"Sarah, wake up."

I moaned, trying to curl back up in my blankets and fight my way back into unconsciousness. "Come on, sleepy head. It's time to get up. You're needed down in the hall. Uther said he had something he needed to discuss with you. He said it was urgent."

Reluctantly I sat up, rubbing my eyes tiredly. Gwen looked just as tired as I felt. She had stayed in my room last night, after me practically begging her to. I didn't want her walking back to her house after all that had happened yesterday. Besides, I was glad for the company. I hadn't had any girl time in a while. Not since running with Kayla.

"Do I have to?"

She laughs a bit. "Yes. He said it was urgent."

I flopped back down into the covers, pulling the sheets over my head. "I still don't want to."

She sat down besides me, pulling back the covers. "Is this about yesterday?"

I make a face. "He treats me like a child."

"I am sure he means it in a loving way. We've only just gotten you back. Uther is bound to be overly protective."

I sigh. "I am meant to be queen soon, Gwen. I cannot afford to be seen as weak, not after the last few months. My people see me as a warrior. I cannot live up to their expectations with Uther keeping me under lock and key."

Gwen looked at me reassuringly. "Well, perhaps speaking with him will help. I'll have cook send up something other than porridge. I know how much you hate it.", she bribes. And it was totally working. After having the lumpy, usually cold, oatmeal nearly every morning you got extremely sick of it. I gagged just at the thought of having to eat it again.

"Alright.", I mumble. She smiles triumphantly and flounces off to the kitchen.

When I finally dragged myself out of the warmth of my bed, I got directly into the tub full of hot water waiting for me. I leaned back, slipping my head under the surface of the water. I only emerged once I couldn't hold my breath any longer.

I bite my lip while examining all of my scars. Before coming here, my most impressive one had been on my knee from falling off my bike as a kid. Now I had several more, and much nastier looking ones from various wounds and runes. They served as constant reminders of the nightmares of Raul's fortress.

Forcing myself to stop thinking about it, I dry myself off and dressed. Gwen returns soon from the kitchen with a tray of food. I munch on some biscuits, which were slightly stale, and sausages as Gwen combed through my soggy hair and Kenji laid at my feet. Once she had worked out all the knots, she pinned it up, leaving a few stray strands hanging around my face. It made me look much older than my usual braid.

Kenji followed me downstairs, but even he wasn't as happy and full of energy as he usually was. The courtyard and many of the halls were still flooded with people from the camp. I stopped to talk to a few before heading to the hall. They were too frightened to live out in the fields again. Uther was trying to relocate the women and children to homes in the villages, but there were more than most people would be able to take in. The injured had been moved the another part of the castle, so there was hardly anyone in the Hall when I arrived. I couldn't help but notice Henry's absence. Uther sat at the table, sorting through papers with some men.

"You look tired.", Arthur comments once I approach the table, looking slightly worried. I nod sleepily, still not fully awake. "Maybe you should go back to bed. We can handle things. My father will understand."

"No.", I snap. I wasn't letting anyone else make decisions about my people for me. Not even Arthur. "I'm fine."

He nods, frowning. Uther notices me then and stands, his face quite grim. "Sarah. Come with me." I followed him out of the room, allowing him to be a gentleman and hold my arm. Arthur trails behind us, not saying much. He had been oddly subdued lately, though I seemed to be the only one to notice.

I was surprised when he turned towards the steps that led up to the walls. After last night, I figured I'd be banned from even going up there ever again. Uther ignores my confused expression and leads me to the top. Pulling me right to the edge, he points out towards the forest. I nearly choked at the sight. Men in black armor stood packed together in uniform formations. I couldn't see the end of them, much less count them. I didn't know how many men we had, but it couldn't be anywhere near that many.

"How long?", I squeaked. The army scared me more than I cared to admit. The thought of it storming Camelot... I couldn't even think of what could happen.

"Until they attack? Impossible to tell. They haven't moved since they arrived this morning and we haven't a clue what they're waiting for. Perhaps darkness. That beast was only a warning of what was to come."

The three of us just stood there, staring at our enemy lines, each lost in our own thoughts. It felt as if I would never just be able to have a quiet life, free of bloodshed and war. I wondered what would have happened if my dad had never inherited that castle. But the moment I thought it, I pushed it away. While part of me longed for a life of normalcy, I would never give up what I had here. I love Camelot, Tahara, the people. I'd done things most had only dreamed of. Even with the hardships that came with it all, I would never willingly leave.

"Perhaps it would be for the best if you left Camelot for a time. It won't be safe here. Not until we drive them away." I stared it Uther, slightly in shock. Surely by now he realized that was the last thing I was going to do. If Camelot was going down, I would go with it.

"Absolutely not!", I say angrily. Uther seems taken back by my outburst. "I won't repeat what happened in Tahara. My kingdom fell while I fled for my own safety. Most of my people went down with her."

Uther frowned, but tried to convince me by speaking sweetly. "It isn't quite so easy for me either, my dear. Please, understand that-"

"What I understand is that if Camelot isn't safe for me, nowhere else will be either. That army will only follow wherever I go. If it doesn't end here, even more lives will be lost. I won't allow that to happen on my behalf."

"You're bravery is commendable, but-"

"She's right.", Arthur buts in. Both of us stare at him. I'm pretty sure my mouth was hanging open. "Once they realize she isn't here, they'll follow her. More people will die. Camelot may be the only kingdom able to defend against them."

"Excuse me?", Uther says, sounding slightly shocked that Arthur would say anything to oppose him.

"She's safer here then she would be if went into hiding. As long as she stays inside the walls at least. Besides, shouldn't Henry be deciding what happens to her? He is her uncle, after all." Any thankfulness I had towards Arthur for standing up for me vanished at the mention of Henry. He was the last person I wanted making decisions for me.

"Her uncle isn't here.", Uther seethes. "The coward fled last night after the attack."

"What? He left?", I asked. Not that it really surprised me. He had always valued his own hide above everything else. But Uther doesn't answer me, instead he chooses to leave the two of us on the wall, feeling satisfied he had proved his point.

"He'll calm down.", Arthur assures me. "My father just doesn't like being contradicted. I believe he is also outraged with your uncle. He doesn't understand how he could just abandon you when you need him most. And for a matter of fact, neither do I."

I leaned up against the wall, pulling my cloak more closely around me as I stared at the vast army Raul had built against us. "Thank you Arthur, really, but can we please not talk about my uncle?"

"Alright. I should be leaving with the men soon anyways."

"Out on patrol?", I asked, trailing my fingers along the grooves in the stone.

"No. I need to join the men out in the lines. Every man not assigned to guarding the castle must go. Gwaine, Leon, Percival, and a few others should be leaving about now. I'll follow a bit later after I..." But I didn't let him finish, instead running down towards the courtyard. "Sarah, where on earth are you going?!", Arthur shouts after me.

"No time to explain!", I yelled back as I reached the stairs. I wasn't about to let Gwaine leave without saying goodbye to him. Not out to meet that.

I found him in the courtyard, just where I thought he would be, getting ready to mount up and head for battle with Sir Percival, Sir Leon, Celso, as well as a few other knights. I raced towards him before I could change my mind. He was surprised to see me, that much was clear. "You weren't going to leave without a proper goodbye, were you?" I gripped his tunic, pulling him close to me, and kissed him. It only took him a moment to kiss me back. His hands slid to cradle the nape of my neck and the small of my back.

Being this close to someone was completely foreign to me. At least with someone I cared about. And I cared about Gwaine more then I had any other man.

Several of the knights whooped in approval, some of them even going as far as clapping loudly. "Well, finally!", yelled Sir Percival, and at the same time Sir Leon shouts, "About time!" A little girl, who had been saying goodbye to her father, shrieked with laughter.

After a long moment I had to pull away for breath. Gwaine rests his forehead against mine. "I shall wear that kiss with pride until I return to you, my lady.", he says in a voice so low only I could hear. "And then we will have a chance to practice it."

He doesn't hesitate to draw again for a kiss long and lingering, making me dread him leaving even more. I could have stayed there forever, nestled in his arms. I was pretty disappointed when he pulled away.

Gwaine smiles down at me, raising my arm in the air as if I was the winner of a wrestling match. "Let it be know," He says loudly and dramatically, addressing anyone in earshot, "That Princess Sarah Talbot is my lady, and mine alone."

I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn't contain my smile. "Honestly, Gwaine? Must you act so... Victorious?"

"Oh yes, I must.", he says with a nod of his head. "It really can't be helped."

I shook my head, grinning. "I wish I could go with you."

"I know.", he says. "But you'll stay here, won't you?"

"Be careful.", I say, choosing not to answer him on purpose.

"Don't worry, Sarah. We'll make sure to get him back to you in one piece. This isn't our first fight, you know.", Sir Leon says, clapping me on the shoulder.

"You'd better.", I mumbled, still unhappy that I was being left behind. It wasn't that I was eager for a fight, I just hated sitting around doing nothing.

Percival laughed. "I'm sure you'll get a chance to swing a sword sometime."

"I suppose." I glanced at the rest of the company, all waiting on these three to leave. "You'd better go.", I say, trying not to sound completely dreary.

He didn't look to happy about it as he kisses my forehead. "I'll see you soon.", he promises.

"See you soon.", I repeat. He squeezes my hand one last time before mounting up, glancing back at me as he exits the gate. Leon and Percival each give me quick side hugs while grinning smugly. Had we really been that obvious? I hadn't thought so. I nod towards the gate. "Go on. You can tease me later."

They grin. "Don't think we won't take you up on that.", Leon laughs as he mounts his horse. "Keep out of trouble.", he adds with a wink.

"Don't I always?", I mumble.