A/N: And this is the end of the journey. The end might seem harsh and a little rushed, but I couldn't find any other way to end it. I won't ask you to enjoy, any fan of Merlin's here knows how this ends...

22. The diamond of the day (part 2)

The battle was a mess. There were so many Saxons that one could not swing a sword freely without fearing to hurt one of their own.

Lily was flanked by her husband and brother, the first of which distributed punches and threw daggers at such a speed she could not follow his movements, and the second of which was back to back with her, surveying any kind of danger that could come her way.

Lily used her magic more than she would have deemed necessary. More than she deemed proper. It exhausted her sometimes to make Saxons fly away and break their necks as they fell, but each and every time, she could feel Kilgharrah's presence at the back of her mind, giving her the strength that eluded her sometimes.

They fought for what seemed like hours, but no one could know for sure how long had passed. What was certain by then was that the Saxons were far more than had been counted before.

Lily felt her lent sword heavy in her hand as she lifted it for the umpteenth time, and suddenly, a sharp pain was swallowing her from the hip.

Looking down, she saw a foreign sword enter her flesh and leave it as swiftly, leaving blood pouring from her as quickly as her forces.

There was a cry behind her, and as she whirled around, she saw Mordred's face twist in rage, his eyes shining golden as the Saxon before him fell, head rolling off his shoulders as if it had never been attached at all.

Lily fell, her brother's arms catching her before she even touched the ground, and lifting her as if she weighed nothing.

Gwaine was at their sides at once, protecting Mordred and his precious cargo as they made their way back and towards Gaius' tent, which served as infirmary.

Lily met Gwaine's eyes over Mordred's arm, and her husband was looking at his brother-in-law with awe and something close to dread.

Lily reached for his arm and attention, and croaked 'Don't tell anyone' to which he nodded solemnly.

At least Mordred's secret was still safe.

Lily was quickly taken under Gaius' care. Her wound was not deep but bled a lot, and he managed to stop the bleeding using what herbs he still had.

Gwaine and Mordred remained at the entrance of the tent, pushing away the groups of Saxons that tried to end the resistance at its weakest point.

At one moment, as Gwen herself had taken Gaius' place at Lily's side, a screech filled the air, one that moved Lily to her bones.

"Aithusa!" She tried to sit, but the pain in her side hadn't receded yet. "It's Aithusa!"

Gwen's brow furrowed. "Morgana's dragon? Can't you stop it?"

Lily shook her head. "She's not mine to command." She fell back onto the covers, knowing that if Aithusa was there and Merlin was not, the battle could be over far sooner than expected.

But at that moment, the familiar tug at the back of her mind appeared once more.

"Merlie? Are you here?"

"I am." His voice was young but had an older echo, and she guessed that his body had once again taken the form of Dragoon the Great. "Where are you?"

"I'm hurt, but alright. I'm with Gaius and Gwen, and Gwaine and Mordred are here too."

"Arthur?"

"Last time I saw him, he was fighting alongside Lancelot." She paused, then a small smile formed onto her lips. "I've never been happier to hear your voice..."

"Rest now. You have nothing to worry about anymore."

So she closed her eyes and let the darkness engulf her for a little while...

She woke up as a ray of sunlight touched her face. Grunting a little, her hand went to her side where a ghost pain still tickled her, but her gesture was stopped by the softness of sheets.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she realised she was back in her room in Camelot.

Before her bed, Gwaine was up, little Seren scooped in his arms, and he was moving around muttering sweet nothings in his daughter's ear.

She grinned. "I could wake up to this sight everyday and not tire of it." Her voice was a little sore, but he heard her, and the smile she was met with could have made her heart burst in her chest.

He walked up to the bed, and carefully, protecting Seren from any fall, he leaned down and kissed his wife on the lips. "How are you feeling?"

"Far better. It doesn't hurt so much anymore, but I still think I'll need a little time before I can swing my arm around." Her smile faded. "How did we fare?"

His own smile faded a little. "Not that bad, to be honest. Lancelot is still in bed – he's received more bruises that I could have believed possible – and tended to by our dearest Gaius. Percival and Mordred are gathering forces in case the Saxons come back. And...Arthur..."

He paused, and Lily's eyes widened in panic. "What about Arthur?"

Gwaine sighed. "He was nowhere to be found. Neither was Merlin."

Lily felt dread course her blood, at the same time as a strange relief. Arthur might have been harmed, but at least Merlin would be with him. He would be alright.

"Lily..." Her eyes shot up again, and Gwaine shifted as Seren started to coo and try to pry off her father's grip. "Morgana was there. On the battlefield. We've found her body."

"Her body? She's dead?" Another kind of relief flew over her.

Gwaine nodded. "Yes, she is. Apparently, as Gaius said, only a blade forged in a dragon's breath could have killed her, and Arthur's sword-"

"Was forged in my dragon's breath."

He nodded again. "The sole thing is that her own blade...was chipped. It missed a piece, and if that piece is in Arthur's body..."

She shook her head so violently that her brain seemed to protest. "No. I won't think about that. Morgana's dead, that's something to rejoice over. I won't fear for Arthur's death right now, especially when he has Merlin to care for him wherever he is."

Gwaine nodded once more, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I'll leave you now. This little monster refused to eat anything while her mother was asleep."

This brought a smile to Lily's face, even if for less that a few seconds.

As she walked for the first time that afternoon, a familiar thing happened.

Lily leaned against a wall, hidden from sights, and opened her mind. "Merlin, is that you?"

"It is me."

She sighed in relief. "My God, how are you? And Arthur?"

"I am fine. He...was struck by Morgana's blade, and she had forged it in Aithusa's breath."

"How bad is it?"

"He won't make it if I don't bring him to the Lake of Avalon."

She nodded. "Do you need assistance?"

"A little winged help couldn't hurt, but I don't know whether Kilgharrah will be fit enough for the trip."

"I'll ask. He'll do what he can." She paused, sensing something off with her friend. "What is it? What aren't you telling me?"

"He knows, Lily. I've told him. And...he hates me for keeping this a secret all these years..."

"Arthur is stubborn, but there is one thing I know about him, and that is that he loves you as a brother. He will forgive you, in time. As he did me."

"He was quicker in forgiving you."

She chuckled. "Ah, but I am a woman..." Her laughter faded. "Seriously, Merlie. Do not fret. He will forgive you, I am sure of it."

"Thank you. And...I'm so sorry..."

She didn't need to ask what for. His thoughts were flooding through their link, and she could see whom he was talking about easier than anything else. "I forgave you long ago."

"Still... Mordred is your brother."

"As are you. I just forgot it for a while. Now go, save our King." She paused, then took a deep breath although her words would be silent. "I love you."

"And I love you."

As he cut the link between their minds, tears began falling on Lily's cheeks. She had a strange feeling, as if it was the last time she ever heard his voice.

And it hurt.

It hurt so much...

Eira proved to be Morgana's spy that night, and Percival had to watch a girl he had fallen for walk to the gallows the following morning.

Gwaine and Lily were at his side, and he was inconsolable.

It was at that moment that Gwaine looked up at his brother-in-arms, and talked of the possibility of stopping Morgana's army by themselves, as they knew where it was heading.

Lily was far from pleased.

"What were you thinking, proposing this to Percy when he is at his weakest?"

She was pacing around their table, glaring at her husband, Seren scooped in her arms, silent as her parents were making one the rarest scenes in their otherwise happy marriage.

Gwaine sighed. "Lily, she may be dead, but her men remain, and if Eira was any clue, they now are heading for Arthur's death even if their leader's dead. I won't let this country be sacked by a bunch of brutes." He walked up to her, stopping her frantic pacing, and put his hands on her shoulders. "I won't be alone, and these are only Saxons. We've defeated far more at Camlann. I'll be safe, I promise."

Lily pondered his words, then sighed deeply. "I can't come. My wound won't let me."

"I will be alright."

"So you say, but I have a bad feeling about this."

"Stop worrying, woman. I promise you I'll come back, that should suffice." He leaned in, kissing her cheek softly. "I won't leave before the morning, I swear."

"Good, because otherwise, I would have cursed your ass sore."

He chuckled, and engulfed his women in a hug. Seren cooed happily. "I love you so much, my Lady Knight..."

"Fortunately for you, I know that..."

But the following day, as Percival came back, there was no reason to rejoice.

No reason at all.

Lily remembered walking into the courtyard, her screams so deafening Lancelot had to put his hand on her mouth to silence them.

There, on his horse, lifeless, lay her husband.

And nothing, no one, not even the child sleeping in their now empty chambers, could make her want to live anymore...

Nothing ever had taste, nothing ever had sense ever again.

And so, that day, the Knights of Camelot and their Queen saw the last of the Lady of Avalon.

For good...