Things begin to get complicated for Wynne and, unbeknownst to him, Gwaine as Wynne's untried heart is inadvertently broken by the one she loves. Of course, this gives Lavinia and Reginald an idea to further sow discord. Thanks to all who have reviewed, and I promise, things won't be bad forever.

Directly after the evening meal, Lady Magdalen gathered the young ladies in the solarium to discuss the visit by the North kings that was only days away. "I am certain that I needn't remind you that only a few months hence, you will all…" She cast a doubtful glance in Wynne's direction. "You will all be presented as eligible young ladies. This feast will be an opportunity for each of you to display your skills and demonstrate your suitability and your readiness for marriage. The queen, Berte, Lady Retta and I have arranged for each of you to demonstrate your strongest skills for the marriageable gentlemen who will be present."

Wynne leaned close to Anora and whispered, "I know what skills I won't be demonstrating."

Anora stifled giggle as Lady Magdalen pulled out a sheet of paper and continued, "Anora, Bronwyn and Rosalynde, you have excelled in your singing lessons, so you will sing for the delegation after the feast."

Bronwyn and Rosalynde exchanged a panicked glance, while Anora flushed pink with pleasure but was otherwise unflustered. Wynne beamed at her friend, excited that she would have the chance to show off her angelic voice.

Lady Magdalen continued, "Bernice and Caitlyn, you will play the harp during the feast, and Lavinia and Priscilla, I would like you to lead the dancing after the feast." She lowered her paper and looked at them gravely. "You will be paired with Reginald and Chadwick; I trust you can sort out who will dance with whom." Wynne bit her lip hard to keep from laughing. Even Lady Magdalen knew that Reginald was not easily tolerated.

"I shall dance with Chadwick," Priscilla said quickly, raising her chin and daring Lavinia to challenge her. The tension between the two that had been increasing over the past weeks was becoming obvious to all, including Lady Magdalen.

After a moment's indignation, Lavinia suddenly recalled the plot against Wynne that the two of them had hatched, and she realized that this pairing would be advantageous. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, she narrowed her eyes at Priscilla and feigned disgust before tossing her head disdainfully and replying, "Fine. I shall dance with Reginald."

Lady Magdalen smiled at Lavinia. "Thank you, Lavinia. That was very gracious of you." Lavinia waited until Lady Magdalen looked away and then smirked at Priscilla, whose cheeks flushed angrily. "Now then, that leaves Theresa and Wynifred. Because you ladies are so adept in the kitchens, you will help plan and prepare the food for the feast." That announcement drew titters from some of the other young ladies, but Wynne didn't care. She wasn't at all interested in showcasing her skills for possible suitors; she knew who she wanted, and she knew that the best way to hold Gwaine's attention was with a perfect apple pie. While the others chattered, Wynne was already planning how to alter her apple pie recipe so she could make a fancy braided apple tart.

After Lady Magdalen dismissed the ladies, Anora, Bronwyn and Rosalynde huddled together, talking about what songs they would sing for the feast. Wynne decided to take a quick stroll around the grounds before the sun went down. She headed out into the courtyard and took the path into the woods, picking wildflowers and wild herbs as she went.

As Wynne came around to where the path split, the sound of conversation drew her attention over to the big oak tree by the moat, where she often liked to sit and draw. What she saw there made her stop dead in her tracks and let her flowers fall to the ground. There beneath the oak tree–her big oak tree–sat Gwaine and Lady Retta. Gwaine's arms were wrapped tightly around Lady Retta, and Lady Retta had her head resting on Gwaine's chest. As Wynne watched, Gwaine reached up and gently stroked Lady Retta's face. Wynne suddenly felt sick to her stomach, and her chest tightened unbearably so that she could hardly breathe.

Wynne was torn between running back to the castle and staying there and watching. The decision was made when Gwaine threw his head back and laughed, and then pulled Lady Retta closer. She looked up at him and laughed too, before saying something to him. Wynne caught the words, "…terrible dancer," and her jaw dropped. Were they talking about her? She had to find out.

Leaving her flowers where they had fallen, she stealthily followed the wooded path that ran parallel to the moat until she was only feet from the oak tree. She knew eavesdropping was wrong, but she couldn't help herself; she had to hear what they were saying. Lady Retta's voice floated on the breeze to Wynne's ears. "…always was as clumsy as an ox."

Gwaine laughed and responded, "She remains the worst dance partner I have ever had. My feet still ache whenever I think of dancing with her."

Wynne had to bite down on her knuckle to keep from crying out. Clumsy as an ox? The worst dance partner Gwaine had ever had? They were certainly talking about her. She recalled Gwaine's expression as they'd danced just days ago. She had thought it was a look of enjoyment, but now she saw that it had been a look of pain because of her clumsiness.

Wynne didn't want to hear anymore, but she could not stop listening. Lady Retta's next words made her heart leap into her throat. "…in love with you." Oh no! How had Lady Retta found out? How would Gwaine respond?

Gwaine's response drove a dagger deep into Wynne's young, untried heart. "Ugh, it was so obvious…" What? Even he knew? "…sweet girl, but I could never love her like that. I would rather court you…"

That was enough. Wynne let out a strangled cry and dashed down the path towards the courtyard, not caring if they heard her. Her sobs made it hard for her to breathe as she ran, and her hot tears blinded her as she crashed through the underbrush.

In the courtyard, a small group of knights and squires was taking advantage of the warm evening to practice archery. Elyan, Leon, and Percival had teamed up against Boris, Reginald and Chadwick to see who could make the most bullseyes. A round of ale at the tavern was riding on Chadwick's final shot.

Just as Chadwick was about to release his arrow, Wynne burst out of the woods, still sobbing, and dashed across the courtyard towards the castle. Boris leapt to his feet and called out, "Wynne? Wynne, what's wrong?"

Leon and Percival, too, jumped to their feet and exchanged a look of concern. Percival asked, "Do you think something attacked her in the woods? Should we check it out?"

Leon nodded tersely and drew his sword. "Let's go," he said, heading purposefully into the woods, followed closely by Elyan and Percival.

"Do you think something frightened her?" Chadwick asked, his bow and arrow still in his hand.

Boris stood perplexed, his eyes darting between the woods and the solarium door."I don't know," he responded doubtfully. "Not much frightens Wynne, certainly not snakes or many of the other animals she'd encounter in the woods."

"I hope Wynne will be all right," Reginald said in a voice laced with false concern.

Boris turned to glare at Reginald, knowing he didn't mean a word of what he just said. "You know, if you hadn't been here with us since the evening meal, I might think you had something to do with it."

Reginald's hand flew to his chest, and he feigned hurt. "Why, Boris, I'm insulted. Why would I want to make your cousin cry?"

Boris narrowed his eyes at Reginald, but before he could say anything, the knights emerged from the woods. Elyan announced, "We saw nothing in the woods that would have frightened her, and there are no signs of an intruder in Camelot."

"Welll, obviously something upset the girl," Percival replied, his brows knit with concern.

Just then, Gwaine and Lady Retta came strolling out of the woods a few yards from where they all stood. Leon saw them first and called out, "Gwaine! Have you seen Wynne in the past half hour?"

Gwaine and Lady Retta stopped and exchanged a worried glance and hurried over to the others. "No, I haven't seen her since we left the dining hall," Gwaine responded. "Has she gone missing?"

"No," Leon said, scratching his head thoughtfully. "She just came charging out of the woods, crying her eyes out. We thought something had frightened her, but we found nothing." Gwaine laid a hand on Lady Retta's shoulder, and it suddenly occurred to Leon that Wynne must have seen the two of them together. "You didn't…see or hear anything, did you?"

Gwaine and Lady Retta exchanged a concerned look, and then both shook their heads. "We were sitting by the big oak tree, talking," Gwaine responded. "We heard nothing unusual." He glanced at Lady Retta once more. "Perhaps I should go speak with the lass…"

"Gwaine, I don't think…you should," Leon faltered. Gwaine turned to look at him curiously, Leon continued, "I mean, perhaps Boris should ask Anora to speak to her." He looked to Percival and Elyan for support.

The other two knights reached the same realization that Leon had, and both struggled to hide their smirks. Gwaine didn't miss their amusement. "What's going on? What's so funny? Are you having me on?"

Elyan glanced at Percival and quickly replied, "Not at all, Gwaine. We were…simply imagining what would happen if you'd run into Lady Magdalen in the ladies' quarters." Gwaine's expression suggested that he hadn't thought of that. "I believe Leon is correct. Anora should speak with her."

Gwaine nodded his agreement, and Boris hurried off to find Anora. Shortly after Boris headed into the castle, Reginald also left the little group. He had also made the connection between Gwaine and Lady Retta being together and Wynne being upset, and he had to tell Lavinia of this new development.

Half an hour later, Wynne lay curled up on her bed, her sobs spent, but silent tears still coursing down her cheeks and the occasional hiccough still shaking her body. Lying beside her was her sketchbook, opened to the drawing of Gwaine. She played his words, and Lady Retta's, over and over in her mind, unable to believe he had said those things. Her mind swam with so many emotions. She was positively mortified that he had somehow found out that she loved him, and devastated that he'd said he could never love her. She was angry; he was supposed to be her friend, so why was he saying such things behind her back? And she loved him; heaven help her, she still loved him. Her tears began anew as she hugged the sketchbook to her.

Wynne heard a soft knock at her door. She jumped, wondering who it could be. "Wynne? Wynne, are you in there?" She relaxed and let out a breath; it was only Anora. Still, she didn't feel like talking to anyone, so she did her best to silence her sobs. Maybe Anora would go away if she thought Wynne was asleep or not there. "Wynne, please talk to me. Let me help you." You can't help me, Wynne silently responded. Not unless you can make Gwaine love me and take away my clumsiness.

Anora waited for several minutes, knocking and pleading with Wynne to open the door. She considered trying the door to see if it was locked, but she didn't want to intrude that way. She was just about to give up when she had a sudden inspiration. "Wynne, if you won't talk to me, will you talk to Gwaine? Should I go find him?" She stifled a giggle as she heard a sudden scuffling in the room, followed by footsteps approaching the door. She managed to swallow her smile just before the door flew open.

"Don't get Gwaine," Wynne pleaded, grasping Anora's hand, pulling her inside and slamming the door. "I can't talk to him," she sniffled. "I may never talk to him again."

Anora's eyes widened in shock as both girls sat down on Wynne's bed. "What do you mean you may never talk to him again? What happened?"

Wynne took a deep breath and told Anora everything–how she had happened upon Gwaine and Lady Retta sitting together, their jokes about her inability to dance, and worst of all, that Gwaine knew of her love for him but did not feel the same. "How will I ever face him again, knowing that he knows how I feel…and can never feel the same?"

"Well, are you sure they were talking about you? They could have been discussing someone else," Anora offered uncertainly. She cast a doubtful glance at Wynne, hoping she might take comfort in that.

Wynne wasn't convinced. To her knowledge, Gwaine hadn't danced with any of the other young ladies, and in any case, none of them was as clumsy as she was. "No, I'm certain they were talking about me. Everyone knows I'm as graceful as a horse up a tree." Anora couldn't help giggling. Even with a broken heart, Wynne's wit shone through. Wynne looked at her friend and smiled a watery smile before her face fell once more. "Truly, I could bear knowing they'd said those things if I hadn't seen them all…cuddled up together like…like lovers." Tears began falling again.

Anora put her arm around Wynne's shoulders, thinking. "I just can't imagine Lady Retta and Gwaine together. She's so proper, and he's…" Wynne glanced up at Anora, wordlessly warning her not to criticize Gwaine. Anora smiled, understanding. "He's just…not. They seem mismatched."

"Well, opposites do attract, as they say," Wynne mumbled, still seeing the two lovers embracing beneath the oak tree. She doubted she'd ever sit there to draw again.

Anora wouldn't be dissuaded. "Yes, but birds of a feather flock together. I still can't believe they're courting; truly, they just don't act as though they're sweet on each other."

While Wynne and Anora continued to discuss the likelihood of romance between Gwaine and Lady Retta, in another part of the castle, another unlikely pair was scheming. Reginald had tracked down Lavinia and was telling her what had occurred in the courtyard. "Wynne came barreling out of the woods only yards from where Gwaine and Lady Retta emerged minutes later. Judging by poor Wynnie's distress, I would guess that she saw them together and knows that her beloved loves someone else."

Lavinia put down her needlework and looked up at Reginald. "Why would Gwaine and Lady Retta be together? I know for certain that she is being courted by Lord Reuben."

Reginald sneered and rolled his eyes. "It matters not if they really are courting, as long as Wynne believes it to be so. This would be the perfect time to sow a bit of discord in Gwaine's corner by showing him what the little shrew drew, now, wouldn't it?"

Lavinia smiled conspiratorially at Reginald. This was going to be fun, and just in time for the feast honoring the North kings' visit.