-32-

Merlin sat for a moment without moving. Ryll's home was on fire. Was she inside? This thought forced him to his senses. He pushed his horse into a gallop, entering the village and dismounting to confront one of the people toward the end of the bucket brigade.

"What happened?" he asked. "Is anyone inside?"

The frightened woman turned to him. "No, I don't think so."

"Are you sure? There's a girl who lives there-"

"Amaryllis, I know her. Are you a friend? I recognize you now. You stayed at the inn awhile back. I delivered a note to you one night."

"Right. Do you know where Ryll is right now?" he asked.

"Some men came into the village asking about her. They threatened me until I told them where she lived. I saw them dragging her off. Her husband too. I'm not sure where he was taking them, but he set their house on fire."

"How long ago was this? Did you see which way they were headed?" Merlin asked, feeling frantic. "Do you have any idea who it was who took them?"

"It was not ten minutes ago. I think they were headed east. I'm not sure who the man was."

"Can you describe him?"

"He was bald and mean looking. He had four other men with him. I think one of them called him Hengist. Do you know who that is?"

"I'm not sure." Merlin wracked his brain, but the name didn't sound familiar. "Do you have any idea why someone might kidnap Ryll?" he asked.

"I was hoping you would know. Are you going after her?" the woman asked.

"Yes."

"I hope you find her. She's a good friend. She doesn't deserve this whatever it is."

"I won't let anything happen to her." Merlin wheeled his horse around and headed east, riding into the darkening sky. The heat of the fire hit his back, but he hardly noticed. All his thoughts were bent on Ryll. He would find her. Whatever this was, he would make sure that she was all right.

…

Ryll stayed quiet during their gallop east. Hengist kept them at a fast pace as if he expected someone to pursue him. Lancelot hadn't yet regained consciousness, and Ryll realized that one of the bandits must have drugged him. She glared at Kendrick, the bandit who had knocked Lancelot out – the same bandit who had snatched her during her first attempt at escaping Hengist's castle. He leered back at her, and she looked away. She didn't recall where exactly Hengist's castle was, but halfway during the night, she caught sight of a castle looming out from the darkness. Torches lit the gates leading into the castle, and they slowed their horses. Their hooves clicked loudly in the night against the stones of the entranceway. The guards at the gates nodded to Hengist as he rode past. Ryll observed the wariness in their eyes when they saw her. Clearly she was still remembered in this castle.

They stopped inside the courtyard, Hengist and his bandits dismounting. Hengist nodded to his men and they untied Lancelot and dragged him from Gryphon's back.

"Where are you taking him?" Ryll asked in alarm.

"The same place as you." Hengist untied her hands from the pommel of the saddle, but kept them tied tightly together. He took the other end of the rope. "Get off."

Ryll glared at him before taking her right foot from the stirrup and sliding off of Owl. "Take good care of those horses," she said. "They don't deserve whatever it is you have planned for me."

"Get these horses taken care of," Hengist said to one of his men. "They're mine now. You come with me." He tugged her in the same direction the men had taken Lancelot.

"Where are we going?" Ryll asked.

"The dungeons."

"So you're just going to let me rot in the dungeons?"

"For now."

Ryll clamped her mouth shut. Obviously her interrogation wasn't going to get far. She followed Hengist through his castle and down to the dungeons – a place she was once very familiar with. Hengist nodded to one of the guards who opened up a cell next to Lancelot's. She was shoved in.

"Don't I get my bonds off?" she asked.

"I'm sure you'll find a way out of them," Hengist said. He nodded to the guard who shut the door and locked it. Then she was left in silence. She glared down at the ropes binding her hands. Lucky she hadn't been checked for weapons. She bent down, squeezing her hands down her boot and pulling out a small dagger. She sat down on the cold floor of the cell and gripped the dagger between her boots, using the blade as a saw. The ropes fell loose after a moment. She tucked the knife back in place before going over to the side of her cell next to Lancelot. She called out his name. He stirred a little, the drugs wearing off. He moaned groggily and opened his eyes, looking up at her.

"Where are we?" he asked. "What happened?"

"Hengist happened, that's what happened. He kidnapped us and brought us to his castle. Now we're his prisoners. This is all my fault!" She kicked out at the bars of the cell in anger and frustration.

"It's not your fault. We'll find a way out of this," Lancelot assured her.

"No, we won't! Don't you get it? He burned down our house!"

Lancelot's eyes widened. "It's gone?"

"Yes, it's gone! Everything I've ever tried to hold onto is gone!" Ryll's voice was hysterical now. She bit back a sob. She'd never felt so out of control before. Her sorrow was blinding, her anger agonizing. She wished Hengist were here right now. She'd drive that dagger so far into his heart–

She stopped herself. No, that wasn't her. That was who he wanted her to be. She would not go down that road again. She closed her eyes, sinking to the floor. She heard Lancelot get up from the cot where he had been tossed. He knelt down behind her, and she felt his hand on her shoulder through the bars.

"It's not the end. We're going to get out of this. We might have lost our home, but we're still alive. Isn't that what you said before? About your parents? They're gone but you're still here and that's what counts. You can't dwell on their deaths because then you're not really living. Well just because our home was destroyed doesn't mean we were. We're still here."

Ryll felt herself breakdown at his words. She started to cry, holding her face in her hands. Lancelot kept his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently to let her know he was still there. Ryll couldn't stop crying. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to be weak. If Hengist walked in on her now… Lancelot's hand on her shoulder was the only thing keeping her there. The only thing keeping her mind from breaking down and giving into the sorrow that threatened to consume her. Finally when her tears had lessened, she was able to sob out her thoughts. "It was like seeing them die all over again. Seeing my home destroyed when I was a child."

"I know. I know, Ryll. It wasn't fair. None of this is."

She reached a hand around to grasp his, holding onto it as if it was the only thing keeping her anchored. "He's going to kill me. And he's going to kill you for knowing me."

"You don't know that."

"Why else would he capture us? He wants revenge for what I did to him."

"I thought you just ran away. Why would he kill you for that? Unless there's more that I don't know about."

Ryll didn't answer for a moment. She didn't want to think back to that dark time in her life. "I didn't just run away," she said finally. "I left him to die, trapped in his own cage. I set a Wilddeoren on him. He keeps them, you know, for when the cage fights get dull. But I didn't lock the gate properly. He got a chunk taken out of his leg though. He's going to feed us to his beasts."

To her surprise, Lancelot laughed. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's just, not that long ago, you were talking about how you missed fighting off beasts. If that's all we're going to face, we'll be fine."

She knew he was trying to lift her mood, but she wasn't feeling very optimistic. "We don't have any weapons. Well, I have a tiny knife, but that's not going to do any good."

"You once told me the story of your life. If I remember correctly, you were trained to be a pickpocket. I assume you've not only picked pockets but also locks."

Ryll nodded slightly. "Yes. I can pick locks with the proper tools."

"And you're good at improvising."

"Yes."

She felt Lancelot reach a hand up to her hair, pulling out a pin that was holding her hair haphazardly in place. "Can you pick a lock with this?" he asked, holding the pin out to her. Ryll felt a smile forming on her face.

"Yes, I think I can," she said, taking the pin.

"Wait for the right moment. We should find out more about why Hengist wants us here. We could learn something important. If we escape now with no idea of what we're facing, we might find ourselves right back here, or worse, locked in with a Wilddeoren."

Ryll pushed the pin back into her hair. "Knowing Hengist, he'll want to make a show of whatever it is he wants. Just be ready."

"I will be. I trust you to find a way to get us out of here, Ryll. You're clever and you're quick."

"Only when you give me the confidence to think so," she replied, smiling.

They sat for an hour, speaking in low voices about happy things. She and Lancelot sat cross-legged on the floor of their cells so that they could face each other as they talked. "Have you ever loved anyone?" Ryll asked him suddenly.

"Once, I think."

"That doesn't sound too sure," Ryll teased him.

"Like you, I was taken from Camelot, from the people I knew, the people I might have had a chance of getting to know better…"

"She's from Camelot?"

"Yes, she works in the castle."

"So she's a servant?"

"Only by profession. She's much more than that."

"Of course, I didn't mean to imply that being a servant is what's important. What is her name?"

"Guinevere," he replied as if her name was the most beautiful thing to pass his lips. His eyes were distant.

"Gwen? As in Morgana's Gwen?" Ryll asked. "I know her! Of course I know her. She's one of the kindest people I know. She was always kind to me. I wish I'd gotten to know her better."

"She was also very kind to me. So was Merlin." He looked expectantly up at her. "Unless I'm very much mistaken, there's something much more between you two than you'll admit."

Ryll looked down at her hands for a moment. "Yes, there was, there is. I hope. Like you, I never really got the chance to see where it would have taken me. By the time I realized that it was him I had feelings for and not Arthur, it was too late."

"Does he know how you feel?"

"I think so. I hope so. I certainly turned him away when he came to my rescue."

"For his own safety," Lancelot reminded her.

"I do care for him greatly. He was always there for me as a friend from the moment I set foot in Camelot. I overlooked him with my instant attraction to Arthur, but much as I love Arthur, I love him as a friend. Merlin was always there to protect me despite the fact that I'm much better at defending myself than he is. He knows how to listen, and he puts himself at risk for those he cares for. I've seen the way he takes care of Arthur even if Arthur doesn't see it. Merlin is the best thing that ever happened to him whether he realizes it or not."

"Take heart, your exile won't last forever. He'll be waiting for you," Lancelot told her.

"Even after I told him over and over to move on with his life?"

"Even if he does that, it doesn't mean he has to give up waiting for you."

"And nor does Gwen."

Lancelot shook his head. "It's been a long while and I never asked her to wait for me."

"Sometimes feelings don't need to be put into words. You just know." She reached forward to give Lancelot's hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll see each other out of this and then one day we'll see what happens."

Lancelot smiled. "I couldn't have asked for a better friend than you, Ryll."

"Even though you were taken captive and thrown in a dungeon because of me?" Ryll asked.

"Even so."

They fell silent as they heard voices at the other end of the dungeons. The voices were hushed as if the men speaking did not wish to be overheard. Ryll listened closely.

"…will come after her."

"Not her, he'll come after the other one!" This was Kendrick's voice. "I have my orders. We're to capture the Lady Morgana and bring her here. The king will send a ransom in exchange for his ward. He doesn't care for this one. Hengist wants her for himself." Ryll bristled at these words. "We're leaving tonight. Make sure those two get a little food. Hengist wants them to have their strength."

The sound of footsteps told Ryll that they were walking away. "We have to warn Morgana!" she whispered to Lancelot. "They mean to kidnap her."

"How will we send word?" he asked.

"We need to break out of here tonight-" She cut off as more footsteps echoed, this time coming closer.

A man holding a tray of food came into sight. He unlocked the cell door and placed the tray on the floor. "That's for you to share. You need your strength up before tonight's events."

"What 'events'?" Ryll asked cautiously.

The guard just chuckled. "Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise now would I?"

…

Torchlights flickered on the horizon, shining like small beacons in the dark. Merlin pulled up his horse. He would need to use caution if he didn't want to get captured as well. This had to be where Ryll had been taken. He had trailed them this far. He wondered whose castle this was. Most likely this Hengist who had taken Ryll and Lancelot captive. He wondered why. Was this something that had happened by chance or was there a chapter of Ryll's life that had crossed paths with this man and ended poorly? He realized now that there was a lot more to Ryll's life that he didn't know. Perhaps that she didn't even know. Did she know she was of noble blood? Did she even know her family name? She didn't know that her exile had been lifted, he knew that for sure.

He rode his horse a little distance, finding a rocky area where he could dismount and tie up his horse. Continuing on foot would help him blend into the night. He snuck forward, letting the torchlights guide him forward. There were two guards standing at the gates. Merlin needed to get though those gates. He concentrated his magic and then gazed up at the torches. The fire flared up, causing the guards to jump in fright. They stared up at the torches before brushing it aside. Merlin flicked his magic out again and this time the flames leapt up higher. The guards shuffled nervously. One more flare had them running into the castle. Merlin slipped in after them. He figured Ryll would probably be in the dungeons.

He found his way through the dimly lit corridors until he found a set of stairs leading down. He took them, hoping they would lead him to the dungeons. They did. The dank cells lined the walls and he crept forward, hoping he wouldn't come across any guards. He heard footsteps and ducked into a shadowy alcove just in time. A guard walked past, heading up the stairs.

Merlin hurried on, peering into cells as he went. Then he saw honey-colored hair. Ryll turned to look at him, her blue eyes widening. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor across from Lancelot who was in the adjoining cell.

"Merlin!" Ryll exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I'm here to rescue you," he said, coming up to the bars.

"There's no time, you have to go back to Camelot and warn Morgana. They're going to kidnap her and demand a ransom from the king. They're leaving tonight."

"Then we leave together," Merlin insisted.

"We don't have time for all of this. As soon as Hengist realizes we're missing, he will do everything to get us back. He doesn't know you're here, so you can slip away unnoticed."

"Uther pardoned you," Merlin blurted out.

Ryll blinked. "He pardoned me? As in, he's allowing me back in Camelot?"

"Yes."

"I'll get out of here, Merlin, trust me. But you need to go now. I'll be fine. I'll find you. Just go!"

"I can't just leave you."

"Yes, you can. Believe me, I want out of here, but three people traipsing around a castle will attract a whole lot more unwanted attention than one. They'll reach Camelot in two days, and Merlin, I just remembered – two days from now is the anniversary of Morgana's father's death. She makes a pilgrimage there every year on that day. That makes her an easy target. I'm sure Hengist managed to get a spy into Camelot. You need to get back to the castle and warn Arthur."

"Alright. I'll go. Will you be alright?"

"Yes, yes, I will!" Ryll insisted. "I can get us out of here."

"And then will you come back to Camelot? Uther is letting you come back because Morgana needs company. She's been very reclusive lately. I'm afraid her nightmares are getting worse. She foresaw your kidnapping."

Ryll looked over at Lancelot who said, "You should go back."

"I can't just leave you."

"You belong in Camelot-"

"As do you!" Ryll argued.

"Your friends need you. I'll be all right. I'll wait until Arthur is king, and then perhaps I will be a knight of Camelot alongside you."

Ryll looked as if she were about to cry. Then she turned to Merlin. "I'll come back," she told him, smiling. "Now go before you get caught too."

Merlin took one more look at Ryll before slipping quietly away, leaving the castle as if he had never been there.