As the sun came up, Rosilyn sat up quickly and stretched. She was excited at the prospect of meeting others and seeing the kingdom. She hurriedly put on the white trousers and tunic. She buckled the brown belt around her waist and slid the brown boots on. She rubbed her hands down her side, feeling the clothes fit her perfectly. Rosilyn left her hair down. Knock! Knock! Knock!Rosilyn ran past Gaius and opened the door.
"Hello, Lancelot!" Rosilyn squealed.
"Are you ready?" He questioned.
"Oh yes!" Rosilyn smiled.
She made her way out the door past Lancelot. He could smell her sweet scent. He drew in a deep breath as he closed the door to Gaius' chambers. He was behind Rosilyn. Her red hair flowed down her back. He was definitely drawn to her. It was quite powerful. He wondered how can this happen this quickly again. He was attracted to her but why was he attracted to someone he knew would have to leave. He snapped out of his thoughts as Rosilyn turned around.
"I am sorry, Sir Knight. I am just so excited to not be stuck in a small space anymore. I feel you have to practically run to catch up to me," Rosilyn laughed.
Rosilyn stopped and waited for him to catch up. Lancelot was now walking beside Rosilyn.
"Did you sleep well?" Lancelot asked.
"As well as I could on that bed. I feel sorry for Merlin. That bed is small and hard."
"Did you eat yet?"
"No, I was so excited to just get out."
On the walk down to the fields they passed servants doing chores, carrying the laundry, and carrying baskets of food to the kitchen that were bought from the lower town and local farms. All servants seemed to look at Rosilyn and wonder who this girl happened to be. Lancelot took Rosilyn by the kitchen and grabbed a couple red apples. He handed one to Rosilyn as he did a servant came around the corner of the doorway and accidently bumped Rosilyn and she fell into Lancelot's arms. Rosilyn looked up at Lancelot and said "thank you, Sir Lancelot. My hero," she laughed. Lancelot held Rosilyn there for a few seconds looking down at her before he leaned Rosilyn back up slowly. "I am so sorry, my lady." The servant said.
"It is okay." she laughed. "I didn't mind."
"Thank you again, Lancelot."
"My lady, it was my pleasure."
Rosilyn looked into Lancelot's eyes and smiled. She really liked him a lot. He was so handsome. She couldn't stand to look at him for long because he made her temperature rise. He had been there for her. She felt safe with him. He was a comfortable place in this new world. He was so different then guys in her time. Rosilyn at that moment decided she wanted to spend her time in Camelot with Lancelot even if she did fall in love. She would have to leave but it would be much worse to never have spent time with him. She loved the fact he was so different than them. Lancelot opened the door to exit the palace and held it for Rosilyn.
"You are such a gentleman, Lancelot. Men in my time really aren't like that. Well, very few men are gentlemen."
As Rosilyn walked out the doors into the sunlight, she squinted a bit, until her eyes got used to the bright light. It was a lovely day. A slight breeze blew and she found it was much warmer than the previous day.
"Sir Lancelot," a little voice called.
Lancelot turned to see a little boy. He kneeled down next to him and said, "Yes, my lord?"
The blonde, little boy said, "I have come to join the Camelot Knight's to be just like you!"
Just then a woman ran up to the little boy. "I am sorry if my son is bothering you, sir." She apologized.
Lancelot looked at the little boy and said, "He is no bother at all."
The lady explained that he had run past the guards and they had allowed her to come get him. A Camelot guard then approached them to escort them out.
Lancelot waved the guard off and said, "What is your name?"
"My name is Gavin, sir."
"Gavin, you and your mother may be my guests to watch the knights practice"
Rosilyn thought Lancelot was extremely sweet with the boy.
Lancelot put his arm around the boy and guided him toward the area where the knights practiced. He then showed him a good spot to stand where he and his mom would be at a safe distance.
Gavin said, "When I am a knight, I shall repay you."
"Gavin," Lancelot said bending down to the boy. "If you honor your parents and defend Camelot, then that is payment enough."
Rosilyn saw Lancelot was so gentle with the boy. He would be a great father. Lancelot would never just leave his child. Rosilyn and Lancelot walked onto the field. Everyone turned. Rosilyn felt the weight of every one's stare. Lancelot leaned his sword against the fence and went to grab a shield. He returned to retrieve the sword. "Rosilyn, if there is anything you need let me know," Lancelot stated.
"I will!" She smiled.
Rosilyn took in all the sights. The large stone walls with the large draped Camelot crest emblazoned on them in red and yellow. The large walls that held the shields, the helmets all lined up. The knights all huddled around.
"Hello!" a soft female voice said.
Rosilyn turned around to see who was talking to her. It was a petite woman with wavy, black hair. She was quite beautiful. She wore a lavender dress with a white overlay.
"Hi!" Rosilyn said.
"My name is Guinevere. You can call me Gwen."
"I am Rosilyn."
"Welcome to Camelot, Rosilyn!"
"Thank you, Gwen!"
"I hear you will be with us for awhile," Gwen stated.
"I am not sure how long quite yet."
Rosilyn looked out at the knights. She watched the way all of them fought so determined and full of pride for Camelot.
"The knights are really good!" Rosilyn said.
"Camelot knights are the best!" Gwen responded.
Gwen pointed out to the field. "That is my brother, Elyan," she said, pointing at the black hair, dark complicated gentlemen. She then pointed at the tall, curly-haired knight, adding, "That is Sir Leon. My mother was a maid in Leon's family's household. Elyan and I grew up with Leon." And pointing to the tall, muscular man with the sleeveless tunic, "That is Percival; he came to Camelot just recently. He is by far the strongest man I have ever seen, and the quietest. He saved all of us when he pushed boulders over cliffs, which were as tall as you and I!"
Rosilyn looked in the direction of a knight with dark brown, shoulder length hair. He looked to not have shaven in a week or so. "He seems to be an excellent swordsman."
"Oh, he is! That is Sir Gwaine. He loves to flirt with all the maidens. He will call you a princess and bat his eyes. He loves his brawls in the tavern. Watch out for him!" Gwen laughed.
Gwaine grabbed the apple that Lancelot had laid down and took a big bite.
Gwen said, "He also eats all the time!"
He seems fun! Rosilyn thought. She watched him fight. He was by far the best out on the field. He ran his hand through his hair and readied himself for another match. He put his legs slightly apart and swung the sword. His hair flipped from one side to the other and he flipped Elyan's sword out of his hand. "You owe me some ale!" Gwaine said. Gwaine wasn't devastatingly handsome like Lancelot but Rosilyn found him attractive. He seemed to be very much the bad boy.
"Merlin mentioned you were here visiting so we have accommodations for you. Prince Arthur has readied a chamber for you in the royal quarters of the palace. Did you want me to have your clothes picked up from Gaius and brought to the palace chambers?" Gwen asked.
"My clothes were lost on the journey here," Rosilyn sighed.
"Oh, not to worry, Rosilyn! I will come by your room and measure you. I am a decent seamstress," Gwen said.
"Thank you once again!" Rosilyn said.
"Rosilyn, Prince Arthur will be here soon. I will introduce you to him."
"Gwen, you know him well?"
Guinevere smiled, "Prince Arthur?"
Before Gwen could answer Merlin called to Rosilyn. "I hear you will get to sleep on a good bed tonight!"
"Yes, thank you, Merlin," Rosilyn replied. "Oh, let me go tell Lancelot," Rosilyn said as she headed in his direction. "Gwen, I will be right back," Rosilyn called.
Lancelot was heading with the other knights to the equipment tent during a break. They went inside the tent, out of the sight of Rosilyn. As she walked up she could hear they were talking, so she remained on the other side waiting for Lancelot to come back out from inside. She could hear voices, one of which was Lancelot's.
"Are you courting her?" a male voice asked.
"No," Lancelot responded. Rosilyn's heart sank.
"Do you mind if I ask her to accompany me to the feast tomorrow eve?" the male voice asked.
"That would be the lady's choice," Lancelot said.
"I just thought since she was your guest then maybe she was your..."
"No," Lancelot interrupted and reaffirmed.
Rosilyn, upon hearing that, walked away from the wall quickly and headed back to where Gwen was standing. Rosilyn was a bit hurt. They weren't courting, but she at least wished he wasn't so free to dismiss the idea. She turned away and walked back and forth a few times. She had to get the hurt out of her head. I must have misinterpreted the chemistry I thought we had. How can I be that wrong? Gwen mentioned Sir Gwaine likes to flirt. I can flirt! Where is this Sir Gwaine? Oh... there he is!
Gwaine was leaning on the fence with his shirt off. He had his sword in hand. Well this will at least be fun, she thought. Rosilyn leaned on the other side of the fence next to him. She made eye contact with him.
"You must be the Prince? I've heard Prince Arthur is very handsome!" Rosilyn purred.
"I can be your prince, my lady!" Gwaine laughed. "I am Gwaine," he smirked taking her hand and kissing it.
"I am Rosilyn, Sir Knight," she said with a wink.
Percival saw the interaction, saying, "Looks like I'm too late! There goes my chance!"
Lancelot looked toward Rosilyn, then down at his boots. He hit his sword on his boots and got back into position blocking out the sidelines of the field.
"So, Gwaine, what is it like being Camelot's best knight?" Rosilyn said.
"It is hard because I have to pull twice as much weight as everyone else!" Gwaine laughed.
"What is it like to be so beautiful that you make men weak in the knees when they look at you?
"You think I am beautiful?"Rosilyn smiled.
"My lady, not one of these men out here, does not think the same."
"How do you know what they think?"
"I know what I feel and I can imagine they do not feel differently."
"Knight's must practice often at keeping fit as well as wooing women!"
"They do! You are a wise little princess aren't you!"
"Maybe so, guess you better get back to getting fit!" Rosilyn joked. "I am going back to talk to Gwen."
"May I walk you back in the castle after practice, or is that Lancelot's place?" Gwaine asked.
"I would like it if you would," Rosilyn said.
"What about Lancelot?" Gwaine asked.
"Sir Knight, he knows his way back to the castle," Rosilyn wisely stated.
Gwaine said, "I guess he does!"
Rosilyn knew Lancelot had been watching the exchange. She did it to make him jealous, but she couldn't tell if she had or not. She knew if Gwaine was as Gwen said, he wouldn't mind being an object to make someone jealous. Well, she hoped he wouldn't mind.
Gwen called to Rosilyn, "Prince Arthur is coming!" Rosilyn walked back to Gwen quickly.
"Sir Gwaine, is escorting me back to the castle, after practice," Rosilyn smiled. Gwen's eyes got big at the turn of events. Gwen looked over at Gwaine who had his eyes still fixed on Rosilyn. When Gwen caught his gaze he looked away quickly. Gwen turned her attention back to the approaching prince.
"Arthur, I would like you to meet Rosilyn," Gwen said. "Would you both excuse me, I need to check the king? Gwen said.
"Of course, I will talk to Rosilyn. It is great to meet you, Rosilyn!" Prince Arthur said.
"Your majesty," Rosilyn curtsied.
"Oh, you do not have to be so formal," Arthur responded. "Call me, Arthur. We are having a feast tomorrow to welcome you. We will be sure you have anything you need."
"Thank you, your high... I mean, Arthur," Rosilyn laughed nervously.
"How are you liking, your stay in Camelot?" he asked.
"I find a girl could lose herself here," Rosilyn smiled. "Rosilyn, it has a pleasure meeting you," Arthur said.
"The pleasure was all mine," Rosilyn smiled. Rosilyn thought Prince Arthur seemed like a lovely, sweet guy.
"How did you get along with the prince?" Gwen asked.
Gwen and Rosilyn talked about Camelot and happenings around Camelot for a bit. It was then that she heard about Arthur's half-sister and her wicked ways. A sweaty Gwaine approached.
"Gwaine, can you please show Rosilyn to her room?" Gwen said, handing Rosilyn a key. "Her room is two down from yours."
"I sure can, my lady! Come with me! I will show you to my room!" He lightly touched her back, guiding her toward entry way into the courtyard of the castle.
"Gwaine! Her room! Her room!" Gwen rolled her eyes.
"My room has a better view though!" Gwaine joked. "Plus it is much warmer at night because I am there!"
Rosilyn smiled.
"Well I am glad to know that, Sir Knight. I will keep that in mind on cold nights." Rosilyn joked.
"Your room has the same view as hers does," Gwen said.
One knight who overheard the conversation said, "He thinks his rooms view is better because he is there!"
Gwaine smiled and said, "You are just jealous I get to escort her to her door." Gwaine then guided Rosilyn toward the castle. He wiped the sweat off of him the best he could with his tunic in his hand. He was a bit quiet with Rosilyn at first. He was trying to get the nerve up to ask her out. He figured it was best to start small with the conversation. "Rosilyn, how did you enjoy the practice?"
"It was so fun to watch. You knight's are amazing on the field," Rosilyn smiled.
"I am amazing off the field too."
"Are you?"
"I am," Gwaine winked.
"What are you amazing at off the field, Sir Gwaine? Maybe being a flirt?"
Gwaine avoided answering by grabbing a flower from a vase at the end of the main hall. "I got this for you, my lady"
"It's been so long since anyone has given me flowers." she laughed. Gwaine felt a bit bad for her. He stopped joking. Gwaine felt this tenderness towards this woman he couldn't explain. He hung on her every word. Her every glance would send his world spinning. He would stare at her red hair and he was mesmerized by the way it flowed. He loved looking at her lips too. They were absolutely perfect. How can Lancelot not be captivated as he is by her?
"My lady, a gentleman should cherish a woman. If he does not treat her as a lady, she doesn't need him." He said seriously. "Flowers are part of cherishing her. She is special."
Rosilyn found Gwaine charming. He was definitely what Gwen said about him and much more.
"Gwaine, do you ever get scared when you fight?" Rosilyn asked.
"I do not. If the odds are against me, I get excited."
"Why have you not married yet, Sir Gwaine?
"No one has stolen my heart yet, my lady. What about you?"
"I have issues."
"What is an issue?" Gwaine asked seriously.
"I am afraid of giving a person my heart and them abandoning me," Rosilyn confided.
"So your issue is your confidence?"
"Umm... yeah... a little," Rosilyn agreed.
Lancelot watched Gwaine walking with Rosilyn and thought, I got what I wanted... at least it's what I think I wanted.
Rosilyn had never seen anything more beautiful than Camelot Castle. The main staircase was pure beauty. It was white stone with beautiful arched crystal windows heading up the stairs. At the top of the stairs was a winged statue of a lion. It was so impressive, even for a girl who had seen her share of historic structures. This was King Arthur's Camelot, she reminded herself.
Arriving at her new chambers, Rosilyn was so excited to open the door and see the room that she almost forgot about Gwaine.
"Rosilyn!" Gwaine called from just outside her door. Gwaine knew it would not be proper to go in her room without an invitation.
"Yes," Rosilyn replied back.
"I was hoping, if Percival hasn't already asked you, would you allow me to be your escort to tomorrow's feast?" Gwaine smiled. "I never turn down complimentary food and beverages," he added. Rosilyn thought for a minute. Her heart told her to agree to it and her head told her to stop. Rosilyn took a deep breath and was about to answer but she heard an echo in the hall.
Rosilyn heard footsteps heading towards where she and Gwaine were talking. It was Lancelot who also had a room on the same hall. She could feel the tension build in her as Lancelot walked by them. Lancelot kept his head down and tried not to make eye contact with either of them. Rosilyn saw him and swallowed hard and bit her lip. She took a deep breath in and replied, "Yes that will be lovely." Rosilyn wondered at that moment if she had just made a major mistake. The one she wanted was Lancelot and instead of having a talk with him. Rosilyn yet again reacted impulsively. Gwaine seemed quite happy with her answer although he was a bit concerned about how long the answer took and the tension he had seen with Lancelot.
"Princess, you have made me day quite good one," Gwaine smiled. Gwaine reached out and took Rosilyn's hand and leaned down and kissed it gently. "Good day, Princess Rosilyn"
"Good day, Sir Gwaine" she said trying to mask her emotions. Rosilyn knew she was very hurt. Walking inside of her room, she closed the door, and leaned on it. She slid down the door and only then did she realize how much Lancelot's dismissal of her had devastated her.
Rosilyn lay down for hours curled up on her bed, trying to forget about the sadness she felt.
She walked back to her window and looked out at the stars and closed her eyes and said a wish, a wish to bring what her heart most desired, Lancelot.
