Epilogue

~ Merlin ~

Merlin was stumbling along, down the all too familiar path to his clearing. He burst through the trees and was met with several roars. "Oh shut up," he told them affectionately.

He glanced around. "Of course," he said with a sigh. "Where's Ehecatl?"

"Where do you think she is, old friend?" Aithusa asked amused.

"I don't know," Merlin pointed out. "She's somewhere different every day. Like mother, like daughter."

"Once you pay attention, the path she takes is clear," Aithusa told him.

"You're almost as bad as Kilgharrah," Merlin told her jokingly. Aithusa had started speaking four years ago, just six months after she laid her first egg, and since then she had truly picked up on Kilgharrah's speaking only in riddles thing.

Aithusa made a face. "Young warlock, I have some bad news," she said softly.

Merlin's face fell. "He passed, didn't he," Merlin said quietly. He wasn't surprised. Kilgharrah had been getting sicker and sicker. "But wait! That means…" He trailed off. He suddenly knew where Ehecatl would be. He turned to Aithusa. "Up for a trip?"

Aithusa chuckled. "Kilgharrah was right. I hear that far too much for my liking," she teased.

Merlin rolled his eyes and waited. Aithusa offered her wing and Merlin climbed up. "O drakons, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!" Merlin cried. He didn't need to look to know Aithusa's sons would be right behind her. Aithusa had laid seven eggs before she managed a daughter. Once Aithusa lays an egg, she has to wait six months before she can lay another one. It's natural for dragon's to lay eggs, but Aithusa has been forcing it the second they are ready. Most dragon's wait one to two years between hatchlings, but Aithusa seemed determined to single-handedly repopulate the dragons.

She was furious that it took seven eggs to produce another female, but you could tell how fond she was of her children. After Ehecatl, she had another son and another daughter.

It had been a very busy six years for her.

Before Merlin knew it, they were landing. Merlin tentatively stepped off Aithusa and walked to where the pure gold dragon was laying, curled up in a ball.

"Ehecatl," Merlin said in his deep dragon-lord voice.

Ehecatl looked up at him. "Show me," Merlin ordered.

Obediently Ehecatl carefully unwrapped herself, revealing an egg the color of a ruby.

Merlin felt his heart clench. He was expecting it, but that didn't make it any less painful.

He could still remember Kilgharrah's words to him, the last time they spoke. When a dragon passes from this world, it has a meaning Merlin. Another dragon takes his place. Our problem was that there were no more dragons to bear children as we were killed off. When I pass, it will have meaning. So do not mourn me. Be happy that the time of the dragons will come again.

In retrospect, Merlin should have taken that as a warning. He should have known Kilgharrah was hinting at the end of his life. He carefully picked up the egg. He knew Arthur should see this. He has denied him far too long. Now, it is time to unite the dragons with their king.

Merlin climbed back onto Aithusa's back, being careful not to jostle the egg too much.

They went back to the clearing. When he landed, Merlin put the precious egg on the tree stump. It was the same place where he hatched all of Aithusa's children.

He wasn't ready to hatch this egg yet. If there was anything he was certain of, it would be that this egg was female. Kilgharrah hadn't come right out and said it, but he doesn't just come out and say anything. He implied it, which for him, was as close to a straightforward answer as Merlin thought he could get.

"Where is his body?" Merlin asked quietly.

"He knew he was passing. He flew away this afternoon," Aithusa told him. "He went to rest with our ancestors."

"Of course," Merlin whispered. He should've known that Kilgharrah would have wanted to die with his kin in the Valley of Fallen Dragons. Merlin would not disturb his resting place.

Merlin got to his feet. "Young warlock, where are you going?" Aithusa asked.

"Where do you think?" Merlin asked her sarcastically. "Shall I give you a riddle?"

Aithusa chuckled. "Oh, you Merlin? You amuse me," she said. After a moment, her amusement faded. "Go, go to your king. You are right. It is time."

Merlin sighed. "I knew I must wait until Kilgharrah passed out of respect for the grievance he suffered, but are you sure?" Merlin asked hesitantly. He hated that he made Arthur wait this long. He knew Arthur didn't understand. Merlin let him play with the hatchlings and meet the dragons, but this would be the first time Arthur saw a hatching, other than Aithusa's. A dragon hatching was a sacred thing. Not to be taken lightly.

Aithusa nodded. "It is time," she agreed with wisdom beyond her age.

"When did you get so wise? You're just a toddler," Merlin teased.

Aithusa spread her wings indignantly. "I, Merlin, am a grown dragon," she huffed. "And you would do well to remember that."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "I'll be back," he promised.

"Like Ehecatl would let you leave and not come back," Aithusa said amused.

Merlin chuckled and glanced to where the gold dragon was laying by her egg. He forced himself to leave the clearing and head back to Camelot. It was time.

~ Arthur ~

Arthur was woken up in the middle of the night with a whisper in his ear. "Arthur," someone whispered. "Arthur, are you awake?"

Arthur grumbled and rolled over. "I was," he said grumpily. "Until someone rude and inconsiderate woke me up."

"Oh you know you love me," the voice came.

"What are you even doing here Merlin? You're supposed to be with Aithusa and her kids," Arthur grumbled.

"Aithusa's first daughter laid an egg," Merlin said excitedly. "I want you to come see it!"

Arthur sat upright. "You have never let me see this before. Well, except with Aithusa, but that was different. You weren't really letting me, I just happened upon it. What makes this time different?" Arthur asked.

"Just come with me, will you?" Merlin asked impatiently.

Arthur sighed and reluctantly left the warmth of his bed. Merlin threw clothes at him. "Merlin, what is this?" Arthur asked as Merlin kept throwing clothes at him.

"It's cold out. You're going to want to put on your warm cloak," Merlin told him. "I was cold and I was in layers."

"But your always cold," Arthur pointed out.

"Just get dressed!" Merlin ordered him.

Arthur reluctantly obliged. He followed Merlin out of the castle. Merlin didn't seem to be in a hurry. He grabbed Arthur's hand and Arthur smiled as the familiar warmth spread through him.

No one stopped them as they exited the city. The guards were used to it by now.

Once they were under the cover of the trees, Merlin started to talk. "Kilgharrah passed away this afternoon," Merlin told him softly.

Arthur pulled Merlin close to him into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry Merlin," he told him sincerely. "I know he was your friend."

Merlin nodded into his shoulder. "Do you remember what I told you?" Merlin asked.

"Probably not," Arthur answered honestly.

Merlin let out a strangled chuckle. He pulled away and they continued walking. "When a dragon leaves this world, another takes their place. A dragon that holds deep meaning to the land," Merlin told him. "Ehecatl laid her egg because Kilgharrah passed."

"I don't understand what that has to do with me being able to see the dragon hatch," Arthur told him.

"That was for Kilgharrah. A dragon hatching is such a sacred thing. And to someone who spent a majority of their life believing their death would bring about the death of their species, it was especially important to him. Out of respect for his sufferings I chose not to let you come," Merlin explained.

Arthur considered Merlin's words carefully. He thought he understood. He in no way understood what it was like to be part of a dying race, but he could understand why Kilgharrah might like to celebrate a dragon birth with only his kin.

"But now, I think it is time," Merlin told him. "I think it is time for the dragons to meet their king."

"They already have," Arthur pointed out.

Merlin shook his head. "It's different," Merlin said. "You're coming to them. You're going to show respect for their ways. And you are going to bear witness to the dragon hatching and welcome it."

Arthur nodded solemnly. "And that will be significant," he agreed.

"You know Arthur, across the years, I have really managed to knock some sense into you," Merlin teased.

Arthur rolled his eyes. He grabbed Merlin and messed up his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Like I couldn't have done it on my own," Arthur said. Arthur knew his words weren't true. He couldn't even begin to compare the man he was before he met Merlin to the man he is now. They are completely different people.

Merlin chuckled. They continued the rest of their trip in silence. When they entered the clearing Arthur felt excitement rise in him.

Naturally Aithusa walked up to him and tried to push him over. Arthur emphasizes tried, because after six years of coming to this clearing, Aithusa still hasn't learned to switch it up. She does the same thing every time he comes to visit. All Arthur has to do is duck under her wing and he's fine.

Aithusa chuckled. "One day your majesty," she promised. Arthur shook his head as he laughed with her. He seriously doubted it. "So how are our young kings?"

"We're great," Merlin told her. "But you already knew that. Would you like to call your children?"

Aithusa let a howl into the air. Arthur jumped slightly. He knew the dragons would be there soon. Merlin walked towards him and rested his head on his shoulder. Instinctively, Arthur wrapped his arm around Merlin's waist.

He kissed Merlin's hair and waited.

Sure enough, just a few minutes later, several sets of flapping wings were heading towards the clearing.

"Are you ready?" He heard Merlin ask him.

Arthur nodded. He had been ready for the past four years.

Merlin approached the egg. "Taraja," he called.

Arthur watched as the cracks began to spread across the egg. A redish-brown dragon poked its head out.

Suddenly the dragon spread its wing and the rest of the egg practically exploded. Little pieces of egg went everywhere. Arthur watched the shock that crossed Merlin's face. The dragon let out a little croak and Merlin's face looked relieved.

Arthur puzzled over it for a moment, before he realized Merlin had been worried that the dragon might have felt trapped in the egg. He knew that had to be it. Especially with the way she got out of her egg.

The little dragon looked around for a moment until she found Arthur. She hopped over to him. Arthur bowed to her slightly. "Hello Taraja," he said. He wasn't really sure what the protocol was for talking to a baby dragon.

The dragon looked up at him then breathed on him. Arthur was momentarily shocked. So much just washed over him. So much knowledge and wisdom. She didn't show him the future. No, she showed him something much more precious. She showed him their past. The past of the dragons. He was fully able to understand now. Understand what Merlin was talking about when he said every baby dragon was sacred. He understood.

Arthur took a step back and smiled down. "Thank you," he whispered.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Merlin did some exercises with Taraja. He was something of an expert at it by now. Arthur just sat on the tree stump, stuck in a daze.

He wasn't aware of his surroundings at all, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Merlin. "Are you alright?" Merlin asked him quietly.

Arthur nodded and stood up. "Just shocked is all," he explained. "My father really did them wrong. I only hope I can make it up to them."

"Look around Arthur. You already have," Merlin told him. "You have brought about peace to Camelot. These dragons are safe because of you. It's a new era."

Arthur smiled at him. "You really believe in me, don't you?" He asked quietly.

"If I didn't, I never would have married you," Merlin pointed out. He wrapped his arms around Arthur.

Arthur looked down at Merlin. He looked up at the dragons. Merlin was right. Camelot is in a new era. It was in the dawn of the dragons.

Let me know what you think! I hope you enjoyed it!