I gave up waiting for the 10 reviews I asked for. Thank you to FireChildSlytherin5 for coaxing me to continue posting. Ruth has grown up in the space between chapters.

"Me, Mama, Gen. All here" Ruth piped from her perch on Igraine's bed, pointing to each as she named them.

"Quite right Ruth" Gwen glanced up from the sewing and smiled at her younger mistress. A sharp knocking on the door put halt on all activities, a guard stood outside

"With respect my lady, the king wishes to see you in the council chamber at once" he saluted and walked away.

Igraine set down the dress she was making with unnecessary force "What now? Can't Uther run Camelot without begging for my help every other day?"

Quivering at her mother's unexpected temper Ruth tried to calm her in a childish way "I show Papa walking" she squeaked softly "and Arthur"

The queen smiled at her two year old daughter "yes you show them"

Uther sat down as his wife entered, a slight fire in her eyes. Surprisingly she left Ruth sitting quietly at the other end of the hall, something she didn't normally do.

"What do you want Uther?" her voice seemed unfriendly for some reason.

"I wanted to discuss the merits of a possible treaty alteration with you and Arthur..."

"Which treaty???" Arthur walked over from were he had stood against a pillar.

"Aesctier..." that meant nothing to Ruth or her mother but Arthur seemed to understand "Cendred is willing to move the boundary line between our lands so that Ealdor becomes part of Camelot's Kingdom, what do you say?"

"Yes" three voices spoke at once, Gwen also assenting even though she had not been asked to. Tired of being ignored and doing nothing Ruth picked herself up off the floor, beginning a wobbly journey towards the throne.

Arthur was first of the discussing trio to notice his sister's efforts, crouching down he held out his arms "Come on Ruth, come to me... come to Arthur... come to your brother". Tottering wildly, as if she didn't quite no where her feet were, the little girl stubbornly kept going; one foot after the other, tiny step after tiny step. Finally she tottered, wobbled and staggered into her brother's arms. He stood up, sweeping her high into the air.

"You did it Ruth, you walked all that way"

"Ma... mara...marathon" she copied the words one of the foot messengers had used "I walk it, not run"

"To you it would be a marathon Little One" Arthur was grinning from ear to ear.

"What Esktier?" the question was well phrased and intelligent for one of her age.

"Come and see" Arthur carried her over to the table where a map was laid out. Setting her standing in a chair he traced the ridge with his finger "That is the Aesctier we were talking about" Ruth leant over and placed her finger under the words.

"R...rid... ridge. Ridge" her brother smiled encouragement "Of aes... aesc... ti...er, Of Aesctier. Ridge of Aesctier." she frowned down at the map, talking to herself "Where Ealdor?" Her right finger traced over the map, searching the names for one she recognised. It stopped right underneath the name. She pointed down firmly, half turning her head to address her family "There, Ealdor. The village you talk about"

Uther stared at his daughter "Ruth, do you know how old I was when I could find a village on a map like that? I was eight, you're just 2 and you can manage it faster than I could."

She quivered slightly "Cross with me?"

"No Ruth, proud." The king smiled and pulled his daughter onto his lap, unrolling a second map over the one of the border lands. "What do you recognise on this map?"

"Camelot" she pointed to the city but then shook her head "No else"

"You'll learn it when you can ride a horse, this is our old map of the kingdom" Ruth wasn't listening, she traced her finger back and forth over one spot in the map

"W...oo...d. Wood. l...ee. Woodlee. What Woodlee? Name near Camelot's"

Uther glanced quickly at Igraine "Woodlee was just a manor that stood nearby. It's gone now, has been for many years" Ruth seemed satisfied but Arthur and Gwen could tell this was a cover up lie; Woodlee had meant something to the King and Queen, what?

Referance; the Ridge of Aesctier is mentioned in Moment of Truth as being the boundary between Camelot and Cendred's kingdom. Cendred is mentioned twice as Ealdor's distant but ruling King