The Dragon's New Groove

Leon The Long and Suffering

They reached the end of the castle tour when Leon said, "And this down here is the armoury. I'm sure you know what that is, it's where all of the knights keep their... you know... armour. And weapons."

"You keep your metal sticks in the same room?" Kilgharrah asks. "Wouldn't it be wise to keep it with you, that way no one steals it?"

"Metal sticks?" Leon gasps.

"I mean, leaving your pointy sticks in an unguarded room that literally anyone can walk into isn't really the best of ideas, is it?" Kilgharrah continues, oblivious to Leon's offense.

"I'll have you know that these are no ordinary metal sticks! These are Camelot's most finest weapons!" Leon cries indignantly.

Kilgharrah hums.

"I've seen better." He has made better.

Leon stares at him with an undecipherable look and then turns away and walks dejectedly out of the armoury.

Well, that was rude.

"Hey! You never showed me where the King's chambers were!" Kilgharrah shouted after Leon.

"I thought you weren't going to murder my King?" Leon pouts sullenly.

Kilgharrah catches up with Leon and stands in front of him to keep the Knight from leaving.

"I promised Merlin I wouldn't kill anyone without his consent and I mean it, Leon. I don't break my promises. I just want to know where Arthur's chambers are in case of an emergency."

Leon couldn't project more disbelief if he tried.

"You're saying that if Merlin were to give you permission to kill, you'd do it?"

Kilgharrah cocks his head to the side. "Well... usually killing people doesn't solve my problems, but given that I've been chained inside of a cave for over twenty years and only just escaped a few years ago, I can't say I'm entirely certain I know the answer to that particular question." Kilgharrah pauses, remembering that someone in this very castle reeks of evil. "Actually, there is one person I'm almost certain is plotting against the throne, so I'd happily kill him before he gets to Arthur."

One of Leon's eyebrows raise.

"You've been here a few hours and you think you've found a threat already?"

Is that rhetorical or is he actually asking?

"Of course. My senses have never been wrong about anyone before."

"And, pray tell, who is this 'threat' that you speak of?"

He couldn't just say it, could he? Merlin once told him of the time he'd tried to warn Arthur of a man named Cedric, and that Arthur had practically laughed in his face and sacked him.

"I can't give you his real name, you most likely wouldn't believe me, so I'll give you this: He looks like an overgrown rat and he is a noble."

Leon let out a long, suffering sigh, and muttered to himself about cryptic strangers and rats.

Kilgharrah grabs hold of Leon's right shoulder and pulls him along, urging him to continue the tour.

"Come on, Leon. Show me where Arthur's chambers are located."

———

Leon brings them to an enormous wooden door and grunts, "Here it is. His Royal Highness's bedchambers."

Kilgharrah smiles an evil little thing and shoves the doors open, making his way into the room.

Leon makes a strangled squeaking noise behind him.

Arthur jumps from his seat at the table, while also reaching for his hip.

"Hello!" Kilgharrah smiles and waves.

The hand reaching for the hip halts it's movements when Arthur recognises Kilgharrah.

"What the hell are you doing in my chambers, Kilgharrah?"

Leon emerges to Kilgharrah's left and looks out of breath.

"I'm sorry, Sire! I didn't realise he would come in here."

Kilgharrah tunes out Leon and Arthur's conversation while he takes a look at the King's chambers. It's a lot bigger than he thought it would be. It's roomy and has lots of space.

It kind of reminds Kilgharrah of the cave he'd been kept in. Except, this is somehow making him feel homesick. Has he seriously grown an attachment to the place?

"Your nest is very adorable, Arthur. I honestly did not think it would look this nice," he sniffs. His throat is tightening and his nose is tingling.

"I, uh, thank you? Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Kilgharrah's vision becomes blurry and he feels his chin quiver.

"You can take it any way you please."

A hand lands on his shoulder, squeezing, and Kilgharrah looks to see Leon connected to the arm.

"What are you doing?" Kilgharrah ponders. It comes out more like a croak.

His question gets ignored and Leon comes closer. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know, Leon. My body is doing something really weird right now and I have the strongest urge to go... home."

The cave.

Merlin! Kilgharrah screams in his head.

Almost instantly, Merlin comes barreling into the room, panic all over his face.

"Kilgharrah, what's wrong?!" Merlin frets.

Kilgharrah can only focus his eyes on his kin's form. He lets out a shuddering breath and stumbles his way over to Merlin, grabbing him into a tight embrace.

I need to visit the cave. Will you bring me there?

Merlin tightens his grip on Kilgharrah at the mental speak, but he does respond.

Of course. Did you want to go now? It'll be hard to get to during the day but we could still try.

Kilgharrah nods against Merlin's shoulder.

I need to go now, Merlin. My body is doing weird things.

Merlin sighs.

You're crying, Kilgharrah. This is what crying feels like.

Kilgharrah pulls out of the hug.

"I don't want it. Make it go away."

Merlin nods and pulls Kilgharrah towards the door. Before they exit however, Merlin turns to say something to Arthur about being back to bring supper, and Kilgharrah can only watch as Leon and Arthur stare at the two of them in complete astonishment, mouths hanging open, eyes bulging, and everything.

And then Merlin is pulling him out of the room and down towards the cave.

All Kilgharrah can think about is the dreadful feeling that took hold of him and how he never, ever, wants to feel that way again.

He doubts his wishes will come true, though. Humans are so complicated.