Author's Note: Phew, I finally had a day off so write I did! I finally figured out the name of that guy who was always lurking around the library - Geoffrey! I couldn't remember that when I first included him in here so I just called him the librarian. Then I decided he was the odd-jobs man since he's kind of everywhere. But I guess he's the Pendragon genealogist. Anyway, I guess he's not really the odd-jobs man. Nice try. Yeah, anyway, here you go. Enjoy!

-68-

Waking up the next morning was difficult for Ryll. She'd been through so much in the last week and yet she only remembered half of it. The black periods had been filled with nightmares and visions. A pit had grown somewhere deep inside her heart, and she could feel it growing as she remembered Morgana's lies. It had been so easy when she'd had no one to care about, no one to befriend her and call her family. But now she had people in her life she cared about. She'd gone from a homeless orphan to someone who belonged. Morgana's betrayal had rent her heart. Morgana knew how much Merlin meant to Ryll and yet she had tried to kill him when he had interrupted her plans. Ryll shut her eyes against the thoughts. Morgause had to have brainwashed her. There was no other explanation. Then a thought occurred to Ryll. What if Morgause had put an enchantment on Morgana so she would turn against Uther and her friends. She opened her eyes, her heart beating a little more quickly than before. That had to be it. Why hadn't she thought of that before? Morgause was obviously a very powerful sorceress.

Ryll clamored out of bed and dressed in haste. She had to tell Merlin her theory. She knew she was right – she had to be. There was no other explanation for Morgana's dramatic change. No one could change that much. Could they?

Merlin was just getting ready to head to Arthur's room when Ryll entered the physician's quarters. He looked up when she entered, eyes filled with concern. "Merlin, I had an idea," she said without preamble. "What if Morgause put an enchantment over Morgana to make her turn against us?" she asked, her words tumbling out. She watched as Merlin's worry increased and he frowned. There was something sympathetic and sorrowful in the look he gave her. "It's the only thing that makes sense," she insisted, feeling frantic. He had to agree with her.

"Ryll-"

"Don't tell me I'm just making that up because I want her to be the same old Morgana!" Ryll shouted. "I just don't understand how she could change so much…" she added more softly. Merlin sighed.

"I suppose it's possible, but a spell like that would wear off. She would have to bind it to something, and even that would take a terrific amount of power."

"Morgause is powerful though. She could do it. She took my memories."

"But even that wore off after awhile. Your own magic compromised it."

"But it's possible," she pressed him.

"I suppose. What would Morgause bind it to?"

Ryll thought for a moment. "Her healing bracelet!" she cried out. "Morgana never takes it off."

Merlin seemed to be thinking about what she had said. "It's possible," he said, still sounding doubtful. "Can you get your hands on the bracelet? See if there's a change once it's gone. I might be able to see if there's a spell on it using magic."

"I can do that," Ryll said with confidence.

"Ryll, we have to accept that she might just be so turned against Uther in her hatred for him that she's willing to do anything and turn against anyone to get what she wants. I'm not saying that because I want you to be hurt or because I want it to be true – I just think we need to be prepared if that's what's really going on."

Ryll nodded. "I don't want to believe it, but I'm not going to ignore that possibility," she assured him. "We need to explore all possibilities before we decide that Morgana has turned against us. It's only fair. She would do the same for us."

"You're right," Merlin told her. "Morgana doesn't know how lucky she is to have a friend as loyal as you. I just hope she deserves it."

"No one changes that much in so little time – not completely. I have to believe that the old Morgana is in there somewhere if she really isn't enchanted. She was such a good person. That doesn't just vanish."

"If anyone can help her remember who she really is, it's you," Merlin told her.

Ryll cast him a small smile. "You'd better get up to Arthur's room," she told him. "He has no trouble showing his true personality," she added wryly. "Or at least he has no trouble expressing his dissatisfactions."

Merlin winced. "Usually in the form of using me as a walking target or dumping a bucket over my head. He made me eat rat soup once. Of course I was trying to make him eat it first…"

"Hmm, I can't imagine why he would he dissatisfied with that."

"Will you be alright?" Merlin asked, growing serious again.

Ryll nodded. "I'm going riding with Morgana this afternoon. I'll see if I can find out anything without drawing suspicion."

"Be careful."

"I will be. You too. Now that Morgana knows you know her secret, she will do anything to keep you from talking."

"She won't try anything while Arthur is around," Merlin said. "He'd notice if she and Morgause started trying to curse me."

"They aren't the only ones who can hurt you or have you forgotten the giant scorpions?" Ryll asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"No, I hadn't forgotten them unfortunately. I'll be careful," he assured her.

"That's all I can ask for now," she said. "We need to be on our guard."

…

Morgana was waiting at the stables when Ryll appeared, dressed in her usual riding clothes. Her bow and quiver hung across her back. "Just in case," she said when she reached Morgana. "I'd like to see a bandit try to kidnap you again."

Morgana smiled, feeling genuine appreciation for her friend. She knew Ryll would do anything to save her, and that made it even harder to turn against her. But it hadn't come to that. Not yet. Morgana would do anything she could to keep her friend on her side. You couldn't just turn against someone like Ryll. Sometimes Morgana felt torn between Morgause and Ryll. Morgause was her half-sister by blood, but Ryll cared deeply for her, and had been there for her as a friend for years. This wasn't about choosing between the two of them though; this was about ridding Camelot of Uther. She knew they'd all be much better without him whether they could see it or not. She knew Ryll had no love for Uther, but perhaps Morgana needed to give her a little push, show her just how awful Uther was. A thought was beginning to form in her mind. Her lips crept up a little in a satisfied smirk, but she hid that with another smile as the stable hands led Ryll's horse and her own out into the courtyard. Four guards would be accompanying them, but Morgana had instructed them to hang back a little. She'd brought along a basket from the kitchen for their picnic, settling it in front of her as she mounted her horse. Ryll mounted Owl, and they headed toward the city gates.

Ryll was quiet, obviously caught up in her own thoughts, and so Morgana let her plan unfold within her mind. What she really needed to do was find a way to turn Ryll against Uther. If he did something to Ryll or to someone Ryll cared about, then perhaps Ryll would join Morgana and Morgause. Who did Ryll care about more than anyone? Who would she be so upset over that she would stand against Uther? Morgana didn't need to think long to find the answer to that. Her eyes glowed. There was only one person she knew of who would fit into her plan: Merlin. She looked over at Ryll, unable to keep the smirk from lifting one corner of her lips. If Uther hurt Merlin then Ryll would never forgive him.

…

Merlin had been studying ways of blocking magic at Ryll's request. He'd been searching for awhile with no success, but to he honest, he hadn't been trying very hard. A part of him – perhaps a selfish part – wanted Ryll to embrace her magic. It was something that they shared, something they could relate to together. But where he embraced his magic, Ryll ran from hers like it was the plague. He remembered when she had been so excited by what she could do, thrilled that she could control the elements. Now she acted as if her gift was a curse. He sighed, flipping the page of his spell book. It had to be a similar spell to the one Ryll's mother had used to bind the wraith to the ring as well as her own healing power. He turned to the next page. He'd found plenty of binding spells, but none that would subdue magic by binding it to an object. He wasn't completely sure it was possible. He shut the book heavily after another few pages and tucked it under his bed in its familiar hiding spot.

"Merlin, I need you to find me a book in the library," Gaius said, as Merlin walked back down into the physician's quarters. "It's called Bestiary of Phylum of Cambria."

"Sounds fascinating," Merlin said.

"You'll have to ask Geoffrey where to find it," Gaius returned, ignoring Merlin's jibe.

"Alright." Merlin headed off to the hall of records where he found the castle genealogist scanning through some parchments.

"Yes?" Geoffrey said, looking up impatiently.

"Gaius asked me to fetch a book. The er...Bestiary of Phylum of Cambria?" He fumbled with the title of the book for a moment.

"The Bestiary? I haven't seen that for many years. It'll be somewhere in the east wing. No idea where." He looked back down at his papers. Merlin inwardly groaned. This might take awhile. He turned to his right and began walking.

"East is that way," Geoffrey said, pointing in the opposite direction.

"Yeah," Merlin said as if he'd clearly known that. He scanned the bookshelves when he reached the east wing, frowning and muttering to himself when he did not find the book at first. He craned his neck to look up at the highest shelf on a particularly tall shelf and noted a dark book. The title was a bit difficult to read, but he saw the word 'bestiary' and 'Cambria.'

"Great." How was he supposed to get the book? He looked around to make sure Geoffrey couldn't see him before putting a booted foot on one of the shelves. He reached up and grasped a higher shelf, pulling himself up toward the book. He'd almost reached it when his hand nudged a book forward and the entire shelf began to turn. He froze, waiting until the shelf stopped moving. When it finally stopped moving in a cloud of dust, he sneezed, looking around. He was now in a dusty secret room that didn't look like it'd been touched in decades. He knew he should take the book and go, but curiosity got the better of him. Truth be told, curiosity was probably his biggest flaw or at least the trait that got him in the most trouble, but he pushed back the instincts that told him to leave the room and hopped down from the bookshelf to investigate.

…

"You've been so far away this whole afternoon," Morgana commented to Ryll who was staring off into the woods as if she had seen a ghost. They were settled on a blanket on the ground eating lunch, but Ryll had hardly spoken a word the entire time. Morgana was beginning to worry. Did Ryll know more than she was letting on?

"I'm sorry," Ryll said. "I was just worrying about Arthur," she said.

"Arthur?" Morgana asked, surprised.

"It's just – I know he'll make such a great king. He'll do a much better job of it than his father," Ryll said.

Morgana nodded slowly, wondering where this was headed. "I know he will," she replied.

"But so many people try to kill him. If Cenred had taken Camelot, I do not think he would have hesitated to kill Arthur. I'm just afraid Arthur will never get the chance to take the throne and prove what a just and great king he will be. He'll be the one to unite the magical and the non-magical, I know it."

Morgana tried to keep her face passive. "I'm sure he will be a wonderful king," she said. "But how can he not make it to the throne with such devoted friends at his side?" She smiled at Ryll.

"Yes, you're right," Ryll said. "He has you and me and Merlin. As long as we fight for what we believe in together, we'll be unstoppable." She gave Morgana a long look that unsettled her.

"Of course," she said. "To friends." She lifted her goblet and Ryll followed suit.

"To friends."

Morgana watched Ryll over the top of her goblet. The real question now was how far Morgana would go to rid the kingdom of Uther and who would Ryll choose in the end if her closest friends were divided? Morgana would make sure that Ryll chose her side. After all, it was the only side worth choosing. Arthur might make a better king than his father, but he had been raised to believe that magic was evil. Even if he did change his mind about magic, it would be a slow process, and Morgana couldn't wait.

…

"Well, she's a brilliant liar, and I guess I am too," Ryll said walking into the physician's quarters an hour later. She stopped short at the look on both Gaius and Merlin's faces. They were sitting at the table, bent over an open book. "What's wrong? What happened?" she asked.

Gaius looked over at Merlin who looked ashamed. "I-er-might have accidently released a goblin into the castle," he said after a pause.

"You what?" Ryll forgot her picnic with Morgana for a moment. "A goblin? Those exist?"

"Apparently." Merlin looked miserable. "And now it's loose in the castle."

"What can it do?" Ryll asked, sitting down across from them. "Are they magical creatures?"

"Yes," Gaius answered. "With an insatiable desire for gold."

"Oh. So hide the coffers, eh?" She gave a little laugh and then fell serious at Gaius's stern look. "What do we do?" she asked.

"We need to trap it back in the case it came in," Gaius said, indicating an octagonal box sitting next to the table.

"I take it that isn't going to be easy," she said.

"Most likely not. Goblins are very mischievous creatures. And quick." He glanced at Merlin, giving him a disapproving look.

"Sorry," Merlin said. He turned his eyes back to Ryll. "What happened with Morgana?" he asked, concern touching his voice.

"She basically lied and pretended like she supported Arthur. This is just so difficult. I hate lying to her, but listening to her lies is even worse because at least I have good intentions."

"You don't have to do this, you know," Merlin told her.

"Yes I do. I need to make sure she doesn't make another attempt on Uther's life or yours. We need to figure out if she's under an enchantment or not, but I take it you'll be busy the next few hours."

Merlin glanced at Gaius and then nodded. "Yes," he said woefully. "I'll be very busy."

"Do you need help?" she asked, not sure what help she could really offer.

"That's alright," Merlin told her. "You should probably stay as far away as this creature as possible."

"I think I'll go see what Arthur is doing. I could use some practice with my sword and someone to vent on." She smiled at the thought. Arthur could use a good beating every once in awhile.

"Just don't tell him about the goblin incident," Merlin asked, wincing. "He might not think it's funny."

"Merlin, I don't think anyone thinks it's funny," Gaius told him sternly.

Ryll bit her lip to keep from smiling, giving Merlin a conspiratorial glance. He looked like he was fighting off laughter too. "Well," Ryll said, getting up from the table. "I wish you both luck. I hope that when I next see you, Camelot will be goblin free and a much safer place."

Merlin laughed and then quickly straightened his face as Gaius gave him a glare. "Right. Yes, it will be," he said.

Ryll left the two plotting out how to capture the goblin. She couldn't help but smile at Merlin's apparent clumsiness. Only he would find a goblin let alone accidently release it in the castle. He had an insatiable curiosity that was always getting him into trouble.

Arthur was outside with his knights in training. They looked a bit clumsy and awkward next to his unsurpassed skills. Ryll watched for a moment before grabbing a sword from the rack and striding over to where Arthur stood over one of the knights. The prone knight looked a little alarmed after Arthur had disarmed him in a matter of seconds.

"Need someone to demonstrate with?" Ryll asked, smiling.

Arthur turned to look at her. "You know of such a person?" he asked.

Ryll rolled her eyes. "You just don't want to be beaten by a girl in front of all your men," she said, lifting her sword as if to examine it. "Come on, this will be fun. I can't always let the men have all the fun." The knights in training chuckled, standing back to watch. The beaten boy scrambled to his feet and joined the others. Ryll looked around. "They all seem to want to watch this," she said. "Last time we fought was in the tournament as I recall," she said.

"And I won," Arthur reminded her.

"Only because I let you. It didn't matter anyway. I blew my cover."

Arthur had started circling her, sword firmly grasped in his right hand. "Right." He sounded as if he didn't believe she'd let him win.

"I guess we'll see about that now," Ryll said. "No holding back."

"Fine."

"Don't even think about going easy on me because I'm a girl. I heard what happened when that woman challenged you."

Arthur looked a bit flustered at the memory. "That wasn't a fair fight," he said. "She was using magic."

"Not from what I heard."

"Alright, enough gloating. Are we going to fight or what?"

Ryll pounced, swinging her sword in a graceful arc. Arthur blocked the blow easily, but Ryll had already drawn her sword away, ducking around to Arthur's right side and causing him to pivot on his feet to block her next blow. They fought slowly at first, testing out each other's strengths and fighting styles though they'd fought before. This was different now that Arthur knew who he was fighting. So far both had managed to block the other's blow quite easily but now they began to fight harder, their swords clanging loudly across the training field.

Ryll didn't feel winded at all, but neither did Arthur despite the fact he'd been training his men all afternoon. He was stronger than her by far, but she was faster, especially without the bulk of armor weighing her down. The battle grew fierce as both let out all their skill and strength. Ryll threw herself into the battle, letting out her frustrations and anger in a flurry of blows and dodges.

The knights in training had begun muttering to each other along the sidelines and some of the fully-fledged knights had stopped to watch. In fact, they were gathering a crowd. Out of the corner of her eye, Ryll saw a few of the knights exchanging bets. She smirked to herself. Arthur was growing tired, and Ryll too was wearing though she refused to let it show. She swung her sword up to meet Arthur's and they stared at each other for a moment before continuing the battle. They moved in a tight circle, their footwork perfectly matched. It was like a dance, but Ryll didn't let Arthur lead. She headed the attacks now, getting more complicated with each new maneuver. Arthur was going for brute force, but that ended up being his mistake. Ryll had saved her energy a bit at the end. She executed a complicated twist of her sword just as Arthur swung heavily at her blade. There was a fierce clang and both swords fell to the ground at the same time. Ryll and Arthur stood panting, staring at the other.

"It's a draw," he said finally. Ryll held out a hand and he took it, looking a bit dazed. "Alright, I admit that you're an incredible swordswoman," he said.

"You're not half bad yourself," she returned with a smirk. He gave her his lopsided smile.

"You're lucky you're my friend," he said. "Because if one of my new recruits spoke to me that way they'd be running laps around the field for hours."

"I'll consider myself lucky then," she said, smiling. Arthur gave her a friendly slap on the back.

"I hope you were taking notes," he told the recruits. "Because you can learn a lot from Amaryllis."

Some of the knights were clapping, Sir Leon among them. Ryll beamed. "This was fun," she told Arthur. "Let's do it again."

…

Ryll was feeling exceedingly happy as she made her way back to her room later that evening. She had stuck around while Arthur finished off his training on his invitation even getting the chance to show some of the trainees a thing or two about footwork and maneuvering. No one criticized her for being a girl. For once everyone present seemed completely in awe of her skills, and she soaked it all in with a modest smile.

She opened her door and found Merlin sitting there with a worried look on his face. He looked up when she entered. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Things didn't quite go as planned," he said, wringing his hands. He seemed hesitant to tell her just what was wrong.

"Well? What happened?" she prompted him.

"The goblin disappeared. After raiding Arthur's gold and stealing Morgana's healing bracelet."

"Well at least we can see if Morgana is under a spell or not," Ryll said, trying to look on the bright side. "We'll find it," she assured him.

"I hope so," Merlin said, sounding miserable. "He did something else."

"What?"

Merlin sighed. "He made Uther go bald."

Ryll stared at him for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Then not everything he's done is bad now is it?" she said. Merlin cracked a grin. "Uther bald…" Ryll continued to chuckle. "Now that I want to see."