"Betrayal hurts most when it comes from those closest to our hearts."

He had been on a stroll when it happened. He had been enjoying the cool night air, a nice change from the stuffy corridors of the castle. He didn't even have any intentions of conversing with the Great Dragon.

But then the ground beneath his feet started to tremble.

A shallow curse flies from his lips, eyes wide and a quiet cheer on the tip of his tongue. He can recognise the tremors not as giant steps, but thunderous wing beats from below.

An uncharacteristic grins spreads across his face as he breaks into a sprint, nimbly scaling the base foundations of Camelot's walls, a towering collection of boulders that does little to slow him. His cloak billows grandly behind him, flapping in the growing wind like the flag of Camelot hoisted above the training grounds.

Esmerion grins truly, sharp canines displayed in his glee and amber eyes glowing with the strength of burning coals. The figure he has longed to see emerges from the ravine, their own eyes not burning, but blazing. Their teeth glisten in the moonlight, bared as they cry out for their freedom.

His smile falters, his eyes dim. He sees no joy in the Great Dragon's expression, only a darkness that has been twisted into cruelty. There is no kind spark, nor glitter of wisdom in his golden eyes. There is nothing left of who he had been.

Kilgarrah catches his eyes, snarling lowly with a cruel curling of his lips before leaping back into the air. Too soon, he is nothing but a small speck in the night sky.

Esmerion is no moron. He is anything but a village dunce. He is aware that the roar he hears is not an exclamation of freedom. It is a call of vengeance. One he had thought was left behind them.

He doesn't dare waste his breath with a curse. The youth turns swiftly to the walls of Camelot, fingers grasping the cracks in the stone. There is little time.

When his feet land on the solid stone of the castle wall, swords and spears are jabbed in his direction, causing him to drop and roll to avoid a chance of being skewered. His hood blows off his head and he stands, arms outstretched to express his disinterest in a scuffle.

"Sound the alarm," he says boldly, eyes glittering in the moonlight. "Get everyone inside."

One of the guards threatens him with the end of his spear, not recognising the youth in the dark blanket of night. "Who are you to give us orders?"

Esmerion spins to face him, fury and fear clear as day in his expression. There's no mistaking who he is now. The guards catch on very quickly, raising their weapons without a moment's notice and bringing apologies to their tongues.

"Don't." He holds up a hand, voice deep and commanding. "Just do as I say an' get every man, woman, and child inside the castle walls."

"We don't foll--"

Esmerion shoots the speaker a deadly glare, holding promises of suffering in his eyes. The guard silences without question and jerks his head to order off the others of the patrol. 

With the group gone, Esmerion only sees it fit to continue his trek. He doesn't bother with the stairs, taking a desperate leap down from the wall. He's lucky that nobody is around to question his survival of the fall, but offers only a brief prayer of thanks to the Goddess as he runs. 

Pure chance brings him to almost knock down Guinevere on his manic sprint through the streets. His typically silver words jumble in his mouth, tongue tying knots as he tries to get his point across to the bewildered woman. He waves his hands in frantic gestures, struggling to communicate what must be said in the short time he has.

"Tyler?" Gwen asks in confusion, hands raised as she tries to calm him down. "What's wrong?"

Esmerion gulps down a breath of air before taking one of her hands in his. "Gwen, I need you to get everyone inside. Right this minute. If anyone asks, tell them it's on my order."

She blinks, her voice rising in pitch as she grows gravely concerned. "What? Why?"

"Just do as I say!" he barks, taking off once again.

He feels nothing but fear for these people, for the people of Camelot. They have no idea what is coming and they will be caught unprepared for the horrors that have yet to come. But he cannot dwell on it, even as he rushes past them, bellowing out warnings at the top of his lungs, for he must reach the castle. He must speak with Uther.

"Halt!" a guard orders him, but he keeps running, drawing his short sword to deflect the iron weapon thrust his way.

Blood roars in his ears, putting the morning calls of ancient dragon nesters to shame. He can barely hear the world around him, and he can barely see it through the sudden blotches of vivid colour in his vision. The few noble people out scatter around him, seeking to avoid the risk of being thrown to the ground. 

He very nearly barrels into Arthur, and only just narrowly misses him by leaning away at the last second. His breaths come in short gasps, though he is not needy for air, and his amber gaze turns to stone as he meets the eyes of the prince.

"What on earth has got into you?" he asks disbelievingly, hands on his hips.

"Sound the alarm," Esmerion warns lowly. "'E will not spare anyone."

"What are you talking about, Tyler?" Arthur looks at him as though the youth is mad. "Who will not spare anyone?"

"The Dragon." There is no strength in his voice when he speaks, only emotionless void. "'E is free."

Arthur's eyes widen and he races off as Esmerion once did, seeking the presence of the king. His footsteps echo like thunderclaps in the empty halls of the castle, disturbing the pressing silence. Surely, he must know there is nothing to be done against the Great Dragon.

But, the youth sighs as he straightens, his priority is his people, not his life.

Esmerion releases a sound of sorrow and agony, soft enough that it goes unheard by any nearby but resounding with the force of an army. He has not felt anything such as this for many years. However, he can have no time for emotions. The kingdom shall burn in flames if he succumbs to them.

He bumps into Merlin in his haste to reach the battlements, his dark gaze startling the boy. He says nothing and presses on, caring little for the servants and nobles that he knocks on his way. There must be something that he can say or do to keep this from happening.

The breeze, he finds, is much too warm for an early summer night. It's dry and deadly, carrying a hidden warning that few can read. It cries gentle words to his ears, unaware that he has already heeded them. The city is silent.

Then a roar shatters the quiet of the night, belonging to one so much larger than himself. The distant shape of a creature in flight grows in size, filtered moonlight glimmering on their scaled hide as he approaches. There's a glow in his chest, orange and warm in colour, yet deathly and cruel in truth.

Screams pierce the air as people recognise the being in the sky, and the terror that fills them changes to agony as the Great Dragon releases a breath of flame over the thatched houses. Homes that once offered safety now offer a promise of agonising death, alight with wicked flames that eat away at the wooden beams.

"Giatí to káneis aftó?!" Esmerion cries out, standing atop the battlements.

The Dragon regards him with a bellow to rival thunder.

"To Albion den simaínei típota gia séna?!" he screams desperately, voice cracking as the Dragon flies over the castle. "Tha mas misoún ólous!"

"Tóte tha eínai!"

A hand grasps the youth's cloak and yanks him down from the wall, dragging him inside before a blast of fire can strike him. Arthur curses him, refusing to see the emotionless grief in his glassy eyes as he scolds him. 

He meets Merlin's gaze, a strong and silent understanding in it that grounds him in the moment. Yet there is endless curiosity, fueled by the youth's foreign words shared with the Dragon. But the guilt in his expression gives it all away. He had thought he was doing the right thing.

"'E will end us all," he says lowly, standing to tower both boys. "Camelot will crumble an' 'e alone will rule."

Arthur shares a wary look with Merlin.

"We need help."

Yeet.

Say goodbye to your precious innocence, 'cause it'll be gone soon.

Hope y'all enjoyed!