Eleven years later

"Hurry up stupid."

I force myself to walk a little quicker even though my body is sore and tense. I stayed up almost till sunrise finishing my chores. Over the years all the original servants have left besides me. Sire Ambrose is no longer as wealthy as he once was and things have changed accordingly, but only the Ambrose household is aware of the fact. Appearances are still kept up, of course. The Ambrose servant staff is now made up of only the cook Hindi, who took over about three years ago, her son Peter who is the stable boy, her daughter who is only seven who helps with odd and ends, the gardener Luke, Henry who is Sire Ambrose manservant, and the other servant which is me. This means that only Harry and I are left to clean most of the manor along with attending our Master/ Mistress every whim and other chores. That is no easy task even for someone with magic. I only use it when I am sure I am alone. I found an old book of magic that was hidden in the back of the library about two years ago. I have learnt all I can from it. That means that most of my work is none the hard way. Also, the only time more servants are hired is if Sire Ambrose invites guests.

I quickly open the door to the dressmakers shop for Morgana, but not before almost falling. She gives me a nasty look before gracefully walking inside. The shop is full of different fabrics. I can't help but notice how worn out my clothes are next to such material. My brown pants are thin and have several patches. My blue shirt and red handkerchief are both faded. My best article of clothing is my brown hat which is just starting to fade.

On Morgana's thirteenth birthday, which means I was also thirteen because I was told that I was born a few days before Morgana, Sire Ambrose sent for me to come to his chambers. I remember being worried that I was in trouble for something even thought I could not think of anything I had done wrong. I had been surprised to find Sire Ambrose in his chair with a package in his hand. He had ordered me to take the package and open it. Inside was a new dark blue hat. He told me that my father had been a faithful servant and even help save his life once. When he was dying, he asked Sire Ambrose to try to keep his unborn child from harm.

"Being a female servant is dangerous, especially at your age. That is why you must keep your gender hidden. If you were prettier, I would marry off to a decent merchant when you got a little older, but I don't believe that will be an option. Since you will be staying here for your life and it will be best for your gender to always remain a secret. No one else besides me and Morgana knows and it must stay that way. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir" I did understand. The year before two young girls from the village had disappeared and never was found. I recall all the theories about what happened to them. The theories ranged from them running away, that they were eating by animals and that they were taken by slavers or bandits. "But what is the hat for?"

"Even though cutting your hair is easier I am allowing you to grow your hair out, but you must wear the hat all of the time, except for when you are alone in your room." He had an odd look on his face almost as if he was sad./p For two years I allowed my hair to grow out but I got tired of having to wear a hat all the time. Also, the longer hair just got in the way and it wasn't like I really care about how long my hair was. One night I cut it off into a boy's cut again. I thought the hat tradition would stop but still ever year on Morgana's birthday, I will return to my room to find a package with a hat inside. Each year it was a different style but always blue or brown in color.

Something else had changed as well when I turned thirteen. Sire Ambrose behavior towards me. He is still harsh towards me, but he no longer lays a hand on me even though I cannot say the same for Morgana. I still get punished, but it is usually more chores, missing a meal, or if Morgana truly tries to get me punished, I spend the night in the dungeon. Sometimes when he looks at me it's as if he is seeing someone else for a moment. The sound of a door shutting brings my attention to the front of the store where Mrs. Turner is carrying six dresses.

I still do not understand why she needs them. She has eight everyday dresses, ten evening dresses which can also be used for party dresses even though she had five party dresses. According to her none of them are good enough for her to wear during their stay in Camelot. Prince Arthur's twenty first birthday is coming up and it is being celebrated with a three week festival. There will be entertainment, tournaments and feasts. Also, at the end of each week there will be a masked ball. The Ambroses' have been invited not only to the ball, but to come and spend a month before the festivities begin at the castle. I cannot help but feel disappointed that I will not be going.

I have never been back since that one trip when I was eight. They had went for a few weeks every summer, with another servant to attend them, while I was ordered to stay home.

"Would you like to try them on my Lady?"

"Yes"

Mrs. Turner and Morgana go in the back room. I go over to the fabric and touch a dark blue material. It is soft and much finer material than anything, I will ever own. I glance at the price. It would take me three years pay just to have enough material to make a shirt. I like wearing pants, but sometimes I cannot help but wonder what it would be like to wear a fine dress. I would probably trip and ruin it.

"I will wrap them for you as quickly as I can with my Lady." The seamstress says as she takes the dresses and goes back into the other room.

"I suppose Crow that we have no choice but to bring you with us. After all, we cannot just have two servants with us while we travel. "

"I don't understand."

"Well, that is nothing new. You will have to come with us to Camelot. You cannot act as my maidservant while we are there of course, since father has this weird notion of trying to protect a crow such as yourself. I mean, who would want anything to do with you? You're too tall, too bony and your ears are ridicules."

I ignore the insults. I get to go back to Camelot. I fight down the smile that is trying to break onto my face. I get so see the amazing city and get away from here for the first time in eleven years. I might also get to see Arthur again. I'm not silly enough to expect him to remember me and if he does I doubt he would recognize me. If he did, he would probably have me burned at the stakes. From what I have heard he now hates magic just like his father. Whatever it was that kept him from turning me in the first time has seemed to disappear. For some reason I still want to see him. Even though I only knew him for a few short weeks the prat had become my best friend and I still cherish those memories. The memories are those of freedom and finally someone expecting me for myself. I haven't had that since.

"Here you are my Lady."

"Crow take the packages." Morgana orders as she pays for the dresses.

I carefully pile the packages in my arms and follow Morgana out of the shop.

"I need to decide what other dresses to bring. You will have to pack them and the new dresses, but make sure to be careful. Also, I need you to clean my jewelry and fetch me my dinner. You will need to have everything ready tonight because we are leaving a hour after sunrise. "

"I don't think I can carry all of these for long."

"You're the worst servant ever." Morgana sneers as she takes two of the packages.

"I don't see why father hasn't tossed you onto the street yet like the rat you are."

"I thought I was a crow." I say before I can stop myself.

"Take your pick. Both crows and rats are scums of the earth and so are you." The look on Morgana's face tells me I am going to regret my comment once we are back in her chambers.