Dragonborne - 16. Chapter 16

****  

“You cannot shoulder this burden alone, no one places the blame on your shoulders.”

The black dragon stared into his goblet as he nursed his wounds. Of course, no one would speak it out loud, but he heard the whispers and felt the looks. He was the captain of the royal guard, yet it was under his watch the kingdom lost their beloved king, queen, and prince.

“I failed them when they needed me most, I should have seen through the deception, I watched my king perish before my very eyes. It was my duty to protect them” Thade wailed as he shattered the goblet. “I swore an oath to be his greatest shield and his sharpest blade, yet I was the one who was protected”

It would be years before Thade got himself together. As the clans retreated to their sanctuaries and the elders disappeared, He did what he could to maintain order. He would visit the throne room every day, a place once filled with joy and hope was now a desolate chamber many avoided. He would take his previous post with his back to the throne. It was here the black dragon shed his tears apologizing for failing to live up to the expectations placed on his station.

****  

Thade stepped through the portal as his chest swelled with pride watching Jin wield Caliburn with the utmost precision. That pride quickly become terror as he witnessed Morgana’s last-ditch effort to slay the remaining member of the royal family. His body moved on its own before his mind processed what was taking place and as he looked down at the young prince and his mate, he knew the kingdom was being left to in capable hands, Merlin would guide them from here as his final act would be to ensure their survival.

“Are you alright little one?” Levi nodded as the tears began to fall, he knew the dragon was not long for this world. The act of speaking caused the dragon to convulse and cough up blood as his strength began to fail him. “I see you’ve retrieved the late king's sword...I’m glad I made it in time... I have fulfilled my duties to the throne young prince.” With a smile on his face, the black dragon succumbs to his wounds leaving this world with no regrets as the darkness closed in around him.

Levi gently laid Jin down as he approached the fallen dragon, the royal guard captain who made the ultimate sacrifice for him and his mate. “Rest in peace captain, wish my parents well” Levi stated as he knelled beside Thade’s body.

“The Royal Guard was always a nuisance, even now they foil my plans at the last moment” a heavily injured Morgana stated. The vessel she was inhabiting was near its limit and her gamble to reclaim her power here and now had failed. “I’ll be back your highness, of that you can be sure, and when I do you will know the full weight of my vengeance”

“You will not insult the bravest dragon I have ever known” Levi stared Morgana down, his eyes shrouded in white. Jin struggled to his feet as feet to stand tall at his mate’s side. They smiled at each other as Levi helped Jin lift Caliburn. “Begone from our sight, and know this. When you make your return, we will be ready and waiting.” Together they brought the blade down on Morgana dispelling her darkness as her weakened spirit separated from Gillian. Before her spirit could truly be vanquished, Mordred appeared shielding his master from the brunt of the attack and taking her spirit within him, before quickly making his escape.

The group let out a collective sigh as they fell to the ground the battle had taken its toll on them all. Merlin and the council of knights quickly appeared on the scene following the departure of darkness.

“By the stars, you are all ok, it would seem you were able to overcome this trial.” Merlin smiled at the young drakes before him as he and several knights stepped through one of his portals. “I can assume Thade made it in time, where is the old dragon?” The faces of the young warriors fell and Levi avoided looking at the face of his master.

“He carried out his duty, to the very end,” Jin said quietly as he held his mate close. Merlin looked beyond the group to see his old friend laid across the ground his body riddled with blades but a smile on his face.

Merlin approached Levi, who had buried his head in Jin’s chest. “Do not blame yourself, young master. Look upon his face, he died happy knowing he protected that which is important to him and the kingdom. Fulfilling his duty to the late King and Queen, honor his memory and his sacrifice.” Merlin solemnly stated.

Merlin nodded at Jin before approaching the body of his fallen comrade. With a wave of his hand, all the blades vanished except for one which remained pulsing with a dark aura. “Morgana, your cruelty knows no bounds. You attempted to slay the young prince with the same heinous weapon used to end the lives of his parents. We thought we sealed this thing away years ago, but somehow you were one step ahead of us.” He sighed as he turned to the young prince. “This time we will be sure to destroy this dark magic and not simply seal it away.”

“Master Merlin, let us assist,” Sune spoke up as the group gathered around Thade’s body.

“Of course, this is something that we were barely able to seal away with the helping of the dying king and queen but together I believe we will be able to set things right.”

“We too will assist in whatever way we can, we cannot speak for the knights as a whole but we wish to coexist with the dragonborne not go to war,” Bastion said as Sage nodded in agreement.

“Alone, none of us would have prevailed against Morgana and we know that she was only at a fraction of her power. Let this be the first step in building a new and better tomorrow, one that the late king and queen would be proud of” Jin stated, speaking like a true king.

Their tails and hands entwined Levi smiled and nodded at his mate. Following their lead Sune, Vicky, Vincent, Sage, and Bastion formed a circle around Merlin channeling their remaining strength into his spell. The dark blade was extracted from the black dragon's body and in a shockwave of energy, the weapon shattered before them.

Merlin smiled as he witnessed the new generation come together, the road they have chosen wouldn’t be an easy one, but he would be here to guide them.

****  

Mordred gasped for breath as he lay upon the floor of his domain. He was barely able to escape with his life intact, the appearance of Caliburn was not something he nor Morgana had foreseen in their attempt to claim the young prince as her new vessel. Alas, there was always a backup plan.

He extracted Morgana’s spirit from within him and placed her within an opal amulet, she would need time to recover her will. Taking the necklace, he places it around a dragon who lay asleep in a state of suspended animation, his son was to be the replacement vessel however the recovery and bonding of Morgana’s soul to this body would take time and life energy. The first sacrifice was of course to be the fool of a knight Gillian, there was a price to pay for power. Mordred smiled and with a flick of his wrist, the young unconscious knight appeared at his feet, it was time to collect his debt.