Camelot

Twenty-One - Fire

Twenty-One – Fire

"What was that!?" yelled Arthur in disbelief.

Immediately after his words the dragon appeared, passing the window in a flash of scales and anger. Once out of sight it let out a fierce roar and a huge wall of flames shot past the open window.

I turned to look at Arthur, noticing the look of fear on his face and the sheen of sweat building on his forehead. He had faced many battles against magic during his lifetime already, but this was much more dangerous than anything he had faced. He turned to me, grabbing my arm desperately.

"Emalia, surely there's something you can do," he begged.

"Only a Dragonlord can command a dragon, Arthur," I told him. "And they were all said to have been destroyed with their dragons long ago."

His hand fell away from my arm and he turned anxiously back to the citadel. His hands gripped the window ledge so hard that his hands lost all colour. When my gaze returned to his face, I saw that it was the same shade as his hands.

"I cannot promise that I will come out of this alive," he said. His tone was so flat that it was free of all emotion and I feared what was to come next. "The only way to defeat the dragon is to kill it, which I know you will not approve of."

"The dragon is a creature of magic, just like myself," I responded. "Seeing the last creature of its kind destroyed is not something I take lightly, especially when it is a creature like this. However, if defeating it is the only way to save yourself and this kingdom, then it must be done."

Again he turned to face me. The anger that had stared me in the face only moments ago had been replaced by fear. He hard exterior had softened somewhat and for the first time in a while, I saw the man I married.

"I can't say I understand your attachment to this creature," he said. "But if there is any other way to defeat it without taking its life, then I will do whatever I can to make sure that happens."

His change in demeanour confused me. Only moments earlier he had been telling me that magic had no place in his life and that meant that I didn't either and ignoring the warnings of danger that I had urged him about. Now that that danger was upon him, he appeared to have had a change of heart.

"I must gather my troops and lead this defence," he went on. "Many people will seek shelter within the castle walls and they will be scared. Keep them calm and safe Emalia and most of all, keep yourself safe."

He reached for my hand and slowly bought it to his lips, pressing them softly to my skin. His lips lingered for only moments, before they departed and he shortly followed. Then I stood alone in his chambers, wondering how a creature of magic had somehow begun to mend the coldness between us.

The moment I left Arthur's room, I could see that villagers were already swarming the castle. The halls were filled with them, all running towards the main hall to seek shelter. Noblemen and women, as well as the castle servants were all following them, while a stream of knights was heading the other way.

I watched the streams of people for quite a while, searching those heading out to fight for Leith and those retreating for Madeline and Jensen. When I finally gave up the search, I retreated further into the castle and found myself staring into the eyes of who had set the dragon free.

Merlin was standing in one of the emptier corridors of the castle, starting out of an open window into the square below. He had his hands either side of the window, pressed hard into the stone walls and turned to face me the moment I appeared. His face was filled with agony and I knew immediately what had happened.