-52-

The third night came, and finally Gaius confronted Uther, bringing up the idea of a dragon lord. And as he had predicted, Uther did not take it well. Ryll bit her lip to keep from speaking up as she listened to Uther argue against the idea. She'd probably be spending the night in the dungeons if she said what she was thinking about Uther out loud. Finally, Arthur decided that he would ride out alone to find the dragon lord. Which meant Merlin was coming with him.

"No," Arthur said as Ryll approached him. The room was clearing, and Ryll had barely caught Arthur in the flow of people.

"I didn't say anything."

"I know exactly what you're thinking, and it's too dangerous," Arthur said to her, blue eyes serious.

"How many times must I tell you that I-"

"Can handle a sword; I know. I know that, Ryll, but this is something I have to do alone."

"You'll take Merlin with you."

"Yes. It will be just the two of us. We'll be travelling into Cenred's land, so the less of us there are, the more chances we'll have of not running into his men. Please, Ryll, don't argue with me on this. I can't be worrying about you and Merlin. Stay here and help Gaius. He needs you, the people of Camelot need you." He put a hand on her shoulder. "One day you'll get your chance to show your gallantry, but not today."

"You know that's not what this is about. I want to help." Did he really think her so petty as to want glory and adventure? That was in the past.

"And you will. By staying here. Sir Leon told me what you did the other night when you saved that little girl. We need people like you here. If anyone can keep everyone calm, it's you. Can I trust you with that?"

"Yes, of course. But Arthur, be careful, please. Camelot needs you a lot more than it needs me."

"I'll do my best." He turned to leave but Ryll caught his arm.

"And watch out for Merlin. We need him here too."

"We or you?" Arthur asked, a smile touching his lips. "It would take a fool not to notice the way he looks at you," he added at the surprised look on her face. "He cares for you a great deal."

"I care for him too."

"I must say, I'm surprised. I wouldn't have expected him to be your type, but you always have surprised me."

"Well, I happen to know a very deserving ladies maid who has caught your eye," Ryll said.

"No one must know about that," Arthur said, looking around to make sure they hadn't been overheard. "My father would never understand. How did you know that anyway?"

"Girls talk," Ryll said, smiling. "She's very lucky."

"I'm the lucky one."

"Then come home to her." She let go of his arm, and he left her. Ryll watched him go, feeling a stab of fear for him. In truth, he'd probably be safer than she would here in Camelot while the dragon attacked. And Merlin… It struck her that she hadn't seen him since the night before when he'd come into the infirmary and they'd had that awkward conversation. There was so much tension between them and it hadn't yet been resolved. Morgana's disappearance and the events leading up to it seemed ages ago and yet only three days had past. And now on the brink of Arthur and Merlin's departure, Ryll realized that if there was ever a time to make amends, it was now.

She ran to the stables with an apology on her lips. Maybe she hadn't quite forgiven Merlin for what he'd done to Morgana, but he'd done the best he could in an impossible situation. She couldn't hold that against him. Not when he was going to risk his life for Camelot. She pushed past a group of knights who were assessing the damage to the city. It seemed to take her ages to reach the stables. Somehow everyone seemed to be blocking her way.

By the time she reached the stables, there was a clattering of hooves and she saw Arthur and Merlin's horses racing out the front gates. Ryll called out but her voice was lost, and they did not hear. She was too late. She watched them ride away, praying that they'd be safe. If they all lived through this, she'd make sure that Merlin knew she was sorry for pushing him away. Somewhere in her anger and pain, she'd forgotten to tell him how much she still cared. She only hoped she wasn't too late.

She walked to the front gates of Camelot, breathing in the night air. The dragon had come and gone and dawn would be soon in coming. The stillness of the air after the attack was disconcerting. It was easy to believe that the dragon attacks had never happened when she was away from the destruction and the pain. She'd helped out in the infirmary for the third night. So far many had died, and it didn't get any easier over time. Knowing that there was a time she could have helped these people when she was powerless to help them now was most difficult. Her mother could have healed them had she lived. What use was Ryll's power when she couldn't even save people? Sure, she could start fires with her mind and move the leaves on the ground without blinking, but what good did that do? She felt powerless.

"Ryll?" She jumped as someone said her name. A figure slipped out of the shadows to stand in front of her.

"Byron?" The tall, dark-haired druid stood before her. "What are you doing here?" she hissed, looking around. They were alone though.

"I need your help," he said. "I know this is a bad time. We've heard the dragon and seen it flying overhead, but I didn't know who else to turn to."

"What's wrong?"

"The Brotherhood attacked the druid camp. They kidnapped our leader and is holding him ransom."

"What do they want with him?"

"They want us to pledge allegiance to them and serve them. If we choose not to then they'll kill him."

"That's awful, but what can I do?"

"You're the only one powerful enough to go up against them."

"I thought you said they weren't powerful."

"Well, no, they aren't skilled at magic, just elemental magic. Enough to keep us away from their camp. We need elemental magic to fight them. From what I've heard and seen of your skills, you're more than a match for them. They won't let us get close. Every time we try they send up windstorms and block our way with fire."

"Okay, I'll come."

"Just like that?" Byron looked surprised as if he hadn't really expected her to come.

"There isn't anything more I can do here. Arthur is going to find a dragon lord. I can't defeat the dragon with my magic."

"Then follow me. The horses are waiting in the forest."

"Horses? You knew I would come then?" she asked in surprise.

"I had hoped," Bryon said with a smile. "And I found your horse wandering through the woods – again. I thought you might like her back."

"She fled when the dragon first attacked," Ryll said. "I'm glad she's alright." She took one last look at Camelot before following Byron into the fading night and into the forest.

Owl nickered a greeting when she saw Ryll. Ryll stroked her neck and whispered to her. "Good girl," she said. "I'm sorry the dragon frightened you."

She mounted her and Byron mounted a black mare. "Alright," he said. "Follow me."

They reached the camp in two days, riding hard. The druids were milling around, looking worried. They looked up as Ryll and Byron rode into the camp. "I've brought her," Byron said.

The hope that crossed their faces surprised Ryll. Did they really think she could help them? Sometimes she wondered if she could do anything with her powers. All her efforts had been to control then not use them. And now all these people were relying on her. She felt an overwhelming urge to turn and run but she would not abandon these people even if she didn't know how to help them.

"Come on," Byron told her. "We've been trying to figure out how to get into their camp. Maybe you can help us come up with an idea."

They dismounted, handing off their horses to a man, and entered the cave where Ryll had slept in her time at the camp. A group of men and woman sat around a fire. They looked up when Byron and Ryll entered.

"This is Amaryllis," Byron introduced. "She stayed with us awhile ago."

"You have elemental magic?" one of the men asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Then how are you any different from the Brotherhood?" It was a fair question, but Ryll shrunk away from him and his obvious disapproval.

"It's not the magic that makes a person good or bad but the choices they make and how they use it," Ryll said, repeating the words Gaius had told her when they had been discussing elemental magic. "I only wish to help people."

"Good." He seemed satisfied by her words. "There are all kinds of different magic in the world. Anyone can study it, learn to cast spells, but very few can use it as naturally as someone like you."

"Aren't druids born with magic?"

"We are, but we must learn to use it and learn to use spells. We are gifted with healing magic and magic comes easily to us, but we cannot wield it with such ease as you can."

"I'm still learning," Ryll said, feeling embarrassed. He spoke as if she were some great sorceress. She wasn't even sure what she'd call herself.

"Byron has told us what you can do. The magic you possess is powerful."

"I suppose it is. I don't really have much to compare it to. Living in Camelot, I don't see a lot of magic."

"No, you wouldn't. Uther has seen to that." The scorn in his voice made it clear that he was not a fan of Uther's.

"And how is life in such a prison treating you?" Byron asked.

Ryll turned to him. "Just fine, thank you," she said coolly.

"I'm sorry, I just can't understand why you'd want to live there." His eyes softened. "Well, maybe I do. I just wonder if one person is worth staying for."

"It's not just one. And yes, they're worth it. Although one was taken from us just three days ago by a sorceress named Morgause."

"She is powerful," one of the druids said.

"You've heard of her?" Ryll turned her eyes on the druid who had spoken. Perhaps these people could help her find Morgause and thus Morgana.

"She has a reputation."

"Do you know where I would find her? She took my friend." She tried to hide her excitement.

"Then your friend is dead."

"No, you don't understand. She cares for her, she wanted to save her. It's a long story. Morgause was trying to protect my friend, I think. But I'm afraid of what she might do…what thoughts she might put into my friend's head. I need to find her."

"You must help us first."

"Of course. I'm not going to run off and leave you."

"We need to come up with a plan," Byron put in. "We don't have long. They gave us until dawn."

"So you think I'll be able to somehow get past their magic?"

"You should be able to destroy whatever elemental magic they've created. Your magic is much more powerful," Byron told her.

"How do you know that? You're so sure of me but I don't even know what I can do."

"Believe me. I have seen their magic, and I have seen yours. You can do much more."

"But why?"

"That I don't know. Does it really matter?"

"It does to me."

Byron shook his head. "I really don't know. You're just special."

"Lucky me."

"There's nothing wrong with being special."

"I just want to be normal sometimes. Life would be so much easier."

"Right. You could just hide behind your normalcy and not have a care in the world. People like us would never even have to bother you."

Ryll was taken aback by Byron's anger. "I've had a hard life," she snapped. "You don't know the half of it. I struggled for years to survive. I lost my family, I nearly starved, I was a prisoner of a madman for years and forced to kill for him. I've survived dark magic and nearly died from it. Is it so wrong for me to want a normal life after all that?"

Byron's gaze softened. "It's not so wrong, no. I just couldn't imagine fighting this battle without you."

"What battle?"

"That battle between those who hate magic and those who were born with it. The war might not have started yet, but the battle began when Uther decided to purge the lands of all those with magic."

"Clearly he didn't succeed."

"He won't succeed. Not as long as I draw breath," Byron's voice was passionate as he spoke, and Ryll saw a dangerous side to him that she had not seen before.

"Alright, a plan." Ryll shut her eyes. "Where is there camp and what does it look like? Can anyone draw me a map?"

"I've seen their camp," Byron said. "I had a bit of a run in with them once a long time ago," he said in reply to Ryll's questioning look. "I tried to steal their scrying stone." He shrugged.

"That's it!" Ryll nearly jumped up in her excitement. "We'll offer a deal. Their scrying stone back for your leader."

"But we haven't got the scrying stone… I didn't actually succeed in stealing it."

"But we're going to. That will be the perfect bargain."

"If we can steal it, you mean," Byron said, sounding unsure.

"What we need is a distraction. Can you draw me the map?"

Byron took a stick from the fire, rolling it in the sand until the fire was extinguished and began to sketch in the sand of the cave floor. "Their camp is in a clearing west of here. They have a series of caves where they keep the scrying stone under close guard. We'll have to get in here." He drew an X over where the stone was kept.

"So we need to draw them away from the cave. Is there some sort of spell for invisibility?" Ryll asked.

"Perhaps, but it would take strong magic to do that. Especially if you needed to stay invisible for some time."

"Alright never mind that. I can cause a distraction. Do you think you can steal the stone?"

Byron frowned. "Yes, I think so."

"Good. Then we're going into their camp at nightfall. I'm going to create a distraction using my elemental powers and you're going to slip in and steal the stone."

"You speak as if it's going to be easy."

"Easy, no. Possible, yes. I've been through worse."

"Good, then it's settled. We'll have Theor back by dawn."

The druids stood, seemingly pleased with the plan. "We thank you for your help, Amaryllis," they said. "We will not forget this." They filed out of the cave, leaving Byron and Ryll alone.

"Thank you for coming," Byron said. "You didn't have to, but you did. I appreciate that."

"What are friends for if not to help each other?" Ryll asked.

"I thought your friends at home might need you more. One in particular."

"He's out fighting his own battle," Ryll said.

There must have been some tension in her voice because Byron said, "Do I sense some trouble there?"

"Trouble?" Ryll repeated innocently.

"Between you and your mysterious someone back in Camelot."

"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding. A difference in opinions."

"If I were him, I wouldn't let you out of my sight."

"Oh, and why is that?" she asked.

"Because I'd be afraid of someone else coming in and sweeping you off your feet," he said, smirking.

"I'm not easily swept off my feet," Ryll said, frowning at him.

"Somehow I didn't think so. He's lucky, you know. What did he do to win your heart?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

Byron put up his hands. "I'm just curious," he defended himself. "Can't blame a guy for asking."

"He was kind to me," Ryll said.

"Kind?" Byron lifted a brow.

"He was the first person to show me kindness in more years than I cared to remember. He was always there for me though it took me a long time to appreciate it. He makes me smile. He makes me feel special and yet normal at the same time. He doesn't judge me for who I am."

"He sounds perfect."

"No one's perfect. But he comes close."

"I promise that no harm will come to you," Byron swore. "You'll be back to him in no time."

"But you can't promise he'll be back."

"No," Byron said after a pause. "But he's coming back to you. That's all the reason he needs to stay alive."

Ryll smiled at the thought. "I hope so."