A/N: Sooo... I never imagined saying that so soon, but I'm almost done writing this story. Honest to God, only The diamond of the day left. I'm dreading the end of this journey, even if I planned a third part to this story. ;) Anyways, until then, enjoy the next chapter.

16. The Disir

A few weeks passed. Thanks to Gaius' potion, Lily no longer suffered the morning sicknesses that came with being pregnant. She also wasn't assailed with congratulations and speeches of worry since no one but Gaius and Lancelot knew of her condition.

She had still taken the decision to be easy on the Knights' training, instead asking for Lancelot or Gwaine to replace her while she took care almost exclusively of her brother's training.

Mordred was quickly becoming good with a sword. Even better than some youngsters that had been there longer than he.

She was proud to be his sister.

Even if Merlin was still far away from her.

Sometimes she wondered what their friendship would be like if he knew she was pregnant and possibly carrying the next generation of magical beings of this world.

Somehow she was certain he would be an even bigger pain in her ass.

One morning, Lily stepped into the training field, Lancelot at her side, as Mordred was going to spar against the King for the first time since she started teaching him.

Lancelot smiled down at her when the young knight took his sword, eyes grave, intent on his purpose. "I'm sure he'll kick Arthur's ass."

She huffed. "I never managed to do it, and he was the one to teach me. So no, I don't think so. But at least, he'll do me proud. As usual."

She looked aside as Merlin came to sit by them, his blue eyes locked onto the field and onto Mordred.

Lily knew, sensed he was locked onto the fight to come, making sure that nothing happened to his precious king.

She could have rolled her eyes if she didn't have a mind to do the same for her brother.

Mordred engaged Arthur, his young face almost twisted in a frown as he tried to kick the king's legs out from under him. He almost managed it before Arthur took his arm and used his own momentum to tear his sword from his grasp.

But a smile soon appeared on Arthur's face, followed by Mordred's own shy smile.

Lily looked down at Merlin and smirked. "Oh, stop brooding, will you? For once, just...stop."

He met her eyes but didn't answer, instead standing to rejoin his friend.

Mordred went to his sister, and shook hands with Lancelot.

Lily chuckled, then ruffled his hair. "Well done, little brother."

He smiled back, a true, wide smile that, in her mind, made him look so much more beautiful than usual. "Thanks to you, Llyn." A few days prior, Lily had told him she would appreciate if he used her chosen name when addressing her. He had done it ever since, and she loved it.

She was about to answer when Arthur himself walked to them and outstretched a hand for Lily to take.

"Well done, Captain. You've trained him well. Keep it up, and soon, he'll be even better than you."

"And that won't be difficult, I'm sure."

Lily chuckled but put a finger in Lancelot's ribs anyway. "Shut it, you!"

The group of Knights – and friends – started to laugh easily in the sunlight, a single frown sobering the picture.

Merlin's frown.

Later that day, Gwaine, who had been patrolling that morning, came back with ill news. In the east of the kingdom, a sorcerer going back the name of Osgarth used his powers to escape the Knights and killed one of the youngest in the process.

Arthur decided to lead a patrol to find him, and apprehend him.

When he gestured for Lily to follow him to his chambers, she knew exactly what was going to be asked of her.

She closed the door behind her and turned to her King. "You wish to ask me something, Arthur?"

He sighed. "Yes. Would you know why this Osgarth has decided to attack us all of a sudden? I never heard of him before. Surely he was hidden or peaceful before, so why change?"

She shrugged. "I never heard of him either, I must say, but I can see only one reason. Somehow this Osgarth must have met your sister, and she must have poisoned his mind with how much horrible you are and how quickly your reign should end."

He made a face. "You have a point." Then he took a deep breath. "I must ask you to be discreet in this whole affair. You are a valuable asset, Lily, and if sorcerers start to be openly aggressive, I can't take a chance that you'd be harmed."

Lily's brow furrowed. "You would have me stay here while you go on patrol?" She didn't even wait for the answer, knowing it to be a resounding 'yes'. "Arthur, have you thought about the chance that you'd be harmed? I won't be able to protect you if you leave without me!"

Arthur huffed. "I've lived pretty well without you, Lily. I don't need you to follow my every step. Besides, I will have the best knights with me. I'll be fine."

There was a pause, then Lily sighed and nodded. "Then, by all means, I'll stay."

"Thank you. I know it isn't an easy thing to ask of you. But I thank you."

She nodded again, then turned to leave the room.

Conflicted.

On the one hand, she was angry that he'd leave without her, his best asset, his personal killer. But on the other hand, she was relieved she didn't have to ride for long hours on end in her situation.

She may not have accepted the fact that she was expecting yet, but she surely wasn't going to tease fate and to provoke any miscarriage...

An hour later, as Lily was changing clothes in her room, there was a knock on the door.

As her husband never knocked – his worst habit to date – Lily didn't expect it to be Gwaine, so she walked to the door, brow furrowed.

But it wasn't Merlin either.

It was Mordred.

A smile formed on her lips at once as she opened the door wider so he could come in.

"Hello, Mordred! What brings you to your silly sister at this hour?"

He entered, strangely nervous, fidgeting with his gloves as he looked down to his feet.

Lily put a hand on his shoulder. "Is anything wrong?"

He looked up at her, meeting her blue eyes with his green, then shook his head. "Arthur has asked me to go with him on patrol."

She didn't answer straight away, too stunned she was at the news, then she smiled widely. "Congratulations! You are a true knight at last, dear brother!" She moved to hug him tightly, chuckling when he rocked them back and forth in his excitement. "But...," she untangled herself from him, "you have to promise me something."

Mordred smiled knowingly. "I'll be careful."

She smiled back and put a hand to his cheek. "You better. I haven't just found you only to lose you right after."

He put his own hand over hers. "I promise. I'll be careful."

"Good."

The following morning, as she was sitting in her bed, watching Gwaine put on his armour, Lily's brow was furrowed as well.

"You... You're going to ask something of me!"

She looked over at her husband and snorted. "Nonsense."

"I know you far too well, wife of mine." He walked to the bed and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Spill the beans."

She chuckled at the expression, something he must have remembered from their time in Storybrooke, then her face turned serious again. "Mordred is going too."

"Ah...," he winked at her with a wicked smile on his lips, "so you're going to tell me that I have to protect your brother, to put myself in front of him in any battle, to die in his stead if necessary."

Lily protested loudly. "No! No, never that! Just... Just make sure he's safe."

"You know I will. As much as I hate to admit it, your good-for-nothing of a brother has grown on me. Quite heavily so."

She smiled then stood, going around the bed to take her husband in her arms.

They shared a kiss, then Gwaine smiled wickedly again as she sheathed his sword. "You know what? I quite appreciate the fact that you're staying. This mean reunion make-out!"

She burst into giggles as she shoved him out of the door.

They came back less than a day later, and Mordred was full of smiles when he entered the hall Lily and Gwen had been occupying.

The Queen smiled to the Lady Knight and took her leave, while Lily walked to her brother and took him in her arms.

"You're alright."

"Of course I am. I promised I'd come back, didn't I?"

She nodded. "Where's Gwaine?"

"Drinking with Percival."

She rolled her eyes. "Why did I ask? Were you looking for me?"

The smile faded on his lips and he nodded, graver in a second. "Osgarth gave Arthur something. He called it the Disir's judgement."

Lily tilted her head. "I don't know what the Disir is, do you?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm sure of one thing. It isn't good."

She nodded and patted his shoulder. "Then we'll be extra careful. Come now, let's join the feast."

It was later that day, as she was running some errands in the castle, that Lily stumbled upon Merlin's path, and it was too controlled not to be deliberate.

"Merlin?"

The warlock stopped her in her tracks, grave and seemingly uncomfortable. "Lily, I know we haven't been...close lately-"

"And for good reasons, or shall I remind you you wish my brother dead?"

He winced. "Yes...yes. I'm not here to discuss that. Arthur's been given-"

"The judgement of the Disir, I know, Mordred told me. He sensed something was off."

"And he was right, I'm sure. That's why I'm here." He paused.

Lily stared right at him, and understood his silent words. She sighed. "Right. Summoning Kilgharrah should help you see through the blanks, is that it?" She raised a hand to stop his incoming answer. "I'll do it. Meet him in our clearing at midnight. He'll wait."

Merlin nodded and was about to thank her, but she didn't wait, instead whirling around and going back from where she came.

Fuming.

It wasn't dawn yet when a firm knock on the door woke Lily and Gwaine.

The Knight grunted and buried his face into the pillow while his wife walked to the door and opened it, revealing Lancelot.

"Lance? What is it?"

He looked almost apologetic. "Arthur's summoned the Knights. We are to leave within the hour." But when she moved to grab her tunic, he stopped her. "Not you. You are to remain here."

She cursed under her breath. "Seriously, is he ever to let me do anything ever again?"

Lancelot made a face. "It's not Arthur's request. I asked for you to stay. To protect the city in our absence..."

Lily threw her hands in the air. "Better and better! Now you are preventing me from having a life! How nice!"

"Quiet!" He took a pace forward to whisper. "You are pregnant, Lily. This could be dangerous and I've sworn to protect you and your child. Please be reasonable."

The look in his eyes left little will left in her to protest. She nodded and sighed. "Fine. I'll wake the husband."

"Thank you." He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I'll watch his back and your brother's."

"I know you will."

That day, Lily decided that the best way to take her mind off things was to pay a visit to her dragon.

He was in the area anyway, since he had met Merlin the night before, so she wouldn't have to summon him from afar.

Kilgharrah was looking happy to see her as he landed in a far off clearing near the northern border of the kingdom.

"Vivian. How nice to see you."

"Hello, Kilghie. I apologize if I haven't found the time to come and see you lately."

"Apologies are not needed, Vivian. I feel what you feel and hear what you think. I know you had good reasons." At that he laid down on his front paws, nose resting on the grass before him.

Lily took it as an invite to come and nuzzle his scales with her hand.

And the dragon, in return, put his nose right on her belly. "The child inside you is already powerful, Vivian."

Lily's eyes widened. "You can feel it?"

Kilgharrah's golden eyes seemed to glow even more. "I do. It shall have your heritage. And be more powerful than you."

"Why? Gwaine has no powers, it can't enhance it... I don't understand."

"It is simple addition, Vivian. You are the Lady of Avalon, one of the two last Dragonlords! Your powers are already higher than most! And...this child will be born out of the most powerful magic of them all. Some call it True Love."

Lily burst into nervous giggles. "True Love? That was a thing my father told me about, but it was in another world, in another time!"

"Some magic crosses realms, Vivian. You better than others know that."

She nodded, then looked down to her belly. "So my child will have magic."

"Yes... And only you can know if it will be able to show it or not."

"By changing Camelot's fate."

The dragon nodded, then laid back down.

Lily remained silent this time and, thoughts swallowed in a maze of possibilities, she resumed her stroking of his nose.

A night and a day passed without news of Arthur and his Knights.

Lily was with Gwen when word spread, talking about Princess Mithian and the recent events surrounding her.

It was one of the novices that ran into the room, panting.

"Miladies, forgive me. The King is back."

To the tone of his voice, both women understood there was something wrong.

Gwen looked over at Lily, then back at the young knight. "Has something happened?"

"Yes, Milady. Sir Mordred's heavily injured. He is being carried to Gaius' as we speak."

Lily had let out a cry of anguish as soon as the word 'injured' had been pronounced.

She hurried out of the room and through the maze of corridors, thoughts balancing from fear to anger back and forth.

She crossed Arthur's path on her way, stopping him in his tracks.

"Arthur! What happened?"

The King's face was dark, tensing with bad feelings. He sighed. "Your brother once again saved my life, Lily. And he's probably dying for it."

A sob escaped her, then another. She put a hand to her mouth to stop the cries, but could not stop the tears.

Arthur walked to her and put a soothing hand to her shoulder. "Perhaps you can help him. Go see Gaius. And please do not lose hope."

So she did go to Gaius.

Mordred was lying on the physician's bed, shirtless, his left shoulder wrapped in a bandage, his handsome face reddened by a small bruise on his cheek.

Lily's hand instinctively went to his brown locks, and she looked over at Gaius. "Can I help in any way?"

The old man sighed. "In any other time I would have said yes. Unfortunately, I fear your powers may not be as strong as is needed."

Lily retained another sob, then slowly turned around, her eyes searching for Merlin's.

The warlock's blue eyes were avoiding hers, and she understood at once.

He would not save Mordred's life.

So, instead of crying, and instead of yelling at the injustice she was witness of, Lily decided to lean down, kiss her brother's brow, and escape the room.

Her aim: go to Gwaine, and yell at him.

How the hell did he let that happen?

When, after quite a painful discussion – or shout competition – during which Lily learnt that Gwaine had been knocked out and that Lancelot had been out checking the area, the Lady Knight decided to stop blaming everyone, and to do whatever she could to help.

So she went to sit right next to her brother for hours and hours on end, patting his forehead with water, changing his bandage, and muttering soothing spells that helped him sleep when he started moaning in pain.

The only thing she refused to do was eat.

And Gaius was not pleased.

"Lily, it is not only you you have to think about... Think about your child."

She looked up, or glared rather, at her old teacher. "No. I won't eat until he's better."

"And what? If he never wakes up, and that can happen, you will let yourself die?"

She sighed, taking her head in her hand. "I don't know, Gaius. What I know is one of the most important people in my life is lying dying, and I can't swallow anything."

Gaius came to sit by her on the bench, an arm snaking around her shoulders. "It is hard, I know. But please, do not make yourself ill for naught. At least try. There's bread and soup."

She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Maybe later. For now, your comfort is enough."

And, although she couldn't see it, she knew Gaius was smiling.

It was early in the morning, even before dawn had arisen, that Lily was awaken by a small shuffling next to her.

She open an eye then two, and sat up immediately.

Mordred was awake.

She smiled widely at him, awed at what she saw. "Mordred? Are you alright?"

Her brother looked up at her, and a small smile formed on his lips as well. "Yes, fine."

Lily gasped, half-sob half-laughter, and then launched herself at him, cradling his head on her lap and sobbing joyfully.

"Don't ever do that again, silly boy..."

All she could hear was Mordred's chuckle.