-93-

The next few weeks were difficult for Merlin. He went on acting as if everything was all right, smiling around everyone and teasing Arthur. As soon as he was alone, however, the smile slid and he felt the loss of Ryll over again. He hadn't told anyone yet, not even Gaius. He didn't know what he would say anyway. He couldn't explain it. He didn't want to think about it. He hadn't seen Ryll in that span of time. She seemed to be avoiding him, and he didn't go looking for her. He couldn't face her yet after that. The pain was still too close even if it didn't feel real yet. He'd lost too many friends, and a part of him didn't accept that Ryll was really gone from his life. He spent a lot of time in the forest wandering around. Today was no different. He found himself deeper into the forest than usual, losing track of time. His thoughts were drifting unbidden back to the picnics he'd shared with Ryll.

They were seated in a clearing that overlooked the kingdom and sunlight cascaded down on them with a warm touch. Ryll sat next to Merlin, and he draped an arm around her waist. She leaned into him and pressed a kiss to his temple. "This is perfect," she said, and he couldn't imagine anything more perfect. "Sometimes I look back on how far I've come, where I was five years ago, where I am now. I think if I died tomorrow I'd be content because I finally have everything I had always wanted. A home, friends, someone who loves me." She looked at him then, her blue eyes warm.

"Don't forget being knighted," Merlin added.

"Of course not." She looked toward Camelot. "Even if we still have to hide who we are, I've finally gained control of my magic. I've embraced it and because it's become a part of me, I no longer fear losing control." Merlin knew she kept her druid's symbol well hidden, but it had grown bold the more she used her magic until it had permanently marked her skin on her shoulder blade. His eyes fell to the pink stone she kept around her neck always. The conduit had served her well but sometimes he wondered if she needed it anymore. She had become a master of herself and no one could take that away from her.

But something had changed. Something had taken that away from her. This was not the Ryll he knew. For the first time in the last few weeks his head cleared. Something was very wrong, and he needed to find the truth. He turned around to head back to the castle but a sound behind him made him whirl around. He had heard his name. From between the trees stepped Byron. Merlin hadn't seen the druid in ages but he knew of his association with Morgana. He watched him warily.

"What do you want?"

"No need for the hostility, Merlin," Byron said, holding up his hands. "I come in peace."

"Like I'm going to believe that."

Byron's face clouded, but he gave Merlin a curt nod. "I deserve that. I really do. I've done nothing to gain your trust. Quite the opposite in fact. Hear me out though. I come here for Ryll's sake."

"Ryll? What do you mean?" Merlin asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Morgana has enchanted Ryll," Byron said.

Merlin's heart gave a jolt. That would explain Ryll's behavior. "But how? Ryll is powerful an enchantment wouldn't hold."

"She is but so is the amulet I gave her to wear."

"Morgana enchanted her necklace?"

"Yes."

"Why are you telling me this?" Merlin asked.

"Because I've been rethinking my decisions lately," Byron said. "Though I want freedom for my people I realize that slaughtering Arthur and those in Camelot who stand up against us is not the answer. There has been too much bloodshed already and seeing Morgana use Ryll like that…"

"Morgana is evil. She's not the girl she used to be," Merlin said forcefully. He realized that any sympathy he'd felt for her had long ago died. She'd done too much to gain forgiveness. And how could she use Ryll like that? She wouldn't be alive if not for Ryll.

"I overheard Arthur speaking at the druid shrine the other day," Byron said. "He asked for forgiveness for what had happened there. He promised peace and respect for the druids. I was wrong about him. Arthur is a good man, and I believe one day he will unite our people."

"I know he will. Morgana is just going to cause more strife. She wants power not peace."

"I see that now." Byron looked at him. "We need to get Ryll back. I know Morgana is planning something. She has Agravaine in her pocket."

"I noticed."

"You're clever, Merlin," Byron told him. "Maybe if we work together we can get Ryll back and stop Morgana's plan. I know you don't trust me, but trust that I really do care about Ryll. It sickens me to see Morgana use her like this."

"How long?" Merlin asked.

"How long has she been using Ryll? For awhile now."

"Then why didn't you put a stop to this sooner? You knew what she was doing." Merlin couldn't keep the anger out of his voice.

Byron had the decency to look ashamed. "I should have. I'm sorry I didn't. Maybe I just wanted Ryll back too, but that wasn't the right way. Morgana overstepped her boundaries."

"How do we break the enchantment?"

"We have to destroy the necklace," Byron told him. "I don't have the power to do so, but I can get the necklace."

"It won't break once she takes it off?"

"Not a spell this powerful."

"I can break the spell." Byron gave him a confused look. "I know a sorcerer," Merlin added. Of course Byron had forgotten he had magic, and Merlin wasn't ready to tell him again. "He's very powerful."

"Emrys?" Byron asked catching Merlin off guard. His mouth opened but no words came out. "It's all right, Merlin. I'm not going to tell anyone about Emrys. If he really is Morgana's doom then he might be our only hope. I'll get the necklace tonight. Meet me outside the gates. It must be destroyed quickly before Morgana notices the necklace is gone. Then we'll have the old Ryll back."

Merlin nodded. "Thank you."

"I really have changed my way of thinking. Maybe some day I'll find a way to make it up to you – all the wrong I've done."

"Get Ryll back and you'll have my thanks," Merlin told him. Byron nodded before disappearing back into the woods. Merlin made his way back to the castle feeling more hopeful than he had in ages. Ryll wasn't really gone. The Ryll who had broken his heart was Morgana's puppet. That hadn't been the real Ryll at all. Tonight he would have her back.

…

Ryll had been spending a lot of time at Morgana's home. She only spent enough time in Camelot so that the other knights wouldn't get suspicious. Morgana was teaching her spells she'd never even tried before, helping her hone her magic she so rarely used to its full potential. She'd never felt so powerful before. She and Morgana made a formidable pair, and Ryll saw how much living in Camelot had subdued her powers. With Morgana she felt as if she could truly be herself. There was no hiding her potential. She could tap as far into her powers as she wanted without fear of repercussion. Maybe her time in Camelot had come to an end. She could be more useful here at Morgana's side, and there was nothing left for her in Camelot.

"You're a fast learner," Morgana complimented as Ryll successfully finished the enchantment Morgana had been teaching her. Ryll could feel the power thrumming through her fingers. "Ryll…" Morgana's tone was hesitant, and Ryll turned to her friend. "You believe what I'm doing is right, don't you?" she asked. It was the first time Morgana had shown any signs of doubt. She'd never asked Ryll such a question before, but now Ryll could see the concern in Morgana's eyes. She really wanted Ryll to approve of what she was doing.

"Morgana you're working to set our people free from narrow-minded people who would persecute us. Of course you're doing the right thing," she replied.

"And you would follow me?" Morgana asked.

Ryll reached forward and took Morgana's hands in her own. "Of course I would. We're sisters, remember? Sisters follow each other. Into battle even. You have my allegiance, Morgana. Where is this coming from?"

Morgana's eyes fell to Ryll's necklace and then back up to her face. "Nothing," she said with a forced smile. Ryll wasn't sure what to think, but she nodded, accepting that Morgana's doubts had faded. "I just want to make sure that I have you by my side when I take the throne of Camelot," Morgana told her.

"I'll be right there," Ryll promised.

"You'd better get back before you're missed."

"Morgana, I was thinking…I can do so much more here with you. There's nothing for me in Camelot. I'm tired of playing friend to my enemies."

"Soon," Morgana promised her. "I have delivered the map of Camelot's siege tunnels to Helios. The Southrons will attack Camelot, and we will take what is rightfully ours. We will strike tonight during the Beltane celebrations. Then you will take your place at my side."

Ryll smiled. "I can hardly wait."

"Then go and when the time comes, rise up and join me in victory," Morgana told her, squeezing her hand.

Ryll took her leave, mounting her horse and riding off toward the castle. Tonight she would be free. She just had to play the loyal knight a little longer. She was halfway back to Camelot when a force field seemed to reach out and snatch her right off of her horse's back. She went flying, hitting the ground hard enough to see stars. Her horse bolted, and she was left to face whoever had attacked her. She drew her sword as she leapt to her feet.

"There's no need for that." Someone stepped out of the shadows, and Ryll recognized Byron's dark hair and green eyes. "Trust me, you'll thank me for this."

"For what?" Ryll backed away as Byron took a step toward her. She felt a surge of magic, and her sword went flying. She summoned her own powers and stopped Byron in his tracks. "Don't come a step further," she growled.

"Ryll, Morgana has enchanted you to follow her. She enchanted that necklace, and I need to destroy it to free you."

"More of that nonsense?"

"It's the truth, Ryll. I went along with it because I wanted you back too, but this isn't right. You don't deserve to be treated this way – like a puppet. The real you would hate what was happening."

"You're just jealous that I have more power than you."

"No. I'm not. I just finally saw that what I was going along with was a grave mistake. I'm trying to fix that."

"You're not getting anywhere near me. Morgana will hear of your betrayal."

"I'm sorry Ryll. I didn't want to have to do this." Byron sent out a surge of power that knocked Ryll off her feet. Her own magic faltered. Her anger boiled. Byron thought he could defeat her? Not likely. She flung her own magic back at him, and he was sent flying. He hit a tree and slumped to the ground with a groan.

"You're not stronger than me," Ryll said, getting to her feet. Byron got up as well, shaking his head.

"Maybe not. But I know someone who is."

"Who?"

"Emrys." Ryll started at the name.

"You know who Emrys is?" she asked. "You've been consorting with Morgana's greatest enemy? I didn't realize you'd fallen so far."

"I'm not the one who has fallen so far. Morgana has fallen further, and I'm trying to save you from making the same mistake."

"The only mistake I made was in trusting you," Ryll spat, pleased to see that Byron flinched at her words.

"Emrys can break the spell," Byron persisted.

"He's here?" Ryll looked around her, suddenly fearful that she was outnumbered. It was then that Byron struck. He almost had her in his grasp, his magic strong as it held her tightly. She felt her powers waning as she tried to fight back. Her fingers grasped her necklace. It helped channel her powers, but without it… She gave it a sharp tug, and her powers surged forward, uninhibited by the stone. Byron flew backwards, and this time he did not get up. She walked toward him, holding her necklace in her hand.

"I'll let you live this time," she said to his unconscious body. "But if you cross me again you won't be so lucky." She pocketed her necklace, took up her sword, and left Byron in the woods. She found her horse a few yards away and mounted again riding hard to Camelot. No one would get in their way this time. Ryll would make sure of that.

…

Merlin waited outside in the cold night. The celebrations had only just died down, and he'd managed to slip away. No signs of Byron yet. He hoped the druid hadn't been lying when he said he would get the necklace. He knew Byron still cared about Ryll though. If anything could change the druid's mind about allegiance it was Ryll. Merlin tapped his foot, trying hard to keep warm. He was shivering a few minutes later, cursing Byron's tardiness. Finally he saw a shape emerge from the woods. He went forward to meet him as soon as he saw it was Byron. The druid was rubbing his head looking a bit dazed.

"Did you get the necklace?" Merlin asked.

Byron's eyes answered his question. "She attacked me. I didn't realize she was that powerful. She took the necklace off and used the full force of her powers on me. I messed up. Badly. And now she knows I'm not loyal to Morgana anymore."

"Where is she?"

"I don't know. She knocked me unconscious. I woke up just a few minutes ago in the forest."

"We need to get her back!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry I didn't get it. I want her back just as much as you do. Listen, she has to be somewhere. Maybe you can find her in the castle-" Byron's words were cut off as screams came from somewhere inside the castle. Merlin and Byron's eyes met before both raced back inside the castle and toward the source of the screams. Soldiers were streaming into the city, cutting down people as they went. Where had they come from? Merlin's thoughts went to the siege tunnel plans he had thought Agravaine had stolen. He must have succeeded.

"It's too late," he said. "Morgana's plan has started."