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

Chapter 2

Lancelot normally would have ridden out with Elyan and Percival to defend the village, but he was a father now and had additional responsibilities. Since Lily was going to be working through the night, he went upstairs to watch the twins and give their nurse a break.

He stood over their bassinets, each hand gently rocking them both, and simply basked in the sheer wonder of these two small human beings that he and Lily had made. Lancelot never thought he could love something so purely with his entire being.

A knock sounded at the door a moment before it opened and Gwen poked her head inside. "Mind if I come in?"

"Not at all."

Gwen closed the door and walked over to the bassinets. "I saw Elyan and Percival leaving."

Lancelot nodded. "They went back to protect the village until the anti-lindworm potion is done and the rest of us can join them."

Gwen looked worried, and she reached into the bassinet to pick up Rhedyn, cooing over the baby to distract herself.

"They'll be careful," Lancelot assured her.

She scoffed. "Have you met my brother?"

Lancelot huffed out a small laugh at that. It was true. He looked down at Rhys and was suddenly overcome with worry that he would constantly be getting into trouble when he got older. Funny how Lancelot found such schemes amusing when it was his friends doing it and now he worried they were going to be a terrible influence on his son. Especially Gwaine.

Lancelot's heart gave a pang, and he hoped the rowdy knight was hanging in there. Lancelot didn't want to imagine his children growing up without getting to know their boisterous uncle.

"Is it alright if I stay?" Gwen asked quietly, Rhedyn content in her arms.

"Of course," Lancelot replied.

She ended up staying the entire night, the two of them taking turns catching snatches of sleep between the babies waking them. The next morning, Lily came trudging up to the room, looking exhausted.

"The antidote is done," she reported.

Lancelot went over to envelop her in a supportive hug. "And Gwaine?"

"It's too soon to tell," she said regretfully. "But we did everything right. It should work…"

"I'm sure it will," Gwen said.

Lily drew back from Lancelot. "Merlin wanted me to tell you they're getting ready to leave."

He nodded. "I'll fetch the nurse to watch the twins so you can get some sleep."

"That's alright," Gwen interjected. "I'll watch them."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded insistently. "I like to feel useful."

Lancelot smiled, then leaned in to kiss Lily on the cheek before going to the armoire to grab his chainmail.

"Good luck," Gwen called as he headed out.

He went down to the courtyard to meet up with Merlin and Leon. Arthur was also there and dressed to go with them this time.

"How much essence of weasel do we have?" Arthur asked, scrunching his face up at the name.

Merlin held out three small vials only half filled with liquid. "We'll have to make the most of it," he said.

With that, they set off toward the village. Thankfully, they found things as they'd left them the previous day, and Percival and Elyan were waiting for them.

"How's Gwaine?" Elyan asked first.

"Gaius administered the antidote," Merlin said. "Only time will tell."

But in the meantime, they had a job to do.

"The lindworm hasn't returned," Percival reported.

"It might be nursing its wounds," Elyan postulated.

"Gwaine didn't deliver it a mortal blow, though," Leon said. "So we still need to hunt it down."

"It fled that direction yesterday," Lancelot put in, pointing past the still broken goat pen.

"Then that's where we'll start," Arthur declared.

They set off, following the initial signs of destruction the lindworm had carved a path through. Once they were in the woods, it was more difficult to track.

"Here," Percival called. "Looks like old blood."

They went over to look at the dried splotches on the grass. It had a blackish tinge. Following that trail, they eventually came upon some caves that would make a decently concealed lair for their quarry.

"Wonder which one it might be in," Elyan mused.

Lancelot picked his way up to one shaft where something had caught his eye. "I'd say this one," he said. A very large shedded snake skin lay crumpled in the entrance.

They all exchanged looks and drew their swords. Merlin found a long stick and cast a spell to light it with fire. Then they ventured inside. The further they went, the more nervous Lancelot became at the enclosed quarters in which they were to battle a giant serpent. Their best hope was to catch it unawares.

Luck, however, was not on their side, as a pair of yellow eyes gleamed up ahead, bobbing with a swaying movement as they drew closer. The lindworm was on its way out.

Upon seeing its exit blocked, the beast spat and hissed at them venomously before lunging. Arthur and Leon in the lead tried to stab the creature, but it reared back and then slammed its thick neck into them, knocking them into the cave wall. Lancelot leaped forward and slashed at the eyes in an attempt to blind it. His blade cut the snake's cheek but missed his target, and the lindworm shrieked in fury and pain. Lancelot scrambled backward, black ichor dripping from his sword.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled.

Merlin was holding his ground, a vial in hand, clearly waiting for an opportune moment to use it. The knights kept attacking, trying to find an opening. Lancelot saw the snake open its maw wide, green wisps gathering in its mouth.

"Merlin!" he shouted and dove forward to stab the tail. It wasn't enough to cause any damage, but the lindworm still screeched in response.

Merlin arched his arm back and threw the vial directly into its gaping mouth. The snake's jaws snapped down, breaking the glass. In the next second, its eyes blew wide, and then it was flinging its head back and forth as it choked on the brew. Lancelot lunged to attack again, as did the others. They stabbed at the lindworm repeatedly, causing it to thrash more violently as it tried to escape. But there was no space in the tunnel, and so it slammed against the rock walls and ceiling instead. They were all so busy fighting to slay the monster that no one seemed to notice the rocks beginning to break loose until it was too late. Suddenly a shower of granite was raining down on them.

"Get out!" Leon yelled.

A large boulder fell mere inches from Arthur's head. Lancelot grabbed him and flung them both away from the ensuing collapse. The ground juddered from the impact of tons of rock crashing down. Lancelot threw himself over his king and flung his arms over his head. The cave-in only lasted a few moments, and when it settled, Lancelot carefully lifted his head. Dust wafted into his nose and throat, making him cough. He waved his arm through the haze as he sat up.

"Arthur, are you all right?" he asked urgently, grabbing his arm and pulling him up.

"Yeah," Arthur replied, then coughed into his arm. He spun around in search of the others, but Lancelot didn't see anyone.

In fact, the only thing they did see was the lindworm's tail sticking out from the large pile of rocks. It gave a few dying twitches before falling still. The collapse had crushed it. Lancelot roved his gaze over the rocks with sinking realization. They were blocking the tunnel. And he and Arthur were on the wrong side.

Lancelot jumped to his feet and went to push against the slabs of rock. "Merlin! Percival!"

"Leon!" Arthur joined him in shouting for the others. "Elyan! Can anyone hear us?"

There was no response. Either the blockage was too thick or…they were buried under it. Lancelot's heart rate ratcheted up at the thought, and he tried to wrench himself away from despair just yet. Any number of scenarios could be taking place. They could be too far on the other side to hear through the rubble. Or they'd suffered minor injuries, maybe had even been knocked out momentarily but not necessarily crushed to death.

Arthur started trying to move the rocks, so Lancelot moved in to help, but the boulders were jammed together too tightly for the two of them to budge with strength alone. Maybe if Percival had been with them…

Arthur slammed a palm against the rock in frustration. "Merlin!"

They listened but still couldn't hear anything. At least the lindworm was dead. It would be a hundred times worse if any of them were stuck with it still biting. Lancelot picked up his sword from the ground and wiped the blade clean of unguent before sheathing it.

Arthur turned away from the barrier. "There's a little bit of light in here; there must be a ventilation shaft somewhere, maybe another way out."

Lancelot cast a reluctant look at the blocked tunnel. No doubt the others would be trying to get to them, but in case they couldn't for some reason, he and Arthur did need to try to help themselves. So they ventured deeper into the cave, trying to find the source of the dim light filtering down the shaft.

An acrid stench hit Lancelot's senses, and he pressed the back of his hand under his nose as his gag reflex threatened to activate. Arthur's face also scrunched up at the smell, but he pressed on. A little ways ahead, they found the source—carcasses of animals and people the lindworm had snatched from the village, piled high on top of each other. Lancelot averted his gaze from the people's faces.

"Why didn't it eat anything?" Arthur wondered aloud.

Lancelot skirted around the pile, then stiffened. "Um, that's why."

Arthur turned and Lancelot pointed to what he'd found—a nest of several dozen eggs.

"It was preparing to feed its young," Lancelot went on.

Arthur's eyes were wide as he took in the nest. "How soon do you think before they hatch?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"I don't know."

There was the smallest gurgling sound, and one of the eggs began to wobble in place. Lancelot and Arthur went rigid, watching tensely as more and more eggs began to wiggle and crack, about to unleash several dozen brand new baby lindworms.