Thanks to FireChildSlytherin5, CuttlefishShiz and Seyth. Full apologies to Seyth, I have since looked up Mowes and found out that it is Cornish not Gailic.

Igraine ran. She couldn't face it. Better to escape before the horror was branded on her eyes forever.

She tripped and fell sprawling onto the soft grass. Winded she lay still for a minute before realising where she was. South Church Graveyard. In front of Ameurest's gravestone. Igraine pulled herself onto her knees and gazed at the inscription. For a second she could still see Amy's face swimming in front of her.

"Oh Igraine, what will Camelot do if the child inherits your mischief" she'd smiled "Two terrible troubles roaming the streets in disguise and untying horses" They'd both laughed then.

With a sudden shock Igraine realised how forced Amy's laughter had been over her own joke. She'd known who would pay Nimeuh's price. And she'd later paid for that mistrust and suspicion with her life; the Queen was certain that Nimeuh had caused the plague to rid Camelot of all those who remembered the trickery.

Something about the neighbouring grave caught her eye. She looked at it properly and gulped.

Here lies

Bessilyn

Maid to the late Queen Igraine. Nursemaid to Prince Arthur

Died of the Plague on 10th September.

Bessilyn. Igraine had forgotten that name. It had never been used after the first two sentences spoken in the Hall.

"Bessie, my Bessie" she wasn't aware of crying until salty drops began to mark her already dirty dress. "I've made a mess of everything Bessie, I lost Gwen and now Ruth is... is..." she gave up and sobbed allowing the dreadful scene to surface again.

Ruth walking in at the side of Lady Cecila wearing a new dress. Not to bad in general. But the dress; Fitted clinging silk that showed off every movement in its entirety, sleeveless and relying on a halter neck to hold it up. No shoulder fabric at all! That was when she'd bolted, but not before her vision had rested on Uther... nodding his approval.

"Mama, mama it's me" the whisper slipped through the gap between her doors and Igraine looked up.

"Well?" There was no point disguising that she'd been crying for the whole afternoon and evening combined.

"I'm sorry... please mother I didn't have a choice" her voice was so heartfelt that Igraine relented and opened the door. Ruth ran in and closed it quickly "I'm not meant to be here but..." she trailed off.

"Just an explanation would be welcome Ruth" Igraine tried to soften her tone

"They made me dress like that, Adelia threatened that she would tell father about my fainting and overactive imagination. He would have laughed and locked me up at this rate. So I had to put that thing on..." she shuddered "I've felt better clothed after a bath with a stupid blanket wrapped around me than when I wore that. Only the worst whores in Darkside would wear such a thing"

Igraine forced herself to look stern "I never want to here such language out of your lips again Ruth Pendragon... you better run back before Kay misses you"

"Yes mother" Ruth drew herself up to her full height and kissed her mothers cheek before taking the instruction literally and scarpering as fast as her legs could go.

Once she'd shut the door Igraine dropped into the chair and laughed, cross as she was at Ruth's language her daughter certainly knew which side the bread was buttered.

Reviews please

PS Seyth, join if you can then I may run some cornish past you to help this story. Relying on internet translators at the moment