CHAPTER ONE

Twigs snapped and crunched on the ground under Sophia's feet as she crept through the undergrowth to the edge of the well-beaten dirt track that led to Camelot from Bayard's kingdom. She needed to deliver a message to a group in different part of the forest, but it was more difficult than it seemed; if Prince Arthur or any of his knights saw her here, they'd arrest her and she'd be executed. Quickly, she checked to see if anybody was coming, and darted back into the bushes as she saw a procession of horses coming from the north with a crest she didn't recognise emblazoned on each of the flags. Damn it. Just another thing to remember to report to Ayre, her leader.

As the line of horses and people went past, Sophia watched from her hiding place. All the horses were black and carried a knight dressed in shining silver armour with a pale blue sash. All except one. One horse, a mare, was pure white, and on her back was a young girl, possibly about 16 years of age. Her eyes were a bright, honest blue, and framed with dark lashes that almost brushed her cheeks when she looked down. She had a clear but pale complexion that gave her the air of a porcelain doll; Sophia couldn't help but think that if she fell of the horse, she would smash into a hundred tiny pieces. Luxurious auburn hair tumbled in glossy curls down the girl's back, ending just below her waist, and small flowers (possibly daisies, thought Sophia) were woven into a circlet which rested gently on her head. She wore an aqua blue dress with floating sleeves and an elegant skirt. Overall, the girl's appearance, stature and attitude were that of a member of a royal family, or at least a noble. Yet Sophia couldn't help but pity her for this; she would never know what it was like to have to fight for her rightful place, or to save somebody she loved, or to marry for love and not power. In other words, she was missing out on everything that Sophia loved about being a Druid.

As the procession faded into a row of black matchstick-men on the purple horizon, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief and darted stealthily across the track and into the trees on the other side, wincing as she snagged her leg on a bramble. Dusk was falling over the valley now, blanketing everything in a seductive twilight and bringing the smell of dew and moss and soil. Everything always seemed so much more intense at this time of day. However, sophia didn't have time to relish it this time: She needed to get to the other camp by nightfall, or else she could encounter all sorts of things in the woods in the dark. When she was little, her uncle had told her stories around the fire of cockatrices, giant scorpions, manticores... you name it. Although Sophia laughed away these legends on the outside, there was a small part of her that worried about what would happen to her in the forest if she went there after dark, and this was enough to quicken her light, agile step as she moved eastwards, away from the setting sun.

The moon was rising in the sky by the time Princess Rebecca and her entourage arrived at the citadel in Camelot, and Rebecca looked up at it with a smile, acknowledging the symbolism of the Triple Goddess in her most beautiful form. Her mother had always told her that she was like the moon - pale, calm, feminine and beautiful: She had never really believed the last bit, though.

Her thoughts were brought closer to earth by the raucous clanging of a heavy metal gate in the gatehouse. As she rode through, she looked about at her surroundings. The castle was huge, rearing up into the sky, and from Rebecca's point in the central courtyard, it seemed as if it went on forever in every direction. Numerous turrets were scattered across the roof, and the whole building was made of gleaming white stone which reflected what little light there was and dazzled the princess' eyes. Wow. In front of her was a fleet of stone steps, and down these steps a boy was hurrying, his scarlet cloak fluttering behind him.

He looked about her age. However, as he drew closer, she saw that he was nothing like any other boy she'd ever met; if she was the moon, then he was the sun. He had floppy blond hair which he flicked out of his hazel eyes with a toss of his head every now and again. He wasn't tall, but he was a good head taller than her, and what he didn't have in height, he made up for in muscle: Even beneath his chainmail, she could see he was exceptionally well built. He exuded confidence and seemed completely at ease with himself, a concept that Rebecca wasn't very familiar with. His skin was tanned and the combination of gold, scarlet and amber reminded Rebecca of the warmth of flames beside her hands.

"Princess Rebecca. Welcome to Camelot! Please, feel free to feed and rest your horses. Merlin will show you where to go," he told her knights, and they slouched off, following a tall, black haired boy wearing a red scarf. His voice, Rebecca couldn't help noticing, had a deep, rich tone and sent tingles down her spine. Then he addressed her again, bringing her out of the reverie.

"I'm Prince Arthur. My father sent me to meet you - he was worried you might have lost your way. I-" Arthur broke off as Merlin approached him from a shadowy corner.

"What are you doing back already?" I told you to show the knights to the stables!"

"I've done that, sire," muttered Merlin reproachfully, lowering his head. Rebecca gave him a sympathetic smile.

"So what are you hanging around for? My armour needs polishing, my horses need mucking out, and I swear there's a rat in my chambers again."

"Yes sire," Merlin apologised, and ran to a door in the corner of the courtyard which he promptly vanished through, probably to complete one of Arthur's demands.

"Poor boy. Can't he have a break? It's getting late," Rebecca said timidly, glancing up at Arthur through her eyelashes. Arthur stared back like it was the most ridiculous suggestion he'd ever heard.

"A break? Hell, he doesn't deserve one. He's the worst servant I've ever known - he needs to earn his place or I'll find somebody else," the prince snorted dismissively. "Come on - we need to go and meet my father before he becomes impatient."

It was then that Rebecca bagan to feel some misgivings about the Adonis she had just met. Perhaps he wasn't so great after all. He certainly wasn't very compassionate.

As they walked through the castle to the throne room for Rebecca to be presented to King Uther, Rebecca noticed hunting trophies adorning the walls - a stag's head, boar's tusks... even a unicorn horn. When she asked Arthur about them, he told her, with a double helping of swagger, that he had killed the animals himself on sporting trips with other knights of Camelot. A wave of nausea swept over Rebecca when he told her this. Who kills innocent animals for a living?, she thought, looking at the objects in dismay. She added arrogant and insensitive to her list of reasons to dislike Arthur Pendragon.

Her meeting with King Uther went well, she thought; he seemed delighted to have her stay with him in his court, and was less overconfident than his son, although he seemed to have a bit of a temper. However, her good mood was shattered when Arthur, who had insisted on walking her to her chambers, said goodbye to her.

"I'd give you my calling card, but I'm sure you won't forget me in a hurry," he told her. "Arthur Pendragon, master swordsman, and your new crush." Rebecca's mouth fell open in disbelief at his words, and, mistaking her gesture for admiration, Arthur turned and walked away, raising his eyebrows suggestively at her over his shoulder. Jeez, she thought. If his head gets any bigger he won't be able to put his helmet on. And how dare he talk to her like that?! He was a presumptuous, unchivalrous rat.

In her rooms, Rebecca carefully unpacked her luggage for her month-long stay in the Camelot court. In the bottom of her trunk, however, she found a letter, written on a piece of calfskin parchment, and sealed with a pale blue bow and her father's crest. Overcome with curiosity, she opened it and read it.

Dear Rebecca,

I hope you have arrived safely and that you are enjoying the company of Uther and his son. It is on this subject that I am writing this letter. I need you to enjoy Arthur's company. As you know, when I die, the kingdom and everything in it will pass to your brother, Edward. therefore, I must make sure that you marry well. Uther and I have agreed that a match between your fair self and Arthur would be highly desirable, and would benefit both our kingdoms. This is very important my darling,because if you remain unmarried, you will become destitute and could live in poverty. So, do everything in your power to secure his affections, for your sake and mine. Good luck sweetheart.

Your loving father

For at least 5 minutes, Rebecca was paralysed. When she could move, she could only gape in horror. When her father told her she was going to spend time in Camelot, she had no idea that this was the reason! She lay on her four-poster bed, tears dampening thepillow,as 3 thoughts echoed around her head. Firstly, that Arthur Pendragon was the damn sexiest boy she had ever seen. Secondly, that she was destined to spend the rest of her life with him. And thirdly, that she absolutely loathed him. What was she going to do?