-22-

Eighty three days. It had been eighty three days since Ryll had left Camelot. Somehow the number stuck in Merlin's head as he went about his daily routine. At first he'd found it impossible not to think of Ryll every second of every day. He missed her terribly. He could hardly concentrate on his daily tasks. Arthur had put up with this for a little while, but that didn't last long.

"You need to get over her," he had told Merlin after watching him mope for a week. "She was my friend too. I miss her, but life goes on. She's not coming back. Not as long as my father is king. I'm sorry."

After that Merlin had tried to put on a cheery face for Arthur and after awhile it was easier to believe that he really was happy even without her. It was incredible how life really could go on even though a big part of it was missing. Everyone else seemed to get on with their lives. Even Morgana had been more distracted than usual and seemed to forget Ryll though Merlin knew how much she resented Uther for sending her friend away.

There were times when Merlin thought he saw Ryll in a crowd. A head of golden hair or a laugh that sounded like hers. After the months had weathered on, he had stopped looking for her. She wasn't coming back, he told himself. He had to tell himself that otherwise he would never stop looking for her. If she comes back, Merlin told himself, she'll be executed. With that thought, he stopped wanting her to come back, forced himself to think of her coming back as a bad thing.

He hadn't told anyone what had passed between them. Like everything to do with Ryll, he felt that he needed to keep it a secret. Just like his own secret. He knew Ryll wouldn't judge him – she'd be the last to do such a thing – but he hadn't been ready to tell her his secret. And now it was too late. It was better to keep his head down, just as Gaius always told him. Lancelot knew. It had been impossible to keep his magic a secret when he'd used it to help Lancelot kill the gryphon. Fortunately Lancelot had proved to be not only brave and valiant but an honest and kind friend. Yet another friend that Merlin had lost to Uther's unfairness.

"Merlin, can I speak with you?" a voice startled Merlin out of his thoughts. He looked up, stopping in his tracks. Morgana stood before him, her clear green eyes wide with worry.

"Yes of course."

"It's just… I overheard something when I was in the market looking around. There were two noblemen passing through Camelot – they'd been in the tournament months ago. I think they were speaking of Ryll. They mentioned a woman and something about breaking the rules. They were furious that a woman had beat them. They said something about getting revenge. I couldn't stay any longer without them getting suspicious. Merlin, I think they plan on hunting Ryll down and hurting her."

Merlin felt his heart skip a beat. "Are you sure? They could have been talking about someone else."

"Who though? Ryll's the only woman who's ever entered a tournament in Camelot."

"They can't possibly know where she is though. She's not even in Camelot anymore."

"They seemed to have some way of tracking her. I couldn't hear what it was. We have to warn her."

"We don't even know where she is. She could be anywhere."

"So you're just going to give up?" Morgana asked.

"No, I just don't know what we can do. The chances of anyone finding her are slim. She knows how to hide and how to fight, Morgana. She'll be fine." Inside Merlin was trying to hide his panic. "Did you tell Arthur?" he asked.

"No. I didn't think he'd believe me. He'd probably think that I just wanted my friend back. Which is true as well."

"I'll try to find these men and see if I can learn anything more," Merlin told her.

"They were staying at The Rising Sun. One had a jagged scar that ran down the right side of his face."

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Ryll," Merlin promised though he didn't know how to protect her when he didn't even know where she was. But if the men had a way to find her – perhaps they were using magic. He doubted a tracker could find Ryll. She knew how to cover her tracks.

Merlin left Morgana and headed out into the town, finding the inn Morgana had mentioned and slipping in. He surveyed the room and, after a moment's search, found the man in question. The scar running down his face was vividly white as if he had received it within the last year or two. He slipped into a table nearby, ordering mead hastily when the barmaid came up to him.

"…haven't gotten it yet," one man was saying.

"Well, why not?" the scar-faced man asked irritably.

"It's not as easy as you might think. The trader wants a lot of gold for such a rare item."

"That shouldn't be a problem." The scarred man dropped a heavy sack onto the table. "Take this to him. Tell him there's more if the item in question does its job."

Merlin watched as the man picked up the money and left. Scar-face stayed to sip his mead, so Merlin set a coin on the table and trailed the other man. The man made his way further into the market until he came to a narrow alley. He came out on the other side to enter one of the shops by the back entrance. Merlin put his ear to the window, staying out of sight. He peered up to see the man exchange the bag of gold with a shadowy figure.

"He says there will be more if the item works."

"It will work," said the voice from the shadows. He seemed to ponder the offer for a minute. "I accept. But I want twice this bag of gold once you're satisfied."

"Done. How does it work?"

"All you need is the blood of the one you seek. Place it on the map and it will show you where he or she is."

"Does the blood need to be fresh?"

"Any blood will do." The shadowy figure handed the man a rolled up parchment that Merlin assumed was the map. "Once you hunt them down and kill them, the mark on the map will disappear."

"My master will be pleased." He turned to leave.

"He must carry a strong grudge," the shadow said, staying the man, "to pay so much to kill him."

"Yes. A particular person made a fool of him not that long ago. He wants his revenge."

"Then he will get it."

Merlin had heard enough. Before the man could come out the door and see him, he took off running back toward the castle. He didn't stop until he was outside of Arthur's chambers. He opened the door without knocking, and stood panting in front of Arthur.

"Oh, hello, Merlin. I didn't hear you knock. Please do come in," Arthur said, his eyes sparking slightly.

"I need to- speak with you," Merlin panted.

"Well, I certainly don't have anything better to do than listen to you all day, so please, carry on." Sarcasm dripped from his words, but Merlin ignored him and ploughed on.

"I was just in the pub when I heard-"

"Wait, hold it there." Arthur held up a hand. "You were in the pub?"

"Yes, that's what I said. When I-"

"Let me just get this straight. You were in the pub instead of here helping me get ready for practice."

"Yes, I heard something about-"

"Something much more important than doing your job, I'll wager."

"Will you just shut up and listen to me!" Merlin shouted. Arthur narrowed his eyes, and Merlin knew he'd crossed a line. "Ryll's in trouble," he said quickly. Arthur's angry expression turned to confusion.

"What do you mean? We don't even know where she is."

"I overheard two men talking about getting revenge on her. One of them had been beaten in the tournament back when Ryll entered. He holds a grudge. They're using this magical map to find her – I followed his servant to listen."

"After you'd had a few drinks?"

"Yes. No, I only had the one."

Arthur sighed. "One mead and you're spinning tales of magical maps."

"I'm not making this up!" Merlin shouted.

"Merlin, Ryll is probably weeks if not months away from here and there aren't magical maps that can tell a person where someone else is. My father would never allow someone to sell such items."

"Then search the shop!" Merlin insisted.

"If we find nothing, then you'll make me look a fool," Arthur told him.

"You won't find nothing! I'll take full responsibility."

Arthur thought for a moment. "Fine. I'll ask my father to send some knights down to investigate. But Merlin, these men who entered the tournament are men of honor. I can't imagine anyone would begrudge Ryll that much."

"How did you feel almost being beaten by a girl?" Merlin asked.

Arthur faltered. "I- it was nothing. She's a skilled fighter. Look, I miss her too, but if this is all some big scheme to get her back-"

"It's not. I know she can't ever come back."

"Good. It's better that she stays away. Camelot isn't safe for her."

…

It wasn't until a few hours later that Merlin heard of the results of the search. He was summoned to the counsel chamber where both Uther and Arthur were waiting. Morgana loitered at the edge of the room, her eyes giving away her concern.

"Merlin, there you are," Arthur said. "We sent knights to search the business in question and guess what they found."

"Incriminating items?"

"Nothing. A big fat lot of nothing."

"This merchant has been serving Camelot for many years," Uther interjected. "He had nothing illegal to be found in his shop. Now we must reimburse him for his troubles. All because a servant thought he saw something he didn't."

Merlin stared at him. "You didn't find anything?"

"No, Merlin. Look," Arthur came closer, lowering his voice. "I know you miss Ryll, but this is taking it too far."

"You think I made it all up?"

"You'd had a drink-"

"I had two sips of it!" Merlin argued back.

"Enough," Uther cut in. "You would do wise in the future to keep your nose out of other people's business," he told Merlin.

"I heard them speaking about Ryll as well," Morgana put in suddenly. Uther turned to her.

"What's this?" he asked.

"I was in the market when I overheard two men speaking of Ryll. They wanted to hurt her because she'd beaten one of them in the tournament. One man had a scar that ran the length of his face. He said he had some sort of object that could help find her. Merlin's telling the truth." Merlin smiled at Morgana thankfully.

"Enough of this!" Uther said. "I know both of you disagree with my decision to banish the girl, but this is taking it too far."

"You think we've both made this up?" Merlin asked.

"I did nothing of the sort!" Morgana said angrily.

Uther surveyed her. "You begged me not to banish her – why should I believe that this isn't some elaborate rouse to get her back?"

"Because it's not! It's the truth!" Morgana replied. "You're just too blind to see it!" She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.

"I didn't plan anything with her," Merlin said quietly.

"Whether you did or not changes nothing," Uther told him. "She is not a citizen of Camelot. She is a criminal and is banished from this kingdom. She has no rights to protection."

"That's hardly fair," Merlin said.

"It's not your place to judge what is fair and what isn't," Uther said, his tone dangerous. "You would do well to watch what you say in front of your king."

Merlin looked down at his feet. Arguing with Uther would only end up with him in the stocks, he knew. "I'm sorry, you're right," he said.

"Yes, I am. You may leave."

Dismissed, Merlin turned to leave. He could feel Arthur's eyes on him, but he didn't dare look back to see if there was any sympathy in them. Surely Arthur's feelings for Ryll could not have entirely disappeared in four months. Before he got too far, Merlin heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Arthur.

"You really think she's in danger?" he asked.

"Would I have made this up? I'm not stupid enough to lie to your father." Arthur's blue eyes held no sarcasm or anger now. Merlin pressed his luck. "You cared for her. Maybe you still do. I know she's in danger. We can't just sit by and do nothing."

Arthur was silent for a moment. "How did this magical map work?" he asked.

"The man selling it said you needed blood from the person you were trying to find. I'm not sure how they'd get Ryll's blood, but the man didn't seem to think it would be a problem. He asked if the blood needed to be fresh, which it didn't, so maybe his master somehow got a little of Ryll's blood on him during the tournament."

"That sounds possible. So you put the blood on the map and it tells you where they are?"

"That's what it sounded like."

"My father will never allow anyone to go after her, you know."

"I know."

"But he'll only be angry if he finds out."

Merlin looked at Arthur closely. "If he finds out. Meaning if he doesn't find out…."

"Then he can't very well be angry." Arthur walked off, leaving Merlin's head spinning.

"Does that mean you'll help?" he called after Arthur.

"You think you're going to save her on your own?"

"Ah, come on, I'm not that bad with a sword."

"Yes, you are."

…

The next step of the plan was finding out where Ryll was. Merlin found his way back to The Rising Sun after dusk, locating the scar-faced man's room and peering in through the window from where he sat, precariously, on one of the wooden support beams under the roof. He watched curiously as they laid the map flat on a table and then pulled out a cloak. It had a dark spot of blood on it, and Merlin assumed it must belong to Ryll.

"Lucky that girl bled on me when I was trying to cut her head off," the scar-faced man said. He pressed the blood spot to the map. For a moment, nothing happened, and then, like magic, a dark spot appeared on the map. It spread north from where the man had touched the cloak to the parchment and then east. Finally it stopped on a patch of woods northeast from Camelot.

"There. Blackwood Forest. It's about a three day's ride from here. She'll have made camp somewhere." Merlin's heart galloped. A three day's ride. She'd hardly gone far at all. But that meant it was all the easier for these men to catch up to her. With one last look at the map, Merlin swung down from the roof. Not if he and Arthur got there first, he thought fiercely to himself.