A/N: This is embarrassing, but this fic was actually written back in May, but then my muse kept giving me other story ideas, and I wanted to post the Lancelot and Lily sequels consecutively, so I just kept postponing this one. I had hoped to have the series finished by now, but July was a terrible month and I barely got any writing done. Four chapters of this and then a one shot are all I have left in my completed queue. :'( Hopefully I get my groove back before August is over too.
Chapter 1
Lancelot stood in the great hall, overwhelmed by the amount of decorations being put up for the wedding. It was just as extravagant as when Arthur and Gwen had married.
"All of this really isn't necessary," he protested.
"You're a knight of Camelot," Arthur replied. "And ceremony is tradition."
"Besides," Merlin put in, "we all want to celebrate with you and Lily."
Lancelot did appreciate his friends' support and enthusiasm, even if the four-foot-tall flower vases currently being carried past them was a little much. On the other hand, the more flowers the better. Lancelot knew it had been an adjustment for Lily, living in Camelot which was more stone than greenery, and he did want their wedding to be as beautiful as possible for her.
Merlin seemed to be of the same mind, because he launched into a run-down of even more planned decorations. "We'll have ivy draped above all the guests like streamers, and on the wedding arch." He pointed across the hall toward where the trellis was being brought in as they spoke.
Arthur rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation. "You're such a girl, Merlin."
"It's called being romantic," he retorted.
Arthur scoffed. "What would you know about being romantic?"
"For starters, I learned all the ways not to do it from watching you."
Lancelot kept his mouth shut as Arthur sputtered indignantly and the two of them devolved into their typical, nonsensical insults.
"What's all this?" Leon asked as he and the other knights made their way over.
"A debate on who knows more about romance," Lancelot replied.
Elyan grinned. "No contest. Arthur."
"Thank you," Arthur interjected.
Merlin crossed his arms. "Excuse me, but who do you think set up all of Arthur's romantic rendezvouses with Gwen?"
"On my instructions!"
"Right, enough about that," Gwaine interrupted and slung an arm around Lancelot's shoulders. "We're all going to the tavern to celebrate Lancelot's last night as an untethered man."
"Uh, I really don't think so…" Lancelot hedged.
"No argument," Gwaine said. "It's a night of celebration."
"Every night is a celebration to you," Leon pointed out wryly.
"And this one will top them all."
"Well, now I'm doubly unconvinced," Lancelot replied.
"Nonsense! This should be a tradition!"
Lancelot shot Arthur a look for help, but their king just smirked and shrugged.
"I would join you if I could, but there are some final matters to see to before the wedding. Have fun, though."
Lancelot sighed as his friends exchanged a round of eager grins. It looked like he was outnumbered.
"Just don't get too rowdy," he warned them, Gwaine in particular. "This is the eve of my wedding."
"Absolutely," Gwaine promised with a beaming smile.
Lancelot shared a commiserative look with Merlin as he was dragged off by his well-meaning but overly enthusiastic friends.
Lily gingerly and methodically disentangled the strawberry vines from the weed that had started choking them, nimble fingers working as though at a loom. Normally she would have just used her magic to retract the weed, but this garden was outside in the citadel, and she tried to keep her magic usage to a minimum when there were others about. Despite King Arthur's approval of her particular brand of magic in a kingdom where most kinds were outlawed, she knew it made some people uncomfortable. They'd been taught to fear anything "unnatural," never mind that magic was as natural as the green grass and blue sky.
In any case, Lily wasn't going to push those limits to prove a point, especially when she was the outsider in Camelot. She shook her head at herself, wondering if she would ever start to think of this place as her home. She was about to marry one of their most prominent knights; surely that brought her into the fold. Or it would, with more time for the people to get to know her and no longer mistrust the magic she brought with her.
"Lily!"
She startled, catching her finger on a thorn. A small bead of blood welled up, and she pressed her finger to her mouth to suck on it as she got to her feet.
Gwen was striding over, looking mildly exasperated. "You're supposed to be having your dress fitted."
"Oh." Lily hastily wiped her hands on the gardening apron. "I'm sorry, I lost track of time."
Gwen smiled and linked her arm through Lily's, tugging her toward the castle. They went up to Gwen's private room where servants were already waiting, an elegant gown draped carefully across several arms. Lily barely got a look at it before a handmaiden was stepping forward to help her undress. Lily tried to do it herself, but the ladies were apparently in a hurry, and soon she was down to her shift and then was being prompted to step into the gown.
Once the back was laced up, Lily was directed to step up onto a footstool set in the middle of the room. Then she finally got a full look at the dress in the mirror and was utterly stunned. She had never seen anything so opulent, let alone worn one of its kind. The gown was white, with silver beads sewn into the bodice and skirt in a spiral that looked like an array of glittering stardust. The long sleeves were made of sheer lace, as was the neckline, and the skirts felt like satin.
Lily ran her hands down the silky fabric. "Oh, Gwen," she breathed.
Gwen was beaming. "You look radiant."
"You didn't have to go to so much trouble," Lily protested weakly as the servants stepped in to check their measurements for any final adjustments.
"Nonsense," Gwen replied. "I was thrilled to do it."
Lily gazed at herself in the mirror, taken aback by the visage looking back at her. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I wish my father and sister could be here for this."
Gwen gave a subtle nod to the servants to leave, then walked over and reached out to squeeze Lily's hand. "You must miss them terribly."
"Don't misunderstand," Lily said hurriedly and stepped off the footstool. "I love Lancelot. And being here in Camelot."
Gwen just smiled in understanding. "Your heart can have more than one home. I do wish there was a way you didn't have to be separated from your family."
Lily smiled back and looked in the mirror again. "Thank you for the dress. I never could have imagined anything so beautiful."
Gwen beamed again. "I know we are no replacement for family, but you have friends here who are very excited to share this day with you tomorrow."
Their hands still linked, Lily squeezed back in gratitude.
The servants returned to help her out of the dress and put it away until the ceremony the next day.
"Is there anything I can do to help with the preparations?" Lily asked.
"No," Gwen said firmly. "It is all taken care of. All you have to do is relax and look forward to your big day."
Lily sighed; so she'd been told repeatedly. But she didn't like being idle, so instead of returning to her chambers, she went down to Gaius's. Knocking to announce herself, she pushed the door open and peeked inside.
"Gaius?"
He looked up from his work table. "Lily. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you needed help with anything."
"Well, Merlin was supposed to bundle up these herbs, but he seems to have disappeared. Again." Gaius bit back his next words and smiled at her. "But I believe it's customary for the bride-to-be to take it easy the day before her wedding."
"It's a silly custom," she rejoined, coming in the rest of the way and taking a seat across from him. "There is nothing strenuous about a wedding that I need to rest up for."
"And what would you be doing if you were back on the Isle of Asteron?" he asked.
"Well…actually, the celebratory feast is the night before, not after. There would be a bonfire and dancing."
"Ah. Well, since I have none of that to offer, perhaps you could help with those herbs Merlin's neglected?"
Lily smiled and reached for a handful of the freshly picked plants piled on the table. While she did that, Gaius busied himself preparing some tonics, one of which Lily didn't recognize so she asked him about it. They had been sharing their respective knowledge of medicines, both of them eager to expand their expertise. The evening waxed into night, until it was quite late.
"Do you need anything else?" Lily asked.
Gaius gave her a knowing look. "Now I believe you're stalling."
She smiled sheepishly. "I don't feel like I'll be able to get much sleep tonight. I thought I might as well continue being useful."
"Nerves?" he guessed.
Lily shrugged. "I don't know what I have to be nervous about. I want to marry Lancelot."
"It's not uncommon," Gaius replied. "Pre-ceremony butterflies."
"Do you have a remedy for that?" she asked wryly.
"Unfortunately, I do not," he said with a kind smile.
Lily sighed; she really should let Gaius get to bed if he wished. But before she could turn to leave, the door burst open with a kick and Merlin and Lancelot came stumbling through, Gwaine slung heavily between them.
Gaius got to his feet. "What have you done now?" he asked with weary exasperation.
"Gwaine had a bit too much to drink at the tavern again," Merlin grunted.
Lancelot let out a snort. "Then he just had to start a brawl." There was a red, swelling welt around his eye that looked like it was going to be a ghastly bruise in the morning.
The two of them hauled Gwaine over to the patient cot and unceremoniously dropped him face down on top of it, where he promptly began snoring. Loudly.
Lily went over to Lancelot and grimaced in sympathy as she reached up to touch his cheek. "Don't tell me he punched you."
Lancelot shot Merlin a look, and Merlin fidgeted abashedly.
"It was my fault," he said. "I was trying to 'accidentally' knock out the brawlers, but the chandelier I made drop ended up smashing against one end of a long table, which in turn flipped the opposite end into the air and…"
"It smacked me," Lancelot finished.
"Merlin," Gaius chided. "You know better than to make such a noticeable mess."
Merlin scoffed. "Oh, trust me, it was not that noticeable amidst the chaos already going on."
"And what about when Arthur finds out about this? Lancelot's getting married tomorrow!"
"It was Gwaine's fault!"
Lancelot winced as Lily gently prodded his cheek bone. "Is it bad?" he asked quietly.
She smiled. "I can fix it."
She went to one of the potted medicinal plants Gaius now kept growing in his chambers because of Lily and cut a broad leaf from the foliage. Bringing it back over, she gingerly placed it over Lancelot's eye and called up her magic to seep into the flora and activate its healing properties. Only, nothing happened.
Lily frowned and removed the leaf, staring down at it in her palm.
"What's wrong?" Lancelot asked.
She didn't answer but tried again to connect to the plant's song with her own. She was met with silence. There was no resonating chord within the leaf; there was no thrum of magic within herself.
All the breath whooshed from her lungs in staggering realization.
Her magic was gone.
