I didn't know whether to be happy or horrified. I was going back to Camelot. The thought rolled round my head repeatedly, as I lay in my bed that night. I would see my friends again. And my brother. And … Arthur. How would that work? How could I be so near to the man I love and yet so far away at the same time?

A couple of days passed. We spent most of the time packing up the house, not that there was all that much to pack. Fredrik and Dryden left for Camelot with the majority of the belongings. Leaving Rhea and I told sort the remaining jobs. The few days we spent alone there passed in a blur of boredom. I realised that I missed practicing medicine with Gaius, even more so when I realised I that most likely I still wouldn't be able to practice when we got to Camelot.

Before I knew it we were leaving. I think it's safe to say I prefer traveling alone. For as lovely as Rhea is, she is not a good travelling companion. She was very vocal about her displeasure at having to sleep outside. And she wasn't best pleased by the walking either. But, as I found out, this was the first time she'd travelled anywhere.

It took us three very long days to reach Camelot. When we though, I felt relieved. Dryden met us at the edge of the lower town and led us to the new house.

The house was one of the few two story homes in Camelot. It was quite a bit larger than the old house, and considerably closer to the palace. Dryden went back to work, whilst Rhea and I got settled. It didn't take long and Rhea quickly decided we should take a look around the market.

The markets were bustling with people, all selling and buying different goods. Rhea seemed to enjoy the fabrics, whilst I made a beeline for the medicinal herbs; all of which I could name (thanks to Gaius).

"Lilia!"

I spun round quickly, and Rhea rushed over to me. "Merlin." I smiled as I caught sight of my brother.

"What are you doing here?"

"Fredrik was given a job here. This is Rhea by the way."

"Fredrik?"

Merlin had a reputation as a bumbling idiot, in this case it earned him a sharp elbow to the ribs, and a look that told him just how stupid he was being. He winced, "Oh Fredrik. Got it. Anyway I'm glad you're back but I have to run some errands for the King."

"The King?" I asked confused.

"You haven't heard. Uther died, not long after you left. Arthur's King now. And he's just as demanding as ever. We'll catch up later."

I nodded and watched as he disappeared off into the crowds of people.

"Who was that?"

"My brother, Merlin."

"Oh, he lives here?"

"Yes, he's servant to King Arthur."

Rhea seemed surprised but she didn't say anything. Instead we walked through the rest of the markets and bought food, before we returned home to cook dinner. Rhea and I laughed as we cooked, we'd gotten quite close over the past few weeks. We both liked cooking but it was still a messy affair, flour coated our arms, the table and the floor. It almost looked like snow had covered the room.

When we heard the front door opening we thought nothing of it, and when we heard voices we thought nothing of it. Until three people appeared in the kitchen.

Rhea had looked up first and it was her scream, that made me look up. In the doorway stood Fredrik, Dryden and Arthur. Shock covered my face, not that anyone but Arthur really noticed.

"Sire, this is my mother, Rhea." Fredrik said sounding very official.

"It's an honour to meet you sire." Rhea said nervously, bowing her head slightly.

"And this is my fiancé, Lilia."

"Ah. Merlin mentioned that you were back." Arthur said, I thought his voice was slightly strained but that could've been my imagination.

"I'm sure he did, sire." I said smiling slightly.

"Well I don't want to interrupt your meal time. It was nice to meet you all, I'm sure you'll do a great job Fredrik. Have a goodnight." Arthur spoke with authority but also with kindness as he made his excuses to leave.

Rhea was flustered and decided the best course of action would be to lecture her husband and son. "What were you thinking bringing the King here? He must have been horrified by the state of the house! And look at us we're covered in flour! Some warning would have been nice. You idiots."

Both men looked slightly guilty, but they got over it when they saw the food in the pot.

"Mother, we're sorry but he insisted. We couldn't refuse."

"Rhea, he's seen a lot worse. He won't judge us."

"And how would you know?" Rhea asked agitated.

"I've known Arthur for a while. He came to Ealdor once. Anyway he's pretty much always stuck with my brother, he's definitely seen worse." They all looked at me with odd expressions, and I worried I might have said a little too much. "Why don't I go and fetch some water? We can clean up this mess and then eat."

"Ok yes, lets do that." Rhea nodded as she started to calm down.

So I picked up a bucket and left the house to get water from the pump. It was starting to get dark so the streets were pretty empty now. I walked fairly slowly, this was the first time I'd been alone in a long time. I was enjoying it.

"You're engaged then?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I spun round to face the direction the voice had come from. "Jeez, sneak up much?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Arthur said apologetically as he walked towards me.

"Then maybe don't sneak up on me in the dark."

"I'll remember for next time. What are you doing?"

"Getting water. I don't know if you've noticed but I am covered in flour."

"I noticed. Just wasn't going to say anything. You never answered the question."

"Ugh, yes I'm engaged."

"You don't sound happy about it."

"Maybe because I'm not."

"Why?"

"How long did you spend with him?"

"Not long."

"Lucky you. Don't get me wrong he's nice enough. But he's a bit boring."

"How so?"

"He doesn't talk much. The first time we talked alone, half the conversation was made up with his one word answers to questions."

"It could be worse. He could be like Merlin and never shut up." He joked.

"I'd be ok with that. I'm used to it, I did live with Merlin for most of my life."

"Ahh, you built up a tolerance."

"Haven't you?"

"Nope, why do you think I give him so much work to do?"

We both laughed, and realised we'd reached the tap. Arthur pumped the water into the bucket for me. It was filled within seconds. I wished it had taken longer.

"When's the wedding then?"

"I don't know, it was postponed with all the moving."

"Still time then." He said moving closer to me.

I shook my head and took a step back, "Arthur, I can't."

He nodded sadly and backed away slowly, "I know."

We stood there for a few minutes, neither of us really wanted to leave. I could see the sadness in Arthur's eyes, it hurt me more than I cared to admit. He looked really tired, there were bags under his eyes. I hadn't noticed before.

"Are you ok? You look exhausted." I asked, I knew I shouldn't. I shouldn't allow myself to care but I did.

"It's just stress, not sleeping well."

"Merlin told me about your father. I'm sorry, it must have been horrible."

"It was. But I have to keep moving, right?"

"Right."

"I should go, I'll see you around."

"Bye." I said as he turned and walked towards the palace. I made my way back to the house. Luckily my absence hadn't been noticed too much. I set the water on the floor and started to clean everything up, along with Rhea.

We ate quickly that night, everyone was tired. But when everyone went to sleep I climbed out of my bed and pulled a box of herbs and liquids from under my bed. Gaius had given it to me when he'd started teaching me.

I mixed the ingredients carefully and whispered a simple spell. The liquid bubbled blue and then turned lilac. Pouring it into a small bottle and capping it, I attached a note.

One drop a night, L.

I snuck out of the house and made my way into the palace, easily navigating the empty corridors. I walked past Lord Agravaine's chambers and saw him deep in conversation with Arthur. I crept past and down a few more passages until I reached Arthur's room. There were no guards outside the door, so I slipped in easily.

The room was clean and empty, Merlin had already left for the night. So I walked over to the bedside table and set the little bottle down in full view. Then I rushed back out before anyone caught me and was back in bed soon after.

The house was empty when I woke the next day, so I decided to pay Gaius a visit. The route to his chambers were deeply ingrained in my memory, I walked there purely on muscle memory. Pushing the door open, I was greeted by familiar sights, but no Gaius. He must be making his rounds I thought as I wondered around the room. I climbed the few stairs to my old room, it was Merlin's again now, but that was empty too.

"Merlin!" I heard Arthur's voice yelling in the near distance as I climbed up to one of Gaius' bookshelves in search of something to read.

The door swung open and Arthur stood there looking angry, dressed in his chainmail.

"He's not here." I called down from the stairs to the shelves.

"Of course not," Arthur rolled his eyes as he turned to leave, "What are you doing here?"

"Bored." I said holding up the book in my hand, "And I wanted to see Gaius."

"Oh, don't suppose you know where Merlin is? He didn't come to work this morning."

"Did you check the tavern?"

Arthur flung his arms in the air dramatically, "Should've guessed. Thanks for the potion by the way." He smiled.

"Did it work?"

"Like magic." He said with a cheeky smile.

"Good. Should you be somewhere?"

"Yeah, the training grounds. But Merlin took my armour to polish it. And he never brought it back."

"One second." I said holding up a finger and disappeared into Merlin's room. I found the armour heaped in the corner still dirty. I changed that with a golden flash of my eyes. I picked it up and walked back out to Arthur, "Would this be it?"

"It would be." Arthur said pulling it from my arms. "Don't suppose you could help me get it all on?"

"You can't do it yourself?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well as hard as I try, I just cannot get the buckles on my back." He laughed.

As we laughed I lifted the armour onto Arthur, knocking his head several times. If I'm being honest I might've done it on purpose a few times, his reaction was just too funny to resist.

"Lilia?" A voice called from outside.

"In here." I called out and then said to Arthur, "Hold still, how am I meant to do this up if you keep fidgeting."

The door opened and out of the corner of my eye I saw Fredrik walk in, just as Arthur said, "I can't help it, you keep making it pinch me."

"Aww you big baby." I mocked. "What do you want Fredrik?"

"You weren't there when I got home, I've been looking everywhere. One of the guards said you were here. What's going on here?"

"Well I believe my absent brother is going to lose his job." I said glancing at him, he didn't look happy. "Ok Arthur, if you don't want me to accidentally cut you, you need to stay still."

"I am still." He protested.

"Why did you leave the house?" Fredrik asked looking increasingly angry.

"I was bored. Thought I'd come and find a book and see if Gaius was around."

"A book? From here? These are all medicine books, hardly befitting of a woman."

I looked down and carried on with Arthur's armour trying hard to bite my tongue and not rip Fredrik's sexist head off.

Thankfully Arthur spoke for me, "Gaius had been teaching Lilia medicine before she left. She actually treated my father before he died."

"If he's dead, she didn't do a very good job." Fredrik's tone was starting to sound aggressive. It was clear that Arthur had also noticed.

"Are we going to have a problem here, blacksmith?" Arthur said as he stepped in front of me, blocking Fredrik from my view.

"There already is a problem. I do not appreciate your manner towards my wife." Fredrik said squaring up to Arthur.

"I am not your wife." I said angrily stepping out from behind Arthur.

"You are only here because of me. So, you do what I say. And I am saying go home and do not leave again unless I say you can." Fredrik sounded furious now.

"As Lilia pointed out, she is not your wife and therefore does not have to follow your orders." Arthur said sternly, looking Fredrik straight in the eye.

"Stay out of what doesn't concern you." Fredrik retorted loudly.

"Or what?" Arthur said. I think he might have started to enjoy the little argument. I was proved right when he turned to me and said, "Bet you wish Will hadn't died now."

That sent Fredrik over the edge and he lunged for Arthur. But Arthur was prepared and twisted the other mans arm behind his back with ease. "Guards." He called out loudly.

Two guards came rushing into the room and stood awaiting orders. "Take this man to the cells. He's under arrest for attempting to harm the King." Arthur spoke with authority and we both watched as the guards took hold of Fredrik and led him away.

"Well this is going to make for an interesting conversation with his parents." I said still looking at the door that the guards had dragged Fredrik through.

"You know I seem to remember you saying that he was 'nice enough'. Doesn't seem very nice to me."

"Yeah well, I've never seen him like that before."

"First time for everything."

"I suppose so." I reached up and tied the last strap of his armour together. "You should go, you're already late for training."

"Right." He nodded and headed towards the door.

"Oh and Arthur." I called out, and waited until he turned to look at me, "Thanks."

"No problem." He smiled and disappeared.

I looked around for the book I'd picked out and sat down to read it. After a couple of hours I decided I should probably go and speak to Rhea and Dryden.

It was lunch time when I walked into the house. Both Rhea and Dryden were sat at the table with plates of bread in front of them. Dryden looked up when I walked in. "Oh good you're back. Where's Fredrik? He went looking for you ages ago."

"Umm, Fredrik was arrested. He's in the cells."

The end of another chapter, thanks so much for reading. I hope you've enjoyed it. Please leave a review.

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