Here's the next chapter. I changed some of the dialogue around but not much of it. Cookies to anyone who can spot my Terry Pratchett reference, that's going to keep cropping up by the way. Anyway, I'll soon get working on the next chapter. Enjoy!
Ella sat by Gwen as the queen's serving girl placed food on their plate. Gwen stared into space. "I can't eat this, I'm sorry," she said to Sefa. "I'll get you something else, my lady," Sefa replied and took the plate.
"No. If you could just sit with us."
Sefa set the plate down again and looked at the queen and at Ella before sitting down.
"Are you hungry? Eat, please."
Ella frowned, "My lady, is something troubling you?"
Gwen stared into space again as Sefa carefully took pieces of food and ate them, "You'd think I would be used to it by now. Not knowing if he'll return."
"You love him, I understand."
"Do you have someone you worry about, Ella?"
Ella slightly nodded.
"But not someone you can talk about?"
"No, my lady, I don't think so. But I can see you have someone you care for that you worry a great deal about."
"The king is a great warrior," Sefa suddenly assured, "He will return."
"I know," Gwen said, "Thank you." She placed her hand on Sefa's. It reminded her of her faith in her husband.
Ella watched Sefa with suspicion. There was something odd about her. Sometimes there were spill words that came to her from other people, that told her about them. The spill words that came to her from Sefa were not always nice ones, which just made Ella feel a little uneasy about her.
Gwen saw it, and looked at Ella, concerned. "Ella, is something the matter?"
Ella snapped out of her concentration, and smiled at the queen, "No, my lady. I was just...thinking about something."
"Your parents?"
"Yes," Ella lied, "I should retire to my chambers. Gaius has advised me I should get as much rest as possible."
"Alright," Gwen said in reply as Ella got up and hurriedly walked away. Something wasn't right. Not right at all.
…
"We were ambushed," Leon explained to the queen as him and Elyan stood before her and Gaius, telling them what happened, "Morgana and a band of Saxons attacked us as we crossed the border into Ismere."
"And what of Arthur?" Gwen asked, concerned about her husband.
Leon and Elyan exchanged glances. "I tried to protect him," Elyan said.
"What are you saying?"
"We lost him in the battle. We don't know what happened to him. Or Merlin."
Gaius' eyes widened and he looked at the queen who looked at him in return, "How could Morgana have known? How could she have known Arthur was approaching from that direction?"
"Someone betrayed us," Gwen replied, wondering who it could have been.
Ella sat on the side of her bed, thinking. She was sure something was wrong. She could sense it. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and the queen came in. "My lady," Ella greeted, "Is something the matter?"
"Someone has betrayed us," Gwen replied.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Arthur set off with some men to Ismere. Barely anyone knew about it. Now some have come back and Arthur and Merlin have gone missing. Did you know?"
"No, my lady."
"Well someone has betrayed Camelot. Have you any idea of who it may be?"
"Has the king told you about me?"
"About your magic? Yes."
"Sometimes, people think something too often, which can cause those thoughts to become spill words-"
"Where is this going, Ella?"
"Your servant, Sefa gave away spill words that may mean she betrayed Camelot. My lady, could she have done this?"
"There is every possibility. But why would she do this if it was her?"
"I have no idea, my lady, but I suggest you ask her."
"Thank you, Ella."