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Merlin sat watching as Gwaine and Ryll faced off in the training ring. Her face was focused, eyes watching for any sudden movements from the other knight. The other knights and Arthur watched, sending out encouragement for both sides. It was Ryll who struck first, her sword swinging through the air in an elegant arc. Gwaine swung his blade up to catch it, but Ryll pulled away a moment later, jabbing sideways and forcing him to lower his blade. She had an energy and ferocity that Merlin hadn't seen in awhile. Gwaine's gleeful smile quickly turned to a scowl of concentration as he parried her blows. It took a few moments for Merlin to realize something was wrong. Ryll was fighting Gwaine with no signs of a smile on her face, in fact, her eyes held no shred of mercy. It was like she believed Gwaine her enemy. No matter what Gwaine did to annoy her, Ryll would never attack him like this. Gwaine's sword slipped, and Ryll raised hers above his head. Merlin sent out a surge of magic in alarm, and her sword missed him entirely. It did knock his sword to the ground though, ending the battle.

"Well done," Gwaine said, panting. He took a few steps back. "You won that one."

Merlin watched Ryll cautiously, but a moment later a smile lit up her face. She reached out a hand to shake his and the momentary aggression passed. Merlin shook his head and a moment later Arthur distracted him by dumping a pile of armor into his hands to clean. Arthur kept Merlin so busy the next couple of weeks that he hardly seemed to see Ryll. She was always busy with knight duties, and oftentimes he couldn't find her even when the other knights had returned to the castle for the day. He began to worry.

…

Ryll had never found the world so clear before. It was as if a window into the truth had been opened, and she could see everything for what it really was. Morgana asked her to relay inside information on Arthur. Agravaine was helpful too, and they both kept Morgana up on the news within Camelot. It gave Ryll a sense of peace to know that she was finally standing up for her kind. Byron had come to Morgana's hut several times, and Ryll had been surprised at his dour expression. She'd overheard him speaking to Morgana in hushed, angry tones, and she heard her name. She couldn't quite tell what they were saying about her but she got the distinct impression that Byron didn't approve of Ryll working with them. She couldn't understand why though. This was where she belonged. He of all people should understand that.

It was two months after she'd joined Morgana that Byron approached her in the woods as she made her way toward Morgana's hut. She whirled on him, pulling out a knife. She had it against his throat before she realized who it was. He held up his hands, and she pulled the knife away.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me," she hissed. "I thought you were a knight of Camelot."

"And if I was?" Byron asked.

"I'd deal with him," Ryll replied, stowing the knife in her sheath.

"But you are a knight," Byron reminded her.

"It's a cover," Ryll said. Arthur trusted her completely. She was in the perfect position to spy.

"Right. A cover." Byron didn't sound convinced.

"Are you questioning my loyalty to Morgana?" Ryll asked. Byron studied her for a moment before answering.

"What would you say if I told you Morgana had enchanted you to follow her?" he asked. His green eyes were serious, and Ryll stared at him.

"What delusions are you talking about?" she asked. "You're just jealous because Morgana favors me. I'm her sister."

"Listen to yourself. That's not the Ryll I knew."

"No, the Ryll you knew is long gone. You left her ages ago after declaring her your enemy."

"That's hardly fair." His green eyes flashed, and he moved a pace closer to her.

"Isn't it?"

Byron ran a hand through his dark hair. "We want the same thing. Peace for our people. I started working for Morgana because I thought it was the best way to get that, but she is trying to get peace through violent means. I don't agree with that. Whatever I am, I'm still a druid, and druids are peaceful people."

"You preach peace when you nearly caused a war between Camelot and the druids," Ryll said with a scathing laugh. She took a step forward so that she was a breath away from Byron. She tilted her head up so she could look him in the eye. "Are you on our side or not? Morgana does not tolerate traitors."

"I'm not a traitor, Ryll, but my people come first. You used to understand that sort of loyalty."

"Morgana is my people. You think anyone in Camelot would side with me? Merlin is the only one who knows about my magic, and he can't do much. He's Arthur's servant."

Byron's eyes held a sadness Ryll didn't understand as she spoke. "I'm not saying you should stop fighting for your freedom," he said. "But this isn't the way the Ryll I knew would have gone about it. Maybe you don't believe that Morgana enchanted you, but I refuse to go along with this if she ends up hurting you."

"Morgana would never hurt me. She's my sister."

"You're not her sister. Morgause was, and look what happened to her," Byron snapped.

"You're just jealous. Everyone who was close to you died or you drove them away." Byron reeled back at her accusation.

"I don't even know you anymore," he said before turning and vanishing into the woods.

Ryll fumed the entire way to Morgana's hut. She didn't understand why Byron was making up things. Morgana would never enchant her. Ryll had chosen her side willingly. She was the mole inside of Camelot waiting to expose its secrets to the girl who could set people with magic free. Byron had once wanted the same. What had changed? He was probably just angry that Ryll had chosen to help Morgana but not him when he'd waged war on Camelot. She'd tell Morgana if he continued to say things like that.

She reached the hovel where Morgana had made her home and knocked before entering. She knew Morgana hated it when Agravaine entered without knocking. It was presumptuous and disrespectful. Ryll knew that Agravaine was jealous of the close relationship she shared with Morgana. She'd quickly become Morgana's most trusted confidant – a position she knew Agravaine desired. She knew Agravaine only took Morgana's side because he expected a position of power when she took over Camelot's throne. Ryll would be taking Morgana's right hand, but Agravaine might still be useful to have around. She knew he'd be only too glad to hunt down those who objected to magic. If they eliminated all those who opposed magic then there would be no one to cause strife. Wasn't that the ideal world? Why then was Byron turning against the idea? Ryll shook it from her head as she greeted Morgana. They embraced, Morgana smiling brilliantly at Ryll.

"Hello, sister. What news?" she asked.

"Not much. As usual Arthur seems impervious to our plans." She'd aided Morgana in a few attempts to hoist the king out of Camelot, but nothing had worked. Something always stopped them.

"Never mind. I have a new plan in mind," Morgana said. "I need your help though if it is going to work."

"Anything."

"As you know, Arthur has proposed to Gwen. I can't stand to see her take the throne that rightfully belongs to me." Ryll nodded. Morgana had long ago had nightmares about Gwen taking the throne. She'd tried to have Gwen executed once before by exposing her and Arthur's relationship back when Uther was king, but in the end the plan had not worked out. Now Gwen and Arthur were inseparable. "I'm going to break them apart."

"How?"

"By bringing Lancelot back to life." Morgana smirked.

"How is that possible?" Ryll asked. "He fell into the veil."

"He'll come back as a shade of his former self, but I daresay he'll be real enough to fool Arthur and the other knights. That's where you come in. I need you to convince them that he is real."

"I can do that. But how will that break Gwen and Arthur apart? Gwen got over her feelings for Lancelot ages ago. Especially since she thinks he's dead."

"A little love enchantment should do the trick," Morgana said pulling out a cuff bracelet. "If she wears this then she'll find herself drawn to Lancelot. All Arthur has to do is catch them."

Ryll grinned. "When do we start?"

"I must find a way to summon his soul back from the beyond. There's a creature of the old religion I will seek called the Dochraid. She can tell me what I need to do."

"Will you take me with you when you summon Lancelot?" Ryll asked.

"Can you be spared from the castle?"

"Yes."

"Then I will take you. Meet me back here in an hour."

…

Ryll arrived back at Morgana's hut in an hour, eager to begin her newest plan. Part of her was excited to see Lancelot again, but she had to keep reminding herself that he wouldn't really be coming back. Not the real him. Lancelot had always been kind to her, the best of friends. He'd never judged her for her magic. A part of her suddenly rebelled against the thought of using him this way. He'd be horrified. But this wasn't really him. That made it different, right? Doubts were worming their way into Ryll's head when Morgana entered the hut. She smiled at Ryll.

"I know what to do and where to go," she said. "The pool of Nemhain. I must cast this coin into the waters and summon Lancelot back." She showed Ryll a medallion.

"You're sure it's not really going to be Lancelot?" Ryll asked, biting her lip.

Morgana studied her for a moment. "Not getting cold feet, are you?" she asked, a frown pursing her lips.

"It's not that. It's just…Lancelot was my friend. He always supported my magic."

"It's not really him," Morgana assured her. "Just a wraith."

Ryll nodded. "I just don't want him to get hurt. I know he was a knight of Camelot and one of Arthur's most trusted friends, but he didn't have anything against magic."

"Would he have chosen you over Arthur though?" Morgana asked.

"I don't know…" She liked to think so, but in reality she had no idea. Lancelot was a loyal knight to Camelot and Arthur first and foremost.

Morgana gave her a sympathetic look. "Only the true friends stay with you when it's time to choose a side." Something bitter passed over her face in that moment though Ryll didn't understand why. "Are you ready?" Ryll nodded.

The waters of the pond were black and still. It seemed like the sort of place someone might come back from the dead. Their horses pawed nervously at the ground. Ryll was riding another horse besides Owl. The mare had refused to come anywhere near Morgana's hovel since a few months before when she'd left the patrol to find her. She couldn't account for the mare's odd behavior so she'd switched to a black charger who listened to her direction.

Morgana approached the pond, and Ryll watched from the banks as she walked straight into the black water, her dress melting into it as if she were a part of the pond. She stood for a moment before tossing the coin straight into the water. It disappeared, the water around it bubbling up and in its place a dark head and a set of shoulders appeared. Lancelot rose from the lake, his dark hair dripping around him. He strode forward and stopped in front of Morgana.

"My name is Lancelot, my lady." He spoke and it was such a familiar voice that something deep inside of Ryll ached at the sound of it. His dark eyes were the same, and she wanted to rush forward and embrace him. She reminded herself that it wasn't really him. He bowed low to Morgana and spoke again. "I am yours to command."

Morgana's lips twisted up in a smirk. "Come with us," she said, and Lancelot followed wordlessly. They'd brought an extra horse, and they all mounted, riding for Morgana's hut. She let Lancelot use her bed. He was exhausted from his reawakening, real or not. Ryll stood watching him sleep for a long time until sunset tinged the sky, and she realized she would be missed from Camelot if she did not return soon. She found she didn't want to leave though. She walked forward and studied Lancelot closer. He looked so much like the friend she remembered. He'd always shown her the most loyal and kind offering of friendship. This somehow felt like a betrayal of that trust.

"I didn't think I'd feel anything," Morgana spoke from the doorway. "But I feel sad looking at him. He used to be so mighty, and now he's just a shade of his former self. It seems somehow wrong using his mind in such a way."

Ryll turned her eyes to Morgana. Morgana's own eyes were distant as if she'd forgotten Ryll was there. She seemed to come back, shaking her head slightly before meeting Ryll's questioning eyes. "But it's not really him," she corrected herself. "When he appears tomorrow in Camelot, you must act surprised but convinced. Even if you have to show a shred of suspicion to convince Arthur and Merlin, make sure they believe he's genuine."

"I will."

"Good. Now you'd better head back before you're missed."

Ryll took one more look at Lancelot before turning to leave. On the ride back to Camelot, she couldn't stop the stream of memories that flooded her mind. Her time with Lancelot when she'd been exiled, her time with him as a knight, the day he'd sacrificed himself to save everyone. Not for the first time something felt off. She just wished she knew what.

…

"Where were you?" Merlin's accusatory voice jolted Ryll as she entered her bedroom.

"Out riding," Ryll answered shortly. Merlin had been so suspicious lately. She had tried to avoid him as much as possible, but it wouldn't do to arouse his suspicion. "I just needed some fresh air."

"You missed dinner and evening patrol. I said you were sick."

"I had a headache."

Merlin didn't look convinced. "Something is going on with you. I wish you'd tell me what's wrong."

"Right now I'd just like to be left alone," Ryll snapped and instantly regretted it. Merlin had winced at her harsh words.

"Alright." He turned and left the room without another word. Ryll cursed herself. If she didn't start acting normal around Merlin, her and Morgana's plan would be ruined. Merlin was shrewd and had a knack for figuring things out. This time she couldn't let that happen. Their plan relied on people like Merlin believing that Lancelot had truly come back.