The Adventures of Merlin

His fathers son

    Merlin and Arthur were getting ready to sleep in there room at the inn. Merlin was lying down, he looked over at Arthur who took off his shirt revealing wounds from the dragon. They looked bad. When Arthur looked back to Merlin he averted his eyes to the ceiling. "What's wrong with you today?" Arthur asked. "What?" "It pains me to admit it, but I enjoy your surly retorts. In fact, It's probably your only redeemable feature." "Thanks." Merlin turned to the ceiling. Arthur laid down, "There's plenty of servants who can serve, but so few are capable of making a complete prat of themselves" Arthur smiled and looked at Merlin. He was trying to joke with Merlin, but something seemed off, "What is it?" "Nothing." "It's something tell me." Merlin's head was running, he was nervous about his friends back home. And to find out who his father was and the fact he was a dragon lord... It was almost too much. He tried to just ignore Arthur.

     "All right, I know i'm a prince, so we can't be friends, but if I wasn't a prince." Merlin faced the wall, "What?" "Well then... I think we'd probably get on." Merlin shrugged his shoulders, "So?" "So that means you can tell me." "That's true, but if you weren't a prince, I'd tell you to mind you're own dam business." "Merlin?" Arthur smiled, "Are you missing Giaus?" "Something like that." Arthur lifted his head, grabbed his pillow and threw it at Merlin, "Well, what is it then?" Merlin slowly sat up to face Arthur, but looked at the floor. "I can't tell you." Arthur propped himself up on his elbow, "Merlin. What could you possible have to keep from me?" Merlin took a deep breath. He didn't like keeping secrets from Arthur. But at the same time this could change everything. Arthur sat up, "Merlin?" Merlin looked up. "You can tell me anything." Arthur gave Merlin a reassuring look. "Before we left Camelot," Merlin started, "Giaus told me he was the one who helped Balinor escape. When he did Balinor fled to Cenrids Kingdom." Merlin started squeezing his fingers, he was terrified. "He escaped to Ealdor. Bal...Balinor's my father." He watched Arthur's face carefully, expecting... Well, he didn't quite know what to expect.

    Arthur looked away from Merlin. On one hand Merlin was the son of a sorcerer. On the other Merlin never knew him or what he was. "Arthur?" Merlin was full of fear. "Your father is a sorcerer? Well, more than just a sorcerer, a dragon lord." Merlin nodded. "And Giaus knew this whole time?" Arthur looked back at Merlin. "Well, he couldn't tell anyone... Uther will have me executed for being related to a sorcerer.""I'm not sure he wou-" Merlin interrupted Arthur, "You should know more than anyone how much Uther hates magic. He has killed people for simply knowing sorcerers. I'm the son of one. One who has already been sentenced to death by Uther. If your father was to find out..." Merlin gulped, he was doomed. Arthur saw that Merlin was right, "I promise, I won't tell anyone." "Really?" "Of course, get some rest." Arthur gave Merlin a little nod to indicate everything will be alright.

   The men were sleeping when someone silently crept into the room. He walked to the middle of the room and reached down for Arthur's bag. Arthur noticed the man and grabbed his wrist. He grabbed his sword and pushed the robber backwards onto Merlin's bed.  Merlin was woken up in confusion, "What's going on?" He scrambled towards the back of the bed. "Do you know the punishment for theft?" Arthur said with a sword at the mans chest. "Please, I've got children to feed." The robber said. "Tell me where to find Balinor." Arthur kept control of the situation. "Balinor?" "What do you know of him?" "Nothing I..." Arthur adjusted the grip on his sword, "Do you value your life?" "It's been years since I saw him." "Do you know where he lives?" Merlin looked at the robber. "You must travel through the forest of Merendra, to the foot of Feorre mountain. There you will find the cave where Balinor dwells." Arthur stepped back, lowering his weapon. "But don't get your hopes up." the robber warned as he got up. "Why?" Merlin asked. "He will not welcome you. Balinor hates everyone and everything. A caves the best place for him." and with that the robber ran out of the room.

    Now they knew were they were going. The next morning they left for Feorre Mountain. They were traveling in the woods when Arthur started to wince. Merlin looked back at him. "It's all right." Arthur said. "No, It's the wound. Let me have a look."  They stopped for a moment and Arthur let Merlin check to see if e was alright. Merlin was pulling back the collar of Arthur's shirt when he heard trees rustling. "Get down! Get down." He whispered. They ducked behind a log. Merlin watched as Cened's knights walked by, "Arthur." He was still whispering. Merlin shook Arthur, "Arthur?" Arthur's eyes were closed and they stayed that way. Merlin looked around before putting Arthur on the back of a horse and continue on. They were near the entrance of the caves. Merlin got off his horse and entered them alone.