Faye sat confidently next to her father throughout the feast, she noticed several nobles making eyes at her but she simply smiled politely and shook them off with a nod, something she had learnt to do since a young age.

Faye looked over to the knights. Most of them were sitting together, laughing and drinking. But on another table, five knights sat alone, with what seemed to be a servant.

Among the five was Gwaine, who's eyes latched onto her's, and she blushed as he grinned.

Quickly looking away, she moved along the table. Sir Leon was sat beside Gwaine. Elyan and Lancelot sat together, exchanging conversation. On the end was Percival, who was smiling at something that the servant had been saying.

Faye rarely made a habit of paying much attention to servants but this one seemed different. He was taller than most and had dark hair with piercing blue eyes that looked older then they could ever possibly be. His ears stuck out and gave him more of a comedic look but something about the servant made Faye uneasy.

The rest of the meal went quickly as Faye was starving from the day's training. Every now then she glanced back over to the knights. But they were busy with each other's company.

When everyone had finished eating they retired to the great hall. Faye found herself standing alone as her father mingled with the other guests.

Faye rolled her eyes as she saw gwaine approach her. "Well well well my lady" He bowed and Faye laughed slightly. "I didn't expect to see you all alone." He waggled his eyebrows and Faye gave him an unamused look.

"Being alone is a lot more interesting than being with another."

"How so?"

"You noticed things, people…"

Gwaine smiled "I hope you noticed me."

Faye looked up at him shaking her head; she looked away hoping if she ignored him he'd go away.

"Fine…who have you noticed?"

Faye smiled knowingly

"The servant you sat with during the feast, who is he?"

Gwaine snorted. "Merlin? Out of all the men in the room. You noticed Merlin!"

Faye simply ignored Gwaine's protests and continued "Who is he?"

"He's Prince Arthur's manservant and my friend."
Faye looked gwaine over with weary eyes. He now had his arms folded like a sulky school boy.

"I didn't notice him in that way Gwaine. I just thought it odd for a servant to be seated with Knights."

Gwaine's smile returned. "Oh. Right so err…you want to dance?"

Faye gave him a disapproving look. "I don't think that's appropriate. A knight dancing with a princess."

Gwaine looked disappointed for a second then Faye started to grin. "Should've seen your face. You think I care about what people think." She held her hand out for gwaine to take and he lead her into the centre of the room where other nobles where dancing.

Gwaine placed his right arm of the lower part of her back and the other on her shoulder. Faye's hands rested on his shoulders and they began to move to the music.

Meanwhile King Harrowmond looked at his daughter with a disapproving eye. There were many handsome and rich men in the room but Faye had chosen to dance with a knight.

He looked over to the prince who was now stepping beside him.

"What do you think of my daughter your majesty?"

Arthur looked over to Faye who had now finished dancing with Gwaine and was conversing with Percival.

"She's a fine young lady; some of my knights seem to have taken to her…" Arthur raised an eyebrow as he said so.

Harrowmond eyes widened as he saw the knight with large arms wrap his arm around his daughter as she laughed.

"May I suggest you remind your knights of their places, I was hoping your father would explain this to you but as he is ill the duty stays with me? Your father and I arranged you and Faye to marry."

Arthur's eyes widened. "What?" he breathed. He stumbled backwards slightly. "No."

"Excuse me?"

"I can't marry her." Arthur looked over to Faye; she was pretty and a perfect wife for a king. But not for him.

"You don't have a choice. This was decided since your birth."

Arthur shook his head that wasn't possible. "Does Faye know about this?"

Harrowmond shook his head "No not yet and she won't until you propose. Understood."

Arthur narrowed his eyes "You can't make me do this."
The old king laughed "I don't want to make you do anything but Faye needs to be looked after I won't be here forever and her brothers are unlikely to do it…please Arthur."

Arthur held his head up trying to think of a way to get around it. "What if I give you an oath that if you pass away. I will look after Faye no matter what the cost is."

Harrowmond looked up into his eyes testing the boys' faith. "Very well. I accept your oath but please Faye is stubborn do not mention this to her."

"I wasn't going to but as Faye has been training with my knights I have a request."

Harrowmond narrowed his eyes "Oh dear that can't be good."

Arthur chuckled. "My knights and I will be heading out tomorrow just a patrol nothing too serious. But I think it would be good for Faye to join us."

"I don't know if that's a good idea, she seems rather friendly with some of those knights." Harrowmond eyed gwaine as he spoke.

"Please sire, you have my oath that I will protect her and I can guarantee that sir gwaine is just flirting, his intentions if he has any are noble, he has saved my life many times and he is one of the bravest men I have ever known."

These words seemed to persuade Harrowmond a bit "Fine. But I want her back in one piece."

Arthur bowed his head "Brilliant I shall go tell her now." He began to walk away but harrowmond's voice called him back.

"I want her in one piece that includes her heart. She is a girl Arthur, she puts on a hard front but inside she's just a girl…"