Merlin raced through the corridors. He knew he had to be as quick as possible: he would go and see the dragon, and then he would tell Arthur of his sentence. He only hoped that the latter was not as terrifying in reality as the prospect was.

The servant was in such a rush that he almost crashed into Leon on his way towards the cave beneath the castle, and the knight, being as lost in his thoughts as he was, didn't even stop walking as Merlin skidded around him and continued on. He didn't even blink.

It didn't take long for Merlin to reach the dungeons. Panting and out of breath, he paused for a moment before he continued.

Using a small amount of stealth and a large amount of magic, Merlin slipped past the guards in a way he was so used to, it was barely difficult.

Taking the stone steps downwards two at a time, he rushed into the cave, stopping himself just in time to avoid skidding over the edge and falling into the darkness beyond. Gulping, he stepped back from the precipice.

"Hello?" The warlock's voice was carried away almost instantly by a strong wind, the side of which was the familiar beating of wings as Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon, descended towards him, the thick chain which held him prisoner clanking against the hard rock of the walls and floor.

"I see you are troubled, young warlock: speak your mind."

"Arthur... I..." Merlin didn't quite know where to begin. "I have failed my destiny. Arthur is to be executed in three days."

To his surprise, the dragon remained calm. "And what do you come to me for?"

"I... I need your help. I don't know what to do: I can't just leave him locked up; he'll die! But if he escapes, it'll only prove his guilt. I can't see any way out of it, except to find whoever did this, but that's impossible."

"Ah, young warlock, you have already given yourself the answers you seek. You do not need my aid. You already possess all the strength you will need to do what must be done. Trust in yourself, Merlin. Trust in your destiny."

Without another word, the dragon departed, leaving Merlin alone with more questions than he had started with. And yet right now, he didn't have time to ponder what the dragon had said.

Turning, he sprinted back the way he had come and down towards the cells.

It was time to tell Arthur of his sentence.