The Dragon's New Groove

A Talk Ensues

Kilgharrah stumbles a few steps in his haste to get to his kin, and right when he thinks he'll make it without any trouble, he trips on a stick and falls flat on his face.

He feels his face heat up from embarrassment, but ignores it.

"Sorry, I'm not used to these legs yet," Kilgharrah mumbles.

Merlin ignores this, and continues to stare at him with the most bewildered look Kilgharrah has ever seen.

"How- what?" Merlin splutters. "How are you-? Why are you-? What?!"

"Merlin, you know I don't understand your gibberish." He mutters while picking himself up off the ground.

"Is there a reason you were running like your life depended on it, or were you just aiming to harm me?" Arthur scowls. Arthur looks at Merlin, "You know this man?"

Kilgharrah couldn't help the extra loud gasp that escaped his throat. "Arthur! Merlin's told me so much about you, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Highness." He switches his body's direction to stumble after Arthur now, not quite sure what he'll do once he gets there.

Arthur steps back, like the prat Merlin says he is, and looks between him and Merlin as if that'll give him the answers he desires.

Kilgharrah pouts.

"Merlin?" Arthur asks again.

Merlin's mouth opens and closes like one of those slimy sea creatures.

That's alright, Kilgharrah can give the answers. It'll secure his place at Merlin's side if he does it anyway. Merlin can't reject him if Kilgharrah does what he's about to do.

"Merlin's my brother!"

"What?" Merlin and Arthur say at the same time.

"Well, technically, half brother. We only share the same father." Even though Kilgharrah is much, much, older than Balinor. They could make this work.

The both of them could only stare, mouths hanging open, at Kilgharrah. He feels pretty darn proud of himself right now.

"I thought you never knew your father, Merlin?" Arthur queries, but Kilgharrah's newfound emotions detect a hint of betrayal and sadness in Arthur's voice.

Okay, so maybe playing as his brother wasn't the best of ideas. Hopefully Merlin's wrath isn't too unkind.

"I, uh..." Merlin gulps. "I only knew him for a day before he died."

Merlin is looking at pretty much everything but Arthur right now.

Kilgharrah watches, slightly concerned, as Arthur stares at Merlin, and Merlin stares at the dirt.

He didn't know Merlin never mentioned meeting his father to Arthur.

"I'm sorry, Merlin. I didn't realise you never told Arthur."

At that, Merlin's head snaps up, and... oh no. Merlin has that 'I'm going to kill you' look in his eyes.

Someone stumbles their way over to them shouting, "Sire!"

Merlin looks back at the approaching man, then at Arthur.

"Excuse me, sire, but I need to have a talk with my brother," Merlin spits the last word like it's a curse.

He doesn't wait for Arthur's permission, he simply stomps his way to Kilgharrah and roughly grabs his arm, shoving him towards some privacy.

"Are you trying to ruin my life?" Merlin hisses. "How could you say that to Arthur? My father was magic, you great lizard! Why would I tell the king, the one person that shouldn't know?"

Merlin's eyes still have that crazy look in them, and it takes all of Kilgharrah's strength to not look away.

"You could have given a fake name, Merlin," Is the only excuse Kilgharrah can come up with.

Merlin's eyes somehow harden even more.

"And tell more lies? I'm so tired of lying, Kilgharrah! At this point, my entire life is built on them! I can't keep up with what's true and what's not anymore," Merlin looks down at the ground, so much sadness pouring out of him, Kilgharrah almost chokes on it.

"Then maybe it's time you tell the truth, young Warlock."

Merlin's chin quivers when he looks up, eyes unbearably sad, "You know I can't do that."

Kilgharrah stands there watching his kin, only able to think about how more alike they are than he originally thought.

"It seems you are just as lonely as I, Merlin."

Merlin's eyes suddenly pop wide open and a look of true befuddlement appears.

"Kilgharrah," he says really slowly.

"Yes?" He mimics.

"How are you human?"

Kilgharrah almost rolls his eyes as he says, "Magic." Honestly, Merlin should know this.

"What? No, I mean why?"

"Like I said, I'm lonely," Kilgharrah makes sure to look Merlin in the eyes, "I'm old, Merlin. I do not want to spend the rest of my days alone, awaiting your call that may never come. You are the only family I have left."

Merlin's mouth falls slightly open, and he gasps, "You want to live in Camelot?"

"Yes, young Warlock. I wish to help you with the creation of Albion and to cure my loneliness," he pauses here, unsure if it's too soon to ask but he does it anyways. "Please, Merlin. Do not let me die alone. Will you grant me permission to move to Camelot?"

It takes awhile of Merlin's uncertain stare, but he finally asks, "Will you attack anyone?"

Kilgharrah shakes his head, "No."

"Are you willing to not use your magic openly?"

"Of course, whatever you want, Merlin."

Merlin purses his lips. "You're not trying to manipulate me in anyway? You truly just want to live with me? Because the second I find out it's a lie, I will have your scaly hide made into fried meat."

Kilgharrah bristles.

"Merlin!" Kilgharrah cries indignantly. "I promise you, all I want is to spend the rest of my days with you! Don't you dare touch my scales!"

Merlin gives him a look.

"Please, Merlin?"

Merlin sighs. "Alright, fine. And I mean it, no burning down anything unless I say it's okay."

Kilgharrah absolutely beams.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Merlin! I promise I won't let you down!"

Kilgharrah starts running to Arthur and somehow ends up flat on his face, again.

Why does this keep happening to him?