Veronica had seen nobility before. They had ridden through her village when she was younger even than she was now. Every now and then would step outside of their litters. However, she had never seen anything like the royal progress. She had assumed that all royals simply had a retinue with a simple livery. A group of soldiers, servants, litters, and carts with flags and pennants was not what she had estimated.

Royalty proved to not be what she expected either. Gawain was much louder than she expected nobility to be. Merlin had told her that they were people, just the same as everyone else, but from what her ten-year old self had seen they seemed to be a completely different species. However, if Gawain didn't fit her expectations, than his mother destroyed them.

She had first noticed the woman when Merlin had entered the court progress. The woman had clapped her hands excitedly, and then there had been some hushed whispers. Merlin had pointed to Veronica at one point, and she had followed his finger to the girl. Soon after she had gotten out of her litter and approached her.

"What's your name?" asked Queen Morgause.

She seemed to genuinely want to know the little girl's name, which both surprised and frightened Veronica. There were other intimidating factors as well though. For one thing she was a stranger, and was quite possibly the most beautiful woman that Veronica had ever seen.

"Veronica of Scarborough," supplied Merlin.

She looked at him gratefully. Morgause frowned for a minute, as though she had been hoping for the girl to answer. Her next question she directed back to Veronica;

"A little shy are we? Don't worry, I'll more than make up for it. I'm somewhat famous for my talkative ways," she said, smiling to herself as though it were a private joke, "You can just nod or shake your head and I'll keep the questions simple. Have you been travelling long?"

Veronica nodded.

"Tired?"

There was another nod.

"You can ride in the litter then," Morgause said, "I know riding is a little airier and much less confining, but it really is more convenient sometimes to ride in one of these, especially if it's raining. Unless you don't want to of course."

For a second Veronica contemplated shaking her head. The idea of being caged in such a way didn't appeal to her. Then, out of the corner of her eye she saw Merlin jerk her head towards the carriage. The idea of being alone with these strange people panicked her slightly, but she turned her attention back to the woman and nodded her head. She had learned to trust Merlin since he had found her, and she knew he must have a reason for wanting her with this odd Queen.

Gently taking her hand Morgause helped her in. The curtains had barely when a terse voice asked;

"What's happening?"

"We had the luck of meeting Lord Merlin on the road," explained Morgause, "This is his new apprentice. Isn't she lovely?"

The woman raised her eyebrows in distaste and her mouth contorted like it was full of salt. Her noise was almost perpendicular to the air and her expression of haughty disdain was something to behold. This was what Veronica had expected royalty to be like. Morgause shook her head.

"Please don't mind my sister," she said, "She hates these long carriage rides."

"And peasant girls in rags polluting my air," her sister added.

"Morgana," Morgause said in a voice that suggested that she was talking about the weather, "I'll not be having that."

Snorting Morgana turned and looked towards the cloth walls of the litter.

"Like I said, don't mind her," Morgause said, "Now then, excited about seeing Camelot? It's supposed to be lovely around spring."

Veronica shook her head. Morgause frowned again, and then her expression softened.

"Nervous about meeting the other two apprentices?"

This time Veronica nodded, somewhat emphatically. How could she not be nervous about meeting two strange boys who were not only older than her, but also from what her master said so much more progressed in their craft? It was bad enough to go into a new place without feeling like she was going to be humiliated to boot.

"Don't worry about it," said Morgause with a gentle smile, "You'll learn fast enough. Merlin's chosen you, so you're bound to be talented. And I'm sure they'll like you."

"Doubtful," Morgana said.

"The girl's already nervous enough without you making things worse," Morgause said harshly, "If you can't say anything constructive than don't say it at all."

"I'll say something constructive," Morgana said, leaning toward the girl and peering at her as though she were something to be scraped from the bottom of her boot, "You're a sorceress, or at least an apprentice, and that raises you somewhat higher than most of that mindless rabble out there. But remember this; whatever nonsense my sister and that mad magician out there spout you had better learn to stay in your place."

Veronica saw Morgause move her mouth, speechless. Ignoring her sister's reaction Morgana smiled and remained staring at Veronica. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes, until she realized that that was what Morgana wanted. Her jaw set firmly. She was never crying again, not in front of anyone, and especially not in front of this awful woman. So instead of crying, she stuck out her tongue.

Morgana drew back, insulted. Seeing that her own sister was trying very hard indeed not to burst out into laughter she snarled and flipped the curtains of the litter aside before stepping outside. As soon as she left Morgause let loose and was in hysterics for the next few minutes.

"Wonderful, she'll be in a mood about that for days," Morgause said, calming down but still having to repress the occasional chuckle, "People rarely get the best of her."

She smiled before continuing.

"I think you're going to be just fine with those boys. If you can stand up to my sister I think you can stand up to anyone. She's a very powerful sorceress, has been since we were little. But sometimes she can be…well, you've seen her."

She paused for a minute before continuing;

"Never had the gift myself. I mean, the gem on my ring barely has any color in it at all."

Her elegant hand extended and Veronica saw a milky-white quartz stone set into a silver ring. It was tinted ever so slightly pink. She was untrained, so she had no idea what that meant. Her own ring had been given to her several years ago, a simple iron band with a clear stone. From the way Morgause was talking about it though, she could tell that it was important.

"It's very cloudy too," she said, "You should see my sister's; all deep red and clear as a bell. Heaven knows my parents tried to get me trained well, but things just didn't work out. I can do a few simple things…but no matter. Life goes on, you know?"

Veronica nodded, somewhat confused by the tangent.

"You know what?" asked Morgause, "I think I have an idea."

She pushed aside the curtains of the litter and addressed one of the footmen in hushed whispers. After a minute he took off and Morgause drew back inside of the litter.

"You'll need some new clothes," she said, "I know I'm much taller than you, but I don't think anyone can do a shrinking spell quite the way I can. These clothes will literally grow with you."

Veronica made gestures of protest which Morgause waved away.

"I don't need them anymore, and I doubt that Lord Merlin will have anything for a girl to wear at his tower," she said, "He'll probably be able to scrounge up something, but he really has no fashion sense at all. And, if bad comes to worse…well, I'll not have you wearing boys' clothes when I can help."

Idly Morgause tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"And again, don't pay any attention to my sister or those like her. From what my boys wrote me Merlin's apprentices are well-behaved and quite studious."