"Good news." Rúnya announced as she strode in to the council room. "Our worry over the sorcerer need not continue: turns out it was an aging alchemist who I gave quite a scare when I sought him out." Rúnya hit her hands against the table. "Now, for more important matters; what shall we do about the bandits?" The young queen looked from face to face.

"Sir Kennard returned to us a short while ago after securing the outer villages, and we have enough semblance of the royal forces to make a stand here in the capital if need be." Eldrion told her. "If it comes to that. But it is our hopes that the amount of soldiers we already have stationed around the borders will be enough to dissuade any more attacks." He looked at his wife worriedly. "But do you really think it could come to war?"

"Not outright. But as you know my king, we have been fighting a silent war with these creatures for some time already. Our people's lives and livelihoods are at risk and I will not stand by when I have the ability to put an end to their fears."

"My queen." Eldrion bowed low and kissed her hand affectionately. His young wife may hold all the power in Rheged, but she never held that fact over him. Quite the opposite in fact, Rúnya shared most of the important matters with him, and trusted his counsel. But there was a matter that unsettled the king now…Morgana who was still not back from the lower town. He only hoped that Rúnya's friendship and loyalty to the pariah of Camelot would not risk all they had built together here in Rheged.

Rúnya grabbed an apple from a nearby bowl and drew the dagger she kept hidden among her person. She dug the tip of the blade in to the rosy skin of the fruit and twisted until a chunk of the sweet pale flesh gave way. She chewed thoughtfully before looking at her husband. The room was cleared now save for them. There was fire in her eyes; Rúnya set the apple back in to the bowl and licked the excess juices from her lips. Eldrion grabbed her face between his hands and entangled his fingers in her long black hair. And then he kissed her. Eldrion pushed her up against the table and kissed her until they were both gasping for breath. Smiling, the king held his wife close and let her nuzzle against his broad chest.

"It will all be alright." Eldrion whispered. "I promise you. We'll be okay."

Rúnya nodded against him and wiggled her way in even closer. "You're faith in me is touching. I only wish others would think like you."

Eldrion stepped back. "Who dares?"

"It wasn't an alchemist." Rúnya admitted. "It was Merlin."

"The sorcerer from Camelot?"

"He was trying to get my attention. Somehow, word reached him that Morgana was here. He intends to either kill her himself, or drag her back to Arthur in chains." Rúnya shuddered. "And I fear I may have to intervene. I threatened him, subtly, but enough to make my point. But Merlin is stubborn, very stubborn. I don't think he will listen to me; he barely obeys his own king."

"If he comes near you, I will kill him." Eldrion said firmly.

"No need for that." Rúnya sighed. "He's a friend too. Only now he knows where my current loyalties lay."

"With Morgana." Eldrion shook his head. "I do not see why you side with her."

"Because I understand." Rúnya looked up at him and smiled sadly. "I had my mother, and my sister for so much longer than she had either. Mine trained me, they taught me how to respect my craft and how to use it for my people. They made sure my magic did not corrupt me as it does so many others. Morgana was without such guidance, and let me tell you my dear husband; there is no greater destroyer of faith than the absolute notion of being abandoned by all those you love." Her voice turned firm. "And I will not sit idly by and let Merlin take unfair advantage."

The fire within her breast burnt fierce. Eldrion could feel her body temperature rising as her emotions grew stronger. "Shhh, calm yourself." He rubbed her back soothingly. "You'll find a way."

"I wish my mother was here." Rúnya admitted. "She could have told me what to do." The flame in her breast flickered. "I thought I could connect to her again…" She sighed. "Nothing." Rúnya felt the weight of all her obligations crushing down on her. "I need to rest."

Deep in the lower town, where the merchants called out and the taverns were packed to bursting, Morgana stood at the gates and stared off at the outlying forest. I could run. She thought. It was perhaps the most tempting sensation she had ever felt before. Everything inside of her all her life had told her to fight, except for now. Fight Uther, fight the enemies of Camelot, fight for Morgause, fight against Arthur…fight to survive. But she didn't want to fight right now.

She could go so deep in to the woods were the wildest of things and creatures were that no one could ever find her. Morgana knew that if she wanted to start over, she'd have to go across the sea and beyond before she found people who did not know of her. Maybe she could settle down, start her own family and use her power to help them. Maybe…. But Morgana knew that would never be; that life would never be for her. She had never been meant for such things.

I could run.

Morgana watched the people pass her by. They knew of her of course, but they knew that their beloved queen gave Morgana her personal protection and so they left her alone. She missed her sister. Morgause would have told her that she was being foolish, she always had a plan. Rúnya had not hesitated to help her…even after the bandits had exposed Morgana…she had never had a friend so loyal. An outright war with the bandits would leave Rheged open to enemies…enemies with real armies. Morgana was sickened by the thought.

"Morgana."

She whirled around and felt her hair stand on end. "Merlin." She hissed. Standing up she felt her anger rise. "What are you doing here?"

"Arthur sent me." The serving boy glowered at her. "To bring you back. That or your head."

Morgana scoffed. "As if you could ever hope to defeat me." She noticed people were murmuring around them. She swallowed and glared at Merlin. "I give you this one chance; go back to Arthur."

"Is your memory that bad Morgana? You should recall…I never do as I am told." Merlin smirked.

"Enough!" Rúnya's voice echoed like the roar of a lioness. She stormed forward and put herself between Merlin and Morgana. "I told you to leave." She told Merlin. "How dare you?!"

"So is this really it Rúnya?" Merlin raged back at the young queen. "You turn your back on Arthur?!"

"I turn my back on you Merlin!" Rúnya hollered. She drew her sword and swiftly had the point hovering right above Merlin's throat. "You will leave my kingdom at once. You can tell Arthur Pendragon that I will not betray one friend, even if it is for the sake of another. Morgana has done nothing to me, no crimes accounted for in Rheged." Her eyes were pitch black, like coals. "Now, go."

Merlin looked at her in shock. "There is darkness in you Rúnya Arwen." He said suddenly. "A darkness I could not see before. You're letting Morgana culture it…her very presence feeds it." A chill ran up his spine as he realized Rúnya truly was not the helpless child he had once known. She was a fully realized sorceress, the power of the elements that bent to her whim. He looked up and met eyes with his magical equal and knew that she had made her choice. But then he saw the hurt in her gaze, the pain that hated saying the words she was speaking, a pain that begged him to understand; I must protect my people. Merlin backed away slowly. "Morgana…" He said slowly. "Was already gone when I arrived."

Thank you my old friend. He heard the words in his mind. Merlin started back down to the tavern he had rented a room at. He shuddered as he went. There was indeed a darkness in Rúnya now, but at least she could control it.