CHAPTER THIRTY,
episode thirteen, the last dragon lord.

MORGANA PENDRAGON was still missing. it had been three nights since. isabella hadn't slept at all, for both reasons—the fact morgana hadn't returned, and the fact that three nights ago, merlin decided to free the great dragon and three nights ago, it backfired. isabella valour had woken up to the sound of the warning bell, screaming, glass shattering and estella's yells for her to get out of bed.

kilgharah was attacking the kingdom. and he wouldn't stop. people were dying. living in camelot wasn't safe anymore. isabella didn't understand how a dragon she trusted with her life could do this to them all.

all he spoke about to her, and even merlin, was how it was her destiny to rule camelot, but with him attacking it every night and killing people, she didn't understand how that would be able to happen.

"gaius, we have no water left." isabella announced as she walked back to the physician empty handed. a third night of no sleep.

"isabella, i know what you're thinking. you cannot! it is too dangerous to go out there." he replied instantly.

"gaius, you are amazing, but you cannot tell me what to do." she said, before dashing off to the courtyard, ignoring his yells.

"oh, bloody hell. the future queen is going to die and i'll have to tell arthur and uther that i let her go to get bloody water. i'm too old for this..." gaius mumbled, clutching his back in pain.

isabella raced outside with the bucket, hurrying to the water fountain. she ignored any people shouting at her to get back inside or any guards calling for arthur and began to fill the bucket with water.

"if i die for this." she muttered bitterly, wiping away the sweat that had trickled down her forehead.

"clear the square!" she heard arthur tell.

"isabella bloody valour, of course it's you!" arthur exclaimed as he rushed over to see who was still there, bringing her in for a kiss, isabella was shocked, but kissed back.

"thanks, but now, shove off! we need water!" she exclaimed, filling it to the top.

"isabella!" he yelled again, which caught her attention. she looked up to see the dragon circling her. arthur, of course, didn't realise she knew the dragon and thought he was going to attack her.

before she could move, arthur had practically shoved her to the ground along with him underneath a barrel. unfortunately, the great dragon's claw had caught his chest and he let out a yell in pain.

isabella felt anger inside of her as she stood up once the dragon flew away. somehow, isabella still had the bucket of water and she dragged him into the great hall where gaius and everyone else was getting treated.

"you shouldn't have done that." he told her in annoyance as she helped clean up his wound.

"the people needed water." she responded, ignoring his gaze on her and inspected the wound.

he held onto her hand which was cleaning the wound again and stared at her with a small smile, which she returned. "you're so good to them." he acknowledged, and she shrugged, getting a bandage.

"one day they will be my people too. if i want to earn their respect, i might as well risk my life for them a few times. there is more to respect than just taking daily walks through the town." she said with a teasing smile, cleaning the wound a bit more before wrapping the bandage around his chest as he winced.

"i'm sorry. it appears you haven't had a moment since coming to camelot. we are always being threatened by something." he apologised, looking down at her with a guilty expression.

isabella shook her head and held onto his hand. "it's quite alright. i find it rather exciting." she said simply, making him burst out into laughter.

"of course you do, love." he chuckled to himself, her joining in, attempting to ignore the nickname which made her blush.

"sire, your grace." sir leon rushed over as they both glanced at him in worry.

"the dragon has left. i am assuming he will be back tomorrow night, but for now, he is gone." he reassured as isabella smiled at him, and arthur nodded.

"thank you, sir leon." she told him, before turning back to arthur. "you need to rest. if you're going to fight for our kingdom again tomorrow you'll need sleep."

arthur's eyes lit up, a slightly cocky grin on his face. "i like the sound of that." he replied, looking into her eyes as she frowned.

"what?"

"our kingdom." he repeated. isabella rolled her eyes and shook her head, but couldn't help the small smile on her face.

"go to bed, arthur." she waved him away.

ARTHUR PENDRAGON explained to his father, the knights, merlin, isabella and gaius about the damage of camelot and its people. "the dead number forty nine men, twenty seven women, a further eighteen women and children are unaccounted for."

isabella looked down, sighing into her hand as she thought about those poor children. "most of last night's fires are now out. the castle walls, in particular the western section, are near to collapse. i could go on." arthur told his father who sighed.

"do we have any further idea on how the beast escaped?" the king asked his son and the knights who sighed.

"i regret to say, sire, we don't." sir leon spoke up with a saddened expression on his face.

isabella met merlin's gaze who sent her an apologetic look. she shook her head with a small smile.

"there must be some way to rid ourselves of this aberration." the king spoke, looking out the window.

"what about a dragon lord?" isabella spoke up quietly, the room turning to face her with a frown.

"thank you for the suggestion, but that is not an option." the king responded, sending her a curt nod. "they have all died."

"sire, what if there was indeed one last dragon lord left?" gaius spoke up, making the king turn to him.

"that's not possible." the king spoke coldly.

"but if there was?" gaius continued, an eyebrow raised. king uther turned to him with a cold stare. "what are you saying?" he asked.

"it may just be rumour..." gaius began slowly, as the king nodded at him to continue. "i'm not exactly sure, but...i think his name is balinor."

the king repeated his name as if it was familiar, just as arthur asked, "where does he live?"

"he was last spotted in cenred's kingdom." gaius responded, "in the border town of engerd, but that was many years ago."

"if the man still exists, we must find him." isabella spoke up firmly, receiving a nod from arthur.

"our treaty with cenred no longer holds, we are at war." the king told her gently. "if they discovered you beyond our boarder, they would kill you."

"i will go alone." arthur spoke up.

"no." both isabella and uther spoke at the same time.

"that way i will not be detected." he continued as isabella rolled her eyes. "if you go, i'm coming too." she replied.

"no!" the king and prince of camelot responded.

"now, don't be...sir leon, what is the word again?" she turned to the knight who cleared his throat.

"um, misogynistic, your grace." he replied awkwardly, looking between her and the prince.

"right. do not be misogynistic." she crossed her arms with a slight glare as the king sighed and arthur rolled his eyes dramatically.

"no, to both of you. it is too dangerous." uther waved them both off.

arthur continued to ask and ask, and pressure the king into letting them go, because he really wanted to save his people and prove to himself that he could do it.

the king had ordered them not go, but the determined look on his face made isabella realise he was definitely going. so, she got ready and found him in his chambers getting ready.

"isabella." he began with a sigh, which she ignored.

"i'm coming with you, arthur. so do not try and tell me i am not." she responded immediately, helping him with his armour.

"i've never met anyone like you, isabella." he answered with a small chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.

"i should hope not." she remarked before leaving to meet with merlin who was preparing the horses, but he looked upset, and lost.

"merlin, are you alright?" isabella whispered.

"i'm fine." he lied. she sent him a look.

"what is wrong?" she continued.

"the man we are looking for." merlin began, making sure arthur didn't hear. she nodded, gesturing on for him to continue.

"he's...he's my father. gaius just told me." merlin's eyes filled with tears.

isabella widened her eyes in disbelief as she smiled at him, "merlin, that's so lovely. you might finally meet your father!" she beamed.

"if he's alive." merlin replied bitterly as isabella patted his back with a smile.

they got onto their horses as arthur winced, his chest still hurting as isabella squeezed his hand with a small smile. isabella said goodbye to gaius and followed arthur out of the courtyard, merlin following behind after a few moments.

THEY RODE the whole day without stopping until nightfall, when they arrived at cenred's kingdom. they came across a tavern of some kind and quickly entered, the pouring rain having made isabella's hair stick to her back.

the men in the tavern immediately stopped what they was doing and stared at the three people in suspicion. "evening." isabella awkwardly waved.

they took a seat at a table, three pint's of beer being practically shoved at them as arthur glanced at them awkwardly. "we are looking for a man named balinor. i'm willing to pay handsomely."

"never heard of him." the man spat, sending a wink at isabella and taking the money anyway as isabella huffed.

"do you think one of these men could be balinor?" merlin asked worriedly, eyeing them all as isabella and arthur shared a look.

"i hope not." he admitted as isabella and merlin agreed.

"all these men keep looking at me and winking at me, cochons dégoûtants." disgusting pigs. isabella muttered uncomfortably, shifting in her seat and subtly moving closer to arthur.

"i can't believe we have to sleep here. we'll probably get murdered in the night." merlin complained.

after they finished the drinks, the inn owner showed them to their room.

great. one bed.

merlin mentally sighed knowing he would be the one to sleep on the floor. isabella mentally cringed at the fact she really didn't want to sleep on the floor, and would most likely have to share with arthur. of course, arthur mentally grinned.

"my dress alone takes up that whole bed." she complained, yanking at the many skirts on the dress.

merlin and arthur got ready for bed as isabella went out of the room to change into her nightgown which estella packed for her and sat on the end of the bed.

merlin was avoiding everyone's gaze, and arthur sighed. "what is wrong with you today? it pains me to admit it, but i do enjoy your stupid retorts. in fact, it's probably your only redeemable feature."

"thanks." merlin responded dryly. isabella chuckled at him and got into the bed.

"there are loads of servants who can serve. so few are capable of making a complete prat of themselves." arthur said as he took his shirt off, isabella glancing at his chest with wide eyes, before looking away.

isabella shuffled up as arthur got into bed next to her, and looked over at merlin. "what is it?"

"nothing."

"it's something. tell us." arthur prodded.

merlin didn't reply, making arthur pull a face, rolling his eyes. "alright. i know i'm a prince and isabella is a princess, so we can't all be friends. but if we wasn't royalty..."

"what?" merlin raised a brow.

"well...then, i think we'd probably get on." arthur admitted as isabella smiled softly at him.

"isabella is a princess and she is my friend." merlin said as isabella chuckled and raised a brow at arthur who ignored them.

"so, anyway. that means you can tell us what is wrong." arthur continued, isabella smiled lightly, feeling bad that merlin was anxious to meet his father.

"that's true. if you weren't a prince, i'd tell you to mind your own damn business." merlin responsed, making both arthur and isabella laugh.

"merlin!" arthur scolded, before his voice turned into a teasing, girlish one. "are you missing gaius?"

"something like that." merlin replied, before arthur chucked a pillow at merlin's face.

"can you both be quiet now, i am trying to sleep and a princess needs her beauty sleep." isabella told them firmly.

"even on a deathly mission?" merlin asked, just as arthur told her she doesn't need 'beauty' sleep.

"especially on a deathly mission, merlin." isabella responded before turning around and closing her eyes.

AN INTRUDER entered the room the three of them were staying in. the man glanced at them in curiosity, his eyes landing on the prince and princess of camelot, the way she clung onto arthur in her sleep. he then looked at the servant, who was facing away.

his eyes landed on arthur's satchel which has the royal seal, and reached out to take it. but before he could take another step, arthur was out of bed with his sword raised at him.

isabella jumped awake and widened her eyes to see the intruder attempting to take their things. "what's going on?" merlin yelped.

"do you know what the punishment is for theft?" arthur pressed his sword against the man's neck threateningly.

"please, i've got children to feed." the man whimpered.

"tell me where to find balinor." arthur responded harshly as isabella's eyes went from arthur, to the unknown man, to merlin, and back to arthur again in fear.

"balinor?" the man questioned.

"what do you know of him?" arthur asked, pushing the sword further against his neck.

"nothing." the man responded far too quickly.

"do you value your life?" arthur asked as the man widened his eyes.

"it's been many years since i saw him." he begged, trying to move away.

"you know where he lives?" arthur asked, which was more of a statement.

"i...you must travel through the forest of merendra. to the foot of feorre mountain. there you will find the cave where balinor dwells." the man said with tears in his worried eyes.

arthur let go of him and waited. "but don't get your hopes up." he finished.

"why?" merlin replied almost instantly.

"he will not welcome you." he responded darkly, "balinor hates everyone and everything. a cave is the best place for him." he said before running out.

isabella glanced at merlin worriedly as arthur told them they would leave soon. isabella got dressed quickly, thankful estella packed her a dress which didn't have so many skirts and a tight corset and waited for the two boys to get ready before leaving.

arthur was growing weaker by the minute, his wound making him slow down as isabella held onto his hand and walked with him to steady him.

however when they stopped for a moment because of a few of cenred's knights, arthur had fallen asleep on the log. isabella shook him but he didn't wake up.

merlin lifted him onto arthur's horse and isabella had to hold onto arthur's horse reins as well as her own for the journey. "how are you feeling? about meeting balinor." isabella asked.

"i don't know." merlin responded as they came to the caves. "i'm worried he won't be everything i dreamed he was."

"i'm sure he will be." she promised, getting off her horse as merlin went to search through the caves for him. "good luck."

isabella waited with arthur, nervously glancing around in hopes they wouldn't be caught. merlin came back a few moments later with tears in his eyes. "i...i found a man. i think it's balinor. he...he's alive. i told him my friend was sick and he said he would help him."

isabella smiled up at merlin, happy for him that he finally got to meet his father as the two helped him into the cave. "you didn't tell me there was more of you." the man said darkly.

isabella jumped at the sudden voice and glanced at him. she looked up at him hesitantly and made her french accent really dramatic to disguise herself. "i'm sorry, sir. my husband is very sick, this boy who came to you is our friend." she spoke up quietly.

the man nodded in response, looking at her with a small frown as if he recognised her and immediately began to treat arthur... using magic.

"if i knew he was that sick i could've saved him myself." isabella mumbled in annoyance as merlin chuckled.

"you need to rest your powers. you don't want to over do them." he told her quietly. "you'll get stronger, but for now, doing too much will weaken you."

"he needs rest." the man told them, ignoring their conversation.

"will he be okay?" isabella asked worriedly, before coughing, realising she hadn't over-dramatised her accent. "um...i am french i promise."

he let a small smile fall onto his lips. "by morning." the man nodded, intrigued at her words she said previously, about her magic. he remembered what the great dragon said to him all those years ago, that one day the agate would rise and rule with arthur pendragon, so he guessed it was her.

"thank you sir." she said as the man gave them some supper a few hours later.

"how long have you lived here?" merlin asked curiously as the man glanced at him.

"a few winters."

"must be hard." merlin tried to talk to him, but the man cut him off immediately. "why are you here?"

isabella looked down. "just travelling." merlin responded.

"we are looking for someone, sir. we was told he lives somewhere here. his name is balinor." isabella spoke up quietly.

"have you ever heard of him?" merlin asked, trying to see if the man really was his father. "he was a dragon lord."

"he's passed on." the man responded.

isabella glanced at merlin sadly. "you knew him?" merlin's curious eyes met his again.

"who are you both?" the man asked firmly as isabella hesitantly moved away slightly at the time of his voice.

"i'm...merlin. this is bella." merlin introduced, careful with using her full name.

"and him?" the man pointed at arthur accusingly.

"that's my husband." isabella replied awkwardly.

the man rolled his eyes, "his name?" he glared.

"his name is..." isabella began hesitantly. "alfred."

"his name is arthur pendragon and you are his fiancée, the agate, isabella valour. future king and queen of uther's kingdom, camelot." the man responded angrily as isabella widened her eyes in shock. 

"oh...really? i never knew that." isabella replied awkwardly, scratching her head. how is it that everyone knows about her ?

"this is cenred's kingdom." the man continued, ignoring her excuses. "you are asking for trouble. what do you want from me?"

"are you balinor?" merlin asked quietly. the man looked away as isabella took this is a yes.

"the great dragon, kilgharrah. he is attacking camelot. please, sir. none of us can stop him. only you, a dragonlord, can." isabella pleaded, sitting forward as balinor stared at her.

balinor nodded slowly, "he doesn't act blindly. he kills for a reason, vengeance. this is of uther's making."

"he is killing innocent people, women and children." merlin replied in disbelief.

"uther pursued me! he hunted me like an animal!" balinor screamed as isabella and merlin sat back.

"we know and we are sorry." isabella continued.

"what do you know about anybody's life?!" the man scoffed.

"uther asked me to use my power to bring the last dragon to camelot. he said he wanted to make peace with it. but he did not. he lied to me! he betrayed me! and you want me to protect this man?" balinor yelled as isabella stayed silent.

"i want you to protect camelot." merlin replied, tears brimming in his eyes.

"he killed every one of my kind! i alone escaped!"

merlin's eyes filled with realisation. "where did you go?"  he asked, as if he knew.

"a place called ealdor." balinor began slowly as isabella looked over at merlin.

"yes?" merlin nodded, hope filling his light eyes.

"i had a life there. a woman, a good woman." balinor explained as merlin nodded along with him. "ealdor is beyond uther's realm, but still he pursued me. why would he not let me be? what was it that i had done that he wanted to destroy the life i built, abandon the woman i loved!"

merlin's hands shook slightly as balinor continued, "he sent knights to kill me. i was forced to come here to this! so, i understand how kilgharrah feels. he's lost every one of his kind, every one of his kin. you want to know how that feels?" balinor crouched down to merlin's level.

"look around, boy." balinor whispered, "let uther die. at least that way your friends can become king and queen and things will change. we all know it."

"you do?" isabella spoke up curiously.

balinor nodded once. "kilgharrah told me about you before he got locked away. your destiny as the agate and that you were coming to camelot. yours and arthur's story has been written long before you both were born, isabella valour. we have waited so very long for the day you and arthur become king and queen."

isabella listened in awe. "i'm afraid i cannot say more. i was sworn to secrecy. however you shall find out one day." he told her as she nodded slowly.

"balinor, sir. if i am supposed to be queen, you have to help us. kilgharrah will destroy camelot and me and arthur will have nothing to rule. camelot will be nothing. we need camelot." she looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"you do not need camelot to rule, isabella. camelot needs you. even without camelot, you can still be queen." he told her, making her furrow her brows, unsure of what he meant.

she glanced at merlin who was staring at balinor, and stood up. "i think im going to rest now. i really hope you consider helping us, balinor." isabella told him with a small smile, before going to sit next a sleeping arthur.

"merlin." isabella called out gently, making the boy turn to her. "tell him." was all she said before laying down.

ARTHUR WOKE up the next morning, feeling much better. merlin explained that they found balinor but he had refused to help them still. somehow, isabella was sleeping soundly throughout this.

that was until arthur decided to wake her up very loudly by yelling insults at balinor. she winced at the loud noise, and got up, meeting them out there.

merlin was talking to balinor about gaius, and isabella couldn't help but notice the tears in his eyes. "come on, isabella. we are leaving." arthur said.

isabella nodded, disappointedly glancing at balinor before mounting her horse and leaving with arthur and merlin. they rode mostly in silence until they sat down for a rest.

arthur decided to start annoying merlin, as always. "i always thought the silence would be a blessing with you, but i've found it just as irritating. you are a riddle, merlin."

"a riddle?" merlin raised a brow.

"yes." arthur nodded. "but i've grown to quite like you. now i realise you're not as big a fool as you look." he poked merlin with a stick as merlin winced.

"yeah, i feel the same. now i realise you aren't as arrogant as you sound." merlin glared at the prince who chuckled.

"you still think i'm arrogant?" arthur asked, glancing at isabella who nodded for merlin.

"no." merlin responded with a hum. "more...supercilious."

"that's a big word merlin." arthur chuckled, almost proud. "you sure you know what it means?"

"what is the meaning?" isabella frowned, sometimes so confused with their english words.

"condescending." merlin began as isabella nodded understandingly and arthur looked at him in surprise.

"very good." he commented.

"patronising." merlin continued as arthur pulled a face.

"it doesn't quite mean that." arthur replied, mocking merlin who shook his head.

"no, these are other things you are." he responded as isabella laughed.

"hang on!" arthur scoffed, but stopped when a twig snapped behind them. "overbearing." merlin continued to list, ignoring arthur hushing him.

"very overbearing." merlin continued as isabella flicked his neck, and told him to be quiet.

they stood up and followed the noise of twigs, and isabella gasped in delight when she saw balinor stood behind them. "i thought you might need some help. this is dangerous country."

"will you return to camelot with us?" arthur asked with a slight hopeful smile.

"you were right, merlin. there are some in camelot who risked their lives for me. i owe a debt that must be repaid." balinor told them.

"if you succeed in killing the dragon, you will not go unrewarded." arthur reassured as balinor chuckled.

"i seek no reward." he said as arthur shrugged, happy with his answer.

"great! let's eat." arthur grinned.

while collecting, wood, merlin was speaking to balinor and isabella hoped merlin would get some reassurance or even tell balinor he was his son, she could see both balinor and merlin getting emotional over something, so she guessed merlin had told him.

she smiled as she watched them embrace, merlin letting his tears fall as he smiled up at his father who he waited so long to meet. she silently hoped she could hear what they were saying, but understood it was a special moment for them both.

she only wished she got to know her mother for a little longer than the time she had.

MERLIN WAS beyond ecstatic to tell isabella everything his father has told him the night before. the plans the made, how merlin was also going to become a dragonlord after balinor had saved camelot.

but he couldn't.

because balinor was dead.

early hours of the morning, cenred's men attacked them. isabella, arthur, merlin and balinor fought as best as they could to survive against the knights and although they put up a good fight and killed them all, one managed to strike balinor in the heart.

isabella has stood over him in shock, a hand on merlin's shoulder as merlin cried. arthur had no knowledge of this, and was too busy fighting the last knight off. "i'm so sorry, merlin. i'm so sorry." she had said sympathetically.

"we had so many plans. i was going to take him to see my mother." merlin sobbed as isabella's heart broke.

merlin had begged balinor to let isabella save him, but he refused everytime. at one point, he had even used his magic to disarm isabella and the agate flew out of her hands.

the three of them were distraught at the fact that they had no hope of saving camelot, isabella and merlin were also distressed that merlin had lost his father, after finally meeting him.

they returned to camelot with heavy hearts as they realised they would have to face uther who would be unbelievably disappointed and angry.

"i'm sorry father, i have failed you. the last dragonlord is dead." arthur told uther who sighed, gaius immediately looked at merlin who fought back tears.

"there were many years where i might have wished for that news." uther sighed.

"all is not lost, father. we must fight the monster ourselves. so let us ride out and fight on our own terms, on open ground, on horse, where we can manoeuvre better." arthur spoke up as uther shook his head.

"there is no point."

"so what? we stand here and watch camelot fall?" arthur said firmly as isabella couldn't help but smile proudly at him for standing up to uther.

uther nodded once, "you have my blessing." he said softly.

arthur nodded, turning to face his knights. "i need a dozen knights. those that do not wish to fight can do so without stain on their character. but those brave enough to volunteer, should know the chances of returning are slim." he told them all, but nobody said anything.

"i'm in." isabella shrugged.

almost every person in the room rolled their eyes with a sigh, but none said anything. they hey had learnt that it was best to let her do what she wanted to do in those circumstances.

suddenly, sir leon stepped forward with a nod, making isabella and arthur smile at him. slowly, more knights stepped forward as isabella looked at arthur proudly, holding onto his hand as he smiled down at her.

the king watched their interaction with a small smile, which was rare for him. he was glad isabella truly cared for his son and would look after him no matter what, and arthur would do the same for isabella.

while preparing for battle, everyone seemed to be having heart to hearts. isabella decided she should speak with arthur before.

she entered his chambers where merlin was just leaving and smiled at him. she couldn't help but walk over and let him reach down for a hug. "how are you feeling?" she asked against his chest.

"i'm ecstatic, to be honest." he joked against her hair as they both laughed together.

"me too." she lied with a small smile, holding onto his cheeks.

"isabella." he began, making her nod. "there's a chance one of us, or even both, may not make it back today." he continued as she nodded along with his words.

he took her hands and leant his forehead against hers. "look...i...i wanted to say..." he trailed off.

"yes?" she asked, looking up at him through her eyelashes as he let out a breath.

"ithinkiloveyou." arthur rushed out, making her blink in confusion.

"was that even english?" she snorted, "i am sorry...i do not understand." she looked at him, making him laugh slightly, realising the speed he spoke at made the language barrier between them quite difficult.

"it doesn't matter. i'll tell you after." he promised, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.

"je pense que je tombe amoureux de toi." i think i am falling in love with you. she admitted quietly, knowing he would not be able to understand.

he smiled, loving when she spoke to him in her language. "i don't know what that means, i just hope it's not an insult otherwise me smiling would look rather stupid." he joked as she laughed.

"it was not an insult. i promise." she leant up to kiss him, holding onto his shoulders, not wanting to let go.

he smiled down at her, taking her hand. "come on then, love. let's go and fight for our kingdom."

arthur, the knights, merlin and isabella waited for the dragon to arrive at the outskirts of camelot that night. were they were ready? physically, yes. mentally, no way.

"hold firm." arthur told them as kilgharrah circled them.

isabella glanced at merlin with a reassuring nod as arthur put on his helmet. "hold... hold...now!" he yelled as they all charged into a circle around the dragon.

however almost immediately, the dragon had knocked them all off their horses, breathing fire at them or killing them with its claws.

isabella got up from the floor and stood next to arthur and merlin who were staring at the great dragon in disbelief.

arthur raised his sword at the dragon, who simply stared at him, before breathing fire as isabella gasped in fear, merlin yanking her down and holding her back to stop her from going near the dragon.

arthur had been knocked out.

it was just isabella and merlin now.

"agate, young warlock." the dragon greeted, as if he hadn't just killed all of their knights.

"you're the last dragon lord now." balinor had told merlin. "you alone carry the ancient gift. deep within yourself, you must find the voice that you and kilgharrah share, for your soul and his are brothers."

merlin slowly walked up to the great dragon as isabella watched nervously.

"when you speak to him as kin, he must obey your will."

the great dragon stared at merlin expectantly. "o, drakon. non didlkai. kari miss, epsipass imalla krat. katostar abore ceriss. katicur. me ta sentende divoless. kar... krisass." merlin almost roared as he shouted incantations at the dragon, calling him and ordering him to listen to him.

the dragon's beady eyes widened as he immediately got down and bowed for merlin. goosebumps covered isabella's skin as she watched the dragon obey merlin, and she looked at merlin shock.

"i am the last of my kind, merlin, isabella. whatever wrongs i have done, do not make me responsible for the death of my noble breed." he begged the dragonlord and the princess.

merlin lifted his spear towards the dragon who winced in pain, "go! leave!" merlin shouted, "if you ever attack camelot again, i will kill you! i have shown you mercy. now you must do the same to others!" he yelled.

the great dragon bowed at the last dragon lord and the princess of two kingdoms. "young warlock, what you have shown is what you will be. i will not forget your clemency. i am sure our paths will cross again."

he then turned to isabella who stared back, "good luck, young agate. do understand i will hear you and will come back for you if you ever need me again." he told her, bowing his head before flapping his wings and flying away.

merlin let out a shakey breath as isabella practically launched herself at him, the two of them laughing slightly. "i am so proud of you, merlin." she repeated over and over. "you are incredible!"

isabella glanced at arthur who started to wake up. she smiled and hurried over to him. "you did it, arthur! you defeated the dragon!" she lied as merlin joined in with the praise and helped him up.

arthur laughed in shock, bringing isabella in for a hug as they all joined in with the laughter and headed back inside the castle.

uther watched them come back with a relieved smile. he was silently so proud of those three. despite merlin only being a servant, he had shown them true kindness and courage multiple times.

merlin was almost knocked off his feet by estella flinging her arms around him. isabella and arthur watched in shock, their jaws dropping. "finally." isabella muttered.

"how did i not know this?" arthur scoffed. "they're kissing!" he gasped in disbelief as isabella rolled her eyes.

"you are such a child, sometimes." she sighed, happy for her two friends that would hopefully be together now.

in time, merlin told isabella everything balinor had said to him. isabella shed a tear along with merlin's sobs and comforted him.

she was so proud of merlin and always would be.

gosh this episode makes me sob. especially when merlin says he wants to take balinor to ealdor to find hunith and balinor says he sees her in merlin 💔💔💔💔 and when he said he's seen enough of merlin to know he'll make him proud oh my LIFEEEEE

ONTO SEASON 3!!!!! i guess we will need a new gif now.....