Chapter Text
Arthur got hit with an arrow. He said it was nothing. And he was right. Until he passed out and Merlin had to drag him into a cave. They were looking for the dragonlord Balinor. They didn't have much time. The dragon would attack any day now.
The cave looked safe enough, at least enough so that Merlin could see to Arthur's wound. He thought the cave was empty, but he was wrong. Inside the cave Merlin found a bedroll and the remeins of a fire.
Suddenly Merlin felt a sword on his back. "Who are you?" a deep male voice asked from behind him.
"My friend is hurt. Please, he needs help." Merlin said instead of answering. The sword moved away from his back and he turned around to look at the man. His face was dirty and his shoulder length hair messy. It was the same colour as Merlin's. The man still gripped his sword tightly. 'Is this Balinor?' Merlin asked himself in his mind.
The man studied him for a few moments and then said "Come on boy."
They got Arthur into the cave and the man examened his wound. He put some paste on it, not unlike the one that Gaius makes and it also smelled like Gaius'. The man knew medicine, that much was obvious.
The man sighed and looked at Merlin. "It's all I can do for him and if it pierced his lung there is nothing that will save him, you should know that boy." It didn't seem like it bothered him much. In fact Merlin could see hatred in his eyes. 'Why would the man hate someone he saw for the first time?' Then it dawned on Merlin. If this man was Balinor and he saw Arthur's crest, he would have every reason to hate him, even kill him.
Merlin had to do something to gain his trust. Why not do two thing at once and heal Arthur at the same time. He was never any good at healing magic, but if it would save Arthur and gain Balinor's trust, then he would just have to try.
He moved to Arthur's side, feeling the man's eyes on him. He kneeled close to Arthur and put his hands on his wound. The possibly Balinor frowned at his doing. He was curouis about the boy's intentions. Merlin payed him no mind. He took a deep breath and wispered too quietly for the older man to hear "Liscar."
Nothing happed.
He tried again. He said "Liscar." in a much louder voice. Loud enough for the man to hear. Merlin felt magic go through his body and into Arthur's, healing the wound almost completly. He knew his eyes were glowing gold.
The possibly Balinor had his eyebrows raised almost as high as Gaius could raise them. His expression one of pure surprise.
Merlin stood up and walked to what once was a fire. He sat beside it and crossed his legs in front of him. The very likely Balinor moved to sit in front of Merlin on the other side of the fire pit. He wore a calculating expression.
Merlin looked the man directly into his eyes and lit the fire without a word. The man's surprise doubled. Probably because he used magic without any spells.
"Who are you?" the probably Balinor asked.
"I'm Merlin." Merlin answered him calmly.
"And who's he?" asked the older one of the two and gestured with his head to Arthur. Anger evident in his voice, but also curious.
"He's my master." Merlin answered. The man wanted to ask another question, but Merlin beat him to it. "Are you Balinor?"
"Why do you ask?" the man asked suspiciously.
"So you are him." It wasn't a question. "The Great dragon is attacking Camelot. We need your help." said Merlin eagrly. 'This is my father, I can't believe it!' he thought excitedly.
"Why would I help Camelot?! A king that would have me burn?! A king that would have you burn?!" Balinor said angerly.
"You wouldn't just be helping a king! You would be helping the people of Camelot! Inoccent people!" Merlin corrected.
"What, like they helped me?!" asked Balinor sarcastically.
"Yes! Like Gaius helped you!" Merlin raised his voice.
That made Balinor stop. "Gaius?" he questiend. "You know Gaius?" was asked almost sadly.
"Yes. I am his ward and apprentice." Merlin answered more calmly.
"He's a good man." said Balinor looking at Merlin oddly.
"Yeah." was Merlin's response. "I was hoping you'd be more like him." When Balinor didn't say anything, only looked down, Merlin continued, "He helped you escape Camelot when Uther tricked you into bringing him the Great dragon."
"Yes." Balinor finally said. "I went to a viliage in Cenred's kingdom. I had a woman there. But Uther didn't care about borders, he only wanted me dead."
"Ealdor." Merlin said confidently.
"You know it?" Balinor questiened surprised. "Not many do." he said when Merlin nodded.
"I'm from there... And I know the woman." Merlin finally got the courage to say.
"Hunith?" Balinor asked stunned. "She's still alive?" he continued at Merlin nod.
"Yes." said Merlin while nodding quickly. He took a deep breath and finall said "She's my mother."
He expected Balinor to come to the conclusion of being his father and not of him downcasting his eyes and asking "She married then? Good. I'm happy for her."
"She never married." Merlin said and Balinor looked at him with wide eyes. "My father left before she could tell him she was pregnat with me."
"So you're..." Balinor couldn't finish his sentence, his wide eyes filling with both hope and tears.
"Your son." Merlin confirmed, wiping his own few escaped tears from his cheeks. "Gaius said that most dragonlords had magic."
Balinor smile at that. He stoop up slowly and came to sit beside Merlin, never taking his eyes off of his newfound son. He looked in fondness and astonishment. "So, when did you figure out you had magic... son?" he asked at last.
Merlin smiled at his father and said "Mother said I was born with my eyes glowing gold. I could move things and make flowers grow since before I could walk and talk."
Balinor frowned at that. "That shouldn't be possible." he said quietly.
"That's what Gaius said too. But still, here I am." Merlin said and gave a goofy grin.
"Yes." Balinor laughed heartedly. "Here you are... My son. I never dared to hope for that... And I don't know what it is to have a son." he informed Merlin sadly.
"Nor I a father." countered Merlin, never loosing his smile. "So how about we find out. Together."
"Yes. I'd like that. Together." Balinor repeated and put a hand to Merlin's shoulder. Then he changed his mind and pulled his son into a tight hug.