Author's Note: Here we are as promised! I'm such a good little writer! Hehe. It's even a long chapter!
-78-
When Ryll came to, the sounds of the battle were resounding around her in the forest. Her destrier grazed a few feet away, looking over at her as she stirred. She rubbed her head feeling sleepy. Whatever the druids had done, the affects still lingered even though she'd woken out of it. She struggled to her feet, taking a moment to gain her balance and focus again. Then she took off through the trees following the sounds of the battle.
It was utter chaos. Knights of Camelot swarmed between the trees while the druids attacked from all sides using their magic instead of weapons. Several had swords and spears but they enchanted them as well. Ryll watched as one of the men's eyes glowed amber. The knight coming at him was flung backwards into a tree. He slumped to the ground, unconscious. Ryll realized that her vision was coming true. She didn't know how it ended, but she knew what she had to do.
Then she saw Byron. His green eyes shone with a hatred that seemed to consume him. He held out his hands, and his eyes flashed amber while two knights were tossed backward.
"Byron!" Ryll shouted. He turned to look at her and the fire in his eyes faded a little. It was soon replaced by a coldness.
"You had the chance to pick a side," he told her. "You chose wrong." He turned away from her. She didn't know what to say to stop him, to keep the vision from coming true. She knew how difficult it was to change a vision. Merlin could attest to that.
Ryll watched in horror as Arthur strode out of the trees a moment later and toward Byron just like in her dream. The prince swung his sword, ready to meet Byron's attack. Byron held out his hands. "Arthur, no!" Ryll watched helplessly as the blonde prince and the dark-haired druid faced off. One of them was going to kill the other. Ryll didn't want either of them to die. If Arthur was the one to die… Ryll began to fear that this was her moment of destiny. This was the moment she would sacrifice her life for the future king of Camelot. She wasn't ready though. She hadn't said goodbye to Merlin. She didn't even know where he was. She didn't have time to think, she knew what she had to do. She waited for the right moment. Arthur took a swing at Byron, and the druid ducked, throwing out a force that flung Arthur backward. The prince hit the ground but was back on his feet a moment later, facing off Byron again.
Ryll watched as Byron mustered his power again. Arthur swung at him, and Byron blocked with a sort of invisible force field.
"What did we ever do to you?" Arthur asked.
"Besides persecute my people?" Byron shouted. "You killed our leader! We take our revenge."
"Druids are a peaceful people. We have no quarrel with you," Arthur insisted.
"Your king does. You think he would allow us to practice magic? To even live in Camelot? I'm going to show him how it feels to lose someone he cares about." He sent out another force at Arthur, but the prince was ready this time and dodged. He swung his sword forward and managed to catch Byron's side before the druid had a chance to move. He put his hand to his side, and it came away bloody.
Ryll looked down at a ring on her finger like she had in her dream. Could she really use her powers in front of Arthur if it meant saving him? Was she ready to make that decision? She knew what the alternative was, and she didn't know if it was any better.
As Arthur and Byron moved in for the kill, Ryll made up her mind. She ran forward, dodging the knights and the druids. She heard an arrow whizz past her ear. Arthur and Byron hadn't noticed her yet. Just as Byron held up his hands to use his power against Arthur and Arthur raised his sword over the druid's head, Ryll threw herself between the two of them.
"Stop!" she shouted! "Stop!"
Arthur pulled up his sword with a curse, but Byron had already sent a force forward. It hit Ryll straight in the chest and flung her backwards into a tree. She hit her head, feeling dazed. "Ryll!" Merlin's voice shouted above the din of the battle. For a moment she saw his face as he threw himself down next to her, then everything went black.
…
When Ryll came to, she saw that Byron and Arthur were hovering behind a worried looking Merlin. She was still alive. They all were. She put a hand to her head and found blood.
Byron looked horrified. "Ryll?" he asked, taking a hesitant step forward. Arthur put his sword out to stop the druid.
"Leave her alone," he snarled.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked Ryll, his eyes were wide with worry.
"I didn't mean…" Byron trailed off. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Ryll, please."
"This has gone too far," Ryll told them. "This is going to solve nothing. Look around you. See how many people have died? This isn't peace."
"How do you know him?" Arthur asked, turning to Ryll. "I recognize him – he was the druid who escaped the dungeons. He called you Ryll. You two know each other well."
Ryll took a deep breath and turned to Arthur. "Yes, we've known each other awhile now," she said. "Look, I'll explain all of this just stop the fighting. This is no way to achieve peace."
"Why should I call it off when they attacked us?" Arthur asked.
"Byron. End this," Ryll told the druid. He narrowed his eyes.
"They need to pay for what they've done."
"They haven't done anything. Uther killed Theor. These men are just following orders." She turned to Arthur. "The man your father executed was the leader of the druids. He once did me a kindness. Byron as well. They saved my life. That's why Byron is doing this." She inwardly winced at the betrayal in Arthur's eyes. She had lied to him.
"The man practiced magic."
"He didn't. He was just camping in the woods. Byron was injured while doing me a favor. Merlin and I went to find something that could heal him – that's why we were gone. They were doing no harm only coming for help. Arthur, these people are not evil. Druids are a peaceful people."
"You call this peaceful?"
"They lost their leader. They're striking out because so far peace has only caused them hardship and death. Can you blame them?"
"You're actually defending them?" Arthur asked, sounding astonished.
"Not everyone who practices magic is evil, Arthur. They were born with it, they cannot help it. Using magic comes as naturally to them as using a sword comes to you. They can't just stop. It'd be like taking away your sword and telling you that you can't defend yourself, can't be a knight."
"Did you help him escape?" Arthur asked. His eyes went to Merlin.
"Don't drag Merlin into this. He's only ever been a faithful servant and friend. It was me. I couldn't bear to see two innocent men executed. I'm sorry for any betrayal I might have committed. I did not mean for that. I just wanted to save the friends who had once saved my life. I knew they meant no harm against the king, but your father is blinded by his hatred for magic, Arthur. He jumps to judgments instead of seeking the truth. All magic is evil to him."
"I can't believe you'd betray me."
"That isn't the point. Hate me, punish me, whatever you wish, just listen to me now. And Byron. You listen too. Magic exists in the world in both good and bad forms. There will always be those who oppose it and there will always be those persecuted for it. Right now you both have a choice. You can either keep fighting and wind up losing a lot of good people on both sides or you can reach an agreement."
Arthur and Byron exchanged a glance. Ryll could feel the tension in the air between them. "I can't just let them go," Arthur said.
"Why not? What if they agree to never set foot in Camelot again at least until magic has a place here again?"
"I can't just do that."
"Yes, you can, Arthur. You're prince and one day you're going to be king. You need to start making these decisions. More people are going to die if this continues. People are dying right now. Is it more important to have victory or to save lives?"
Arthur was clearly at war with himself. His blue eyes darted between Ryll and Byron. "Will you agree to leave if I call off my men?" he asked Byron.
Byron stiffened. "You still have not paid for what you did to Theor."
"I am sorry that he died," Arthur said. "Clearly he meant a lot to you and to your people. He did me no wrong, and I'm sorry he had to die. I of all people know how harsh my father can be concerning magic, but it's still not allowed in Camelot. I will spare your lives if you go without a quarrel though."
Byron considered his words. "Your apology is genuine," he said. "I can see that in your eyes. You're not lying."
"I do not offer empty words, and I'm a man of my word."
"Then I will agree to your terms," Byron said. Ryll let out the breath she had been holding. "It is not you who I have a quarrel with, but I see I will get no satisfaction today. I cannot promise that I won't strike against Uther again, but I will take my people past your borders. I will not waste innocent lives again."
Arthur held out a hand and Byron hesitantly took it. They shook. Then Byron turned to the druids and Arthur to his men. "Stop!" Arthur shouted. "We're done fighting. The druids have accepted my terms. They are hereby banished from Camelot. We took their leaders life not that long ago, and they sought revenge. I spare their lives as a sign of goodwill so that we may avoid bloodshed like this in the future."
The knights put away their weapons as the druids pulled back. There was some muttering from the Camelot knights, but they did not question their prince. The losses suffered were no as great as Ryll had feared, but still people on both sides had died. Arthur turned to Ryll, and she recoiled slightly, fearing his wrath.
"You showed wisdom today, Amaryllis," he said. "But I haven't forgotten your lie nor your treason."
She bowed her head. "I am sorry, Arthur. I never meant to wrong you."
"I know that which is why I won't be telling my father any of this." Ryll looked up at him in surprise.
"Really?"
"You're my friend, Ryll. I know what his punishment would be, and I can't let that happen to you, but if you cross me again like this I will have no choice."
"I know. I won't. Thank you, Arthur."
"Come, we're done here," Arthur said to his knights. They followed him as he led them away from the battlefield. Merlin stayed by Ryll's side as she turned to Byron.
His eyes were dark when he surveyed her, and she couldn't read the expression in them. "You would make a good leader," he said after a long pause.
"What?" Ryll hadn't been expecting that.
"You fight for peace with a passion that will one day get you killed," he said. "You're not afraid to voice your opinions, your ideals. You may hide the fact that you have magic, but you don't hide the fact that you think some good can come of it. You swayed the prince's opinion. I see what hope you see in him now."
"He will make a great king one day. I know it."
"I believe you. But Uther still stands in his way. It doesn't take magic to kill a mortal man."
Ryll's smile faded. "Byron…"
"This isn't just about Theor, Ryll. This is about all of us, every magical being and person and beast. It's so much bigger than us."
"Uther's time will come-"
"When? Two years from now, ten years? Don't you see Ryll? This needs to end some time or we'll all be looking for freedom in the afterlife. I leave now for the sake of my people and respect for Arthur, but Uther has done nothing to redeem himself in my eyes. He can do nothing. Don't stand in my way." He turned away from her, motioning to his people. "Come!" he called to them. "We burn our dead and leave this place."
"Byron?" Ryll took a step toward him.
He paused and looked back at her. "Goodbye Ryll. I hope some day we can be free together. Be careful." He turned and left her.
Merlin gently pulled Ryll away by the arm. "There's nothing more you can do," he said quietly. "You've done a lot. You should be proud of yourself."
"I'm afraid I lost a friend."
"Byron still cares about you. That's why he's so angry. He wants you to chose his side," he told her.
"I can't. Not when his mind is still set on murder."
"Come on. Let's get back to the castle. There's someone you'll want to see."
…
Merlin watched Ryll's eyes light up at the sight of Morgana and knew he had done the right thing. Uther had stopped by earlier before Merlin had gone to the battle. Merlin wondered if he had questioned why Morgana had been walking around the castle at night or had just let it pass like many of the other things she did. Merlin could tell that Morgana wanted to speak to Ryll alone, but he wasn't ready to let Ryll in on another one of Morgana's plots so he stayed there. He had hoped that Morgana hadn't heard of Byron's plight, but she had. The interest that lit her eyes worried him deeply.
He went with Ryll back to her room where they sat silently for a long while. "Thank you," Ryll said finally. "I know how hard it was for you to make that decision."
"Not hard after I saw everyone's suffering," he told her. "I realized how much it would effect everyone else. There has to be another way to stop her."
"We both have magic. We should be able to stop her and Morgause," Ryll said.
"Not if we can't predict their next move."
"Morgana was supposed to meet Morgause the night you…the night of the accident," Ryll said. "Morgause will be wondering why she didn't come to meet her."
"You think Morgana would risk going out to meet her?"
"Or Morgause would risk coming here to meet her." As if on cue the warning bells sounded deep within the castle. They both looked up. "Perhaps they aren't as unpredictable as we think," she said. "You go see what the warning bells are about. I'll check her room."
"Be careful."
"She still thinks I'm on her side, remember?"
They parted ways, Merlin racing toward where the commotion was happening, Ryll slipping into the next room over. He found Gaius and Arthur bent over the body of a serving boy. Merlin stopped short, staring at the jug of spilled wine. Red droplets dripped off the boy's fingers like blood. Gaius caught him staring and waited until Arthur moved away to ask, "Merlin, what's the matter?"
"That was the next image I saw in the crystal," Merlin told him as dread filled his being. "I haven't stopped anything. I have to find Ryll." He started running back to her room, but saw her coming toward him a moment later. "It's still happening," Merlin told her. "The images are still happening."
"Morgana wasn't in her room," Ryll said, confirming Merlin's fears. "What happened?"
"A serving boy was killed."
"Morgana?"
"Or Morgause."
Ryll looked around. "What do we do?" she asked. "We don't know what she's planning."
"I've seen how this ends," Merlin told her, flashes of his vision coming back to him. Morgana holding a knife. Morgana plunging the knife into Uther. The look on Uther's face as he woke up in agony. "She kills Uther with that knife."
"Then we need to go to Uther," Ryll told him. "I'll go. You see if you can head her off."
"Be careful."
"You too." They parted ways, Merlin running toward Morgana's chambers. Outside a storm raged on, and Merlin had the thought that it was an ominous night to die. When he reached the doors to Morgana's room, he burst in just as she was placing the dagger in her belt. She turned in surprise, her eyes narrowing in anger when she saw him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, eyes flashing.
"Arthur sent me to look after you. He's worried about the intruder," Merlin lied, saying the first thing he could think of.
"I don't need you," Morgana spat, trying to move past him. Merlin blocked her way.
"He was quite insistent."
Morgana tried to shove him out of the way, but he caught her arm and held her there. She gasped, straining to break his grip.
"Get out of my way!" she shouted. In her anger, her eyes glowed amber and Merlin felt his feet leave the ground. He flew backward into the wall and fell unconscious to the floor.
…
Ryll was pacing outside of Uther's chambers when an odd feeling struck her. It was such an insistent feeling that she faltered in her pacing. Merlin was in danger. She did not know how she knew this, but she was halfway down the corridor before she had the chance to reconsider. When she reached Morgana's room she saw smoke billowing out from beneath the heavy door. She used magic to fling the door open. The room was on fire, and Merlin lay on the floor unconscious. The flames were licking hungrily around him, threatening to ignite his clothes. "Merlin!" Had Morgana done this when he'd tried to stop her? Anger surged through Ryll and her power thrummed. The windows flew open and rain fell like curtains into the room dousing the flames until they died out leaving the furniture charred. She suppressed her powers and the window swung shut. She flung herself down next to Merlin. He had a bump on the back of his head where he must have hit the floor, but he was otherwise unharmed. Ryll called out his name.
He slowly blinked his eyes open, staring up at Ryll. "What happened?" he asked, brain still foggy.
"Did Morgana do this to you?" Ryll asked, her voice shaking. "You could have died! She set the room on fire!"
Merlin looked around at the charred room, eyes wide. "We have to get to Uther," he said. Ryll helped him to his feet and they sprinted toward Uther's chambers on the other side of the castle. Ryll hoped that they weren't to late but she knew if she had to choose between saving Merlin and saving Uther, she would choose Merlin every time.
"How did you know I needed help?" Merlin asked her as they ran.
"I don't know. Just a feeling," she answered. "I felt like something was wrong, sensed that you were in danger. I can't explain it."
"Stay here," Merlin said as they reached Uther's room. Instead of arguing, Ryll stayed where she was. Merlin flung open the door as a particularly loud bang of thunder deafened all other sounds. Ryll stood with the door cracked, watching in fear as Morgana raised a knife toward Uther. The look on her face terrified Ryll more than anything she had ever faced before. The unmasked hatred that was driving her to murder her own father in cold blood reminded Ryll that this was not the same Morgana she had once known. This would never be the same Morgana. For the first time since Morgana had turned on them, Ryll didn't see any hope of salvation.
As Morgana stood over Uther, she started the plunge toward his heart. Then the window imploded, blasting inward and throwing Morgana back against the wall. Uther woke with a start. Ryll gave a deep sigh. They had done it. They had stopped Morgana. Merlin slipped out as Morgana embraced Uther, feigning fear at the storm. Her act was perfect, and Ryll knew that they had a lot of work to do if they were ever going to expose her treachery to the king.
She and Merlin returned to the physician's quarters silently, both too weary to discuss what had happened. Gaius was waiting for them, looking up at Merlin in anticipation.
"He's alive," Merlin said. "Morgana didn't succeed."
"You saved the King's life," Gaius said. "Though he will never know it."
"Only just. I thought I could alter the future, but instead I caused it. I made it happen," Merlin said, sitting down at the table and resting his elbows under his chin. Ryll sat next to him.
"The look in Morgana's eyes was terrifying," Ryll said. "That hatred… How could you hate someone so much?"
"Her hatred has festered for a long time. I fear Morgause only feeds into that. What you did was dangerous, even for someone as gifted as you," he said, turning to Merlin. "But what's done is done. There are more important things for us to worry about. I fear that Morgana knows the truth."
"About what?" Merlin asked.
"She knows the King is her father. That explains why she acted so suddenly. Arthur must be careful." Ryll felt a stab of fear.
"Why?" Merlin asked.
"Morgana is of royal blood," Gaius replied. "If Uther were to die, Arthur is all that stands between her and the throne of Camelot." His words hung ominously in the air.
"Surely Morgana wouldn't kill her own half-brother," Merlin said in disbelief.
"She'd kill her own father," Ryll reminded him. "Who knows what she's capable of? She's beyond reason. I don't think…" she faltered. "I don't think I can save her," she said. "And that's what scares me the most."