9. Gwaine

It happened when Lily was less prepared for it.

It happened when she was spying on Tamara.

Like a tickle in the palm of her hand, something she had to scratch, and then, when she looked down at it...

Her hand was on fire.

A flame, gold and orange, perfectly curled into a ball, danced between her fingers.

Lily panicked.

She panicked, and forgot she even had the power to stop it.

"Dad!" She yelled as she entered the shop. Her voice was trembling, she was sweating, she was...terrified. Like never before. "Dad!"

Mr Gold hurried in the room, his grey eyes zeroing on his daughter. He ran to her as fast as his limp could agree. "Lily? What's happened. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and outstretched her hand. "Dad, my hand..."

"What about it?" He took it delicately between his own hands and examined it. "There's nothing wrong, child."

"It was on fire. Not five minutes ago, my hand was on fire."

To anyone else, this news wouldn't have been surprising. A trick of the mind, perhaps. To someone like them, it was a very very peculiar news. "It's impossible, Vivian. Your magic-"

"Only activates when Kilgharrah is in the same realm. I know. How could I forget? How is this possible?"

"I have no idea. No idea whatsoever."

After a good hour pondering and wondering, Lily stopped trying to light her hand again. Her magic had gone once again.

The only explanation was that a portal to Camelot had been very briefly opened. And that her dragon still lived on the other side.

She could have rejoiced at the thought.

But a portal couldn't open. Not yet. The beans were not even ready yet.

As she was looking at her feet, Lily didn't notice the man walking before her at once.

It's only when her gaze lifted to watch a traffic-light that she noticed him.

Long, unkempt dark-brown hair. Stubbled jaw. A string of leather strapped around his neck.

"Gwaine..."

But as soon as she blinked, the apparition disappeared.

Great, now she was deluding...

And about Gwaine of all people...

Camelot was a quiet place for a while after Morgana's first treason. The city and kingdom prospered for a while. The knights didn't need to go on scouting-parties so often, and Lily could see Leon as much as she wanted.

She had started once again to train with Arthur. Sometimes Merlin joined in, played sword-dummy, and his prince and friend didn't like anything more than sending him tasting the dirt.

All in all, everything was peaceful and perfect.

Lily knew such times would not last...

Late one afternoon, after he and Arthur left Camelot to go hunting, Merlin burst into Lily's room while she was tending to some knights' tunics that needing sowing.

"Lily! We need you! Quick!"

She sprang to her feet. "Merlin? What is it? Is it Arthur?"

The warlock shook his head. "We've been attacked in a tavern, some guy helped us, and now he's the one who's wounded. Gaius needs an assistant, and I have to go back to Arthur."

"I coming right away." She put down her work for later, and ran behind her friend.

To say that she was gaping when she first saw Gwaine was an understatement.

Gaius had visibly stripped him off his grey linen shirt – which was now hanging on a chair – for his well-built chest was showing off on Merlin's bed.

For now, he was still knocked out, so she didn't see his eyes, but his face was pleasant enough to send warmth to her cheeks when Gaius caught her staring.

"He's lost a lot of blood. He'll wake up soon." The old physician got up from the chair he'd been sitting on, and turned to Merlin. "Go wash these, please, Merlin." Then back at her. "Lily, when he wakes up, bring him water and two drops of euphorbia to help the sting."

She nodded. "No problem, Gaius."

But as he meant to leave her alone with the handsome stranger, she had one last question. "What's his name?"

Merlin peaked at the door, a wide grin on his lips. "His name is Gwaine."

"Gwaine." Lily closed the door and whirled around, staring once again. Well well, this was going to be a loooong day...

He woke up an hour later, as Lily was entering the room after fetching some food for her now patient.

His dark brown eyes – of course his eyes had to be brown – settled on her.

He looked suspicious, and she had a feeling that if he had a sword nearby, she'd already feel its blade on her skin.

"What am I doing in this bed?" His voice was deep, but not unpleasant.

She advanced carefully in the room. "You were wounded. Arthur wanted to make sure you were treated by his physician."

"Arthur?"

She nodded. "Prince Arthur. You saved his life, apparently."

Gwaine grunted. "If I did know who he was, I probably wouldn't have." He moved up in his bed, groaning. "He's a noble."

Lily rolled her eyes and went to place the plate of food next to him on a chair. "Yeah, but he's a good man."

He huffed. "If you say so. And who are you, anyway, my lady?"

Lily smirked. Ah, there he was. Of course a pretty face came with a cheeky personality. "Lily. I'm Gaius' apprentice. He's the physician who treated you."

As she went to back from the plate, one of Gwaine's hand snatched her own and he kissed her knuckles, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you, lady Lily."

"Please, just Lily. I wouldn't want you to despise me if I were a noble." She pulled her hand free and moved in front of the bed and far from Gwaine's hands. She thought it safer. For her sake.

"Anyway, you're a hero. The King wants to thank you, in person."

Gwaine coughed in the water he was drinking. "Please, no. I met a few kings. If you met one, you've met them all."

"He'll probably give you a reward."

"I'm not interested."

Lily's eyes widened at that. "Really? Well, you'd be the first."

He smirked. "Am I gaining points?"

She smirked back. "Nope. I'm already taken."

His gaze didn't flinch or even darken. "I've heard that before."

"Except that is true."

"I've heard that one before as well. They were already taken, or not, and even if they already had a beau, they all fell for me in the end."

Lily snorted. "Not. Gonna. Happen."

"We'll see." He took a grape and bit it, making sure to be extra suggestive as he did so. "Anyway, I've got everything I need-" he patted the satchel hanging at his side, "-right here."

Lily then tilted her head. "Why did you help them? Merlin and Arthur?"

"Well, their chance stood between slim and none." He put his hands behind his head, which displayed his torso even more. Lily forced herself not to stare or blush. And succeeded. "I... I guess I just liked the look of those prats."

She huffed then looked through the window. The sun was already far on its course.

She needed to head back to her room and finish her work before she got grounded.

"Well, Gwaine, it's been a real pleasure." She bowed in mockery.

He faked a pout. "Leaving me so soon? What if I faint again? What if I need a doctor?"

"You'll die, I'm afraid. Goodbye, Gwaine."

"Goodbye, lady Lily. Sweet dreams."

She snorted one last time then exited the room.

She had a sense that man would stop at nothing to have her in his bed.

The problem was, would she resist?

Darn, she needed to see Leon. As soon as possible...

Morning came, and with it chores. Lily was assigned to laundry once more, so she headed for the lower town, and the well.

As she was about to cross the morning-market, however, she caught sight of a mare of brown hair she now knew well. A smirk formed at her lips as she noticed he was hitting of Guinevere of all people.

She stood there as he failed to charm the servant girl, then approached as he looked at his prey, flabbergasted.

"I'm disappointed with you, sir. Already forgotten your undying love for me?"

Gwaine whirled around at the sound of her voice. "Lady Lily." He kissed her knuckled once again, his eyes boring into her. It would have made her blush, had she not been concentrating on doing anything but that. "have you dreamt about me?"

She grinned. "Indeed I have. I dreamt I was driving my sword through your chest for your impertinence."

"Ouch. I'm saddened. I thought you loved me back." He smirked and paced towards her, tangling something in her hair. "There. At least I'd managed to give you a flower without being emasculated." And he walked away.

Lily chuckled and went back to work.

She didn't take the flower off.

The following day, she heard a very peculiar rumour spreading in Camelot's walls.

One stranger would have drunk too much in the tavern and tried to make Prince Arthur pay for it. In punishment, he was to brush all the army's boots. With Merlin.

So of course, Lily headed to the Great Hall.

As soon as the door's hinges cringed, she saw the two men's heads lift to watch her as she advanced in the room, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, shut up, Lily!"

She grinned wider. "But I haven't said anything yet, Merlin."

"Then don't say whatever you wished to say when you arrived."

She shifted on her two feet. "Very well then. Gwaine! How marvellous to see you again!" She almost yelled.

He winced. "Not so loud, m'lady. I'm still a little-"

"Soppy?"

He snorted. "Happy to see it pleases you."

"Actually, it'd be better if Arthur had thrown you to the dungeons, but still, I'll take this punishment."

Gwaine looked up at her, and a dangerous smirk appeared on his lips.

Outstretching a hand as fast as lightning, he pulled her down next to him. "You know what? You're a maid, you can clean boots. Help us out, will you?"

He launched a boot in her lap and a brush soon followed.

Lily's mouth was forming a perfect O at that moment.

Soon after, she shook her head and started working on the shoe. "I hate you."

"No you don't."

Later, much later, as dawn threatened Camelot, Lily was down in the knight's field, taking advantage of the dark to practise. The guards had been sworn to secrecy. And the field was invisible to any chambers but Arthur's.

She had learnt earlier that Sir Oswald, a knight coming for the mêlée later that day, was in fact the bandit Gwaine had saved Arthur from. For his attempt of killing a "knight", Gwaine was banished from Camelot.

In fact, Lily was angry he hadn't said goodbye to her.

Or so she thought.

As she whirled for the umpteenth time, Lily's blade met another with a loud clash.

And her green eyes met dark brown ones.

"Gwaine, it's you."

"Of course it's me." He smirked but instead of backing away, he made to attack Lily.

He was easy on her, but she could see that he was testing her, gaining speed and tricks as he noticed she followed.

Lily was sure she could beat him, on the sole reason she was a woman. Gwaine had principles. He'd never strike a woman.

So she took advantage of this, and soon his blade was sending flying, and hers touched his neck.

Gwaine's smirk didn't falter. "Cheat."

Lily chuckled. "Knowing one's opponent's weakness isn't cheating, sir."

"Next time we spar, I won't be easy on you."

She sheathed her sword and outstretched her hand. "Deal."

But instead of shaking it, Gwaine took her hand and kissed her knuckles, as usual. "I must leave now, before Arthur's father sends your Knight to kill me."

Lily's eyes narrowed. "How-?"

"Merlin."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Merlin."

"By the way, I wanted to tell you. If one day you realise that that Leon of yours doesn't suit you, I'll be waiting. Forever."

Lily blushed at that. "Don't say that."

He winked. "But it worked." He straightened and took his satchel back on the ground. "I will miss you, lady Lily."

"And I you, sir Gwaine."

He smiled one last time, then turned on his heels and walked away.

Lily felt bizarrely alone.

Later, Lily stood beside Merlin and Gaius as the mêlée began.

Horses neighed, swords clashed together, men fell, men yelled in pain.

Soon, there only remained three opponents: Arthur, Oswald, and Ethan.

Lily clenched her hands into fists and moved forward, ready to intervene, even if it meant revealing her powers to Uther.

Ethan's horse was galloping towards Arthur, Lily's lips opened to form the words...

Ethan's saddle gave way. But it wasn't Lily's doing. She looked over her shoulder and nodded at Merlin, then looked back to the mêlée.

Arthur was far from being safe yet.

As much as Arthur fighting against Oswald alone was fair, Arthur fighting against Oswald and Ethan was a lost cause.

Until one knight got up from where he laid, and stood back to back Arthur.

Lily's eyes darted from one side to the other, trying to guess who it was...

Her lips formed a smirk when she recognized a move.

"You foolish man..."

The unknown knight killed both Arthur's opponents, and the prince offered him victory.

Once he removed his helmet, his long brown mane free, he whirled around, his brown eyes meeting Lily's.

She smiled widely and shook her head.

He bowed in return, grinning.

"Gwaine..."

Lily would remember that day well. The day her heart beat for someone else than Leon.

She was still madly in love with her red-haired knight, of course, but something had shifted.

If it was possible to love two men at once, that's what happened to her.

Though as Gwaine had left soon after the mêlée, she didn't have to choose.

"Lils? Are you okay?"

She shook her thoughts away and realised she was still standing on the pavement.

Her gaze met Neal, standing beside her.

"Yes, I'm okay. I was just... Deep in thought."

"I can see that. Anything bad?"

To that she smiled. Widely. Genuinely. "No, not bad. Far from it..."

Gwaine...