Chapter Five, Meeting Kilgharrah

Weeks had passed since Morgana joined forces with Morgause and Cenred to bring down Camelot, only to be thwarted by Merlyn once again. During those weeks Arthur and Merlyn had grown even closer if that was possible. They had just finished having a wonderful picnic and had to, unfortunately, return to Camelot as Arthur had patrolled with Sir Leon and some other Knights, and Merlyn had errands to run for Gaius. Arthur had made it a regular thing, taking Merlyn on picnics by the river, and they both loved every minute of it. As they couldn't spend much time as just them and be alone together without their roles interfering or people becoming suspicious, they took what they could get and soaked up every moment of it.
"This has been lovely. Thank you Arthur." Merlyn said as she kissed his cheek.

"Are you sure you don't want me to ride with you back to Camelot?" Arthur asked.
"No, I'll be fine." Merlyn assured. "Besides, you're already late for patrol and need to meet Sir Leon and the others at the South Gate."
"I guess you're right." Arthur sighed sadly before he stole a quick kiss from her lips. "I shall see you later." Arthur said before he took off. Merlyn watched him go for a moment with a soft smile upon her lips, before she shook her head laughing at his ridiculousness and headed back to Camelot herself but through the main entrance.

***

Later that evening Merlyn was in Arthur's chambers delivering him his dinner when he made a rather strange request.
"Can I meet the dragon?" He asked startling Merlyn, causing her to drop the water jug, which had thankfully been empty.
"What?" She asked, wondering if she hadn't heard him properly.
"Can I meet the Great Dragon?" Arthur repeated himself after swallowing the bite of food he just took.
"Why would you want to meet Kilgharrah?" Merlyn asked, confused and wondering if he'd hit his head on patrol. Yes he's known about their destiny and her magic for nearly a month now; but she never thought he'd make such a strange request.

"Because he's your kin, Merlyn, and he saved your life a few weeks ago. So I want to thank him. And.... I want to apologise to him for my father locking him up for twenty years." Arthur admitted.
"Yep. I was right, you hit your head on patrol." Merlyn said jokingly, well half jokingly.
"Merlyn!" Arthur said firmly. "What're you worried about?" He asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Well, the last time you two saw each other, you were both trying to kill each other." Merlyn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Fine." Merlyn sighed after a few minutes of silence. "And stop using those puppy dog eyes on me." She scolded.
"Why? When they work so well." Arthur teased. "Okay," Arthur said, raising his hands in the air in surrender when he saw her glare. "I'll stop. When are we meeting him? Tonight?"

"We'll have to wait for nightfall." Merlyn told him. "If you're tired tomorrow you only have yourself to blame." She called over her shoulder as she left, heading back to her own chambers reeling from their conversation.
"Merlyn? What is it?" Gaius asked when he saw the glazed look in her eyes.
"Arthur wants to meet Kilgharrah." Merlyn admitted softly, only having to repeat herself as Gaius didn't hear her the first time.
"Why would he request such a thing?" Gaius asked, confused. So Merlyn told her uncle all about the talks they had and his admission on why he wants to meet Kilgharrah.
"Well, I think it's admirable." Gaius said after she'd finished explaining. "It shows just how much you've changed him since coming to Camelot, my dear girl.

Not to mention his willingness to change and set past wrongs to rights. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about Merlyn. You're a Dragonlord, Kilgharrah has to listen to you. And Arthur certainly won't harm him."
"I guess you're right." Merlyn sighed as she sat down in front of her uncle to join him for their dinner, pouring them both some tea.
"Now, put it from your mind, and enjoy a nice supper with a doddery old man." Gaius jokes, making Merlyn giggle.

Later that night once the moon was high in the sky Arthur met Merlyn at her chambers.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Ready." Merlyn replied. "Just don't do anything to upset him, Arthur. I don't want you burnt alive." She pleaded as they walked down the steps to the courtyard, Arthur pulling up the hood of his cloak.
"I promise." Arthur whispered. There was silence after that as they had to be quiet to avoid being seen so they could get out to the clearing. Luckily they managed to leave Camelot without anyone seeing or stopping them and made it to the clearing in record time. Sharing one last smile with Arthur, Merlyn threw her head back and roared in the dragon tongue, asking Kilgharrah to meet them as Arthur wanted to thank him and apologise to him.

As the sound left Merlyn's lips it startled Arthur, he wasn't afraid to admit. He never thought such a sound would or could come from Merlyn's small frame, she sounded like a dragon. She definitely was full of surprises and would keep him on his toes.
"O drakon, emale so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!" She roared to the skies.
"You truly are full of surprises aren't you, Merlyn?" Arthur asked rhetorically, making her giggle and him to let out a small huff of laughter. Minutes past and just as Arthur was starting to grow despondent he heard a familiar sound: the flapping of gigantic leathery wings. Looking up he couldn't help his mouth falling open in shock when he noticed the golden brown dragon flying towards them high above the treetops, as he landed in front of them the earth shook with the dragon's great weight.

"Hello Kilgharrah." Merlyn greeted with a smile as if she was greeting family and Arthur supposed she was in a weird, magical way.
"Hello Merlyn." Kilgharrah greeted her (smiling as much as a dragon could). "If it isn't the Once and Future King." He said with a small bow of the head bringing Arthur out of his shock, who quickly closed his mouth when he realised it was still hanging open. Merlyn stifled some giggles behind her hand. "Why have you asked Merlyn to call me here?" Kilgharrah asked Arthur. Arthur opened his mouth but closed it, cleared his throat and tried again.
"I wanted to thank you for saving Merlyn's life a few weeks ago," Arthur started. "I also wanted to meet you as Merlyn's kin and not as enemies, and finally; I wanted to apologise for my father locking you up for twenty years. It was wrong, like much of what he's done to your kind."

Kilgharrah surveyed Arthur shrewdly, assessing him. He knew all about Arthur knowing about his destiny and Merlyn's magic as she'd told him a few weeks ago when he rescued her from the Serkets. He could finally see the King the prophets spoke of, the one Merlyn had changed him into. Before she'd arrived at Camelot he had mourned the loss of Albion as he didn't think he would be anything but Uther's son. He had been right when he told Merlyn it was her job to change the spoiled brat, and the end result stood before him. Better than he ever could have imagined. He never even dreamed much less thought that Arthur would evolve enough to accept magic so completely that he'd want to meet him. But he had been proven wrong and he was happy with that.

"You do not need to thank me." Kilgharrah said in his deep baritone voice, making Arthur let out a sigh of relief. He had been hard pressed not to fidget under the dragon's scrutiny. "Merlyn and I are kin, our souls are siblings. Besides, it would be an empty world without Merlyn in it."
"That we can agree on." Arthur said looking at Merlyn softly as a soft smile appeared upon her face as tears welled in her eyes, feeling incredibly touched at their words.
"I accept your apology even if it should not come from you." Kilgharrah continued. "I had once feared for Albion but now, seeing you standing before me, I can see that fear was misplaced. You will be the greatest King the world has ever and will ever know, young Prince. Though you must heed Merlyn's warnings, I know you know of the witch Morgana.

She has let hatred blacken her heart and she and her sister will try again to not only destroy Uther but all of Camelot. She is the hatred to Merlyn's love, the darkness to her light. She has been foretold to bring about your doom Arthur Pendragon and that must not happen. Whatever the cost." Kilgharrah said sternly. Arthur felt a little overwhelmed and confused in that moment, he knew now that what Merlyn told him was true; Kilgharrah loved to speak in riddles. But he didn't let it show.
"I promise that will not happen. I will not let her harm Merlyn either like she's threatened to do so. I'll kill her if I have to." Arthur swore. Proving to Kilgharrah just how much he cared for Merlyn easing some of the Great Dragon's fears.
"Good." Kilgharrah said simply. "I shall take my leave. Until we meet again, Arthur Pendragon."

"Thank you my friend." Merlyn said as came and rested her hand on his leg for a moment before stepping back. The two watched as Kilgharrah took off into the night's sky, watching in silence until he was but a speck on the horizon. Only then did Arthur speak.
"Well, doesn't he love to talk in riddles." Arthur exclaimed, making the pair laugh as they headed back to Camelot feeling drained from not only the long day, but also mentally drained from the information they'd just received. They walked back in a comfortable silence, both knowing Arthur's promise was true. He would do anything to protect Merlyn just like she has for him, even if it meant killing the woman he saw as a sister growing up.

And he would too. If it came down to killing her to protect Merlyn they both knew he'd do it in a heartbeat. Merlyn meant everything to Arthur, he'd be lost without her and no one was taking her away from him. Not if he could help it.