A/N: This chapter is dedicated to guest reviewer, Kita, who gave this story a lovely, glowing review. Thank you, Kita! I hope it continues to interest you and meet expectations! Sometimes even I wish it were moving along faster, but I want to stay true to the story and give time to build up tension before Gwaine comes onto the scene. For one, we need more about Krysia's childhood, and more interactions with Leon. BUT also, I will be skipping some episodes, like the goblin and things like that which don't have bearing on the overall plot.

-C

The following morning Krysia was eating her breakfast happily while Merlin and Lancelot stumbled out of their shared chambers groaning with obvious hangovers. She tried not to smile, but they just looked so ridiculous.

"Argh," Lancelot groaned. "Two yards of ale? Two miles, more like it."

"Good morning, gentlemen," Gaius said, gesturing to breakfast on the table for them. He then handed them two fizzing drinks and Krysia smirked, having had her share of the concoction in the past.

"Don't look at it or smell it whatever you do," she said, smiling up at them. "But get it all down or you'll feel miserable all day."

They did as she said and Lancelot spluttered, "Argh," again, obviously having gotten a bit of a wiff as it went down.

"Better?" Gaius asked. They nodded. "Good. Can't have you nodding off on the first day of the job, Lancelot."

"Sir Lancelot," Krysia corrected without thinking, drinking a bit of water. The others laughed, but it died out quickly as guards entered. She nearly dropped her water, heart racing.

"What are you doing?" Merlin demanded.

"King's orders," one of the guards replied, and Krysia really did drop her water, watching as Lancelot was grabbed and escorted out.

And it was all her fault.

"Stop!" Merlin called, but he might as well have been yelling at the door for all the good it did.

Krysia buried her head in her hands and took deep, measured breaths.

So far it was just Lancelot, but what would he say under pressure of the king?

As soon as Leon told Krysia that Lancelot had been taken to the cells, she and Merlin paid him a visit. Leon snuck them in, as Lancelot really wasn't supposed to have visitors.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, looking at him through the bars. "I really shouldn't have-"

"You're not to blame," Lancelot insisted, touching her hand through the bars.

She wanted to believe that.

"Yes we are," Merlin sighed. "We pushed you. We made you lie."

"Well, technically by the law of Camelot," Krysia said slowly, "Uther will have to see it as Lancelot's fault unless he claims to be a victim of sorcery."

And she certainly hoped Lancelot had no such inclination.

"I wish there was something we could do," Merlin groaned. Thankfully, for once, he wasn't willing to put himself and Krysia on the line to save someone else in quite the same way as he had with Gwen. Perhaps he realized the position it would put Krysia in.

"There is," Lancelot whispered. "You can stop blaming yourselves."

They went back to Gaius feeling more than a bit dejected, and Krysia actually slammed the door and said, "I hate Uther."

"Krysia?" Gaius asked. "Merlin?"

"Whatever you do," Merlin warned, watching Krysia warily, "don't say 'I told you so.'"

"He won't," Krysia moaned, putting her head in her hands again as she sat.

"What's done is done," Gaius said sadly. "Here, come take a look at this." They both did as he asked, looking over his shoulders as he held a book out in front of him. "I realized my mistake. I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place, in records of all known living things in the kingdom. And then I thought, what about creatures only recorded in legend? In myth? Then I discovered this."

Krysia nodded at the book, recognizing perfectly the beast that almost killed her.

"That is it," Merlin said. "That's the monster."

Just then, the warning bell tolled again and the three of them went to the window to see people scattering the square and the creature in question swooping down. The knights were gathering and Krysia gripped the stone sill as she saw Leon rushing with them.

"Please," she whispered. "Please."

When the attack was finished, Krysia accompanied Gaius to the Council Chambers, where Uther was receiving Arthur.

"You said your knights were the best in the land," Uther said proudly. "You proved that today."

"All I know is it's still out there," Arthur said sullenly.

"Let's not wait for it," Uther pressed. "The kingdom has been menaced by this creature for too long. We finish this now."

"Sire, if I may," Gaius said, stepping forward. Krysia stepped forward with him, still behind his shoulder.

"Gaius?" Uther said, acknowledging him.

"I've been researching this creature, sire," Gaius said slowly. "I believe it to be a griffin."

"A griffin?" Uther said dismissively. "What's in a name?"

"Griffins are born of magic," Krysia said nervously, glancing over at Arthur.

"I don't have time for this, Krysia," Uther said, even more dismissively. It was strange to her that he would seek out and smother the innocuous magic of a child, but when it was evil and dangerous and staring him in the face he looked the other way.

"It is born of magic, Sire," Gaius continued, undaunted, "and it can only be killed by magic."

"You are mistaken," Uther said coldly. "It's a creature of flesh and blood like any other. Arthur proved that today."

"I'm not so sure, father," Arthur said, watching Krysia closely. Her heart pounded in her chest. Was he really listening? "There may be some truth in what they say."

"What truth?" Uther demanded.

"The griffin was unharmed, Sire," Arthur explained. "Our weapons seemed useless against it."

"Useless?" Uther said obstinately. "I think not. No, it's tasted our steel once, the next time will be its last. When will your knights be ready to ride again?"

"An hour," Arthur said softly. "Maybe two."

"Good," Uther said. "We finish this tonight."

Krysia and Arthur exchanged worried looks, but there was no more she could do or say. Uther had made up his mind.

"Is it true?" Merlin asked when Krysia and Gaius returned and told him of Uther's poor decisions. "The griffin can only be killed by magic?"

"Yes," Krysia whispered, hugging her arms around her. "And when Arthur and the knights ride out, they will all die."

She could still recall burying Ewan, and now she would bury Arthur and Leon as well. She had already lost her family. How much more could be taken from her?

"Then he must be stopped," Merlin said firmly. "Uther must see reason."

"Where magic is concerned, our king is blind to reason," Gaius said sadly, turning to Krysia, who was deliberately looking away from them both. "And yet...magic is our only hope."

"Gaius, I...I can't," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"It is your destiny, Krysia, and Merlin's as well. The true purpose of your magic."

She shook her head, feeling tears leak out of the corners of her eyes.

"You saw it, Gaius," Merlin argued. "We can't go up against that thing."

She whimpered.

"And if we don't," she sighed, "then Arthur and Leon and all the other knights will die."

Krysia met Gaius's eyes, but she wanted to turn away. She couldn't stand the thought of losing them, and yet she was terrified of what it would mean to go with them.

"No...this is madness," Merlin said. "We don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way."

"This is the only way," Gaius said firmly.

"And what about what will happen to us, Gaius?" Krysia demanded. "All these years, I've done everything you asked of me, even put my life on the line a few times for Merlin, but this? If the griffin doesn't get me, Uther will! Do you even care?"

"Krysia!" Gaius cried, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him. Her lip began to tremble. "You and Merlin are the only things I care about in all this world. I would give my life for either of you without a thought. But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know."

"I'm sorry," Merlin said softly, turning away.

"I don't know what to say," Krysia sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"I'll say it for you," Merlin said darkly. "We've got two hours to find a way to kill that thing."

Several books later, Gaius pushed forward the book he'd been flipping through in front of Krysia and Merlin.

"There," Gaius said. "You must do this for Arthur."

"But I've never done anything this powerful," Krysia said mournfully, reading the page. "Neither of us has."

"Nothing less will kill it," Gaius insisted. "Here." He placed a rusty dagger on the table in front of her. "Try, Merlin. You have it within you, I know you do."

Krysia turned to Merlin who looked down at the dagger. He waved his hand over it and said, "Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

But nothing happened. They exchanged nervous looks.

"It's all right," Krysia sighed, sitting down across from the dagger. "We'll take it in turns. We've got plenty of time."

Two hours later, they were still at it.

"Don't worry, Merlin," Gaius said gently. "I know you're trying."

"And I'm failing," Merlin muttered angrily. "If Arthur dies because I'm not good enough…"

"Hey," Krysia said sharply as the door opened and Merlin dropped his hands. It was Gwen, looking flustered and upset.

"Merlin!" she cried. "Lancelot's riding out to kill the griffin!"

"He's what?" Merlin demanded. Gwen shrugged helplessly and Merlin rushed out the door.

"Merlin!" Krysia cried, running after him, ignoring Gaius as he called after them both.

When they found Lancelot saddling up, Merlin said, "We're coming with you," with such firmness that even Krysia wouldn't have argued.

"No, you're not," Lancelot said, shocked.

"As if you could stop me," Krysia said brightly, touching the sword at her side. She wouldn't want to use it, but if she had to…

"Krysia, you're not a soldier," Lancelot said, and even Merlin raised his eyebrows.

Oh, she would show him when this was all over. She could fight him any day, giving properly equal footing.

"You said it yourself, Lancelot," Merlin argued. "Arthur needs all the help he can get. Now let's go."

Krysia could tell that they were approaching the battlefield as they rode by the sounds of men dying, the clanging of swords, the screeching of the griffin. As soon as they reached the fallen knights they dismounted, spreading out to search. The others were looking for Arthur, but Krysia wanted to find Leon. If she didn't, no one else would.

She found him and did a quick, discrete spell when she felt his pulse. He was going to live if she had to kill the griffin herself. She would not suffer any more loss. She pulled his head onto her lap and pulled off his helmet, stroking his hair, thinking of when he had been sick when they were children and she took care of him.

"Arthur," she heard Merlin say, and she looked over at him. He was feeling for a pulse.

"Well?" Krysia asked.

"He's alive," Merlin confirmed.

The griffin hissed and Lancelot rode into attack position with a lance and shut his visor. Krysia could feel the tension, curling her fingers in Leon's blonde hair.

"Okay," she heard Merlin say. "It's now or never."

Lancelot's horse reared.

She pointed her hand at Lancelot's lance.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

Nothing happened and Lancelot began to charge.

Merlin took his turn, saying, "Bregdan anweald gafeluec." Again, nothing happened, and Lancelot passed Merlin. "Bregdan anweald gafeluec!" The griffin began to charge.

Krysia took her turn.

"Bregdan anweald gafeluec."

The lance flamed blue and hit the griffin. Krysia watched in awe as the griffin died, the magic glow fading.

"Yes!" Merlin cried in celebration, and Krysia could scarcely believe that she had done it. She smiled, kissing Leon's warming forehead and scrambled to her feet.

Arthur began to wake and Merlin and Krysia ran off. Lancelot took off his helmet as they watched from the woods.

"Lancelot," Arthur said, disoriented.

"Sire," Lancelot said softly.

"You did it," Arthur said, stunned as he saw the body of the griffin. "You killed it, Lancelot!"

They returned to the castle, and the first thing Krysia and Merlin did was report back to Gaius, whom they'd left before finishing the spell.

"You did it?" he asked excitedly when Krysia ran into the room.

"I did it," Krysia said with a laugh, and Gaius hugged her happily, Merlin smiling at them.

"Thank God!" Gaius said, holding her as firmly as he had when she was brought to him from the woods.

She was safe.

As soon as they finished explaining things to Gaius, Merlin wanted to go meet Lancelot outside of the council chamber.

"He's going to be reinstated," Merlin said happily. "I mean, he saved Camelot!"

Merlin's excitement was infectious, and even though she wasn't sure that he understood Uther nearly well enough yet. When they rounded the corner Lancelot was standing outside the chamber looking particularly somber.

"What are they doing?" Merlin asked.

Lancelot just looked at them blankly, but Krysia understood. His eyes held the same expression she'd seen in Gaius's face when Uther deliberated over what to do with the blonde-haired little girl knights had found alone in the woods.

"They're deciding what to do with him," she whispered, standing in front of him, hoping he would feel the sympathy she was hoping to radiate to him, and that he would ask no questions.

"They'll restore your knighthood," Merlin said after a long silence. "Of course they will. You killed the griffin."

"But I didn't kill the griffin," Lancelot said slowly, looking at Krysia with knowing eyes, like Bayard's eyes. Her heart began to race. He walked a little away from the guards.

"But you did," she whispered, trying to think of a way out of this conversation, to convince him that he hadn't seen what he thought he saw.

"Yes, don't be ridiculous," Merlin said, although he was nervous.

Lancelot shook his head.

"'Bregdan anweald...' I heard both of you. I saw you, Krysia."

She glanced around the corridor.

"Please," she whispered, knowing that denying what he clearly knew would get her nowhere.

"Don't worry," Lancelot said comfortingly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Your secret's safe with me. But I cannot take the credit for what I did not do. There'll be no more lies, no more deceit."

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked, clearly nervous despite Lancelot's assurance of safety.

But Krysia understood what he meant. She knew the knight's codes better than any other servant, and better than many nobility. There was really only one thing he could do, although she would miss him.

"He's going to do the right thing," she said with a smile as Lancelot burst back into the chamber.

She gathered Gaius and Merlin quickly, knowing what was going to happen. She didn't have to explain anything. They knew what was wrong with the whole situation, and they knew what Lancelot would have to do, in his mind, to make it right.

They stood on the battlements as the sun rose over the trees and watched Lancelot riding away.

"He was the best knight I have known in a long time," Krysia said softly. "For the short time he was a knight."

Merlin sighed.

"Perhaps you were right, Gaius," he said. "Perhaps we should have never gotten involved."

"No, Merlin, I was wrong," Gaius said. "Lancelot needed you and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were intertwined."

Krysia turned away from where Lancelot had disappeared into the distance.

"Do you think we'll see him again?" she asked, looking up at Gaius, still feeling as though she should have done something to vouch for him, but knowing she had done all she could and still failed.

"That I cannot say," Gaius admitted, putting a hand on her shoulder bracingly. Krysia closed her eyes and felt the cool air whipping the tendrils of hair around her face.

"Till next time then, Sir Lancelot," Merlin said.

They stood there for a moment, waiting, and then Gaius and Merlin decided they had a lot of work to do now the day was started.

"I'll be along in a moment," Krysia whispered, turning back to look out at Camelot, listening to their footsteps retreating.

She was alone for a moment, staring out at the land, trying to summon in her mind's eye the image of the man in her dream, the one the dragon had told her of.

"Krysia?"

Turning on her heel, Krysia saw Leon watching her, concerned.

"Leon?" she said, stunned. "I thought you were…"

"Gaius said I made a miraculous recovery," he said with a smile. "He said...he said you found me, in the field, and…."

She frowned slightly, turning back to look out at Camelot.

Leon froze and frowned. He then moved up to stand beside her and looked at her intently.

"Did you fall in love with him, Lancelot?"

Krysia laughed.

"No, no," she assured him. "I just wish there was something I could have done."

They stood together in silence for a long moment before Krysia managed to gather herself, laughed and said, "Well, I suppose I need to get to work. Serving girls won't organize themselves. Trust me."

Leon smiled, caught her hand as she turned to go and said, "Krysia, whatever it was you did, thank you. Thank you for my life."

She wondered if he would be thanking her if he knew what she was, who she was, but she just smiled for a moment and then rushed off to work.