What if Gaius never told Merlin that Balinor was his father – The Last Dragon Lord 2x13

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin (Although I wish I did, there would be series 6 if I did)

Apologies if there are any mistakes.

You're my father

In Gaius's chambers, "Who were the dragonlords?" asked Merlin, he look to Gaius "Gaius?"

"There were once men who could talk to the dragons, tame them" he explained. Should I tell him?

"What happened to them?" Merlin wondered

"Uther believed the art of the dragonlord was too close to magic. So he had them all rounded up, and slaughtered" Gaius explained further.

"One survived" Merlin said as he packed his bag. Suddenly, he looked up and asked "How did you know?"

"I helped him escape" said Gaius. Should I say I sent him to Ealdor?

"Gaius?" he said unbelievingly, quite surprised at his mentors actions. How can I tell him Balinor is his father? No, I mustn't. Hunith swore me to secrecy, he can never know. Uther would have him killed is he found out.

"Quickly Merlin, Arthur will be waiting for you" guiding Merlin towards the door.

Arthur was asleep on a bedroll recovering from his injury which Balinor had tended to, and Merlin and Balinor were sat around the fire in conversation.

"What happened?" Merlin asked Balinor, "Gaius told me you were the last dragonlord."

"Gaius? You know Gaius?" Balinor exclaimed, surprised at the revelation.

"I am his ward, yes" he replied "He helped you escape Uther." Merlin wanted to know more of the story. Looking back on his chat with Gaius, his mentor had been guarded.

"Yes, he is a good man. You are his ward? I am surprised to hear he took someone in at his age, how is it you can to be in his care?" Balinor asked. He was curious about the boy. There was something about him he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"My mother sent me to Gaius so he could help me. I didn't fit in at home. Although, Camelot feels more like a home to me now." He said looking into the fire

"You're not from Camelot?" How did he get a job as Prince Arthur's manservant.

"No, I'm from a small village on the border of Cenred's kingdom, called Ealdor. Not much there, just a field and a couple cows"

"Ealdor?" said Balinor, suddenly more alert to the conversation. There really was something about the boy that was familiar. Merlin looked up from the fire and Arthur stirred in his sleep, slowly awakening.

"You know of it?" Merlin asked surprised.

"I took refuge there. I met a woman, a wonderful, kind woman. Perhaps your mother would know her?"

Arthur suddenly spoke up "Merlin's mother? Hunith? Lovely woman, only met her once, but a lovely woman nonetheless." Both Merlin and Balinor looked at Arthur who was now sat up.

"HUNITH!" Balinor yelled whilst standing up, making both boys jump and get to their feet. It's his eyes, they're her eyes. "Your mother is Hunith? She married? How is she? Is she well?" he asked in quick succession.

"You know my mother?" questioned Merlin, too stunned to answer the many questions he'd just had thrown at him. "She was the woman you met?...Wait married? My mother never married." Merlin was so confused, he couldn't understand what was happening. What was going on?

It all clicked into place and Balinor's mind was in overdrive. Suddenly, he grabbed Merlin by his tunic "How old are you boy?" he was shaking with emotion, desperate to know the answer. He can't be, he can't be! He had her eyes, but everything else.

Merlin, now quite scared quickly said "Twenty one, I'm twenty one!" Balinor let go, frozen to the spot. "You're my son." Oh my god, he's my son! He stood still frozen to the spot.

"WHAT?" exclaimed both Merlin and Arthur. Merlin simply slumped to the floor, however, Arthur was quick to recover from the news they had just heard. "You're his son." He stated to Merlin whilst pointing at Balinor.

"I…I..I don't understand." Merlin was shaking his head, still trying to get his head around the idea.

He looked Balinor directly in the eyes "You're my father?" after a few moment he broke into a massive grin "I have a father. Arthur, I HAVE A FATHER!" he ran and threw himself at Balinor throwing his arms around his neck, who then seemed to come out of his state of shock and enveloped his newly found son in a hug.

"Yes, Merlin, I think we've established that"

I know it's only short but should I continue?