21. The diamond of the day

After Morgana had officially declared war upon Camelot and Lily had finally delivered her child, the Lady Knight was given back her old duties, most of which now concerned plans for battles and the patrols having to check on every border.

Seren, now almost a month old, was mostly given to Gwen during the day, with her mother coming to check on her everytime she could.

Her magic was powerful and still showing in the most importune of times, but as the city was concerned with more than a magical child, it passed unnoticed.

What troubled Lily more was the knowledge that Morgana now knew who Merlin was.

And that, she was certain, would be quite the obstacle on their way to winning this war.

One evening, Arthur called the knights and Merlin on a dice competition, and the warlock, of course, cheated to take a little good time on his boss' account.

Lily was accused of helping him with magic, but as she wasn't there, Mordred was swift in calling Arthur out on his stupid assumptions.

Not so stupid to be honest, but he couldn't now Merlin was the one using magic to cheat.

That night however, as she was putting Seren to bed in her cot – she had fallen asleep sometime between her last meal and the story Lily told her – she felt a disturbance in her magic. As if it had been sucked out of her for a split second.

She tried it on the nearby candle, which lit without so much as an hesitation, and she pushed it aside, despite the discomfort she felt all the same.

Merely minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Lily hurried to it, and saw a young page.

"Yes?"

He looked at her as if she was a ghost. Sometimes she had that effect on young people impressed by her. "Gaius asked for you, my lady."

She bowed the head and closed the door behind her. "I'm coming."

Gaius wasn't alone when she arrived.

Merlin was sat on his teacher's bed, white as a sheet.

Lily knew something was very wrong the moment she met his eyes.

"What is it? Why did you ask for me?"

Gaius walked to her, placing a hand on her forehead. "Are you alright? Have you been knocked out or attacked during the last hour?"

She shook her head, brow furrowed. "No, why do you ask?"

Merlin sighed. "I've been attacked. Morgana. She managed to sneak some sort of creature inside my room, and it...it...it sucked my magic out of me."

Lily gasped, a hand going to her mouth. "That's what I felt. As if magic was disturbed. But it wasn't mine, it was yours!"

"Merlin's magic is so powerful that its disappearance would be heard in the limbs."

She nodded. "But why didn't she attack me then? Or Mordred?"

Merlin made a face. "Mordred she has never considered an enemy. As for you... Well... She never considered you a threat..."

Lily nodded, teeth gritted. "That's for sure the biggest mistake she's ever made. I'll make her pay, Merlin, I swear to everything I hold dear."

He tried a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Thank you, Lily."

The following morning, the remnants of a garrison arrived at the citadel, most of the refugees needing medical assistance.

Gwaine, who had lead the siege with Lancelot and Percival, was quick to explain what had happened to his wife.

The Saxons had attacked, and magic was involved when fire began to rain on the Knights' heads.

Lily also found out Percival had saved a girl from a Saxon intent on raping her. That girl was named Eira, and knew nothing of the attack apart from the fact that it seemingly killed all of the family at the same time.

Somehow, Eira's gaze on her made Lily suspicious of something...

It was decided a few moments later in a special reunion of the Round Table that instead of waiting for Morgana in Camelot, they had to meet her halfway, to insure the people's safety inside the walls.

Lily approved, even if she knew that it meant one thing and one thing alone: Camlann was closing in. Which, of course, put Merlin in a great state of distress, seeing as he now had no way of helping.

They met in Gaius' office, after the meeting. It was the first time they spent so much time together ever since Mordred arrived.

But somehow, Lily knew she had to help.

"Merlin?"

The warlock turned to her. "I have to regain my powers. By all the means necessary, I can't let Arthur walk to Camlann without me."

She nodded. "But it's impossible, how could you find your powers again? Kilgharrah?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't think he could. I thought of somewhere. Somewhere magic itself is said to be born. The Crystal Cave."

Lily gasped. "You were there once, and see what good it did you. Morgana gained her powers, and you lost her forever..."

"This time I won't be looking for the future, Lily. I will be asking for a favour. Now I'm asking you one. Will you come with me?"

"And leave Arthur without protection? No!"

"He won't be without protection... The Knights...and Mordred will take care of him."

Lily met his eyes, hers widened with shock. Merlin had just claimed that he trusted Mordred with Arthur's life, and it was a great news to her. She smiled widely, then nodded. "Alright, then. I will come. But I will have to tell Arthur why we are going."

"And why are we?"

"To find something to can kill a High Priestess."

Merlin smirked. "Great cover, Lady Knight."

"Why thank you, royal servant."

Arthur wasn't happy to hear that his Captain was to leave his side, but accepted her excuse as indeed vital.

He untrusted Lancelot with the Captainery for the time being, while Lily gave Mordred the difficult mission to protect the King.

Gwen, who had decided to accompany her husband as far as she could, promised she'd take care of Seren, whom she took with her. Percival was to take care of her when Gwaine was gone on patrol or elsewhere.

All in all, everything was perfect, their plan was flawless, it couldn't fail.

Unless...

There were many a Saxon along the way in the Valley of Fallen Kings, but Lily's sword and magic were swift to take care of each and any of them, while Merlin, perhaps for the first time in his life, cowered away in fear.

When they reached the entrance of the Cave, Merlin turned to his companion. "You should go back now. I am to enter alone, I am sure of it."

She nodded. "Alright, I trust you, but why shouldn't I just wait here?"

"Lily, if everything goes fine, I will have my magic back, and I won't need anyone's help anymore. Arthur, on the other hand, might need his Dragonlord next to him as the battle starts, and I don't want to strip him out of this chance."

Lily nodded again, then unsheathed Fang and handed it to him. "At least take this. You'll never know."

"And you?"

She chuckled. "Really, Merlin? I don't even need a sword..." Her laughter faded, and she leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Be careful, Emrys, and come back to us in one piece."

He smiled back. "I'll see you soon, Vivian."

It took Lily less than two hours to reach the Knights again, and the caravan that came with it. Her horse was waiting, and Gwaine soon enquired on her lack of a sword.

She smiled at her husband, leaning a hand over his on his reins. "I lent it to Merlin. I trust him to give it back when he's done gathering supplies for Gaius."

Gwaine didn't question her further, but Arthur directed his horse towards hers and decided otherwise. "You said you were searching for a way of killing Morgana. Have you found one?"

She smirked. "Oh, yes, I have. Just be patient..."

The King nodded, then his blue gaze darkened. "And Merlin is really off gathering supplies then?"

"Yes, he is. I left him somewhere near the Valley of the Fallen Kings. That is where the plant known as kingfoil grows. It is a strong healer. Do not fret. Merlin will be back."

Arthur nodded again before walking away, but it was certain that he did not believe her.

The camp was put up near the pass of Camlann in the White Mountains. Guinevere was to take care of Seren along with Percival in the farthest tent of all.

The child, who had remained asleep for the good of the journey, was by then awake and perfectly aware of what was happening around her.

Big green eyes were dancing among the faces she knew, as if trying to memorise them for future purpose.

Lily took her time carrying her daughter around, passing her from arms to arms, as a kind of comforter for all those who could die in the battle that would come.

"I will remain at your side, sister. Always."

Mordred was standing beside Lily as she gazed into the sudden darkness of night. She smiled sadly. "And I at yours. Always."

He took her hand without another word.

They were waiting.

About an hour later, two things happened at once.

Lily and Mordred were still standing outside the camp, still waiting.

Their wait was over.

First, there was a gush of wind that engulfed them both, and Lily felt as if her strength was renewed.

Her eyes met her brother's, and he smiled. Merlin.

Second, a tug at the back of her mind told her her friend had a message for her.

She opened her mind at once.

"Merlie? Did you do it?"

There was like a laugh in her mind, soft and almost not there at all. "Yes, I've done it. It seemed the only thing I needed to do was to realise I could never lose my magic. I am magic. I was born out of it. It can never leave me."

Lily smiled to herself, her fingers tightening around her brother's. "What it is you wished to tell me?"

"I've gazed into the crystals, Lily. A part of Morgana's army is making their way towards you now. There is a hidden path that leads to your right flank. They are coming. If you don't find the path and protect it, the battle will be over before it even begins."

Lily nodded, her eyes meeting Mordred, who had heard through their own link. He nodded and walked away towards Arthur's tent. "I'll do what I can. Come back soon. I miss Fang."

Merlin chuckled. "Nice to know you're alright too." And he shut the link.

Arthur was not easy to convince. How did Lily know anyway? She tried to let that pass through a spell that made her hear everything around her for miles, but he didn't believe her, she knew it.

Anyway, the King soon dispatched a great number of his men to the search of the path, and when it was found, the army was awake and ready to fight on both sides.

Lily went to Seren one last time, leaving her to the care of Gwen and Percy, who promised they would not let anything happen to the child.

Her arms found Lancelot after that. He was to fight near the path, and her the pass. Their roads separated, and her heart nearly broke at the thought she could lose him.

Gwaine and Mordred settled at her side, one hand on her shoulder, another holding her hand.

The battle of Camlann was about to begin.