*Merlin* Bonds of Fate

Bound by Blood

The ground shook with the force of the dragon's rage. Kilgharrah's wings beat against the sky like thunder, casting massive shadows over the village. Flames roared in every direction, swallowing houses and trees alike. Villagers screamed, scattering into the woods, fleeing the relentless firestorm. And at the center of it all, Arthur stood his ground, Excalibur raised high, ready to strike.

Merlin's heart pounded in his chest as he watched from a distance, still too far away to reach Arthur in time. The magic he'd used to shield Arthur from the dragon's fire had worked—this time. But Kilgharrah was no ordinary dragon, and he would not be so easily defeated. The danger wasn't just from the fire; there was something darker at play, a magic more dangerous than Merlin had first realized.

And then there was the man—the one who had appeared out of nowhere, who had known Merlin's true name, Emrys. Merlin's thoughts raced. He hadn't seen the man since that brief confrontation in the woods, but his presence still lingered like a shadow over the battlefield. Whoever he was, Merlin knew he couldn't be trusted. He was part of something bigger, something darker.

But Merlin couldn't worry about that now. His priority was Arthur.

He raced through the burning village, dodging the falling debris and the frantic villagers trying to escape the inferno. His magic crackled at his fingertips, ready to unleash at a moment's notice. The fire roared around him, but he paid it no mind. There was only one thing on his mind: protecting Arthur.

Ahead, Kilgharrah swooped low again, his claws outstretched, aiming straight for Arthur. Merlin's heart lurched.

"Gewin!" Merlin shouted, throwing his hand out. A blast of wind shot from his palm, pushing Arthur just out of the dragon's reach. Arthur stumbled, confused by the sudden force, but quickly regained his footing.

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get back!"

But Merlin didn't listen. He couldn't. Not now. The dragon was too close, too dangerous. Arthur was too exposed.

Kilgharrah roared, his massive form circling back for another strike. This time, Merlin knew the dragon wouldn't miss.

Without thinking, Merlin sprinted forward, throwing himself between Arthur and the dragon just as Kilgharrah unleashed another blast of fire. The flames engulfed them, the heat searing through the air like a wave of pure destruction.

Arthur barely had time to react. "No!"

Merlin raised his hands, summoning the last of his strength, casting a shield of pure magic around himself and Arthur. The fire hit the shield, but this time, the force of it was too much. Merlin could feel the strain, the pressure of Kilgharrah's power pressing against his magic, threatening to break through.

His knees buckled, but he held on, pouring every ounce of his energy into the shield. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his vision blurred as he fought to maintain control. The dragon's fire was relentless, and Merlin could feel his strength slipping away.

Arthur, oblivious to the magic surrounding him, swung Excalibur at the dragon's underbelly, but it barely made a dent. Kilgharrah roared again, this time angrier, his massive claws raking the ground as he circled above them.

Merlin gasped for breath, his body trembling from the effort of holding the shield. He could feel the magic inside him burning, pushing him to the brink. But he couldn't stop. If he let go, if the shield broke, Arthur would be dead.

But then, without warning, Kilgharrah shifted, his massive head turning toward Merlin. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Merlin saw something in the dragon's gaze that made his blood run cold.

Recognition.

Kilgharrah knew him.

Merlin's breath caught in his throat as the dragon reared back, gathering its strength for another attack. He tried to raise his hands again, to summon more magic, but his body wouldn't respond. He was too weak. The shield was already flickering, weakening under the pressure of the flames.

"Arthur..." Merlin gasped, his voice barely a whisper.

But before Arthur could react, Kilgharrah struck.

The dragon's tail whipped through the air, faster than Merlin could move. It slammed into him with the force of a battering ram, knocking him off his feet. Merlin flew through the air, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through his body as he hit the dirt, his head spinning, vision darkening at the edges.

He tried to move, but the pain was overwhelming. Every inch of his body screamed in agony. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, but the breath wouldn't come. His magic flickered and died, leaving him helpless and exposed on the ground.

Arthur's shout echoed in the distance, but Merlin couldn't focus. His world was spinning, the edges of his vision growing darker with each passing second.

Kilgharrah roared again, his massive form looming over the battlefield. But Merlin couldn't see him anymore. His eyes fluttered closed, the pain too much to bear.

For the first time in a long time, Merlin was afraid. Not of death—he had faced that enough times—but of what would happen if he failed. If he wasn't there to protect Arthur. If he wasn't there to fulfill his destiny.

His hand twitched, trying to summon the strength to move, to cast one last spell, but his body wouldn't respond. His magic was gone, drained by the effort of holding the shield.

And then, just as the darkness threatened to swallow him whole, he heard a voice. Soft, familiar.

"Emrys..."

Merlin's eyes flickered open, just for a moment, but the world around him was blurred, distant. He thought he saw a figure standing over him—tall, cloaked in shadows. The same man from the forest.

"Rest now," the voice whispered, a cold, cruel smile in the words. "You've done enough."

Merlin tried to fight back, tried to move, but the pain was too much. The world faded to black, and the last thing he saw was Arthur, sword raised, charging toward Kilgharrah with a shout of defiance.