The young child, a beautiful girl of only five, dashed down the palace's corridor, headed towards the heart of the castle.
She giggled gleefully as she picked up the pace, her dark blue dress swirling around her legs like the sea's tide. Her small arms pumped harder against her sides. She bumped into servants and jostled their trays, but they didn't reprimand her; she was too sweet to scold.
The young girl knew her mother wouldn't be happy with her for being late - but she'd gotten caught up in the stables, brushing the newest horse who was a little over a year old, and just as clumsy as she. She'd only been reminded of the time when one of the stablehands had returned to feed the horses.
Running up the staircase took the girl's breath. She pashed Gaius, the old healer, who smiled and waved at her. He was so old that it took him forever to get from one place to another, but the little girl saw him as a grandfather and loved to spend hours talking to him in his chambers. Then she passed her regular servers, Gail and Mary, who both curtsied and said, "Your mother's not happy with you!"
The little girl just rolled her eyes. Of course Mother isn't happy. I'm always late.
Finally, she reached the great wooden doors that led to the throne room, and the Round Table. She threw open the doors recklessly, drawing the attention of all those inside as she rushed across the threshold, and then skidded to a stop in the middle of the room.
Twenty pairs of eyes turned on her. Of that, included the Queen's and all of the most familiar knights. Percival chuckled at the sight of the little girl, her dress's hem covered in mud and hair a-mess. He nudged Leon, who sent an amused smile the girl's way as well.
"Elizabeth," Merlin scolded, his voice not unkind. He appeared out of nowhere, grinning at her state of untidiness. He kneeled in front of her and touched her arm. "Oh, Lizzie, your mother's been so worried about you! They've been searching every square inch of the palace!"
Elizabeth just giggled mischeviously and leaned in as if to share a deep, dark secret. "They were looking in all of the wrong places, then. I was in the stables."
The servant raised an eyebrow. "Checking out the new horse, I assume?"
"Yes!"
"You know she's to be yours?" he whispered.
Elizabeth gasped and clutched his hand. "Really? Oh, Merlin! I am turning six in two weeks!"
Merlin laughed. How he loved that child. "Yes, yes, you are." He stood and patted her shoulder. "Now, go. I'll see you at supper."
Elizabeth scurried forward, towards the wide round table and the Queen. She climbed up into the empty, red velvet draped chair next to Queen's left and looked up just in time to catch her softened gaze. She wasn't so unhappy after all.
Once Elizabeth was settled, the Queen turned to address the knights in her confident, gentle voice. "Now that our princess has arrived, we can begin the meeting to plan the celebration of her sixth birthday." Immediately, Elizabeth shouted out that she wanted a cake as tall as the trees that was pink on the inside and out.
The Queen glanced to her young daughter, and smiled. Only the knights saw the sorrow in the Queen's smile; whereas Elizabeth only saw her mother's joy. For when Guinevere looked at her daughter, she saw her lost husband's spirit radiating out of her like a beacon in the night. Elizabeth may have been darker skinned and curly haired like her mother, but her eyes were a piercing, lovely sky blue - just like her father's had been. The princess's soul was full of courage and hope from the King, and wisdom and gentleness from the Queen.
As the young princess chattered on and on about her birthday celebrations, Gwen rubbed her fingers over the thick silver ring tied around her neck.
One day, Gwen would have to pass on the ring, and therefore the burden of leadership, to her daughter.
But it was more than just the burden of the kingdom.
Because the innocent and sweet Elizabeth Pendragon was all that was left of her father's legacy to make Camelot the greatest kingdom the world had ever known.