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Ryll picked up the trail after another hour. She found the remnants of a fire pit that hadn't been hidden carefully enough. The ground was still warm where the ashes lay scattered.

"Someone's been here an hour or two ago," Ryll said, looking up at Merlin.

His eyes widened. "Is it Morgana and Morgause?" he asked.

Ryll shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not sure who else it would be. We need to tell Arthur."

They left the cover of the forest and caught up to where Arthur rode with the knights. He looked expectantly down at them. "I've picked up the trail," Ryll told him. "They can't be more than an hour or two ahead of us. We should ride hard for an hour and then I'll scout ahead again. I don't think Morgause knows that we're following her yet, but if we can keep up the element of surprise, that would give us a small advantage."

Ryll and Merlin mounted their horses and followed Arthur as they pushed their horses into a gallop. Morning had turned into afternoon and after an hour of galloping they slowed their horses to rest. "I'll scout ahead," Ryll told Arthur.

"You shouldn't go alone. What if you run into Morgause?" Arthur said.

"I'll be fine. If I'm alone, there are less chances of me being seen. Trust me. I know how to blend in."

"At least bring Merlin."

Ryll grinned at Merlin apologetically. "No offense, but Merlin isn't exactly quiet on his feet. He'd give us away in an instant."

"It's true," Merlin admitted. "But be careful. Don't approach Morgause on your own."

"Why would I do that?" She turned away.

"Promise me," Merlin insisted. She turned back and saw that he was quite serious. "Promise me you won't do anything on your own," he said.

Ryll slowly nodded. "I promise," she said. She left the party, melting into the woods. She jogged on for nearly a mile before something caught her attention. A sound. No. A voice. She stopped, standing motionless and listening. She heard the voice again. It wasn't out loud though; it was in her head. This was new. She remembered Byron showing her this, but she'd never experienced it without consciously connecting to a person before. She shut her eyes and concentrated.

…not much further…

…legs won't hold out much longer…

…still weak…soon enough…Morgana.

Ryll's eyes opened in surprise. It was Morgause and Morgana she heard. They had to be close. Were they aware of her presence then? She tried to shut her mind off, following her instincts. She came to the lip of a valley and crouched on the ground to look over.

She saw a small fire and two figures sitting beside it. Her heart gave a leap. Morgana. The girl looked weary, her black hair a tangled mess around her face. She looked pale. Morgause sat across from her, her blonde ringlets as perfect as ever. She had changed into a dress of the deepest red with silver lace covering her shoulders.

"We'll keep heading north," she told Morgana. "We'll go where Uther cannot find you."

Morgana smiled. "Until I heal."

"It will be soon. The spell it took to heal you was a complicated one. It had side effects, but you'll pull through with time, sister."

Sister? Ryll stared down at the two girls. There was no resemblance there with Morgause's blonde curls and brown eyes and Morgana's black hair and light blue eyes. But there was something about the way they held themselves, their power… Was it possible? Perhaps it was just an affectionate name Morgause had given Morgana. Clearly they had formed a sisterly bond. Ryll watched as Morgause stood.

"Time for me to use the healing spell again," she said.

"I had no idea one poison could cause so much damage," Morgana said, sitting still while Morgause placed her hands on either side of her head.

"A deadly poison. It's fortunate that I got to you on time," Morgause said. Then she began to murmur words in a language Ryll didn't understand. Her hands glowed briefly, and Morgana visibly shuddered. Then she relaxed and Morgause took her hands away. "There. You should be close to healed by now."

"Good. I fear I'm holding us back," Morgana said.

"Never mind, sister. We're in no hurry."

Ryll watched a moment longer, but Morgana and Morgause were quiet while they shared a meal. There was no fear, no resentment. Morgana was happy to be there. The thought struck Ryll so hard that her head spun. Morgana didn't need to be rescued, she considered Morgause her rescuer. She didn't want to come back to Camelot.

Ryll needed to speak to her. She needed to find out the truth. Hear it from Morgana's own lips. And she needed to do this before Arthur and his men came rushing in to try and reclaim Morgana by force. Sorry, Merlin, she thought silently. I need to do this.

She braced herself and then stood and started down the side of the valley.

…

Merlin waited anxiously with Arthur and the knights while Ryll scouted ahead. He'd seen the look in her eyes when he'd made her promise she wouldn't confront Morgause alone. She hadn't wanted to promise. And he wasn't sure she'd keep her promise. He'd give her a little longer, but then he was sending Arthur and the knights after her. Morgana might want to stay with Morgause, but he knew that her destiny would take a dark path if she did. If she chose to use her power to destroy Uther, then she couldn't be allowed to stay with Morgause. Ryll might not see it this way though. She'd never believe that her friend could use her powers for something evil.

"What's taking her so long?" Arthur asked after fifteen minutes had passed.

"I think we should go after her," Merlin said.

"Do you think she'd confront Morgause without us?" Arthur asked.

"If she thought she could convince her to give up Morgana. She might."

"We should go after her then," Arthur agreed. "We leave the horses here," he told the knights. "Now we must proceed with care. The objective is to get Morgana back. If Morgause gets in the way, do what must be done. She has committed treason against the king and the kingdom. If there is a way to capture her, then she will be brought in for trial, if not, then she pays for her crimes."

They left their horses at the side of the road where they could graze and continued on foot. Merlin stayed close to Arthur, trying not to let himself worry too much. Ryll could take care of herself, but where Morgana was concerned, she blinded herself. By joining Morgause, she had betrayed her friends, Ryll included. He just wondered if Ryll would see that before she got herself hurt.

…

Morgause was instantly on her feet when she saw Ryll. "How did you find us?" she asked, voice harsh.

Morgana turned around and gave a cry of surprise. "Ryll!" She struggled to her feet and ran forward to embrace her friend. Ryll hugged her back, overwhelmed with relief.

"You're alright," she said. "When I saw you…after what happened… I thought you were dead."

"I'm alright," Morgana confirmed. "Morgause healed me."

They broke apart, and Ryll looked at Morgause, cautiously keeping her distance. Morgause seemed to be doing the same, unsure of Ryll's motives.

"How did you find us?" she asked again.

"I tracked you," Ryll said.

"Who did you bring with you?"

"I just want to talk. But we don't have much time," Ryll said. "Arthur and his knights are behind me, but I told them I'd scout ahead. This isn't a trap, I swear, but they'll be here soon."

"Why are you telling us this?" Morgause asked.

"I want to know one thing," Ryll said, turning to Morgana. "Do you want to be here?" she asked. "Or do you want to come back to Camelot?"

Her words hung in the air. Morgana's eyes looked pained as she met Ryll's gaze. "Ryll, you have to understand…Uther drove me to this. I hate him. I don't want to pretend otherwise anymore. I want nothing to do with him."

"Uther loves you. He was devastated when you disappeared. You should have seen him."

"I'm sure it was all an act," Morgana said, her voice filled with contempt.

"It wasn't. I swear it wasn't. He cares about you very much. You're like a daughter to him."

"If he knew who I was, what I am, he would think differently," Morgana said bitterly. "He would see me executed."

"Morgana, you were born with magic. You cannot help that. Surely he won't execute you for something you can't help. If you turn against him though, if you use your magic to harm him, he will turn against you."

"I cannot stand by and watch him destroy those with magic. I've already chosen my side."

"Then you're not coming back."

"I know you'll allow me to leave because you're my friend, Ryll. You want what's best for me. Going back to Camelot will only make me unhappy. Please." Morgana's eyes were pleading.

Ryll stood, feeling torn. "What about me? What about Gwen and Arthur?"

"My quarrel is with Uther, but one day you too will have to chose a side. I hope that it's mine."

"You know I would never turn against you, Morgana."

"Same here," she said.

Ryll looked back over her shoulder, fearing that Merlin and Arthur would be coming after her by now. She took a deep breath and turned back to Morgana. "Then you need to go now. Arthur and his knights will be here soon."

"What about you?" Morgana asked. "He'll know you helped us."

"I can say that Morgause knocked me out. She thought I was going to take you." She looked over at Morgause. "You called her sister. Is that true?"

Morgause did not speak.

"I won't tell anyone. Believe me. Morgana is like a sister to me."

"We're half-sisters," Morgause said.

"Promise me you'll keep her safe," Ryll said.

"I promise."

"Then I hope you find what you're looking for," Ryll said, turning back to Morgana. "I will miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too. We'll see each other again though," Morgana promised.

"How can you know that?"

"Just trust me," Morgana said.

"We must go," Morgause said. She took Morgana's hand, but before they could take a step forward, there was a shout. They all looked up to see Arthur and his knights standing at the top of the ridge. Merlin's eyes met Ryll's, and she could see his disappointment. She had broken her promise to him, and he wasn't happy about that. Then Morgause flung her hand out, and Ryll went flying back. She hit the ground but not with enough force to lose consciousness.

Now they will not think you betrayed them, Morgause's voice filled Ryll's mind.

I'm sorry; I swear this wasn't a trap. I wanted to speak with Morgana. To make sure that whatever happened, she was safe and where she wanted to be.

I know.

Ryll sat up and saw the knights storming past her after Morgause. Merlin stopped at her side, kneeling down next to her to make sure she was alright. Then Morgause put out a hand and her eyes flashed amber again. The knights were flung backwards with a greater force than she had thrown Ryll. They knocked into trees and fell unconscious. Arthur stood alone.

"Morgana!" he shouted. Morgana looked at him with fearful eyes. Then Morgause sent out another spell that sent Arthur to the ground, unconscious. She looked at Ryll and Merlin and then turned, pulling Morgana along with her. Morgana looked back at Ryll, sadness in her eyes. Then Morgause used the same spell she'd used in Camelot, and she and Morgana vanished. Ryll couldn't feel their mental presence at all.

"She's gone," Ryll said.

"Did she want to go?" Merlin asked. Ryll nodded wordlessly. She felt numb. "Then that's where she belongs," he told her softly.

"But we can't tell Arthur that."

"No. Uther must not ever know that she left willingly. Did she say anything to you against plotting against him?"

"No." Ryll looked at him. "She's not evil." Her voice was harsh, but Merlin didn't flinch.

"I know that," he said. "I'm not sure Morgause is either, but they want Uther gone."

"Maybe Morgana just wants a peaceful life where she doesn't have to live under threat of her magic being found out."

"Maybe."

Ryll stood, stepping away from Merlin. "You think she's going to turn against us," she accused.

"No, it's not…well, maybe. It's complicated," he struggled to explain.

"What's complicated about it?" Ryll's voice was rising. "Morgana would never turn against me."

Merlin's eyes were pained. Ryll turned away. Behind her Arthur groaned as he gained consciousness. "What happened?" he asked Merlin. "Where's Morgana?"

"Gone," Merlin replied. "Morgause took her away."

Arthur swore under his breath. "Any idea where she went?"

"No. She used the same magic that took Morgana away in Camelot," Merlin told him. "She could be anywhere."

"But we can track her again. Ryll?" Ryll stayed silent.

"I don't think so," Merlin said. "She used magic to leave. There will be no tracks."

"What will I tell my father?"

"That we tried. Morgause was just too strong."

"What does she want with Morgana?"

"Who knows? I don't think she intends to hurt her. Maybe she'll ransom her…"

Arthur was quiet for a moment. "That must be it," he said after a minute.

The knights had begun to stir, and Ryll finally turned back to Arthur and Merlin. Merlin was watching her cautiously while Arthur looked sympathetic. "I thought you were going to come get us," Arthur said.

"I'm sorry. I thought if I went alone I could convince Morgause to give Morgana back. I was wrong," she said.

"I'm just glad you're not hurt. Morgause is powerful. None of us would stand a chance against her alone."

"Let's just go," Ryll said. "There's nothing more to be done here."