7. Last of the Dragonlords
Lily had been watching over her father for over a week now, what with Belle still oblivious to their previous love life, and with Bae still avoiding him.
Strangely enough, Neal had accepted to spend time with his sister. Somehow acknowledging genes they didn't have in common.
Almost two weeks after Cora's death though, there was a new development.
"Hey Neal!"
The brown-haired man who was her adoptive brother whirled around and stopped on his way to Granny's. "Hey, Lils. Care to you us? I'm having lunch with Henry today."
She clenched her teeth. "You think? Won't it bother him?"
He shook his head. "Nah. It's time he knows who you are anyway, don't you think?"
Lily smiled and walked up to him.
They entered the diner together, heads immediately turning their way.
Many people in town had started avoiding Lily since they heard whose daughter she was. But bizarrely, hanging out with Baelfire made her more approachable somehow.
"Dad!"
She cast her eyes to the left and saw a little ball of hair spring out of his seat and right into Neal's arms.
Emma, who had been sitting with him, sighed and nodded to Lily, saluting her.
"Hello kid. Hungry?"
"Starving! Oh, hello Lily!"
She looked down at her now nephew. "Hi there Henry? Does it bother if I join your dad and you for lunch?"
Henry's brow furrowed. He looked over at his father, then back at her. "Sure."
After Emma left, Lily had the pleasure to see that Neal, far from spoiling his son, was continuing his ex-girlfriend's education without knowing.
"Henry, I've told you before, no staring."
Lily's gaze, which had been settled somewhere between the door and the ceiling, moved back to the kid in front of her. Yes, he was staring.
She leaned in, and smirked. "Is there something you want to know, Henry?"
He leaned in as well, and on the tone of secrets, pointed in her face. "Are you dating my dad?"
Neal and Lily exchanged a quick glance at that, then burst into uncontrollable laughs. "Henry! Of course I'm not dating your dad!"
Neal stopped coughing and patted Henry's head. "Lily is my sister, kid. She's Mr Gold's adoptive daughter, remember?"
Henry's brow furrowed again, as if he was in deep thought, then relaxed. "Cool. Can I call you Auntie, then?"
Lily gasped in awe. "Uh, yeah, sure. As long as you don't call me Auntie Vivian, I'm cool with it."
"Great. Now... Dad. I want an icecream."
Neal rolled his eyes. "Yeah, ask your mother."
A few weeks after Lady Vivian and her father left the court, Camelot was victim of a powerful sleeping curse. If Merlin and Arthur had not been away when it struck, the whole city would have been invaded by an army of the dead.
Unfortunately for Lily, as Merlin had promised, he chose that moment to release Kilgharrah.
Not two hours after his release, the dragon was attacking Camelot.
Lily, who could feel his rage and hatred through their telepathic link, spent a night clutching her head and screaming.
To which Gaius was powerless.
When dawn struck, Merlin bolted into his room – for now occupied by a young witch in pain. He shook her awake. "Lily!"
She was crying without noticing. Her green eyes were somehow darkened, as if Kilgharrah's acts were taking their toll on her. "Merlin?"
He nodded softly and handed her a cup of water. "I need you."
"I can't. I can't move. He's...he's not happy at all and..."
"Lily, Camelot needs you. Leon needs you. Please, try and shut it down?"
Her eyes darkened another tone, and her voice shattered. "Then do it, you idiot! Do it, you who thought it wise to release a revengeful dragon at the break of night!"
Gaius came into the room at that, and pushed a hand to Lily's forehead. "I know it's hard, child, but please try to shut the connection. We won't kill Kilgharrah. But we need you to stop him."
Lily closed her eyes, crying again, but this time willingly. "He won't listen."
Merlin shook his head. "He will. He has to."
Her eyes shot open again, hard, unforgiving. "I will help. But I won't forgive you, Emrys."
Merlin shuddered under her gaze and words. It was the first time ever she used his druidic name, and the venom she put in the word made it clear she was threatening his life.
He hadn't time to answer, she stood up abruptly, and hurried out of Gaius' office to change.
Gaius put a hand to Merlin's shoulder. "If she is a Dragonlord, she is the only one who can help."
But when the King asked for his loyal counsellor – and Merlin as Royal servant – for a special meeting, Lily was far from thinking about help.
She was in the stables, preparing a horse for herself.
She was considering leaving Camelot. Leaving Leon also, but for the best.
She was too deep in Kilgharrah's head to be sane.
And when it was decided that Arthur and Merlin would go searching for another Dragonlord – more willing, perhaps, than Lily – she was already gone.
When the night came, Lily was far off. The rain had started falling hard on her, but a quick and swift use of her magic helped her keeping dry and warm.
When she settled down for the night, though, a tickling at the back of her head made her almost unwillingly open her mind.
Merlin's soul touched her so angrily she thought about putting up her barriers again in no time.
"Lily!" She could feel his sense of betrayal leaking through her. She huffed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
She kicked in a stone. "Running away from a bunch of idiots, saving my sorry ass, and trying to forget I even got there in the first place!"
He felt sorry for a split second. "You haven't said goodbye."
"I hate goodbyes."
"I had to lie to Leon. Tell him you came with Arthur and I but went ahead of us. You should have seen the look on his face. He was devastated."
"A little like me when I felt my dragon's pain last night."
Merlin didn't answer at first, and she knew some of her own guilt had leaked through.
Leon...
That's why she hated goodbyes. Seeing his blue eyes full of tears, she'd have killed herself for that.
"What is it you want?"
"The King has sent us on a quest to find another Dragonlord. He's named Balinor."
"So?"
"If he's willing to help us, you can keep to your own...beliefs."
"Good. But I'm not going back."
"No?"
"Where are you?"
"At the inn of the Jumping goat, on Cenred's land." He paused. "Wait, are you-"
"I'm joining you, yes. If this Balinor is half as daft as you, I prefer to be there when he deals with Kilgharrah."
"Lily... Balinor is my father."
She put her fingers to her temples and cringed. "Well then. There's one reason why I should be more careful. See you in the morning." She was about to close the connection, but had one last message to deliver. "This changes nothing."
When morning struck, Lily was already close to the inn the boys had slept in, and was about to pass it when she heard one man speak about "Two strange folks looking for Balinor." When the same man talked about warning Cenred of their presence, she kicked her horse's sides and hurried forward.
It was close to midday when she caught them.
Well, "them". More like Merlin alone.
Arthur had succumbed to a wound Kilgharrah provided him two nights prior, and had lost too much blood for comfort.
Merlin outstretched a hand as if he meant to curse Lily, and she didn't even spare him a glance when she checked on Arthur.
She continued on, and heard Merlin's horse catch up with hers.
She really was in no mood to speak.
"We have to go to Mountain Feorre, he lives in a cave there."
She nodded but still didn't care to speak.
Thankfully, Merlin had understood, and didn't push her.
He'd have been cursed senseless if he had anyway.
On the foot of Mountain Feorre was a swift river. Lily stopped her horse on the bank and turned to Merlin. "Go. He's your father, not mine."
The young warlock didn't answer and hurried in the water, while she took care of carrying Arthur off his horse and onto the ground.
His wound wasn't large, but a dragon's tail was as sharp as glass, and the gashes were deep.
She sighed. "And you had to come anyway, stubborn son of a prat."
"Who are you?"
Lily shot up and whirled around. She was met with the dark eyes of a tall man with greying long hair and beard. "I could ask you the same question."
His head tilted on the side, as if he was trying to see something under the skin.
"This man needs help. Can you provide him this?"
"I can. Is he your friend?"
She shook her head. "He's his friend." She pointed at Merlin. "And unfortunately for me, I happen to live with him."
Balinor nodded and eyed Arthur. "Carry him inside. Quick."
Lily didn't spare Merlin a glance and followed her fellow Dragonlord inside the cave.
A few minutes later, a fire was lit, and Arthur was lying on Balinor's bed.
The man had mixed some ingredients he patched Arthur's shoulder with, and as Lily was kneeling before him, he glanced at her, careful.
She looked up, her gaze still hard with her pain and deep rage. "Go on. I know you have magic. And he knows too."
He looked briefly at Merlin, then closed his eyes. "Ahluttre that seocness. Thurh-haele braed." Then he looked up into Lily's eyes. "He needs rest."
Merlin spoke up as his father stood from his patient's side. "Will he be alright?"
"By morning." Then he passed the boy.
Merlin looked at Arthur for a moment, then his gaze settled onto Lily's.
She was looking around the cave, trying to find anything in Balinor's belongings that could help her Dragonlord's nature.
She found nothing.
"I didn't know you could exist."
Lily's eyes snapped back at her host, standing behind Merlin, silent as he walked. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Dragonlords are men, rarely women."
"I happen to be me." She smirked. "How did you know?"
He looked once again at Merlin, then sat down on the rock-hard floor. "Your mind is raging. You have a dragon inside that needs to break free. I was like that once. A long time ago."
Lily smiled. "Then I'll break him free."
"Be careful. Maturity is needed, and you are far too young for this."
"I know." To that she stood up and left the cave, back into the now dusky light and breeze.
Leaving father and son alone.
Night passed on, and as Lily stood by the river in the sunlight, a man came beside her.
"Why can't you stop Kilgharrah?"
She briefly glanced at him. "Why don't I want to would be a better question."
"Merlin told me you had a man back in Camelot." She nodded. "Do you want him dead?"
"No, of course not. But if I make him run away with me, he'll be an outlaw, and I don't want that for him. And I don't want Kilgharrah dead. He's the last of his kind."
Balinor sighed. "I can tell you how to stop him."
"Won't come, then?"
"No. I don't know. But Kilgharrah won't listen to me a second time. He is not my dragon anymore."
"Your dragon?" This time she fully turned to face his profile. "What do you mean?"
Balinor faced her. "A dragon answers to the Dragonlord he's linked to. Once, Kilgharrah was linked to me. Now, he's linked to you. I can feel it inside your head. A link you can't break however hard you try. He's the one who's awaken your magic. He's yours."
"Then Camelot is doomed. I have no wish to steal Kilgharrah his revenge."
"I feel great! What the hell did you give me?"
Lily's head turned, and she saw her prince, as fresh as his first day, getting out of the cave and towards his servant. He looked around at his surroundings.
"It was down to Balinor."
"So we found him then, thanks heavens for that! And was the hell is Lily doing here? Does she know him?"
"She followed us. Thought she could help. But he isn't willing to help."
"What?"
"You won't persuade him."
"Does he know what's at stake?" Lily thought Merlin had nodded, 'cause she heard Arthur's answer to a silent sign. "What kind of a man is he?"
"I don't know. I thought he'd be something more."
An hour later, Arthur had tried – and failed – to convince Balinor to help.
Merlin and him were preparing the horses when the Prince of Camelot noticed Lily was not moving from her spot near the river.
He walked to her. "What are you doing, we're going back!"
She turned her head and watched him carefully, thinking a hundred miles fast. "I'm not going back. I'm staying here."
Arthur's eyes widened in astonishment. "I thought you wanted to help!"
"Well, I can't! And Balinor can help me better than I can help Camelot."
"Balinor? How can a sorcerer help you?"
Lily faced Arthur and put her hands on his shoulders. "Because, Arthur Pendragon, I have magic myself." And she walked away.
Only to have her arm caught in a vice-like grip. Arthur's face was red with anger. "Was it you then? Who released the dragon?"
Lily chuckled darkly. "No, it wasn't me. But I knew you'd come to that conclusion. After all, you're no better than your father. Everyone magical is a threat to the kingdom, isn't it? And here I am, a witch, and one who's never done anything to harm anyone in Camelot. Bravo!"
Arthur's eyes calmed down. "You've never? You swear?"
"I swear."
He released her arm and sighed. "Then I bid you farewell. I won't tell a soul."
Lily didn't catch her breath. "Thanks you. Live well, Arthur, and take care of Leon for me."
"Leon?" But she was already back into the cave. "Leon?"
Balinor was not far, and he was packing.
Lily's eyes widened. "Changed your mind already?"
The man sighed. "Merlin spoke of Gaius. He's the man-"
"Who's helped you escape? That sounds just like Gaius."
Balinor's brown eyes settled on her. "You know him?"
She nodded. "He's the court physician. And...he used to teach me."
Balinor almost passed her, but pushed a hand to her shoulder before. "Do not make them responsible for Kilgharrah's fate. He chose to take revenge. No one chose for him."
Lily waited until he was a few yards away, then grunted before hurrying out. "Wait! I'm coming with you!"
Not long after, they found themselves close to the small camp Arthur and Merlin had settled down for lunch.
Balinor took them from behind. Merlin whirled around, a blade in his hand. "Careful boy. This is dangerous country."
Arthur walked to him. "Then will you come with us?"
Balinor looked at the warlock facing him. "You were right, Merlin. There are some people in Camelot who risked their lives for me. I owe a debt that must be repaid."
"If you succeed in defeating the dragon, you will not go unrewarded."
Balinor huffed. "I seek no reward."
Arthur grinned and pushed his sword onto the ground. "Great! Let's eat!"
That's when Lily came out of the trees. "Even me?"
Arthur jumped at her sight. "Holy-! Lily! I thought you-"
"Well, where my teacher goes, there I go also." She leaned in his face, smirking. "Will you keep your promise, my prince?"
"Depends. Do you know how to slay a dragon?"
She shook her head. "No. But I do know how to light a fire on wet wood."
Arthur let himself fall on the leaves covering the forest' floor, and gestured her forward. "Very well then. I promise."
Lily smirked wider and knelt before the twigs. "Kebryeth!"
Merlin's head snapped at her when he heard her practising magic.
At the sight of Arthur not even moving, he even fell on his ass.
With a good excuse, of course.
Morning struck, and with it, an ambush.
Lily woke to the sound of Arthur's voice. "Cenred's men."
Beside her, Balinor sprang to his feet, taking no time in finding a sword to protect his son with.
Lily, now free to practise magic, just stood there.
Her rage and anger could finally be satiated.
A man came standing before her. "Unwise to be unarmed girl."
She tilted her head, smirking devilishly. "Yeah? Who tells you I'm unarmed?" She outstretched her hand and shouted "Kealthyai!" The man's neck cracked, and he fell to the ground, dead.
She was about to defeat another opponent when Merlin's scream on anguish came from behind her. She only had time to whirl around before Balinor fell in his son's arms, a gaping hole in his abdomen.
"No!"
The last soldier fell to her hand, and she hurried to the Dragonlord's side.
"Balinor!"
He gasped and gazed into Merlin's eyes. "I see you have your father's talents. Merlin..."
"Please, no. Please, I can save you."
"Listen to me. Lily, listen too. When you face the dragon, remember. Be strong. A dragon's heart is on its right side, not its left."
"I can't do it." Lily's hand shot to Merlin's shoulder without her consent. She was probably content now that her bloodlust had been silenced.
"Listen to me. You're my son. I've seen enough of you to see that you'll make me proud."
And to these words, Balinor, Merlin's father, died in his son's hold.
When Arthur came around, his words were not to soothe Merlin's loss.
They were for Lily. "Can you do something against this beast?"
Lily's gaze darkened once again. She clutched Merlin's shirt and stood up, growling. "Yes, I can! But hear me on this, Arthur Pendragon! I am a Dragonlord, and I will stop at nothing to save this dragon's life, are we clear?"
Arthur bowed his head, for once at a loss for words. "Clear."
"Then come. We have to bury the bravest of men."
Camelot was broken when they reached it. The walls were cracked on many sides, burnt on others. Some corpses were still fuming in the courtyard, people were moving them to a common grave.
Arthur and Merlin hurried to the King's chambers, while Lily stood outside, waiting.
Her brain was racing.
Arthur had agreed to prepare a diversion. Knights supposed to take the dragon down while she really stopped him. They'd take the credit of her bravery, but Arthur would know.
And he had decided to tell the knights who'd come with him as well.
She prayed it didn't include-
"Lily!"
The door opened and revealed Leon. His arms came around her at once, and she clutched his chainmail. How she had missed that embrace. "Leon..."
"I was worried for your life."
"And I am worried for yours. Tell me you haven't agreed to that suicide mission."
Leon smiled sadly. "What kind of a knight would I be if I didn't protect what I love the most?"
Hours later, dusk had come. Arthur had his knights – plus Merlin – gathered in a clearing in front of Camelot's doors.
Lily rode into the circle, under Leon's astonishment. "Knights, I am here before your eyes because I need your trust. Many of you know me as a maid, as Leon's lover, maybe. None of you know my real identity."
She stopped and gazed deep into Leon's blue eyes. "I am the only one who can stop this dragon. And I am so because I am the last Dragonlord."
There was a rumour, spreading like fire, around the ranks, and many drew out their swords.
Not Leon.
But his gaze translated his pain. She had betrayed his trust.
Arthur's horse came standing beside him. "What Lily says is true. I'm asking of you to help her. We'll make a diversion. Lily's task is to take the dragon down. We could very well die in this attempt, but know that I have complete faith in this woman. I have sworn to keep her powers secret, and so must each of you tonight."
"But, Sire, she is a sorcerer. She can betray us and ask the dragon to kill you."
Lily's gaze settled on the man. "You're Caridoc, right? How long have I lived in these walls? How many times have you seen me making your beds and serving you food. I am not one of these sorcerer that bring ill news wherever they pass. I will leave Camelot once my deed is done if that is what you wish me to do." Her eyes settled back onto Leon's. "I swear it."
He avoided her gaze.
Arthur sighed. "Well then, let's go!"
Lily and Merlin rode side by side.
The warlock reached her by mind not long after they had left their reunion.
"Why don't you want me to take care of this?"
"Kilgharrah is my dragon, Merlin, not yours. Your father said so."
"Your dragon?"
"We are linked. He won't harm me."
"I'm sorry for Leon."
A lump formed in her throat. "I had to tell Arthur, and to tell them all. It is one pace ahead on the path of freedom. And if this is the last thing I do, let it be in the spotlight, not in the shadows."
Kilgharrah didn't waste time to show up, and Arthur's tactic of splitting the group up to surround the beast was soon proven wrong.
Many knights died under his tail's sharp pikes, others under his fire.
Lily jumped off her horse to protect Leon from the dragon breath.
"Kaleith!" The curse formed a shield from Kilgharrah's fire, and he stopped blowing.
"You won't harm me, Vivian." And he whirled around to take Arthur and Merlin down.
While Lily grabbed Leon's hand and pulled him under the cover of the trees.
"Are you alright?"
Leon snatched his hand off hers. "Let me go back. My prince needs me."
She outstretched her hand and shouted. "Fieltha!" Leon went flying against a tree and chains tied him there. "I know you're angry. I know I should have told you. But right now, you're going to stay here and let me take care of this."
"Why?"
She took a few paces forward and grabbed his face with both hands. "Because, Sir Leon, Captain of the Knights of Camelot, I love you, and if you die here, so do I." She kissed him forcibly and left.
Arthur had fallen under one of Kilgharrah's strikes when she pushed herself before Merlin.
Lily closed her eyes and felt her heart shatter. A growl came from within her chest, and she looked back up at the last dragon facing her.
"Oh, dracon! Non didikai! Kar imiss, epsipass imalla okrat. Katostar obor ceriss." Kilgharrah looked away at that, clearly shaken by Lily's use of her powers. "Katiskur mita sentende divoless. Kar...krissass."
The Great dragon bowed before his Dragonlord, and Merlin stood beside Lily, a spear in his hand. Tears flowed through her eyes, but she didn't move to stop him. Not yet.
"I am the last of my kind, Merlin. Whatever wrongs I have done, do not make me responsible for the death of my noble breed..."
Merlin gestured as if he was going to strike him, and then stopped his arm. Tears were also showing in his eyes. "Go! Leave!"
Lily put a soothing hand on his shoulder, then looked back at Kilgharrah. "If you ever attack Camelot again, we will kill you." The dragon nodded his understanding. "We've shown you mercy, now you must do the same to others."
"Young ones, what you have shown is what you will be. I will not forget your clemency. I'm sure our paths will cross again."
And the last of the great dragons took flight, leaving the last two Dragonlords alone in a dark clearing.
Lily fell to her knees and sobbed.
While Arthur woke up.
"So, Neal, I had something I wanted to ask you."
Lily, her brother and Henry were now out in the street, aimlessly walking together, the kid a little ahead of his guardians.
"Go ahead, ask."
She smirked. "I wondered if you'd come live with me."
Neal stopped and faced his sibling. "What?"
Lily chuckled. "Don't make that face. I just... Look, I've lived alone for almost 29 years now, and I've got a big house. I don't see why you should pay Granny for a room when your sister can house you for free."
He looked as in deep thought.
But another took the decision for him. "He will. Won't you Dad?"
Lily's and Neal's gazes turned down to the boy sneaking up on their conversation, and burst into chuckles.
Very well then...