Author's Note: I actually wrote another chapter and posted it the day after the last one! YAY! Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews I've been getting and as always for the favorites and follows. It makes my day! I had to read the script for the first episode of season four to remind myself of what happened and am now dying to re-re-re-(re?)watch seasons four and five of Merlin. I've lost track of how many times I've watched that show. Never gets old.

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It was times like these that made Morgana wonder if it had all been worth it. Desperation had driven her to this point and there was no going back. She would be alone but also closer to her purpose. At what cost though? The knife trembled in her hand as she raised it above her sister. The ultimate sacrifice, and Morgause was willing to make it. Morgause gave Morgana an encouraging nod, the unblemished side of her face lifting in a small smile. Was Morgana really going to take Morgause's life? Morgause was her own blood, the sister who had shown Morgana her true purpose and kept her safe. She'd been the first to help Morgana learn to use her powers. This had to be done though. It was now in Morgana's hands to forge a future where she could live without fear. A future without Uther and his kind. A future where magic was once again revered as it should be.

She started the spell, her voice strengthening as she spoke the words. Her eyes glowed bright amber, and she sunk the knife into Morgause's chest. Her sister let out a small gasp, and Morgana felt as if her own heart had just been torn in two. Then a black wind stirred everything, and she was tossed backwards off her feet striking her head and blacking out.

…

It was that evening when Ryll felt another disturbance. It was as if the very fabric of nature was tearing open. She put a hand against her chest as her heart gave a jolt. Something had happened. She didn't know what, but her thoughts went to Morgana and Morgause. This wasn't over. She knew that now. Morgana and Morgause would never stop until they had what they wanted.

There was a rustling outside the door to the physician's quarters and it opened. Ryll looked up from where she was sitting. Her eyes widened. Lancelot was carrying an unconscious Merlin. His face was ghostly white and his eyes shut tight. Ryll tried to get up before realizing her leg was still too injured to put weight on. "What happened?" she asked. She felt as if her heart would explode at any minute. Gaius hurried forward to examine Merlin.

"He just sort of went still at the feast. Dropped the pitcher he was holding and then fell to the floor, shivering. I don't know what happened," Lancelot replied. Ryll wondered if Merlin had felt the same thing she had.

Ryll forced herself to her feet, using a crutch Gaius had given her to take the weight off her injured leg. She reached forward to put a hand to Merlin's face. "He's so cold."

"I don't understand it. Do you know what's wrong?" Lancelot asked Gaius.

"I don't know," Gaius said. "I'll need some Hawthorne to increase the blood flow and lots of blankets."

"I'll get the blankets," Lancelot said. "And set Merlin on his bed."

"I'll help however I can," Ryll said.

"You need to stay off that leg. Why don't you pull up a chair next to Merlin's bed? I know you're the first he'll want to see when he wakes up," Gaius said.

"Will he be alright?" Ryll asked fearfully.

"I'm not sure, but we'll hope for the best," Gaius said truthfully. "I just don't know what happened." He pulled some Hawthorne out of his stock and began grinding it in his mortar.

"Earlier I felt some sort of disturbance and then again right before Lancelot brought him in. As if something in nature was torn open. It felt unnatural and evil."

Gaius gave her a knowing look. "You think it was Morgana and Morgause."

"Yes. I don't think it's a coincidence the knights came across them earlier. They're planning something. I just wish I knew what."

"A patrol is going to investigate the Isle of the Blessed tomorrow morning," Gaius said.

"Yes, and I'm afraid of what they will find. I should be there."

"Right now you need to focus on healing. Let Arthur handle this."

"I'm afraid for him. And Merlin, Gaius. Morgana is getting stronger. I fear her hatred strengthens her even more. But it's misplaced. Arthur isn't her enemy, but I fear she's going to make it so."

Gaius finished grinding the Hawthorne. "Morgana is blinded by her hatred of Uther. While he still draws breath, she will not stop."

…

Ryll sat by Merlin's bedside watching on as he lay in an unconscious state, pale as death itself. He was breathing slowly and shallowly, so she knew he was alive, but she didn't understand why he had fallen under this sort of spell. Had Morgana's power grown so much that she could hurt people from afar? But she didn't know Merlin was a sorcerer. Didn't know he was more powerful than her. She would have no reason to harm him, and Ryll doubted her powers stretched that far. Something had changed last night though. Something had upset the balance of magic and elements. She just wished she knew what.

"Ryll?" She heard Merlin's voice, weak and hoarse. She looked up from her thoughts and saw that he had woken, skin gaining a little color, eyes still the same brilliant shade of blue.

"Merlin, what happened?" she asked, reaching forward to touch his cheek. It was still cold under her touch, but not as cold as before.

"Can we go downstairs?" he asked. "I want Gaius to hear what I saw too."

"Of course." Ryll helped him up, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders before they descended down. She used the wooden crutch to get down the few steps and to the bench where Gaius sat. He looked up, and Ryll could see the relief in his eyes at the sight of Merlin.

"Merlin, thank goodness," he said. "Do you know what happened?"

Merlin and Ryll sat down on the bench across from Gaius. "I felt something…some sort of disturbance. Like something being ripped open…" Ryll felt chills go down her back. That was exactly what she had felt. "Then I saw a woman standing in the middle of the banquet hall. No one else saw her. It was as if time slowed. She looked dead wearing all black and holding a staff. She spoke to me. She called me Emrys." He shivered. "When she spoke her voice was so sad. There was so much pain in it. Do you know who she is?" he asked Gaius.

Gaius hesitated for a moment and then spoke, his voice grave. "The gatekeeper to the spirit world. She is called the Cailleach."

"Why would the keeper to the spirit world come here?" Ryll asked, now shivering herself. Her thoughts moved to Arthur and then Merlin. Was she a bad sign like a doppelgänger, appearing when death was near?

"When she appeared it was at the stroke of midnight on the night of Samhain. This is the time the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest," Gaius told them.

"Why would she only appear to me?" Merlin asked.

"You have a great power, Merlin. It is not uncommon for someone as powerful as you to have visions."

"But it couldn't have been a vision. She knew who I was. She called me Emrys."

"What does this mean? Why would she appear like that?" Ryll asked. "It must have something to do with what I felt."

"You felt something too?" Merlin asked, turning to her.

"Yes, I did. I felt some sort of disturbance at midnight though saw no vision. It was like something was being ripped open. The very fabric of nature."

"If the veil between worlds has been torn open then I think we shall all face the consequences very soon," Gaius said, his ominous words hanging in the air as they all pondered what that meant.

"Morgana," Ryll finally said. "It had to be Morgana or Morgause. They would be the only ones who would try such a thing. The only ones who could succeed."

"Maybe we'll find out more tomorrow. Right now you both need to rest," Gaius told them.

"Alright," Ryll said though she was sure she would have trouble falling asleep. Merlin helped her to the cot across the room before heading up to his own room. Gaius extinguished the candles and retreated to his sleeping place. Ryll lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead looked like. A feeling of dread filled her when she realized that the patrol would be going to investigate the Isle of the Blessed tomorrow. If the veil was going to be torn open, that seemed like the place to do it. What if Arthur went? What if it was time for his fate to catch up to him, and she wasn't there to stop it? Her heart began to beat wildly in her chest, and she felt dread fill her until her eyes began to water. She would have to find a way to go tomorrow. She would have to find a way to protect him. If she got out of bed early and went down to the stables. If she got to the Isle of the Blessed first… She fell asleep with that thought. She wouldn't let Arthur find his fate here. She wouldn't let Morgana have him.

…

Ryll hadn't counted on running into Lancelot en route to the stables. He was coming toward her and had caught sight of her before she had the chance to duck out of sight. She cursed the crutch and her injured leg, stopping short. He didn't look at all surprised to see her. "Going somewhere?" he asked. There was distinct knowing in his tone.

"Not in particular," she replied, leaning against the wall.

"Looks like you're having a little trouble on that leg." He noted the crutch she was using.

"No, not really."

"You might be a good liar, but you can't fool me. You're not coming."

"Coming where?" she asked.

Lancelot sighed. "Did you hear about the woman who came this morning with news from Howden?"

Ryll frowned. "No. Where's Howden?"

"East of the White Mountains. Not far from where we were yesterday. There was an attack. Faceless beings apparently. We're riding out there to see what happened."

"So not the Isle of the Blessed?" Ryll asked feeling a distinct relief.

"No." He frowned. "That's where Morgana was headed."

"I assumed you'd go after her," Ryll put in, processing the news Lancelot had told her.

"Perhaps later, but right now Howden needs our help."

"I want to come." It wasn't a request, just a regret.

Lancelot's eyes softened. "I know. Right now you need to heal though. We can handle it."

"Is Merlin going?" Ryll asked. If he was there, even if he could not show his magic, still the knights and Arthur would be safer.

"Yes, I think so. He's much better this morning. He'll watch out for us."

"At least let me see you off," Ryll said.

Lancelot smiled. "Of course." He offered her his arm and she took it, leaning on him as he led her down to the courtyard.

The knights were already assembled. Arthur and Merlin were there too. "I was just going to come and tell you we were leaving," Merlin said, coming up as soon as they reached the bottom of the steps. "Arthur's kept me busy all morning. Did Lancelot tell you?"

"Yes. It sounds as if something might have escaped through that veil."

"It does sound that way," Merlin said grimly.

"You will be careful." Merlin was looking much better this morning, skin returned to its usual color.

"Of course."

"I wish I could come. I worry about you," she said, turning her eyes to Lancelot and then back to Merlin. "And Arthur." The prince was speaking to Gwen a few paces away.

"I'll look after him," Merlin assured her.

"Look after yourself too," she said. Lancelot squeezed her hand before moving off to his horse, leaving Ryll and Merlin alone. "I thought you were going to the Isle of the Blessed. I have a bad feeling about that place. Promise me you won't go there."

"I can't promise that, but for now we're needed elsewhere. Promise me you won't go off on your own." She saw the worry in his eyes. "Please Ryll. I can see you riding off to the Isle of the Blessed on your own to look for Morgana, but you're injured, and I don't want you doing something like that on your own. Please promise me."

Ryll nodded. "I promise. I had thought about it, I'll admit, but I promise I won't go off on my own. Even I know a bad plan when I hear one."

Merlin studied her for a moment as if he didn't believe her. She didn't blame him. She'd broken so many promises before. "Be safe," he finally said, kissing her briefly before turning to join the knights. Arthur nodded to Ryll and Gwen joined her, looking worried.

"Why does it always seem like we're watching them ride away?" Gwen asked. "Well, you're usually with them, but you understand my worry."

"Of course." Ryll took her hand and squeezed it. She'd grown close to Gwen in Morgana's absence, the two girls bonding together over a lost friend. "Arthur is in good hands though."

"He is. Merlin is brave to stay by his side."

"Arthur does not give him enough credit for what he does."

Gwen smiled. "No, but maybe some day he'll realize all that Merlin does for him." Ryll smiled back. That wasn't the half of it.

Ryll decided to go back to her own room and lie down for a while since her leg was hurting her. She always felt a bit lost when she wasn't on some sort of quest or a patrol. She hated being forced to be stationary for too long. Her room was chilly when she entered, and she saw that the window had been left open. She didn't remember having done that, but perhaps Gwen had opened it to let some fresh air in. The cool November air was chilling in the early hours of the morning though so Ryll moved forward to close it. Before she reached it, she sensed that she was not alone in the room. She stiffened and then turned, pulling out a knife to defend herself. Something grabbed her from behind, and she realized that he'd been hiding in the curtains next to the windows. He spoke an enchantment that made her feel light-headed. She slashed out with her knife, catching something, but then dizziness overcame her, and she went slack in her attacker's arms.