-79-

Summer passed and autumn began with a burst of color and a brisk wind from the mountains. Ryll hadn't heard from Byron in four months, hadn't heard even a whisper of a plot to overthrow Uther. She wondered if he had finally given up on revenge. Morgana hadn't tried anything so bold as to stab Uther again, but Ryll was always wary. Morgana had grown distant from her of late, and Ryll hadn't made much attempt to rekindle their friendship. After she had attempted to kill Merlin again, Ryll found it difficult to see any good in Morgana. It pained her, but she'd stopped remembering the girl she used to be and started seeing the evil that festered in her heart and mind.

She'd been watching Arthur closely expecting her to harm him in some way. When Morgana had tried to kill him on his coming of age quest, Ryll had seethed for weeks, unable to even look at Morgana. Merlin had saved Arthur in time, but Ryll knew it was only a matter of time before Morgana struck again. Arthur had noticed her increased presence but so far he hadn't mentioned it. Today as Ryll hovered near him during training, he finally turned to her.

"Is there a reason you've been following me around like a lost puppy for months now?" he asked her.

"What? Me?" she asked.

"Yes you, don't feign innocence. You're acting like I'm going to drop dead at any minute."

"I'm just worried. You've been through an awful lot of danger lately. I'm just looking out for you."

"Well it's getting annoying, so stop," he said.

Ryll furrowed her brow. "I'm not doing you any harm."

"Then knights are starting to talk. They think you're my personal bodyguard or something."

"So?"

"So I don't need one!"

"Arthur, has it ever come to your attention that an inordinate number of people have attempted to claim your life within the last year alone?" she asked, giving him a pensive look.

"You're beginning to sound like Merlin," he told her. "He's always afraid of everything and expecting the worst to happen."

"Is that a bad thing? I mean expecting the worst to happen? He's just being careful as am I."

"First of all Merlin is a complete girl when it comes to any dangerous situations so I don't take his caution seriously. Second of all, I am perfectly capable of defending myself."

Ryll frowned. "Just be careful, Arthur," she said. He threw her an exasperated look. "Sometimes threats come from closer than you expect," Ryll added. She left him with that, ignoring the confused look he threw her. She nodded to Sir Leon as she left the training grounds and headed into the castle as a light drizzle began. As she passed through the courtyard, she didn't notice the keen, cold eyes watching her from a window up above.

…

Morgana watched as Ryll left the training grounds and headed into the castle. She had been sticking to Arthur's side like a guard dog lately, and Morgana wanted to know why.

"My lady?" Gwen's voice interrupted her thoughts, and Morgana turned distractedly to her maid.

Instead of inquiring what it was Gwen wanted, she asked, "Has Ryll seemed distant to you of late?"

"Ryll? I couldn't say," Gwen replied.

"I feel as if we're drifting apart."

"I'm sure that's not true. Ryll thinks the world of you. I know she does. She's probably just caught up with Merlin. They spend a lot of time together." Gwen smiled, and Morgana faked a smile. Merlin was a bad influence on Ryll. As long as she was with him, Morgana would never be able to fully trust her nor fully have her on her side. Ryll played at innocence, but Morgana knew she was going to have to test her soon to see where her loyalties truly lay.

…

"You seem distracted tonight, Morgana." Morgana looked up from her empty goblet as Uther spoke. She had to work hard not to curl her lip in contempt. In the months since she had learned she was Uther's daughter by blood, he had not changed his behavior toward her in the least. To him she was still just his ward. Her nightmares of Gwen becoming queen had continued to plague her and her attempts to break her and Arthur apart had gone awry.

"Yes, I was just lost in my thoughts. I'm afraid I'm not very good company tonight," she said, feigning a smile. As soon as Uther looked away, it faded.

"Nonsense. Just having you here is company enough."

"I hate to deprive you of the company, but my head is beginning to ache. I think I might head to bed early."

"Of course. You must rest."

Morgana got up from the table and made her way quickly out of the room. She made sure she was alone before heading out of the castle, drawing her cloak up over her head and slipping into the woods unseen. She kept going until she reached her set meeting place for Morgause.

"Sister." The blonde priestess stepped out of the woods. "Something is troubling you." Her brown eyes narrowed in worry.

"Just my dreams. Every night I see Gwen as queen. I see Ryll now too. She's dressed like a knight and stands at Arthur's side. I'm losing her, Morgause."

"Come now, she's not worth your worry if she's chosen to stand against us. You mustn't waste your energy trying to get her to change if she's already chosen a side."

"I know… I just can't stand the thought of losing her altogether. She's like a sister to me."

"She'll turn against you, Morgana. She'll never turn against Merlin. That serving boy knows too much. Besides. Am I not your sister?" She spoke firmly, and Morgana looked up at her finding confidence in her gaze.

"Of course."

Morgause pulled her into an embrace. "All will become clear soon enough, sister. I have the feeling that the tides are about to turn in our favor. Have faith."

"I must go before anyone notices I'm gone," Morgana said.

"Send for me if anything arises," Morgause told her.

"I will."

"Don't let her sway your resolve," Morgause called after her. "She will try to lead you astray."

Morgana turned back to her sister. "I won't," she said before fading into the forest.

…

Ryll awoke to Merlin shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Ryll. Something's happened," he said. Ryll sat up with a jolt, nearly knocking heads with him.

"Is it Arthur?" she asked.

"No, not Arthur," Merlin assured her. "It's Sir Leon and the patrol. A messenger from Cenred came to tell Uther that his knights had been trespassing on his land so he had them all killed."

Ryll put a hand to her mouth. "I just saw Sir Leon yesterday morning…"

"I know. He was a good man. I have to go help Arthur. Will you be alright?" he asked.

"I will be. I just need to…take it in." She wiped her eye as it began to water. "He was just such a kind person."

"I know. He was. He will be remembered well. I'll check in with you later."

"Alright."

After Merlin left, Ryll lay back down, letting silent tears flow from her eyes as she thought of the knights who had been lost. Sir Leon had been a friend to her, had always stood up for her when no one else thought she could be a knight or fight as well as a man. He never had a harsh word for anyone. The world had a shortage of people like that.

Finally Ryll pulled herself out of bed and dressed, wiping her eyes dry and pulling her hair back in a long braid. She left her room, grabbing her bow first, and headed toward the training field. Shooting arrows was one of the best releases for emotions. She stopped halfway down the hall as four figures made their way toward her. Merlin and Gaius walked side-by-side, and Arthur helped support a bedraggled looking knight with a familiar mop of curly hair.

"Leon?" Ryll asked, her eyes widening. He looked up at her and smiled. "I thought you were dead!" She gave Merlin a confused look.

"I was or close to. The druids healed me," Leon said in reply.

"The druids?" Ryll asked. Her thoughts flashed to Byron. Now wasn't the time to inquire after him though. It might not even be his clan of druids. "I'm so glad you're alive. I was horrified when I heard the news."

"I'm glad to be alive," Leon said.

"I'll let you rest," Ryll said, letting them pass. She continued down to the shooting range though her sorrow had turned to happiness. She kept shooting until she saw Merlin approach an hour later looking downcast. He stood a ways off waiting for her to collect her arrows.

"Something's wrong," Ryll said.

"Arthur and I are leaving at dawn. I'm not sure where. He won't tell me."

"Why?"

"I don't know that either, but I think it has something to do with the Cup of Life," he said softly.

"The Cup of Life?"

"It's a cup of the old religion that can bring someone back to life. I've seen it before. I thought it had been destroyed, but Gaius says it can't be destroyed. Uther wants it so that it won't fall into Cenred's hands."

"Merlin, do you think Byron is behind any of this?"

"Why would he heal a Camelot knight though? He's not exactly a fan of Camelot."

"I know… But if they're in Cenred's kingdom… That's where Byron went. He left Camelot land."

"I asked Leon if he saw a druid of Byron's description. I just said I might know who he was, but he said that their leader was older."

"I want to come with you."

"No, Arthur will never allow it, and I need you to watch over Camelot. With us gone, I'm worried about what Morgana will do. You should have seen the way her eyes lit up at the mention of the Cup. I'm sure she's blabbed it all to Morgause by now." He scowled.

Ryll nodded slowly. "Alright, but take care of Arthur," she said.

"I will."

"When do you leave?"

"At dawn."

"You will be careful, right? I mean, not just for Arthur, but for yourself."

"I will. You know me, always getting out of tricky situations." He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Yes, and I know your tendency for getting into trouble." She gave him a playful shove. "Just come back."

"I will." He leaned in and kissed her, and Ryll placed a hand on his heart. "See you soon," Merlin said as he pulled away. Ryll watched as he left, already worried though dawn was an evening and night away.

…

Ryll watched from the stairs as Merlin and Arthur mounted their horses and rode out of the city. Merlin looked back and threw her a grin before they vanished from sight. Ryll felt the chill of fall creeping into her bones. She was suddenly alone and the city so still. Like the calm before the storm. She'd been dreaming lately of dark knights who wouldn't die, dreamed of being a knight and fighting until her life hung by a thread. Her sword, thrust straight through an enemy knight, was useless as the knights refused to die. Cold eyes pierced her and she felt the slice of a blade cut across her side. Her eyes widened in horror as she fell to the ground, her vision going red. She always woke then before she could find out if this was just a nightmare or a vision.

She finally turned away from the empty road and entered the castle. She needed to keep an eye on Morgana but she hadn't spoken to her in weeks besides a simple 'hello' and 'how are you' every time they passed in the halls. Now she went to her room intending to invite her on a ride. Gwen was just leaving the room as Ryll approached. "Is Morgana there?" Ryll asked.

"She is. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you," Gwen said.

Ryll tapped on the door and entered, finding Morgana standing at her window as if she had been watching Arthur and Merlin leave. For the moment before she turned to look at Ryll, Ryll thought she saw a smirk tipping up the corners of Morgana's red-painted lips. Then it faded, replaced by a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Ryll, what a surprise," she said. "It seems like it's been ages since we chatted."

"It does. I'm sorry, Morgana. I feel like I've just been caught up in things, and I suspect I'm guilty of spending far to much time with Merlin and not enough time with my friends. Will you ever forgive me?"

"Of course. It has been an exciting last few days."

"I'm so glad that Sir Leon was saved though I'm sorry the other knights were not so lucky," Ryll said, watching Morgana's expression carefully. Had she had anything to do with the attack?

The ward frowned. "Yes, it's awful. Cenred has long been at odds with Uther, but this was uncalled for."

"I hope Arthur is successful in whatever it is he's doing. Do you know where he's going? Merlin didn't even know."

"I don't know," Morgana said. "But I'm sure it has something to do with the Cup of Life."

"What do you know about it?" Ryll asked.

"Not much, just that it heals whomever drinks from it. It makes sense that the druids would have it if it's of the old religion."

"I think Uther means to take it from the druids to keep it safe."

"Of course he feels the need to disrupt something he can't possibly understand," Morgana said bitterly.

"Well, let's just hope Arthur and Merlin don't run into trouble. I was actually coming to see if you wanted to go for a ride. I need to get my mind off of things, and I miss spending time with you." She forced herself to smile, to push aside the resentment she felt after Morgana's attempts on Merlin's life.

"I'd love to," Morgana replied.

…

Morgana watched Ryll carefully as they rode into the forest, trying to decide how much to tell her. "If you had the chance to rule Camelot, what would you change?" she asked.

Ryll looked surprised by the question. "I would make sure that no one was ever persecuted for being different. I would make sure there was peace."

"But before peace sometimes there has to be war."

"Not always." Ryll frowned, but Morgana pressed on.

"Sometimes the old has to be overthrown before the new can come in."

Ryll turned to look at her. "What are you saying?" she asked.

"There might be a time very soon when someone new can take the throne. I need to know that you'll be on my side." She watched Ryll's eyes, but she kept them guarded, and Morgana couldn't read the emotion behind them.

"Who can take the throne though? Do you mean Arthur?"

"Arthur is not Uther's only child," Morgana said, deciding to come out with the truth. She watched Ryll's eyes widen.

"He has another child?" Her eyes widened more. "You?"

"I am Uther's daughter by blood," Morgana said. "I have a right to the throne."

Ryll was silent for a long moment. "What about Arthur?"

"What if Arthur doesn't make it back from Cenred's kingdom? We have to be ready."

"And Uther?"

"There will come a time when Uther no longer sits upon the throne of Camelot. If I were to take the throne, could I count on you to be my loyal friend? My advisor?"

"Of course, Morgana," Ryll said. "I think you'd make an incredible queen. I don't understand though. You speak as if something big is about to happen. Can you tell me nothing more?"

"You'll see soon enough," Morgana said. "Everything is about to change."