Author's Note: Sorry for the wait! I finally tore myself away from the Sims 3. I won't even go into how many hours I played it yesterday. *coughtencough* It runs so fast on my new Macbook Pro! Who knew? I thought it just inevitably took a million hours to load. Anyway. I have to work today, so I don't have time for simtastic nonsense. Yes. So here you go. Enjoy!

-72-

Another day passed, and Ryll's worry for Byron continued to grow. She'd become silent as they travelled, unresponsive to Merlin's attempts at optimism. After awhile he fell silent too and all that could be heard was the steady beat of horse hooves. They camped again in the open, setting no fire. Ryll trusted Owl to alert them if danger approached, and so they both slept, huddled close together for warmth. Ryll lay awake for a long time before finally drifting off.

She awoke to the sound of birds. At first she thought she was back in the forest that she used to live in, waking up in the makeshift shelter she'd constructed. She blearily opened her eyes as the rustling of leaves joined in the chorus of birds. Vivid green leaves were swaying overhead, reaching out on snowy white limbs. Ryll sat up with a start. Some time during the night, a forest had grown all around them. Not just any forest, the forest. She shook Merlin's shoulder, and he awoke with a start. His reaction was similar to hers. He gawked at the trees.

"I think it found us," Ryll told him.

"I think you're right," he said.

The forest was peaceful and so green. The breeze brushed past her, gentle and cool. For the first time in a long time, she felt at peace. The worries had been shed from her shoulders, and saving Byron didn't seem so impossible. They left their horses where they were and brought only a few supplies before walking deeper into the woods. It was like spring had only just touched the land when everything else was transforming into autumn. Ryll couldn't ever see the birds, only hear them. Occasionally she would see the undergrowth rustle, but she didn't catch sight of any deer. It was like the forest was full of invisible creatures, so full of life and yet so empty. A tremor of discord put Ryll on guard. There was something a little too perfect about the forest. She remembered Theor's words about the forest being harder to leave than to find. She placed a hand on the hilt of her sword as a source of comfort. Merlin noticed the motion and tensed.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Ryll replied. "This just seems like a dream. I don't trust dreams."

"Let's just find the tree and get out," he said, quickening his steps.

The forest ran on and on until the ground began to slope and the trees began to thin out. Ryll and Merlin found themselves on a hillock overlooking the valley Theor had spoken of. Ryll's breath caught in her lungs. They stood staring until Ryll ripped her eyes away. The forest led down into a valley of the most verdant green grass she had ever seen. The long blades fell over with the weight of their own abundance. When the wind picked up, it was like overlooking a rippling green sea. Ryll knew they would have to dive in, but her eyes traveled to the very middle of the field, and she found that she had trouble tearing her eyes away once again.

The tree stood at the very center of the valley. Its trunk seemed to be made from dozens of winding roots that splayed out into hundreds of graceful branches. It was a bit stooped as if it carried a great weight, but the downy golden leaves looked anything but heavy. They danced happily in the breeze, swaying in a slow motion that didn't match the movement of the grass. The tree itself seemed to radiate light.

"This is it," Ryll whispered. She took a step forward as if magnetically drawn to the tree. Merlin followed her, and they made their way to the edge of the valley.

"There's no dew. We're too late for that," Merlin said. "We'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"That's another day… That barely gives us time to get back to Byron." The peacefulness the forest had given her threatened to shatter at this thought.

"We'll get back to him in time," Merlin assured her. "We should get back to the horses. Let's bring them here and camp at the edge of the woods. Then we'll be able to collect the dew right away." Ryll nodded in agreement, finding herself loathed to leave the tree for even a moment for fear of it disappearing and ruining their chances of saving Byron altogether. Finally, after Merlin placed a hand on her arm, she was able to tear herself away. They found the horses dozing where they had left them. They took quite a bit of rousing and groused about it when Ryll and Merlin saddled them and led them further into the woods. Ryll felt a stab of fear – Owl would normally be on guard until Ryll returned. Maybe the sunlight was making her sleepy. She brushed the thought from her head, but couldn't shake the foreboding that crept into her heart. They ate breakfast at the edge of the woods. Ryll was beginning to feel sleepy. She realized she'd hardly slept for all her worry the last few days. She allowed herself to nod off, lying down on the soft forest floor. No dreams invaded her sleep. It was like her mind was perfectly blank.

…

Ryll awoke in the dead of night. She sat bolt upright, breathing hard. Merlin lay across from her, fast asleep. His horse and Owl were fast asleep too, standing a few feet away, heads lolling toward the ground. Something was wrong. Ryll's mind was clouded, but then one thought broke through. Byron. She remembered Theor's words again. This valley is hard to find, but it is even harder to leave. Do not fall under its enchantment.

Enchantment. The forest was enchanted. That's why it was so peaceful and yet so lonely. That's why Ryll couldn't drag her eyes away from the tree, why they had all fallen fast asleep. She wanted to go back to sleep. Her eyes began to close, but she shook her head. No, there was something she needed to do.

Dawn touched the horizon, and Ryll remembered. She needed a leaf from the tree of life, and she needed the dew from the valley. Her eyes met the orange glow of the sun. She needed to get up now. The sun would rise, and the dew would disappear like the morning before. She struggled to her feet, her legs feeling like lead. She stumbled and fell, but dragged herself up again. No one else stirred. She set her thoughts on Byron and tripped forward, running as quickly as she could in her state. She stopped at the edge of the valley. It was like seeing a thousand different moons. The celestial orb was reflected in each and every dewdrop, and suddenly Ryll knew that this was what she needed to collect. This was why she needed to collect it before dawn. The sun would take away the light of the moon.

Ryll started forward, wading through the moon-touched grass. With each step, her mind got a little clearer. The grass came up to her shoulders, and the cool touch of the dew kept her awake as it soaked through her clothes. She forged onward, feeling lost in the sea of grass. Finally the tree reared up above her. It was swaying still even though the night air was still. Ryll found herself at the base of its winding roots. The roots themselves were moving as if the tree was alive. Ryll realized that it was alive in a sense. It was the tree of life. As if sensing her presence, one of the lower limbs swayed toward her, coming within reach. Ryll reached out and grasped a golden leaf. It came free in her hand, fitting perfectly on her palm. She turned and reached the leaf out to the grass. Several dewdrops ran into the center. She kept collecting dew until the leaf was nearly full. She wasn't sure how she was going to transport this back to Byron without spilling, but as she headed back to camp, she noticed that the water wouldn't pass the edges of the leaf. She turned it upside down to see what happened, but the water didn't budge. Satisfied, she folded the leaf and tucked it into a bag on her belt. She had done it. Now they needed to get back to Byron as quickly as possible. When she reached the camp, she roused Merlin. At first she didn't think he was going to wake. She finally resorted to grabbing her water skin and splashing some on his face. He awoke with a start, spluttering.

"What happened?" he asked. "I thought I was back in Camelot, and I'd dozed off on the job."

"You're a long ways from home. We're in the forest, remember? It's enchanted. That's what Theor was warning us about. We fell asleep under its enchantment. I got the dew though. We need to go. Byron doesn't have a lot of time left."

Merlin took the water skin and splashed more water on his face before getting up. Ryll roused the horses. They snorted when she pulled their heads up. Merlin packed their supplies, a bit unsteady on his feet as the enchantment wore off. They mounted and left behind the forest as dawn touched the land. They rode hard, only resting when the horses needed water. They didn't sleep for more than a few hours at a time, riding through the day and the next night. It was nearing evening on their second day when they reached the woods where they had left Byron and Theor. Ryll flung herself off of Owl and ran into the camp the Theor had set up. It was empty.

Ryll could tell that there had been a struggle. The tents were torn and collapsed on the ground and the fire pit was scattered, ashes clinging to the stained fabric of the blanket where Byron had been lying. They were gone.

…

Five Days Before

Morgana followed Ryll into the woods. The girl was headed toward a small clearing that Morgana knew well having met Morgause there several times before. She had an idea of who Ryll was meeting though the girl had said nothing to her. Morgana stayed hidden in the shadows as Ryll stopped in the clearing. She waited for a long while, growing noticeably anxious. Then a second figure came out of the woods across from Morgana. It was an older man dressed in druid's robes. Morgana didn't recognize him, but Ryll seemed to. She watched as the two conversed and then headed into the woods. Ryll's face was mortified at whatever the man had told her. Morgana slipped after them. They walked to a small camp, and Morgana could see a figure lying on a blanket next to the fire. She crept a little closer so that she could see his face. It was pale and sweaty, but she recognized him. Byron. Ryll's druid friend. Clearly he was very ill. She heard the old man speaking to Ryll about it and listened.

"The poison will take a week to shut down his body. That means you have less than that," the druid told Ryll.

"To do what? Is there a cure?" Ryll asked. She had knelt next to the druid boy.

"There is," the man told her. "It is hidden deep within a valley to the east. You must travel until you find the forever forest. It only shows itself to those in the greatest need of its healing powers. In the middle of the forest lies the valley and in the middle of the valley lies a tree. This tree has the power of life. Take one petal from its branches and fill it with the morning dew. Bring this back to Byron, and he will be cured."

"I will do this. I'll leave at once." Ryll stood.

"Amaryllis," the druid called out to her. "You must be warned. This valley is hard to find, but it is even harder to leave. Do not fall under its enchantment."

"I won't," Ryll told him, her face set in determination.

"Good luck."

"I'll be back before the week is up," Ryll said before taking off toward the castle. Morgana stayed awhile longer, watching as the older druid tended Byron. Her lips curved up in a smile. Everything was falling into place. She knew just how to turn Ryll against Uther once and for all. With one last look at the druids, she melted into the shadows and headed back to the castle. After Ryll was gone, she would inform Uther that she had spotted smoke from a fire on her morning ride. He would send knights to investigate. She knew the older druid would never leave Byron. They would be captured and sentenced to death. Pleased with herself, she pulled her cowl up over her head before entering Camelot. Soon she would have Ryll's allegiance.

…

Merlin handed the reins off to the stable hand before rushing after Ryll. He knew that look on her face. She was about to do something that would get her into trouble. The disappearance of the druids had startled him. Who else knew they were camped there? As they entered the castle, Merlin made to waylay Ryll before she did something rash, but Morgana got there first.

"Ryll!" she said, hurrying forward, her features schooled into an expression of the utmost worry. "It's your friend Byron. I saw him brought to the dungeons with an older man. The knights found them camping in the woods outside the castle." Merlin watched her suspiciously. She knew about Byron? "Uther has sentenced them to death. Byron is ill though. The other druid said he had been bitten by some sort of beast and needed medical attention. Gaius tended him, but he has no remedy."

"I do," Ryll said. "I need to get it to him before he dies."

Morgana looked surprised. "Is that where you were?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I can get you into the dungeons," Morgana said. "But if you're seen giving him the cure, you might be seen as a collaborator. I can't see you locked up again."

"I'll give it to him," Merlin said. Morgana's eyes met his, and there was something cold behind them. Merlin's suspicion grew. It was unlikely that the knights would have stumbled across the camp unless they knew exactly where they were going. Morgana's lips curled up a little, and he knew she sensed his suspicion. Ryll seemed oblivious. "Here." She pulled the leaf out of her bag and handed it to him. "Go with Gaius," she said. "We can pretend Gaius came up with the cure."

"Uther will still mean to execute him," Merlin warned her.

"Then we need to find a way to get them out," Ryll said, her jaw set in determination.

"What did you have in mind?" Morgana asked.

Merlin didn't want her involved in the rescue plan, but he had no choice. "I don't know," he said. "I need to find Gaius. Ryll," he turned to the girl. "Do not confront Uther about this."

She looked frustrated. "I'm not stupid," she snapped.

"Byron's your friend. You go to any lengths to protect your friends," he told her. "Just please don't do anything rash. We'll get him out."

"I'm going to speak with Arthur," Ryll said.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Merlin said.

"Why not?" Ryll narrowed her eyes.

"Because his father has the final say, and you'd be asking him to commit treason."

"He's done it before. Morgana said he helped save a druid boy before."

Merlin shook his head. "Just don't get him involved this time," he said. "We can't put him in a position like that."

Ryll looked as if she was going to argue, but then she bowed her head, looking wearier than ever. "You're right," she said. "We need to think this out."

"I can speak to him," Morgana said. "See if there's anything he can do."

"Why don't you come with me?" Merlin suggested to Ryll. He wanted to keep an eye on her. "Byron will want to see a familiar face when he wakes-"

"Well, look who it is. The prodigal servant returns," a voice came from behind them. They turned to see a very disgruntled looking Arthur.

"Arthur, I-"

"Oh, yes, please, by all means. Go ahead and come up with an excuse for why you were missing for five days."

"It was my fault," Ryll said, stepping in front of Merlin. Arthur's eyes slid to her, and Merlin noticed that they instantly softened. He scowled. "I was in the woods riding when I came across an injured boy. He had been bitten by a poisonous beast." Merlin looked at her in alarm. Why was she telling a story that would clearly link her to Byron? "His companion told me of a way to save him, and so I decided to go. I asked Merlin to come with me. Morgana tells me that they were druids. I had no idea. I just saw someone who needed help. We have the cure. If we could just give it to him…"

Arthur seemed to contemplate this. "Let me get this straight. You went on a five day journey to retrieve a cure for a complete stranger?"

"Yes?"

"You never cease to amaze me, Amaryllis. You do know that my father has sentenced them to death for practicing magic though?"

"Yes. Morgana told me. I had no idea they were druids," Ryll lied smoothly.

"It's alright," Arthur told her. "I know that. I just wonder if it wouldn't be easier if he wasn't awake for his death sentence."

"Whatever pain he's in now is far worse than the axe," Ryll told him.

Arthur seemed to deliberate. Then he looked up at Merlin who winced. "Find Gaius and give the boy the cure. You went so far for it after all." Merlin nodded, taking Ryll's arm and guiding her toward the physician's quarters. "Oh, and Merlin." Merlin turned back, not liking Arthur's tone. "There's a pile of laundry twice your size that needs washing and I have a tunic that needs mending, my stables need mucking out, and I need my armor polished – all of it. I'm sure there's more, but I left my list in my room."

"Right. I'll see to it today, sire."

"See that you do," Arthur said before striding away. Morgana went after him.

"Thank you," Merlin said to Ryll. "That could have been worse."

"It sounds pretty bad anyway. We need to get the cure to Byron," Ryll said. "And then we need to find a way to break him and Theor out."

Gaius was in the physician's quarters and looked up when Merlin and Ryll entered. "At least you left a note this time," he said. "I take it you were successful in your quest?"

"Yes." Merlin handed him the leaf. "We need to get it to him right away."

"I'm not sure what good it will do him," Gaius said with a sigh. "I take it you heard of Uther's sentence."

"They didn't even do anything," Ryll spat. Merlin sent her a warning glance. She met his gaze defiantly. "I'm not letting them die," she swore.

"When is their execution?" Merlin asked Gaius.

"Tomorrow at dawn," he told them.

"That doesn't give us much time."

"What exactly are these druids to you?" Gaius asked.

Merlin looked at Ryll who replied, "They're my friends. They saved my life once. I owe them a debt. And I won't let my friends die. They have done nothing against Camelot or Uther."

"Well, we can heal the young druid." Gaius handed the leaf back to Ryll. "He grows weaker by the day, we'd better hurry."

Ryll practically flung herself at Byron when the guard unlocked the door to the cell. "Could we have some privacy?" Gaius asked the guard. "The healing process is very sensitive." The guard looked suspicious, but nodded and left.

"We're here Byron," Ryll told him, kneeling at his side and holding the leaf to his lips. The druid boy was looking deathly pale. Merlin watched as Ryll emptied the leaf into his mouth. The water sparkled with a strange light that didn't exist in the dungeons.

"Amaryllis?" a voice came from the next cell over.

"Theor?"

"Did you get the cure?" the druid asked from the other side of the wall.

"Yes, we did. I gave it to him. He isn't waking though," Ryll said. She took Byron's hand, pressing it between her own hands.

"Give him a few minutes," Theor told her.

They waited anxiously. Merlin noticed a bit of color coming back into the young druid's face. Then his hand twitched and his eyes opened a slit.

"Ryll?" he groaned. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your life," she told him.

"Where am I?" He fully opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings.

"You're in the Camelot dungeons," Ryll told him. "But we're going to get you out. Both of you."

"Why are we here?" Byron asked.

"The knights found you… Uther…" She couldn't get the words out.

"He has sentenced us to death," Theor said from the other side of the wall.

"Theor?" Byron looked confused. "What have we done to deserve this? I was sick! Defensless!" Anger flamed behind his eyes, and he made to get up.

"You're still weak," Ryll told him, pressing him back down. "I'm not going to let you die. I'm going to save you again," she promised.

"You'll get caught," Byron said, green eyes softening. "I'm not letting you die for me."

Merlin watched the exchange, realizing that Byron cared a lot more about Ryll than he had thought. Probably more than she realized. The tenderness in his eyes was unmistakable. Ryll turned to look at him, desperation in her eyes. "I don't let friends die. They're the one thing worth dying for," she said, smiling at Merlin. She turned back to Byron. "Trust me." She let go of his hand and backed out of the cell.

"Wait," Bryon told her. He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Ryll. It was a rough cut stone that dangled from a chain. The stone itself was a pale pink. "It channels energy," he told her. "It should help you control your power. This is what I was going to find for you."

Ryll took it, looking dazed. "Thank you," she told him. "This is all my fault. If you hadn't gone to get this for me…"

"Don't think like that," Byron told her. "Just be safe."

There were tears in her eyes as the guard locked the door again. Merlin shielded her from the guard's curious eyes, walking her back to her room. When they were far away from the dungeons, he slipped an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him.

"He loves you, you know," he told her.

Ryll looked up at him, her expression startled. "How can you tell that?" she asked.

"The way he looks at you."

"I love him too, but like a brother. He knows that."

"Does he?"

"He knows that my heart already belongs to another."

"We'll save him," Merlin said. "But I want you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't die for him."