𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕿𝖜𝖔
𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: From trolls to dragons to foreign princesses, Astraea Aphelion grows stronger as she
continues to navigate medieval Britain using her wit and heart, standing unshaken beside Merlin and Arthur as they face every threa...
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📍 Camelot
⏳October, 505 AD
Merlin and I stood at the kitchen bench in Gaius's apartment while packing a bag of food supplies for our journey. I'd been quick to pack my duffel bag with PJs, a change of clothes, my bow, and a towel earlier; and I'd decided to help my best friend with any preparations that were still needed, not wanting to be alone with my chaotic thoughts.
"Who were the dragonlords?" Merlin asked Gaius.
"And how do I become one?" I threw in with a little grin.
No response came for a few moments and I gazed towards the elderly man to find him standing with his back to us, his shoulders tense.
"Gaius?" Merlin pressed.
The physician finally turned around with a troubled look on his face and explained, "There were once men who could talk to the dragons... tame them."
A full smile formed on my lips as I chirped, "Cool!"
"What happened to them?" my best friend wondered with a slight frown forming on his face.
"Uther believed that the art of the dragonlord was too close to magic," Gaius responded in a sorrowful tone, his words causing me to scoff in disbelief. "So he had them all rounded up... and slaughtered."
"Why am I not surprised?" I muttered under my breath.
Merlin and I shared a sad look. "But one survived – how did you know?" he then asked the physician.
"I helped him escape," Gaius revealed, making my eyes widen as a smile formed on my lips again.
My best friend grinned proudly as he said, "Gaius!"
"Attaboy," I praised while offering a high-five to the man. He snorted before softly completing the gesture.
Gaius turned serious again moments later as he moved closer to the kitchen bench and he rested his hands on it before addressing the sorcerer, "Merlin – you have never heard the name Balinor?"
"No," Merlin responded with a shake of his head.
"Your mother never mentioned him?"
"My mother?"
The physician sighed and walked away, starting to pace a little. "She took him in," he said.
"She likes takin' in strays, huh?" I noted.
Merlin removed his attention completely from our task as he asked in astonishment, "She stood up against Uther?"
"Yes," Gaius responded. I raised my eyebrows. Hunith is awesome!
"She was brave," Merlin stated.
"Yes," Gaius repeated as he moved closer to Merlin again. I tilted my head, wondering what else there is to the story. "When Uther discovered where Balinor was," he continued, "he sent knights to Ealdor to hunt him down. He was forced to flee."
