So here we go again, and again sorry it's taken so long. Thank once again to all those who have taken time to read and review, hope you like this as much as the rest.

Disclaimer: I do not own the canon characters, they belong to the BBC, however the OC, she is mine.

The following evening Guinevere was sitting near the window in her chambers looking out over Camelot as the light began to fade, she knew she should have been getting ready for the feast, after all it was being held in her honour, but, as she supposed was to be expected being female, she could not seem to decide what to wear and more importantly she was beginning to wonder how Uther was going to react to her deception. She stood up and walked across to her bed where the dresses had been laid out for her to look at and decide which one she was going to wear. She picked each of the dresses up in turn, looked at them, frowned and put them back onto the bed, repeating this several times she finally threw the last dress down with a laboured sigh and walked back towards the window,

"I'd go with the green one if I were you", A female voice said from the doorway,

Guinevere turned to see a tall woman with dark hair and pale skin walk into the room, knowing in an instant knowing who she was,

"Lady Morgana", she said, inclining her head,

"Lady Guinevere", Morgana replied, returning the gesture. The two women looked at each other quizzically for a moment, the same thought running through each of their minds,

"Of course I know who you are", Guinevere said, breaking the silence first, "The King's ward who's beauty is unparalleled throughout the kingdom, you couldn't be anyone else",

"And you", Morgana replied, "The princess from a foreign court, who disguised herself as one of her own maids to travel to Camelot in secret", She continued, smiling at the idea, "Which is a complete secret of course…and so is naturally all over the castle".

At this the two young women burst into giggles, the cool formality of the beginning of the meeting swiftly forgotten, Guinevere walked over to her bed and picked up her green dress and held it in front of her,

"You really think I should wear this one? I mean it's hardly the most modest of things", she said gesturing towards the deep cut V of the neckline,

"Absolutely, it will make one hell of an impression, and they colour is beautiful", Morgana replied running her hand down the Emerald green material, "It'll bring out the colouring in your hair and eyes, and you skin tone too", she noticed the look of doubt on Guinevere's face, "Trust me", she continued, "Wear that and you will have every man in Camelot hanging on your every word, and I do mean every man". They were interrupted by a knock at the door, which opened to reveal the dark haired maid who had taken Guinevere's place for a time standing with Gwen, who had obviously been looking for Morgana,

"Would you like me to help you get ready for the feast my lady?", Guinevere's maid asked looking from one noblewoman to the other,

"Yes", Guinevere replied, "I would like you to help me with this", she continued holding up the green dress, shooting a swift glance at Morgana as she did so,

"I should be getting ready too", Morgana said stepping towards the door, "See you later, and good luck", she said as she left the room, followed by Gwen,

"Thank you", Guinevere replied, "I might just need it", she said, once again aware of the possibility of an extremely angry reaction from the king in front of the court, but decided that, for now at least, she would put it to the back of her mind as she prepared herself for the night ahead.

***

The court was assembled in the great hall, Uther stood flanked by Arthur to one side and Morgana on the other. Merlin and Gwen stood to one side nearer the back of the room,

"How do you think Uther will react?", Gwen whispered,

"I don't know", Merlin whispered in reply, "I mean, it won't be a shock when he sees her, the whole castle knows, he hasn't said anything yet though, which is a bit strange",

"Yes", Gwen agreed, just as music sounded to herald the entrance of the princess.

Guinevere entered the room dressed in the green gown she had earlier chosen, with some assistance from Morgana, her hair was flowing freely down her back, reminding Arthur of spun copper. She walked towards the throne in front of which Uther was standing and sank to the floor in a deep, regal curtsey. She remained there, eyes downcast, trembling slightly as she waited for Uther to speak.

"You are not as you first appeared princess", Uther said in a firm voice, "Why do you choose to enter my court in disguise?",

"I do not do it to insult your majesty", Guinevere replied, not daring to look up, "I believed it to be unsafe to travel as I am, I hope you will not think badly of me because of my deception".

Uther stepped forward, extending his hand to her,

"Rise my lady", she took his hand and rose to her feet, looking at him uncertainly, he lent towards her and, in a voice only loud enough for those members of his court standing close to them to hear said, "I knew who you were the moment I laid eyes on you", she looked at him with some confusion, Uther continued, "I have known your father for many years child. I knew your mother also, you are her in boy and spirit, I would have expected nothing less from the daughter of two such rulers".

Uther led Guinevere by the hand back towards his family, introducing her first to Morgana were they exchanged a silent greeting, and then across to Arthur. Both Arthur and Guinevere became suddenly aware that the scrutiny of the court was now focused on them,

"My son, Prince Arthur, crown prince of Camelot", Uther said, releasing Guinevere's hand and gesturing towards Arthur,

"My lord", Guinevere said, sweeping another elegant curtsey,

"My lady", Arthur replied, taking Guinevere's hand and bowing low over it, "Welcome to Camelot", he said, trying to hide the mischievous look playing through his eyes.

***

The court broke from it's formal standings and began to mill amongst one another, Merlin made his way over to Arthur, keen to talk about the event that the court had just witnessed,

"Well that went well",

" I suppose it did", Arthur replied casually,

"Oh come on Arthur, I've never seen the king act so calmly about something like that, and you and Guinevere, I thought you were both going to burst out laughing",

"Wouldn't you if you had to pretend you'd never met? Oh but wait, you met her before I did"

"She seems to be settling in alright", Merlin said, gesturing towards Guinevere, who was not too far away conversing with Morgana, about something amusing as both women were laughing. Whether she heard them talking, it was hard to tell, but as Merlin spoke, Guinevere looked up and smiled, obviously excused herself from the conversation and walked over to Arthur,

"Well now the court are talking", she said smiling slightly,

"Ah, well the court is inclined to talk", Arthur replied, "Especially when foreign princess's come to court disguised as maids and then have to face the king",

"You make it sound as if it happens all the time",

"Oh it does, that's why my father took it so well", Arthur answered sarcastically,

"And there was me thinking it was my womanly charm",

"Perhaps, speaking of which, would you and your charm care to accompany me to the table?", Arthur said, offering his arm to her as the king began to lead the guests to the tables for the feast,

"Of course", Guinevere replied, taking his arm, certain that no other action was really acceptable, given that the whole court was watching them as they took their seats.

The feast lasted long into the night, Arthur and Guinevere made the effort to converse politely, asking all the questions they were expected to ask, giving all the correct answers, the court taking note ready to pass on all the major points in the gossip of the next day. When Guinevere eventually left the hall and made her way back to the chambers that she now called her own, having thanked the king and prince for their hospitality and bade them goodnight, she let out a long sigh as she sat in front of her mirror. As her maid brushed and pleated her hair and helped her into her nightgown she thought about the night she had had and the future that lay ahead of her, she was still thinking of this when her maid said goodnight and left the room, leaving her to attempt to sleep in the darkness with a mind full of thoughts.