A/N: Thank you GuestM, Buckhunter, and SnidgetHex for reviewing!

Chapter 4

Lily stood at the window, heart in her throat as the sounds of battle rose up from below. Deorham's army was so vast and Camelot's bottlenecked…

"Lily!" Gwen exclaimed, rushing into the room. "Thank goodness you made it back."

Lily gave a start and shook herself out of her stupor. "I'm sorry, I should be with Gaius preparing for the wounded."

She took a step toward the door, only to stop short as a wetness spilled down her legs. She stepped back and looked down in horror at the puddle on the floor.

Gwen's eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly moved forward to take Lily's arm and guided her to the bed to sit. "I'll get Gaius," she said.

Lily opened her mouth to say no, it was too soon, but a pain the likes of which she'd never felt before ripped through her, and she couldn't hold in the guttural cry as she wrapped an arm under her swollen stomach.

"Oh," Gwen breathed and lifted Lily's legs so she was lying flat on the bed. "I'll be right back!"

Lily's breathing came faster and faster in panic. It was too soon. And she couldn't have a baby in the middle of a battle with the enemy literally on their doorstep!

Gwen returned a short time later with Gaius in tow.

"How far apart are the contractions?" he asked.

"I just had one," Lily said, but a second one cut her off as she curled in on herself. "Gaius, it's too soon."

He went to the foot of the bed and lifted the bottom of her skirts. "Soon or not, this baby is coming."

"But…"

Gaius went to the door and shouted for some servants to bring water and towels.

Gwen grabbed all the pillows and propped them behind Lily to help her sit up.

Another contraction hit, bringing tears to her eyes. She looked up at Gwen desperately. "Lancelot should be here."

Gwen nodded and squeezed her hand. "I've seen some births take hours."

Lily groaned. With the level of agony she was in, that wasn't as encouraging as it was meant to be.

Lancelot slashed and parried in a whirlwind of singing steel. Deorham's army was large, and for every man the knights struck down, more just kept coming through the gate. Ladders were being set against the outer walls and men were now climbing up over the ramparts after their archers thinned out the line of guards up there.

Two enemy soldiers came at Lancelot at once, and he fought to parry both their unrelenting blows. But the swiftness of their attack drove him backward until he hit a wall at his back. One of the men pinned his sword against it and the other went for a killing thrust. Lancelot twisted away, and the blade caught him along the side instead of skewering him. He threw his elbow into the man's head, sending him staggering back. But the first opponent was still right there and he smashed an armor plated fist into Lancelot's head. He dropped, dazed for a moment.

But then Percival was there with a roar and drove that one away from Lancelot. Lancelot struggled to his feet, using his sword to prop himself up. His head was ringing, but he managed to turn and finish the other guy off before he could come at him again. In the lull between foes, Lancelot looked around the battle. He spotted Merlin out here, using a sword since he couldn't rely on his spell casting.

Dusk was falling, and the air became wreathed in the orange glow of blazing fires as the enemy pressed its advantage.

Lily tried to focus on her breathing through another contraction, but it was difficult to do. Gwen dabbed her sweaty forehead with a cloth while Gaius and servants bustled about, getting all the supplies in order.

"Keep breathing," Gwen encouraged. "That's it."

"Okay, Lily," Gaius said, "it's time to push."

She shook her head with a whimper.

"Yes," Gwen coaxed. "You can do it. Push."

Lily screamed along with the cacophony of battle raging outside.

Merlin stabbed an enemy soldier and staggered backward. He whipped his gaze around, noting the ground they had lost as the knights were being driven back toward the castle doors. If the enemy breached the castle, it would be over. He needed his magic to turn the tide, but how?

A row of men surged toward the line of defense, and Merlin used his instinctive magic to throw them backward through the air. But without his more complex spells, he couldn't channel his magic more accurately than that.

He rubbed at his mangled throat, knowing what he had to do. Taking a deep breath, Merlin turned his head to the sky and called out in the deep, guttural language of the dragonlords. His throat immediately erupted with searing pain, and his voice broke off at the end, but he hoped it was enough to call Kilgharrah as he dropped to his knees in agony, clutching his neck.

"Merlin!" Gwaine shouted and rushed to stand over him in defense as the enemy went for an easy target.

Elyan darted over and grabbed Merlin's arm to haul him up and out of the way. They hobbled toward the main doors, and Merlin thought he'd failed, until a mighty roar splintered the air. He collapsed just inside the castle hall with a wave of relief.

Gwen jumped as a beastly roar rattled her eardrums, and the servants let out fearful gasps. She left Lily's side for a moment to rush to the window.

"What is it?" Lily asked.

Gwen's eyes widened in horror. "It's a dragon." But a closer look revealed it wasn't attacking the citadel. "It's going after the army."

"Merlin," Gaius put in.

Gwen was almost transfixed by the carnage happening outside, but she tore herself away from the window and returned to Lily.

"Push," Gaius prompted.

Lily screamed and squeezed Gwen's hand in a crushing grip.

Gwen held fast and prayed both their husbands and friends were safe down there.

Everyone flinched and ducked at the dragon's roar. Its shape was nothing more than a sweeping shadow in the dark sky, but Lancelot felt the wake of its gusting path as it soared overhead. Then a column of fire shot down at the enemy soldiers outside the wall, and the air was filled with horrendous screams.

Lancelot turned back to his opponent, who now instead of being on the offensive had been unbalanced by the dragon's surprise arrival. Now it was the invading army who were fighting for their lives as the soldiers of Camelot rallied and the Great Dragon decimated the legions outside. It wasn't long before Camelot emerged victorious with the last soldier within the walls slain. Outside, a torch and white flag waved King Artungrin's surrender. Victory was always bittersweet, though, as now came the aftermath of gathering the wounded and dead and rounding up the enemy prisoners.

Lancelot turned in a circle, searching for his friends. He counted off the knights one by one, all of them still standing, as was Arthur. Where was Merlin though… Lancelot's eyes widened as he realized how Merlin must have called the dragon.

"Where's Merlin?" he asked around urgently.

"Over here!" Elyan called from the steps and pointed to the foyer.

Lancelot jogged over, as did Arthur. Merlin was sitting just inside the doors, body hunched forward and one hand around his throat.

"Merlin! Are you all right?" Lancelot exclaimed.

Merlin grimaced.

"Sorry, don't try to talk," Lancelot said and crouched down next to him. "That was very brave of you."

Merlin just shrugged, never one to bask in glory over saving the day.

"You should get to Gaius," Arthur said. "There are plenty of wounded who will be brought in soon."

Lancelot gave Merlin a hand up, but before they could leave, a servant came rushing down the stairs.

"Sir Lancelot! Lady Lily is in labor!"

Lancelot gaped at him in shock. Labor? But it wasn't time…

"Gaius and Queen Guinevere are upstairs with her now."

"Go," Arthur said.

Lancelot didn't need more prompting than that and bolted for the stairs. Merlin sprinted after him, and they both went barreling into his chambers just as a piercing baby's cry went up. Gaius drew back from the foot of the bed with a squirming infant in his hands. He handed it to Gwen, who was ready with a towel to wrap him up and clean him off a bit.

Lancelot hurried to Lily's side. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here," he said, running a hand over her sweat-matted hair.

She blinked up at him tiredly. "You had a good excuse," she replied, voice worn. Her eyes flitted over him worriedly. "Are you all right?"

He could imagine he was covered in some blood with the few minor injuries he'd taken but knew nothing was serious. "I'm all right," he assured her. "The battle is won."

He looked up as Gwen brought over the now snuffling baby bundled in a blanket. "Congratulations," she said with a beaming smile. "It's a boy."

Lancelot's breath rushed out of him at the news, and he reached to take his son. But Lily suddenly cried out and bowed forward, and he jerked back.

"Lily?" he exclaimed. He looked to Gaius fearfully; he knew childbirth could be dangerous.

Gaius immediately returned to the foot of the bed and looked under the sheets. "I see another head."

"What?" Lancelot shared a stunned look with everyone else.

"Lily, child, I'm afraid you have to push again," Gaius said.

Lily flailed a hand at Lancelot, and he took it, letting her squeeze as hard as she needed to as she groaned one long, hard push.

"That's it," Gaius said. "Again."

Lily looked utterly drained but she tried. Lancelot held her hand, which was the only support he could provide.

Lily let out one final push and sagged back against the pillows, breathing heavily. Lancelot looked to the foot of the bed, but there was no crying this time. Gaius was hunched over, and Lancelot couldn't see what he was doing without leaving Lily's side.

"Gaius?" he prompted.

There were several beats of silence, then,

"She's not breathing."

"It's a girl?" Lily choked, trying to lift her head.

Lancelot's breath was stuck in his throat and he couldn't speak.

"I'm sorry," Gaius said, standing up with a still, blue, tiny form in his hands.

Lancelot couldn't breathe.

Merlin stepped forward and held his arms out. Gaius wordlessly passed him the infant. They all knew Merlin would want to try a healing spell, but his voice was wrecked and he couldn't cast one. Still, he cradled the stillborn child in his arms and focused all his concentration on her. His eyes began to glow gold, and a warm light seeped from his large palm into the tiny chest. They all watched with bated breath, and then the baby opened her mouth with a gasp, followed by a cry.

Merlin looked up, shocked elation on his face.

Lancelot finally moved away from Lily and went over to his friend, who smiled as he handed over the baby girl. Lancelot went rigid as he held her, afraid he'd drop her. She was so tiny. He lifted watery eyes to Merlin. "Thank you."

Merlin smiled again and nodded.

Lancelot carefully carried the baby over to his wife so she could see her. Gwen placed the boy in Lily's arms against her chest.

"Lancelot," Lily breathed. "Look what we did. They're so beautiful."

"They are," Lancelot agreed and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

He never imagined he could feel such happiness and pride as he did in this moment.