Chapter 2: The Grand Tour of Camelot

Gwen walked down the corridors of the castle, playing with the basket of flowers she had just collected for Arthur's chambers, a small morning gift he had given to her after missing her all day yesterday. She had visited him early in the morning, at his own request, to talk about a new arrival in the castle, a Princess. He had asked Gwen to befriend her (if possible) while she stayed in Camelot and to take her mind off her troubles but Gwen wasn't sure she could do that. Most of the noble and royal women that came to Camelot wanted nothing to do with her. She was, as they often said, a glorified maid. They never understood why Gwen, a simple common girl, lived in the castle or what kind of fascination she could possibly hold for the recently crowned King. There were some horrible stories going around, about witchcraft and gold and though Gwen knew they shouldn't, these things bothered her. She had once thought that when Arthur became king, everything would be okay. But this was not so. Many people still disapproved of their relationship, spoke about it in front of her and behind her back and after being crowned, Arthur had had too many problems with the Kingdom to think about people being silly to Gwen. But it still bothered her. Why couldn't she love Arthur? Or be a Queen? She may not be from a background with wealth, but she was a good person with an honest heart. Was that not enough?

So lost in her thoughts was Gwen that she did not notice the girl she had started thinking about wandering down the halls until they both collided with each other. The flowers Gwen had been carrying went everywhere as she fell backwards and onto the hard floor.

"Oh I am so sorry! Please forgive me, I did not mean to hit you, I was not looking where I was going and…Oh! All your lovely flowers! I am such a fool!" an unfamiliar voice exclaimed, causing Gwen to look up.

She had never met the girl before, but from looking at her Gwen guessed that they were of the same age. She was beautiful to look at, she thought, tall and ever-so thin, with flowing fair hair that reached down her back and even fairer skin. The nicest thing about her though Gwen decided, were her golden eyes, which seemed to become even brighter when she smiled.

"Oh, um, that's quite all right. I wasn't looking where I was going either." Gwen responded shyly, gathering her skirt and picking herself off the ground. The other girl did the same.

"I really am sorry about the flowers. They're beautiful, they do not belong on the floor."

"It's all right, really. There's always more where they came from." Gwen assured her, before holding out her hand. "I'm Gwen and you must be the new princess."

The girl nodded. "I see my reputation precedes me. My name is Aoibhinn and I am happy to have bumped into you. I've been quite lonely all morning, actually."

"Well, that's good news, isn't it? I've been looking for some female company for a while now."


"Have you always lived in the castle, Gwen?" Aoibhinn asked, picking up the skirt of her dress as they crossed a muddy patch on the road. Gwen looked away, avoiding her new friend's eye.

"Um, no. I actually grew up out here." she answered, looking around at the ordinary people of Camelot, running around, fetching food and water. "My father was a blacksmith. I became a maidservant for the Lady Morgana some years ago now, and have since become a friend of Lord Arthur. He's a good man, insisting I have my own chambers in the castle now that Elyan lives there."

Gwen waited for the typical onslaught, the usual looks of disgust she got from the noble women who found out her heritage. But it never came. Instead, Aoibhinn smiled at her.

"Who is Elyan?"

"My brother. He became a knight last month, just before Arthur became King."

"He must care a lot about you then."

"Who?" Gwen asked, a little confused.

"Arthur, of course! I'm sure he doesn't let just any maid stay in the castle, even the sister of his knight. You must mean a lot to him." Gwen pushed her hair back behind her ear, trying to hide her smile as she blushed. "Oh, I don't know about that."

Aoibhinn stopped walking suddenly, causing Gwen to. She turned to Gwen. "You are way too nice, Gwen, and modest. I can see why he must like you. I would like to ask you one question, if it does not bother you?"

"Of course not. Ask away."

"Who is the Lady Morgana?"


While Gwen was giving the new girl a tour of Camelot that morning, Merlin was in the paddock, watching as Arthur trained with his knights, always ready to pass him new armour or a new weapon when needed. Arthur was currently battling Lancelot, the two quite evenly matched, though Merlin believed the knight wasn't very enthusiastic today. Gwaine, who was standing beside him, was yawning. He had been training as a knight for six weeks now, but was still not used to waking early for work, not that Merlin was very surprised.

"Look who's joined us." he said sleepily, dragging Merlin from his thoughts. He motioned to their left, where Guinevere was standing and giggling with the girl from last night. Aoibhinn, Merlin remembered. Both seemed to be enjoying themselves and from the looks of things, Gwen had found herself a friend.

"She is beautiful. Looks so much better then last night." Gwaine said, turning away from the fighting match to watch the women.

"You better not be talking about Gwen, or Arthur is going to kill you." Merlin murmured, smiling at his friend's obsession with the new girl. "Don't you ever get sick of throwing yourself at girls and being rejected by everyone of them?"

"I don't get rejected by all of them."

Merlin gave him a withering look.

"Just most of them then. Oh, don't give me that look Merlin! Just you wait and see. Once she gets to know me, she will be falling all over me."

"Only if she's desperate." Merlin mumbled under his breath, making Gwaine scowl and playfully grab Merlin in a headlock.

"You watch your mouth, Merlin. Not like you can judge anyway. When was the last time a girl looked at you?"

"I am deeply offended by your comments, Gwaine. There are plenty-"

"Name three." he interrupted bluntly, holding his fingers out, ready to count. It was Merlin's turn to scowl.

"I can't."

"Ha. I was right."

"No you weren't!"

"Well, it looks like we are about to find out just who the ladies prefer. Looks like they are on their way over."

Looking at the girls, Merlin realised that Gwaine was right. Gwen was currently dragging Aoibhinn over to where they were standing. He sighed deeply. This would give him the perfect opportunity he had been searching for all night, to get to know more about her, not to mention proving Gwaine wrong.

In a matter of moments, they were all standing together.

"Merlin!" she said with a smile, coming over to stand beside him, tugging the slightly shy girl with her.

"Hello Gwen." Merlin replied, smiling back. He smiled at the girl too as his eyes scanned her body, taking her appearance in. Gwaine was right: she did look better this morning. Much better.

"Well hello to you to Guinevere. I am perfectly fine this morning, thank you for asking." said Gwaine sarcastically.

"Hello Gwaine." Gwen replied, rolling her eyes. "I guess I should introduce you both to my new friend. This is-"

"The Lady Aoibhinn." Gwaine answered smirking at Merlin as he bowed deeply to her. "It's a pleasure, milady."

"We were in the court when you arrived last night." Merlin explained after seeing the confused look on the women's faces. "I'm Merlin."

"It is lovely to meet you." Aoibhinn responded, with a slight bow of her head.

"And I am Gwaine." said man whispered seductively, reaching out a hand to take hers. She deliberately moved hers from his reach.

"That's nice." she said, offering an embarrassed smile. Merlin grinned at her. It looked as if he was right about this one. Poor Gwaine never stood a chance.

"Merlin is King Arthur's servant and close friend," Gwen informed her. "though he may refuse to admit it."

"I don't refuse to admit it."

"I meant Arthur, silly. And also Gwaine is one of Arthur's knights."

Gwaine winked mischievously at her. "At your service."

"You are a knight?" Aoibhinn asked incredulously, staring at him. Merlin snickered at her expression while Gwen smothered a giggle.

"I am offended by that comment."

Aoibhinn hid a smile behind her hand. "I apologise, I do not mean to be cruel. It is just, well you do not exactly fit my mind's image of a knight of Camelot."

"I agree with that." Merlin said, laughing aloud. Gwen joined him, no longer able to suppress herself. Gwaine, however, acted hurt.

"I can assure you, Princess, that I am just as good a knight as anyone else here."

"Then why, pray tell, are you standing here talking with two women and a servant? No offence meant of course, Merlin."

"None taken." Merlin murmured, watching amused as the woman insulted his friend.

"I am sorry, but I do not know. Is that common practice for a knight here? For in my Kingdom, knights train hard night and day and do not have the time to be trying to chat up ladies. Kind of like those men over there." she continued, motioning to where Arthur was putting the rest of his men through their paces. Gwaine growled in response.

"I can assure you, Lady, that I have earned my place in Camelot and I will not have anyone say otherwise."

She smiled as he glared at her and Gwen, feeling that if they stayed there any longer Gwaine might tear both their heads off, decided it was time to leave. Making excuses for both of them, she pulled her new friend away and back towards the castle.

As he watched them leave, Merlin swung an arm around his own friend's shoulders and laughed.

"Look like I was right."

"Doesn't matter now. That girl is coming down."


A/N: Only have time for a quick note now, but thank you so much jade2nightwing and Cwam for being my first reviewers! Also thanks to those who favourited or alerted.

Hope you liked this chapter! It is a little weird, but we're still getting into the story so... If you can, please review and tell me what you thought.

Well until next time, readers.