-45-

Ryll tapped on Morgana's door. At first there was no answer but then Morgana opened the door a crack. Her face was pale and her eyes red as if she hadn't been sleeping much.

"Ryll!" she said when it registered that her friend was back. She threw open the door. "You're back. I was so worried."

"I'm fine. I'm sorry I took off like that." She hugged her friend, noticing that she felt thinner. Had she stopped eating as well as sleeping?

Morgana shut the door behind them and took a good look at Ryll. "You look as if you've had a long trip. You didn't have to come visit me before resting." Ryll was still in her riding clothes and her hair was a tangled mess, she realized.

"Of course I did. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Why wouldn't I be alright?" Morgana asked. It could have been Ryll's imagination, but she thought she detected a hint of distress behind her words.

"I heard about Uther trying to execute that warlock just for having magic. I heard he escaped, but that must have been horrible watching."

Morgana relaxed perceivably. "It was horrible. All he did was stand up against Uther."

"I heard that he stole a powerful Crystal from the vaults. Arthur was telling me about it. Well, he said that someone had stolen his keys. He thinks it was an inside job."

She watched as Morgana tensed. "I can't imagine who would have done such a thing, but if they were working against Uther, I cannot begrudge them."

"What has Uther done now?" Ryll asked, trying to make light of it.

"Everything. He continues to persecute the innocent because of something they cannot help. He ignores the needs of his people and rules with single-minded arrogance. If he continues this genocide against all magical people, he will find that they are not so willing to live in the shadows anymore."

"You speak as if there is a plot against him," Ryll said.

"Perhaps." Morgana's tone was harsh. Ryll could see the hatred in her eyes. They were no longer warm like they had been when they had first met. She had changed. Merlin was right.

"Morgana. You can trust me. I can see how much you hate Uther, but you cannot let that hatred control you. You might do something that you regret. But believe me when I say that you can tell me anything, and I will not judge you."

"I hate him," Morgana said, tears glistening in her hazel eyes. "He stands for everything that is wrong with this world. I cannot sit idly by while he destroys people like me."

"Morgana, hatred can destroy a person. You can't let it consume you. I don't agree with his view on magic any more than you do. What can we do though?"

"With all the enemies he's making, I don't think we'll need to do anything. He's walked himself into his own undoing."

"Do you know something, Morgana?" Ryll asked.

"Just that he will pay for all the pain he has caused."

"I just don't want to see you get hurt, Morgana. You hate him, I'm sorry that he's made you feel that way. I wish you could be unafraid of showing who you really are. Camelot is your home. You shouldn't have to hide who you are. But some things are outside of our control. Have you ever considered leaving Camelot? You could live with the druids and learn to control your magic."

"Uther would never allow it."

"What can he do?"

"He can raid the camp thinking I've been taken captive and kill everyone in sight. I tried that once before, Ryll. While you were banished. I was having my nightmares and Merlin thought the druids could help me. They did, they were kind, but Uther overreacted and people died because of me. I was going to stay, but I couldn't."

Ryll sighed. "I'm sorry, Morgana. I know this is little comfort, but Uther is not going to be king forever. Arthur's different."

"Is he?"

"You know he is."

"I know he's a different person but he's been raised to think that magic is evil. He's not just going to accept it once he's king."

"He might."

"Who knows how many years it will be before magic is accepted in Camelot if it ever is. I'm tired of waiting," Morgana told her. "I'm tired of living in fear and hiding who I am."

"Me too. But right now all we can do is keep our heads down."

Morgana looked as if she was going to argue, but then she smiled. "You're exhausted, I can tell. Get some rest and we'll talk tomorrow."

"Alright. Will you be okay?"

"Of course. Thank you, Ryll. I don't know what I would do without you. I'm so glad you're back." She did sound genuinely relieved, and Ryll hoped that she could talk her out of doing anything foolish – anything more foolish since she'd already flouted the laws recently.

"I'm glad I'm back too," she said before heading to her room to bathe and rest.

…

The hot bath water was the perfect remedy for the sore muscles Ryll had developed over the last few weeks. As she relaxed in the steaming water, she couldn't help but use her elemental power. She lifted droplets of water into the air, leaving them suspended near the ceiling before letting them fall gently back into the tub. The stir of energy within her was intoxicating.

Finally she rose from her bath and wrapped herself in a soft towel. She wrung out her hair and was passing the full-length mirror when something caught her eye. She turned back, bending her body so that she could see her left shoulder. She gasped. Inked into her skin at the edge of her shoulder bone was the elemental symbol she had seen on the Brotherhoods' wrists. It was faint but undeniably the same symbol. Ryll stared at it with a mixture of horror and fascination. What if someone saw it? It was a mark of magic, and she didn't think she could erase it.

She hurriedly dried herself off and threw on some clothes before heading back to the physician's quarters. Merlin and Gaius were just sitting down for lunch when she burst in. Merlin jumped to his feet, spotting the worry on her face at once.

"Sorry," Ryll said. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just hoping to speak with Merlin about something."

"Of course," Gaius replied.

Merlin followed Ryll out into the corridor. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"You know the Brotherhood I told you about? The one with the ink mark on their skin?"

"Yeah." Merlin frowned.

"Look at my left shoulder," Ryll told him, turning around.

"What?"

"Just look."

Merlin reached forward and gently pulled down the back of her dress so that he could see her left shoulder blade. "It's the same mark." He brushed his fingers over the symbol. "Can you feel it?" he asked.

"No, I can't. I only just noticed it in the mirror. Does that mean I'm like them?" she asked.

Merlin readjusted her dress so that the mark was covered again. "Just because you have elemental magic doesn't make you like them," he told her.

"Did you ask Gaius about the Brotherhood?" Ryll asked.

"Not yet. We can ask him now, if you like. We don't have to mention your connection to them."

"It's not that I don't trust Gaius," Ryll told him. "I just want to learn more about the Brotherhood and my possible connection with them first."

"Understandable. Come on, let's ask."

They entered the room again and approached Gaius. "Gaius," Merlin started, "have you ever heard of the Brotherhood of the Elements?"

"I have heard of them although not in a very long time. Why do you ask?"

"I ran into several members of their Brotherhood," Ryll told Gaius. "On my way back to Camelot. I barely escaped with my life." She left out the detail of her knocking them unconscious before killing their pet crows.

"You're lucky. The Brotherhood is an ancient order of elementals – people who can control the four elements. It is rumored that they are descended from the Sidhe themselves."

"One of them bore a symbol on his wrist." Ryll grabbed a spare bit of parchment and a quill. She sketched out the symbol for Gaius.

"Ah, yes," he said. "That is the symbol of the four elements." He pointed to each different triangle, reciting, "Fire, air, earth, and water. The Brotherhood believes that they can draw power from the symbols, but I'm not sure if that's true. They aren't in allegiance with any other magical peoples. I'm not sure why they would want to kill you though." He turned his eyes to Ryll who shrugged.

"I'm not sure. Maybe I was trespassing," she suggested.

"Perhaps." Gaius didn't look convinced, but he did not press her.

"The druids who took me in seemed to think that the Brotherhood possessed a scrying stone. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

"I have. There is a place called the Crystal Caves where the future can be seen within the crystals. Certain crystals have been taken over the years from this cave. They are heavily guarded. Seeing the future is not something to be taken lightly."

"One of the druids mentioned that the Brotherhood believed they had the divine right to see into the future and to change fate."

"No one should claim such a right," Gaius said. "The Brotherhood was not chosen for that even if that is what they believe."

"Is elemental power good or bad?" Ryll asked. This had been nagging her. Merlin gave her a sharp look.

"No magic is good or bad, it is how those who practice it choose to use it that determines that," Gaius told her.

"Of course," Ryll said. "Thank you Gaius. I won't interrupt your lunch any longer. I was just curious."

"You're welcome."

"I'll walk you back to your room," Merlin said. "You should rest."

Ryll smiled. "I suppose you're right. I haven't slept in a proper bed for some time now."

"What you were asking," Merlin said after they had left the physician's quarters, "about whether elemental magic is good or bad; I hope you'd never think any magic you had was bad. You could never be bad, Ryll."

Ryll smiled at his words. "You're sweet, Merlin, but I can't stop thinking about the wraith. That was a part of me, that magic, and not all of it was good."

"But that wasn't you. That wasn't your choice," he insisted.

"I know. I guess I'm just scared that I'm going to do something in a moment of anger or fear that's going to hurt someone. I already have."

"You didn't mean to do that. You'll learn to control your magic. I'll help you."

"You're too good for me," Ryll said, smiling. "You really are."

"Why would you say that?" Merlin asked, stopping her.

"Because you're so good and so helpful and kind all the time. I'm so volatile and always confused about who I am. You're always here for me no matter what though."

"Because I love you."

Ryll hadn't actually heard him say those words to her. Not so candidly, so clearly. She knew how she felt about him but hearing him say those words about her was the happiest moment of her life.

"I haven't said it enough," he continued. "You could never do anything to make me change the way I feel. It's just not possible. Besides, you're the one with a title, a position in the castle. I'm lucky that you looked twice at me. I'm just a servant."

"You're anything but just a servant as I've told you before, Merlin. It doesn't matter our position in life. It matters who we are, and you are the kindest most patient person I've ever met. You put up with my moods and wait for me when I run off to do something crazy. You are the first person to have shown me kindness and have been here for me more consistently than anyone in my life. How could I not fall in love with you?"

Merlin was grinning at her, and his smile made all of Ryll's worries evaporate. For once she just let herself be happy in the moment instead of worrying about things she couldn't control. How much time did she really spend just caught up in the moment and not thinking about the future? Not enough.

"I've always been here for you because it's the only place I want to be," Merlin told her.

Ryll slid her arms around him, holding him close. "And I'm the luckiest girl alive," she said, breathing in his familiar scent. They stood like that for a long moment, the thought of someone seeing them not even crossing their minds. Ryll didn't care anymore. She wasn't ashamed – it was never that. Right now she wanted the entire world to know how much she loved him. She tilted her head to look up at him. "I love you," she said, wanting to feel the words on her tongue and hear them out loud.

In response, Merlin bent down and kissed her, holding her tighter. She melted into him, letting everything else disappear. All she could feel was his hand on her back, the other in her loose hair and his lips on hers. When they broke apart, Ryll's heart was beating quicker than it had been before and her cheeks were flushed. "Now I'd rather stay right here than go rest," Ryll said a little breathlessly.

"Well, we still haven't reached your room yet, so we have a little time," Merlin told her, smiling sheepishly.

"Then I'll revel in every moment," Ryll said, taking his hand. "We don't get enough time to spend together."

"That's true. I can't remember the last day I had off," Merlin said. "Never, I guess? Before I became Arthur's servant."

"You never told me how you did become his servant," Ryll said thoughtfully.

"Didn't I? I guess it's not something I brag about. I actually saved his life, if you can believe it. This is the reward I got for it."

"Cleaning out his horses' stalls, washing his dirty laundry, cooking his meals, and putting up with him in general? That's not much of a reward."

"Tell me about it."

"How did you save his life?"

"An enchantress came to the castle to kill Arthur – her voice put them all under a spell, but I was immune somehow," he said, hesitating ever so slightly. "I managed to stop her before she threw a knife at his heart. I pushed him out of the way just in time. Uther rewarded me by making me Arthur's personal servant."

"Well he's lucky to have someone like you to rely on."

"I'm not sure he sees it that way, but thank you."

"Maybe some day he'll come to his senses and realize that he not only has the best servant in the world but the best friend in the world."

"That would be an earth-shattering revelation from him, but I hope so."

They had reached Ryll's room and stopped in front of the door. "I didn't realize how exhausted I really was," Ryll said. It was as if the last few weeks had suddenly caught up to her.

"You should rest. We'll talk tomorrow," he told her. "You've been through a lot."

"And yet somehow I feel as if I'm at the beginning of something and not the end." She sighed.

"We'll figure it out whatever it is," he told her. "I'll be right here to help."

"I know." Ryll leaned up to kiss him on the cheek before going into her room. Her heart was much lighter than when she had first returned to Camelot, and she found that sleep came easily to her.