Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to get started on Part Three. I'm struggling to juggle everything right now and was really focused on a book I was writing (and finished in three months!) I've got all kinds of ideas for the continuation of this story though! Enjoy!

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Crows wheeled overhead, cawing out cacophonous insults. They darkened the sky in a murder of wings and black feathers. Ryll cowered beneath the tree, dirty and scratched. She wondered how it had come to this. She hadn't asked for this, hadn't done anything to deserve it. What was the use of having an extraordinary power if it wouldn't help save her life? She'd used all of her healing power to save the wounded Sidhe. It was the price she paid to be healed and now the memory of how much it drained her still haunted her. It was like ripping away part of her life, tearing away a year or two from her existence. And now someone was after her because of her destiny. They meant to hunt her down and kill her all because she would someday mess with fate. She covered her ears, cowering away from the cries of the crows, hoping they wouldn't see her tucked in the roots of the tree. Then there was a flash of light. It blinded her for a second and then faded. The sound of a hundred crows falling to the ground filled the air. Ryll screamed when one landed in front of her, its neck hanging at a crooked angle. She shut her eyes and waited for it to all end.

… Two days before …

Lake Avalon shimmered in the afternoon sunlight as Ryll approached it, breaching the edge of the woods. The trees fell away and the sun fell on Ryll and Owl. It was a welcome feeling after so many days tucked away in the shade. The forest's chill had a way of soaking into the very bones, and Ryll was glad to be rid of it. Owl shook her head, scattering her chestnut mane, as if sharing Ryll's sentiments. Ryll patted her neck. They'd ridden hard the last few days, Ryll's purpose driving her toward the lake with all the haste they could muster. It was as if a magnet was drawing her to Avalon, and she could not even consider going any other direction.

A small boat lay harbored at the edge of the lake as if waiting for Ryll. She stopped Owl and stared at the boat for a moment before dismounting. She unsaddled Owl, opening a sack of grain and leaving it propped up next to the saddle. Then she took the mare's face in her hands and looked her in the eye.

"You stay unless there's danger," she told the mare. "Wait for me. I'll be back. I promise." Then she turned and approached the boat. It was not moored, but yet sat still in the water, steady and unmoving. She stepped in and took up the oars pushing away from the bank. The water was blue and unmoving, only rippling as the small boat pushed forward. Ryll looked over her shoulder at the island that lay at the middle of the lake. A tall tower protruded from it, surrounded by evergreens. Something in her knew that as soon as she set foot on the island, she would not return the same person. She couldn't go back though. It was too late for that. She rowed on; steady strokes until she felt the helm of the boat hit the shore. She stowed the oars and got out of the boat, setting foot on the island. At once she felt a great power. It hit her like a wave and everything went black.

…

When Ryll finally gained consciousness, she heard a sound like wings. Lights bobbed in front of her eyes and she opened them slowly. She lay on a stone platform in the courtyard of a crumbling castle – not a castle, but the tower she had seen from a distance. She was now dressed in a crimson gown made from sheer fabric that seemed to hold no weight. Her feet were bare and her hair fell around her in long strands, dangling to the stone ground. Above her fireflies danced. As she peered closer she realized that these weren't fireflies but little winged people. Fairies.

She sat up slowly and looked around. The courtyard was deserted but perhaps the people she sought were in the air above her. As if in answer to her unspoken question, the fairies began their descent. As they reached eye-level, they grew until they were the size of humans. Their skin was a pale blue and their faces pointed. Their wings were like those of dragonflies, and Ryll found herself gaping at them in wonderment.

"You are the Sidhe, are you not?" she asked softly. "I've come here for your help."

One of the Sidhe stepped forward and looked at her, his face cruel, teeth pointed as he opened his mouth to speak. "It takes someone very powerful to set foot in Avalon," he told her.

She opened her mouth and then shut it again, unsure of what to say.

"The effort of it almost killed you."

"I almost died?" she asked in a small voice.

"Do you know why you are so powerful, child?" the Sidhe asked.

Ryll shook her head. "I know that my mother was a powerful sorceress, but she hid her power most her life. I was told I had only a remnant of her power and that it was very limited."

"There is something very different about you. You are not of this world."

"What do you mean?"

"You were born of a greater destiny than this world."

"I don't know much about destinies," she said.

"Not so much a destiny as a fate."

"And what is my fate?" Ryll questioned.

"Do you really wish to know that?" the Sidhe asked her.

"Yes. That is why I am here, I think. That and I need to be healed."

"It is true, a dark magic festers in your blood," the Sidhe told her. "You also feel the weight of your destiny, and it is a dark one. Trust me when I say that you will not find it easy."

"No destiny is easy. Can you help me understand my power or whatever this is?" She wasn't sure of anything anymore, of who she was or of what she was capable of.

"To understand yourself, you must first understand where you came from. Walk with me," he requested.

Ryll set her feet on the ground and slid off the stone platform and followed the Sidhe. "There are only two kinds of person that can set foot on this island: the dead and the Sidhe. You are not dead which means that you have Sidhe blood in you."

"Sidhe blood? How is that possible?"

The Sidhe took a moment to answer. "Some Sidhe stray from the right path and are banished. They become human, but the Sidhe blood is passed down through their heirs."

"So I have a Sidhe ancestor?"

"A banished Sidhe," he reminded her.

"Do I have special powers then?" Ryll asked.

"That's not the way it works. You have the ability to set foot on this island. You are descended from the oldest line of Sidhe – a princess who fell in love with a mortal and was banished for her transgressions."

"I'm descended from her?"

"Yes. And with her bloodlines comes a special power."

"What power? The power to heal?"

"In a way. You see this Sidhe princess gave up her powers to save a mortal boy. Her sacrifice was against our laws and she became mortal. Because of this, you have a unique power."

"And what's that?"

"The power to save Arthur Pendragon."

Ryll stared at him. "Arthur? Is he in danger?"

"There will come a time when he needs your help. Not today, not tomorrow, not for many years, but then you will need to save him."

"How? How can I save him if the healing power is almost gone?"

"You will not need to heal him."

"Then what?"

"Some things are best not known so many years before it happens," the Sidhe told her.

"Then how will I know how to save him?"

The Sidhe studied her for a moment. "Perhaps you are ready," he said softly. "Ready to know your destiny."

"I don't know," Ryll said honestly. "I suppose I have to be."

The Sidhe studied her for a moment. "Then let me tell you of your destiny so that you can begin to understand the sacrifice you must make."

…

When the Sidhe elder returned Ryll to the courtyard, her head was reeling from what she had learned.

"I see that this has changed you already," the Sidhe told her.

"I know what my fate is," Ryll said. "That changes a person."

"And are you willing to accept your destiny?"

Ryll thought back to what he had told her. It would mean losing everything. But Arthur would live. She looked up at the sky to where the other Sidhes were back in their small form, fluttering around the starry sky. "I am willing," she said, turning to look at the Sidhe elder. "If it is my destiny to give my life to save Arthur Pendragon, then I will do it."

"One cannot lose immortality if she does not have it to begin with. You will die."

Ryll nodded. "I understand."

"Have you heard of the Second Coming?" the Sidhe elder asked her.

"No."

"It is foretold that Arthur will rise once again when Albion's time of need is greatest."

"And you believe this?"

"It has been foretold. I will not question that. It has also been foretold that the mortal who gives her life to save his will rise again."

Ryll's head snapped up. "Then I will come back to life too?"

The Sidhe nodded. "I do not know when, but you will have your Second Coming as well."

Ryll contemplated this. "Then there's a chance I might see my friends again."

"Who knows what the future holds? It is possible. You must tell no one of your destiny. Some will try to stop you."

"Who?"

"Those who do not wish to see Arthur crowned. Those who love you and would not see you dead."

Ryll's thoughts flashed to Merlin. He'd never let her sacrifice her own life. He'd die before he'd let her die. "Who does not wish to see Arthur crowned?" she asked.

"Those with magic who have lived under Uther's reign for long enough believe that Arthur will be the same king as his father."

"But Arthur's different. He might still hold a lot of the beliefs he's been taught, but he questions them. He's just and kind."

"That may be true, but that will not stop some. Already a powerful sorceress is coming into her power. She will become one of the most dangerous High Priestesses Camelot has ever seen. She will seek to destroy Arthur."

"Who?"

"The stars have not told yet," the Sidhe told her. "Be careful. Betrayal can come from where we least expect it; from those we trust most. Do not trust anyone." His words were ominous, and Ryll felt herself shrinking back. "Now it is time that we heal you. Understand this – the power you were give was tainted by the wraith. It has begun to turn against you. You may heal others but the more you do, the more it poisons you. It is like taking their injuries and illnesses upon yourself."

"How do I stop it?"

"You must use up the rest of the power. There is a Sidhe in our company who is gravely injured. You will heal him and drain the rest of the power. Then we will heal you."

"You cannot heal him?"

"Not this injury, but we can heal you once you have healed him."

"I'll be taking on his injury when I do it, won't I?" The thought was frightening especially since the Sidhe couldn't heal the wound themselves.

"Only for a moment. It will hurt quite a lot but it is the only way."

"I'll do it. Will you take me to him?"

"This way."

They walked down a set of stairs until they reached what looked like an infirmary. The injured Sidhe lay on a canopied bed and was as white as the moon. It was as if every bit of blood had drained from his face. He coughed, and Ryll saw blood fleck the white pillowcase beside his head. She felt a surge of nerves. Would that happen to her?

"Please sit," the Sidhe elder told her. She did, placing a hand on the injured Sidhe's forehead. She felt a surge of power but this time she could feel it draining away until it was only a trickle. Then the pain hit her. She doubled over, crying out. She fell backwards onto the floor where she writhed. It felt as if thousands of knives were slashing at her insides. Then a cold hand pressed down on her forehead and she felt the pain slipping away. She relaxed feeling hollow, empty. The hand was removed and she opened her eyes to see the Sidhe elder kneeling over her.

"It is over," he said. "You are both healed and the darkness is gone from you."

"So I can't heal anymore?" she asked.

"Who knows what you can and can't do, Amaryllis. Whatever power the ring passed to you is now gone. Whatever power you have left is your own and for you alone to discover."

She sat up. The other Sidhe was gazing at her with interest. Then he stood and fluttered his wings, shrinking down to the size of the other fairies and flying off. "Now it is time for you to rest," the Sidhe elder told her. "Follow me."

He led her to a room near the top of the tower. The windows were open and let in the warm night air. A down bed sat against one wall. Ryll was asleep before her head even hit the pillow. Exhaustion had drained all of her energy, and she didn't even dream that night.

…

When she awoke in the morning, Ryll found herself on the bank of the lake. She looked up and saw Avalon across the lake, the tower standing half shrouded within the mist. Something nudged her shoulder and she started but it was only Owl. "How did I get here?" she asked, rubbing her head. She was dressed in her riding clothes and could see no boat. Had it all been a dream? She reached deep within herself but could feel no darkness. There was nothing there that felt wrong. She was, for the first time in her life, entirely her. There was no magic in her that was not her own, perhaps no magic at all. Just the ability to sacrifice her own life to save another's. This thought was frightening. She knew she was going to die one day – she would anyway, of course, but this would be sooner. It was the not knowing when that scared her the most. It could be at any moment, but the Sidhe elder had said that it was far in the future. What was far though? Two years? Ten? How long did she have in Camelot? And when she came back would she be the same person? More importantly, when she came back, would Merlin be there waiting?

Ryll pushed these thoughts deep inside of her. She would not live her life expecting to die. Her thoughts flashed back to the Sidhe's words about a traitor: You must tell no one of your destiny. Some will try to stop you. Already a powerful sorceress is coming into her power. She will become one of the most dangerous High Priestesses Camelot has ever seen. She will seek to destroy Arthur. Be careful. Betrayal can come from where we least expect it; from those we trust most. Do not trust anyone.

Someone close would betray her? Who? Ryll emphatically trusted everyone around her. She was tired of distrust. She couldn't imagine any of her friends hurting her. Perhaps it was someone she had not yet met but would become close to. She sighed. She couldn't think about this now.

She tacked Owl and rose off away from Avalon, taking one last look at the tower. Something told her that the next time she would set foot there she would be dead.

They entered the woods and rode northeast. After an hour, Ryll became aware of someone following them. She pulled her bow from where it lay strung across her back and notched an arrow, keeping the bow hidden from sight but ready. She rode Owl into a grove and stopped her, looking around. Nothing moved but she could hear something walking over branches. Instinct told her that there was more than one person or beast out there. The snapping came from all directions. She was surrounded. A robed man stepped out in front of her so suddenly that Owl reared back in fright and Ryll had to scramble to stay balanced. As soon as Owl settled, Ryll drew her bow back, aiming it at the man's heart.

"Who are you?" Ryll asked.

"Can't you feel it?" the man asked. She couldn't see his face from under his cowl. The faceless voice sent shivers down her back.

"Feel what?"

"Your destiny." She felt a jolt. How did he know about that? "It's in the air like an electric force."

"I don't know what you mean. I can't feel anything."

"You have no idea how powerful you are. But you cannot be allowed to continue." His hand readjusted and suddenly he held a long dagger. Ryll noticed an ink symbol on his wrist. It was a sort of cross with each of the four elements symbolized in between the lines.

"Who are you?" she asked, keeping the bow drawn. She was aware of other cloaked men stepping from the woods. She was surrounded.

"We are called the Brotherhood of the Elements. We would see equality for our people. We would see the end of our peoples' persecution."

"So would I. I do not agree with Uther's laws."

"We cannot let you save Arthur Pendragon."

"How do you know about that?" Ryll whispered.

"We have ears and eyes everywhere," the man said. "Arthur will become the same king as his father. We will not let that pass."

"You aren't even going to give him a chance? What if he's different?"

"We cannot take a chance." He took a step closer to her. She looked at the dagger he held and calculated her chances of getting out of this alive. She could shoot him before he could take another step forward, but five more men surrounded her. She couldn't shoot their leader and get away quickly enough. One of the men held a crossbow.

Ryll felt a rage building up in her. "You're not going to kill me," she said quietly. "I am not destined to die here."

"Destinies can change."

"Only if I choose to change it," she told him angrily. "And I don't." A surge of fury seemed to jolt out from her and the six men cried out, flying backwards as if pulled by some invisible force. They hit trees and fell unconscious. Ryll sat shaking. "What just happened?" she asked Owl. The horse sidestepped nervously. "Did I do that?" She looked around at the men. A crow cawed from a tree nearby, and she jumped. It soared down and landed on the leader's slumped shoulder. Then it looked her straight in the eye and cawed loudly. She heard the fluttering of wings overhead as a dozen crows came flying at her.