Oh WOW! I have no words. Just WOW. Brilliant.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! Cliffhanger!

Another amazing chapter! You have me wondering WHICH delegates are working with Morgana. And what Lucan has planned, and if it will be actually beneficial to Merlin, or if it's meant well but actually interferes with things.

Oh wow! Brilliant chapter! Poor Merlin. Arthur needs to get his head out of his arse. Your OCs are already fascinating. Merlin has fanboys! Lol.

Holy moly that's quite the twist! And in the PROLOGUE no less. I was totally expecting Arthur to be sentencing Merlin to death, and you totally blindsided me with this instead! Absolutely BRILLIANT, I cannot wait to keep reading.

I loved this chapter. I think the way you did the reactions were perfect! Can’t wait to see Arthur’s.

This is tragically beautiful! I really hope Arthur is able to talk it out with Merlin. I didn’t understand the first chPter, just hope it was a bad dream.

I am aware that's its been quite a few years since you finished this fic up but I wanted to inform you on how much I enjoyed reading this. I actually cried at some of the bits at the end. Congratulations on writing an amazing fanfiction for an amazing fandom.

May you find what you seek.
Alsaya.

Let me start by saying that I love King Leonard.

It was pretty rude for Gwen, the (ex?) Queen of Camelot to send a servant to his potential death in a situation well above his sworn duty without so much as a good luck [she asked him to tell Arthur that she believes in him and now shows consideration towards Merlin, but doesn't really seem to appreciate another servant whose so willingly confronting danger without any real defenses, who's also risking torture by Morgana]. It seems she's still disregarding servants.

I also can understand her desperately wanting help, but I appreciate Arthur's attitude as a monarch better (then again he was prepped his whole life for it), he didn't expect Merlin to help. I guess I'm not to fond of her almost damseling while Mithian, who really shouldn't be involved with this drama, is handling it with a bit more grace (but perhaps all of the recent events are taking a toll). Morgana, before Morgause, offered knights who she believed might die tokens of good luck. Surely something should be mustered for George?

Everyone's growing. I'm glad.

I believe that in the end, Arthur will turn out to be the Once and Future King, but someone had to question that claim. No one could truly be sure do to his relation to Uther, the unchanging of the laws and his beliefs, and that this claim was made by a vengeful and bitter dragon who had reason to hate both Merlin and Arthur for the deeds of the fathers.

Then again, if Kilgharrah saw all of that, surely he saw Lucan's interference and might not have risked Merlin's ire. Then again, he enjoyed freedom and Aithusa's alive so perhaps he believe it to be worth it. Simply calling Kilgharrah and forcing the truth out of him will reveal all; though, misdirection is exactly lying and Kilgharrah's great at being vague. He has enough wisdom to maybe get around it, perhaps fearing that Merlin might view Aithusa and Kilgharrah as irredeemable and wipe out the entire species.

One should also consider Balinor and Merlin's resemblance to him. Kilgharrah surely hasn't forgotten the dragonlord who in his naivety led to Kilgharrah's capture and didn't return to free him. He also served Uther after the man was known to kill many dragons and was known for nearly wiping them out. "Did he truly believe that Uther wanted peace with them?", Kilgharrah might wonder. He might conclude that it didn't matter. He doesn't seem to care much for intentions.

It would make sense if the dragon's not to found of that man's son: Merlin. He's also not at all fond of Uther and attacked Camelot and Arthur leading me to believe that he might not care too much for "the Once and Future King". It'd be somewhat of a revenge to their fathers and the magical community in general (for 'allowing' the hunting and near-extinction of the dragons) and even Merlin (for constantly saving Uther) to ensure that Merlin and Arthur never succeed in their respective (though perhaps separate) destinies. Kilgharrah did seem to treat the Once and Future King thing as an almost afterthought when the opportunity arose to get revenge by Uther (maybe by letting Morgana die or isolating her from Merlin [with the constant warnings] leading her to seek understanding in Morgause). Also what does Albion matter to the dragon? And why? He's very old and is soon to die as did most of his species.

He was also trapped in darkness w/no hope of freedom but Merlin for 20 years and wasn't afraid to manipulate Merlin a bit. He might have engineered things in a way that ensured his freedom (seeing as he can see the many futures) and he was definitely upset when Merlin swore not to free him or ever allow him to be freed. Knowing that Emrys determines who the Once and Future King is, Kilgharrah picked Arthur to eventually force Merlin's hand. He also might've engineered things so that when Merlin eventually failed it'd look like Merlin's fault; the druids would believe that Arthur's the Once and Future King and that Merlin, with all the knowledge that he had of their destinies, was responsible for where they failed. They'd then turn to Morgana as a savior.

Killgharrah had to have 'known' in some way how the ending of Season 5 would turn out (Taliesin wasn't alive so maybe it wasn't his fate to interfere in such matters). Maybe Kilgharrah keeps playing along because he wouldn't dare risk the ire of Emrys, a dragonlord that can command anything of him, and simply wanted to enjoy the life he had left, ensuring the continuation of the dragon race through Aithusa and the dragonlord Merlin(to hatch dragons; also how did Kilgharrah lose Aithusa, the last of his very hunted and nearly extinct species?). Gaius said, "An easy solution is like a light in a storm, Merlin. Rush for it at your peril, for it may not always lead you to a safe harbour." Kilgharrah solved Merlin's purposelessness and despite being callous his solutions seemed to work.

Finally, why would Kilgharrah be against Morgana? She seemed to care for Aithusa, one of his kin, and took decent care of her/him. She is destined to bring back the old ways and the old religion and what does Kilgharrah care if it's united with the new ways? Once again, Merlin's father is Balinor who wasn't dedicated to reviving the dragon species that he almost let get killed off. He wasn't hunting for the triskellion or even attempting to help Kilgharrah go free (or help in his revenge schemes when he heard of it). His kin should be Kilgharrah's kin an undoubtedly Kil fills betrayed and there has to be some resentment there. The dragon's too vengeful for there not to be.

Perhaps he even foresaw Balinor's death and the pain of finding out that he had a son that he wasn't able to look after do to being hunted by Uther, and the pain he must've felt dying when he realized he would never get a chance to know Merlin. Perhaps the attack was an intricate part of a revenge scheme to both Uther and Balinor. The truth can't have been easy to swallow. And perhaps in the 20 years trapped and scheming, Kilgharrah saw the boldness that Balinor would have, to try to act as a dragonlord then and command him who he betrayed, and perhaps then Kil grew more furious. (He'd come back to Camelot to discipline/command Kilgharrah, but not to free him?)

Then again, I'm speculating, but you've brought out a huge plot bunny for my rampant thoughts.

*Sorry for the rant! :)*

One should also consider Balinor and Merlin's resemblance to him. Kilgharrah surely hasn't forgotten the dragonlord who in his naivety led to Kilgharrah's capture and didn't return to free him. He also served Uther after the man was known to kill many dragons and was known for nearly wiping them out. "Did he truly believe that Uther wanted peace with them?", Kilgharrah might wonder. He might conclude that it didn't matter. He doesn't seem to care much for intentions.

It would make sense if the dragon's not to found of that man's son: Merlin. He's also not at all fond of Uther and attacked Camelot and Arthur leading me to believe that he might not care too much for "the Once and Future King". It'd be somewhat of a revenge to their fathers and the magical community in general (for 'allowing' the hunting and near-extinction of the dragons) and even Merlin (for constantly saving Uther) to ensure that Merlin and Arthur never succeed in their respective (though perhaps separate) destinies. Kilgharrah did seem to treat the Once and Future King thing as an almost afterthought when the opportunity arose to get revenge by Uther (maybe by letting Morgana die or isolating her from Merlin [with the constant warnings] leading her to seek understanding in Morgause). Also what does Albion matter to the dragon? And why? He's very old and is soon to die as did most of his species.

He was also trapped in darkness w/no hope of freedom but Merlin for 20 years and wasn't afraid to manipulate Merlin a bit. He might have engineered things in a way that ensured his freedom (seeing as he can see the many futures) and he was definitely upset when Merlin swore not to free him or ever allow him to be freed. Knowing that Emrys determines who the Once and Future King is, Kilgharrah picked Arthur to eventually force Merlin's hand. He also might've engineered things so that when Merlin eventually failed it'd look like Merlin's fault; the druids would believe that Arthur's the Once and Future King and that Merlin, with all the knowledge that he had of their destinies, was responsible for where they failed. They'd then turn to Morgana as a savior.

Killgharrah had to have 'known' in some way how the ending of Season 5 would turn out (Taliesin wasn't alive so maybe it wasn't his fate to interfere in such matters). Maybe Kilgharrah keeps playing along because he wouldn't dare risk the ire of Emrys, a dragonlord that can command anything of him, and simply wanted to enjoy the life he had left, ensuring the continuation of the dragon race through Aithusa and the dragonlord Merlin(to hatch dragons; also how did Kilgharrah lose Aithusa, the last of his very hunted and nearly extinct species?). Gaius said, "An easy solution is like a light in a storm, Merlin. Rush for it at your peril, for it may not always lead you to a safe harbour." Kilgharrah solved Merlin's purposelessness and despite being callous his solutions seemed to work.

Finally, why would Kilgharrah be against Morgana? She seemed to care for Aithusa, one of his kin, and took decent care of her/him. She is destined to bring back the old ways and the old religion and what does Kilgharrah care if it's united with the new ways? Once again, Merlin's father is Balinor who wasn't dedicated to reviving the dragon species that he almost let get killed off. He wasn't hunting for the triskellion or even attempting to help Kilgharrah go free (or help in his revenge schemes when he heard of it). His kin should be Kilgharrah's kin an undoubtedly Kil fills betrayed and there has to be some resentment there. The dragon's too vengeful for there not to be.

Perhaps he even foresaw Balinor's death and the pain of finding out that he had a son that he wasn't able to look after do to being hunted by Uther, and the pain he must've felt dying when he realized he would never get a chance to know Merlin. Perhaps the attack was an intricate part of a revenge scheme to both Uther and Balinor. The truth can't have been easy to swallow. And perhaps in his many years trapped and scheming, Kilgharrah saw the boldness that Balinor would have, to try to act as a dragonlord then and command him who he betrayed, and perhaps then Kil grew more furious. (He'd come back to Camelot to discipline/command Kilgharrah, but not to free him?)

Then again, I'm speculating, but you've brought out a huge plot bunny for my rampant thoughts.

*Sorry for the rant! :)*