Author's Note: I am so glad that it's finally spring here. (I guess I should get those snow tires off...) I actually got to go shoot archery with my two friends the other day. My poor bow was feeling neglected. I got a few bull's eyes and a nice bruise on my left arm from snapping myself with the bowstring. Sometimes I'm fine, others I hit myself a lot. So I think I might invest in an arm guard. I love archery so much. If you've never had the chance to shoot, try it! I took an archery class four times at university. So much fun! Okay, here is another chapter now that I'm done ranting about archery. Sometimes you just have to share these things. I'm quickly catching up to where I left off, so we'll see how well this whole writing chapters in advance thing goes.

-65-

Merlin stood outside of Morgana's door, his heart beating wildly and his palms sweating. Gaius had informed him that Arthur requested his presence in Morgana's chambers. What if Morgana had told Arthur what Merlin had done? Surely he'd be in the dungeons by now if that were the case. The door stood slightly ajar, and Merlin could hear Morgana's voice from within.

"They kept me in a cell for nearly a year," she was telling Arthur. "I thought I'd go mad." Her voice broke.

"How did you escape?" Arthur asked her. Merlin pushed the door open slightly, setting eyes on Morgana and Arthur as they spoke together. Morgana was dressed in her bedclothes and Arthur sat next to her on the bed.

"I'm not sure why, but they moved me about a week ago. Perhaps because of the patrol from Camelot."

"Did the patrol find you?" Arthur asked.

Morgana nodded. "I watched them die before my eyes. I thought there was some hope of rescue, but the bandits killed them all. When the bandits were distracted by their spoils, I took my chance. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw you." She looked as if she was about to cry. "I think I need to rest," she said.

"You're safe now," Arthur told her, pulling her into his arms. Morgana held onto him tightly before they pulled apart and Arthur turned to leave. Merlin had made his way into the room unnoticed, but now as Arthur came toward him, Morgana's eyes found his. He froze to the spot, fearing that she could see straight into him. He hardly dared breathe. Then he turned to follow Arthur. Perhaps she had forgotten it-

"Merlin," Morgana stayed him with her voice. "I want a word with you." Merlin shut his eyes, steeling himself, and then opened them and turned around to face Morgana. "I know what you did," she said. "You tried to poisoned me."

"I didn't want to," Merlin said quickly. He couldn't read the expression on her face. He awaited her response fearfully.

"It's alright, Merlin," she said finally. He stared at her, unbelieving. "I understand. You were just trying to protect your friends. I would have done the same."

"Really?" There was no threat in her eyes, only honesty. Merlin didn't know what to think.

"I was so naïve, Merlin. I don't think I really understood what I was doing. But, believe me, I have seen the evils in this world. I have seen firsthand what it is that Uther fights against. You don't know how much I regret everything that I've done. I just...hope that you can forgive me." Her voice was small, pleading even.

Merlin found himself nodding his head. "I am so sorry for everything you've been through," he told her finally. "It's good to have you back."

She smiled at him. "Will you have Ryll come visit me?" she asked.

"Are you feeling up to it? You told Arthur you needed to rest."

"I've waited a year to see her," Morgana told him. "I've wanted to say I was sorry for leaving her for so long. I can't wait any longer."

"Then you didn't go willingly with Morgause?"

"I…I thought I was doing the right thing," Morgana said. "But I was wrong. What Morgause stood for wasn't right. I can understand her hatred for Uther after all he put her kind through, but her way wasn't right. She let me go, but the bandits caught me shortly after that. I had no way of returning."

"Ryll will be glad to see you," Merlin told her, smiling tightly. If Morgana was acting, then she was doing a good job of it, but Merlin couldn't simply take her word. Everyone else just trusted that she was the old Morgana, that nothing had changed, but he didn't. Someone had to keep an open mind, and he wasn't going to let Morgana hurt Ryll. "I'll let her know you want to see her," he said.

"Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin headed back to his room where he had left Ryll. She was feeling much better, but had opted to rest a little longer. This worried him. Usually she wouldn't sit still, so lying in bed all day wasn't anywhere near normal. She wasn't in bed when he entered the room though. She was standing at his window, looking out across the city. A breeze played over her face, and thin wisps of her hair escaped her braid. He came up behind her.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked.

"I've always thought so." He wasn't looking at the city, but that was beautiful too. She turned to look at him as if sensing his gaze. A smile played on her lips.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." He ducked his head.

Ryll put a hand to his cheek. "You're an awful liar," she said. He met her eyes, a smile spreading over his face.

"I was just thinking about how beautiful you are," he said.

Ryll's lips parted. "Not compared to this view," she countered, her pale cheeks gaining a rosy tinge.

"Compared to anything," he said.

Instead of replying, she bent forward and kissed him sweetly. It wasn't a lingering kiss, but he felt her love in it and breathed it in while it lasted. His hands brushed her waist and he pulled her down from the window.

"Morgana wants to see you," he said.

"Right now?" Ryll's eyes lit up, and Merlin pushed back the sense of foreboding that had risen up inside of him.

"Yes."

"I can't believe she's back. I'll see you later." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you for taking care of me," she called, already halfway out the door. Merlin watched her go, hoping that Morgana would have the heart not to hurt her if it turned out that she wasn't all she seemed to be.

…

Ryll knocked on Morgana's door and received a summons. She slipped through the door, excitement rising when she saw her best friend.

"Morgana!"

Morgana got to her feet and flung her arms around Ryll. "I missed you so much," she said, holding Ryll to her as if she'd slip away if she let go.

"I missed you too," Ryll said. "I thought that you were gone forever. Why did you come back? I thought you wanted to stay with Morgause."

Morgana finally pulled away. "I realized that I had made a mistake shortly after we left you," she said. "I shouldn't have ever left you. My friends are here, and they've always been so kind to me. You've always been so kind to me."

"But Morgause is your half-sister. Did she let you go or did you escape?"

"She let me go. She saw that I wanted to go back. She had no ill intent against me. I didn't agree with how she would have handled certain things. Her thirst for revenge…I realized that more people were going to get hurt if I helped her. Before in Camelot when the knights of Medhir attacked… I didn't realize that so many people were going to be affected. I couldn't believe I'd almost let that happen. Merlin saved us all with his quick thinking."

"I was furious with him after I realized what he'd done," Ryll told her.

"Don't be," Morgana urged her. "It's forgotten. He was trying to save his friends."

"You're his friend too. I just thought there could have been another way, but here you are, healed and well. But if you wanted to come back after you left us in the White Mountains, what took you so long to return?"

"After I left Morgause, I was set upon by bandits. They kidnapped me and held me captive for a year. Morgause didn't know. I had no way of sending a message to anyone. I just prayed that someone would find me. And then the patrol did. They were killed, but Arthur and his men killed the bandits, and I found him."

"That's horrible that you were captive for a year. I know from experience how horrible that can be."

"Of course. Your time with Hengist," Morgana remembered. "Let's not dwell on such things. I'm just glad to be home. I realize how just how naïve I was. I hope you can forgive me."

"I was never mad with you, Morgana." Ryll took her friend's hands. "How could I be? As soon as you are well, we must do all the things we used to love. We'll forget this ever happened."

"You don't know how much that thought gladdens my heart."

"You should rest now," Ryll said. "When you are well, we will spend the day doing anything you would like! We could go riding or sit and talk. Oh!" She pulled the ring from her finger. "This is yours. I found it in the ruins in the White Mountains when I was tracking you."

"Keep it," Morgana told her. "A token of our friendship."

"You are enough, but I'll wear it with pride," Ryll said with a smile. "Goodnight, Morgana."

"Goodnight."

She went to her own room feeling fuller and happier than she had in a year. All the worries seemed to slide off of her shoulders. Morgana was back and she was the same as she had been before if not wiser. Whatever qualms Merlin had had about her had been proved wrong. Ryll had her old friend back.

She noticed that Gwen had drawn her a bath and sunk into the hot water thankfully. After her bath, she changed into a nightgown, frowning at the elemental marking on her shoulder. It had grown fainter the longer she had refrained from using her magic. Now it was just a light impression. Still, she wished to be rid of it completely. She pulled the nightgown up over her shoulder and sunk into bed, exhausted despite the fact that she had spent all day in bed. No illness could bring down her mood, however, and she fell asleep with no hint of nightmares for the first time in a long time.

…

Uther held a dinner the following night to welcome back Morgana. Ryll sat next to her, dressed in her finest gown, her honey hair piled on top of her head. After not having seen Morgana in over a year, she'd tried to spend every spare moment with her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something, however. Morgana was just as friendly as she had always been, but sometimes when she thought no one was looking, her smile would fade and be replaced by a cold, hard look Ryll had never seen before. Now as Uther got to his feet for some fresh air, Morgana's expression turned to a satisfied smirk that Ryll couldn't understand. Her own smile faltered, and her eyes snagged Merlin's across the room. His expression darkened as if he had guessed something she had not. He nodded his head toward the corridor, and Ryll got up, excusing herself. Morgana's smile was back now as she chatted with Gwen.

"You saw what I did?" Ryll asked when she and Merlin were alone. "I don't understand. It doesn't seem like her." Merlin didn't answer at once. His intelligent blue eyes were clouded in thought as if he was trying to decide how much to tell her. "Just tell me the truth," Ryll pleaded. "What do you know?"

"I'm just not sure that everything is as perfect as it seems," he said. "Morgana seems different. You may not have noticed because you're so excited that she's back, but there's something cold about her."

"I saw the look on her face," Ryll said. "I've never seen her look so cruel." Just then screaming rendered them silent. "What is that?" Ryll asked, looking around.

"It's coming from the courtyard," Merlin said.

They sprinted outside to see someone cowering on the ground before the well. A group of guards had gathered, and as Ryll peered through their red surcoats, she could see who it was who writhed on the ground in fear.

"It's the king," she said softly.

…

Morgana watched as they brought Uther to his room. He was still shaking and she caught some of the incoherent words that he mumbled. Something about hands coming out of the well and grabbing him. She couldn't help the smile that slid over her lips. It was wonderful watching Uther suffer like she had. Watching him be afraid as she had been. He deserved this. "Is he going to be alright?" she asked Gaius, pitching her voice with the right amount of worry.

"He'll sleep till morning," Gaius assured her.

"Good." She waited until he had left. Arthur still stood by his father's side. Morgana watched him for a moment, wondering how he could still love Uther after everything he'd done. He was Arthur's father, she supposed. Her own father was dead at Uther's hand. She did not share Arthur's loyalty to the king. She turned and slipped away. Tonight she would pay a visit to Morgause.

…

Ryll moved with the shadows, blending into the forest as she followed Morgana into the Darkening Woods. The night made a natural cloak for her to travel under, and her footsteps were all but inexistent. Morgana's red cloak made her a simple enough target to follow, and Ryll had no trouble. She hadn't had the intention of following Morgana tonight, but she had seen the girl slip from the castle and found it very odd considering she'd been kidnapped by bandits. Surely after a year of living in captivity, she would seek the protection of the castle walls and not go wandering in the woods alone at night.

Morgana seemed to know exactly where she was going. As she reached a small hillock leading upward to a cave, Morgana passed straight by two hooded guards. Ryll held back, wondering why they didn't stop her. Clearly she was expected. Ryll slipped around the backside, climbing up in the undergrowth on her belly to spy on the camp.

Morgause stood by a fire, holding up a gnarled looking root. A basin stood in front of her, but Ryll couldn't see inside of it. Ryll narrowed her eyes as Morgause greeted Morgana. There was no awkwardness between them, nothing to signify that they'd spent the last year apart or that Morgana had even left Morgause's company. Instead they greeted each other like old friends.

"Have you some success, Sister?" Morgause asked.

"Already the rumors are flying," Morgana said. "Soon the people of Camelot will believe that their king is losing his mind."

"The mandrake root does its work well." Ryll had no idea what a mandrake did, but she supposed that was what Morgause held. "A kingdom without a king is easy to take."

"When do you go to Cenred?" Morgana asked.

Ryll felt her heart jolt. Cenred was a sworn enemy of Camelot and yet Morgana spoke of him like an ally. Merlin had been right. Her friend had changed, and Ryll had been naïve enough to miss her act altogether. How could she do this to her? Morgana was supposed to be her best friend. She had betrayed her as well as the rest of Camelot. She needed to get back to warn them. But she wanted to see what they had planned for this mandrake root. She supposed it had something to do with Uther's sudden bout of madness, but she didn't know how it worked.

"Tomorrow."

"And he will follow our plan?"

"He will do anything to please me," Morgause said. She lowered the root into whatever was in the basin. She chanted some words and her eyes glowed amber. A horrific scream went up, and Ryll clapped her hands over her ears. Morgana and Morgause didn't seem to mind, however. Morgana smirked in a way that Ryll could only describe as evil. It broke her heart to see it. Morgause handed over the mandrake root which now dripped with some brown liquid. For a moment, her memory flickered, and Ryll could remember what had happened in the woods after she had found herself lying on the ground. She had met with Morgana. She had asked Ryll to help her plot against Uther. Ryll tried to steady her breathing. She looked back up at her friend. Not her friend anymore, but Ryll would never call her an enemy. She remembered that Morgause had been there. She must have been the one to block her memories, but she had broken past the barriers on her own. Clearly Morgause hadn't been careful enough or perhaps Ryll's own magic had been too strong.

"One step closer to Uther's destruction," Morgana said as she grasped the root.

Ryll didn't stay to listen to more. She made her way carefully down the hill and stole off into the woods, nimbly avoiding the guards. Camelot couldn't appear quickly enough. Once she was far enough away, she took off as quickly as she could, not taking as much care as she probably should have to keep her footsteps quiet. Even still she reached the city without meeting anyone. She headed straight to Merlin's chambers. Gaius was fast asleep, so she crept past him and opened the door to Merlin's room. He awoke with a start at the sound.

"Ryll? What's wrong?" he asked, sitting up.

"It's Morgana, she was in the woods, and-" A terrible pain suddenly rent Ryll's head. She doubled over. The pain was growing until all thoughts fled from her head. She looked up at Merlin, eyes wide with fear.

"Ryll!" he shouted as she fell forward. He caught her and pulled her close, but she was losing consciousness fast, feeling a fog take over her brain like a disease. The last thing she saw was Merlin's frightened face as she fell into white-painted oblivion.

…

Morgana made her way along the parapet, the mandrake root stowed safely in her cloak. This was almost too easy. No one had found the first root and it had done its work perfectly. No one would suspect Uther's ward of being behind the king's sudden madness. Their plan could not fail.

"Lady Morgana." She stopped short as a guard stepped out in front of her. She felt her ire rise.

"I was just taking a stroll," she said, putting on a winning smile though she wanted to scream at him to get out of her way. He was going to ruin everything. The sound of something dripping on the stone by her feet caused both their eyes to drift downward. To Morgana's horror, the mandrake root was dripping mud.

"What's that, My Lady?" the guard asked.

"Nothing."

"You're bleeding."

"I'm fine, really." Morgana was growing irritated. If this fool didn't get out of her way, she would make him.

"You're wounded." He made to flick back the edge of her cloak, but Morgana's hand had already moved to the dagger at her belt. She drew it and drove it into the man's chest before he could see it coming. She gave him a shove, and he fell over the wall. She felt an immense sense of satisfaction at having dealt with the problem. Morgause would be proud of her. Morgana quickened her steps and returned to her chambers. Very soon word of Uther's madness would spread. Very soon Uther would be dead. She smiled at the thought.