Chapter Text
Prologue
The sun was barely up and over the turrets when he ran from the physician’s quarters for the kitchens. He was late. Which wasn’t new, really. He didn’t want to enter the King’s chambers with Gwen still inside, anyway. She would be up now, getting ready by her handmaid in the Queen’s rooms. The crisp air of the new autumn day brought a wake-up to Merlin as he jogged through the drafty corridors. Yes, having Arthur now married seemed to soften him. It also gave Merlin an excuse to be a bit late in the mornings. No one wanted to enter in on that!
He grabbed the tray laid out for the king. Subtly he picked at everything on the plates. A bite here, or a slip of something there. The spoons used to find poison weren’t always accurate. He didn’t want to take any chances again. Arthur hadn’t been poisoned since his little almost accident with the goblet so many years ago. The sorcerer was going to make sure it never happened. The dark-haired man didn’t like to be poisoned, either, but really the choice wasn’t a hard one to make.
Anything to keep Arthur happy and healthy.
It had been just over a year since Morgana had been disposed from the throne again. They had just finished the celebrations a fortnight ago. A time of peace. He had never felt so happy, really. Arthur’s life had been settling into being married. Into being the rightful king under his own power and thoughts.
The peace had done wonders to Merlin, too. He was relaxed. As relaxed as one could be doing the jobs of a servant in Camelot for the king. Without Arthur doing more than training, and not going out on dangerous missions anymore, he had more time on his hands in the evenings. Gaius had continued his medical studies during these times. Merlin was proud to say that he could probably be a proficient physician in his own right now.
He should have known it wouldn’t last. As if anything would come out of the shadows at some time soon, too.
Arthur was awake when Merlin came in with the heavy breakfast.
“Well, Gwen does wonders,” Merlin commented at the king still in his night clothes at his desk.
“Shut up, Merlin,” the blond retorted.
“Did you sleep on the left?”
“What?”
Merlin snickered slightly as he set the tray down, “The wrong side.”
Arthur glared up at the younger man. It brought a smile to Merlin’s face. The monarch resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he clarified, “I have been searching for Morgana again.”
“Ah,” Merlin understood now. The papers in front of the king were the patrol reports. “Any news?”
“No,” short and simple.
“Maybe she found another kingdom to torment?” Merlin supplied as he fixed the bed back up again.
“Get me dressed,” Arthur stood from his food mostly eaten and went behind the dressing screen. “And no. Everyone is reporting not finding her, either. It is as if she has vanished.”
“She has vanished before,” Merlin reminded him.
“Yes, I know, but she had Morgause to help with that.” They didn’t say any more as they went into a normal morning routine.
As the king left to discuss taxes and roads with the council, Merlin finished his chores inside the room. He shoved clothing into the laundry basket. His hands went around the room doing odd dusting as a thought came to him. Could the dragon find Morgana?
The other issue was that Merlin hadn’t called the dragon since thanking him a year ago for his help during the retaking of Camelot. Would Kilgharrah hold a grudge? Guess he would find out that night after Gaius went to bed.
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“O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!” Now he just had to wait for them. The large red dragon swooped in from above and landed down with a heavy thud.
“Young Warlock,” Kilgharrah said deeply. “What do I owe the pleasure?”
Merlin looked around in the sky for a minute, “Where is Aithusa?”
“She stayed near Camelot. I thought you were having her here,” the towering beast said in confusion.
“You lost her?” Merlin practically hissed.
“Dragons do not care for each other, Merlin.”
“How am I supposed to be caring for a baby dragon in Camelot?” Merlin asked exasperated.
“I do not know. That wasn’t for me to figure out. I had assumed that she was with you.”
Merlin rubbed his face with his calloused hands. He looked up at the sparkling stars high above and hoped the shadow of a smaller dragon came across them.
“Alright. I will find her,” he was sure it was just a horrible misunderstanding. He would yell at Kilgharrah later about it. Then order the old dragon to just watch the hatchling for a while. He couldn’t let the small white dragon near Camelot right now. Arthur didn’t even know about his magic.