I jerked upright as the sound of the door banging against the wall pulled me from my nightmares, spinning to face an intruder and, instead, finding Gaius stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips and shaking his head as he looked around my bedchambers. I just stared at him, my mouth hanging open and willed my heartbeat to return to normal.

"Oy! Have you seen the state of this room!?" I finally looked around, content no one was about to attack me, to find the place completely trashed. My cupboard, the chest of drawers and trunk had all been flung open, the clothes and other items I'd stored in them strewn about the floor. The hairbrush, clips, pins and makeup that had been neatly laid out on the vanity now nowhere in sight. Probably hidden beneath everything else. I let out a groan at the thought of having to find and reorganise things, beginning to climb out of bed.

"It just happens," I explained, irritated that my nightmares were now having a toll on my waking life.

"By magick?" He clarified and I struggled not to roll my eyes. Obviously, it was with magick. Like I would intentionally give myself more work.

"Yep."

"Yes. Well, you can clean it up without magick." Thanks, a lot. I hadn't done it on purpose! He bent down, picking up a simple, blue dress and throwing it towards me. I caught it, one-handed, and placed it beside me on the bed. "Then I want you to get me some herbs; Fenway, wormwood and sorrel." Like I knew what they were, I'd have to ask at the market. He proceeded to hand me a pouch with a few coins inside and a small bottle. "And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl suffers from nightmares." I knew the feeling. At least I'd finally be able to meet her, I wanted to see the woman who had bested Arthur. Gaius was still stood there, waiting for me to start cleaning up.

"I need to get dressed." I reminded him, trying not to laugh as he nearly ran from the room. Getting used to living with each other was going to take some getting used to, for both of us.

Once I heard the door at the bottom of the stairs close I began making my way around the room, changing quickly into the blue dress Gaius had thrown at me, and beginning to tidy the mess I'd, unwittingly, made before sitting at my dressing table. If I was to meet the King's ward then I wanted to make an impression.

I brushed my hair back, creating two braids fixed tight to my head and leading into a bun, pretty but practical, and opened one of my mother's jars. If I was going to find a place here, I had to at least try to fit in. I would never be a courtier, never roam the castle in their finely embroidered dresses, never intwine my hair with pearls and jewels but I could damn well fix my hair and apply some makeup. I left my ugly, shapeless, black cloak where it was and stepped into my shoes before making my way to Morgana's chambers. I could grab breakfast at the market, it would be better than porridge, anyway.

I knocked lightly on Lady Morgana's door, quietly opening it when she called to 'enter'. She was standing by the window, not looking in my direction and instead staring at something below.

"You know; I've been thinking about Arthur." She started, making her way behind the dressing screen, still not looking in my direction. "The boy's denser than a lance pole." I snorted a quiet laugh at her words. Her next ones, however, stopped me cold. "Pass me that dress, would you, Gwen?" I quickly looked around and spotted a beautiful purple dress atop the chaise. She continued to speak as I picked it up. "He's a total jouster. Just because I'm the Kings ward that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?" I passed the dress over the screen and she picked it up, waiting for an answer. "Well? Does it?" I made a dismissive sound but didn't dare speak, she would know straight away that I wasn't Gwen, her voice was softer and much prettier than my own, husky one. I hadn't a clue what I should do now though, I went to leave but she started to talk again. "If he wants me to go, then he should just invite me. And he hasn't. Do you know what that means?" I made the same dismissive sound and she continued, not interested in what I, or as she thought, Gwen, had to say, just wanting someone to talk to. "Where are you?" This was getting ridiculous. I kicked myself for going along with this in the first place, hoping she wouldn't be too angry when she realised I wasn't her handmaiden.

"Apologies, My Lady, but you seem to have mistaken me for Guinevere." She poked her head over the dressing screen, seeing me standing awkwardly by her dresser.

"Why didn't you say anything?" She asked, not seeming angry, just confused.

"I didn't want to interrupt you," I answered, shrugging.

"Oh. Well, who are you?"

"Merlin, My Lady. Gaius' ward. He asked me to deliver your medicine." I held the bottle up, showing her. She furrowed her brow, looking as though she were measuring me up for something.

"Gwen mentioned you. Said you fought Arthur in the square?"

"I tried, My Lady, but I have no experience fighting," I admitted, wincing at the memory of my pathetic attempt to punch the Prince.

"They why did you challenge him?"

"I didn't know he was the Prince." She let out a soft laugh at that and I felt my own lips beginning to lift in a smile, I didn't care that I was the butt of this particular joke. It really was quite funny, when you thought about it.

"Oh dear, I bet that was quite a revelation."

"Indeed, My Lady."

"Morgana, is fine." She corrected me, motioning for me to come closer, "Would you mind helping me with this fastening?"

"Of course not, My -Morgana." I corrected myself, following her behind the screen and beginning to tie the laces at her back. Being careful not too pull them too tight but not leaving them so loose that it wouldn't show her figure.

"So, what did he do to earn your wrath?" She continued, looking at me over her shoulder.

"Does he need to do anything?" I smirked, surprised when she began to chuckle. "He was bullying a servant." I clarified.

"Well, don't let this defeat stop you from trying again in future, Arthur needs someone to challenge him on occasion. It's good for his ego." I wonder what she'd think if she knew I'd done it twice in two days...

"Yeah..."

"You already have?!" She realised, spinning on me. Thankfully, I'd just finished tying the laces or else I'd have had to start again.

"Yesterday... in the market," I explained.

"What happened?" Her eyes had gone wide, her voice going high in her excitement.

"I knocked him on his ass," I said, shrugging as if it were nothing unusual.

"Seriously?"

"And then I got distracted and he took me down with a broom," I finished, grimacing.

"I'm surprised he fought back. I would have expected him to just have you arrested. His men wouldn't have agreed with him hitting a woman, and their opinion means a lot to him."

"I'm surprised anyone else's opinion bothers him at all. Although, technically, he didn't realise I was a girl."

"He might be a fool but he isn't blind." She said, disbelief clear in her tone.

"I'd been dressed as one."

"Whyever would you do that?!" Her voice rose again, shaking her head as she looked down at my slighter smaller frame. "You are a beautiful girl! Why would you hide that?!" I began to explain to her about my mother's warning and then how one thing had led to another, leaving me without time to clean up. "Well, you've certainly had an eventful first few days in Camelot. I wish I could say it will slow down but with the celebration tonight and then the tournament in a couple of days, you likely won't get time much time to yourself. You are coming to the feast tonight, aren't you? As Gaius' ward, you are more than welcome to attend."

"I don't know..." I still hadn't decided if I could let myself enjoy it under the circumstances.

"You must!" She grabbed my hands in hers and I tried not to show my surprise. She was the King's ward, a Lady of Camelot, why would she care if I went? "You have yet to experience all that Camelot has to offer! I'll admit, it isn't the nicest of reasons to hold a celebration but you'll enjoy yourself, I'm sure. And you can show yourself off to all the men of Court." I laughed, choosing not to read too much into what she'd said about the reasons behind the celebration.

"I doubt they would have any interest in me, especially not if you're wearing that dress!"

"Don't be silly! Of course, they will! Although... do you think I should wear this dress or give them a night they'll really remember?" She asked, picking up another dress; a red one that had no sleeves and tied around the back of her neck, with a golden belt that resembled leaves encircling her waist. It would certainly show a lot of skin...

"It depends how much you want to make Arthur suffer." Surely, he could not be so self-obsessed that he wouldn't notice Morgana's beauty. She was stunning... dark hair that fell in gentle waves to her waist, unblemished pale skin and prominent green eyes... anyone would pale in comparison to her.

"The second one." She decided, breaking me from my thoughts and I nodded in agreement, helping her into it before going to gather Gaius' herbs, smiling all the way at the prospect of gaining another friend. And a high-born Lady at that!

I stared into my wardrobe, debating whether or not to wear the simple dress I currently had on or go with the one my mother had made for me a couple of years ago for a wedding between two of the villagers back home. It was a beautiful dress, emerald in colour and fit snugly around my waist and chest before flowing gently to the ground, with full sleeves that tapered into points with little loops on the end that would go over my middle fingers.

It would certainly stand out against the neutral colours that I'd seen most of the servants and a lot of the lower born Ladies wearing... and that was what had me hesitating. Did I really want to stand out and risk another argument with the Prince? Morgana would love that, I thought, laughing to myself. Knowing my luck Arthur and his Knight's would spot me in the crowd, whatever I was wearing, I might as well give them something to talk about. I chose the emerald dress, changing into it before reapplying my makeup and taking my hair out of its bun, redoing it so that the majority hung freely down my back, with two small plaits on either side joining in the middle to form one resting down the middle. It was as good as it was going to get. It wasn't like I had my mother around anymore to do it for me. I should have let her teach me how to do the more intricate designs but at the time I hadn't known I would ever need them, figuring my life was to be spent ploughing and sewing fields, not going to dances and feasts.

I emerged from my room, gliding down the stairs in my flat, black, most ladylike shoes and heard Gaius gasp as he caught sight of me. I smiled, self-consciously.

"You look beautiful, Merlin." He told me, my cheeks beginning to heat at the compliment.

"Thank you, Gaius, you are too kind." He raised an eyebrow at my attempt to act a little like a Lady ought to, his smile growing in delight. I couldn't help wondering why he was so happy about it. Maybe he hoped I'd attract a man and he'd be able to get rid of me? Although, I had begun to get the impression he actually liked having someone around.

"You even sound like a lady. Is it too much to hope that this will continue?" I laughed, shaking my head at him. Maybe he had become lonely, spending all his time surrounded by books and potions. He must have been if he had begun to enjoy my company, I hadn't been the most considerate guest. I truly would have to try harder with him in future, starting from now.

"Most definitely." I nodded, holding out an arm so he could escort me to the feast. His smile grew wider and I couldn't help but smile with him. He was a good man and he deserved a ward who showed more gratitude than I had, someone who would help bear his own burdens, not someone who just dumped theirs on him. I would try harder, I would be better, for him.

I couldn't help but stare, wide-eyed, as we entered the Great Hall. It was beautiful. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting up the grand open space, two long tables placed to either side of the room, creating a ten-foot walkway where people had begun to mingle. There was food lining the centre of both tables, candelabra spaced evenly between the dishes and great banners in Pendragon colours lining the walls, some bearing their family crest; the Dragon. The Irony was not lost on me. My eyes searched the room, taking everything in, before landing on Arthur who had his back to me, talking and laughing with his Knight's. Seriously, did they follow him around all the time? One of the men noticed me staring, his mouth dropping open in surprise, causing Arthur to turn to see what had caught his attention. Our eyes met across the room and my heart began to beat faster when he didn't look away, instead, taking a step towards me.

"Merlin!" I spun at the sound of my name, breaking eye contact with the Prince, and smiled as I beheld Morgana wearing the red dress she had decided on. She looked amazing in it, as we'd both known she would, but her makeup complimented it perfectly, her hair curled lightly atop her head with a bronze circlet resting above her brow. Gaius squeezed my arm in farewell, going to speak to someone and leaving me alone with Morgana. "I'm so glad you decided to come." She announced, grasping my hands and kissing each of my cheeks in turn. I just stared at her, wide-eyed, surprised at her show of affection in front of so many people. "You look beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you! I swear every man in this room is staring!"

"That was the plan." She smirked, causing me to laugh. "Is Arthur looking?" I glanced around, catching sight of him again. He was looking, alright. His head darting between me and Morgana like he was watching a battle.

"God have mercy." I saw him murmur to his Knight's and I raised an eyebrow at him when his gaze returned to me, smirking as his eyes met mine.

"Now he's worried," I heard Morgana snigger and I turned back to her, frowning in confusion. "He looks like he doesn't know whether to approach us or run for the hills. Typical man."

"What do you mean?"

"Men are terrified of beautiful women; they both covet them and fear them. Beauty is our best weapon. Don't be afraid to use it." She winked at me and with those parting words sauntered over to Arthur and his men, I smirked as I watched her work.

"She looks great, doesn't she?" I turned to see Gwen watching too, accepting the goblet of wine she offered.

"Yeah," I agreed, still thinking over what she'd said.

"Some people are just born to be Queen." What?

"No." I couldn't see Morgana ever wanting to be a Queen. There was something about her that was too... wild. She longed for freedom, a crown would be as good as a cage to her. Not that she wouldn't make a good one, mind you. She was a warrior and yet she was also kind. Wise, beautiful, strong. She could be the sort of Queen that became a legend.

"I hope so. One day." Maybe... but she would lose a part of herself to become one. The part, I had to admit, that I found the most intriguing about her. "Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?" Who indeed? Although he was very easy on the eyes... and a Prince, in fact, most of the women in this room would probably want to become his wife. If they could stand his obnoxious attitude.

"I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men?" I asked Gwen, smiling when she began to giggle as she recognised the words.

"No, I like much more ordinary men. What about you?" Hmm... I hadn't really thought much about it before. Why would I when I could never tell them who I was? When any relationship I might have was doomed from the start? I noticed one of Arthur's Knight's making his way towards me, watching their reflection in the metal of my goblet.

"I prefer my own solitude instead of having a man breathing down my neck." I barely stifled my laughter as I watched him spin in the opposite direction, overhearing what I'd said. Maybe Morgana was right about men fearing pretty women. Gwen noticed what had happened and began to laugh loudly, I couldn't help but join in with her.