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Ryll caught up with the group at an abandoned castle. The immortal soldiers had lost track of Gwen and Leon, but Ryll had managed to find tracks that had led her here. She could tell that there was a small company now, but she wasn't sure who all had followed Arthur here. She slipped into the castle, leaving Owl in the courtyard, and followed the voices once she picked up on them. She recognized Arthur's voice and stepped into a room full of more people than she'd expected. They turned to look at her with a start. Arthur's eyes widened. Merlin grinned. Gaius and Gwen were there too along with Leon, Gwen's brother, a broad man Ryll didn't recognize and…

"Never thought I'd see you again," Gwaine said with that cocky grin of his. "Still got a sweetheart in Camelot's walls?"

"Ryll?" another familiar voice called out. She would recognize that voice anywhere. She turned and met Lancelot's dark, friendly eyes.

"Lancelot!" She ran forward and grabbed him in a fierce hug. He hugged her back. "I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Ah, well, when I heard Camelot was in trouble, I couldn't stay away," he said.

"How did you get out?" Arthur asked. Ryll pulled away from Lancelot.

"I told Morgana I would come bring you back to Camelot." Arthur's eyes hardened. "I just never mentioned that I'd be by your side ready to reclaim your city," she added. His blue eyes were serious, but then he nodded.

"I knew I could trust you," he said. "I just can't believe Morgana…"

"I know."

"How long did you know she was against my father and me?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here to help you stop her."

"So that's why you were trailing me around. You were protecting me from her. You should have told me."

"I didn't want to see your heart break. And what could you have done? What could any of us have done? She had Uther wrapped around her finger."

"What do you plan to do?" Gwaine asked.

Arthur didn't answer at once. Instead he paced around a large round object in the center of the room. He pulled the dusty sheet off of it revealing a stone table. "Here. Come and join me." He pulled out a chair for Gwen and they all joined him. Ryll took a place next to Merlin. "This table belonged to the ancient kings of Camelot," Arthur told them. "A round table afforded no one man more importance than any other. They believed in equality in all things. So, it seems fitting that we revive this tradition now. Without each of you, we would not be here. My father has languished in prison for too long. Tomorrow, I make my bid to rescue him. Are there any around this table who will join me?"

Lancelot spoke at once. "You taught me the values of being a knight, the code by which a man should live his life. To fight with honor for justice, freedom, and all that's good. I believe in the world that you will build."

"Even though I was a commoner, a nobody, you were willing to lay down your life for me, Arthur. It is now my turn to repay you," Elyan told him. Gwen smiled at her brother.

"I have fought alongside you many times," Leon spoke up. "There is no one that I would rather die for."

Gwaine smirked. "I think we've no chance. But I wouldn't miss it for the world." He winked at Ryll.

The broad man spoke up, his voice surprisingly soft. "Your enemies are my enemies."

"If you need an old man," Gaius offered.

Gwen smiled at Arthur. "You know the answer."

"I'd follow my friends anywhere," Ryll said. "Into battle or to the end of the earth." Arthur smiled at her and then turned his eyes to Merlin who had not yet spoken.

"Merlin?"

"No, don't really fancy it," Merlin said, face serious.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "You don't have a choice, Merlin."

Merlin gave him a cheeky grin. "Okay."

"I want to thank you all for staying loyal to me in Camelot's hour of need," Arthur told them. "I'll do something that my father won't approve of." Ryll watched carefully as Arthur stood, drawing his sword. "Will you kneel?" he asked.

Ryll's heart beat wildly as she watched Lancelot, Gawaine, the broad-shouldered man, and Elyan kneel before Arthur. In turn Arthur knighted them saying, "Arise, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Gawain, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Percival, Knight of Camelot. Arise, Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot."

Ryll's pulse was pounding now as Arthur looked up at her. She didn't speak, could hardly breathe as she hoped for what she'd wanted her entire life. "Ryll?" Arthur asked. "If there was ever a time to realize your dream, it's now if you so desire."

"You…you mean you'll knight me?" she asked.

"You have proven yourself over and over," Arthur told her. "You are a loyal friend and a skilled warrior. This is a time of breaking traditions, and I believe knighting the first female knight would be a good way of starting a new future."

Ryll felt Merlin give her back a gentle shove. She stumbled forward toward Arthur. The newly knighted men stepped back for her. She looked numbly at Lancelot who beamed at her. "Kneel," Arthur told her. Ryll kneeled on the ground before him. His sword touched her left shoulder then her right and lastly her head. "Arise Lady Ryll, Knight of Camelot."

Ryll stood and it was as if the clouds had lifted. All her doubt and confusion in the last few months was gone. She was a knight. The others cheered for her, and she felt Merlin's arms around her, pulling her into an embrace.

"Merlin, I'm a knight," she whispered into his ear.

"I already knew that," he whispered back causing Ryll to grin.

"Tomorrow, when you fight, you can stand proud knowing you are members of the most noble army the world has ever known," Arthur said. Ryll looked at him, and he met her eyes. She threw him a smile that she hoped held all the gratitude she didn't know how to voice.

…

"I've got to overturn the cup," Merlin said to Ryll later that night when the excitement had died down. She was still practically glowing with happiness over her knighting. She kept having to tell herself it wasn't a dream. She was really a knight of Camelot. Nothing else seemed to matter. It was as if she could do anything now though in reality she knew tomorrow would be riddled with tough choices and possible deaths.

"The cup? What will that do?" she drew her attention to Merlin who lay next to her, blue eyes wide open. Everyone else had fallen asleep some time ago, but she had been unable to dull the buzzing excitement that ran through her veins. Merlin had been restless as well but for another reason.

"It will spill the blood of the immortal soldiers and break the spell."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright. What can I do to help?"

"I could really use you by my side," Merlin said. "I'm going to have to use magic most likely and yours would help."

"Of course."

"It will be dangerous."

"I know that. You know that isn't going to sway me."

"I know. I've given up on that." He grinned at her and Ryll returned the smile. She reached out and took his hand.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, know how much I love you," she told him. "And how proud of you I am."

"Proud? What have I done?"

"Everything. I heard what Lancelot said, and he's right. You're the bravest of all of us, and Arthur doesn't even know it."

"He can't know it. Not yet."

"I know that. But he will some day."

"I love you too."

Ryll fell asleep with those words echoing blissfully in her ears.

…

Morning came far too quickly, and Ryll rose with the others while Arthur began giving out orders. Gaius and Gwen would stay to prepare for casualties. Ryll was terrified of how many there would be. They were fighting an immortal army after all. As far as Arthur and the other knights were concerned, there was no way to turn the tables. Merlin had asked her to keep his plan for the Cup between herself and Lancelot. She nodded, glad they would be working together.

When they mounted their horses and started toward Camelot, she felt as if they were walking toward their impending doom and not only theirs but Morgana's. It was no secret anymore that her motives were evil. There was no going back from here. No covering up what she'd done or forgiving. It was time Ryll chose her side, and she chose Arthur's. This wasn't a battle between magical and non-magical, this was a battle for the throne and for the freedom of Camelot and her people. If she had to hide who she really was for a while longer, so be it as long as Arthur was still alive and Camelot out from under Morgause's and Morgana's thumbs.

When the castle walls came into view, they stopped their horses and dismounted, travelling on foot. Arthur led them to a tunnel that went under the northern ramparts. He and the other knights would break out the prisoners and rescue his father while Merlin and Lancelot offered to take out the guards near the warning bell. Ryll told Arthur she would go with them. When it was decided, they parted ways.

Setting foot in the castle reminded Ryll that this was still home even if they were not welcome. Her blood boiled at the thought of Morgause's army overtaking the city. Her city. Arthur's city. The hair on the back of Ryll's neck stood on end as they rounded a corner.

Merlin gasped. "I can sense the Cup's power," he said.

"I can too." Ryll gripped her sword tighter.

"This way." Before they could move, a guard passed by up ahead, turning and catching sight of them. He ran toward them, sword raised. Lancelot jumped forward to meet him, but Merlin delivered the final blow. Instead of simply fighting on, the guard exploded into fiery bits at the touch of the sword.

Ryll gave Merlin a startled look.

"What is that?" Lancelot asked, mirroring Ryll's surprise.

"It was forged in a dragon's breath," Merlin said in way of explanation. He gave them a small smile and moved on. Ryll and Lancelot exchanged a glance before following after him.

"Just full of surprises," Ryll muttered proudly.

They made their way toward where the Cup was kept, coming across no one much to their relief although Ryll felt a lot more confident with the magical sword on their side. She would have to ask Merlin later how he'd come across that treasure.

They stopped as they neared the Cup, peering around the corner to find a line of guards blocking their passage. "What do we do now?" Lancelot asked.

The plan they decided on was pretty simple. Lancelot and Ryll would fight off the immortal knights and thrust them back to Merlin who would finish them off with his sword. They all took a deep breath, and Lancelot and Ryll launched themselves out to confront the knights. It was difficult fighting in such tight quarters, but they managed to fight their way to the doors and lock themselves in. They all let out a deep breath, relieved to be past the guards until they heard the scraping of metal. They turned around to find six immortal guards standing around the pedestal that held the Cup. Ryll sighed.

"Of course it couldn't be that easy," she said. With Merlin and Lancelot on either side of her, she felt brave though. She summoned up her powers and let them thrum under her fingertips, ready for action. They went about it the same way, but one of the guards managed to nick Lancelot's shoulder as they fought and for a moment Ryll was afraid for him. She flung out her powers and sent the guard reeling back toward Merlin who finished him off with a powerful swing. Lancelot fought on doggedly, but his arm was hurting him. Ryll covered for him, but with the guards swarming around her, it was hard to defend herself. Merlin was doing the best he could, but his sword skills were poor despite constant nagging on Ryll's part. The warning bells sounded above them, and Merlin cursed. They needed to get to that cup now. Finally though they managed to take down the guards, and the cup was within reach. Merlin raced toward it, bringing forward the sword to swipe it down. The doors to the room opened, and suddenly Merlin flew back as if pulled by an invisible string. He hit the wall hard and slumped to the floor.

"Merlin!" Ryll knelt next to him, looking up to see Morgause stride into the room.

"Clearly your loyalties are not with Morgana after all," she said, brown eyes sharp. "I always doubted that." She turned her gaze to Merlin. "I have a feeling I won't be seeing you again." She raised her hand toward Merlin.

"No!" Ryll leapt in front of him and the spell hit her straight in the chest. She flew back and hit the wall, landing a few feet away from Merlin. Stars blurred in front of her eyes, and she sunk into blackness.

…

"Ryll. Ryll!"

She heard her name being called from the darkness. She tried to open her eyes, but it took a great effort. Finally she managed to pry them open to meet Merlin's blue eyes.

"What happened?" she asked. She struggled to sit up, and he helped her. She was in the physician's quarters, and all was quiet. "Where's Morgause? The knights? Did I really miss all that?" She felt upset at herself. She was supposed to be a knight of Camelot and she'd blacked out for the end of the battle.

"You survived a very powerful spell. It should have killed you. It was meant to kill me," Merlin said.

"I couldn't let you die," she said, looking at him.

"I knocked the cup over and the immortal knights died. Morgana and Morgause disappeared. Morgana looked straight at me and said that it had only begun, Ryll. You should have seen the look in her eyes… It was frightening."

"Morgause will tell her I'm no longer on her side."

"Most likely."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm not playing games. I'm not lying about where my loyalties truly lie. How is Arthur and the other knights?"

"Fine. They're all fine."

"And Uther?"

Merlin hesitated, and Ryll's heart skipped. "He's alive…but he's not himself. Not after seeing his own daughter turn on him. He's changed. I'm not sure he'll ever recover from this."

"That means Arthur has to take his place."

"I know. I don't think he thinks he's ready."

"He is. He really is."

"I know."

"We'll help him. All of us." She smiled. "Maybe this is just the beginning, but it doesn't have to be the beginning of something bad. This is a new chance for all of us to protect Camelot and make it the kingdom I know it can be."

"Thank you," Merlin said after a pause. He took her hand.

"For what?"

"For jumping in front of me without hesitation. I would do the same for you, you know."

Ryll smiled under his warm gaze. She reached up to touch his cheek. "I want to make a promise," she told him. "To actually let ourselves be happy. The danger isn't over. There will be new trials, new enemies, but sometimes it's alright to just be happy. I feel like we missed out on that the last few months."

"I promise," he said, leaning forward and kissing her forehead.

"I promise." Ryll drew him closer and pressed her lips to his. "No matter what happens, we'll be together. Nothing can stop us then."

"A sorcerer and a knight of Camelot. Kind of an odd couple," Merlin said with a lopsided grin. Ryll grinned back.

"Maybe that's just what Camelot needs."

Merlin Will Return

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! Here ends part four. I am so sorry for taking so long. I am going to take a break to plot out part five (the final part) and really get some stuff written before posting so you don't have to wait like a month in between chapters. Usually I'm much better. The sequel is a third of the way done, and I will keep working on that as well. Again, that takes place in the 21st century, and I'm REALLY excited about that one.

Part Five will happen during seasons four and five, but primarily it will focus on Ryll and Merlin and the different conflicts they interact with such as Morgana and Ryll's impending sacrifice as Arthur is put in more and more danger. We'll see Ryll begin to mature a lot more as a knight of Camelot and some more interactions with the other knights (and some teasing). Lots of character-based plots.

You guys are the best! Thank you so much for favorites and follows and I'd love to hear from you! I really do appreciate it. You are what keeps me writing! (That and my love for these awesome characters!) See you soon! Take a chance to look at my other stories if you are interested in the subjects. :)