Part 1

I creep slowly round the corner; barely daring to breath- no-one can know I'm here, no-one can notice me. Not that anyone will- I'm just a girl, a poor one at that. I tiptoe a little further down the corridor and as I come closer to the doorway to the room I'm looking for I hear gentle humming. I edge along the wall for the last metre or so, waiting with baited breath and peek my head slowly round the door, taking great care not to make any noise- if I do make a noise, who knows what will happen to me?

Everyone's heard of the sword in the stone, right? And I bet everyone knows that King Arthur pulled the sword out etcetera etcetera but I bet not everyone knows that he had to pull it out twice because the first time there was only one witness- Bercelet. Or should I say, Bercelet the mighty, I mean, come on, I deserve a better title than the last thing I was called- 'mingy flea-carrier' I know! Me, mingy? Me, a flea carrier? I, I am Bercelet the mighty.

Then I see her and have to stifle a gasp- she is even more beautiful than the rumours say. She has long, wavy blonde hair that tumbles past her shoulders and goes almost down to her waist. Her eyes are green, not a sly green but a bright, sea green. Never before have I seen anyone half as beautiful and I highly doubt that I'll ever see anyone even within touching distance of being as beautiful as her-she is weaving flowers gently into her hair- cornflowers and forget-me-nots.

She truly looks stunning- in her white and blue wedding dress and wearing a small silver tiara upon her head. I can see the jewels on her tiara glittering and shimmering in her reflection- in fact, that's the only way I can see her. If she wasn't doing her hair in the mirror, I'd just be able to see the back of her head. Suddenly, my eyes flit upwards and I see it. I see the way the light is flooding into the room through the open window, almost leaving her with a gentle glow, making her seem holy, like a goddess. Guinevere, the goddess of beauty.

I'm not exactly favoured in court- I don't know why, I mean, I have such charm and Arthur bathes me almost once a month and I'm as fit as a fiddle- quite a good looking mutt really, and yet, people never listen to me when I suggest things. In fact, many of them covered their ears when I started shouting about my opinion to Knight Owain and then, after I've left the room they steal my ideas and decide to knight Owain! With that smooth Lancelot taking claim for the idea! Hem hem, I think you'll find that was my idea. Yes, Bercelet the mighty first suggested that in court.

I move my gaze back to the mirror, only to realise that rather than watching her reflection she is watching mine. I gasp, this time not bothering to stifle it- she knows I'm here now, she can see me so what's being quiet going to do- make her think she's hallucinating? I don't think so. She seems to spot my nervous look as I begin to back away. I am about to take to my heels and run, unable to think of anything else to do when I spot her look and, instead of the look of anger and maybe even offence I expect, I see a look of almost.. Happiness? But why would she be happy? I am an intruder, I am spying on her in her chamber- surely I am to be punished?

She stands up and turns around to face me and, as she turns her hair twirls around her and she looks like a true queen. She is even more beautiful in flesh than reflection and for a moment I am mesmerized. Then I realise where I am and begin to panic. I step back and bang my head, hard against the door. My eyes begin to smart and as tears well up in my eyes, Guinevere reaches out. I want to run, I want to hide but there is nowhere to run- nowhere to hide.

I've been thinking carefully about this whole title thing and I've come to the conclusion that 'Bercelet the mighty' isn't going to catch on- it doesn't give the right ring, It makes me sound too… thuggish so, I've decided, I shall be Bercelet the Brave- it even has an alliteration! Really, my own intelligence even surprises me sometimes!

I am about to jerk away from her as her hand reaches out and grasps mine yet something stops me, something prevents me from moving- I am paralysed. I stand there, frozen to the spot while she opens her mouth to speak and, when she speaks dogs from all around stop howling, birds stop singing, surely people must stop moving even as far out as the kingdom of Lyonesse. 'I am Guinevere' she said, softly in a voice that would hypnotise a pirate and make them pause mid-battle, no matter how grave the consequences may be. 'I know' I say, these being the only words my mouth can form- like I say, I am paralysed and even though the world around me may still be spinning I am not- I have stopped orbiting and gone off into my own wild tangent of a world. I am not in heaven; I am beyond heaven, I am somewhere no-one can ever hurt me; I am with Guinevere. The true Queen of Camelot.

Right, I've had it, these knights think they can do what they want but they can't. One of them hit me. He actually hit me! Ok, it was more like a tap on the nose than a full on hit but I still can't believe it. How dare he? How dare he hit I, Bercelet the migh- no, Bercelet the Brave. How dare he? He should be un-knighted- that is aword- and Arthur should mention in the Knights code that as a knight you must never, ever hit Bercelet, Bercelet the Brave.

'And who would you be?' she asks, gently, clearly trying to put me at ease. 'Elly' I say 'Eleonora' I correct myself- she is the queen, she doesn't really want to know me- she is just asking out of politeness. Yet, it doesn't feel like that. It seems like she really cares, really wants to know who I am. Saying that- who on earth would want to know me? I am just a girl. I remind myself. And a poor one at that.

I am suddenly conscious of my grubby hands and pull them away, hiding them behind my back. As she swivels back round to face the mirror, her blond hair following her, glimmering and flouncing out I consider my options- should I run or should I stay? I decide to stay and kneel down on the floor next to where she is sat, sorting out some more flowers. I am in a trance and I am treasuring every moment of being in this state.

My faith in Knights has been restored! It took a lot of persuading on the Knights behalf- they had to practically beg for my forgiveness. I had them all grovel, down on their knees, begging. Well, I would have had them do that had they obeyed me. In fact, they just laughed when I growled menacingly at them. Only Gawain, a true knight showed some respect and, even though he didn't grovel, he did provide me with a nice juicy lump of meat…

I don't know how many seconds of silence pass. Maybe even minutes pass- I have no idea, it's almost like Guinevere has cast her spell over me. The pealing of a bell suddenly reminds me where I am; jerks me back into real life and I remember- I have to get back to Tata, and fast. 'Sorry' I say to Guinevere, running out of her room and setting off down the grand staircase 'I have to go' not caring that no-one can hear me. I have just seen Guinevere. Queen Guinevere.

I'm being ignored and now I've been shut out- I've never been shut out before! Arthur would never allow it. If this is what happens to Arthur when he falls in 'love' then I'm worried for my future- will Guinevere even let me inside? No, Bercelet, you are brave, hence your title. You must not think like this- Guinevere will adore you and spoil you and life will go on as normal just, this time, there will be a woman on Arthurs left side rather than an empty chair.

I fly down the steps and sprint across the square. There is a dog sat by the entrance to the castle, tethered to the wall by a chain. I glance at him for a moment and our eyes lock and, though it may sound strange but I feel as though there was some sort of the connection- no, more than a connection. I was as though I could feel his feelings, only for a split second- it was just while I was looking at him I felt rejected and I heard the voice of a man in my head saying 'I am Bercelet, Bercelet the brave'

I burst into our small cottage and see Tata mixing two chemicals of some sort. He isn't washed and he isn't even dressed, despite me telling him to do both these things over an hour ago. 'Tata' I sigh 'It's the kings wedding in half an hour, you are their court physician- high up in the king's favour and you aren't even dressed.' His lack of response tells me exactly how much heed he paid to my words 'Tata' I place my hand gently on his arm 'You have to get ready; we have to go' my touch causes him snap out of his 'treatment state' as my mama called it 'Oh, I forgot, sorry Elly' he smiles and ruffles my hair and I grin back 'it's OK' I assure him 'just get ready!' I give him a soft push towards the screen and he makes his way behind it 'I am wearing the red top, right?' he calls 'Yes' I say, tired of telling him 'The red top and the-' 'Brown trousers' he finishes, chuckling 'don't worry, I have remembered!'

I'm out of my wits with boredom, tethered up here- in the past half an hour only one person of interest has come past- a girl of about nine or ten who came dashing past. She turned back and looked at me and I felt as though something shot through me- her thoughts, her feelings- it was almost as if a light flashed through me and her whole life was placed before me for a split second. I even heard her speak- nothing detailed, though, she simply said 'Elly, Eleonora'