Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait and the short chapter! The school year is over this week, so I won't have any substitute teaching jobs and I haven't gotten summer hours yet at my other job, so I'll try to take advantage of that time and write!

-98-

Gwen's coronation took place the next day and there was an overabundance of joy around the castle. What better way to recover from an attack than to see a new queen crowned? The people were heartened to see a blacksmith's daughter crowned queen of Camelot, and Arthur had never looked happier. After the ceremony Arthur gathered his knights to share the news of Morgana. Gwen joined him at his side.

"The guards found no signs of Morgana," Arthur started. Ryll sat at the round table listening as he spoke. The thought that Morgana was still out there somewhere was unsettling.

"She'll be weak," Ryll said. "Even if she did survive."

"I don't think she'll be attacking Camelot anytime soon," Gwaine said.

"She'll find Camelot stronger than ever if she does," Leon said.

"Thank you to everyone for your service and loyalty," Arthur told them, looking around at each of them. "I couldn't ask for better knights or friends."

"And we couldn't ask for a greater king," Gwaine added.

"Or queen," Percival spoke up. Gwen beamed.

"We'll be cautious," Arthur said. "But for now we need to work on rebuilding Camelot. If Morgana is still out there, and if she decides to strike again, we'll be ready." As everyone got up to go about their business, mainly overseeing repairs and helping the people who'd lost their fields or homes in the battle, Ryll called Arthur aside.

"Can I speak with you?" she asked, her heart thundering with nerves in her chest. She could stop now. It wasn't too late.

"Of course." The room cleared out until only Arthur and Ryll remained.

"Arthur there's something I must tell you, but I'm afraid you won't like it," Ryll blurted before fear could stop her.

"You know you can tell me anything," he said with a friendly smile that made Ryll ache. He wouldn't be smiling in a minute.

"I do know that, but I don't think you would ever have expected what I'm going to tell you."

"Now you're worrying me." His smile slid a little. "What is it Ryll?"

"Arthur from the moment I set foot in Camelot my allegiance and loyalty has been right here with you. At the time I was still discovering things about myself and my past. Over the years I came to learn things. For one, I'm part Sidhe. They're creatures of magic, and I have their blood in my veins. I didn't realize this until I visited the Sidhe to purge myself from the dark magic the wraith left in me. Because of that bloodline my family has magic. My mother had it," she watched his face as she spoke, "and I have it."

A silence followed her words. Ryll forged on. "I didn't realize at first – you remember that ring I once wore? The one that helped defeat the wraith? It muted my magic – to protect me I suppose. I have only ever used magic to protect myself and the people I love. I even tried to repress it because I didn't want to break Camelot's laws. I have never used it for my own gain or to hurt someone. Never within this city's walls." She didn't mention the Brotherhood that she had taken down with her magic so long ago when she'd still been afraid of her powers. "I cannot help the way I was born. I'm not like Morgana though. I would never use magic for evil. You must believe that. Please say something."

"I don't know what to say." Arthur's voice was strained. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I owe you the truth. You are my king and you should know the real me. I don't want to keep secrets like Morgana did. When I was under her control she could have used my magic to hurt people."

"So she knew?" There was definite hurt in his voice.

"She found out. I tried to help her with her own magic, but her fear of persecution won out in the end and, well, you know what happened."

"You knew Morgana had magic when she was still living here? And you kept it to yourself?" There was something verging on anger in his eyes, but it was mingled with confusion too as if he didn't really know what to believe.

"It wasn't my secret to tell. I tried to keep her from turning against your father but I couldn't stop it. You have to understand Arthur; we can't help the way we are. Just the choices we make. Morgana didn't make the right choices, but tell me; what do you think would have happened if Uther had found out sooner? Would he have accepted Morgana with open arms? I was trying to protect her as any friend would do."

"I need some time to think about this. Who else knows? Merlin?"

Ryll had been afraid of this question. "Not at first. But when my magic started to develop after the ring was destroyed he found out and helped me try to suppress it. He was just trying to protect me. Please don't take this out on him. None of this ways his fault."

"Have you ever used magic on me?" Arthur asked.

"Never. I fought Morgana using magic after I broke free of her enchantment. I respect you far too much to use it on you. I love Camelot Arthur, and I foresee great things in its future but one of these days you're going to have to make a choice. Is all magic evil or is there good magic or at least people who use it for good? I will not ask you to make this decision today or any day soon, but I hope you will consider what I've said. For now I'm going to make it easy for you. I'm going to go live with the druids until you need me here again. I'll watch out for Camelot from afar and hope that one day you will welcome me back." She bowed low. "You will always be my king, Arthur, no matter what you decide."

She started to walk away. "Did you stop Morgana's magic?" Arthur asked.

"No," she said, turning back. "Someone much more powerful than me."

"Do you know who?"

Ryll shook her head. "I do not. I do know that he cares greatly for Camelot too."

"I owe you and Byron a great debt for your bravery in battle," Arthur continued. Ryll's hopes rose. "You both have my thanks, and I will not punish Byron. But I think it's a good idea if you left the castle. I will not banish you, but I can't have a knight who has magic." His words were hard, but she could see the regret in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"I understand." Ryll summoned a smile. "You'll know where to find me."

…

Byron was waiting for her in the stables with Owl saddled and ready to go. Byron's own horse stood saddled next to the chestnut mare. As soon as the enchantment had broken Owl had warmed up to Ryll again. "How did he take it?" Byron asked.

"He didn't throw me into the dungeons or banish me. He thanked us for our service in battle but he also said he could not someone with magic…someone like me…for a knight. I asked him to consider it though, the possibility that not all magic is evil. I think he will. Arthur is reasonable, and he knows I'd never act against Camelot or him."

Byron put a hand on Ryll's shoulder. "Are you ready?" he asked. Ryll nodded though her heart was saying something very different.

"Yes."

They mounted and rode out of Camelot's gates. Ryll looked back at the great city once and swore she'd return one day. She'd once been a wanderer, never staying in one place for very long. She hadn't had anyone to care about – no one to care about her. Now she felt as if her heart was ripping in two, like she was leaving behind a piece of herself.

"There's one more thing before we leave," Byron said as they approached the forest. Ryll followed his gaze and saw Merlin standing there by the trees. Ryll's heart skipped a beat.

"You told him?"

"He had a right to know." Byron reached out for Owl's reins, pulling the mare to a stop. Ryll hesitated.

"If I talk to him I might never leave," she said in a quiet voice.

"You will. Because this isn't goodbye," Byron told her. She nodded, dismounting and walking slowly over to where Merlin stood.

"You're leaving," he said when she reached him. It wasn't a question, and she could hear the pain in his voice.

"I had to tell him." She wished with all her might that he would understand.

"And he asked you to leave?"

"I told him I'd give him some time. He told me that was a good idea."

"Why did you have to tell him?"

"Merlin, he needed to know. It's not fair for me to ask for his trust when he doesn't really know who I am."

"Camelot needs you." His voice was pleading. "I need you."

"Take care of Arthur, Merlin. He needs you by his side. And don't worry, I'm not banished. I'm not gone forever. You can come and visit me whenever you like."

"It's not the same."

"This kingdom is at a turning point but right now Arthur needs to make his own decisions, and I need to make mine."

"I'm going to miss you," he said, his voice thick.

"And I'm going to miss you, but this isn't goodbye."

"I've heard that before."

Ryll smiled but now her eyes were filling with tears. She blinked madly. "I always come back."

"Take care of yourself." His eyes flitted to Byron. "Don't let him get you into trouble."

She laughed. "I'll whip him into shape. It will be good for me being with people like me." She took a step away from Merlin. His blue eyes were bright with sorrow. Then Ryll rushed forward and pressed her lips to his, kissing him fiercely. Merlin kissed her back, arms wrapping around her as if he could keep her there forever. Then she broke away, turning and walking back to Owl. She mounted, and she and Byron rode off. Ryll looked back to see Merlin watching them until the distance swallowed them whole.

…

The druids welcomed Ryll into their camp like family. She found herself smiling despite her sorrow as they came forward to greet her. For once she didn't have to worry about hiding who she really was. Everyone seemed to know who she was though she only recognized a few of them from her previous visits to the druid camp. Byron handed off their horses to a younger druid and took Ryll's hand.

"Come on," he told her. "I'll show you where you will be staying."

She let him lead her to a tent toward the middle of the camp. It was big enough for one person, and Byron let go of Ryll's hand so she could enter it. "I'll let you settle in." He left her there, and Ryll set her saddlebags down next to a small cot and sat down. It was so quiet there in the camp. She could hear the quiet chatter of the druids and the wind brushing against the canvas tents, but there was a peaceful quality to it. She was reminded of her time wandering – living in tents in the wild. Life had been so much simpler then. How had her life turned so complicated? She didn't know if she missed the simple days or if she thrived on the action that Camelot had brought to her life. She realized that whatever life she had, she missed the purpose serving Camelot gave her. Living there had brought her a greater sense of purpose than she'd ever felt in life before. It was as if she had been wandering around half her life waiting to stumble upon something to live for. Or something to die for.

…

Merlin stood watching Ryll leave. It felt just as painful as the other times he'd watched her ride away. If Ryll remembered that Merlin had magic would she still have gone? Would she still have told Arthur the truth? Merlin knew he couldn't tell Arthur the truth about himself. Not yet. Maybe not ever. There was still too much at stake with Morgana out there. Maybe Arthur would see the truth of Ryll's words. Maybe this was the turning point. He just wished the price hadn't been so high. He stood for a moment longer and then headed back to the castle. Ryll wasn't banished. She would be back. Until then Merlin had his duties to Arthur and that would have to be enough. This isn't goodbye, she'd said, and he was holding her to that.