AN: Happy Sunday! I'd like to apologize again for not updating last week and giving you all zero warning. My best friend got married and I had absolutely no time to do anything else all weekend. And then we had a wifi problem, but everything is good now!

You might also notice that I updated the number of chapters! And yes, I do believe that that is accurate. I've been wrong since the beginning, but I do think that there is only one chapter left!

I might include a little epilogue, but it will just be attached to the next chapter.

The next chapter is going to be hard to write, because I've known what the climactic scene was going to be since the beginning and now I've got to try and get it right!

Anyway! Enjoy this chapter and I'll see you all next week!

James stayed the night again.

This time Lily insisted that he sleep on the bed.

It was plenty large enough for the two of them, and she wanted him closer to her than the couch allowed.

There was no romance in it however, it stemmed from the very human and mortal part of her that just needed to know that he was still there, that he was okay.

She waited until his breathing had evened out and then turned on her side, so she was facing him. She wasn't sure how he had been able to fall asleep, but she knew that sleep was not going to find her any time soon.

He seemed harmless in sleep. He seemed like a boy. He didn't seem like someone who should have to go up against Riddle tomorrow, someone who would determine the fate of his people. He did not look powerful or magical, he just looked like a human man. Young, tired, and resting.

Lily lay there next to him, curled up, the blankets tucked up over her ear and watched his chest rise and fall. She tried to focus only on that, to let the steady rhythm lull her to sleep, but it proved futile.

Eventually, she gave up and rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling.

She wished that there was electricity in fairyworld. She was feeling guilty for not being able to call her mum. James had sent a note home for her, but that didn't mean that whatever the note said answered all of Rose's questions, and it was weird for Lily to go this long without calling her mum when she was away from home.

And she felt especially guilty because she knew that tomorrow she would be putting herself in harm's way, and her mum had no idea where she really was, who she was with or what she would be doing. She was probably worried though, and that was Lily's fault.

She swung her feet over the edge of the bed and walked to the little table near the door. She moved books and scrolls around until she found some blank parchment and then she dug through her backpack until she found a pen. Then she went to the windowsill and sat down to write her mum a letter. The moon was bright enough that she didn't need to worry about lighting a candle.

She started writing, not really having a good explanation for anything, but wanting to make sure that she had something to send to her mum that was in her own handwriting. Something that would hopefully reassure her somewhat.

She'd have to tell her the truth after things calmed down though, when she finally had time to go back to the mortal world. Back to collect her things and explain things as best she could to her mother, and then she would come back.

It was a strange thing to be so certain of after everything terrible that had happened over such a short amount of time, but she had no doubts that this is where she was meant to be. There was a calm settled into her bones here that had never been present in the mortal world.

She might have unwittingly entered into a deal with the land, but she didn't think it was by chance. The land knew what it was doing, it knew that her soul was meant to be here and that was why it had chosen her.

At least, that sounded nice to Lily, and that was how she was choosing to think about it. And, a point in favor of this theory, was that the land had done nothing to disprove it. Though maybe Lily thinking that the land would bother to do something about it if it disagreed was a bit strange. Perhaps her thinking of the land as some kind of being was incorrect, but she may have pictured the island from Moana a few times when she was thinking about fairyland as a character in this drama.

After she finished the letter and folded the paper in half, she looked out at the castle grounds and saw that the sky was starting to get lighter. Down by the stables, fae were already hard at work preparing the horses and wagons for the journey. Disappearing and reappearing where they needed to be to get things done the most efficiently. It must have been convenient to just spin on the spot and end up somewhere miles away with little effort.

Monty had told her that no one could apparate in or out of the castle, but she wasn't sure why they were traveling by horse instead of magic tomorrow.

Not that her brain was in any state to contemplate the logic behind fae travel.

They would leave in a few hours and Lily hadn't slept at all.

She walked back to the table and put the letter on top of a stack of books so she wouldn't forget to ask James to send it out for her, and then she got back in bed, now thinking about Moana again. Though it was better than thinking about Riddle and she was able to sleep.

oOo

She woke much too soon, when James sat up in bed. She had the worry tickling the back of her brain, that if he woke up without her, then he'd leave without her as well, and so the slightest movement from him was enough to wake her up, despite how tired she was.

"Morning," She said, letting him know that she was awake as well, but then she closed her eyes again and pulled up the blankets.

"We won't leave for a while still. I was just going to go and find Moody." He stood up and Lily had to peel her eyes open again.

"James,"

"I will not leave without you," He said plainly, and unable to lie there was no reason for Lily to distrust him. "I have already conceded that point."

"I know," She said and then yawned. "What do you need to talk to Moody about?"

James frowned at her. "I would rather not say."

Lily's stomach clenched and she huffed, pushing herself up. He didn't have to say it out loud for her to know what that meant. He was going to talk to the captain of the guard about what the plans should be if James didn't return from today's duel.

She looked at her letter on the table. That was the real reason she'd written it. In case she didn't come back today.

"Alright." Lily said. "I need to post a letter, so I'll go and find someone to help me do that." It had been a little foolish last night to believe that James would be the one to help her.

Lily walked over to the table and took her robe off the back of her chair and pulled it on before picking up the letter and tucking it into her pocket. She looked up to find James looking at her quietly.

"What is it?"

"You seem so calm." He said. "Are you not frightened even a little bit?"

"Of course I am," She said, shrugging her shoulder. "I'd be a fool to no be frightened."

"You are so brave, Lily."

"So are you," She said. "And we will get through this together. This day will have an ending where you and I are standing on the other side."

James smiled. "I am glad you came back when you did. I am glad that we have had this time together, even if it has been hectic and terrifying."

Lily took a slow breath through her nose and then let it out. "Don't do that."

"I am not saying goodbye."

"Good. Because it was starting to sound like that is what you were doing."

They looked at one another for a moment and then James gave her a small grin. "Can I say goodbye for now so I can go and speak with Moody?"

Lily rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She understood why he was trying to lighten the mood, why he was combatting this heavy situation with humor. She could play along. "I suppose, but only if you kiss me before you go."

"That sounds entirely fair." James' grin widened and then he stepped toward her and leaned close. His lips had left hers before she'd been able to disappear in the kiss, but she still felt a bit lightheaded as she watched him walk out of the room.

She pulled her robe tightly around her and made sure she had her letter still before she walked out of the room as well.

oOo

"How are you feeling, Red?" Sirius asked from the horse beside Lily, some hours later.

"I'm fine." Lily said, knowing full well that he was asking her how she was because he could see her white knuckling the reins and probably hear her rapid heartbeat.

She was dressed in armor. James said that it was probably uncomfortable because it hadn't been made for her, but it was armor. Large, metal plating meant to protect her body from physical attacks.

How could something like that ever be comfortable? How could anyone ever look as relaxed as Sirius did just now while wearing it? They were wearing it because they were about to ride out to the deadlands to watch James duel Riddle. And they might be attacked as well, that's why they were wearing armor.

She was not fine.

She should have written her mother a longer note, tried to explain more. She should have hugged Remus a little tighter before she left.

Leaving him behind had been hard. She'd never gone anywhere in fairyworld without him at her side, apart from when she was kidnapped, but that hardly counted. It felt wrong to be willingly riding away from the castle, knowing that he was still inside.

"You look regal wearing the Potter crest on your chest there." Lily looked down and then back up at Sirius. They were just leaving the castle grounds and James was out riding in front of the party. Lily and Sirius weren't that far behind them and they were all surrounded by guards.

"He didn't tell me that that's what it was and I'm not really in the state of mind to be paying attention to that kind of thing." She tapped on her chest and then grabbed the reins again. "I'm sure it's all he had that would fit me."

"I'm sure that he is sending a message. You are one of us now, Lily. And a queen in your own right."

Lily took what was supposed to be a calming breath and then closed her eyes. "This day is both going by too quickly and not quickly enough at the same time."

Sirius nodded. "Have you figured out what you're going to do to help James yet?"

Lily narrowed her eyes and looked ahead of them at James, but then she saw the charm bag hanging from Sirius' waist. James couldn't hear them just now.

"I'm going to do whatever I can." She said, looking back toward James. "The prophecy said that I'm meant to end this, that Riddle will die by my hand, so that's what I'll do."

Sirius nodded. "Good."

"Is Remus going to be okay?" She asked.

Sirius frowned at her. "Of course he is. You are not the only one who cares about him. We have been taking care of him-"

"I don't mean to interrupt your little rant there, but I only ask because I'm new to this and I honestly don't know. What happens to him when he transforms? He looked like he was in pain when I said goodbye."

Sirius's shoulders dropped. "It does hurt him. The entire structure of his bones and muscles change when he transforms, and they start to ache a few days before. I told Benjy to stay with him and Pomfrey will take good care of him as well. She always does."

Lily nodded, trying to make room in her brain for that new information. "Why haven't I met Benjy?"

Sirius shrugged. "He is a guard. He has shit to do."

"You are a guard as well." Lily pointed out.

"Yes, but I am also James' best friend, so I get to do whatever I want."

"How does Moody feel about that?"

Sirius snorted. "Oh, he is thrilled that James hired me as one of his personal bodyguards."

"I've only met Moody twice, but I bet he is." Lily bit the inside of her cheek. Her stomach as still in knots. "Can you do me a favor?"

Sirius frowned. "Possibly."

"Right," Lily nodded, "If things go south today, if I don't make it back to the castle…" He didn't interrupt her to tell her that she had nothing to worry about, because she did have everything to worry about and he couldn't lie. "Can you make sure that Remus knows that I knew the risks and went anyway? That it wasn't his fault? That I would have come back to this damn place with or without his invitation?"

Sirius was quiet for a moment. "I will do what I can." He promised, which was all he could do.

The rest of the ride seemed to melt away far too quickly, and when Lily saw the deadlands appear, she rode up so she was beside James.

She could feel the magic and nothingness mixing together already.

She started when she felt James' hand on her arm.

She looked over and he was looking at her softly, though still smiling. "Everything will be alright."

She nodded, reaching up and touching her neck. "It's just unnerving being here."

It wasn't just the feeling she was getting from the land, but this is where her dream had taken place.

He squeezed her arm before he let go. "You do not have to come any closer-"

"James." She shook her head and then nudged her horse forward.

Slowly, the lush green grass beneath them turned brown, and then they had to dismount before they reached the black and white ash that covered the deadland.

Lily got down from her horse and toed off her shoes like she had the other day when Snape had shown up at the castle.

She'd been worried that she wouldn't feel the buzzing once they were here, that she would feel only that sense of wrongness and emptiness. But it was still there, and it filled her with warmth and hope.

She walked into the empty space, looking for any sign of life or Riddle himself, but she saw nothing. She dug her toes into the ash and then sat down.

This place was so sad on the surface, but there was so much more to it brimming underneath.

James came up and sat beside her.

"What do you feel?" He asked.

"Hope." She smiled at him. "I can feel the magic here, in between the death and destruction, I can feel the magic."

He smiled back at her. "Riddle will probably show up closer to dusk. That is when most duels take place." Lily nodded.

"This isn't representative of what he can do, James." She said, somehow knowing that what she was saying was true, as she had in the Hallows. "All of this took years, even if the visible effects didn't appear until recently. Riddle is still mortal in more ways than he believes."

James reached out and took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers.

Sirius appeared on James' other side and then Peter came up and sat beside Lily.

"What are we looking for?" Peter asked.

"Nargles?" Sirius asked.

"You know I don't know what those are."

"They are not real." James squeezed her hand.

"They most certainly are." Sirius scoffed. "They are little invisible creatures that fly around your head and muddle your thoughts."

Lily laughed, "How would we find them if they are invisible."

"They are not real," Peter echoed what James had already said.

"They are real." Sirius repeated. "And you can find something, even if you cannot see it."

"You have yet to find a nargle." James pointed out.

"Sure, but that does not mean that they are not real."

"We should go and eat lunch." Peter said. "I mean, it is nearly dinner time, but we never got lunch."

Lily nodded. "We should eat." She didn't feel like eating, but she did agree that they should.

So they all stood and Lily held James' hand while they walked back over to where Moody and the guards were setting up camp.

They ended up helping, since no one could make food before the camp was unpacked and set up. And while Lily did need to let go of James' hand in order to help, she stayed close to his side and touched him as much as she could. A hand on his arm, on his back, through his hair.

He was going to be okay at the end of the day, and she honestly believed that.

She just wasn't so certain about her own fate.

oOo

The first of Riddle's men was spotted after they finally sat down to eat.

Riddle hadn't arrived yet, but he had sent a scout, and Lily could tell from this distance that it was Snape. He was standing far off in the middle of the deadland, looking at them. Lily looked back, continuing to eat her soup as though it was important for Snape to know that his presence didn't bother her enough to warrant any kind of response. He was there, and she wouldn't let him know that she cared at all.

But that was dumb, and she knew it.

She did care that he was there, because if he was there then Riddle was on his way.

The feeling in the camp quickly turned sour. It hadn't been very pleasant to begin with, but as soon as they spotted Snape, any joking or laughing that had managed to spear through the melancholy and despair, dissipated.

Lily finished her soup and set the bowl down in front of her.

She saw her chipped toenail polish and had the strangest thought that she should have painted her toes before she came here.

She clenched her fists and looked over at James. He was already looking at her.

"Everything is going to be okay," He said, but this time she knew he was trying to convince himself. She gave him a smile, it felt weak, but she managed one.

"Of course," She agreed, and then she leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Sir," Moody was walking up to them, his footfalls crunching the brittle grass beneath him. "More of them have arrived."

"Riddle?" James asked.

"Any moment now."

James nodded and reached out to squeeze Lily's hand before he looked over at the deadland and he frowned. "Did we hear from the Hallows yet?"

"They have remained untouched, your highness."

"Good." James cleared his throat. "And the castle?"

"It remains secure." Moody gave him a sharp nod.

James looked back at Lily. "I still wish that you would have stayed home."

Home.

"I'm sorry, but you're stuck with me." She looked around for Sirius, who was walking up and down a line of guards. Peter close behind him.

"Well, that is hardly something that you should apologize for." James grinned. He looked back at Moody. "I suppose it is time."

Moody nodded again.

James started walking toward the field and Lily followed him. She knew that he wouldn't let her follow him all the way, but she would walk to the deadland with him. She would show Riddle's men the armor that she wore, that she was choosing to stand beside him, that as a vessel for the land's magic, she was fighting against them.

She did not expect them to balk at any of that, but if James had put her in his houses crest to send a message, then she would continue to spread the message now.

Everything about her walking with him was to send a message.

And then there was Riddle. He appeared in a cloud of black smoke.

Lily's gaze was immediately drawn to his hands, which were still attached to his arms. It didn't look as though he'd escaped the dream unscathed either however, for his hands were gray and brittle looking, like everything else in the deadlands. It looked as though they would just crumple if too much force was applied.

Lily was glad to see that she hadn't been the only one injured.

"I am so glad to see that you showed," Riddle called out, his voice echoing in a way that it shouldn't across the empty field. He was using magic already.

"You knew that I would," James called back.

"Of course I did, you gave your word. I was talking to Lily, the one true queen," Riddle smiled at her and she almost stopped walking. "I was worried that our little spat the other night would have kept you away."

Lily bit the tip of her tongue and then gave him a smile. "It looks as though one of us is healing more quickly than the other." She wasn't even sure if her wound was still visible.

Riddle looked down at his hands. "Yes, I have to admit that I did not foresee whatever magic caused this to happen."

"Well, I do hope to keep surprising you." They were half a football field from one another now and Lily stopped walking, letting James go ahead on his own. She felt the rest of their party fall into line behind her, another message, another show of strength. Lily was a queen, and James' army stood behind her.

"Yes, me as well. That is half the fun, is it not?" And then he turned his attention to James, looking at him as though he was nothing more than a small obstacle, as though he hadn't a care in the world and would rather be doing anything else.

It was an act, Lily told herself. Riddle couldn't be as unbothered as he looked. He was doing the same thing that she was doing, faking it. He was attempting to look as strong as he wanted people to believe he was, same as her.

They were both terrified because no one knew what was about to happen.

"Well," Riddle held out his broken, mangled hands. "There is no use in prolonging this anymore. Take your position, Prince James. I will even let you have the first strike."

"How gracious," James pushed his hands together and when he pulled them apart, thunder boomed throughout the field.

And then they were dueling, and Lily was left to watch from the sidelines.