A/N: So, I'm almost done teaching and have two weeks of "holidays" ahead. So, you can expect more updates in the following weeks (months?). Enjoy.

15. The death song of Uther Pendragon

It is on a bright sunny day that we put a stop to our story next.

Lily was lying in her bed, her head tucked against her husband's, fingers playing on the top of his chest, content.

It was then there was a sharp knock at the door.

Gwaine sighed, not moving an inch.

Another knock.

This time he grunted. "I swear to God, woman, if it is your brother again, I'm going to kill him."

Lily chuckled, then moved to stand from the bed. "Don't you dare hurt my little brother. Or you'll be hurt in the process." She leaned down to kiss him, then walked to the door.

And on cue, Mordred really was standing on the other side.

A bright smile on his lips.

Lily smiled back, joyful at the sight of him happy. "Good morning, dearest brother."

"Good morning, Lily."

"What brings you to my door? Again."

He smiled a little shyer. "Sorry about that. It's just that...Arthur has asked for you to teach me how to sword-fight. Says he won't spar against me until I am able."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Bloody prat. Alright, I'm coming, give me a minute to change."

"Oh, not necessarily now. You could stay in bed a little longer."

Gwaine then shouted from the other side of the room. "Too late! You've killed the mood, mate!"

Lily chuckled, soon followed by her brother.

"Seriously though, I'll be here in a jiffy, go on."

She closed the door, a smile still gracing her lips.

Ever since he had told her he was her brother, Lily had spent some quality time with Mordred, learning how it was they were related, and much more even.

She by then knew they had the same mother, Keyla, who had died giving birth to Lily nine years prior. They didn't share the same father, though, Mordred's having been killed in combat when he was four, and Lily's, one of the last Dragonlords, having been executed on Uther's orders before she was born.

The druids had known of her power ever since her birth, and had decided to send her away from the realm of Camelot to make sure she wouldn't be found by Uther. She had been sent to a guild of druids near Ealdor, but had never arrived. Mordred still ignored how and why she had landed in the Enchanted Forest.

As to how he had known it was her his sister, he was still evasive. Something about a prophecy, something about...knowing at first sight. He still hadn't make up his mind.

Despite him still being destined to kill Arthur, Lily had found many common interests with her brother. They had quickly become friendly, then closer and closer still, until, a few months later, they barely were seen one without the other.

At first, the Knights had welcomed the news of their relation with surprise, then cheers.

Arthur was pleased to know his newest addition would be severely punished if he ever did something wrong – and God was he right.

Gwaine had been a little more reserved, since Mordred spent sometimes more time with his wife than himself. But he liked the lad, and if they were to have children, he'd still have to share her attentions anyway...

Lancelot wasn't jealous, although he could have been. He was only seen alone more often than not, when he was not with Percival and Gwaine doing some mischief.

In fact, the only person who had not taken the news well...was Merlin.

The warlock had been adamant about it: Mordred was to kill Arthur, he was dangerous, they had to eliminate him, whoever's brother he was.

Lily had not been pleased.

So the two of them were cold, not exactly angry with each other, but certainly not hanging out like they used to.

And while Lily understood his care of their King, something tugged at the back of her mind. A hunch.

No, Mordred would not kill Arthur. Not if she had any say in the matter.

The training field was already buzzing with sparring knights when she arrived, biting one last time in the apple she had managed to smuggle from the kitchens.

Mordred was talking with Percival, who was already bare-chested – at nine in the morning, seriously – and Elyan, who was polishing his sword.

When Bors, one of the youngest additions to the Knights, and also one of the most infuriating, landed at her feet, Lily stopped dead, and stared at the young man beneath her.

"Good morning, Sir Bors. Already fallen on your ass? That's a little early, isn't it?" She chuckled, then glanced up to see who his opponent was. She smirked. "Ah, but you are excused. Sir Lancelot likes his younger knights to be battered and bruised."

She walked a little forward, her eyes not leaving her fellow knight, who was mirroring her smirk. "Careful there, Lance, or you'll discourage them all..."

"As you wish, Captain." He mocked a bow, then put his sword before himself, gesturing the newt in line – Sir Kay – to meet him.

"You do seem in a good mood, today, Captain!"

Lily smiled up at Percival, taking Fang on the hanger next to him. "I am. Apart from a stomach bug waking up, I'm perfect, and I'm going to kick my little brother's ass."

Mordred, who was looking down, smirked to his boots. "Older brother, Lily. Do not forget that fact."

She rolled her eyes. "Technically, you may be older, but in reality, I am. So, young knight, you'd better listen to the younger sis, or Arthur will make matches out of your skeleton."

Percival and Elyan erupted in chuckles, and Mordred soon followed, grabbing his own sword and following Lily onto the field.

Later, as they sat together onto one of the many round roads of the castle, Lily started to have questions – as she usually did alone with Mordred.

"You've never told me my name."

Her brother looked over at her, brow furrowed. "Your name?"

"Yes. The druids call me Vivian, as does my dragon, I call myself Lily, but...surely...our mother chose another name."

He smiled sadly. "To be honest, she didn't really have time to name you..." He paused. "I did."

Lily's eyes met his once more. "And how did you name me?"

He smiled a little more joyfully. "Llyn."

She chuckled. "Lake in gael? How appropriate. It seems Avalon follows me everywhere I go..."

"It is customary for druids to name their children after a thing of nature. I chose lake because you were born on the shore of Baeldic lake, far east of here."

"You chose well." She reached for his hand, and squeezed. "I am glad we found each other, brother mine."

He smiled wider even. "And I. I've looked for you for long years, Lily. I despaired to ever do."

"And then... I was knocked out cold by one of your friends."

"Yes..." He chuckled. "And my eyes fell on you, and I knew it was you." He squeezed her fingers back. "You might not know, but...you do look a lot like our mother."

It made Lily's day, that simple fact.

A day prior, Arthur and Merlin had gone hunting in the woods.

It's when their horses erupted from the nearby forest that Lily understood two things: one, Arthur was riding far too quickly for it to be anything but deliberate, and two, Merlin was searching the walls in search for her.

And despite their recent fights over Mordred, she reached him at once.

"What's happened?"

The warlock's head lifted and he nodded in her direction. "We've met an old woman in the woods. A sorceress. She offered something to Arthur. A horn."

Lily looked over to her brother and explained quickly. His brow furrowed. "I've heard stories about it. It can't be good."

She turned back to Merlin. "Go to Gaius. I'm coming."

It appeared the horn had been salvaged from the Great Purge by the druids. It held the power to open a gate between our world and the spirit world. High Priestesses used to have a ceremony each year to celebrate their ancestors.

To Lily's utmost surprise, Gaius had taken part in such ceremonies. He knew more about the horn than Mordred even did.

When they exited the physician's rooms, Arthur handed the horn to Lily. "Lock it in the vault." Then he walked away, his shoulders down.

Merlin came to stand by her and sighed. "He's always like this this time of year."

"We can understand him better than most, Merlin. It's the anniversary of the day he lost his father." She shot him a sad glance, then went her own way.

Yes, things had changed between the former good friends.

And to her, it wasn't such a bad thing.

That evening, a banquet was hosted for the anniversary of Arthur's coronation.

Lily, who was sitting between Gwaine and her brother, kept her eyes on the King, who didn't wait long before exiting the table and go his separate ways. And she knew where he was going. To where Uther's body was still lying, covered by a carved marble.

Gwaine's hand went on hers. "Is everything alright? You've barely eaten."

She smiled up at him. "I'm not hungry. Perhaps I'm ill, I don't know. But do not worry."

"I do worry." He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Percival, on his right, grunted. "What did I say about public showings of affection?"

Lily chuckled. "Seriously, Percy, if even a kiss on the cheek disgusts you, we have to find you a girl, and quickly so."

Elyan, two seats from her, laughed. "Ah, but you forget that time when he was entranced by a creature!"

"Oh no, I do not forget. And, as I recall, you were as entranced as he, and even you, dear husband."

Gwaine grunted. "Thanks a lot, Elyan, now she's going to brood for days."

"Nope, I'm not."

Mordred's brow furrowed. "Have I missed some adventure here?"

Lancelot chuckled on Elyan's left. "Yes, as have I. And I long to hear the story."

Lily huffed in her glass of wine. "Or not."

The following day, Arthur and Merlin left the castle early in the morning, without so much as a word.

Lily went to Gaius as a last resort.

"Gaius!"

The physician, swallowed up in the making of a potion, didn't even raise his gaze. "I don't know where they went."

"But you have strong suspicions, don't you?"

"As have you, apparently..."

The Lady Knight sighed. "I think Arthur wants to see Uther again. I've checked the vault, and the horn isn't there."

Gaius looked up at her, brow furrowed. "He must be very careful then. If he even stumbles, Uther's spirit could come back from the dead to haunt us all..."

She grunted. "That's what I feared..." She paced forward, stopping next to her former teacher. "What can I do?"

"Nothing for now. We must trust Arthur, and Merlin."

She nodded to herself. "I can do that..." She then leaned down to smell the content of Gaius' potion. "What's-" But as soon as the smell entered her nostrils, she doubled over, and felt sick.

It didn't take long for the court's physician to assess her symptoms.

To Lily's surprise, he didn't seem concerned. A small smile had even appeared on the corner of his lips.

"This would explain the mood and the lack of appetite..."

Lily grunted and stroked her stomach, still feeling a bit bugged. "What would? How sick am I?"

The physician turned to her and smiled wider. "You are not sick, Lily. You are pregnant."

The news hit her like a running horse.

Her. Pregnant.

She had sworn herself to wait at least a few years longer before even thinking about it. A child was a heavy commitment, one she wasn't sure she was ready to abide to.

She looked up at Gaius. "How far gone am I?"

"I would say maximum four weeks."

"How did I not see this?"

He smiled kindly. "I expect the Captain of the Knights of Camelot to have hundreds of things going on in her mind. It would be easy to forget such a futile thing as a period."

She grunted and took her head in her hands. "God, I did not expect that... What I am going to do? What am I going to tell Gwaine?"

"I suggest you do not put too much stress over this. Telling the father will only have to be done at the most opportune moment. A moment of your choosing. I would, however, advise you not to wait until you are due."

She chuckled darkly. "Thank you for lifting the mood..."

"You're welcome." He walked up to her and put a small vial in her hand. "One drop in a goblet of water every morning will get you rid of the sickness."

Lily eyed the vial as if it was poison, then sighed and put it in her pocket. "I should go. Too many informations... I must concentrate on Arthur's matter right now."

"I understand. But...Lily...," she turned to him one last time, "tell someone. At least one person. You might need help somewhere along the line."

She nodded, then exited the room.

Feeling even sicker...

The first thing she did was walking straight to the Knights' hall.

The door opened on her, revealing Percival, who was binding his hands for close combat, and Lancelot, who was putting his boots on.

Percy looked up and furrowed his brow. "Is everything okay, Lily?"

She dismissed him by lifting a hand. "I'm fine, Percy. I wished to speak with Lance." Said Knight met her gaze, and his brow too furrowed. "Now, if it's not too much trouble."

He shook his head. "None at all." He walked up to her, passing Percival by putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm afraid I'll have to see you win another time, brother."

"No problem."

Lily tried a poor smile, then exited the room with Lancelot on tow.

She brought the Knight to her chambers, knowing it to be the most quiet place in the castle right now, with Gwaine training with his brother-in-law.

Lancelot closed the door behind them both, then sighed. "What is it? It must be grave if you wish to speak to me in private and not Mordred or Merlin."

Lily put Fang down onto the table and looked up at him, pleading him almost to let her speak. "It is grave. But my guts told me to tell you and no other. I trust my guts more than my brains right now."

The Knight took a few paces forward, stopping before her and putting a soothing hand on her shoulder. "Tell me. You know I'm your friend."

"I know." She took a deep breath, deeper than any other she could have taken in the past, and met his dark eyes with hers. "I just found out I'm pregnant."

There was pause. Lancelot's eyes widened, then looked down to her belly, then back up again. "Why do I have the feeling you are not happy about it?"

She moved away from him, tears falling from her eyes without her consent. "I killed my mother coming to life... What if I kill my baby too?"

Lancelot walked to her, whirled her around, and wrapped his arms around her. "You won't. Your mother didn't have the friends you have. Guinevere has helped many women giving birth in her time. Gaius wouldn't let any of you die without putting up a fight. And Merlin...would always find a way..." He smiled. "As for us, poor Knights... We'll suffer your moods with dignity."

She huffed, but smiled back, a small, shy smile. "Thank you, Lance."

He nodded. "Now, what was it you needed of me? Not to be the godfather, I hope?"

She chuckled. "No. That I must confer with Gwaine...when he knows. No, I wanted to... I wished to tell you because I soon won't be able to do much combat-wise. I'll need someone to back me up without it being suspicious to the others. I wish it to remain secret until...until I feel it best to make it public."

He nodded. "I understand. I will be your bodyguard then. With utmost pleasure."

Lily smiled, then leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "Always the bloody knight in shining armour."

"Yes, always." Then he backed away, smiled once more, and exited the room after launching a 'Congratulations, by the way' her way.

Somehow, the weight on her shoulders seemed lifted a bit.

The following day, there was a meeting of the Round Table. Nothing too fancy, a quiet reunion to assess the patrols and what had been discovered during the last week.

Lily had stood and started to list everything that had been consigned when the doors of the hall slammed open as if with a strong gush of wind.

Her eyes searched for Merlin's at once, but he was focussed on the door, brow furrowed.

It made her believe he knew something she didn't.

And it continued when the chandelier fell onto the table, leaving a crack in the middle of it.

That night, as Lily was changing into her usual tunic for her diner, a tug at the back of her mind told her someone was reaching for her.

And the tug was insistent.

She opened up and found her brother calling her name in anguish. "Mordred? What is it?"

"It's Percival. I've found him in the armoury. An axe in his shoulder. We're at Gaius'."

She gasped then put on her belt as quick as she could before running towards the physician's rooms.

Percy was sitting on a chair, Gaius leaning over it to sow back the skin.

Mordred, still in armour, eyed his sister coming in warily.

Percival looked up. "Lily! What are you doing here? I thought no one but Mordred knew I was injured!"

She hurried to his side, finding an excuse as quickly as her brain could function. "I...crossed maids on my way to the halls. They were saying they saw a Knight transported here, and I didn't know it was you. What happened?"

"The axe must have fallen from the rack..."

Gaius looked at Lily, a knowing look on his face. "Who knew a falling axe could provoke such a deep wound..."

Mordred looked at his sister intently. "First the Round Table, now the Knights... Can no one else see a pattern here?"

Merlin, who had been in his own room, arrived, carrying bandages he started to wrap around Percy's shoulder. "I can. But let's not discuss this without being sure." He looked at Lily. "You should go back to Arthur, he'll wonder where you are. You too," Mordred, "I'll take care of Percy."

Mordred nodded, then walked to his sister, taking her hand in a brotherly nature that told her he was worried about her safety and ready to kill if necessary.

Such a protective older brother...

Later that evening, it was Gwen who was attacked, trapped in the kitchens that mysteriously set on fire.

Lily, Lancelot, Mordred, Merlin and Arthur all gathered in Merlin's room where Gwen had been laid down, being given a sleeping draught by Gaius.

Merlin was convinced Arthur had unleashed his father's spirit into this world, but the King was persuaded his father would never have harmed Guinevere.

Such a fool.

Only one person understood was this all meant.

Lancelot looked up from Gwen for the first time since he had arrived, and stared at Lily until she met his gaze. "The Round Table, the Knights, and now the Queen. You there is only one more person Uther disapproved of, and she is standing right here."

Lily sighed. "Yes, I guess I'd be the next on his list. The Captain of the Knights, a woman? Dear Lord, what a blasphemy!"

Arthur whirled around, making for the door. "I'm telling you one last time, my father wouldn't harm anyone!"

Merlin looked at Lily intently, then at Lancelot. "Lily will need protection."

The Knight nodded. "No problem."

Mordred took his sister's wrist. "I'm in this too."

She looked over at both of them and smiled. "Such a bunch of brave men. Pity he doesn't like you either, I'll have to protect your ass as much."

They didn't have to wait long to be attacked.

As they made their way back to Lily's chambers, the torches went out of a sudden, and a strong wind seemed to erupt from the walls itself.

Lancelot and Mordred took out their sword, while Lily calmly looked around.

In a matter of seconds, both Knights were knocked out cold by a torch hitting them at the back of their heads.

Lily didn't have the time to see if they were alright, a lance coming at her at full speed making her take a drastic decision.

She outstretched her palm. "Biaeldon burne!"

The lance took fire and consumed itself, touching her in a light breeze of smoke.

The attack stopped.

She chuckled to the seemingly empty corridor. "How about that, then, Your Majesty? I am a woman and I have magic! You didn't expect that, did you?"

There was a sound like a hurricane, and a gush of wind passed over her.

Then the torches flew back to life, and Lancelot grunted on the floor.

Lily's magic had taken the ghost by surprise...and made it flee.

What a development...

The following morning, as they stepped onto the training field, Gwaine's brow furrowed.

"Why am I the only one who doesn't look like he's had a bad night?"