Krysia was attending the king when Gaius brought to Uther the Lady Catrina Tregor, who by all accounts was believed dead. The woman in question was beautiful, well-dressed, well-kempt. Uther, who had known the Lady Catrina years gone, seemed convinced.

"Lady Catrina," he said, brightening, "is it really you?"

"I can hardly believe it myself," she said.

"We had tidings from the north that the House of Tregor had fallen to invaders."

"All that you heard was true, my Lord, and worse," the Lady said.

Krysia was already deciding where to put the Lady Catrina, because certainly she would require chambers. There was a comfortable room below Arthur, well-apportioned for her and her servant. If memory served, Gaius had said that the Lady Catrina had a bone condition, so fewer flights of stairs would likely be welcome.

"Your father, the King?" Uther said.

"Gone, Sire," Catrina said. "The enemy attacked without warning. We were outnumbered five to one. He could not endure. I would never have survived had it not been for my faithful servant Jonas. But we did survive, and we have made it this far…"

She swooned slightly, and Uther caught her, which Krysia found a bit…unlikely.

"Forgive me, my lord," Catrina said. "I fear my trials have taken a toll."

"Your sufferings are beyond imagining, my lady," Uther said. "It would be an honor to help you in any way we can."

"I can have chambers prepared at once, sire," Krysia said.

Uther nodded and said to Catrina, "Consider yourselves our esteemed guests. It's the least we can do."

"Thank you," Catrina said, and she glanced at Krysia over Uther's shoulder for a moment, but Krysia couldn't read her expression.

/-/

As soon as the quarters were ready, Merlin showed Catrina and Jonas into the guest quarters.

"I'm sorry it's not quite what you're used to," Merlin was saying as he held the door open. Krysia adjusted the last pillow and stood back from the bed.

"Forgive me," Catrina said to him, "but I didn't get your name."

"Merlin," he said.

"Well, Merlin, considering we spent last night in a cave, this will do very nicely. Thank you."

Krysia bowed her head slightly and said, "If you require anything, my lady, Merlin and myself are at your disposal. His master's chambers are only just upstairs, and I can often be found in the throne room or council chambers."

The servant, Jonas, said, "My mistress and I could not be more grateful for the kindness you've shown us."

"You're welcome," Merlin said, and Krysia just bowed her head again, ushering Merlin out the door.

"She's really nice," Merlin said, grinning.

"Yes, she seems nice enough," Krysia said. "Unlike most of the princesses you're used to meeting, Merlin, she's had a few years to learn the value of courtesy. Ladies and princesses are often very isolated when they're not at court, so until they get a bit of the world behind them, they haven't had much practice in how to treat others. The Lady Catrina will have had a great deal of practice."

/-/

Krysia oversaw the dining table, with Arthur, Uther, Morgana, and the Lady Catrina, who sat opposite Arthur. Krysia couldn't help noticing that Catrina ate very little, which was unusual for someone who had traveled so far and almost certainly hadn't had much food in that time. When she was found, Krysia had wanted to eat everything, and Gaius had to ration food to her to keep her from being sick.

But then, grief strikes everyone differently.

"Well, this is wonderful, thank you," Catrina said.

"It's an honor," Uther said. "The Houses of Tregor and Pendragon have been allies for as…well, as long as anyone can remember."

"My father often spoke of you, My Lord."

"And I will remember him always."

Krysia poured more wine around the room, and she noticed that the Lady Catrina's cup was still quite full. She tried not to react. Perhaps the grief made drinking wine uncomfortable, as could sometimes happen.

"I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to meet him," Arthur said.

"I'm sorry too," Catrina said. "For the House of Tregor is no more."

"Well, no, Catrina, it lives on in you," Uther said earnestly.

"I only wish that were true."

Krysia and Morgana caught each other's eyes, trying not to laugh at Uther's very obvious flirtation with the Lady Catrina. For a man widowed so long, he was clearly out of practice with wooing.

"It is, my lady," Uther said. "Your courage, your modesty. And you are as you always were, ever since you were a child."

"Ah, I fear I am much changed since then, my lord," Catrina said softly.

"Oh, yes, it's true. You are far more beautiful now.

Morgana and Krysia both smirked, and Arthur faked a yawn to hide his discomfort.

"I'm sorry, hard day's training," Arthur said. "If you'll excuse me."

He exchanged a look with Krysia, who held back her urge to laugh at how obviously uncomfortable he was with his father flirting.

"Of course," Catrina said.

"Arthur," Uther said, nodding in acknowledgement to his son.

"I should retire myself," Morgana said, standing.

"Morgana," Uther said, nodding to her. They both left quickly, leaving Krysia alone with the pair. Uther then drew attention to the unspoken awkwardness in the room. "Can I get you anything else? You've hardly touched your food."

"We have several options, including soups if that might do your stomach better, my lady," Krysia said.

Catrina shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, I find I have little appetite ever since that day."

"I wish I'd been there for you," Uther said.

"Oh, but you're helping me now," Catrina said, pressing his hand. "Your kindness, your companionship. I must also bid you goodnight, my lord. It's been a long day."

"Of course," Uther said. "Good night, my lady."

As soon as Krysia and Uther were alone, he said, "Grief is a terrible thing."

"Yes, sire," Krysia said, beginning to stack the plates to be taken away. "She appears to be in an intermediary stage, however, which is promising."

"How do you mean?"

"She can seem quite lively, quite recovered, can even talk about the past without too much struggle, but she still bears lingering signs of the trauma. For example, the lack of eating, not touching her wine, occasionally tiring easily."

Krysia asked Uther if he was finished with his own dinner and he considered his plate.

"Yes, I suppose I am," he said. "You can go, Krysia. The servants can return the plates when they're cleaning. You've had a very long day."

"It's really nothing, sire. The kitchen is on my way."

Uther was about to argue with her, but then he looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and shook his head.

"Very well," he said. "In the morning, have horses prepared for myself and the Lady Catrina. I want to find a way to cheer her."

"Of course, sire. Sleep well."

/-/

When Krysia arrived back at Gaius's quarters, he was deep in thought.

"How was the Lady Catrina at dinner?" Gaius said.

Krysia hesitated.

"She seems…unusual," Krysia said. "At time's she's very much stoic and recovered and at others, she could have been a day from the event. But perhaps that's not so unusual."

"Perhaps."

"She didn't touch her wine and barely touched her food," Krysia said.

"Has she seemed to recognize you?"

Krysia paused, turning to look at Gaius, who seemed very serious.

"No," Krysia said. "I thought she might have at first, but I think she was just trying to remember the faces of everyone who might be relevant during her stay. Why?"

"There are persons who would recognize you in an instant," Gaius said, "or who would at least wonder. Bayard is the last the kings alive who would know. The Lady Catrina would be the last of the heirs alive who knew your mother well enough to remember. As I recall, Bayard recognized you instantly."

Before Krysia could try to come up with a possible reason why the Lady Catrina would not have recognized her, or would not have said anything, Merlin stormed in and slammed a bottle on a the table between Gaius and Krysia.

"She didn't ask for it," he said. "She didn't need it. She didn't even want it."

"Interesting," Gaius said.

"If you say so."

"When I treated her as a child, it was for an incurable disease. Catrina had a rare bone disorder affecting her joints. She often had difficulty walking, especially after a long ride. My tonic was the only thing that brought her relief."

"I wondered about that," Krysia said softly. "She walks well, has done since she got here. Uther even plans to take her on a ride in the morning. I expect she'll walk well after that as well."

"I had noticed," Gaius said with a small nod.

Krysia not being recognized was beginning to feel a great deal more significant.

"So…the tonic was some kind of test?" Merlin said.

"Indeed," Gaius said. "And I'm starting to wonder if the Lady Catrina is really the Lady Catrina at all."

/-/

Krysia brought the picnic basket down to the main square where Leon had gathered the horses. Leon stood a bit straighter when Krysia arrived, and in his head he could almost imagine if it where them on the ride instead of the king and the Lady Catrina.

"It's a beautiful day for such a ride," Leon said.

"Indeed, it is," Krysia said. "They'll have fine weather."

Uther approached, and Krysia held the basket out to him.

"Chicken and fruit as requested," Krysia said. "I've included some fresh bread, separately wrapped. There's also a blanket, sire."

"You think of everything," he said.

Krysia bowed her head, and Leon walked with her to the top of the stairs, where she lingered, watching Uther wait for the Lady Catrina.

"You do, you know," Leon said.

"Hmm?"

"You think of everything." Krysia looked up at him, her eyes crinkling either from the sun behind him or confusion. He said, "You're always prepared, you always have a plan, you always know exactly what to do. It's…a special skill."

She laughed a little and said, "I wouldn't have lasted very long in this job if I didn't have such skills. But thank you."

The Lady Catrina descended the stairs to where Uther was. Krysia seemed to be watching closely as Uther helped Catrina onto her horse.

"What a charming idea this is, Uther," the lady said.

"Yes. A ride before breakfast always gives me a healthy appetite. I've had the kitchens prepare something special."

Krysia's brow furrowed as the lady reacted to the picnic basket, and Leon wondered what she was thinking, beyond professional pride, of course.

"Oh, how sweet of you," the Lady Catrina said.

As they rode off, Leon said, "Don't be offended if she was not as thrilled as she ought to have been."

"Hmm?" Krysia said, looking away from the retreating horses. "Sorry, I was just…. No, I know that the grief can do funny things to the stomach. I'm not offended."

Leon walked inside with Krysia, who was still thoughtful. She looked up to find him looking at her again, and she smiled.

"I think it's a romantic sort of gesture, though, the picnic. Uther must be very taken with her."

"She's a beautiful woman," Leon said. "You always liked picnics as a child." She hummed. "Perhaps—"

"Oh, I need to be getting back," Krysia said suddenly. "I promised Gaius I wouldn't linger."

"Right, of course," Leon said.

He bowed his head lightly, and she gave him a confused frown as she'd done ever since he'd begun doing that. He couldn't help it, though. Knowing how far above him she was, he couldn't help but show her deference, even if it was less than she deserved, even if no one else ever understood why.

He walked to the armory lost in thought, imagining an impossible courtship full of picnics, long rides, and sunny afternoons to enjoy Krysia's smile.

/-/

When Merlin arrived back at Gaius's chambers, Krysia stopped her pacing and Gaius said, "What did you find?"

"Something wasn't right in there," Merlin said. "There was this strange smell, and I could've sworn the Lady Catrina's bed hadn't been slept in. And there was something else."

"Oh?" Gaius said.

"Jonas," Merlin said. "As I was leaving, I thought I saw something…this is gonna sound mad, but it looked like Jonas had a tail."

Krysia blinked, startled and said, "I'm sorry, did you just say 'tail'?"

Merlin smiled weakly and said, "Well, I mean, I only glimpsed it for a moment. I-I mean, I could be wrong…"

"No, no," Gaius said, "I believe you. We must all of us keep an eye on her. A very close eye."

/-/

That evening, Krysia was surprised to find Gaius coming to the council chambers where Uther was doing more daydreaming than working. Krysia stayed, but she pretended not to listen.

"Good evening, sire," Gaius said.

"A very good evening to you, Gaius," Uther said.

Krysia and Gaius exchanged a look.

"You seem in very high spirits," Gaius said.

"I am, I am."

"The Lady Catrina, she has struck a chord with you."

"That she is, sire. You may remember I treated her as a child. Such courage in the face of her condition."

Krysia bit her lip and tried to blend into the wall. Not only was it risky if Uther didn't remember the condition, but it was especially risky if he did, and if getting him to stir up past memories stirred up ones better left unstirred.

"Condition?" Uther said. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I thought you knew, sire," Gaius said. "I diagnosed Catrina with an incurable bone disease."

"Well, evidently you were wrong," Uther said. "There's nothing the matter with her now."

"It has been a miraculous recovery, I must say."

Krysia could see Uther beginning to grow frustrated, and she wished she could leave the room without drawing attention to herself, but instead she just focused on standing as close to the wall as humanly possible.

"I'm sorry, Gaius," Uther said curtly. "What are you suggesting?"

"Oh, I'm not suggesting anything, sire. It's just a little strange, that's all."

"The only thing I see as strange is that you won't admit that you were wrong."

"Sire, this is not about me. It's about the Lady Catrina."

Uther reached his end on the matter, however, and he snapped, "The Lady Catrina is our honored guest, and you will show her the respect she deserves."

Gaius bowed his head and exited with one last glance at Krysia. When he had been gone for a while, Uther calmed and grew pensive.

"Krysia," he said.

"Yes, sire."

"Have wine sent to my quarters in about an hour."

"Yes, sire."

/-/

That night, Krysia and Gaius waited for Merlin to return from trying to find more information on the Lady Catrina.

"Why must you press him so firmly?" Krysia said. "Uther's good will is thin, Gaius."

"It may be," Gaius said. "He's a stubborn and proud man. But he's not stupid, and he knows who to trust, at the core. He will listen, with time."

When Merlin returned, he was breathless, and he told them about the strange nest he'd found, and what he'd seen of the Lady Catrina, rolling in the filth.

"What you saw is seldom seen, Merlin," Gaius said. "Trolls despite all other living things, especially humans. They prefer to lurk in the darkness of their nests, feasting on rotten filth."

"And Jonas?" Merlin said. "Is he a troll too?"

"Who can tell what manner of creature he is."

"It makes no sense," Merlin said. "If trolls like to lurk in their caves so much, what's this one doing in Camelot?"

"Wealth and power," Krysia said. "Trolls are one of the greediest creatures there are, and there's nothing they crave more than wealth and power."

"Uther's wealth and power," Merlin said, horrified.

Gaius stood.

"We've reached the point of no return," he said. "Uther has to be told."

"You're going to tell Uther that his lady friend's a troll?" Merlin said, astonished.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do."

"Gaius, I think this might be a case of stretching Uther's good will too far," Krysia said.

"Good luck," Merlin said.

Gaius looked between the two of them and said, "Thank you, Merlin."

As soon as the door closed behind him, Merlin said, "He's lost his mind, hasn't he?"

Krysia hummed and said, "Just as long as he doesn't lose his head."

/-/

When Gaius returned, the sat straighter, and it was clear that Gaius was not well pleased.

"Please, don't say anything, either of you," Gaius said.

"I wasn't going to say anything," Merlin lied.

"You were going to say, 'I told you so.'"

"Okay, I was. But I…I'm not going to now."

"Uther took it poorly, did he?" Krysia said. Gaius bowed his head to assent that Uther did, indeed, take it quite poorly.

"Augh, you see?" Merlin said. "I told you… Sorry."

Krysia laughed, but it was more a nervous laugh than it was happy one.

"But I know him, Merlin," Gaius said. "He's a proud man, but he's not stupid. He will reflect on what I said, I'm sure he will."

"Let's hope you're right," Merlin said.

/-/

Leon lay awake staring at the ceiling. He had begun to wonder how he'd feel if Krysia courted someone else. It was inevitable, of course. Either she would never be discovered and she would marry someone of the station she lived in, or she would someday take her rightful place and she'd marry someone far greater than Leon. Either way, it would never be his right to have her.

As much as he told himself it would be churlish not to wish her happiness, he wasn't sure how he would feel when the moment came. Even the idea of her with someone else was painful. He abandoned the exercise, and he closed his eyes, imagining the impossible courtship again to calm the ache in his chest.

A/N:

I'm glad y'all liked the bone I threw, Krysia & Gwaine already having met. And yes, y'all are right to feel sorry for Leon. Don't worry, he'll have a happy ending, I promise. He's just…got to suffer for a while first. Such is life.

Don't worry. I'm trimming this tale down to size significantly. It was a great acting exercise on the show, but I have my limits, and the idea that Krysia, well on her way to being a high priestess, wouldn't find a way to fix it sooner than they did on the show is ludicrous to me. So it'll go quickly, I promise.

-C