Author's Note: So close to the end of Part Four! Usually this would be the last chapter, but this part is running a little longer, so you get a bonus chapter! Sorry it's taken me so long to finish. I need to learn that making goals to finish my fan fictions do not usually work out. But I will finish it soon! That I know for sure. I'll take a little break and rewatch season 4 and 5 to remember what all happens, and then work on Part Five (the final part) this fall.

-80-

The change came in the form of an army. Ryll watched from the ramparts of the castle as hundreds of black-clad knights marched toward Camelot, torches in hand. It was like she was revisiting her nightmares. She clutched the stone around her neck and wished she knew whether Merlin and Arthur were safe. They should have been back by then. It had been too long, and people were beginning to worry. Her own panic was threatening to overcome her, but she knew she had to stay strong. Merlin had told her she needed to look over Camelot in his and Arthur's absence. How she could with an army this great marching on her walls, she wasn't sure, but as long as she still had breath left in her body, she would try. Her thoughts flitted to the end of her nightmare. The part where she died. She took a deep breath. Her nightmares were not for certain. They didn't always come true…just usually.

She hurried to her room and changed into her battle gear, sheathing her sword at her side and hooking her bow to her quiver on her back. She went in search of Leon who was in charge of the knights in Arthur's stead. "They will not die," he said to her when she found him. "I was on the patrol that first sighted them. They did not fall though we pierced them through with our weapons."

Ryll's vision went blurry. "Ryll?" Leon called her name, grabbing her elbow as she swayed. She steadied herself.

"It's nothing, just…how do we defeat them? And where are Arthur and Merlin?"

"I don't know. They should have been back by now." He gave her a worried glance.

"I'm alright," she said. "I'm just worried."

"We all are." He looked down at her gear. "You're fighting." It wasn't a question, but she nodded. He gave her a firm nod. "Together?"

"Of course."

…

Morgana watched from her bedroom window as the immortal army drew near. Morgause had succeeded in creating an invincible army from the Cup of Life. It had only been too easy getting it from Arthur. Almost too easy. Now only Uther stood in the way of Morgana and the throne, and she would soon be rid of him. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he realized she knew she was his daughter. She smirked at the thought. Finally Camelot would be hers and those who had persecuted people with magic would pay for their hatred. They would know what it felt like to live in fear. Gwen had already told her that she would always be loyal to Morgana. Now she needed to make sure Ryll was on her side. Everything was falling into place.

She finally turned from her window and left her room, finding an empty balcony from which to watch the slaughter. A smirk lit her face as she saw the knights begin their battle against the immortal army. The knights of Camelot fell, their red capes flowing across the ground like blood. She saw a company of knights headed by Sir Leon charge a group of the immortal knights. A figure with golden hair caught her eye, and she leaned low over the stone wall to look down. "No…" Ryll was in the group of knights, wielding a sword, dressed in glinting silver armor. What was she thinking? She didn't realize that this army was paving the way for the new to enter the city. She was going to die if she stayed down there. It was impossible for Morgana to warn her though without exposing her true motives to everyone else. She watched in horror as her friend charged into the dark knights, sword blazing. She showed no fear, and for a moment Morgana remembered her nightmares. Ryll dressed like a knight, sword gleaming. Only then she'd been wearing a red cape and standing at Arthur's side. Now she was nearly engulfed by the immortal knights. She struck out and, when they did not fall, she kept fighting. Finally Leon motioned for the knights to retreat, and Ryll hesitantly joined them. Morgana felt a sense of relief. Ryll vanished from her sight, and she hoped that she would make it through the night.

It only took half an hour for the army to breach the upper levels of the city. She heard the doors down below her go crashing inward as they entered. Morgause was going to meet her in the throne room once they had claimed the city. The knights would be taken captive and those who chose not to fight would be spared. She started toward the throne room as the cries of battle began to die. The city below was littered with the bodies of knights and those who had tried to stand in the way. A deathly silence had fallen below. They had finally done it. Camelot was theirs.

…

Ryll fought her way forward through the knights who wouldn't die. She stabbed this way and that, but though her blows struck true, the knights would not fall. Leon and the other knights of Camelot fought beside her. Two fell and did not rise again. Finally Leon called for them to pull back. This was hopeless. How could they hope to defeat an army that couldn't die? Merlin, where are you? Ryll thought to the sky.

They pulled back further into the city, but that only drew the invincible army closer to the citadel. "We cannot let them take the citadel," Leon said.

Ryll nodded, but her hope flagged as they fought on. There was no bringing this enemy down. Two more knights by her side fell. Ryll tripped backwards over the body of a woman. An innocent woman who had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"This is horrible," Ryll said to Leon. "These people don't deserve this."

Leon frowned. "We need to pull back. Protect the castle. If they can't get in…"

"Maybe we can hold them off."

They retreated with the rest of the knights with them, now a small number, and barricaded the castle doors behind them once all the knights still alive on this side of the castle had entered. They could hear the immortal knights banging to get in.

"See to it that the king is safe," Leon instructed a group of knights. They nodded and ran off.

"Who is behind this attack? Cenred?"

"It would seem so."

"And he used the Cup of Life to make his army immortal?"

Leon gave her a sharp look. "What makes you say that?"

"I'm pretty sure Uther sent Arthur to retrieve it so it didn't fall into Cenred's hands. I think it backfired though. I have no idea how the cup works other than knowing it can heal a life, but somehow someone was able to create an army that cannot die."

"Sorcery."

Ryll nodded. "I think I know of a sorcerer strong enough to do this. Or rather, a sorceress."

"Who?"

"Morgause."

"The woman who challenged Arthur all that time ago? Who kidnapped Morgana?"

"Yes, she could do this. She's powerful enough." Her thoughts flitted to Morgana's words earlier about change. She thought she understood what she meant now; she just hadn't realized how many lives Morgana was willing to sacrifice in order to gain the throne.

"We need to protect the king," she said. Leon nodded.

"Let's go." As they started down the corridor, Ryll heard the doors behind them split open. Knights streamed in behind them. They began to run, but they were cut off.

"This way!" They turned down the corridor that led to the throne room. They burst through the doors and stopped short. Morgause stood in her armor near the throne, knights at her side.

"Well, nice of you to join us," she said. Ryll's eyes widened. "You Sir knight can join the others." She nodded to the guards next to her who grabbed Leon. He struggled, but they were too strong for him. He looked back at Ryll with worried eyes as he was dragged from the room.

"And you." Morgause turned to her. "My sister trusts you, but I do not. You fight alongside the knights like Uther's loyal dog."

"I fight to defend my city, not Uther," Ryll said coldly. "I do not approve of the lives you've taken here."

"It was necessary." Morgause paced in front of her. "There must be war before there can be peace," she echoed Morgana's words or maybe they had been Morgause's all along and Morgana had been the one parroting them.

"Taking lives is never necessary."

"Clearly you have an innocent outlook on the world still. It will get you killed."

"Then where is this so called peace?" She looked around the room. "The knights are captive or dead. People are hiding in fear. How is this better than Uther's reign? Answer me that."

"It will be once the dust settles."

"And what of Arthur? What did you do to him?"

"I know not where he is." Morgause frowned. "But Arthur would see Uther's reign of terror continue. There is another heir who would be much better suited to the task."

"Morgana, you mean."

"Yes. Do you doubt that she would make a good queen? I thought you were like a sister to her." Morgause meant to bait her.

"I think Morgana would make a wise queen. It's not her I don't trust," she replied. "She's not the one heading an unbeatable army."

"I can assure you, I am behind my sister on this. I do this for her."

"Good." Ryll forced her face to remain calm. "Then I stand by her." This was what Merlin wanted – for her to spy on Morgana so that they could keep ahead of her. She felt like a traitor, but she couldn't protect Camelot on her own. She had to wait until Merlin and Arthur came back. She only wished she had a way to warn them.

"A wise choice." Morgause's dark eyes were intent, and Ryll wasn't sure if she believed that Ryll was really on their side. For now she had to wait and see what happened and figure out a way to rid Camelot of the immortal army and Morgause's influence.

…

Ryll stood at her bedroom window, overlooking the dark city. Nothing moved in the city streets below. The feel of the city was entirely different – it was cold and frightened, the way a conquered city tended to feel, she supposed. The invincible knights stood sentry, and Ryll suppressed a shudder. Even though she had fought alongside the knights of Camelot, she had not been taken captive like them. She had been dismissed from Morgause's presence and had retreated to her room. She hadn't seen Morgana since the battle had begun. She wondered where they stood. Would Morgana turn on her or would she continue to believe that Ryll was truly on her side? Ryll wasn't sure how much longer she could pull off this lie. There would come a time, very soon, when she would have to show her true colors. She wasn't going to let her friends get hurt just so she could pretend to be on Morgana's side. Her motives were quite clear now. There was nothing more Ryll could do to spy except perhaps help Arthur retake the city. But where was Arthur? And Merlin? Her worry grew but now instead of wishing for their return, she wished for them to keep safely away from the city.

She heard her door open behind her and turned to see Morgana standing there dressed like a queen. Her white dress flowed to her feet, and her curls famed her pale face in lush spirals. Her lips were painted red like blood, and Ryll wondered if she even cared about the blood that had been spilled that day. The old Morgana would have, but Ryll didn't think the new Morgana did.

"Ryll," she said her name calmly. Ryll stood tensely, awaiting her judgment. "Won't you join me? Why are you hiding in your room?"

"I didn't know if I was welcome," she said stiffly.

"Of course you are." Morgana's concern looked genuine. "Why would you think otherwise? Those who remain loyal to me will always be safe."

"I just wonder if the lives taken were worth it," Ryll said.

"As I said before, war before peace. We fought hard for the peace we deserve. People like us will no longer be looked down on, will no longer be persecuted and hunted. We'll be safe. I know you want that life as much as me."

"But people died. People who did us no personal harm."

"And that is a great loss, but Uther is going to pay for his crimes. All of them." As she spoke, Ryll could see the anger flashing behind her eyes. She even took a step back, startled by the pure, unfettered anger painted on Morgana's face. For the first time since she had known Morgana, she felt a stab of fear.

"What do you plan on doing?" Ryll asked.

"He's in the dungeons for now, but he's about to see me for who I really am."

"You're going to tell him?"

"He's going to see me coronated," Morgana told her. "He's going to see what he's been denying me my whole life. The right to rule." Her smile was cruel, ugly even. Ryll shut her eyes and turned away for a moment. It hurt her too much to see Morgana like this. Her thoughts seemed to blur for a moment and suddenly she was back in the forest where she first met Morgana. As bandits assailed the woman astride the gorgeous dapple-grey horse, Ryll shot her arrows, striking them down before they could pull her of the horse. Morgana's eyes had been warm as she'd thanked Ryll for saving her life. There was an innocence in them that had disappeared long ago. There was nothing untoward in her smile, nothing that could hint toward the hatred she would one day feel for her guardian and father.

"I'm Morgana," she had said.

"Amaryllis, but you can call me Ryll." Ryll had felt an instant connection to the girl. She was bold like her. She could tell at once by the way she'd pulled a dagger on the bandits, the way she'd spoken to them as if words alone could fend them off.

"Well, Ryll, you must stay and be my guest. I'm the king's ward, and when he hears of your bravery, he'll be honored to welcome you into his castle."

If Ryll had known what kind of person Morgana would have turned into, would she have saved her that afternoon in the woods? The thought startled her, but she didn't have the ability to turn back time, so she would never have to face that choice. She realized she would have made the same choice though with the hope that she could do something more to change Morgana, to keep her from becoming this monster she had become.

She slowly turned back to Morgana, forcing a smile onto her face. "Let's not be late to your coronation," she said.

Morgana's lips slid from a glower to a genuine smile. She held out a hand for Ryll to take. "You'd best change. You look like you've just come out of a battle." Which of course she had.

"Of course. I'll change right away."

"I'll wait for you downstairs," Morgana said, stepping out of the room.

Ryll quickly changed into a gown, pulling her hair back and slashing her face with water. She cleaned the blood from her hands and looked at herself in the mirror. She was pale and her eyes shone with a sadness that she couldn't disguise. She took a deep breath and walked down to the throne room. Each step felt like she was walking toward Camelot's impending doom. She half thought about making a run for it. Maybe they would postpone it. She shook the thought from her head. Morgause would never allow that. She was nearing the throne room when a hand reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her into an alcove. She started, but made no noise, readying herself for a fight. Then she saw who had grabbed her.

"Merlin?" she whispered feeling a surge of relief. "I thought something terrible had happened to you!"

"Well a lot of bad things happened, but we're here now."

"Morgana-"

"I know."

"She's about to be crowned, Merlin!" He frowned in worry. "I don't know what to do. I can't keep pretending when everything in me is screaming at me to stop her!"

"I know. We need to figure something out."

"Where's Arthur? Is he safe?"

"Yeah, he's right behind us, just a little out of it." She couldn't see the prince in the dark alcove, but she heard him groan.

"Does he know about Morgana?"

"Not yet." He frowned. "I can't imagine his reaction if he found out we knew about her all along."

"Let him see with his own eyes," Ryll said. A part of her broke at the thought of Arthur seeing Morgana for who she really was, but he needed to know what he was up against. "I need to go before they notice I'm not there. Do you have a plan?"

"Not really. We need to retake Camelot."

"How?"

"Er, I haven't gotten that far yet." She could tell he was frightened and confused. He couldn't see a way out of this and yet somehow felt as if the responsibility fell on his shoulders.

"Have faith. We'll survive this," she told him. "And Arthur. After Arthur has seen Morgana, you have to leave the city."

"You're coming too."

"No, I can't. Not yet. I'll meet you though. Trust me."

"It's not safe anymore."

"The longer I stay here, the more time I have to figure out how to stop Morgana and Morgause," she insisted.

"It's too dangerous."

"Please. Let me do this. I have to go. She'll be looking for me. I'll find you. Just get Arthur out of the city. She can't see him."

Merlin gave her a long look, and she could tell he didn't like the plan any more than she did. "Alright. How will you find me?"

"I'll know where you are," she told him with a smile. "Trust me."

"I do." He squeezed her hand and then receded into the shadows while she continued down the hall. She met with Morgana in the antechamber outside the throne room.

"Where were you?" she asked, looking preoccupied.

"Sorry. I had trouble getting the blood off my skin."

Morgana frowned. "You shouldn't have fought."

"I didn't realize who we were fighting. I saw people getting hurt and jumped in."

"Well, I'm glad you're unhurt." She opened the door leading into the throne room, and Ryll heard Morgause's voice echoing in the vaulted room.

"I don't think you'll be needing this anymore." She must be taking the crown from Uther. Ryll couldn't see him from the doorway, but she could imagine the look on his face.

"This is unlawful," she heard him say. "You cannot do this. You have no right to the throne!" Even conquered, he was unwilling to back down. Ryll was suddenly rooting for him, and it surprised her. She looked over at Morgana but the girl's face was twisted into a look of disgust. Then she strode from the room.

"No, she does not," she said. Ryll followed, standing at the edge of the immortal knights. Morgana's lips twisted up in a smirk. "But I do. I am your daughter, after all." The smirk slid from her face as she glowered at her father. Uther's steely eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment he looked entirely vulnerable. "Don't look so surprised. I've known for some time."

Ryll looked up and her eyes found Merlin and Arthur up on the balcony, well concealed behind the rails. The shock on Arthur's face as he registered what he was seeing broke her heart. She looked back at Morgana who sat down on the throne as if it had been made for her. Morgause nodded to one of the immortal soldiers who shoved Geoffrey of Monmouth forward. He held a golden crown in his hands, and Ryll felt panic begin to rise as she realized that this was really happening. Morgana was about to be crowned Queen of Camelot.

"By the power vested in me, I crown thee Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot." The golden crown was placed upon her head. Morgana's red lips lifted in an ugly smile. Ryll looked at Uther as the soldiers pushed him into a bow. Uther looked utterly defeated. The heartbreak in his eyes was so clear that Ryll wondered if Morgana might see it, but the smirk on her face and Morgause's told her that she did not. Morgana was lost to her. But as long as Arthur still lived, Camelot was not lost to them. Ryll watched carefully as Merlin and Arthur slipped away. She ached to go with them, but she forced herself to bow to Morgana, lowering her eyes to the floor.

…

"The knights still will not yield to me," Morgana said with a frown, trailing her fingers over the back of the throne. The afternoon light cascaded into the room through the windows, heralding the first day of Morgana's reign. Ryll had spent a restless night dreaming about dying.

Now she clenched her jaw, unwilling to respond to that. She had watched, horrified, as Morgana's guards had shot down innocent people in the courtyard when the knights would not bow to her. It had been hours ago, but the people's screaming still rang in her ears. She could still see the blood spilling onto the cobblestones and the cruel smile on Morgana's face as she watched innocent people die.

"That wasn't necessary," she whispered hoarsely, speaking for the first time since the slaughter.

Morgana paused. "It was though. After all the innocent lives Uther has taken."

"But that was him not them." The anger behind her voice vibrated, and she swallowed hard to keep herself from shouting.

"He will get his justice too, but not too quickly. He must suffer as I did."

"You've made him suffer enough. Seeing your-" she almost said betrayal but stopped herself in time, "-coronation, hearing how much you hate him. You've broken him already."

"You don't sound happy about that." Morgana turned her scowl on Ryll.

"I just mean that you don't need to kill innocent people to torture him. If he knows you hate him, that's torture enough. After all he did, I still believe he loves you."

"He never loved me."

"But he did. That's what makes this even more torturous to him."

"It's not just about torturing him though. I need the knights' approval if I'm ever going to win my people's approval. They are a symbol of Camelot, and I respect that. How do I earn their respect and allegiance?"

"By not killing them," Ryll said, patience short.

"Why do I keep getting the feeling you're not on my side," Morgana snapped. She'd never turned her anger on Ryll before, but Ryll was beyond caring.

"You asked how to get their allegiance. I'm telling you. If you want to change the way Camelot is ruled then be a benevolent ruler. Don't kill needlessly like Uther. Don't kill at all! I'm worried, Morgana, that's all. I want to see you succeed where Uther failed, but to be perfectly honest, so far you've done exactly as he would have done."

The look on Morgana's face was thunderous. "I may be your friend, Ryll, but I am also your queen."

"You wanted my advice. There it is. I'm sorry if you don't like what you hear." She turned and stormed away, leaving Morgana to fume.

…

It was an hour later when a tap came on Ryll's door. She called out and Morgana entered looking upset but not at her. "What's wrong?" Ryll asked.

"Gwen has betrayed me," Morgana said bitterly. "I should have known her love for Arthur would be stronger than our friendship."

"How has she betrayed you?" Ryll asked. She wasn't surprised. She knew Gwen would always choose Arthur over Morgana.

"She is helping Sir Leon escape tonight. She's going to find Arthur. But Morgause and I have a plan. We're going to have them followed. They'll lead us straight to Arthur."

"You really intend to kill your own brother?"

"He will stand up for Uther. This is the only way."

"If that's what you believe is for the best."

They were silent for a moment and then Morgana spoke again. "I'm sorry for being short with you earlier," she said. "You don't have to agree with everything I do. You wouldn't be the Ryll I know if you did. As a friend it's your job to question me and my actions. I'm happy to have your advice, and I'm sorry for not listening before." Her eyes held a genuine light, and Ryll felt herself falter.

"Really?"

"Ryll, I'm not a different person altogether. I'm still your friend."

"I just don't want to lose you," Ryll said truthfully.

"You won't lose me. Under my reign you can finally be free," she said. "Wouldn't you like to practice magic freely? You can now. No one will hurt you if you do."

"Just promise me you won't let your hatred for Uther go to your head," Ryll told her. "Hatred can be blinding. I know what he did to you and to people like you, but you need to keep a clear head." She forced a smile. "Let me do something for you to prove my loyalty. Let me bring you Arthur."

"What do you mean?" Morgana frowned.

"You may be able to follow Gwen and Leon, but I can track like no other and if they don't come through, I can still find him. Also you need someone to bring him back. Someone he trusts. Just promise me you'll give him a fair trial and that you won't judge him based on your hatred for Uther."

"What about Merlin? He'll never be loyal to me."

"Let me speak with him. He'll do just about anything I ask," Ryll told her.

"Alright." Morgana frowned as if considering whether or not she fully trusted Ryll.

"Trust me," Ryll told her. "I will do what is right and what is best for Camelot." And that was bringing Arthur to the throne and not into Morgana's clutches. She was making her final choice. After this Morgana would no longer trust her.

"I do," Morgana said, and Ryll felt her heart break even more.

"Good. I'll leave tonight."