ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶: Stately Duties

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📍 Camelot

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📍 Camelot

April, 507 AD

"Oh! You little jerk!" I exclaimed in between giggles as I watched Phoenix tackle Aithusa and snatch the stuffed bear I threw across the field. Merlin laughed along with me.

As it turns out, baby dragons enjoy playing fetch.

Phoenix seemed to smirk as he raced his sister back to where my brother and I stood.

"You know, he reminds me of Arthur," Merlin claimed as he retrieved the stuffed bear from the dragon's little clawed hands and he flung it away once more. I smiled as the babies half-ran-half-skipped as they chased it. Then I turned to my best friend with a questioning frown. "He is also kind of a bully," he explained.

I bursted out laughing once more. "Sure, but Finny's cute, so he gets a free pass."

"Is that not also why you give Arthur a free pass?" Merlin questioned with a teasing grin and a gentle nudge to my side.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Free pass? Wasn't he the one pulling jam from his hair all day?"

The two of us laughed again.

My idea to befriend George worked out beautifully, though not quite in the way I'd expected it to. The guy is basically the servant version of a 'teacher's pet' – but he's surprisingly willing to help Merlin and I play all the pranks we want as long as he gets to look good in comparison afterwards.

My best friend was suddenly very eager to truly join my shenanigans as a way to get revenge on Arthur for him trying to punish us. And with those revelations about George – which also meant that my brother wouldn't have to clean up a thing – we hastened to rearrange the crossbow booby trap with the jam-filled plastic bag. It wasn't long before Arthur fell victim to it and we had to flee the castle to avoid his rage while George rushed to his rescue. It was so worth it! Especially because I managed to catch the moment on camera!

That leads to why Merlin and I are out camping with the dragons for the night.

My eyes widened when, this time, Aithusa tackled Phoenix and stole the bear from him.

"Attagirl!" I cheered proudly as she rushed back towards us.

Phoenix recovered quickly from her attack and he leaped as he tried to reach her. My jaw dropped when he managed to keep himself suspended in the air for a few seconds. He's starting to learn how to fly! Then he face-planted some two metres away from Aithusa, who finally reached Merlin and I.

The sorcerer gently rubbed her little head in praise for her victory while I ran to check on Phoenix.

The little dragon appeared stunned, but otherwise unharmed. He climbed onto my lap when I kneeled down next to him. I winced at how his claws dug into my thighs, but I didn't protest and instead shifted to sit criss-cross so that he could lie down more comfortably. His amber-coloured eyes hesitantly looked up at me – he seemed almost embarrassed, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

3. 𝖀𝖓𝖇𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙 • BBC MerlinWhere stories live. Discover now