A Warlocks' Disguise {ArthurxFem!Merlin}

Chapter 6 - Merilyn

The voice called out to her again that night, persistent and clear, pulling her from sleep. Merilyn couldn't ignore it this time. With a heavy sigh, she found herself walking down to the dungeons as a woman, no illusion to disguise her tonight. She wore only her tunic and trousers, the bindings that usually flattened her chest removed to give herself some comfort. A soft shawl was draped over her shoulders, just in case someone saw her, though she doubted anyone would be wandering the castle at this hour.

The incessant calling of her name was starting to grate on her nerves as she made her way down a flight of narrow stone stairs beneath the castle, a torch flickering in her hand. The air grew cooler and damper as she descended, her footsteps echoing faintly in the silence. When she reached the bottom of the staircase, an open cavern stretched out before her, vast and eerie in the dim light of her torch.

"Hello?" she called into the open space, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to sound calm. The answer was a deep, resonant chuckle that echoed through the cave, bouncing off the walls like a distant thunderclap.

Merilyn's heart leapt in her chest as she spun around, trying to locate the source of the laughter. "Where are you?" she demanded, her voice steadying as she realized who—or rather, what—was calling to her.

She knew what this had to be. Gaius had mentioned the dragon once, the creature that Uther had imprisoned beneath the castle years ago. She hadn't given it much thought at the time, but now, standing in the depths of Camelot, the reality of it felt overwhelming.

Sure enough, a massive shadow loomed in the distance, and suddenly, from the darkness, a dragon came soaring out of nowhere. His enormous wings beat the air with a gust of wind that nearly knocked her off balance. He landed gracefully on a towering rock formation in front of her, his golden scales shimmering in the dim light of the torch.

Merilyn's breath caught in her throat. She had never seen a dragon before, and the sheer magnificence of the creature left her awestruck. His golden eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom as they focused on her, and despite the fear that gripped her, she couldn't help but smile.

"I'm here," the dragon spoke, his deep, rumbling voice echoing around her.

For a moment, Merilyn could only stare, speechless, her mind racing to comprehend the reality of the situation.

The dragon's gaze lingered on her, curious and intense. "How small you are for such a great destiny," he said, his voice carrying a strange mixture of amusement and awe.

Merilyn blinked, finally finding her voice. "Why? What do you mean?" she asked, her confusion evident. "What destiny?"

"Your gift, Merilyn, was given to you for a reason," the dragon replied, his eyes glinting with meaning.

Her heart leapt at the dragon's words. A reason. For so long, she had questioned why she was born with these powers, why she was different. "So there is a reason," she murmured, her voice tinged with hope. The question had gnawed at her for as long as she could remember, and now, finally, she was on the verge of getting an answer.

The dragon's gaze softened slightly. "Arthur is the once and future king who will unite the land of Albion."

Merilyn frowned, confusion flooding her thoughts. "Arthur?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What does the prince have to do with my magic?"

"He faces many threats, from both friend and foe alike," the dragon continued, his tone growing more serious. "And without you, Arthur will never succeed."

Merilyn's frown deepened. "I don't see why that has anything to do with me," she said, her voice laced with skepticism. She couldn't begin to imagine what her magic or her existence had to do with Arthur's future. "He hardly knows who I am."