I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling wondering how on earth I was going to do this. But during my stupor I noticed something ever so strange… If I hadn't have known any better, there was none other than a grand painting of the entire map of Camelot on the ceiling of my chambers!

What must Arthur be thinking? I know he is king now… but I could think of this only as paranoia at best! I groaned out loud and sensed a presence nearing towards me…

"Uhhh….. My lady? I really think we should be getting you dressed…"

"If we must…" I replied in a tedious voice

" If I may say so my lady , I think that you will make a glorious queen. All the villagers agree"

"They do ?" I asked

"Yes my lady, only this morning was a local tradesman raving about the voice of the people finally being heard!"

"The people…." I mused "Just because I was once a servant … doesn't mean that I can determined the whole kingdom's thoughts collectively in a way that will please everyone" I added, my voice breaking half way. I felt my eyes tearing as my vision started to blur.

"Now we can't have you upset for your first council meeting " Suzette soothed , placing a hand on my shoulder. " Come, my lady, what about this Burgundy number?"

" What's the use !" I said a tad too loudly " What difference is the colour of my dress going to make, when I make a fool of myself ,embarrass my husband ,and disappoint my people! " I sobbed

Suzette sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders " It will do no good to sit and weep my lady" She soothed . I turned to with helplessness in my eyes, she seemed like a young woman with much in her grasp, a pretty face that I could guess had been courted by many men. Eyes more piercing than I had previously noticed , not someone I would have initially taken for a servant.

"What brings you here Suzette? You are no doubt bright enough to run a small business of your own….."

"Oh, I do my lady, a small florists on the outskirts of the citadel. I had the honour of meeting our king on multiple occasions , he would….ah…. make use of my services"

"Arthur made regular visits to a florist?" I asked .I could hardily imagine Arthur wanting to brighten his own day with a bunch of wild daises.

"Yes , my lady, for what I could only presume as a gift for his love interest …."

I gasped aloud "You….you mean to say that all those times Arthur would appear at my door with a fresh bunch of tulips…or a beautiful basket of lilies…" She reminisced her silent joy when Arthur would surprise her like that. " Those were all your doing?"

Suzette suddenly appeared extremely discomforted " I- I'm so sorry my lady, I… I thought I was doing a service , I-"

I burst out laughing.

"My lady? Are you-?"

"I should - have known" I said between breaks of hysteria. " Arthur cannot dress himself into his battle armour - how I believed that he had trekked through the forest and assembled such delicate arrangements of flowers…." I continued to giggle at my own obliviousness.

Suzette let out a great sigh of relief

"Thank you , suzette, they were beautiful"

"Thank you, my lady." She smiled " And so I was summoned little but 3 days ago to start duties as your maid . The king declared that since I had assisted him in his quest for your heart, that he could see no person more fit for the role .That was , of course, if I accepted….."

" And you did?"

"Well of course , my lady , How many can say they have been specially selected as personal maid to the Queen of Camelot ? "

"Not many suppose…" I said looking down at my hands.

Just then her delicate finger tipped my chin, forcing me to look at her directly.

"And it would be my honour, to lay down my life in defending the greatest Queen Camelot is destined to see."

"Thank you." I whispered with a smile. Suzette had an honesty about her , the kind that was very rare among most. Only now was I realizing how lucky I was to have such a person in my midst, let alone my maid.

"Come on then" suzette chirped. She bounced off the bed and strode over the endless stretch of dresses "Wipe those tears , and lets get you ready"

I pulled myself up off of the bed , goodness these corsets really were tight….

"Could we perhaps select something a little more flexible…?" I asked

Suzette turned to me, and immediately noticed my distress. "Of course , my lady , maybe we should favour those kind for all your meetings, don't want you passing out while balancing the fate of the kingdom " She added with a smile.

"Oh don't say that…" I groaned " I'm nervous enough as it is"

Suzette pulled out an beautiful Ivy green gown , with Golden stitch , and looked at me for confirmation . I nodded in approval and turned around to allow her to start undoing my lace.

She started to loosen , and the relieving sense of release flowed through my body as I could once again breathe properly.

" How do I stop my self from saying the wrong thing?" I questioned , as Suzette pulled my violet crowing gown down to my ankles, leaving me in nothing but my under garments.

"All I know my lady , is that you are the Kings one and only -useful-advisor from now on…. And his decisions will only be carried forward with your approval"

She really hadn't answered my question….. " I'm afraid I don't understand" I asked as I stepped into a mountain of green layers , and felt them being swept up around my body.

"You are the first Queen Camelot has seen in over 20 years , such an important role has been absent for so long now….."

My freedom of flexibility was short lifted as Suzette began to tie a heavier but less rigid corset around my small waist.

"I'm still failing to see reason" I said doubtfully.

"What I mean is , maybe for your first meeting , just to grow accustomed to the surroundings , you should solely base what you say around The kings own decisions ."

" Ahhh, just agree or disagree with his decisions , in order to learn of the issues themselves." I realized, astonished.

" Precisley , my lady , your advice is all he may require at this point in your rein. Surely he mustn't expect you to make any large , effective proposals so early on."

The steady tightening of the laces drew to an end at the small of my back, and I released the newly inserted ,waist high bar on the far wall, that I could use to braise myself on.

"Precisley" I echoed.

"Will I be attending this meeting myself?"

Arthur's voice carried from over the sold changing screen"Only if you've set you heart on it" I replied , coming out from behind the screen.

Arthur turned my way , and expressed a moment of shock " Guinevere…. You look -"

"Are we to attend this meeting or not? " I asked, nervously brushing the front of dress.

He shook his head and came back to his scenes " Of course" he said , still slightly taken aback . Extending his arm to me , he asked "Ready?"

I threading my arm through the hook of his " Ready as I'll ever be" I replied, trying to form what I though was a smile.

We made our way across the room and out of the door way. I turned to catch a last glimpse at Suzette as she gave me an encouraging wink. I tried a smile in return , but felt as though I was swept away. Now facing the same corridors as before, but with a much less desirable destination.