AN: So the 100th reviewer was Kissy Fishy who suggested that I do 'Honour To Us All' from Mulan and suggested that it should be Gwen being shaped/instructed into the queen society expects her to be. If you've seen series 4 and Mulan you know that in both cases that doesn't go well. I'm still open to any suggestions you all have.

When the news broke that Arthur was to marry Gwen; there were understandable mixed reactions from the people. While the townspeople and the majority of those who knew Gwen and Arthur were pleased about the wedding; there were those who were opposed. Aside from the rather obvious one; several higher ranking members of the court weren't excited at the prospect of having a commoner queen. Especially the ladies of the court. Some of them couldn't believe that the same person who scrubbed their floors; served Morgana and fixed their clothes was to be their queen. Therefore three ladies whom Arthur had asked to help Gwen get ready for the celebratory tourney stood aside and studied Gwen.

"This is who we have to work with?" Lady Lucy asked feeling stunned.

"I don't think I've seen much worse!" Lady Agatha replied tartly.

"We have to turn this… servant into a lady?" Lady Elizabeth asked. It was impossible.

The three women looked at one another before putting false smiles onto their faces and approaching Gwen who had been joking around with Elyan and Merlin. Gwen felt a sense of unease as the women approached; she knew the three ladies and she probably shouldn't admit it but all three were the type of women who never understood the concept of not saying anything when nothing nice could be said. Nonetheless if she was to be accepted as queen; Gwen would really have to try and get along with the other ladies. Even Morgana, back in the day, had at least a cordial relationship with them. Besides they weren't the first to oppose her and Arthur's relationship and they definitely would not be the last.

"The king asked us to help you." Lady Agatha stated.

"Thank you but I don't really need help getting dressed." Gwen replied.

"It's more than that; you see you're not a servant anymore. You're one of us now and you'll have to look and act like that. We know you were friends with… her but you need to prove that you're different." Lady Elizabeth replied.

"We all know Gwen's different from Morgana; a blind man could see it." Elyan commented.

"Yeah she's not a murdering lunatic. Except she's marrying Arthur so… she's not a murderer!" Merlin joked. While Elyan and Gwen laughed the ladies looked unimpressed and led Gwen away. Missing the 'kill me now' she jokingly mouthed and her brother and friend. The ladies led Gwen into one of the rooms belonging to Agatha were a bath; various beauty items and a dress were waiting. As soon as the door was shut behind them; the ladies began pushing Gwen towards the bath, helping her undress as they did.

"We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished till you glow with pride
Trust our recipe for instant bride
You'll bring honour to us all." Lady Agatha claimed.

"Excuse me but what's this?" Elizabeth asked, holding up the ribbon Gwen had put into her hair that morning.

"A hair ribbon." Gwen replied. Elizabeth scrunched it up and dropped it carelessly to the floor. The second Lucy's back was turned, Gwen snatched up the ribbon and held it tightly in her hand. The ribbon had been given to her that morning by a timid little girl who was the daughter of one of the men who now ran her father's old forge. Flora had bought the ribbon for herself but had asked Gwen to have it instead 'so she wouldn't forget'. It was a sweet gesture and Gwen had allowed Flora to tie her hair up and promised that she never could forget the life she would leave behind forever in a matter of days. Gwen looked at the ribbon in her hand. The least she could do was return it to Flora whenever she could.

After helping her out of the bath and wrapping her in a robe; the women began to work on her hair; dragging a brush harshly through the tangled curls and ignoring the winces caused by the pressure on her scalp. Gwen bit on her tongue to stop herself from snapping at them to let her be. Even if she had to lock herself in the dungeons the night before the wedding; there was no way those three would be let anywhere near her.

"Wait and see
When we're through
The knights will gladly go to war for you
With such beauty
And a great hairdo
You'll bring honour to us all." Lady Lucy claimed.

Gwen rolled her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for any of the knights to go to war or hurt themselves for her sake. Besides there was more to a woman than her appearance. In the great scheme of things; beauty meant nothing. Morgana was without doubt the most beautiful woman in Camelot yet nobody could have predicted how she would change. And if Arthur ever admitted that he had chosen her solely for her appearance… well the outcome wouldn't be pretty.

"A girl can bring her family great honour in one way
By finding a good man and today is clearly your day." The ladies sang. There was little Gwen could argue with there. Marriages were commonly used as a means of improving a family's honour. Luckily Tom had never even thought about pressuring Gwen to marry. He always told his daughter that as long as she was happy; then she was wealthy.

"Men want girls with good taste;" Elizabeth commented.

"Calm and Obedient." Agatha added.

"And who knows her place." Lucy claimed.

"So despite your… breeding
Where society had you placed,
You'll still bring honour to us all." The women agreed as they helped Gwen into her dress; either unaware or uncaring about how sharp their words were sticking into her. Aside from the 'calm' it could be argued that absolutely none of that applied to Gwen whatsoever and what was that about breeding? They made it sound like they were cattle or something. Born for one purpose and that was to be some man's stupid and controlled doll-wife. It was madness' small wonder why Morgana hated the majority of the ladies of the court.

"We all must serve our king
Who guards us from our foes
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons." The women sang. Gwen had to admit; she knew the importance of male heirs; the only way a dynasty continued via daughters was if there were no sons but even then the daughters had to be married. It was unfair but not as unfair as the concept of women not being allowed to fight. Gwen could remember how she used to beg her father and Elyan to teach her how to fight. They were some good times. Meanwhile the women had now moved onto her make-up and the finishing touches.

"When we're through, you can't fail," Lady Agatha promised. Fail? Like she hadn't been afraid of that possibility.

"Like a flower blossom, you're soft and frail." Lady Lucy added. Gwen raised an eyebrow at that. 'Soft and frail'? The men would be in hysterics if they heard that one.

"How could any man say "No Sale"?" Lady Elizabeth added.

"You'll bring honour to us all." The women finished and for the first time gave the queen-to-be genuine smiles. They had to admit; Gwen did look more the part in the new dress as well with her hair styled better and her face made up, there was no something more regal about her. All she needed it seemed; were the expert opinions.

"There - you're ready." Lady Agatha claimed.

"Not yet," Lady Lucy replied and looked at the items left on the table. "An apple for serenity
and a pendant for balance. Beads around your neck for beauty.
You must proudly show it
Now add a charm just for luck
And even you can't blow it!" Lucy claimed.

Gwen studied her reflection. She had to admit that despite her misgivings; the ladies had helped her look more regal than she expected. However Gwen couldn't stop herself from childishly crossing her eyes and poking out her tongue at her reflection; the way she used to in childhood when she had to get all dressed up for some reason. After thanking them Gwen left the room and tied the ribbon into a strand of their hair which had been left hanging; making a narrow braid. As she walked, Gwen looked upwards as the nerves began kicking in.

"Mother, Father
Hear my plea
Help me not to make a fool of me
And to not uproot our family tree
Keep our Elyan standing tall
Scarier than any monster or beast
I'm facing tourneys and feasts." Gwen sang to herself as she met up with Gaius who walked with her down to where the tourney was taking place. Merlin, Arthur and the knights were already down there and Lord Agravaine was running late for some reason. As she climbed into the special stands reserved for her and Agravaine; Gwen was too busy trying to stop herself form throwing up with nerves to notice how the crowd were singing about her.

"Destiny
Guard this girl
And her future as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on this cultured pearl
Such a perfect porcelain doll.
Please bring honour to her
Please bring honour to her
Please bring honour to her
Please bring honour to her
Please bring honour to us all." The people sang as Agravaine slipped into his seat and the tourney began.

Initially it had been going great. Gwen's nerves had faded after a while; there was some excitement to be found and for once Agravaine was being somewhat nice. They watched as Arthur progressed to the final round as well as a mystery challenger who kept his helmet on. After the mystery challenger won; he rode up to Gwen and offered her the gold ring. As the crowd all wished for the stranger's identity to be revealed; the stranger removed his helmet and revealed his identity to the stunned crowd.

From that moment on; everything just went from bad to worse…

AN: That was for you Kissy Fishy; hope it was what you expected. Next up; no matter the situation, Merlin's always One Jump Ahead.