Sorry Guys, its been a while I know.


A young maid in a brilliant red tunic made her way down the deserted castle corridor, a basket of clothes balanced on her hip. Her blond hair was pulled back into its usual messy bun, a few loose strands falling across her forehead. The left side of her face was lit up gold as the morning sun shone on her through the windows lining the wall, her elongated shadow moved in time with her along the right. Not that she seemed to notice this. Her brown eyes were glazed over, giving her a faraway look as her mind wondered beyond the windowed and shadowed walls surrounding her. Or that is it appeared. For all of a sudden, as if sensing something, her eyes seemed to snap back to the present. The clouds covering her gaze disappeared in an instant, revealing the sharp intelligence that had hidden behind them.

The girl stopped still and stood in the middle of the corridor, basket on her hip, her tired, freckled face flashing with annoyance.

"What d'you want, Kayne?" She asked sharply, not turning around.

There was a deep, short laugh behind her and heavy footfalls as her shadow was joined with a much larger one.

"You always manage to sense my presence before it is known." Came the remark in her ear, hot breath tickling at her neck. She quickly put some distance between them and whirled around, holding the wicker basket in front of her like a sort of shield.

The man before her sneered, dark humour replaced with revulsion as he looked upon the handmaiden. His face would was been a handsome one, if he were not twisting it. He had a long, almost aristocratic nose and high, elegant cheekbones matched with flushed cheeks and deep green eyes, topped with a thicket of straw like hair with came down to his shoulders. His broad, burly figure was exemplified by the thick layers of chainmail he wore. At his side was a sword, which his gloved hand seemed to twitch towards subconsciously.

The girl noticed this and smirked. "Not afraid of me are you?"

"Never." Kayne growled as if insulted by the thought.

"Then why do you so wish to draw your sword against me, if the reason is not to protect yourself?"

"To give you a warning," He replied. "To put you in your place."

The girl blinked cooly. "You think a mere sheet of metal intimidates me? Though whether it is blunt like your wit, or sharp like your foul tongue, I can assure you its assistance won't be needed. I know my place."

"What, here?" He gave a sharp sarcastic laugh. "Your place is the gallows, wench. Not Camelot."

The girl continued looking unfazed. "The queen don't seem to think so."

"That is because you have deceived her."He spat hurriedly, his tone dropping to a hush even though they were the only two in the corridor. "You, with your trickery and sorcery! You deserve to hang!"

Her brown eyes flashed dangerously but otherwise her face remained composed. Eventually she spoke her retort, voice low yet steady. "I am no sorcerer."

"That's what you have every one believing isn't it? Well not me. I will out you, wench. Mark my words; you will be punished for your crimes!"

Exasperation and annoyance now covered the girl's freckled face before being replaced with cool anger. "And who would believe you, huh? Those fickle maidens who cling to your sleeves at every turn? Those thickheads called friends of yours who spend their time whacking each other with wooden clubs and call it sport? I have ties with the very heart of Camelot. You're just some dumb nobleman's son. If your father had not died fighting that dragon I doubt you would even be given the time of day!"

"Well I need not live off my father's memory for long, wench. My skills on the battlefield are legendary. Why, just today I beat Sir Gwaine in combat without breaking even a sweat, it was all too easy to be honest. I have dined with King Arthur more than once and have served him and his father all my life. It is only a matter of time before they make me an official knight of Camelot. And when they do, I will have enough trust and authority for Arthur to listen to me when I tell him of your true purpose in being here; to be a spy for Morganna!"

The girl blinked at him, his face inches from hers, a splash of his sprayed spit on her cheek. She did not look frightened. Or worried, or insulted. Her reaction to his fiery speech was not as he had imagined when he'd carefully drafted the words in his mind before following her down the corridor. Instead of even looking a tad apprehensive, clear amusement flashed across her face and she seemed to be trying her hardest not to laugh in his face. This did nothing but ignite his temper and he all but yelled;

"You will not find this funny when you have a noose around your neck!"

The girl shook her head, whipped her cheek and turned around, shifting her basket back to her hip. "I am not a sorcerer, you idiot. Magic is not the only reason behind every seemingly impossible feat your small brain sees." And she walked away, leaving the 'Future Knight' seething, alone in the corridor.


Love Elle.

Ps. The name for our girl is going to be revealed as soon as I find one that suits her. Tell me if you have any suggestions.