Long one. If you like the story or have questions, please review.
After the knights had gotten their rest, they continued to help clear up the mess. Gwaine was working next to Arthur. "Arthur, I need to talk to you." Gwaine started. "It's about Lilly isn't it?" "How did you…?" "Everyone knows Gwaine. You haven't exactly been discreet about it." Elyan said. "Those looks you two give each other, convincing her father to let her fight." Leon listed. "Don't forget the nights she spent next to him, and the escorting her everywhere." Merlin finished. Percival, Elyan and Arthur just stood there laughing. "Fine, she has my interest. Arthur can you find a place at your court for her, any excuse to ask her back to Camelot." Gwain admitted. "I'd love to ask her back to Camelot, but she might not want to return. She loves her people, we have all seen that. Her place is here, you know that. I will ask her, but don't get your hopes up."
"Mother! There you are." Lilly had been looking all over to tell her mother about the plan. Lilly found her mother in her chambers. "Lilly, what is it?" Her mother had rarely seen Lilly this exited. "This is about that knight isn't it?" "It is, Julia has found a possible solution. It may sound a bit mad, but hear me out. If I am invited back to Camelot the only official problem is that there is no other heir for our castle. What if you adopted Robert and Julia as your own, they offered to hold the throne for me until I return." Lady Talltree thought about it in silence. "What will you tell the people?" She asked. "I will tell them I am going to sharpen my skills with the experts at Camelot." The older Lady thought some more, then gave in. "If your father agrees with this, it's alright with me." Lilly smiled and gave her mother a big hug. "Thank you mother." And Lilly ran out of the room.
She was on her way to her father when she ran into a vast figure. "Whoa, watch out where, oh. Lilly." "Gwain." The chaming knight recovered quickly from the impact and found his winning smile back. Lilly just embraced him. "Whoa, what was that for? Not that I'm complaining." Gwain said when Lilly let go, Lilly just smiled. "Nothing." She tried to run off but Gwaine got in her way. "Lilly?" "I have possibly some great news, but I need to take care of some things first. There are still a few variables.." Lilly started. "Don't you trust me with the news?"Gwaine teased. "Of course I trust you, it's just that I don't want to get anyone's hopes up." "Well I have some news that I can tell you. Arthur is going to ask you if you wish to come with us to Camelot." Gwaine told Lilly. Lilly's eye's shot open. "Really?" She sqealed with joy and embraced Gwaine once again. Gwaine was ready for her this time and welcomed her in his arms. He held her close, softly touching her cheek, moving her head to face him. "Gwaine." Lilly whispered.
"Gwaine!" Arthur and Leon were looking for him. Gwain and Lilly scrambled apart. "Arthur." "Sire." Arthur and Leon looked between the knight and the lady with great suspicion. "Lilly, we've been looking for you. And I see you find my knight for me." Arthur joked. "I wanted to offer you a place at my court. The specifics still need to worked out, but I would like you to join our journey home. I will have to talk with this to your father of course, seeing there are…" "I accept. Sorry sire. But I have foreseen the same problem as you have, and may have found a way around it. If my father agrees there should be no problem with me joining your court. Thank you Sire." Lilly quickly explained the plan again to the king, who seemed to agree with it. The only thing left now was asking her fathers permission to leave.
"Father, please. I know this a lot to ask, but I really wish to go to Camelot." Of all the people she had to convince, Lilly's father had no doubt proven the most stubborn. She had tried te reasonable arguments, others had spoken on her behalf. Her last strategy was kneeling in front of him, whispering so no-one else could hear. "It sounds silly, but it is not a matter of mind or skill. It's a matter of the heart. This knight, the black haired knight, I wish to follow him back to Camelot. I care for him, and I know he cares for me too. Please father, let me go." The old lord thaught long and hard. "Promise me you will be happy. And you may go. Take a maid with you to remind you where you came from. But go and be happy my child." Lilly embraced him. "Thank you. I will write to you wheneve I can, thank you." Lilly was gushing. "Take Rose with you, she always wanted to see Camelot."
And so it happened that he next morning four knights, one king, one lady and two servants were ready to depart. After Lilly and Rose had said their goodbyes they were on their way. Lilly riding next to Miranda to make sure she was comfortable. "So what has happened when I was gone, I was too busy to get some of the new gossip." Lilly asked. Rose smiled. "Same thing as usual my lady. Veronica burnt the Lady's food, again. Emma was caught watching the guards train, again. And Lenny got thrown out if the tavern, again. Apparantly he had insulted a man twice his size. I told him not to look for trouble with people that were bigger than him, but the boy never listens." Lilly laughed, the stories were all too familiar, she had heard them so many times, and she was sure it would happen some more. "Sounds like someone we know, that Lenny." Merlin laughed. "Really?"Rose asked a bit too eager. "That's how we met Gwaine. To be fair, he wasn't the one looking for trouble. Well the first time. The second time I found him it was probably his fault." Merlin explained. "You must have some great stories from your adventures." Rose was fishing for more. "Oh you haven't heard about the third time yet. Arthur and I were on a queste, but got ourselves captured by a slavetrader. Guess who we ran into in the dungeons?" "How does a Knight of Camelot find himself in a dungeon like a prisoner?" Rose couldn't believe her ears. "Well truth is, most of us here have found ourselves in the Camelot dungeons at some point. Well except Percival."
"I think you have told our guest enough stories Merlin. She almost looks frightned." Sir Leon said. Merlin just shrugged his shoulders and went to ride with sir Elyan. "Well, now I'm curious. Is it true what he said about most of you, having seen the dungeon?" Lilly asked, Leon just looked ahead. "We have. I was captured by Morgana the first time she tried to take the throne. Gwain and Elyan the second time. Morgana was going to let them starve, Gwaine fought for her amusement so he could win some food for the old physician who was imprisoned with them." Lilly didn't say anything, she just looked at the back of the dark haired knight ahead.
"Lets camp here for the night." Arthur suggested. Everyone dismounted, Sir Leon lifting Rose of her horse. Rose looked confused and went to Lilly for answers. "Are we really going to camp out in the wild?" She asked. "Don't worry, there is always someone standing watch. And you can lay you blanket next to mine if you want." Lilly ensured the maid, Rose still wasn't entirely convinced. "Or you can ask one of the knights if you can lay your blanket next to them." Lilly suggested, she could see the thoughts going around in Rose's head. Sleeping next to a man she just met, no matter he was a knight of Camelot. But then she might feel safer next to a brave knight. Rose looked over at Sir Leon, Lilly noticed. "These men are very honourable. Especially Sir Leon over there." Lilly whispered the last part. "Maybe I'll just lay next to you, probably for the best. I mean I've seen you knock many guards around." Rose said very quickly, Lilly just smiled. "That's settled then."
Lilly went to help Gwaine gather some firewood. "There you are, haven't seen you all day." He teased. "I needed to make sure Rose was comfortable, this is very new to her. This will her first time sleeping out in the open, just like it was mine on the way here." Lilly explained. "I remember, so what is her solution?" "She'll sleep next to me. I think she thought of laying down next to Leon, but she is too shy to ask." Lilly said. "Why, Leon is one the most trustworthy men I know." Gwaine was confused. "You know he's trustworthy, I know that, but she doesn't." The two of them watched Rose chat with Leon. "She will."
Three nights, the woman lay next to each other. The fourth night they were woken up by the sound of clattering swords. Bandits had attacked their camp and Gwaine and Percival were already fighting them. Before long everyone was up, Arthur shouting orders. "Leon, look after Rose. Get her to safety. Gwaine protect…" He didn't get to finish the sentence. "I'll look after him." Lilly said with a wink, knocking down the bandit she was fighting. "Works too." Arthur muttered. Lilly saw one of the bandits go after Leon and Rose. "Leon!" She shouted to get his attention to the man following them. It worked, but now she was distracted another bandit wanted to take his chance at her. Luckily, Gwaine knocked him away just before the man could strike. Lilly turned around and saw. "Thanks." "Don't mention it."
The fight lasted for another fifteen minutes before the bandits ran of. Leon returned with a very shaky Miranda. The moment she saw her lady she ran toward Lilly. "Rose, are you alright?" Lilly asked, holding the poor girl. "I'm fine, thanks to Sir Leon." "Thank you Leon." "It's alright my lady, I should thank you for the warning." Lilly just smiled. "We should get moving, in case they come back with friends. If we ride now we can reach Camelot by dawn." Arthur said.
"Do you think these bandits were the same as the ones that had attacked the castle Lady Lilly?" Rose asked when they were on their way. "No, these were just a couple of street thugs, the bandits that attacked your lands were organized." Sir Leon answered. "They had no idea who they were facing or what they were doing."
"How do you know that?" Rose spoke without thinking. Leon just chuckled. "Experience my lady." "I'm not a lady, I'm just a maid. Call me Rose." Rose said. "As you wish, Rose."
"Almost there, in a warm castle where a bath and a good meal waits." Gwain was riding next to Lilly again. "Hmm, a good meal would be nice. After experiencing your cooking skills." She laughed. "You mean Merlins cooking." Gwain joked. From behind Merlin complained. "What's wrong with my cooking?" "Ah whole lot!"