked across at the disgruntled captive. “Oh, throw him in a dungeon for now. I’m sure I’ll think of something to do with him in the next year or so.”
Borden was dragged away, screeching in horror, but Hiccup had seen Arthur’s wink at Edryd. It would do the thief no harm to think himself doomed for a few days.
For the next few minutes all degenerated into bustle and milling people, and Hiccup caught occasional glances of faces he knew. Uther stayed at the side and Hiccup saw his mother join him. Valka gestured at Toothless and Uther, though rather stiff in manner, stooped a little and listened courteously enough.
The black bulk of Toothless, now loaded with gear, got in the way and pushed at him impatiently.
“Yes, all right, we’re ready.” He hopped up and strapped himself in, offering a hand to Morgana as she nimbly joined him, settling in behind him. They watched as Arthur and Merlin clasped hands briefly and Hiccup almost laughed aloud as Morgana snorted.
Merlin broke away from Arthur and climbed up. As soon as he was – mostly – settled, Toothless leapt upwards and they took their leave to cheers from below that covered the sound of Merlin’s outraged shriek.
“You’d better stay low,” Hiccup warned, as he felt the muscles tense beneath him, and then they were off.
Morgana and Merlin both let out whoops of delight as Toothless sped away, and though Morgana’s grip around Hiccup tightened, he knew neither of them were afraid. They sped through the air at a terrific rate and Hiccup wondered how Toothless knew where to go. Yet it seemed clear he did and all they could do was hold on as they flew into the dimming light, the darkness and the dawn. Toothless stopped briefly to let them eat, and to wrap themselves up in the furs stowed as part of their equipment, and then he flew through the night.
The sun was a red disc in the east, casting long shadows on the ground below them when Hiccup pointed ahead. The tallest tower he’d ever seen, he thought, etched against the sky. He didn’t try to speak, knowing the wind would tear his words to tatters before they could reach his companions’ ears, but it didn’t really matter because the sight before them was something neither of them could miss.
Toothless circled round and then brought them down carefully as close as he could. They slipped down his side and onto the ground, all of them a little unsteady as they found their feet once more.
Hiccup stared upwards at the tall tower. “Do you know what’s in there?”
“Gaius told me what he believes. All the lore he knows says that Ashkanar had a dragon’s egg. One of the last Great Dragon eggs.” Merlin moved to stand by him. “Toothless knows, though I don’t know how.”
Hiccup glanced at Toothless, who was doing his best to look innocent – and failing. Then he opened his mouth and out shot the key.
“I often think Toothless always knows a great deal more than he ever lets on. You’re not fooling me, you know.” He thumped the black hide fondly and Toothless reciprocated with a slap of an ear.
Morgana joined them. “Is it really going to be as easy as putting a key in a lock?”
“I doubt it, but we’re not going to find out by standing here.”
They all looked at the damp, glistening key. Morgana narrowed her eyes.
“Merlin, I’ll have that monstrosity you tie round your neck, please.”
Merlin opened his mouth to complain, took one look at Morgana, and untied it quickly. She stepped forward and picked up the key, drying it swiftly and then, with a smug smile, handed the neckerchief back to Merlin.
Merlin grimaced and shoved it in his pocket.
“Let’s go.”
It seemed like Morgana had taken charge and there was clearly no way Merlin was going to challenge her. Hiccup turned to Toothless.
“You stay here, fella.”
In response, Toothless slumped onto the ground, showed his prodigious set of teeth in a wide yawn, and shut his eyes.
Hiccup chuckled and, ignoring the obvious tension between his travelling companions, he led the way up the rise to the tower.
They had to fight their way through the undergrowth and it wasn’t until Morgana tartly reminded Merlin that he had magic and should use it, that their pace increased. Merlin whispered a word, and Hiccup couldn’t quite contain his gasp as his eyes flooded with gold for a moment. He gasped again when a path opened up in the vegetation.
“What spell did you use?” demanded Morgana. “Would I be able to do it?”
Discreetly, Hiccup moved until he was following them, listening with half an ear as Merlin spoke, first haltingly and then with more confidence, about how his magic worked. Before long, Morgana was interrupting with questions and Merlin was offering advice until at the next stand of tangled briars, Merlin stood to the side and waited until Morgana made the attempt.
She used the same words Merlin had, but for the first, second, third and fourth time nothing happened and she was clearly becoming frustrated.
“I once stayed up all night trying to get a spell right to turn a stone dog into a real one.” Merlin said, eventually.
“Is that supposed to help in some way?”
Hiccup took a step back. Morgana in a snit was scary.
“I’m just saying it’s not easy and you need the practice and instruction. We both do, really. There’s been no-one to teach us. Your magic has come to you recently and much of your power lies in Seeing. I was born with magic and still get spells wrong. It will come, Morgana.”
She had turned to face Merlin while he spoke.
“When we went with you to Ealdor that time. If you’d gone yourself you could have dealt with the bandits easily, couldn’t you?”
“Not without giving myself away,” Merlin was quick to contradict her and Hiccup wondered what had happened. “Arthur gave the villagers so much more when he taught them how to organise and protect themselves. I couldn’t always be there, but now they can look after themselves. You don’t know what it meant to me that you and Arthur and Gwen came to help.”
Morgana’s expression was giving nothing away, but the tension in her frame seemed to have eased a little. She turned back to the bushes and said the spell once more. Her eyes flared gold and the bushes stirred, giving a foot or two.
“You see,” Merlin seemed delighted by her success. “You just need to practice.”
“Yes, and you’re going to help me. But for now, we don’t have the time to waste. Let’s get on.”
She gestured regally and Hiccup almost laughed aloud at the eagerness with which Merlin complied.
The key with its linked triskelions fitted easily into the lock and the huge doors they had finally reached swung open without a sound.
“It can’t be this easy,” Hiccup muttered aloud. “It’s never this easy.”
As he spoke, he noticed a strange mist. “Cover your face,” he yelled, and threw himself at Morgana and Merlin, pulling them to the floor. There were several confused moments as they all went down in a tangle of limbs and they watched, mouths and noses well-covered, until the cloud dissipated.
Eventually, when the air seemed completely clear, Hiccup took a deep breath. “Seems okay,” he said, and began clambering carefully to his feet. “I knew it couldn’t be that easy.”
“I wonder what else is waiting for us.” Merlin said.
“Well. We’re not going to find out standing here.”
From Merlin’s rolling eyes, Hiccup guessed this wasn’t an unexpected response from Morgana, and they trailed after her. Merlin grabbed a torch from the wall sconce and lit it with a word as they worked their way onwards.
They ended up in a vast chamber, empty apart from one plinth set in the centre of the room. On the plinth, glowing softly, was a huge, beautiful, oval egg.
“Look, oh, look at it.”
Morgana’s tone was expressing the awe Hiccup was feeling at the sight and when he looked at Merlin he could see tears in his eyes.
Ignoring Merlin’s cry of warning, Morgana darted forward and gathered up the egg. In the next instant they were all stock-still, as the building rumbled around them.
“It’s a trap.”
Hiccup wanted to snark about people stating the obvious but was too busy joining Merlin in his race across the room to Morgana. Never mind the fact the building seemed to be about to collapse around them, at this particular moment, the ground was opening under Morgana’s feet.
Merlin reached her first, just as she dropped and he threw himself to the floor and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hiccup was not far behind him.
“Take the egg, Hiccup.”
For a moment Hiccup thought Morgana would not let him take it, and then he saw her good sense overcome her fear. Carefully, he gathered it to him, curling over it protectively as dust and small pieces of mortar began to rain down on them.
With an almost absent look above him, he heard Merlin speak.
“Scield.”
To match the gold flare of his eyes, there was a golden, shimmering dome above them.
Morgana, her arms free, wrapped them around Merlin’s shoulders so he could gradually wriggle backwards until they were well clear. She gasped aloud when she happened to glance down and saw the abyss that had opened up beneath her.
More stonework rained down and Merlin’s shield wavered. Hiccup noted with alarm how white he was.
“We need to go – now.” He urged them onwards and they stumbled, the floor like the deck of a ship in a storm as the building shook itself apart. They burst out into the courtyard and there stood Toothless, eyes wide and hopping from foot to foot in alarm. Hiccup held out the egg and Toothless stilled, then accepted it in one great paw. It would be safe there. Merlin had already clambered aboard and Hiccup all but threw Morgana up. She looked to be at the end of her strength and Hiccup recalled that she had been ill for some time. He hopped up and strapped himself in as Toothless took off and streaked away. He turned when he was clear and they watched as the tower crumbled and dropped, leaving nothing but a crater. He shivered.
“Take us back to Camelot, Toothless.”
The journey back was more leisurely and they stopped a couple of times to rest. Morgana was silent, Merlin seemed exhausted, but Hiccup saw the way they were watching one another, careful in their interactions, and courteous of one another. Gone was Morgana’s hard edge when she addressed Merlin, and gone was the miasma of guilt that had seemed to suffuse all of Merlin’s interactions with her.
Hiccup was feeling quite cheerful by the time he saw Camelot’s walls ahead of them. A dragon sunning itself on the ramparts came to meet them and then sped off again, and by the time they set down gently in the courtyard, there was a fair deputation waiting.
Arthur and Morgause were quick to help Morgana down, but it was Sir Leon who strode forward and caught her up in his arms as her legs buckled under her.
Oh, hello, thought Hiccup, and he winked across at Astrid. She was looking as unconcerned about his safety as she always did, and now she folded her arms and scowled. It was how he knew she loved him.
His attention returned to Arthur and Merlin, and he wondered if the air temperature had actually increased from the heated looks they exchanged. From a distance, it looked like a warriors greeting as they gripped arms, elbow to elbow, but they were standing so close and their expressions told another story entirely.
“You have the egg?” Arthur asked eventually.
Hiccup turned to Toothless, who opened his paw. Merlin stepped forward and offered Toothless a short bow before reaching out and carefully picking it up. Toothless, Hiccup thought, looked distinctly smug.
“Where is Kilgharrah?”
“He said he would return when you called. I don’t think he really likes being so close to the Castle.”
“Well that’s understandable.” Merlin hesitated and Hiccup stayed close, wondering what was to come.
“Tonight I’ll take the egg out to the field where I meet Kilgharrah and ask him what we need to do to care for it. I’d like Morgana to go with me.”
“Why Morgana?”
“I’m not sure, if I’m honest, but it feels right. It feels like – like the egg wants her there.” He finished in a rush and Hiccup saw the moment Arthur wanted to mock him and how swiftly he caught himself.
“If that’s what you think is right, Dragonlord,” he said, his voice a soft, intimate caress that had Hiccup sidling away in embarrassment, “then that is what will happen.”
**
When Morgana came around, it was to find Gaius sitting at one side of her, Morgause the other, and Sir Leon propped against the door, arms folded and wrapped in a brooding silence.
“What happened?” she asked, struggling to sit upright.
Sir Leon was there in a moment, sliding an impersonal arm around her shoulders to raise her up while the others slotted pillows into place. When she was settled Morgause handed her a cup of warm sweet cider and she sipped in appreciatively, sparing a smile of thanks for Leon. She wondered why this would cause him to blush and followed his retreat as he took up his station at the door once again.
“According to Hiccup you had rather a close shave, my dear.” Gaius said. “Morgause tells me you’ve been weak for some time and she did not have the tinctures and mendicants she needed. You had been through a trying experience and your body did the best thing it could for you. Now you need to rest and recover. We’ll soon have you back to full strength.”
There was a question burning in Morgana’s heart. “Did you know I had magic?”
Gaius seemed to age in an instant and he sighed.
“Yes, I knew. I tried to use the potions to suppress it, to give you ease. I was afraid – “
“For yourself?” asked Morgause, her tone waspish.
“Partly, yes, I will admit to that, but mostly for Morgana. Merlin wanted to tell you and to tell you about his own magic, but I counselled him against it. I am sorry, Morgana. Even now, I’m not sure whether I was right or wrong in that, but I should not have kept the knowledge of your own gift from you.”
“No, you should not,” she turned away from him and fixed her eyes on Morgause. “None of you have accorded me the honesty I was due. None of you. I’d like to be alone, for a time, please.”
She heard the door open, and then Leon’s voice. “I will be outside if you have need of anything, My Lady.”
A rush of gratitude washed over her for his gentle, steadfast care.
For a while she dozed, warm, clean and comfortable for the first time in what felt like an age. When she felt more awake, she ate the small meal that had been left by the bed and settled in to think.
It was not all edifying, having to address some of her own failings as well as those of the people around her. The one person, she acknowledged, who had never let her down, was Arthur. He was a King she could accept, seeing how much he loved his people and they him. He had stood by her, supported her, even when she had gone against his own Father. Arthur would do what was right.
Inevitably thoughts of Arthur segued into thoughts of Merlin, the serving boy who was no such thing. In their travel to secure the dragon’s egg she had seen another side to him. It had made her look past the crime he’d admitted, the guilt she could see he carried, to the power and resolute strength beneath. Now she considered his story, looking at events from his point of view and she wondered how he’d remained hidden for so long. She’d said she would consider how to get past her anger, offering that up at a time where she’d felt it almost impossible. Merlin had saved her life in the Tomb, and she shuddered at the memory of the chasm that had opened under her feet. It was odd she had no doubt he would have fallen with her, rather than let her go. That was the Merlin she remembered; the person who would do anything to help a friend. The Merlin she knew now was tempered by experience, as was she, and not much of it over the past few years had been good – for either of them.
This was a crossroads, she understood. Whatever happened now was her choice, no-one was manipulating her or keeping secrets from her. She could choose bitterness or she could choose to acknowledge that wrongs had been done and move on. Unaccountably her thoughts turned to Leon, and she smiled.
She was roused later by the sounds of agitated whispering outside the room.
“Who is it?” she called.
Leon’s head appeared round the door. “It’s Merlin, My Lady.”
“Let him in.”
Merlin slid round Leon and then hovered at the door.
“You’d better sit down.” Morgana was beginning to be annoyed by the hang-dog attitude he displayed every time he was around her. Other than when they had been discussing magic, it seemed to have become his usual mien. Gods, she was so tired of it all.
“Get me some water before you do, would you?” She wasn’t sure where it came from, but as soon as she spoke the words she know it was the one thing she could do to signal clearly that this episode was done.
Merlin paused and his mouth worked for a moment, before he detoured to the bench and poured water into a goblet. When he reached the bed he bowed and handed it to her, and then sat.
Carefully and, if she was honest, not without the tiniest misgiving, she took a deep draught of the water. It slid cool and refreshing down her throat.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“I’m going to take the egg to Kilgharrah tonight. I think you should be there.”
“Me? Why?”
“I think the egg is important to you. I don’t know why but I feel it – don’t you?”
She hadn’t been able to explain the sense of joy and gladness she’d felt at the sight of the egg, but nodded now. “Where are we going?”
“Not far. Arthur will come and Hiccup and Toothless as well as they were there when we found the egg. Toothless seems to understand more than we do, too, though what and how I don’t know.” Merlin shrugged. “We’ll see if Kilgharrah has anything to say, though he’s cryptic at the best of times.”
“There’s so much we don’t know,” Morgana said and at Merlin’s enquiring look she continued. “All the knowledge that’s been lost. We should have been taught, you and I, shouldn’t we? Not just about how to use our gifts, but about the things we shouldn’t do. Oh stop that.”
Merlin’s hangdog look was back, but it morphed into shock at her admonition.
“It’s done, Merlin. You saved my life today, remember. Let that cancel out the past and let’s start again.”
“I’d like that.” His voice wobbled.
“Don’t cry, either, or Arthur will be annoyed.”
“Not crying, I’ve just got something in my eye.”
He scrubbed his arm across his face and then grinned at her – bright and bold. The Merlin she remembered.
“It’s true though,” he said. “Children are going to keep being born with magic and there needs to be some way to help them. We should talk to the Druids first. And I’ll bet there are books in Geoffrey’s library. There’s no way he would have destroyed books if he could help it.”
“I was going to travel to the Isle of the Blessed with Morgause but perhaps, perhaps I should stay here to help?”
“That would be good - there’s so much to be done, but it will be wonderful. I know it will.”
They grinned at one another, in complete accord and were deep in discussion when Arthur entered. He looked uneasily at them as they both smiled up at him.
“I don’t know why, but the sight of the two of you smiling is distinctly unnerving.”
Merlin bounded to his feet, arms flailing as he launched into an explanation. Arthur caught his hands.
“You can tell me later, Merlin. Hiccup is waiting and Toothless is getting restless.” He squeezed Merlin’s hands and released them, stepping forward and offering an arm to Morgana.
Typical courtliness, she thought, and was about to tease him until she looked closely at him and realised suddenly that he was exhausted. Merlin, too, was pale. So she graced him with another small smile and got up using the help she didn’t need.
“Shall we?” she said, and swept out of the room, casting a grateful smile and the press of a hand to Leon as they left. She ignored Arthur’s low chuckle.
In the courtyard dusk was falling and Toothless was dancing from foot to foot. Hiccup was already aloft, a carefully wrapped bundle in front of him.
Arthur paused. “Will he be able to carry all four of us?”
“It’s a short hop,” Hiccup assured them. “It should be fine.”
Toothless stilled and turned his head to stare at Arthur for a moment, before slapping him with an ear.
“I was just thinking of you, Toothless. You’ve had a busy few days.”
This time the slap was gentle and then Toothless looked pointedly at his back.
They all clambered on, Astrid and Morgause looking on. Morgause did not look particularly happy and Morgana smiled at her, hoping her own ease would transfer to her sister.
In the next instant they were airborne and sailing over the ramparts. Toothless stayed low and took his time, but even so it was a flight of only a few minutes before they were landing softly in a meadow of soft grass and wildflowers.
In the dusk they could see Kilgharrah’s bulk and together they walked towards him.
Merlin accepted the egg from Hiccup and placed it on a tree stump in front of the dragon.
“It seems I am not the last of my kind, after all, Merlin. Thank you all.”
“What happens? When will it hatch?” Merlin asked.
“Only a Dragonlord can call a Great Dragon from the shell. You must find its name, Merlin and it will come.”
“How do I do that?”
“You are a Dragonlord.”
“I see what you mean,” Morgana muttered.
Merlin spared her a smile and then all his attention was on the egg. Morgana peered at it, too, seeing the pulse of light deep within and feeling a pull she could not explain.
Arthur and Hiccup had remained with Toothless, and she could feel their presence in the background. It was a reassurance, something she would never have believed scant days before.
Merlin took a deep breath and then spoke, his voice resonating in a way she had never heard. It seemed to shiver through the very earth and Toothless rumbled, while Kilgharrah shifted. It was an undeniable call.
“Aithusa.”
The light within the egg brightened, and then it shook. Within moments the first crack appeared. Morgana was panting, as if she had run in some mad race, and they were all transfixed as the shell parted and fell away to leave a pure white dragon. Tiny and fine, she looked. How did I know it’s a she?
She chirruped at them spinning to look at Kilgharrah and then Merlin. Then her eyes fixed on Morgana and in that look, Morgana was lost.
“Aithusa,” she said.
Aithusa hopped off the tree trunk and with a squawk ended up on her nose. Morgana hurried forward and helped her up, cooing in a way that, had she considered it, badly unnerved Arthur and Merlin.
With another hop, Aithusa had settled onto Morgana’s shoulder, tail curling around her neck, snuffling softly into her hair.
Morgana stood upright, careful and with one hand helping to hold Aithusa in place. Stunned, she stared around at them all.
They were all smiling.
Kilgharrah’s voice cut through the oncoming night. “A good omen for Camelot. The white dragon has chosen you, Morgana, and I see you have chosen Camelot. The future shifts and changes. I see peace and plenty. I see magic at the heart of Camelot. All will be well and Arthur will reach his destiny. It is a time that will become legend and myth. Those that live through it are blessed. Aithusa will grow swiftly and will require instruction. Will you help her, Morgana?”
“ I will.” It was a vow.
Kilgharrah inclined his head and then with one upsweep of his wings, he was gone.
“Is anyone else hungry? I’m starving?” Hiccup’s prosaic comment broke the hiatus and they all laughed.
“This little one is hungry, too.” Morgana said. “Let’s go home.”
**
Merlin was standing at the window in Arthur’s room when he finally returned. The nobles and some of the knights were less than happy with the first few days of Arthur’s reign, and he had spent some time in discussions with them. He was tired and more than a little irritated but the sight of Merlin turning to face him pleased him and he met Merlin’s smile with one of his own.
“At last,” said Merlin, moving across to the tub and passing his hand across it with a whispered word and a flash of golden eyes. Immediately, steam arose and Arthur sighed with gratitude.
Quickly he undressed and slid into the hot water with a groan.
“Why don’t you join me?”
“Really?”
“Really. Right now. This moment.”
Merlin chuckled and in seconds was sliding into the water behind Arthur. He pulled Arthur back to rest against his chest and wrapped strong arms around him.
Arthur sighed and leaned back, and for a long time there was silence.
Typically, it was Merlin who eventually spoke.
“Did you deal with them all?”
“Not really. I calmed them down but it will take time. Once my father has left they won’t be able to badger him to take back the crown.”
“I was a bit surprised, when he abdicated.”
“Surprise was the least of it. I would never have believed it.”
“Have you spoken to him about it?”
“We broke our fast together this morning. He said he’s had his time, and that’s as far as he’ll go. I think he began to realise just how wrong he was, but he’s never going to admit it. This way, he gets an honourable way out and will never have to face up to what he’s done.”
He was glad that Merlin didn’t respond, other than to sweep a hand up and down his chest.
“They’ve sent up some soup and bread. It’s keeping warm by the fire.”
“Enough for two.”
“Oddly enough, yes.”
Arthur managed a tired chuckle and caught Merlin’s hand. “Stay with me tonight?”
“I’ll stay with you until you send me away.”
“Forever, then,” Arthur said, as he closed his eyes.
**
“Oh, we have got to get one of these.” Hiccup stared in awe at the biggest bed he’d ever seen. It had curtains hanging from the four posts and the mattress was covered in rich furs and blankets. His eyes widened further at the food laid out on the table, some of which he didn’t even recognise. To cap it all off, there was a large tub, which servants were busy filling with hot water.
Gwen had led them here, and she giggled at his reaction. “Arthur hopes you’ll be comfortable. He says we’ve all had a tiring few days so there will be no alarum sounded in the morning. He bids you sleep well and hopes you will join him at lunch to begin discussing trade.” With that, she shooed the servants out, kissed Astrid on the cheek (to Hiccup’s amazement) and exited into the corridor where Lancelot, calm and patient, was waiting for her. With a final grin and her eyes sparkling, Gwen closed the door and left them alone.
“Look at that bath. C’mon Astrid.” He began to divest himself of his clothes and turned round to see her with her hands on her hips and lips pursed.
“Astrid?”
“I’m going to say this once. Just don’t let it go to your head.”
“Huh?”
“I’m proud of you. “ With a dark look, daring him to comment, she began to undress.
His love for her nearly overwhelmed him and he reached out, stilling her busy hands. He didn’t speak, just kissed her gently and then released her. By the time they made it into the tub, they were play-fighting and giggling.
**
Gwaine was happy enough, he decided, at a good table in the tavern with his new friends and a couple of friendly miniature dragons keeping him company. Percival glanced across at him and shook his head in amusement. The rest of the inn’s regulars were casting surreptitious glances in their direction and becoming bolder as they night went on and the levels of ale consumed grew.
“What are your plans now?” he asked Percival.
Percival smiled at him, still nursing the first drink Gwaine had bought him. Gwaine had sunk his first tankard in one swallow, followed by a satisfied burp and two more had gone the way of the first speedily. His fourth, however, he was savouring, pleasantly relaxed and not yet even slightly inebriated. Despite his reputation in many of the taverns around the countryside, Gwaine was seldom, if ever, drunk.
“I thought I might stay and see if I can join the guards. Lancelot was saying that Arthur would change things. I think I’d like to see that. What about you?”
Gwaine shrugged. “I don’t know – I’ve never been much of a one for staying in the same place, but I have to admit, there’s something about Arthur Pendragon that almost convinces me that not all nobles are tossers. He might just be a man worth following. He wants to see us all tomorrow apparently – Lancelot and Elyan, too.” He offered the tankard to the small dragon nestled in his hair. It sniffed it and then sneezed, looking offended and then turning so its back was towards the ale.
When Gwaine glared at Percival, he was drinking from his own beer, but his eyes were twinkling in what Gwaine considered was a suspicious manner.
“Perhaps he’ll offer us a job?” Percival suggested.
“Perhaps. Perhaps I’ll even take it. If you do, too.” Gwaine grinned.
Percival choked on his drink.
**
“My Lady.”
Gwen smiled. “I’m no noblewoman, Lancelot.”
“But you are my Lady?”
She stepped into his arms and raised her face for his kiss.
**
Morgana was back in her old quarters and for once it didn’t feel like a prison. Aithusa had made a nest of some old curtains Gwen had found and was curled up on the bed, watching sleepily as Morgana brushed her hair. Morgana had enjoyed a bath and felt clean for the first time in many months. Cook was obviously pleased to have her back, too, and she had been touched to see that all her favourites had been sent up to her, along with a couple of raw chickens suitable for a hungry young dragon. Aithusa had crunched them up bones and all, and then eaten everything else Morgana had left from her own meal.
As she approached the bed, she realised she’d left a candle burning, and with a wave of her hand, she extinguished it, delighted with her control. Aithusa chirped encouragingly from her cosy nest and Morgana laughed.
With a soft sigh, she curled up under the covers and was asleep.
She did dream. She was a Seer after all.
She dreamed of flying.
**
The Castle settled down for the night with some more content than others. In his cell, Julius Borden cursed his luck; Uther stared into the fire and wondered at the ease with which he’d ceded his crown and the relief that had followed; Morgause stared out of her window at the courtyard below and dreamed of the tall towers of the temple she remembered from her childhood; Gaius pottered around tidying up his work bench; Geoffrey slipped into the Library, pulling down a book that opened up his secret chamber and looked in satisfaction at the books that would soon be needed once more. He ignored the box that wobbled and banged and tried to attract his attention.
Tangled together, a King and a Dragonlord made their own vows to one another, setting bonds in place that not even time would break.
Eventually though, they all slept, ready to wake to a new dawn and a new beginning for Camelot.