Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin (the show), Gwen, Leon, or any of the other places/things/people in this story.

Tholey: Thanks so much for your review! I appreciate it! I'm with you on Leon; he's my absolute favorite character in the show. ;)

Chapter One

The worn and creaky wagon rattled loudly down the beaten path. It was nearing nightfall, and the temperatures were beginning to drop, slowly but steadily.

"What say we stop here for the night, Tom?" The gruff voice of her father's best friend, Gareth, interrupted Gwen's daydream. "It's never safe in these woods after dark."

Tom's answer soon came. His voice, usually so full of life and joy, was flat. "Yes, this place will be fine. Guinevere, see if you can get us some food cooking."

"Yes, Father." Gwen slowly stood from her cramped position in the back of the wagon. It was relatively empty; all of their belongings had been in the house when it burned. There were a few gold coins that her father had been keeping in his blacksmith shop, two swords, and, most importantly to Gwen, a beautiful golden necklace that had belonged to her mother. The chain had broken a few weeks before the fire, and Gwen's mother Aliya had brought it her husband's shop to be repaired. I'm so thankful that Father didn't get around to fixing it in a hurry, Gwen thought as she sadly looked at the delicate jewelry. If he had, we wouldn't have anything left of Mother.

Before they had left Rhydlafar, the entire village had come together to pay their respects to Aliya. When the ceremony was over, friends and neighbors gathered around Tom, Gwen, and Elyan, bestowing upon them many things similar to those they had lost. Gwen had been given new clothes and shoes, as had her father and brother. Tom had given them hardly any time to say goodbye, but Gwen almost preferred it that way. The shorter the farewell, the easier; at least, that was logical. She'd been given almost no time to say goodbye to Leon, and leaving him had been the hardest thing Gwen had ever done. In the days since they'd been gone, his last words to her had played countless times in Guinevere's head. You're so precious to me. I pray that our paths will cross again, someday. Hearing her father's footsteps approaching, Gwen raised her head and quickly blinked back the wayward tears. I have to be brave, she thought, for Father's sake.

The following morning, the three woke with the sun, and began the last leg of their journey. After about an hour of jolting and creaking through the woods, the land began to rise and fall; small slopes turned into hills, and jagged cliffs began to show up here and there along the path.

"We're getting close, now." Gareth spoke; it was the first thing anyone had said since they'd been in the wagon. "I'll wager we'll be to Camelot before nightfall. I've sent word to my brother; he lives just outside the city walls. He'll put us up for the night." Tom nodded in gratitude, but said nothing.

Sure enough, by late evening they were directly outside of the city walls. A thunderstorm was fast approaching the town, but lights from the castle windows shone through the clouds like beacons. Gwen shuddered at the thought of living within the massive walls, enclosed like an animal in a cage. Never in her life had she been confined; it would take a long time to become accustomed to the strange new way of life. If I ever get accustomed to it at all, she mused, hurrying to help her father and his friend unload the wagon before the rain fell.

The following weeks were miserable for Gwen. Tom had found a house for them to live in; it was small and cramped, but cozy. Gwen's father had urged her to go to the castle in search of a job; she'd obeyed his wish, and had secured a post as a kitchen girl. It was hard work and long hours, but she tolerated it, simply because it gave her something to think about. When he learned that the royal blacksmith was in need of a helping hand, Tom applied to be the man's assistant. Together, they made just enough money to live on. There were no frivolous things in Camelot; at least, not for Gwen and her father.

Months passed. Gwen still mourned for her mother, but each day the pain was slightly less sharp. Tom slowly began to smile again, and one evening, six months after their arrival in the city, Gwen heard something that seemed to lift a huge weight off of her shoulders – her father's laugh.

A year after their arrival

"You there! The King has demanded your presence immediately!" Gwen's head snapped up as she realized the guard was speaking to her. She was standing over a tub full of water, washing dish after dish; there had been a banquet the previous evening, and the chore of cleaning the multiple plates had fallen to her. At the mention of Uther Pendragon, fear sliced through her heart. Have I done something wrong? What would the king want with me? He doesn't even know my name. Quickly drying her trembling hands on her apron, Gwen followed the guard from the kitchen.

All too soon, they reached the council chambers. Two armed men swung open the heavy doors, and the guard behind Gwen roughly pushed her into the quiet room. The king sat opposite the doorway; his face was as cold as stone. Just like Father told me. Tall men in long red cloaks filled the room, and Prince Arthur languished beside his father's throne. He couldn't have been more than a year or two older than Gwen, but already he had the spoiled, arrogant look of an only and very rich child. A girl sat in a chair on the other side of Uther's throne. She had long, dark hair and a sad, confused expression on her lovely, albeit drawn and very pale, face.

"Is this the servant Guinevere?" Uther was speaking to the guard beside Gwen.

"Yes, my lord. She's a kitchen girl." As he spoke, the man pushed Gwen forward into a clumsy bow.

"My lord," she said in the most respectful tone she could muster.

"Arise," the king muttered, looking bored with the entire affair. "This," he continued, now addressing the entire court and gesturing to the girl on his left side, "is Morgana. Her father has just been killed in battle. He was a very dear friend to me, and I promised him on his deathbed that I would look after and protect his daughter. She is my ward, and will be here in Camelot from now on. I want you," he said, pointing at Gwen, "to be her lady's maid. You are relieved of your kitchen duties, and will begin tending to the Lady Morgana at once. You will wait for her outside this room," he finished, nodding to the guard, who motioned for Gwen to follow him from the room. When the doors closed behind them, the man nodded at Gwen and disappeared.

Overcome with a wave of relief, Gwen quickly leaned against the wall, breathing hard. She straightened up almost immediately as the doors swung open again. Morgana walked out and turned to Gwen with a half smile on her face.

"Hello," she said kindly. Gwen curtsied in response.

"My lady," she whispered. Morgana waved her hand impatiently.

"Gwen, I'm no older than you. Unless we're in the presence of the king or prince, you don't have to call me 'My Lady.' I'm Morgana and you're Gwen. Come on, I'll show you where my room is."

Somewhat shocked at the kindness she was so far being treated with, Gwen followed. This may not be as bad as I thought. Only time will tell.

Hope y'all enjoyed chapter one! Please read and review; it really means a lot! Until Saturday :D