Leon had his report prepared for the recent patrols and was bringing it to the king. Krysia had been given a morning off, and Leon thought it might be a good time to review the matter in private with the king. He had been petitioning for some time to add an additional rotation to reduce the tiredness on his men, but the king had mostly listened to others on the council in asking why change things.

He lifted his hand to knock on the door and heard the king's voice. He hesitated.

"It's very important that you fetch people in the correct order, Clay," Uther said. "Gaius should be brought to the throne room first."

"Yes, sire," Clay said.

"Have a guard fetch Krysia then. Once the guard is dispatched, you'll bring me Geoffrey. Repeat it back to me."

Leon couldn't breathe. He stood there, hearing Clay repeat his instructions back to the king. There was only one reason Leon could think that the king would have those three people brought to the throne room, and certainly only one where a guard bringing Krysia would be specified.

His petition to the king was forgotten, and he was hurrying to the physician's chambers as fast as his feet would carry him.

/-/

Krysia was startled when the door to Gaius's chambers opened suddenly, violently, and Leon was there.

"What's happened?" she said. "Are you hurt? I'm afraid Gaius isn't here."

"You need to leave," Leon said urgently.

Krysia stared at him, unable to reconcile what she was seeing with what she was hearing.

"What?"

He took the knife she was using to prepare carrots out of her hands and took both of her hands in his.

"You need to get away from Camelot," he said. "Pack what you can carry. Bring your dagger. We'll take Ember, but we need to be quick."

"What are you talking about?" Krysia said, although she could feel the twitch of her hands beginning to shake. "Slow down. Why would we leave Camelot?"

Leon looked like he might be about to cry, and he squeezed her hands lightly.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do," she said, squeezing back. "But this is my home, Leon. It's your home. What is going on? I haven't heard the warning bell—"

Leon looked like he was about to speak, but Geraint appeared in the doorway, looking a bit pale, and he knocked on the open door to get their attention.

"Krysia," Geraint said, "I'm under orders to bring you to the king."

"Under orders?" Krysia repeated, her mouth going dry. Leon did not speak, and she was glad of that. Geraint was their friend, but she couldn't afford for anyone to think she knew anything of what must be happening. "Geraint, what's going on?"

"I don't know," Geraint said softly, with an apologetic smile. "But I was told to be quick."

She pulled her hands from Leon's and took up her skirts, pushing past both men.

"Then we mustn't keep him waiting," she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.

/-/

Leon stood in the bright throne room, Uther sitting on his throne, Arthur and Morgana sitting beside him. Gaius stood to the side, with some other courtiers, looking anxious as Geraint led Krysia forward. Krysia stood in the center of the throne room, and Leon wished he could stand beside her. As brave as she was, he could see her hands trembling.

"Sire," she said, bowing her head. "I…should I be kneeling for this, sire?"

Uther stood, taking a few steps forward, holding her head by her chin.

"You were found where, Krysia?"

Her head jerked back with surprise.

"Sire?"

"Where were you found?"

"The Forest of Ascetir."

"How long were you there?"

"I—a few days, I believe."

"No memories before that?"

"No, sire."

"You're quite certain?"

She turned her head toward Gaius, nervous. Leon had seen that expression on the face of a horse being broken in before, and he fought the urge to go to her. Uther tugged her face back so she was looking at him again.

"Yes, sire," she said, her voice trembling now. "May I ask…why I'm here?"

"Look at her, Gaius," Uther said, ignoring her question. "Look at her."

Gaius stood a bit taller and said, "As I said before, sire, there is a similarity in the coloring and the shape of the face, but—"

"Look at her," Uther said, turning her harshly so she was facing Gaius, who did stare at her.

Yes, she was clearly afraid now. Leon squeezed his hands into fists. If he could have just carried her out himself, thrown her over his shoulder and run, they might have had time. She would have understood eventually. He might have even been able to take her to Gwaine, if he hadn't made too much ground, and she could have been happy.

But he failed her.

"There is a resemblance, yes," Gaius said softly. "I will grant you that, sire. But Ascetir is quite far from Malgrave."

"I have thought about that," Uther whispered. "Marcial was an excellent horseman, one of the best I ever knew. A few days' ride, shorter if he did not stop. A few days back."

"A hard ride," Gaius whispered.

"But doable," Uther said. "They would have had enough warning, I believe. Zosia always had her allies in court. Evaine would have given them warning. Not enough to move a whole family, but to save one child?"

Krysia was shuddering now, her whole body visibly shaking. Leon bit on the inside of his cheek not to react at the mention of his mother. What he'd tried to do. Had his mother saved Krysia's life?

"I presume you know what you will do if it is true, then?" Gaius said.

Uther stood, still, staring at Krysia's eyes. All the members of court who had come to watch this spectacle seemed to hold their breath, and Geraint even shifted uncomfortably beside Leon.

Geoffrey of Monmouth entered the throne room, strolling forward. He glanced at Krysia, then held out a sheet of paper, which the king did not take.

"You have done your research?" Uther said.

"I have, sire."

"You have memorized the lines of Adaire and Elmere?"

"I have, sire. For three generations each."

Uther looked at Geoffrey and said, "What was the name of Lady Zosia's eldest child?"

Geoffrey looked at Gaius, then at Krysia, before he said, "The child was named Krysia."

Uther let go of Krysia's face, and she continued to tremble as he took a few steps away from her before turning back around to look at her. There were whispers throughout the court, and Arthur and Morgana both leaned forward.

"It was a common name at the time, if I recall correctly," Gaius said slowly.

"It was," Geoffrey said, and he gave Gaius an almost apologetic look. "However, the age of the children who were named that as a rule were several years younger than Lady Krysia, and the age of the heir to the Houses of Adaire and Elmere would be, were she alive…" He winced. "She would be the age of the woman standing before us."

Uther nodded, staring at her again as Krysia stared up at him, shaking.

"Have you ever practiced sorcery?" he said.

Leon held his breath.

"No, sire," Krysia said, her voice smaller than he'd heard it since she was a child.

"You have no associates who practice sorcery?"

"No, sire."

"Gaius," Uther said, looking over to him. "Have you ever seen any sign of magic in Krysia?"

"I have not, sire," Gaius said.

"You're quite certain?" Uther said. "You're absolutely sure?"

"Yes, sire," Gaius said. "Quite sure."

Leon's chest ached from holding his breath as Uther turned to the Throne Room at large and said, "Is there any here who would come forward with information of this woman associating in any way with sorcery?"

Krysia was trembling so violently her body had begun to twitch and jerk. He thought of her healing the cat as a child, and he prayed no one else had seen such things. He prayed if anyone did, they would say nothing.

When no one came forward, Uther nodded and said, "You understand, Krysia, that if you ever were to associate in any way with sorcery, you would be sentenced immediately to death?"

"Yes, sire," she whispered.

"Because," he said softly, "you have already been found guilty as a child, and were meant to have already been executed with the rest of your family."

She gasped, and she pulled her arms around her torso as she had done as a child, when she had first been found, and Leon's body jerked slightly toward her.

"If you were ever to even associate with sorcery," Uther said, "your prior sentence of death by fire would have to be enacted, do you understand?"

She collapsed to her knees, and she began to sob, and Leon hadn't realized he'd stepped forward until he felt Geraint tugging him back forcefully.

"Leave it," Geraint whispered. "God's sake, Leon, leave it alone."

"Krysia?" Morgana said gently, standing from her seat. She knelt beside Krysia in the middle of the throne room, and Krysia rapidly wiped at her eyes, trying to stop crying.

Leon felt the corners of his own eyes prickling as he tried not to think of her as a child, a little girl trembling before the whole court with no knowledge of family, no knowledge of herself. Even if she did know before, now she was finally allowed to mourn her loss, and the grief must be overwhelming. The urge to remove her from this, to get her somewhere private, somewhere safe where she could mourn as she needed to was strong, but Geraint had not let go of Leon's arm.

"I'm sorry," Krysia was saying.

"It's alright," Morgana said, cradling Krysia. "It's alright. Just breathe."

When Krysia had calmed enough, Morgana helped her to her feet and wiped her face gently. Uther just stared at her in silence.

"You will need new quarters," he said.

"Sire?" Krysia said, confused. "I'm quite comfortable—"

"Nonsense," Uther said. "No child of Lady Zosia should be living in such chambers. And the royal seamstress will need to be employed—"

"Sire, I have everything I need," Krysia said quickly. "I am quite content, I—"

"You are a lady," Uther said, with a voice that said plainly that he would not accept refusal. "Whatever life you've had to now, it is not what you were born to, and while I could not…" He closed his eyes for a moment to gather himself, then said, "The last surviving member of Adiare and Elmere will not be a servant any longer. Is that understood?"

Krysia stood, turning toward Gaius, who nodded slightly. It was clear that she did not want to agree to this, and Leon understood why. She felt that her job gave her purpose, and she was proud of what she did and how well she did it. To take that away was an insult to her pride.

"I will need to promote a servant," Uther said sharply. "Your recommendation?"

Krysia startled, then said, "I…Enid, sire. She is young and inexperienced, but she shows a great deal of promise and learns faster than any servant I have worked with."

Uther nodded, then said, "And a visiting princess. What room would you recommend?"

Krysia frowned, and then said, "I…" She looked him in the eye and said, "If there are no particular considerations, sire, I would put her in the room over the kitchens. It's warm, the view is excellent, it is close to everything essential, and the sunrises are unparalleled." She paused. "If she would like sunrises."

Uther smiled slightly and said, "Your mother loved sunrises as well. That was always her room in Camelot."

He turned toward Leon and Geraint and said, "Take her to her new quarters."

"I'll get her things," Geraint said, slipping out of the room as Krysia began to protest.

"I am not…" Krysia spluttered. "If I must have new quarters, I really don't need anything so grand. I am certainly no visiting princess—"

"On the contrary," Uther said softly. "You do not yet understand, my lady, just how important you are. I will not debase you by giving you any less than you deserve. And I will see you at dinner."

Leon hurried forward, bowing slightly to her.

"My lady," he whispered. "Allow me to escort you?"

Krysia seemed stunned, but when he held his hand out to her, she took it, perhaps out of habit, and she allowed him to lead her out of the throne room.

/-/

Krysia stepped into the chambers that were now apparently hers, and Leon led her into the center of the room. The bed was not yet made, and Leon opened the window to let the air flow through.

"You thought I was going to be executed," she whispered.

Leon hesitated, then turned to her and said, "Yes, I did. I heard the king giving orders for you to be gathered by a guard and I…I heard the house names. I'm old enough to remember when Malgrave was burned."

Krysia stared at him, and Leon stared back, looking like he was about to say something, but he forced a smile.

"Your mother saved my life," Krysia whispered.

"Apparently she did."

"Do you think she knew…?"

Leon shrugged and said, "I really don't know. If you would feel safer not here, Krysia, the offer still stands. We could leave right now if you said the word."

She couldn't help smiling at the offer, thinking of Leon taking her to Mercia, perhaps. She certainly could be with Gwaine then, regardless of Uther's lack of mercy. But she knew, all the better for Merlin's father's fate, that running from Uther was impossible. That was no life.

"This is my home," she whispered. "I will live here and I will die here. But…thank you."

"Always, my lady."

He looked around the room and was beginning to speak when Geraint knocked on the door and held out a couple of bundles.

"I've been reliably informed by Merlin that these are all your things, my lady," Geraint said.

Krysia thanked him, knowing Merlin would sneak her book to her once the castle had gone to sleep. She would have to find a good placed to hide it.

"Just…put them anywhere, I suppose," she said, laughing nervously. "I have a lot of work to do to make this livable, but—"

"Your servant will do that," Geraint said. "You're a lady, Krysia. You're not going to do the chores yourself."

"Surely I don't need a servant," she said, not comfortable with the idea of someone assigned to her things. How was she supposed to hide then? "I'm more than qualified to take care of myself."

"It isn't a question of qualification, my lady," Leon whispered. "It's a question of what you deserve."

She was about to argue, but Geraint laughed and said, "I told you, Leon, I told you that she could be a queen. I should have known she practically is."

"Don't be absurd," Krysia said, extremely uncomfortable with the suggestion. "Don't you boys have better things to do than to stand about teasing me?"

The both bowed and left, and she shuddered. That level of power would take getting used to, and she would have to remember that people would listen when she spoke now. The question was, what to do with it?

/-/

Leon knocked on the door to Morgana's chambers, and Gwen opened it, smiling at him. Morgana looked up from her writing desk, smiling at the sight of him.

"How is Krysia settling in?" Morgana said, welcoming him into the room.

"She is uncomfortable, my lady," Leon said. "I was hoping…I was hoping to arrange something that might help her feel less out of sorts. The king did say he expected her at dinner tonight, but even if the royal seamstress started immediately, I don't believe she would have something suitable for dinner."

Gwen and Morgana exchanged a look, and Morgana said, "Don't you worry. I think we can arrange something."

/-/

Krysia was staring at the stable hands brushing the horses just brought in from patrol. It was certainly a better view, calming, even. Someone knocked gently.

"Enter," she said.

She was thrilled to see Gwen enter with a smile and a stack of sheets.

"You really don't need to do that," Krysia said, going to take the sheets from her friend. "Please, I would rather do it myself."

"I'm aware," Gwen said with a wink. "I know how particular you are about sheets. I won't tell if you don't. But that's not why I'm here."

She set the sheets down on the mattress and pulled out a stunning pale blue gown with rich green velvet accents.

"It's gorgeous," Krysia whispered. "Where did you—?"

"Leon mentioned to Morgana that you wouldn't have anything to wear to dinner," Gwen said. "There were some old things of Morgana's that we hadn't done anything with, and she chose a few for your coloring and we made them up together this afternoon. It should fit, but I've brought some pins and thread if it needs adjustment. Shall we?"

Krysia tried not to show her emotions too plainly as she peeled off her dress, her familiar and quite comfortable dress and let Gwen help her on with this gown. She looked in the mirror as Gwen checked the seams and tested the hem length.

She looked nice, she thought, and was reminded for a moment of her mother. Her eyes itched with tears, and she stared at this stranger, this woman she didn't know how to be in her looking glass.

There was a knock again, and Krysia told the person to enter. Leon stared at her, starting to speak, then stopping himself as if he didn't know the words.

"Lovely," he said, like he was choking out the word. "You look…lovely. Gwen, you've outdone yourself."

"She does look like a princess, doesn't she?"

Krysia let out a nervous laugh and said, "Gods, I wish people would stop saying that."

Leon and Gwen exchanged a look, and then Gwen said, "Would you like some help with your hair?"

"What's wrong with my hair?"

Leon smiled a little and said, "Here, allow me."

He undid her plait, carefully smoothing her locks over her shoulders, letting them curl on their own, according to the pattern of the plait. She could certainly see her mother now, and before she could tell him she needed it up again, he pulled something out of his pocket and was fastening it around her neck.

He took a step back and she saw a familiar sapphire pendant hanging against her chest, a brilliant blue on a silver chain with several white gems around it like a star. She hadn't seen it in years, not since his mother passed.

"I can't," she said, blinking at her tears.

"She would want you to have it," Leon whispered. "She cared about you a great deal, and I've certainly no use for it. I have no heirlooms from your own mother, but I can give you something from someone who loved you."

Gwen said, "Here, let me just…"

She took a strand of Krysia's hair and curled it over, pinning it back to let the pendant stand out more. Krysia stared at herself, even more a stranger now than she had been a moment ago.

"Is it bad that I'm frightened?" she whispered.

"I think, given this morning," Leon said with a frown, "that a bit of fear is probably quite healthy."

/-/

Uther stood without thinking when Krysia entered for dinner. She looked every bit the lady her mother had been, standing with that same confidence, although he could tell from her face that she felt out of place. Arthur and Morgana took his standing as a signal, and they also stood.

"I am surprised," Uther said. "I didn't think the royal seamstress would have something prepared so soon."

"She didn't," Morgana said with a proud smirk. "Sir Leon expressed his concerns to me that Krysia would have nothing to wear and my maid and I took some of my old things. Gwen is a highly capable seamstress, is she not?"

"Indeed," Uther muttered, gesturing for Krysia to take a seat beside him.

She startled when the servant pulled out the chair, and she sat as though the chair might bite her, but there she was, in the chair that was always Lady Zosia's, in a gown that rivaled any Zosia ever had, looking every bit the noblewoman she was. She couldn't know what a relief it was, to have that piece of Zosia back.

"Sire," Krysia said softly. "You've assigned me Enid, haven't you?"

Uther smiled, motioning to Clay to begin serving dinner.

"I have had many years of dealing with your stubbornness," Uther said, "not to mention decades of managing your mother's stubbornness, which was legendary. It was the only way to learn your true wishes. But I do expect you to ask if there is anything you require."

She hummed, accepting her food and sitting back to give Clay space to pour her wine.

She took up her fork with that same delicate hold her mother had used, and Uther felt a pang of nostalgia, hoping he had done the right thing, but pleased that the world could move forward now.

/-/

Leon sat in the armory that night, staring at the row of swords, wondering whether this was a good or bad change, Krysia as a lady. Any small mistake and she would be burned, but he was free to give her all the honor she was due, now, without her argument.

He was so caught up in his puzzle that he didn't hear Arthur enter and was not aware of him sitting beside him until Arthur spoke.

"Quite a day," Arthur said.

"Yes, sire," Leon whispered.

"Morgana mentioned that you arranged a dress for Lady Krysia."

Leon's neck went hot as he said that yes, he had.

"She's possibly the most eligible lady in the five kingdoms," Arthur whispered. "Her life is about to change entirely. She'll have princes from all over making offers for her hand."

Leon squeezed his hand into a fist, but he said nothing.

"You're in love with her, aren't you?" Arthur finally whispered.

Leon closed his eyes, calling up with such ease the way she'd looked in the dress, the feeling of longing he'd felt just looking at her. As beautiful as she'd always been, he'd never wanted her more than in that moment.

"It doesn't matter," Leon whispered. "She's practically a princess."

"But you love her."

"I have always loved her," Leon admitted in a voice so small he barely recognized it as his own. "I have loved her since before I knew what love was, and even knowing it is impossible, I cannot seem to stop."

Arthur clapped his shoulder and said, "Yesterday she was a servant and today she is a step away from being a queen. Nothing is impossible, Leon. I can think of no better match for either of you."

Leon wished he could agree, but he could not forget the way she'd looked at Gwaine. Commoner or no, he couldn't imagine anyone ever making her that happy again.

A/N:

Krysia is a lady! However, her rope is a lot shorter now where magic is concerned. I'm also curious to see if anyone's going to recognize the C plot I've just alluded to.

To the Guest:

I'm also excited and nervous. I've been looking forward to this moment for so long, but it's a totally different type of story now, so I hope the shift will be viewed as a kind of positive!

-C