Author's Note: Sequel to "Maid To Be Queen"

Gwen could hardly believe that it had been a year since she first began to work as the Lady Morgana's maid. Time seemed to have flown so quickly. A whole year and it was Christmas Day, and this time as Morgana's maid she was required to wait on her at the annual Christmas Banquet. Last year she hadn't been able to because she hadn't been hired until after the Banquet.

Gwen strode happily through the halls, looking forward to it. Her thoughts were not on where she was going and she accidentally ran into the prince. That brought her head out of the clouds. "Sire! I'm so sorry!" She cast her eyes on the ground, expecting to be chastised.

"That's alright. Just watch where you're going next time." Gwen looked up, as that last sentence had not been said harshly, but rather was one giving advice to someone else. Gwen risked a small smile and curtsied.

"Yes, of course, sire."

Neither moved nor spoke for several seconds. They couldn't put into words, but they always felt so comfortable around each other. They were to young to understand the grand destiny that awaited them...together.

"Gwen!" Gwen and Arthur turned to see Elyan heading towards them accompanied by a couple of guards.

"Elyan? What are you doing here? Elyan, what's wrong?" she asked suddenly as she noticed that his eyes were red as if from crying.

"It...it's mother...she's dying." Gwen felt the world collapse out from under her and she nearly fell to the floor, but much to everyone's surprise, not to mention his own, Arthur caught her. "She's ill," Elyan continued, shaking with sobs. "Very ill. Will you come?"

Gwen was too numb and couldn't speak. "Of course she will." said Arthur. "I'll make her excuses to Morgana. And I'll fetch Gaius." Elyan nodded and took his sister's hand, together they left the castle and headed home.

Mary was lying her bed, barely moving, barely breathing when Gwen and Elyan arrived. Gwen ran to her mother and took her hand. "Mother?"

"I don't know if she can even hear you." said Tom, laying a hand on his daughter's shoulder. Gwen looked up at him and saw that he too had been crying. She burst into tears and he wrapped his arms around her. There was a knock on the door and Elyan went to answer it.

It was Leon with Gaius in tow. The old man immediately began examining Mary. His face looked grave. 'I don't think there is anything I can do."

Elyan sobbed and Leon put a arm around the younger boy's shoulder. All through the day they waited, hoping against hope for some sort of sign or miracle. It never came and at three o'clock in the afternoon, Mary passed away. "This is the worst Christmas ever." sobbed Gwen, clinging to her father.

Gaius made his condolences and gently lead Leon out. Gwen, Tom, and Elyan huddled together, taking comfort in each other's arms.

"Dead?" Morgana looked at Leon. "Are you sure?" Leon nodded. As soon as he and Gaius had left Tom's house, he had taken it upon himself to deliver the news to Prince Arthur and Lady Morgana. The two children looked at each other and then back at the teenage boy.

"Is Gwen alright?" Morgana asked.

"I don't think so, but I wouldn't expect her to come back to work for at least a couple of days." said Leon. Morgana nodded. She understood. She liked Gwen and considered her a friend. The door to Morgana's chambers opened and Morgana looked up in surprise as Gwen herself entered the room.

"Gwen! What are you doing here? You should be at home."

Gwen wiped a tear from her eyes. "No. Home is...too unbearable right now." Morgana put her arms around her and Gwen though surprised, yielded to the embrace and cried on her shoulder. Leon and Arthur exchanged glanced and discreetly moved towards the door.

As he walked passed the two girls, Arthur caught Gwen's eye and mouthed "I'm sorry." He then turned and followed Leon out of the room.