Chapter Text
Warning Bell
Magic was alight within the heart of Camelot. The sky was illuminated by lights as people throughout the kingdom celebrated the prince’s birthday and mourned the death of the King's beloved Queen. It had been four years since the death of Queen Ygraine and her loss was still felt by the people who loved her the most. Especially the king, as he sent another round of scouts to search the kingdom for the witch who had taken the queen's life.
In the center of town, Lynette watched from a window as a sorcerer told the story of the great dragon. Although she couldn’t hear the words that were spoken she remembered the story well, because of her mother. The man appeared alight with mischief as the embers shifted from a dragon to a knight, leading Lynette to believe he was near the end of the story. She watched in delight as a great battle took place, exciting the children by the gate.
The crowd grew to include the poor and some of the noble as they stopped to relive the familiar tale. Lynette found herself wishing she was down there hand in hand with her parents, experiencing Camelot’s many wonders. After bending farther out the window, she began searching for her mother, who had promised to be down in the town that evening. When she couldn’t find her she resorted to looking for Arthur but was interrupted before she could lean out further.
“Lynette come down from there.”
She sighed as she turned around to see her tutor staring at her with evident disapproval of her behavior. She glanced behind him to the King’s ward, Morgana, who was sitting perfectly still at the table with a quill in hand ready to learn. Lynette climbed down from her spot to join her, pulling up a chair and opening up a book to follow along. She tried her best to stay awake as the sounds of laughter could be heard just below.
“It is a privilege for you to join us, Miss Wyllt. Not many of your kind get this education.” The tutor droned. “Only at the behest of the late queen and Morgana’s request for you to join her do you have this opportunity, so I suggest you use it well.”
“Yes, my lord,” Lynette spoke, her quiet and obedient.
The lesson continued, but Lynette found herself, no longer interested in Camelot’s relationship with Mercia. Instead, she strained herself to hear the stories below as the chatter at the front gate became louder. The little girl looked up to find Morgana looking just as bored with her head in her hand, as she took notes with the other. Lynette discreetly looked toward the door, willing it to open and provide some kind of escape.
She was surprised when it opened at her wish to reveal the King and Prince on the other side. King Uther had a harsh grip on the young boy, who looked rooted to place as his gaze remained on the stones beneath him. Lynette tried to catch his gaze as she rose to bow to her King, but was unsuccessful. As she glanced over at the King he saw his gaze scrutinizing her as she fidgeted with her wool gown.
“Your majesty,” The tutor greeted with a flourishing bow, but Uther paid him no mind.
“Morgana.” Uther greeted before his dark eyes turned on the meek Lynette. “Lynette.”
“My lord,” Morgana replied with a bow of her head. “I trust training went well?”
“Perhaps if Arthur focused more it might have gone better,” Uther replied as he walked over, dragging Arthur with him, as he looked down at Morgana’s notes. “I thought I told you to focus on Cenred’s kingdom.”
The tutor’s pleased face turned sour as he appeared to shiver before the king. Lynette had to cover her hand to keep from saying anything she would regret. When she noticed Uther shoving Arthur toward her, she quickly made room for him beside her on the long bench. Arthur sent her a grateful nod as she pushed her book toward him to share.
“Make sure they are properly educated.” Uther thundered, not bothering to hide his anger. “Things will be changing soon and I want them prepared for what will lie ahead.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
The king left without much pomp and circumstance, leaving behind three confused children and a terrified tutor. Once the door had been shut tight did Arthur seem to relax beside Lynette, who was still trying to cheer him up. Morgana didn’t appear phased by Uther's harsh words, but Lynette knew better. She was just as scared of Uther as the rest of them.
“Let’s continue.” The tutor said, trying to regain control of the situation. “Mercia has been Camelot’s ally through the signing of its peace treaty. A treaty that is set to last another two decades, before new accords will need to be written and signed.”
Lynette found herself leaning heavily on Arthur by the end of the lesson, her focus fading. Her head leaned against his shoulder with his on top of hers, as he turned the page for them to read. The tutor had already tried to tell them off, particularly Lynette for her disregard of Arthur’s title, but Morgana had silenced his ramblings. The two were special or at least that was how Morgana had explained it.
“If that is all for the day.” Morgana piped up, gaining Lynette and Arthur’s attention. “I think I shall retire for my stitching lesson.”
Lynette and Arthur stood to say goodbye to Morgana for the day. The lady left the room with their tutor in tow, not giving them much in the form of a farewell. The tutor looked reluctant to leave the two children on their own, but the guards outside assured him that they would watch for the prince. He left without another word, giving Lynette the freedom she had longed for.
“Thank the Lord,” Arthur sighed as he shoved the massive book back onto its rightful shelf. “I thought the lesson would go on forever.”
Lynette stuck her tongue out while waiting for him, “You missed half the lesson. I don’t think you have the right to complain.”
“As prince-”
“That is not a valid excuse.” Lynette cut him off. “Try again.”
“You can’t cut me off, Nanet,” Arthur said with a firm pout. “I’m your prince.”
“Exactly,” Lynette said. “You’re a prince, not a king. Therefore you’re not the boss of me quite yet.”
Arthur said nothing, knowing better than to question Lynette’s reasoning, for she always seemed to outwit him. Instead, the prince held his hand out, and Lynette glanced down at it, unsure of what it meant. Part of her knew it meant trouble, especially given Arthur was due for another lesson down the hall, but she couldn’t help it. She needed a break, and it appeared he did as well.
“To the lower town?” Lynette asked as she placed her hand in his own.
“To the lower town,” Arthur confirmed, before tugging her to follow him.
Lynette followed him as a smile broke way onto her face, her mood lifting more since the end of their lessons. She was looking forward to skipping her dance lessons in favor of spending time with her best friend. Although she saw him every day, Lynette knew today was special and she would do anything to see Arthur smile on his birthday.
Laughter could be heard throughout the hallow halls of the castle as Lynette rushed passed servants with Prince Arthur. The two had created quite the chaos as they weaved in and out of the various servants, nobles and knights. Arthur gripped Lynette’s hand as he propelled them forward, earning a laugh from the girl as she struggled to keep his pace. The little girl turned to see the disruption they left only to find armed guards doing their best to keep up.
As they turned a corner Lynette found herself colliding into a solid form before toppling to the ground. Her hand landed painfully on the ground as the weight of her body came crashing down from above. A cry emitted from the girl as pain shot up her arm as she rolled on her side, tears filling her eyes. Arthur was at her side in a moment, checking on her before looking up to see the cause of the girl's pain.
Gaius crouched down to his daughter’s level, reaching out to gently take her arm. Lynette winced as he moved it slowly and reached out to take the prince’s hand. Arthur stayed by her side as he waited for the court physician to heal her. Her father succeeded in diagnosing the source using his abilities, but when the look on his face told Lynette all she need to know. She need her mother, who was much more skilled in magical healing than her father was.
Lynette waited for her father to voice the verdict aloud, doing her best to stifle the pain. However, she couldn’t contain her sniffles, which appeared to hurt her father more than her painful expression as he let out a sigh. The young man scooped Lynette into his arms and lifted her only to find a second weight attached to her. Lynette watched as his eyes flitted down to find her hand intertwined tightly with Uther’s son. He was about to ask the prince to let go, but Arthur’s determined gaze made it apparent that he would be reluctant in letting her go.
“I’ll be taking you to your mother,” Gaius spoke, before turning to Arthur. “You’re welcome to join us, your majesty.”
Arthur nodded, “I will, thank you.”
With Lynette settled in Gaius' arms and Arthur following behind, the group returned to the physician's chambers. Upon entering Lynette spotted her mother, Alice, in the kitchen finishing dinner, her back toward them. At the sound of the door, Alice turned to greet her family only to drop the ladle at Lynette’s tear-stained cheeks and a guilty-looking prince.
“What happened?” She asked as she rushed over.
“She broke her arm, my dear,” Gaius explained calmly. “It was no one’s fault and nothing to fret over. One of your healing potions should do the trick.”
Alice nodded, “I should think so. Put her in her cot and I’ll fix her some herbs for the pain.”
Lynette winced as her father set her gently on the cot below, Arthur refusing to leave her side as he pulled up a chair. He reached over and took her hand one more, his piercing blue gaze never wavering as Alice administered the medicine. The little boy had a strange attachment to Lynette and she couldn’t help but feel the same. A relationship that was so innocent and yet worried her parents, or at least that’s what she had overheard them saying.
The potion seemed to work like a charm as Lynette snuggled further underneath the covers. Arthur moved closer until the boy found himself lying beside her, his arm propping him up as the other kept hold of her hand. She curled up into his chest, careful of her arm, as she allowed the herbs to heal her. She could feel the gazes of her parents, especially how her familiarity with the prince seemed to disregard all protocol.
“I’m so sorry, Nanet,” Arthur whispered, tears forming in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to escape while we had the chance.”
“I know,” She said. “It’s okay, Artie. I’m sorry I’m ruining your birthday.”
Arthur shook his head, “Don’t ever say that. Spending time with Morgana, Father, and you are what makes it special.”
Lynette looked up and smiled at the boy before curling up further into his side, resting peacefully. She felt safe in the arms of her best friend. A boy she had known since infancy, a prince to all, but her. She didn’t see the prince as others did. She saw a little boy in need of a friend, someone to help him escape in between his royal duties. Someone he could count on in times of great triumph and sorrow.
She had been told since the day she was born that her godmother, Queen Ygraine, had been that her son has friends from various social classes. At first, Lynette hadn’t thought anything of it, until her mother revealed that it was the queen that got to hold her after her parents, kissing her on her sunkissed hair. She had been heavily pregnant with Arthur at the time and had made it clear that she wanted her child to be friends with the infant. She had received her wish, even if she wasn’t there to see it in person.
Arthur was the first to fall fast asleep, followed shortly after by Lynette. The last thought that floated through the girl's mind was how happy she was and yet she also felt guilt. A feeling that the little girl wouldn’t be able to comprehend until much later and yet she still felt it all the same. She knew how important Arthur’s birthday was and as her eyes closed she made a small vow to never again allow him to wallow, but to smile.
The sound of the warning bell was heard throughout Camelot, startling Lynette from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes of sleepiness with one good hand as she glanced to her side, finding Arthur gone from his spot. When she glanced up at her mother, the door to the physician's chamber opened to reveal her father. His normally cheerful gaze was riddled with horror as he rushed over to his fiance.
Lynette watched as he pulled Alice into a firm hug, the gesture surprising the woman as she sat at her desk. Her mother turned to look at her love in confusion at his sudden gesture. Her father was usually very calm in situations like these, but tonight was different. The little girl almost went to greet him but stopped at the tears that fell. The fear he held in his eyes sent chills up and down her body as her mother stood to kiss his lips.
"What is it, my love?" Alice asked, stepping away and sitting beside Lynette.
"It's the king. He has declared war on magic." Gaius replied, shutting the door he had left open in his rush.
"He what?!"
Lynette jumped at the sound of her mother's voice, her usually quiet demeanor broken from the sheer terror. The little girl reached up to grasp her mother’s arm, but she moved away. Lynette watched her go with sad eyes, hating to see her mother in pain and she can do nothing to stop it. She turned to her father but it appeared he was just as distressed and it left Lynette confused in worried.
“Momma?” Lynette called.
Alice turned toward her daughter and sent a smile, “It’s alright my dear.”
“But it’s not,” Lynette replied. “What is happening?”
Her mother seemed to stiffen at Lynette’s question. It appeared she was unsure of how to answer and the little girl couldn’t comprehend why. Alice was aware of Uther's caution because of his wife's passing, but she hadn't thought he would go as far as to declare war on an entire culture. Her mother’s eyes landed on her and that is when Lynette realized, it was a simple question and yet it left both her parents at a loss for how to respond.
"He has outlawed magic, Alice. Anyone found guilty of using magic is to be executed by order of the king. He has begun searching for every sorcerer or sorceress in Camelot." Gaius explained, not knowing of any other way to tell it. Lynette pulled her blanket to her chest, her brain not fulling understanding as her father walked over to her and put his hands on her mother’s shoulders.
“But why?” Alice asked. “It doesn’t make sense. Only yesterday he was using magic to find the person that killed the queen.”
Gaius sighed and scratched his neck, “He found her this morning, only for her to taunt him into saying it was his fault he chose his son over his wife.”
“But that’s not how magic works,” Alice exclaimed, as she tugged on her braid.
“I know, but there's more,” Gaius took a large breath before continuing. "Alice, he has a list. It had your name on it."
"How do you know this?" Alice asked.
"I was permitted to see the list," Gaius replied, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I struck your name off to give you time Alice."
"Giving me time to escape you mean," Alice said.
Lynette whimpered at the idea of losing her mother. She tried to get up to be near her, but the weight of her body caused her to twist her arm wrong. The pain radiated from her shoulder down as she tried and failed to contain her yelp from the pain. Her mother was at her side in a blink of an eye, soothing the girl with a healing spell as she lay her back down in her cot.
“What caused the king this change in heart?" Alice asked as she smoothed Lynette’s hair.
"I can take a guess, but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you and Lynette are not safe here. I implore you to seek shelter with my sister, Hunith, in Ealdor." Gaius begged as he looked into her eyes.
The new parents looked down at Lynette as the little girl scrunched her eyes in pain. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she could feel the chaos that was unfolding. She had no idea that the very thing that would make her eyes light up in delight had been banned. She had no idea her life was about to change forever. All she did was curl up tighter into her little white blanket and let out a small hiccup from all the crying she had done.
"You will not come with us?" Alice asked.
"I must stay here in Camelot and cover your tracks. I can't go with you," Gaius answered sitting down in the rocking chair beside the cot.
Silence filled the air as Lynette looked up to find both her parents looking at her. Despite her tears, Lynette's mother brushed her curls back with a swipe of her hand, her long braid tickling her nose. Her brown eyes mirrored Lynette’s as she memorize her smile and the little dimple that displayed on her cheek. Her father appeared much the same with his physician's robes, blonde locks, and bright blue eyes.
She would often hear them debate for countless hours over who she looked like. Her mother would say her eyes were her mother's while her little ears were inherited from her father. Gaius would counter how Lynette’s unruly locks seemed to match his own, whenever he tried to tame it. In the end, they had compromised that she was a mix of both her parents with her mother's full lips and her father's nose.
Just like Lynette, Alice was also trying to imprint this moment in her memory as she came to an important decision, "I will go, but you must take Lynette. She will be safer here in Camelot where you can provide for her."
“No mama!” Lynette cried.
Alice looked over at Gaius and raised an eyebrow as if daring him to challenge her decision, but he only nodded slowly. Even Lynette knew better than to argue with Alice when it came to her making a final decision. However, Lynette didn’t understand that her mother was making a decision that was best for her. For her well-being as well as it would give Alice her best chance at escaping the chaos that had ensued within the castle walls.
Lynette’s cry seemed to stop Alice in her tracks, but she continued to pack a small bag of clothes, while Gaius packed some food and money in a small sack. Lynette began to sob as she tied her thick brown cloak around her shoulders before coming over to the cot with tears of her own. Gaius followed her over and held his betrothed as she picked up Lynette gently.
“It will be alright,” Alice spoke as she rocked Lynette. “It just means you will have to come and find me someday. Can you do that?”
Lynette nodded as a hiccup escaped her small body, “Yes mama.”
“Good.”
Lynette leaned her head down on her mother’s shoulder as she began to sing a light lullaby. Lynette recognized the familiar tune and cuddled in further as her father kissed her head. It was a song the family knew all too well as the family rocked back and forth. At that moment, her father couldn’t help but remember the day she was born. She was so small that many feared she would not survive, but she proved them all wrong. She was a fighter.
Gaius watched as Alice placed Lynette gently back onto the cot, before taking off the pendant she always wore. Lynette reached up and grasped the steel firmly watching as the chain dropped onto the bed. The pendant was a Celtic knot that Alice stated symbolized healing, wisdom, and inspiration. It was something she wore at all times and Lynette knew how much the necklace meant to her.
"My mother gave me this pendant and told me to pass it down to my daughter," Alice explained as she looked at Lynette. "Make sure to take great care of it and it will take great care of you."
"I promise, Mama.”
Alice nodded before looking up at the man that would have been her husband, “Make sure to tell her the whole story when she’s old enough.”
“I promise, my love," Gaius replied kissing her with all the love he felt for her.
Lynette watched the kiss finding herself enraptured by the motion. It didn’t disgust her as it normally did but rather cemented what was happening. She was losing her mother to a rule that she could barely comprehend, as was her father. When they pulled apart Alice gave him a sad smile and turned to look at Lynette who tried to put on a smile of her own.
As tears rolled down her cheeks she bestowed upon the child a final sweet kiss on her head and whispered, "I love you, Lynette..."