Chapter 5: Lancelot and a freeing a Dragon

1 month after Bayard's death

A foul smell laid out across the land from the eastern part of Mercia. A foul stench that would cause soil to rot. The cause of the stench was the bodies of the slain, for on this ground laid a battle between the Kingdom of Camelot and the Kingdom of Mercia. Dead Mercian soldiers were spread on the ground as well as dead Camelot warriors. Blood staining the grass and guts as food for the crows. All across the battlefield, the Mercians were in heavy combat against the Camelot while the hill was still secured by the Mercians in command, although many more Mercian's were dead when compared to the Camelot army.

A group of Mercians were running back to report of the battle to the prince of Mercia and the son of Bayard, Ballor.

"Give your report!" Ballor ordered.

"Camelot's cavalry has broken our western flank, and they're vanguard has nearly broken our center." The knight said.

"Damn them. Give the signal to re-form to the-" Ballor ordered but then stopped when he heard the neigh of a horse charging at them.

Coming up the hill, they saw Daemon in full armor charging them with Blackfyre draw, the greatsword stained and drenched in the blood of dozen's of Mercian's.

Ballor glared as he saw Daemon ride towards him as his 10 knights readied to fight.

"ARGH!" Daemon shouted as he rode into combat slashing a charging knight from his horse and then doing the same on his other side. Daemon leapt off his horse just as he reached the other knights protecting Ballor, bringing Blackfyre down in an overhead slash on one knights head, splitting his skull open. He brought Blackfyre in up from the ground in a sweep, cutting off the legs of another knight. He stabbed another knight in the chest before pulling Blackfyre out of his chest and pivoting, decapitating him. He slashed at another knight's neck, embedding it in his neck before spinning and slicing his head clean off.

"Kill him!" Ballor shouted, for his other 4 knights.

"My prince, we must go! He is nearly on us!" one of his 2 general's said as they convinced him to run.

Daemon was not having any of that as he spoke a quick spell while he cut down another knight. "Onbinde þa téage."The saddle straps of the 2 generals and Ballor snapped clean off, causing the 3 Mercian's to fall to the ground as their horse's galloped away.

"No!" Ballor shouted as he turned as saw Daemon stab the last of his knights in the gut.

"Surrender. You're completely surrounded, you're army is almost completely annihilated. You have no hope of victory." Daemon said as he held Blackfyre at his side. Ballor saw Uther and his men coming over the ridge and anger overtook him.

"I will not surrender like a coward!" Ballor arrogantly said as he charged at Daemon. Daemon blocked his strike as sliced Ballor's leg with Blackfyre. Furious, he charged again, only for Daemon to Parry him, and put the prince off balance. Daemon then slammed Blackfyre down on the man's shoulder, cutting through bone and sinew before he pulled the blade out and sliced through the prince's gut's before tripping him up and shoulder bashing him away, the prince dying for a hopeless cause.

"You two can still surrender. Save what few men you have left." Daemon pointed out as the two generals saw no point in continuing. The battle was over. Their cause was doomed. With great reluctance, they threw down their weapons as Uther came up on his horse and was pleased with what he saw.

"My king, Prince Ballor is dead and the last two generals have surrendered. Victory is ours." Daemon said as he bowed to Uther, even though he hated to do so. Daemon had been the one to cause this whole war when he snuck into Bayard's cell and killed him. He needed the war to happen so Camelot could take Mercia's land. It had been during a war with Mercia that the lands of Blackfyre, Targaryen, and Le Fay had been attacked by Cenred. So this, was revenge, but also in preparation for the eventual retaking of his families ancestral lands.

"The war is over. We have won!" Uther shouted as every one of Camelot's soldier's cheered in their victory.

Camelot

In the council chambers, Daemon stood before Uther and the court to receive his accolade's. "For your valor in battle and single-handedly bringing the war to an end, I, Uther Pendragon, name you a Hero of the Realm, and an honorary Knight of Camelot." The court all clapped and cheered, none more so than Gwen, Morgana, and Gaius. Rebekah clapped half-heartedly. The Hero title was for killing the last of Mercia's royal family and the honorary Knight of Camelot title was so Uther could call upon him to serve in times of conflict, like war. Again, Daemon could care less for the title, it was merely a stepping stone towards his end goals. Nonetheless, Mercia would be absorbed into Camelot's territory, which is what he and his mother planned all along.

1 week later

Daemon wandered through the woods, picking herbs for Gaius that needed restocked.

He stopped when he heard screeching and turns to see an adult griffin charging at him. He quickly remembers that he has no enchanted weapons on him right now and he didn't have time to make one before the griffin gutted him, and curses before bolting to put some space between him and the charging monster so he could use his spells.

After a few moments of running, he notices someone yelling, who then charges in, attacking the griffin with a sword, while Daemon watched from behind. On one of his strikes, the sword breaks against the griffin's hide.

Dropping the sword, Lancelot yelled "Run! Run!".

'I will not run from a fucking Griffin!' Daemon thought, as he only ran to get some distance from the Griffin so he could use his spells, but now had what he needed to kill it. The Griffin rushed at Daemon to kill him and eat him, and reared itself up. Daemon held up his hand and muttered, "Scildan!"A purple shield of magic enveloped both Daemon and Lancelot. The Griffin's claws scratched at the shield, but could do no damage.

He widens his stance and clenches his hands into fist's before dozen's of thick roots erupt from the ground and wrap around the griffin, holding it still despite it's size. The Griffin spreads it's wings and tries to fly away, but more roots wrap around it's wing's, grounding the griffin and keeping it still, the shrieks piercing the air.

Daemon picks up the broke sword and chants "Bregdan anweald gafeluec,". Daemon successfully enchants the weapon, a blue eerie glow surrounding the broken weapon and then stabs it into the griffin's brain, killing it, it's shriek's finally dying.

Both men breathe heavily as they are allowed a moment to rest and Lancelot holds his wounded side.

"I'm glad you came along when you did. You saved my life. I'm Daemon." He says.

Lancelot introduces himself. "Lancelot."

They shake hands before Lancelot groans and passes out, and Daemon notices a shard from the shattered sword embedded in Lancelot's stomach.

Camelot

In the Physician's chambers, Gaius checks out Lancelot's injuries. "The wound wasn't deep. Luckily, you brought him here before it became infected." Gaius assures Daemon. "The fever will pass but he needs a week to recover."

"Make sure he stays confined here," Daemon said.

"Why?" Gaius asked.

"He saw me use my magic." Daemon admitted and Gaius was shocked.

"Daemon, how could you be so reckless to use magic out in the open!?" Gaius demanded.

"I didn't have a choice. While I was out gathering herb's for you, I was attacked by a griffin. I didn't have any weapons on me so I bolted to get some distance so I could restrain it and create a weapon to enchant, but Lancelot appeared out of nowhere to defend me, I guess, and I couldn't let the Griffin get away, so I used my magic to restrain it. I then enchanted a weapon to kill it. I had to kill it, otherwise it could have done all kinds of damage. The hide of a griffin is invulnerable to ordinary weapons. Only magical weapons, or weapons that have been enchanted, could pierce it's hide." Daemon said, and Gaius had to concede that.

"Fine, but you need to start being more careful. This man, from what you described, seems like he has a noble heart, and wouldn't sell you out, but you may not get so lucky next time." Gaius warns Daemon.

That night

'Daemon, Daemon' came the voice in Damon's head, and Daemon finally had enough of it. Grabbing a special sword, wrapped in a cloak, from underneath his bed, and headed towards the Wrought Iron Stairway.

Daemon saw two guards and raised his hands while he was under his cloaking spell, "Swefn"The 2 guards fell unconscious. Daemon then headed down the steps to see the great dragon.

Daemon entered into the moth of the cavern. He shouted, "Alright, dragon, where are you!?"

As he watches, the Great Dragon flies in to land on a large outcropping of rock in front of Daemon.

"I'm here. How small you are for such a great destiny." The dragon assured him, before looking over him with a critical eye. "You've been ignoring my calls to you at night."

"I need my beauty sleep. Especially if I'm going to keep up my ruse 24 hours a day." Daemon said sarcastically. "In all seriousness though, I wasn't sure it was you that was calling me, but since it is, let's do something about that." Daemon pulled the cloak off his sword. (Dracula's sword from Dracula Untold).

"Your going to free me, without even asking for anything?" The dragon wondered.

"Well, not anything. Obviously, I want an oath from that when I free you, you won't turn your wrath on the innocent's of Camelot." Daemon said as he trotted down a second flight of stairs that led to where his chains hooked to his feet. "Your word."

"I give you my word, Daemon, not to seek revenge," Kilgharrah swore to him. "If Uther Pendragon comes across me, I will kill him without remorse or hesitation. If I meet anyone with the blood of our kin on his hands, I will kill him as well. But I'll not seek them out."

"I guess that's as good as I will get." Daemon resigned before he pulled the blade from it's sheath and prepared to swing it at the chain. "Ic bebeode þisne sweord þæt hé forcierfe þá bende þæra dracan un clýse!" Daemon swung the sword and the blade connected with the thick steel chain. The cuff shattered. Daemon had used a bit too much force in his strike; the sword's momentum propelled itself into Kilgharrah's wounded flesh, damaging some of the scales on his leg. The warlock jerked back, an apology rising to his lips. The dragon, after a brief and involuntary hiss, shook his vast head.

"No, Daemon. Do not apologize." Slowly, very slowly, he curved his neck around his body, stared intently at the limb. He flexed his clawed foot, rotated it, stretched. The golden eyes did not blink. "I am free."

Suddenly Kilgharrah was spitting fire, the yellow plumes spewing from his mouth onto the ruined chain. Snarling, the dragon released another gush of fire, his claws tearing at the superheated metal, cutting through the white-hot links like warm butter. Kilgharrah had tried this before, of course. Many times, he had burned the chains in order to free himself, but it had never worked. Not until today.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." Daemon apologized. But the grief in the dragon's voice, the utter misery… Even the joy of his freedom was tainted by the memory of how he'd been imprisoned in the first place.

"I don't think the healing spell's I know can fix that," he sighed as he looked at the injury on Kihlgharrah's leg.

"One day, you will, young warlock," Kilgharrah promised. He turned both neck and body, lowering his head. They were close enough now that Daemon could feel the heat of the dragon's inner fire.

Kilgharrah pressed his snout against Daemon's shoulder. The dragon's lips curled into a smile as Daemon raised his hand. Purple eyes met golden, silently asking if he was sure, and the elder hummed in the back of his throat. Daemon gently rested his hand on the dragon's muzzle.

Warmth filled his chest. This was, he realized, probably the first time Kilgharrah had contact with someone in twenty years.

No interaction with anyone for twenty years…. Daemon could not help but repress a shudder. He hadn't even been alive that long. He tried to imagine for a moment spending the entirety of his life here, in this dank, cold cave with no company, no night or day, no way of telling time except for his weekly feedings, knowing that all everyone he'd ever loved had been murdered by the same despot who had imprisoned him.

"Walk with me, Daemon." Kilgharrah's voice rumbled in his ear. "I have no wish to remain in this cave any longer."

Kilgharrah's eyes danced with amusement as the two sooned returned to conversation as they removed themselves from the cave. "As I mentioned earlier, young warlock, I am in your debt. Even if I were not, our destinies are still bound together. Therefore, I have a gift for you." He crouched down. "Take the scale above my heart. Keep it close to you at all times. When you have need of me, call my name three times and I will come."

Daemon raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I don't understand why."

Kilgharrah stepped closer. "There will be times where you will have need of my council, which means you will need a way to contact me. The scale will give you that ability."

"I understand that. But, are you sure? Will it grow back?" Daemon asked.

"Yes, Daemon. You freed me on our first meeting, asking nothing in return but that I refrain from harming the innocents of this kingdom. And you need not worry about me, a new one will take it's place in the coming weeks. Take the scale." Kilgharrah had seen into the future. He knew what lay ahead for Albion. It was different than when he had first received the vision of Magic returning to the land of Albion, but everything would fall into place in the end, which would serve to benefit the dragons noble race and bring them back from the brink of extinction. So in the end, the ancient dragon was willing to support this darker version of Emrys that had the power of the world resting in his fingertips.

He made his way forward until he was standing by the dragon's chest. Daemon stopped, glanced up at Kilgharrah. The dragon understood. He lifted a clawed hand, pointed to a bronze scale about the size of a closed fist. Daemon took ahold of it, and the scale slid off, leaving a tiny chink in the dragon's built-in armor though it would grow back.

"Farewell for now, young Emrys."

Kilgharrah backed away. His wings opened wide. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air.

And then he was gone.

Next day

Lancelot looks out of the window in Daemon's room, taking in the spectacular view of Camelot. "Ever since I was a child I've dreamed of coming here. It's my life's ambition to join the knights of Camelot."

"I know what you're thinking," Lancelot assumes, "I...I expect too much. After all, who am I? They have their pick of the best and bravest in the land."

Daemon just smiled. "Lancelot."

"Yes?" He turned towards Daemon.

"I think that they'd love you." Daemon assures him.

"They will?" Lancelot questions.

Daemon laughs. "I've seen you in action. In fact, I'm gonna go see about what I can do to help you." Lancelot tried to get up as well.

"Easy, that wound still needs healing. You just lie down and relax alright?" Daemon said, getting a reluctant nod from Lancelot.

30 minutes later

"You've got to be kidding." Daemon said in annoyance as he spoke with Morgana in her chamber. Why was he annoyed? Because he just found out that Uther, in his utter stupidity, made it so only nobles could become knights. Which sucked for Lancelot because Lancelot certainly had the skill and the heart to be a true knight.

"I wish I were lying." Morgana said. "The First code of Camelot is that only nobles may become created the knights to protect this kingdom from those who wished to destroy it. He knew he would have to trust each of his knights with his life. So he chose them from the families that had sworn allegiance to him."

"The nobility." Daemon adds.

"And thus the First Code of Camelot was born, and ever since that day, only the sons of noble families have served as knights." Morgana finishes.

"That's nonsense. Some of the best fighters I've ever fought with were not nobles." Daemon argues.

"I know that, but Uther wouldn't care." Morgana said as she herself was not a knight, and yet she was better than Rebekah when it came to swordplay.

It was then that the two of them noted how close they were to each other, and felt their desire for each other rising and becoming unbearable. Daemon was the first of the two to give in, slowly wrapping an arm around her waist, the other on the back of her neck. Morgana, in response, placed an hand on his arm, while the other caressed his cheek. "We can't, Daemon," Morgana whispered softly.

"I know," Daemon said, his voice filled with desire and want, "This is difficult for me. To see you everyday and not be able to hold you like I used to. You keeping me at arms length, even though I understand why, it's torture."

"Uther would banish you if he found out about us right now." Morgana reminded him, "At least this way, you can still be here."

"It's almost worse, to have pretend that our relationship is platonic, when it's just the opposite." Daemon whispered as he planted a kiss on her forehead before he pulled away and exited the room, both of them missing the tear on each other's cheek.

Daemon wiped the tear away as he walked through the training yard and absentmindedly noted Rebekah beating a noblemen that was trying out for the knights. Rebekah had been in a bad mood all this month, probably because she was fighting tooth and nail to get her old responsibilities and respect as her father's heir. She did finally get Uther to at least let her continue training and overseeing the knight's but that led to it's own problems. The Knight's and tryouts were not trying as hard, because she was a woman, and this was an age of chivalry.

"Come on, you pigs! I'm barely even trying here!" Rebekah shouted in anger as the chivalrous knights refused to meet her eyes out of shame, since they could not bring themselves to hit a woman.

"Is there none of you who will fight me seriously!?" Rebekah demanded again in anger.

'I really need to let off some steam right now,' Daemon thought as being kept from opening loving Morgana was starting to piss him off. He knew how to fix that, but it would take time for him to get everything ready, and until then, he had to suffer with keeping Morgana at arms length.

"How about a spar then, Princess?" Daemon offered, without waiting for her to accept and grabbed a blunted training sword.

"If you wish," Rebekah said, as she was looking forward to this. While she was grateful that Daemon saved her life, Daemon was still the same man that seemed to be the source of her problems. Ever since he came into her life, she had lost the respect of the people, of her father, and he had humiliated her. And that was before she had found out she was actually a woman the whole time, only further complicating the situation. Granted, the people no longer look on her with suspicion and disgust hidden in their eyes, but that's because they don't know the truth.

The two of them assumed their stances and prepared to spar, Daemon noticing out of the corner of his eye, Morgana and Gwen watching from Morgana's room.

Rebekah swung to decapitate Daemon but he managed to block the attack, but he was surprised how fast the attack came at him. She swung at his chest and he blocked it again before she swiped at his right side and Daemon parried it, causing her to stumble away for a bit. 'Hmm, she's faster and more nimble than before. A new style, perhaps?'

Daemon relieved his wrist tension by spinning his sword and readied his weapon just as Rebekah returned to her stance and sliced at Daemon's knees, which was parried away. Rebekah stabbed at Daemon which was parried and then attempted an overhead strike, which made Daemon spin pivot on his feet and parry away. As Daemon blocked her next strike, he delivered a palm thrust to her stomach that sent her to the ground. 'No, she's using the exact same style she did before. But while she's faster and more nimble, she's physically weaker, and I see stamina is still an issue.'

Daemon swung at Rebekah's neck but missed. They both swung at each other and their swords clashed. Tiring and getting desperate, just as she had in their tournament fight, Rebekah unleashed a flurry of lightning quick slashes from varying directions attacks against Daemon for several moments, putting him fully on defense, but Daemon was able to block or parry each and every one of them. Finally, Daemon was able to parry Rebekah's overreaching blow away and grasped her wrist, before applying enough pressure to make her drop the sword. Rebekah was then pulled tightly against Daemon's body, her back on his chest.

"Let me give you some advice," Daemon whispered in her ear as he did his best to ignore Rebekah's sexy and firm butt grinding against his crotch as she tried to escape his powerful grasp. "You are faster and more agile than I'll ever be, but you aren't as strong as you used to be. You also still lack stamina. I would suggest focusing from now on, on technique and less on brute force, since you don't have that anymore, Princess." Daemon then let her go, before putting the training sword back in on the rack and walking away, leaving Rebekah to ponder his words.

A week Later

"Look what's just arrived for you." Gwen said as she brought in a boquet of flowers.

"Who are they from?" Morgana wondered.

"I don't know. It doesn't say." Gwen said as she hadn't seen a note or anything with it.

"That's disappointing." Morgana in well, disappointment.

"Why? Who'd you like them to be from?" Gwen asked, though she had an idea.

"I don't know. A certain handsome, purple eyed man we both know?" Morgana offered, referring to Daemon. Thing were stressed with them right now because of the fact she kept keeping him at arms length. It was becoming more unbearable every day for both of them to be near each other constantly and not be able to openly love one another, but what could she do? Uther would never allow anyone that didn't have noble status to court her. She loved Daemon, but because he did not have him families ancestral lands currently, she and him would never be together, as far as Uther was concerned.

Little did she know when she went to sleep that night, that the events of the next few days would change her fate. Morgana fell asleep that night and the Elanthia Beetle that was hiding in the flowers climbed out and entered into Morgana's ear without disturbing her.

Chapter End

Been a long time since I updated this story. I'm working on the next chapter of this, but I still am working on my other stories. In the next chapter we will deal with Muirden.