Chapter Three: Aneira

It had been over two weeks since Meridyth found out about her father's death. She had adjusted to living in the castle, with servants willing to do whatever she asked. Her personal maid was a kindly woman in her late forties. Her name was Eirian and she was the mother of a troublesome little boy.

Meridyth, who was now titled Lady Meridyth, spent most of her time either in the stables, grooming the horses, or in the fields practicing her archery. Meridyth spent very little time in the company of the other ladies of the court. She had heard their stinging gossip about her origins and such things and had since regarded them as spiteful women.

She also spent little time associating with the many persistent men who tried to capture her attention. The occasional man who withstood her sharp comments never lasted much longer. They would grow tired of her unresponsive attitude and eventually left, to the amusement of the knights.

At that moment in time Meridyth was with Galahad, who always seemed to by available for anything that Meridyth suggested they do together. Meridyth had asked him if he would ride with her that afternoon.

"I'm surprised it hasn't started to rain yet," Galahad rambled nervously. Meridyth ignored him as they cantered on the path. As usual, Meridyth hardly said a word most of the way except to direct Galahad towards where she wanted to ride. Galahad glanced at the lovely rider beside him, growing upset at the fact that she never talked to him.

"Why did you invite me to ride with you if you refuse to talk to me?" he asked angrily. Meridyth looked at him with surprise. He looked at her, his face burning with anger.

"I invited you because I enjoy your company. I didn't invite you because I wanted to talk to you. I assumed that you would have figured that out by now," she replied before she returned to her silence. Galahad gaped at her subtle answer, anger boiling up inside him.

"Have you always been so oblivious?" he asked, definitely not thinking before he had asked. Meridyth turned and gave him a look that threatened his existence.

"What do you mean?" she asked him icily. Galahad, who was caught up in his anger, replied.

"I've been trying to prove to you that I'm worthy of you love, but you never seem to be paying attention. You're always too wrapped up in your pointless depression!" he retorted. Meridyth glared at him.

"You've been trying to prove your worth like every other pathetic man? That's not proving your worthiness, it's merely begging for attention that you'll never get!" she said harshly. With that it began to rain. Meridyth's dark eyes grew darker with anger and frustration.

Before she could head back to the castle as soaking wet woman stumbled out of the forest. Meridyth's horse whinnied in fear as the woman leapt at Meridyth and pushed her off the horse's back. Meridyth screamed as she fell to the muddy ground amidst the rain. She attempted to stand but lost her footing, falling off the path and down the wooded hill. Meridyth reached out and grabbed a branch of the closest tree and pulled herself onto a small and muddy ridge. She then began climbing up the hill.

The woman smirked as she began to gallop, but Galahad cut her off and grabbed the reins. Behind them, Gawain appeared with a look of worry on his face. When Gawain realized that the woman on the horse wasn't Meridyth, his hear leapt with fear.

"Galahad! Where's Meridyth?" he shouted over the thunder. Galahad pointed down the hill. Gawain stared at the hill and rushed over to see if Meridyth was okay.

"I'm right here, Gawain. I think I'm okay, but I hit my head on a rock," Meridyth's voice pointed out. Gawain turned and saw a muddy Meridyth leaning unsteadily against a tree. Gawain sighed with relief and led her to his horse and mounted. He then helped her mount behind him.

"You lead that woman back to the castle. I'll take Meridyth," he ordered. Galahad nodded and pulled the second horse along. The strange woman scowled silently through the rain as she was pulled along. Next time, the woman swore to herself, I will make sure I succeed!

When they reached the castle, everyone was thoroughly soaked. Meridyth was taken to her room and dried before returning to the throne room. She was still cold from her misadventure in the rain, so she sat near the fire with Eirian standing close by incase she needed anything.

Galahad and Gawain stood by the king and Bors leaned against the wall closest to Meridyth. Arthur looked at Meridyth, deep in though. Finally he asked, "What happened?"

Meridyth sighed. "I had asked Galahad to ride with me before it began to rain. We rode up the forest path and had a small argument before it began to rain. Then the woman appeared and pushed my off my horse and down the hill. Then Gawain appeared as I was climbing up the hill. That leads us to the present," she answered. Arthur looked at Gawain and Galahad.

"Is this true?" he asked them. Both knights nodded both supporting Meridyth's recollection of the incident. Arthur sighed and motioned for the guard to bring in the woman.

The woman stood before the king, her blue eyes gazing fearlessly into Arthur's. Meridyth watched her closely, not with interest but with mistrust. There was something about her that Meridyth didn't like.

"Who are you and why did you attack Lady Meridyth?" he asked her. The woman's face showed no emotion whatsoever right then. She glanced at Galahad as she answered.

"My name is Aneira, sire. I attacked Lady Meridyth because I thought she was one of the thieves who had attacked me earlier and stole my horse and personal things," she replied, not once looking at Arthur. He returned her gaze, making Aneira's lips curl into a smile. She finally returned her gaze to Arthur, the coy smile disappearing from her face.

Galahad smiled to himself then looked at Meridyth, who was watching Aneira with a look of minor mistrust. Galahad's smile grew as he mistook Meridyth's from for one of envy. When Meridyth stood suddenly it was Aneira's turn to frown.

"Excuse me Arthur. I'm retiring for the night. I will see you in the morning," Meridyth said coolly before she left the room. Eirian followed her swiftly, nodding politely to the king and queen.

When she arrived in her rooms she sat by her fire and did nothing but stare at the dancing flames. Time seemed to flow past her, ignoring her as she thought of the events of the day. When she looked up from her thought she saw that Gawain was sitting across from her holding a cup of wine for her.

"Oh! I didn't see you come in," she said with small surprise as she took the cup thankfully. Gawain watched as she sipped the wine slowly, savoring the cool liquid on her lips.

"I hope you aren't busy," he said kindly, leaning back into the chair. Meridyth smiled and shook her head.

"No, I'm not," she replied. Gawain and Meridyth sat in silence for what seemed like hours, but passed as minutes.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her with fatherly affection. She looked at him and smiled again.

"I'm fine, thank you. I was just wondering if I was the only one who doesn't trust Aneira," she replied. Gawain inclined his head, signifying that he understood.

"You aren't the only one. Personally I don't think anyone does. Her story seemed a little unorthodox for everyone's liking. Galahad, on the other hand, believes her. Fallen for her he has," Gawain said, his voice growing bitter near the end of the sentence. When he spoke of Galahad, Meridyth's eyes were cast down, her memory replaying their argument.

"He called me oblivious," she murmured, not expecting Gawain to hear her. "He said that I was oblivious to the fact that he was in love with me. The truth is that I wasn't, he made it so obvious I couldn't be. Every time I would talk to him he would stop doing everything to listen to me. When he would talk to me he would become so nervous and jittery. He was the one who was oblivious to that fact that I knew!" Gawain wanted to laugh, but instead he looked at her seriously.

"My question is do you love him?" he asked calmly. Meridyth sighed and stood up, clearly exasperated with herself.

"That's the problem, I don't know! He drives me insane sometimes, always talking nonsense to me. Yet the next minute he can be truly sincere and tolerable. Is it wrong not to know if you love someone or not, but know that they love you?" she asked him. She sat down again and buried her face in her hands.

"No, it's not wrong. But if you had to say, do you love him?"

Meridyth looked up and closed her eyes as she thought about it. She sighed again and opened her eyes.

"Yes, I suppose deep down I always have." With that, Gawain left her room. Meridyth touched her pendant and sighed again.

"Well, life is becoming a little more complicated, isn't it?" she asked herself as she prepared for bed. Life had become more complicated, but it had more complications to go.