"She threw her head back, showing her throat, and started to laugh." Gwaine was telling one of his 'tavern stories' and had gotten to the part where the barmaid threw an ale jug at his head. Mordred couldn't hold it in anymore. Gwaines' impression of the barmaid was brilliant.

Arthur watched as the fire light shone on Mordreds' chainmail, turning it to a sunset on metal. Arthur had fought the stupid council-men tooth-and-nail to get Mordred her knighthood. First that Mordred was a magic wielding druid (yes he knew) as well as being a – shock – horror women!

He had tried to tell them that druid women were just as strong as the men but they just wouldn't listen. Eventually Arthur lost it and dismissed the council PERMINATLY. He brought in the round table. Consisting of his most trusted knights. The ones who he trusted with his life and his kingdom. The ones that had been there when Mordred had distracted the bandits on the ice cliff and then followed them into the clear well caves and broken her alliance with Morgause - with a knife in the small of her back.

Mordred had explained that the small of the back was one of the magic pools in the body. An enchanted blade like Mordreds' was damaging to the body when placed in a magic pool. The knights had all agreed that these acts of loyalty to Arthur meant that Mordreds' knighthood was earned.

The sirs' Elyan – Percival – Lancelot – Gwaine and Leon made the bulk of the table. Merlin was, of course, on his right in the position of the royal adviser with Gaius next to him. On his left was Morgana with Gwen next to her. However between his throne and Morganas' chair was an empty. Well … it was supposed to be empty. The throne on his left was meant for the queen of Camelot but Arthur wasn't married. However the throne still held a queen – Arthurs' queen. Mordred.

Arthur had banked his hopes on Mordreds' limited knowledge of Camelot nobility to give her the seat without her knowing about his infatuation with her. Mordred seemed ignorant enough so Arthur didn't see reason to tell her. Now though, he knew that the other knights as well as the girls and merlin and Gaius knew what he had done but he had sworn them to keep the secret.

Arthur knew he was smitten with Mordred but he couldn't care less.

Arthur both admired and adored her. Mordreds' courage to return to a place that at this point in time was dangerous for her. He admired her kindness and caring heart as well as beautiful they made her. For Arthur knew Mordreds' past and how much she has lost. Arthur believed that nothing was more beautiful than someone who had lost everything and still had a kind heart and to him no-one fit that bill more than Mordred.

But it was also the shock value that came with her that Arthur loved. Or more accurately, Arthur loved laughing at the faces of the people who were 'shocked' at her. The fact that Mordreds' soft, curly raven hair was ALWAYS tied back. Never styled or hanging loose, always braided, in a bun or tied. The fact that the only dresses in Mordreds' closet were snuck there by Morgana. Mordred always said that she didn't have time for long swishy skirts or constricting corsets and didn't mind shoving the fact in the face of the stuffy lords. She also never painted her face – no matter Morganas' insistence. When asked she would simply say that she sweats too much at training to bother painting her face.

Arthur loved that active fire, which always burned just under her skin always ready to show itself (magic remember). It was often in her eyes – sparking, burning and flickering in her pupils. Another thing Arthur loved about Mordred was that she loved being one of 'the boys' but still being brilliant with attending to her 'feminine' aspects and roles. If Mordred didn't make it to training all Arthur had to do was go to the Camelot orphanage and open the door. Then Arthurs' eyes would be greeted by the sight of Mordreds' on the floor using shadows to tell the kids of brave knights, fair maidens, strong women and amazing creatures.

God Arthur loved this Women.