A/N: I seriously need to stop being sucked into this story. I like daydream about it...and dream about it at night too. In fact, I think realising Gwaine and Leon are gone once again from my life will be even more painful than when the show ended... :'(
12. The Imp's daughter
The forest was quiet. Too quiet, if you wanted Lily's opinion.
Behind her walked all of Storybrooke's resistance. The whole Charming family, the dwarves, Red and Granny, Jefferson and Grace, and even Marco and Pinocchio.
Rumpel was walking just beside his daughter, supported by Belle – who had been relieved from her cursed personality when Regina had lost her powers – and Henry.
Neal was on her left. He had a sword in hand. A curved sword.
"Have you ever been to Neverland, by any chance, Neal?"
"Yes, but why d'you ask?"
"This blade belonged to a pirate once. Didn't Dad tell you?" She watched the map in her hands. "Jefferson!"
The Mad Hatter walked to her at once. "Yep?"
"Do you think this map doesn't deceive me? Are we here? You are the realm jumper here, after all."
He knelt and felt the ground beneath his fingers. "Yes, I think we're here. This grass doesn't belong here."
"Thanks."
Not long after their plan-making, Jefferson had revealed that every realm had a trace of the others surrounding it. A mansion looking like in Frankenstein's world, a basement connected to the mirrors of Wonderland, a lake from Neverland...
A field from Camelot.
Lily drew down the map and sucked in a breath.
The field was right in the middle of Storybrooke's forest. It didn't belong here, and still, she felt like déjà-vu.
This field awfully looked like the clearing in which she had first confronted Kilgharrah.
"Okay, everyone, settle down, plant the tents. Emma, you know how to cast a protecting spell I think. Charming, Snow, prepare the watching parties. Children in the centre of the circle."
No one talked against her.
She felt like back in Camelot when she had to take Arthur's part.
Her father put a soothing hand to her shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Lily. So proud."
She smiled. "You'll be proud when I kick that bitch's butt for hurting my family."
Two months had passed since Morgana's treason.
Uther Pendragon was only the shadow of himself. Still, Arthur refused to become King before his father's death.
Nothing either Lily or Gwen could say changed his mind. Putting Merlin to the side, Arthur never listened to him anyway.
Since she had been knighted, Lily had her own quarters, unfortunately kicked between Leon's and Gwaine's.
Gwaine had been more than quiet ever since their last...encounter. If he crossed her path, he'd be flirtatious and funny and all the time the man she loved so much, but he was holding back.
Holding back because Leon was there, and had been there first.
Lily knew it was only a matter of time until her red-haired knight asked for her hand in marriage.
She decided to move. To finally tell both of them she was but a passing moment of bliss in their lives. That she was leaving soon.
She decided to start with Gwaine.
Because Gwaine always was her second choice in everything, and she needed for him to understand that he'd be her first, had someone else not been there before.
She crossed his path when she was coming back from one of Arthur's small counsels.
"Gwaine!"
His eyes immediately lit up, and his signature smirk appeared on his lips. He was – as usual – eating an apple. "Lady Lily. What a pleasure."
She smiled. "Look, I wondered. Would you come in my chambers tonight? I wish to talk to you in private."
He seemed perplex. "In your chambers? At night? Lily, have you drunk something?"
She snorted. "Nope. Please? It really is important, and I don't trust any other place in the castle that'd be less...bound to rumour-spreading."
"Alright then, you can count on me. Nothing bad, I hope?"
Her smile faltered. "I hope not."
He knocked on the door thrice before entering.
Lily was at her window, arms crossed. She was back in her tunic and trousers, her hair still tied in a plait.
"Lily?"
She whirled around and plastered a fake smile on her lips. "Sorry, I was...deep in thought."
"Something is off, isn't it?" He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Isn't it, my lady?"
The intensity of his gaze still sent chills up her spine. She hated herself for loving him. She should not love him as she did.
"Come and sit, Gwaine." She pulled away from him and gestured from a chair.
Next, she stood before her door, and pushed both her palms on the wood. "Fielthai keritae melmon!" Then she turned around and sat on her bed, across from Gwaine. "There. We won't be overheard."
Gwaine gaped. "It still amazes me when you do that."
She smirked. "That amazes you? It's a little nothing, Sire. You should see when I conjure my dragon."
He chuckled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're avoiding the subject for which you asked me to come."
Her eyes darkened, her smile disappeared.
He stood up and went to sit right beside her on the bed, and took one of her hands. "There. Now, tell me everything."
Lily crossed his gaze, so full of worry and love it made her heart ache, and took a deep breath. "Gwaine... I'm not from here."
He looked at her incredulously. "I know that."
She shook her head. "No, what I mean is, I'm not from this world. Realm. Universe. Whatever you wish to call it."
"This world? You're talking as if there were many others."
She shot him a sorry gaze. "There is, Gwaine. I was born here, in Camelot, but some event – I don't know what, I've never known what – sent me to another world. It's called the Enchanted Forest."
"The Enchant-" He stopped, seemingly trying to understand if she was toying with him or not. When he found that she was serious, however, he started asking. "How did you arrive here?"
"A portal. The better question would have been "Why?". Back in the Forest, my adoptive father is a sorcerer. The most powerful sorcerer, actually. His name is Rumpelstiltskin."
"And?"
She chuckled darkly. "My dear father plots, and plots, and plots, he does nothing but that. After gaining powers and immortality, he had to gain the sight as well. That's when he said he saw something in the far future that would change everything. And he sent me here."
"But why?"
"Because in Camelot, time passes slower than in the Enchanted Forest. Three years have passed since I arrived here, for me and you, but centuries have passed for my father. And I'm not immortal. He had to save me from time itself."
"And why here?"
She smiled and squeezed his fingers. "Because it is my homeworld. And because I am a Dragonlord. My magic only works when Kilgharrah is in the same realm as me. When I go back, I will lose my powers."
"Wait, wait, wait..." He grabbed her face with both hands. "Why do you say "When?" and not "If?"? You're not planning to go back, are you?"
She felt a tear escape her eyes. "I have to, Gwaine. He's my family, and you don't know him. If I don't go willingly, he'll stop at nothing to have me back. Nothing. Even killing you. And I can't have that. Certainly not that."
"What has your knight said about this?"
Lily's eyes locked on his, and she whispered the next phrase. "You're the first I've told, Gwaine."
His gaze lit with a flame she thought extinguished by time. He leaned in, and her eyes fluttered closed.
He kissed her gently, just like a thank. "When will you go?"
"A portal opened when we were away from Camelot last time. I think he'll wait one year of two for him until he tries again. If my calculations are correct, this makes it tomorrow."
"I'm going with you."
She shook her head frantically. "No. This is too... No. If my father doesn't like the fact that his baby daughter is all grown-up and that her heart beats for someone, he'll kill you without a second thought. And Camelot needs you."
"Then why are you telling me?"
"To help you move on."
Gwaine huffed, his blood heating up with anger now. "Moving on! Moving on! How can I bloody move on, Lily?"
She cast her eyes downwards. Now that he was saying it, it was obvious that moving on was not an option. "I dunno."
He lifted her chin so she gazed into his eyes once more. "I'm not going to move on. Never." And he kissed her again, this time desperately, as if it was their last kiss, as if it was their first.
Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, falling back on her covers. As she pulled away for air, she gaze lovingly into those beautiful brown eyes of his. "Stay with me tonight."
He nodded and leaned in to resume kissing her.
Lily was broken-hearted. This probably was the last time in her life she'd ever see Gwaine. Or touch him or kiss him.
She wanted to die.
Morning came, and with it the realisation that Lily woke up alone.
Gwaine had left.
She fell back onto the covers and started sobbing. Uncontrollably sobbing.
It took her a long ten minutes to realise the sun was already up in the skin and her time was definitely running out.
She shot up and hurried into putting her sword at her belt, though she didn't want to put her chainmail on. If her father saw her like that, he'd probably have a heart-attack.
She looked around and gathered the little things she wanted to keep close to her heart. One goblet from Camelot's castle, her sword from Arthur's smiths, a bracelet from Guinevere, her satchel from Merlin.
But she had nothing to keep to belonged to either Leon or Gwaine.
As she was packing, Leon effectively entered the room.
Lily whirled around and wiped her cheeks off the tears still falling. "Good morning, Leon."
"I've knocked, haven't you heard?" Then he realised her red eyes, her puffing-looking face. "Lily? Are you alright?"
She shook her head. "Leon, I... Would you ride to Avalon with me today?"
His brow furrowed. "Avalon? The Lake of Avalon? But why?"
She faked a smile. "I just want to spend time with you."
Leon seemed not to swallow the lie, but he nodded anyway. "When are we to go?"
"As soon as possible."
He nodded again. "I'm telling Arthur I'm going for the day."
She smiled sadly again. "I'll be waiting in the stables."
He quickly pecked her on the lips and exited the room.
As soon as his figure disappeared behind the wooden door, the tears began to stream once again.
"Breathe, Lily, breathe." She put her hands on her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and sniffed for good measure. "Goodbyes. Come on, Dragonlord." She wrapped her satchel to her shoulder, and closed the door behind her without a look over her shoulder.
She hurried to Gaius' office first.
The physician was surprised to see her for the least. "Lily? What gives me the pleasure?"
She smiled, this time managing to be more credible. "I'm going out for the day with Leon, just wanted to say "Hello" before I went."
"Oh. I see." His brow furrowed. "Lily, I'm no idiot. Merlin told me."
Lily's fake smile vanished. "Oh."
"Come here." He opened his arms, and she went hugging him as close as she could. "I will miss you, child."
"And I you, old man. You've been the most precious of friends, Gaius. I will never forget."
He pulled away and smiled sadly, eyes glistening with tears. "Merlin in mucking the stables."
"Thank you. Not only for this. For everything."
He nodded, and turned around to return to his work.
To give her one last present.
A quiet goodbye.
"Hello, smartass."
Merlin's head appeared from under the bench he was repairing. "Hey Lily?" Then he noticed her satchel, her sad complexion. He stood up as quickly as he managed without tripping. "You're not going, are you?"
She nodded. "Yes, I am. But I'm spending time with Leon first. To tell him."
"Have you told Gwaine?"
"Yesterday evening."
Merlin sighed. "It'll take time to gather the pieces."
"I'm sorry, Merlie."
He smirked at the nickname. "I won't say I haven't seen this day come. I just thought it'd be later. Much later."
"I think it better this way. Otherwise I'd have to return to my father married and mother to a dozen children."
He chuckled. "Where are you heading?"
"Avalon." His blue eyes darkened. "I thought it fit to say goodbye to Freya as well, since I would not be alive still if she hadn't existed."
He smiled sadly. "I wished I could go with you."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him close. "I know. But until the end of my days, Merlin, son of Balinor, you will remain my brother in heart."
He sobbed and gripped her closer. "I love you, Lils."
"And I you, Merlie."
He pulled away and went to a horse, putting a heavy saddle onto its back.
Then he turned back to her. "There. The last thing I'd do for you."
She smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Master." Then she pushed herself onto the stirrups and onto the saddle.
Leon arrived at that moment. "There, all settled. Oh, hello, Merlin."
"Hi, Leon."
The knight didn't notice the red eyes of the man-servant, and took his horse by the reins, pulling it outside.
When he jumped onto his saddle, Lily noticed how a brown-haired figure stood in the castle's doorway.
Although she couldn't see his eyes, she stared at his figure, trying to reach him by mind though she knew it impossible for non-magical beings.
"Goodbye, Gwaine."
She whirled her horse around, and eyed Merlin one last time.
He nodded to her, and she kicked her horse's sides.
Lily was gone.
They rode for the good of two hours before reaching the Lake.
Lily wrapped her horse's reins around a branch, took her satchel, and went to sit close to the quiet waters, barely disturbed by a gush of soft wind.
Leon came sitting next to her. "Are you telling me now?"
She looked aside at him. "Tell you what?"
"What troubles you. You've been crying this morning. And even Merlin was crying. That doesn't happen often."
She huffed. "I thought you hadn't noticed."
"I had."
She cast her eyes down. "Leon... I'm leaving."
"Leaving? For where?" He shifted so he almost faced her.
"Home." The lie was awful. Never had the Black Castle really been her home.
"Why?"
"Because my father is coming to have me back."
"And can't you say no?"
She snorted. "You don't know him. Believe me, if he can crush your heart between his fingers as he goes, he will."
"You told me he cast you away to find your elder brother."
"And that's true. Except he always told me I'd stay here maximum three years. It's been three years and four months now."
"You could always hide and he'd go away." He gripped her hand. "Let's go to Ealdor, Merlin's village. No one would know, and your father would go away."
Lily caressed his stubbled cheek. "It would be a wonderful idea, but my father is the most powerful and the most heartless sorcerer that ever was. He would stop at nothing. Nothing."
Leon sat up on his knees and brought her close. "Stay. Stay with me."
Lily pondered his words.
Gwaine had wanted to go with her. Because wherever she'd be, he'd go with her.
Leon wanted her to stay. Because he was loyal to his prince, and leaving would be treason.
Never before had she seen the difference between the two so precisely.
She grabbed Leon's face in her hands and kissed him slowly. "I won't stop loving you, sir knight. Never."
"You don't have to."
"Yes I do. I won't have your death on my conscience. I won't have the destiny of Camelot trampled on for my mistakes."
He kissed her again. And again. And again.
A gush of wind and magic linked knocked them both backwards so strongly they were lying onto the ground when it stopped.
Lily sat up the first.
And gasped.
In the middle of the Lake of Avalon...was a portal.
Its purple colour left no doubt for its origin.
"Father."
Leon tried to retain her, to grab her hand, to make her stop.
He yelled, as loud as he could.
Lily whirled her wrist, and Leon found himself flying backwards onto a bed of leaves.
Before entering the water, Lily turned around one last time. "Goodbye, Leon."
And she advanced.
Behind her, she suddenly heard horses' hooves, and shouts.
Merlin.
Arthur.
Percival.
Gwen.
Elyan.
Gwaine.
Her heart shattered in a million pieces, and she launched herself into the portal.
Her world went dark.
Vivian landed in the middle of a forest.
She looked around. The trees were different from what she remembered.
She turned around: the portal was still open.
When she heard a gasp behind her, she unsheathed her sword.
A figure clad in a blood-red cloak was facing her, her cerulean eyes wide.
"Who are you?" Vivian hissed.
The woman lifted her hands up. "I mean you no harm, I was only passing by. My name is Red."
The witch – or mere human, now she had left Kilgharrah behind – sheathed her weapon back. "Vivian." The name almost seemed to be foreign to her tongue.
"Nice to meet you. What's that thing?" Red pointed at the portal.
"My lift. I'm back from...far away. Where are we exactly?"
"The Enchanted Forest, not far from King Charming and Queen Snow's castle. I'm heading there now."
"King Charming and Queen Snow?" Vivian didn't remember any king or queen in these parts. "Can I come? I'm not sure where my home lies anymore."
"Sure." Red cast her a small smiled and made to go around the still whirling portal.
But a hiss stopped her in her tracks.
"If I were you, dearie, I'd leave. Now."
Vivian whirled around at the sound of this voice she had not heard in such a long time.
Rumpelstiltskin was standing there, wearing the same purple vest and black leather trousers.
Red, behind Vivian, gasped. "Run, Vivian, run!"
She looked back at her new friend. "You run. I'll deal with this. Thank you, Red, I won't forget this encounter."
Red nodded, her gaze still full of fear, and she ran the opposite way Vivian was advancing.
Rumpel smirked. "Welcome back, child. You've grown, it seems."
Vivian didn't answer.
So he walked up, and awkwardly wrapped his arms around her frame.
She didn't cling at him, but when he pulled away, she saw it in his eyes.
He was looking at something behind her. But as she turned around to see what, the portal whirled one last time, and closed it a woosh. Rumpel was genuinely smiling now.
"Well well, what if we headed home, darling?"
Vivian sensed something was very wrong, but she never knew what.
She just knew her heart didn't belong there, and that she had sacrificed her happiness for nothing.
Because Rumpel's affection was nothing beside two Knights' love.
Lily was pacing in the clearing, restless, the five beans still wrapped in her hand.
Neal came standing next to her. "Something bothering you, sis?"
She sighed. "I guess I'm nervous. When I open that portal, my friends, and loved ones, will come out of it... And I don't know if I hope they have or have not moved on."
"Loved ones?" He emphasised on the plural.
She glared at him. "Oh, shut it. It was hell."
He smirked. "Sure it was."
She smirked back and nudged him playfully. "Anyway, the one I want to see more than the others is Kilgharrah."
"Weird name for a Knight of Camelot."
She smiled widely. "He's my dragon."
"Ah."
But as she was about to retort something she thought interesting, Lily heard it.
Paces. Many paces. And clashed of metal.
She whirled around and eyed the border of the clearing with suspicion.
Then she yelled. "The cards! The cards are here!"