A/N: Sorry for the slight delay in updates, my computer broke down and I had to save all of my work onto my Dad's. ;)

6. Aithusa

Arthur had been king for three months when the next adventure knocked on Camelot's door.

Although, as Lily was sparring against Percival in the Knight's courtyard, it didn't seem like a day different from any other.

The giant had been swinging his sword at her for the good of ten minutes without finding any opening. The Lady Knight was smaller than him and lighter on her feet, she was flying around like a bird taunting a cat.

And if the smirk on her lips was any indication, she was enjoying herself.

"Getting old, Percy?"

Her opponent sent her a warning glance, then made to strike her side, but she just whirled around, and nudged his arm with the blunt side of Fang.

"Dead again. Careful there, you've already lost four lives since we began."

"Lily..."

She smiled wider. "What, tired already?"

To her surprise, he smiled back, then let his sword drop to the ground and charged her.

With a squeak, she made to escape, but soon, two arms closed around her middle and lifted her up in the air and onto his shoulder.

She punched his back with her fists. "Let me down, Percival, or God forgives, you'll pay!"

But before her eyes, Gwaine and Elyan were laughing their asses off, and her man shrugged, a wide smile on his lips. "It seems you're dead this time."

No, really, nothing at all was giving hints to what was to come.

That night, really really late at night – later than even she would have thought proper – Merlin woke Lily by reaching her in mind.

She, who had been sleeping soundly in Gwaine's arms, opened her eyes to the usual pull such a link produced.

"Merlie? What is it?" She rubbed her eyes, trying hard not to wake Gwaine as she stood and went to stand by the table in her chambers. "Shall I come?"

She sensed him shake his head rather than saw. "No, there's no need. Lily...something happened. Something important."

"As late as it is, I'm all ears."

"A man came to Gaius earlier. He said that he had a way of retrieving a lost treasure. A dragon's egg."

Lily gasped in the silence of her room. "A dragon's egg? My Lord, I thought they were all gone!"

"So did I. Gaius doesn't want me to help that man, says he's dangerous...but-"

Without even voicing his words, she knew what he was implying. "You'd wish a word with Kilgharrah."

"If it is not too much trouble...and if, of course, you agree that we have to do something."

"Of course I agree. My dragon thinks he's the last and has thought it for a very long time. The least I can do is try to make him feel part of a once again grand species. I'll call."

"Thank you. And sorry again. For waking you."

"For this reason, you can wake me anytime."

Then Merlin cut the link, and Lily was once again alone in the coldness of her chambers, her bare feet trembling under her as she was thinking about the consequences of the existence of another dragon.

Kilgharrah would not be alone anymore.

Merlin would probably have his own dragon.

And she'd be happy.

Mainly, she'd be happy.

Instead of summoning him as she usually did, Lily decided to ask Kilgharrah rather than command him.

So, after a good ten minutes pondering, she closed her eyes and opened her mind to the small part that was always linked to him.

The dragon inside her.

"Vivian?"

"Hello, Kilghie. Sorry to wake you."

She sensed him yawn loudly. "It is no trouble. How can I help?"

"The better question would be how can you help yourself?" She paused. "Merlin wishes to speak to you."

"Now?"

"Yes. Could you meet him in our clearing? Are you close enough?"

"I am." And she felt him take flight. "Will I see you?"

"Not tonight. But soon." She smiled softly. "I miss you too."

He huffed affectionately. "Goodnight, Vivian."

"Goodnight, my dragon."

She remained facing the window, watching the faint light of the guard's torches before the Front Gate, for long minutes.

Trying, perhaps, to see the great flying figure of Kilgharrah when he'd arrive.

But instead, a pair of arms rounded her waist, and a stubbled cheek met her neck. "You're awake."

She sighed in content. "Sorry to have waken you."

"No problem. Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing. I was having a friendly conversation with Kilghie."

Gwaine grunted. "Next time, remind him that night is made to sleep, not talk." Then he planted a kiss on the junction between her neck and shoulder.

She leaned back in his chest, closing her eyes. "We should go back to bed."

"To bed, or to sleep?"

She chuckled. "Either is perfectly fine with me."

"Then I'm taking you on your word."

Lily squeaked as he scooped her in his arms and carried her back to their bed, and then started giggling.

Her Knight in shining armour...could not, would not have enough of her.

Morning came, and Lily awoke once again to Merlin's traditional opening of her curtains.

Except this time, she wasn't the only one unhappy with it.

Gwaine emerged from his side of the bed and grunted. "Merlin...what do you think you're doing?"

The warlock's eyes widened as he saw the knight sleeping with Lily, but didn't comment. Instead, he smiled widely. "The sun is up and bright! Up you two, you have a training this morning!"

Lily fell back onto her pillow with a hiss. "I hate you sometimes."

"No you don't." Then he reached her mind. "I've got news."

To that she looked at him through her barely opened eyelids. "Alright. Gwaine, let's get up. His Majesty the King of Prats will indeed probably want to kick asses this morning."

Her knight grunted again, then leaned down to plant a kiss on her lips, and stood up, walking to the chair where laid his clothes and armour.

Lily herself took her sweet time getting dressed, sending Gwaine ahead to wake Elyan and Percival for their morning spar.

While she remained back with Merlin, who kept tidying the room as if he was her personal servant.

"You really need to stop waking me like that."

He watched and smirked. "And you need to be careful with Gwaine. Should anyone see-"

"People already know, and besides, I really don't care what they think."

"Anyway...my opinion."

She rolled her eyes and took a bite in the apple he handed her. "What did you want to tell me?"

"Kilgharrah also thinks I should retrieve the egg...in honour of my father."

Lily looked at him intently, then nodded. "Yes. I think Balinor would have wanted the egg to be found. He liked dragons. As do we."

Merlin sighed. "But...Gaius is right too. I can't trust this Borden. Something is off with that man, and I don't know what."

"He wouldn't be the first person you'd meet who'd be suspiciously-looking."

"No, you're right, he wouldn't." He paused. "I'm meeting him in the tavern."

"Okay. D'you want me to come?"

Merlin shook his head. "No. You...occupy Arthur long enough for me to talk with the man and win his trust."

"Occupy Arthur. Right. D'you believe a good kick in his royal buttocks would do it?"

The warlock chuckled. "Oh, yes, that would do it."

"Then I'm in. Call me if you need anything. I'm a Dragonlord, after all." She grabbed Fang and exited her chambers, quickly swallowing her apple while she made her way towards the courtyard.

It appeared Arthur was not in a good mood that morning. Apparently it had something to do with wood-worms, though none of the Knights dared pry it off him.

So, a moody King usually meant a very harsh King with a sword. Percival was the first one to beg for mercy, his arms and ribs bruised, Gaius even having to apply a poultice to a gash in his forearm.

So, after that, there wasn't really a queue to spar against the King.

Apart from Lily, who had promised to keep him occupied, after all.

"I'm warning you, I won't be easy on you even if you're a woman."

She snorted as she unsheathed Fang. "Am I? Nice to know." And she was the one to attack first.

She stood no chance facing him while he was in such a mood, but still sparred her best, even managing to sneak through a tiny opening once, but only leaving a thin cut on his hand.

So, when she fell ass first on the ground with a loud curse, Lily was really pissed to see the King roll his eyes as if she hadn't been enough of a match, sheathe his sword and turn around to leave.

"Arthur! Where are you going?"

He turned around while still pacing towards the castle. "I've got a meeting with the Counsellors. Besides, none of you is good enough for sport today."

She almost threw an insult at his back.

Almost.

That evening, Merlin called for her, telling her that he was about to let Borden inside the royal vaults and that he needed her as a pressure point.

So she smirked, sheathed Fang and put on her shiny chainmail, and followed him down Camelot's corridors.

Borden was waiting at the secret lower gate that went into the forest. Merlin used it often and, to Lily's knowing, Agravaine too.

The man was tall and dark-looking. As she saw him stride her way alongside Merlin, she felt, indeed, as if he shouldn't be trusted.

Upon seeing her, Borden fretted and took a dagger on his belt. "Who's that?"

She snorted, her hand on Fang's hilt at her belt. "That, mind you, is the Knights' Captain."

Borden looked over at Merlin. "You brought her here? You've betrayed me?"

Lily took a few paces forward, meeting Borden's black eyes with her own glare. "Don't speak to him like that. I am here to make sure you don't steal anything more than what you should. And believe me," she snapped her fingers and a flame appeared dancing through them, "you do not wish to cross me."

Borden huffed, his eyes going wide. "You have magic! Ha! The King's Captain has magic!" He seemed to find all this very funny, even as they made their quiet way towards the vaults.

Merlin and Lily left Borden to raid the vaults alone, thinking it best if they weren't seen and not thought to be more involved than they were.

Although Lily thought it not that quite a good idea afterwards that the thief should know of her powers.

Lily left Merlin to accompany Borden back to the door, knowing in the back of her mind that he'd wish to follow the man to the end...to the egg.

But when she heard a faint clamour on the end of the corridor, and hurried down it to find Merlin unconscious on the ground, she gritted her teeth and swore to herself that the bastard would pay.

When she shook him back to consciousness, Merlin sat up, startled. "What happened?"

Lily snorted. "You've been knocked out by a black-eyed bastard. How's the head?"

He put a hand to the back of his neck. "Sore, but I'll live. What do we do?"

She rolled her eyes. "Go after him of course! We know where he's going, let's follow him!"

"But...Arthur..."

Lily smiled. "I already had prepared a word in my chambers for Gwen or Gwaine to find in case I didn't come back. Officially, we're going to Ealdor to see your mother who's been taken ill."

Merlin smiled. "You're the best."

"Say that again." She helped him up and pulled him with her back inside. "Come now, let's prepare the horses."

After a quick stop for Merlin to put back the key in Arthur's room, both grabbed a horse and passed the gate easily after the Captain told the guards about their errand late at night.

Lily could sneak in and out of the castle without being asked one single question.

The advantage of leaving Camelot so soon after Borden was that they'd catch up with him after only a couple of hours.

But both Lily and Merlin thought it a far better idea to wait until they had reached their destination before making themselves known. They both had a hunch it'd be a better option. More clever.

But a few hours before dusk that day, while they were only a few miles behind Borden, Lily stopped her horse, her eyes going behind them, her ears opening thanks to a spell.

"We are being followed."

Merlin looked over at her. "Can you hear who?"

She closed her eyes and cast a stronger spell, and started when suddenly, Arthur's voice was as clear as if he had been standing next to her.

"The ashes are still warm. He's only a few hours ahead. Let's stop for the night."

Then Percival. "What I would give for Merlin's cooking right now."

Lily closed herself to the spell and looked over at her friend. "Arthur and the boys. They're not far behind. I'll have to cover our tracks."

Merlin nodded. "Shall we stop?"

She shook her head. "Not right now. Let's go ahead a little while longer. We have means to seeing in the dark, after all."

And the warlock smirked.

How it was easy to spend time with someone who had powers as his own...

But that night, as Lily was sleeping and Merlin taking his shift, they received a visit.

Or, more like, Merlin was lured out of their camp by someone.

And woke Lily when he was back.

She drew out her sword, before seeing who it was waking her and sat up. "Is it my shift already?"

The warlock shook his head. "No. I've been talking. With druids."

"What? Where? And why wasn't I invited?"

He chuckled. "There are a few things more important than why you haven't been summoned too, Lily. Besides, you know the answer. I've been told about the prophecy, and I believe that means you won't be welcome in their camps anytime soon."

She sighed. "Right. What did they tell you anyway?"

"That the tomb of Askanar may prove difficult to enter. They asked me to beware."

"And you're waking me for that reason?"

"No, I'm waking you because they also told me that I had to go inside alone."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Great. So I'll just stand outside and what? Draw Arthur out?"

"Well, that would be a good idea if you weren't meant to be in Ealdor, far to the North." She snorted, and he sighed. "Just hide. I'll find you as soon as I have to egg, then we'll go to Kilgharrah."

To that she smiled. "When are we leaving?"

"Are you still tired?"

"Not at all."

They smiled at each other, then moved to depart.

Dawn was still two hours ahead.

It appeared the tower hiding the egg was hidden behind a cave leading to a waterfall. And if Merlin hadn't known where to look, they wouldn't have found it.

After leaving the horse some place before the cave to make sure the Knights wouldn't find and recognize them, Lily and Merlin hurried through the passage, and exited under water into a beautiful field, on the far end of which stood the tomb of Askanar.

Lily couldn't help but gape. "Remind me to find myself a place like this to settle. Beautiful, hidden to all sights. Kilgharrah would beautifully fit in such a place."

"Because, of course, you consider your dragon's place in your home."

"Well... He's like a child, in a sense. Okay, he's older than anyone I ever knew, including...my adoptive father, but...I have to care for him as I would a child."

"As you would a pet, rather."

"Oi, behave!"

He chuckled, then moved forward, with Lily behind him erasing their tracks.

They reached the edge of a small wood by night, and Lily soon urged Merlin forward alone.

"The boys aren't far behind. I'd rather keep an eye on them than walk with you while you can take care of yourself."

Merlin smiled. "Sometimes you remind me of Lancelot."

Sadly, she returned the smile. "Thank you."

That night, Lily settled up a tree from which she could easily see the four knights getting their dinner then one by one falling asleep in such a way that wasn't natural.

It only when she approached them and heard Gwaine's heaving breathing that Lily knew they had been poisoned.

She gritted her teeth while putting a hand on Gwaine's chest. "Borden, I swear you'll pay for this. Ekpearedu knicksar."

Gwaine's breath eased at once, and, with a relieved sigh, Lily hurried to Elyan's side, then Percy's, then Arthur's, before retrieving her post in her tree.

When they'd awake, all knights would have a nasty headache and no knowledge whatsoever why they'd still be alive...

But when dawn arose, all the company awoke to a deafening sound of a building crashing down, of stone collapsing on stone.

Arthur sprang to his feet, drawing out his sword. "What is that?"

Lily, on her perch, had a good view on the tomb collapsing on itself. She gritted her teeth, and muttered. "God, please get out of there, Merlie..."

Under her, all Knights sprang to their feet and hurried away to the source of the noise, and Lily got down her tree, knowing that this was her queue to leave.

She ran as fast as she could, running and running, until she reached the edge of the woods.

Then, and only then, she reached Merlin in mind.

"Merlie? Are you alright?"

"I am."

She sighed in relief. "Do you have it?"

"Safe and sound."

"Careful, Arthur makes his way towards the tomb right now."

"I'm already away. Meet me back at the waterfall. And call your favourite scaled horse. He'll be happy."

Kilgharrah was indeed happy, and asked Lily to meet him not far from the hidden cave, but far enough so that the Knights wouldn't hear or see him, at dusk.

So, when Merlin met with her in early afternoon, they had just enough time to meet up with him.

The golden-eyed dragon had never seemed happier in his Dragonlord's eye.

And she was happy with him when her gaze fell to the white-blue egg that Merlin was cradling.

Her hand went to Kilgharrah's paw, and she leaned into him, a spectator in her friend's long life.

"Is it still alive?" Merlin's voice was so concerned, Lily could feel his own wish to have such a relationship with another being.

"It can live for more than a thousand years!"

Merlin huffed happily. "So you are no longer the last of your kind!"

Kilgharrah chuckled. "It would seem not." Lily caressed the scales on his paw and met with his huge golden eye with a smile.

"When will it hatch?"

"Dragons were called into the world by Dragonlords. Only they had the power to summon them from the egg. As Vivian has me already, and as the only else Dragonlord, this solemn duty falls to you, Merlin."

Merlin looked down onto the egg. "How do I summon it?"

"You must give the dragon...a name."

The warlock met Lily's eyes, and she nodded. He then turned back to the egg, closing his eyes.

She could feel him search deep in his mind a name befitting the baby dragon in that egg.

And then, he whispered. "Aithusa!"

It was the first time she heard him speak dragon. But she knew he was right. Aithusa meant white.

Slowly, very slowly, the egg started to crack, and ever as slowly, a little white head got out, then wings, then tiny little paws.

Lily pushed aside the need to coo when it took flight into the night with a croak.

A dragon was born.