1/12

Merlin

The Search

Hoof beats thundered across the ground, kicking up dirt and mud, caused by the rain that still fell. It had taken them two hours to find the safe path to the bottom of the chasm, but now they were here, they hadn't wasted and more time. The large rive at the bottom ran south, and the current was strong, but they didn't care. Sir Leon stopped briefly to get his bearings, as the water rushed past them. They had passed several bodies on their small travel so far, defenders of Camelot that had been pushed over the edge of the chasm, to fall to hit the ground far below. But now they were reaching the edge of what had been the battlefield above, they had not seen any bodies for several minuets. Beside him Sir Gwaine brought his horse to stand next to his.

"This is pointless" muttered Leon, glancing at him. Yes, I want to see that little prat as much as anyone, but this river looks to run for miles, surely the king can't expect us to scour every inch of it" he stated. Beside him Gwaine nodded, but was scanning the bank of the river.

"Actually I think he does, he owes Merlin a great deal, most of us do, and if there's even the slightest chance we can find him, then I will keep looking" Gwaine told him.

"Even if it's a pointless task?" asked Leon.

"Even then" Gwaine replied. Beside him Leon grunted in acknowledgement, but made no further comment, instead, spurring his horse forwards, over the now rocky bank of the river. Gwaine watched him go, before moving his own horse forwards.

"The treaty with Balinor still holds at least" said Arthur, as he looked over several documents. "As do the ones with Godstone, Odin and Annus" he added.

"You're lucky Balinor took the marching of Camelot's armies through his territory so well" stated Sir Lancelot, who stood beside him with Thomas. Arthur nodded in agreement, before finally looking up.

"It's been two weeks, I thought we'd have heard something by now" he said.

"The Dragon did say he had been carried far from here. And the bottom of the Chasm has never been mapped, so who knows how far that really is" Thomas offered.

"I know, you two would rather be out searching, but I can't send all my knights on the search" Arthur said suddenly. "It must be grating I Know, spurned into inaction" he continued. The two knights shook their heads.

"sire, our place is where you say it is" Lancelot told him. Thomas, nodding in agreement. Arthur puffed air out then sighed, turning back to the documents.

Gwen was in her new chambers, looking out of the window, Rory standing just across from her.

"You think they'll find him?" Rory asked, breaking the silence that had lingered for several moments. Gwen looked over at her.

"I want to say yes, I want them to ride back in here with him, all smiling and making fun of Arthur, but part of me… it says its hope less" Gwen admitted.

"How long will Arthur carry on searching, do you think?" Rory asked. Gwen shook her head.

"He won't ever stop looking, not until he has Merlin back, or has proof he's dead" she admitted. "And part of me, a small part of me is wondering if the Dragon was wrong" she said.

"Well, for what its worth, I don't think he is" Rory replied. Gwen turned to her, smiling.

"Enough, I think it's time I showed my face today" Gwen said with false humour. Rory nodded, and followed as Gwen left her chambers.

"This is it, this is as far as the known land goes" said Sir Leon, bringing his horse to a stop, the river still carrying on into the far distance.

"Do we continue?" asked Elyan looking at him.

"We don't know the terrain, we don't know what lies up ahead, friend or foe. And our supplies are low" Leon said. Then he looked at them, then nodded to himself.

"Three days, we press on for three more days, if nothing, we go back" he said. The other knights looked at each other, then slowly nodded, before they started marching.

He awoke with a start, attempting to sit up, before pain laced his bruised and battered body. Slowly he looked around. The hut he was in was empty of people at the moment. Looking down he could see he had been stripped and his wounds tended to, a large bandage situated across his stomach, and another across his back. Merlin took a deep breath, wincing at the pain it caused, before he heard the door open. A man, possibly in his early fifties entered, carrying herbs and the like, and stopped short on seeing Merlin sat up.

"no no no no" he admonished, rushing to Merlin, and gently pushing him down. "You're still far from healed" he added.

"Where..?" Merlin asked, but his voice was coarse, his throat dry, and it hurt to talk.

"The village of Tinobia" the man said. Merlin looked at him, shaking his head as the man began checking his wounds.

"It's a small village, on the outskirts of the kingdom of Karish" the man explained as he worked. Merlin frowned.

"I… never heard of it, sorry" Merlin managed to say.

"Not surprising, I've seen your tabard, and I do not know the design myself, you have come a long way my friend" the man said.

"Camelot" Merlin supplied. The man frowned.

"Never heard of it, but then we don't often get strangers from other lands here" he said. Merlin nodded, as the man re-applied a fresh bandage.

"How long?" asked Merlin when he had finished.

"Have you been here? Over a month now" he said. Merlin sat up, wincing at the pain again.

"Easy, you'll tear the stitching" the man said.

"My friends, they must believe me dead" Merlin said, finally finding his voice.

"If it were not for my daughter, that would most likely be the case" the man replied. "As it is, I thought we would lose you the first night, but you're a stubborn little mule and no mistake" he said. Then he sat back, regarding Merlin.

"Robert" the man said.

"Merlin" Merlin replied.

"so, tell me Merlin, how you came to be half dead in a river?" Robert asked. Merlin closed, his eyes, thinking back, the bridge, Morgana's sneering face, the crystal…

"A battle, we were fighting a powerful witch, we'd had to retreat, her army of undead outnumbered us. I remember the crystal, she had a glowing crystal, and tried to kill the king, I knocked him out of the way, then not much. A brief battle, then the bridge giving way, I'm sorry, after the magical attack, its much a blur" he said softly.

"Well, it does not matter now, your injury's will heal in time" Robert said.

"You've been treating me since your daughter found me?" Merlin asked. The man nodded.

"Both of us, taking turns, you created quite a stir, this young knight who's colours we do not know" he said.

"I'll bet. But thank you" Merlin said. Robert nodded, and stood.

"Get some sleep, you'll feel better in the morning" Robert assured him. Merlin watched as he went to the other side of the hut, then closed his eyes, falling almost immediately into a deep, dreamless sleep.

He was awoke, what seemed like just seconds later by the sounds of screaming outside, and slowly he sat up. Robert wasn't in the hut, and it was dark outside. Standing slowly, painfully, he moved to the window, peering out into the darkness. A woman suddenly ran past, screaming, followed by a moment later by a large, misshapen creature with patches of fur sprouting from its body and head. It held a wicked looking spiked club, which it dragged along behind it. It looked around, and Merlin ducked back, hoping it hadn't seen him. A moment later he heard the thuds of its footsteps as it carried on walking. Slowly he peered back through the window, as another of the creatures moved past, dragging a cage behind it, a cage full of children. Merlin felt his anger rise, and he turned to grab his sword, and armour, but then clutched his stomach in pain, and instead found himself, doubled over, before he collapsed on the floor, the last thing he remembered before passing out was hearing the cries of the children.

"Get him onto the bed, Julia, and get water" He heard Robert's voice as he slowly came around, the room blurred.

"Easy Merlin, I told you not to move didn't I" he said, placing a cold cloth onto his head.

"the creatures" Merlin said.

"You saw them then" Robert said, and it wasn't a question.

"Yes, I saw them, carrying the children away… I moved to get my armour… my sword…" he explained.

"You we're going to attack them?" asked Robert, with a frown.

"They had your children, I couldn't let them just take them" Merlin said.

"Well, for what it's worth, I thank you" Robert said with a smile. "Don't try that again, or you'll cause yourself more injury" Robert said.

"What were they?" Asked Merlin.

"They call themselves the Epoch" The young woman replied, from where she was standing, handing Robert a pail of water. Merlin froze and looked at her.

"Epoch?" he asked slowly.

"You know them?" asked Robert, dabbing at a reopened wound on Merlin's arm.

"Only by reputation, and their blood" Merlin replied.

"Yes, the burning death we call it, it makes the victims mad, evil, before it burns them from the inside… its not a pleasant experience" Robert said. Merlin nodded.

"I know" he agreed.

"You've lost someone to the Epoch blood?" asked Julia, stepping forwards.

"No, but, not long ago, I was attacked, and had Epoch blood thrown on me… I tried to fight it, I know I tried… but the rage consumed me, and I betrayed my best friend, turned against the King himself"

"But, you can't have, your fine" said Robert, looking at him.

"I am now, seems Epoch blood hates Dragon ash" he explained.

"Ahh, You're lucky you had a Dragon to kill to get the ash" Robert said. Merlin smiled and shook its head.

"We only have one dragon, and it is a friend of Camelot" Merlin said.

"this Camelot sounds more and more remarkable the more I hear of it" Robert said with a nod. Merlin smiled in agreement, then frowned.

"So, why the children?" he asked.

"You don't know?" asked Julia, taking a seat next to him. Merlin looked at her, shaking her head.

"No, Epoch are… extinct in our land" he told her.

"They the take the children, in the dead of night, every week, more are stolen away to the Epoch's home, a cavern three miles west of here. They are forced the drink the Epoch blood" she said, her voice faltering.

"That's horrible" Merlin said softly, but Julia shook her head.

"Above a certain age, the Epoch Blood becomes a powerful toxic, but before the age of ten, it does not kill, it mutates" she said. Merlin frowned at her, not following.

"It creates Epoch. These creatures, they are our children" Robert supplied softly.

"I'm so sorry" Merlin muttered as he looked at them. Robert smiled sadly, then sighed.

"Come, rest, let your wounds heal" he told him, before standing. Merlin nodded at him, then tilted his head back on the pillow. As Julia replace the cold compress on his head.

"How long does the Transformation take?" asked Merlin, from child to Epoch?" he added.

"several weeks" Robert answered. Merlin nodded.

"Then I vow that I will do all I can, to rescue your children" he stated.

The rocky mountains surrounding much of Karish were dangerous affairs, many of the peeks were adorned with the nests of Dragons, and it was from the highest one, the Dark Dragon now watched the unfolding scenario. He had felt Merlin's arrival, a tingling at the back of his mind, the unmistakable sensation that a Dragon Lord once again walked amongst the citizens of Karish. This could not be allowed, it had taken years to drive out, or kill the Dragon Lords that had once called this land home, and now, years later, this new one, this Merlin had appeared out of the blue. It had taken three weeks to locate him, but finally she had. With a thunderous roar into the night sky, she watched as her brood took flight to join her.

"My Children, long have we held sway over this land, the populace worship us, the populace fear us, as is our right" her voice, a low growl, emphasized by the echo of the mountains they called home.

"Now, a mortal appears, from a land far from here, and I know you have felt his arrival as well. A Dragon Lord lives amongst the people, and it must be crushed. Go, call your siblings, your broods, call to them and tell them. But above all, the Dragon Lord must die…" it said, as around her the Dragons of the land took wing, and flew off into the night. The Dark Dragon looked back into the scrying portal, its massive eyes narrowed, watching the sleeping human, as around it thunder rolled across the night sky.

"Well this is fun" muttered Elyan as he led his horse towards the shelter of the trees, as above them the sky opened up with a massive downpour. Beside him, Sir Leon grunted, and Gwaine tossed his hair out of his eyes for the third time. Above them lightening lit the sky.

"Yep, really fun" Elyan emphasized.

Outside the hut where Merlin was being treated, Robert looked up at the sky.

"Something's wrong" he said, looking at Julia. She clasped his hand and looked with him.

"But what?" she asked, as the door opened, and Merlin slowly stepped out, joining them.

"It's just a storm right?" asked Merlin, looking at them. Robert turned to face him.

"I've never known a storm to begin so suddenly, so fiercely, Come, we should go back inside where it is warm" Robert told them, leading them back in. Julia and Merlin sat down at the table but Robert grabbed a small cloak.

"Father?" Julia asked.

"I must see to Simon, you know how he gets in storms" he said, before rushing out and closing the door.

"Simon?" asked Merlin, looking at Julia. She gave a small smile.

"He's our village wise man, a bit of a loony actually, he's harmless enough, but whenever we get sudden storms its all the end is nigh and things like that"

"ahh, So your father's gone to clam him down?"

"He's the only one in the village who can" she said with a chuckle, then smirked at Merlin.

"What?" he asked, frowning, but a slight smile on his face.

"its weird, you're not such a wimpy looking man when you have your armour on" she said.

"I resent that" he said with a grin.

"Not that that's not a bad thing… wait… can we start again" she said, blinking at her own words.

"oh no, I plan to torture you for that comment now" Merlin teased, with a laugh. She joined in, then sighed.

"I can't remember the last time I had a good laugh" she admitted.

"Gaius says its good for the soul" he said.

"He sounds wise, who is he?" she asked.

"He's…" Merlin's voice trailed off. "He's my father, well not my biological father but, he's the closest to" Merlin said.

"You miss him?" she asked, gently.

"Very much, I miss all of them, My mother, Gwen, Gaius, Arthur. Even Leon, and Percival, Lancelot, Elyan, Gwaine" he said with a chuckle. "And Thomas and Rory" he finished. Julia laid a hand on his and he smiled at her.

"We'll get you home" she promised. Merlin nodded, then looked around.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"A little, are you?" she asked, going to stand, Merlin held up a hand as he stood.

"Allow me, I did use to be a serving boy" he said.

"If you insist" she agreed, and smiled as he went about his task.

Twenty minuets later he set two bowls down on the table, and covered the cooking pot on the stove, so it would keep warm if Robert returned. Julia looked at it, then tried some, before looking up.

"A knight who can cook, there's a wonder" she said with a grin.

"One of my few talents" Merlin assured her, as he tucked in to his own bowl. They ate in silence, only speaking when they had finished.

"So tell me Merlin, what is Camelot like?" she asked.

"It's a beautiful city, white towers, a huge castle, and a much loved King" he said, there are fields as far as you can see, villages all over the land and forests"

"It sounds beautiful" she said.

"It is, maybe one day you and your father will see it" he said.

"I'd like that" she agreed, before looking out of the window at the still pouring rain.

"And your friends? What are they like?" she asked. He looked at her with a grin. "I don't meet many people, so I'm always interested in learning of new things, hearing of other's lives" she explained.

"You don't have to explain" he assured her. "Let's see, there's Gwen, the first person I ever really got to know before the Prince, kind hearted woman, would help anyone, you'd like her, tour very similar in a way, then there's Arthur, King Arthur…" he continued.

"Pathetic little mortal…" the Dark Dragon sneered as she watched. "Enslaved to emotions and hormones, enjoy this night young Dragon Lord, for it will surely be your last" it said,

"So that's them, not much really" Merlin said with a sad smile. But Julia shook her head.

"Its more than I could ever hope to have" she told him.

"You'll have people" he assured her. She nodded and smiled, then stood.

"I think its time to check those bandages" she told him. Merlin sighed and went over to the bed where he stripped off the armour. Julia knelt next to him, and began to untie the bandages, before moving to the cupboard, and pulling down several herb filled jars, from which she took some, before mulching them together to make a green paste. She walked back over to Merlin and began to apply the paste onto the wounds.

"They heal well, you should be fit to travel in a few days" she told him. He looked up as she stood, then stood with her.

"Thank you" he said. She smiled and shook her head.

"Its my job" she replied, Merlin shook his head, and took her hand.

"I meant for listening" he told her. She smiled, and then without even thinking about it, kissed him gently. He returned it, and then slowly they sat on the bed….

"What the!" the voice was loud and booming and it woke Merlin and Julia with a start. Robert was standing there, mouth gaped open, and behind him, three very familiar, soaked people.

"We trudge for three weeks through all hell and you're busy with the locals?" sputtered Sir Leon.

"Good man!" said Gwaine with a grin.

Beside him, Robert suddenly burst out laughing.

"ermm, hi?" offered Merlin standing up, forgetting for the moment he was in a state of undress.

"SIT DOWN!" yelled Gwaine, and Merlin quickly did, going bright red.

"Can I get five minuets?" Merlin asked.

The Dark Dragon soared towards the village, its mouth grimaced in a snarl. He had been selected from all of the brood, to destroy the Dragon Lord, and he would not fail his task, so he was pleased as, as he flew over the villagers began to scatter.

Merlin limped out of the hut, donned in his armour, and joining Leon, Gwaine and Elyan, in watching the Dark Dragon land with a thud in the middle of the village square.

"DRAGON LORD!" it roared, searching the village, the villagers still running around in panic. Its malevolent gaze fell on Merlin and the other knights and it stepped forwards, as one they drew their swords.

"You think to take me?" it asked, with a cold humour in its voice. "Then please, amuse me" it told them. Leon looked at the others, and with a roar they ran forwards. The Dark Dragon reared up on its back legs, before it crashed down, causing the knights to stumble, before it whipped its tail around to send Elyan crashing across the gravel. He was up a moment later, rushing back to the fight.

"Merlin, Gwaine, left!" yelled Leon, as he went to the right, they did so, slashing at the Dragon's legs with their swords. It roared at them, and swiped again, this time Gwaine went sprawling, but when he stood, his left arm hung uselessly at his side.

"Four way!" yelled Elyan, running to the Dragons back, while the others move to its side, and Leon remaining at its front. The Dark Dragon reared up again, but this time the knights were ready, running under it, the Dark Dragon roaring in pain as four swords impaled it at various points. Suddenly it swept its wings back, taking flight, before breathing fire downwards, the four knights scattered out of the way and it landed again, butting Merlin in the chest and knocking him back.

"MERLIN!" yelled Julia from where she was watching, he glanced at her and stood up, the Dragon was turned away now, concentrating on the others. With a roar of rage, Merlin ran at it, and then his eyes glowed and he jumped, landing on its back. The Dark Dragon roared and swung its body trying to dislodge him.

"You picked the wrong village" Merlin whispered.

"What are you?" it hissed.

"I'm a Dragon Lord" Merlin whispered back before plunging the sword into its skull. The Dark Dragon roared and began to breath fire into the air, which backed along its neck. Merlin leapt off as the fire engulfed the Dragon, and it finally fell to the ground where it continued to burn. Merlin staggered to his feet, wincing as the battle took its toll, Leon and Elyan grabbed him by the shoulders.

"That… that was incredible" Said Leon looking at him. Merlin gave a pained smile back.

"no… that hurt" he replied a moment later Robert ran over with Julia.

"My friend, oh my friend, you have no idea how long we have waited" Robert said, as around the group, the villagers began to emerge, applauding.

"For years we have lived under the rule of the Dark Dragons. But you've just shown, they can be defeated" Robert said. Merlin grinned and nodded.

"And you got Dragon Ash" he added, before he fainted.

The roar the echoed across the mountains caused them to rumble. The Great Dark Dragon, in her rage.

"YOU WILL NEVER LIVE IN PEACE DRAGON LORD! GO WHERE YOU WILL FOR I WILL FOLLOW!" she screamed. And with a final rush of rage, she took flight.

"So explain again why we need Dragon Ash?" asked Leon, looking at Merlin as Robert treated his wounds again.

"Epochs" Merlin told him. "They've been attacking, taking the people's children" he said.

"Then we kill them" said Gwaine, from where he was standing by the door.

"It's not that simple" Merlin said.

"We kill the Epoch, we stop more children being taken" Elyan said

"That's the point, we can't kill the Epoch. They are the Children" Merlin said. Leon frowned, Elyan looked away and Gwaine suddenly looked like he wanted to punch something.

"Leon, please, I promised" Merlin said. Leon stood, aware that Robert and Julia were watching him. He looked to Elyan and Gwaine, then back at Merlin.

"We leave at first light. Let's get your children back" he stated.

"Thank you" Merlin said, meaning it. Leon patted his shoulder with a smile, before he turned to Gwaine and Elyan.

"Let's get the ash" he told them, walking out.

They set out early the next morning, loaded with bags of Dragon Ash, aware that the eyes of the villagers were on them. The way to the cave was rocky, the path not very clear, and they took a wrong turning twice, so it was near mid-morning when they arrived at the cave. Dismounting, they slowly approached it, hearing the sobbing of children from within, a low snarl echoing above it.

"Sounds friendly" said Gwaine, looking at the others.

"We ready?" asked Leon stepping forwards. The others following in behind him.

The cave was deep, but thankfully lit with torches, they moved for several minuets in silence, until a large shape thudded past them. It turned to them, and roared, lifting its spiked club above its head, before Leon blew a handful of ash in its face. It staggered, then fell like a tree trunk, before it shrivelled away.

"The transformation must not be reversible after a certain point" Elyan offered.

"I hope we can at least save some of them" Merlin replied as they set off again. They had two more encounters, one which like the first shrivelled to a husk, the other one however, gagged, and coughed, screaming as it began to revert into the form of a little girl. Her eyes were fearful, and she was shivering, but it was Leon who managed to calm her enough to find where the other children were being held. She led them down, past two more Epochs, another shrivelled husk and a little boy revert. Until finally they entered a large cave, cages were piled high around it, and several Epoch's examined the cages pulling.

"How we going to do this?" asked Elyan. Leon shook his head, looking around the room. There was only one way in he could see, and that's where they were. Merlin slowly pulled one of his bags of Dragon ash free.

"Me and Leon on the Epochs, Gwaine and Elyan on the Children" he suggested.

"Works for me" said Gwaine. Leon nodded and then with a roar they charged into the room. The Epochs turned to them, snarling, as several more dropped from the shadows of the ceiling. The knights throwing the Dragon Ash into the creatures faces, while Gwaine and Elyan did the same for the caged children, before they opened them, setting the children free. Of the dozen or so Epoch's that had joined the fight, only a handful had been left standing, most of them now dried husks, and some reverting to children, but eventually they too fell, but it wasn't a good ratio, maybe fifty two children in total had survived the transformation back.

"We did our best" said Elyan looking around. The others nodded, then frowned as a new sound reached their ears, and a large, slug like Epoch entered the chamber, hissing at them.

"Okay, we annoyed the mum at any rate" Gwaine said. Merlin took one of his pouches and threw it at the huge Epoch, where it popped open, scattering ash all over it. The creature reared back, but otherwise remained unaffected. Leon drew his sword.

"Looks like we do this one the hard way" he said.

"Remember, don't let the blood touch you!" Merlin shouted as they ran forwards. The queen Epoch, was slow, but its hide was thick, but all in all the only real danger was from the blood. Like insects, it relied on its soldiers for defence. The knights hacked at it until with a last shuddering sigh, it fell dead, the blood hissing in the air and where it touched the Dragon Ash that littered the floor.

"Okay, now can we go home?" asked Gwaine. Merlin looked at him, then began to laugh, quickly followed by Leon and Elyan.

"No, I'm serious" he said.

Robert looked up as dusk began to creep in over the village. It had been almost a whole day, and he feared the worst.

"Father" Julia said pointing, as four men trotted over the bank of the hill. Around them the villagers all looked over, as behind them, the Children who had been taken also appeared, before running towards their families.

"Thank you" said Robert rushing to the knights.

"We did what we could, some were too far gone" Merlin told him. Robert nodded, but smiled.

"This is more than we could have hoped" he replied.

"Okay… NOW can we please go home" said Gwaine.

"Remember what I said, you and your father are always welcome to visit" Merlin said as he embraced Julia. She smiled at him.

"Perhaps one day we will, until then" she said, before she kissed him. Behind them Leon gave a grunt. Merlin smiled and shook his head.

"Stay safe" he told her. Before embracing Robert.

"I cannot thank you enough" Merlin told him.

"you already have, you've given our village hope, returned our children to us, it is us who should be thank you. Tell your King, he has made allies here"

"I will" Merlin promised, and with one final glance at Julia, mounted his horse, and followed the others away from the village.

"Yes Dragon Lord, go to your home, go to this… Camelot… and then suffer in the knowledge that it was you who made it burn" the Dark Dragon said, taking flight.

"MY BROOD" she called out, and around the mountain tops Dark Dragons took flight.

"WE FLY AT DAWN, THE DRAGON LORD HAS TAKEN ONE OF OUR OWN, AND THIS DEMANDS VENGENCE… I NOW DECLARE WAR UPON THE DRAGON LORD, HIS PRECIOUS CAMELOT AND ALL OF ITS ALLIES!" she screamed, and around her the mountains echoed with the roars from her children.

"CAMELOT WILL BURN!" she vowed.

Arthur, Gwen and the remaining knights looked up as the throne audience chamber doors opened and Leon walked in with Elyan and Gwaine.

"Well?" Arthur asked, dreading the answer. Leon sighed, then smiled as Merlin limped in. Gwen's hand went to her mouth, and beside her Rory began to clap. Arthur stood as Merlin limped forwards.

"Sorry I missed the wedding" Merlin said. Arthur grinned then pulled him into a hug, which Merlin returned, to the applause of those gathered. He let go, and Merlin grinned from ear to ear, before he was tackled by Gwen.

"Thanks, oh your majesty" he said.

"Oh shut up you twit" she said as she hugged him tighter.

"Pretty sure you're gonna split the stiches" Merlin said through clenched teeth, before she let go of him.

"What happened?" asked Arthur.

"Long story" Merlin said.

"Then you'd best start talking" Arthur replied.

Robert, Julia and the villagers looked up as the Dark Dragons flew overhead, led by the matriarch, all heading in the same direction, the way Merlin and his friends had gone.

"God help them" said Robert as the last flew over.

"How many of her brood was that?" asked Julia looking at the receding Dark Dragons. Robert looked at her, a chill going down his spine.

"I think that was all of them" he said.

2/12

MERLIN

Little Girl Lost.

"Her name is Amy, that's all we could get out of her, when we found her" said Thomas, indicating the little brown haired girl, who was maybe six or seven.

"Arthur, she's just a child, she can't be held responsible for her actions!" shouted Gwen.

"In case you didn't notice, that little girl nearly killed Percival!" he shouted back

"Arthur plans to execute her at Dawn" Gwen said, looking at Merlin. "Please, I need your help"

"You're killing an innocent child because she's using magic!, Arthur look at yourself, you're becoming Uther all over again!" Merlin yelled at him.

The entire castle rocked and Arthur shot out of bed, running to the window, seeing flames bellowing from the location of the dungeons.

"She is known as the Matriarch, a powerful, Dark Dragon. When you killed one of her Brood, you brought down her wrath upon Camelot" The Great Dragon explained.

"Then I have to destroy her" Merlin said.

"It's not that simple Young Warlock, she is powerful, far more powerful than even I" it replied.

"YOU HELPED THE GIRL ESCAPE?" Demanded Arthur.

"I had too, Merlin's right, you are turning into your Father!" Gwen yelled.

"You must beware her" said Amy, looking at Merlin and Gwen.

"I know about the Matriarch" Merlin assured her. Amy shook her head.

"No, the third sibling… she is coming" Amy told them.