I am so sorry for the wait, guys. It took me a while to muster the muse to write this fiction, and I'll write quicker now, I promise.
SORRY D:
Chapter Two ; Introductions
I was sitting there still, thinking about things and how my life would change, when there was a somewhat timid knock at my door. "Come in," I called out.
A woman of about my age entered. Her skin was caramel-dark, and her curly black hair was tied into a bun. She wore a long yellow and white dress and had a pair of chocolate brown eyes. She was very pretty. In her hands she carried a vase of lilies, which she set down on the dressing table just ahead of my bed. "Hello." She greeted me warmly. "I'm Guinevere, the Lady Morgana's maid. Most people call me Gwen, though." I smiled. "Lovely to meet you, Gwen. I'm Ava."
Gwen smiled back, obviously delighted that I was of the friendly sort. "Well, I've come to ask if you needed any help getting ready."
"Yes, thank you." I replied. "But I don't really have any dresses suitable for the feast." This wouldn't matter to me usually, but tonight was my first feast here in Camelot, and I wanted to look nice.
"That's no problem – there's dresses been sent from all the nicest places for your use here in Camelot." Gwen said. "I think their in your wardrobe already."
I hadn't even thought about looking in the big oak dresser to the right side of the room, next to the window. I wandered over to it, and curiously swung open the big doors. What I saw took my breath away. All my life I had grown up in luxury, with lots of servants running around after me and beautiful dresses at my disposal. But never had I seen so many gorgeous dresses as these ones. Blues, greens, purples, reds, gold's, silvers and many other colours stared out at me, beckoning me in. "Which one to pick?" I gasped, not even tearing my eyes away from the many wonderful dresses. "Which one do you think, Gwen?" The maidservant came over and took out a long, flowing royal blue dress with a silver band around the waist. She held it up to me and scrutinized it. "I think this one will look lovely on you." She commented. I took it from her. "Thank you – I'll try it out."
I stepped out from behind the changing screen. "You look lovely, milady." Gwen grinned widely. Then she did my hair. She made it so that it was curled around my face and travelled down my shoulders, tracing all the way down to the bottom of my ribcage. The back was curled too, and hung daintily to half way down.
Finally, I was ready, and Gwen left me to get ready before Arthur arrived. The Prince was escorting me to the Feast, seeing as I didn't even know where the Grand Dining Hall was. He arrived with a knock on my door.
"How do you like Camelot so far?" He asked as we made our way down.
"Its beautiful, from what I've seen." I replied truthfully, examining the hallway we were walking through – drawing a map in my mind. "That's good." He breathed as we came to a pair of large wooden doors. "Well, here we are. Enjoy the feast – I'm sure we'll talk during dinner." Arthur was polite at least, I thought. If a bit big-headed. He entered the hall just before me, and I followed, examining my surroundings. The grand dining hall was most definitely grand – and that was nothing. It was glorious, a huge room with tapestry on the main wall ahead of me. Tables lined all the way up either side of me, and they were packed with happy, bubbly people. Uther spotted Arthur and I and announced, "The Lady Ava!"
I was surprised as the hall exploded into clapping, and very flattered that Uther had held this feast in my honour. I sat down between the King and the Lady Morgana, and food was soon carried out on large silver trays. It was delicious – all fine meats and vegetables. I was full after dinner, and the wine that I drank settled nicely in with the full stomach. It was time for the real celebrations to begin.
There was music, to begin with fast, and a few people got up to dance. I just watched and smiled along with the King and his ward. "So, tell me about yourself." Uther turned to me, taking a sip of his wine. "How long are you planning on staying with us?"
I hadn't expected the question, but thought of something as quickly as I could manage. "As long as you'll have me, Uther."
He smiled. "In that case, you are welcome to stay for as long as you wish. No doubt Camelot is a great change for you. It will take time for you to get used to it – but I and my ward will ensure that your time here with us is a splendid one."
I smiled back at him. "I really appreciate it."
The rest of the feast passed quickly – I was having a great time. Many of the richer residents in Camelot approached me and wished me a good stay. I was surprised with the amount of people that had anticipated my arrival, and were appreciating me being here. Did they do this for all of their guests?
I liked Morgana a lot. We talked and joked about lots of things, and we had a lot in common too. I was laughing hysterically at her jokes. I could really see myself getting on with Morgana well in the future. Suddenly the music slowed, and couples of dancers twirled into the center of the floor, in front of the long table that Uther, his ward and I sat at. I knew I was going to be expected to dance with Prince Arthur, and my stomach shifted uneasily. I hadn't ever properly danced with a man before, and she hated dancing as it was.
But it was compulsory, I guessed. The guest at the castle, I supposed it wouldn't hurt, and I didn't want to insult the king, his son or their kingdom. So I danced. Arthur was surprisingly graceful. I had thought he would be quite clumsy on his feet – he was rather muscled, but apparently I thought wrong.
It was then when he happened to look up and straight at me when I was doing exactly the same. I noticed the cool blue eyes – the colour of the sky in summer. I looked away quickly, heat creeping to my cheeks before I could stop it.
The rest of the feast passed in a blur – and I went to sleep with a warm feeling inside of me. It felt so safe here in Camelot… so like home.
