Lady of Magic

VIII

Merlin packs everything up while the rest of the traveling group start to wake up. He was approached by a Druid leader last night, informing him the man they are tracking had already took off eastward. The red head stirs, starting to wake up. She had another fitful night. Even though it has been a ear since Morgana put her in the mental prison, she still is afraid to sleep. 

Though she is too afraid to admit it, he just knows. Ava won't even tell him what had happened during the time. Just how she never wishes to return. Everyone wakes up and notice how the horses are ready. Arthur just accepts it and they head off. Where the camp was is nothing.

"He went east," Merlin bluntly states. Ava looks at him.

"How could you know that?" Arthur asks, skeptical. 

"He's right," Elyan calls. He points at a trail of horse droppings. The group take off in that direction. They all hurry in order to catch up with the man. After a certain point, the forest starts becoming too dense to ride on through. The group dismounts their horse and walk along the path already worn down. A crossbow bolt suddenly fly through the air, injuring Percival. The rest of the group quickly duck. Separated from their hurt comrade, everyone looks around for the attacker. Merlin spots him hidden on a ridge.

"Cover me," Ava orders before taking off. Arthur lets out a slew of curses before trying to distract the man from his sister. The red head helps Percival out of danger to go try and heal his injury. A bolt goes flying to the king, so his servant pushes him out of the way. Merlin casts a spell, shattering the crossbow. The man takes off. Arthur looks around, trying to find the attacker.

"Where is he?" he snaps. "Where did he go?"

"Maybe he ran out of bolts," the sorcerer offers. The two of them and the rest of the knights hurry over to the two that were separated. Ava has already pulled the bolt out of his flesh and wrapping the wound. 

"You are pretty good at this," Percival states as he stands back up. Merlin pulls Ava up and the group decide they want some food. Merlin starts making the meal while Ava brings over wood for a fire. She sits down by him as he tames the flames. He smiles at her and she leans against him. He smiles at her and they interlock fingers. 

"You two get a room," Gwaine jokingly shouts. They turn towards the group of knights behind them. Arthur's face quickly changes.

"No. That is not happening till after marriage."

Leon, who is behind the king, smirks at the couple. Arthur gets a bowl of food and the others follow suit. Ava even manages to get a bowl from the pot. The group practically inhales their food. Merlin waits a second before lifting a spoon full of the food. He spots a small pouch in it. His eyes widen as he looks at the group. Everyone is laying on the ground, struggling to breathe. All their eyes are closed. He hurries over to them. 

He places his hands on Arthur's chest, muttering a spell. The male Pendragon starts breathing normally again. The dark hair sorcerer hurries to help the others. Once he knows everyone is okay, he hurries after the reason for all of this. He soon arrives to the tomb. Just in time to see the key get placed.

"It's a trap," Merlin warns. He ignores and unlocks the door. A gas is released, knocking the thief unconscious. The Dragon Lord goes on ahead inside. In the center of the atrium is a white egg on a pedestal.

"We could split the pay. Think about the power we would have."

"Dragons are meant to be free. Not as weapons or imprisoned."

"What would you know?"

"He's the last Dragon Lord," they hear. The two turn to see Ava rushing in. She uses magic and sends the thief flying backwards. Merlin snatches up the egg and there is some rumbling. The tomb starts shaking. The red head pulls her lover out of the way of falling stones. She holds her hand out to send some flying away from them. She must have used too much force since she made the building even more unstable.

"We should probably run," Merlin states.

"Yeah."

The two take off out of the tomb. The Dragon Lord hides the egg inside his bag just before they meet with the rest of their traveling group.

"The egg?" Arthur asks.

"It was destroyed," his servant lies.

"Are you sure?"

"Nothing would have survived the destruction," Ava states. The king nods his head and the group heads back to Camelot. Most of the way, Arthur lectures the two for rushing into danger. The couple just sharing a knowing smirk as they head back to their home. Making it a nonstop trip, it allowed them to arrive late afternoon of the next day. 

The princess and the king's servant sneaks off, still dressed like they are on a mission. They run hand in hand to an empty field. Merlin calls forth the Great Dragon. The creature lands in front of them and the red headed warrior places the white egg before him.

"I never thought I would see the day," he states.

"How is the dragon suppose to born?" Ava asks.

"Only a Dragon Lord may call the baby forward. They give them their names."

Merlin nods his head, stepping forward. His eyes roll back a bit.

"Aithusa," he practically growls. Small cracking sounds fill the air as the dragon breaks the shell encasing it. A small white creature pops out.

"A white dragon," the older one states. "A sign of the new world you two with Arthur shall build."

Ava feels tears of joy build in her eyes at the scene before her. Merlin pulls her closer as the new born takes off for its first flight. He has a huge smile on his face. This is the win they have needed in a long time it seems. And now they have it.