Cycles of Love: Pleasure, Pain, Repentance

by Mara93

Love's Three Cycles and how they affect Arthur and Guinevere: Based on this quote by Richard Barnfield "Love is a friend, a fire, a hell, Where pleasure, pain and repentance dwell." Rated T because of the last 2 parts

1. Chapter 1

Love's First Cycle~Innocence

Thank you so much for your feedback for my past stories. I appreciate it.

Rating: G

This was written for Camelot_love's 14 days of a/g fic. This part focuses on Guinevere, Morgana and Arthur (with minor others). This part is mostly Guinevere's point of view. The story will be in three parts, all based on a quote prompt by jeyla4ever. The quote starts the story/credit to the author of the quote is there.

This part is also based on these prompts: Young Arthur and young Gwen meet for the first time on Gwen's first day on her new job taking care of Lady Morgana (prompt credit purely_distel) //Little Arthur teaches little Gwen how to sword fight (prompt credit mustbethursday3)

The story will start out semi-cannon, but goes back into the past before the show, and then goes into this future, so it has a strong AU feel too. This first part occurs between ep.2.1 and 2.2, with the past elements brought in.

Spoilers: Only s.1 and s.2. I'm not reading any of the current spoilers.

~*~

"Love is a friend, a fire, a hell,

Where pleasure, pain and repentance dwell."

~Richard Barnfield~

~*~

Love's First Cycle: Innocence

Love is…Innocence

Its dwelling

.

.

.

Pleasure

~*~

Love is the seeds of something new and fresh. It rings with laughter of children. It hugs, comforts and bonds. It teases and flirts. At its most ingenuous beginning it shines with joy.

For love is the dearest and most novel friend…

Inside it dwells…

The most innocent pleasure.

~*~

Just a few days after the attack on Camelot, the evil return of Lord Sigan through the servant Cedric, the handmaiden carried it wrapped in cloth to the room where it was requested.

As she began to place it down, a voice rang out behind her.

"Preparing to do battle again?"

She smiled…

The days blended back into the skies of those past.

To innocence.

To excitement.

To discovery.

To childhood.

~*~

It was the first day, causing her to be nervously excited. Gwen already knew she liked the Lady Morgana, but she had no previous experience as a handmaiden, and she had never even set foot inside a castle before she had interviewed for this position. Work on the other hand was a practice she was accustomed to, and so she was sure she'd be able to learn what she didn't already know.

Since Gwen was barely ten, she was a year or two young to be entering such kind of service, and yet she believed she was ready. For years now she had taken over the task of caring for her Dad.

He was of course the finest blacksmith around. A creator of swords, metal shielding plates, armor, strong wagon wheels, and much more, his forge she knew would do well in Camelot's center, where they were now living.

It was scary and equally thrilling. Combined, her new service job and his blacksmithing meant they had a lovely just found house right in the heart of Camelot's kingdom. That was a big improvement over the far away distance they had presided in before, where protection from invading kingdoms, ruthless bandits, and even fearsome animals had been minimal. Now with a dwelling so close to the castle, such hazards would be watched closely by the guards and knights.

It was still a wonder to her that they were even here, living just a walk away from the palace. The first morning they came, just less than a week ago, she had stepped out of their new home and raised her freckled sunkissed (that's what her Dad would say, telling her that her mother used to declare how it was…that she had been gently kissed by the sun to give her skin its touch of darkening) face upward…

Upward more…

And then even upward more!

They were so tall, the castle's towers, like the most giant monster trees in the forest. They were so grand and now she was not only living near them, but would be working inside them. It made her heart beat fast with anxious amazement. She still couldn't believe that out of dozens of girls, most much older than her, she had been chosen by the Lady Morgana to be her personal handmaiden. It was such a delight…ah…and such a fright! Lady Morgana was two years older than her, at eleven. So many of the girls that had tried out had experience working in the castle, some even specifically for other Ladies, and yet Lady Morgana…chose her.

It was so exciting!

It made it easy to get up at the early hour, just a bit before the cock's first crow even. Gwen fussed around the room with accustomed knowledge. Sure she was a barely matured girl in physical stature, but her mind had matured to this, how to start the morning's house duties. She was quietly proud of that fact as she turned back to her Adler wood bed, padded with only a thin mattress and less than plump pillow, she neatly pulled the covers over.

There was of course reason she was good at her duties, a melancholy one. Just about five years ago her mother had passed with sickness. Since that time her Dad had not married another. That didn't surprise Gwen much as her Dad and Mother had loved each other so strongly. She would smile with happiness at seeing them together, and at the three of them spending time with each other.

She couldn't remember too much of her mother, but a few special things. She was of course just so beautiful. She had dark locks, rings of curls just like hers that used to frame her full face. Her Mother had the prettiest smile, her Dad would always say, and Gwen believed too, that made you just want to smile back. It made her face like the twinkling stars in the sky, so alive and full of light. But Gwen's favorite memory of her Mother was her sweet wet kisses against her cheek. They'd come when she hurt herself playing out in the wooded area, when she would learn something new and just…any time of day, no special reason needed. Her Mother always would say she had a pocket full of kisses for her favorite girl.

Gwen missed her terribly, but she shed no tears now as she made her way to the kitchen. Her Mother too, taught her to be strong, to keep her face up, her nose lifted to balance all the rest of her out, straight ahead with honor. And she taught her about love, something Gwen felt deeply for her Dad, and so she worked in the kitchen now, to take care of him just like her Mother had.

When her Mother had passed, money was still at the state it had always been for them, sparse, and so her Dad of course couldn't take time away from his forge in their village. She was too young then to do the housework all herself and to not be watched, so the wonderful villagers, their friends around had all pitched in. It was the way things had been in Shonore, their small village they lived in before coming to Camelot. With scary bandit raids, wild animals and other horrible things that happened sometimes, everyone in the village looked out for each other. Whenever there was a sad death, they all helped whoever was pained. Since this time it was her Dad and her, they watched for Gwen during the day, and the nice women helped her learn how to clean and cook. They were surprised that she had some ability for it already even, but see Gwen even as a wee one would watch all her Mother's work, and so she learned a lot by sight.

Now with their teachings and the memory of her Mother's toiling, Gwen knew well how to tend to house without any help at all. That was maybe why she rarely cried about her Mother. Gwen simply thought tears shouldn't be wasted when things needed to get done. They didn't seem to help anything at all. They didn't bring her Mother back, and so she stuck to her duty instead.

In the kitchen now, she started the fire, lifting the heavy logs with a small grunt before adding them to the stove. Her Dad always told her to wait for him to help, but she could do it on her own. They were some strain on her small arms, but she could handle it. He needed his sleep anyway because her Dad worked so hard at his forge, his new one now of course in Camelot, that he didn't even always make it back for supper time. That was why she now so seriously prepared his breakfast, almost as if she was an adult. She mixed the porridge and cut the pieces of dry bread. With the oven's fire now burning well, she heated the pot of porridge and toasted the bread over the flame.

As she worked, Gwen mused how the day would go. She had met for the first time with her new Lady just almost a week ago in her quarters. The Lady Morgana lived under the guardianship of King Uther because her father had been killed in battle just a year ago. Attending to her too was Nurse Harriet, who had a gravely sick relative.

A summons for a new handmaiden had been issued all around the kingdom.

How Gwen was the one chosen and was even selected for trial in the first place, had to do maybe with luck and most importantly…

Fate.

~*~

Following behind the guard outfitted with armor almost everywhere, including a dagger-like blade of metal halfway down his face, Gwen practically lost her footing for a third time, as she could do nothing but stare…upward.

She had never been in a place with ceilings so high. The castle seemed to rise to the heavens in height. She kept lifting her head, turning around to face where they had been before with awe, to stumble right into him as the guard stopped abruptly now.

"Uh…oh my. Sorry."

She replied anxiously, looking up at the tall unsmiling man with that scary blade of metal that went over even his nose.

"You'd do best to watch your step. We have stairs to climb."

She smiled. He didn't smile back. She frowned sternly, trying to match his firm look. "Yes your lordship."

The guard rolled his eyes, suppressing his humor. The young girl seemed dazed by Camelot's jewel. No real surprise. Even knight trainees could be shocked by the beauty of the castle. It was said to be more magnificently built than any other.

He started quickly climbing the steps.

Gwen held at her finest dress, cleaned immaculately just for the occasion, even though it had taken hours for her to get out a potted stew stain from a cooking supper session. It was mostly yellow with white cotton underlay and a cord of brown tied loosely around her waist. Added to that she had picked some of the lovely flowers that greeted the forest and stuck some in her curls of hair that she had partially pulled back to look just a bit older than her young age. Hopefully it helped.

Her scuffed leather shoes clicked against the smooth stone of the steps with so much sound that richly echoed. It surprised her so much, how without rough edges it was that she wished the guard would turn away for long moments so she could kneel down and touch it. See if it felt without brittleness against her fingers. He was quickly heading up though so she held at her dress skirts, nearly matching his rapid pace by taking two steps at a time when she could.

As the steps finally ended, he led her down a long wide hallway. On the side walls were portraits and crests of red and gold, the Pendragon one. She smiled at it with delight. It was beautiful how the dragon form so much of scarlet breathed its fire of prestige. It matched perfectly the guard's flash of red through all the armor, the Pendragon crest emblazoned on his chest.

The halls were mostly sparse, but for the marbled statues that would at certain intervals shockingly decorate. She stared at their immensity of shape, polished color and of course height. A knight walked by, a tall man wearing thick chainmail and the gauntlet gloves fixed firmly to his hands. It was that type of glove that could signal a challenge. He focused straight ahead, not even glancing at her, a shining handled sword sheathed tightly at his side. She didn't flinch about the sword like some others might. It was something she'd seen plenty of before because of her father's forge. She did marvel though at his uniform and the thundering tread of his heavy boots.

The guard led her down another hallway with doors at the sides. Coming to stop at a pair crafted of thick pine, he knocked with authority. Gwen lifted her midnight eyes one more time to the towering ceiling. This was it. She could feel her hands warmly wet with anxiety. She pushed her palms forcefully against her dress to alleviate it.

One word came past the shut doors. "Enter."

The guard fastened his fingers around the door's handled ring, pushing it to reveal the three people that waited. He felt a bit sympathetic for the girl. She seemed nice enough and yet a fully young thing with obviously no previous knowledge of the castle. Her chances of this prime position would definitely be cracked thin as a sliver of hair. Good thing she was thoroughly enjoying her visit it seemed, because it was likely her last.

He announced, ushering the girl in with a rushed signal.

"Your Royal Highness King Uther, and the honorable Lady Morgana, the next girl to see."

Gwen noticed of course how the guard did not refer to the third person. It was custom for those not nobly born.

That person without noble lineage was Nurse Harriet, a heavyset woman with graying hair peeking past her white harshly tied bandana. She stood on the left side of the chair in the middle. At the right side was a man of tall stature, broad in physicality and topped on his head a golden crown. He was King Uther; as Gwen saw him for the first time, his stern unyielding look sent a shiver through her small form. Of course in the middle, sitting on the high backed chair, was the young girl distinguishingly known as the Lady Morgana. Her hair shined like it had been polished to its near ebony darkness. From her almost porcelain face flashed emerald eyes. She was dressed in a gown of luscious green that perfectly complimented them.

Gwen carefully stepped further into the room before stopping, as behind her the heavy door came to a jarring close, the guard leaving them alone to the interview. Even though the room was so beautifully decorated, she paid little heed to that, the novelty of the castle replaced now by cold fear of exactly what she was attempting to do.

"Your name." The king ordered strongly.

Gwen could feel her fingers shaking, but still she managed to answer as she also gave a youthful respected bow. Her Mother had been the one to teach her how to act with royalty, because you see her mother had been a handmaiden herself. That was the fate part, why she had been recommended for this position. Before her mother had married her father, she had served one of the noble ladies. The nurse standing on the other side of the sitting Lady Morgana, had remembered that service.

"Guinevere…uh…I mean Gwen. Well that is what most people call me…Gwen."

The king didn't seem to care about the distinction as he gestured to the girl in the chair, his arm sweeping past his scarlet cloak's fold. "This is the Lady Morgana, my ward, who you would be working for. Understand this is a position of high duty and responsibility. Laziness will not be tolerated, nor any form of disrespect."

Morgana gave a slight indication of attention now, rolling her eyes just a bit. To put it bluntly, the girl was bored and tiring of the hours already spent meeting various girls who she would never want attending to her. She didn't entirely care either for the king's harsh voice. After a year of being his ward, Morgana was still conflicted about whether the king truly was her friend, or her biggest nightmare. Yes, he did treat her like a daughter…she supposed, but he was not her father. And he just happened to be the person who had sent her true father to fight in a battle that…

Well that he never came back from. That hurt and yet her father had been best friends with King Uther, serving him loyally.

Because of her father's death, she now lived in the palace, having to spend more time with Prince Arthur probably than she wanted to. He could be so…ugh…annoying sometimes. She was the older one at eleven, so at least she could tease him about that little fact, and that she was the better sword fighter.

Looking past the king's profile, Morgana could see a bit out the tall window, noticing that down below the prince was practicing his sword skills with some of the knights and boys who knew to use extreme caution. She doubted he was enjoying it much. Arthur often complained that because of his young age still his father didn't let him fight the way he wanted to. Basically every tournament he competed in was at the junior level, he was not allowed yet to participate in any kind of battle of course, and even hunting treks were watched over carefully by fully fledged knights of a mature age. He liked to boast that he was trained to kill, but it was a bit flubbed of a statement considering the king wouldn't let him do anything too dangerous…not yet anyway.

Morgana frowned at the fact that she too wasn't allowed to do much more, even though she was a year older than the prince and had learned some impressive swordsmanship from her father. Because she was the king's ward she was expected to hold herself with cordiality, and yet sometimes all she wanted to do was go outside and best the prince in a match and swing a sword around.

Instead she had to listen to the king come in now with drilling voice as he started his inquisition. For a moment Morgana looked away from the king and the window, her attention on the girl. She was dressed poorly for sure, though it seemed she had done her best to make it look suitable. Her face was not the prettiest, but she did have nice soft flowers in her hair that made her look a bit cute. That was about as inspiring as it got. Although the girl thankfully wasn't laughing like a chittering monkey and overly smiling, nothing made her seem right for a handmaiden.

King Uther was even less impressed, bordering on angered that this whole morning to early afternoon had so far been a waste of time. Not a single girl had appealed to Morgana or to him, and this small one who didn't look near ten at all, he doubted would be any different.

His voice roughened like sandpaper, he asked, "So, what servant experience do you have…that is if any?" The last part was added in dryly as he already had a guess what the answer would be.

Nurse Harriet showed some distaste at the hard directed question. She had served the Lady Morgana almost since birth and would miss the young girl, but it couldn't be helped. Her sister was very sick and would need caring for. Also, the Lady Morgana was eleven years old now. She could do with a girl closer to her age, a companion.

As the king circled around with hard scrutiny, Gwen could feel her palms growing clammy again. Pushing them behind her dress to wipe away the wetness, she strived to make her voice not shake. "Your Majesty, I'm not really that…experienced." She went on hurriedly, seeing in his face that the answer wasn't satisfactory. "But I do know how to cook, clean house, and I sometimes even help my Dad with his forge in Shonore, the village where we live now on the furthest south side of Camelot."

Morgana's throat tickled with irritation. She tried to clear it, feeling a cough dangerously approaching.

"Hmmm…how old are you?" The king went on, unaware of his ward's slight distress.

Gwen didn't answer right away, hesitant. Glancing at the Lady Morgana, she noticed how the girl had nothing really to say. She wasn't sure if the Lady Morgana liked her at all. The solitary bit of attention she had gotten from her was a polite stiff smile at the beginning of the interview.

Swallowing hard, Gwen finally responded. "I am nine Your Majesty, but I will be ten in about five months."

The king turned back to the nurse heatedly. "You said she WAS ten."

The nurse countered quickly, thinking here now it started. The king would start his diatribe. "I said she would be ten soon."

The king rolled his eyes at the stubborn reply. The nurse was mostly a belligerent woman who he only tolerated because Morgana liked her and the nurse did treat his ward well. The girl in front of them though was simply not of age or experience and the nurse never should have selected her as a possibility. Nor should she have misled him. "Soon is not five months."

"That depends on personal opinion."

"This is completely UNACCEP-

"Don't you lecture me on the girl who I have tended to for many more years than YOU…my Lord."

"Ah-you insufferable woman! I am the king and I will not be-

"Then as king think of what is best for your ward."

"I AM think-

The heated arguing continued as Morgana's tickle became a full offense now, causing her to cough repeatedly.

Gwen noticed it, as the king and nurse were now too much battling back and forth to be listening. She looked around the room with sharp eyes, spotting on the table a pitcher and cup. As the king and nurse raged at each other angrily, she moved to the table. Pouring some water into the cup, she carefully approached the Lady Morgana. This maybe broke some rules, but she couldn't just let her cough like that. She needed to help her out no matter how the king reacted. "Lady Morgana…some water?"

The girl phrased it as a gentle question. Morgana would have reached for the water though no matter what. Giving as much a smile she could of thanks, she drank down half of it, more control coming to her face after she was done. It helped quickly to take away the bothersome tickle.

Quietly Gwen reminded now. "Be careful…drinking it very fast might cause you to choke."

The king heard that, as he now rapidly turned away from his argument with the nurse to speak forcefully. "You have no position at all to tell her how to do anything! This is the Lady Morgana and you will treat her with respect. In fact, you have proven that you are not suited to this-

Morgana had enough. After hours of girls who were too much one way or the other, too willing to please or too willing to work for her just so they could get what they wanted, there was someone calmly in the middle. She wasn't the prettiest or the most experienced, but there was something about Gwen. She hadn't excitedly given her the water, just caringly handed it to her, without overly done bows and all that. And after she had given her the drink, she had smiled in a way that was lovely actually.

That was why Morgana cut through respectfully the king's complaint. "No milord. She was only giving me some water because I kept coughing, and her advice was good, smart. It is possible to choke when drinking too fast."

The king grimaced as the nurse beamed. She knew it was right to have selected the girl as a possible handmaiden, despite her young age.

Finally feeling she had some charge of the situation, Morgana asked Gwen. "So you said you live in Shonore with your mother and father?"

Gwen shook her head sadly, a flashing feeling of her mother's sweet pecks against her affected skin. "I live there with…just my father, Lady Morgana. My mother passed some years ago."

Morgana's face filled with emotion. The girl knew a pain that she understood well hurt deeply. Reaching out, she touched at Gwen's hand, feeling how small, worked, and yet warm it was. "I'm sorry. My father passed just a year ago." The girl had the kindest eyes Morgana noticed now, listening ones that had a gentling shine. "I still miss him very much."

The Lady Morgana's hand was a bit cold, but tenderly grasping. Gwen calmly kept her fingers within. "I know you must. I was told that he was taken in battle. I hope you have happy thoughts of him. My happy thoughts of my mother help me smile. They really take away for a bit all the pin pricking hurts."

Morgana stared at the girl with wonder. She was very young yes, and without experience, but she knew what was needed right away, and she had the kindest words to give for comfort, words that worked. "I do have those too of my father…and you're right…they help."

"They don't fill all the hole, but they line it a little bit better."

Nurse Harried watched with grateful pleasure as the Lady Morgana smiled vibrantly at the near prose. She finally seemed interested in a potential girl. Of course it was Arabella's daughter, the woman one of the most dedicated handmaidens she had ever witnessed.

The king was a bit oblivious to the growing connection, or maybe just not willing to accept it. "Well you can go now. Morgana, I will make sure the next girl is more suited for the position in age and-

Morgana quietly cut through. "No milord. I don't need to see any other girls."

The king's eyes widened as Gwen's did too.

Nurse Harriet raised her eyes to the ceiling, thinking it might be success. Finally. If there had been any more tittering or too serious girls she would have had to excuse herself to let out a good holler of frustration.

"I've found my new handmaiden."

~*~

Perhaps some of the last part was the luck. Whatever it was, Morgana firmly picked Gwen in that room, even over the king's strong protests. There was more to sweeten the deal and that Morgana helped use to convince the king that it was the best decision. Since Gwen's father was such a skilled blacksmith, his forge would be a huge benefit to Camelot, and to keep Gwen close, there was this house they now had near the castle. Of course the full deal wasn't that simple though. In addition to serving the Lady Morgana, the king had insisted that Gwen would be expected to perform various servant duties to the castle, including cleaning.

Gwen was ready. And now so was her Dad's breakfast. She started to fill the plate for him.

At that moment the husky set man lifted his head to wakefulness. Taking in how his daughter had breakfast all made, he smiled with appreciative pride. She resembled so much her mother, even at such a tender age, beautiful with all those dark curls that Arabella had. He missed her every day terribly, and yet Gwen was his sweet blessing. Thank Arabella for not leaving him alone with his grief.

Rising up out of the bed now with determined vigor, Tom washed some and dressed quickly behind the curtain, putting on some frayed work pants and a tunic shirt the color of dark sand. Then all set for a day of work, he caught at his daughter's tiny waist, planting a peck against her cheek.

Gwen smiled at the touch of affection before gesturing with polite order. "Okay, now sit down and enjoy your breakfast."

Tom smiled wryly, thinking how she sounded a lot like her mother. Sitting on the bench at their rough birch table, brought all the way from their old home in the small village, he spooned the porridge with approval. "This is delicious Gwen, as always. You take too good care of me."

She fussed around, ready to pour her Dad some more milk as he grasped at her hand. She was so young for all this, especially what would be coming.

"Alright, enough of that Gwen. You stop fussing over me and you too enjoy this delicious breakfast. Oh and don't tell me you did it again, carried those logs over by yourself."

She shrugged. "It is not too much."

Tom shook his head at her stubborn answer, not giving up on his previous gentled order. "Seat yourself Gwen. Relax."

Frowning, she didn't sit.

Tom commanded strongly. "Gwen." Her full name was Guinevere, and yet their young girl had always liked the shorter form so she soon lovingly became that to Tom and his Arabella.

With a heavy sigh, Gwen did sit now, across from her Dad. She teased familiarly. "There, happy?"

He pushed some of his food onto her plate before she could start protesting. "A bit more."

She kept her eyes down, aware that he was watching her carefully. She feared it would come soon.

It did.

"I do not approve of this, you know that Gwen. Working for the Lady Morgana, working in the castle of Camelot, you are not of age to be doing so much. I never should have allowed this."

He knew not enough about the Lady Morgana, only that she was a pair of years older than Gwen and that she had suffered the loss of her father about a year ago, a man of highest nobility of course. The girl too had no mother, the circumstances of her fate never explained, and so Lady Morgana had been brought to live in the castle shortly after her father's death. Attended to by her nurse since near birth, the Lady Morgana was in need of a new handmaiden, as the nurse had personal business.

Since Nurse Harriet had been a friend of Arabella's, once a handmaiden herself, she had put in good word for Gwen.

And so here they were now, at Camelot's heart, with a house that was finer than any other they'd ever lived in, and perhaps that didn't say much to some, but it was enough for them. His new blacksmith business in town was doing well for its start and all.

But this was the part he could barely stand still for. He'd rather they go back to Shonore and live that even humbler life, anything to keep Gwen from being so burdened already.

If only…

A knock came at the door. Gwen jumped up from the bench, announcing excitedly. "That will be the nurse." She fussed at her yellow peasant dress, making sure it appeared neat enough and that her hair was pulled back. She was a bundle of happy nerves. As scary as this was, it would be so thrilling too to be working inside that enormous castle, tending to a real lady, the Lady Morgana.

Tom shook his head, moving to the door in front of her. "I'll get it." With a slight creak the birch door parted to reveal the nurse, white bandana only allowing a peak of her graying hair to show. "Come in." He signaled with little happiness.

The nurse watched as the girl went to grasp a shawl with hurried movement, and then saw how her father witnessed it with troubled expression. She had known him for the short while when he began to court Arabella. Touching at his arm now, Nurse Harriet muttered softly. "Do not be so worried about her. The Lady Morgana will treat her well."

Tom shook his head hard. "That doesn't help. I'm a fool to have given my okay for this."

The nurse laughed, even as his expression darkened more than his already naturally browned complexion. She spoke with care. "Trust me. I know this well."

It was the other reason Morgana had needed a new handmaiden. The girl was increasingly showing boredom and more importantly, loneliness. Not even the teasing back and forth between her and the prince could breech the girl's quiet pain. She was an old nurse who could never truthfully be a companion to the girl, but someone more her age…

"The Lady Morgana wants a friend more than any type of servant. She took to Gwen when she was sweet enough to give her some water to cure a faulty cough. She was touched that Gwen comforted her about her loss of her father. It's something they share…losing someone special to them. Yes, my dear girl is royal, but the Lady Morgana has always had the gentlest of hearts. She simply needs someone more her age to talk to, to spend time with…to laugh with. She will rely on Gwen's assistance, but she will not at all be a harsh mistress to her in any way. It will be fine, Tom."

At least that was some comfort, and yet Tom argued another point now as Gwen took one last look at herself in the mirror. "And what about the castle duty as servant? Gwen is not used to that kind of work. Yes, she can learn just about anything and she toils hard, but this could be too much for her. She is only nine years old."

The nurse sighed. She wasn't sure how much would be expected of Gwen in that way. Hopefully her first day wouldn't be too burdensome. "Well, that I don't know as much about, but she will mostly be tending to the Lady Morgana anyway. Her duties regarding the castle should be kept minimal, especially for the first years. Even so, if there is a dire problem, you have every right to voice your concern as her father. The king will have to listen to you because of Gwen's young age."

Inside, Tom laughed. He would never do it outwardly, and yet he doubted much the king would hear his pleas. Royalty rarely listened to what they considered peasants.

"I'm ready!" Gwen moved forward now, kissing at her Dad's cheek with loving affection. "I will see you tonight Dad. Have a super day!"

He touched at her cheek worriedly. She was his young girl still, and yet already she tended to this house like a woman. It was too unfair, but he had no choice. If he wanted to have them living in a safer place, Gwen would have to be a servant. He just hoped the nurse was right about the Lady Morgana.

"You too…love you."

"Love you." Gwen whispered back, moving through the door with the nurse.

Tom watched with emotion, before he hastily set to clean the kitchen so his daughter wouldn't have to when she came back. He had to rush as a day of blacksmithing was before him, and her first day of service…was before her.

~*~

Once again, Gwen could barely keep from having widened eyes of awe. Perhaps someday it would feel ordinary, but this day, her first, all the perfectly carved stone, pointed towers, and sweeping staircases, sparked her young mind.

The nurse noticed it with an amused caring look. She felt that her absence from her dear little lady could be with much more relief now. Gwen had that lightening spirit like her mother had.

They walked up the long stretch of steps that led to the Lady Morgana's room. Gwen followed the nurse with pangs of twofold feelings in her heart, fear, and utter happiness.

Nurse Harriet turned to the girl as the staircase ended and their climb took them to the preceding hallways. "Normally, I'd be with you throughout the day Gwen, guiding you. But you see I must go with haste as my sister is so ill."

Gwen let the excitement fade now as she reached out with care to the nurse's hand. "I hope she will get better."

The nurse smiled with thanks as now they came to that familiar big pair of Pine doors. She lifted at the handle to let them in.

For the first time, Gwen took in the full lavishness of the room. It was so much bigger than the tiny area she slept at in her home, not even a room that spot for her bed. The Lady's Morgana's quarters actually filled out to two large rooms just branching off each other, bigger than even Gwen's house. It was well stocked with the finest oak and pine furniture, even smaller decorative pieces of precious Blackwood. The table she had picked up the water from was in the center, and beyond it was a tall changing screen of intricate design. At the front was the tall canopied bed, draped with colors of lavender, orchid and pale rose. The mattress was up high, wide, piled with fluffed pillows and thick shining covers that matched the canopy. Within all that grandeur, she seemed almost tiny, the young girl. The Lady Morgana, even in sleep with her dark hairs scattered around her face, was ever so pretty.

The nurse spoke quietly, taking Gwen away from her perusal. "She appears to be sleeping well now. I am grateful for that. Gwen I must tell you, Lady Morgana sometimes has trouble sleeping. She can use your comfort those days, and she may sleep late because of how her night's rest is so negatively affected."

Gwen frowned. Even though she had lost her mother so young, she didn't really have trouble sleeping. Poor Mor…well Lady Morgana, having to be bothered. She set her heart and mind even harder to her task now. She would do all she could to make sure The Lady Morgana found reasons to smile. She wanted her to be happy. "I will help her as much as I can, I promise Nurse Harriet."

The older woman smiled, clasping at the girl's hand. "I know you will." She gestured around the room with direction.

"Alright, now you must make sure that the Lady Morgana's breakfast is ready before she awakens. I will show you the kitchen for that, where to do all the laundering, and as much more of the castle that you will need to know, as time allows. Then, I will leave you to your duties. Now don't worry. The Lady Morgana likes you very much. She will make sure none of it is too hard to understand. I know you will do wonderfully." The nurse ended with fond memory now. "For… you remind me so much of your mother."

That made Gwen happy to hear, as her lips curled with gratitude. "Thank you Nurse Harriet for trusting me to do this job. I vow to you I will be the kind of handmaiden to the Lady Morgana that she should have. I will do my…utmost best."

She was so much like the young Arabella, full of purpose and yet a twinkle of fun too. Modest and yet sturdy enough to do her work. "I know you will Child. I leave with total faith that Morgana's welfare will be well cared for. It was very hard to say a final goodbye to her last night, but you have made it a touch easier with the reassurance that you will be a wonderful handmaiden…and friend."

Appreciation lighted in Gwen's youthful eyes, as she wondered a bit quizzically about the 'friend' part. Could they truly be that with their separations of class? "I heard my mother talk about you more than once. She said you were very dear to her."

The words touched at Nurse's Harriet's emotion. "She was that way with everyone.

Now come…"

~*~

The nurse had departed to tend to her family affair, and so now Gwen reentered the busy hustling kitchen alone. It was a formidable area for a girl so little, and yet she fixed her lip, and kept her nose raised to balance, just like her mother had taught her. The fumes of cooking were powerfully strong, a mix of spicing and sweet scents that came too close to overwhelm. The air was torridly hot and sweat inducing. She pulled some now even at her dress's sleeves for relief as the noise of pots being banged hastily from one flaming stove to another piercingly reached her ear.

She spotted it, an area not so heavily being used. Gwen dashed for it, using her eyes to find an unused pot and the food ingredients needed. She ground the sausage with the grinder, and then softened it even more with her hand as a worker next to her complained of their need for it. The oven needed no flame to burn as all of them were already flaming so brightly. Mixing the spices, she added them to the sausage and then set it to cook, ready to start the toast and other parts of her Lady's breakfast.

"Eh Girl, out of the way, I need that pot up there!"

A wide figured woman called from in back of her harshly. Gwen scuttled aside nervously, trying carefully not to spill out the contents she was cooking, as the flabby arm pushed past her face to abruptly grab the iron cooking device.

A little ways apart at another stove, another woman, a bit less wide, called out. "Oh now leave the girl be. You'll frighten her with all your hollering. Not that this kitchen isn't already frightening enough! Smells like a dank horse sometimes! Eh…you girl…new girl you be, right? I'm Adelaide, and that boar of a woman behind you is Brunhilde."

The wider woman, Brunhilde, argued back at the insult from the other, who actually was one of her closest friends. They just ragged on each other mercilessly. "Ah shut your mouth, calling me a boar when you look like a long necked cow…mooooo…"

Gwen couldn't help but laugh now at their loud voices and the wild kitchen atmosphere, quickly adjusting, except to the overextended aroma of conflicting smells. That would take some time. "Yes I'm new. I'm Gwen. I just started serving the Lady Morgana today."

That stilled about half the kitchen as faces all around stared, some very pointedly.

Seeing that the looks made the girl nervous, Adelaide called out strongly. She was one of the oldest castle workers, and the mother hen really of the whole bunch. Whenever there was a new chick to the flock, she pecked at anyone too ready to hoax and bully. "Ah, all ye get back to your work! You have no time to stand around and gawk!" She turned back to Gwen with reassurance. "That's a fine job you got Honey. You need any help you just ask. I'll be seeing ye…"

She fiddled out of the kitchen with her food made, stacked high on an enormous platter. Gwen watched it with a bit of more fretting, wondering if she too would have to carry such large trays.

Nearby some of the younger girls, though advanced in age compared to Gwen, and definitely in experience, had listened carefully. So this was her, the girl that got the prime position.

This little thing was her?

One of them turned now, noticing Gwen brushing back a wet curl from her forehead with her arm. She whispered covertly against Gwen's sweating cheek, her own wettening plenty too in the high temped kitchen. "Don't you think Brunhilde is just ghastly? That was awful how she pushed past you like that, just to get that pot. The woman has no manners at all. I know we may only be seen as peasants but have to have some decorum, don't you think? OH…here I go on ranting and I don't even say my name. Awful me. Hi…I'm Mirabelle."

Finishing the last of her food now with what she hoped was a quick enough pace, Gwen responded with a smile. "I'm Gwen."

Mirabelle smiled back, blue eyes and a touch of auburn hair shining past her dull brown bandana. "I know. I heard Adelaide. She is so dear to offer you help. Don't think she's the only one though. You can come to me too. I've been working here for a good sum of years…I know much about the castle. Anything you need Gwen…just ask."

"I will. Thank you." Gwen responded with gratitude. So far there were some very nice people in the palace. Finished with her food now, she waved goodbye.

Mirabelle did too, until the girl disappeared behind the heavy door.

"Ugh…"

~*~

Everything was set up. All the food was still quite hot that she had just fixed in the bustling kitchen. The scariest part had been balancing the large tray, but at least she had made it easier to find the room.

She had cheated a little in that, previously placing the tie of her dress on the door's knob to make sure she would be able to locate it accurately.

Gwen studied the table with youthful firm expression as the door opened harshly.

The boots thundered over the stone floor. His cape whipped behind him with snapping flair.

It was the king. Immediately she fell to her knees, bowing with respect as her head lowered. "Your Majesty."

The king peered past her dismissively, all dressed in royal red cloak for a knighting ceremony that would come later in the morning.

"She is not awake yet?"

Gwen turned back to the bed before lowering her head once more, taking in his hard toed boots. "No Sire. I have prepared her breakfast though, and I am prepared to do the laundering…and anything else my...uh…the Lady Morgana needs."

Uther sauntered over to the table, smelled at the food, checked it to make sure it was heated appropriately, and lifted a fork to the sausage. Cutting off a small piece, he placed it in his mouth. Keeping his expression level, he actually had to fight some not to smile with approval. The food was well hot and tasted rich with flavor. Perhaps she would not be as unsatisfactory as he first thought. Time would tell.

He had of course tried to argue his valid point against her and yet his ward had argued just as forcefully for her.

Aw…young Morgana. She was very much like his dear friend Goloris had been, loyal and yet headstrong, ready to fight away his opinion on anything with strong reason. They'd butt heads all the time and still it was that way often with his ward. She fought for Gwen's position…

Ah…and she won. Even at just eleven years of age the girl had steely resilience. Like Goloris.

Turning around, putting down the fork, Uther signaled to the new servant girl, a tiny unappealing thing and yet maybe she had some skill. "Very well. The food is…acceptable. Make sure that Morgana gets a new fork."

Gwen nodded, taking the first fork away, and pushing the second one in place. She had been prepared.

The king noticed wryly before he ordered.

"Also…make sure that you tend to your duties in the kitchen and other parts of the castle. We will be having guests tomorrow, and so you will be expected to ready two of the rooms. If you are not sure how to do that you will be required to speak to one of the other servants for assistance. If the rooms are not satisfactory, it will weigh heavily upon you.

Understood?"

Gwen solemnly nodded her head, strongly though remembering her mother's words, keeping her chin up as much as she could while showing respect. "Yes your Majesty."

The king smiled a bit under a gloved hand that covered his mouth. She definitely might work out. Most servants would be down on their knees with overly done bows or asking inane questions. This girl just held still.

Slightly impressive.

He passed through the door.

Gwen let out a tight breath as across the way, the girl on the bed stirred. Gwen disposed of the first fork.

Then, clasping her hands in front of her dress she bowed, a bit excited again that now it was about to really start. They'd face each other for the first time since she'd been picked. "My Lady Morgana…Good Morning."

Slowly Morgana's eyes opened to full waking. Her quarters were filled with the rich scents of sweet breakfast, her favorite meal of the day, even though sometimes she ate it so late. Past the bed, the curtains were parted to let in the glowing sunshine and in front of her…

She was her own little bit of sunshine. Morgana smiled now, pressing against her pillow to sit up. For the first time in a long time she felt very excited, happy. The girls who would come to the castle, the other ladies often were too giggling and silly. Gwen was just the right balance of calm and hopefully…

Well she would soon find out.

"Gwen!"

The new little handmaiden couldn't help but beam at that, feeling still that she was so lucky to have this desired position. Taking a few steps forward, she found it hard to be cautious. The Lady's Morgana's happy grin was nearly contagious.

Morgana sat up fully in the bed now, waving with her arm. "Come here Gwen."

She moved the more steps to be right in front of her mistress.

Her eyes shining with the enjoyment of something new, Morgana held to her hands and asked, "Are you nervous?"

Gwen shook her head quickly…before nodding it with a fragile crease to her lips. "Well maybe yes…a little."

Morgana grinned. She hated lying, and so the girl's honesty was welcome. This was going to be fun, maybe even like having a little sister, so much better than thinking of irritating Arthur. "It's alright. And you mustn't always call me the Lady Morgana by the way. You may say Milady…or even Morgana. I really do not mind."

Gwen couldn't help but smile back, before she remembered her position. She was not here to play. She needed to do her work, serve the Lady Morgana honorably and prove to her she made the right choice. "Well Milady, breakfast is ready. Let me show you it all."

Morgana pushed away the covers and departed the bed with a slight hop. Coming to the table, she clapped her hands with delight at what was in the middle. "Flowers…oh thank you Gwen! They're so lovely. They don't look like the ones in the palace gardens though or at the market. From where did you get them?"

Gwen looked up with a bit of apprehension, her Lady taller than her when she was standing. She hoped the Lady Morgana didn't mind they definitely were not from those places. "No. I picked them actually by the creek. There are beautiful bundles that grow there in so many colors, but I will go to the market next time if you'd rather I do so."

Morgana shook her head profusely. "Not at all. I get so tired of all the same looking palace ones. These have a fresh smell, bright colors and everything. You were so kind to pick them for me Gwen. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like them."

Morgana sat down now in the chair that Gwen slid out for her. "Aw, thank you again." She started to dine, smiling with the first bites. "Oh, it's so well made Gwen!" Really it was, rich and full of flavor, that Morgana's smile was a real one that lit up her face with a drizzle of color.

"It pleases me you approve." Gwen answered, sounding as adult-like as she could, as she carefully poured some fresh made juice too for her…ah…her Lady.

After giving give the cup to her, Gwen searched with her eyes. She would have to help her Lady get dressed. The problem was she just couldn't remember which cabinet it was that held her dresses. Nurse Harriet had showed it to her, but Morgana's quarters were immense compared to what Gwen was used to.

Morgana continued to eat her food with polite relish, taught at a very young age the type of protocol a lady of her stature was expected to follow and the way she should demand she be treated. Morgana was a unique one though, her own person with strong confidence who did not always hold to those statures. "Would you like some?"

Gwen turned around from her perplexed search of the room, stunned by the words.

Morgana frowned lightly, understanding why. Well at least one part that is. "I suppose I shouldn't be asking that. I just don't always like all that…royal-obedient thing and I don't really think servants should be treated poorly. Plus I won't expect you to do EVERYTHING for me like…well like he would."

Gwen questioned with her eyes.

Morgana went on, finishing up her meal as Gwen so quickly filled her half drank cup. She really was so good at this. "I'm talking about the prince of course, you know…Arthur. He can't even button his own shirt, let alone carry a junior lance without begging his thousandth servant to help him."

Gwen's eyes widened.

Morgana complained boisterously. "Well it's true. He can't! And none of his servants last because Arthur makes them all so miserable." Noticing how shocked the girl looked, Morgana softened her voice a bit. "Oh don't think too ill of me Gwen. Arthur's alright, when he isn't being an annoying pest. You'll meet him soon enough and see what I mean." She grinned, forking a slice. "Here, at least have a sausage. Taste how well you made it."

Gwen shook her head profusely, looking around the room to see what should be done next. Oh and if only she could remember where the dresser was.

Morgana insisted now though, catching hold of the girl's hand from the distance. She gave her the fork. Gwen carefully removed the piece of sausage and took a taste with a bit of marvel. Not for her cooking necessarily, but for the sausage itself. She rarely was able to enjoy such a treat; meat was finely expensive for peasants and considered a luxury. "Mmmm…"

That made Morgana happy, the girl's real impression. "See…you made it so well." She continued with her chatter, somehow so easily brought on by the girl's quiet listening. "Sometimes I do not care for living in the palace, but you and I are in for a treat next week Gwen. The knights will be having a jousting match and we are to attend. Not a junior Arthur babyish one mind you. A real one! We actually get box seats right in front."

Gwen looked at Morgana with surprise. "I can attend?"

Morgana nodded her head quickly. "Of course! You are my handmaiden now and…well I hope my friend." She added the last part with a bit of shyness.

It made Gwen strengthen some. She smiled fully at her mistress. "Oh…yes Lady Morgana…milady." It excited her to think that they could go to the matches together. She had always wanted to see one even though she was a bit scared of the violent part of it. Still, it would be kind of thrilling to watch the knights all in their armor, proudly displayed coat of arms, and masks, racing across the field on their horses, lances sharply pointed at the other. Ooooh…yes that would so exciting!

Morgana smiled warmly, knowing just like she had days ago that she picked the right girl. "We're going to have fun Gwen. I know it. I loved Nurse Harriet, and it was hard for me to say goodbye to her last night, but she has the family problems she told you about and so I wish her the best. She knows I'm getting older and so she wanted what I've wanted for a bit, someone closer in age."

Gwen started to think now that maybe this wouldn't just be a job, but a whole new change for her, the start of…

Well…something!

Morgana got up from the table now with question, authoritative, and yet respectfully going back to Gwen's duties. "Speaking of, Did Nurse Harriet show you everything? I'm assuming from this fantastic breakfast you know where the kitchen is, yes? And the laundering, do you know where that's done? It's an area in back of the castle."

Gwen nodded her head, thinking of the king's last instructions. He had made it clear that if she didn't know what rooms to prepare she should ask one of the over servants. Perhaps she could ask her Lady…ah…no. Even with Lady Morgana being so friendly already she didn't think it proper to ask her, and she didn't want to admit she had no idea what to do. She'd figure it out somehow.

She still had no idea where her Lady's clothes cupboard was, but one thing she could do with no needed direction. Gwen moved forward to remove the linens from the bed for washing. "I will take care of this for you Lady Morgana…oh…" She half blushed. "I mean Milady of course."

Morgana smiled with approval, walking over to her changing screen now to clean up a bit and get dressed. "Thank you Gwen." Noticing that the girl was busy, she easily opened the cupboard herself where her fine dresses hung. Taking one out along with some undergarments, she stepped behind the screen.

Gwen finished pulling away the linens, seeing her mistress nowhere. "Milady…"

Morgana waved, still a young girl enough, even if a tall one, to not be seen at all behind the carved screen. "Over here Gwen. Just changing for the day."

She came out. "Can you help me with this?" She gestured to the buttons lining the back of the lavender dress she was now wearing.

"Oh yes of course!" Gwen hastily put the linens down on a chair and rushed to help her new mistress.

Morgana laughed softly. "Oh Gwen you don't need to rush."

With a tight frown, Gwen busily buttoned up the dress. "I'm sorry Milady. I should have gotten your dress out."

Morgana dismissed her new handmaiden's words with an easy shrug. "Gwen I already told you I don't expect you to do everything. I'm more than capable of finding some clothes to wear and changing into them. Just don't think I'm going to be one of those girls who is constantly calling on you for silly things like filing my drink more when obviously the pitcher is on the table. And as much as I adore your help you will not have to fully dress me every day…only on days when I'm bloody tired and can use the help."

She grinned, mischievously having fun with her just stated words. She had a fiery spirit that was begotten from her father's fighting edge.

Gwen couldn't help smiling too as she spoke honestly. "I think it my luck I get to be your handmaiden, milady."

Morgana shook her head. "No, I'm the one that's lucky. After this can you help with my hair? I'll show you where everything you need to know is."

"Of course."

Maybe one was a servant and the other was a lady of royal lineage, but they were already becoming…

Fast Friends.

Loneliness's healing would never know the bounds of nobility.

~*~

Hours later the new handmaiden was faced with the still not fixed dilemma. She had no idea which rooms she would need to prepare for the guests, nor exactly how to go about it. She wandered around before luck came. Luck in two actually. Down either side of the hallway was someone she knew.

Now…

Who to ask?

~*~

The directions had been delivered with a friendly smile. Just like in the kitchen, she had offered the help so kindly.

Gwen carefully counted the doors until she came to the third one. That was how she had been instructed, third door on the right.

In front of her was a pair of Pine double doors. Most the rooms seemed to have similar entrance throughout the castle. She pushed at one side, and walked in. It was very…red. That was the first thing she noticed. The bed was large with scarlet covers. This one must be for a husband and wife pair she thought.

Moving away from the bed, she noticed the table very similar to the one in Lady Morgana's room, only this one had strips of fur and leather laced around the chair. Interesting. On the wall was a portrait of a silver shining knight, sealed from head to toe in mask and armor. She smiled at it admiringly. Battle was definitely scary, but the knights were kind of…dashing.

The picture made her recall Morgana's mention of the jousting tournament for next week. Gwen was so excited that not only would it be happening, but she'd be able to attend and sit with her Lady Morgana while doing so.

Wrapped up in anticipating thought of that event, she didn't notice right away what her fingers were touching, until they thoroughly brushed up against it.

"AH!"

Quickly she clapped her hand over her mouth, scared someone might have heard her. Dashing to the doorway, her yellow skirted dress swinging around her legs, she peered out.

First to the left…

No one. Phew…good.

Quick look to the right.

Awwww…no one there either.

Then heading back into the room, she cautiously made her way to the…

Thing that had made her scream.

It was ugly. She felt sorry for it even so. And it just was so STRANGE to have in a guest's room. She would certainly not want to sleep with this beady eyed thing staring at her. What if it came to life in the middle of the night like some wild fantasy story, like some crazy sorcerer made illusion?

Turning her head to the side, she studied it closer…

Closer…

Clo-

Oh! She shrunk away.

The thing was actually the head of a wild boar, displayed right there on the dresser. Maybe a man would like it, but a lady? She couldn't think of any that would want this ugly monstrosity staring at them. Part of her cleaning should be to remove it. In fact…

She bravely walked up to it again, a purpose in focus. She would protect whatever lady slept in this room by removing the frightening culprit. She just had to be brave enough to lift it away. Stretching out her arms, she tightly closed her eyes. Sight blocked, she searchingly felt around the dresser until…

Ah…there.

She grasped it in her hand.

EEEEWWEEE…

It was all furry and…bristly!

Hating touching it, she resolved to keep it in her hold. She just had to get it out of here. That was all. Rid the room of the hideous freak of nature.

"It's not fair! I can handle a real one now!"

She startled at the voice. It was coming from down the hallway.

"Yes..."

"What do you mean, yes? Can't you say anything else other than that…yes…no…yes? Don't you know any other words?" The young voice mocked.

There was no answer before the young voice asked a tight question. "Eh…Where's my sword?"

"Oh uh…I think I left it on the field." The other replied, definitely older as the tone was deep, and yet quite nervous sounding.

Compared to that, the young voice had no sign of nervousness as it came back with a disgusted yell now.

"ON THE FIELD? Well go back and GET it then! Better yet, snatch me a real one from a knight! Show my father what I can do and stop Morgana's big mouth. Well don't just stand there. GO! You're all idiots. And it's idiotic that I have to use this junior sword thing still. I want a true one!"

Morgana's big mouth? His father? Gwen wondered.

One pair of footsteps sounded like it was bolting down the stairs in the opposite direction.

The other though…

Boots just a little less heavy than of the knights and king.

Boots…

1000th servant…

Real sword…

OH NO

The footsteps were getting closer…

Closer…

Eyes still tight shut, her shaking hands touched…

ITS eyes. She shrieked at the hard glassy feel of the beady globed atrocity. So disgusting. So vile. So...groooooooossssssss!

She couldn't hold it back anymore. Too much!

"AAAAAHHHH! EEEEEWWWW!"

She dropped it.

Just as he…

Walked in.

"That's my hunting prize you just dropped you dumb girl!"

With a boy's fury, he bellowed with a good touch of familiarity. He often heard his father issue the same type of authoritative holler.

He pulled it out too from his junior sized arsenal belt quite rapidly.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

Gwen finally opened her eyes, seeing an actual dagger now pointed at her…well at least… a junior version of one. It wasn't as pointy at the tip as the ones used by the…men.

Still it did a very impressive job of scaring a young girl like she, the shining metal whispering an ill intentioned hello. Holding onto it was a boy a few hands taller than her with hard piercing blue eyes. He had sweating gold colored hair that framed a face just a touch darker than Morgana's. Wearing a red tunic and brown pants with black boots, his dress actually seemed ordinary.

It was probably the craziest way to greet, but she was a smart enough girl to start putting two and two together. The directions had been just a little off…maybe on purpose.

"Please tell me you're not Prince Arthur." That dagger still had yet to leave his upraised hand. She didn't like its shininess, fully fledged knife or not. Maybe it couldn't do away with her, but it could leave a nasty...splintering cut.

The boy smirked, thinking that line deserved a good one. He was not all that old in age, and yet he was known for his sarcastic attitude when the opportunity called for it. She seemed the right kind of dumb girl that would be fun to tease. "Oh no. I'm not him.

I'm his SERVANT, Donald…

Dumb girl!

Pick IT up."

He pointed the dagger downward, gesturing to his hunting trophy that she had let fall to the floor.

Gwen quickly bent down to her knees. As she looked up though, she noticed his amused smile. That did it. He was enjoying this. The mean boy, prince or not, was getting some kind of ill spirited merriment from this. Well that really was just the last…bristly string of…

Hideous…

Hair…

On that horrible thing's head!

She may be just a servant, but he barely acted like a prince, more like a cowardly brat screaming at everyone and pointing junior baby daggers at a girl. Really…he had no manners at all!

She did like her mother had taught her, straightened her nose for balance, which lifted her face, angrily. He called her dumb and ordered her to her knees. He was just a boy no matter whose son he was.

Gwen's impulsiveness railed in her voice now with a tightly grimaced rant.

"You should not be so mean! No wonder none of your servants stay! You're just a…

He sneered in her direction, pretty impressively for a mere boy. "A what?"

"A BULLY!"

Still on her knees, she snatched that horrible thing before lifting up to her feet. Thrusting it down so rapidly on the dresser, the head rolled around a bit before finally it came to a stop, lopsided.

Arthur stared. No one ever talked to him like that. They were too horrified of the king's wrath. This girl though, with tight dark curls and a shabby dress at best, definitely servant material, raised her nose at him like he was the one who was a peasant.

She really was dumb…dumbly stupid.

"Do you know who my father is, servant girl?"

Now he was mocking what she did. She was so mad, hands fisting at her sides. She thought little of the repercussions, pursing her lips tightly. He was destined one day, far into the future, to become king. That just seemed totally ridiculous right now. A boy like this had no business ever becoming king of the people.

She tried to look as mature as she could, frustrated that he was tall enough to make her have to look up while she insulted. "He is king. And you should honor him better than how you do. Everyone knows princes become kings, but you would be a horrible one."

He gave her that look, the one that went beyond his years, stunned. Then smiling with youthful arrogant fun as he put his dagger back in his belt, he yelled.

"GUARDS!"

That brought her completely back to where she was and what she had just done. Gwen felt her heart thump. She shouldn't have let her anger get the best of her. She rarely did. Even for a young girl, people said she was patient, but this…boy! Ugh!

It didn't matter, her fury. She couldn't just think of herself. She'd lose this new job in one day. She'd let down her lady. She'd force her Dad's business in town to end. They'd have no home. It was all her fault and now she had to make amends for it. Forgetting all her foolish pride, she grabbed one of the boy's hands.

"Ew…ugh…" Arthur let out. Her palm was wetter than his forehead right now.

"GUARDS!" He called out again with agitation. They didn't always run to his beckon as fast as they did to his father's, which was so annoying. Soon enough though they'd be here and seemed this girl finally realized that. Hah…she'd lose her job. He still had no idea what she was doing in his room, but he didn't really care right now. She'd be sacked in minutes. If only the idiotic guards would get here.

"G-

Desperate, Gwen wiped with her apron at the wetness she had brought to his hand. Then, thinking only of those who mattered to her, the Lady Morgana and her Dad most of all of course, she fell down hard to her knees. Perhaps a little too hard.

"Please Prince Arthur…please don't call the guards again."

She looked ready to cry. Even as her oddly dark eyes looked up to him without any hard blinking, she seemed really upset now. And she was apologizing.

"Please."

He opened his mouth again.

She closed her eyes hard, lowering her head. This was it. She ruined everything. Mean boy or not, she made this happen.

One more call and they'd surface. He had the word firmly in his head. Just that one command left.

She might start crying.

Fie…he hated when girls got all weepy.

She waited. It had to happen. Nose against the floor, she could feel the dust tickling at her nostrils. "Please don't tell my Lady."

One call. That was it.

The young Arthur Pendragon certainly hadn't gone through anything like a thousand servants, but he had plenty that he got rid of in one day. They all did everything he said. Maybe that would make most boys happy, but he wasn't most, and so instead it frustrated him plenty.

They were all cowards.

She had a mouth. She made him feel uncomfortable as she begged. She was dumb.

But she didn't just say yes or no all the time.

"Who's your lady?"

Gwen finally lifted her head, her neck feeling strained. As she did, she noticed there was fractioning interest in his eyes, but not much more. He hadn't called them again. Why? Was he just trying to trick her?

"The Lady Morgana."

Arthur rolled his eyes. So this was her. The day she was picked he'd been out practicing his swings. Girls barely interested him more than the true arsenal of a knight, what he wanted to finally be able to carry, and use. It made sense since he was barely eleven at ten years old, and most girls were just annoying, while most weapons were…spectacular.

Bored of the confrontation now and noticing that it still had yet to be properly positioned after her mangling of it, he moved to his dresser. Lifting the prized boar head, he set it back down in a straight manner, before he commented. "Morgana…of course."

The royal boy's servant came back, to see his master with his back turned. Young pain of a…

Master.

He had heard him while running up the steps to return the sword. The boy had been yelling for the guards. Well enough was enough. He wasn't going to spend some night in the dungeon just to be put back in the torture of serving Prince Arthur.

The servant misjudged Arthur's reason to call the guards, too used to the boy's wrath. He pushed the sword into Gwen's hands almost fearfully.

He'd go back to his father's food stand and help him. Having a nervous breakdown before he reached eighteen was not something he wanted to look forward to. Prince or not, the boy was a tyrant. Even though any punishment the boy had planned would have to go past his father first, King Uther usually listened to his son. He protected him wildly. That's why Arthur was always in such a bad mood, because he wanted to be a real fighter, a grown one that battled like all the knights were expected to. He'd have to learn how to carry his arsenal first…on his own!

Gwen watched with widened eyes as the former servant raced through the hallway and practically skipped each step to get down faster. That was 1001.

Holding the sword in hand, she tipped it upward with interest. The handle was beautiful and yet its hold was a little less than perfect. Like Prince Arthur had complained while out in the hallway, it was not a true sword. Its blade was dull enough to keep it from doing any real harm, and yet it did have a captivating line of decoration shining through the silver. For the moment so focused on it, a natural trait of childhood that moods easily lifted, she forgot her earlier fear of what he still had authority enough to do.

Since he was…

Prince Arthur, son of King Uther, the once and future…

King.

Turning back around, Arthur's youthful blue eyes widened. She had his pitiful imitation sword in his hand, but what was kind of alarming was she didn't seem all that afraid of it. He knew no girl who was so comfortable with a sword except maybe Morgana. Most of the young ladies shrieked at them and got silly, dropping it out of their wriggling fingers, complaining that…oh it was too heavy!

He had no idea if this girl could fight like Morgana, who liked to tell him she was better. Hah. But she definitely was used to holding it at least. That piqued his interest as yet to fully mature eyes noticed her appearance again. The curling hair was tied with some flowering ribbons that seemed to only partly get their task completed. Some of the curls had fallen out. Her skin had a tint of darkness to go with her hair, almost like the sun had fun with it. It was all finished of course with that shabby yellow peasant dress.

Wait a minute. She was holding his sword. Uh…how? So many questions about this weird girl.

Gwen's eyes met his watching ones. She felt her cheeks redden slightly before she pushed the physical flawing reaction away. Silly. She couldn't stand this boy. He seemed questioning right now though. She looked at it in her hand with understanding. Of course. The servant man had left without him seeing.

"Your servant left this for you. You're probably going to need a new one, servant that is. I don't think he's coming back my…uh…lordship." She grimaced at her own mangled words, but also felt a bit confused. She had no real instructions for how to address a prince, one that she didn't even like. Not fully anyway.

The mismatched title actually made him laugh, a smile touching at Arthur's lips for a second.

He should have called the guards on her.

Just one oddly peculiar thing made him not yet yell for her to leave his room.

She called him a bully.

"It's not lordship. It's my lord or…Prince Arthur. I'm not really anything else yet. But I will be."

For the first time she saw something beyond cowardly bulliness in his eyes. Determination. It amazed her a bit before the worry returned.

Arthur pointed with command. "The sword…here…"

Gwen frowned.

Something about her silent not approving look made him amend his words slightly. "It's mine, so can you hand it here?"

Well, slightly rude or not, at least it was a question. She lifted it to him, asking. "Are you going to call the guards on me?"

Arthur took the junior sword from her, holding it in his hand with knowledge. He trained more than he was even told to. He practiced often in his room beyond hours when he should be asleep. One day he would be able to get rid of this puny thing and fight the way the knight in his picture had. He'd be fully clothed in armor and arsenal. He'd lead the knights because he'd best all of them. One day.

Gwen waited.

Giving the sword a few quick swings, Arthur did not answer her question. "You didn't look all that scared holding this. Most girls do."

"Except Lady Morgana. She's better than you."

His eyebrows came up with surprise.

Gwen rambled. "Uh...I mean…she says she is. And I know she is because she's my Lady, but uh…I probably shouldn't have said that she is…at least not to…eh…you."

The young prince half smiled. "Probably. So how did you learn how to hold a sword without acting all silly about it?"

Gwen shrugged now with ease, just happy he hadn't sent her away yet. "I see them all the time. My Dad makes them, much better than that one." She shook her head. "I probably should not have said that."

"Probably again. Your father is a blacksmith?"

Gwen watched as after one last swing he set the sword down on his table. She pushed away some tickling hairs from her eyes. They always fell out of her ties, never listening. "Yes. He set up his forge here in Camelot and it does well."

"Who are you? I mean I know that you're Morgana's handmaiden, but what is your name?"

The question came out now with no warning.

Gwen's young girl nervousness returned, her nose wrinkling as she half grimaced. Just a precursor for the long rambling round. "Um…well my name is Guinevere. But oh…everyone…well most everyone anyway, friends and uh…well I like Gwen the most. I'm not saying that you…uh…I mean…"

She could learn a lot from his English tutor. A lot more than he boringly had to put up with. Exasperated, Arthur cut through the most wandering answer that was ever presented to him, using the first name he heard her fill in with. "Guinevere.

What are you doing in my room?"

Perhaps she had definitely kneeled down too hard. It bothered her bruised knee now, making her wince slightly. "I didn't know it was your room Prince Arthur. I thought it was a guest room."

"Why would you think that?"

She bit down on her bottom lip, grimacing as the pain started to intensify. That was nothing though compared to her growing realization. She had been in here for a long time. The king and her Lady were most likely finishing lunch, and soon the man would see that she hadn't touched either of the rooms yet. When he did, it would all be over. She'd be sent packing. They'd have to leave their new home.

Dully she answered, a tiny childhood's grunt to push away the physical hurt that was stubbornly not vacating. "One of the girls told me that this room…obviously your room Prince Arthur…was the guest room. I'm beginning to think now she told me the wrong room on purpose."

Slowly it made sense to Arthur. Even as a boy he knew the drill that most new servants were put through. It was the same kind of fun teasing that went on between knights. Maybe some of the pranks were a bit mean, but this went further than a regular prank even. And he was now guessing the reason. "Because you work for Morgana. You know what I mean…she picked you for her handmaiden. A lot of girls wanted to be it."

Gwen tried to pretend the abrasion didn't hurt. "I know. I just thought the girl was being nice. I didn't think she was being spiteful because Lady Morgana chose me."

Arthur shrugged. "She's not like a lot of other young 'ladies', even though she can be an irritating bother. That's why they all wanted it, because Morgana's not all that into ordering around and such."

"Like you?" Gwen slapped her hand over her mouth, regretting her wild impulsiveness that seemed to be just flying out with this boy.

Arthur half smiled, and asked, before another rambling apology could start. "Who was it?"

"She said her name was Mirabelle."

"Where did she tell you to go next?"

"Five doors down to the left."

Arthur's sharp sky eyes widened. "My father's?"

Gwen realized the full extent of it with too heavy a face for such a young girl. She never should have gone to Mirabelle. She should have just headed down the opposite hallway and asked the other person who had been nice to her in the kitchen.

The king would dismiss her for sure now and…

Oh. Her wounded knee shrilled at its neglect. It made her leg shake.

"What's wrong?"

She threw it out, thinking there was no reason not to. She'd never set foot in this castle again. "Well everything of course!"

Arthur took a surprised step back at the yell, but could plainly see how upset she was. And yet it was more. She looked like she was almost limping on one foot. "Why are you standing like that?"

Defeated was Gwen's expression. Maybe the king had been right. She wasn't suited to this job. She spoilt it all in one day.

"Ow."

Now he knew for sure. She was hurt. He just didn't know how. It shouldn't matter to him at all. She was a dumb girl who dropped his prized boar head, and yet she'd been tricked, and her big eyes looked so…lost now. "Come on, why are you standing that way?"

Gwen lowered her head. "I kneeled too hard when I begged you not to call the guards. I know you're going to call them now though so just…do it. I know I'm in big trouble."

She said she was supposed to be cleaning the guest rooms. His father would definitely infer why they were not yet done.

She hurt herself kneeling. It wasn't like he had ordered her to, but it was always what the peasants and servants did with his father. It made him uncomfortable a lot of the time when he'd be in the throne room with the king and someone would go down low on their knees begging for something. Sure it was a sign of respect and kings did it for fallen comrades. The prince did it to honor his father. Knights kneeled at their ceremonies. It was all normal. He just hated watching the overly done begging, and yet she had done it at his feet. He didn't try to stop it. She was just a girl, maybe younger than him. She was tiny. If he ever kneeled too hard then…

Then…

"Stay here. I'll be right back." He started to walk away, but her wincing was not alleviating. "You can sit in the chair if you want. And don't worry, the boar's head isn't alive anymore.

At least I don't think."

He smirked.

She frowned.

Half amused, Arthur left.

Gwen stubbornly stayed standing, a tear falling down her face now that she was alone. Her knee hurt so much and…oh her lady Morgana would be so disappointed. Her new job and it was over in one day.

How was she going to tell her Dad?

How-

Another tear started to fall.

"Eh…don't cry. I hate it when girls cry. Too weird. Here…"

Arthur walked back into the room with an unhappy grimace at the wetness staining her cheek. Extending his arm, he pushed it to her.

Gwen rubbed with her fingers harshly at her face to remove the tears, surprised by his return and even more-so by what he had in his hand.

Seeing that she didn't get it, Arthur smiled slightly. "For your knee. Adelaide got it nice and cold for you. Um…er…" He hated doing this, but it was right. "I'm sorry you hurt it whilst kneeling. The floor's hard so watch it next time."

Yet to take the cloth, she stared. Was he actually being nice to her? His blue eyes seemed a bit friendly now. They made him a little more normal along with that last streak of wet golden hair from his sword practice.

"Come on take it. Adelaide prepared it for you. For your knee."

Gwen finally accepted the extended cloth. She lifted shyly at the bottom of her dress just a bit.

Feeling boyish awkwardness, Arthur turned away.

When he turned back around, she had the cloth raised under the last bits of her dress where he couldn't see. "Should make it hurt less."

She was thankful he had turned around. It was strange enough coming to his room to think it was the one she should be cleaning. It was Mirabelle's fault and her stupidity for believing the girl. "Thank you…for getting this for me."

Arthur shrugged off her gratitude like what he did was nothing of consequence. "It was Adelaide. She's who you should have gone to by the way. Adelaide's good at all this kind of stuff. The other girls are all jealous of you because you're working for Morgana. She's kind of…ugh…nice with servants. And she seems to like you a lot. I didn't know that it was you…who she picked, but I heard her talking about the girl with a lot of enthusiasm to my father…so now I know…well that's you…she meant."

Gwen soberly responded. Just minutes before it all ended. "You're right. I should have gone to Adelaide. I met her earlier in the kitchen and she was really nice."

"Yeah well…next time you know better."

Gwen grimaced. "What next time? There won't be one."

Strange. She didn't seem the type to give up.

"You're going to quit?"

Gwen responded bluntly.

"I'm going to be sacked."

Arthur showed a glimpse of his growing maturity, as he smiled with confidence now. "I don't think so."

"I didn't get any of my work done."

He simply shrugged. "You mean the rooms? No bother. That girl, Mirabelle, knows that if they don't get done the king will be furious. And she knows that I know how she lied about which rooms to clean. I think she thought I'd just call the guards on you. Maybe I should have, but even if you're kind of weird and dumb, Mirabelle's just a brat. And you know…I don't think my father would be too happy that a servant tried to trick another servant into cleaning his room. He doesn't let anyone enter without permission. So I have a feeling that she's cleaning those two rooms you were supposed to, really good now. Because she knows if she doesn't I'll tell my father what she had planned. And everyone around here knows that my father listens to me…most the time anyway."

His answer was shocking to Gwen. She had thought for sure he left to call the guards on her. Not only had he not called the guards, he excused her from her yet to be completed duties. "Why would you do that for me?"

Stubborn dismissal came to the prince's face. "I didn't do it for you. I told you Mirabelle's a brat so she deserved it. Plus Morgana would be a whining pest if you got sacked. Oh and it wasn't me who did most the convincing anyway. It was Adelaide, because she likes you a lot. I just had to stand there and nod my head as the royal Prince Arthur."

"But you still think I'm a dumb girl?"

His lips curved slightly. "Yeah."

"I think you're a bully still."

Her lips curved slightly.

It was a fraction of innocent wonder. A boy and girl looked at each other now with no foreseeing knowledge of what this meeting could mean to their future. No hourglass was there to show it.

Perhaps it could be sweet.

Perhaps it could be nothing.

Perhaps it could be torture.

She was just thankful for his help.

And he was glad he'd done something nice.

From a bullish boy.

For a weird girl.

Voices rang in the hallway.

Gwen startled at them. They sounded closer with each step. She had to get out of here.

Arthur was thinking the same thing. He grabbed at her wrist, heading to the doorway on the other side of his quarters, where she could disappear down the opposite hallway. Oddly enough she didn't protest. Maybe she wasn't all that dumb after-all. He opened the door and whispered, "Go down that way…it takes you to the other side of the castle. They'll never spot you and you can get back to Morgana."

She nodded her head.

He couldn't help but mock as she pushed away from his grasping hand and he let her wrist go. "Oh and servant girl…"

She frowned, which made him smile. She looked kind of funny. "Don't mistake my quarters for the guest rooms again or you might have to face the wrath of my…boar."

She countered back strongly, nose raised once more. "Don't be so mean to your servants and maybe they won't quit so much."

His eyes widened. She was kind of brave. "Tell Morgana she owes me."

Gwen's face showed questioning. The voices were getting closer. He dismissed her quickly. "Forget it. Better get going before they spot you. Oh and…

Guess I'll see you around…"

She started to dash in the way he told her, as she heard his final word.

"Guinevere."

~*~

It was two weeks past when they met again. It was once again not at all planned.

Guinevere was enjoying her new job. Yes, being a servant was hard work, but Morgana was the best mistress she could have ever desired. They really were becoming fast friends. Attending the jousting match together had been so exciting.

She had an important part of her duty to fulfill now though. Somehow.

She'd be in trouble for sure if her Dad saw what she had in her hands right now. Going far behind the castle, into the woods, she unwrapped it from the cloth. It was a lot heavier than the junior one he had. She really shouldn't have taken this stronger one, but it was for good reason. That's what she told herself anyway. Part of her service was to keep her mistress protected…always.

Gwen swung wildly, nearly dropping the heavy thing. Oh dear. That's not how you did it. She swung again, spinning so fast with the force she had to fling it away.

Oh no. Now it was dirty. She brushed away all the forest debris from its shine and lifted it again. Gritting her teeth, she swung for the third time, and concentrating hard, she pushed her shoes deeply into the dirt to keep them steady this time. It only half worked, as she half spun.

"Is that a real sword?"

She dropped it.

Eyes wide, he yelled out with caution. "AH…watch your feet!"

Gwen moved away just in time, far back from the falling sword. It landed with a heavy thud against the ground.

Arthur shook his head, just getting his breath back. The girl was crazy!

He lifted it with experience.

"It is a real sword."

It wasn't the puny thing he was forced to train with. This was a legitimate weapon of a knight.

He stared at Gwen. Her curled dark hair was pushed away from her face mostly, except for what looked like a few untamed strands. Funny. The sun was shining right over her nose that got its coloring from the rays. She was wearing that simple yellow thing from the first time. And oh yeah…

She just happened to have a fully fledged sword. And she just happened to have swung it so hard that she nearly killed herself. That's all. She was completely mad.

"Of course it's a real sword!" Gwen came back strongly now. "My Dad made it, much better than the one you have." She backtracked quickly. "Oh…I shouldn't have said that my…lord. Arthur. Prince Arthur."

He flexed it in his hands with excitement flashing through his sky tinted eyes. It felt brilliant to hold that he didn't even care about her nonsensical rambling. "No. It's a good actually. You're right. Your dad does do fine work. Wow…it feels spectacular!"

It was her turn to stare. Wearing a blue tunic and brown pants with a light quilted jacket to appease the still left over wintering chill, his whole face looked happy now. She'd never seen him so…pleased. "It's a bit heavy." She warned.

"True, eh, but…well…wait a minute." He stopped completely, lowering the sword to the ground and digging its blade deep into the mud. "What are you doing with it?"

"Practicing."

He frowned. "For what? It's not like you know how to use one."

She fisted her hands at her hips. "You don't know that!"

Arthur laughed dryly. "Oh…I definitely know that! You nearly dropped it on your foot Guinevere. Before that you practically fell down from holding it."

"You spied on me?"

He shrugged at her wide eyed question with boyish annoyance. "Nah…I just saw you a bit. I was taking a walk in the woods to get away from the palace." He didn't tell her it was really to get away from the young Lady Ysmay. She was staying in the castle for a few days and kept chasing him around, like girls sometimes did. Sure she was pretty, but uh…well it got annoying. It was much more fun getting to hold a real sword without his father around to tell him he was too young and all that.

"Well you can go walk back wherever you were walking…I won't bother you…my Lord." Gwen filled in with youthful awkwardness, still not totally comfortable with all the protocol she had to issue him. Not after that first meeting.

"You still haven't told me why you're practicing."

"And I don't have to tell you."

He frowned at that. The girl was stubborn, issuing royal reactions and then…practically telling him what he did was wrong. Thinking it, he smiled now, lifting the weapon out of the mud. "Fine, I'll just go down to where your father's forge is and see if he recognizes this sword."

"Oh you wouldn't."

"Hmmmm…"

She rolled her eyes at his threat, before relenting. She'd be in so much trouble if he did that. Her Dad would be so disappointed in her too. "Oh fine. I'm practicing so that I can protect my lady. We're to visit a neighboring kingdom in just a few days. I'm told a friendly one, but still I should be prepared as her handmaiden."

His sky blue eyes squinted with disbelief, his head slowly shaking back and forth.

"Eh…prepared for what?" He dug the sword back into the mud.

Guinevere jumped at the question. "Well for attack of course! It is my duty to safeguard my lady. From bandits. Or hostile kingdoms. Or…er…wild ferocious animals!"

Arthur laughed hard, golden head of hair swinging in the wind. "You are the weirdest girl Guinevere. You do realize, right, that the guards go with you? They'll protect both of you." That wasn't completely true. Guards looked out first for the noble ones. And he had no doubt since Morgana was the king's ward, they'd keep her safe primarily, leaving Gwen a bit to her own.

"You're just saying that because she knows how to use a sword better than you! Ooops…well…well she does." Gwen continued honestly and yet weakly. He was the prince.

Arthur stubbornly dissented. "So she says…but she's WRONG. I'm way better!"

Gwen shook her head resolutely. She was set on this. If Morgana knew how to use a sword, then she would have to learn how to use one too. It was her duty to do this.

She was just horrible at it.

"Doesn't matter. I need to learn how to use it and so I'm going to keep practicing."

He came in now with the name he often heard Morgana call her. They definitely were close now after just two weeks. Weird. He never got that way with any of his servants. Of course they were always older and so they infuriated him more than anything. "Yeah…sure…and stab yourself in the process Gwen."

She frowned, pulling at the sword to get it out of the mud, but it didn't seem to want to budge. "UUUHHH…" She grunted hard.

Arthur shook his head. This was crazy. The girl was a full-fledged nut, but she was definitely persistent. "I can't let you do this. You're going to hurt yourself!"

"You care?"

"No!" He answered rapidly. "I just don't want to hear all Morgana's crying about it."

Gwen disagreed with his insulting talk of her mistress. "Morgana's not like that. She's tough! My lord."

"Hah." Arthur bristled back and pushing her hand away, pulled the sword out of the mud. Taking a look at the small girl, who he knew now was about a year younger than him, he nodded his head with resignation. "Okay. First you need to learn how to hold it in fighting position without dropping it on your foot."

"Don't mock. It's not nice. I'll learn it."

She was so set. Her face was so determined. He told her there would be guards and yet she still insisted. This girl was truly strange and yet also truly…

Not a coward.

"You're right there…you will. Because I'm going to show you how keep it from dropping when you get ready to swing.

Now hold out your hands like this…"

~*~

She had stared at him that day when he said those words. She wondered why he wanted to be her teacher, as he did kind of become that.

Now the second day, she traipsed through the woods to meet him in that same spot.

He had taught her on the first day how to hold the sword in the way needed for fighting stance. It amazed her how long you had to hold it in a certain position just to gain control over it. More it amazed her how much he seemed to know. He told her part of it was the coaching he had received, but too a lot was watching the knights since he was able to walk. It thrilled him to see them fight. He was so restless for the day when he could use a real sword that helping her now with this one, was pure fun actually.

She lifted at the winding tree branch and saw him sitting there, eating some meats and cheeses that he had wrapped in some paper. Her stomach grumbled. Her lady hadn't given her too much work, but the king had, making sure that the Lady Ysmay's room was kept in order and that she was tended to during her stay. The girl, the same age as Prince Arthur, was a lot to handle. She was the kind Morgana wasn't, always wanting her glass filled even when the pitcher was right there. Because of having to serve her for hours, Gwen still had yet to eat anything more than the small bit of fruit she had for breakfast. Now so late after the cock's last morning crows, she didn't realize that the day was halfway done already.

Arthur looked up as she came. She seemed a little ragged, more of those tight curls coming out of her hair ribbons. Weird. Shrugging it off with the relaxed mood swings of a young boy, he continued to eat the meat and cheese with a short greeting. "Hello."

He was sitting on a fallen branch. Gwen sat across from him on a stump, taking it out of its wrappings now. "Hello Prince Arthur." Standing with the sword, she held it out like he had taught her, fingers in place to keep control of the weapon. Her stomach grumbled again though. She put it down with a frown, noticing all the good meat he was eating, her mouth salivating, before she turned away.

Her stomach rumbled so hard this time that it could be heard.

Arthur lifted his head, noticing how she was holding at the waist of her dress as she didn't face him. "Was that you?"

She frowned. "Don't be rude."

Arthur laughed at her tight response and lifted the last untouched pieces of the meat and cheese. "I've eaten enough. You seem hungry. Or…at least your stomach does."

She shook her head. "No…I can't…my lord." Sometimes he didn't seem like a prince and other times…he was definitely a prince. He wasn't as bad though as she thought that first day. He did have some…sort of nice things about him.

Arthur grimaced. "Eh…you can't practice when you're hungry. You're just going to drop the sword and if it lands on my foot, I'll call the guards. So eat it."

She didn't look happy about his order, but took the food from him now. She tasted the meat and cheese, closing her eyes for a second. "Mmm…this is good."

Arthur smiled. "Yeah…Adelaide cut it all up for me. So your mother didn't make you a lunch?"

Gwen stilled.

"What?"

She filled in soberly. "I have no mother. She died…well years ago. Prince Arthur."

His face whitened. Biting down on his lower lip, the boy became so much younger, so vulnerably innocent, in his heart. "I don't have one either."

Gwen nodded her head. She knew a little, very little. Just that there was…no mother. She had no reason why. How.

"I have memories at least. You know…of my mother."

He wiped at his mouth with his sleeve, at the moment not caring about his clothes getting dirtied. "I have none of mine."

Gwen frowned.

"She died…" He lowered his head. "She died the night I was born. My father didn't want me to know it happened like that, but I found out about a year ago…too hard not to."

Her eyes widened, her hunger pains and even the great tasting cheese and meats forgotten. "I'm-

"Sometimes I think it's my fault."

She stared.

He pushed away at the hurt that invaded his mind now. He didn't want to look weak or cry or-

"You know…because it happened like that. I did something wrong."

Gwen shook her head adamantly now, moving forward to sit down on the ground. It wouldn't be right for her to sit on the log with him, but maybe like this it would be okay. Of course none of this was right, but he still did it. He still taught her. "Don't say that. She wouldn't have wanted you to say such an awful thing. You can't think that. You just…"

What words did a girl have when something was this awful? To have lost his mother like that? To think that? "You just can't think those things Arthur…I mean…Prince Arthur." She reached out tentatively, touched at the back of his hand.

He looked up.

She bowed her head. "I'm sorry…um…I know I shouldn't say your name in a familiar way."

He actually hadn't minded all that much. "It's alright. Just don't do it in front of the king."

Gwen lifted her head. She still was touching at his hand. His eyes looked dully unhappy right now. She understood that. It seemed all three of them had dealt with some kind of pain. Morgana lost her father. Gwen lost her mother. And Arthur too lost his, much too early.

Her hand was soft and just a fraction warm. He quickly pushed it away though.

She moved it away.

He got up from the log to pick up the sword and gestured downward. "Finish eating the rest. You don't want to practice fighting when your stomach's all grumbly."

After that order, actually kindly delivered, he walked away some, turned his back to her.

Gwen sighed, and ate the rest of the meat and cheese he had shared with her.

~*~

"Okay, I think you're ready to practice your swing now."

Gwen handed him back the sword. For a few moments now after finishing her food, they'd been going over the lesson from the previous day. She watched as he lifted the blade with steely intent now. Standing by, she felt her breath clench some. The wind was ruffling at his golden hair, and yet he paid it no heed, looking at something just beyond.

Making sure she was far enough away, pushing back at her waist lightly as she seemed a little too close, Arthur swung.

Gwen stayed where he directed her to.

The blade whipped with a whistling call, and cut the branch into two. He reacted to it the way he heard the knights do so when they struck a mighty blow.

"Bloody hell that was brilliant!" It felt so free to finally have a real sword in his hands, to deliver a sharp slice with it.

Gwen was as equally impressed that she too used 'knight' language.

"Bloody yes!"

Her eyes were alive and bright as his. He started laughing and she joined in. It was fun to be away from all the adults, doing something that maybe they shouldn't be, having something they shouldn't have, and sharing the experience together. It was kind of dangerously exciting.

He broke through the fun, attempting to sound like someone still deep in his memory.

"Your turn." He handed her the sword.

Gwen bit down on her lip.

"Afraid?" His question was oddly not teasing, but delivered with the hint of a supporting smile.

She looked up to his questioning eyes, defiance flashing in hers. "No…my Lord."

He doubted that her answer was totally truthful, and yet he admired how sobered her face became. She wasn't as giggling as a lot of other girls, focused instead. "Good."

She lifted the sword into the holding position that he had taught her, feeling the sun's rays escaping the bit of cloud cover in the sky, teasing her back.

Arthur raved again about what she was holding in her hands. "That is one brilliant sword. This blade's cut is so precise. And it's not that hard to hold. You know, it has a solid grip."

Gwen nodded her head. "Those are two of the things my Dad says are most important."

Arthur agreed. He'd seen fancier ones, but it didn't matter. Those kinds often weren't made well enough for their true purpose. It wasn't a decoration, but a part of a knight's imperative arsenal.

Gwen looked back, seeing him standing there behind watching her with sparks of blue focused on by the sun. "Okay, what do I do now…my…uh Lord?"

She sounded a bit nervous even though he could tell she was trying to pretend she wasn't. Arthur took a step closer and showed her how to position her hands. "Keep that solid grip, and just try a practice swing, okay. Because the sword's heavy. So don't let it trip you or anything. Just try a swing. Here…" He moved away. "I'll step back…Alright…now just swing Gwen."

She did as he told her, but the sword was too hefty and her balance had yet to be fully achieved.

Seeing that she was near to falling, Arthur came forward, steadying her arm and getting the sword back from her. "Alright…don't give up. That's what Sir Hadrian told me when he was first teaching me how to use one, well the junior one. I was only five then."

"Sir Hadrian?"

Arthur nodded with memory. "Yes. He was one of the strongest knights I've ever seen. He was so brave Gwen. It was like he wasn't afraid of anything. But he also was a knight in the other way, you know? He was gallant…and respectful. He truly…well…I may be just a boy still, but I knew then, and I know now, he truly was what a knight should be."

"What happened to him?"

Arthur looked down at the ground, kicking a stone across to hit at the tree stump with a miniature jarring. The cloud cover half shadowed his face. "It wasn't in battle. You would think a knight like him would go that way. It wasn't even a sorcerer or anything wildly frightening like that. It was just some reckless man who came to Camelot. He had been married to one of the servant women. He held a knife at her, you know a much sharper dagger than the one I have. Sir Hadrian saw it and stepped in during night patrol, guards all around, but they didn't hear the spectacle. He saved her easily, injuring the man, he thought fatally. There was a little girl though. She came running across so fast, because the servant woman took care of her when her mother wasn't around. She wanted to hug her and…"

The boy's expression was heavy, echoing the thickness of the cloud that huddled over.

"Well everything got bad then. There was no time. To save her, Sir Hadrian stood in the way. He took the flying blade, meant for the woman, but that the girl interfered with. I guess he could have just tried to end the man's life, but he cared more about the little girl getting caught in the middle. She was fine. And the woman was fine.

He died."

Gwen frowned with sadness at the story. Too many things like that happened in the villages too.

"Is that why you're always awful with your servants?"

Arthur shrugged, saying nothing, as he slowly waved the sword down at the ground.

"You miss him."

It was not a question. The boy lifted his eyes. "He was better than any servant who has tended to me. So much of who he was…made me want to listen. And he didn't just say yes…or no. He had a lot more to say."

"Arthur?"

"Hmmm…"

She forgot it again and he didn't remind her. "Is that who's in the picture in your room, in that portrait?"

He wondered about her noticing it, but it was a strongly striking pose the man held. "Yeah, that's him."

Gwen nodded her head solemnly. More about this boy was starting to make sense to her.

She probably had no right to say it, and yet she did, firmly. She wanted him to remember, to understand what he said about him and how it had affected the prince he was, and maybe the king he could be. "Think of who he was…what he taught you. I know you want to fight with a real sword, but your father is probably just worried about how it could hurt you. Maybe Sir Hadrian understood that…and would want you to be patient. Maybe he knew…

Your time would come…

My Lord."

Arthur frowned, clearly showing his flawed impatience. "I hate waiting."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "That's not all that hard to tell."

The wind picked up again. They both smiled as it rustled opposite colored strands of hair at their individual foreheads.

"Alright…back to it." Arthur clapped his hands.

Gwen didn't try to soften the moment again. She was like him in such way. She didn't stay sad for very long about anything. Life was too busy even as children.

He cocked his eyebrow now with question. "You know…maybe this is a waste of time. How do you plan to get a real sword anyway? You can't take this one with you. The guards would see."

Gwen shrugged. "Well I could snatch one up from one of them if I have to. I just want to be prepared if they can't help. That's all. I know the guards will be there, but if anything happens, I want to know what to do. I don't just want to sit there like some scared little girl. And I want to show my Lady that I know how to use a sword if need be. You may think that's silly, but to me it matters."

She lifted her head so high, for a second looking a bit older even than the little girl she was. Maybe she wasn't like every other dumb girl. "Okay. I guess that makes sense. Then if that's what you want you're going to have to keep practicing how to swing without getting off kilter. Now here…maybe we're trying to get you to hold it to high. Take light swings really slowly, over and over until it feels that you're not going to fall."

Gwen lowered the sword a little like he told her, and kept swinging from different positions, until one place at the middle she didn't feel as wobbly on her feet. She smiled. "There…I swung and didn't fall!"

He grinned. "Yeah that was good…okay we'll work with it there then."

~*~

Gwen returned to the rear palace gardens from another trip to the kitchen, wiping at her sweating brow. With the Lady Ysmay and her father Lord Wykeham visiting for the past days, Gwen's service continued to be more busied than usual. Unfortunately Lady Morgana was not a part of her service in the gardens this afternoon. That might have made it better. Her lady had actually apologized to her profusely for having a previously planned meeting with her old nurse, whose sister was starting a slow recovery. Gwen hadn't understood why her dear mistress felt the need to give regrets, until now.

Morgana had been the one tending to Ysmay mostly during her stay. Now that she was busy, the king had made other arrangements, ordering Gwen responsible for their success. A whole group of children was with Lady Ysmay, including the Duke's son and Lord Brom's Children. And then there was of course Prince Arthur, taking over Morgana's usual place.

As Gwen walked rapidly down the path through the gardens to the tables, she could see how Prince Arthur was running back and forth with the rest of them. They seemed busied in a slightly differed version of hide and seek, going behind tall bushes to not be found. Much laughter rang out that made her smile for a second with melancholy emotion. It made her miss her time in Shonore when she had been so young that she didn't have so much to worry about. They were not much older than her and yet they still were allowed to play that way because they were royalty. Letting go of her sadness, she straightened her nose, lifted her face, and made her way to the tables.

It was an unfortunate accident that at that moment, Benedict, one of Lord Brom's large brood, ran to get away from the seeker. He raced right into Gwen, causing the tray she was carrying to fly upward in the air, and the drinks to fall to the ground. All of this happened after the dark red juice stained her dress, and the force of his round body made her tumble back into the grasses.

Arthur heard it as one of the girls laughed. Looking up, he saw that Benedict Rolly Polly, the way he liked to privately refer to him, was down on the ground, and so it seemed was Gwen. He started to race forward from his bush.

This had not been his idea. It was of course his father's, and with the man being the king, Arthur had no choice but to heed his royal order. He'd actually rather be across the way with the knights like he had planned for this afternoon, getting to watch some of their practice and participate a bit as he trained with his puny sword, but at least it would have been with men of honor in shining chainmail.

Because of Morgana's other obligation though, he was here with the group of kids who he'd known long enough and yet sometimes they bored him terribly. Plus Lady Ysmay kept chasing him around. Sure she was pretty with all her golden waves, but nothing for him had solidly changed even after spending this time with the other boys and girls. Maybe he wanted to grow up too fast. Who knew? Perhaps he was too restless, but as fun as their somewhat changed version of hide and seek could be, and yes he was laughing along with the rest of them as someone was captured and put into the 'dungeon' to face the 'dragon' before they tried to make a hiding run for it, he still was missing out on all the grown up fun with the knights.

A distraction was welcome then, except for this one didn't make him smile. Benedict was a big boy, a wide boy, who was a lot taller than Gwen, and a lot thicker than her. Sure she was just a servant and it would have been dismissed, Arthur could guess, by his father, but it wasn't being dismissed by the prince as he rushed.

Some of the others got there first, the girls giggling and the boys snickering, as much ribbing Benedict as they made fun of Gwen's predicament, not helping either at all.

"Fie Benedict…" Leofrick, the Duke's son, thin, tall, and the oldest at twelve, mocked. "You're like a barrel, rolling right over her."

Lady Emeline, the youngest at barely ten, and yet months older than Gwen, tittered with girlish fun. "She's a mess!"

Benedict, definitely pudgy, moved away now from the servant girl, actually looking apologetic. Gwen pushed away from his arm that had landed across her lower leg. Pushing down on her skirts to smooth them out at least a little, she could feel the wetness soaking through her dress from the spilled juice.

Arthur got to the crowd of kids now, having been smart enough to hide the furthest away from the capturing 'dragon' who had been Henry, eleven years old, and the one Arthur got on with the best.

As he approached, Lady Ysmay turned to him. "She's not a very pretty servant girl, is she?"

The others were laughing at the comment. Leofrick actually started to help Benedict now, but no one assisted Gwen. Arthur took a step toward her, and then heard it. He grimaced. She still wasn't getting up, but at least she had her eyes open under the half cloudy skies.

"You're going to have to get us new drinks, servant girl." Lady Thea, the middle of Lord Brom's brood, ordered, as Arthur placed another foot over the ground.

She still hadn't gotten up on her own.

"And next time watch out for Rollaround Benedict." Leofrick added with teasing. "You're a servant. You're going to have to learn how to dodge any…wild dragons."

"Hah…" They were all laughing.

"Yeah, she will, won't she Arthur?" Henry asked with a smirk.

Having had enough, Gwen ignored the wet state of her dress now and pushed off the ground.

Arthur lowered his head, wishing he had just made the move. Sir Hadrian would have. It wasn't all his fault though. He had wanted to be training with the knights today.

"Isn't her name Gwen?" Emeline asked with a high voice. "What an awfully horrible name."

"Actually it's Guinevere."

Gwen turned around now to face him. The prince's eyes were a hard blue under the fading threat of clouds that the sun played its own game of hide and seek with.

"And no, I don't think it's awfully horrible."

She stared, stunned that he would remember and say it in front of his…friends.

Ysmay, a tiny tinge of jealousy running through her, sneered at the girl. "Well don't just stand there looking like a wet chicken. Get us our new drinks."

Henry, Arthur's closest friend, put his arm around the boy and actually came back at Ysmay. "Ah, stop being Lady Pain In the You Know What."

Shaking her head, Gwen bent down to scoop up the tray and all its mess. She had work to do so let them tease each other back and forth. She would just quietly ignore it, and anything they called her. Rude boys and girls. Except maybe…

Gritting his teeth, Arthur watched, before feeling his friend poking at him, calling him by his teasing nickname. "Come on Arthy…you're next to be dragon. Can't let Benedict do it, even though it's supposed to be his turn. He'll flatten one of the girls for real this time."

Arthur couldn't help but laugh at that. It was usually Henry who could get him to smile, and it was good how he let Ysmay have it because at the moment she deserved it.

Henry slapped the prince on the back. Arthur let out a dragon's howl. All the kids scattered around and the chasing hide and seek game started again. Forgetting the knights for now, and her, Arthur turned around to see who was the closest. Ah…perfect.

She squealed as he started running after her.

Ysmay didn't even have time to hide before Arthur caught at her arm. "Got you!"

"Oh please don't put me in the dungeon fiery Dragon." She pretended fear like the game was played, enjoying it because for a long time she had a…crush on Prince Arthur.

He snickered at that. "You get to join all the other wet chickens."

She frowned, knowing why he was saying it. "I was only teasing!"

"It was kind of mean." He commented as he led her to the 'dungeon', basically an area under a wide branched tree.

"She's just a servant, Arthur! You're always mean to yours."

He frowned.

Ysmay rolled her eyes, but then smiled graciously. "Okay, I'm sorry. But you don't want me to say that to her, do you? Our fathers always tell us we never have to apologize to a servant. I don't think the king would want you to."

He grimaced. It was true. His father always made it clear that servants were below them. Ushering her into his 'dragon dungeon lair', he shrugged. "If you try to escape, I'll chase you."

Ysmay smiled. "Well the running's always fun. Go on dragon. Get your next capturee…then I can run away."

Arthur raised his eyebrow. "You'd dare."

She smiled. "Sure."

He rolled his eyes and went to get his next one. Dumb girl.

Yet…

She wasn't totally cowardly.

Across the field, Gwen was done picking everything up and making her return to the kitchen, her dress wet against her skin. Noticing them now smiling at each other, looking like they were teasing, she turned away. It didn't matter.

They were noble.

She was peasant.

And that was always how it would be.

~*~

The next day Gwen got there first, not even sure if she should be waiting. Once again she had neglected to eat lunch because of having so much to do for Lady Ysmay. One weird thing though, the girl had actually quietly apologized for all their wildness from the day before, and made sure that she was okay, not hurt from Benedict's run-into. Gwen gratefully thanked the girl, even as she wondered.

Did it maybe have to do with Prince Arthur?

Well no matter. The prince was certainly not her friend, and of course the girl only bothered to give her regrets when no other kids were around. It was like the prince too. He was only nice to her when they were here at this spot, except for the one thing he had said about her name. It was shocking he had done that with the whole group there.

As the sun gained more exposure this day than the two past, she questioned silently again what she was doing in the spot.

"Hi."

Gwen startled, jumping up to see him standing there. She got it out with unplanned harsh formality. "Good day Prince Arthur."

He frowned at that, taking it from his bag. She seemed not happy about the day before. "I brought you some more meats and cheeses from Adelaide, just in case you didn't eat again. Remember, I don't want any swords dropping on my toes."

She looked away.

Arthur sighed, his boyish face showing resignation. "Are you okay?"

She turned back around to him, her forehead crinkling beyond her young years.

"Benedict's pretty big." He noticed now how she wasn't wearing that stained yellow dress, but an orange and white one. The other one was probably still being cleaned.

"Lady Ysmay apologized."

Arthur's eyebrows came up with surprise. "She did?" They had finished their game of dragon hide and seek right as Gwen came back with their new drinks. He had captured Ysmay twice, Henry once, and Emeline three crazy times because the girl didn't know how to run. The others actually got away. How Benedict managed it was a wild mystery. Arthur supposed it was because he took pity on him after the fall. The boy kept limping. Since Gwen wasn't now, seemed she fared better.

"Yes, this morning. Of course when no one else was around."

Arthur shrugged. "Of course." Still he was slightly impressed. "Anyway, it was a one day thing. It was all my father's idea and you can't argue with the king. I would have rather been doing sword practice with the knights."

She couldn't help but tease, feeling a little more regular again now that they were away from all the confines of the castle. "With your puny sword?"

He smirked angrily at that.

She laughed.

Arthur did too and told her to eat her meats and cheeses.

Gwen decided not to reject it as her stomach started its timely rumbling again. Besides, this was the last lesson, and she wanted to make sure she learned well. She and the Lady Morgana would be making the trek tomorrow.

~*~

Standing at the tree's target branch now, Gwen held up the sword, hearing Arthur's instruction.

"Okay, now just swing at it, maybe picturing something you don't like."

She smiled at that, taking a look back at him sharply. "Or someone?"

That question surprised Arthur as he nodded his head slowly. "Uh…yeah…I guess if you have someone in mind."

She grinned, a mischievous girl.

He swallowed. A frightened boy?

Gwen was ready. They had practiced this more than a handful of times yesterday and every swing she had missed the branch or cut at the wrong part. This time she knew she was prepared to slice it like he had, with precision. It was funny to see his uncertainty about her smile. He was probably trying to figure out who she was picturing as she got ready her swing.

Well he could keep guessing.

She swung.

The branch cracked, splitting right down the middle.

Gwen jumped up and down with youthful excitement.

Arthur could barely contain his, but one more thing if she was really going to do this. "Okay, you against me. You get the big sword and I get the puny one." He smirked.

She lifted the sword and tried to balance it like he had taught her. Arthur swung first. Gwen shocked back at it, so he didn't complete the swing.

He complained strongly. "You have to hit back Gwen if you want to do this.

Unless you're scared." He mocked now. "After all you have the big sword and I have the dull junior one.

Come on…hit back at me!

I know you're still mad about the kids being brats yesterday."

She frowned hard, raising her sword. "Well you can be one too!"

He smiled at that before objecting. "I'm a prince. You can't talk to me like that servant girl."

She hit forcefully. He had to block. Good one. Still he lured with his blade tip. "Come on…that's barely a hit!"

He swiped down against her sword, spurring her to block. Arthur was being careful though. She had learned this in less than a few days and she was actually doing good at it, but still she was just a girl, a small one at that, and he knew better than her how swords worked.

Gwen intercepted his blade with hers, gritting her teeth with determination.

He watched it with wonder. This was the way to fight. Maybe she was little and just a girl servant, but she showed more courage than most of them, all those yes no servants. "That's it…come on!"

He backed up with her. Gwen came at him. They volleyed back and forth. Kids with no adults to supervise, they did their treacherous act with fun and hard intent. Once again no division stood between them. Each impressed the other. She could see why he wanted a real one, because he was begrudgingly a solid teacher and even better at the fight. He could tell that she was serious about protecting her Lady and that if she ever had to do it, she'd probably be pretty scary. So they were kids, who shouldn't be hiding in a forest with a real sword snatched away from one of their parents for these moments, but together they were learning. Together they were experiencing what the other was.

Would this lead to some great friendship or more?

Would it be forgotten?

She hit hard enough to get him off balance. It was enough. It would be what she'd have to do. It was time receding the sun's full's power, after this final lesson had started, after all her losses and breaks in between where with a boy's growing maturity he counseled her to not give up. Sir Hadrian never would have.

It was that final moment that they could stay in this spot of the forest that no one knew they came to, that she had her little, and yet strong enough victory.

He frowned hard, having to get his footing back as she lifted the sword away.

Gwen bit down on her lip, not sure if he was angry.

He still didn't smile. "You did it."

She frowned too. "Yeah."

Steely precision was in both their eyes that went beyond their childhood years, that whispered their purpose in life.

His lips curved to a boy's full happiness. "You DID it Guinevere!" He yelled out now.

It was a moment of excitement, of total abandon, of knight's strong reaction.

"Bloody Yes!"

He laughed. She did too and jumped forward, leapt against his shoulders.

Hugged the boy who someday could become king of her, and all the people of Camelot.

He startled at it, before awkwardly bringing his hands around her little shoulders.

She dropped her hands down his, so rapidly embarrassed. "Oh I'm-

He shook his head, thinking for the first time.

Gwen was pretty.

Guinevere was.

For a dumb girl anyway.

He was a bully, but also a good teacher.

Prince Arthur.

Childhood was still so innocent, even for the hard-worked girl and the boy who had ominous duty to come. It was a simple pleasure. In this place, far away from it all…

They became friends.

Too bad in only a few days they'd forget the innocence.

Until…

~*~

"Practicing to protect your Lady again?"

She still smiled at the voice, the new words, lowering the sword to the table. "No, just returning this to Sir John after repairing it."

She turned around. He marveled for a second at how she had…altered. He supposed. Maybe that was not the right word, but he found himself a little not so sure what to call it, what to say, like the nights before when he told her that she never failed to surprise him. That had felt awkward and, not exactly what he was thinking. It was just something about her growth though, the way things changed between male and female, maybe…or…he wasn't sure.

Lately she took to wearing her hair down more with those flowers she had sprinkled it with since being a little girl, entering her first days of palace service. They suited her. She was of course now taller, but still what all men called petite. Now she had the curves of…

A woman.

And yet that fighting spirit was still there, returning past both their awkward later days.

And years after maybe falling to some kind of stupid sleep…

He was waking again.

Seeing not just Gwen.

But Guinevere.

She marveled even more. Years past that time he reminded her of now, Arthur was handsomely the man she always knew he would be in looks. All the boyish aura was gone, except for that naïve expression he would get sometimes when his brow relaxed. His dedication to his arsenal since being so young had formed him physically into a man of full brawn who now rightfully was leader of the knights, and Crown Prince of Camelot.

Sir Hadrian would have been proud she imagined.

What interested her so intensely though, was that with each day he was showing more of his true spirit, beyond his father. He displayed his heart sometimes, making her feel a tingling awareness. A yearn that still embarrassed her.

As she saw him beyond prince.

And even future king.

As she saw him as just…

Arthur.

"You remember?" She frowned at the marks on his face, one lining his eye so harshly.

He nodded his head with a slight smile. "Sure. You thought I forgot?"

"I've wondered sometimes."

Of course he was still arrogant many days and disappointed her like that one years back when he had his friends around. There were things she truly believed he had yet to learn. Maybe she did too. No being was perfect. They never spent the time enough anymore though to learn from each other like they had in that forested spot as children. Their lives turned so far from each other's even though she still served the dwelling he called his home.

He could see that she wondered. They had only gone back to that spot one more time, and it had been for short moments. Months after, he was allowed to start training with the real sword in limited capacity. It was enough though. He kept his old friends and made some new ones. For some years he got a little cocky about it all. He would mock every servant with his friends. That is until this most recent one. Merlin was an idiot. And yet Merlin was the first one, who didn't just say yes or no all the time. Merlin was crazy…but brave.

Kind of like her.

And kind of definitely not.

Merlin would never look as good in a dress as she did.

He took a few steps forward into the room.

"You wanted to protect your new Lady. So you came to me to learn how to fight."

She grimaced skeptically. "It wasn't exactly like that."

He laughed. He was past twenty one now. She was just twenty. "Well that's to be debated I suppose."

She was having a hard time believing all this. Just a few nights ago she saved him from the flying gargoyle-like creature. He teased as she did the second time, when she landed on him. Then he told her that she always surprised him. This, after years of acting like she barely mattered, and her resigning him back to that initial state. A bully. Now that prince of before was coming back with maybe even something more vital. Now that prince was slowly showing the king he was not as far away to become. And it intrigued her. It reassured her.

He continued. "So as I recall, you attended your mistress that day. You both rode out with the guards, like I reminded would accompany you. And you saw something leap out of the tree. It made you get scared for your lady so you…"

She rolled her eyes. He did remember. Too much. "I didn't see it that clearly."

His expression was sobered, hard with purpose. "No, not until it was right in front of your blade, you know the sword that you snatched from the guard's bag on his horse. And you swung so hard Guinevere…you knocked that…

Squirrel right out of that tree."

He smirked.

She looked down, mortified just like she had that day she had to tell him what happened when he insisted the details, when for a few seconds they were still escaping kids. "At least I didn't kill it. Oh…but it was awful. I murdered its sitting branch."

He laughed fully now, smiling down at her for long moments. "You're a squirrel branch offender Guinevere. Guilty as charged."

She turned away with that embarrassment still strong again.

He caught at her arm.

She looked up, touched at his hurt eye, feeling him flinch.

"Ow."

"Sorry."

He shook his head. "But you did learn how to be a brilliant sword fighter. You proved that in Merlin's hometown, remember?"

She smiled, lifting a tie from her dress. "Here…Sire…take care of that eye. Like you helped me take care of my knee."

He gave her a wondering look now, holding at the tie and bringing it to his eye before lowering it again. "You remember that?"

Her eyes sparked. "Of course."

She turned away. She had duty. She had her lady, her dearest friend in all the world. Her life had changed that day she was picked…

For many reasons.

He called out.

"Guinevere…"

She turned back around, "Yes my Lord?"

He fixed his eyes on hers. "Do you still get lost around the palace?"

She shook her head quickly. "Of course not. Never."

He nodded his head.

She started to walk away again.

Before he whispered it.

"Too bad."

~*~

"Milady? Morgana?"

Guinevere entered the room she was so familiar with now that had those double Pine doors at its front. She no longer had to put a tie on its handle or that of any other room. She knew the palace intimately. She frighteningly even knew its dungeon. And with sad regret, she knew its throne room where judgment was placed, once on her, unfairly. Once on her father. Fatefully. She didn't cry any tears now. She wept them all that day. It was her most solid pain still. It was a bit of why that man in the hallway still could disappoint her. Even if his part in it had been minimal, it was mostly what he…

Hadn't done.

Then, years ago, she had no mother. Now too she had no father.

Only memories.

Still she smiled, holding flowers in her hand and taking them to the table. She still had her Lady. Oh Morgana was not just even that. She was like the dearest sister. She loved her fully and was so grateful that Morgana saw more in her that day than just the little inexperienced girl she was.

Now, thinking of her dear mistress, where was she? "Morgana?" She called out again.

The door opened. Ah…finally her mistress. "Milady…" She smiled with a small curtsy of respect that was not at all tied into formality.

Morgana walked in with shining happiness. Some nights it could be hard to sleep, like the past when she dreamed about the awful creatures that came to life through sorcery and nearly destroyed all of Camelot, but the girl before here always tempered that horridness. Gwen had been in her employ now for about eleven years and not one day did Morgana regret her girlhood choice. Gwen was not only loyal, but feisty, fun, dear, and had this shining bravery in hurt that would have defeated most others. Gwen was not even royalty, and yet Morgana considered her handmaiden her best friend with no one to come close in equaling. Gwen was so much more than any other lady of nobility. She had such honor and sense of hard work about her.

Before her, Morgana had been a lonely girl, boring of teasing the young Arthur. She had a dear nurse then, but it was never quite enough. Now she had a special comrade to go to tourneys and other events with. She had someone to call out to when the nightmares became terrifying, who would hold her in her sweet embrace and make her feel safe. Gwen was most like her sister than anything. She cherished her.

"Gwen…I have something for you."

The handmaiden took a surprised step back. "Milady?"

Morgana stepped forward, holding a full bushel of them. "Here…remember your first day with me? When you brought me such a lovely bunch from by the creek? Well that is where I picked these. I thought this particular color could go well with one of your garments."

Gwen took them from her lovely mistress who was dressed this day in deep blues, with a wondering smile. "They match my lavender dress, and go with the flowers on my apron."

Morgana nodded her head, thinking the dress Gwen was wearing today was quite lovely. She noticed that lately, how her friend and handmaiden wore her hair in more delicate ways and that she had taken some of the scraps of material she had given her and made out of them beautiful gowns that accented her frame so nicely. "Yes…I think they would look wonderful in your hair, all those curls you have."

She smiled warmly. Gwen did too, hugging her mistress now. "Thank you Milady."

Morgana pulled away, holding at the girl's hands. "No, thank you Gwen. You've made living in this palace…so much nicer. You are the best handmaiden I could have…and the best friend."

Gwen emotionally disengaged their hands, put the flowers down, and pointed to the table. "I picked you some flowers too."

Morgana's emerald eyes sparked with deep approval. "They're lovely as always."

She added playfully, "Now come on…"

She held at the girl's hand. Together they sat down on the bed. Gwen still felt awkward about it, but her mistress had practically demanded it from her first days of service. For a few short moments they would sit together and just…

Talk.

Gossip.

Rant.

Rave.

"So Arthur has a nice shiner now."

Gwen nodded quietly. "Uh…yes."

Morgana wondered, but didn't say anything.

Gwen brought in the memory of earlier. Her mistress did not know who had taught her it, but of course what the result of that teaching was, she did know. "I was returning Sir John's Sword a bit before, and I recalled that day with the squirrel."

Morgana laughed fully, her head falling back to bring her ebony loveliness all around to frame. "Oh my goodness…yes! You were protecting me. Remember the guard's faces?"

"Yes!" Gwen laughed now too. "They had their mouths wide open."

"Oh and one kidded if there was such thing as lady knights…"

"Well barring nobility rules, I could be one!"

"Ha ha…yes!

They continued to enjoy their shared time, the handmaiden and the Lady.

The happy…

Innocent

Time…

When she met her lady.

And the once and future king.

~*~

Love is such friendship…

Dwelling in beautiful innocent pleasure.

Love cannot stop there though.

It has two other dwellings.

Two years into the future not yet seen…

Blood fills.

Pain screams.

Hearts rip.

Truth forsakes.

In the fieriest dwelling.

hell.

~*~

To be continued…

In Love's 2nd Cycle

Bleed

~*~

Thank you for reading. Feedback is adored. I will be back with the second part ASAP.