Dear Reviewers,

Thank-you so much all for your consistent reviews. I've been awfully busy lately but time is freeing up in the future for more writing.

Love to all,

Pip

PS: This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, more like the beginning chapters of this story.

…

-The Woods-

…

I didn't say much, but I was a good actor. Thea and Bit only asked me what was wrong once, and I shook myself from a passing thought, and acted as if nothing happened.

…

-The Market-

…

Gwaine caught my hand as I ran quickly by. "Wren!" he exclaimed happily.

"I'm so, so sorry," I said, "I can't stop. I'm late."

"Late for what? It's your day off."

"Gwaine, I'm sorry. We'll speak later, all right?" I detached his hand from mine, give him an apologetic smile, and made my way to the tavern.

…

-The Rising Sun-

…

I thought my mother lied. I did not find her in the tavern, at first.

But she was there, wearing her cloak with the hood drawn up. I caught a glint of her eyes just as I was turning to leave after a frustrated search.

"Fervania," I greeted, walking towards her, and sitting across from her. She was sitting in the exact place where Gwaine and I sat for our dinner. I felt as if she were disturbing sacred ground.

"You won't call me mother?" she asked, like a taunt.

"No," I said.

"Did you have to tell many lies to get here?" she added.

"I am permitted to do what I will on my day off," I said. "And I used to work here. It is not uncommon for me to visit."

Fervania squinted one eye, sizing me up. "I would not have placed you for a barmaid."

"I have a new position," I said, without clarifying. "But I'd rather not talk about my work. I'd rather talk about you."

"Oh, alright," Fervania smiled, as if it were a compliment. She folded her hands together. "What would you like to know?"

"Why have I not seen you before now?" I asked.

"I lived far away," she said, simply.

"Where?"

"A small place," she did not elaborate like I hoped.

"And you don't sell things in the city, do you?" I said. "I've been through the market many a time. And I've never seen you."

"You are smart, like me," Fervania tapped her fingers against the table in a slow, steady rhythm, one finger at a time. Her hands looked familiar. They were like mine. "I did sell wares in the city today. But I just needed a little money. Today was about finding you."

"You came to Camelot with the sole purpose of finding me? Some sort of test to see if I would recognize you?"

"Something like that, the heart does foolish things," Fervania smiled, demurely.

"And what made you think I would recognize you?" I asked.

"I would prefer not to answer that, just yet."

"I was an infant when you left."

"You were a child. We left you in the care of your aunt and uncle—though it seems you are not under their care anymore?" she gave a pointed look to Evoric at the bar. Whatever she had been doing in the market all day, she had certainly done her research.

"They died," I said.

"My brother was always meant to die young," she responded callously. "His wife, too. They did not have much to look for in the future. Those sort always meet a sooner end." She smiled, and Evoric delivered her food. He did not question who my friend was, he must have assumed she worked with me in the palace. He squeezed my shoulder kindly as he left us.

I wanted to call her out on her cold-heartedness, but their death had affected me little, as well. Perhaps I was callous for not drowning in any grief when they passed. But working as a maidservant had already been my life, and family was one of my least concerns at the time.

She was eating now, shoveling food into her mouth like she hadn't eaten in ages.

"This small place of yours," I inferred, "You don't exactly live in plenty, do you?"

"No," she said, continuing to eat.

"So why did you leave Camelot? You could have lived honestly, and with comfort. And… with better food."

Fervania looked up at me, her gaze a mixture of hatred and something that looked like fear. "I could not stay. And neither could your father."

"So I do have a father?" I exclaimed. "Where is he?"

Fervania smiled. "I was hoping you'd ask. Would you like to meet him?"

I took a deep breath. "Why did he not come with you today?"

She was still smiling, but seemed very interested in only answering the questions she liked the best. "I'd like to be a family again."

"I don't think we can be a family unless I know why you left me here in the first place," I said hotly. "A family without honesty is not a family. It's an arrangement."

She raised her eyebrows briefly. "I never intended on keeping that a secret from you. It's just not the appropriate time." She glanced around. "I would like for your Father and I to talk it over with you. Together."

"And answer all of my questions?"

"Of course," Fervania looked a little hurt. "Honestly, Wren. This isn't supposed to be easy. Do you think this is easy for me? Of course it isn't. But if you want to know everything—and I mean, everything—I think it's important for us to be together. You know, I always imagined—if we could have kept you—that you would have been your Father's little girl, even more than mine. He called you princess while you were in the cradle. Maybe he will be a better communicator than I."

I was my father's princess, I thought, on the verge of sudden tears or a terrible temper. I knew not which. And he's out there, somewhere.

"Don't you think that is right?" Fervania said passionately. "I think it's safe for us to meet you again."

"Safe?"

"Yes, safe. I think it is safe for the three of us to finally talk, answering your questions, and putting matters to rest. You're nearly twenty-one, you know."

"You left me when the Great Purge began," I said, attempting to sound casual. "I do wonder at the strange fact that such two events coincided."

"Strange indeed," Fervania said slowly. "Now it seems we are in agreement? You'd like to meet your Father. We can tell you Our story."

"Yes," I said, biting my lip. "I want to know what happened."

"I'm sure we shall clear a long time of wonder and confusion for you."

"I'm stronger than you think," I said grimly. "I did not wonder about you, I did not lay awake at nights obsessing over it. My life was my own, and it did not include you. Now it does, and I am adjusting accordingly, which means consenting to this meeting, and hopefully another, with my father."

Fervania laughed. "Easy enough to say, but I can see you are not without your fear of abandonment."

I immediately thought of Gwaine. "Growing up without you has its repercussions, all right," I admitted. "But I knew your leaving was no fault of mine. So I did not blame myself nor find faults with you."

"As you wish, then," Fervania said, a little stiffly. She glanced around the tavern, sighed, and placed a few coins beside her empty plate. "I am going to get a room here, at the inn, tonight," she said. "Will you meet me again in the morning, for breakfast?"

"Is five too early?" I said, hiding a smile.

"That is very early! Why?"

"My duties begin not long after. I cannot miss work."

"Very well, then, an early breakfast," Fervania slipped out of the bench, straightened her cloak, and gave me a stiff nod. "Till the morrow, then."

"Goodnight," I said, suppressing a sudden shiver. I watched her as she went to the counter, spoke to Evoric, and paid her dues. I watched the back of her cloak as it disappeared up the stairs. Avoiding Evoric's gaze, I got up and went for the back exit, that opened onto an alley.

…

-the Alley-

…

Just as I slipped through the door, I sensed a figure follow me out, nearly stepping on my heels. Startled, I leapt around, and a cloaked figure was standing directly behind me.

I yelped in surprise, nearly falling over backwards. The person fought a giggle, and Gwaine lowered his hood.

"Gwaine!" I exclaimed angrily. "I nearly hit you as hard as I could and ran for it."

"All the better if you had," Gwaine said, taking my wrist and pulling me into a tight, burly hug. He swayed from side to side, growling into my hair, "You devilish creature. What were you doing?"

I stepped back. "Did you follow me?"

"Perhaps."

"Were you eavesdropping?"

"Will you be angry if I did?" Gwaine said cheekily.

"I think I'd be relieved if I didn't have to explain anything," I said, my adrenaline dropping. It was replaced by a drained feeling akin to old age. "What do you know?"

"You avoided seeing me tonight," Gwaine said, "Because you were meeting your mother instead—who, in my opinion, seems manipulative and emotionally distressing for you. Am I close?"

"Very close," I said. "Why did you follow me?"

"If I ran by you, said I couldn't see you, and ran straight to the tavern with a panicked look in my eyes—would you follow me?"

"Maybe."

"Of course you would. Don't lie. So I did. I wasn't going to eavesdrop, I just sat nearby, and figured I would catch you when you were finished and buy you a drink. But surprisingly, I couldn't help but overhear, and you disappeared before I could ask you to stay. And now here we are—in a dark, cold alley," Gwaine grinned.

"How are you always so cheerful?" I asked, giggling.

"I'm not always cheerful," Gwaine said, "I have my bad days. Come here." He pulled me into his arms again, running his fingers through my long hair. "So, are you all right?"

"Better now," I said, laying my head against his chest.

"Do you need a hanky or something?" Gwaine said, with a confused edge to his voice. Gwaine didn't seem the type to go for a particularly weepy girl.

"No," I scoffed. "I don't cry. See? You cheered me up."

"I am a success with most things I set out to accomplish," Gwaine boasted.

"Can you successfully walk me home?"

"You don't want to come back inside for a drink? Alright, alright, I know—early morning breakfast—come on, then." He held out his arm, and I wrapped mine around his. We walked closely together, and Gwaine told me funny stories from his training that day to make me laugh.

…

softballgirl: Fluff definitely isn't one of my stronger points but it's kinda fun! Thanks for the review =)

merlinisawesome: I think we will see more of Gwen in part 2. She's mostly taking care of Uther during the day, spending some time with Arthur in the evenings, and then going to her home in the Lower Towns to sleep. That's why she and Wren don't see much of each other.

Sunidlight: I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

ReadingRaven019: So you're basically my partner in crime now. You shall know all my plot secrets… ;)

Logical Fallacy: You'll have to wait and see what becomes of Wren's potential for magic. =) I can tell you that she wants to remain as normal as possible, though.

MaerwynnRegina: Yeah the romance was a little unexpected so I know I have the potential of upsetting hardcore Gwaine fans, but we'll see =) I try to do OCs honor by making Wren an honest character.

Alaia Skyhawk: She is still confused… I feel like such a mean author, but if I reveal the right parts of the mystery at the right time, it means she has to be confused for a bit longer… but no worries, all shall reveal itself in due time!