On the eve of our eighteenth birthday, as the sun set on the castle of Camelot, Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon was knighted. I was so proud of him, and Morgana was too, although she pretended not to be. He truly looked magnificent, gold hair flaming, blue eyes sparked with pride. He wore full armour that gleamed in the fading sun, and as his father brought his sword down on his shoulders, there was a flash as the light caught the blade.

"Rise, Sir Arthur, and take up your shield. Bare it proudly, son." Uther said solemnly, but I could detect the emotion in his voice, a mixture of bitterness and pride. As much as I disliked him, I felt a stab of pity. It must be awful to celebrate his son's birthday every year and mourn his deceased wife on the same day. It was easier for me, because I hadn't known my mother or my father. I shook myself awake and handed Morgana Arthur's shield, which she formally presented to Arthur.

It was red with a golden lion and it too shone, though it couldn't compare with the pride shinning in Arthurs face. He flashed me a smile and I grinned back. He hardly looked like the little boy I had grown up knowing.

That night there was a celebration in Arthur's honour. Uther retreated early, and (so the maids say) drunk himself stupid in the privacy of his chambers. Morgana looked gorgeous, her hair pinned up and she had insisted I use some face paint on her lips. She and Arthur danced, as was expected of them, but I could see His Highness looking over at me. Finally Morgana tired and we left. When we were in the safety of her room, she began spinning around and laughing.

"What are you doing Morgana?" I asked, because when she acted like this she usually had either stolen some liquor or had something insane planned. It turned out to be both.

"We are going to ride in the haunted woods tonight, all the way to the ruins of Scarlen Hall!" She replied as she fell onto her bed.

"No. Absolutely not. You're crazy."

She pouted at me. "I'm going, whether you come or not. Besides, Arthur is a knight and he'll protect us." Still I hesitated, but she really would go without me, and probably get in more trouble.

"Fine. When is Arthur coming?" There was a knock on the door and Arthur entered. "You're actually going along with this?" I asked him with raised eyebrows. He grinned.

"We can't very well stop her." I shrugged in agreement.

It was dark and there was a most autumn-like chill in the air. We rode through a dark forest that was rumoured to be haunted, and even sensible as I am, I jumped at every noise. I caught Arthur even flinching, though if you ask him he'll deny it. Morgana was the only one of us who was comfortable, but she was probably faking. When we finally emerged, we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Ahead of us towered the ruins of Scarlen Hall. Stories said that a great king lived there once, but he was greedy and bloodthirsty, eventually beheading all his servants and family, then finally going insane and jumping off of his balcony. The place must be ridden with ghosts, yet Morgana insisted we ride right up in.

Something yowled to our left. To me it sounded like an unhappy spirit's scream, but after cowering a moment, Morgana dismissed it. "Just a cat." She said with a brave certainty.

Stone walls rose above us, and the horses almost tripped on the ruined streets until we dismounted. Morgana strode forward eagerly, leaving Arthur and I to follow. I reached out a gripped his hand. He was surprised, but squeezed it back. Through the dark halls Morgana walked. I was terrified, but things like this just didn't scare her. They still don't.

Suddenly a shadow jumped out at us. "What are ye' doing here!" We all screamed, even Arthur, who will still deny it. Then we all laughed, with relief, because when our 'ghost' stepped into the moonlight it was just a bum with no teeth. Then we grew weary again. One doesn't let their guard down when meeting a stranger in the dark, in a place where no one is supposed to live. Except the dead. My mind whispered. I shivered.

Arthur stepped forward with his sword out, making up for his unmanly scream. "What is your business here?" He asked in his most regal voice.

The old man cackled. "I could ask you the same, Pendragon boy."

Arthur froze. "How do you know my name?"

"I know more about you than your name laddie." One eye rolled over to look at me, while the other gazed at the moon or something. I took a step back. "You and her." A gnarled finger pointed at me. "Ahh, the future will be sweet, but you have yet to meet the other side of your coin. Your destiny awaits, young Arthur." He disappeared.

Once we got over the initial shock of having him just vanish, Arthur began grumbling. "That's the second time that someone has told me of this supposed destiny on one of our outings." It was true, I remembered, back on the night we first met. "I'll have to tell my father of him; no one can just disappear like that except a sorcerer."

Morgana spoke up. "No Arthur! He will find out we've come here! We will be in such trouble!" Reluctantly Arthur agreed not to tell Uther, and we left. We returned home just before dawn, and while Morgana could sleep late, Arthur and I had to be up early, him for his training (which continued even after he was knighted) and me for my work.

As he bade us goodnight, he held me back, wishing to speak to me alone. "I don't know what that sorcerer meant by you being part of my destiny, but I swear, if any harm comes to you because of him, I will hunt him down and make him pay." I was touched, even if the fierceness in his voice scared me a little.

On impulse, I kissed his cheek. "I know you will." It was just a sisterly kiss, nothing more. I told myself for days after. Truly, seeing how things have turned out, I'm not so sure now.