-86-

When Ryll awoke she was lying on a cot in a darkened room. She tensed, looking all around her. It was small with one room divided by rough shelves filled with jars and books and herbs. More herbs hung from the ceiling. Her eyes settled on a figure sitting on a wooden chair a few feet away from the cot. Liquid green eyes were watching her keenly from a tanned face. Dark hair curled around his neck, and where the collar of his shirt gaped, she could see his druid symbol.

"Byron."

She hadn't seen him in over a year ever since he'd waged the attack on Camelot. She had realized that their friendship was over somewhere along the line. She wondered if he'd stopped caring. She wouldn't be surprised if that caring had worn away over time. Why else would he have kidnapped her? He'd used his magic against her to steal her away from Camelot.

"Hello, Ryll," he replied, voice just as smooth and melodic as she remembered. He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "It's been a long time."

"I thought you'd forgotten me," Ryll said, unable to keep the hurt from her voice. "I thought we were friends."

"My friends don't align themselves with Uther." His words cut her, and she saw a flash of anger in his eyes. Eyes that had once looked at her much differently.

"You know I don't align myself with him," Ryll said.

"You align yourself with his son. It's the same."

"What happened to you, Byron?" Ryll asked, her voice breaking a little as she fought off tears. This was her friend, the boy who had once saved her life. The boy she'd gone on a quest to save. Had he forgotten this? "You used to have kindness in your eyes, but now all I see is blind hatred." Just like Morgana.

"I grew up. I started to see the world for what it really is." He stood, walking over to a small window next to the cot. "I hoped that you would start to see things differently too, but you never did." He turned his eyes to her, and this time she saw regret behind them. "Life could have been much different if you'd stayed with me, helped me defeat Uther."

"That's not who I am, Byron," Ryll said softly. "I'm not a murderer, and you aren't either."

"Don't tell me who I am or am not," Byron said furiously, whirling around to face her. His eyes glowed amber for a second, and Ryll felt a surge of energy pass over her. Her breath caught in her lungs, and she grasped at her throat, unable to breathe for a moment. The pressure released at once, and Byron was suddenly there, apologizing, hands gentle on her face. She gulped in air once the pressure was released. Byron was sitting on the edge of the bed now, eyes clouded with concern. He leaned close. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to do that." He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I lose control sometimes."

"Get away from me!" Ryll pushed him back, her own anger taking over. Byron stumbled back, looking hurt. Ryll half expected him to lose control again, but his eyes just hardened, and he sat back down.

"I see."

"Byron, nothing has changed between us. Not like that. But I did care about you, do care about you. You're my friend. You were my friend. I never made the decision to stop being friends. You just up and disappeared from my life. I got the impression you stopped caring."

"I never stopped caring, but you wouldn't let me," he said fiercely.

"Is that all that matters to you? I'm not in love with you and I wouldn't help you murder Uther so I'm your enemy now? Is it that black and white? Why did you bring me here anyway? To remind me of how I failed as your friend?"

"I brought you here to offer you a second chance. This isn't about love. Love is fickle in the face of such changing times. Couldn't you feel it? The way the very earth shook last night?" His eyes lit up as he spoke.

"That was you?" Ryll asked.

"Not me." Byron shook his head. "Someone else."

"Morgana. But how do you know all this?"

Byron stood, moving to the foot of Ryll's bed. Her eyes followed him. "Because I've aligned myself with the right side. I didn't bring you here for myself; I brought you here because someone else wished to speak with you." He moved aside and another figure moved forward into the dim candlelight. Her black hair was unmistakable though much less sleek as it had been before. Her black dress clung to her as if she'd lost weight, and her skin had grown even paler. Green eyes shone with the same air of beauty and passion that Ryll knew so well.

"Morgana," she said softly as her once-friend stepped into the light.

"Ryll." There was nothing warm about the way Morgana said her name, and Ryll could find no warmth in her eyes.

"Why have you brought me here?" she asked.

"To ask you something important," Morgana said, her eyes glinting. "To ask you who Emrys is."

…

Morgana watched Ryll's face carefully as she said the name 'Emrys'. It was just a guess, just an idea she'd had. Ryll had magic. She lived in Camelot, heard rumors, knew people. Perhaps she'd heard mention of such a name; perhaps she knew who Emrys was. She'd first turned to Byron whom she'd been in contact with over the last year, but he had never heard the name.

Ryll didn't blink, but Morgana saw her hand clench ever so slightly. Her face stayed placid as she answered. "I've never heard that name before so if that's the only reason you brought me here, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed."

Morgana couldn't tell if Ryll was lying or not. Perhaps she didn't know who Emrys was, but she might know something. She certainly seemed anxious though she hid it well. Perhaps Byron could find out the truth. He still held a torch for her even though Ryll was in love with Arthur's serving boy. When she had first gotten the idea of going to Ryll, Morgana had been worried about the way she'd feel seeing her old friend for the first time in a year. For the first time since Ryll had betrayed her. Over the year she had developed a sort of apathy toward her though. Despite all they'd been through together, despite how close they'd been, Ryll had disappointed her in the end, let her down like everyone else. Morgana could trust only Morgause and Morgause was dead.

"If you're sure."

"Though I have no reason to tell you if I did know something, I don't know who that is," Ryll repeated. "I'll be missed. You can't keep me here long." She had no idea how long she'd been unconcious, how far away she was from Camelot.

"And who will come looking for you when everyone's so busy in Howden?"

Ryll's eyes did widen at this. "So you did do something."

"You felt it." Morgana was impressed. Ryll's magic had clearly strengthened since she's last seen her, but so had hers. "Arthur will meet his fate soon."

"Are you really so convinced that Arthur is his father? Last time I looked you were of Uther's blood too."

Morgana felt a surge of anger, but she kept herself calm. "Uther is not my father," she enunciated. "He is a murderer and a tyrant."

"I won't disagree with you there."

"Then why are you still in Camelot?" Morgana had tried to understand why Ryll had stayed, but she couldn't understand giving up freedom to hide who she really was, living in fear of Uther finding out the truth. Morgana knew how that felt. Ryll had so much potential, but she had betrayed Morgana's trust and helped Arthur and Uther.

"You know why," Ryll told her.

"Merlin. Is that servant boy really worth your time? Worth hiding in the shadows, unable to be yourself?" she asked scathingly.

"Merlin was your friend, and you speak of him like he's a stranger," Ryll said, her voice giving away her hurt.

"He tried to kill me."

"You and Morgause were killing everyone else. He did what needed to be done. I would have died too."

"I wouldn't have let you die. You could have joined us," Morgana said, unable to keep a hint of pleading from her voice. She hated that she still cared, that Ryll had caused her so much pain in her betrayal. They could do great things together; why couldn't Ryll see that?

"And you could have made the right choice," Ryll countered, not bothering to hide the emotion in her voice.

"Clearly we see the world very differently," Morgana concluded. "Because in my mind I made the only choice."

"Where's Morgause?" Ryll asked, throwing Morgana off. She wasn't ready to talk about her sister. She must have seen something on Morgana's eyes though because she said, "She's not here, is she? She's gone. Morgana, I'm sorry-"

"I don't need your sympathy! What do you know of sisters and loyalty?" How had this conversation become about her?

"But I do understand what it's like to lose a sister. You were closer to me than my own family, Morgana. But I lost you." Her tone was maddeningly calm while Morgana wanted to rage. Her pent up emotions over her sister's death were so close to the surface. She would not show these emotions in front of Ryll though. She would not appear weak.

"Take her back, Byron," she said. She suddenly didn't want Ryll in her house anymore. She wanted her gone from her sight because she missed her sister, and she secretly missed Ryll even after everything. Byron moved forward to Ryll's side. "Blindfold her," Morgana requested. She didn't want Ryll knowing where she lived.

Ryll stood as Byron pulled off a scarf from where it was tied around his wrist. She held still while he tied it. Morgana noticed that she didn't put weight on one leg. "She injured, take care," she said. She knows more than she's telling, she spoke into Byron's mind. Ask her more about Emrys.

He stiffened, and she knew he'd heard. He gave her a small nod, placing his hands on Ryll's shoulders. Morgana noticed Ryll's lips twist into a frown at his touch. Clearly they were not on good terms anymore either. He gave Ryll a soft push forward and she stumbled, her leg nearly crumpling under her.

"Here." Byron moved to help her, but Ryll tore her arm away from him.

"I can walk," she said stubbornly, hobbling forward. Byron frowned, putting a hand lightly on her arm to guide her. "Goodbye, Morgana," she said as she passed.

Morgana didn't speak, watching as Byron guided her out the door. "Until next time," she said softly to herself. "Maybe then you'll change your mind."

…

Ryll wanted to shove Byron's hand away again, but she was blinded by his scarf. Her mind was whirling from her conversation with Morgana. She had barely managed to hide her surprise at the mention of Emrys. Morgana had heard of him, but she didn't know who he was. Relief surged through her edged with caution. She would have to warn Merlin the second he returned to Camelot. Or the second she returned. She wasn't sure how long she'd been away. She heard a horse and then the jangling of a halter as Byron let go of her arm.

"Stay here," he told her.

"As if I could go anywhere," she spat, trying to keep the weight off her leg. It probably hadn't been her best idea not letting Byron help her walk, but she didn't want to appear any weaker than she already had.

After a moment, when she assumed the horse had been saddled, Byron led her over and helped her mount. "What did you do to your leg?" he asked, sliding into the saddle behind her. She wanted to pull away from him, but there was no room. She allowed him to reach his arms around her to take the reins. He pushed the horse into a walk.

"Fighting off a beast," she said.

"Looks like it won," Byron returned, a touch of humor to his voice, and for a second Ryll could forget that they were enemies.

"I'd be dead if it'd won," Ryll told him. "It ran back home with its tail between its legs – no wait, we cut its tail off."

"Merlin?"

"No. Another knight. I'm a knight now. Maybe you didn't know that."

"How could I possibly know that?" he asked.

"When we were friends, you would have been happy for me," she said. Her words were met with silence. "There was a time you full-heartedly supported me, but now I feel like were on opposing sides."

"Times have changed, Ryll. I realized I couldn't have a leg in both worlds. I had to pick a side."

"I see."

"I miss the way things were, Ryll, I really do," he said a moment later, his tone pleading as he spoke close to her ear. "Don't mistake this all for apathy. I haven't stopped caring about you."

"There was once a time you said Arthur would make a great king and yet now you plot against him with Morgana."

"It's not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

"I'm fighting for my people," Byron told her. "And if someone gets in the way of that then I will act accordingly. I don't have a personal vendetta against Arthur though. Not like Morgana."

"Why are you working with her? She's the one who got you landed in the dungeons and Theor killed."

"She's not the one who swung the axe."

"As good as," she argued.

"The past is the past, we're working toward a common goal now."

"If that's the way you justify it." They fell silent, Ryll wishing she was back in Camelot instead of stuck with Byron, blindfolded and angry. "What does Morgana want with this Emrys?" Ryll asked a moment later, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"Is there something you know that you didn't tell her?" Byron asked, his tone mildly curious though Ryll wouldn't be surprised if Morgana had asked him to try to get more information out of her.

"That was the first I'd heard the name. I'm just as curious as you," she replied flatly.

"He's a powerful sorcerer supposedly."

"Is Morgana seeking an alliance with him?" Ryll asked.

"I'm not sure it's that simple."

"Then he is her enemy."

"I'm not sure who or what he is." Byron's tone had grown impatient. "Just that he's very powerful. A little like your boy."

"Merlin?" Ryll's blood ran cold. How had she forgotten that Byron knew of Merlin's magic? He could tell Morgana. Morgana could put two and two together. She felt her heartbeat ticking out a frantic tempo. "His magic is no more powerful than mine." Byron was quiet. "You don't seriously think he's Emrys?"

"Perhaps not." Byron sounded unsure.

"I think I'd know if the boy I'm in love with was that powerful of a sorcerer."

"You seem keen to belittle his powers," Byron said.

"I'm just keen to keep him away from Morgana's wrath. He's got nothing to do with this. Have you told her he has magic?" she asked, fearing the answer.

"No, I haven't. I hadn't even thought of it until now."

"Will you promise me that you won't tell her? Please, Byron, I don't want him involved with this."

"Why should I promise you or him anything?" Byron asked, his tone hard.

"Because you said it yourself, you do still care about me. If you really do then you'll do this for me."

"I'm surprised Morgana doesn't already know that Merlin has magic after living in Camelot as his friend for so long. How disappointed she'd be to learn that he'd let her think she was alone all that time."

"Byron, this isn't about that."

"You seem desperate to keep his magic a secret. Why?"

This wasn't the direction she'd wanted this conversation to go. There was too much of a risk that Byron would tell Morgana of Merlin's magic. She might not believe that he was Emrys, but it would mean trouble. There was too much at stake. "Because Morgana is unstable right now. I don't know why she wants to find this Emrys, but I don't want her targeting Merlin for any of her schemes. She's angry with him for poisoning her, she could easily destroy him by telling Arthur he has magic."

"I'll keep your secret. For now."

For now wasn't good enough. Ryll felt her blood pumping hard and adrenaline surging through her veins. She needed to protect Merlin. Morgana couldn't find out he had magic. She couldn't find out that he was Emrys. Her mind flitted to a spell she'd read in one of Merlin's magic books – a spell for forgetting. It was strong magic, perhaps beyond her, but she could not let Byron go with that knowledge. Focusing her powers, Ryll built up a wind that whipped around them through the trees. The horse nickered nervously.

"Where is this wind coming from?" Byron asked.

"Maybe it's about to storm."

She pulled a gust toward them, and the horse sidestepped nervously. Thunder cracked overhead, and lightning struck in the distance. There was an especially strong surge of wind and the horse reared, throwing Byron and Ryll backwards off its back. They landed hard, Byron cushioning the fall for Ryll. She ripped the scarf off and knelt over him, pressing her uninjured knee into his chest.

His eyes widened. "That was you. Impressive. Clearly I've underestimated your powers." He smiled grimly up at her.

"Clearly."

"But you forget that I have powers of my own."

"Never." Ryll sent her powers into the earth, and roots surged out, encircling Byron's wrists. He tried to struggle, but they held him down. "Don't make this difficult, Byron," Ryll said. "You helped train me. You know how powerful I am. My power has only grown since. Thanks to the help of the stone you gave me." His eyes travelled to the pink stone that dangled from her neck.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" She couldn't read his green eyes just then. There was something like acceptance in them as if he'd let her kill him, but she knew she could never do that.

"Not kill you, of course not kill you," she said. "But I can't let you put Merlin at risk."

"He is Emrys, isn't he?" Byron said. "I knew it."

"It's not my secret to give away."

"Well short of killing me, I'm not sure what you expect is going to keep me from telling Morgana now."

"In the past I would have just trusted you with that secret, but not anymore. There are ways of making you forget things though."

Byron's eyes narrowed. "You're not that powerful." His tone was uncertain though.

"You want to bet on that? Don't worry, I won't make you forget anything else. Just that Merlin ever had power." She started chanting the spell, her eyes burning bright amber. Byron tried to struggle, tried to send out magic to stop her, but she was too strong for him. She saw his eyes grow distant as she spoke. Finally she stopped. "You will forget that Merlin has magic. You will forget that he is Emrys. You will forget that we even spoke of him." She was tempted to say more, tell him to forget that Theor had died, that he hated Uther, that he was helping Morgana, but she stopped herself. That was not her right. She ended the spell and Byron's eyes fluttered shut. She released him, sitting back. She felt utterly drained after her spell. It had taken more out of her than any other spell she'd ever performed.

Byron stirred next to her, putting a hand to his head and sitting up. "What happened?" he asked.

"There was a flash storm. The horse bolted, and we fell. Are you alright?" She noted that the horse had stopped and was grazing a few yards away now that the storm was gone.

"I'm fine. Just a little dazed. I'm surprised you didn't take off." He watched her carefully.

"On an injured leg after the horse ran off? Great escape plan. I suppose you think I caused that storm too."

Byron shook his head. "I feel a little funny."

"Maybe you hit your head. What's the last thing you remember?" she asked carefully.

"We were talking about something… Emrys. I was asking if you knew something about him you hadn't told Morgana."

"I was about to ask if you'd heard of any other sorcerers in Camelot besides me." She watched him as he thought.

"No. Not that I know of. You?"

"I haven't heard of any. I haven't told anyone about my own powers. Just you and Morgana."

"So your boy – Merlin, was it? – knows nothing of your magic?" he asked. "That must be difficult to hide."

"It can be," Ryll said, relief filling her. "I hate lying to him, but it's for his own good."

"I just don't understand how you can stay in Camelot alone like that."

"Funny what we do for love, isn't it?"

"Funny." He got to his feet, holding out a hand for her to take. This time she accepted his assistance. He retrieved the horse, helping Ryll back on. He hesitated, grabbing the scarf from where she had tossed it onto the ground. "May I?" he asked. She nodded, allowing him to tie the scarf onto her head again. They were silent the rest of the ride until Byron pulled the horse to a stop. "Here's where I leave you. Can you make it back on your own?" he asked.

"I can." He helped her down, untying his scarf. She saw that they were at the outskirts of the forest, the castle just in sight. Her heart nearly stopped at what she saw. "What happened?" Black smoke rose from the city like smog, and the dawn was bleak. "How long was I gone?" she asked quietly.

"Not that long. A day." Byron looked as shocked as she felt.

"Seems like Morgana's scheme has already reached the city."

"Ryll, I had no idea." Byron sounded as surprised as her. "I can come with you if you-"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "You should go. I'll be fine."

"Ryll." He tried to grab her arm, but she moved away.

"You picked your side, Byron," she told him, meeting his eyes steadily. "Let me go."

He didn't try to stop her but stood watching as she hobbled toward the smoking city, fearing what had happened while she was away.